“She went back to her dressing-room and came to us, where she was living.

“The ballet went on without her, and the poor viceroy sat in a dream, for the poison had entered into his veins.

“Next day a wretched singer named Molinari called on Nina and told her that the viceroy was anxious to know whether she were really mad or not, and would like to see her in a country house, the name of which he mentioned:  this was just what the wretched woman wanted.

“‘Tell his highness,’ she said to Molinari, ’that I will come, and that he will find me as gentle as a lamb and as good as an angel.’

“This is the way in which the connection began, and she fathomed his character so astutely that she maintained her conquest as much with ill-treatment and severity as with her favours.”

Such was the tale of the hapless Madame Schizza.  It was told with all the passion of an Italian divided between repentance for the past and the desire of vengeance.

The next day, as I had expected, I received a letter from Henriette.  It ran as follows: 

“My Dear Old Friend,—­Nothing could be more romantic than our meeting at my country house six years ago, and now again, after a parting of so many years.  Naturally we have both grown older, and though I love you still I am glad you did not recognize me.  Not that I have become ugly, but I am stout, and this gives me another look.  I am a widow, and well enough off to tell you that if you lack money you will find some ready for you in Henriette’s purse.  Do not come back to Aix to see me, as your return might give rise to gossip; but if you chance to come here again after some time, we may meet, though not as old acquaintances.  I am happy to think that I have perhaps prolonged your days by giving you a nurse for whose trustworthiness I would answer.  If you would like to correspond with me I should be happy to do my part.  I am very curious to know what happened to you after your flight from The Leads, and after the proofs you have given me of your discretion I think I shall be able to tell you how we came to meet at Cesena, and how I returned to my country.  The first part is a secret for everyone; only M. d’Antoine is acquainted with a portion of the story.  I am grateful for the reticence you have observed, though Marcoline must have delivered the message I gave her.  Tell me what has become of that beautiful girl.  Farewell!”

I replied, accepting her offer to correspond, and I told her the whole story of my adventures.  From her I received forty letters, in which the history of her life is given.  If she die before me, I shall add these letters to my Memoirs, but at present she is alive and happy, though advanced in years.

The day after I went to call on Madame Audibert, and we went together to see Madame N——­ N——­, who was already the mother of three children.  Her husband adored her, and she was very happy.  I gave her good news of Marcoline, and told the story of Croce and Charlotte’s death, which affected her to tears.