Oh! if I could only see him, and once more hear his voice!  That blessed voice I love so much!  How miserable I am!...  What agony I suffer!...  I stifle ... my brain whirls—­my mind is so confused that I cannot think ... this torture is worse than death ...  And then if he should suddenly appear before me, what joy!...  Oh!  I don’t wish him to enter the room at once—­I would like one minute to prepare myself for the happiness of seeing him ... one single moment....  If he were to abruptly enter, I would become frantic with joy as I embraced him!

My dear Valentine, what a torment is love!...  It is utterly impossible for me to support another hour of this agitation.  I am sure I have a fever—­I shiver with cold—­I burn—­my brain is on fire....

As I write this to you, seated at the window, I eagerly watch the long avenue by which he must return....  I write a word ... a whole line so as to give him time to approach, hoping I will see him coming when I raise my eyes—....  After writing each line I look again.... nothing appears in the distance; I see neither his horse nor the cloud of dust that would announce his approach.  The clock strikes! three o’clock!...  Valentine! it is fearful ... hope deserts me ... all is lost ...  I feel myself dying ...  Instinct tells me that some dreadful tragedy, ruinous to me, is now enacting on this earth....  Ah! my heart breaks ...  I suffer torture....  Raymond!  Raymond!  Valentine! my mother! help!... help!...  I see a horse rushing up the avenue ... but it is not Raymond’s ... ah! it is his ... but ...  I don’t see Raymond ... the saddle is empty ...  God!

This unfinished letter of the Comtesse de Villiers to Madame de Braimes bore neither address nor signature.

XL.

ROGER DE MONBERT to MONSIEUR EDGAR DE MEILHAN,
Hotel de Bellevue, Bruxelles (Belgique).

You are now at Brussels, my dear Edgar, at least for my own peace of mind I hope so.  Although I fear not for you the rigors of the law, still I am anxious to know that you are on a safe and hospitable shore.

Criminal trials, even when they have a favorable issue, are injurious.  In your case it is necessary to keep concealed, await the result of public opinion, and let future events regulate your conduct.  Besides, as there is no law about duelling, you must distrust the courts of justice.  The day will come when some jury, tired of so many acquittals, will agree upon a conviction.  Your case may be decided by this jury—­so it is only prudent for you to disappear, and abide the issue.

Things have entirely changed during my ten years’ absence; all this is new to me.  Immediately after the duel I obeyed your instructions, and went to see your lawyer, Delestong.  With the exception of a few omissions, I was obliged to relate everything that happened.  I must tell you exactly what I said and what I left unsaid, so that if we are summoned before the court our testimony shall not conflict.