rshly； “keep at a distance； child； or go in to Sophie！” Continuing then to pursue his walk in silence； I ventured to recall him to the point whence he had abruptly diverged—
“Did you leave the balcony； sir；” I asked； “when Mdlle。 Varens entered？”
I almost expected a rebuff for this hardly well…timed question； but； on the contrary； waking out of his scowling abstraction； he turned his eyes towards me； and the shade seemed to clear off his brow。 “Oh； I had forgotten Céline！ Well； to resume。 When I saw my charmer thus e in acpanied by a cavalier； I seemed to hear a hiss； and the green snake of jealousy； rising on undulating coils from the moonlit balcony； glided within my waistcoat； and ate its way in two minutes to my heart’s core。 Strange！” he exclaimed； suddenly starting again from the point。 “Strange that I should choose you for the confidant of all this； young lady； passing strange that you should listen to me quietly； as if it were the most usual thing in the world for a man like me to tell stories of his opera…mistresses to a quaint； inexperienced girl like you！ But the last singularity explains the first； as I intimated once before： you； with your gravity； considerateness； and caution were made to be the recipient of secrets。 Besides； I know what sort of a mind I have placed in munication with my own： I know it is one not liable to take infection： it is a peculiar mind： it is a unique one。 Happily I do not mean to harm it： but； if I did； it would not take harm from me。 The more you and I converse； the better； for while I cannot blight you； you may refresh me。” After this digression he proceeded—
“I remained in the balcony。 ‘They will e to her boudoir； no doubt；’ thought I： ‘let me prepare an ambush。’ So putting my hand in through the open windo