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he inmost thoughts of either find response in the other's soul。
〃My former dreams assailed me again。 They were my own vehement longings for the pleasures of wealth that awoke； though it was in love's name that I now asked for them。 In the evenings I grew abstracted and moody； rapt in imaginings of the pleasures I could enjoy if I were rich； and thoughtlessly gave expression to my desires in answer to a tender questioning voice。 I must have drawn a painful sigh from her who had devoted herself to my happiness； for she； sweet soul； felt nothing more cruelly than the thought that I wished for something that she could not give me immediately。 Oh！ sir； a woman's devotion is sublime！〃
There was a sharp distress in the doctor's exclamation which seemed prompted by some recollection of his own； he paused for a brief while； and Genestas respected his musings。
〃Well； sir；〃 Benassis resumed； 〃something happened which should have concluded the marriage thus begun； but instead of that it put an end to it； and was the cause of all my misfortunes。 My father died and left me a large fortune。 The necessary business arrangements demanded my presence in Languedoc for several months； and I went thither alone。 At last I had regained my freedom！ Even the mildest yoke is galling to youth； we do not see its necessity any more than we see the need to work； until we have had some experience of life。 I came and went without giving an account of my actions to any one； there was no need to do so now unless I wished； and I relished liberty with all the keen capacity for enjoyment that we have in Languedoc。 I did not absolutely forget the ties that bound me； but I was so absorbed in other matters of interest； that my mind was distracted from them； and little by little the recollection of them faded away。 Letters full of heartfelt tenderness reached me； but at two…and…twenty a young man imagines that all women are alike tender； he does not know love from a passing infatuation； all things are confused in the sensations of pleasure which seem at first to comprise everything。 It was only later； when I came to a clearer knowledge of men and of things as they are； that I could estimate those noble letters at their just worth。 No trace of selfishness was mingled with the feeling expressed in them； there was nothing but gladness on my account for my change of fortune； and regret on her own； it never occurred to her that I could change towards her； for she felt that she herself was incapable of change。 But even then I had given myself up to ambitious dreams； I thought of drinking deeply of all the delights that wealth could give； of becoming a person of consequence； of making a brilliant marriage。 So I read the letters； and contented myself with saying； 'She is very fond of me；' with the indifference of a coxcomb。 Even then I was perplexed as to how to extricate myself from this entanglement； I was ashamed of it； and this fact as well as my perplexity led me to be cruel。 We begin by wounding the victim； and then we kill it； that the sight of our cruelty may no longer put us to the blush。 Late reflections upon those days of error have unveiled for me many a dark depth in the human heart。 Yes； believe me； those who best have fathomed the good and evil in human nature have honestly examined themselves in the first instance。 Conscience is the starting…point of our investigations； we proceed from ourselves to others； never from others to ourselves。
〃When I returned to Paris I took up my abode in a large house which； in pursuance with my orders； had been taken for me； and the one person interested in my return and change of address was not informed of it。 I wished to cut a figure among young men of fashion。 I waited a few days to taste the first delights of wealth； and when； flushed with the excitement of my new position； I felt that I could trust myself to do so； I went to see the poor girl whom I meant to cast off。 With a woman's quickness she saw what was passing in my mind； and hid her tears from me。 She could not but have despised me； but it was her nature to be gentle and kindly； and she never showed her scorn。 Her forbearance was a cruel punishment。 An unresisting victim is not a pleasant thing； whether the murder is done decorously in the drawing… room； or brutally on the highway； there should be a struggle to give some plausible excuse for taking a life。 I renewed my visits very affectionately at first； making efforts to be gracious； if not tender； by slow degrees I became politely civil； and one day； by a sort of tacit agreement between us； she allowed me to treat her as a stranger； and I thought that I had done all that could be expected of me。 Nevertheless I abandoned myself to my new life with almost frenzied eagerness； and sought to drown in gaiety any vague lingering remorse that I felt。 A man who has lost his self…respect cannot endure his own society； so I led the dissipated life that wealthy young men lead in Paris。 Owing to a good education and an excellent memory； I seemed cleverer than I really was； forthwith I looked down upon other people； and those who； for their own purposes； wished to prove to me that I was possessed of extraordinary abilities； found me quite convinced on that head。 Praise is the most insidious of all methods of treachery known to the world； and this is nowhere better understood than in Paris； where intriguing schemers know how to stifle every kind of talent at its birth by heaping laurels on its cradle。 So I did nothing worthy of my reputation； I reaped no advantages from the golden opinions entertained of me； and made no acquaintances likely to be useful in my future career。 I wasted my energies in numberless frivolous pursuits； and in the short…lived love intrigues that are the disgrace of salons in Paris； where every one seeks for love； grows blase in the pursuit； falls into the libertinism sanctioned by polite society； and ends by feeling as much astonished at real passion as the world is over a heroic action。 I did as others did。 Often I dealt to generous and candid souls the deadly wound from which I myself was slowly perishing。 Yet though deceptive appearances might lead others to misjudge me； I could never overcome my scrupulous delicacy。 Many times I have been duped； and should have blushed for myself had it been otherwise； I secretly prided myself on acting in good faith； although this lowered me in the eyes of others。 As a matter of fact the world has a considerable respect for cleverness； whatever form it takes； and success justifies everything。 So the world was pleased to attribute to me all the good qualities and evil propensities； all the victories and defeats which had never been mine； credited me with conquests of which I knew nothing； and sat in judgment upon actions of which I had never been guilty。 I scorned to contradict the slanders； and self…love led me to regard the more flattering rumors with a certain complacence。 Outwardly my existence was pleasant enough； but in reality I was miserable。 If it had not been for the tempest of misfortunes that very soon burst over my head； all good impulses must have perished； and evil would have triumphed in the struggle that went on within me； enervating self…indulgence would have destroyed the body； as the detestable habits of egotism exhausted the springs of the soul。 But I was ruined financially。 This was how it came about。
〃No matter how large his fortune may be； a man is sure to find some one else in Paris possessed of yet greater wealth； whom he must needs aim at surpassing。 In this unequal conquest I was vanquished at the end of four years； and； like many another harebrained youngster； I was obliged to sell part of my property and to mortgage the remainder to satisfy my creditors。 Then a terrible blow suddenly struck me down。
〃Two years had passed since I had last seen the woman whom I had deserted。 The turn that my affairs were taking would no doubt have brought me back to her once more； but one evening； in the midst of a gay circle of acquaintances； I received a note written in a trembling hand。 It only contained these few words：
〃 'I have only a very little while to live； and I should like to see you； my friend； so that I may know what will becom