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OurreadersmustnowallowustotransportthemagaintotheenclosuresurroundingM.deVillefort’shouse,and,behindthegate,halfscreenedfromviewbythelargechestnut–trees,whichonallsidesspreadtheirluxuriantbranches,weshallfindsomepeopleofouracquaintance.
ThistimeMaximilianwasthefirsttoarrive.
Hewasintentlywatchingforashadowtoappearamongthetrees,andawaitingwithanxietythesoundofalightsteponthegravelwalk.
Atlength,thelong–desiredsoundwasheard,andinsteadofonefigure,ashehadexpected,heperceivedthattwowereapproachinghim.
ThedelayhadbeenoccasionedbyavisitfromMadameDanglarsandEugenie,whichhadbeenprolongedbeyondthetimeatwhichValentinewasexpected.
ThatshemightnotappeartofailinherpromisetoMaximilian,sheproposedtoMademoiselleDanglarsthattheyshouldtakeawalkinthegarden,beinganxioustoshowthatthedelay,whichwasdoubtlessacauseofvexationtohim,wasnotoccasionedbyanyneglectonherpart.
Theyoungman,withtheintuitiveperceptionofalover,quicklyunderstoodthecircumstancesinwhichshewasinvoluntarilyplaced,andhewascomforted.
Besides,althoughsheavoidedcomingwithinspeakingdistance,ValentinearrangedsothatMaximiliancouldseeherpassandrepass,andeachtimeshewentby,shemanaged,unperceivedbyhercompanion,tocastanexpressivelookattheyoungman,whichseemedtosay,“Havepatience!Youseeitisnotmyfault.”
AndMaximilianwaspatient,andemployedhimselfinmentallycontrastingthetwogirls,—onefair,withsoftlanguishingeyes,afiguregracefullybendinglikeaweepingwillow;theotherabrunette,withafierceandhaughtyexpression,andasstraightasapoplar.
Itisunnecessarytostatethat,intheeyesoftheyoungman,Valentinedidnotsufferbythecontrast.
Inabouthalfanhourthegirlswentaway,andMaximilianunderstoodthatMademoiselleDanglars’visithadatlastcometoanend.
InafewminutesValentinere–enteredthegardenalone.
Forfearthatanyoneshouldbeobservingherreturn,shewalkedslowly;andinsteadofimmediatelydirectingherstepstowardsthegate,sheseatedherselfonabench,and,carefullycastinghereyesaround,toconvinceherselfthatshewasnotwatched,shepresentlyarose,andproceededquicklytojoinMaximilian.
“Good–evening,Valentine,”saidawell–knownvoice.
“Good–evening,Maximilian;IknowIhavekeptyouwaiting,butyousawthecauseofmydelay.”
“Yes,IrecognizedMademoiselleDanglars.Iwasnotawarethatyouweresointimatewithher.”
“Whotoldyouwewereintimate,Maximilian?”
“Noone,butyouappearedtobeso.Fromthemannerinwhichyouwalkedandtalkedtogether,onewouldhavethoughtyouweretwoschool–girlstellingyoursecretstoeachother.”
“Wewerehavingaconfidentialconversation,”returnedValentine;“shewasowningtomeherrepugnancetothemarriagewithM.deMorcerf;andI,ontheotherhand,wasconfessingtoherhowwretcheditmademetothinkofmarryingM.d’Epinay.”
“DearValentine!”
“ThatwillaccounttoyoufortheunreservedmannerwhichyouobservedbetweenmeandEugenie,asinspeakingofthemanwhomIcouldnotlove,mythoughtsinvoluntarilyrevertedtohimonwhommyaffectionswerefixed.”
“Ah,howgoodyouaretosayso,Valentine!
YoupossessaqualitywhichcanneverbelongtoMademoiselleDanglars.
Itisthatindefinablecharmwhichistoawomanwhatperfumeistotheflowerandflavortothefruit,forthebeautyofeitherisnottheonlyqualityweseek.”
“Itisyourlovewhichmakesyoulookuponeverythinginthatlight.”
“No,Valentine,Iassureyousuchisnotthecase.
Iwasobservingyoubothwhenyouwerewalkinginthegarden,and,onmyhonor,withoutatallwishingtodepreciatethebeautyofMademoiselleDanglars,Icannotunderstandhowanymancanreallyloveher.”
“Thefactis,Maximilian,thatIwasthere,andmypresencehadtheeffectofrenderingyouunjustinyourcomparison.”
