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in the year； and a philosopher the rest of the time。'
〃 'The trouble is；' returned the abbe； 'that one day of folly will sometimes suffice to compromise forever the future of a philosopher。'
〃 'Oh； reassure yourself；' replied he； 'my extravagances never are very dangerous。 There was method in Hamlet's madness； and there is always a little reason in mine。'
〃While making this declaration of principles； he had seated himself at the piano； and idly began running his fingers over the keys。 Suddenly he began to sing a German song； which I got Abbe Miollens to translate for me； and which is not long。 The hero of the song is an amorous pine； standing on the summit of a barren mountain of the north。 He is alone； he is weary； the snow and ice wrap him in a white mantle； and he spends his dreary hours of leisure in dreaming of a palm； which in days of yore he met； it seems； in his travels。
〃M。 Larinski sang this little melody with so much pathos that the good abbe was touched； and I became anxious。 Anxiety； once felt； is apt to be constantly returning。 I asked myself if he had met his palm in the Engadine； and added aloud； rather dryly： 'Is the day of your departure definitely fixed？ will you not do us the favour of granting us a reprieve？'
〃He executed the most pearly chromatic scale； and replied： 'Alas！ madame； I am only deferring my departure on account of a letter that cannot be much longer delayed； in less than a week； I shall have the distress of bidding you farewell。'
〃 'You shall not leave；' said Abbe Miollens； 'without letting us hear once again the poem of the pine。 You sang it with so much soul that it seemed to me you must be relating an episode of your own history。 My dear count； did you ever chance to dream of a palm？'
〃He answered： 'I have no longer the right to dream； I am no longer free。'
〃The abbe started and cried out； in his simple…hearted way； 'Ah！ what； are you married？'
〃 'I thought I had told you so；' replied he with a melancholy smile； and he hastened to speak of a ballet that he had seen the evening before at the opera； and with which he was only half pleased。
〃You can readily believe that when he pronounced the words； 'I thought I had told you so；' I was on the point of falling on his neck； I was so happy； that I was afraid he would read in my eyes my joy； astonishment； and profound gratitude。 I think that he is very keen； and that he has conjectured for some time the mistrust with which he inspired me。 If he wanted to mock me a little； I will pardon him； a good man unjustly suspected has a perfect right to revenge himself by a little irony。 I ordered the horses to be put to my carriage to take him over to the railroad； and the abbe and I accompanied him as far as the station。 There cannot be too much regard shown to honest people who have been abused by fortune。
〃Well！ what do you say； my dear friend？ Was I wrong in claiming that M。 Larinski is a delightful man？ He will leave before the end of a week； and he is married； unhappily married； I fear； for his smile was melancholy。 You see he may have married out of gratitude some /grisette/； some little working…woman； who nursed him through illness； one of those women who are not presentable； that would be thoroughly in character。 Happily； in law there are no good or bad marriages； this one I hold to be unimpeachable。
〃The reaction was violent： I am so rejoiced that I feel tempted to illuminate Cormeilles and Maisons Lafitte。 In what way will your undeceive our dreamer？ In your place I would use some precautions。 Be prudent； go bridle in hand； and in the future； believe me； climb no more among the rocks； you see what it may lead to。
〃Once more； do not hasten your departure。 We have had for some days stifling heat； we literally suffocate。 You need to spend a fortnight longer amid the shade of the pine…trees； and four thousand feet above the level of the sea。
〃Adieu； my dear professor！ I am interrupted in my writing by the incredulous； the sceptical； the suspicious； the absurd； the ridiculous Camille； who respectfully recommends himself to your indulgent friendship。〃
CHAPTER VI
In reading the fourth letter of Mme。 de Lorcy； M。 Moriaz experienced a feeling of satisfaction and deliverance； over which he was not master。 His daughter had gone to pay a visit in the neighbourhood； and he was alone with Mlle。 Moiseney； who said to him； 〃You have received good news； monsieur？〃
〃It is excellent；〃 he replied； then； promptly correcting himself； he added： 〃Excellent； or to be regretted； or vexatious； I leave that to our powers of discernment。〃
When he had finished reading the letter； and replaced it in the envelope； he remained thoughtful for some moments； he was wondering how he should proceed to announce the excellent news。 For three weeks his daughter had been a mystery to him。 She never once had pronounced the name of Count Larinski。 Churwalden pleased her as much as Saint Moritz； apparently； she was gay； tranquil； perfectly happy。 Had her delusion passed away？ Had she changed her mind？ M。 Moriaz did not know； but he surmised that still waters should be mistrusted； and that a young girl's imagination is like an abyss。 One thoroughly good warning is worth two indifferent ones； henceforth； he feared everything。 〃If I speak to her；〃 thought he； 〃I shall not be able to dissimulate my joy； and perhaps she will go into hysterics。〃 He had a horror of hysterics； he resolved to have recourse to Mlle。 Moiseney； and he said to her； abruptly：
〃I suppose； mademoiselle； that you are acquainted with all that has passed； and that Antoinette has given you her confidence？〃
She opened her eyes wide； and was on the point of answering that she knew nothing； but she restrained herself； and setting her little pointed head erect on her thin shoulders； she said； proudly； 〃Can you imagine that Antoinette would keep any secrets from me？〃
〃Heaven forbid！〃 replied he。 〃And do you approve； do you encourage her sentiments for M。 Larinski？〃
Mlle。 Moiseney started； she had been far from suspecting that Count Larinski had specially impressed Mlle。 Moriaz； and； as on certain occasions her mind worked rapidly； she understood immediately all the consequences of this prodigious event。 There was a cloud before her eyes； and in this cloud she beheld all manner of things； both pleasing and displeasing to her； her mouth open； she strove to clear her ideas。 She said to herself： 〃It is an imprudent act； not only that； it cannot be；〃 but she also said： 〃Mlle。 Antoinette can no more make a mistake than the Queen of England can； because she wishes it； she is right in wishing it。〃 Mlle。 Moiseney ended by regaining her self…possession； her lips formed the most pleasant smile； as she exclaimed：
〃He has no fortune； but he has a beautiful name。 Mme。 la Comtesse Larinski！ it sounds well to the ear。〃
〃Like music； I grant； it is perfect；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz。 〃Unfortunately； music is not everything in the affairs of this world。〃
She was not listening to him。 Full of her own idea； without taking time to breathe： 〃You jest； monsi