Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/269

Rh, the infamous fellows! But woe to them!"

"Ah, my word, now thou beginn'st to see clear at last. That's lucky! Whilst pretending to be smitten on thee, the noble sir prided himself on deceiving folk as to his real amorous propensities."

Thereupon he set to and related all that he had discovered, inventing and amplifying where he could not invoke the evidence of his senses.

She choked with spite, but manifested especially much virtuous disgust.

"Listen," she said to Thibaut, "I will surrender myself to thee this very evening. It's a sworn thing. But, on condition only that thou tak'st revenge for me on all, beginning with my brother, that underhanded, rotten wretch, whom I throw over for ever."

With a clever intelligence, born of hatred, she was resolved to strike Guidon in order the better to attain Kehlmark.

"Above all, no slander!" said Landrillon.

"Be easy about that! The season is favourable to us. This fair will excuse every extravagance!" she murmured, with a frightful smile.