Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part I - XI
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136 THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL
to respond to our "Good-evening,’* looking on in con-
temptuous silence.
Henceforth she felt sure of my love, and so she
abused it.
She came to see me to-day. She could not find words
enough to praise her husband. Deeply affected by
Matilda’s departure, he had succumbed to his wife’s pres-
sure, and made her a promise to save appearances by
accompanying her to the station, for, she argued, if both
he and I were to see her off, her departure would oiot have
the appearance of flight. Moreover, she told me that the
Baron, no longer angry with me, had consented to receive
me at his house, and, in order to put a stop to the rumours,
show himself during the next few days about the town in
my company.
I appreciated the generosity of this big, ingenuous child,
with the honest heart, and, out of consideration for him,
I demurred.
" We’re not going to disgrace him like that. Never !
"
" Remember that it is a question of my child’s honour."
" Doesn’t his honour count for something? "
But she laughed at the idea of considering other people’s
honour. Looked upon me as eccentric.
" But that beats everything ! You’re making me a by-
word, you’re degrading us all ! It’s folly ! It’s un-
worthy !
" I exclaimed.
She cried ; and, after she had sobbed for an hour and
overwhelmed me with reproaches, I succumbed to the irre-
sistible weapon of her tears, and consented to do her bid-
ding. But I cursed the despot, I cursed the falling crystal
drops which increased tenfold the power of her glances.
She was stronger than both her husband and myself.
She was leading us by the nose into disgrace ! Why did
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