Moths by Ouida — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

MOTHS 197 pavilion of the actress, Mademoiselle Noisette, is taken down, or aifferently occupied. Otherwise, I do not go to mine.” Zouroff was silent from utter amazement. He stared at her blankly. *‘ What did you say?” he said, savagely, after some moments’ silence. ‘‘ What did you say? Are you mad?” a: “I think you heard very weil what I said,” replied Vere. ‘* All I have to say is that if Mademoiselle Noisette be present I shall not be. That is for you to decide.” Then, without any more words, or even any look at him, she passed on into the music-room, and joined some other ladies. Sergius Zouroff stood and stared after her. He felt much the same emotion as his ancestors might have felt when some serf, whom they had been long used to beat and torture, rose up and — struck them inreturn. Whatdidshe know of Noisette? He sup- posed that she must know all since she took no exception tothe twe other actresses, who were permitted to take part in the Kermesse of the grandes dames. : He did not care what she knew—or he thought he did not; but he cared bitterly that she should dare to affront and defy him, dare to make him what he termed a scene, dare to erect her will in oppositfon to his own. And, amidst all the turbu- lence of anger, self-will, was a sullen sense of shame, a conscious- ness that his life was no more fit to be mated with hers than the lips of a drunkard are fit to touch an ivory chalice of consecrated wine, He sought his sister. ‘‘ Nadine,” he said, sharply, ‘‘have you ever told Vere of . Noisette?” Madame Nelaguine glanced at him with some contempt. ‘*T? do I ever talk? do I ever doanything but what is rational?” ‘Who has, then?” ‘‘ Hasany one? Probably le tout Paris, everybody and nobody, What isthe matter?” ‘‘The matter! She has made mea scene. She declares that if Noisette be in her booth to-morrow she will not go to her own, She is not the ignoramus that you think.” ‘‘ After three years as your wife, Sergius, how should she be? I am sorry she has begun to observe these things. I will speak to her, if you like. Unless you will withdraw Noisette.” ‘‘ Withdraw Noisette! do you suppose she ever listens to me? do you suppose I should not be the laughing-stock of all society if I quarreled with her to please Vera’s caprices?” ‘‘Tf you annoyed you1 mistress to avoid insulting your wife? Society would laugh at you? Yes, I suppose it would. Whata nice world it is!’ thought the Princess Nadine, asshe said aloud, ‘‘T will see Vera. But she is difficult to persuade. And you will pardon me, Sergius, but here I do think she is rather right. It is not good form to have Mademoiselle Noisette or Mademoiselle anybody else of the same—adventurous—reputation mixed up with usin any affair of this kind.” : ‘¢‘ Perhaps not,” said Zouroff, roughJy, ‘** But Jeanne chose tg } > i ; comicboo S col