Whereupon after some groping she rang furiously and asked
for a lamp. It was Julien's fault too! If there had been a lamp in the
drawing room the whole affair would not have happened. It was the stupid
nightfall which had got the better of her heart.
"I beseech you to be reasonable, my pet," she said when Zoe had brought
in the lights.
The count, with his hands on his knees, was sitting gazing at the floor.
He was stupefied by what he had just seen. He did not cry out in anger.
He only trembled, as though overtaken by some horror which was freezing
him. This dumb misery touched the young woman, and she tried to comfort
him.
"Well, yes, I've done wrong. It's very bad what I did. You see I'm sorry
for my fault. It makes me grieve very much because it annoys you. Come
now, be nice, too, and forgive me."
She had crouched down at his feet and was striving to catch his eye with
a look of tender submission. She was fain to know whether he was very
vexed with her. Presently, as he gave a long sigh and seemed to recover
himself, she grew more coaxing and with grave kindness of manner added a
final reason:
"You see, dearie, you must try and understand how it is: I can't refuse
it to my poor friends.
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