rself
an imposter, to sacrifice your honor, and live a lie every hour of the
day! Human devotion cannot go so far. Only think!--No. But for my poor
children I would have fled with you by this time to the other end of the
world."

"But," said Chabert, "cannot I live here in your little lodge as one of
your relations? I am as worn out as a cracked cannon; I want nothing but
a little tobacco and the _Constitutionnel_."

The Countess melted into tears. There was a contest of generosity
between the Comtesse Ferraud and Colonel Chabert, and the soldier came
out victorious. One evening, seeing this mother with her children, the
soldier was bewitched by the touching grace of a family picture in the
country, in the shade and the silence; he made a resolution to remain
dead, and, frightened no longer at the authentication of a deed, he
asked what he could do to secure beyond all risk the happiness of this
family.

"Do exactly as you like," said the Countess. "I declare to you that I
will have nothing to do with this affair. I ought not."

Delbecq had arrived some days before, and in obedience to the Countess'
verbal instructions, the intendant had succeeded in gaining the old
soldier's confidence. So on the following morning Colonel Chabert went
with the erewhile attorney to Saint-Leu-Taverny, where Delbecq had
caused the notary to draw up an affidavit in such terms that, after
hearing it read, the Colonel started up and walked out of the office.

"Turf and thunder! What a fool you must think me! Why, I should make
myself out a swindler!" he exclaimed.

"Indeed, monsieur," said Delbecq, "I should advise you not to sign in
haste. In your place I would get at least thirty thousand francs a year
out of the bargain. Madame would pay them."

After annihilating this scoundrel _emeritus_ by the lightning look of an
honest man insulted, the Colonel rushed off, carried away by a thousand
contrary emotions. He was suspicious, indignant, and calm again by
turns.

Finally he made his way back into the park of Groslay by a gap in a
fence, and slowly walked on to sit down and rest, and meditate at his
ease, in a little room under a gazebo, from which the road to Saint-Leu
could be seen. The path being strewn with the yellowish sand which is
used instead of river-gravel, the Countess, who was sitting in the upper
room of this little summer-house, did not hear the Colonel's approach,
for she was too much preoccupied with the success of