"
"What infamy," cried the young girl, "what a shameful, wicked, calumny!
I know, sir, that story of fallen greatness; he himself told me of it.
It is true, that for three days this misfortune unmanned him; but, if he
was dismayed, it was on my account more than his own. He was distressed
at thinking that perhaps I should be grieved, when he confessed to me
that he could no longer give me all that his love dreamed of. I grieved?
Ah! what to me are that great name, that immense wealth? I owe to them
the only unhappiness I have ever known. Was it, then, for such things
that I loved him? It was thus that I replied to him; and he, so sad,
immediately recovered his gaiety. He thanked me, saying, 'You love me;
the rest is of no consequence.' I chided him, then, for having doubted
me; and after that, you pretend that he cowardly assassinated an old
woman? You would not dare repeat it."
Mademoiselle d'Arlange ceased speaking, a smile of victory on her lips.
That smile meant, "At last I have attained my end: you are conquered;
what can you reply to all that I have said?"
The investigating magistrate did not long leave this smiling illusion to
the unhappy child.
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