Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
By my side Elsa was breathing quick and fast. I turned to her; her eyes were sparkling in triumph and excitement. It was a grand moment. She felt my glance; her cheek reddened, her eyes dropped, her lip quivered; the swiftest covert glance flew toward where Varvilliers was. I turned away with a sort of sickness on me. Coralie's voice rose and fell, chanting out her words.
"Not I," he answered, with a laugh and a shake of his head. "But why not?" I asked, laughing also. "Can you ask? There is but one possible reason for a man's not being in love with Coralie Mansoni." "Tell me it, Vicomte." "Because he has been, sire." "A good safeguard, but of no use to me." "Why, no, not at present," answered Varvilliers. The carriage drew up at his lodgings.
"In everything but the moment of his remark M. Wetter was right," said I. "I didn't remember in time that I am not placed as other men; I will not remember it now. Varvilliers, you mustn't be concerned in this. Vohrenlorf, I put myself in your hands." "Good God, you won't fight?" cried Varvilliers. "Vohrenlorf will do for me what he would for any gentleman who put himself in his hands," said I.
"We waste time, Vicomte," said I, and I sat down in a chair, leaving him to make the arrangements with Vohrenlorf, or, rather, to announce them to Vohrenlorf; for my second was unmanned by the business, and had quite lost his composure. Varvilliers had just measured the distance and settled the places where we were to stand, when there was a step outside and a knock at the door.
William Adolphus was boisterous, Victoria forgot that she was learned and a patroness of the arts, Elsa threw herself into the fun with the zest and abandonment of a child. I vied with Varvilliers himself, seeking to wrest from him the title of master of the revels. He could not stand against me. A madman may be stronger than the finest athlete. No native temper could vie with my foreign mood.
I saw him and Elsa coming toward me; his voice sounded merry and careless as he shouted, "Here I am, sire"; a moment later they stood before me. No, there was no ground for Wetter's hint, and could be none. Both were merely happy and gay, both utterly unembarrassed. "Somebody wants you inside, Varvilliers," said I, with a nod. He laughed, bowed gracefully to Elsa, and ran off.
Wetter could give her nothing, from William Adolphus she had already gained the advancement which it was in his power to secure for her. "She wanted something new, so she made him bring your Majesty," he ended, laughing. "Was my brother-in-law unwilling?" "Oh, no. He didn't understand," laughed Varvilliers. "He was proud to bring you." "It's rather awkward for me.
"I am told that I suggested it. So runs the gossip in town, doesn't it?" "And your opinion on it?" "I think I won't expose myself to your fire again," said I. "It was careless last time; it would be downright folly now." "Then we are to say no more about it?" he asked gravely. "Not a word. Tell me, how came you to know that Coralie loves her impresario? You told Varvilliers so."
We were interrupted by Varvilliers' arrival. He also had dined at the palace, and was in full dress. "How gay my little house is to-night," drawled Coralie, as she rang the bell and ordered, in exactly the same manner, the descent of Madame Briande and the ascent of supper. Both orders were promptly obeyed, and we were left alone.
Yet she did not hate me; or, at least, our natures were not such as to hate one another or to be repugnant naturally. Nay, I believe that we were born to be good and appreciative friends. Sometimes in those early days we found a sympathy of thought that made us for the moment intimate and easy, forgetful of our obligation, and frankly pleased with the society which we afforded one another. Soon I came to enjoy these intervals, to look and to plan for them. In them I seemed to get glimpses of what my young cousin ought to be always; but they were brief and fleeting. An intrusion ended them; or, more often, they were doomed to perish at my hands or at hers. A troubled shyness would suddenly eclipse her mirth; or I would be seized with a sense that my cheating of fate was useless, and served only to make the fate more bitter. She seemed to dread any growth of friendship, and to pull herself up abruptly when she felt in danger of being carried away into a genuine comradeship. I was swiftly responsive to such an attitude; again we drew apart. Here is an extract from a letter which I wrote to Varvilliers: "MY DEAR VARVILLIERS: The state of things here is absurd enough. My cousin and I can't like, because we are ordered to love; can't be friends, because we must be mates; can't talk, because we must flirt; can't be comfortable alone together, because everybody prepares our tête-
Word Of The Day
Others Looking