sider them from the point
of view of time and space, by the action of which they become after a
while imperceptible.

Do me a favor! On arriving in Paris without having a house prepared to
receive you, it would be very friendly--you would seem like the man of
old times--if you would take up your quarters with me, instead of going
to Ville d'Avray, which, indeed, I think dangerous and even bad for you.
Stay with me, and you can thus judge of my handsome housekeeper, and you
will see how much she has been calumniated and misunderstood. You
will also be near to the l'Estorades in whom I expect you to find
consolations; and besides, this act would be a charming expiation for
all the involuntary wrongs you have done me. At any rate, I have given
my orders, and your room is ready for you.

P.S. You have not yet arrived, dear friend, and I must close this
letter, which will be given to you by my housekeeper when you come by my
house, for I am certain that your first visit will be to me.

I went this morning to the Mongenods'; the two hundred and fifty
thousand francs were there, but with the accompaniment of a most
extraordinary circumstance; the money was in the name of the Comte de
Sallenauve, otherwise Dorlange, sculptor, 42 rue de l'Ouest. In spite
of an appellation which has never been mine, the money was mine, and was
paid to me without the slightest hesitation. I had enough presence of
mind not to seem stupefied by my new name and title before the cashier;
but I saw Monsieur Mongenod the elder in private, a man who enjoys the
highest reputation at the Bank, and to him I expressed my astonishment,
asking for whatever explanations he was able to give me. He could give
none; the money came to him through a Dutch banker, his correspondent
at Rotterdam, and he knew nothing beyond that. _Ah ca_! what does it
all mean? Am I to be a noble? Has the moment come for my father to
acknowledge me? I start in a state of agitation and of anxiety which you
can well understand. Until I hear from you, I shall address my letters
to you here. If you decide not to stay in my house, let me know
your address at once. Say nothing of what I have now told you to the
l'Estorades; let it remain secret between us.

XIII. DORLANGE TO MARIE-GASTON

Arcis-sur-Aube, May 3, 1839.

Dear friend,--Last evening, before Maitre Achille Pigoult, notary of
this place, the burial of Charles Dorlange took place,--that individual
issuing to the world,