Poor Miraudin!--he must have many
little faggots to feed his flame! Oh, you look so shocked! But the
Marquis is just like him,--he also stage-manages."
"In what way?"
"Ah, he has an enormous theatre,--the world! A big stage,--society!
The harem is always being replenished! And he plays his part so
well! He has what the wise-acrescall 'perverted morals',--they are
so charming!--and he will not marry. He says, 'Why give myself to
one when I can make so many happy!' And why will not I, Sylvie
Hermenstein, be one of those many? Why will I not yield to the
embraces of Monsieur le beau Marquis? Not to marry him,--oh, no! so
free a bird could not have his wings clipped! And why will I not see
the force of this?--"
She stopped, for Angela sprang towards her exclaiming,
"Sylvie! Do you mean to tell me that the Marquis Fontenelle is such
a villain?--"
"Tais-toi! Dear little flame of genius, how you blaze!" cried
Sylvie, catching her friend by the hand and kissing it, "Do not call
Fontenelle a villain--he is too charming!--and he is only like a
great many other men. He is a bold and passionate person; I rather
like such characters,--and I really am afraid--afraid--" here she
hesitated, then resumed, "He loves me for the moment, Angela, and I-
-I very much fear I love him for a little longer than that! C'est
terrible! He is by no means worthy of it,--no, but what does that
matter! We women never count the cost of loving--we simply love! If
I see much of him I shall probably sink into the Quartier Latin of
love--for there is a Quartier Latin as well as a high class Faubourg
in the passion,--I prefer the Faubourg I confess, because it is so
high, and respectable, and clean, and grand--but--"
"Sylvie," said Angela determinedly, "You must come away from Paris,-
-you must not see this man--"
"That is what I have arranged to do," said Sylvie, her beautiful
violet eyes flashing with mirth and malice intermingled, "I am
flying from Paris .
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