Antoinette's cheeks, and her eyes flashed fire.
Princess Gulof entirely mistook the sentiment that animated her, and
said: "My dear, don't be angry, don't be indignant, your indignation
will not help you at all. Without doubt, a rascal capable of deceiving
such a charming girl as you deserves death ten times over; but be
careful not to make an exposure! My dear, scandal always splashes mud
over every one concerned, and there is a rather vulgar but exceedingly
sensible Turkish proverb that says that the more garlic is crushed, the
stronger becomes its odour. Believe me, you would not come off without
a tinge of ridicule; certain mistakes always appear a little ridiculous,
and it is useless to proclaim them to the universe. Thank Heaven! you
are not yet the Countess Larinski--I arrived in time to save you. Be
silent about the discovery you have just made; by no means mention it to
Samuel Brohl, and seek a proper pretext to break with him. You would not
be a woman if you could not find ten for one."

Mlle. Moriaz could no longer refrain her anger. "Madame," she exclaimed
excitedly, "will you declare to M. Larinski, in my presence, that his
name is Samuel Brohl?"

"I made that declaration to him yesterday--it is useless to repeat it.
He was nearer dead than alive, and I was truly sorry for the state into
which I had thrown him. I cannot disguise from myself that I am the
cause of all this; why did I take the boy from his father's tavern and
his natal mud? Perhaps there he would have remained honest. It was I who
launched him into the world and gave him the desire to advance, I put
the trump-cards into his hand, but he found that he could not win fast
enough by fair play, so he ended by cheating. It is not my place to
overwhelm the poor devil--we owe some consideration to those who are
under obligations to us; and, once more, I desire not to appear further
in this business. Promise me that Samuel Brohl never will be informed of
the measures I have taken."

She replied, in a haughty tone: "I promise you, madame, that I never
will do Count Larinski the wrong to repeat to him a single word of the
very likely story you have related to me."

The princess rose hastily, remained standing before Mlle. Moriaz, and
contemplated her in silence; finally she said, in tones of the most
cutting sarcasm: "Ah! you do not believe me, my dear. Decidedly you
do not believe me. You are right; you should not put faith in an old
woman's child