However, having committed her property to his hands, and suffered her name to be associated publicly with his, Madame de Courcelles, during his absence in Algiers, has done me the honor to prefer me.

I have the first real love of her life, and the short and long of it is, that we are to be privately married to-morrow." "And why privately ?" "Ah, there's the pity of it! There's the disappointment and the bitterness!" "Can't Madame de Courcelles write and tell this man that she loves somebody else better ?" "Confound it! no.

The fellow has her too much in his power, and, if he chose to be dishonest, could half ruin her.

At all events she is afraid of him; and I ...

I am as helpless as a child in the matter.