The Argosy — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

36 Princess Eleanor. ‘“‘T should have left the whole thing unsaid,” Arsent here interposed. “ Did none of you remark the shudders it has cost Princess Eleanor ?” ‘All romantic ladies love horrible stories!” said Werdan, in his own defence. ; ‘‘ Who says that my sister is romantic ?” asked the Prince. ‘Princess Eleanor started the subject of esprits,” answered Werdan. “‘No! I did that,” the Florentine protested. “‘ Did you, really?” Arsent asked with a meaning smile. Werdan could not resist explaining that smile. He said: ‘ Yor forget, Arsent, that our friend was speaking of esprits in the plural, and not in the singular.” “‘T find that I am being discussed as if I were not present,” Eleanor now said. “If I did not really believe, my dear Werdan, that you would add all manner of nonsense to the story in question, I should make you tell it, even at the cost of ever so many shudders, which Arsent is generous enough to wish to spare me.” The gentlemen now outdid each other in telling Eleanor all the sweet things that came into their heads. How rude I must seem to her—I, who never have even dared to tell her how beautiful she is! And this Werdan, who cannot love her as I do, always succeeds in choosing the very words I wished to say! A hundred more subjects our conversa- tion touched upon, passing superficially over everything, and scarce stopping for a moment on topics of the utmost importance. Still the ghost story found its echo now and then—as some melody in an opera, which returns ever and anon without exciting attention, yet sings in our ears for a long time afterwards. Eleanor seemed to feel this; for when we took leave she said to us, with a graceful movement of fear : “T really think your friend, San Giuliano, has bewitched me with his ghost story. I shall not be able to go to sleep without taking Veronica Cibo into my dreams.” “Oh, might I make it the aim of my life to protect you from every dark thought !” Werdan whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. With a look of love in his eyes he kissed her hand as—I alone have a right to kiss it. But it came worse and worse, and from another quarter. It was the very next evening. We were all sitting round the tea- table, when Werdan got up, and went to the piano to play a brilliant waltz. When he had finished, Eleanor begged him to play something serious, upon which he came back to the table, and advised Eleanor to engage Arsent for that purpose, as it was much more in his way. Eleanor asked Arsent if he really played, and_ the latter) timidly answering, “A little,” she begged him to please her by going to the comiliclhbooks.co