“This would have delayed us, and thus would have been an additional imprudence. I saw that I must do what she wanted, and so I said,—
“‘That is not necessary. Wait!’
“All sportsmen know that there is a way to replace matches. I employed the usual means. I took a cartridge out of my gun, emptied it and its shot, and put in, instead a piece of paper. Then, resting my gun on the ground, so as to prevent a loud explosion, I made the powder flash up.
“We had fire, and put the letters to the flame.
“A few minutes later, and nothing was left of them but a few blackened fragments, which I crumbled in my hands, and scattered to the winds. Immovable, like a statue, the Countess Claudieuse had watched my operations.
“‘And that is all,’ she said, ‘that remains of five years of our life, of our love, and of your vows,—ashes.’
“I replied by a commonplace remark. I was in a hurry to be gone.
“She felt this, and cried with great vehemence,—
“‘Ah! I inspire you with horror.’
“‘We have just committed a marvellous imprudence,’ I said.