Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/264

240 "Stuff and nonsense!"

"Thou doesn't believe it? Well I'm so sure of it for my part that if he refuses me I'll give myself to thee, Landrillon. I will be thy wife, and even to-morrow night, after the dance is over, I'll pay thee down cash on the spot."

By this brutal promise, the proud-minded hussy did not for a minute imagine she engaged herself to anything.

"In that case, I'm going to run and get our banns published," cried Landrillon exultingly, knowing as he did, better than the vulgar, slow-witted woman, where he stood as regards the weak matrimonial inclinations of his former master.

"May St. Olfgar aid thee!" he added jeeringly, as she retired, already convinced of her approaching conquest.

The Dykgrave received Claudie with much dignity and deference. His air of serene melancholy awed his visitor at first. But all the same, she presently told him without any oratorical preliminaries, the object of her visit.

Kehlmark did not treat her with disdain; he merely interrupted her with a distant