No one must falter until this supreme task has been accomplished. To speak to you of the condition I am in is useless. As I said above, your heart tells you far better than my pen could tell. I will go on as long as my heart still beats, having before me night and day the supreme hope that the place that I deserve will be restored to me. You see, darling, a man of honor cannot live without his honor. It does no good to tell himself that he is innocent; it is an unceasing gnawing of the heart. In solitude the hours are long, and my mind cannot comprehend all that has come upon me. Never could a romancer, however rich his imagination, have written a story more tragic. I am convinced, as you are, that sooner or later the truth will come to light. The just cause always triumphs; but when that day comes what shall my condition be? It is that that I cannot tell.... There is always my aching heart, which from morning till night, and from night till morning, beats as if to burst. I hope that they will let me kiss you at least before I set out upon my journey. I thank you for all you tell me about the children. You must bring them up seriously and give them a thorough education; be as careful of their bodies as you are of their minds and hearts. I know what you are; I have no uneasiness on this score. Indeed, I know that you will bring them up to be generous and noble souls, eager for all that is good and beautiful, marching forward always in the way of duty. Kiss the good darlings for me a thousand, thousand times. I pray you give every one my love. Receive the most ardent kisses of your husband, who loves you, who lives only in the thought of you. ALFRED. * * * * * _14 February, 1895._ My dear Lucie: The few minutes that I passed with you were very sweet to me, although it was impossible for me to tell you all that I had within my heart. My time passed while I looked at you, trying to impress your image upon my very being, asking myself by what inconceivable fatality I was separated from you. Some day when they will tell my story it will seem unbelievable. But what we must tell ourselves now is that I must be rehabilitated. My name must shine anew with all the lustre it should never have lost. I would rather see my children dead than think that the name which they bear is a dishonored one. This is a vital question for us all. It is not possible to live without honor. I cannot tell you this often enough. I shall soon come to a new station on my dolorous way.