e overcome by childish panics; so I soon got
over this transitory feeling of alarm. I knew that after all we were so
unequally matched, that I need not seriously fear his success. However
determined Kiusko might be not to abandon the cowardly _role_ he had
assumed, I felt sure that an open affront at the club would compel him
to fight.

Feeling reassured by this consideration, I decided to be guided in my
action by the result of the interview which I was going to have with
Kondje-Gul's mother. It was necessary for me to commence by putting a
stop to the foolish proceedings of this woman, who was perhaps acting
unintentionally as Kiusko's accomplice in schemes the object of which
she could not foresee. It was eleven o'clock, an hour at which I knew I
should find her alone, while Kondje-Gul was taking her lessons: I went
accordingly to Teral House.

When I arrived a carriage was coming in and drawing up under the
portico. I saw Madame Murrah get out of it. She could not avoid showing
some annoyance on observing me. Rather surprised at her taking such an
early drive, I asked her to go into the drawing-room. She went there
before me, and, seeing me take an arm-chair, she sat down on the divan
in her usual indolent manner, and waited to hear what I had to say.

The scene which I am now going to relate to you, my dear Louis, was
certainly, according to our ideas, a remarkable one. I tell it you just
as it happened; but you must not forget that, for the Circassian woman,
there was nothing in it which was out of conformity with her principles
and the ideas of her race.

"I have come to talk with you," I said, "upon a serious subject, the
importance of which perhaps you do not comprehend; for, without
intending it, you are causing Kondje-Gul a great deal of trouble."

"How am I causing my daughter trouble?" she answered, as if she had been
trying to understand.

"By continually telling her that I am going to leave her in order to get
married,--by telling her that you wish to go away, and have even decided
to take her with you. She is of course alarmed by all these imaginary
anxieties."

"If it is so decreed by Allah!" she said quietly, "who shall prevent
it?"

I had been expecting denials and subterfuges. This fatalistic utterance,
without answering my reproaches, took me quite aback and made me
tremble.

"But," I replied in a severe tone, "Allah could not command you to bring
unhappiness to your daughter."

"As yo