Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 1.djvu/248

170 "I do not trust you absolutely," she continued, with a smile. "I still fear that you will spoil my work, and I wish so much to succeed. Under my supervision, on the other hand, you might become a valuable aid and then, as I hope, your obedience would be rewarded."

As she said these words she extended her hand to him. It was agreed that Max should go the following day to see Arsène Guillot, and that Madame de Piennes should precede him to prepare her for the visit.

You understand her design. At first she had thought that she would find Max fully repentant, and that she could easily draw from the example of Arsène the text of an eloquent sermon against his evil passions; but, contrary to her expectations, he refused to accept any responsibility. It was necessary to change her exordium, and, at a decisive moment to change a studied address is an enterprise almost as perilous as to change the order of battle in the midst of an ambush. Madame de Piennes had not been able to improvise a manœuvre. Instead of preaching to Max she had discussed with him a question of expediency. Suddenly a new idea presented itself to her mind. The remorse for his complicity would touch him, she thought. The Christian death of a woman whom he had loved