Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part IV - V
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THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL 277
’’Was he? He really is unusually good-looking for
his class! A very nice-looking man indeed! "
And she went into details, praising his virile beauty
in terms which puzzled our host.
On the following morning the dashing ex-porter was
already in his place when we entered. Dressed in his
Sunday best, hair and beard trimmed, he appeared to
be fully aware of his conquest. He bowed ; my wife
acknowledged his bow with a graceful bending of her
head ; he squared his shoulders and gave himself the airs
of a Napoleon.
He returned on the third day, determined to break
the ice. He started a polite conversation, reminiscent
of the back-door, all the while addressing himself directly
to my wife « ithout wasting any time over the usual trick
of first conciliating the husband.
It was intolerable !
Marie, in the presence of her husband and children,
allowed herself to be drawn into a discussion by a
stranger.
Once more I tried to open her eyes, begged her to
be more careful of her reputation.
Her only answer was her usual :
" "
You have a nasty
mind !
"
A second Apollo came to the rescue. He was the
village tobacconist, an undersized man, at whose shop
Marie was in the habit of making small purchases. More
shrewd than the porter, he tried to make friends with
me first ; he was of a more enterprising nature. At the
first meeting he stared impudently at Marie and loudly
exclaimed to our host
—
"I say, what a distinguished-looking family! "
Marie’s heart caught fire, and the village beau returned
night after night.
One evening he was intoxicated, and therefore more
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