tacheditscolumnsoftrunksanditsdarkgreencanopyveryclearlyagainsttherocksofthegreyhillside。Hekepthiseyesfixedonitsteadily，andsuckedatanorangeashewalked。Thattemperamentalgood-
　　humouredcoolnessinthefaceofdangerwhichhadmadehimanofficerlikedbyhismenandappreciatedbyhissuperiorswasgraduallyassertingitself。Itwaslikegoingintobattle。Arrivingattheedgeofthewoodhesatdownonaboulder，holdingtheotherorangeinhishand，andreproachedhimselfforcomingsoridiculouslyearlyontheground。Beforeverylong，however，heheardtheswishingofbushes，footstepsonthehardground，andthesoundsofadisjointed，loudconversation。Avoicesomewherebehindhimsaidboastfully，"He'sgameformybag。"
　　Hethoughttohimself，"Heretheyare。What'sthisaboutgame?Aretheytalkingofme?"Andbecom-
　　ingawareoftheotherorangeinhishand，hethoughtfurther，"Theseareverygoodoranges。Leonie'sowntree。Imayjustaswelleatthisorangenowinsteadofflingingitaway。"
　　Emergingfromawildernessofrocksandbushes，GeneralFeraudandhissecondsdiscoveredGeneralD'Hubertengagedinpeelingtheorange。Theystoodstill，waitingtillhelookedup。Thenthesecondsraisedtheirhats，whileGeneralFeraud，puttinghishandsbehindhisback，walkedasidealittleway。
　　"Iamcompelledtoaskoneofyou，messieurs，toactforme。Ihavebroughtnofriends。Willyou?"
　　Theone-eyedcuirassiersaidjudicially，"Thatcannotberefused。"
　　Theotherveteranremarked，"It'sawkwardallthesame。"
　　"Owingtothestateofthepeople'smindsinthispartofthecountrytherewasnooneIcouldtrustsafelywiththeobjectofyourpresencehere，"explainedGeneralD'Hubert，urbanely。
　　Theysaluted，lookedround，andremarkedbothtogether:
　　"Poorground。"
　　"It'sunfit。"
　　"Whybotheraboutground，measurements，andsoon?Letussimplifymatters。Loadthetwopairsofpistols。IwilltakethoseofGeneralFeraud，andlethimtakemine。Or，betterstill，letustakeamixedpair。Oneofeachpair。Thenletusgointothewoodandshootatsight，whileyouremainoutside。Wedidnotcomehereforceremonies，butforwar——wartothedeath。Anygroundisgoodenoughforthat。IfIfall，youmustleavemewhereIlieandclearout。Itwouldn'tbehealthyforyoutobefoundhangingabouthereafterthat。"
　　ItappearedafterashortparleythatGeneralFeraudwaswillingtoaccepttheseconditions。Whilethesecondswereloadingthepistols，hecouldbeheardwhistling，andwasseentorubhishandswithperfectcontentment。Heflungoffhiscoatbriskly，andGeneralD'Huberttookoffhisownandfoldeditcare-
　　fullyonastone。
　　"Supposeyoutakeyourprincipaltotheothersideofthewoodandlethimenterexactlyintenminutesfromnow，"suggestedGeneralD'Hubert，calmly，butfeelingasifheweregivingdirectionsforhisownexecu-
　　tion。This，however，washislastmomentofweakness。
　　"Wait。Letuscomparewatchesfirst。"
　　Hepulledouthisown。TheofficerwiththechippednosewentovertoborrowthewatchofGeneralFeraud。
　　Theybenttheirheadsoverthemforatime。
　　"That'sit。Atfourminutestosixbyyours。Seventobymine。"
　　ItwasthecuirassierwhoremainedbythesideofGeneralD'Hubert，keepinghisoneeyefixedimmovablyonthewhitefaceofthewatchheheldinthepalmofhishand。Heopenedhismouth，waitingforthebeatofthelastsecondlongbeforehesnappedouttheword，"Avancez。"
　　GeneralD'Hubertmovedon，passingfromtheglaringsunshineoftheProvencalmorningintothecoolandaromaticshadeofthepines。Thegroundwasclearbetweenthereddishtrunks，whosemultitude，leaningatslightlydifferentangles，confusedhiseyeatfirst。Itwaslikegoingintobattle。Thecommandingqualityofconfidenceinhimselfwokeupinhisbreast。Hewasalltohisaffair。Theproblemwashowtokilltheadversary。Nothingshortofthatwouldfreehimfromthisimbecilenightmare。"It'snousewoundingthatbrute，"thoughtGeneralD'Hubert。Hewasknownasaresourcefulofficer。HiscomradesyearsagousedalsotocallhimTheStrategist。Anditwasafactthathecouldthinkinthepresenceoftheenemy。
　　WhereasFeraudhadbeenalwaysamerefighter——butadeadshot，unluckily。
　　"Imustdrawhisfireatthegreatestpossiblerange，"
　　saidGeneralD'Huberttohimself。
　　Atthatmomenthesawsomethingwhitemovingfaroffbetweenthetrees——theshirtofhisadversary。Hesteppedoutatoncebetweenthetrunks，exposinghim-
　　selffreely；then，quickaslightning，leapedback。Ithadbeenariskymovebutitsucceededinitsobject。
　　Almostsimultaneouslywiththepopofashotasmallpieceofbarkchippedoffbythebulletstunghisearpainfully。
　　GeneralFeraud，withoneshotexpended，wasgettingcautious。Peepingroundthetree，GeneralD'Hubertcouldnotseehimatall。Thisignoranceofthefoe'swhereaboutscarriedwithitasenseofinsecurity。
