A Comedy of Marriage[1]

7/25/2019 A Comedy of Marriage[1]

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A Comedy of Marriage & Other Tales, by Guy De Maupassant

Title: A Comedy of Marriage & Other Tales

Author: Guy De Maupassant

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LA $A% D' M "AG

D)AMAT%# $ )#O"A

MO"#% ') D #ALL'#

AC-' # D )A"DOL

MADAM D #ALL'#

Time: $aris, 1234

ACT %5

#C " %5

Mme5 de #allus 6in her dra7ing8room, seated in a 9orner by thefirepla9e5 nter6 a9 ues de )A"DOL 6noiselessly; glan9es to see that noone is loo<ing, and <isses6 Mme5 de #allus 6 ui9<ly upon her hair5 #hestarts; utters a faint 9ry, and turns upon him56

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh= (o7 imprudent you are=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Don*t be afraid; no one sa7 me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But the ser>ants=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, they are in the outer hall5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



(o7 is that? "o one announ9ed you

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, they simply opened the door for me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But 7hat 7ill 6they6 thin<?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, they 7ill doubtless thin< that 6%6 don*t 9ount5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But % 7ill not permit it5 % must ha>e you announ9ed in future5 %t doesnot loo< 7ell5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6laughs6

$erhaps they 7ill e>en go so far as to announ9e your husband88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

a9 ues, this esting is out of pla9e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

!orgi>e me5 @6#its65 Are you 7aiting for anybody?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es88probably5 /ou <no7 that % al7ays re9ei>e 7hen % am at home5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% <no7 that % al7ays ha>e the pleasure of seeing you for about fi>eminutes88 ust enough time to as< you ho7 you feel, and then some oneelse 9omes in88some one in lo>e 7ith you, of 9ourse,887ho impatientlya7aits my departure5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6smiles6

+ell, 7hat 9an % do? % am not your 7ife, so ho7 9an it be other7ise?



AC-' # D )A"DOL

Ah= %f you only 7ere my 7ife=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%f % 7ere your 7ife?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% 7ould snat9h you a7ay for fi>e or si months, far from this horribleto7n, and <eep you all to myself5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou 7ould soon ha>e enough of me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, no=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, yes=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Do you <no7 that it is absolute torture to lo>e a 7oman li<e you?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6bridles6

And 7hy?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Be9ause % 9o>et you as the star>ing 9o>et the food they see behind theglassy barriers of a restaurant5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, a9 ues=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% tell you it is true= A 7oman of the 7orld belongs to the 7orld; thatis to say, to e>eryone e 9ept the man to 7hom she gi>es herself5 (e 9an



see her 7ith open doors for a uarter of an hour e>ery three days88notoftener, be9ause of ser>ants5 %n e 9eptional 9ases, 7ith a thousand

pre9autions, 7ith a thousand fears, 7ith a thousand subterfuges, she>isits him on9e or t7i9e a month, perhaps, in a furnished room5 Then shehas ust a uarter of an hour to gi>e him, be9ause she has ust left

Madame in order to >isit Madame , 7here she has told her 9oa9hman tota<e her5 %f he 9omplains, she 7ill not 9ome again, be9ause it isimpossible for her to get rid of her 9oa9hman5 #o, you see, the9oa9hman, and the footman, and Madame , and Madame , and all theothers, 7ho >isit her house as they 7ould a museum,88a museum that ne>er 9loses,88all the he*s and all the she*s 7ho eat up her leisure minute byminute and se9ond by se9ond, to 7hom she o7es her time as an employeeo7es his time to the #tate, simply be9ause she belongs to the 7orld88allthese persons are li<e the transparent and impassable glass: they <eepyou from my lo>e5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6dryly6/ou seem upset to8day5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, no, but % hunger to be alone 7ith you5 /ou are mine, are you not?Or, % should say, % am yours5 %sn*t it true? % spend my life in loo<ingfor opportunities to meet you5 Our lo>e is made up of 9han9e meetings,of 9asual bo7s, of stolen loo<s, of slight tou9hes88nothing more5 +emeet on the a>enue in the morning88a bo7; 7e meet at your house, or atthat of some other a9 uaintan9e88t7enty 7ords; 7e dine some7here at thesame table, too far from ea9h other to tal<, and % dare not e>en loo< atyou be9ause of hostile eyes5 %s that lo>e? +e are simply a9 uaintan9es5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Then you 7ould li<e to 9arry me off?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

'nhappily, % 9annot5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Then 7hat?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% do not <no75 % only <no7 this life is 7earing me out5



MM 5 D #ALL'#

%t is ust be9ause there are so many obsta9les in the 7ay of your lo>ethat it does not fade5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh= Madeline, 9an you say that?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6softening6

Belie>e me, dear, if your lo>e has to endure these hardships, it is be9ause it is not la7ful lo>e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, % ne>er met a 7oman as positi>e as you5 Then you thin< that if 9han9e made me your husband, % should 9ease to lo>e you?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"ot all at on9e, perhaps, but88e>entually5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat you say is re>olting to me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"e>ertheless, it is uite true5 /ou <no7 that 7hen a 9onfe9tioner hiresa greedy sales7oman he says to her, E at all the s7eets you 7ish, mydear5E #he stuffs herself for eight days, and then she is satisfied for the rest of her life5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Ah= %ndeed= But 7hy do you in9lude me in that 9lass?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

)eally, % do not <no788perhaps as a o<e=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

$lease do not mo9< me5



MM 5 D #ALL'#

% say to myself, here is a man 7ho is >ery mu9h in lo>e 7ith me5 #o far as % am 9on9erned, % am perfe9tly free, morally, sin9e for t7o years

past % ha>e altogether 9eased to please my husband5 "o7, sin9e this manlo>es me, 7hy should % not lo>e him?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou are philosophi988and 9ruel5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

On the 9ontrary, % ha>e 6not6 been 9ruel5 Of 7hat do you 9omplain?

AC-' # D )A"DOL#top= you anger me 7ith this 9ontinual raillery5 >er sin9e % began tolo>e you, you ha>e tortured me in this manner, and no7 % do not e>en<no7 7hether you ha>e the slightest affe9tion for me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, you must admit that % ha>e al7ays been88good8natured5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, you ha>e played a ueer little game= !rom the day % first met you %felt that you 7ere 9o uetting 7ith me, 9o uetting mysteriously,obs9urely, 9o uetting as only you 9an 7ithout sho7ing it to others5Little by little you 9on uered me 7ith loo<s, 7ith smiles, 7ith

pressures of the hand, 7ithout 9ompromising yourself, 7ithout pledgingyourself, 7ithout re>ealing yourself5 /ou ha>e been horriblyupright88and sedu9ti>e5 % ha>e lo>ed you 7ith all my soul, yes,sin9erely and loyally, and to8day % do not <no7 7hat feeling you ha>e inthe depths of your heart, 7hat thoughts you ha>e hidden in your brain;in fa9t, % <no78% <no7 nothing5 % loo< at you, and % see a 7oman 7hoseems to ha>e 9hosen me, and seems also to ha>e forgotten that she 6has6 9hosen me5 Does she lo>e me, or is she tired of me? (as she simply madean e periment88ta<en a lo>er in order to see, to <no7, totaste,887ithout desire, hunger, or thirst? There are days 7hen % as< myself if among those 7ho lo>e you and 7ho tell you so un9easingly thereis not one 7hom you really lo>e5

MM 5 D #ALL'#





AC-' # D )A"DOL @6amaFed6

+hat an idea=

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6dryly6

+ell, you are 7rong5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Al7ays this raillery=

MM 5 D #ALL'# "o, % 7ant to spea< to you seriously about him, and toas< your ad>i9e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

