You walk in seven-league boots."
"There is something the matter with you to-night," Newman said in
response to this. "You are vicious. Spare me all discordant sounds until
after my marriage. Then, when I have settled down for life, I shall be
better able to take things as they come."
"And when does your marriage take place?"
"About six weeks hence."
Valentin was silent a while, and then he said, "And you feel very
confident about the future?"
"Confident. I knew what I wanted, exactly, and I know what I have got."
"You are sure you are going to be happy?"
"Sure?" said Newman. "So foolish a question deserves a foolish answer.
Yes!"
"You are not afraid of anything?"
"What should I be afraid of? You can't hurt me unless you kill me by
some violent means. That I should indeed consider a tremendous sell.
I want to live and I mean to live. I can't die of illness, I am too
ridiculously tough; and the time for dying of old age won't come round
yet a while. I can't lose my wife, I shall take too good care of her. I
may lose my money, or a large part of it; but that won't matter, for I
shall make twice as much again. So what have I to be afraid of?"
"You are not afraid it may be rather a mistake for an American man of
business to marry a French countess?"
"For the countess, possibly; but not for the man of business, if you
mean me! But my countess shall not be disappointed; I answer for
her happiness!" And as if he felt the impulse to celebrate his happy
certitude by a bonfire, he got up to throw a couple of logs upon the
already blazing hearth.
Pages:
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313