Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/151

Rh "Monsieur is too good," stammered Govaertz, "but frankly I am afraid you will lose your pains. The scapegrace will do you no credit."

"On the contrary, Monsieur," added the lad's sister, "he will only be an occasion to you of annoyance. He does not care for anybody or anything; or rather, he has eccentric tastes and proclivities, thinking black when honest people think white."

"Never mind, I will try the experiment," resumed the Count of Kehlmark, striking the dust off his boots with his whip, and putting as little expression as possible into his voice. "I confess I have a liking for difficult tasks, for those that require perseverance and even some courage. Thus, I have tamed and brought into good order restive horses. I even admit, and this is not to my credit, that it sometimes suffices to induce me to undertake a task if you defy me to do it. Difficulty excites and danger intoxicates me. I have the gambler's mania. By entrusting to me this wrongheaded, undisciplined youth, you would oblige me. Let me see! It is possible," he added, "I may go and take up the young fellow to-morrow, as I shall be riding in the