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o reason to believe him to be an adventurer。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy could get nothing further from Princess Gulof； she had invited her to remain overnight； she got no pay for her hospitality。 The princess spent part of the night in reflecting and deliberating。 Samuel Brohl's insolent menace had produced some effect。 She sought to remember the exact purport of the two letters that formerly she had had the imprudence to write him from London； while he was fulfilling a business commission for her in Paris。 On his return she had required Samuel to burn these two compromising epistles； in her presence； he had deceived her； he burned the envelopes and blank paper。 The thought of some day having her composition quoted in court； and printed verbatim in the petty journals； terrified her； and made her blood boil in her veins； she hardly cared to take Paris and St。 Petersburg into her confidence concerning an experience the recollection of which caused her disgustbut to let such an admirable opportunity of vengeance escape her！ renounce the delight of the gods and of princesses！ permit this man who had just defied her to accomplish his underhand intrigue！ She could not resign herself to the idea； and the consequence was that； during the night she spent at Maisons； she scarcely closed her eyes。
CHAPTER XI
The following day； after breakfast； Mlle。 Moriaz was walking alone on the terrace。 The weather was delightfully mild。 She was bare…headed； and had opened her white silk umbrella to protect herself from the sun； for Samuel Brohl had been a true prophetthere was sunshine。 She looked up at the sky； where no trace was left of the wind…storm of the preceding evening； and it seemed to her that she never had seen the sky so blue。 She looked at her flower…beds； and the flowers that she saw were perhaps not there。 She looked at the orchard； growing on the slope that bordered the terrace； and she admired the foliage of the apple…trees； over which Autumn； with liberal hand； had scattered gold and purple； the grass there was as high as her knee； and was fragrant and glossy。 Above the apple…trees she saw the spire of the church at Cormeilles； it seemed to amuse itself watching the flying clouds。 It was a high…festival day。 The bells were ringing out a full peal； they spoke to this happy girl of that far…off； mysterious land which we remember； without ever having seen it。 Their silvery voices were answered by the cheerful cackling of the hens。 She at once understood that a joyful event was occurring in the poultry…yard； as well as in the belfry； that below； as well as above； an arrival was being celebrated。 But what pleased her more than all the rest was the little deep…set gateway with its ivy…hung arch at the end of the orchard。 It was through this gate that he would come。
She walked several times around the terrace。 The gravel was elastic； and rebounded under her step。 Never had Mlle。 Moriaz felt so light： life； the present； the future； weighed no heavier on her brow than a bird in the hand that holds it and feels it tremble。 Her heart fluttered like a bird； like a bird it had wings； and only asked to fly。 She believed that there was happiness everywhere； there seemed to be joy diffused through the air； in the wind； in every sound； and in all silences。 She gazed smilingly on the vast landscape that was spread out before her eyes； and the sparkling Seine sent back her smile。
Some one came to announce that a lady； a stranger； had called； who wished to speak with her。 Immediately thereupon the stranger appeared； and Mlle。 Moriaz was most disagreeably surprised to find herself in the presence of the Princess Gulof； whom she would willingly never have seen again。 〃This is an unpleasant visit；〃 she thought； as she asked her guest to be seated on a rustic bench。 〃What can this woman want with me？〃
〃It was M。 Moriaz whom I desired to speak with；〃 began the princess。 〃I am told that he is out。 I shall leave in a few hours for Calais； I cannot await his return； and I have； therefore； decided to address myself to you； mademoiselle。 I have come here to render you one of those little services that one woman owes to another； but； first of all； I would like to be assured that I may rely on your absolute discretion； I do not desire to appear in this affair。〃
〃In what affair； madame？〃
〃One of no little consequence； it concerns your marriage。〃
〃You are extremely kind to concern yourself with my marriage； but I do not understand〃
〃You will understand in a few moments。 So you promise me〃
〃I promise nothing； madame； before I understand。〃
The princess looked in amazement at Mlle。 Moriaz。 She had anticipated talking with a dove； she found that the dove had a less accommodating temper and a much stiffer neck than she had believed。 She hesitated for a moment whether she would not at once end the interview； she decided； however； to proceed：
〃I have a story to relate to you；〃 she continued； in a familiar tone； 〃listen with attention； I beg of you。 I err if in the end you do not find it interesting。 Thirteen or fourteen years ago； one of those unlucky chances； common in travelling； obliged me to pass several hours in a miserable little town in Galicia。 The inn； or rather the tavern； where I stopped； was very dirty； the tavern…keeper； an ill… looking little German Jew； was still dirtier than his tavern； and he had a son who was in no better condition。 I am given to forming illusions about people。 In spite of his filth； this youth interested me。 His stupid father refused him all instruction； and beat him unmercifully； he appeared intelligent； he made me think of a fresh… water fish condemned to live in a quagmire。 He was called Samuel Brohl： remember the name。 I pitied him and I saw no other way of saving him than to buy him of his father。 This horrid little man demanded an exorbitant price。 I assure you his pretensions were absurd。 Well； my dear； I was out of cash； I had with me just the money sufficient for the expenses of the rest of the journey； but I wore on my arm a bracelet that had the advantage of pleasing him。 It was a Persian trinket； more singular than beautiful。 I can see it now； it was formed of three large plates of gold ornamented with grotesque animals； and joined by a filigree network。 I valued this bracelet； it had been brought to me from Teheran。 By means of a secret spring； one of the plates opened； and I had had engraved inside the most interesting dates of my life； and underneath them my profession of faith； with which you have no concern。 Ah！ my dear； when one has once been touched by that dangerous passion called philanthropy； one becomes capable of exchanging a Persian bracelet for a Samuel Brohl； and I swear to you that it was a real fool's bargain that I made。 This miserable fellow paid me badly for my kindness to him。 I sent him to the university； and later I took him into my service as secretary。 He had a black heart。 One fine morning； he took to his heels and disappeared。〃
〃That was revolting ingratitude；〃 interrupted Antoinette； 〃and your good work； madame； was poorly recompensed； but I do not see what relation Samuel Brohl can have to my marriage。〃
〃You are too impatient； my darling。 If you had given me time