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146 THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL
The papers scrambled eagerly for the smart society
scandal, but the public scoffed at this irresistible love of
art, a more or less doubtful phenomenon always, but more
especially Avhen the stage is concerned. The women in
particular were sceptical, and the forsaken child remained
an ugly fact which nothing could explain away.
In the meantime I received a letter—a perfect howl of
anguish—from Copenhagen. Tortured by remorse, by a
yearning for her deserted child, she asked me to come
to her at once, complaining bitterly of her relatives who,
she asserted, were making her life one long drawn-out
agony. She charged them with having suppressed, in
collusion Avith her husband, an important document,
which was essential for the final decision in the case.
I refused to leave town, but wrote a few angry lines
to the Baron. His reply was so insolent that it led to a
complete rupture betAAeen us.
One or two telegrams passed, and peace was re-estab-
lished. The document was found, and the proceedings
Avent on.
I spent my evenings in Avriting long letters to her,
giving- her minute instructiojis how to comport herself
in the circumstances. These letters were intended to
cheer and encourage her. I advised her to work, to study
her art, to visit the theatres. In my anxiety to supple-
ment her income, I urged her to Avrite on anything which
she found interesting, and undertook to get her articles
accepted by a first-class paper.
No answer. I had every reason to believe that her
independent spirit resented my well-meant interference.
A week passed ; a week full of care, unrest and hard
work. Then, early one morning, before I was up, I
received a letter from Copenhagen.
The tone of her letter Avas calm and serene ; she seemed
unable to hide a certain pride on account of the quarrel
between the Baron and myself. (She Avas in a fair posi-
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