On the Monday, he did not get up until noon, although usually an early riser.  He complained of a violent headache, and of feeling sick.  He took, however a cup of tea.  He ordered his brougham, but almost immediately countermanded the order.  Lubin, his valet, heard him say:  “I am hesitating too much;” and a few moments later, “I must make up my mind.”  Shortly afterwards he began writing.

He then gave Lubin a letter to carry to Mademoiselle Claire d’Arlange, with orders to deliver it only to herself or to Mademoiselle Schmidt, the governess.  A second letter, containing two thousand franc notes, was intrusted to Joseph, to be taken to the viscount’s club.  Joseph no longer remembered the name of the person to whom the letter was addressed; but it was not a person of title.  That evening, Albert only took a little soup, and remained shut up in his room.

He rose early on the Tuesday.  He wandered about the house, as though he were in great trouble, or impatiently awaiting something which did not arrive.  On his going into the garden, the gardener asked his advice concerning a lawn.  He replied, “You had better consult the count upon his return.”

He did not breakfast any more than the day before.  About one o’clock, he went down to stables, and caressed, with an air of sadness, his favorite mare, Norma.  Stroking her neck, he said, “Poor creature! poor old girl!”

At three o’clock, a messenger arrived with a letter.  The viscount took it, and opened it hastily.  He was then near the flower-garden.  Two footmen distinctly heard him say, “She cannot resist.”  He returned to the house, and burnt the letter in the large stove in the hall.

As he was sitting down to dinner, at six o’clock, two of his friends, M. de Courtivois and the Marquis de Chouze, insisted upon seeing him, in spite of all orders.  They would not be refused.  These gentlemen were anxious for him to join them in some pleasure party, but he declined, saying that he had a very important appointment.

At dinner he ate a little more than on the previous days.  He even asked the butler for a bottle of Chateau-Lafitte, the whole of which he drank himself.  While taking his coffee, he smoked a cigar in the dining room, contrary to the rules of the house.  At half-past seven, according to Joseph and two footmen, or at eight according to the Swiss porter and Lubin, the viscount went out on foot, taking an umbrella with him.  He returned home at two o’clock in the morning, and at once dismissed his valet, who had waited up for him.

On entering the viscount’s room on the Wednesday, the valet was struck with the condition in which he found his master’s clothes.  They were wet, and stained with mud; the trousers were torn.  He ventured to make a remark about them.  Albert replied, in a furious manner, “Throw the old things in a corner, ready to be given away.”

He appeared to be much better all that day.  He breakfasted with a good appetite; and the butler noticed that he was in excellent spirits.  He passed the afternoon in the library, and burnt a pile of papers.