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〃Your father； uncle？ But that is no reason for receiving a Jesuit。〃
〃I know that； but I was very ill； and he looked after me most devotedly
all night long。 He was perfect； no doubt he saved my life； those men all
know a little of medicine。〃
〃Oh！ he looked after you all night？ But you said just now that he had
only been gone a very short time。〃
〃That is quite true； I kept him to breakfast after all his kindness。 He
had it at a table by my bedside while I drank a cup of tea。〃
〃And he ate meat？〃
My uncle looked vexed； as if I had said something very uncalled for； and
then added：
〃Don't joke； Gaston； such things are out of place at times。 He has shown
me more devotion than many a relation would have done； and I expect to
have his convictions respected。〃
This rather upset me； but I answered； nevertheless： 〃Very well； uncle；
and what did you do after breakfast？〃
〃We played a game of bezique； and then he repeated his breviary while I
read a little book which he happened to have in his pocket； and which was
not by any means badly written。〃
〃A religious book； uncle？〃
〃Yes； and no； or； ratherno。 It is the history of their missions in
Central Africa； and is rather a book of travels and adventures。 What
these men have done is very grand。〃
I began to feel that matters were going badly； so I got up。 〃Well； good…
by； uncle；〃 I said； 〃I see you are going to give up Freemasonry for
religion； you are a renegade。〃
He was still rather confused； and stammered：
〃Well； but religion is a sort of Freemasonry。〃
〃When is your Jesuit coming back？〃 I asked。
〃I don'tI don't know exactly； to…morrow； perhaps； but it is not
certain。〃
I went out； altogether overwhelmed。
My joke turned out very badly for me！ My uncle became thoroughly
converted； and if that had been all I should not have cared so much。
Clerical or Freemason； to me it is all the same； six of one and half a
dozen of the other； but the worst of it is that he has just made his
willyes； made his willand he has disinherited me in favor of that
rascally Jesuit！
THE BARONESS
〃Come with me；〃 said my friend Boisrene； 〃you will see some very
interesting bric…a…brac and works of art there。〃
He conducted me to the first floor of an elegant house in one of the big
streets of Paris。 We were welcomed by a very pleasing man； with
excellent manners； who led us from room to room； showing us rare things；
the price of which he mentioned carelessly。 Large sums； ten； twenty；
thirty； fifty thousand francs； dropped from his lips with such grace and
ease that one could not doubt that this gentleman…merchant had millions
shut up in his safe。
I had known him by reputation for a long time Very bright； clever；
intelligent； he acted as intermediary in all sorts of transactions。 He
kept in touch with all the richest art amateurs in Paris； and even of
Europe and America； knowing their tastes and preferences； he apprised
them by letter； or by wire if they lived in a distant city； as soon as he
knew of some work of art which might suit them。
Men of the best society had had recourse to him in times of difficulty；
either to find money for gambling； or to pay off a debt； or to sell a
picture； a family jewel； or a tapestry。
It was said that he never refused his services when he saw a chance of
gain。
Boisrene seemed very intimate with this strange merchant。 They must have
worked together in many a deal。 I observed the man with great interest。
He was tall； thin； bald； and very elegant。 His soft； insinuating voice
had a peculiar； tempting charm which seemed to give the objects a special
value。 When he held anything in his hands； he turned it round and round；
looking at it with such skill； refinement； and sympathy that the object
seemed immediately to be beautiful and transformed by his look and touch。
And its value increased in one's estimation； after the object had passed
from the showcase into his hands。
〃And your Crucifix；〃 said Boisrene； 〃that beautiful Renaissance Crucifix
which you showed me last year？〃
The man smiled and answered：
〃It has been sold； and in a very peculiar manner。 There is a real
Parisian story for you！ Would you like to hear it？〃
〃With pleasure。〃
〃Do you know the Baroness Samoris？〃
〃Yes and no。 I have seen her once； but I know what she is！〃
〃You knoweverything？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Would you mind telling me； so that I can see whether you are not
mistaken？〃
〃Certainly。 Mme。 Samoris is a woman of the world who has a daughter；
without anyone having known her husband。 At any rate； she is received in
a certain tolerant； or blind society。 She goes to church and devoutly
partakes of Communion； so that everyone may know it； and she never
compromises herself。 She expects her daughter to marry well。 Is that
correct？〃
〃Yes； but I will complete your information。 She is a woman who makes
herself respected by her admirers in spite of everything。 That is a rare
quality； for in this manner she can get what she wishes from a man。 The
man whom she has chosen without his suspecting it courts her for a long
time； longs for her timidly； wins her with astonishment and possesses her
with consideration。 He does not notice that he is paying； she is so
tactful； and she maintains her relations on such a footing of reserve and
dignity that he would slap the first man who dared doubt her in the
least。 And all this in the best of faith。
〃Several times I have been able to render little services to this woman。
She has no secrets from me。
〃Toward the beginning of January she came to me in order to borrow thirty
thousand francs。 Naturally； I did not lend them to her； but； as I wished
to oblige her； I told her to explain her situation to me completely； so
that I might see whether there was not something I could do for her。
〃She told me her troubles in such cautious language that she could not
have spoken more delicately of her child's first communion。 I finally
managed to understand that times were hard； and that she was penniless。
〃The commercial crisis； political unrest； rumors of war； had made money
scarce even in the hands of her clients。 And then； of course； she was
very particular。
〃She would associate only with a man in the best of society； who could
strengthen her reputation as well as help her financially。 A reveller；
no matter how rich； would have compromised her forever； and would have
made the marriage of her daughter quite doubtful。
〃She had to maintain her household expenses and continue to entertain； in
order not to lose the opportunity of finding； among her numerous
visitors； the discreet and distinguished friend for whom she was waiting；
and whom she would choose。
〃I showed her that my thirty thousand francs would have but little
likelihood of returning to me； for； after spending them all； she would
have to find at least sixty thousand more； in a lump； to pay me back。
〃She seemed very disheartened when she heard this。 I did not know just
what to do； when an idea； a really fine idea； struck me。
〃I had just bought this Renaissance Crucifix which I showed you； an
admirable piece of workmanship；