MyvisitorwasnaturallysurprisedtofindthatIhadnothingparticulartosaytohim.Idarednottellhimwhatoccupiedmythoughts,andfortherestinventionfailedme.Buthisgaietyandthoseprettyaffectationsonwhichhespentaninfinityofpains,forthepurpose,apparently,ofhidingthesterlingworthofacharacterdeficientneitherincouragenorbackbone,wereunitedtomuchgoodnature.BelievingatlastthatIhadsentforhiminafitofthevapours,hedevotedhimselftoamusingmeandabusingBruhl——averyfavouritepastimewithhim.Andinthiswayhemadeoutacalloftwohours.
IhadnotlongtowaitforproofofSimon\'swisdomintakingthisprecaution.Wethoughtitprudenttokeepwithindoorsafterourguest\'sdeparture,andsopassedthenightinignorancewhetheranythinghadhappenedornot.ButaboutsevennextmorningoneoftheMarquis\'sservants,despatchedbyM.d\'Agen,burstinuponuswiththenews——whichwasnonewsfromthemomenthishurriedfootstepsoundedonthestairsthatFatherAntoinehadbeensetuponandkilledthepreviousevening!
Iheardthisconfirmationofmyhopeswithgravethankfulness;
Simonwithsomuchemotionthatwhenthemessengerwasgonehesatdownonastoolandbegantosobandtrembleasifhehadlosthismother,insteadofamortalfoe.Itookadvantageoftheoccasiontoreadhimasermonontheendofcrookedcourses;
norcouldImyselfrecallwithoutashuddertheman\'slastwordstome;orthelawlessandevildesignsinwhichhehadrejoiced,whilestandingontheverybrinkofthepitwhichwastoswallowupbothhimandthemineverlastingdarkness.