Moths by Ouida — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

MOTHS yin’ ever about your steps to need a sorry mortal! Princess, adieu.” ** But you are staying near here ?” “A few days—a few hours. I am en route from Milan te Paris. I like Paris best when Iam notonan Alp, Life should be tout ou rien—either the boulevard or the hermitage.” He did not tell her that he had come by the Riviera for the sake of seeing the turrets of her home above the sea, for the sake of the chance of beholding her walk by him in the sun upon the terrace above. ** Will you not wait and see—my husband?” she said, a little abruptly, with a certain effort. | ‘*I have not the honor to know Prince Zouroff.” ** He will wish to thank you-—” The words seemed to choke her; she could not finish then. Correze bowed with his charming grace. ** Princess, when shall I persuade you that I have done noth- ing for which to bethanked? If I may venture to remind you of so prosaic a thing, your dress must be damp, and mine is wet through. I-beseech you to change yours at once.”’ ** Ah! how thoughtless lam! But, if you will not come in, will you accept a carriage or a horse?” ‘* Thanks, no; a quick walk will do me far more good. If you will give the canoe shelter I shall be very indebted; but for my- self the shore in this wind is what will make me think of the old tourmentes of my home mountains. Princess, once more adieu.” She gave him her hand; he bent over it; a mist came before her eyes that was not from the driving of the sea-spray. When it cleared from herfeyelids, Correze was gone. ‘* Tf I had entered the house with her I could not have answer- ed for my silence. thought, as he went on along the Corniche, with the winds and the rains beating him back at each step, and, below him and be- yond, the sea a mass of white and gray steam and froth. When Prince Zouroff returned from Monte Carlo, he brought several guests with him to dinner. He had won largely, as very rich men often do; he was in a good humor because he had been well amused; and he had been driven home by his orders at so terrific a pace in the storm that one horse had dropped dead when , it reached the stables. But this was not a very uncommon oc- currence with him; a carriage-horse did not matter; if it had been one of his racers it would have been a different business. That was all he said about it. : Vere went up to him after dinner and took him aside one mo- ment. ‘‘T was on the sea in the beginning of the storm.” ‘* What were you doing?” ‘‘ Rowing myself—all alone.” ‘‘A mad freak! But nothing happened. All is well that ends well.” ‘‘- Yes,” Vere’s teeth were shut a little as she spoke, and her lips were pale. ‘‘It might not have ended so well—if it be well to live—had it not been for M. de Correze. He was in a canoes gud warned me in time,” ” It was best to come away whilst I could,” he co comicbooks