the purse-第7章

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double　meaning　marred　its　charm；　its　keenness　was　not

perifidious；　its　humor　seemed　kindly；　and　no　trace　of　remorse

disturbed　its　equanimity。



He　sat　down　to　the　card…table。　Adelaide　took　side　with　the

painter；　saying　that　he　did　not　know　piquet；　and　needed　a

partner。



All　through　the　game　Madame　de　Rouville　and　her　daughter

exchanged　looks　of　intelligence；　which　alarmed　Hippolyte　all　the

more　because　he　was　winning；　but　at　last　a　final　hand　left　the

lovers　in　the　old　lady's　debt。



To　feel　for　some　money　in　his　pocket　the　painter　took　his　hands

off　the　table；　and　he　then　saw　before　him　a　purse　which　Adelaide

had　slipped　in　front　of　him　without　his　noticing　it；　the　poor

child　had　the　old　one　in　her　hand；　and；　to　keep　her　countenance；

was　looking　into　it　for　the　money　to　pay　her　mother。　The　blood

rushed　to　Hippolyte's　heart　with　such　force　that　he　was　near

fainting。



The　new　purse；　substituted　for　his　own；　and　which　contained　his

fifteen　gold　louis；　was　worked　with　gilt　beads。　The　rings　and

tassels　bore　witness　to　Adelaide's　good　taste；　and　she　had　no

doubt　spent　all　her　little　hoard　in　ornamenting　this　pretty　piece

of　work。　It　was　impossible　to　say　with　greater　delicacy　that　the

painter's　gift　could　only　be　repaid　by　some　proof　of　affection。



Hippolyte；　overcome　with　happiness；　turned　to　look　at　Adelaide

and　her　mother；　and　saw　that　they　were　tremulous　with　pleasure

and　delight　at　their　little　trick。　He　felt　himself　mean；　sordid；

a　fool；　he　longed　to　punish　himself；　to　rend　his　heart。　A　few

tears　rose　to　his　eyes；　by　an　irresistible　impulse　he　sprang　up；

clasped　Adelaide　in　his　arms；　pressed　her　to　his　heart；　and　stole

a　kiss；　then　with　the　simple　heartiness　of　an　artist；　〃I　ask　for

her　for　my　wife！〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　at　the　Baroness。



Adelaide　looked　at　him　with　half…wrathful　eyes；　and　Madame　de

Rouville；　somewhat　astonished；　was　considering　her　reply；　when

the　scene　was　interrupted　by　a　ring　at　the　bell。　The　old　vice…

admiral　came　in；　followed　by　his　shadow；　and　Madame　Schinner。

Having　guessed　the　cause　of　the　grief　her　son　vainly　endeavored

to　conceal；　Hippolyte's　mother　had　made　inquiries　among　her

friends　concerning　Adelaide。　Very　justly　alarmed　by　the　calumnies

which　weighed　on　the　young　girl；　unknown　to　the　Comte　de

Kergarouet；　whose　name　she　learned　from　the　porter's　wife；　she

went　to　report　them　to　the　vice…admiral；　and　he；　in　his　rage；

declared　〃he　would　crop　all　the　scoundrels'　ears　for　them。〃



Then；　prompted　by　his　wrath；　he　went　on　to　explain　to　Madame

Schinner　the　secret　of　his　losing　intentionally　at　cards；　because

the　Baronne's　pride　left　him　none　but　these　ingenious　means　of

assisting　her。



When　Madame　Schinner　had　paid　her　respects　to　Madame　de　Rouville；

the　Baroness　looked　at　the　Comte　de　Kergarouet；　at　the　Chevalier

du　Halgathe　friend　of　the　departed　Comtesse　de　Kergarouetat

Hippolyte；　and　Adelaide；　and　said；　with　the　grace　that　comes　from

the　heart；　〃So　we　are　a　family　party　this　evening。〃







PARIS；　May　1832











End