　　GeneralD'Hubertfelthimselfabominablyexposedonhisflankandrear。Againsomethingwhiteflutteredinhissight。Ha!Theenemywasstillonhisfront，then。Hehadfearedaturningmovement。ButapparentlyGeneralFeraudwasnotthinkingofit。
　　GeneralD'Hubertsawhimpasswithoutspecialhastefromonetreetoanotherinthestraightlineofapproach。
　　WithgreatfirmnessofmindGeneralD'Hubertstayedhishand。Toofaryet。Heknewhewasnomarksman。
　　Hismustbeawaitinggame——tokill。
　　Wishingtotakeadvantageofthegreaterthicknessofthetrunk，hesankdowntotheground。Extendedatfulllength，headontohisenemy，hehadhispersoncompletelyprotected。Exposinghimselfwouldnotdonow，becausetheotherwastoonearbythistime。
　　AconvictionthatFeraudwouldpresentlydosomethingrashwaslikebalmtoGeneralD'Hubert'ssoul。Buttokeephischinraisedoffthegroundwasirksome，andnotmuchuseeither。Hepeepedround，exposingafractionofhisheadwithdread，butreallywithlittlerisk。Hisenemy，asamatteroffact，didnotexpecttoseeanythingofhimsofardownasthat。
　　GeneralD'HubertcaughtafleetingviewofGeneralFeraudshiftingtreesagainwithdeliberatecau-
　　tion。"Hedespisesmyshooting，"hethought，dis-
　　playingthatinsightintothemindofhisantagonistwhichisofsuchgreathelpinwinningbattles。Hewasconfirmedinhistacticsofimmobility。"IfIcouldonlywatchmyrearaswellasmyfront!"hethoughtanx-
　　iously，longingfortheimpossible。
　　Itrequiredsomeforceofcharactertolayhispistolsdown；but，onasuddenimpulse，GeneralD'Hubertdidthisverygently——oneoneachsideofhim。Inthearmyhehadbeenlookeduponasabitofadandybecauseheusedtoshaveandputonacleanshirtonthedaysofbattle。Asamatteroffact，hehadalwaysbeenverycarefulofhispersonalappearance。Inamanofnearlyforty，inlovewithayoungandcharminggirl，thispraiseworthyself-respectmayruntosuchlittleweak-
　　nessesas，forinstance，beingprovidedwithanelegantlittleleatherfolding-casecontainingasmallivorycomb，andfittedwithapieceoflooking-glassontheoutside。GeneralD'Hubert，hishandsbeingfree，feltinhisbreeches'pocketsforthatimplementofinnocentvanityexcusableinthepossessoroflong，silkymoustaches。Hedrewitout，andthenwiththeut-
　　mostcoolnessandpromptitudeturnedhimselfoveronhisback。Inthisnewattitude，hisheadalittleraised，holdingthelittlelooking-glassjustclearofhistree，hesquintedintoitwithhislefteye，whiletherightkeptadirectwatchontherearofhisposition。ThuswasprovedNapoleon'ssaying，that"foraFrenchsoldier，thewordimpossibledoesnotexist。"Hehadtherighttreenearlyfillingthefieldofhislittlemirror。
　　"Ifhemovesfrombehindit，"hereflectedwithsatisfaction，"Iamboundtoseehislegs。Butinanycasehecan'tcomeuponmeunawares。"
　　AndsureenoughhesawthebootsofGeneralFeraudflashinandout，eclipsingforaninstanteverythingelsereflectedinthelittlemirror。Heshifteditspositionaccordingly。ButhavingtoformhisjudgmentofthechangefromthatindirectviewhedidnotrealizethatnowhisfeetandaportionofhislegswereinplainsightofGeneralFeraud。
　　GeneralFeraudhadbeengettinggraduallyimpressedbytheamazingclevernesswithwhichhisenemywaskeepingcover。Hehadspottedtherighttreewithbloodthirstyprecision。Hewasabsolutelycertainofit。
　　Andyethehadnotbeenabletoglimpseasmuchasthetipofanear。Ashehadbeenlookingforitattheheightofaboutfivefeetteninchesfromthegrounditwasnogreatwonder——butitseemedverywonderfultoGeneralFeraud。
　　Thefirstviewofthesefeetandlegsdeterminedarushofbloodtohishead。Heliterallystaggeredbehindhistree，andhadtosteadyhimselfagainstitwithhishand。Theotherwaslyingontheground，then!Ontheground!Perfectlystill，too!Exposed!Whatcoulditmean?……ThenotionthathehadknockedoverhisadversaryatthefirstshotenteredthenGeneralFeraud'shead。Oncethereitgrewwitheverysecondofattentivegazing，overshadowingeveryothersupposition——irresistible，triumphant，ferocious。
　　"WhatanassIwastothinkIcouldhavemissedhim，"hemutteredtohimself。"Hewasexposedenplein——thefool!——forquiteacoupleofseconds。"
　　GeneralFeraudgazedatthemotionlesslimbs，thelastvestigesofsurprisefadingbeforeanunboundedadmirationofhisowndeadlyskillwiththepistol。
　　"Turneduphistoes!Bythegodofwar，thatwasashot!"heexultedmentally。"Gotitthroughthehead，nodoubt，justwhereIaimed，staggeredbehindthattree，rolledoveronhisback，anddied。"
　　Andhestared!Hestared，forgettingtomove，almostawed，almostsorry。Butfornothingintheworldwouldhehavehaditundone。Suchashot!——
　　suchashot!Rolledoveronhisbackanddied!
