The Count looked around on the companion of all his life; he saw the tears the old man shed, and threw himself into his arms. "Ah! you love me in spite of all--" "And so does _she_," said Giacomo, whose features became kindled with pleasure at this sudden exhibition of his master's love; "yes, that noble, true woman loves you dearly." "Aminta!" said the Count, "ah! but for her you would have no master." "Monseigneur,--no--Count!" said the old valet; "Madame la Marquise has come hither." "Let her come--let her come--when she is with me, I pass my only happy hours." "True," said Giacomo, "but she is not alone--" "Who accompanies her? Who has come to see the informer? Who dares to brave the leprosy?" The old man said, "The Prince de Maulear." "The Prince! The Prince in my house! No, no! Tell him to go, that I see no one! I will see no one--" "You will see me, Monsieur?" said the old nobleman, advancing with Aminta on his arm. "What do you wish, sir?" said Monte-Leone; "if you insult me again, you are indeed cruel." "Monte-Leone," said Aminta, "the Prince is your friend. His words will be of service; I brought him hither." The Count sank on his seat and was silent. "Count," said the Prince, "had I not been confined at one of my estates for eight months by an obstinate _gout_, you would have seen me long since." "Ah!" said the Count, with surprise. "You would have seen me brought to you by repentance for the injury I did you. I gave way, Monte-Leone, to an indignant feeling I shall regret all my life. Reflection has enlightened me. The account I have heard from my daughter-in-law, the resources which you concealed, and especially your despair, the wasted condition of your health, the ravages of your misery, her love, her respect, have long told me how unjust I was to you." The Count looked at the Prince with mingled astonishment and doubt. The Prince said, "As men of our rank are glad to confess their faults, and ask pardon for them, I beg you, sir, to forgive me." The Prince bowed to Monte-Leone, who seemed overcome by emotion. Taking the Prince's hand he placed it on his heart and said, "Now, sir, feel this palpitation, and tell me whether the heart of a bad or guilty man ever beat thus with joy, at justice being done him." From this day Monte-Leone enjoyed two of the greatest pleasures of life--a tender love, and a noble friendship.... A month after the first visit of the Prince de Maulear to the house at Neuilly, the following scene took place in a sad room of the _rue Casette_ in the Faubourg St. Germain. A sick woman lay on a bed, and a stern dark man sat beside her. "I tell you," said she, "I want a priest, and it is cruel for you to refuse me one." "Bah! Signora, you are not sick enough for that. Why have a confidant in our affairs? Confession is of no use except to the dying!" "I am very sick," said she, "and my strength every day decreases!"