d the poor unfortunate, who appeared
in a studied toilet which would certainly have told a _roue_ that his
coming was awaited. The gown, made like a wrapper to show the line of a
white bosom, was of pearl-gray moire with large open sleeves, from which
issued the arms covered with a second sleeve of puffed tulle, divided
by straps and trimmed with lace at the wrists. The beautiful hair, which
the comb held insecurely, escaped from a cap of lace and flowers.

"Already!" she said, smiling. "A lover could not have shown more
eagerness. You must have secrets to tell me, have you not?"

And she posed herself gracefully on a sofa, inviting Calyste by a
gesture to sit beside her. By chance (a selected chance, possibly, for
women have two memories, that of angels and that of devils) Beatrix was
redolent of the perfume which she used at Les Touches during her first
acquaintance with Calyste. The inhaling of this scent, contact with that
dress, the glance of those eyes, which in the semi-darkness gathered
the light and returned it, turned Calyste's brain. The luckless man
was again impelled to that violence which had once before almost cost
Beatrix her life; but this time the marquise was on the edge of a sofa,
not on that of a rock; she rose to ring the bell, laying a finger on
his lips. Calyste, recalled to order, controlled himself, all the more
because he saw that Beatrix had no inimical intention.

"Antoine, I am not at home--for every one," she said. "Put some wood on
the fire. You see, Calyste, that I treat you as a friend," she continued
with dignity, when the old man had left the room; "therefore do not
treat me as you would a mistress. I have two remarks to make to you. In
the first place, I should not deny myself foolishly to any man I really
loved; and secondly, I am determined to belong to no other man on earth,
for I believed, Calyste, that I was loved by a species of Rizzio, whom
no engagement trammelled, a man absolutely free, and you see to what
that fatal confidence has led me. As for you, you are now under the
yoke of the most sacred of duties; you have a young, amiable, delightful
wife; moreover, you are a father. I should be, as you are, without
excuse--we should be two fools--"

"My dear Beatrix, all these reasons vanish before a single word--I have
never loved but you on earth, and I was married against my will."

"Ah! a trick played upon us by Mademoiselle des Touches," she said,
smiling.

Three hours