第40部分(第8/8 頁)

nsider　the　transaction　of　any　moment　to　me。”

“You　don’t　know　the　gentlemen　here？　You　have　not　exchanged　a　syllable　with　one　of　them？　Will　you　say　that　of　the　master　of　the　house！”

“He　is　not　at　home。”

“A　profound　remark！　A　most　ingenious　quibble！　He　went　to　Millcote　this　morning；　and　will　be　back　here　to…night　or　to…morrow：　does　that　circumstance　exclude　him　from　the　list　of　your　acquaintance—　blot　him；　as　it　were；　out　of　existence？”

“No；　but　I　can　scarcely　see　what　Mr。　Rochester　has　to　do　with　the　theme　you　had　introduced。”

“I　was　talking　of　ladies　smiling　in　the　eyes　of　gentlemen；　and　of　late　so　many　smiles　have　been　shed　into　Mr。　Rochester’s　eyes　that　they　overflow　like　two　cups　filled　above　the　brim：　have　you　never　remarked　that？”

“Mr。　Rochester　has　a　right　to　enjoy　the　society　of　his　guests。”

“No　question　about　his　right：　but　have　you　never　observed　that；　of　all　the　tales　told　here　about　matrimony；　Mr。　Rochester　has　been　favoured　with　the　most　lively　and　the　most　continuous？”

“The　eagerness　of　a　listener　quickens　the　tongue　of　a　narrator。”　I　said　this　rathe