Sealed Lips — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

SEALED LIPS, 85 was, he seated himself, and looked about him with a wandering stare. Patrice understood that it was better to calm the mind before doing anything for the body, so asked, in a quiet tone: “Why did you not tell me this before?” At seeing the prodigious rapidity with which the reaction took place, a physician would have said that Antoine had been very ill. “Because,” replied he, in atone so low that one could hardly hear him, “because I did not wish to ~ admit it to myself. It is a miserable, shameful, useless stupidity.” Patrice interrupted him, to all appearances per- fectly calm, but torn to the very heart by the thought of the future, which he could foresee: “My friend, be more just to yourself. Any woman, no matter how beautiful, or what high position she may occupy, will be flattered to know that she has your love.” “Ah! I merit it, the humiliation of being con- soled by you! And howTI love her! She does not love me, and never will. What can I do? What more canl give her? Ihave caused her name to be in everybody’s mouth; thanks to me, her beauty shines out like the sun above the multitude. How many years’ work, how much devotion, and trouble I have passed through to accomplish this! How many years of love! For along time I have shiv- ered and trembled an hour before I was to see her! (E(0) Eomicbooks