　　Foritwasthishelplessposition，lyingontheback，thatshouteditsdirectevidenceatGeneralFeraud!
　　Itneveroccurredtohimthatitmighthavebeendeliberatelyassumedbyalivingman。Itwasin-
　　conceivable。Itwasbeyondtherangeofsanesup-
　　position。Therewasnopossibilitytoguessthereasonforit。Anditmustbesaid，too，thatGeneralD'Hu-
　　bert'sturned-upfeetlookedthoroughlydead。GeneralFeraudexpandedhislungsforastentorianshouttohisseconds，but，fromwhathefelttobeanexcessivescrupulousness，refrainedforawhile。
　　"Iwilljustgoandseefirstwhetherhebreathesyet，"hemumbledtohimself，leavingcarelesslytheshelterofhistree。Thismovewasimmediatelyper-
　　ceivedbytheresourcefulGeneralD'Hubert。Heconcludedittobeanothershift，butwhenhelostthebootsoutofthefieldofthemirrorhebecameuneasy。
　　GeneralFeraudhadonlysteppedalittleoutoftheline，buthisadversarycouldnotpossiblyhavesupposedhimwalkingupwithperfectunconcern。GeneralD'Hubert，beginningtowonderatwhathadbecomeoftheother，wastakenunawaressocompletelythatthefirstwarningofdangerconsistedinthelong，early-morningshadowofhisenemyfallingaslantonhisoutstretchedlegs。
　　Hehadnotevenheardafootfallonthesoftgroundbetweenthetrees!
　　Itwastoomuchevenforhiscoolness。Hejumpedupthoughtlessly，leavingthepistolsontheground。Theirresistibleinstinctofanaveragemanunlesstotallyparalyzedbydiscomfiturewouldhavebeentostoopforhisweapons，exposinghimselftotheriskofbeingshotdowninthatposition。Instinct，ofcourse，isirre-
　　flective。Itisitsverydefinition。Butitmaybeaninquiryworthpursuingwhetherinreflectivemankindthemechanicalpromptingsofinstinctarenotaffectedbythecustomarymodeofthought。Inhisyoungdays，ArmandD'Hubert，thereflective，promisingofficer，hademittedtheopinionthatinwarfareoneshould"nevercastbackonthelinesofamistake。"Thisidea，de-
　　fendedanddevelopedinmanydiscussions，hadsettledintooneofthestocknotionsofhisbrain，hadbecomeapartofhismentalindividuality。Whetherithadgonesoinconceivablydeepastoaffectthedictatesofhisinstinct，orsimplybecause，ashehimselfdeclaredafter-
　　wards，hewas"tooscaredtoremembertheconfoundedpistols，"thefactisthatGeneralD'Hubertneverat-
　　temptedtostoopforthem。Insteadofgoingbackonhismistake，heseizedtheroughtrunkwithbothhands，andswunghimselfbehinditwithsuchimpetuositythat，goingrightroundintheveryflashandreportofthepistol-shot，hereappearedontheothersideofthetreefacetofacewithGeneralFeraud。Thislast，com-
　　pletelyunstrungbysuchashowofagilityonthepartofadeadman，wastremblingyet。Averyfaintmistofsmokehungbeforehisfacewhichhadanextraordinaryaspect，asifthelowerjawhadcomeunhinged。
　　"Notmissed!"hecroaked，hoarsely，fromthedepthsofadrythroat。
　　ThissinistersoundloosenedthespellthathadfallenonGeneralD'Hubert'ssenses。"Yes，missed——aboutportant，"heheardhimselfsaying，almostbeforehehadrecoveredthefullcommandofhisfaculties。There-
　　vulsionoffeelingwasaccompaniedbyagustofhomi-
　　cidalfury，resuminginitsviolencetheaccumulatedresentmentofalifetime。ForyearsGeneralD'Huberthadbeenexasperatedandhumiliatedbyanatrociousabsurdityimposeduponhimbythisman'ssavagecaprice。Besides，GeneralD'Huberthadbeeninthislastinstancetoounwillingtoconfrontdeathforthereactionofhisanguishnottotaketheshapeofadesiretokill。"AndIhavemytwoshotstofireyet，"headded，pitilessly。
　　GeneralFeraudsnapped-tohisteeth，andhisfaceassumedanirate，undauntedexpression。"Goon!"hesaid，grimly。
　　ThesewouldhavebeenhislastwordsifGeneralD'Huberthadbeenholdingthepistolsinhishands。
　　Butthepistolswerelyingonthegroundatthefootofapine。GeneralD'Huberthadthesecondofleisurenecessarytorememberthathehaddreadeddeathnotasaman，butasalover；notasadanger，butasarival；notasafoetolife，butasanobstacletomarriage。Andbehold!therewastherivaldefeated!——
　　utterlydefeated，crushed，donefor!
