Violette took it; Leonie left the room and I made my reappearance.
“Well,” I said to her, “you see she did not even wait until tomorrow.”
“You are truly a good prophet,” said Violette, brandishing the letter.
Then she sat on my knee and we began reading the Countess' letter.
CHAPTER V
“Ungrateful child! Though, when I left you, I swore never to see you again and never to write to you even, my love for you, or rather my folly is, such that I cannot resist. Now mark me, I am rich, a widow, and free. I lived a life of misery with my husband, so I vowed eternal hatred to men, and I kept my vow. If you wish to love me, but mind, only me, I shall willingly forget that you have been sullied by man. You told me that you were not aware that I loved you. My love is such that I take your word for a justification of it-you did 'not know' and I cling to it. Ah! were you only unsullied!… But complete happiness is not to be found in this world. Therefore I am fain to take you such as my bad fortune has ordained.
“Well, if you will love me; if you are willing to forsake him, if you promise never to see him more-I will not say I will give you this or that; but I say: what is mine, shall be yours; we shall live together; my house, my carriage, my servants, shall be your own. We shall never leave one another. You shall be my friend, my sister, my darling child. You will be more than that-you will be my adored mistress! But you must be mine entirely. I am too jealous! Otherwise I should die!
“Give me a prompt reply. I shall await your letter as a condemned one, on death's threshold awaits a reprieve.
ODETTE.”
Violette looked at me and we both laughed.
“Well” I said to her; “it is clear she does not mince matters.”
“She is mad!”