下载辰思小说免费APP
Hewanderedaimlesslythroughthestreets，hismindinastateofdreadfulconfusion.Hetriedtoreason，tounderstand.Hiswifecouldnotaffordtopurchasesuchacostlyornament.Certainlynot.
But，then，itmusthavebeenapresent！——apresent！——apresent，fromwhom？Whywasitgivenher？
Hestopped，andremainedstandinginthemiddleofthestreet.A
horribledoubtenteredhismind——She？Then，alltheotherjewelsmusthavebeenpresents，too！Theearthseemedtotremblebeneathhim——thetreebeforehimtobefalling;hethrewuphisarms，andfelltotheground，unconscious.Herecoveredhissensesinapharmacy，intowhichthepassers—byhadbornehim.Heaskedtobetakenhome，and，whenhereachedthehouse，heshuthimselfupinhisroom，andweptuntilnightfall.Finally，overcomewithfatigue，hewenttobedandfellintoaheavysleep.
Thesunawokehimnextmorning，andhebegantodressslowlytogototheoffice.Itwashardtoworkaftersuchshocks.Hesentalettertohisemployer，requestingtobeexcused.Thenherememberedthathehadtoreturntothejeweler’s.Hedidnotliketheidea;buthecouldnotleavethenecklacewiththatman.Hedressedandwentout.
Itwasalovelyday;aclear，blueskysmiledonthebusycitybelow.
Menofleisurewerestrollingaboutwiththeirhandsintheirpockets.
MonsieurLantin，observingthem，saidtohimself："Therich，indeed，arehappy.Withmoneyitispossibletoforgeteventhedeepestsorrow.Onecangowhereonepleases，andintravelfindthatdistractionwhichisthesurestcureforgrief.OhifIwereonlyrich！"
Heperceivedthathewashungry，buthispocketwasempty.Heagainrememberedthenecklace.Eighteenthousandfrancs！Eighteenthousandfrancs！Whatasum！
HesoonarrivedintheRuedelaPaix，oppositethejeweler’s.Eighteenthousandfrancs！Twentytimesheresolvedtogoin，butshamekepthimback.Hewashungry，however——veryhungry——andnotacentinhispocket.
Hedecidedquickly，ranacrossthestreet，inordernottohavetimeforreflection，andrushedintothestore.
Theproprietorimmediatelycameforward，andpolitelyofferedhimachair;theclerksglancedathimknowingly.
"Ihavemadeinquiries，MonsieurLantin，"saidthejeweler，"andifyouarestillresolvedtodisposeofthegems，IamreadytopayyouthepriceIoffered."
"Certainly，sir，"stammeredMonsieurLantin.
Whereupontheproprietortookfromadrawereighteenlargebills，counted，andhandedthemtoMonsieurLantin，whosignedareceipt;and，withtremblinghand，putthemoneyintohispocket.
Ashewasabouttoleavethestore，heturnedtowardthemerchant，whostillworethesameknowingsmile，andloweringhiseyes，said：
"Ihave——Ihaveothergems，whichcamefromthesamesource.Willyoubuythem，also？"
Themerchantbowed："Certainly，sir."
MonsieurLantinsaidgravely："Iwillbringthemtoyou."Anhourlater，hereturnedwiththegems.
Thelargediamondearringswereworthtwentythousandfrancs;thebracelets，thirty—fivethousand;therings，sixteenthousand;asetofemeraldsandsapphires，fourteenthousand;agoldchainwithsolitairependant，fortythousand——makingthesumofonehundredandforty—threethousandfrancs.
Thejewelerremarked，jokingly：
"Therewasapersonwhoinvestedallhersavingsinpreciousstones."
MonsieurLantinreplied，seriously：
"Itisonlyanotherwayofinvestingone’smoney."
ThatdayhelunchedatVoisin’s，anddrankwineworthtwentyfrancsabottle.ThenhehiredacarriageandmadeatouroftheBois.Hegazedatthevariousturnoutswithakindofdisdain，andcouldhardlyrefrainfromcryingouttotheoccupants：
"I，too，amrich！——Iamworthtwohundredthousandfrancs."
