下载辰思小说免费APP
“Why，not？Ineverknewawomanyethowevercoldhoweverfondofchange，whohadnotatsometimeorotherduringherlifemetamanforwhosesakeshewouldhavedone-whatIdid。Ihavehadasmanyadmirers-asmanylovers，Isuppose，asmostwomen。ButIcantruthfullysaythatduringthelastthreeyearsnothoughtofoneofthemhascrossedmymind。“
LadyCareylaughedscornfully。
“Uponmyword，“shesaid。“IfthePrincehadnotatemper，andiftheywerenotplayingforsuchruinouspoints，Iwouldentertainthemallwiththesedelightfulconfidences。Bythebye，thePrincehimselfwasonceoneofthosewhofellbeforeyourchariotwheels，washenot？Lookathimnow-sideways。Whatdoesheremindyouof？“
Lucilleraisedhereyes。
“Afatangel，“sheanswered，“orsomethingequallydistasteful。HowIhatethosemildeyesandthatsweet，slowsmile。IsawhimthrashapoorbeateronceintheSaxeLeinitzerforests。Ugh！“
“Ishouldnotblamehimforthat，“LadyCareysaidcoldly。“Ilikemasterfulmen，eventothepointofcruelty。GeneralDolinskitherefascinatesme。Ibelievethathekeepsalittleprivateknoutathomeforhiswifeandchildren。Awickedlittlecontrivancewithanivoryhandle。Ishouldliketoseehimuseit。“
Lucilleshuddered。Thistete-a-tetedidnotamuseher。Sheroseandlookedoveroneofthebridgetablesforaminute。ThePrince，whowasdealing，lookedupwithasmile。
“Bemygoodangel，Countess，“hebegged。“Fortunehasdesertedmeto-night。Youshallbethegoddessofchance，andsmileyourfavoursuponme。“
AhardlittlelaughcamefromthechairwhereLadyCareysat。Sheturnedherheadtowardsthem，andtherewasamaliciousgleaminhereves。
“Toolate，Prince，“sheexclaimed。“ThefavoursoftheCountessareallgivenaway。Lucillehasbecomeevenasoneofthoseflaxen-haireddollsofyourmountainvillages。Shehasgivenherheartaway，andsheissworntoperpetualconstancy。“
ThePrincesmiled。
“Theabsence，“hesaid，glancingupattheclock，“ofthatmostfortunatepersonshouldsurelycountinourfavour。“
Lucillefollowedhiseyes。Theclockwasstrikingten。Sheshruggedhershoulders。
“Iftheconversealsoistrue，Prince，“shesaid，“youcanscarcelyhaveanythingtohopeforfromme。Forbyhalf-pasttenhewillbehere。“
ThePrincepickeduphiscardsandsortedthemmechanically。
“Weshallsee，“heremarked。“Itistrue，Countess，thatyouarehere，butinthisinstanceyouaresetwiththorns。“
“Tocontinuetheallegory，Prince，“sheanswered，passingontothenexttable，“alsowithpoisonousberries。Buttothehandwhichhasnofear，neitherareharmful。“
ThePrincelaiddownhishand。
“NowIreallybelieve，“hesaidgently，“thatshemeanttoberude。
Partner，Ideclarehearts！“
FelixwasstandingoutfromthenexttablewhilsthashandwasbeingplayedbyGeneralDolinski，hispartner。Hedrewheralittleononeside。
“DonotirritateSaxeLeinitzer，“hewhispered。“Remember，everythingmustrestwithhim。Twiceto-nightyouhavebroughtthatsmiletohislips，andIneverseeitwithoutthinkingofunpleasantthings。“
“Youareright，“sheanswered；“butIhatehimso。HeandMurielCareyseemtohaveenteredintosomeconspiracytoleadmeontosaythin
