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A LOVE CRIME

PAUL BOURGET

_Author of a "CRUEL ENIGMA._"

LONDON

_W. W. GIBBINGS, 18 BURY STREET W.C._

1892.

TO GASTON CRÉHANGE.

Many days have elapsed, my dear friend, since our childhood, but they

have passed away without effecting any alteration in the affectionate

feelings we then entertained. In memory of an intimacy of heart and mind

which has never known a cloud, it is very pleasant to me to write your

name at the beginning of that one of my books which you preferred to all

the rest. It is further the book in which I have stated with most

sincerity what I think concerning some of the essential problems of the

modern life of our day. May this complete sincerity, by which you, the

truest and most loyal being I know, have doubtless been attracted, plead

in favour of the work with readers who would otherwise be startled by a

certain boldness of depicture and cruelty of analysis!

For the rest, whatever may be the verdict of public opinion respecting

"A Love Crime," as I have called this minute diagnostic of a certain

distemper of the soul, it will always be possessed of one great merit in

my eyes, for it will have pleased you, and have enabled me once more to

subscribe myself, my dear Gaston, your ever faithful friend,