When  Antoinette  re-entered  the  salon,  she
found  there  Mile.  Moiseney,  whose  boisterous,
overwhelming  joy  had  just  put  M.  Moriaz  to
flight.  This  time  Mile.  Moiseney  knew  every-
thing. She  had  seen  Samuel  Brohl  arrive,  she  had
been  unable  to  control  her  overweening  curiosity,
and,  without  the  slightest  scruples,  she  had  lis-
tened at  the  door.  She  cast  herself  into  Antoi-
nette's arms,  pressed  her  to  her  heart,  and  cried :
"  Ah,  my  dear !  oh,  my  dear !  did  I  not  always
say  that  it  would  end  thus  ?  "

Mile.  Moriaz  hastened  to  free  herself  from  her
embraces ;  she  felt  the  need  of  being  alone.  On
entering  her  chamber  she  took  a  hasty  survey  of
it :  her  furniture,  her  pretty  knick-knacks,  her
rose-tinted  tapestry,  the  muslin  hangings  of  her
bed,  the  large  silver  crucifix  hanging  on  the  ex-
treme wall,  all  seemed  to  regard  her  with  astonish-
ment, asking,  "  What  has  happened  ? "  And  she
replied :

11  You  are  right,  something  has  happened."

She  remained  in  contemplation  before  a  por-
242


Samuel  Brohl  and  Company-
trait   of   her   mother,    whom   she   had   lost   very
young.
