You may
rely on me in the future, for a man is grateful for such services as
yours."
These last words gave me the key to the whole mystery, and I saw how I
stood.
"But why should you have come so soon?" I asked him; "it would have
been more prudent to have waited a few days."
"I foresaw that; and it is only chance that has brought me here. I am
supposed to be on my way back from a neighboring country house. But
has not Madame de T----- taken you into her secret? I am surprised at
her want of confidence, after all you have done for us."
"My dear friend," I replied, "she doubtless had her reasons. Perhaps I
did not play my part very well."
"Has everything been very pleasant? Tell me the particulars; come,
tell me."
"Now wait a moment. I did not know that this was to be a comedy; and
although Madame de T----- gave me a part in the play--"
"It wasn't a very nice one."
"Do not worry yourself; there are no bad parts for good actors."
"I understand, you acquitted yourself well."
"Admirably."
"And Madame de T-----?"
"Is adorable."
"To think of being able to win such a woman!" said he, stopping short
in our walk, and looking triumphantly at me. "Oh, what pains I have
taken with her! And I have at last brought her to a point where she is
perhaps the only woman in Paris on whose fidelity a man may infallibly
count!"
"You have succeeded--?"
"Yes; in that lies my special talent.
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