.
His daughter had gone to pay a visit in the neighbourhood, and he was
alone with Mlle. Moiseney, who said to him, "You have received good
news, monsieur?"

"It is excellent," he replied; then, promptly correcting himself, he
added: "Excellent, or to be regretted, or vexatious; I leave that to our
powers of discernment."

When he had finished reading the letter, and replaced it in the
envelope, he remained thoughtful for some moments; he was wondering how
he should proceed to announce the excellent news. For three weeks his
daughter had been a mystery to him. She never once had pronounced the
name of Count Larinski. Churwalden pleased her as much as Saint Moritz;
apparently, she was gay, tranquil, perfectly happy. Had her delusion
passed away? Had she changed her mind? M. Moriaz did not know; but he
surmised that still waters should be mistrusted, and that a young girl's
imagination is like an abyss. One thoroughly good warning is worth two
indifferent ones; henceforth, he feared everything. "If I speak to her,"
thought he, "I shall not be able to dissimulate my joy, and perhaps she
will go into hysterics." He had a horror of hysterics; he resolved to
have recourse to Mlle. Moiseney, and he said to her, abruptly:

"I suppose, mademoiselle, that you are acquainted with all that has
passed, and that Antoinette has given you her confidence?"

She opened her eyes wide, and was on the point of answering that she
knew nothing; but she restrained herself, and setting her little pointed
head erect on her thin shoulders, she said, proudly, "Can you imagine
that Antoinette would keep any secrets from me?"

"Heaven forbid!" replied he. "And do you approve, do you encourage her
sentiments for M. Larinski?"

Mlle. Moiseney started; she had been far from suspecting that Count
Larinski had specially impressed Mlle. Moriaz, and, as on certain
occasions her mind worked rapidly, she understood immediately all the
consequences of this prodigious event. There was a cloud before her
eyes, and in this cloud she beheld all manner of things, both pleasing
and displeasing to her; her mouth open, she strove to clear her ideas.
She said to herself: "It is an imprudent act; not only that, it cannot
be;" but she also said: "Mlle. Antoinette can no more make a mistake
than the Queen of England can; because she wishes it, she is right in
wishing it." Mlle. Moiseney ended by regaining her self-possession; her
lips formed the most pleasant smil