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〃It is very true； my dear Abel；〃 he continued； 〃that the principle of partnership accomplishes wonders； one man alone is a small affair。 But； of all partnerships； the most useful and convenient is the one that we have made together。 The living and the dead can render each other important services； and they never quarrel。 You should be satisfied； you play a fine role； you are the signature of the house。 We will not speak of your gun； that was a poor speculation； for which I scarcely can pardon you。 It was the fault of your disordered brain that we wandered off on that bypath； but； thanks be to Heaven！ we have at last gained the highway。 Five weeks ago we met a woman； and what a woman！ She has velvety…brown eyes； whence glances well forth like fresh and living waters。 To praise her grace properly； I must borrow the language of the 'Song of Solomon'： 'Thy lips； O my spouse！ drop as the honey…comb； honey and milk are under thy tongue； and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon。 This thy stature is like to a palm…tree。 Thou art all fair； my love； there is no spot in thee。 A garden inclosed is my sister； my spouse： a spring shut upa fountain sealed。' Some day she will cry out； with the Shulamite； 'Let my beloved come into his garden； and eat his pleasant fruits。' She belongs to us； my dear Larinskimy dear partner； she had yielded； and you and I share the honour of the victory。 I presented myself before her； and my presence did not displease her。 I related to her your history； as you would have related it yourself； with delicacy and simplicity； neither adding nor omitting。 Her heart was touched； her heart was taken captive。 You will wed hershe will bear your name； but you will marry her by proxy； and I shall be your proctor。 I promise to consider myself your mandatory； or； to express it better； you will own the property and I will have the usufruct。 Never fear that I shall forget what I owe to you； or the modesty proper to my estate。〃
At these words； he made a grand gesture； as if to banish the phantom that he had conjured up； and that fled away trembling with sorrow； shame； and indignation。 The peacock cried anew a mournful shriek。 〃Stupid bird！〃 thought Samuel Brohl； quaking with sudden dread。
He looked at his watch； and reflected that the hour was advancing that he was losing time with the spirits。 He rose hastily； and wended his way toward Cormeilles； thence he wished to come upon a sunny path that led to the banks of the Seine； and Sartrouville； the belfry of which was plainly visible。 When he reached the foot of the declivity； he turned his head and saw； on the summit of the hill； through the space left by the crooked branches of two plantains； a white wall； that seemed to laugh amid the verdure； and a little higher the pointed roof of the dove…cote； where Mlle。 Moriaz's doves had their nests。 He did not need to look long at this roof to recognise it。 He threw a burning kiss in the aira kiss that was sent to the doves as well as to the dove…coteto the house as well as to the womanto the woman as well as the house。 For the first time in his life； Samuel Brohl was in love； but Samuel Brohl's love differed from Abel Larinski's。 When they adore a woman； be she as beautiful as a picture； the frame； if it is a rich one； pleases them as much as the painting； and they propose to possess their mistress with all her appendages and appurtenances。
CHAPTER V
Mme。 de Lorcy was a woman of about fifty years of age； who still possessed remains of beauty。 She had been a widow for long years； and never had thought of marrying again。 Although her wedded life had been a happy one； she considered that liberty is to be prized above all else； she employed hers in a most irreproachable manner。 She was self… possessed； even better acquainted with numbers than with dress； and managed her property herself； which was by no means a trifling thing to do。 Liking to make good use of her time； she thought to do it by busying herself in the affairs of others。 She had a real vocation for the profession of a consulting lawyer。 Usually her advice was sensible and judiciousnothing better could be done than to follow it； only her clients complained that she pronounced her sentences with too little tenderness； without granting any appeal。 She was good； charitable； but lacked unction； and she had no sympathy with the illusions of others。 A German poet； in making his New…Year offerings； wishes that the rich may be kind…hearted； that the poor may have bread； that the ladies may have pretty dresses； that the men may have patience； that the foolish may get a little reason； and that sensible people may grow poetic。 Mme。 de Lorcy was kind…hearted； she had pretty dresses and a great deal of reason； but her reason was wanting in poetry； and poetic people to whom she gave advice required a good deal of patience to listen to the end。 Those who permitted themselves to despise her counsel； and who were happy after their own fashion； incurred her lasting displeasure。 She obstinately asserted to them that their seeming happiness was all a deceit； that they had fastened a stone about their necks； and that； without appearing to do so； at the bottom of their hearts they bitterly repented。 She added； 〃It is not my fault； I told you； but you would not believe me。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy had an almost maternal affection for her nephew； M。 Camille Langis。 Confident that he could not be otherwise than successful in a love…affair； she promised him that he should marry Mlle。 Moriaz。 To be sure； he was rather young； but she had decided that the question of age made no difference； and that in all else there was a perfect fitness between the parties。 M。 Langis hesitated a long time about declaring himself。 He said to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃If she refuse me； I shall no longer be able to see her； and so long as I can see her； I am only half…wretched。〃 It was Mme。 de Lorcy who forced him to draw his sword and open the campaign； in which she was to act as second。 This campaign had not been a successful one。 Deeply wounded at the refusal； which she had in vain attempted to prevent； she was ready to force Mlle。 Moriaz into compliance。 They made her believe； to pacify her； that the sentence was not definite； or at least that a period of grace would be granted to the condemned。 M。 Langis set out for Hungary； and he had now returned。 In the mean time； Antoinette had refused two offers。 Mme。 de Lorcy had inferred this to be a favourable omen for her projects。 Thus she felt annoyance mingled with anger on receiving the following letter from M。 Moriaz：
〃DEAR MADAME：
〃You will be charmed to learn that I am extremely well。 My cheeks are full； my complexion florid； my legs as nimble as a chamois； my appetite like that of an ogre。 If ever you become anemic； which God forbid； you should set out forthwith for Saint Moritz； and I shall soon have good news from you。 Saint Moritz is a place where you find what you want； but you find； besides； what you do not want。 I do not speak of bears； I have not seen any； and should I meet one； I am strong enough to strangle it。 Besides； bears are taciturn animals； they never relate their histories； and the only animals I fear are those