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The Cardinal's Snuff-Box by Henry Harland
page 47 of 258 (18%)
won't think my curiosity impertinent--why Francois Villon?"

"Why not?" said Peter. "He made such a tremendous outcry when
he was condemned to death, for one thing. You should have
heard him. He has a voice! Then, for another, he takes such a
passionate interest in his meat and drink. And then, if you
come to that, I really had n't the heart to call him Pauvre
Lelian."

The Duchessa raised amused eyebrows.

"You felt that Pauvre Lelian was the only alternative?"

"I had in mind a remark of Pauvre Lilian's friend and confrere,
the cryptic Stephane," Peter answered. "You will remember it.
'L'ame d'un poete dans le corps d'un--' I--I forget the last
word," he faltered.

"Shall we say 'little pig'?" suggested the Duchessa.

"Oh, please don't," cried Peter, hastily, with a gesture of
supplication. "Don't say 'pig' in his presence. You'll wound
his feelings."

The Duchessa laughed.

"I knew he was condemned to death," she owned. "Indeed, it was
in his condemned cell that I made his acquaintance. Your
Marietta Cignolesi introduced us. Her air was so inexorable, I
'm a good deal surprised to see him alive to-day. There was
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