It was a spot pleasantly convenient for meditation, but overlooked on one side by the House of the Little Sisters; in which, as I guessed afterwards, madame must have awaited me, for the square when I entered it was empty, yet in a moment, though no one came in from the street, she stood beside me.

She wore a mask and long cloak.

The beautiful hair and perfect complexion, which had filled me with so much admiration at our first meeting in her house, were hidden, but I saw enough of her figure and carriage to be sure that it was Madame de Bruhl and no other.
She began by addressing me in a tone of bitterness, for which I was not altogether unprepared.
'Well, sir,' she exclaimed, her voice trembling with anger, 'you are satisfied, I hope, with your work ?' I expected this and had my answer ready.

'I am not aware, Madame,' I said, 'that I have cause to reproach myself.

But, however that may be, I trust you have summoned me for some better purpose than to chide me for another's fault; though it was my voice which brought it to light.' 'Why did you shame me publicly ?' she retorted, thrusting her handkerchief to her lips and withdrawing it again with a passionate gesture.
'Madame,' I answered patiently--I was full of pity for her, 'consider for a moment the wrong your husband did me and how small and inadequate was the thing I did to him in return.' 'To him!' she ejaculated so fiercely that I started.