Page:A Leaf in the Storm.djvu/160

 myself, "Surely she has learned to love me a little now."

It is an old old story, you will say. Yes, very old. I left her, and went to the theatre. I remember walking down the avenue in the brilliant sunlight. It had rained at noonday. It was a red and golden evening, very beautiful. The band was playing in the Place Royale. Every one was out. From the little gardens there were all sorts of sweet scents from roses and mignonettes and carnations, and all fragrant midsummer things that were growing in the warmth and the moisture. Clouds in all manner of lovely shapes swept above the green hills, and seemed to rest on them.

I saw the people go in and out of the gaming rooms. I pitied them for wasting this divine weather, which they were all free to enjoy as they would, in that feverish atmosphere. Amongst them there came out Carolyié. He appeared to avoid or not to see me; he passed by on the other side, and went on to dine at Baas-Cogez.

Some one near me said,

"What good-fortune that young man has! He wins every day. If he goes on like that one week more, he will break the bank."

Another added,

"Because he wants nothing, he gets everything."