There was a moment when I was very angry with Suzette and almost shaking
her, when I saw in her eyes the first look of real passionate
affection--!
Are there any women in the world who could be mates?--who would be able
to love one, and hold one at the same time--satisfying one's mind and
one's spirit and one's body--?--Could Alathea--?--I do not know.
I had got this far in my speculations when a note was brought to me by a
smart French maid--it was now past eleven at night--.
It was from Coralie--.
"I am here, cher Ami--I am rather in a difficulty--Can I come to your
sitting-room?"
I scribbled "of course"--and in a moment she came--seductive and
distressful. Duquesnois had been recalled to the front suddenly--her
husband would be back on the morrow--. Might she stay and have some St.
Galmier water with me--could we ring the bell and order it, so that the
waiter might see her there?--because if the husband asked anything--he
could be sure it was only the much wounded Englishman, and he would not
mind--!!
I was sympathetic!--the St. Galmier came.
Coralie did not seem in a hurry to drink it, she sat by the fire and
talked, and looked at me with her rather small expressive eyes--and
suddenly I realized that it was not to save any situation that even a
complacent and much-tried war-husband might object to, but just to talk
to me alone--!!
She put forth every charm she possessed for half an hour--I led her
on--watching each move with interest and playing right cards in return.
Coralie is very well born and never could be vulgar or blatant, so it
was all entertaining for me. This is the first time she has had the
chance of being quite alone. We fenced--I showed enough empressement
not to discourage her too soon----and then I allowed myself to be
natural, which was being completely indifferent--and it worked its usual
charm!
Coralie grew restless--she got up from the sofa she stood by the
fire--she came at last quite close up to my chair--.
"What is there about you, Nicholas," she cooed, "which makes one forget
that you are wounded--. When I saw you even in the parc--with that
demoiselle I felt--that--"--She looked down with a sigh--.
"How hard upon Duquesnois, Coralie! a good-looking, whole man!"
"I have tired of him, Mon ami--he loves me too much--the affair has
become tame--."
"And I am wild, is that it?"
"A savage--yes--One feels that you would break one's bones if you were
angry--and would mock most of the time,--but if you loved. Mon
Dieu!--it would be worth while!"