French fiction -- Translations into English; Short stories, French -- Translations into English
"I do not understand much about these things," replied the Prince of
Augsbourg, after having glanced at the bundle of proofs, "but all this
seems to me very good." He glanced through them again more slowly,
stopping at certain passages that he recognized, and, a detail that
Alfred was surprised to note, his face grew visibly more sombre. This
made his resemblance to his grandfather much more striking. One would
have said that to hold in his hand this book, which was, in a measure,
his production since he had kept the memorialist at work at his own
expense during the past two years, was more than painful to him. At
last he returned the sheets to the young man, saying: "Yes, that is
very good--but perhaps you will have to add some notes to it. Yes,"
he continued after a moment's hesitation, "I received a letter this
morning informing me that certain documents will be placed at my
disposal. I shall have to go to Paris to fetch them. I have come to
ask you to accompany me--Thanks," he went on as Alfred Boyer nodded
assent, "I did not doubt that you would be willing to come--" He
hesitated again, then with an effort he added: "Doubtless you have
heard something about the Duchesse d'Ivrea."
"The Duchesse d'Ivrea?" repeated the young man. "I thought that title
was one of those belonging to the Princess of Augsbourg."
"It is borne by the widow of my younger brother," interrupted the
colonel, who added in a singular tone: "You are right. All the titles
of the family should belong to the eldest, but my uncle was formerly
called the Duc d'Ivrea, and my brother naturally took the same title.
I am surprised at your not knowing this, after having been busy with
the marshal, as you have, for almost twenty months. It is true," and a
bitter smile curled his lips, "that, compared with him, we are scarcely
interesting. And then my brother and I had not visited each other, and
I do not know his wife. That is why I never mentioned her to you. She
is very ill, she informs me--given up by her physicians, in fact. She
wishes to deliver into my hands some family papers left in her keeping
by my brother. I can rely on you, then. The most interesting part of
them is a correspondence with Moreau during the latter's sojourn in
America. You know that the marshal made a campaign with him in Holland.
He foresaw his failure and wished to prevent it. These letters were
offered for sale some years ago. They got them away from me because
they were wealthier than I, but now they wish to return them to me, and
it is right that they should. We should find a place for them in the
second volume. That will mean a great deal of revising, but it is worth
the trouble. I shall leave you now, as I have many orders to attend to.
We shall start this evening." ...
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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