\"`Thatname，’saidSancerre，`soastonishedme，thatthoughmyfirstintentionwastotellhimIwasmoreafflictedthanhe，I
hadnotthepowertospeak：hecontinuedtoinformme，thathehadbeeninlovewithhersixmonths，thathewasalwaysdesiroustoletmeknowit，butshehadexpresslyforbidhim；andinsoauthoritativeamanner，thathedurstnotdisobeyher；thathegainedherinamannerassoonashecourtedher，thattheyconcealedtheirmutualpassionforeachotherfromthewholeworld，thathenevervisitedherpublicly，thathehadthepleasuretoremovehersorrowforherhusband’sdeath，andthatlastlyhewastohavemarriedherattheveryjunctureinwhichshedied；butthatthismarriage，whichwasaneffectoflove，wouldhaveappearedinheraneffectofdutyandobedience，shehavingprevaileduponherfathertolayhiscommandsonhertomarryhim，inordertoavoidtheappearanceoftoogreatanalterationinherconduct，whichhadseemedsoaversetoasecondmarriage。’
\"`WhileEtoutevillewasspeakingtome，’saidSancerre，`I
believedallhesaid，becauseIfoundsomuchprobabilityinit，andbecausethetimewhenhetoldmehispassionforMadamdeTournoncommenced，ispreciselythesamewiththatwhensheappearedchangedtowardsme；butthenextmorningIthoughthimaliar，oratleastanenthusiast，andwasuponthepointoftellinghimso。AfterwardsIcameintoaninclinationofclearingupthematter，andproposedseveralquestions，andlaidmydoubtsbeforehim，inaword，Iproceededsofartoconvincemyselfofmymisfortune，thatheaskedmeifIknewMadamdeTournon’shandwriting，andwiththatthrewuponmybedfourlettersofhersandherpicture；mybrothercameinthatminute；
Etouteville’sfacewassofulloftears，thathewasforcedtowithdrawtoavoidbeingobserved，andsaidhewouldcomeagainintheeveningtofetchwhatheleftwithme；andasforme，Isentmybrotherawayunderpretenceofbeingindisposed，soimpatientwasItoseethelettershehadleft，andsofullofhopestofindsomethingtherethatmightmakemedisbelievewhatEtoutevillehadbeentellingme；butalas！WhatdidInotfindthere？Whattenderness！whatassurancesofmarriage！whatletters！Sheneverwrotetheliketome。Thus，’continuedhe，`amIatoncepiercedwithanguishforherdeathandforherfalsehood，twoevilswhichhavebeenoftencompared，butneverfeltbeforebythesamepersonatthesametime；Iconfess，tomyshame，thatstillIammoregrievedforherlossthanforherchange；Icannotthinkherguiltyenough，toconsenttoherdeath：weresheliving，Ishouldhavethesatisfactiontoreproachher，andtorevengemyselfonherbymakinghersensibleofherinjustice；butIshallseehernomore，Ishallseehernomore；thisisthegreatestmisfortuneofallothers；wouldI