Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/172



lavishing his attentions on those around him and on the community in general, Kehlmark redoubled his marks of kindness to Landrillon. He treated him with more good humour than ever, affecting to take fresh pleasure in his barrack-room yarns.

But the rascal was not the dupe of this manifestation of good-will. Without showing aught thereof, he had not delayed to take umbrage at the influence of the little Guidon Govaertz on Henry de Kehlmark, and perhaps he surprised a slight glimpse—nothing renders us more perspicacious than envy—of the extent of the affection which these two beings bore to one another. Let the reader imagine the feeling of ignoble jealousy that might affect a circus clown who sees success and popularity abandon him for the sake of a comedian of graver and more serious cast, and he will