Moths by Ouida — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

" MOTHS. , 969 *¢ Jeanne told me something at Felicite,” said Herve de Meril- hac. ‘‘ But she said it was only romance.” _ “Romance! Faust or Edgardo! or, as in a Renaissance dress, he is adored by Leonora! Merci bien! I am not jealous, I am not unreasonable; I know the destinies of husbands. But T do not accept a rival in the satin and tinsel of the stage! Halfa century ago,” added Zouroff, as he turned in at the doors of the Jockey Club, ‘‘one could have had this man beaten by one’s lackeys. Now one is obliged to meet him at one’s cercle and in- sult him as though he were a noble.” ‘ ‘* He is one,” said the Marquis de Merilhac, who was perplexed and dissatisfied. ‘*Faugh!” said Zouroff, with the scorn of a great prince. The next morning, as Correze passed through the gardens of the Tuileries, he chanced to see the small, spare form of the Princesse Nelaguine; she was seated on a bench in the sunshine of the wintry morning, watching the little children of her eldest son float their boats upon one of the basins. He paused, hesi- soadetet saluted her, and approached. Madame Nelaguine smiled on him. | | ‘Why not?” she thought; ‘‘there is nothing true; even were it true she would be justified.” Correze spoke to her with the compliment of daily life, which he better than most men could divest of the common-place and invest with grace and dignity. Then abruptly he said to her, ‘* Princess, I was coming to you this morning; I have been to Szarisla——” She started, and looked at him in surprise. | ‘*To Szarisla? You have seen—my brother’s wife? It is strange you should tell me.” ‘**T tell you because she is your brother’s wife,” answered Cor- reze; his face was pale and grave, and his tone was sad and cold, with an accent of rebuke, which her quick ear detected. ‘‘ May I speak to you honestly? I should be your debtor if you would allow me.” She hesitated, then sent the children and their attendants fur- ther away, and motioned to him to sit beside her. ‘*T suppose you know what they say,” she said to him. ‘* My brother would think I did ill to listen to you.” ‘‘in what they say, they lie.” ‘¢The world always lies, or almost always; I think it lies about you, or I should not speak to you. You have been toSzarisla?” | ‘¢T have been there; I have seen her for five minutes, no more, though I lived in the village five weeks. Madame, she has death in her face.” . The tears rushed into his hearer’s keen, curious eyes; her lips trembled. ‘* No, no! you exaggerate! Vera dying? you make my heart sick. I have feared for her health always—always. What did you do those five long weeks?” | ‘¢‘T waited to see her face,” said Correze, simply. ‘‘ Madame, listen to me one moment: I will try not to tire your patience She is your brother’s wife—yes; but she is dealt with as he would Ks co comicboo