It always seems as if
everything were going wrong at the last moment."
She laughed, proud of her penetrations. Genevieve tugged at Maurice's
vest as he was about to set the dear lady right.
"Ah! well, I leave you to dress. This evening, uncle, I want to have a
chat with you as I have something serious to say to you."
The philosopher and his wife looked at each other understandingly.
"Very well, my boy, I shall be entirely at your disposal for as long
as you like, for I can guess...."
And he looked at Genevieve. Maurice despaired of ever making him
understand.
CHAPTER XXVI
Everyone greeted the philosopher with delight when he appeared in the
ante-chamber where the guests were assembled before dinner. The Duke
came to present his greetings to Mme. Darbois and stayed talking to
her for some time. He saw that she liked him, but foresaw at the same
time that it would be very painful for the good woman to have to
accept another son-in-law. During dinner the Duchess steered the
conversation towards philosophy, wishing to please Francois, who was
placed on her right--art and science being to her the highest titles
of nobility.
"Ah! I am no philosopher," protested the Marquis de Montagnac. "I
accept old age only as a chastisement, and not having committed any
criminal act, I revolt against the injustice of it."
And Louis de Marset, bending towards his neighbour, who had had a
great reputation for beauty before age and illness had pulled her
down, remarked, "One cannot be and have been, is not that true,
Madame?"
"You are mistaken, my dear sir.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231