Here, where the last rays of the sun threw sinuous
shadows on the turf, and Paris seemed a million miles away, they
were walking up and down, the sound of their laughter breaking
the woodland silence. Mademoiselle had a fan, with which and an
air of convent coquetry she occasionally shaded her eyes. The
King carried his hat in his hand. It was such an adventure as he
loved, with all his heart; and I stood a little way off, smiling,
and thinking grimly of M. de Perrot.
On a sudden, hearing a step behind me, I turned, and saw a young
man in a riding-dress come quickly through an opening in the yew
hedge. As I turned, he stopped; his jaw fell, and he stood
rooted to the ground, gazing at the two on the terrace, while his
face, which a moment before had worn an air of pleased
expectancy, grew on a sudden dark with passion, and put on such a
look as made me move towards him. Before I reached him, However,
M. de Perrot himself appeared at his side. The young man flashed
round on him. "MON DIEU, sir!" he cried, in a voice choked with
anger; "I see it all now! I understand why I was carried away to
Marly! I--but it shall not be! I swear it shall not!"
Between him and me--for, needless to say, I, too, understood all
--M.
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