About your husband?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6seriously6

/es, % am not laughing, or rather % do not laugh any more5 @6%n lighter tone65 Then you are not ealous of my husband? And yet you <no7 he isthe only man 7ho has authority o>er me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%t is ust be9ause he has authority that % am not ealous5 A 7oman*sheart gi>es nothing to the man 7ho has authority5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

My dear, a husband*s right is a positi>e thing; it is a title8deed thathe 9an lo9< up88 ust as my husband has for more than t7o years88but itis also one that he 9an use at any gi>en moment, as lately he has seemedin9lined to do5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6astonished6

/ou tell me that your husband88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL



%mpossible=

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6bridles6

And 7hy impossible?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Be9ause your husband has88has88other o99upations5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, it pleases him to >ary them, it seems5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

esting apart, Madeline, 7hat has happened?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Ah= Ah= Then you 6are6 be9oming ealous of him5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Madeline, % implore you; tell me, are you mo9<ing me, or are youspea<ing seriously?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% am spea<ing seriously, indeed, >ery seriously5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then 7hat has happened?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, you <no7 my position, although % ha>e ne>er told you all my pastlife5 %t is all >ery simple and >ery brief5 At the age of nineteen %married the Count de #allus, 7ho fell in lo>e 7ith me after he had seenme at the Opera8Comi ue5 (e already <ne7 my father*s la7yer5 (e 7as >eryni9e to me in those early days; yes, >ery ni9e, and % really belie>ed helo>ed me5 As for myself, % 7as >ery 9ir9umspe9t in my beha>ior to7ardhim, >ery 9ir9umspe9t indeed, so that he 9ould ne>er 9ast a shado7 of reproa9h on my name5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, did you lo>e him?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Good gra9ious= +hy as< su9h uestions?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then you did lo>e him?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es and no5 %f % lo>ed him, it 7as the lo>e of a little fool; but %

9ertainly ne>er told him, for positi>ely % do not <no7 ho7 to sho7 lo>e5AC-' # D )A"DOL

% 9an >ou9h for that=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, it is possible that % 9ared for him sometimes, idioti9ally, li<e atimid, restless, trembling, a7<7ard, little girl, al7ays in fear of thatdisturbing thing88the lo>e of a man88that disturbing thing that issometimes so s7eet= As for him,88you <no7 him5 (e 7as a s7eetheart, aso9iety s7eetheart, 7ho are al7ays the 7orst of all5 #u9h men reallyha>e a lasting affe9tion only for those girls 7ho are fitting 9ompanionsfor 9lubmen88girls 7ho ha>e a habit of telling doubtful stories and

besto7ing depra>ed <isses5 %t seems to me that to attra9t and to holdsu9h people, the nude and obs9ene are ne9essary both in 7ord and in

body88unless88unless88it is true that men are in9apable of lo>ing any7oman for a length of time5

(o7e>er, % soon be9ame a7are that he 7as indifferent to me, for he usedto <iss me as a matter of 9ourse and loo< at me 7ithout realiFing my

presen9e; and in his manners, in his a9tions, in his 9on>ersation, hesho7ed that % attra9ted him no longer5 As soon as he 9ame into the roomhe 7ould thro7 himself upon the sofa, ta<e up the ne7spaper, read it,shrug his shoulders, and 7hen he read anything he did not agree 7ith, he7ould e press his annoyan9e audibly5 !inally, one day, he ya7ned andstret9hed his arms in my fa9e5 On that day % understood that % 7as nolonger lo>ed5 0eenly mortified % 9ertainly 7as5 But it hurt me so mu9hthat % did not realiFe it 7as ne9essary to 9o uet 7ith him in order to



retain his affe9tion5 % soon learned that he had a mistress, a 7oman of the 7orld5 #in9e then 7e ha>e li>ed separate li>es88after a >ery stormye planation5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat do you mean? +hat sort of e planation?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell88

AC-' # D )A"DOL

About88his mistress?

MM 5 D #ALL'#/es and no5 % find it diffi9ult to e press myself5 To a>oid mysuspi9ions he found himself obliged, doubtless, to dissimulate from timeto time, although rarely, and to feign a 9ertain affe9tion for hislegitimate 7ife, the 7oman 7ho had the right to his affe9tion5 % toldhim that he might abstain in future from su9h a mo9<ery of lo>e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

(o7 did you tell him that?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% don*t remember5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%t must ha>e been amusing5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o, he appeared >ery mu9h surprised at first5 Then % formulated a ni9elittle spee9h and learned it by heart, in 7hi9h % as<ed him to 9arrysu9h intermittent fan9ies else7here5 (e understood me, saluted me >ery9ourteously, and88did as % as<ed him5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Did he ne>er 9ome ba9<?



MM 5 D #ALL'#

"e>er, until88

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6interrupts6

(as he ne>er again tried to tell you of his lo>e?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o, ne>er, until88

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6interrupts6

(a>e you regretted it?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

That is of small importan9e5 +hat is of importan9e, though, is that hehas had innumerable mistresses 7hom he entertains, 7hom he supports,7hom he ta<es out5 %t is this that has irritated and humiliated me88infa9t, 9ut me to the ui9<5 But then % too< heart of gra9e, and too late,t7o years too late, % too< a lo>er88you=

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6<isses her hand6

And %, Madeline, % lo>e you 7ith my 7hole soul5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, all this is not at all proper5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat do you mean by Eall thisE?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Life in general88my husband88his mistresses88myself88and you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/our 7ords88pro>e beyond a doubt that you do not lo>e me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



+hy?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou dare to say of lo>e that it is not proper? %f you lo>ed me, it might be di>ine, but a lo>ing 7oman 7ould abhor a phrase 7hi9h should 9ontainsu9h an idea5 +hat= True lo>e not proper?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$ossibly5 %t all depends upon the point of >ie75 !or myself, % see toomu9h5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat do you see?MM 5 D #ALL'#

% see too 7ell, too far, too 9learly5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou do not lo>e me?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%f % did not lo>e you88a little88% should ha>e had no e 9use for gi>ingmyself to you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

A little88 ust suffi9ient to 7arrant that e 9use=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But % do not e 9use myself: % a99use myself5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then you did lo>e me a little88and then88no788you lo>e me no more=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Do not let us argue5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou do nothing else5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o, % only udge the present by the past; the only ust ideas and sanenotions of life one 9an form are those 9on9erning that 7hi9h is past5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And do you regret88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$erhaps=AC-' # D )A"DOL

And 7hat about to8morro7?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% do not <no75

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%s it nothing to you to ha>e one 7ho is yours, body and soul? MM 5 D#ALL'# @6shrugs her shoulders6

/es, mine to8day5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6>ehemently6

And to8morro7=

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6shrugs her shoulders again6

/es, the to8morro7 that follo7s to8night, but not the to8morro7 of ayear hen9e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6emphati9ally6

/ou shall see5 But ho7 about your husband?



MM 5 D #ALL'#

Does he annoy you?

