I arose impetuously, seated myself by her side and took her in my arms.
"'Am I not a wretched, unhappy woman ?' said she, and fell upon my breast, sobbing.
"'Madame la Comtesse de Pontiviers,' announced the servant, whom I would willingly have assassinated, as well as the visiting bore who followed in his footsteps.
"I never saw Madame de Bergenheim in Paris again.

I was obliged to go to Bordeaux the next day, on account of a lawsuit which you know all about.
Upon my return, at the end of three weeks, I found she had left.

I finally learned that she had come to this place, and I followed her.
That is the extent of my drama.
"Now you know very well that I have not related this long story to you for the sole pleasure of keeping you awake until one o'clock in the morning.

I wanted to explain to you that it was really a serious thing for me, so that you might not refuse to do what I wish to ask of you." "I think I understand what you are aiming at," said Marillac, rather pensively.
"You know Bergenheim; you will go to see him to-morrow.

He will invite you to pass a few days with him; you will stay to dinner.