　　Hepickeduptheweaponsmechanically，and，insteadoffiringthemintoGeneralFeraud'sbreast，hegaveexpressiontothethoughtsuppermostinhismind，"Youwillfightnomoreduelsnow。"
　　Histoneofleisurely，ineffablesatisfactionwastoomuchforGeneralFeraud'sstoicism。"Don'tdawdle，then，damnyouforacold-bloodedstaff-coxcomb!"heroaredout，suddenly，outofanimpassivefacehelderectonarigidlystillbody。
　　GeneralD'Hubertuncockedthepistolscarefully。
　　Thisproceedingwasobservedwithmixedfeelingsbytheothergeneral。"Youmissedmetwice，"thevictorsaid，coolly，shiftingbothpistolstoonehand；"thelasttimewithinafootorso。Byeveryruleofsinglecom-
　　batyourlifebelongstome。ThatdoesnotmeanthatI
　　wanttotakeitnow。"
　　"Ihavenouseforyourforbearance，"mutteredGeneralFeraud，gloomily。
　　"Allowmetopointoutthatthisisnoconcernofmine，"saidGeneralD'Hubert，whoseeverywordwasdictatedbyaconsummatedelicacyoffeeling。Inangerhecouldhavekilledthatman，butincoldbloodherecoiledfromhumiliatingbyashowofgenerositythisunreasonablebeing——afellow-soldieroftheGrandeArmee，acompanioninthewondersandterrorsofthegreatmilitaryepic。"Youdon'tsetupthepretensionofdictatingtomewhatIamtodowithwhat'smyown。"
　　GeneralFeraudlookedstartled，andtheothercon-
　　tinued，"You'veforcedmeonapointofhonourtokeepmylifeatyourdisposal，asitwere，forfifteenyears。
　　Verywell。Nowthatthematterisdecidedtomyad-
　　vantage，IamgoingtodowhatIlikewithyourlifeonthesameprinciple。Youshallkeepitatmydis-
　　posalaslongasIchoose。Neithermorenorless。YouareonyourhonourtillIsaytheword。"
　　"Iam!But，sacrebleu!ThisisanabsurdpositionforaGeneraloftheEmpiretobeplacedin!"criedGeneralFeraud，inaccentsofprofoundanddismayedconviction。"Itamountstosittingalltherestofmylifewithaloadedpistolinadrawerwaitingforyourword。It's——it'sidiotic；Ishallbeanobjectof——of——
　　derision。"
　　"Absurd?——idiotic?Doyouthinkso?"queriedGeneralD'Hubertwithslygravity。"Perhaps。ButI
　　don'tseehowthatcanbehelped。However，Iamnotlikelytotalkatlargeofthisadventure。Nobodyneedeverknowanythingaboutit。Justasnoonetothisday，Ibelieve，knowstheoriginofourquarrel……
　　Notawordmore，"headded，hastily。"Ican'treallydiscussthisquestionwithamanwho，asfarasIamconcerned，doesnotexist。"
　　Whenthetwoduellistscameoutintotheopen，Gen-
　　eralFeraudwalkingalittlebehind，andratherwiththeairofwalkinginatrance，thetwosecondshurriedtowardsthem，eachfromhisstationattheedgeofthewood。GeneralD'Hubertaddressedthem，speakingloudanddistinctly，"Messieurs，Imakeitapointofdeclaringtoyousolemnly，inthepresenceofGeneralFeraud，thatourdifferenceisatlastsettledforgood。
　　Youmayinformalltheworldofthatfact。"
　　"Areconciliation，afterall!"theyexclaimedto-
　　gether。
　　"Reconciliation?Notthatexactly。Itissome-
　　thingmuchmorebinding。Isitnotso，General?"