“No;buttellme—itisaquestionofsimplecuriosity,andwhichwassuggestedbycertainideaspassinginmymindrelativetoMademoiselleDanglars”—
“Idaresayitissomethingdisparagingwhichyouaregoingtosay.Itonlyproveshowlittleindulgencewemayexpectfromyoursex,”interruptedValentine.
“Youcannot,atleast,denythatyouareveryharshjudgesofeachother.”
“Ifweareso,itisbecausewegenerallyjudgeundertheinfluenceofexcitement.Butreturntoyourquestion.”
“DoesMademoiselleDanglarsobjecttothismarriagewithM.deMorcerfonaccountoflovinganother?”
“ItoldyouIwasnotontermsofstrictintimacywithEugenie.”
“Yes,butgirlstelleachothersecretswithoutbeingparticularlyintimate;own,now,thatyoudidquestionheronthesubject.Ah,Iseeyouaresmiling.”
“Ifyouarealreadyawareoftheconversationthatpassed,thewoodenpartitionwhichinterposedbetweenusandyouhasprovedbutaslightsecurity.”
“Come,whatdidshesay?”
“Shetoldmethatshelovednoone,”saidValentine;“thatshedislikedtheideaofbeingmarried;thatshewouldinfinitelypreferleadinganindependentandunfetteredlife;andthatshealmostwishedherfathermightlosehisfortune,thatshemightbecomeanartist,likeherfriend,MademoiselleLouised’Armilly.”
“Ah,yousee”—
“Well,whatdoesthatprove?”askedValentine.
“Nothing,”repliedMaximilian.
“Thenwhydidyousmile?”
“Why,youknowverywellthatyouarereflectingonyourself,Valentine.”
“Doyouwantmetogoaway?”
“Ah,no,no.Butdonotletuslosetime;youarethesubjectonwhichIwishtospeak.”
“True,wemustbequick,forwehavescarcelytenminutesmoretopasstogether.”
“Mafoi,”saidMaximilian,inconsternation.
“Yes,youareright;Iambutapoorfriendtoyou.WhatalifeIcauseyoutolead,poorMaximilian,youwhoareformedforhappiness!Ibitterlyreproachmyself,Iassureyou.”
“Well,whatdoesitsignify,Valentine,solongasIamsatisfied,andfeelthateventhislongandpainfulsuspenseisamplyrepaidbyfiveminutesofyoursociety,ortwowordsfromyourlips?
AndIhavealsoadeepconvictionthatheavenwouldnothavecreatedtwohearts,harmonizingasoursdo,andalmostmiraculouslybroughtustogether,toseparateusatlast.”
“Thosearekindandcheeringwords.Youmusthopeforusboth,Maximilian;thatwillmakemeatleastpartlyhappy.”
“Butwhymustyouleavemesosoon?”
“Idonotknowparticulars.IcanonlytellyouthatMadamedeVillefortsenttorequestmypresence,asshehadacommunicationtomakeonwhichapartofmyfortunedepended.
Letthemtakemyfortune,Iamalreadytoorich;and,perhaps,whentheyhavetakenit,theywillleavemeinpeaceandquietness.
YouwouldlovemeasmuchifIwerepoor,wouldyounot,Maximilian?”
“Oh,Ishallalwaysloveyou.WhatshouldIcareforeitherrichesorpoverty,ifmyValentinewasnearme,andIfeltcertainthatnoonecoulddeprivemeofher?
Butdoyounotfearthatthiscommunicationmayrelatetoyourmarriage?”
“Idonotthinkthatisthecase.”
“Howeveritmaybe,Valentine,youmustnotbealarmed.Iassureyouthat,aslongasIlive,Ishallneverloveanyoneelse!”
“Youthinktoreassuremewhenyousaythat,Maximilian.”
“Pardonme,youareright.Iamabrute.ButIwasgoingtotellyouthatImetM.deMorcerftheotherday.”
“Well?”
“MonsieurFranzishisfriend,youknow.”
“Whatthen?”
“MonsieurdeMorcerfhasreceivedaletterfromFranz,announcinghisimmediatereturn.”
Valentineturnedpale,andleanedherhandagainstthegate.“Ahheavens,ifitwerethat!
Butno,thecommunicationwouldnotcomethroughMadamedeVillefort.”
“Whynot?”
“Because—Iscarcelyknowwhy—butithasappearedasifMadamedeVillefortsecretlyobjectedtothemarriage,althoughshedidnotchooseopenlytoopposeit.”
