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She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath； to gather
together all her courage； to compose her mind； she had at once divined
that there was some one in the /salon/。 She entered； Mlle。 Galet was not
there； but he was there； the man whom she had come to seek。 Apparently；
he awaited the awakening of the mistress of the place。 In perceiving the
woman whom he had sworn never to see again； he trembled violently； and
his eyes sought some loophole of escape； there was none。 Standing upon
the threshold； Antoinette barred the passage。 She looked fixedly at him
and felt certain of her victory； he had the air of one vanquished； and his
defeat resembled a complete routing。
She crossed her arms； she smiled； and； in a firm； half…mocking tone；
said：
〃So this is the way you rob me of my poor people！ They flourish under
it； I am well aware。 Confess now that there is a little hypocrisy in your
virtue。 Mlle。 Galet never for a moment doubted that these famous
camellias were given for my sake。 Bouquets costing sixty francs！ absolute
folly！ How you despise money！ Why； then； do you not despise mine？ You
are afraid of it； you fear to burn your fingers by touching it。 You will not
aid me to throw it out of the windows？ Your poor and mine will surely
pick it up。 Say； will you not？ My fortune is not such a great affair； but it is
certain that I alone do not suffice to spend it properly； there is plenty for
twofor two would really only be one。 You cannot consent to share it with
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me？ You are too proudthat is it。 The day before yesterday you were
playing comedy； you do not love me。 It costs little to owe something to
those we love。〃
He made a gesture of despair and cried：
〃I implore you； let me go！〃
〃Presently； I propose telling you first all that is in my mind。 I do not
place much reliance on your boasted nobility of spirit； it is pride；
egotistical pride。 Yes； your pride is your goda pitiful sort of a god！ And
as to Poland〃 He winced at this word。 After a pause； Antoinette
continued： 〃It is she herself who will give； or rather lend； you to me。 I
solemnly promise that if ever she has need of you I will say to her； 'Here
he is； take him'； and to you； yourself； I will say； 'She calls yougo。' But
speak to me and look at me； you will not die of so doing。 Are you so very
much afraid of me？ Come； have courage to repeat to me what you have
said to others？〃
He fell back into a chair； where he remained； his arms hanging
helplessly at his sides； his head drooping on his breast； and he murmured：
〃I knew well that if I saw you again I should be lost。〃
〃Say； rather； saved。 Your mind was sick； I have cured you。 I work
miracles； you once took the pains to write me so。 Will you touch my hand？
That will not bind you to anything； you can return it to me if you choose。〃
He took the hand she extended to him； he did not carry it to his lips；
but he held it within his own。
〃Listen to me；〃 she resumed。 〃To…day； this very hour； you will set out
for Cormeilles； and you will say to my father： 'She has given me her hand；
it has seemed good to me to keep it； allow me to do so？' Is it agreed upon？
Will you obey me？〃
He exclaimed： 〃You are here； you speak to me； the world has
disappeared； henceforth I believe only in you！〃
〃Well done！ You see when two people frankly discuss matters they
soon come to an understanding； but the main essential is to see each other。
Since you are so wise when you see me； I naturally desire to have you see
me always。 Theretake that！〃 And she handed him a medallion containing
her portrait； then she moved towards the door。 On the threshold she turned。
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〃Please tell Mlle。 Galet；〃 said she； 〃that I respect her nap； and will return
to…morrow。 Mlle。 Moiseney awaits me； and must be growing impatient。 I
have your word of honour？ Adieu； then； until this evening。 I must hasten
away。〃
And she did hasten； or； rather； she flew away。
Returning from as well as driving into Paris； the coachman put his
horses to full speed； and Cormeilles was reached before the soup was cold。
Nevertheless； M。 Moriaz had had abundant time for anxiety。 He did not
take his seat at table without first questioning Mlle。 Moiseney； knowing
nothing； she could give him no information； but she responded indefinitely
to his queries with that air of mystery beneath which it was her wont to
disguise her ignorance。 He resolved to question Antoinette after dinner。
She anticipated him； taking him aside and recounting to him what had
occurred。
〃I presume；〃 said she； 〃that henceforth you will believe in his pride
and his disinterestedness。 Did I not foretell you that I should have to put
myself on my knees to compel him to marry me？〃
He could not repress a movement of indignation。
〃Oh； reassure yourself！〃 she resumed； 〃that is only my way of
speaking。 He was at my feet and I was standing。〃
M。 Moriaz opened his lips and closed them again three times without
speaking。 He finally contented himself with a gesture； which signified；
〃The die is cast； let come what must。〃
Samuel Brohl religiously kept his word。 After having made a most
faultless toilet； he repaired by the railway to Argenteuil； where he took a
carriage。 He reached Cormeilles as the clock struck nine。 He was ushered
into the /salon/； where M。 Moriaz was reading his journal。 Samuel was
pale； and his lips trembled with emotion。 He greeted M。 Moriaz with
profound respect； saying：
〃I feel； monsieur； like a criminal。 Be merciful； and refuse her to me。〃
M。 Moriaz replied： 〃The fact is； you come； monsieur； in the words of
the evangelist； 'like a thief in the night'； but I have nothing to refuse you。
You are not the son…in…law I frankly avow； whom I should have chosen。
This matters not； my daughter belongs to herself； she is mistress of her
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own actions； and I have no reason to believe that she errs in her choice。
You are a man of taste and of honour； and you know the worth of what she
has given you。 If you render Antoinette happy； you will find in me a warm
friend。 I have said all that is necessary； let us suppose that you have
replied to me； and talk of something else。〃
Samuel Brohl considered the matter settled； he insisted no longer； and
entered at once upon another topic。 He knew how to be agreeable and
dignified at the same time。 He was as amiable and gracious as his lively
emotion would permit。 M。 Moriaz was obliged to confess to himself that
Count Larinski was as good company at Cormeilles as he had been at
Saint Moritz； and had no other fault than having taken it into his head to
become his son…in…law。
Their interview was a prolonged one。 During this time Antoinette had
been promenading the walk in front of the house； inhaling the jasmine…
perfumed air； pouring out her heart to the night and to the stars。 Her happy
reverie was troubled only by the presence of a bat； flitting incessantly
from one end of the terrace to the other； flapping its wings about her head。
The loathsome creature seemed to be especially in quest of her； circling
around and above her with obstinate persistency； even venturing to graze
her hair in passing； Antoinette even fancied that she could distinguish its
hideous face； with deep pouches and long ears； and she moved away；
quivering with disgust。
She heard a step on the gravel…walk。 Samuel Brohl had taken leave of
M。 Moriaz and was crossing the terrace to regain his carriage。 He
recognised Antoinette； approached her and clasped on her wrist a bracelet
he held in his hand； saying as he did so： 〃What could I give you that would
equal in value the medallion you deigned to offer me and that should
never leave me？ H