AC-' # D )A"DOL By hea>en88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

(ush= @6Ar9hly56 My husband has fallen in lo>e 7ith me again5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%s it possible?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6indignantly6

+hat do you mean by su9h an insolent uestion, and 7hy should it not be possible?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

A man falls in lo>e 7ith his 7ife before he marries her, but after marriage he ne>er 9ommits the same mista<e5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But perhaps he has ne>er really been in lo>e 7ith me until no75

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%t is absolutely impossible that he 9ould ha>e li>ed 7ith you88e>en inhis 9urt, 9a>alier fashion887ithout lo>ing you5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6indifferently6

%t is of little importan9e5 (e has either lo>ed me in the past, or isno7 beginning to lo>e me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Truly, % do not understand you5 Tell me all about it5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But % ha>e nothing to tell5 (e de9lares his lo>e for me, ta<es me in hisarms, and threatens me 7ith his 9on ugal rights5 This upsets me,



torments me, and annoys me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Madeline you torture me5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6 ui9<ly6

And 7hat about me? Do you thin< that % do not suffer? % <no7 that % amnot e a9tly a faithful 7oman sin9e % re9ei>ed your addresses, but %ha>e, and shall retain, a single heart5 %t is either you 6or6 he5 %t7ill ne>er be you 6and6 he5 !or me that 7ould be infamy88the greatestinfamy of a guilty 7oman, the sharing of her heart88a thing that debasesher5 One may fall, perhaps, be9ause there are dit9hes along the 7aysideand it is not al7ays easy to follo7 the right path5 But if one falls,that is no reason to thro7 oneself in the abyss5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6ta<es her in his arms and <isses her6

% simply adore you=

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6melts6

And %, too, lo>e you dearly, a9 ues, and that is the reason 7hy % fear5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

But, tell me, Madeline ho7 long has it been sin9e your husband reformed?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$ossibly fifteen days or three 7ee<s5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ithout relapse?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ithout relapse5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% 7ill e plain the mystery5 The fa9t of the matter is this, your husbandhas simply be9ome a 7ido7er5



MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you say?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% mean that your husband is unatta9hed ust no7, and see<s to spend hisleisure time 7ith his 7ife5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But % tell you that he is in lo>e 7ith me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es88yes88and no5 (e is in lo>e 7ith you88and also 7ith another5 Tell

me, his temper is usually bad, isn*t it?MM 5 D #ALL'#

e9rable=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, then, here is a man in lo>e 7ith you 7ho sho7s his 7onderfulreturn of tenderness by moods that are simply unsupportable88for theyare unsupportable, aren*t they?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Absolutely5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%f he 7ooed you 7ith tenderness you 7ould not feel fear5 /ou 7ould sayto yourself, EMy turn has 9ome at last,E and then he 7ould inspire you7ith a little pity for him, for a 7oman has al7ays a snea<ing sort of 9ompassion for the man 7ho lo>es her, e>en though that man be her husband5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$erhaps that is true5

AC-' # D )A"DOL



%s he ner>ous, preo99upied?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And he is abrupt 7ith you, not to say brutal? (e demands his right7ithout e>en praying for it?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

True5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

My darling, for the moment you are simply a substitute5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh= no, no=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

My dearest girl, your husband*s latest mistress 7as Madame de Bardane,7hom he left >ery abruptly about t7o months ago to run after the#antelli5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat, the singer?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es, a 9apri9ious, sau9y, 9unning, >enal little 7oman5 A 7oman not atall un9ommon upon the stage, or in the 7orld either, for that matter5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Then that is 7hy he haunts the Opera5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6laughs6

+ithout a doubt5



MM 5 D #ALL'# @6dreamily6

"o, no, you are de9ei>ing yourself5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6emphati9ally6

The #antelli resists him and repulses him; then, burdened 7ith a heartfull of longing that has no outlet, he deigns to offer you a portion5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

My dear, you are dreaming5 %f he 7ere in lo>e 7ith the #antelli, he7ould not tell me that he lo>es me5 %f he 7ere so entirely preo99upied7ith this 9reature, he 7ould not 7oo me5 %f he 9o>eted her, he 7ould notdesire me at the same time5

AC-' # D )A"DOL(o7 little you understand 9ertain <inds of men= Men li<e your husband,on9e ino9ulated 7ith the poison of lo>e,887hi9h in them is nothing but

brutal desire,88men li<e him, % say, 7hen a 7oman they desire es9apes or resists them, be9ome raging beasts5 They beha>e li<e madmen, li<e men

possessed, 7ith arms outstret9hed and lips 7ide open5 They must lo>esome one, no matter 7hom ust as a mad dog 7ith open a7s bites anythingand e>erybody5 The #antelli has un9hained this raging brute, and youfind yourself fa9e to fa9e 7ith his dripping a7s5 Ta<e 9are= /ou 9allthat lo>e= %t is nothing but animal passion5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6sar9asti9ally6

)eally, you are >ery unfair to him5 % am afraid ealousy is blindingyou5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, no, % am not de9ei>ing myself, you may be sure5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, % thin< you are5 !ormerly my husband negle9ted and abandoned me,doubtless finding me >ery insipid; but no7 he finds me mu9h impro>ed,and has returned to me5 %t is >ery easy to understand, and moreo>er, itis the 7orse for him, for he 6must6 belie>e that % ha>e been a

6faithful6 7ife to him all my life5

AC-' # D )A"DOL



Madeline=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, 7hat?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Does a girl 9ease to be a faithful 7ife, if, 7hen deserted by the man7ho has assumed 9harge of her e isten9e, and her happiness, and her lo>e, and her ideals, she refuses to resign herself88young, beautiful,and full of hope88to eternal isolation and e>erlasting solitude?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% thin< % ha>e already told you that there are 9ertain things 7hi9h itis 6not6 ne9essary to dis9uss, and this is one of them5 @6The front door bell sounds t7i9e56 (ere is my husband5 $lease be silent5 (e is in agloomy mood ust no75

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6rises6

% thin< % shall go5 % am not in lo>e 7ith your husband any more, for many reasons, and it is diffi9ult for me to be polite to him 7hen %despise him, and 7hen % <no7 that he ought to despise me, and 7oulddespise me 7hen % sha<e hands 7ith him, did he <no7 all5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6annoyed6

(o7 many times must % tell you that all this is entirely out of pla9e?

#C " %%5

6The same, in9luding6 M5 de #allus5H

6 nter6 M5 de #allus, 6e>idently in a bad temper5 (e loo<s for a momentat6 Mme5 de #allus 6and at6 a9 ues de )andol, 67ho is ta<ing his lea>e;then 9omes for7ard65

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Ah= #allus5





M5 D #ALL'# @6sin<s into an arm9hair6

+as )andol here any length of time?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o, possibly half an hour5

M5 D #ALL'# @6meditati>ely6

(alf an hour plus a 7hole hour ma<es an hour and a half, does it not?Time seems to fly 7hen you are 7ith him5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you mean by an hour and a half?M5 D #ALL'#

ust 7hat % say5 +hen % sa7 the 9arriage 7aiting at the door, % as<edthe footman, 7ho 7as 7ithin5 (e told me that it 7as M5 a9 ues de)andol5 E(as he been here long?E % as<ed5 E(e has been here sin9e ten,Esaid the footman5 Admitting that the man might ha>e been mista<en, 7e7ill say, in the matter of a uarter of an hour, that 7ould ma<e an hour and a uarter, at the least5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, ho= +hat is this ne7 attitude of yours? (a>e % not a right tore9ei>e 7hom % li<e no7?

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, my dear, % deny you nothing, nothing, nothing5 The only thing thatastonishes me is that you do not <no7 the differen9e bet7een half anhour and an hour and a half5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Are you loo<ing for a s9ene? %f you 7ish a uarrel, say so5 % shall <no7ho7 to ans7er you5 /ou are simply in a bad temper5 Go to bed and sleep,if you 9an5

M5 D #ALL'#



% am not loo<ing for a uarrel, neither am % in bad humor5 % only statethat time flies 7ith you 7hen you pass it in the 9ompany of a9 ues de)andol5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, it does go ui9<ly; far more ui9<ly than 7hen % am 7ith you5

M5 D #ALL'#

(e is a >ery 9harming fello7, and % <no7 you li<e him; and, moreo>er, hemust li<e you >ery mu9h, sin9e he 9omes here e>ery day5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

These insinuations are distasteful to me5 $lease spea< plainly and say

7hat you mean5 Are you assuming the role of a ealous husband?M5 D #ALL'#

God forbid= % ha>e too mu9h 9onfiden9e in you, and far too mu9h esteemfor you, to reproa9h you 7ith anything, for % <no7 that you ha>e toomu9h ta9t e>er to gi>e rise to 9alumny or s9andal5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Do not play 7ith 7ords5 /ou thin< that M5 a9 ues de )andol 9omes toooften to this house88to your house?