“Isitso?ThenIfeelasifIcouldadoreMadamedeVillefort.”
“Donotbeinsuchahurrytodothat,”saidValentine,withasadsmile.
“IfsheobjectstoyourmarryingM.d’Epinay,shewouldbeallthemorelikelytolistentoanyotherproposition.”
“No,Maximilian,itisnotsuitorstowhichMadamedeVillefortobjects,itismarriageitself.”
“Marriage?Ifshedislikesthatsomuch,whydidsheevermarryherself?”
“Youdonotunderstandme,Maximilian.Aboutayearago,Italkedofretiringtoaconvent.
MadamedeVillefort,inspiteofalltheremarkswhichsheconsidereditherdutytomake,secretlyapprovedoftheproposition,myfatherconsentedtoitatherinstigation,anditwasonlyonaccountofmypoorgrandfatherthatIfinallyabandonedtheproject.
Youcanformnoideaoftheexpressionofthatoldman’seyewhenhelooksatme,theonlypersonintheworldwhomheloves,and,Ihadalmostsaid,bywhomheisbelovedinreturn.
Whenhelearnedmyresolution,Ishallneverforgetthereproachfullookwhichhecastonme,andthetearsofutterdespairwhichchasedeachotherdownhislifelesscheeks.
Ah,Maximilian,Iexperienced,atthatmoment,suchremorseformyintention,that,throwingmyselfathisfeet,Iexclaimed,—’Forgiveme,prayforgiveme,mydeargrandfather;theymaydowhattheywillwithme,Iwillneverleaveyou.’
WhenIhadceasedspeaking,hethankfullyraisedhiseyestoheaven,butwithoututteringaword.
Ah,Maximilian,Imayhavemuchtosuffer,butIfeelasifmygrandfather’slookatthatmomentwouldmorethancompensateforall.”
“DearValentine,youareaperfectangel,andIamsureIdonotknowwhatI—sabringrightandleftamongtheBedouins—canhavedonetomerityourbeingrevealedtome,unless,indeed,heaventookintoconsiderationthefactthatthevictimsofmyswordwereinfidels.
ButtellmewhatinterestMadamedeVillefortcanhaveinyourremainingunmarried?”
“DidInottellyoujustnowthatIwasrich,Maximilian—toorich?
Ipossessnearly50,000livresinrightofmymother;mygrandfatherandmygrandmother,theMarquisandMarquisedeSaint–Meran,willleavemeasmuch,andM.Noirtierevidentlyintendsmakingmehisheir.
MybrotherEdward,whoinheritsnothingfromhismother,will,therefore,bepoorincomparisonwithme.
Now,ifIhadtakentheveil,allthisfortunewouldhavedescendedtomyfather,and,inreversion,tohisson.”
“Ah,howstrangeitseemsthatsuchayoungandbeautifulwomanshouldbesoavaricious.”
“Itisnotforherselfthatsheisso,butforherson,andwhatyouregardasavicebecomesalmostavirtuewhenlookedatinthelightofmaternallove.”
“Butcouldyounotcompromisematters,andgiveupaportionofyourfortunetoherson?”
“HowcouldImakesuchaproposition,especiallytoawomanwhoalwaysprofessestobesoentirelydisinterested?”
“Valentine,Ihavealwaysregardedourloveinthelightofsomethingsacred;consequently,Ihavecovereditwiththeveilofrespect,andhiditintheinnermostrecessesofmysoul.
Nohumanbeing,notevenmysister,isawareofitsexistence.
Valentine,willyoupermitmetomakeaconfidantofafriendandrevealtohimtheloveIbearyou?”
Valentinestarted.“Afriend,Maximilian;andwhoisthisfriend?Itrembletogivemypermission.”
“Listen,Valentine.Haveyouneverexperiencedforanyonethatsuddenandirresistiblesympathywhichmadeyoufeelasiftheobjectofithadbeenyouroldandfamiliarfriend,though,inreality,itwasthefirsttimeyouhadevermet?
Nay,further,haveyouneverendeavoredtorecallthetime,place,andcircumstancesofyourformerintercourse,andfailinginthisattempt,havealmostbelievedthatyourspiritsmusthaveheldconversewitheachotherinsomestateofbeinganteriortothepresent,andthatyouareonlynowoccupiedinareminiscenceofthepast?”
“Yes.”
“Well,thatispreciselythefeelingwhichIexperiencedwhenIfirstsawthatextraordinaryman.”
“Extraordinary,didyousay?”
“Yes.”
