Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/179

Rh "See here," he said, in a wheedling tone, touching her on the shoulder, "don't let us fall out with each other my fine one. Listen to me rather. Its only your good that's wanted, confound it all! You'd be nice and wrong to keep on loving this neglectful and disdainful aristo. What a deceiver! Don't you see he has ceased to care for you?"

And as she raised her head he made her a sign, putting his finger to his mouth, to listen to the strangely passionate song which the disciple was singing to his master, and after another silence, during which they both lent their ears to the sounds from above, he said in a low voice:—

"You see, our master thinks much more of this peasant boy than of you or me. Therefore, in your place, I'd leave him in the lurch and let him give himself up to this blackguard and the other brutes of peasants. Here, Blandine, you will wear yourself out with sorrow, you'll fade away through vexation. Your beauty will vanish without being of advantage to the least creature on God's earth. If you'll take my advice, my dear, we will both return to the town. I have had enough of our holiday at Smaragdis. It is not to be believed, but since this sly