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CHAPTER VIII
Abbe Miollens hastened to repair to Cormeilles； where he gave a
faithful circumstantial account of his conference with Count Larinski。 He
was still warm from the interview； and he gave free vent to the effusions of
his enthusiasm。 He struck up a Canticle of Zion in honour of the antique
soul； the celestial soul； which had just been revealing to him all its hidden
treasures。 M。 Moriaz； both astonished and scandalized； observed； dryly：
〃You are right； this Pole is a prodigy； he should either be canonized or
hanged； I do not know which。〃
Antoinette said not a word； she kept her reflections to herself。 She
retired to her chamber； where she paced to and fro for some time；
uncertain regarding what she was about to do； or； rather more restless than
uncertain。 Several times she approached her writing…table； and gazed
earnestly at her inkstand； then； seized with a sudden scruple； she would
move away。 At last she formed a resolute decision； seized her pen； and
wrote the following lines：
〃MONSIEUR： Before setting out for Vienna； will you be so good as
to come and pass some moments at Cormeilles？ I desire to have a
conversation with you in the presence of my father。
〃Accept； monsieur； I beg of you； the expression of my most profound
esteem。
〃ANTOINETTE MORIAZ。〃
The next morning she received by the first mail the response she
awaited； and which was thus fashioned：
〃This test would be more than my courage could endure。 I never shall
see you again； for； should I do so； I would be a lost man。〃
This short response caused Mlle。 Moriaz a disappointment full of
bitterness； and blended with no little wrath。 She held in her hand a pencil；
which she deliberately snapped in two； apparently to console herself for
not having broken the proud and obstinate will of Count Abel Larinski。
And yet can one break iron or a diamond？ The carrier had brought her at
the same time another letter； which she opened mechanically； merely to
satisfy her conscience。 She ran through the first lines without succeeding
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in comprehending a single word that she read。 Suddenly her attention
became riveted； her face brightened up； her eyes kindled。 This letter；
which a kind Providence had sent her as a supreme resource in her distress；
was from the hand of Mlle。 Galet； and here was what this retired florist of
the Rue Mouffetard wrote：
〃MA CHERE DEMOISELLE： I learn that you have returned。 What
happiness for me！ and how I long to see you！ You are my good angel；
whom I should like to see every day of my life； and the time has seemed
so long to me without you。 When you enter the garret of the poor； infirm
old woman； it seems to her as though there were three suns in the heavens；
when you abandon her； the blackness of midnight surrounds her。 Mme。 de
Lorcy has been very good to me。 As my angel requested her； she came a
fortnight since to pay me the quarter due of my pension。 She is a very
charitable lady； and she dresses beautifully； but she is a little hard on poor
people。 She asks a great many questions； she wants to know everything。
She reproached me with spending too much； being too fond of luxury； and
you know how that is。 She forgets that everything is higher priced than it
used to be； that meat and vegetables are exorbitant； and that just now eggs
cost one franc and fifty centimes a dozen。 Besides； a poor creature；
deprived of the use of her limbs； as I am； cannot go to market herself； and
it is quite possible that my /femme de menage/ does not purchase as
wisely as she might。 I know I have great scenes with her sometimes for
bringing me early vegetables； /le bon Dieu/ can； at least； bear me witness
that I am no glutton。
〃The good Mme。 de Lorcy scolded me about a bouquet of camellias
she saw on my table； just like those for which I have been grateful to my
angel。 I don't know what notions she got into her head about them。 Ah！
well； /ma chere demoiselle/； I have learned since that these double
camelliasthey are variegated； red and whitecame to me from a man； for；
at present； as it would appear； men have taken to give me bouquets and
making me visits； it is rather late in the day。 The particular man to whom I
refer presented himself one fine morning； and； telling me that you had
spoken to him of me； said that he wished to assure himself that I was well
and wanted nothing。 He returned several times； always pampering me with
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some attention or other。 But the best of all was when he came to tell me
that my angel had returned。 What a man he is！ he has surely dropped right
down from the skies！ One evening when I was sick he gave me my
medicine himself； and would have sat up with me all night if I had been
willing to let him。 You must tell me who he is； for it puzzles me greatly。
He has the head of some grand lion； he is as generous as he is handsome；
but very sad。 He must have some great sorrow on his heart。 The
misfortune； so far as I am concerned； is that he cannot spoil me much
longerit is almost over now。 He expects to leave here in two days； and he
has announced to me that he will come to make his adieus； to…morrow
afternoon。
〃You will come soon； won't you； /ma chere demoiselle/？ I burn with
impatience to embrace you； since you permit me to embrace you。 You are
my angel and my sunshine； and I am your very humble and devoted
servant；
〃LOUISE GALET。〃
This letter of Mlle。 Louise Galet continued nothing definite； beyond；
perhaps； the passage relative to the early vegetables； and the supposed
scenes with her /chambriere/。 Whatever may have been the good
demoiselle's past record； she certainly was not void of principles； and she
prided herself on her truthfulness； only she did not always see the
necessity of telling everything she knew； in her narratives she frequently
omitted certain details。 She had written at the instigation of Samuel Brohl；
who had not explained to her his motives。 To be sure； she had partially
divined these； being shrewd and sly。 He had commended himself to her
discretion； for which he had paid liberally。 Mlle。 Galet had at first refused
the round sum he had offered her； she had ended by accepting it with
tender gratitude。 These little pampering attentions make good friends。
An audacious idea suddenly came to Mlle。 Moriaz； there was no time
to recoil from it。 She ordered up her coupe。 M。 Moriaz had just gone out to
make a call in the neighbourhood。 She determined to profit by his absence；
and besought Mlle。 Moiseney to make ready in haste to accompany her to
Paris； where she had to confer with her dressmaker。 Ten minutes later she
stepped into her carriage； having ordered her coachman to drive like the
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wind。
Her dressmaker did not detain her long； from the Rue de la Paix she
ordered to be driven to No。 27 Rue Mouffetard。 She never was in the habit
of permitting Mlle。 Moiseney； who was very short of breath； to climb with
her to the fifth story； where Mlle。 Galet lodged； upon this occasion she
indicated to her an express order to remain peaceably below in the coupe
to await her return。
She slowly mounted the stairs； on her way up she encountered a
servant； who informed her that Mlle。 Galet was lying down taking a nap；
being somewhat indisposed； but that the key was in the door。 The
apartment of which Mlle。 Moriaz was in quest was composed of three
rooms； a vestibule serving as a kitchen； a tiny /salon/； and a bed… chamber。
She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath； to gather
toge