figure and enchanting shape; so fragile, so dainty was she, that you
would have feared to break some bone if you so much as touched her. She
wore a white muslin dress, a rose-colored sash, and rose-colored ribbons
in the pretty cap on her head; her chemisette was moulded so deliciously
by her shoulders and the loveliest rounded contours, that the sight of
her awakened an irresistible desire of possession in the depths of
the heart. Her eyes were bright and dark and expressive, her movements
graceful, her foot charming. An experienced man of pleasure would not
have given her more than thirty years, her forehead was so girlish.
She had all the most transient delicate detail of youth in her face. In
character she seemed to me to resemble the Comtesse de Lignolles and the
Marquise de B----, two feminine types always fresh in the memory of any
young man who has read Louvet's romance.

In a moment I saw how things stood, and took a diplomatic course that
would have done credit to an old ambassador. For once, and perhaps for
the only time in my life, I used tact, and knew in what the special
skill of courtiers and men of the world consists.

I have had so many battles to fight since those heedless days, that they
have left me no time to distil all the least actions of daily life, and
to do everything so that it falls in with those rules of etiquette and
good taste which wither the most generous emotions.

"M. le Comte," I said with an air of mystery, "I should like a few words
with you," and I fell back a pace or two.

He followed my example. Juliette left us together, going away
unconcernedly, like a wife who knew that she can learn her husband's
secrets as soon as she chooses to know them.

I told the Count briefly of the death of my traveling companion. The
effect produced by my news convinced me that his affection for his young
collaborator was cordial enough, and this emboldened me to make reply as
I did.

"My wife will be in despair," cried he; "I shall be obliged to break the
news of this unhappy event with great caution."

"Monsieur," said I, "I addressed myself to you in the first instance,
as in duty bound. I could not, without first informing you, deliver
a message to Mme. la Comtesse, a message intrusted to me by an entire
stranger; but this commission is a sort of sacred trust, a secret of
which I have no power to dispose. From the high idea of your character
which he gave me, I felt sure that you would n