The Argosy — page 30: what you’re looking at

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20 Monsieur Silvain’s Sccret. ” Monsieur Silvain petitioning again and again “ for just one more song, till the evening had insensibly passed away. At last, suddenly becoming conscious of the fact that he had not yet dined, their visitor, with a profusion of thanks and apologies, took his leave. When the little gentleman had bowed himself out, Madame Evrard turned to her companion and demanded abruptly : ‘Well, what do you think of my neighbour?” Renée, who was still seated at the piano, running her fingers absently over the keys, wheeled round on the music-stool. “TI think he is ‘charming, charming!’” she replied, with a droll imitation of his manner ; “ but he is aliving anachronism. He ought to have been a functionary of the vieille cour, instead of a clerk under the Republic. But there is something quaint and pleasant in his old- fashioned gallantry, and he has a face one can trust.” “‘T am glad you like him,” her friend replied, complacently. ‘I assure you that he returns the compliment with interest. In fact, Renée, you have made a conquest.” The girl lifted her pretty brows with a look of laughing incred- ulity. ‘Really? I had no idea I was so fascinating. But what a very susceptible old gentleman he must be! ” “Old?” her friend repeated with some resentment. “I don’t know what you call old. He can’t be much over fifty.” “Well, that isn’t exactly the first bloom of youth, is it?” “Tt is the prime of life fora man. And he doesn’t look his age. With such good hair and teeth ” Renée broke into an irrepressible laugh. ‘ Why, Monsieur Silvain has bewitched your sight! His luxuriant hair is the most innocent wig I ever saw; and as for his teeth ‘Well, it doesn’t matter,” Madame Evrard answered hastily; “a man’s appearance is of very little consequence if he is eligible in every other respect—which our neighbour undoubtedly is. Rich, good- natured and good-mannered ; occupying, it appears, a responsible post under Government—let me tell you, Renée, that such a match is not to be despised by a girl in your position.” “Perhaps not,” she acquiesced, mildly ; “but as I happen to be already engaged i The widow let her knitting fall into her lap. “ Engaged ?” she repeated ; “‘to whom ?” “To Maurice Delaunay.” “Did you not tell me that the engagement had been broken off by his people three years ago?” “Yes —but not by himself. He would have married me in defiance of them, but I told him that I would not be his wife till— till I had fulfilled my task and cleared my father’s name of the stain of dishonour.” “And you think he will wait for you?” her friend questioned, with a cynically compassionate smile; ‘that shows how little you comicbooks.com