14/17 And the duke went and caught her by the shoulder and said: "Come, don't be silly, mother. We can settle our accounts with Mr.Aycon in another way than this." His touch and words seemed to sober her--or perhaps her passion had run its course. She turned to him, and her lips parted with a smile, a cunning and--if my opinion be asked--loathsome smile; and she caressed the lapel of his coat with her hand. And the duke, who was smoking, smoked on, so that the smoke blew in her face, and she coughed and choked: whereat the duke also smiled. He set the right value on his instrument, and took pleasure in showing how he despised her. |