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〃Truly she does very well！〃 and proceeded to assert that Mlle。 Moriaz
greatly resembled a certain person who had played a certain role in a
certain adventure that she undertook to narrate。 She had scarcely finished
this recital when she entered on another。 Mme。 de Lorcy was on thorns。
She knew by experience that the anecdotes of Princess Gulof were
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ordinarily somewhat indelicate and ill…suited to maiden ears。 She watched
Antoinette anxiously； and； when she saw the approach of an especially
objectionable passage； she was suddenly seized with a fit of coughing。 The
princess； comprehending the significance of that； made an effort to gloss
over； but her glossings were very transparent。 Mme。 de Lorcy coughed
anew； and the princess ended by losing patience； and； brusquely
interrupting herself； exclaimed： 〃And this； that； and the other； etc。 Thus
ended the adventure。〃
Mlle。 Moriaz listened with an astonished air； not in the least
understanding these attacks of coughing and these interruptions； nor
divining the significance of the constant repetition of 〃this； that； and the
other； etc。〃 Princess Gulof struck her as a very eccentric and unpleasantly
brusque person； she even suspected her of being slightly deranged or at
least rather crack…brained； yet she was pleased with her for being present
upon this especial occasion and sparing her a /tete…a…tete/ with Mme。 de
Lorcy with its disagreeable explanations and unpleasant discussions。
She remained nearly an hour； planted on a chair； watching with a sort
of stupor the turning of the fan of this word…mill； whose clapper kept up
such an incessant noise。 After having criticised to her heart's content her
neighbours； including under that title emperors and grand… dukes； and
having abundantly multiplied the et ceteras； Princess Gulof suddenly
turned the conversation to physiology： this science； whose depths she
believed herself to have fathomed； was； in her estimation； the secret of
everything； the Alpha and Omega of human life。 She exposed certain
materialistic views； making use of expressions that shocked the modest
and delicate ears of Mlle。 Moriaz。 The astonishment the latter had at first
experienced became now blended with horror and disgust； she judged that
her visit had lasted long enough； and she proceeded to beat a retreat；
which Mme。 de Lorcy made no effort to prevent。
Upon arriving at Cormeilles； her carriage crossed with a young man on
horseback； who with his head bowed down allowed his animal full liberty
to take his own course。 This young man trembled when a clear； soprano
voice； which he preferred to the most beautiful music in the world； cried to
him； 〃Where are you going； Camille？〃
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He bowed over his horse's neck； drew down his hat over his eyes； and
replied； 〃To Maisons。〃
〃Do not go there。 I have just left because there is a dreadful old woman
there who says horrid things。〃 Then Mlle。 Moriaz added； in a queenly tone；
〃You cannot passyou are my prisoner。〃
She obliged him to turn back； ten minutes later she had alighted from
her coupe； he had sprung from his saddle； and they were seated side by
side on a rustic bench。
A few days previous M。 Langis had met M。 Moriaz； who had
complained bitterly of being forsaken by him as well as by Mme。 de Lorcy；
and who had extracted from him the promise to come and see him。
Camille had kept this promise。 Had he chosen well his time of doing so？
The truth is； he had been both rejoiced and heart…broken to learn that Mlle。
Moriaz was absent。 Man is a strange combination of contradictions；
especially a man who is in love。 In the same way he had bestowed both
blessings and imprecations upon Heaven for permitting him to meet
Antoinette。 During some moments he had lost countenance； but had
quickly recovered himself； he had formed the generous resolution to act
out consistently his role of friend and brother。 He had acquitted himself of
it so well at Saint Moritz； that Antoinette believed him cured of the caprice
of a day with which she had inspired him and which she had never taken
seriously。
〃The last time I saw you；〃 said she； 〃you dropped a remark that pained
me； but I am pleased to think that you did not mean to do so。〃
〃I am a terrible culprit；〃 he rejoined； 〃and I smite myself upon the
breast therefore。 I was wanting in respect to your idol。〃
〃Fortunately； my idol knew nothing about it； and； if he had known； I
would have appeased him by saying： 'Pardon this young man； he does not
always know what he is saying。' 〃
〃He even seldom knows it； but what help is there for it？ A man given
to fainting always did seem a curiosity to me。 I know we should endeavour
to conquer our prejudices； every country has its customs； and； since
Poland is a country that pleases you； I will make an effort to see only its
good sides。〃
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〃Now that is the right way to talk。 I hope this very day to reconcile you
with Count Larinski； stay and dine with ushe will be here very soon； the
first duty of the people whom I love is to love one another。〃
M。 Langis at first energetically declined accepting this invitation；
Antoinette insisted： he ended by bowing in sign of obedience。 Youth has a
taste for suffering。
Tracing figures in the gravel with a stick he had picked up； M。 Langis
said； in a wholly unconstrained voice： 〃I do not wish M。 Larinski any
harm； and yet you must admit that I would have the right to detest him
cordially； for I had the honour two years ago； if I mistake not； of asking
your hand in marriage。 Do you remember it？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 she replied； fixing upon him her pure； clear eyes； 〃but I
ought to avow to you that this fancy of yours never seemed to me either
very reasonable or very serious。〃
〃You are wrong； I can certify to you that your refusal plunged me for
as much as forty…eight hours into the depth