Moths by Ouida — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

278 | MOTHS. if you look at her. One always rather expects te hear her speak in blank verse: don’t you know what I mean?” ‘¢ Madame, I have heard so much blank verse in my life that I should.as soon expect frogs to drop from her lips,” answered Cor- reze, a little irritably. ‘‘No, I do not think I know what you mean. The Princess Vera seems to me to play a very difficult part in the world’s play with an exquisite serenity, patience, and good taste.” ‘‘A difficult part! Goodness! My dear Correze, she has only to look beautiful, go to courts, and spend money !” ‘¢ And forgive infidelity, and bear with outrage.” His voice was low, but it was grave and even stern, as his face was. Lady Dolly, who was going up towards the great Palace of Play, stopped, stared, and put up a scarlet sunshade, which made her look as if she blushed. ‘<My dear Correze! I suppose people of genius are privileged, but otherwise—really—you have said such an extraordinary thing I ought not to answer you. The idea of judging between married people! The idea of supposing that Prince Zouroff is not everything he ought to be to his wife Correze turned his clear lustrous eyes full on her. ‘¢ Miladi,” he said, curtly, ‘‘ I wrote you some truths of Prince Zouroff from Moscow long ago. Did you read them?” ‘‘ Oh, stories! mere stories!” said Lady Dolly, vaguely and nerve ously. ‘*‘ You know I never listen to rumors; people are so horridly uncharitable.” ‘* You had my letter from Moscow, then?” ‘‘Oh, yes, and answered it,” said Lady Dolly, with aplomb. _ “T think you forgot to answer it,” said Correze, quietly, ** your answer was a faire part to the marriage.” ‘‘T am sure I answered it,” said Lady Dolly once more, looking up into the scarlet dome of her umbrella. *‘T told you, and proved to you, that the man to whom you wished to sacrifice your child was a mass of vice—of such vice as it is the fashion to pretend to believe shut up between the pages of Seutonius and Livy. And I offered, if you would give me your young daughter, to settle a million of francs upon her and leave the stage for her sake, Your answer was the faire part to the Zouroff marriage.” ‘*T answered you,” said Lady Dolly, obstinately; ‘‘ oh, dear, yes, I did. I can’t helpitif you didn’t get it; and I had told you at Trouville it was no use, that idea of yours; you never were meant to marry—so absurd!—you are far too charming; and, be- sides, you know youare an artist; you can’t say you are not.” ‘“‘{ am an artist,” said Correze, with a flash somber and bril- liant in his eyes that she could not front, ‘‘ but I have never been a beast, and had I wedded your daughter I would not have been an adulterer.” | *“‘Hus-s-sh!” said Lady Dolly, scandalized. Such language was terrible to her, though she did laugh at the Petit Nuc and Niniche. ‘‘ Hus-s-sh, hush—pray!” : But Correze had howed and left her- ; -_ comicbooks ‘ ‘ \ - (E(@)