seems to me a bad nightmare; but the awakening is terrible.
I cannot believe in anything but your love and the affection of all of ours.
We must continually search for the guilty one. All means are good. Chance alone will not suffice.
Perhaps I shall succeed in surmounting the horrible terror with which the infamous sentence I am going to bear inspires me. To be an honorable man, to be innocent, and to see my honor torn from me and trampled under foot—oh, it is fearful! it is the worst of sufferings! worse than death!
Oh, if I go to the end it will be for your sake, my dear, adored one, for you are the only thread that binds me to life!
How we loved each other!
To-day more than ever before I know what place you hold in my heart. But, above all, be careful of your own self; think of your health. You must, at all costs, for the sake of my children, who have need of you.
Then search in Paris as you did down there for the guilty one. We must try everything; we must leave nothing undone. There are people surely, there must be people, who know the name of the guilty man.
I embrace you.
Alfred.
Wednesday, 2 P. M., 26 December, 1894.
My Darling:
I have just received your two letters and Marie's.
You are sublime, my adored one, and I am amazed