M5 D #ALL'#

% do not find any fault 7ith you for that5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Than< you5 /ou simply ha>e not the right5 (o7e>er, sin9e you adopt thisattitude, let us settle this uestion on9e for all, for % loathemisunderstandings5 %t seems to me that you ha>e an e 9eedingly shortmemory5 Let me 9ome to your aid5 Be fran< 7ith me5 Through someo99urren9e, the nature of 7hi9h % do not <no7, your attitude isdifferent today from that of the past t7o years5 Cast your memory o>er the past, to the time 7hen you began to negle9t me in a manner that 7as

plain to all5 % be9ame >ery uneasy5 Then % <ne788% 7as told, and %sa788that you 7ere in lo>e 7ith Madame de #er>ieres5 % told you ho7 hurt% 7as, ho7 grie>ed % 7as5 +hat did you reply? ust 7hat e>ery manreplies 7hen he no longer lo>es the 7oman 7ho reproa9hes him5 /ou



shrugged your shoulders, smiled impatiently, told me % 7as mad, and thene pounded to me88% must admit, in a most s<illful manner88those grand

prin9iples of freedom in lo>e that are adopted by e>ery husband 7hode9ei>es his 7ife and thin<s she 7ill not de9ei>e him5 /ou ga>e me tounderstand that marriage is not a bond, but simply an asso9iation of

mutual interests, a so9ial rather than a moral allian9e; that it doesnot demand friendship or affe9tion bet7een married 9ouples, pro>idedthere be no s9andal5 /ou did not absolutely 9onfess the e isten9e of your mistresses, but you pleaded e tenuating 9ir9umstan9es5 /ou 7ere>ery sar9asti9 upon the sub e9t of those poor, silly 7omen 7ho ob e9t totheir husbands being gallant to7ard other 7omen, sin9e, a99ording toyou, su9h gallantry is one of the la7s of the polished so9iety to 7hi9hyou belong5 /ou laughed at the foolish man 7ho does not dare to pay9ompliments to a 7oman in the presen9e of his o7n 7ife, and ridi9uledthe gloomy loo< of a 7ife 7hose eyes follo7 her husband into e>ery9orner, imagining that be9ause the poor man disappears into an ad oining

room he is at the feet of a ri>al5 All this 7as >ery airy, funny, anddisagreeable, 7rapped up in 9ompliments and spi9ed 7ith 9yni9ism88s7eetand bitter at the same time, and 9al9ulated to banish from the heart alllo>e for a smooth, false, and 7ell8bred man 7ho 9ould tal< in su9h amanner5 % understood, % 7ept, % suffered, and then % shut my door uponyou5 /ou made no ob e9tion; you udged me better than you thought; andsin9e then 7e ha>e li>ed 9ompletely separate li>es5 #u9h has been the9ase for the past t7o years, t7o long years and more, 7hi9h 9ertainlyha>e not seemed more than si months to you5 +e go into so9iety asusual, 7e return from so9iety as usual, and 7e ea9h enter our o7n templeof life5 The situation 7as established by you in 9onse uen9e of your first infidelity, an infidelity 7hi9h has been follo7ed by many others5% ha>e said nothing; % ha>e resigned myself to the situation; and % ha>e

banished you from my heart5 "o7 that % ha>e finished, 7hat do you 7ish?

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear, % am not as<ing for anything5 % do not e>en 7ish to ans7er the>ery aggressi>e spee9h you ha>e done me the honor to ma<e5 % only 7ishto gi>e you ad>i9e88the ad>i9e of a friend88upon a situation that may

possibly endanger your reputation5 /ou are beautiful, al7ays in the publi9 eye, and mu9h en>ied5 #9andal 9ould ha>e easy birth5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$ardon me5 %f 7e are to spea< of s9andal, % must ha>e lea>e to balan9emy a99ount 7ith you5

M5 D #ALL'#



Come, do not let us o<e o>er this thing5 % spea< to you as afriend88seriously, as a friend5 As to 7hat you ha>e said about me, it isall e tremely e aggerated5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"ot at all5 /ou ha>e ne>er tried to 9on9eal, in fa9t, you ha>e a9tually pro9laimed to all the 7orld your infidelities88a fa9t 7hi9h gi>es me theright to go and do li<e7ise, and, my friend, belie>e 7hat % say88

M5 D #ALL'#

One moment88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Let me finish5 A99ording to you, % am beautiful, % am young, and yet9ondemned by my husband to li>e, and 7at9h him li>e, as if % 7ere a7ido75 Loo< at me @6rises6 , is it ust to 9onsign me to play the roleof an abandoned Ariadne, 7hile my husband runs from this 7oman to that7oman, and this girl to that girl? @6Gro7s e 9ited65 A faithful 7ife= %9ry you mer9y= %s a faithful 7ife 9ompelled to sa9rifi9e all her life,all her happiness, all her affe9tions, e>erything, in fa9t, e>ery

pri>ilege, e>ery e pe9tation, e>ery 9laim, 7hi9h is hers by birth andfor 7hi9h she has been born? Loo< at me= Am % made for a nunnery? Thefa9t that % married you should ans7er that uestion5 And yet, you,

6you6, 7ho too< me from my father*s house, negle9t me to run after others5 And 7hat others? % am not in their 9ir9le, neither am % one of those 7ho 7ould share your life 7ith others5 #o mu9h the 7orse for you88for % am free, and you ha>e no right to gi>e me ad>i9e sin9e % 6am6 free5

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear girl, be 9alm5 /ou misunderstand me 9ompletely5 % ha>e ne>er suspe9ted you5 %ndeed, % ha>e the most profound esteem and friendshipfor you88a lo>ing friendship 7hi9h gro7s greater e>ery day5 % ha>e no7ish to 9omment upon that past 7ith 7hi9h you reproa9h me so 9ruelly5$erhaps % am a little too88too887hat shall % say?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh= #ay that you belong to the period of the )egen9y5 % <no7 that methodof e 9using all male 7ea<nesses and follies5 Oh= yes; that eighteenth9entury, that 6dainty6 9entury, so full of 6elegan9e6, so full of deli9ious 6fantasies6 and adorable 67hims6= Alas= my dear, that is



an9ient history5

M5 D #ALL'#

"o, no, you misunderstand me again5 Belie>e me, % am and ha>e been abo>e

e>erything too88too88mu9h of a $arisian, too mu9h a99ustomed to turningnight into day, for the sedate life of marriage5 % ha>e been too mu9ha99ustomed to go behind the s9enes of theaters, to >arious 9lubs, to athousand other forms of dissipation; and you <no7 a man 9annot 9hangeall at on9e,88it ta<es time5 Marriage see<s to 9hange us all toosuddenly5 %t ought to gi>e us time to get a99ustomed to it, little bylittle5 /ou 7ould pra9ti9ally ta<e a7ay from me the oy of life 7ere %to beha>e as you seem to desire5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% am so grateful; and no7, perhaps, you 7ish to offer me a ne7 proof88ane7 proof88

