Милий друг

           Hethought:"Whatdoesthatoldowlwantwithme?Iamcertainshehasnothingtotellmeexceptthatsheadoresme.However,Iwillsee,perhapsthereissometruthinit.Clotildeiscomingatfour,Imustgetridoftheotheroneatthreeorsoonafter,providedtheydonotmeet.Whatjadeswomenare!"

           Asheutteredthosewordshewasremindedofhiswife,whowastheonlyonewhodidnottormenthim;shelivedbyhissideandseemedtolovehimverymuchatthepropertime,forsheneverpermittedanythingtointerferewithherordinaryoccupationsoflife.Hestrolledtowardtheappointedplaceofmeeting,mentallycursingMme.Walter.

           "Ah,Iwillreceiveherinsuchamannerthatshewillnottellmeanything.Firstofall,IwillgivehertounderstandthatIshallnevercrossherthresholdagain."

           Heenteredtoawaither.Shesoonarrivedand,seeinghim,exclaimed:"Ah,youreceivedmydispatch!Howfortunate!"

           "Yes,IreceiveditattheofficejustasIwassettingoutfortheChamber.Whatdoyouwant?"heaskedungraciously.

           Shehadraisedherveilinordertokisshim,andapproachedhimtimidlyandhumblywiththeairofabeatendog.