the most unjust claims legal; laws have convenient syllogisms
to quiet consciences. My visit was a drama. To _be_ Providence itself;
actually to fulfil that futile wish, 'If heaven were to send us twenty
thousand francs a year,'--that silly wish we all make, laughing; to
bring opulence to a family sitting by the light of one miserable lamp
over a poor turf fire!--no, words cannot describe it. My extreme justice
seemed to them unjust. Well! if there is a Paradise my father is happy
in it now. As for me, I am loved as no man was ever loved yet. Madame
Firmiani gives me more than happiness; she has inspired me with
a delicacy of feeling I think I lacked. So I call her _my dear
conscience_,--a love-word which expresses certain secret harmonies
within our hearts. I find honesty profitable; I shall get rich in time
by myself. I've an industrial scheme in my head, and if it succeeds I
shall earn millions."

"Ah! my boy, you have your mother's soul," said the old man, his eyes
filling at the thought of his sister.

Just then, in spite of the distance between Octave's garret and the
street, the young man heard the sound of a carriage.

"There she is!" he cried; "I know her horses by the way they are pulled
up."

A few moments more, and Madame Firmiani entered the room.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, with a gesture of annoyance at seeing Monsieur
de Bourbonne. "But our uncle is not in the way," she added quickly,
smiling; "I came to humbly entreat my husband to accept my fortune. The
Austrian Embassy has just sent me a document which proves the death of
Monsieur Firmiani, also the will, which his valet was keeping safely
to put into my own hands. Octave, you can accept it all; you are richer
than I, for you have treasures here" (laying her hand upon his heart)
"to which none but God can add." Then, unable to support her happiness,
she laid her head upon her husband's breast.

"My dear niece," said the old man, "in my day we made love; in yours,
you love. You women are all that is best in humanity; you are not even
guilty of your faults, for they come through us."

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Blamont-Chauvry, Princesse de
The Thirteen
Madame Firmiani
The Lily of the Valley

Bourbonne, De
Madame Firmiani
The Vicar of Tours

Camps, Octave de
Madame Firmiani
The Member for Arcis

Camps, Madame Oct