Page:Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal, t. I.djvu/26

 me lose my senses.

"As I got up I felt so weak and exhausted that it seemed as if I were walking in a trance, so, without exactly knowing whither I wended my steps, I mechanically followed some persons in front of me, and, a few moments afterwards, I unexpectedly found myself in the green room.

"The saloon was almost empty. At the further end a few dandies were grouped round a young man in evening dress, whose back was turned towards me. I recognized one of them as Briancourt."

"What, the General's son?"

"Precisely."

"I remember him. He always dressed in such a conspicuous way."

"Quite so. That evening, for instance, when every gentleman was in black, he, on the contrary, wore a white flannel suit; as usual, a very open Byron-like collar, and a red Lavalliére cravat tied in a huge bow."

"Yes, for he had a most lovely neck and throat."

"He was very handsome, although I, for