I remained inflexible.
Gently disengaging my arm from her hands, I said:
"I feel so happy and proud, madame, at the regret my departure seems to give you, that I would already be thinking of my return, were it not unfortunately impossible to predict it." Then in saluting her I added: "Here, madame, are the particulars you asked of me."
And I handed her a duplicate of the commentary I had written on her love.
Catherine no longer heard me; she had fallen prostrated into an armchair, mechanically holding in her hands the notes I had left her.
I took my departure.
The next evening I was here,—at Serval.
Three months ago I heard that Irene was dead,—dead, doubtless, of grief at seeing me no more.
Madame de Fersen has returned to Russia with her husband.
To put the crowning stroke to my remorse and despair, I also learned that the Prince de Fersen had been on the point of obtaining the post of Russian ambassador to France, but that suddenly he had withdrawn.