Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 17, 2025
"A little, my daughter, a little?" said M. Nioche perplexed. "How much?" "Two thousand!" said Mademoiselle Noemie. "Don't make a fuss or he'll take back his word." "Two thousand!" cried the old man, and he began to fumble for his snuff-box. He looked at Newman from head to foot; he looked at his daughter and then at the picture. "Take care you don't spoil it!" he cried almost sublimely.
"I don't know what Virginius did, but M. Nioche will shoot Miss Noemie," said Newman. "After that, I suppose his future will be assured in some snug prison." "I am not a cynic; I am simply an observer," Valentin rejoined. "Mademoiselle Noemie interests me; she is extremely remarkable.
The old lady liked her, and offered her her living and six hundred francs a year; but Noemie discovered that she passed her life in her arm-chair and had only two visitors, her confessor and her nephew: the confessor very strict, and the nephew a man of fifty, with a broken nose and a government clerkship of two thousand francs.
It was neatly inscribed in pencil, with a great many flourishes, "Mlle. Noemie Nioche." But Mr. Newman, unlike his companion, read the name with perfect gravity; all French names to him were equally droll. "And precisely, here is my father, who has come to escort me home," said Mademoiselle Noemie. "He speaks English. He will arrange with you."
The papa of Mademoiselle Noemie, however, had apparently on this occasion been vigorously indoctrinated, and he showed a certain tremulous eagerness to cultivate unexpected opportunities. "How much do I owe you, then, with the frame?" asked Newman. "It will make in all three thousand francs," said the old man, smiling agreeably, but folding his hands in instinctive suppliance.
These ladies were apparently persons of high fashion; they were dressed with great splendor, and their long silken trains and furbelows were spread over the polished floor. It was at their dresses Mademoiselle Noemie was looking, though what she was thinking of I am unable to say.
He assured her, in such French as he could muster, that the thing was not worth mentioning, and that he considered her services a great favor. "Whenever you please, then," said Mademoiselle Noemie, "we will pass the review." They walked slowly round the room, then passed into the others and strolled about for half an hour.
"He was repenting of his unjust accusations," replied Newman. Mademoiselle Noemie remained silent; at last she dropped into a seat. "Well then, for those five it is fixed," she said. "Five copies as brilliant and beautiful as I can make them. We have one more to choose. Shouldn't you like one of those great Rubenses the marriage of Marie de Medicis? Just look at it and see how handsome it is."
"I don't think the English climate agrees with him." "It seems to agree wonderfully well with his mistress," said Newman. "Do you mean me? I have never been better, thank you," Miss Noemie declared. "But with MILORD" and she gave a brilliant glance at her late companion "how can one help being well?"
"I will do it for you on a smaller scale." "On a smaller scale? Why not as large as the original?" Mademoiselle Noemie glanced at the glowing splendor of the Venetian masterpiece and gave a little toss of her head. "I don't like that woman. She looks stupid." "I do like her," said Newman. "Decidedly, I must have her, as large as life. And just as stupid as she is there."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking