FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88  
89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   >>   >|  
he guilty party, and that he did it because his mother was unhappy, as she was on the point of losing the place of a.... servant, by which she lived, and because the child suffered at sight of his mother's sorrow." He spoke with suppressed emotion, rose partially and inclined toward the countess. There could be no doubt that the chevalier Floriani was Henriette's son. His attitude and words proclaimed it. Besides, was it not his obvious intention and desire to be recognized as such? The count hesitated. What action would he take against the audacious guest? Ring? Provoke a scandal? Unmask the man who had once robbed him? But that was a long time ago! And who would believe that absurd story about the guilty child? No; better far to accept the situation, and pretend not to comprehend the true meaning of it. So the count, turning to Floriani, exclaimed: "Your story is very curious, very entertaining; I enjoyed it much. But what do you think has become of this young man, this model son? I hope he has not abandoned the career in which he made such a brilliant debut." "Oh! certainly not." "After such a debut! To steal the Queen's Necklace at six years of age; the celebrated necklace that was coveted by Marie-Antoinette!" "And to steal it," remarked Floriani, falling in with the count's mood, "without costing him the slightest trouble, without anyone thinking to examine the condition of the window, or to observe that the window-sill was too clean--that window-sill which he had wiped in order to efface the marks he had made in the thick dust. We must admit that it was sufficient to turn the head of a boy at that age. It was all so easy. He had simply to desire the thing, and reach out his hand to get it." "And he reached out his hand." "Both hands," replied the chevalier, laughing. His companions received a shock. What mystery surrounded the life of the so-called Floriani? How wonderful must have been the life of that adventurer, a thief at six years of age, and who, to-day, in search of excitement or, at most, to gratify a feeling of resentment, had come to brave his victim in her own house, audaciously, foolishly, and yet with all the grace and delicacy of a courteous guest! He arose and approached the countess to bid her adieu. She recoiled, unconsciously. He smiled. "Oh! Madame, you are afraid of me! Did I pursue my role of parlor-magician a step too far?" She controlled herself, and replied, with
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88  
89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Floriani

 

window

 

desire

 
chevalier
 
mother
 

replied

 
countess
 

guilty

 

examine

 

simply


thinking
 

reached

 

efface

 

sufficient

 

observe

 
condition
 

excitement

 

recoiled

 

unconsciously

 
smiled

approached

 
delicacy
 

courteous

 

Madame

 

magician

 

parlor

 

controlled

 
afraid
 

pursue

 

foolishly


audaciously

 

wonderful

 

adventurer

 

called

 

surrounded

 

companions

 

received

 

mystery

 

victim

 

resentment


feeling

 

search

 

trouble

 

gratify

 

laughing

 

intention

 
recognized
 

hesitated

 

obvious

 

Besides