“Youhaveknownhimforsometime,then?”
“Scarcelylongerthaneightortendays.”
“Anddoyoucallamanyourfriendwhomyouhaveonlyknownforeightortendays?Ah,Maximilian,Ihadhopedyousetahighervalueonthetitleoffriend.”
“Yourlogicismostpowerful,Valentine,butsaywhatyouwill,Icanneverrenouncethesentimentwhichhasinstinctivelytakenpossessionofmymind.
Ifeelasifitwereordainedthatthismanshouldbeassociatedwithallthegoodwhichthefuturemayhaveinstoreforme,andsometimesitreallyseemsasifhiseyewasabletoseewhatwastocome,andhishandendowedwiththepowerofdirectingeventsaccordingtohisownwill.”
“Hemustbeaprophet,then,”saidValentine,smiling.
“Indeed,”saidMaximilian,“Ihaveoftenbeenalmosttemptedtoattributetohimthegiftofprophecy;atallevents,hehasawonderfulpowerofforetellinganyfuturegood.”
“Ah,”saidValentineinamournfultone,“doletmeseethisman,Maximilian;hemaytellmewhetherIshalleverbelovedsufficientlytomakeamendsforallIhavesuffered.”
“Mypoorgirl,youknowhimalready.”
“Iknowhim?”
“Yes;itwashewhosavedthelifeofyourstep–motherandherson.”
“TheCountofMonteCristo?”
“Thesame.”
“Ah,”criedValentine,“heistoomuchthefriendofMadamedeVillefortevertobemine.”
“ThefriendofMadamedeVillefort!Itcannotbe;surely,Valentine,youaremistaken?”
“No,indeed,Iamnot;forIassureyou,hispoweroverourhouseholdisalmostunlimited.
Courtedbymystep–mother,whoregardshimastheepitomeofhumanwisdom;admiredbymyfather,whosayshehasneverbeforeheardsuchsublimeideassoeloquentlyexpressed;idolizedbyEdward,who,notwithstandinghisfearofthecount’slargeblackeyes,runstomeethimthemomenthearrives,andopenshishand,inwhichheissuretofindsomedelightfulpresent,—M.deMonteCristoappearstoexertamysteriousandalmostuncontrollableinfluenceoverallthemembersofourfamily.”
“Ifsuchbethecase,mydearValentine,youmustyourselfhavefelt,oratalleventswillsoonfeel,theeffectsofhispresence.
HemeetsAlbertdeMorcerfinItaly—itistorescuehimfromthehandsofthebanditti;heintroduceshimselftoMadameDanglars—itisthathemaygiveheraroyalpresent;yourstep–motherandhersonpassbeforehisdoor—itisthathisNubianmaysavethemfromdestruction.
Thismanevidentlypossessesthepowerofinfluencingevents,bothasregardsmenandthings.
Ineversawmoresimpletastesunitedtogreatermagnificence.
Hissmileissosweetwhenheaddressesme,thatIforgetitevercanbebittertoothers.
Ah,Valentine,tellme,ifheeverlookedonyouwithoneofthosesweetsmiles?
ifso,dependonit,youwillbehappy.”
“Me?”saidtheyounggirl,“heneverevenglancesatme;onthecontrary,ifIaccidentallycrosshispath,heappearsrathertoavoidme.
Ah,heisnotgenerous,neitherdoeshepossessthatsupernaturalpenetrationwhichyouattributetohim,forifhedid,hewouldhaveperceivedthatIwasunhappy;andifhehadbeengenerous,seeingmesadandsolitary,hewouldhaveusedhisinfluencetomyadvantage,andsince,asyousay,heresemblesthesun,hewouldhavewarmedmyheartwithoneofhislife–givingrays.
Yousayhelovesyou,Maximilian;howdoyouknowthathedoes?
Allwouldpaydeferencetoanofficerlikeyou,withafiercemustacheandalongsabre,buttheythinktheymaycrushapoorweepinggirlwithimpunity.”
“Ah,Valentine,Iassureyouyouaremistaken.”
“Ifitwereotherwise—ifhetreatedmediplomatically—thatistosay,likeamanwhowishes,bysomemeansorother,toobtainafootinginthehouse,sothathemayultimatelygainthepowerofdictatingtoitsoccupants—hewould,ifithadbeenbutonce,havehonoredmewiththesmilewhichyouextolsoloudly;butno,hesawthatIwasunhappy,heunderstoodthatIcouldbeofnousetohim,andthereforepaidnoattentiontomewhatever.
