ting, displeased and irritated him. He suspected M. Moriaz of
purposely putting his shoulder to the wheel of time, and of preparing
a contract that would completely tie the hands of Count Larinski.
He resolved to seize the first opportunity of proving that he was
mistrustful, stormy, susceptible, in the hope that Mlle. Moriaz would
become alarmed and say to her father, "I intend to marry in three weeks,
and without any conditions." The opportunity had presented itself, and
Samuel Brohl had taken good care not to lose it.

The next day he received the following note:

"You have caused me pain, a great deal of pain. Already! I passed a
sorrowful evening, and slept wretchedly all night. I have reflected
seriously upon our dispute; I have endeavoured to persuade myself that I
was in the wrong: I have neither been able to succeed, nor to comprehend
you. Ah! how your lack of confidence astonishes me! It is so easy to
believe when one loves. Please write me word quickly that you also have
reflected, and that you have acknowledged your misdemeanour. I will not
insist upon your doing penance, your face humbled to the ground; but I
will condemn you to love me to-day more than yesterday, to-morrow more
than to-day. Upon these conditions, I will pass a sponge across your
grave error, and we shall speak of it no more.

"Ever yours. It is agreed, is it not?" Samuel Brohl had the surprise of
receiving at the same time another letter, thus worded:

"MY DEAR COUNT: I cannot explain to myself your conduct; you no longer
give me any signs of life. I believed that I had some claims upon you,
and that you would hasten to announce to me in person the great event of
events, and seek my congratulations. Come, I beg of you, and dine this
evening at Maisons with Abbe Miollens, who is dying to embrace you; he
studies men in Horace, you know, and he finds none whom he prefers to
you.

"You need not answer, but come; else I will be displeased with you as
long as I live."

Samuel replied as follows to Mlle. Moriaz:

"Be assured I have suffered more than you. Forgive me; much should be
forgiven a man who has suffered much. My imagination is subject to the
wildest alarms. Great, unlooked-for joy has rendered me mistrustful.
I have been especially low-spirited of late. After having resolutely
fought against my happiness, I tremble now lest it escape me; it appears
to me too beautiful not to prove only a dream. To be loved by you! How
can I help