Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/204

180 "Oh Henry! Twin brothers do not cling to one another as you seem to do to this obscure little shepherd. No, listen to me; do not be angry with what I am going to say; but I do not think you have ever loved a woman as much as this wretched boy. Wait, you shall know all … The other evening I slipped into the copse behind the bank on which you were both seated. I overheard the burning and terrible things which you uttered to him with such a voice—Ah! a voice that would have torn out my bowels!… I was still there when you gave him a long kiss on the mouth, and when after you had dragged yourself to his knees, he threw himself in an ecstasy on to your bosom."

"Ah," said Kehlmark in a rage, "you stooped so low, Blandine. Spying! All my congratulations!"

And fearing to give way to his anger, after crushing her with a condemnatory glance, he prepared to leave the apartment. But she flung herself at his knees and seized his hands:

"Forgive me, Henry; but I could not go on any longer. I wished to know. At first I refused to believe my eyes and ears.