Debray mechanically stopped and looked at the baroness, whose face became covered with blushes.
"Read," she said.
Debray continued:
"'When you receive this, you will no longer have a husband! Oh! you need not be alarmed, you will only have lost him as you have lost your daughter; I mean that I shall be traveling on one of the thirty or forty roads leading out of France. I owe you some explanations for my conduct, and as you are a woman that can perfectly understand me, I will give them. Listen, then: I had to pay this morning five millions, which I did; almost directly afterward another demand for the same sum was presented to me; I postponed it till to-morrow. I intend leaving to-day, to escape that to-morrow, which would be rather too unpleasant for me to endure. You understand this, do you not, my most precious wife? I say you understand this, because you are as conversant with my affairs as I am; indeed, I think you understand them better, since as regards a considerable portion of my fortune, once very tolerable, I know nothing, while I am sure, madame, that you are perfectly acquainted with it. For women have infallible instincts; they can even explain the marvelous by an algebra they have invented; but I, who only understand figures, know nothing since that one day that these figures deceived me. Have you admired the rapidity of my fall? Have you been slightly dazzled at the sudden fusion of my ingots? I confess I have seen nothing but the fire; let us hope you have found some gold among the ashes. With this consoling idea, I withdraw, madame, and most prudent wife, without any conscientious reproach for abandoning you; you have friends left, the ashes I have already mentioned, and, above all, the liberty I hasten to restore to you. And here, madame, I must add another word of private explanation. So long as I hoped you were working for the good of our house and for the fortune of our daughter, I philosophically closed my eyes; but as you have transformed that house into a vast ruin, I will not be the foundation of another man's fortune. You were rich when I married you, but little respected. Excuse me for speaking so very candidly; but as this is intended only for ourselves, I do not see why I should embellish my words. I have augmented our fortune, and it has continued to increase during the last fifteen years, till extraordinary and inexplicable catastrophes have suddenly overturned it, without any fault of mine, I can honestly declare. You, madame, have only sought to increase your own, and I am morally convinced you have succeeded. I leave you, therefore, as I took you, rich, but little respected. Adieu! I also intend from this time to work on my own account. Accept my acknowledgments for the example you have set me, and which I intend following.
"'Your very devoted husband,
"'Baron Danglars.'"
The baroness had watched Debray while reading this long and painful letter, and saw him, notwithstanding his self-control, change color once or twice. When he had ended the perusal, he folded the letter, and resumed his pensive attitude.
"Well?" asked Madame Danglars, with an anxiety easy to be understood.
"Well, madame?" mechanically repeated Debray.
"With what ideas does that letter inspire you?"
