Червоне та чорне

One o’Clock in the Morning

           

           "Itisverybig,andmaybreakthewindowsofthesalondownbelowortheroomonthegroundfloor."

           "Youmustnotbreakthewindows,"repliedMathildemakingavainefforttoassumeanordinaryconversationaltone;"itseemstomeyoucanlowertheladderbytyingacordtothefirstrung.Ihavealwaysasupplyofcordsathand."

           "Sothisisawomaninlove,"thoughtJulien."Sheactuallydarestosaythatsheisinlove.Somuchself-possessionandsuchshrewdnessintakingprecautionsaresufficientindicationsthatIamnottriumphingoverM.deCroisenoisasIfoolishlybelieved,butthatIamsimplysucceedinghim.Asamatteroffact,whatdoesitmattertome?DoIloveher?Iamtriumphingoverthemarquisinsofarashewouldbeveryangryathavingasuccessor,andangrierstillatthatsuccessorbeingmyself.HowhaughtilyhelookedatmethiseveningintheCaféTortoniwhenhepretendednottorecogniseme!Andhowmaliciouslyhebowedtomeafterwards,whenhecouldnotgetoutofit."

           Julienhadtiedthecordtothelastrungoftheladder.Helowereditsoftlyandleantfaroutofthebalconyinordertoavoiditstouchingthewindowpane."Afineopportunitytokillme,"hethought,"ifanyoneishiddeninMathilde’sroom;"butaprofoundsilencecontinuedtoreigneverywhere.

           Theladdertouchedtheground.Juliensucceededinlayingitontheborderoftheexoticflowersalongsidethewall.

           "Whatwillmymothersay,"saidMathilde,"whensheseesherbeautifulplantsallcrushed?Youmustthrowdownthecord,"sheaddedwithgreatself-possession.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 469 з 702