He
seemed to have lost, with his boyhood, that individuality which we
had once loved, and to have passed into an ordinary officer, like all
the rest of the gay, dashing, handsome, but often hardened-looking
men, who were enjoying their triumphant return into ladies' society.
Solivet had accosted him. I saw his eye glance anxiously round, then
he seemed reassured, and came towards me with some eagerness,
greeting me with some compliment, I know not what, on my appearance;
but I cut this as short as I could be saying: 'Know you, Monsieur,
why I am here? I am come to ask you to bestow a little half-hour on
one who is longing to see you.'
'Madame, I am desolated to refuse you, but, you see, I am in
attendance, and on duty; I am not the master!'
However, my brother observed that he would not be required for at
least two hours, and his movements would be quite free until the
party broke up. And after a little importunity, I actually carried
him off, holding up his hands and declaring that he could not
withstand Madame de Bellaise, so as to cast over his concession an
air of gallantry without which I believe his vanity would never have
yielded.
However, I had my hopes; I would not blame him when I had such an
advantage over him as having him shut up with me in my coach, for we
left Solivet to make his excuses, and as we told him, for a hostage,
to come back when I released my prisoner. I trusted more to the
effect of the sight of my sweet little Cecile than to any exhortation
in my power; indeed, I thought I had better keep him in good humour
by listening amiably to his explanation of the great favour that he
was doing me in coming to see Madame, my mother, and how
indispensable he was to M.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212