A Parisian Romance — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

174 A PARISIAN ROMANCE, “Oh! not at all.” “Ah! Pardon me! I can read your heart, and in return I wish you to read mine. Iam not an angel, I am simply a man, an ordinary man, and I like those who like*me. Irender good for good; but I cannot do more, and render, for instance, good for evil, kindness for injury, friendship for hatred.” “Hatred! Oh, no!” “Well, antipathy, if you like,” said Chevrial, with a half-smile. “My dear madam, you have always had an antipathy for me that you have taken but little pains to dissemble. Frankly, that fact does not encourage me to aid you and your husband as I would like. I repeat, it is human nature to do for your friend what vou would not do for mere ac- quaintances, and still less for enemies.” “T have never been your enemy, monsieur,” re- plied Marcelle, with some dignity, “and less than ever since we owe you gratitude.” The baron laughed; it was not a loud nor a dis- cordant laugh, but somehow it sent a chill through Marcelle’s veins. “T do not want your gratitude,” he said. “Then what do you want?” she forced herself to ask. | ~“T want your friendship.” “Our friendship will doubtless be a natural con- sequence of your kindness.” | “But I mean your friendship in particular.” “JT made no exception as regards mine,” , Eomichooks: co