Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/209

Rh him marriage on condition of his keeping silence. "I accept the terms," he said, "but you must pay cash down."

"Oh, nonsense, there's no hurry," objected Blandine, "let us stay here a bit longer to add to our little hoard."

This virtuous woman, if ever there was one, let herself pass for a jade in the eyes of the rascal, who admired her for it only the more, never before having met with such hypocrisy and dissimulation. This duplicity delighted him, but not without also frightening him a little. Would not the rollicking wench after all be somewhat too "fast" for him? To Blandine's misfortune, he became more and more carnally enamoured of her. He would have so much liked "to draw a trifle on account," he said. Blandine now defended herself but half-heartedly, she eluded the consummation of the sacrifice, but could no longer escape it for any length of time. Landrillon redoubled his familiarities.

In truth, never had Blandine loved Henry de Kehlmark so much. Her sufferings then may be imagined. On the one side, exposed to the enterprises of an execrable clown and obliged to flatter his hatred of the Dykgrave: and on the other, forced to witness the close