"I owe you some explanations, and, since you are a woman to understand them perfectly, I will give them: a re-imbursement of five millions has come upon me today; I have carried it out; and it was followed almost immediately by a half-dozen others. So it now rests upon me to be subject to the same severity at the hands of my creditors that I dealt to others. Knowing that my debtors commonly envied the very Orc-slaves that work the mines of Morie, I have fled, to avoid being in that disagreeable situation myself.
"Given that your gambling habit played its part in my ruin, my conscience does not reproach me in the least for abandoning you; and there remain for you some ashes from the dust-heap of my wealth.
"I leave you as I took you: rich, but not very honourable.
"Your devoted husband,
BARON DE SACQUEVILLE-DANGLARS."
When he had finished reading the letter, De Brie slowly replaced it in the envelope, and resumed his pensive attitude.
"Eh bien?" said Mme. de Sacqueville-Danglars with an anxiety easy to comprehend. "What ideas does this letter inspire in you?"