Suddenlyhethoughtofhisemployer.Hedroveuptothebureau，andenteredgaily，saying：
"Sir，Ihavecometoresignmyposition.Ihavejustinheritedthreehundredthousandfrancs."
Heshookhandswithhisformercolleagues，andconfidedtothemsomeofhisprojectsforthefuture;hethenwentofftodineattheCafeAnglais.
Heseatedhimselfbesideagentlemanofaristocraticbearing;and，duringthemeal，informedthelatterconfidentiallythathehadjustinheritedafortuneoffourhundredthousandfrancs.
Forthefirsttimeinhislife，hewasnotboredatthetheatre，andspenttheremainderofthenightinagayfrolic.
Sixmonthsafterward，hemarriedagain.Hissecondwifewasaveryvirtuouswoman;buthadaviolenttemper.Shecausedhimmuchsorrow.
FASCINATION
Icantellyouneitherthenameofthecountry，northenameoftheman.
Itwasalong，longwayfromhereonafertileandburningshore.Wehadbeenwalkingsincethemorningalongthecoast，withtheblueseabathedinsunlightononesideofus，andtheshorecoveredwithcropsontheother.Flowersweregrowingquiteclosetothewaves，thoselight，gentle，lullingwaves.Itwasverywarm，asoftwarmthpermeatedwiththeodoroftherich，damp，fertilesoil.Onefanciedonewasinhalinggerms.
Ihadbeentold，thatevening，thatIshouldmeetwithhospitalityatthehouseofaFrenchmanwholivedinanorangegroveattheendofapromontory.Whowashe？Ididnotknow.Hehadcomethereonemorningtenyearsbefore，andhadboughtlandwhichheplantedwithvinesandsowedwithgrain.Hehadworked，thisman，withpassionateenergy，withfury.Thenashewentonfrommonthtomonth，yeartoyear，enlarginghisboundaries，cultivatingincessantlythestrongvirginsoil，heaccumulatedafortunebyhisindefatigablelabor.
Buthekeptonworking，theysaid.Risingatdaybreak，hewouldremaininthefieldstillevening，superintendingeverythingwithoutceasing，tormentedbyonefixedidea，theinsatiabledesireformoney，whichnothingcanquiet，nothingsatisfy.Henowappearedtobeveryrich.
ThesunwassettingasIreachedhishouse.Itwassituatedasdescribed，attheendofapromontoryinthemidstofagroveoforangetrees.Itwasalargesquarehouse，quiteplain，andoverlookedthesea.
AsIapproached，amanwearingalongbeardappearedinthedoorway.
Havinggreetedhim，Iaskedifhewouldgivemeshelterforthenight.
Heheldouthishandandsaid，smiling：
"Comein，monsieur，consideryourselfathome."
Heledmeintoaroom，andputamanservantatmydisposalwiththeperfecteaseandfamiliargraciousnessofaman—of—the—world.Thenheleftmesaying：
"Wewilldineassoonasyouarereadytocomedownstairs."
Wetookdinner，sittingoppositeeachother，onaterracefacingthesea.
Ibegantotalkaboutthisrich，distant，unknownland.Hesmiled，asherepliedcarelessly：
"Yes，thiscountryisbeautiful.Butnocountrysatisfiesonewhentheyarefarfromtheonetheylove."
"YouregretFrance？"
"IregretParis."
"Whydoyounotgoback？"
"Oh，Iwillreturnthere."
AndgraduallywebegantotalkofFrenchsociety，oftheboulevards，andthingsParisian.Heaskedmequestionsthatshowedheknewallaboutthesethings，mentionednames，allthefamiliarnamesinvaudevilleknownonthesidewalks.
"WhomdoesoneseeatTortoni’snow？
"Alwaysthesamecrowd，exceptthosewhodied."Ilookedathimattentively，hauntedbyavaguerecollection.Icertainlyhadseenthatheadsomewhere.Butwhere？Andwhen？Heseemedtired，althoughhewasvigorous;andsad，althoughhewasdetermined.Hislong，fairbeardfellonhischest.Hewassomewhatbaldandhadheavyeyebrowsandathickmustache.
