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He raised his head； he saw Antoinette； he looked wildly at her； as
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though he did not recognise her。
He recognised her at last； made a gesture of alarm； rose precipitately；
and fled。
Mlle。 Moriaz drew near Mme。 de Lorcy； and said to her； 〃Well； what
do you think of it？〃
〃I think； my dear；〃 she replied； 〃that Mme。 de Lorcy is a fool； and that
Count Larinski is a powerful man。〃
Antoinette looked at her with a bitter smile； and touched her arm
lightly。 〃Admit； madame；〃 she said； 〃that if he had a hundred thousand
livres' income； you would not think of doubting his sincerity。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy did not reply； she could not say 〃No；〃 and she was
enraged to feel that she was both right and wrong。 It is an accident that
happens sometimes to women of the world。
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CHAPTER VII
On her entering her coupe to return to Cormeilles； Mlle。 Moriaz was
the prey of an agitation that did not calm down during the entire drive。 Her
whole soul was stirred by a tender； passionate sentiment for the man who
had swooned away in taking farewell of her； she was filled with anger
against the foolish prejudices and the petty finesse of the people of the
world； filled with joy at having baffled a monstrous conspiracy against her
happiness； filled with pride because she had seen clearly； because she had
not mistaken in her choice； and because the man whom she loved was
worthy of being loved。 During several days she had suffered cruelly from
anxiety； from actual agony of mind； and over and over again she had said
to herself； 〃Perhaps they are right。〃 A woman's heart believes itself to be at
the mercy of error； and it is torture to it to be obliged to doubt itself and its
own clairvoyance。 When it is unmistakably demonstrated to it that its god
is only an idol of wood or of stone； that what was once adored must
henceforth be despised； it feels ready to die； and imagines that some spring
must give way in the vast machine of the universe； that the sky must fall；
the earth crumble away； and yet a woman's error of judgment is not a
matter of such very grave import。 The sun continues to shine； the earth to
revolve upon its axis； as though it had not occurred。 The machine of the
universe would be subject to quite too many accidents should it become
unsettled every time a woman made a mistake。
〃It was I who was right； they were incapable of comprehending him；〃
though Mlle。 Moriaz； as she crossed the Seine； and she contemplated with
a delighted eye the lovely blue sky； the tranquil waters； the verdant banks
of the river； with their long range of poplar…trees。 It seemed to her that all
was going well； that order reigned everywhere； that the Great Mechanician
was at his post； that the world was in good hands； and that travellers
therein had no cause to fear untoward mischance。
When she arrived at Cormeilles； M。 Moriaz was shut up in his
laboratory； which he had been overjoyed to find just as he had left it。 A
velvet skull…cap perched on one side of his head； his sleeves turned up； a
brown holland apron tied round his neck and his waist； a feather brush in
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his hand； he had proceeded at once to examine his precious stock in detail…
…his furnaces； his long…necked； big…bellied matrasses； the curved necks and
the tubulures of his retorts； his cucurbits； and his alembics。 Balloons； tubes；
pipettes； pneumatic vats； receivers； cupels； lamps； bell…glasses； blow…pipes；
and mortars； he passed in review to assure himself that during his absence
nothing had been damaged。 He carefully dusted his jars； examined the
labels； made sure that none of his treasures were cracked； that his gauges
were not out of order。 He was as happy as a king who has his troops pass
in review before him； and feels convinced that they bear themselves well；
that they will stand fire and do honour to their master。
Agreeable as was the occupation to which for two hours he had
devoted himself； M。 Moriaz had not forgotten the existence of his
daughter and of M。 Larinski。 He knew that Antoinette had repaired to
Maisons Lafitte to have an explanation with Mme。 de Lorcy； and this
thought cast a shadow over his felicity。 He hoped； however； that this
interview might turn out according to his wishes； that the Pole star； which
had caused him so much disquietude； might disappear forever from his
horizon。
Some one knocked at the door of his laboratory。 〃Come in！〃 he cried；
and turning he saw Antoinette standing upon the threshold。 He gazed at
her fixedly。 Her eye was so animated； her countenance so beaming； so
luminous； that involuntarily he dropped his arms and let fall； as he did so；
a little vial he held in his hands。
〃Naughty girl； to cause such havoc in her father's laboratory！〃 she
cried； gaily。
〃The harm done is not very great；〃 he replied； and he began diligently
brushing up the fragments of the vial。 It was his way of gaining time； but
he did it so awkwardly that she snatched the brush from his hands： 〃This is
the way to sweep；〃 said she。
He watched her； saying to himself： 〃This is the reverse of the scene at
Churwalden。 It is now I who wear a long face； and she cannot dissemble
her joy。 Just requital of things here below。〃
So soon as she had finished her brushing she looked around and
remarked： 〃Well； here you are once more in your paradisethis enchanted
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spot； where you taste such ineffable delights。〃
〃Oh； yes； I am happy herehappy enough that is；〃 he replied； with
modesty。
〃Fastidious creature！ It is altogether charming in your laboratory。〃
〃Yes； it is suitable。 Nevertheless； I often reflect that there is something
wanting。 Do you know what my dream is？ I should like to have over in
yonder corner a transparent /chapelle/。 You； perhaps； are unacquainted
with a /chapelle/。 It is a framework or basket…funnel above a chimney； for
facilitating the release of volatiles and pernicious vapours； and having one
side of glass。 It enables the chemist to watch the process taking place
within。 German chemists have nearly always transparent /chapelles/ in
their laboratories。〃
〃How can any one accuse you of lack of imagination？〃 she exclaimed。
〃You are a very romantic man； and your romance is a transparent
/chapelle/。 Now I know why you are so indulgent to the romances of
others。〃
Then carelessly drawing the brush in her hand over an arm…chair； she
seated herself in it； placed another seat facing her； and said： 〃Come； sit
down here near me on this stool； I will put a cushion on it to make you
more comfortable。 Come； I must talk with you。〃
He drew near； seated himself； and put his ear towards her。 〃Must I take
off my apron？〃 he asked。
〃Why so？〃
〃I foresee that our conversation will revolve about matters pertaining
to the height of romance。 I wish to make a suitable appearance。〃
〃Nonsense！ your apron is very becoming。 All that I desire and stipulate
is； that you will accord me most religious attention。〃
She then proceeded to recount to him； point by point； all that had
occurred at Mme。 de Lorcy's。 She began her recital in a tranquil tone； she
grew animated； she warmed up by degrees； her eyes sparkled。 He listened
to her with deep chagrin； but he gazed on her with pride as he did so；
thinking； 〃/Mon Dieu/； how beautiful she is； and what a lucky rascal is this
Pole！〃
When she had ended； there was a moment's pause； during which she
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left him to his reflections。 As he maintained