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She replied by a motion of the head。
〃I should confess；〃 he resumed； 〃that the passion that is called the
grand passion is for me a sealed letter； the mystery of mysteries。 I am
completely ignorant of it。 Yet that did not prevent my marrying； and
making a choice that brought me great happiness。 Your method is different；
and I must believe that you have yielded to an irresistible force。 It seems
to me； however； that resistance can always be made。 You have will；
character〃
She interrupted him； murmuring； 〃It is either he or no one。〃
〃Oh！ if it comes to that；〃 he continued； 〃you are of age； and mistress of
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your actions； there is nothing for me but to submit。 Still； it will be painful
to you； I like to believe； to marry in opposition to my wishes。〃
〃Do you doubt it？ I am willing not to marry。〃
〃Bad solution！ It is worse than the other。 Let us come to terms。 The
positive has its place only in science。 It is absolutely true that borax is a
salt composed of boracic acid and soda。 Beyond such facts all is uncertain。
Does this happy man surmise the sentiments he has inspired？〃
〃I tell you that you do not know him？ Do you take him for a coxcomb？
When he came this morning to announce his departure； his serious
intention was to bid us an eternal farewell； and never to see me again。〃
〃A most excellent idea that；〃 sighed M。 Moriaz。 〃Unfortunately； you
represented to him that it took but two hours to go from Paris to
Cormeilles。〃
〃I had trouble to persuade him of it。〃
〃Well； since the matter stands thus； nothing is yet lost。 You know； my
dear； that my physician advised me to beware of abrupt transitions； and
not to change too suddenly from the keen air of Engadine to the heavy
atmosphere of the plains。 On leaving Saint Moritz； we will descend five
hundred metres lower； and remain three weeks at Churwalden；
consequently； we will not be in Paris for a month。 You will employ this
month in somewhat calming your imagination。 It is very easy for it to
become excited in these mountain…holes； without taking into account the
wearisomeness of hotel…life。 From the very day after our arrival you took a
dislike to the paper in our little /salon/； and its squares； I confess； are very
ugly。 In every square； a thrush stretching out its neck to peck a currant。
Two hundred thrushes and two hundred currantsit was enough to weary
you to death。 Suddenly there appears a Pole〃
〃The thrushes had nothing to do with it；〃 she replied； smiling。 〃A
month hence I shall say as I do to…day。 'It is either he or no one。' And you
shall choose。〃
〃Do not repeat that formula； I beg。 Fixed resolves are the prison… house
of the will。 Promise me to reflect； reflection is an excellent thing。 One
thing moregrant me in advance what I am going to ask you。〃
〃It is granted。〃
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〃You have a godmother〃
〃Ah！ now we are coming to the point；〃 she added。
〃You cannot deny that Mme。 De Lorcy is a woman of the world； a
woman of good sense； a woman of experience； who is deeply interested in
your welfare〃
〃And who has decided from time immemorial； that I can only be
happy on condition that I marry her nephew； M。 Camille Langis。〃
〃Well； I admit that she is partial。 That is no reason why we should not
send her our Pole。 She will inspect him； she will tell us her opinion； it will
be a new element in the argument。〃
〃Ah！ I know her opinion without asking it。 This woman of experience
and good sense is incapable of recognising merit in a man who is
sufficiently impertinent to make Mlle。 Moriaz love him； without having at
least fifty thousand livres a year to offer her。〃
〃What does that matter？ We will let her speakwe need not question
her； an oracle； but she knows false jewellery。 If she discover〃
〃I would require proofs；〃 she interrupted； quickly。
〃And if she furnish them？〃
She was silent an instant； then she said： 〃Let it be so； do as you
please。〃
With these words they ended the conversation； then arose； and retook
the road to Saint Moritz。 M。 Moriaz scarcely had reached there； when he
entered a carriage to drive to Cellarina； provided with a portfolio given
him by Antoinette。 He found M。 Larinski busy strapping his trunks； and
waiting for the mail…coach that made the journey between Samaden and
Chur by the Col du Julier。
M。 Moriaz expressed his regret at having missed his visit； and asked if
he would consent to charge himself with a commission for his daughter；
who desired to send to her godmother； Mme。 De Lorcy； a sketch of Saint
Moritz。
〃Cheerfully；〃 coldly replied Count Abel； and he promised； so soon as
he reached Paris； to send the portfolio to Maisons Lafitte。
〃Do better than that；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz； 〃and carry your good…nature
so far as to take it yourself to its address。 Mme。 de Lorcy is an amiable
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woman； who will be charmed to make your acquaintance； and hear from
you of us。〃
The count bowed with a submissive air。 There was so little ardour in
this submission that M。 Moriaz queried if his daughter had not been
dreaming； if M。 Larinski was as much in love with her as she fancied。 He
had not read the anonymous letter； Antoinette had refrained from even
mentioning it to him。
He was returning to Saint Moritz； when he met midway a pedestrian；
who； lost in thought； neither looked at him nor recognised him。 M。 Moriaz
ordered the coachman to stop； sprang out of the carriage； went up to the
traveller whom he seized by both shoulders； exclaiming：
〃What； you！ you again！ I can go nowhere in Grisons without meeting
you。 I ask as I did at Chur； 'Where do you come from？' 〃
〃Did you think I would stay there forever？〃 rejoined M。 Camille
Langis； reproachfully。 〃You have not kept your word； you have forgotten
me； you did not write to me。 I am tired of waiting； so here I am。〃
〃And where are you going？〃
〃To the Hotel Badrutt； to plead my own cause； becaus