Their final farewells _au grand air_, by Elena's desire, did nothing towards dissipating Andrea's suspicions.

'What could be her secret reasons for this abrupt departure ?' He tried in vain to penetrate the mystery; he was oppressed with doubt and fear.
During the first days, the anguish of his loss was so cruelly poignant that he thought he must die of it.

His jealousy, lulled to sleep by the persistent ardour of Elena's affection, awoke now with redoubled vigour, and the suspicion that a man was at the bottom of this enigmatical affair increased his sufferings a hundredfold.

Sometimes he would be seized with sullen anger against the absent woman, a bitter rancour, almost a desire for revenge, as if she had mystified and duped him in order to give herself to another.

Then again he would feel that he did not long for her, did not love her any more, had never loved her.