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so charmed him； did not deserve at least an inquiry； were not
worthy of some justification。 Ashamed of having resisted the
promptings of his heart for a whole week； and feeling himself
almost a criminal in this mental struggle； he called the same
evening on Madame de Rouville。
All his suspicions； all his evil thoughts vanished at the sight
of the young girl； who had grown pale and thin。
〃Good heavens！ what is the matter？〃 he asked her； after greeting
the Baroness。
Adelaide made no reply； but she gave him a look of deep
melancholy； a sad； dejected look； which pained him。
〃You have； no doubt； been working hard；〃 said the old lady。 〃You
are altered。 We are the cause of your seclusion。 That portrait
had delayed some pictures essential to your reputation。〃
Hippolyte was glad to find so good an excuse for his rudeness。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I have been very busy； but I have been
suffering〃
At these words Adelaide raised her head； looked at her lover； and
her anxious eyes had now no hint of reproach。
〃You must have thought us quite indifferent to any good or ill
that may befall you？〃 said the old lady。
〃I was wrong；〃 he replied。 〃Still； there are forms of pain which
we know not how to confide to any one； even to a friendship of
older date than that with which you honor me。〃
〃The sincerity and strength of friendship are not to be measured
by time。 I have seen old friends who had not a tear to bestow on
misfortune；〃 said the Baroness； nodding sadly。
〃But youwhat ails you？〃 the young man asked Adelaide。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 replied the Baroness。 〃Adelaide has sat up late
for some nights to finish some little piece of woman's work； and
would not listen to me when I told her that a day more or less
did not matter〃
Hippolyte was not listening。 As he looked at these two noble；
calm faces； he blushed for his suspicions； and ascribed the loss
of his purse to some unknown accident。
This was a delicious evening to him； and perhaps to her too。
There are some secrets which young souls understand so well。
Adelaide could read Hippolyte's thoughts。 Though he could not
confess his misdeeds； the painter knew them； and he had come back
to his mistress more in love； and more affectionate； trying thus
to purchase her tacit forgiveness。 Adelaide was enjoying such
perfect； such sweet happiness； that she did not think she had
paid too dear for it with all the grief that had so cruelly
crushed her soul。 And yet； this true concord of hearts； this
understanding so full of magic charm； was disturbed by a little
speech of Madame de Rouville's。
〃Let us have our little game；〃 she said； 〃for my old friend
Kergarouet will not let me off。〃
These words revived all the young painter's fears； he colored as
he looked at Adelaide's mother； but he saw nothing in her
countenance but the expression of the frankest good…nature； no
double meaning marred its charm； its keenness was not
perifidious； its humor seemed kindly； and no trace of remorse
disturbed its equanimity。
He sat down to the card…table。 Adelaide took side with the
painter； saying that he did not know piquet； and needed a
partner。
All through the game Madame de Rouville and her daughter
exchanged looks of intelligence； which alarmed Hippolyte all the
more because he was winning； but at last a final hand left the
lovers in the old lady's debt。
To feel for some money in his pocket the painter took his hands
off the table； and he then saw before him a purse which Adelaide
had slipped in front of him without his noticing it； the poor
child had the old one in her hand； and； to keep her countenance；
was looking into it for the money to pay her mother。 The blood
rushed to Hippolyte's heart with such force that he was near
fainting。
The new purse； substituted for his own； and which contained his
fifteen gold louis； was worked with gilt beads。 The rings and
tassels bore witness to Adelaide's good taste； and she had no
doubt spent all her little hoard in ornamenting this pretty piece
of work。 It was impossible to say with greater delicacy that the
painter's gift could only be repaid by some proof of affection。
Hippolyte； overcome with happiness； turned to look at Adelaide
and her mother； and saw that they were tremulous with pleasure
and delight at their little trick。 He felt himself mean； sordid；
a fool； he longed to punish himself； to rend his heart。 A few
tears rose to his eyes； by an irresistible impulse he sprang up；
clasped Adelaide in his arms； pressed her to his heart； and stole
a kiss； then with the simple heartiness of an artist； 〃I ask for
her for my wife！〃 he exclaimed； looking at the Baroness。
Adelaide looked at him with half…wrathful eyes； and Madame de
Rouville； somewhat astonished； was considering her reply； when
the scene was interrupted by a ring at the bell。 The old vice…
admiral came in； followed by his shadow； and Madame Schinner。
Having guessed the cause of the grief her son vainly endeavored
to conceal； Hippolyte's mother had made inquiries among her
friends concerning Adelaide。 Very justly alarmed by the calumnies
which weighed on the young girl； unknown to the Comte de
Kergarouet； whose name she learned from the porter's wife； she
went to report them to the vice…admiral； and he； in his rage；
declared 〃he would crop all the scoundrels' ears for them。〃
Then； prompted by his wrath； he went on to explain to Madame
Schinner the secret of his losing intentionally at cards； because
the Baronne's pride left him none but these ingenious means of
assisting her。
When Madame Schinner had paid her respects to Madame de Rouville；
the Baroness looked at the Comte de Kergarouet； at the Chevalier
du Halgathe friend of the departed Comtesse de Kergarouetat
Hippolyte； and Adelaide； and said； with the grace that comes from
the heart； 〃So we are a family party this evening。〃
PARIS； May 1832
End