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of stupor the turning of the fan of this word…mill； whose clapper kept up
such an incessant noise。 After having criticised to her heart's content her
neighbours； including under that title emperors and grand… dukes； and
having abundantly multiplied the et ceteras； Princess Gulof suddenly
turned the conversation to physiology： this science； whose depths she
believed herself to have fathomed； was； in her estimation； the secret of
everything； the Alpha and Omega of human life。 She exposed certain
materialistic views； making use of expressions that shocked the modest
and delicate ears of Mlle。 Moriaz。 The astonishment the latter had at first
experienced became now blended with horror and disgust； she judged that
her visit had lasted long enough； and she proceeded to beat a retreat；
which Mme。 de Lorcy made no effort to prevent。
Upon arriving at Cormeilles； her carriage crossed with a young man on
horseback； who with his head bowed down allowed his animal full liberty
to take his own course。 This young man trembled when a clear； soprano
voice； which he preferred to the most beautiful music in the world； cried to
him； 〃Where are you going； Camille？〃
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He bowed over his horse's neck； drew down his hat over his eyes； and
replied； 〃To Maisons。〃
〃Do not go there。 I have just left because there is a dreadful old woman
there who says horrid things。〃 Then Mlle。 Moriaz added； in a queenly tone；
〃You cannot passyou are my prisoner。〃
She obliged him to turn back； ten minutes later she had alighted from
her coupe； he had sprung from his saddle； and they were seated side by
side on a rustic bench。
A few days previous M。 Langis had met M。 Moriaz； who had
complained bitterly of being forsaken by him as well as by Mme。 de Lorcy；
and who had extracted from him the promise to come and see him。
Camille had kept this promise。 Had he chosen well his time of doing so？
The truth is； he had been both rejoiced and heart…broken to learn that Mlle。
Moriaz was absent。 Man is a strange combination of contradictions；
especially a man who is in love。 In the same way he had bestowed both
blessings and imprecations upon Heaven for permitting him to meet
Antoinette。 During some moments he had lost countenance； but had
quickly recovered himself； he had formed the generous resolution to act
out consistently his role of friend and brother。 He had acquitted himself of
it so well at Saint Moritz； that Antoinette believed him cured of the caprice
of a day with which she had inspired him and which she had never taken
seriously。
〃The last time I saw you；〃 said she； 〃you dropped a remark that pained
me； but I am pleased to think that you did not mean to do so。〃
〃I am a terrible culprit；〃 he rejoined； 〃and I smite myself upon the
breast therefore。 I was wanting in respect to your idol。〃
〃Fortunately； my idol knew nothing about it； and； if he had known； I
would have appeased him by saying： 'Pardon this young man； he does not
always know what he is saying。' 〃
〃He even seldom knows it； but what help is there for it？ A man given
to fainting always did seem a curiosity to me。 I know we should endeavour
to conquer our prejudices； every country has its customs； and； since
Poland is a country that pleases you； I will make an effort to see only its
good sides。〃
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〃Now that is the right way to talk。 I hope this very day to reconcile you
with Count Larinski； stay and dine with ushe will be here very soon； the
first duty of the people whom I love is to love one another。〃
M。 Langis at first energetically declined accepting this invitation；
Antoinette insisted： he ended by bowing in sign of obedience。 Youth has a
taste for suffering。
Tracing figures in the gravel with a stick he had picked up； M。 Langis
said； in a wholly unconstrained voice： 〃I do not wish M。 Larinski any
harm； and yet you must admit that I would have the right to detest him
cordially； for I had the honour two years ago； if I mistake not； of asking
your hand in marriage。 Do you remember it？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 she replied； fixing upon him her pure； clear eyes； 〃but I
ought to avow to you that this fancy of yours never seemed to me either
very reasonable or very serious。〃
〃You are wrong； I can certify to you that your refusal plunged me for
as much as forty…eight hours into the depths of despairI mean one of
those genuine despairs that neither eat； drink； nor sleep； and that speak
openly of suicide！〃
〃And at the end of forty…eight hours were you consoled？〃
〃/Eh！ bon Dieu/； it surely was time to come to reason。 I had hesitated a
long time before asking your hand； because I thought； 'If she refuses me； I
cannot see her any more。' But I still do see you； so all is well！〃
〃And how soon do you mean to marry？〃
〃I？ Never！ I shall die a bachelor。 An aspirant to the hand of Mlle。
Moriaz； being unable to win her； could not care for another woman。
Nothing remains but to strike the attitude of the inconsolable lover。〃
〃And when this ceases to hinder one from eating； drinking； or sleeping
what then？〃
〃One becomes interesting without being inconvenienced by the
consequences；〃 he gaily interposed。 Then； letting his eyes wander idly
around for a moment； he added： 〃It seems to me that you have in some
way changed the order of this terrace； put to the right what was at the left；
thinned out the shrubbery； cut the trees； I feel completely lost here。〃
〃You mistake greatly； nothing is changed here； it is you who have
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become forgetful。 How！ you now longer recognise this terrace； scene of so
many exploits？ I was a thorough tyrant； I did with you what I pleased。 You
revolted sometimes； but in his heart the slave adored his chains。 Open your
eyes。 See！ here is the sycamore you climbed one day to escape me when I
wanted you to make believe that you were a girl； as you said； and you had
little fancy for such a silly role。 There is the alley where we played ball；
and yonder the hedge and the grove where we played hide…and…seek。〃
〃Say rather； /cligne…musette/； it is more poetical；〃 he rejoined。 〃When I
was down in Transylvania I made a /chanson/ about it all； and set it myself
to music。〃
〃Sing me your /chanson/。〃
〃You are mocking at me； my voice is false； as you well know； but I
will consent to recite it to you。 The rhymes are not richI am no son of
Parnassus。〃
With these words； lowering his voice； not daring to look her in the face；
he recited the couplets。
〃Your /chanson/ is very pretty；〃 said she； 〃but it does not tell the truth；
for here we are sitting together on this bench； we have not lost each other
at all。〃
She was so innocent that she had no idea of the torture she was
inflicting； and he saw this so plainly that he could not so much as have the
satisfaction of finding fault with her； yet he asked himself whether in the
best woman's heart there was not a foundation of cruelty； of unconscious
ferocity。 He felt the tears start to his eyes； he scarcely could restrain them；
he abruptly bowed his head； and began to examine a beautiful horned
beetle； which was just crossing the gravel…path at a quick pace； apparently
having some very important affairs to regulate。 When M。 Langis raised his
head his eyes were dry； his face serene； his lips smiling。
〃It is very certain；〃 he observed； 〃that two years ago I must have
appeared supremely ridiculous to you。 This little playmate of old； this
foolish little Camille； to attempt to transform himself into a husband！ The
pretension was absurd indeed。〃
〃Not at all；〃 she replied； 〃but I thought at once that it was a mistake。
Little Camilles are apt to be hot…headed and fanciful； they are subject to
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