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refer presented himself one fine morning； and； telling me that you had
spoken to him of me； said that he wished to assure himself that I was well
and wanted nothing。 He returned several times； always pampering me with
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some attention or other。 But the best of all was when he came to tell me
that my angel had returned。 What a man he is！ he has surely dropped right
down from the skies！ One evening when I was sick he gave me my
medicine himself； and would have sat up with me all night if I had been
willing to let him。 You must tell me who he is； for it puzzles me greatly。
He has the head of some grand lion； he is as generous as he is handsome；
but very sad。 He must have some great sorrow on his heart。 The
misfortune； so far as I am concerned； is that he cannot spoil me much
longerit is almost over now。 He expects to leave here in two days； and he
has announced to me that he will come to make his adieus； to…morrow
afternoon。
〃You will come soon； won't you； /ma chere demoiselle/？ I burn with
impatience to embrace you； since you permit me to embrace you。 You are
my angel and my sunshine； and I am your very humble and devoted
servant；
〃LOUISE GALET。〃
This letter of Mlle。 Louise Galet continued nothing definite； beyond；
perhaps； the passage relative to the early vegetables； and the supposed
scenes with her /chambriere/。 Whatever may have been the good
demoiselle's past record； she certainly was not void of principles； and she
prided herself on her truthfulness； only she did not always see the
necessity of telling everything she knew； in her narratives she frequently
omitted certain details。 She had written at the instigation of Samuel Brohl；
who had not explained to her his motives。 To be sure； she had partially
divined these； being shrewd and sly。 He had commended himself to her
discretion； for which he had paid liberally。 Mlle。 Galet had at first refused
the round sum he had offered her； she had ended by accepting it with
tender gratitude。 These little pampering attentions make good friends。
An audacious idea suddenly came to Mlle。 Moriaz； there was no time
to recoil from it。 She ordered up her coupe。 M。 Moriaz had just gone out to
make a call in the neighbourhood。 She determined to profit by his absence；
and besought Mlle。 Moiseney to make ready in haste to accompany her to
Paris； where she had to confer with her dressmaker。 Ten minutes later she
stepped into her carriage； having ordered her coachman to drive like the
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wind。
Her dressmaker did not detain her long； from the Rue de la Paix she
ordered to be driven to No。 27 Rue Mouffetard。 She never was in the habit
of permitting Mlle。 Moiseney； who was very short of breath； to climb with
her to the fifth story； where Mlle。 Galet lodged； upon this occasion she
indicated to her an express order to remain peaceably below in the coupe
to await her return。
She slowly mounted the stairs； on her way up she encountered a
servant； who informed her that Mlle。 Galet was lying down taking a nap；
being somewhat indisposed； but that the key was in the door。 The
apartment of which Mlle。 Moriaz was in quest was composed of three
rooms； a vestibule serving as a kitchen； a tiny /salon/； and a bed… chamber。
She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath； to gather
together all her courage； to compose her mind； she had at once divined
that there was some one in the /salon/。 She entered； Mlle。 Galet was not
there； but he was there； the man whom she had come to seek。 Apparently；
he awaited the awakening of the mistress of the place。 In perceiving the
woman whom he had sworn never to see again； he trembled violently； and
his eyes sought some loophole of escape； there was none。 Standing upon
the threshold； Antoinette barred the passage。 She looked fixedly at him
and felt certain of her victory； he had the air of one vanquished； and his
defeat resembled a complete routing。
She crossed her arms； she smiled； and； in a firm； half…mocking tone；
said：
〃So this is the way you rob me of my poor people！ They flourish under
it； I am well aware。 Confess now that there is a little hypocrisy in your
virtue。 Mlle。 Galet never for a moment doubted that these famous
camellias were given for my sake。 Bouquets costing sixty francs！ absolute
folly！ How you despise money！ Why； then； do you not despise mine？ You
are afraid of it； you fear to burn your fingers by touching it。 You will not
aid me to throw it out of the windows？ Your poor and mine will surely
pick it up。 Say； will you not？ My fortune is not such a great affair； but it is
certain that I alone do not suffice to spend it properly； there is plenty for
twofor two would really only be one。 You cannot consent to share it with
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me？ You are too proudthat is it。 The day before yesterday you were
playing comedy； you do not love me。 It costs little to owe something to
those we love。〃
He made a gesture of despair and cried：
〃I implore you； let me go！〃
〃Presently； I propose telling you first all that is in my mind。 I do not
place much reliance on your boasted nobility of spirit； it is pride；
egotistical pride。 Yes； your pride is your goda pitiful sort of a god！ And
as to Poland〃 He winced at this word。 After a pause； Antoinette
continued： 〃It is she herself who will give； or rather lend； you to me。 I
solemnly promise that if ever she has need of you I will say to her； 'Here
he is； take him'； and to you； yourself； I will say； 'She calls yougo。' But
speak to me and look at me； you will not die of so doing。 Are you so very
much afraid of me？ Come； have courage to repeat to me what you have
said to others？〃
He fell back into a chair； where he remained； his arms hanging
helplessly at his sides； his head drooping on his breast； and he murmured：
〃I knew well that if I saw you again I should be lost。〃
〃Say； rather； saved。