Thesunwassinkingintothesea，turningthevaporfromtheearthintoafierymist.Theorangeblossomsexhaledtheirpowerful，deliciousfragrance.Heseemedtoseenothingbesidesme，andgazingsteadfastlyheappearedtodiscoverinthedepthsofmymindthefar—away，belovedandwell—knownimageofthewide，shadypavementleadingfromtheMadeleinetotheRueDrouot.
"DoyouknowBoutrelle？"
"Yes，indeed."
"Hashechangedmuch？"
"Yes，hishairisquitewhite."
"AndLaRidamie？"
"Thesameasever."
"Andthewomen？Tellmeaboutthewomen.Let’ssee.DoyouknowSuzanneVerner？"
"Yes，verymuch.Butthatisover."
"Ah！AndSophieAstier？"
"Dead."
"Poorgirl.Didyou——didyouknow——"
Butheceasedabruptly：Andthen，inachangedvoice，hisfacesuddenlyturningpale，hecontinued：
"No，itisbestthatIshouldnotspeakofthatanymore，itbreaksmyheart."
Then，asiftochangethecurrentofhisthoughtsherose.
"Wouldyouliketogoin？"hesaid.
"Yes，Ithinkso."
Andheprecededmeintothehouse.Thedownstairsroomswereenormous，bareandmournful，andhadadesertedlook.Platesandglasseswerescatteredonthetables，lefttherebythedark—skinnedservantswhowanderedincessantlyaboutthisspaciousdwelling.
Tworifleswerebangingfromtwonails，onthewall;andinthecornersoftheroomswerespades，fishingpoles，driedpalmleaves，everyimaginablethingsetdownatrandomwhenpeoplecamehomeintheeveningandreadytohandwhentheywentoutatanytime，orwenttowork.
Myhostsmiledashesaid：
"Thisisthedwelling，orratherthekennel，ofanexile，butmyownroomiscleaner.Letusgothere."
AsIenteredIthoughtIwasinasecond—handstore，itwassofullofthingsofalldescriptions，strangethingsofvariouskindsthatonefeltmustbesouvenirs.Onthewallsweretwoprettypaintingsbywell—knownartists，draperies，weapons，swordsandpistols，andexactlyinthemiddle，ontheprincipalpanel，asquareofwhitesatininagoldframe.
Somewhatsurprised，Iapproachedtolookatit，andperceivedahairpinfastenedinthecentreoftheglossysatin.Myhostplacedhishandonmyshoulder.
"That，"saidhe，"istheonly，thingthatIlookathere，andtheonlythingthatIhaveseenfortenyears.M.Prudhommesaid：’Thisswordisthemostmemorabledayofmylife.’Icansay：’Thishairpinisallmylife.’"
Isoughtforsomecommonplaceremark，andendedbysaying：
"Youhavesufferedonaccountofsomewoman？"
Herepliedabruptly：
"Say，rather，thatIamsufferinglikeawretch.
Butcomeoutonmybalcony.AnamerosetomylipsjustnowwhichI
darednotutter;forifyouhadsaid’Dead’asyoudidofSophieAstier，Ishouldhavefiredabulletintomybrain，thisveryday."
Wehadgoneoutonthewidebalconyfromwhencewecouldseetwogulfs，onetotherightandtheothertotheleft，enclosedbyhighgraymountains.Itwasjusttwilightandthereflectionofthesunsetstilllingeredinthesky.
Hecontinued：
"IsJeannedeLimoursstillalive？"
Hiseyeswerefastenedonmineandwerefullofatremblinganxiety.I
smiled.
"Parbleu——sheisprettierthanever."
"Doyouknowher？"Yes."
Hehesitatedandthensaid：
"Verywell？"
"No."
Hetookmyhand.
"Tellmeabouther，"hesaid.
