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travelling over the world； and asked hospitality； one evening； at the door
of a palace。 Was she a real princess or an adventuress？ The queen who
received her judged it well to ascertain。 For this purpose she prepared for
her； with her own hands； a soft bed； composed of two mattresses； on which
she piled five feather…beds； between the two mattresses she slipped three
peas。 The next day the traveller was asked how she had slept。 'Very badly；'
she replied。 'I do not know what was in my bed； but my whole body is
bruised； I am black and blue； and I never closed my eyes until dawn！' 'She
is a true princess；' cried the queen。 Is M。 Larinski a true prince？ I made
him undergo the test of the three peas。 I allowed myself to question him
with indiscreet； urgent； improper curiosity； he did not appear to feel the
indiscretion。 He replied promptly and submissively； he endeavoured to
satisfy me； and I was not satisfied。 I shall see him again to…morrowhe
comes to dine at Maisons。 I only wish to be able to prove to myself that he
is a true prince。
〃My dear professor； you are the most imprudent of men； and；
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whatever happens； you have only yourself to blame。 People do not open
their doors so easily to strangers。 You tell me that； thanks to M。 Larinski's
kindness； you did not break your leg。 Mercy on me！ a father would better
break his leg in three places than expose his daughter to the risk of
marrying an adventurer； his leg could be easily set。 There is nothing so
frightful in that。
〃/Postscriptum/。I open my letter。 I want to prove to you how much I
desire to be just； and how far my impartiality goes。 You know that my
neighbour； Abbe Miollens； lived a long time in Poland； and has
correspondents there。 I begged him to get me information concerning the
countof course； without explaining anything to him。 He reports that
Count Abel Larinski is a true count。 His father； the confiscation of the
property； the emigration to America； the Isthmus of Panamaall is true；
the history is authentic。 Countess Larinski was a saint。 Concerning the son；
nothing is known； he must have been three or four years old when he
landed in New York。 No one ever saw him； no one seems to know
anything about his taking part in the insurrection of 1863。 Having spoken
the truth about his parents； it is to be presumed that he told the truth about
himself。 Very well； but one can fight for one's country； and have a saint for
one's mother； and yet possess none of the qualities that go towards making
a happy household。 I take back the word adventurer； but I still hold to all I
have said about him。 Why did he take an inventory of my furniture with
his eyes？ Why did he sleep so soundly in a bed where there were three
peas？ This requires an explanation。
〃Kiss Antoinette for me。 Give my regards to Mlle。 Moiseney； without
telling her that I think her a simpleton； it is a conviction in which I shall
die。 Was it； indeed； very difficult to descend from that terrible rock of
yours？〃
Three days later； Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a second letter：
〃August 19th。
〃I have received this very moment； my dear monsieur； the reply from
Vienna that I have been expecting； and which I hasten to share with you。 I
had applied to our friend Baron B…； first secretary of the embassy from
France to Vienna； in order to try to learn what reputation Count Larinski
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had left there。 He is esteemed there as a most worthy man； as an inventor
who was more daring than wise； as a devoted patriot； as one of those Poles
whose only thought is of Poland and of their Utopia； and who would set
fire to the four corners of the earth without wincing； for the sole purpose
of procuring embers at which to roast their chestnuts。 I will not return to
the subject of the gun； you know all about it。 It seems that there was some
good in this explosive gun； and that he who invented it united a sort of
genius with ingenuousness； inexperience； and ignorance enough to make
one weep。 Nothing can be said against the private character of the man。 He
had a few debts； and his tradespeople felt considerable anxiety when he
left Vienna one morning on foot。 He had no sooner reached Switzerland
than he sent back money to settle everything。 Here we have an admirable
trait。 However； his tastes were simple； and he led a steady life； it was the
gun that brought his finances into disorder。 I will add that M。 Larinski
visited in Vienna at several of the most distinguished houses； where he is
remembered most kindly。 He was sought everywhere on account of his
talents as a musician； which were far more to be relied on than his talent as
a gunsmith。 He plays the piano to perfection； and has a very beautiful
voice。 Had he employed these talents； he could have made his way to the
opera； but his dignity held him back。 Now you know what has been
communicated to me by Baron B…。 On the faith of an honest woman； I
have neither added nor omitted anything。
〃I am going to astonish you。 Would you believe that I am beginning
to be reconciled to Count Larinski？ What shocked me in him is explained
and excused by his long residence in America。 He is a mixed breed of
Yankee and Pole。 Far from having prejudices against him； I now have
them in his favour。 Do you know； I am by no means sure that he cherishes
in his heart any serious sentiment for your daughter？ As a man of taste he
admires her。 I should like to know who would not admire her！ I suspect
Antoinette of allowing her imagination to become excited about nothing。
He talks of her on all occasions in as free and tranquil a fashion as he
would talk of a work of art。 I find it impossible to believe that he is in love。
I have in vain watched his green eyes。 I never have seen a suspicious look。
〃As I announced to you； he came to Maisons yesterday to dine。 I had
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invited Abbe Miollens； and Camille had invited himself； promising that he
would act like a philosopher； he only half kept his promise： for I must
inform you that my nephew has conceived； I do not know why； an
insurmountable antipathy to M。 Larinski； he is subject to taking dislikes to
people。 During dinner； Abbe Miollens； who is a great linguist and a great
traveller； and who has at the ends of his fingers everything concerning
Poland and the Poles； led the conversation to the insurrection of 1863。 M。
Larinski； at first； refrained from discussing this sad subject； little by little
the flood…gates were opened： he related his adventures or campaigns
without boasting； praising others rather than himself； when suddenly his
voice grew husky and his eyes dim； he interrupted himself； and begged we
would speak of other things。 Fortunately； at this moment； he did not see
Camille； whose lips were a sinister smile。 Young Frenchmen have become
such sceptics！ I made eyes at the bad boy； and on leaving the table I sent
him to smoke a cigar in the park。
〃I should confess to you that M。 Larinski has made a conquest of
Abbe Miollens； who of all men is the most difficult to please； and who
disputes with Providence the privilege of fathoming the depths of the
human heart。 You are aware that the abbe is a remarkable violinist： he sent
for his instrument； M。 Larinski seated himself at the piano； and the two
gentlemen played a concert by Mozart divine music performed by two
angels of the first class。 The conversation that followed charmed me more
than the concerto。 I do not know by what fatality we came to speak of
marriage。 I did not miss the opportunity to disclose with a most innocent
air； my little theories； with which you are acquainted。 Would you believe
that the count concurred； more than concurred； with my views？ He is more