ORIGINAL PREFACE TO THE FRENCH EDITION.

The Cross of Berny was, it will be remembered, a brilliant tourney, where Madame de Girardin (nee Delphine Gay), Theophile Gautier, Jules Sandeau and Mery, broke lances like valiant knights of old.

We believe we respond to the general wish by adding to the Bibliotheque Nouvelle this unique work, which assumed and will ever retain a high position among the literary curiosities of the day.

Not feeling called upon to decide who is the victor in the tilt, we merely lift the pseudonymous veil concealing the champions.

The letters signed Irene de Chateaudun are by Madame de Girardin.
  " " " Edgar de Meilhan " M. Theophile Gautier.
  " " " Raymond de Villiers " M. Jules Sandeau.
  " " " Roger de Monbert " M. Mery.

Who are recognised as the four most brilliant of our celebrated contemporaneous authors.—­Editor.

CROSS OF BERNY.

I.

Irene de Chateaudun to Mme. La VICOMTESSE de Braimes,
Hotel de la Prefecture,
Grenoble (Isere).

Paris, May 16th, 18—.

You are a great prophetess, my dear Valentino.  Your predictions are verified.

Thanks to my peculiar disposition, I am already in the most deplorably false position that a reasonable mind and romantic heart could ever have contrived.

With you, naturally and instinctively, I have always been sincere; indeed it would be difficult to deceive one whom I have so often seen by a single glance read the startled conscience, and lead it from the ways of insolence and shame back into the paths of rectitude.

It is to you I would confide all my troubles; your counsel may save me ere it be too late.

You must not think me absurd in ascribing all my unhappiness to what is popularly regarded as “a piece of good luck.”

Governed by my weakness, or rather by my fatal judgment, I have plighted my troth!...  Good Heavens! is it really true that I am engaged to Prince de Monbert?

If you knew the prince you would laugh at my sadness, and at the melancholy tone in which I announce this intelligence.

Monsieur de Monbert is the most witty and agreeable man in Paris; he is noble-hearted, generous and ...in fact fascinating!... and I love him!  He alone pleases me; in his absence I weary of everything; in his presence I am satisfied and happy—­the hours glide away uncounted; I have perfect faith in his good heart and sound judgment, and proudly recognise his incontestable superiority—­yes, I admire, respect, and, I repeat it, love him!...

Yet, the promise I have made to dedicate my life to him, frightens me, and for a month I have had but one thought—­to postpone this marriage I wished for—­to fly from this man whom I have chosen!...