“Three months later he strove wildly to free himself from those invincible and invisible bonds with which such a friendship chains our lives.  She kept him under her influence, tyrannizing over him, making his life a burden to him.  They quarreled continually, vituperating and finally fighting each other.

“He wanted to break with her at any cost.  He sold all his canvases, borrowed money from his friends, realizing twenty thousand francs (he was not well known then), and left them for her one morning with a note of farewell.

“He came and took refuge with me.

“About three o’clock that afternoon there was a ring at the bell.  I went to the door.  A woman sprang toward me, pushed me aside, came in and went into my atelier.  It was she!

“He had risen when he saw her coming.’

“She threw the envelope containing the banknotes at his feet with a truly noble gesture and said in a quick tone: 

“‘There’s your money.  I don’t want it!’

“She was very pale, trembling and ready undoubtedly to commit any folly.  As for him, I saw him grow pale also, pale with rage and exasperation, ready also perhaps to commit any violence.

“He asked: 

“‘What do you want?’

“She replied: 

“’I do not choose to be treated like a common woman.  You implored me to accept you.  I asked you for nothing.  Keep me with you!’

“He stamped his foot.

“‘No, that’s a little too much!  If you think you are going—­’

“I had seized his arm.

“‘Keep still, Jean. . .  Let me settle it.’

“I went toward her and quietly, little by little, I began to reason with her, exhausting all the arguments that are used under similar circumstances.  She listened to me, motionless, with a fixed gaze, obstinate and silent.

“Finally, not knowing what more to say, and seeing that there would be a scene, I thought of a last resort and said: 

“’He loves you still, my dear, but his family want him to marry some one, and you understand—­’

“She gave a start and exclaimed: 

“’Ah!  Ah!  Now I understand: 

“And turning toward him, she said: 

“‘You are—­you are going to get married?’

“He replied decidedly” ‘Yes.’

“She took a step forward.

“‘If you marry, I will kill myself!  Do you hear?’

“He shrugged his shoulders and replied: 

“‘Well, then kill yourself!’

“She stammered out, almost choking with her violent emotion: 

“‘What do you say?  What do you say?  What do you say?  Say it again!’

“He repeated: 

“‘Well, then kill yourself if you like!’

“With her face almost livid, she replied: 

“‘Do not dare me!  I will throw myself from the window!’

“He began to laugh, walked toward the window, opened it, and bowing with the gesture of one who desires to let some one else precede him, he said: