..I despise you!..."
And he burst into tears. She allowed him to insult her.
She thought of but one thing, to keep him from leaving the box.
"You will beg my pardon, one day, for all those ugly words, Raoul,
and when you do I shall forgive you!"
He shook his head. "No, no, you have driven me mad! When I think
that I had only one object in life: to give my name to an opera wench!"
"Raoul!...How can you?"
"I shall die of shame!"
"No, dear, live!" said Christine's grave and changed voice.
"And...good-by. Good-by, Raoul..."
The boy stepped forward, staggering as he went. He risked one
more sarcasm:
"Oh, you must let me come and applaud you from time to time!"
"I shall never sing again, Raoul!..."
"Really?" he replied, still more satirically. "So he is taking
you off the stage: I congratulate you!...But we shall meet
in the Bois, one of these evenings!"
"Not in the Bois nor anywhere, Raoul: you shall not see me again
..."
"May one ask at least to what darkness you are returning?...For
what hell are you leaving, mysterious lady...or for what paradise?"
"I came to tell you, dear, but I can't tell you now.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149