Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/37

Rh in his look which reminded me, in spite of my- self, of the man whom I had seen climbing the tree the night before. . ..

"But what probability," I said to myself, "is there that Count Szémioth would climb trees by night?"

His forehead was high and well-developed, although rather narrow. His features were large and regular, but his eyes were too close together, and I did not think that, measured from one lachrymal gland to the other, there was the width of an eye, the canon of Greek sculptors. His glance was piercing. Our eyes met several times, in spite of ourselves, and we looked at each other with some embarrassment. All at once the Count burst out laughing.

"You recognise me!" he said.

"Recognise you?"

"Yes, you detected me yesterday playing a scoundrelly part."

"Oh! Monsieur le Comte!"

"I had passed a suffering day shut up in my bedroom. As I was somewhat better at night I went for a walk in the garden. I saw your light and yielded to curiosity. . .. I ought to have told you who I was, and introduced myself properly, but I was in such a ridiculous situation. . .. I was ashamed, and so I fled.