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, as you please5 )eally, 7hen a man 7ho has li>ed as % ha>e marries,he 9an hardly help loo<ing upon his 7ife as a ne7 mistress88% mean tosay a faithful mistress88and it is only 7hen it is too late that heunderstands more 9learly,889omes to his senses and repents5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, my friend, it 6is6 too late5 As % ha>e already told you, % mean toha>e my innings5 % ha>e ta<en nearly three years to thin< it o>er5 /oumay thin< that is long, but % need some amusement as 7ell as you5 Thefa9t that % ha>e ta<en nearly three years to thin< it o>er is a9ompliment to you, but you fail to see it5

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline, this esting is altogether out of pla9e5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh= no, be9ause % am 9ompelled to thin< that e>ery one of your mistresses 7as far more attra9ti>e than %, sin9e you ha>e preferred themto me5

M5 D #ALL'#



+hat sort of mood are you in?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%n the same mood that % al7ays am5 %t is you 7ho ha>e 9hanged5

M5 D #ALL'#

True, % 6ha>e6 9hanged5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And that is to say88

M5 D #ALL'#

That % ha>e been an idiot5MM 5 D #ALL'#

And that88

M5 D #ALL'#

% am sane on9e more5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And that88

M5 D #ALL'#

That % am again in lo>e 7ith my 7ife5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou must ha>e returned to your youth5

M5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you say?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% say that you must ha>e returned to your youth5



M5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you mean?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Let me illustrate5 +hen you are young you are al7ays hungry, and 7hen ayouth is hungry he often eats things that he 7ould not eat at another time5 +ell, % am the dish,88the dish that you ha>e negle9ted in your days of plenty, the dish to 7hi9h you return in the days of s9ar9ity88@6slo7ly6 for 7hi9h % than< you=

M5 D #ALL'#

% ha>e ne>er loo<ed upon you as you thin<5 /ou pain me as 7ell asastonish me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

#o mu9h the 7orse for both of us5 %f % astonish you, you repel me5 Learnno7, on9e for all, that % am not made for the role of a substitute5

M5 D #ALL'# @6approa9hes her, ta<es her hand and presses a long <issupon it6

Madeline, % s7ear to you that % lo>e you, in truth, de>otedly, no7 andfore>er5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6ironi9ally6

/ou must really belie>e it= @6#uddenly56 But 7ho is the 7oman thatattra9ts88and repels you88 ust no7?

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline, % s7ear88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, a tru9e to your s7earing= % <no7 that you ha>e ust bro<en 7ith oneof your mistresses; you need another and you 9annot find one, so you9ome to me5 !or nearly three years you ha>e forgotten all about me, sothat no7 you find % am some7hat of a no>elty5 %t is not your 7ife youare see<ing no7, but a 7oman 7ith 7hom you ha>e formerly had a rupture,and 7ith 7hom you no7 desire to ma<e up5 To spea< the truth you aresimply playing the game of a libertine5



M5 D #ALL'#

% do not as< you 7hether you be my 7ife or not my 7ife5 /ou are the7oman % lo>e, the 7oman 7ho possesses my heart5 /ou are the 7oman of

7hom % dream, 7hose image follo7s me e>ery7here, 7hom % 9ontinuallydesire5 %t happens that you are my 7ife5 #o mu9h the 7orse, or so mu9hthe better5 +hat matters it?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Truly, it is a distinguished part that you offer me5 After MademoiselleoFo, after Mademoiselle Lilie, Mademoiselle Tata, you ha>e the auda9ityto offer to your 7ife88to Madame de #allus88the pla9e left >a9ant,as<ing her to be9ome her husband*s mistress for a short spa9e of time5

M5 D #ALL'# "o; no7, and88fore>er5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

$ardon me5 /ou as< that % should re8be9ome your 7ife fore>er? That isout of the uestion; % ha>e already 9eased to entertain the idea5 Thereason may be obs9ure, but ne>ertheless it is real; and after all, theidea of ma<ing me your 6legitimate6 mistress seems to be far moreentertaining to you than assuming the role of a 6faithful6 husband5

M5 D #ALL'# @6laughs6

+ell, 7hy should not the 7ife be9ome the husband*s mistress? /ou areright in 7hat you say; you are absolutely free and % o7n my faults5 /et,% am in lo>e 7ith you8for the se9ond time, if you 7ill8and % say to you,here and no7, Madeline, sin9e you 9onfess that your heart is empty, ha>e

pity upon me, for % tell you that % lo>e you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And you as< me to gi>e you a husband*s right?

M5 D #ALL'#

% do5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



And you a9<no7ledge that % am free, absolutely free?

M5 D #ALL'#

% do5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And you really 7ish me to be9ome your mistress?

M5 D #ALL'#

% do5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou understand 7hat % mean88your mistress?M5 D #ALL'#

/es5


+ell, 7ell= % thin< % 7ould rather a99ept another offer that % ha>e, butsin9e you are good enough to as< me to gi>e you the preferen9e, % maygi>e it to you88for a fair sum5

M5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you mean?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

ust 7hat % say5 Listen= Do you 9onsider me as attra9ti>e as any of your mistresses? "o7, be fran< 7ith me5

M5 D #ALL'#

A thousand times more=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

)eally=

M5 D #ALL'#



% s7ear it=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat, better than the best?

M5 D #ALL'#

A thousand times=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, tell me, no7, truly, ho7 mu9h has the one you li<ed best among allyour numerous mistresses 9ost you, let us say88in three months?

M5 D #ALL'#% 9annot tell5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Listen to me5 % repeat the uestion5 (o7 mu9h has the most 9harming of your numerous mistresses 9ost you in the spa9e of three months88not onlyin money, but in gifts of e7elry, in dainty little suppers, in9eremonious dinners, in theater bo es,88in e>erything?

M5 D #ALL'#

(o7 9an % tell?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou should be able to5 Come, let us ma<e an estimate5 Did you gi>e her around sum, or did you pay for e>erything separately? (o7e>er, % <no7 youare not a man to bother o>er details, so % 9on9lude that you ga>e her around sum5

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline, you are absolutely unbearable5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!ollo7 me 9losely5 +hen you began to negle9t me, you too< a7ay threehorses from our stables88one of them 7as mine and the other t7o 7ere







MM 5 D #ALL'#

%t may or may not be5 Certainly 7hat you ha>e done, or tried to do, 7asridi9ulous5

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline, % as<88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!i>e88thousand88fran9s5

M5 D #ALL'#

But that 7ould be idioti95

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And 7hy?

M5 D #ALL'#

As< me 7hy a husband should pay his 7ife88his la7ful 7ife887hen he hasthe right?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, no, no5 /ou may ha>e the strength, but % 9an ha>e my re>enge5

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!i>e88thousand88fran9s5

M5 D #ALL'#

% should be an ob e9t of ridi9ule fore>er if % 7ere to pay my7ife88yes88not only an ob e9t of ridi9ule, but an idiot, an imbe9ile5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, don*t you thin< it is still more imbe9ile, 7hen you ha>e su9h a



7ife as %, to88to go outside and88pay mistresses?

