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uel Brohl can have to my marriage。〃
〃You are too impatient； my darling。 If you had given me time I would have told you that I had had the very unexpected pleasure of dining yesterday with him at Mme。 de Lorcy's。 This German has made great advances since I lost sight of him； not content with becoming a Pole； he is now a person of vast importance。 He is called Count Abel Larinski； and he is to marry very soon Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz。〃
The blood rushed into Antoinette's cheeks； and her eyes flashed fire。 Princess Gulof entirely mistook the sentiment that animated her； and said： 〃My dear； don't be angry； don't be indignant； your indignation will not help you at all。 Without doubt； a rascal capable of deceiving such a charming girl as you deserves death ten times over； but be careful not to make an exposure！ My dear； scandal always splashes mud over every one concerned； and there is a rather vulgar but exceedingly sensible Turkish proverb that says that the more garlic is crushed； the stronger becomes its odour。 Believe me； you would not come off without a tinge of ridicule； certain mistakes always appear a little ridiculous； and it is useless to proclaim them to the universe。 Thank Heaven！ you are not yet the Countess LarinskiI arrived in time to save you。 Be silent about the discovery you have just made； by no means mention it to Samuel Brohl； and seek a proper pretext to break with him。 You would not be a woman if you could not find ten for one。〃
Mlle。 Moriaz could no longer refrain her anger。 〃Madame；〃 she exclaimed excitedly； 〃will you declare to M。 Larinski； in my presence； that his name is Samuel Brohl？〃
〃I made that declaration to him yesterdayit is useless to repeat it。 He was nearer dead than alive； and I was truly sorry for the state into which I had thrown him。 I cannot disguise from myself that I am the cause of all this； why did I take the boy from his father's tavern and his natal mud？ Perhaps there he would have remained honest。 It was I who launched him into the world and gave him the desire to advance； I put the trump…cards into his hand； but he found that he could not win fast enough by fair play； so he ended by cheating。 It is not my place to overwhelm the poor devilwe owe some consideration to those who are under obligations to us； and； once more； I desire not to appear further in this business。 Promise me that Samuel Brohl never will be informed of the measures I have taken。〃
She replied； in a haughty tone： 〃I promise you； madame； that I never will do Count Larinski the wrong to repeat to him a single word of the very likely story you have related to me。〃
The princess rose hastily； remained standing before Mlle。 Moriaz； and contemplated her in silence； finally she said； in tones of the most cutting sarcasm： 〃Ah！ you do not believe me； my dear。 Decidedly you do not believe me。 You are right； you should not put faith in an old woman's childish chatter。 No； my darling； there is no Samuel Brohl： I dined yesterday at Maisons with the most authentic of Counts Larinski； and nothing remains for me to say but to present my best wishes for the certain happiness of the Countess Larinski； /et cetera/of the Countess Larinski and company。〃
With these words she bowed； turned on her heels； and disappeared。
Mlle。 Moriaz remained an instant as if stunned by a blow。 She questioned herself as to whether she had not seen a vision； or had had the nightmare。 Was it； indeed； a Russian princess of flesh and blood who had just been there； who had been seated close beside her； and had conversed so strangely with her that the belfry of Cormeilles could not hear it without falling into a profound stupor？ In fact； the belfry of Cormeilles had become silent； its bells no longer rang； an appalling silence reigned for two leagues round。
Antoinette soon controlled her emotions。 〃The day before yesterday；〃 she thought； 〃this woman appeared to me to be deranged： she is a lunatic； I wish that Abel were here； he could tell me what happened at dinner between him and this dotard； and we should laugh over it together。 Perhaps nothing happened at all。 The Princess Gulof should be confined。 They do very wrong to let maniacs like that go at large。 It is dangerous； the bells of Cormeilles have ceased ringing。 Ah！ /bon Dieu/； who knows？ Mme。 de Lorcy surely has a hand in this business； it is the result of some grand plot。 How many acts are there in the play？ Here we are at the second or third； but there are some jokes that are very provoking。 I shall end by being seriously angry。〃
Princess Gulof appeared to have entirely failed in her object。 It seemed to Mlle。 Moriaz that for the last twenty minutes she loved Count Larinski more than ever before。
The hour drew near； he was on the way； she had never been so impatient to see him。 She saw some one at the end of the terrace。 It was M。 Camille Langis； who was going towards the laboratory。
He turned his head； retraced his steps； and came to her。 M。 Moriaz had asked him to translate two pages of a German memoir which he had not been able to understand。 Camille was bringing the translation； perhaps that was the reason of his coming back to Cormeilles after two days； perhaps； too； it was only a pretext。
Mlle。 Moriaz could not help thinking that his visit was inopportune； that he had chose an unfortunate time for it。 〃If the count finds him still here；〃 thought she； 〃I am not afraid that he will make a scene； but all his pleasure will be spoiled。〃 There was a tinge of coldness in her welcome to M。 Langis； of which he was sensible。
〃I am in the way；〃 he said； making a movement to retire。
She kept him； and altered her tone： 〃You are never in the way； Camille。 Sit there。〃
He seated himself； and talked of the races at Chantilly； that he had attended the day before。
She listened to him； bowed her head in sign of approval； but she heard his voice through a mist that veiled her senses。 She lifted her hand to brush away a wasp that annoyed her by its buzzing。 The lace of her cuff； in falling back； left her wrist exposed。
〃What a curious bracelet you have！〃 said M。 Langis。
〃Have you not seen it before？〃 she replied。 〃It is some time since〃
She interrupted herself； a sudden idea occurring to her。 She looked at her wrist。 This bracelet from which she never was partedthis bracelet that Count Larinski had given to herthis bracelet that he loved because it had belonged to his mother； and that the late Countess Larinski had worn as long as she livedresembled none other； but Mlle。 Moriaz observed that it had a strong resemblance to the Persian bracelet that the Princess Gulof had described to her； and which she had exchanged for Samuel Brohl。 The three gold plates； the grotesque animals； the filigree networknothing was wanting。 She took it from her arm and handed it to M。 Langis； saying to him： 〃There is； it seems； something written on the interior of one of these plates； but you must know the secret to be able to open it。 Can you guess secrets？〃
He carefully examined the bracelet。 〃Two of these plates；〃 said he； 〃are solid； and of heavy gold； the third is hollow； and might serve as a case。 I see a little hinge that is almost invisible； but I seek in vain for the secretI