V APRIL, 18--. Days of sunshine? Alas! no; these radiant days of happiness that had lasted more than two months were about to be obscured by dark clouds. What a strange day this has been! This morning, on awakening, I received a note from Marguerite. She is quite irritated at having this fortune-telling postponed. As to-day was the anniversary of her birth she believed it to be the most suitable, because the most lucky or unlucky. As she wished to make some purchases in Saxony and Sèvres porcelains, she begged me to meet her at half-past two at ----'s, which was then the most fashionable china store, to give her my opinion in the selection. I went there. In going with her to look at some marquetry furniture in the back part of the store, we were left alone for a few moments. Marguerite then asked me to come to her in the evening, when she promised she would tell me about her secret plan for the first of May. I thanked her tenderly. She appeared prettier than ever before; she wore a straw hat trimmed with lace and _bleuets_ that was exceedingly becoming. I left her at three o'clock, and went to see Madame V----. In spite of our foolish bargain of the day previous, according to which I was to assume the character of a notary, if I wished to enjoy a tête-à-tête, I gave my own name to the servant, and I found her alone. She showed me her water-colours, which were really clever, for Madame V---- is a very gifted woman. However, I pretended to think them very ordinary, the drawing incorrect, the colour bad and too glaring, and the handling weak and undecided. "You know nothing about it," said she, laughing. "I have a great deal of talent; but as you paint also, it is because you are jealous." "We can never agree on this subject, madame; you consider your water-colours good, I think they are very bad. Don't let us speak of them again. Let us find some other subject on which we can agree." "And what subject can we agree on, monsieur?" "Your intelligence and your beauty." "You are very much mistaken, monsieur; for now that you have so unjustly criticised my drawings, it is my turn, and I frankly tell you, that, though you may think me charming, I am sure that I am detestable, for I have a thousand bad qualities. So as I am perfectly sure we will never agree on this subject, let us talk of something else." "Alas! you are too hard on yourself, madame; unfortunately for me, you have not all the charming imperfections I could wish,--one imperfection at least." "You are certainly crazy; do you wish to know how wicked I can be?" "It is the thing of all others I most desire."