THE VENUS OF ILLE
by prosper mérimée
Γλεὼς ἤν δἐγὼ, ἔστω δ ἀνδρίας
καὶ ἤπιος, οὔτως ἀνδρεῖαο ὤν.
Δουκιανου Φιλοψευδης.
I WAS descending the last slope of the Canigou, and though the sun was already set I could distinguish on the plain the houses of the small town of Ille, towards which I directed my steps.
"Of course," I said to the Catalan who since the day before served as my guide, "you know where M. de Peyrehorade lives?"
"Just don't I!" cried he; "I know his house like my own, and if it were not so dark I would show it to you. It is the finest in Ille. He is rich, M. de Peyrehorade is, and he marries his son to one richer even than he."
"Does the marriage come off soon?" I asked him.
"Soon? It may be that the violins are already ordered for the wedding. To-night perhaps, to-morrow, or the next day, how do I know?
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