Let us proceed.
You will, of course, not occupy Albert's apartments. They will be walled
off, as soon as I am free of the police. Thank heaven! the house is
large. You will occupy the other wing; and there will be a separate
entrance to your apartments, by another staircase. Servants, horses,
carriages, furniture, such as become a viscount, will be at your
service, cost what it may, within forty-eight hours. On the day of your
taking possession, you must look as though you had been installed there
for years. There will be a great scandal; but that cannot be avoided. A
prudent father might send you away for a few months to the Austrian or
Russian courts; but, in this instance, such prudence would be absurd.
Much better a dreadful outcry, which ends quickly, than low murmurs
which last forever. Dare public opinion; and, in eight days, it will
have exhausted its comments, and the story will have become old. So,
to work! This very evening the workmen shall be here; and, in the first
place, I must present you to my servants."
To put his purpose into execution, the count moved to touch the
bell-rope. Noel stopped him.
Since the commencement of this interview, the advocate had wandered in
the regions of the thousand and one nights, the wonderful lamp in his
hand.
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