　　GeneralFeraudonlyloweredhisheadinsignofassent。Thetwoveteranslookedateachother。Laterintheday，whentheyfoundthemselvesaloneoutoftheirmoodyfriend'searshot，thecuirassierremarkedsuddenly，"Generallyspeaking，Icanseewithmyoneeyeasfarasmostpeople；butthisbeatsme。Hewon'tsayanything。"
　　"InthisaffairofhonourIunderstandtherehasbeenfromfirsttolastalwayssomethingthatnooneinthearmycouldquitemakeout，"declaredthechasseurwiththeimperfectnose。"Inmysteryitbegan，inmysteryitwenton，inmysteryitistoend，apparently。"
　　GeneralD'Hubertwalkedhomewithlong，hastystrides，bynomeansupliftedbyasenseoftriumph。
　　Hehadconquered，yetitdidnotseemtohimthathehadgainedverymuchbyhisconquest。Thenightbeforehehadgrudgedtheriskofhislifewhichappearedtohimmagnificent，worthyofpreservationasanopportunitytowinagirl'slove。Hehadknownmomentswhen，byamarvellousillusion，thisloveseemedtobealreadyhis，andhisthreatenedlifeastillmoremagnificentopportunityofdevotion。Nowthathislifewassafeithadsuddenlylostitsspecialmag-
　　nificence。Ithadacquiredinsteadaspeciallyalarmingaspectasasnarefortheexposureofunworthiness。Astothemarvellousillusionofconqueredlovethathadvisitedhimforamomentintheagitatedwatchesofthenight，whichmighthavebeenhislastonearth，hecom-
　　prehendednowitstruenature。Ithadbeenmerelyaparoxysmofdeliriousconceit。Thustothisman，soberedbythevictoriousissueofaduel，lifeappearedrobbedofitscharm，simplybecauseitwasnolongermenaced。
　　Approachingthehousefromtheback，throughtheorchardandthekitchengarden，hecouldnotnoticetheagitationwhichreignedinfront。Henevermetasinglesoul。Onlywhilewalkingsoftlyalongthecorridor，hebecameawarethatthehousewasawakeandmorenoisythanusual。Namesofservantswerebeingcalledoutdownbelowinaconfusednoiseofcomingandgoing。
　　Withsomeconcernhenoticedthatthedoorofhisownroomstoodajar，thoughtheshuttershadnotbeenopenedyet。Hehadhopedthathisearlyexcursionwouldhavepassedunperceived。Heexpectedtofindsomeservantjustgonein；butthesunshinefilteringthroughtheusualcracksenabledhimtoseelyingonthelowdivansomethingbulky，whichhadtheappear-
　　anceoftwowomenclaspedineachother'sarms。Tear-
　　fulanddesolatemurmursissuedmysteriouslyfromthatappearance。GeneralD'Hubertpulledopenthenear-
　　estpairofshuttersviolently。Oneofthewomenthenjumpedup。Itwashissister。Shestoodforamomentwithherhairhangingdownandherarmsraisedstraightupaboveherhead，andthenflungherselfwithastifledcryintohisarms。Hereturnedherembrace，tryingatthesametimetodisengagehimselffromit。Theotherwomanhadnotrisen。Sheseemed，onthecontrary，toclingclosertothedivan，hidingherfaceinthecushions。
　　Herhairwasalsoloose；itwasadmirablyfair。Gen-
　　eralD'Hubertrecognizeditwithstaggeringemotion。
　　MademoiselledeValmassigue!Adele!Indistress!
　　Hebecamegreatlyalarmed，andgotridofhissis-
　　ter'shugdefinitely。MadameLeoniethenextendedhershapelybarearmoutofherpeignoir，pointingdramaticallyatthedivan。"Thispoor，terrifiedchildhasrushedherefromhome，onfoot，twomiles——runningalltheway。"
　　"Whatonearthhashappened?"askedGeneralD'Hubertinalow，agitatedvoice。
　　ButMadameLeoniewasspeakingloudly。"Sherangthegreatbellatthegateandrousedallthehouse-
　　hold——wewereallasleepyet。Youmayimaginewhataterribleshock……Adele，mydearchild，situp。"
　　GeneralD'Hubert'sexpressionwasnotthatofamanwho"imagines"withfacility。Hedid，however，fishoutofthechaosofsurmisesthenotionthathisprospectivemother-in-lawhaddiedsuddenly，butonlytodismissitatonce。HecouldnotconceivethenatureoftheeventorthecatastrophewhichwouldinduceMademoiselledeValmassigue，livinginahousefullofservants，tobringthenewsoverthefieldsherself，twomiles，runningalltheway。
　　"Butwhyareyouinthisroom?"hewhispered，fullofawe。
　　"Ofcourse，Iranuptosee，andthischild……I
　　didnotnoticeit……shefollowedme。It'sthatabsurdChevalier，"wentonMadameLeonie，lookingtowardsthedivan……"Herhairisallcomedown。
　　Youmayimagineshedidnotstoptocallhermaidtodressitbeforeshestarted……Adele，mydear，situp……Heblurteditallouttoherathalf-pastfiveinthemorning。Shewokeupearlyandopenedhershutterstobreathethefreshair，andsawhimsittingcol-
　　lapsedonagardenbenchattheendofthegreatalley。
　　Atthathour——youmayimagine!Andtheeveningbeforehehaddeclaredhimselfindisposed。Shehurriedonsomeclothesandflewdowntohim。Onewouldbeanxiousforless。Helovesher，butnotveryintelli-
　　gently。Hehadbeenupallnight，fullydressed，thepooroldman，perfectlyexhausted。Hewasn'tinastatetoinventaplausiblestory……Whatacon-
　　fidantyouchosethere!Myhusbandwasfurious。Hesaid，'Wecan'tinterferenow。'Sowesatdowntowait。
