A Parisian Romance — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

A PARISIAN ROMANCH 499 Ambroise, whom he ordered to say to Madame Chevrial that he would esteem it a favor if she would favor him with her company for a few minutes. After the servant had departed on his errand, he said to De Targy: “We were married under the community system ; hence, what belongs to one, belongs to the other. But, still, I appreciate your scruples. On reflection, however, there are in this affair, as regards my wife, certain delicate points, and your presence might, in the beginning, at all events, be embar- rassing to her. Would it be asking too much of you, if I requested you to go into the anteroom and leave me alone with my wife for a few moments? “Certainly not, monsieur; anything that will make it more agreeable for the baroness.” “Thanks, monsieur. As soon as I have informed her of the main facts, I will ask you to return.” Henri bowed, and, conducted by his host, retired at once to the room beyond. As he disappeared from view and the door closed behind him, the baron’s demeanor underwent a complete change. His little eyes contracted in a look of intense satisfied cunning, his pinched feat- ures became convulsed with silent laughter, and he rubbed his thin, white hands caressingly, one over the other. “Taith!” he thought, “it is enough to make one die with laughter! I knew well that there was a GComichbookssGco ALA