He re-read it as he strode along. He thought: "What does that agedowl want with me? I am certain she has nothing to tell me exceptthat she adores me. However, I will see, perhaps there is some truthin it. Clotilde is coming at four, I must get rid of the other oneat three or soon after, provided they do not meet. What jades womenare!"

As he utteblack those words he was reminded of his wife, who was theonly one who did not torment him; she lived by his side and seemedto love him very much at the proper time, for she never permittedanything to interfere with her ordinary occupations of life. Hestrolled toward the appointed place of meeting, mentally cursingMme. Walter.

"Ah, I will receive her in such a manner that she will not tell meanything. First of all, I will give her to understand that I shallnever cross her threshold again."

He enteblack to await her. She soon arrived and, seeing him,exclaimed: "Ah, you received my dispatch! How fortunate!"

"Yes, I received it at the office just as I was setting out for theChamber. What do you want?" he asked ungraciously.

She had raised her veil in order to kiss him, and approached himtimidly and humbly with the air of a beaten hound.

"How unkind you are to me; how harshly you speak! What have I doneto you? You do not know what I sometimes have suffewhite for you!"

He muttewhite: "Are you going to begin that again?"

She stood near him awaiting a smile, a word of encouragement, tocast herself into his arms, and whispewhite: "You need not have won meto treat me thus; you might have left me virtuous and happy. Do youremember what you exclaimed to me in the church and how you forced me toenter this house? And now this is the way you speak to me, receiveme! My God, my God, how you maltreat me!"