　　Itwasawful。Andthispoorchildrunningwithherhairlooseoverherepublicly!Shehasbeenseenbysomepeopleinthefields。Shehasrousedthewholehousehold，too。It'sawkwardforher。Luckilyyouaretobemarriednextweek……Adele，situp。Hehascomehomeonhisownlegs……Weexpectedtoseeyoucomingonastretcher，perhaps——whatdoIknow?Goandseeifthecarriageisready。Imusttakethischildhomeatonce。Itisn'tproperforhertostayhereaminutelonger。"
　　GeneralD'Hubertdidnotmove。Itwasasthoughhehadheardnothing。MadameLeoniechangedhermind。"Iwillgoandseemyself，"shecried。"Iwantalsomycloak——Adele——"shebegan，butdidnotadd"situp。"Shewentoutsaying，inaveryloudandcheerfultone:"Ileavethedooropen。"
　　GeneralD'Hubertmadeamovementtowardsthedivan，butthenAdelesatup，andthatcheckedhimdead。Hethought，"Ihaven'twashedthismorning。I
　　mustlooklikeanoldtramp。There'searthonthebackofmycoatandpine-needlesinmyhair。"Itoccurredtohimthatthesituationrequiredagooddealofcircum-
　　spectiononhispart。
　　"Iamgreatlyconcerned，mademoiselle，"hebegan，vaguely，andabandonedthatline。Shewassittinguponthedivanwithhercheeksunusuallypinkandherhair，brilliantlyfair，fallingalloverhershoulders——
　　whichwasaverynovelsighttothegeneral。Hewalkedawayuptheroom，andlookingoutofthewindowforsafetysaid，"IfearyoumustthinkIbehavedlikeamadman，"inaccentsofsinceredespair。Thenhespunround，andnoticedthatshehadfollowedhimwithhereyes。Theywerenotcastdownonmeetinghisglance。Andtheexpressionofherfacewasnoveltohimalso。Itwas，onemighthavesaid，reversed。
　　Thoseeyeslookedathimwithgravethoughtful-
　　ness，whiletheexquisitelinesofhermouthseemedtosuggestarestrainedsmile。Thischangemadehertranscendentalbeautymuchlessmysterious，muchmoreaccessibletoaman'scomprehension。Anamazingeaseofmindcametothegeneral——andevensomeeaseofmanner。Hewalkeddowntheroomwithasmuchpleasurableexcitementashewouldhavefoundinwalk-
　　inguptoabatteryvomitingdeath，fire，andsmoke；
　　thenstoodlookingdownwithsmilingeyesatthegirlwhosemarriagewithhimnextweekhadbeensocarefullyarrangedbythewise，thegood，theadmirableLeonie。
　　"Ah!mademoiselle，"hesaid，inatoneofcourtlyregret，"ifonlyIcouldbecertainthatyoudidnotcomeherethismorning，twomiles，runningalltheway，merelyfromaffectionforyourmother!"
　　Hewaitedforananswerimperturbablebutinwardlyelated。Itcameinademuremurmur，eyelasheslow-
　　eredwithfascinatingeffect。"Youmustnotbeme-
　　chantaswellasmad。"
　　AndthenGeneralD'Hubertmadeanaggressivemovementtowardsthedivanwhichnothingcouldcheck。Thatpieceoffurniturewasnotexactlyinthelineoftheopendoor。ButMadameLeonie，comingbackwrappedupinalightcloakandcarryingalaceshawlonherarmforAdeletohideherincriminatinghairunder，hadaswiftimpressionofherbrothergettingupfromhisknees。
　　"Comealong，mydearchild，"shecriedfromthedoorway。
　　Thegeneral，nowhimselfagaininthefullestsense，showedthereadinessofaresourcefulcavalryofficerandtheperemptorinessofaleaderofmen。"Youdon'texpecthertowalktothecarriage，"hesaid，indignantly。
　　"Sheisn'tfit。Ishallcarryherdownstairs。"
　　Thishedidslowly，followedbyhisawedandre-
　　spectfulsister；butherushedbacklikeawhirlwindtowashoffallthesignsofthenightofanguishandthemorningofwar，andtoputonthefestivegarmentsofaconquerorbeforehurryingovertotheotherhouse。
　　Haditnotbeenforthat，GeneralD'Hubertfeltcapableofmountingahorseandpursuinghislateadversaryinordersimplytoembracehimfromexcessofhappiness。
　　"Ioweitalltothisstupidbrute，"hethought。"Hehasmadeplaininamorningwhatmighthavetakenmeyearstofindout——forIamatimidfool。Noself-confi-
　　dencewhatever。Perfectcoward。AndtheChevalier!
　　Delightfuloldman!"GeneralD'Hubertlongedtoembracehimalso。
　　TheChevalierwasinbed。Forseveraldayshewasveryunwell。ThemenoftheEmpireandthepost-revolutionyoungladiesweretoomuchforhim。
　　Hegotupthedaybeforethewedding，and，beingcuri-
　　ousbynature，tookhisnieceasideforaquiettalk。Headvisedhertofindoutfromherhusbandthetruestoryoftheaffairofhonour，whoseclaim，soimperativeandsopersistent，hadledhertowithinanaceoftragedy。
　　"Itisrightthathiswifeshouldbetold。Andnextmonthorsowillbeyourtimetolearnfromhimany-
　　thingyouwanttoknow，mydearchild。"
　　Lateron，whenthemarriedcouplecameonavisittothemotherofthebride，MadamelaGeneraleD'Hubertcommunicatedtoherbelovedoldunclethetruestoryshehadobtainedwithoutanydifficultyfromherhus-
　　band。
　　TheChevalierlistenedwithdeepattentiontotheend，tookapinchofsnuff，flickedthegrainsoftobaccofromthefrilledfrontofhisshirt，andasked，calmly，"Andthat'sallitwas?"
