de Lorcy was furious at having been outwitted by Count Larinski; she retracted all the concessions she had made concerning him; her rancour had decided that the man of fainting-fits could not be other than an imposter.

She had disputes on this subject with M.Langis, who persisted in maintaining that M.Larinski was a great comedian, but that this, strictly considered, did not prevent his being a true count; in the course of his travels he had met specimens of them who cheated at cards and pocketed affronts.Mme.de Lorcy, in return, accused him of being a simpleton.

She had written again to Vienna, in hopes of obtaining some further intelligence; she had been able to learn nothing satisfactory.

She did not lose courage; she well knew that, in the important affairs of life, M.Moriaz found it difficult to dispense with her approbation, and she promised herself to choose with discretion the moment to make a decisive assault upon him.

In the meanwhile she gave herself the pleasure of tormenting him by her silence, and of grieving him by her long-continued pouting.