Whoknowsbutthat,inordertopleaseMadamedeVillefortandmyfather,hemaynotpersecutemebyeverymeansinhispower?
Itisnotjustthatheshoulddespisemeso,withoutanyreason.
Ah,forgiveme,”saidValentine,perceivingtheeffectwhichherwordswereproducingonMaximilian:“Ihavedonewrong,forIhavegivenutterancetothoughtsconcerningthatmanwhichIdidnotevenknowexistedinmyheart.
Idonotdenytheinfluenceofwhichyouspeak,orthatIhavenotmyselfexperiencedit,butwithmeithasbeenproductiveofevilratherthangood.”
“Well,Valentine,”saidMorrelwithasigh,“wewillnotdiscussthematterfurther.Iwillnotmakeaconfidantofhim.”
“Alas,”saidValentine,“IseethatIhavegivenyoupain.
IcanonlysayhowsincerelyIaskpardonforhavinggriefedyou.
But,indeed,Iamnotprejudicedbeyondthepowerofconviction.
TellmewhatthisCountofMonteCristohasdoneforyou.”
“Iownthatyourquestionembarrassesme,Valentine,forIcannotsaythatthecounthasrenderedmeanyostensibleservice.
Still,asIhavealreadytoldyouIhaveaninstinctiveaffectionforhim,thesourceofwhichIcannotexplaintoyou.Hasthesundoneanythingforme?
No;hewarmsmewithhisrays,anditisbyhislightthatIseeyou—nothingmore.
Hassuchandsuchaperfumedoneanythingforme?
No;itsodorcharmsoneofmysenses—thatisallIcansaywhenIamaskedwhyIpraiseit.
Myfriendshipforhimisasstrangeandunaccountableashisforme.
Asecretvoiceseemstowhispertomethattheremustbesomethingmorethanchanceinthisunexpectedreciprocityoffriendship.
Inhismostsimpleactions,aswellasinhismostsecretthoughts,Ifindarelationtomyown.
YouwillperhapssmileatmewhenItellyouthat,eversinceIhaveknownthisman,Ihaveinvoluntarilyentertainedtheideathatallthegoodfortunewhichhisbefallenmeoriginatedfromhim.
However,Ihavemanagedtolivethirtyyearswithoutthisprotection,youwillsay;butIwillendeavoralittletoillustratemymeaning.
HeinvitedmetodinewithhimonSaturday,whichwasaverynaturalthingforhimtodo.Well,whathaveIlearnedsince?
ThatyourmotherandM.deVillefortarebothcomingtothisdinner.
Ishallmeetthemthere,andwhoknowswhatfutureadvantagesmayresultfromtheinterview?
Thismayappeartoyoutobenounusualcombinationofcircumstances;nevertheless,Iperceivesomehiddenplotinthearrangement—something,infact,morethanisapparentonacasualviewofthesubject.
Ibelievethatthissingularman,whoappearstofathomthemotivesofeveryone,haspurposelyarrangedformetomeetM.andMadamedeVillefort,andsometimes,Iconfess,Ihavegonesofarastotrytoreadinhiseyeswhetherhewasinpossessionofthesecretofourlove.”
“Mygoodfriend,”saidValentine,“Ishouldtakeyouforavisionary,andshouldtrembleforyourreason,ifIwerealwaystohearyoutalkinastrainsimilartothis.
Isitpossiblethatyoucanseeanythingmorethanthemerestchanceinthismeeting?Prayreflectalittle.
Myfather,whonevergoesout,hasseveraltimesbeenonthepointofrefusingthisinvitation;MadamedeVillefort,onthecontrary,isburningwiththedesireofseeingthisextraordinarynabobinhisownhouse,therefore,shehaswithgreatdifficultyprevailedonmyfathertoaccompanyher.
No,no;itisasIhavesaid,Maximilian,—thereisnooneintheworldofwhomIcanaskhelpbutyourselfandmygrandfather,whoislittlebetterthanacorpse.”
“Iseethatyouareright,logicallyspeaking,”saidMaximilian;“butthegentlevoicewhichusuallyhassuchpowerovermefailstoconvincemeto–day.”
“Ifeelthesameasregardsyourself.”saidValentine;“andIownthat,ifyouhavenostrongerprooftogiveme”—
“Ihaveanother,”repliedMaximilian;“butIfearyouwilldeemitevenmoreabsurdthanthefirst.”
“Somuchtheworse,”saidValentine,smiling.
“Itis,nevertheless,conclusivetomymind.