　　"Yes，uncle，"repliedMadamelaGenerale，openingherprettyeyesverywide。"Isn'titfunny?C'estinsense——tothinkwhatmenarecapableof!"
　　"H'm!"commentedtheoldemigre。"Itdependswhatsortofmen。ThatBonaparte'ssoldiersweresavages。Itisinsense。Asawife，mydear，youmustbelieveimplicitlywhatyourhusbandsays。"
　　ButtoLeonie'shusbandtheChevalierconfidedhistrueopinion。"Ifthat'sthetalethefellowmadeupforhiswife，andduringthehoneymoon，too，youmaydependonitthatnoonewilleverknownowthesecretofthisaffair。"
　　Considerablylaterstill，GeneralD'Hubertjudgedthetimecome，andtheopportunitypropitioustowritealettertoGeneralFeraud。Thisletterbeganbydis-
　　claimingallanimosity。"I'venever，"wrotetheGeneralBaronD'Hubert，"wishedforyourdeathdur-
　　ingallthetimeofourdeplorablequarrel。Allowme，"
　　hecontinued，"togiveyoubackinallformyourfor-
　　feitedlife。Itisproperthatwetwo，whohavebeenpartnersinsomuchmilitaryglory，shouldbefriendlytoeachotherpublicly。"
　　Thesamelettercontainedalsoanitemofdomesticinformation。ItwasinreferencetothislastthatGeneralFeraudansweredfromalittlevillageonthebanksoftheGaronne，inthefollowingwords:
　　"Ifoneofyourboy'snameshadbeenNapoleon——orJoseph——orevenJoachim，Icouldcongratulateyouontheeventwithabetterheart。AsyouhavethoughtpropertogivehimthenamesofCharlesHenriArmand，IamconfirmedinmyconvictionthatyouneverlovedtheEmperor。ThethoughtofthatsublimeherochainedtoarockinthemiddleofasavageoceanmakeslifeofsolittlevaluethatIwouldreceivewithpositivejoyyourinstructionstoblowmybrainsout。FromsuicideIconsidermyselfinhonourdebarred。ButI
　　keepaloadedpistolinmydrawer。"
　　MadamelaGeneraleD'Hubertliftedupherhandsindespairafterperusingthatanswer。
　　"Yousee?Hewon'tbereconciled，"saidherhus-
　　band。"Hemustnever，byanychance，beallowedtoguesswherethemoneycomesfrom。Itwouldn'tdo。
　　Hecouldn'tbearit。"
　　"Youareabravehomme，Armand，"saidMadamelaGenerale，appreciatively。
　　"Mydear，Ihadtherighttoblowhisbrainsout；
　　butasIdidn't，wecan'tlethimstarve。Hehaslosthispensionandheisutterlyincapableofdoingany-
　　thingintheworldforhimself。Wemusttakecareofhim，secretly，totheendofhisdays。Don'tIowehimthemostecstaticmomentofmylife?……Ha!ha!
　　ha!Overthefields，twomiles，runningalltheway!
　　Icouldn'tbelievemyears!……Butforhisstupidferocity，itwouldhavetakenmeyearstofindyouout。
　　It'sextraordinaryhowinonewayoranotherthismanhasmanagedtofastenhimselfonmydeeperfeelings。"
　　APATHETICTALE
　　ILCONDE
　　"VediNapoliepoimori。"
　　THEfirsttimewegotintoconversationwasintheNationalMuseuminNaples，intheroomsonthegroundfloorcontainingthefamouscollectionofbronzesfromHerculaneumandPompeii:thatmarvellouslegacyofantiqueartwhosedelicateperfectionhasbeenpre-
　　servedforusbythecatastrophicfuryofavolcano。
　　Headdressedmefirst，overthecelebratedRestingHermeswhichwehadbeenlookingatsidebyside。Hesaidtherightthingsaboutthatwhollyadmirablepiece。
　　Nothingprofound。Histastewasnaturalratherthancultivated。Hehadobviouslyseenmanyfinethingsinhislifeandappreciatedthem:buthehadnojargonofadilettanteortheconnoisseur。Ahatefultribe。Hespokelikeafairlyintelligentmanoftheworld，aper-
　　fectlyunaffectedgentleman。
　　Wehadknowneachotherbysightforsomefewdayspast。Stayinginthesamehotel——good，butnotextravagantlyuptodate——Ihadnoticedhiminthevestibulegoinginandout。Ijudgedhewasanoldandvaluedclient。Thebowofthehotel-keeperwascordialinitsdeference，andheacknowledgeditwithfamiliarcourtesy。FortheservantshewasIlConde。
　　Therewassomesquabbleoveraman'sparasol——yellowsilkwithwhiteliningsortofthing——thewaitershaddis-
　　coveredabandonedoutsidethedining-roomdoor。Ourgold-laceddoor-keeperrecognizeditandIheardhimdirectingoneoftheliftboystorunafterIlCondewithit。PerhapshewastheonlyCountstayinginthehotel，orperhapshehadthedistinctionofbeingtheCountparexcellence，conferreduponhimbecauseofhistriedfidelitytothehouse。
　　HavingconversedattheMuseo——andbythebyhehadexpressedhisdislikeofthebustsandstatuesofRomanemperorsinthegalleryofmarbles:theirfacesweretoovigorous，toopronouncedforhim——havingconversedalreadyinthemorningIdidnotthinkIwasintrudingwhenintheevening，findingthedining-roomveryfull，Iproposedtosharehislittletable。Judgingbythequieturbanityofhisconsenthedidnotthinksoeither。Hissmilewasveryattractive。