M5 D #ALL'#

Madeline, % 9onfess it; but no7887e are husband and 7ife, and it is not

ne9essary to ruin me, is it?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Allo7 me5 +hen you too< your 7ealth88the 7ealth 7hi9h 7as also partlymine by marriage88to pay for your folly, you 9ommitted an a9tion that7as more than doubtful5 %n fa9t, it 7as 9riminal, for you ruined me atthe same time you ruined yourself5 % use your o7n language5 % ha>erefrained from as<ing you more about the folly that is in uestion;moreo>er, the fi>e thousand fran9s that you must gi>e me 7ill be spentupon your o7n house5 /ou must admit that is pra9ti9al e9onomy5 But %

<no7 you; % <no7 that you are ne>er in lo>e 7ith anything that is la7fuland right; so in paying dearly88>ery dearly, be9ause % shall probablysee< an in9rease88for 7hat you ha>e the right to ta<e, you 7ill findour886liaison688far more to your taste5 @6#miles65 Good night, % amgoing to bed5

M5 D #ALL'# @6angrily6

+ill you ta<e it in 9ash, or ha>e a 9he ue?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6haughtily6

% prefer 9ash5

M5 D #ALL'# @6opening a po9<etboo<6

% ha>e only three ban<8notes5 % 7ill gi>e you the rest in a 9he ue5@6+rites a 9he ue and hands it to6 Mme5 de #allus5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6ta<es the 9he ue, loo<s at6 M5 de #allus 67ith disgust,and #pea<s in harsh tones6

/ou are ust the <ind of man % too< you to be5 After paying your numerous mistresses, you a9tually 9onsent to pay me as if % 7ere li<ethem887ithout any feeling of disgust or realiFing the differen9e in our situation5 /ou ha>e said that % as<ed too mu9h, you ha>e pleaded thefear of ridi9ule, but you 9ould not understand that you 7ere 9onsentingto 6buy6 me886me688your 67ife6= /ou 7ished to possess me for a little,as a sort of >ariation to your usual list, although your heart must ha>etold you that it 7as degrading to me to be pla9ed on su9h a plane5 /ou



did not re9oil from su9h an idea, but pursued it, ust as you pursuethem, and the more eagerly, be9ause % 7as more e pensi>e5 But you ha>ede9ei>ed yourself, not me5 "ot thus 7ill you e>er regain possession of your 7ife5 Adieu, Monsieur= @6Thro7s the money in his fa9e, and ma<es ahaughty e it65

ACT %%5

#C " %5

Madame de #allus 6alone in her dra7ing8room, as in6 A9t %5 6#he is7riting; she stops and loo<s at the 9lo9<5 A ser>ant announ9es6 Monsieur

a9 ues de )andol5AC-' # D )A"DOL @6after <issing6 Mme5 de #allus*s 6hand6

% trust you are 7ell, Madame5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, yes, than< you5

@6 it ser>ant65

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat is it all about? /our letter has 9ompletely upset me5 % thoughtsome a99ident had o99urred, and % 9ame immediately5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6loo<s at him steadfastly6

My dear a9 ues, 7e must de9ide upon some 9ourse of a9tion immediately5The important hour has 9ome5

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6surprised6

+hat do you mean?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!or t7o days % ha>e undergone all the anguish that a 7oman*s heart 9anendure5



AC-' # D )A"DOL @6still more surprised6

+hat has happened?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% am about to tell you, but % 7ish to do so 7ith 9almness and moderationlest you thin< me mad5 That is the reason 7hy % sent for you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou <no7 that % am yours entirely5 Tell me 7hat % must do5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% 9annot li>e near him any longer5 %t is absolutely impossible5 %t is anhourly 9ru9ifi ion5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"ear your husband?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, my husband5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat has he done?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%t is ne9essary to re>ert to the other e>ening, after you too< your lea>e5 +hen 7e 7ere alone he tried to ma<e a ealous s9ene, 7ith you asthe sub e9t5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ith me as the sub e9t?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, a s9ene 7hi9h pro>ed to me that he had been 7at9hing us5

AC-' # D )A"DOL



(o7?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

(e had been uestioning a ser>ant5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"othing more than that?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o5 That in itself, ho7e>er, is not of mu9h importan9e, for % belie>e hereally li<es you5 But, after that, he told me of his lo>e for me5$erhaps % 7as a little too insolent, too disdainful5 % do not <no7

e a9tly ho7 far % 7ent; but % found myself in su9h a perple ing, su9h a painful, su9h an e traordinary situation, that % dared e>erything toes9ape it5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat did you do?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% sought to 7ound him so deeply that he 7ould lea>e me fore>er5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Apparently you ha>e not su99eeded5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Of 9ourse not; that method ne>er does su99eed5 On the 9ontrary, it often brings about a re9on9iliation5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

The ne t day, during lun9heon, he 7as sul<y, irritable, and gloomy5Then, as he 7as rising from the table, he said, E% ha>e not forgottenyour beha>ior of yesterday, and shall not let you forget it5 /ou 7ish



for 7ar, let it be 7ar; but % 7arn you that % shall 9on uer you, be9ause% am your master5E % ans7ered him, EBe it so; but if you dri>e me toe tremity, ta<e 9are,88it is not al7ays safe to ma<e a 7oman desperate5E

AC-' # D )A"DOL

spe9ially 7hen that 7oman is his 7ife5 And 7hat did he reply?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

(e did not reply in 7ords; but he treated me brutally5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Did he stri<e you?

MM 5 D #ALL'#/es and no5 (e ostled me, he s ueeFed me, he suffo9ated me5 % ha>e

bruises all along my arms, but he did not stri<e me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then 7hat did he do?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

(e hugged and embra9ed me, trying to o>er9ome my resistan9e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%s that all?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you mean by saying, E%s that all?E Don*t you thin< that isenough?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou do not understand me5 % only 7ish to <no7 7hether he stru9< you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, no5 % am not afraid of that from him; but lu9<ily % 7as able to ringthe bell5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou rang the bell?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat a thing to do= @6#miles65 And 7hen the ser>ant 9ame, did you as< him to sho7 your husband out?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6pouts6

/ou seem to find this >ery funny5AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, no, my dear Madame; it is all e 9eedingly painful to me, but %9annot help realiFing the grotes ueness of the situation5 $ardonme,88and 7hat then?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% ordered my 9arriage5 And then, as soon as oseph had gone out, myhusband said, 7ith that arrogant air 7hi9h you <no7 so 7ell in him,EToday, or to8morro788it matters not 7hi9h5E

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And that is almost all5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Almost?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es, be9ause sin9e then % ha>e lo9<ed myself in my room as soon as %heard him 9oming in5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

(a>en*t you seen him sin9e?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, yes, se>eral times, but only for a fe7 minutes ea9h time5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hat has he said to you?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Little or nothing5 (e either sneers or insolently as<s 7hether % am less

sa>age to8day5 Last night at the table he brought out a little boo<,7hi9h he read during dinner5 As % did not 7ish to appear embarrassed or an ious, and desired to maintain my dignity, % said: E/our mannersto7ard me are 9ertainly e 9eedingly 9ourteous5E (e smiled and replied:E+hat did you say?E E%t is strange that, for reading, you should 9hoosethe time that 7e are together,E % said5 (e ans7ered: EGreat hea>ens= %tis all your fault, sin9e you do not 9are to be amiable5 Besides, thislittle boo< is >ery interesting5 %t is the Ci>il Code5 $erhaps you 7ouldli<e to be9ome a9 uainted 7ith some 9lauses in it5 They 7ould 9ertainlyinterest you5E Then he read me the la7 9on9erning marriage; the dutiesof a 7ife and the rights of a husband5 Then he loo<ed me full in thefa9e, and as<ed me 7hether % understood5 % ans7ered in the same tonethat % understood too mu9h,88espe9ially did % understand the <ind of man% had married5 Then % 7ent out and % ha>e not seen him sin9e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

(a>en*t you seen him to8day?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o5 (e lun9hed alone5 As for myself, % ha>e thought o>er the situation,and ha>e de9ided not to meet him 6tete8a8tete6 any more5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

