construction of which is known only to the
Brahmans. In this dread mystery the spirit of Evil is too visibly the
master; I dare not lay the blame to God. Anguish irremediable, what
power finds amusement in weaving you? Can Henriette and her mysterious
philosopher be right? Does their mysticism contain the explanation of
humanity?

The autumn leaves were falling during the last few days which I passed
in the valley, days of lowering clouds, which do sometimes obscure the
heaven of Touraine, so pure, so warm at that fine season. The evening
before my departure Madame de Mortsauf took me to the terrace before
dinner.

"My dear Felix," she said, after we had taken a turn in silence under
the leafless trees, "you are about to enter the world, and I wish to go
with you in thought. Those who have suffered much have lived and known
much. Do not think that solitary souls know nothing of the world; on the
contrary, they are able to judge it. Hear me: If I am to live in and
for my friend I must do what I can for his heart and for his conscience.
When the conflict rages it is hard to remember rules; therefore let me
give you a few instructions, the warnings of a mother to her son. The
day you leave us I shall give you a letter, a long letter, in which you
will find my woman's thoughts on the world, on society, on men, on
the right methods of meeting difficulty in this great clash of human
interests. Promise me not to read this letter till you reach Paris. I
ask it from a fanciful sentiment, one of those secrets of womanhood not
impossible to understand, but which we grieve to find deciphered; leave
me this covert way where as a woman I wish to walk alone."

"Yes, I promise it," I said, kissing her hand.

"Ah," she added, "I have one more promise to ask of you; but grant it
first."

"Yes, yes!" I cried, thinking it was surely a promise of fidelity.

"It does not concern myself," she said smiling, with some bitterness.
"Felix, do not gamble in any house, no matter whose it be; I except
none."

"I will never play at all," I replied.

"Good," she said. "I have found a better use for your time than to waste
it on cards. The end will be that where others must sooner or later be
losers you will invariably win."

"How so?"

"The letter will tell you," she said, with a playful smile, which took
from her advice the serious tone which might certainly have been that of
a grandfather.

The countess talked to me for an hour, and