James Branch Cabell

The Line of Love James Branch Cabell

Book Excerpt: ... he principals taking the affair thus quietly, we may with profit emulate them. So I let lapse this delicate matter of young Florian's paternity, and begin with his wedding._CHAPTER IThe Episode Called The Wedding Jest1. Concerning Several Compacts It is a tale which they narrate in Poictesme, telling how love began between Florian de Puysange and Adelaide de la Forêt. They tell also how young Florian had earlier fancied other women for one reason or another; but that this, he knew, was the great love of his life, and a love which would endure unchanged as long as his life lasted. And the tale tells how the Comte de la Forêt stroked a gray beard, and said, "Well, after all, Puysange is a good fief--""As if that mattered!" cried his daughter, indignantly. "My father, you are a deplorably sordid person.""My dear," replied the old gentleman, "it does matter. Fiefs last."So he gave his consent to the match, and the two young people...