“My darling, that wish of yours to give me up your place, when you did not know that I was happy with M——­ M——­, arose from your friendship rather than from your love, and for the present I must be glad to see that your friendship is stronger than your love, but I have every reason to be sorry when M——­ M——­ feels the same.  I love her without any possibility of marrying her.  Do you understand me, dearest?  As for you, knowing that you must be my wife, I am certain of our love, which practice will animate with new life.  It is not the same with M——­ M——­; that love cannot spring up again into existence.  Is it not humiliating for me to have inspired her with nothing but a passing fancy?  I understand your adoration for her very well.  She has initiated you into all her mysteries, and you owe her eternal friendship and everlasting gratitude.”

It was midnight, and we went on wasting our time in this desultory conversation, when the prudent and careful servant brought us an excellent supper.  I could not touch anything, my heart was too full, but my dear little wife supped with a good appetite.  I could not help laughing when I saw a salad of whites of eggs, and C——­ C——­ thought it extraordinary because all the yolks had been removed.  In her innocence, she could not understand the intention of the person who had ordered the supper.  As I looked at her, I was compelled to acknowledge that she had improved in beauty; in fact C——­ C——­ was remarkably beautiful, yet I remained cold by her side.  I have always thought that there is no merit in being faithful to the person we truly love.

Two hours before day-light we resumed our seats near the fire, and C——­ C——­, seeing how dull I was, was delicately attentive to me.  She attempted no allurement, all her movements wore the stamp of the most decent reserve, and her conversation, tender in its expressions and perfectly easy, never conveyed the shadow of a reproach for my coolness.

Towards the end of our long conversation, she asked me what she should say to her friend on her return to the convent.

“My dear M——­ M——­ expects to see me full of joy and gratitude for the generous present she thought she was making me by giving me this night, but what shall I tell her?”

“The whole truth.  Do not keep from her a single word of our conversation, as far as your memory will serve you, and tell her especially that she has made me miserable for a long time.”

“No, for I should cause her too great a sorrow; she loves you dearly, and cherishes the locket which contains your likeness.  I mean, on the contrary, to do all I can to bring peace between you two, and I must succeed before long, because my friend is not guilty of any wrong, and you only feel some spite, although with no cause.  I will send you my letter by Laura, unless you promise me to go and fetch it yourself at her house.”

“Your letters will always be dear to me, but, mark my words, M——­ M——­ will not enter into any explanation.  She will believe you in everything, except in one.”