“Yes, I have been to apologize for not accepting an invitation which they sent me a fortnight ago, to a party that they gave.” “I know, I was at that party.” “You were at that party?” “That surprises you, does it not? I am a neighbor of the Glumeaus; my place is only a few steps away; will you do me the honor to come there and rest a moment?” “I should be glad, but you are going somewhere?” “To my neighbor’s; but that visit can be postponed, whereas our meeting is one of those happy chances which I wish to take advantage of to talk with you,--that is, if you have the time to listen to me?” “I am entirely at your service.” “Come then.” The two gentlemen soon reached the charming house which had now two additional occupants. The count ushered Monsieur de Merval into a pretty salon on the ground floor, the windows of which looked on the Marne; and taking a seat beside him, he said in a tone at once melancholy and resigned: “How many things have happened since we met! and how many times you must have heard my name! The thing that happened to me made a great deal of talk, more talk than I desired, I assure you! Tell me, Monsieur de Merval, what did you hear about it, and whom did you believe to be to blame in all that? For the world is often mistaken in its judgment!” Monsieur de Merval felt somewhat embarrassed to answer; he faltered: “Why, many contradictory things were said; however, if you desire my opinion, why, you are not the one whom I believed to be at fault!” “You were right, but you should have guessed the truth, for you knew Lucienne Courtenay before I became her husband, fool that I was! I remember that I was jealous of you even after my marriage--of you, who always behaved with the most absolute delicacy; and I was never jealous of the man who was destined to betray my friendship in the most dastardly way!--Monsieur de Merval, as chance has brought us together to-day, allow me to tell you exactly what happened to me, and what was the cause of my separation from my wife. I am very glad to confide the truth to the breast of an honest man. I should not have had the courage to tell you the story a short time ago; but an encounter that I had within a few days has strangely mitigated my suffering; I will tell you that later--I come now at once to the main story.” End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Flower Girl of The Château d'Eau, v.1 (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume X, by Charles Paul de Kock