Moths by Ouida — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

836 MOTHS. ‘‘Tvan would tell me anything,” said Zouroff, moodily. ‘‘He writes me weekly of her health; he says nothing happens; no one goes——”’ ‘‘Tvan is incorruptible, no doubt,” said Jeanne de Sonnaz, a little dryly. ‘¢What do you mean?” ‘You are always asking me whatI mean. Iam no sphinx, my dear friend, Iam very transparent. Imean that, since your “wife is there, it seems to me improbable that she does not, or will not, see Correze——” 7 | Zouroff ground his heel on the turf with impatience, but he kept silent. ‘¢T think it would be worth your while to make sure that she does not see Correze. Iam quite aware that, if they do meet, it will be merely a knight meeting a saint— ‘'Pauvres couples, a l’ame haute, Qu’une noble horreur de la faute Empeche seu d’etre heureux ’— and that he will ‘Baise s4 main sans la presser, Comme un lis facile a blesser Qui tremble a la moindre secousse ’— and all the rest. But still, if only as a moral phenomenon, it might be worth watching, and Ivan, on whom you depend, is, though a very superior servant, still only a servant.” ‘What would you have me to do? Go myself?” ‘“Yes, I think you should go vrourself. It would prevent people saying unpleasant things or untrue ones. You must have your wife back in Paris, or you. must be very certain of all that passes at Szarisla, or you may be made to play a foolish part—a part you would not like to play, when you have shut your wife up in it for her safety.” ‘‘ Jeanne,” said Zouroff, gloomily, with his eyes fixed on the turf they were treading, ‘‘there is no one to hear, and we may speak as we mean; Vera does not return to me until she consents to receive you; there is no question of her honor; she will have that intact as if she were in a convent; she is made like that; she is no ‘lis facile a blesser,’ she is made of steel. She knows everything, and she will no longer know you. To protect your name I exiled her. She may live and die in Poland.” She heard him, knowing very well that he said the simple fact, yet her eyes grew angry and her teeth shut tight. ‘‘'You are all imbeciles, you Russians,” she said, contemptu- ously. ‘‘ You have only one remedy for all diseases—Siberia. It does not cure all diseases: Nihilism shows that. Correze is your best friend, since you want to be free.” ‘Tf he set foot in Szarisla he shall be beaten with rods.” _. Jeanne de Sonnaz, as they passed under the tamarisk-trees, looked at him coldly, and crossed her hands lightly on her gold headed cane as she leaned on it. **On my word I do not understand you. Are you in love with your wife ?” | 4 Comicbooks.co