Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas (free e books to read online .TXT) ๐
Read free book ยซTen Years Later by Alexandre Dumas (free e books to read online .TXT) ๐ยป - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
Read book online ยซTen Years Later by Alexandre Dumas (free e books to read online .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Alexandre Dumas
โIt is incredible!โ repeated the old lady: โis it not incredible, Louise?โ But Louise did not reply; she was sitting, thoughtfully, almost sad; passing one had over her beautiful brow, she sighed heavily.
โWell, but, monsieur,โ said Madame de Saint-Remy, all at once, โhow did you manage to obtain this post?โ
โI asked for it, madame.โ
โOf whom?โ
โOne of my friends.โ
โAnd you have friends sufficiently powerful at court to give you such proofs of their credit?โ
โIt appears so.โ
โAnd may one ask the name of these friends?โ
โI did not say I had many friends, madame, I said I had one friend.โ
โAnd that friend is called?โ
โPeste! madame, you go too far! When one has a friend as powerful as mine, we do not publish his name in that fashion, in open day, in order that he may be stolen from us.โ
โYou are right, monsieur, to be silent as to that name; for I think it would be pretty difficult for you to tell it.โ
โAt all events,โ said Montalais, โif the friend does not exist, the brevet does, and that cuts short the question.โ
โThen, I conceive,โ said Madame de Saint-Remy, with the gracious smile of the cat who is going to scratch, โwhen I found monsieur here just nowโโ
โWell?โ
โHe brought you the brevet.โ
โExactly, madame; you have guessed rightly.โ
โWell, then, nothing can be more moral or proper.โ
โI think so, madame.โ
โAnd I have been wrong, as it appears, in reproaching you, mademoiselle.โ
โVery wrong, madame; but I am so accustomed to your reproaches, that I pardon you these.โ
โIn that case, let us begone, Louise; we have nothing to do but retire. Well!โ
โMadame!โ said La Valliere starting, โdid you speak?โ
โYou do not appear to be listening, my child.โ
โNo, madame, I was thinking.โ
โAbout what?โ
โA thousand things.โ
โYou bear me no ill-will, at least, Louise?โ cried Montalais, pressing her hand.
โAnd why should I, my dear Aure?โ replied the girl in a voice soft as a flute.
โDame!โ resumed Madame de Saint-Remy; โif she did bear you a little ill-will, poor girl, she could not be much blamed.โ
โAnd why should she bear me ill-will, good gracious?โ
โIt appears to me that she is of as good a family, and as pretty as you.โ
โMother! mother!โ cried Louise.
โPrettier a hundred times, madameโnot of a better family; but that does not tell me why Louise should bear me ill-will.โ
โDo you think it will be very amusing for her to be buried alive at Blois, when you are going to shine at Paris?โ
โBut, madame, it is not I who prevent Louise following me thither; on the contrary, I should certainly be most happy if she came there.โ
โBut it appears that M. Malicorne, who is all-powerful at courtโโ
โAh! so much the worse, madame,โ said Malicorne, โevery one for himself in this poor world.โ
โMalicorne! Malicorne!โ said Montalais. Then stooping towards the young man:โ
โOccupy Madame de Saint-Remy, either in disputing with her, or making it up with her; I must speak to Louise.โ And, at the same time, a soft pressure of the hand recompensed Malicorne for his future obedience. Malicorne went grumbling towards Madame de Saint-Remy, whilst Montalais said to her friend, throwing one arm around her neck:โ
โWhat is the matter? Tell me. Is it true that you would not love me if I were to shine, as your mother says?โ
โOh, no!โ said the young girl, with difficulty restraining her tears; โon the contrary, I rejoice at your good fortune.โ
โRejoice! why, one would say you are ready to cry!โ
โDo people never weep except from envy?โ
โOh! yes, I understand; I am going to Paris and that word Paris recalls to your mind a certain cavalierโโ
โAure!โ
โA certain cavalier who formerly lived near Blois, and who now resides at Paris.โ
โIn truth, I know not what ails me, but I feel stifled.โ
โWeep, then, weep, as you cannot give me a smile!โ
Louise raised her sweet face, which the tears, rolling down one after the other, illumined like diamonds.
โCome, confess,โ said Montalais.
โWhat shall I confess?โ
โWhat makes you weep; people donโt weep without cause. I am your friend; whatever you would wish me to do, I will do. Malicorne is more powerful than you would think. Do you wish to go to Paris?โ
โAlas!โ sighed Louise.
โDo you wish to come to Paris?โ
โTo remain here alone, in this old castle, I who have enjoyed the delightful habit of listening to your songs, of pressing your hand, of running about the park with you. Oh! how I shall be ennuyee! how quickly I shall die!โ
โDo you wish to come to Paris?โ
Louise breathed another sigh.
โYou do not answer me.โ
โWhat would you that I should reply?โ
โYes or no; that is not very difficult, I think.โ
โOh! you are very fortunate, Montalais!โ
โThat is to say you would like to be in my place.โ
Louise was silent.
โLittle obstinate thing!โ said Montalais; โdid ever any one keep her secrets from her friend thus? But, confess that you would like to come to Paris; confess that you are dying with the wish to see Raoul again.โ
โI cannot confess that.โ
โThen you are wrong.โ
Comments (0)