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rapidly poured out when any accident brought up the subject。
But those who loved Emilie could see through all her banter a tinge of
melancholy。 It was clear that Maximilien Longueville still reigned
over that inexorable heart。 Sometimes she would be as gentle as she
had been during the brief summer that had seen the birth of her love；
sometimes； again； she was unendurable。 Every one made excuses for her
inequality of temper； which had its source in sufferings at once
secret and known to all。 The Comte de Kergarouet had some influence
over her； thanks to his increased prodigality； a kind of consolation
which rarely fails of its effect on a Parisian girl。
The first ball at which Mademoiselle de Fontaine appeared was at the
Neapolitan ambassador's。 As she took her place in the first quadrille
she saw； a few yards away from her； Maximilien Longueville； who nodded
slightly to her partner。
〃Is that young man a friend of yours？〃 she asked； with a scornful air。
〃Only my brother；〃 he replied。
Emilie could not help starting。 〃Ah！〃 he continued； 〃and he is the
noblest soul living〃
〃Do you know my name？〃 asked Emilie； eagerly interrupting him。
〃No； mademoiselle。 It is a crime； I confess； not to remember a name
which is on every lipI ought to say in every heart。 But I have a
valid excuse。 I have but just arrived from Germany。 My ambassador； who
is in Paris on leave； sent me here this evening to take care of his
amiable wife； whom you may see yonder in that corner。〃
〃A perfect tragic mask！〃 said Emilie； after looking at the
ambassadress。
〃And yet that is her ballroom face！〃 said the young man； laughing。 〃I
shall have to dance with her！ So I thought I might have some
compensation。〃 Mademoiselle de Fontaine courtesied。 〃I was very much
surprised；〃 the voluble young secretary went on； 〃to find my brother
here。 On arriving from Vienna I heard that the poor boy was ill in
bed； and I counted on seeing him before coming to this ball； but good
policy will always allow us to indulge family affection。 The Padrona
della case would not give me time to call on my poor Maximilien。〃
〃Then； monsieur； your brother is not； like you； in diplomatic
employment。〃
〃No；〃 said the attache； with a sigh； 〃the poor fellow sacrificed
himself for me。 He and my sister Clara have renounced their share of
my father's fortune to make an eldest son of me。 My father dreams of a
peerage； like all who vote for the ministry。 Indeed； it is promised
him；〃 he added in an undertone。 〃After saving up a little capital my
brother joined a banking firm； and I hear he has just effected a
speculation in Brazil which may make him a millionaire。 You see me in
the highest spirits at having been able； by my diplomatic connections；
to contribute to his success。 I am impatiently expecting a dispatch
from the Brazilian Legation； which will help to lift the cloud from
his brow。 What do you think of him？〃
〃Well； your brother's face does not look to me like that of a man
busied with money matters。〃
The young attache shot a scrutinizing glance at the apparently calm
face of his partner。
〃What！〃 he exclaimed； with a smile； 〃can young ladies read the
thoughts of love behind the silent brow？〃
〃Your brother is in love； then？〃 she asked； betrayed into a movement
of curiosity。
〃Yes； my sister Clara； to whom he is as devoted as a mother； wrote to
me that he had fallen in love this summer with a very pretty girl； but
I have had no further news of the affair。 Would you believe that the
poor boy used to get up at five in the morning； and went off to settle
his business that he might be back by four o'clock in the country
where the lady was？ In fact； he ruined a very nice thoroughbred that I
had just given him。 Forgive my chatter； mademoiselle； I have but just
come home from Germany。 For a year I have heard no decent French； I
have been weaned from French faces； and satiated with Germans； to such
a degree that； I believe； in my patriotic mania； I could talk to the
chimeras on a French candlestick。 And if I talk with a lack of reserve
unbecoming in a diplomatist； the fault is yours； mademoiselle。 Was it
not you who pointed out my brother？ When he is the theme I become
inexhaustible。 I should like to proclaim to all the world how good and
generous he is。 He gave up no less than a hundred thousand francs a
year； the income from the Longueville property。〃
If Mademoiselle de Fontaine had the benefit of these important
revelations； it was partly due to the skill with which she continued
to question her confiding partner from the moment when she found that
he was the brother of her scorned lover。
〃And could you； without being grieved； see your brother selling muslin
and calico？〃 asked Emilie； at the end of the third figure of the
quadrille。
〃How do you know that？〃 asked the attache。 〃Thank God； though I pour
out a flood of words； I have already acquired the art of not telling
more than I intend； like all the other diplomatic apprentices I know。〃
〃You told me； I assure you。〃
Monsieur de Longueville looked at Mademoiselle de Fontaine with a
surprise that was full of perspicacity。 A suspicion flashed upon him。
He glanced inquiringly from his brother to his partner； guessed
everything； clasped his hands； fixed his eyes on the ceiling； and
began to laugh； saying； 〃I am an idiot！ You are the handsomest person
here； my brother keeps stealing glances at you； he is dancing in spite
of his illness； and you pretend not to see him。 Make him happy；〃 he
added； as he led her back to her old uncle。 〃I shall not be jealous；
but I shall always shiver a little at calling you my sister〃
The lovers； however； were to prove as inexorable to each other as they
were to themselves。 At about two in the morning； refreshments were
served in an immense corridor； where； to leave persons of the same
coterie free to meet each other； the tables were arranged as in a
restaurant。 By one of those accidents which always happen to lovers；
Mademoiselle de Fontaine found herself at a table next to that at
which the more important guests were seated。 Maximilien was of the
group。 Emilie； who lent an attentive ear to her neighbors'
conversation； overheard one of those dialogues into which a young
woman so easily falls with a young man who has the grace and style of
Maximilien Longueville。 The lady talking to the young banker was a
Neapolitan duchess； whose eyes shot lightning flashes； and whose skin
had the sheen of satin。 The intimate terms on which Longueville
affected to be with her stung Mademoiselle de Fontaine all the more
because she had just given her lover back twenty times as much
tenderness as she had ever felt for him before。
〃Yes； monsieur； in my country true love can make every kind of
sacrifice；〃 the Duchess was saying； in a simper。
〃You have more passion than Frenchwomen；〃 said Maximilien； whose
burning gaze fell on Emilie。 〃They are all vanity。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 Emilie eagerly interposed； 〃is it not very wrong to
calumniate your own country？ Devotion is to be found in every nation。〃
〃Do you imagine； mademoiselle；〃 retorted the Italian； with a sardonic
smile； 〃that a Parisian would be capable of following her lover all
over the world？〃
〃Oh； madame； let us understand each other。 She would follow him to a
desert and live in a tent but not to sit in a shop。〃
A disdainful gesture completed her meaning。 Thus； under the influence
of her disastrous education； Emile for the second time killed her
budding happiness； and destroyed its prospects of life。 Maximilien's
apparent indifference； and a woman's smile； had wrung from her one of
those sarcasms whose treacherous zest always let her astray。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Longueville； in a low voice； under cover of the
noise made by the ladies as they rose from the table； 〃no one will
ever more ardently desire your happiness than I； permit