“Yes, madame, I confess that I don’t understand what motive induces you to act as you are acting. It is pure malice, and it seems to me that I have given you no reason to treat me so.” “Indeed! it seems so to you, does it? You have a very short memory. It seems to me that I have many reasons for revenging myself on you.” “Madame, you must have other people to think about who interest you much more than I do; and in the four years since we ceased to see each other, I am surprised that you remember me at all.” “It is certain that you hardly deserve it. But what would you have? Perhaps that is the reason.” “Lucile, some other day we will talk as long as you wish; but to-day, I beg you, leave me; don’t stay with me.” “Ha! ha! you make me laugh!” I began to walk very fast; Lucile did the same, continuing to talk to me, although I did not reply. I saw that people were staring at us, because I had the aspect of running away from a woman who was pursuing me. I was in dismay. At last I stopped. “This is a horrible thing that you are doing, Lucile.” “Well, calm yourself, I will leave you, for you make my heart ache. You start convulsively every time you see a woman! But tell me first, have you my portrait still?” “Your portrait? Why, I don’t know, I will look.” “I want you to give it back to me. You can’t care anything about it, and I want it, for it was very like me.” “I will give it to you.” “I still live on the same street, but two houses beyond.” “Very well; I will bring it to you.” “You promise?” “Yes.” “Ah! that will be very kind of you. Adieu, my dear Henri. Come, don’t be angry any more and don’t forget what you have just promised.” “No, I----” The words died out on my lips, for I caught sight of my wife within two yards of us, pale and trembling, and gazing directly at us. And at that moment, Lucile had offered me her hand as she bade me good-bye, and I, overjoyed because she was about to leave me, was shaking hands with her in the friendliest way! Eugénie had seen all that, and Lucile, noticing the sudden change in my features, turned, glanced at my wife, smiled a mocking smile, and walked away, bidding me adieu again in a most unceremonious fashion. Ah! I did not know what I would do to her! I walked toward my wife. My manner was certainly as embarrassed as if I were guilty. “So here you are. I was talking with a lady whom I had just met.” “Yes, I saw that lady, and I heard her too. What is the use, monsieur, of making an appointment with me, of bringing me here to witness such things?” “Well, upon my word! Now you are going to discover something wrong in this; but I swear----” “Oh! it costs you nothing to swear! Who is that woman? Is it your former neighbor, Madame Ernest?” “Oh! no indeed! It’s a woman whom I--whom I knew before I was married.” “Ah! one of your former mistresses, I suppose.” “Well! what if that were the fact? As I have not seen her for a long time----”