Голод

           HowwoulditfarewithmeifIwere,intothebargain,tosullymyhonour?Itissimplymysenseofhonourthatkeepsmeafloatnow.Butitisstrongenoughtoo;atleast,ithaskeptmeuptodate."

           Ithrewbackmyhead,turnedawayfrom"Missy,"andlookeddownthestreet.Myeyesrestedonareddressthatcametowardsus;onawomanataman’sside.IfIhadnothadthisconversationwith"Missy,"Iwouldnothavebeenhurtbyhiscoarsesuspicion,andIwouldnothavegiventhistossofmyhead,asIturnedawayinoffence;andsoperhapsthisreddresswouldhavepassedmewithoutmyhavingnoticedit.Andatbottomwhatdiditconcernme?WhatwasittomeifitwerethedressoftheHon.MissNagel,thelady-in-waiting?"Missy"stoodandtalked,andtriedtomakegoodhismistakeagain.Ididnotlistentohimatall;Istoodthewholetimeandstaredatthereddressthatwascomingnearerupthestreet,andastirthrilledthroughmybreast,aglidingdelicatedart.Iwhisperedinthoughtwithoutmovingmylips:

           "Ylajali!"

           Now"Missy"turnedroundalsoandnoticedthetwo—theladyandthemanwithher,—raisedhishattothem,andfollowedthemwithhiseyes.Ididnotraisemyhat,orperhapsIdidunconsciously.ThereddressglidedupCarlJohann,anddisappeared.

           "Whowasitwaswithher?"asked"Missy."

           "TheDuke,didn’tyousee?Theso-called’Duke.’Didyouknowthelady?"

           "Yes,inasortofway.