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business had prevented his coming sooner。 Mme。 de Lorcy thanked him
for his kindness； with rather a cool politeness； and asked him for news of
her goddaughter。 He did not expatiate on this topic。
〃The valley of Saint Moritz is a dreary country；〃 she next said。
〃Rather say； madame； that it is a dreary country possessing a great
charm for those who love it。〃
〃It appears that Mlle。 Moriaz is almost wearied to death there。 I should
think she would die of ennui。〃
〃Do you think her capable of yielding to ennui in any place？〃
〃Certainly； do not doubt it； but she has recourse to her imagination to
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dispel the tedium。 She has a marvellous talent for procuring herself
diversion and for varying her pleasures。 Hers is an imagination having
many relays： no sooner is one horse exhausted than there is another to take
its place。〃
〃That is a precious gift；〃 he replied； briefly。 〃I assure you； however；
that you calumniate the Engadine。 The trees there are not so well grown as
those in your park； but the Alpine fir and pine have their beauty。〃
〃You went to this hole for your health； monsieur？〃
〃Yes； and no； madame。 I was not ill； but any physician contended that I
should be still better if I breathed the air of the Alps for three weeks。 It
was taking a cure as a preventive。〃
〃M。 Larinski made the ascent of the Morteratsch；〃 said Camille； who；
seated on a divan with his arms extended on his knees； never had ceased to
look at Samuel Brohl with a hard and hostile glance。 〃That is an exploit
that can be performed only by well people。〃
〃It is no exploit；〃 replied Samuel； 〃it is a work of patience； easy for
those who are not subject to vertigo。〃
〃You are too modest；〃 rejoined the young man。 〃Had I done as much； I
would sound a trumpet。〃
〃Have you attempted the ascent？〃 asked Samuel。
〃Not at all。 I do not care about having feats of prowess to relate；〃 he
replied； in an almost challenging tone。
Mme。 de Lorcy hastened to interrupt the conversation by saying； 〃Is
this the first time you have been in Paris； monsieur？〃
〃Yes； madame；〃 replied Samuel； who withdrew more and more into his
shell。
〃And does Paris please you as much as a pine…grove？〃
〃Much more； madame。〃
〃Have you any acquaintances？〃
〃None； and the truth is； I have no desire to make any。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Shall I tell you my reason？ I am not fond of breaking ice； and Poles
complain that there is nothing in the world so icy as Parisian coldness。〃
〃That explains itself；〃 cried Camille。 〃Paris； that is Paris proper； is a
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small city of a hundred thousand souls； and this small city is invaded more
and more； by strangers who come here to seek pleasure or fortune。 It is but
natural that Paris should protect itself。〃
〃Parisians pride themselves on their penetration；〃 replied Samuel。 〃It
does not require much of it to distinguish an honest man from an
adventurer。〃
〃Ah！ permit me；〃 returned M。 Langis； 〃that depends a good deal on
practice。 The most skillful are deceived。〃
Samuel Brohl rose and made a movement to leave。 Mme。 de Lorcy
insisted on his sitting down again。 She saw that she had made a bad
beginning in the fulfilment of her office of examining magistrate； and of
gaining the prisoner's confidence。 Fearing that Camille； in spite of his
promise； would spoil everything by some insult； she found a pretext to
send him away； she begged that he would go and examine a pair of horses
that were a recent acquisition。
As soon as he was gone； she changed her manner； she grew amiable；
she endeavoured to remove the ill impression of her first welcome； she put
Count Abel at his ease； who felt that the air lost its chilliness about him。
Without appearing to do so； she made him undergo an examination… she
asked him many questions； he replied promptly。 Visitors came in； it was an
hour before he took leave； after having promised Mme。 de Lorcy to dine
with her the next day。
She did not wait until then to write to M。 Moriaz。 Her letter was thus
conceived：
〃August 16； 1875。
〃You recommend me to be impartial； my dear friend。 Why should I
not be？ It is true that I have dreamed of a certain marriage： one of the
parties would not listen to my propositions； and the other had abandoned
the idea。 My project has come to nothing。 Camille has enjoined me never
to speak of it to him again。 You see I am no longer interested in the
question； or； rather； I have in the matter no other interest than that which I
feel for Antoinette； whose happiness is as dear to me as it is to you。
Apropos； do not give her my letters； read to her the passages that you
judge suitable to communicate to herI leave that to your discretion。
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〃First of all； let me unfold to you my humble opinions。 I am charged
with having prejudices； it is a shocking calumny。 I will make you a
profession of faith； and you shall judge。 I am at war with more than one
point of our French morals； I deplore the habit that we have formed of
considering marriage as a business transaction； of esteeming it as a
financial or commercial partnership； and making everything subordinate to
the equality of the personal estates。 This principle is revolting to me； my
dear friend。 We are accused in foreign countries of being an immoral
people。 Heavens！ it seems to me that we understand and practise virtue
quite as much as the English or Germans； and； to speak the whole truth； I
am not afraid to advance the opinion that this； of all the countries of the
universe； is the one where there is the most virtue。 It is not at that point
that we sin。 Our misfortune is； that we are too rational in our habits of life；
too circumspect； too prudent； we lack boldness in our undertakings； we
wish； as it is said； to have one foot on firm land and the other not far off。
We must have security； we do not like risk； doubtful affairs do not please
us； we are too prone to look ahead； and to look ahead is to fear。 That is