"Why，Ihavenothingtotell.Sheisoneofthemostcharmingwomen，or，rather，girls，andthemostadmiredinParis.Sheleadsadelightfulexistenceandliveslikeaprincess，thatisall."
"Iloveher，"hemurmuredinatoneinwhichhemighthavesaid"Iamgoingtodie."Thensuddenlyhecontinued：
"Ah！Forthreeyearswelivedinastateofterroranddelight.I
almostkilledherfiveorsixtimes.Shetriedtopiercemyeyeswiththathairpinthatyousawjustnow.Look，doyouseethatlittlewhitespotbeneathmylefteye？Welovedeachother.HowcanIexplainthatinfatuation？Youwouldnotunderstandit."
"Theremustbeasimpleformoflove，theresultofthemutualimpulseoftwoheartsandtwosouls.Butthereisalsoassuredlyanatrociousform，thattorturesonecruelly，theresultoftheoccultblendingoftwounlikepersonalitieswhodetesteachotheratthesametimethattheyadoreoneanother."
"Inthreeyearsthiswomanhadruinedme.Ihadfourmillionfrancswhichshesquanderedinhercalmmanner，quietly，eatthemupwithagentlesmilethatseemedtofallfromhereyesontoherlips."
"Youknowher？Thereissomethingirresistibleabouther.Whatisit？
Idonotknow.Isitthosegrayeyeswhoseglancepenetratesyoulikeagimletandremainstherelikethepointofanarrow？Itismorelikelythegentle，indifferentandfascinatingsmilethatshewearslikeamask.
Herslowgracepervadesyoulittlebylittle;exhalesfromherlikeaperfume，fromherslimfigurethatscarcelyswaysasshepassesyou，forsheseemstoglideratherthanwalk;fromherprettyvoicewithitsslightdrawlthatwouldseemtobethemusicofhersmile;fromhergestures，also，whichareneverexaggerated，butalwaysappropriate，andintoxicateyourvisionwiththeirharmony.Forthreeyearsshewastheonlybeingthatexistedformeontheearth！HowIsuffered;forshedeceivedmeasshedeceivedeveryone！Why？Fornoreason;justforthepleasureofdeceiving.AndwhenIfounditout，whenItreatedherasacommongirlandabeggar，shesaidquietly：’Arewemarried？’
"SinceIhavebeenhereIhavethoughtsomuchaboutherthatatlastI
understandher.SheisManonLescautcomebacktolife.ItisManon，whocouldnotlovewithoutdeceiving;Marionforwhomlove，amusement，money，areallone."
Hewassilent.Afterafewminutesheresumed：
"WhenIhadspentmylastsouonhershesaidsimply：
"’Youunderstand，mydearboy，thatIcannotliveonairandweather.
Iloveyouverymuch，betterthananyone，butImustlive.PovertyandIcouldnotkeephousetogether."
"AndifIshouldtellyouwhatahorriblelifeIledwithher！WhenI
lookedatherIwouldjustassoonhavekilledheraskissedher.WhenI
lookedatherIfeltafuriousdesiretoopenmyarmstoembraceandstrangleher.Shehad，backofhereyes，somethingfalseandintangiblethatmademeexecrateher;andthatwas，perhaps，thereasonI
lovedhersowell.Theeternalfeminine，theodiousandseductivefeminine，wasstrongerinherthaninanyotherwoman.Shewasfullofit，overcharged，aswithavenomousandintoxicatingfluid.Shewasawomantoagreaterextentthananyonehaseverbeen."
"AndwhenIwentoutwithhershewouldlookatallmeninsuchamannerthatsheseemedtoofferherselftoeachinasingleglance.Thisexasperatedme，andstillitattachedmetoherallthemore.Thiscreatureinjustwalkingalongthestreetbelongedtoeveryone，inspiteofme，inspiteofherself，bytheveryfactofhernature，althoughshehadamodest，gentlecarriage.Doyouunderstand？
"Andwhattorture！Atthetheatre，attherestaurantsheseemedtobelongtoothersundermyveryeyes.AndassoonasIlefthershedidbelongtoothers.
