eat。 Unfortunately； I fear this marriage will not come about； there is one
little difficulty。〃
〃What？〃
〃Count Larinski forgot to apprise us that he was already married。〃
Mlle。 Moiseney sent forth a doleful cry。 M。 Moriaz handed her Mme。
de Lorcy's letter； after reading it； she remained in a state of deep dejection；
a pitiless finger had burst the iris bubble that she had just blown； and that
she saw resplendent at the end of her pipe。
〃Do not give way to your despair；〃 said M。 Moriaz； 〃take courage；
follow the example I set you； imitate my resignation。 But tell me； how do
you think Antoinette will take the matter？〃
〃It will be a terrible blow to her；〃 replied Mlle。 Moiseney； 〃she loves
him so much！〃
〃How do you know； since she has not judged it best to tell you？〃
〃I know from circumstances。 Poor dear Antoinette！ The greatest
consideration must be used in announcing to her this intelligence； and I
alone； I believe〃
〃I agree with you；〃 M。 Moriaz hastened to interpose； 〃you alone are
capable of operating on our patient without causing her suffering。 You are
so skilful！ your hand is so light！ Make the best of the situation；
mademoiselleI leave it to you。〃
With these words he took up his hat and cane； and hastened to get
away； rather anxious about what had passed； yet feeling too happy； too
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much rejoiced； to be a good consoler。
It was not long before Mlle。 Moriaz returned from her walk。 She came
humming a ballad； she was joyous； her complexion brilliant； her eyes
sparkling； and she carried an armful of heather and ferns。 Mlle。 Moiseney
went to meet her； her face mournful； her head bent down； her glance
tearful。
〃Why！ what is the matter； my dear Joan？〃 she said； 〃you look like a
funeral。〃
〃Alas！〃 sighed Mlle。 Moiseney； 〃I have sad news to communicate。〃
〃What！ have they written to you from Cormeilles that your parrot is
dead？〃
〃Ah； my dear child； be reasonable； be strong； summon up all your
courage。〃
〃For the love of God； what is the matter？〃
〃Ah！ would that I could spare you this trouble！ Your father has just
received a letter from Mme。 de Lorcy。〃
Antoinette grew more attentive； her breath came quickly。 〃And what
was there in this letter that is so terrible； so heart…rending？〃 she asked；
forcing a smile。
〃Fortunately； I am here；〃 replied Mlle。 Moiseney。 〃You know that your
joys and your sorrows are mine。 All the consolation that I can lavish upon
you； the tenderest sympathy〃
〃My dear Joan； in the name of Heaven； explain first； and then
console！〃 〃You told me nothing； my childI have a right to complain； but
I have divined all。 I can read your heart。 I am sure that you love him。〃
〃Of whom do you speak？〃 replied Antoinette； whose colour rose in her
cheeks。
〃Of a most charming man； who； either through inconceivable stupidity；
or through most criminal calculation； neglected to tell us that he was
married。〃
And with these words； Mlle。 Moiseney extended both arms； that she
might receive into them Mlle。 Moriaz； whom she believed to be already
swooning。
Mlle。 Moriaz did not swoon。 She flushed crimson； then grew very pale；
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but she remained standing； her head proudly erect； and she said； in a tone
of well…feigned indifference： 〃Oh！ M。 Larinski is married？ My very
sincere compliments to the Countess Larinski。〃
After which she busied herself arranging in a vase the heather and
ferns she had brought back with her。 Mlle。 Moiseney stood lost in
astonishment at her calm； she gazed in a stupor at her； and suddenly
exclaimed： 〃Thank God！ you do not love him！ Your father has mistaken；
he often mistakes； he sometimes gets the strangest ideas into his mind； he
was persuaded that this would be a death…blow to you； he does not know
you at all。 Ah！ unquestionably； M。 Larinski is far from being disagreeable；
I do not dispute his having some merit； but I always thought that there was
something suspicious about him； his manners were a little equivocal； I
suspected him of hiding something from us。 As it appears； he has made a
/mesalliance/ that he did not care to acknowledge。 It is deplorable that a
man of such excellent address should have low tastes and doubtful
morality。 His duty was to tell us all； he was neither loyal nor delicate。〃
〃You dream； my dear；〃 replied Antoinette。 〃What law； human or divine；
obliged M。 Larinski to tell us everything？ Did you expect him to render an
account of his deeds and misdeeds to us as to a tribunal of penance？〃
In speaking thus； she took off her hat and mantilla； seated herself in
the embrasure of a window； and opened a book which she began to read
with great attention。
〃God be praised！ she does not love him；〃 thought Mlle。 Moiseney； who
was not aware that Mlle。 Moriaz was turning two or three pages at a time
with perceiving it。
Deeply absorbed as she was； she still recognised her father's step as he
came upstairs to his room。 She hurried out to meet him。 He noticed with
pleasure that her face was not wan； nor were her eyes red。 He was less
satisfied when she said； in a calm； clear voice：
〃Please show me the letter that you have received from Mme。 de
Lorcy。〃
〃What is the use？〃 he rejoined。 〃I know it by heart。 I am ready to recite
it to you。〃
〃Is it a letter that cannot be shown？〃
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〃No； indeed； but as I tell you that I am ready to give you an account of
it〃
〃I would prefer to read it with my own eyes。〃
〃After all； you have a right。 There！ take it。 But I beg of you do not be
offended by unfortunate expressions。〃
〃Mme。 de Lorcy always knows how to choose the proper word to
express her thought；〃 she responded。
When she had run her eye rapidly over Mme。 de Lorcy's eight closely
written pages； she looked at her father and smiled。
〃You must own that you found a very useful and a very zealous ally in
Mme。 de Lorcy； do her this justice； she has worked hard； and you owe her
many thanks for having busied herself so actively in ridding you of 'this
worthy man； this good man； this delightful man'； those are her own words；
if you remember。〃
M。 Moriaz exclaimed： 〃I hope you do not imagine that it was a matter
arranged between us。 Do you really suspect me of having some dark plot
with Mme。 de Lorcy！ Do you believe me capable of being implicated in an
act of perfidy？〃
〃God forbid！ I only accuse you of being too joyous； and of not
knowing how to conceal it。〃
〃Is that a crime？〃
〃Perhaps it is an indiscretion。〃
〃I swear to you； my dear child； that I only consider your happiness；
and Mme。 de Lorcy herself Since M。 Langis no longer thinks of you；
what reason could she have〃
〃I do not know；〃 interrupted Antoinette； 〃but her prejudice would take
the place of reason。〃
〃So you will not believe that Count Larinski is married？〃
〃I believe it； without being certain； and I wish to be assured of it。 Have
I not acted in good faith through all this matter？ was I not ready to comply
with your conditions？ I consented to refer to the judgment of Mme。 de
Lorcy。 She has deigned to be gracious to the accused。 She has admitted
that M。 Larinski is a perfectly honourable and even a delightful man； but
she has discovered； at intervals of several days； first； that he does not love
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me； and then； that he has deceived me by letting me believe that he was
still free。 I wish to satisfy my own mind； and convince myself that I am
not being played with。〃
〃And you have concluded〃
〃I have concluded that； with your permission； we shall leave to…
morrow morning for Corme