Lomaque looked at his host with perfect steadiness
for an instant, then his eyes began to get weak again. "You seem
to have some special interest," he quietly remarked, "if I may
say so without offense, in asking me that question."
"I deal frankly, at all hazards, with every one," returned
Trudaine; "and stranger as you are, I will deal frankly with you.
I acknowledge that I have an interest in asking that
question--the dearest, the tenderest of all interests." At those
last words, his voice trembled for a moment, but he went on
firmly; "from the beginning of my sister's engagement with
Danville, I made it my duty not to conceal my own feelings; my
conscience and my affection for Rose counseled me to be candid to
the last, even though my candor should distress or offend others.
When we first made the acquaintance of Madame Danville, and when
I first discovered that her son's attentions to Rose were not
unfavorably received, I felt astonished, and, though it cost me a
hard effort, I did not conceal that astonishment from my
sister--"
Lomaque, who had hitherto been all attention, started here, and
threw up his hands in amazement. "Astonished, did I hear you say?
Astonished, Monsieur Trudaine, that the attentions of a young
gentleman, possessed of all the graces and accomplishments of a
highly-bred Frenchman, should be favorably received by a young
lady! Astonished that such a dancer, such a singer, such a
talker, such a notoriously fascinating ladies' man as Monsieur
Danville, should, by dint of respectful assiduity, succeed in
making some impression on the heart of Mademoiselle Rose! Oh,
Monsieur Trudaine, venerated Monsieur Trudaine, this is almost
too much to credit!"
Lomaque's eyes grew weaker than ever, and winked incessantly as
he uttered this apostrophe.
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