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went into Malaga's boudoir nor into her bedroom； in spite of the
clever manoeuvring of the Chapuzots and Malaga to get him there。 The
count would ask questions as to the small events of Marguerite's life；
and each time that he came he left two gold pieces of forty francs
each on the mantel…piece。
〃He looks as if he didn't care to be here；〃 said Madame Chapuzot。
〃Yes；〃 said Malaga； 〃the man's as cold as an icicle。〃
〃But he's a good fellow all the same；〃 cried Chapuzot； who was happy
in a new suit of clothes made of blue cloth； in which he looked like
the servant of some minister。
The sum which Paz deposited weekly on the mantel…piece； joined to
Malaga's meagre salary； gave her the means of sumptuous living
compared with her former poverty。 Wonderful stories went the rounds of
the Circus about Malaga's good…luck。 Her vanity increased the six
thousand francs which Paz had spent on her furniture to sixty
thousand。 According to the clowns and the supers； Malaga was
squandering money； and she now appeared at the Circus wearing burnous
and shawls and elegant scarfs。 The Pole； it was agreed on all sides；
was the best sort of man a circus…rider had ever encountered； not
fault…finding nor jealous； and willing to let Malaga do just what she
liked。
〃Some women have the luck of it；〃 said Malaga's rival； 〃and I'm not
one of them；though I do draw a third of the receipts。〃
Malaga wore pretty things； and occasionally 〃showed her head〃 （a term
in the lexicon of such characters） in the Bois； where the fashionable
young men of the day began to remark her。 In fact； before long Malaga
was very much talked about in the questionable world of equivocal
women； who presently attacked her good fortune by calumnies。 They said
she was a somnambulist； and the Pole was a magnetizer who was using
her to discover the philosopher's stone。 Some even more envenomed
scandals drove her to a curiosity that was greater than Psyche's。 She
reported them in tears to Paz。
〃When I want to injure a woman；〃 she said in conclusion； 〃I don't
calumniate her； I don't declare that some one magnetizes her to get
stones out of her； but I say plainly that she is humpbacked； and I
prove it。 Why do you compromise me in this way？〃
Paz maintained a cruel silence。 Madame Chapuzot was not long in
discovering the name and title of Comte Paz； then she heard certain
positive facts at the hotel Laginski： for instance； that Paz was a
bachelor； and had never been known to have a daughter； alive or dead；
in Poland or in France。 After that Malaga could not control a feeling
of terror。
〃My dear child；〃 Madame Chapuzot would say； 〃that monster〃 （a man
who contented himself with only looking； in a sly way；not daring to
come out and say things；and such a beautiful creature too； as
Malaga；of course such a man was a monster； according to Madame
Chapuzot's ideas） 〃that monster is trying to get a hold upon you；
and make you do something illegal and criminal。 Holy Father； if you
should get into the police…courts！ it makes me tremble from head to
foot； suppose they should put you in the newspapers！ I'll tell you
what I should do in your place； I'd warn the police。〃
One particular day； after many foolish notions had fermented for some
time in Malaga's mind； Paz having laid his money as usual on the
mantel…piece； she seized the bits of gold and flung them in his face；
crying out； 〃I don't want stolen money！〃
The captain gave the gold to Chapuzot； went away without a word； and
did not return。
Clementine was at this time at her uncle's place in Burgundy。
When the Circus troop discovered that Malaga had lost her Polish
count； much excitement was produced among them。 Malaga's display of
honor was considered folly by some； and shrewdness by others。 The
conduct of the Pole； however； even when discussed by the cleverest of
women； seemed inexplicable。 Thaddeus received in the course of the
next week thirty…seven letters from women of their kind。 Happily for
him； his astonishing reserve did not excite the curiosity of the
fashionable world； and was only discussed in the demi…mondaine
regions。
Two weeks later the handsome circus…rider； crippled by debt； wrote the
following letter to Comte Paz； which； having fallen into the hands of
Comte Adam； was read by several of the dandies of the day； who
pronounced it a masterpiece：
〃You； whom I still dare to call my friend； will you not pity me
after all that has passed；which you have so ill understood？ My
heart disavows whatever may have wounded your feelings。 If I was
fortunate enough to charm you and keep you beside me in the past；
return to me； otherwise； I shall fall into despair。 Poverty has
overtaken me； and you do not know what HORRID THINGS it brings
with it。 Yesterday I lived on a herring at two sous； and one sou
of bread。 Is that a breakfast for the woman you loved？ The
Chapuzots have left me； though they seemed so devoted。 Your
desertion has caused me to see to the bottom of all human
attachments。 The dog we feed does not leave us； but the Chapuzots
have gone。 A sheriff has seized everything on behalf of the
landlord； who has no heart； and the jeweller； who refused to wait
even ten days；for when we lose the confidence of such as you；
credit goes too。 What a position for women who have nothing to
reproach themselves with but the happiness they have given！ My
friend； I have taken all I have of any value to MY UNCLE'S； I have
nothing but the memory of you left； and here is the winter coming
on。 I shall be fireless when it turns cold； for the boulevards are
to play only melodramas； in which I have nothing but little bits
of parts which don't POSE a woman。 How could you misunderstand the
nobleness of my feelings for you？for there are two ways of
expressing gratitude。 You who seemed so happy in seeing me well…
off； how can you leave me in poverty？ Oh； my sole friend on earth；
before I go back to the country fairs with Bouthor's circus； where
I can at least make a living； forgive me if I wish to know whether
I have lost you forever。 If I were to let myself think of you when
I jump through the hoops； I should be sure to break my legs by
losing A TIME。 Whatever may be the result； I am yours for life。
〃Marguerite Turquet。〃
〃That letter；〃 thought Thaddeus； shouting with laughter； 〃is worth the
ten thousand francs I have spent upon her。〃
III
Clementine came home the next day； and the day after that Paz beheld
her again； more beautiful and graceful than ever。 After dinner； during
which the countess treated Paz with an air of perfect indifference； a
little scene took place in the salon between the count and his wife
when Thaddeus had left them。 On pretence of asking Adam's advice；
Thaddeus had left Malaga's letter with him； as if by mistake。
〃Poor Thaddeus！〃 said Adam； as Paz disappeared； 〃what a misfortune fo