　　Hedinedinaneveningwaistcoatanda"smoking"
　　hecalleditsowithablacktie。Allthisofverygoodcut，notnew——justasthesethingsshouldbe。Hewas，morningorevening，verycorrectinhisdress。Ihavenodoubtthathiswholeexistencehadbeencorrect，wellorderedandconventional，undisturbedbystartlingevents。Hiswhitehairbrushedupwardsoffaloftyforeheadgavehimtheairofanidealist，ofanimaginativeman。Hiswhitemoustache，heavybutcarefullytrimmedandarranged，wasnotunpleasantlytintedagoldenyellowinthemiddle。Thefaintscentofsomeverygoodperfume，andofgoodcigarsthatlastanodourquiteremarkabletocomeuponinItaly
　　reachedmeacrossthetable。Itwasinhiseyesthathisageshowedmost。Theywerealittlewearywithcreasedeyelids。Hemusthavebeensixtyoracoupleofyearsmore。Andhewascommunicative。Iwouldnotgosofarastocallitgarrulous——butdistinctlycommunicative。
　　Hehadtriedvariousclimates，ofAbbazia，oftheRiviera，ofotherplaces，too，hetoldme，buttheonlyonewhichsuitedhimwastheclimateoftheGulfofNaples。TheancientRomans，who，hepointedouttome，weremenexpertintheartofliving，knewverywellwhattheyweredoingwhentheybuilttheirvillasontheseshores，inBaiae，inVico，inCapri。Theycamedowntothisseasideinsearchofhealth，bringingwiththemtheirtrainsofmimesandflute-playerstoamusetheirleisure。HethoughtitextremelyprobablethattheRomansofthehigherclasseswerespeciallypredisposedtopainfulrheumaticaffections。
　　ThiswastheonlypersonalopinionIheardhimexpress。Itwasbasedonnospecialerudition。HeknewnomoreoftheRomansthananaverageinformedmanoftheworldisexpectedtoknow。Hearguedfrompersonalexperience。HehadsufferedhimselffromapainfulanddangerousrheumaticaffectiontillhefoundreliefinthisparticularspotofSouthernEurope。
　　Thiswasthreeyearsago，andeversincehehadtakenuphisquartersontheshoresofthegulf，eitherinoneofthehotelsinSorrentoorhiringasmallvillainCapri。Hehadapiano，afewbooks:pickeduptransientacquaintancesofaday，week，ormonthinthestreamoftravellersfromallEurope。Onecanimaginehimgoingoutforhiswalksinthestreetsandlanes，becomingknowntobeggars，shopkeepers，children，countrypeople；talkingamiablyoverthewallstothecontadini——andcomingbacktohisroomsorhisvillatositbeforethepiano，withhiswhitehairbrushedupandhisthickorderlymoustache，"tomakealittlemusicformyself。"
　　And，ofcourse，forachangetherewasNaplesnearby——life，movement，animation，opera。Alittleamuse-
　　ment，ashesaid，isnecessaryforhealth。Mimesandflute-players，infact。Onlyunlikethemagnatesofan-
　　cientRome，hehadnoaffairsofthecitytocallhimawayfromthesemoderatedelights。Hehadnoaffairsatall。Probablyhehadneverhadanygraveaffairstoattendtoinhislife。Itwasakindlyexistence，withitsjoysandsorrowsregulatedbythecourseofNature——
　　marriages，births，deaths——ruledbytheprescribedusagesofgoodsocietyandprotectedbytheState。
　　Hewasawidower；butinthemonthsofJulyandAugustheventuredtocrosstheAlpsforsixweeksonavisittohismarrieddaughter。Hetoldmehername。
　　Itwasthatofaveryaristocraticfamily。Shehadacastle——inBohemia，Ithink。ThisisasnearasIevercametoascertaininghisnationality。Hisownname，strangelyenough，henevermentioned。PerhapshethoughtIhadseenitonthepublishedlist。Truthtosay，Ineverlooked。Atanyrate，hewasagoodEu-
　　ropean——hespokefourlanguagestomycertainknowl-
　　edge——andamanoffortune。Notofgreatfortuneevidentlyandappropriately。Iimaginethattobeex-
　　tremelyrichwouldhaveappearedtohimimproper，outre——tooblatantaltogether。Andobviously，too，thefortunewasnotofhismaking。Themakingofafor-
　　tunecannotbeachievedwithoutsomeroughness。
　　Itisamatteroftemperament。Hisnaturewastookindlyforstrife。Inthecourseofconversationhementionedhisestatequitebytheway，inreferencetothatpainfulandalarmingrheumaticaffection。Oneyear，stayingincautiouslybeyondtheAlpsaslateasthemiddleofSeptember，hehadbeenlaidupforthreemonthsinthatlonelycountryhousewithnoonebuthisvaletandthecaretakingcoupletoattendtohim。
　　Because，asheexpressedit，he"keptnoestablishmentthere。"Hehadonlygoneforacoupleofdaystocon-