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at the first gleam of dawn； a precipice at his feet。 He looked at the
princess with a bewildered air； and felt a cold chill running down his
back。 Diane thought for a moment that her man of genius was a
weakling； but a flash from his eyes reassured her。
〃You have become to me almost my judge；〃 she said； with a desperate
air。 〃I must speak now； in virtue of the right that all calumniated
beings have to show their innocence。 I have been； I am still （if a
poor recluse forced by the world to renounce the world is still
remembered） accused of such light conduct； and so many evil things；
that it may be allowed me to find in one strong heart a haven from
which I cannot be driven。 Hitherto I have always considered self…
justification an insult to innocence； and that is why I have disdained
to defend myself。 Besides； to whom could I appeal？ Such cruel things
can be confided to none but God or to one who seems to us very near
Hima priest； or another self。 Well！ I do know this； if my secrets
are not as safe there；〃 she said； laying her hand on d'Arthez's heart；
〃as they are here〃 （pressing the upper end of her busk beneath her
fingers）； 〃then you are not the grand d'Arthez I think youI shall
have been deceived。〃
A tear moistened d'Arthez's eyes； and Diane drank it in with a side
look； which； however； gave no motion either to the pupils or the lids
of her eyes。 It was quick and neat； like the action of a cat pouncing
on a mouse。
D'Arthez； for the first time； after sixty days of protocols； ventured
to take that warm and perfumed hand； and press it to his lips with a
long…drawn kiss； extending from the wrist to the tip of the fingers；
which made the princess augur well of literature。 She thought to
herself that men of genius must know how to love with more perfection
than conceited fops； men of the world； diplomatists； and even
soldiers； although such beings have nothing else to do。 She was a
connoisseur； and knew very well that the capacity for love reveals
itself chiefly in mere nothings。 A woman well informed in such matters
can read her future in a simple gesture； just as Cuvier could say from
the fragment of a bone： This belonged to an animal of such or such
dimensions； with or without horns； carnivorous； herbivorous；
amphibious； etc。； age； so many thousand years。 Sure now of finding in
d'Arthez as much imagination in love as there was in his written
style； she thought it wise to bring him up at once to the highest
pitch of passion and belief。
She withdrew her hand hastily； with a magnificent movement full of
varied emotions。 If she had said in words： 〃Stop； or I shall die；〃 she
could not have spoken more plainly。 She remained for a moment with her
eyes in d'Arthez's eyes； expressing in that one glance happiness；
prudery； fear； confidence； languor； a vague longing； and virgin
modesty。 She was twenty years old！ but remember； she had prepared for
this hour of comic falsehood by the choicest art of dress； she was
there in her armchair like a flower； ready to blossom at the first
kiss of sunshine。 True or false； she intoxicated Daniel。
It if is permissible to risk a personal opinion we must avow that it
would be delightful to be thus deceived for a good long time。
Certainly Talma on the stage was often above and beyond nature； but
the Princesse de Cadignan is the greatest true comedian of our day。
Nothing was wanting to this woman but an attentive audience。
Unfortunately； at epochs perturbed by political storms； women
disappear like water…lilies which need a cloudless sky and balmy
zephyrs to spread their bloom to our enraptured eyes。
The hour had come； Diane was now to entangle that great man in the
inextricable meshes of a romance carefully prepared； to which he was
fated to listen as the neophyte of early Christian times listened to
the epistles of an apostle。
〃My friend；〃 began Diane； 〃my mother； who still lives at Uxelles；
married me in 1814； when I was seventeen years old （you see how old I
am now！） to Monsieur de Maufrigneuse； not out of affection for me； but
out of regard for him。 She discharged her debt to the only man she had
ever loved； for the happiness she had once received from him。 Oh！ you
need not be astonished at so horrible a conspiracy； it frequently
takes place。 Many women are more lovers than mothers； though the
majority are more mothers than wives。 The two sentiments； love and
motherhood； developed as they are by our manners and customs； often
struggle together in the hearts of women； one or other must succumb
when they are not of equal strength； when they are； they produce some
exceptional women； the glory of our sex。 A man of your genius must
surely comprehend many things that bewilder fools but are none the
less true； indeed I may go further and call them justifiable through
difference of characters； temperaments； attachments； situations。 I；
for example； at this moment； after twenty years of misfortunes； of
deceptions； of calumnies endured； and weary days and hollow pleasures；
is it not natural that I should incline to fall at the feet of a man
who would love me sincerely and forever？ And yet； the world would
condemn me。 But twenty years of suffering might well excuse a few
brief years which may still remain to me of youth given to a sacred
and real love。 This will not happen。 I am not so rash as to sacrifice
my hopes of heaven。 I have borne the burden and heat of the day； I
shall finish my course and win my recompense。〃
〃Angel！〃 thought d'Arthez。
〃After all； I have never blamed my mother； she knew little of me。
Mothers who lead a life like that of the Duchesse d'Uxelles keep their
children at a distance。 I saw and knew nothing of the world until my
marriage。 You can judge of my innocence！ I knew nothing； I was
incapable of understanding the causes of my marriage。 I had a fine
fortune； sixty thousand francs a year in forests； which the Revolution
overlooked （or had not been able to sell） in the Nivernais； with the
noble chateau of d'Anzy。 Monsieur de Maufrigneuse was steeped in debt。
Later I learned what it was to have debts； but then I was too utterly
ignorant of life to suspect my position； the money saved out of my
fortune went to pacify my husband's creditors。 Monsieur de
Maufrigneuse was forty…eight years of age when I married him； but
those years were like military campaigns； they ought to count for
twice what they were。 Ah！ what a life I led for ten years！ If any one
had known the suffering of this poor； calumniated little woman！ To be
watched by a mother jealous of her daughter！ Heavens！ You who make
dramas； you will never invent anything as direful as that。 Ordinarily；
according to the little that I know of literature； a drama is a suite
of actions； speeches； movements which hurry to a catastrophe； but what
I speak of was a catastrophe in action。 It was an avalanche fallen in
the morning and falling again at night only to fall again the next
day。 I am cold now