"My brother speedily returned. He had learned from the police all that was to be known about her husband: 'A clerk in the Home Department, of regular habits and good repute, and, moreover, a thinking man, but married to a very pretty woman, whose expenses seemed somewhat extravagant for her modest position.' That was all. "Now, my brother having sought for her at her residence, and finding that she was gone out, succeeded, with the assistance of a little gold, in making the doorkeeper chatter: 'Madame D----, a very worthy woman, and her husband a very worthy man, not proud, not rich, but generous.' "My brother asked for the sake of saying something: "'How old is her little boy now?' "'Why, she has not got any little boy, monsieur.' "'What? Little Leon?' "'No, monsieur, you are making a mistake.' "'I mean the child she had while she was in Italy, two years ago?' "'She has never been in Italy, monsieur; she has not quitted the house she is living in for the last five years.' "My brother, in astonishment, questioned the doorkeeper anew, and then he pushed his investigation of the matter further. No child, no journey. "I was prodigiously astonished, but without clearly understanding the final meaning of this comedy. "'I want,' said I to him, 'to have my mind perfectly clear about the affair. I will ask her to come here to-morrow. You shall receive her instead of me. If she has deceived me, you will hand her these ten thousand francs, and I will never see her again. In fact, I am beginning to find I have had enough of her.' "Would you believe it? I had been grieved the night before because I had a child by this woman; and I was now irritated, ashamed, wounded at having no more of her. I found myself free, released from all responsibility, from all anxiety, and yet I felt myself raging at the position in which I was placed. "Next morning my brother awaited her in my study. She came in as quickly as usual, rushing towards him with outstretched arms, but when she saw who it was she at once drew back. "He bowed, and excused himself. "'I beg your pardon, madame, for being here instead of my brother, but he has authorized me to ask you for some explanations which he would find it painful to seek from you himself.' "Then, fixing on her face a searching glance, he said abruptly: "'We know you have not a child by him.' "After the first moment of stupor, she regained her composure, took a seat, and gazed with a smile at this man who was sitting in judgment on her. "She answered simply: "'No; I have no child.' "'We know also that you have never been in Italy.' "This time she burst out laughing in earnest. "'No, I have never been in Italy.' "My brother, quite stunned, went on: "'The Comte has requested me to give you this money, and tell you that it is all broken off.' "She became serious again, calmly putting the money into her pocket, and, in an ingenuous tone asked: "'And I am not, then, to see the Comte any more?'