But are you uite sure that at bottom his attitude is not indu9ed byanger, by 7ounded >anity, by disappointment, and perhaps by a little

bra>ado? $ossibly he 7ill beha>e himself better in future5 To8night heis at the Opera5 The #antelli has s9ored a great su99ess in EMahomet,E



and % thin< she has in>ited him to supper after the performan9e5 "o7, if the supper is >ery mu9h to his taste, he 7ill probably be in good humor 7hen he 9omes home5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh= (o7 pro>o<ing you are5 Can*t you understand that % am in the po7er of this man, that % belong to him e>en more than his >alet or his dog,

be9ause he has those abominable legal rights o>er me? The Code, your barbarous Code, puts me entirely in his po7er 7ithout any possibledefense on my part; sa>e a9tually <illing me, he 9an do e>erything5Can*t you understand that? Can*t you realiFe the horror of my situation?%magine, sa>e a9tual murder, he 9an do anything to me, and he has thestrength88not only physi9al but legal88to obtain anything from me5 And%, % ha>e not a single a>enue of es9ape from a man 7hom % despise andhate5 And that is the la7 made by you men= (e too< me, married me,

deserted me5 On my part, % ha>e an absolutely moral right to lea>e him5And yet, despite this righteous hatred, this o>erpo7ering disgust, thisloathing 7hi9h 9reeps through me in the presen9e of the man 7ho hass9orned me, de9ei>ed me, and 7ho has fluttered, right under my eyes,from girl to girl88this man, % say, has the right to demand from me ashameful and infamous 9on9ession5 % ha>e no right to hide myself; % ha>eno right e>en to a <ey to my o7n door5 >erything belongs to him88the<ey, the door, and e>en the 7oman 7ho hates him5 %t is monstrous= Canyou imagine su9h a horrible situation? That a 7oman should not bemistress of herself, should not e>en ha>e the sa9red right of preser>ingher person from a loathsome stain? And all this is the 9onse uen9e of the infamous la7 7hi9h you men ha>e made=

AC-' # D )A"DOL @6appealingly6

My darling= % fully understand 7hat you must be suffering; but ho7 9an %help it? "o magistrate 9an prote9t you; no statute 9an preser>e you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% <no7 it5 But 7hen you ha>e neither mother nor father to prote9t you,7hen the la7 is against you, and 7hen you shrin< from 9ompli9ity inthose degrading transa9tions to 7hi9h many 7omen yield themsel>es, thereis al7ays one means of es9ape5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And that?

MM 5 D #ALL'#



!light5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/ou mean to say88

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!light5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Alone?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o887ith you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ith me= Are you dreaming?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"o; so mu9h the better5 The s9andal of it 7ill pre>ent him from ta<ingme ba9<5 % ha>e gained 9ourage no75 #in9e he for9es me to dishonor, %shall see that that dishonor is 9omplete and o>er7helming88e>en thoughit be the 7orse for him and for me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh= Be7are, be7are, my darling= /ou are in one of those moments of e altation and ner>ous e 9itement in 7hi9h a 7oman sometimes 9ommits afolly that is irreparable5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, % 7ould rather 9ommit su9h a folly and ruin myself88if that beruin88than e pose myself to the infamous struggle 7ith 7hi9h ea9h day %am threatened5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Madeline, hear me5 /ou are in a terrible situation, but for God*s sa<edo not thro7 yourself into one that is irretrie>able5 Be 9alm, % implore



you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, 7hat do you ad>ise?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% do not <no7; 7e shall see5 But % do not, % 9annot, ad>ise you to>enture on a s9andal 7hi9h 7ill put you outside the pale of so9iety5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, yes, there is another la7, an un7ritten la7 7hi9h permits one toha>e lo>ers, e>en though it be shameful, be9ause @6sar9asti9ally6 itdoes not outrage so9iety5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

That is not the uestion5 The thing is to a>oid ta<ing up a 7rong position in your uarrel 7ith your husband5 (a>e you de9ided to lea>ehim?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

!inally and fore>er?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Do you mean for 6all6 time?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!or 6all6 time5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, no7, be 9autious; be 9areful and 9unning; guard your reputation



and your name5 Ma<e neither 9ommotion nor s9andal, and a7ait your opportunity5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6ironi9ally6

And must % 9ontinue to be >ery 9harming 7hen he returns to me, and beready for all his fan9ies?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, Madeline, % spea< to you in the truest friendship5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6bitterly6

%n the truest friendship=

AC-' # D )A"DOL/ea, as a friend 7ho lo>es you far too dearly to ad>ise you to 9ommitany folly5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And lo>es me ust enough to ad>ise me to be 9omplaisant to a man %despise5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%= "e>er, ne>er5 My most ardent desire is to be 7ith you fore>er5 Get adi>or9e, and then if you still lo>e me, let us 7ed5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, yes, yes88t7o years from no75 Certainly, you 6are6 a patient lo>er=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

But supposing % 7ere to 9arry you off, he 7ould ta<e you ba9< to8morro7;7ould shut you up in his house, and 7ould ne>er get a di>or9e lest youshould be9ome my 7ife5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, do you mean to say % 9ould fly no7here but to your house, that %9ould not hide myself in su9h fashion that he 7ould ne>er find me?



AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es, you 9ould hide yourself, but it 7ould be ne9essary for you to li>eabroad under another name, or buried in the 9ountry, till death5 That isthe 9urse of our lo>e5 %n three months you 7ould hate me5 % ne>er 7ill

let you 9ommit su9h a folly5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% thought you lo>ed me enough to fly 7ith me, but it seems that % ammista<en5 Adieu=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Madeline, listen to me for God*s88

MM 5 D #ALL'# a9 ues, ta<e me, or lea>e me88ans7er=AC-' # D )A"DOL

Madeline, % implore you=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

"e>er= Adieu= @6)ises and goes to the door65

AC-' # D )A"DOL

On9e more % implore you, Madeline, listen to me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, no, no; adieu= @De )andol 6ta<es her by the arms; she frees herself angrily65 'nhand me= Let me go, or % shall 9all for help=

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Call if you 7ill, but listen to me5 % 7ould not that you should e>er beable to reproa9h me for the madness that you meditate5 God forbid thatyou should hate me, but, bound to me by this flight that you propose,you 7ould 9arry 7ith you fore>er a <een and una>ailing regret that %allo7ed you to do it5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Let me go= % despise you= Let me go=



AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, if you 7ish to fly, 7hy, let us fly5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, no, not no75 % <no7 you no75 %t is too late5 Let me go5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% ha>e done e a9tly 7hat % ought to ha>e done; % ha>e said e a9tly 7hat% ought to ha>e said; 9onse uently, % am no longer responsible for you,and you ha>e no right to reproa9h me 7ith the 9onse uen9es5 #o let usfly5

MM 5 D #ALL'#Oh, no, it is too late, and % do not 9are to a99ept sa9rifi9es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

There is no more any uestion of sa9rifi9e5 To fly 7ith you is my mostardent desire5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6astonished6

/ou are mad5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ell, suppose % am mad5 That is only natural, sin9e % lo>e you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat do you mean?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% mean 7hat % say5 % lo>e you; % ha>e nothing else to say5 Let us fly5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Ah, you 7ere altogether too 9autious ust no7 to be9ome so bra>e all aton9e5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ill you e>er understand me? Listen to me5 +hen % first realiFed that %adored you, % made a solemn >o7 9on9erning 7hat might happen bet7een youand me5 The man 7ho falls in lo>e 7ith a 7oman su9h as you, a 7oman

married yet deserted; a sla>e in fa9t yet morally free, institutes bet7een her and himself a bond 7hi9h only she 9an brea<5 The 7oman ris<se>erything5 Ay, it is ust be9ause she does this, be9ause she gi>ese>erything88her heart, her body, her soul, her honor, her life, be9auseshe has foreseen all the miseries, all the dangers, all the misfortunesthat 9an happen, be9ause she dares to ta<e so bold, and fearless a step,and be9ause she is ready and determined to haFard e>erything88a husband7ho 9ould <ill her, and a 7orld that 7ould s9orn her88it is for all thisand for the heroism of her 9on ugal infidelity, that her lo>er, inta<ing her, ought to foresee all, to guard her against e>ery ill that9an possibly happen5 % ha>e nothing more to say5 % spo<e at first as a

