M.PELETcouldnotofcourseobjecttotheproposalmadebyMdlle.Reuterpermissiontoacceptsuchadditionalemployment,shoulditoffer,havingformedanarticleofthetermsonwhichhehadengagedme.Itwas,therefore,arrangedinthecourseofnextdaythatIshouldbeatlibertytogivelessonsinMdlle.Reuter’sestablishmentfourafternoonsineveryweek.
WheneveningcameIpreparedtostepoverinordertoseekaconferencewithMademoiselleherselfonthesubjectIhadnothadtimetopaythevisitbefore,havingbeenalldaycloselyoccupiedinclass.Irememberverywellthatbeforequittingmychamber,IheldabriefdebatewithmyselfastowhetherIshouldchangemyordinaryattireforsomethingsmarter.AtlastIconcludeditwouldbeawasteoflabour.“Doubtless,”thoughtI,“sheissomestiffoldmaidforthoughthedaughterofMadameReuter,shemaywellnumberupwardsoffortywintersbesides,ifitwereotherwise,ifshebebothyoungandpretty,Iamnothandsome,andnodressingcanmakemeso,thereforeI’llgoasIam.”AndoffIstarted,cursorilyglancingsidewaysasIpassedthetoilet-table,surmountedbyalooking-glass:athinirregularfaceIsaw,withsunk,darkeyesunderalarge,squareforehead,complexiondestituteofbloomorattractionsomethingyoung,butnotyouthful,noobjecttowinalady’slove,nobuttfortheshaftsofCupid.
Iwassoonattheentranceofthepensionnat,inamomentIhadpulledthebellinanothermomentthedoorwasopened,andwithinappearedapassagepavedalternatelywithblackandwhitemarblethewallswerepaintedinimitationofmarblealsoandatthefarendopenedaglassdoor,throughwhichIsawshrubsandagrass-plat,lookingpleasantinthesunshineofthemildspringevening—foritwasnowthemiddleofApril.
This,then,wasmyfirstglimpseofthegardenbutIhadnottimetolooklong,theportress,afterhavingansweredintheaffirmativemyquestionastowhetherhermistresswasathome,openedthefolding-doorsofaroomtotheleft,andhavingusheredmein,closedthembehindme.Ifoundmyselfinasalonwithaverywell-painted,highlyvarnishedfloorchai