"'Look!' said I; 'at length we have the explanation of the missing Parisian letter. Have you read it?'
"She looked at me searchingly, but did not reply.
"'In court circles they are talking of the betrothal of the Duke of C. to the beautiful Countess Lucile of ----, who, as is well known, enjoys the intimacy of the imperial court, and whose husband met such a sad end three months ago after a great loss in play at Monaco. They say the empress has given the bride a magnificent ornament, and so on. I own,' I added, 'that no news has given me greater pleasure for a long time. Poor Lucile! She certainly deserved imperial reparation for her sorrowful youth.'
"My wife still remained silent. Then, rising, she came and threw her arms around me, and kissed me on both cheeks. 'I have known it since yesterday,' she said. 'Will you believe that I was weak enough to fear how you might receive it?'
"'Oh, child,' I said, 'you have always seen ghosts. Will you now believe that we are alone?'
"From that day there was never a shadow between us. Our happiness, like every other real happiness, was never exhausted. Our motto might have been those beautiful words:
"'The more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.'
"And when the end came--after three short years--the effect was immeasurable, as in all true endings. But of that I cannot speak."
He stood up. Just then the clock struck one.