And all this, the count seemed never weary of repeating, was mine--
mine alone. Leaning back on the velvet cushions, I gazed at the
changing landscape, as the train rushed madly on. Leaning over
me, M. de Chalusse named all the towns and villages we passed:
Brunoy, Melun, Fontainebleau, Villeneuve, Sens, Laroche. And each
time the train stopped the servants came to ask if we wished for
anything. When we reached Lyons, in the middle of the night, we
found a delicious supper awaiting us. It was served as soon as we
alighted, and in due time we were warned that the train was ready
to start, and then we resumed our journey. You can imagine,
perhaps, how marvellous all this seemed to a poor little
apprentice, whose only ambition a week before was to earn five
francs a day. What a change indeed! At last the count made me
retire to one of the compartments, where I soon fell asleep,
abandoning my efforts to distinguish what was dreamlike in my
situation from reality. However, when I woke up I became terribly
anxious. I asked myself what was awaiting me at the end of this
long journey. M. de Chalusse's manner continued kind, and even
affectionate; but he had regained his accustomed reserve and self-
control, and I realized that it would be useless on my part to
question him. At last, after a thirty hours' journey by rail, we
again entered the count's berline, drawn by post-horses, and
eventually M. de Chalusse said to me: 'Here is Cannes--we are at
our journey's end.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232