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to you that it was a real fool's bargain that I made。 This miserable fellow
paid me badly for my kindness to him。 I sent him to the university； and
later I took him into my service as secretary。 He had a black heart。 One
fine morning； he took to his heels and disappeared。〃
〃That was revolting ingratitude；〃 interrupted Antoinette； 〃and your
good work； madame； was poorly recompensed； but I do not see what
relation Samuel Brohl can have to my marriage。〃
〃You are too impatient； my darling。 If you had given me time I would
have told you that I had had the very unexpected pleasure of dining
yesterday with him at Mme。 de Lorcy's。 This German has made great
advances since I lost sight of him； not content with becoming a Pole； he is
now a person of vast importance。 He is called Count Abel Larinski； and he
is to marry very soon Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz。〃
The blood rushed into Antoinette's cheeks； and her eyes flashed fire。
Princess Gulof entirely mistook the sentiment that animated her； and said：
〃My dear； don't be angry； don't be indignant； your indignation will not help
you at all。 Without doubt； a rascal capable of deceiving such a charming
girl as you deserves death ten times over； but be careful not to make an
exposure！ My dear； scandal always splashes mud over every one
concerned； and there is a rather vulgar but exceedingly sensible Turkish
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proverb that says that the more garlic is crushed； the stronger becomes its
odour。 Believe me； you would not come off without a tinge of ridicule；
certain mistakes always appear a little ridiculous； and it is useless to
proclaim them to the universe。 Thank Heaven！ you are not yet the
Countess LarinskiI arrived in time to save you。 Be silent about the
discovery you have just made； by no means mention it to Samuel Brohl；
and seek a proper pretext to break with him。 You would not be a woman if
you could not find ten for one。〃
Mlle。 Moriaz could no longer refrain her anger。 〃Madame；〃 she
exclaimed excitedly； 〃will you declare to M。 Larinski； in my presence； that
his name is Samuel Brohl？〃
〃I made that declaration to him yesterdayit is useless to repeat it。 He
was nearer dead than alive； and I was truly sorry for the state into which I
had thrown him。 I cannot disguise from myself that I am the cause of all
this； why did I take the boy from his father's tavern and his natal mud？
Perhaps there he would have remained honest。 It was I who launched him
into the world and gave him the desire to advance； I put the trump…cards
into his hand； but he found that he could not win fast enough by fair play；
so he ended by cheating。 It is not my place to overwhelm the poor devil
we owe some consideration to those who are under obligations to us； and；
once more； I desire not to appear further in this business。 Promise me that
Samuel Brohl never will be informed of the measures I have taken。〃
She replied； in a haughty tone： 〃I promise you； madame； that I never
will do Count Larinski the wrong to repeat to him a single word of the
very likely story you have related to me。〃
The princess rose hastily； remained standing before Mlle。 Moriaz； and
contemplated her in silence； finally she said； in tones of the most cutting
sarcasm： 〃Ah！ you do not believe me； my dear。 Decidedly you do not
believe me。 You are right； you should not put faith in an old woman's
childish chatter。 No； my darling； there is no Samuel Brohl： I dined
yesterday at Maisons with the most authentic of Counts Larinski； and
nothing remains for me to say but to present my best wishes for the certain
happiness of the Countess Larinski； /et cetera/of the Countess Larinski
and company。〃
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With these words she bowed； turned on her heels； and disappeared。
Mlle。 Moriaz remained an instant as if stunned by a blow。 She
questioned herself as to whether she had not seen a vision； or had had the
nightmare。 Was it； indeed； a Russian princess of flesh and blood who had
just been there； who had been seated close beside her； and had conversed
so strangely with her that the belfry of Cormeilles could not hear it
without falling into a profound stupor？ In fact； the belfry of Cormeilles
had become silent； its bells no longer rang； an appalling silence reigned
for two leagues round。
Antoinette soon controlled her emotions。 〃The day before yesterday；〃
she thought； 〃this woman appeared to me to be deranged： she is a lunatic； I
wish that Abel were here； he could tell me what happened at dinner
between him and this dotard； and we should laugh over it together。
Perhaps nothing happened at all。 The Princess Gulof should be confined。
They do very wrong to let maniacs like that go at large。 It is dangerous；
the bells of Cormeilles have ceased ringing。 Ah！ /bon Dieu/； who knows？
Mme。 de Lorcy surely has a hand in this business； it is the result of some
grand plot。 How many acts are there in the play？ Here we are at the second
or third； but there are some jokes that are very provoking。 I shall end by
being seriously angry。〃
Princess Gulof appeared to have entirely failed in her object。 It seemed
to Mlle。 Moriaz that for the last twenty minutes she loved Count Larinski
more than ever before。
The hour drew near； he was on the way； she had never been so
impatient to see him。 She saw some one at the end of the terrace。 It was M。
Camille Langis； who was going towards the laboratory。
He turned his head； retraced his steps； and came to her。 M。 Moriaz had
asked him to translate two pages of a German memoir which he had not
been able to understand。 Camille was bringing the translation； perhaps that
was the reason of his coming back to Cormeilles after two days； perhaps；
too； it was only a pretext。
Mlle。 Moriaz could not help thinking that his visit was inopportune；
that he had chose an unfortunate time for it。 〃If the count finds him still
here；〃 thought she； 〃I am not afraid that he will make a scene； but all his
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pleasure will be spoiled。〃 There was a tinge of coldness in her welcome to
M。 Langis； of which he was sensible。
〃I am in the way；〃 he said； making a movement to retire。
She kept him； and altered her tone： 〃You are never in the way； Camille。
Sit there。〃
He seated himself； and talked of the races at Chantilly； that he had
attended the day before。
She listened to him； bowed her head in sign of approval； but she heard
his voice through a mist that veiled her senses。 She lifted her hand to brush
away a wasp that annoyed her by its buzzing。 The lace of her cuff； in
falling back； left her wrist exposed。
〃What a curious bracelet you have！〃 said M。 Langis。
〃Have you not seen it before？〃 she replied。 〃It is some time since〃
She interrupted herself； a sudden idea occurring to her。 She looked at
her wrist。 This bracelet from which she never was partedthis bracelet that
Count Larinski had given