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cerning Poland and the Poles； led the conversation to the insurrection of 1863。 M。 Larinski； at first； refrained from discussing this sad subject； little by little the flood…gates were opened： he related his adventures or campaigns without boasting； praising others rather than himself； when suddenly his voice grew husky and his eyes dim； he interrupted himself； and begged we would speak of other things。 Fortunately； at this moment； he did not see Camille； whose lips were a sinister smile。 Young Frenchmen have become such sceptics！ I made eyes at the bad boy； and on leaving the table I sent him to smoke a cigar in the park。
〃I should confess to you that M。 Larinski has made a conquest of Abbe Miollens； who of all men is the most difficult to please； and who disputes with Providence the privilege of fathoming the depths of the human heart。 You are aware that the abbe is a remarkable violinist： he sent for his instrument； M。 Larinski seated himself at the piano； and the two gentlemen played a concert by Mozart divine music performed by two angels of the first class。 The conversation that followed charmed me more than the concerto。 I do not know by what fatality we came to speak of marriage。 I did not miss the opportunity to disclose with a most innocent air； my little theories； with which you are acquainted。 Would you believe that the count concurred； more than concurred； with my views？ He is more royalist than the king； he does not admit that a good rule allows of any exception。 According to him； a poor man who marries a rich woman forfeits his honour； debases himself； sells himself； he is a man in bondage。 He developed this theme with sombre eloquence。 I assure you that the lion no longer bore resemblance to the fox。
〃After the departure of this fine musician and great orator； Abbe Miollens； remaining alone with me； told me how much he was charmed with his conversation and manners； he could not cease to sing his praises。 I think he went a little too far。 However； I joined with him in regretting that a man of his merit should be reduced to live by expedients。 The abbe's arm reaches a long way； he promised me that he would busy himself； at the expense of all other business； to find some employment for M。 Larinski。 He remembered that there was some talk of establishing in London an international school for the living languages。 One of the founders of this institute had applied to him to learn if he could recommend some professor of the Slavonian languages。 It would be exactly the thing； and I should be delighted to procure for your /protégé/ an occupation that would insure all the happiness that it is possible to enjoy on the other side of the Channel。 After this； will you still accuse me of being prejudiced against him？
〃Adieu； my dear monsieur。 Give my tender love to my amiable goddaughter。 I rely on you to read my letters to her with care and discretion。 Little girls should have only a part of the truth。〃
Eight days afterward Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a third letter； which was thus expressed：
〃August 27th。
〃I am more and more content with M。 Larinski。 I blame myself for the suspicions with which he inspired me。 The Viennese were right to consider him a worthy man； and Abbe Miollens has not valued him too highly。 You write； on your part； my dear friend； that you are not dissatisfied with Antoinette。 She is gay； tranquil； she walks； paints； never speaks of Count Abel Larinski； and； when you speak to her of him； she smiles and does not reply。 You claim that she has reflected； that time and absence have wrought their effect。 'Out of sight； out of mind；' you say。 Take care！ I am more mistrustful than you。 Are you very sure that Antoinette may not be a slyboots？
〃What is certain is； that I received a charming epistle from her； in which there is no more mention of M。 Larinski than if Poland and the Pole did not exist。 She praises Engadine； she pretends that she would ask for nothing better than to end her days in a pine…forest。 I can read between the lines that it would be a pine… forest after her own heart； where there would be reunions； balls； guests to dinner； small parties； a conservatory of music； and the opera。 The last paragraph of her letter is devoted to the insurrection in Herzegovina； and it is hardly worth while to say that all her sympathies are with the insurgents。 'If I were a man；' she writes； 'I would go and fight for them。' That is very well； she always took the part of thieves against the police。 I remember long agoshe was ten years oldI told her the story of an unfortunate traveller besieged in a forest by an army of wolves。 He made a barricade about himself； and around it he lighted great fires。 The wolves fell into the flames； where they roasted； one after the other。 Antoinette began to weep bitterly； and I imagined that she was lamenting the terror of the unfortunate man。 'Not at all；' she cried： 'the poor beasts！' She was made so； we cannot remake her。 She will always side with the wolves； especially with the lean ones who scarcely can make two ends meet。
〃I told you that Count Larinski was a worthy man。 He came to see me the day before yesterday。 We have become very good friends。 I asked him if Paris still pleased him； and he replied； with the most gracious smile； 'What I like best in Paris is Maisons Lafitte。' Thereupon he said some exceedingly pretty things； which I will not repeat。 We walked /tete…a… tete/ around the park。 Heaven be praised that I returned heart…whole！ We talked politics； he bears the reputation of being hot…headed； but he is not wanting in good sense。 I wished to know if he was in favour of the Turks or of the Bosnians。 He replied：
〃 'As a Christian； as a Catholic； I am interested in the Christians of the East； and I am for the Cross against the Crescent。' He pronounced these words； Christian； Catholic； and cross； in a tone full of unction。 I surmise that he is a devotee。 He added； 'As a Pole； I am for Turkey。'
〃 'I believed；' said I； 'that the Poles had sympathy with all the oppressed。'
〃 'Poles；' he replied； 'cannot like those who like their oppressors； and they cannot forget that the Osmanlis are their natural allies； and； on occasions； their refuge。'
〃I gave him Antoinette's letter to read。 I was very glad； at any hazard； to prove to him that she could write four pages without asking about him。 He read it with extreme attention： but when he came to the famous passage'If I were a man； I would go and fight for them！'he smiled； and returned me the letter； saying； in a disdainful and rather a dry tone：
〃 'Write for me to Mlle。 Moriaz that I believe I am a man； yet that I will not fight for the Bosnians； and that the Turks are my greatest friends。'
〃 'She is foolish；' I said。 'Fortunately； she changes her folly with every new moon！'
〃 'What would you have？' he replied； 'in order not to be insipid； it is well to be a little foolish。 My poor mother used often to say： 〃My son； youth should be employed in laying by a great store of extravagan