Her heart, crushedby all her miseries, had not the
strength to keep anything back.
Yes, Sir, said theservant, greatly confused. I must
ask you to withdraw atonce to your own room. On taking leave of one another, Armance
and her cousin were aliketormented by dark suspicions. Theseprojects, long under
consideration, became apparent only at the momentof their execution. The great
ladies who hadmarriageable daughters were furious. Indesperation at this proof of
his disgrace, he left the roomimmediately. There were moments in which she fancied
that she had forgotten evenher love for Octave.
Oh, my dear angel, he said to her, how farsuperior
you are to me!
The Marquise tookrefuge in enthusiastic praise of
Mademoiselle de Zohiloffs character. This burst of spontaneous eloquence greatly
enhanced the Chevaliersreputation.
Yes,Mama, to marry Armance to-morrow, if that angel
will still have me. Nevertheless, the Commander did not seem to be atall convinced
of his sisters seizure.
The gaiety of this happymother infected Octave and
his mistress. This action cast an air of solemnity over the room for someminutes and
amused Madame dAumale. This action cast an air of solemnity over the room for
someminutes and amused Madame dAumale. His sombre nature makeshim too much inclined
as it is to that sort of life. Octave has not enoughrelatives in society, and his
reserved manner makes him no friends.
She made her preparations for thejourney, as did
Armance. All the young women followed in her wake.
Theseprojects, long under consideration, became
apparent only at the momentof their execution.
Octave hastened to tell his uncle, whom he found
wideawake.
On taking leave of one another, Armance and her
cousin were aliketormented by dark suspicions. She made her preparations for
thejourney, as did Armance. This third day was even moresombre than those that had
gone before.