Then,
all at once, she began: "My dear Mathieu, you must forgive me for
mentioning a painful matter, but there are reasons why I should do so.
Nearly fifteen years ago, I know it for a fact, my husband had a child by
a girl who was employed at the works. And I also know that you acted as
his intermediary on that occasion, and made certain arrangements with
respect to that girl and her child--a boy, was it not?"
She paused for a reply. But Mathieu, stupefied at finding her so well
informed, and at a loss to understand why she spoke to him of that sorry
affair after the lapse of so many years, could only make a gesture by
which he betrayed both his surprise and his anxiety.
"Oh!" said she, "I do not address any reproach to you; I am convinced
that your motives were quite friendly, even affectionate, and that you
wished to hush up a scandal which might have been very unpleasant for me.
Moreover, I do not desire to indulge in recriminations after so long a
time. My desire is simply for information. For a long time I did not care
to investigate the statements whereby I was informed of the affair. But
the recollection of it comes back to me and haunts me persistently, and
it is natural that I should apply to you.
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