FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   >>  
save her lover's life, she must forsake her love, or if she elected the other alternative must send him to his death. That Volney would let this burden of choice fall on her I would scarce let myself believe; and yet--there was never a man more madly, hopelessly in love than he. His passion for her was like a whirlwind tossing him hither and thither like a chip on the boiling waters, but I thought it very characteristic of the man that he used his influence to have me moved to a more comfortable cell and supplied with delicacies, even while he plotted against me with my love. After that first visit he used to come often and entertain me with the news and gossip of the town. I have never met a more interesting man. He was an onlooker of life rather than an actor, an ironical cynic, chuckling with sardonic humour. The secret of his charm lay perhaps in a certain whimsical outlook and in an original turn of mind. Once I asked him why he found it worth while to spend so many hours with me when his society was so much sought after by the gayest circle in the town. "I acquit you of any suspicion of philanthropy, Sir Robert. I give you credit for pursuing a policy of intelligent selfishness. You must know by this time that I will not purchase my life, nor let it be purchased, on the terms which you propose. Well then, I confess it puzzles me to guess what amusement you find in such a hole as this." "Variety spices life. What's a man to do to keep himself from ennui? For instance, I got up this morning at ten, with Selwyn visited Lady Dapperwit while she was drinking coffee in her nightrail, talked a vast deal of scandal with her, strolled in the park with Fritz, from there to White's in a sedan, two hours at lunch, and an hour with you for the good of my soul." "The good of your soul?" I quizzed. "Yes, I visit you here and then go away deuced thankful for my mercies. I'm not to be hanged next week, you know. I live to marry the girl." "Still, I should think you might find more interesting spots than this." "I am a student of human nature, Montagu." "A condemned prisoner, never a wit at the best of times, full of fears and agues and fevers! One would scarce think the subject an inviting one for study." "There you do yourself injustice. Y'are the most interesting man I know. A dozen characters are wrapped up in you. You have the appearance of being as great a rip as the rest of us, and I vow your looks do no
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   >>  



Top keywords:
interesting
 

scarce

 

scandal

 

talked

 

amusement

 
nightrail
 
strolled
 

confess

 
coffee
 

drinking


spices

 

Variety

 
morning
 

instance

 
puzzles
 

Dapperwit

 
Selwyn
 
visited
 

thankful

 

fevers


Montagu

 

condemned

 

appearance

 

prisoner

 

subject

 

injustice

 

inviting

 

wrapped

 

characters

 

mercies


hanged

 
deuced
 

student

 

nature

 

quizzed

 
acquit
 

influence

 
comfortable
 

supplied

 
characteristic

boiling
 

waters

 
thought
 
delicacies
 

entertain

 

gossip

 
plotted
 

thither

 
alternative
 

elected