“Ali! how truly happy I am, my beloved husband!  You love Sister M——­ M——­, my dear friend.  She has a locket as big as a ring, and she cannot have received it from anyone but you.  I am certain that your dear likeness is to be found under the Annunciation.  I recognized the style of the artist, and it is certainly the same who painted the locket and my ring.  I am satisfied that Sister M—–­M—–­has received that present from you.  I am so pleased to know all that I would not run the risk of grieving her by telling her that I knew her secret, but my dear friend, either more open or more curious, has not imitated my reserve.  She told me that she had no doubt of my St. Catherine concealing the portrait of my lover.  Unable to say anything better, I told her that the ring was in reality a gift from my lover, but that I had no idea of his portrait being concealed inside of it.  ‘If it is as you say,’ observed M——­ M——­, ’and if you have no objection, I will try to find out the secret, and afterwards I will let you know mine.’  Being quite certain that she would not discover it, I gave her my ring, saying that, if she could find out the secret, I should be very much pleased.

“Just as that moment my aunt paid me a visit, and I left my ring in the hands of M——­ M——­, who returned it to me after dinner, assuring me that, although she had not been able to find out the secret, she was certain there was one.  I promise you that she shall never hear anything about it from me, because if she saw your portrait, she would guess everything, and then I should have to tell her who you are.  I am sorry to be compelled to conceal anything from her, but I am very glad you love one another.  I pity you both, however, with all my heart, because I know that you are obliged to make love through a grating in that horrid parlour.  How I wish, dearest, I could give you my place!  I would make two persons happy at the same time!  Adieu!”

I answered that she had guessed rightly, that the locket of her friend was a present from me and contained my likeness, but that she was to keep the secret, and to be certain that my friendship for M——­ M——­ interfered in no way with the feeling which bound me to her for ever.  I certainly was well aware that I was not behaving in a straightforward manner, but I endeavoured to deceive myself, so true it is that a woman, weak as she is, has more influence by the feeling she inspires than man can possibly have with all his strength.  At all events, I was foolishly trying to keep up an intrigue which I knew to be near its denouement through the intimacy that had sprung up between these two friendly rivals.