"ItisnowtenyearssinceIsawherandIloveherbetterthanever."
Nightspreadovertheearth.Astrongperfumeoforangeblossomspervadedtheair.Isaid：
"Willyouseeheragain？"
"Parbleu！Inowhavehere，inlandandmoney，seventoeightthousandfrancs.WhenIreachamillionIshallselloutandgoaway.Ishallhaveenoughtoliveonwithherforayear——onewholeyear.Andthen，good—bye，mylifewillbefinished."
"Butafterthat？"Iasked.
"Afterthat，Idonotknow.Thatwillbeall，Imaypossiblyaskhertotakemeasavaletdechambre."
YVETTESAMORIS
"TheComtesseSamoris."
"Thatladyinblackoverthere？"
"Theveryone.She’swearingmourningforherdaughter，whomshekilled."
"Youdon’tmeanthatseriously？Howdidshedie？"
"Oh！itisaverysimplestory，withoutanycrimeinit，anyviolence."
"Thenwhatreallyhappened？"
"Almostnothing.Manycourtesansareborntobevirtuouswomen，theysay;andmanywomencalledvirtuousareborntobecourtesans——isthatnotso？Now，MadameSamoris，whowasbornacourtesan，hadadaughterbornavirtuouswoman，that’sall."
"Idon’tquiteunderstandyou."
"I’ll——explainwhatImean.Thecomtesseisnothingbutacommon，ordinaryparvenueoriginatingnooneknowswhere.AHungarianorWallachiancountessorIknownotwhat.SheappearedonewinterinapartmentsshehadtakenintheChampsElysees，thatquarterforadventurersandadventuresses，andopenedherdrawing—roomtothefirstcomerortoanyonethatturnedup.
"Iwentthere.Why？youwillsay.Ireallycan’ttellyou.Iwentthere，aseveryonegoestosuchplacesbecausethewomenarefacileandthemenaredishonest.Youknowthatsetcomposedoffilibusterswithvarieddecorations，allnoble，alltitled，allunknownattheembassies，withtheexceptionofthosewhoarespies.Alltalkoftheirhonorwithouttheslightestoccasionfordoingso，boastoftheirancestors，tellyouabouttheirlives，braggarts，liars，sharpers，asdangerousasthefalsecardstheyhaveuptheirsleeves，asdelusiveastheirnames——
inshort，thearistocracyofthebagnio.
"Iadorethesepeople.Theyareinterestingtostudy，interestingtoknow，amusingtounderstand，oftenclever，nevercommonplacelikepublicfunctionaries.Theirwivesarealwayspretty，withaslightflavorofforeignroguery，withthemysteryoftheirexistence，halfofitperhapsspentinahouseofcorrection.Theyhave，asarule，magnificenteyesandincrediblehair.Iadorethemalso.
"MadameSamorisisthetypeoftheseadventuresses，elegant，matureandstillbeautiful.Charmingfelinecreatures，youfeelthattheyarevicioustothemarrowoftheirbones.Youfindthemveryamusingwhenyouvisitthem;theygivecardparties;theyhavedancesandsuppers;inshort，theyofferyouallthepleasuresofsociallife.
"Andshehadadaughter——atall，fine—lookinggirl，alwaysreadyforamusement，alwaysfulloflaughterandrecklessgaiety——atrueadventuress’daughter——but，atthesametime，aninnocent，unsophisticated，artlessgirl，whosawnothing，knewnothing，understoodnothingofallthethingsthathappenedinherfather’shouse.
"Thegirlwassimplyapuzzletome.Shewasamystery.Shelivedamidthoseinfamoussurroundingswithaquiet，tranquileasethatwaseitherterriblycriminalorelsetheresultofinnocence.Shesprangfromthefilthofthatclasslikeabeautifulflowerfedoncorruption."
