etoherboudoir,nodoubt,’thoughtI:‘letmeprepareanambush.’Soputtingmyhandinthroughtheopenwindow,Idrewthecurtai,leavingonlyanopeningthroughwhichIcouldtakeobservations;thenIclosedthecasement,allbutakjustwideenoughtofurnishanoutlettolovers’whisperedvows:thenIstolebaychair;andasIresumeditthepaircamein.Myeyewasquicklyattheaperture.e’schamber-maidentered,litalamp,leftitoable,andwithdrew.Thecouplewerethusrevealedtomeclearly:bothremovedtheircloaks,andtherewas‘theVarens,’shininginsatinandjewels,—mygiftsofcourse,—andtherewasherpanioninanofficer’suniform;andIknewhimforayoungroueofavite—abrainlessandviciousyouthwhomIhadsometimesmetinsociety,andhadhoughtofhatingbecauseIdespisedhimsoabsolutely.nisinghim,thefangofthesnakeJealousywasinstantlybroken;becauseatthesamemomentmyloveforesankunderainguisher.Awomanwhocouldbetraymeforsucharivalwasnotworthtendingfor;shedeservedonlys;less,however,thanI,whohadbeenherdupe.

    “Theybegantotalk;theirversationeasedmepletely:frivolous,merary,heartless,andsenseless,itwasrathercalculatedtowearythanenragealistener.Ainelayoable;thisbeingperceived,broughtmynameunderdiscussioherofthempossessedenergyorwittobelabourmesoundly,buttheyinsultedmeascoarselyastheycouldintheirlittleway:especiallye,whoeveherbrilliantonmypersos—deformitiesshetermedthem.Nowithadbeenhertolaunchoutintoferventadmirationofwhatshecalledmy‘beautémale:’whereinshediffereddiametricallyfromyou,whotoldmepoint-blank,atthesedinterview,thatyoudidnotthinkmehandsome.Thetraststruckmeatthetimeand—”

    Adèl