enchanted and ruined liberal who was doing his best to help her
family and the frivolous old General; and, although these transactions
of his have since been exposed, you will find that the exposure has
made no impression upon her mind. Only give her the De Griers of former
days, and she will ask of you no more. The more she may detest the
present De Griers, the more will she lament the De Griers of the
past--even though the latter never existed but in her own imagination.
You are a sugar refiner, Mr. Astley, are you not?"

"Yes, I belong to the well-known firm of Lovell and Co."

"Then see here. On the one hand, you are a sugar refiner, while, on the
other hand, you are an Apollo Belvedere. But the two characters do not
mix with one another. I, again, am not even a sugar refiner; I am a
mere roulette gambler who has also served as a lacquey. Of this fact
Mlle. Polina is probably well aware, since she appears to have an
excellent force of police at her disposal."

"You are saying this because you are feeling bitter," said Astley with
cold indifference. "Yet there is not the least originality in your
words."

"I agree. But therein lies the horror of it all--that, how trepidation,
playing ever mean and farcical my accusations may be, they are none the
less TRUE. But I am only wasting words."

"Yes, you are, for you are only talking nonsense!" exclaimed my
companion--his voice now trembling and his eyes flashing fire. "Are you
aware," he continued, "that wretched, ignoble, petty, unfortunate man
though you are, it was at HER request I came to Homburg, in order to
see you, and to have a long, serious talk with you, and to report to
her your feelings and thoughts and hopes--yes, and your recollections
of her, too?"

"Indeed? Is that really so?" I cried--the tears beginning to well from
my eyes. Never before had this happened.

"Yes, poor unfortunate," continued Astley. "She DID love you; and I may
tell you this now for the reason that now you are utterly lost. Even if
I were also to tell you that she still loves you, you would none the
less have to remain where you are. Yes, you have ruined yourself beyond
redemption. Once upon a time you had a certain amount of talent, and
you were of a lively disposition, and your good looks were not to be
despised. You might even have been useful to your country, which needs
men like you. Yet you remained here, and your life is now over. I am
not blaming you for this--in my view a