"Howdoyouknowaboutthem？"
"HowdoIknow？That’sthefunniestpartofthebusiness！Onemorningtherewasaringatmydoor，andmyvaletcameuptotellmethatM.JosephBonenthalwantedtospeaktome.Isaiddirectly：
’Andwhoisthisgentleman？’Myvaletreplied：’Idon’tknow，monsieur;
perhaps’tissomeonethatwantsemployment.’Andsoitwas.Themanwantedmetotakehimasaservant.Iaskedhimwherehehadbeenlast.
Heanswered：’WiththeComtesseSamoris.’’Ah！’saidI，’butmyhouseisnotabitlikehers.’’Iknowthatwell，monsieur，’hesaid，’andthat’stheveryreasonIwanttotakeservicewithmonsieur.I’vehadenoughofthesepeople：amanmaystayalittlewhilewiththem，buthewon’tremainlongwiththem.’IrequiredanadditionalmanservantatthetimeandsoItookhim.
"AmonthlaterMademoiselleYvetteSamorisdiedmysteriously，andhereareallthedetailsofherdeathIcouldgatherfromJoseph，whogotthemfromhissweetheart，thecomtesse’schambermaid.
"Itwasaballnight，andtwonewlyarrivedguestswerechattingbehindadoor.MademoiselleYvette，whohadjustbeendancing，leanedagainstthisdoortogetalittleair.
"Theydidnotseeherapproaching，butsheheardwhattheyweresaying.
Andthiswaswhattheysaid：
"’Butwhoisthefatherofthegirl？’
"’ARussian，itappears;CountRouvaloff.Henevercomesnearthemothernow.’
"’Andwhoisthereigningprinceto—day？’
"’ThatEnglishprincestandingnearthewindow;MadameSamorisadoreshim.Butheradorationofanyoneneverlastslongerthanamonthorsixweeks.Nevertheless，asyousee，shehasalargecircleofadmirers.
Allarecalled——andnearlyallarechosen.Thatkindofthingcostsagooddeal，but——hangit，whatcanyouexpect？’
"’AndwheredidshegetthisnameofSamoris？’
"’Fromtheonlymanperhapsthatsheeverloved——aJewishbankerfromBerlinwhogoesbythenameofSamuelMorris.’
"’Good.Thanks.NowthatIknowwhatkindofwomansheisandhaveseenher，I’moff！’
"Whatashockthiswastothemindofayounggirlendowedwithalltheinstinctsofavirtuouswoman！Whatdespairoverwhelmedthatsimplesoul！Whatmentaltorturesquenchedherunboundedgaiety，herdelightfullaughter，herexultantsatisfactionwithlife！Whataconflicttookplaceinthatyouthfulheartuptothemomentwhenthelastguesthadleft！ThosewerethingsthatJosephcouldnottellme.But，thesamenight，Yvetteabruptlyenteredhermother’sroomjustasthecomtessewasgettingintobed，sentoutthelady’smaid，whowasclosetothedoor，and，standingerectandpaleandwithgreatstaringeyes，shesaid：
"’Mamma，listentowhatIheardalittlewhileagoduringtheball.’
"AndsherepeatedwordforwordtheconversationjustasItoldittoyou.
"Thecomtessewassostunnedthatshedidnotknowwhattosayinreplyatfirst.Whensherecoveredherself—possessionshedeniedeverythingandcalledGodtowitnessthattherewasnotruthinthestory.
"Theyounggirlwentaway，distractedbutnotconvinced.Andshebegantowatchhermother.
"Irememberdistinctlythestrangealterationthatthentookplaceinher.Shebecamegraveandmelancholy.Shewouldfixonushergreatearnesteyesasifshewantedtoreadwhatwasatthebottomofourhearts.Wedidnotknowwhattothinkofherandusedtoimaginethatshewaslookingoutforahusband.
"Oneeveningsheoverheardhermothertalkingtoheradmirerandlatersawthemtogether，andherdoubtswereconfirmed.Shewasheartbroken，andaftertellinghermotherwhatshehadseen，shesaidcoldly，likeamanofbusinesslayingdownthetermsofanagreement：
"’HereiswhatIhavedeterminedtodo，mamma：Wewillbothgoawaytosomelittletown，orratherintothecountry.Wewilllivetherequietlyaswellaswecan.Yourjewelryalonemaybecalledafortune.Ifyouwishtomarrysomehonestman，somuchthebetter;stillbetterwillitbeifIcanfindone.Ifyoudon’tconsenttodothis，Iwillkillmyself.’
