He almost proposed my going to her for information." "Alas!" cried the count, "why is not Claudine dead instead of my faithful Germain ?" "You see, sir," concluded Albert, "Claudine Lerouge would alone render all your efforts useless." "Ah, no!" cried the count; "I shall find some expedient." The obstinate old gentleman was not willing to give in to this argument, the very clearness of which blinded him.

The pride of his blood paralyzed his usual practical good sense.

To acknowledge that he was conquered humiliated him, and seemed to him unworthy of himself.

He did not remember to have met during his long career an invincible resistance or an absolute impediment.

He was like all men of imagination, who fall in love with their projects, and who expect them to succeed on all occasions, as if wishing hard was all that was necessary to change their dreams into realities.
Albert this time broke the silence, which threatened to be prolonged.
"I see, sir," he said, "that you fear, above all things, the publicity of this sad history; the possible scandal renders you desperate.