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not been a duty； but the inevitable； while Amelie would serenely
pronounce the most solemn promises without knowing their purport or to
what they bound her。 The crushed； the dead woman； so to speak； the
sinner to be reinstated； seemed to me sublime； she incited the special
generosities of a man's nature； she demanded all the treasures of the
heart； all the resources of strength； she filled his life and gave the
zest of a conflict to happiness； whereas Amelie； chaste and confiding；
would settle down into the sphere of peaceful motherhood； where the
commonplace must be its poetry； and where my mind would find no
struggle and no victory。
〃Of the plains of Champagne and the snowy； storm…beaten but sublime
Alps； what young man would choose the chalky； monotonous level？ No；
such comparisons are fatal and wrong on the threshold of the Mairie。
Alas！ only the experience of life can teach us that marriage excludes
passion； that a family cannot have its foundation on the tempests of
love。 After having dreamed of impossible love； with its infinite
caprices； after having tasted the tormenting delights of the ideal； I
saw before me modest reality。 Pity me； for what could be expected！ At
five…and…twenty I did not trust myself； but I took a manful
resolution。
〃I went back to the Count to announce the arrival of his relations；
and I saw him grown young again in the reflected light of hope。
〃 'What ails you； Maurice？' said he； struck by my changed expression。
〃 'Monsieur le Comte'
〃 'No longer Octave？ You； to whom I shall owe my life； my
happiness'
〃 'My dear Octave； if you should succeed in bringing the Countess back
to her duty； I have studied her well'（he looked at me as Othello
must have looked at Iago when Iago first contrived to insinuate a
suspicion into the Moor's mind）'she must never see me again； she
must never know that Maurice was your secretary。 Never mention my name
to her； or all will be undone。 。 。 。 You have got me an appointment as
Maitre des Requeteswell； get me instead some diplomatic post abroad；
a consulship； and do not think of my marrying Amelie。Oh！ do not be
uneasy；' I added； seeing him draw himself up； 'I will play my part to
the end。'
〃 'Poor boy！' said he； taking my hand； which he pressed； while he kept
back the tears that were starting to his eyes。
〃 'You gave me the gloves；' I said； laughing； 'but I have not put them
on； that is all。'
〃We then agreed as to what I was to do that evening at Honorine's
house； whither I presently returned。 It was now August； the day had
been hot and stormy； but the storm hung overhead； the sky was like
copper； the scent of the flowers was heavy； I felt as if I were in an
oven； and caught myself wishing that the Countess might have set out
for the Indies； but she was sitting on a wooden bench shaped like a
sofa； under an arbor； in a loose dress of white muslin fastened with
blue bows； her hair unadorned in waving bands over her cheeks； her
feet on a small wooden stool； and showing a little way beyond her
skirt。 She did not rise； she showed me with her hand to the seat by
her side； saying：
〃 'Now； is not life at a deadlock for me？'
〃 'Life as you have made it； I replied。 'But not the life I propose to
make for you； for； if you choose； you may be very happy。 。 。 。'
〃 'How？' said she； her whole person was a question。
〃 'Your letter is in the Count's hands。'
〃Honorine started like a frightened doe； sprang to a few paces off；
walked down the garden； turned about； remained standing for some
minutes； and finally went in to sit alone in the drawing…room； where I
joined her； after giving her time to get accustomed to the pain of
this poniard thrust。
〃 'Youa friend？ Say rather a traitor！ A spy； perhaps； sent by my
husband。'
〃Instinct in women is as strong as the perspicacity of great men。
〃 'You wanted an answer to your letter； did you not？ And there was but
one man in the world who could write it。 You must read the reply； my
dear Countess； and if after reading it you still find that your life
is a deadlock； the spy will prove himself a friend； I will place you
in a convent whence the Count's power cannot drag you。 But； before
going there； let us consider the other side of the question。 There is
a law； alike divine and human； which even hatred affects to obey； and
which commands us not to condemn the accused without hearing his
defence。 Till now you have passed condemnation； as children do； with
your ears stopped。 The devotion of seven years has its claims。 So you
must read the answer your husband will send you。 I have forwarded to
him； through my uncle； a copy of your letter； and my uncle asked him
what his reply would be if his wife wrote him a letter in such terms。
Thus you are not compromised。 He will himself bring the Count's
answer。 In the presence of that saintly man； and in mine； out of
respect for your own dignity； you must read it； or you will be no
better than a wilful； passionate child。 You must make this sacrifice
to the world； to the law； and to God。'
〃As she saw in this concession no attack on her womanly resolve； she
consented。 All the labor or four or five months had been building up
to this moment。 But do not the Pyramids end in a point on which a bird
may perch？ The Count had set all his hopes on this supreme instant；
and he had reached it。
〃In all my life I remember nothing more formidable than my uncle's
entrance into that little Pompadour drawing…room； at ten that evening。
The fine head； with its silver hair thrown into relief by the entirely
black dress； and the divinely calm face； had a magical effect on the
Comtesse Honorine； she had the feeling of cool balm on her wounds； and
beamed in the reflection of that virtue which gave light without
knowing it。
〃 'Monsieur the Cure of the White Friars；' said old Gobain。
〃 'Are you come； uncle； with a message of happiness and peace？' said
I。
〃 'Happiness and peace are always to be found in obedience to the
precepts of the Church；' replied my uncle； and he handed the Countess
the following letter：
〃 'MY DEAR HONORINE；
〃 'If you had but done me the favor of trusting me； if you had read
the letter I wrote to you five years since； you would have spared
yourself five years of useless labor； and of privations which have
grieved me deeply。 In it I proposed an arrangement of which the
stipulations will relieve all your fears； and make our domestic life
possible。 I have much to reproach myself with； and in seven years of
sorrow I have discovered all my errors。 I misunderstood marriage。 I
failed to scent danger when it threatened you。 An angel was in the
house。 The Lord bid me guard it well！ The Lord has punished me for my
audacious confidence。
〃 'You cannot give yourself a single lash without striking me。 Have
mercy on me； my dear Honorine。 I so fully appreciated your
susceptibilities that I would not bring you back to the old house in
the Rue Payenne； where I can live without you； but which I could not
bear to see again with you。 I am decorating； with great pleasure；
another house； in the Faubourg Saint…Honore； to which； in hope； I
conduct not a wife whom I owe to her ignorance of life； and secured to
me by law； but a sister who will allow me to press on her brow such a
kiss as a father gives the daughter he blesses every day。
〃 'Will you bereave me of the right I have conquered from your despair
that of watching more closely over your needs； your pleasures； your
life even？ Women have one heart always on their side； always abounding
in excusestheir mother's； you never knew any mother but my mother；
who would have brought you back to me。 But how is it that you never
guessed that I had for you the heart of a mother； both of my mother
and of your own？ Yes； dear； my affection is neither mean nor grasping；
it is one of those which will never let any annoyance last long enough
to pucker the brow of the child it worships。 What can you think of the
companion of your childhood； Honorine； if you believe him capable of
accepting kisses given in trembling； of living between delight and
anxiety？ Do not fear that you will be exposed to the laments of a
suppliant passion； I would n