fruit. I thought the contrary from the way he rode my horse and handled
the pistols. But, being an enthusiast, how can you expect to do anything
but vegetate? You will always be poor, for, if the man's ideas bore
fruit, he would only sink the gains in fresh enterprises. These artists
are always unthrifty, and they should wed their laundresses or their
cooks. But I--though they have tied up my German revenue, and I have
been practically banished--enjoy a tolerable return from my property in
this Empire. I have been offered a very handsome present if I wholly
transfer allegiance to the Napoleons. Would you not like to have the
_entré_ to the Empress's coterie and shine among the acknowledged
beauties? I give you my word that your peer is not among them, and the
leader would be enchanted with you. Come, suppose a little fatal
accident to Monsieur--may he not suck poison off his paint brush or cut
an artery with his sculptor's chisel? And, after a sojourn at Bravitz,
you might return to Paris a viscountess--a countess, perhaps, and rule
in a pretty court of your own!"

For a woman who had said adieu! she had lingered still listening much
too long. They continued the conversation, turned into this ominous
channel, in the same low key.

Césarine returned home with the sentiment of loneliness which had
oppressed her almost utterly removed. She did not love Gratian, but one
need not be a prisoner to understand how admirable the jailer with the
outer door-key may appear. She saw in him a precious friend and ally--a
worshiper who would obey a hint like a fanatic. Cautiously, at the
marchioness's, and more deeply than at Munich, she made inquiries upon
his pecuniary standing and was rejoiced to learn that he had not
deceived her in that respect. It was left to him to be a favorite in the
court, which, not succeeding in weaning away the scions of the