When I noticed his base schemes--as I could not fail to do--that put the finishing touches.

I gave him the choice between a scandalous lawsuit, which would have deprived him of my fortune, and voluntary banishment by accepting some government post across the sea with half my income.
He finally chose exile and the money, and I was free.

I left Madrid and settled in Paris.

You can imagine the circumstances--a young woman of twenty-three--alone, whose life could not possibly be filled by the care of two little children." "Two children ?" asked Wilhelm.
"Yes," she answered, and hung her head.
"There is cowardice of which even a courageous woman will be guilty when, out of consideration for public opinion, she continues to live under one roof with the father of her first child.

And then--you must take me as I am, with all my imperfections, for which some good qualities may perhaps make up." She looked at him humbly, with the eyes of an imploring child, and continued in a low voice: "The Spanish colony in Paris received me with open arms.