rshly；　“keep　at　a　distance；　child；　or　go　in　to　Sophie！”　Continuing　then　to　pursue　his　walk　in　silence；　I　ventured　to　recall　him　to　the　point　whence　he　had　abruptly　diverged—

“Did　you　leave　the　balcony；　sir；”　I　asked；　“when　Mdlle。　Varens　entered？”

I　almost　expected　a　rebuff　for　this　hardly　well…timed　question；　but；　on　the　contrary；　waking　out　of　his　scowling　abstraction；　he　turned　his　eyes　towards　me；　and　the　shade　seemed　to　clear　off　his　brow。　“Oh；　I　had　forgotten　Céline！　Well；　to　resume。　When　I　saw　my　charmer　thus　e　in　acpanied　by　a　cavalier；　I　seemed　to　hear　a　hiss；　and　the　green　snake　of　jealousy；　rising　on　undulating　coils　from　the　moonlit　balcony；　glided　within　my　waistcoat；　and　ate　its　way　in　two　minutes　to　my　heart’s　core。　Strange！”　he　exclaimed；　suddenly　starting　again　from　the　point。　“Strange　that　I　should　choose　you　for　the　confidant　of　all　this；　young　lady；　passing　strange　that　you　should　listen　to　me　quietly；　as　if　it　were　the　most　usual　thing　in　the　world　for　a　man　like　me　to　tell　stories　of　his　opera…mistresses　to　a　quaint；　inexperienced　girl　like　you！　But　the　last　singularity　explains　the　first；　as　I　intimated　once　before：　you；　with　your　gravity；　considerateness；　and　caution　were　made　to　be　the　recipient　of　secrets。　Besides；　I　know　what　sort　of　a　mind　I　have　placed　in　munication　with　my　own：　I　know　it　is　one　not　liable　to　take　infection：　it　is　a　peculiar　mind：　it　is　a　unique　one。　Happily　I　do　not　mean　to　harm　it：　but；　if　I　did；　it　would　not　take　harm　from　me。　The　more　you　and　I　converse；　the　better；　for　while　I　cannot　blight　you；　you　may　refresh　me。”　After　this　digression　he　proceeded—

“I　remained　in　the　balcony。　‘They　will　e　to　her　boudoir；　no　doubt；’　thought　I：　‘let　me　prepare　an　ambush。’　So　putting　my　hand　in　through　the　open　windo