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〃I had just bought this Renaissance Crucifix which I showed you； an
admirable piece of workmanship； one of the finest of its land that I have
ever seen。
〃'My dear friend；' I said to her； 'I am going to send you that piece of
ivory。 You will invent some ingenious； touching； poetic story； anything
that you wish； to explain your desire for parting with it。 It is； of
course； a family heirloom left you by your father。
〃'I myself will send you amateurs； or will bring them to you。 The rest
concerns you。 Before they come I will drop you a line about their
position； both social and financial。 This Crucifix is worth fifty
thousand francs； but I will let it go for thirty thousand。 The
difference will belong to you。'
〃She considered the matter seriously for several minutes； and then
answered： 'Yes； it is； perhaps； a good idea。 I thank you very…much。'
〃The next day I sent her my Crucifix； and the same evening the Baron de
Saint…Hospital。
〃For three months I sent her my best clients； from a business point of
view。 But I heard nothing more from her。
〃One day I received a visit from a foreigner who spoke very little
French。 I decided to introduce him personally to the baroness； in order
to see how she was getting along。
〃A footman in black livery received us and ushered us into a quiet little
parlor； furnished with taste； where we waited for several minutes。 She
appeared； charming as usual； extended her hand to me and invited us to be
seated； and when I had explained the reason of my visit； she rang。
〃The footman appeared。
〃'See if Mlle。 Isabelle can let us go into her oratory。' The young girl
herself brought the answer。 She was about fifteen years of age； modest
and good to look upon in the sweet freshness of her youth。 She wished to
conduct us herself to her chapel。
〃It was a kind of religious boudoir where a silver lamp was burning
before the Crucifix； my Crucifix； on a background of black velvet。 The
setting was charming and very clever。 The child crossed herself and then
said：
〃'Look； gentlemen。 Isn't it beautiful？'
〃I took the object； examined it and declared it to be remarkable。 The
foreigner also examined it； but he seemed much more interested in the two
women than in the crucifix。
〃A delicate odor of incense； flowers and perfume pervaded the whole
house。 One felt at home there。 This really was a comfortable home；
where one would have liked to linger。
〃When we had returned to the parlor I delicately broached the subject of
the price。 Mme。 Samoris； lowering her eyes； asked fifty thousand francs。
〃Then she added： 'If you wish to see it again； monsieur； I very seldom go
out before three o'clock； and I can be found at home every day。'
〃In the street the stranger asked me for some details about the baroness；
whom he had found charming。 But I did not hear anything more from either
of them。
〃Three months passed by。
〃One morning； hardly two weeks ago； she came here at about lunch time；
and； placing a roll of bills in my hand； said： 'My dear； you are an
angel！ Here are fifty thousand francs； I am buying your crucifix； and I
am paying twenty thousand francs more for it than the price agreed upon；
on condition that you alwaysalways send your clients to mefor it is
sill for sale。'〃
MOTHER AND SON
A party of men were chatting in the smoking room after dinner。 We were
talking of unexpected legacies； strange inheritances。 Then M。 le
Brument； who was sometimes called 〃the illustrious judge〃 and at other
times 〃the illustrious lawyer；〃 went and stood with his back to the fire。
〃I have；〃 said he； 〃to search for an heir who disappeared under
peculiarly distressing circumstances。 It is one of those simple and
terrible dramas of ordinary life； a thing which possibly happens every
day； and which is nevertheless one of the most dreadful things I know。
Here are the facts：
〃Nearly six months ago I was called to the bedside of a dying woman。 She
said to me：
〃'Monsieur； I want to intrust to you the most delicate； the most
difficult； and the most wearisome mission that can be conceived。 Be good
enough to notice my will； which is there on the table。 A sum of five
thousand francs is left to you as a fee if you do not succeed； and of a
hundred thousand francs if you do succeed。 I want you to find my son
after my death。'
〃She asked me to assist her to sit up in bed； in order that she might
talk with greater ease； for her voice； broken and gasping； was whistling
in her throat。
〃It was a very wealthy establishment。 The luxurious apartment； of an
elegant simplicity； was upholstered with materials as thick as walls；
with a soft inviting surface。
〃The dying woman continued：
〃'You are the first to hear my horrible story。 I will try to have
strength ；enough to finish it。 You must know all； in order that you；
whom I know to be a kind…hearted man as well as a man of the world； may
have a sincere desire to aid me with all your power。
〃'Listen to me：
〃'Before my marriage； I loved a young man； whose suit was rejected by my
family because he was not rich enough。 Not long afterward； I married a
man of great wealth。 I married him through ignorance； through obedience；
through indifference； as young girls do marry。
〃'I had a child； a boy。 My husband died in the course of a few years。
〃'He whom I had loved had married； in his turn。 When he saw that I was
a widow； he was crushed by grief at knowing he was not free。 He came to
see me； he wept and sobbed so bitterly； that it was enough to break my
heart。 He came to see me at first as a friend。 Perhaps I ought not to
have received him。 What could I do？ I was alone； so sad； so solitary；
so hopeless！ And I loved him still。 What sufferings we women have
sometimes to endure！
〃'I had only him in the world； my parents being dead。 He came
frequently； he spent whole evenings with me。 I should not have let him
come so often； seeing that he was married。 But I had not enough will…
power to prevent him from coming。
〃'How can I tell it？he became my lover。 How did this come about？ Can
I explain it？ Can any one explain such things？ Do you think it could be
otherwise when two human beings are drawn to each other by the
irresistible force of mutual affection？ Do you believe； monsieur； that
it is always in our power to resist； that we can keep up the struggle
forever； and refuse to yield to the prayers； the supplications； the
tears； the frenzied words； the appeals on bended knees； the transports of
passion； with which we are pursued by the man we adore； whom we want to
gratify even in his slightest wishes； whom we desire to crown with every
possible happiness； and whom； if we are to be guided by a worldly code of
honor； we must drive to despair？ What strength would it not require？
What a renunciation of happiness？ what self…denial？ and even what
virtuous selfishness？
〃'In short； monsieur； I was his mistress； and I was happy。 I becameand
this was my greatest weakness and my greatest piece of cowardice…I became
his wife's friend。
〃'We brought up my son together； we made a man of him； a thorough man；
intelligent；