"Christina!" exclaimed Barbassou-Pasha, "why, she's gone back!"

"Dear me! I thought she wanted to settle in Paris?"

His eye lightened up with a sly look.

"Oh, yes! She would have liked to do so very well," he replied. "In

fact, we made the round of the upholsterers' shops,--and she fancied, up

to the last moment, that it was all settled. But I had made up my mind,

and I sent her back to Jean Bonaffé."

"The deuce you did!" I said, quite astonished at the news.

Then my uncle just closed one of his eyes, and looked at me out of the

other, as he added-"You see, I was not sorry to return that rascal the little trick he

played me before!"

And, with that, Barbassou-Pasha began to whistle a hunting song, with

all the calm complacency of an honest soul on satisfactory terms with

his neighbour. I accompanied him whistling the bass, and we got on very

well together that time.

I believe that after this explanation, you will at once renew the esteem

which you used to accord to my uncle, and will join me in a sincere

expression of regret for having suspected him for one moment in this

matter:--in which, in reality, he had merely played the part of an

avenging deity, punishing sinners with remorse by recalling to them the

blisses of their lost Paradise. And I am ready to testify that he has

spared no expense; for during the last three weeks he has had from me

more than twenty thousand francs in pocket-money. I warrant you he has

given his fair friend a jolly time of it, purposely holding the golden

cup to her faithless lips, and letting them taste of all the

pleasures---The severe lesson of an abrupt return to her husband, Jean Bonaffé,

after the awakening of such delightful anticipations, will certainly

impress the guilty one, and engrave in her heart a keen remorse for her

past misconduct.




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