Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/95

 bitter. How nice is the perception of a lover's senses!

At once she grew pale; her large blue eyes, which were sparkling with rapture, gazed joyfully amazed at the door which was behind me; her fork dropt upon the floor; she held her napkin before her face, and leaned a little back against the chair. I was just going to her assistance, when every face was turned towards the door. The chairs were suddenly overturned; every one left the table; a confused clamour filled the apartment; and turning my head, seized with astonishment, I beheld the Count enfolded in the arms of friendship.

What a feast for us to see him thus unexpectedly amongst us! We all received him as a lost and suddenly recovered treasure; the tenderest caresses were lavished upon him, but the most expressive endearments were only weak emblems of our ecstatic joy. He returned them faintly; but the languour which his words and