Mytenyearsofservicehavealsoconfirmedmyideasonthesubjectofsuddeninspirations,forIhaveseveraltimesowedmylifetoamysteriousimpulsewhichdirectedmetomoveatonceeithertotherightortotheleft,inordertoescapetheballwhichkilledthecomradefightingbymyside,whileitleftmeunharmed.”
“DearMaximilian,whynotattributeyourescapetomyconstantprayersforyoursafety?Whenyouareaway,Inolongerprayformyself,butforyou.”
“Yes,sinceyouhaveknownme,”saidMorrel,smiling;“butthatcannotapplytothetimeprevioustoouracquaintance,Valentine.”
“Youareveryprovoking,andwillnotgivemecreditforanything;butletmehearthissecondproof,whichyouyourselfowntobeabsurd.”
“Well,lookthroughthisopening,andyouwillseethebeautifulnewhorsewhichIrodehere.”
“Ah,whatabeautifulcreature!”criedValentine;“whydidyounotbringhimclosetothegate,sothatIcouldtalktohimandpathim?”
“Heis,asyousee,averyvaluableanimal,”saidMaximilian.
“Youknowthatmymeansarelimited,andthatIamwhatwouldbedesignatedamanofmoderatepretensions.
Well,Iwenttoahorsedealer’s,whereIsawthismagnificenthorse,whichIhavenamedMedeah.
Iaskedtheprice;theytoldmeitwas4,500francs.
Iwas,therefore,obligedtogiveitup,asyoumayimagine,butIownIwentawaywithratheraheavyheart,forthehorsehadlookedatmeaffectionately,hadrubbedhisheadagainstmeand,whenImountedhim,hadprancedinthemostdelightfulwayimaginable,sothatIwasaltogetherfascinatedwithhim.
Thesameeveningsomefriendsofminevisitedme,—M.deChateau–Renaud,M.Debray,andfiveorsixotherchoicespirits,whomyoudonotknow,evenbyname.Theyproposedagameofbouillotte.
Ineverplay,forIamnotrichenoughtoaffordtolose,orsufficientlypoortodesiretogain.
ButIwasatmyownhouse,youunderstand,sotherewasnothingtobedonebuttosendforthecards,whichIdid.
“Justastheyweresittingdowntotable,M.deMonteCristoarrived.
Hetookhisseatamongstthem;theyplayed,andIwon.
Iamalmostashamedtosaythatmygainsamountedto5,000francs.Weseparatedatmidnight.
Icouldnotdefermypleasure,soItookacabrioletanddrovetothehorsedealer’s.
Feverishandexcited,Irangatthedoor.
Thepersonwhoopeneditmusthavetakenmeforamadman,forIrushedatoncetothestable.
Medeahwasstandingattherack,eatinghishay.
Iimmediatelyputonthesaddleandbridle,towhichoperationhelenthimselfwiththebestgracepossible;then,puttingthe4,500francsintothehandsoftheastonisheddealer,IproceededtofulfilmyintentionofpassingthenightinridingintheChampsElysees.
AsIrodebythecount’shouseIperceivedalightinoneofthewindows,andfanciedIsawtheshadowofhisfiguremovingbehindthecurtain.
Now,Valentine,Ifirmlybelievethatheknewofmywishtopossessthishorse,andthathelostexpresslytogivemethemeansofprocuringhim.”
“MydearMaximilian,youarereallytoofanciful;youwillnotloveevenmelong.
Amanwhoaccustomshimselftoliveinsuchaworldofpoetryandimaginationmustfindfartoolittleexcitementinacommon,every–daysortofattachmentsuchasours.Buttheyarecallingme.Doyouhear?”
“Ah,Valentine,”saidMaximilian,“givemebutonefingerthroughthisopeninginthegrating,onefinger,thelittlestfingerofall,thatImayhavethehappinessofkissingit.”
“Maximilian,wesaidwewouldbetoeachotherastwovoices,twoshadows.”
“Asyouwill,Valentine.”
“ShallyoubehappyifIdowhatyouwish?”
“Oh,yes!”Valentinemountedonabench,andpassednotonlyherfingerbutherwholehandthroughtheopening.
Maximilianutteredacryofdelight,and,springingforwards,seizedthehandextendedtowardshim,andimprintedonitaferventandimpassionedkiss.
Thelittlehandwasthenimmediatelywithdrawn,andtheyoungmansawValentinehurryingtowardsthehouse,asthoughshewerealmostterrifiedatherownsensations.
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