The General also felt that he was incapable of understanding anything, ignorant as he was of the reasons of the rupture, of Zilah's anger against the Tzigana, and of the young girl's terrible stupor; and, as he drank his cherry cordial or his brandy, wondered if he too were insane, as he repeated, like his niece: "I do not know! I do not know!" He felt obliged, however, to go and tell the Prince of the opinion of the illustrious physician of Salpetriere. Then he asked Zilah: "What is your decision?" "General," replied Andras, "whatever you choose to do is right. But, once for all, remember that I wish henceforth to live alone, entirely alone, and speak to me neither of the future nor of the past, which is cruel, nor of the present, which is hopeless. I have determined---" "What?" "To live hereafter an absolutely selfish life!" "That will change you," returned the General, in amazement. "And will console me," added Andras. ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: Life is a tempest Nervous natures, as prompt to hope as to despair No answer to make to one who has no right to question me Nothing ever astonishes me Poverty brings wrinkles