Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/175

Rh marriers of my stamp, gallants with none but good intentions, are not come across every day."

"Do not insist, Monsieur Landrillon; I have only one answer."

"Ah, then, you must have designs on someone else."

"No, I shall never marry."

"Well, then at least you love somebody else?"

"That must be my secret and a matter between my conscience and myself."

Rather elevated, for he had drunk several glasses of gin in order to give himself a little Dutch courage, he ventured to take her by the waist, squeeze her, and even steal a kiss. But she pushed him away, and as he began again, fetched him a box of the ears, threatening to complain to the Count. So, for the time, he considered he had said enough.

This scene took place in the early days of their settling down at Escal-Vigor.

But Landrillon did not consider himself beaten. He returned to the charge, taking advantage of moments when he found himself alone with her, to importune her with familiarities and liberties.

Whenever he had been drinking she ran