Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 1.djvu/224

146 and a nose like the tower of Lebanon. In short, two years have passed without me being able to say how. I have done nothing, learned nothing, but I have lived two years almost unperceived."

"I would like to know that you were occupied. I would like to see you have a lively interest in something useful. I fear idleness for you."

"Frankly speaking, madam, my travels did this for me. While I accomplished nothing, I was not absolutely idle. When one sees things of interest, one is not bored; and I, when I am bored, am very apt to do foolish things. True, I have sown my wild oats, and I have likewise forgotten a certain number of expeditious ways which I had of spending my money. My poor aunt paid my debts, and I have made no others, I wish to make no others. I have enough to live as a bachelor; and as I make no pretensions of being richer than I am I shall not be extravagant. You smile; you do not believe in my reformation? You need the proof? Listen then to a fact. To-day, Famin, the friend who invited me to dinner, wished to sell me his horse. A thousand dollars! He is a superb animal! My first impulse was to buy him. Then I said to myself that I was not rich enough to put a