"Thistimethecomtesseorderedherdaughtertogotobedandnevertospeakagaininthismanner，sounbecominginthemouthofachildtowardhermother.
"Yvette’sanswertothiswas：’Igiveyouamonthtoreflect.If，attheendofthatmonth，wehavenotchangedourwayofliving，Iwillkillmyself，sincethereisnootherhonorableissuelefttomylife.’
"Andshelefttheroom.
"AttheendofamonththeComtesseSamorishadresumedherusualentertainments，asthoughnothinghadoccurred.Oneday，underthepretextthatshehadabadtoothache，Yvettepurchasedafewdropsofchloroformfromaneighboringchemist.Thenextdayshepurchasedmore，andeverytimeshewentoutshemanagedtoprocuresmalldosesofthenarcotic.Shefilledabottlewithit.
"Onemorningshewasfoundinbed，lifelessandalreadyquitecold，withacottonmasksoakedinchloroformoverherface.
"Hercoffinwascoveredwithflowers，thechurchwashunginwhite.
Therewasalargecrowdatthefuneralceremony.
"Ah！well，ifIhadknown——butyounevercanknow——Iwouldhavemarriedthatgirl，forshewasinfernallypretty."
"Andwhatbecameofthemother？"
"Oh！sheshedalotoftearsoverit.Shehasonlybeguntoreceivevisitsagainforthepastweek."
"Andwhatexplanationisgivenofthegirl’sdeath？"
"Oh！theypretendedthatitwasanaccidentcausedbyanewstove，themechanismofwhichgotoutoforder.Asagoodmanysuchaccidentshaveoccurred，thethingseemedprobableenough."
AVENDETTA
ThewidowofPaoloSaverinilivedalonewithhersoninapoorlittlehouseontheoutskirtsofBonifacio.Thetown，builtonanoutjuttingpartofthemountain，inplacesevenoverhangingthesea，looksacrossthestraits，fullofsandbanks，towardsthesouthernmostcoastofSardinia.Beneathit，ontheothersideandalmostsurroundingit，isacleftintheclifflikeanimmensecorridorwhichservesasaharbor，andalongitthelittleItalianandSardinianfishingboatscomebyacircuitousroutebetweenprecipitouscliffsasfarasthefirsthouses，andeverytwoweekstheold，wheezysteamerwhichmakesthetriptoAjaccio.
Onthewhitemountainthehouses，massedtogether，makesanevenwhiterspot.Theylooklikethenestsofwildbirds，clingingtothispeak，overlookingthisterriblepassage，wherevesselsrarelyventure.Thewind，whichblowsuninterruptedly，hassweptbaretheforbiddingcoast;
itdrivesthroughthenarrowstraitsandlayswastebothsides.Thepalestreaksoffoam，clingingtotheblackrocks，whosecountlesspeaksriseupoutofthewater，looklikebitsofragfloatinganddriftingonthesurfaceofthesea.
ThehouseofwidowSaverini，clingingtotheveryedgeoftheprecipice，looksout，throughitsthreewindows，overthiswildanddesolatepicture.
Shelivedtherealone，withhersonAntoniaandtheirdog"Semillante，"abig，thinbeast，withalongroughcoat，ofthesheep—dogbreed.Theyoungmantookherwithhimwhenouthunting.
Onenight，aftersomekindofaquarrel，AntoineSaveriniwastreacherouslystabbedbyNicolasRavolati，whoescapedthesameeveningtoSardinia.
Whentheoldmotherreceivedthebodyofherchild，whichtheneighborshadbroughtbacktoher，shedidnotcry，butshestayedthereforalongtimemotionless，watchinghim.Then，stretchingherwrinkledhandoverthebody，shepromisedhimavendetta.Shedidnotwishanybodynearher，andsheshutherselfupbesidethebody
