Dying men do not fear ridicule.

Farewell, Elise--darling-wife! I love you!" These tender words were his last.
After her husband's death, Madame de Tecle lived with her father-in-law, but passed much of her time with her uncle.

She busied herself with the greatest solicitude in the education of her daughter, and kept house for both the old men, by both of whom she was equally idolized.
From the lips of the priest at Reuilly, whom he called on next day, Camors learned some of these details, while the old man practiced the violoncello with his heavy spectacles on his nose.

Despite his fixed resolution of preserving universal scorn, Camors could not resist a vague feeling of respect for Madame de Tecle; but it did not entirely eradicate the impure sentiment he was disposed to dedicate to her.

Fully determined to make her, if not his victim, at least his ally, he felt that this enterprise was one of unusual difficulty.