Man and Maid

"Yes,--I know."

"How do you know?" I asked innocently, affecting surprise.

"I used to hear them when I was typing."

I smiled. I did not defend them.

"If you should chance to meet, would you be civil to them?"

"Of course, 'Coralie,' 'Odette,' and 'Alice,' the Duchesse has often

described them all! It was 'Coralie' who came to talk to you at

Versailles in the park, was it not?"

Her voice was contemptuously amused and indifferent, but her little

nostrils quivered. Underneath she was disturbed I knew.

"Yes, Coralie is charming, she knows more about how to put clothes on

becomingly than any other woman."

"Do they dine often? Because I could perhaps arrange to go and have my

music lesson with Monsieur Trani on those evenings, twice a week or

oftener?"

"You would refuse to meet them?" I pretended to be annoyed.

"Certainly not, one does not do ridiculous things like that. I will meet

whoever you wish. I only thought it might spoil your pleasure if I were

there, unless of course you have told them that I am only a permanent

secretary masquerading under the name of your wife--so that they need

not restrain themselves."

Her face had become inscrutable. She was quite calm now. I grew

uncertain again for a moment. Had I carried the bluff far enough?

"They have all quite charming manners, but as you infer they might not

be so amused to come to the dinner of a married man. I think the last

part of your speech was rather a reflection upon my sense of being a

gentleman though. I of course have not informed anyone of our quaint

relations.--But remember you told me once you did not think I was a

gentleman, so I must not be offended now."

She did not speak, she was looking down and her eyelashes made a shadow

on her cheeks. Her mouth was sad.

Suddenly something pathetic about her touched me. She is such a gallant

little fighter. She has had such an ugly cruel life, and Oh! God she is

growing to love me, and soon shall I be able to tell her that I worship

the ground she walks on, and appreciate her proud spirit and great

self-respect? But I cannot chance anything. I must go on and follow what

I know to be sound psychological reasoning.

I felt my will weakening then, she looked so perfectly exquisite there

in the corner of the sofa. We were alone.--It was nearly ten o'clock at

night, the flowers were scenting the air, the lights were soft, the

dinner had been perfection. After all I am a man, and she legally

belongs to me. I felt the blood rushing wildly in my veins. I had to

clench my hands and shut my eye.