e this to the house of M. Adolph; now, be
quick about it."

He saw the chambermaid leave the house and soon afterwards he, on a
plea of business, went out, hurried to Rue de Sentier, to the address
indicated, and awaited the arrival of his rival at the house of a friend
who was in the secret of his stratagem. The lover, intoxicated with
happiness, rushed to the place and inquired for Madame de Vernon; he was
admitted and found himself face to face with Maitre Lebrun, who showed
a countenance pale but chill, and gazed at him with tranquil but
implacable glance.

"Sir," he said in a tone of emotion to the young clerk, whose heart
palpitated with terror, "you are in love with my wife, and you are
trying to please her; I scarcely know how to treat you in return for
this, because in your place and at your age I should have done exactly
the same. But Anna is in despair; you have disturbed her happiness, and
her heart is filled with the torments of hell. Moreover, she has told me
all, a quarrel soon followed by a reconciliation forced her to write the
letter which you have received, and she has sent me here in her place. I
will not tell you, sir, that by persisting in your plan of seduction
you will cause the misery of her you love, that you will forfeit her my
esteem, and eventually your own; that your crime will be stamped on the
future by causing perhaps sorrow to my children. I will not even speak
to you of the bitterness you will infuse into my life;--unfortunately
these are commonplaces! But I declare to you, sir, that the first step
you take in this direction will be the signal for a crime; for I will
not trust the risk of a duel in order to stab you to the heart!"

And the eyes of the lawyer flashed ominously.

"Now, sir," he went on in a gentler voice, "you are young, you have a
generous heart. Make a sacrifice for the future happiness of her you
love; leave her and never see her again. And if you must needs be a
member of my family, I have a young aunt who is yet unsettled in life;
she is charming, clever and rich. Make her acquaintance, and leave a
virtuous woman undisturbed."

This mixture of raillery and intimidation, together with the unwavering
glance and deep voice of the husband, produced a remarkable impression
on the lover. He remained for a moment utterly confused, like people
overcome with passion and deprived of all presence of mind by a
sudden shock. If Anna has since then had any lovers [which is a