Moths by Ouida — page 251: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

UOTHS. pay is wife, “Vera,” he said suddenly to her, ‘‘ they tell me you are great friends with that singing fellow Correze. Is it true?” Vere looked up from her lace-work. ‘* Who say so?’ “Oh, people. Is it true?” ° | a have seen M. de Correze little, but I:feel.to know hin well.’ She answered him the simple truth, as it seemed to be to her lf. ‘¢ Ah!” said Prince Zouroff; ‘* then write and tell him to come to Svir. Weimust have some grand music for the Tsarewitch, and you can offer him five hundred more roubles a night than the Petersburg opera gives him; he can have his own suite of rooms and his own tables; I know those artists give themselves airs.” Vere;looked at him for a moment in astonishment, then felt herself grow cold and pale, with what} emotion she scarcely ew. ‘You had better let Anton write, if you wish it,” she answered, after a little pause. Anton was his secretary. ‘‘ But M. de Cor- _reze will not come; he has many engagements; and I believe he never goes to private houses unless he goes as a guest, and then, of course, there is no question of money.” Zouroff was looking at her closely through his half-closed eye» lids. He laughed. ‘*Nonsense! If an artist cannot be hired the world is coming toanend. They have no right to prejudices, those people; and, in'point of fact, they only assume them to heighten the price. I refer you should write yourself: you can give him any sum you ke; but he shall come to Svir.”’ Vere hesitated a moment, then said, very calmly, ‘* It is not for me to write: Anton always does your business; let him do this.” The forehead of Zouroff grew clouded with a heavy frown: she had never contradicted or disobeyed him before. ies aicban | order you to write, madame,” he said, sternly. ‘‘There is an end. Prince Zouroff sauntered in from the balcony and approache@ | » Vere rose, curtsied, and passed before him to a writing-table, — There she wrote: ‘¢ MONSIEUR,— My husband desires me to beg you to do us the honor of visiting us at Svir on the fifteenth of next month, when ‘the Tsarewitch will have the condescension to be with us. I believe, however, that you will be unable to'do us'this gratifica- tion, as Ithink your time is already too fully occupied. All ar- rangements you may wish to make in the event of your acceding to his desire you will kindly communicate to M. Zouroff. I beg to assure you of my distinguished consideration, | ‘¢ VERA, PRINCESS ZOUROFF.” She wrote rapidly, addressed the letter and. handed it to her husband. ‘¢ Pooh!” he said, as he read it, and tore it up. ‘* You write to the fellow as if he were a prince himself. You must not write toa singer in that fashion. Say we will pay him anything he me. comicbooks