--Tanié, sick of living on the brink, or rather of keeping a charming woman in poverty, ever haunted by rich men urging her to rid herself of that beggar Tanié... --Which she would have done fifteen days or a month later. --and to accept their riches, decided to leave her and set out in search of fortune abroad. He hunted around and won passage on one of the king´s ships. It came time to depart. He took leave of Madame Reymer. `My love,´ he said to her, `I can no longer exploit your affections. I have accepted the inevitable. I am leaving.´ `You are leaving!´ `Yes...´ `And where are you going?´ `To the islands. You deserve something more, and I can no longer come between you and it.´ --Kindhearted Tanié!... --`And what is to become of me?...´ --Traitor!... --`You are surrounded by people who want to please you. I release you from your promises, I release you from your vows. Find the suitor that is most agreeable to you; accept him. I beg of you...´ `Oh Tanié! If you so desire...´ --No need to pantomime Madame Reymer. I get it... --`As I leave, all I ask is that you not commit yourself to anything that might stand between us permanently. Promise me, my beautiful friend. Whatever country on earth I find myself in, you will know something terrible has befallen me if a year goes by without my bearing you witness of my tender attachment. Do not cry...´ --Women can cry on command. --`...and do not fight against plans that are in the end inspired by the reproaches of my heart and from which they would not keep me.´ And just like that Tanié left for Saint-Domingue. --And just in time, for Madame Reymer as for himself. --How would you know? --I know as well as anyone that when Tanié advised her to make a choice she made it. --Well done! --Continue your narration. --Tanié had a strong will and an entrepreneurial spirit. He did not tarry in making himself known. He joined the sovereign council of the Cape. He distinguished himself by his wisdom and equity. He had no ambitions to great fortune; all he wanted was a quick and an honest one. Each year he sent a portion of it to Madame Reymer. He reached his goal... somewhere between nine and ten years; no, I do not believe he was absent any longer than that... to present his lover with a small wallet containing the product of his work and virtue... and lucky for Tanié, it was just at the moment when she had left the last of his successors. --The last? --Yes. --So there were several? --Assuredly. --Go on, go on. --But perhaps I have nothing left to tell you that you do not already know better than I. --What does it matter? Go on anyway. --Madame Reymer and Tanié occupied a rather pretty building on rue Sainte- Marguerite, at my doorstep. I took a great liking to Tanié and frequented his house, which was, if not opulent, at least luxurious.