THE PRISONER OF ZENDA

CHAPTER 1
The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs

“I wonder when in the world you’re going to do anything, Rudolf?” said mybrother’s wife.

“My dear Rose,” I answered, laying down my egg-spoon, “why in the world shouldI do anything? My position is a comfortable one. I have an income nearlysufficient for my wants (no one’s income is ever quite sufficient, you know), Ienjoy an enviable social position: I am brother to Lord Burlesdon, andbrother-in-law to that charming lady, his countess. Behold, it is enough!”

“You are nine-and-twenty,” she observed, “and you’ve done nothing but—”

“Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn’t need to do things.”

This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows (and thereforethere can be no harm in referring to the fact) that, pretty and accomplished asshe herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls.Besides her attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my brother Robertwas wise enough not to mind about her ancestry. Ancestry is, in fact, a matterconcerning which the next observation of Rose’s has some truth.

“Good families are generally worse than any oth

BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!

Sitemize Üyelik ÜCRETSİZDİR!