Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 3.djvu/156

134 of his love affairs with Madam ———, whose hus- band was so jealous and so violent.

The same evening Jules Lambert lost his money at cards. After that he thought he had better go and dance. While dancing, he acci- dentally knocked against a man, who had also lost his money and was in a very bad temper. Sharp words followed, and a challenge was given and taken. Jules begged Saint-Clair to act as his second, and, at the same time, bor- rowed money from him, which he was never likely to return.

After all, Saint-Clair was easy enough to live with. He was no one's enemy but his own; he was obliging, often genial, rarely tiresome; he had travelled much and read much, but never obtruded his knowledge or his experiences un- asked. In personal appearance he was tall and well made; he had a dignified and refined ex- pression — almost always too grave, but his smUe was pleasing and very attractive.

I am forgetting one important point. Saint- Clair paid attention to all women, and sought their society more than that of men. It was diffi- cult to say whether he was in love; but if this reserved being felt love, the beautiful Countess Mathilde de Coursy was the woman of his choice. She was a yoimg widow, at whose house