DOI article:
Harland, Henry: The invisible prince
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26393#0088
The Invisible Prince
84
only one objection to their hypocrisy—it so rarely covers any
wickedness. It’s such a disappointment to see a creature stalking
towards you, laboriously draped in sheep’s clothing, and then to
discover that it’s only a sheep. You, for instance, as I took the
liberty of intimating a moment ago, in spite of your perfectly
respectable appearance, are a perfectly respectable woman. If
you weren’t, wouldn’t I be making furious love to you, though ! ”
“As I am, I can see no reason why you shouldn’t make furious
love to me, if it would amuse you. There’s no harm in firing
your pistol at a person who’s bullet-proof.”
“ No ; it’s merely a wanton waste of powder and shot.
However, I shouldn’t stick at that. The deuce of it is. . . .
You permit the expression ? ”
“ I’m devoted to the expression.”
“The deuce of it is, you profess to be married.”
“ Do you mean to say that you, with your unprincipled foreign
notions, would be restrained by any such consideration as that ? ”
“ I shouldn’t be for an instant—if I weren’t in love with
you.”
“ Comment done? Deja ? ” she cried with a laugh.
“ Oh, deja ! Why not ? Consider the weather—consider the
scene. Is the air soft, is it fragrant ? Look at the sky—good
heavens !—and the clouds, and the shadows on the grass, and the
sunshine between the trees. The world is made of light to-day,
of light and colour, and perfume and music. Tutt’ intorno canta
amor, amor jamore ! What would you have ? One recognises one’s
affinity. One doesn’t need a lifetime. You began the business
at the WohenhofFens’ ball. To-day you’ve merely put on the
finishing touches.”
“ Oh, then I a?n the woman you met at the masked ball ? ”
“Look me in the eye, and tell me you’re not.”
“ I haven’t
84
only one objection to their hypocrisy—it so rarely covers any
wickedness. It’s such a disappointment to see a creature stalking
towards you, laboriously draped in sheep’s clothing, and then to
discover that it’s only a sheep. You, for instance, as I took the
liberty of intimating a moment ago, in spite of your perfectly
respectable appearance, are a perfectly respectable woman. If
you weren’t, wouldn’t I be making furious love to you, though ! ”
“As I am, I can see no reason why you shouldn’t make furious
love to me, if it would amuse you. There’s no harm in firing
your pistol at a person who’s bullet-proof.”
“ No ; it’s merely a wanton waste of powder and shot.
However, I shouldn’t stick at that. The deuce of it is. . . .
You permit the expression ? ”
“ I’m devoted to the expression.”
“The deuce of it is, you profess to be married.”
“ Do you mean to say that you, with your unprincipled foreign
notions, would be restrained by any such consideration as that ? ”
“ I shouldn’t be for an instant—if I weren’t in love with
you.”
“ Comment done? Deja ? ” she cried with a laugh.
“ Oh, deja ! Why not ? Consider the weather—consider the
scene. Is the air soft, is it fragrant ? Look at the sky—good
heavens !—and the clouds, and the shadows on the grass, and the
sunshine between the trees. The world is made of light to-day,
of light and colour, and perfume and music. Tutt’ intorno canta
amor, amor jamore ! What would you have ? One recognises one’s
affinity. One doesn’t need a lifetime. You began the business
at the WohenhofFens’ ball. To-day you’ve merely put on the
finishing touches.”
“ Oh, then I a?n the woman you met at the masked ball ? ”
“Look me in the eye, and tell me you’re not.”
“ I haven’t