9alm and foreseeing man 7ho 7ished to prote9t you againste>erything88no7 % am simply and only the man 7ho lo>es you5 Order me asyou please5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

That is all >ery prettily said; but is it true?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% s7ear it=

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou 7ish to fly 7ith me?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

!rom the bottom of your heart?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

!rom the bottom of my heart5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



To8day?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es, and 7hene>er you please5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%t is no7 a uarter to eight5 My husband 7ill be 9oming in dire9tly, for 7e dine at eight5 % shall be free at half past nine or ten o*9lo9<5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+here shall % 7ait for you?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

At the end of the street in a 69oupe65 @6The bell rings65 There he is,and for the last time, than< God=

#C " %%5

6The same 9hara9ters, and6 M5 de #allus5H

M5 D #ALL'# @6enters5 To6 a9 ues de )andol, 67ho has risen to ta<e hislea>e6

+ell, you are not going again, are you? +hy, it seems that % need only9ome in to ma<e you ta<e your lea>e5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, no, my dear fello7; you don*t ma<e me go, but % must5

M5 D #ALL'#

That is ust 7hat % say5 /ou al7ays go the >ery moment % 9ome in5 Of 9ourse, % understand that a husband is less attra9ti>e than a 7ife5 But,at least, let me belie>e that 6%6 am not ob e9tionable to you5@6Laughs65

AC-' # D )A"DOL



On the 9ontrary, my dear fello7, you <no7 % li<e you5 And if you 7oulda9 uire the habit of 9oming into your o7n house 7ithout ringing the

bell, you 7ould ne>er find me ta<ing my lea>e 7hen you 9ome5

M5 D #ALL'#

(o7 is that? %s it not natural to ring the door bell?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, yes; but a ring of the bell al7ays ma<es me feel that % must go, andsurely, 9oming into your o7n house, you 9an dispense 7ith that habit5

M5 D #ALL'#

% don*t understand you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+hy, it is >ery simple5 +hen % >isit people 7hom % li<e, su9h as Madamede #allus and yourself, % do not e pe9t to meet the $aris that fluttersfrom house to house in the e>ening, gossiping and s9andaliFing5 % ha>ehad my e perien9e of gossip and tittle8tattle5 %t needs only one of these tal<ati>e dames or men to ta<e a7ay all the pleasure there is for me in >isiting the lady on 7hom % happen to ha>e 9alled5 #ometimes 7hen% am an9hored perfor9e upon my seat, % feel lost; % do not <no7 ho7 toget a7ay5 % ha>e to ta<e part in the 7hirlpool of foolish 9hatter5 %<no7 all the set uestions and ans7ers better than % do the 9ate9hismitself, and it bores me to ha>e to remain until the >ery end and hear the >ery last opinion of some fool upon the 9omedy, or the boo<, or thedi>or9e, or the marriage, or the death that is being dis9ussed5 "o7, doyou understand 7hy % al7ays get up and go at the sound of a bell?

M5 D #ALL'# @6laughs6

+hat you say is >ery true5 Dra7ing8rooms no7 are not habitable from four o*9lo9< to se>en, and our 7i>es ha>e no right to 9omplain if 7e lea>ethem to go to the 9lub5


"e>ertheless, % do not see my 7ay to re9ei>ing ballet girls, or 9horusgirls, or a9tresses, or so89alled painters, poets, musi9ians, andothers88in order to <eep you near me5

M5 D #ALL'#



% do not as< so mu9h as that5 All % desire is a fe7 7itty fello7s, some9harming 7omen, and by no means a 9ro7d5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou tal< nonsense; you 9annot pi9< and 9hoose5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, truly, you 9annot sift and strain the flo7 of idio9y that you meetin the dra7ing8rooms of to8day5

M5 D #ALL'#

+hy?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

#imply be9ause it is as it is88to8day5

M5 D #ALL'#

+hat a pity= (o7 % should lo>e the intima9y of a small and 9arefullysele9ted 9ir9le of men and 7omen5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou?

M5 D #ALL'#

/es, 7hy not?

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6laughs6

(a, ha, ha= +hat a 9harming little intimate 9ir9le you 7ould bring tome= (a, ha, ha= The fas9inating men, and the fashionable 7omen that you7ould in>ite= My dear sir, it is % 7ho 7ould lea>e the house then5

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear girl, % only as<ed for three or four 7omen li<e yourself5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



$ray repeat that5

M5 D #ALL'#

Three or four su9h 7omen as you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%f you need four, % 9an understand ho7 you found your house lonesome5

M5 D #ALL'#

/ou understand >ery 7ell 7hat % 7ish to say, and it is not ne9essary for me to e plain myself5 And you <no7 that you need only be alone to pleaseme better than % 9ould possibly be pleased else7here5

MM 5 D #ALL'#)eally, % do not re9ogniFe you5 % am afraid you must be ill88>ery ill5/ou are not going to die, are you?

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, 9haff me as mu9h as you li<e, you 7on*t 7orry me5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And is this mood of yours going to last?

M5 D #ALL'#

!ore>er5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Men often 9hange5

M5 D #ALL'# @6turns to6 a9 ues de )andol

My dear )andol, 7ill you gi>e us the pleasure of your 9ompany at dinner to8night? /ou may help me to turn aside the epigrams that my 7ife seemsto ha>e barbed and ready for me5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

A thousand than<s, my dear #allus= /ou are >ery, >ery good, but



unfortunately, % am not free5

M5 D #ALL'#

But, my dear fello7, send your e 9uses5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% 9annot5

M5 D #ALL'#

Are you dining in to7n?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

/es, 7ell88not altogether5 % ha>e an appointment at nine o*9lo9<5M5 D #ALL'#

%s it >ery important?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

.ery important

M5 D #ALL'#

+ith a lady?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

My dear fello7, 7hat a uestion=

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, % am dis9reet= But that need not pre>ent you from dining 7ith us5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Than< you, my dear fello7, % 9annot5

M5 D #ALL'#

/ou <no7 you 9an go a7ay 7hen you 7ish5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

But % am not in e>ening dress5

M5 D #ALL'#

% 9an easily send for your things5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, truly, than< you; % 9annot5

M5 D #ALL'# @6to6 Mme5 de #allus

My dear girl, 7on*t you <eep )andol?

MM 5 D #ALL'#+hy as< me? /ou <no7 that % ha>e no influen9e o>er him5

M5 D #ALL'#

/ou are 9harming enough to influen9e the 7orld this e>ening, so 7hy9an*t you ma<e him stay?

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Good gra9ious= % 9annot ma<e my friends stay in order to please you, and<eep them in your house against their 7ish5 Bring 6your6 friends5

M5 D #ALL'#

+ell, % shall remain at home this e>ening in any 9ase, and 7e shall then be 6tete8a8tete65

MM 5 D #ALL'#

)eally?

M5 D #ALL'#

/es5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou 7ill be at home all the e>ening?



M5 D #ALL'#

All the e>ening5


Good gra9ious= (o7 you surprise me88and ho7 you honor me=

M5 D #ALL'#

"o, it is a pleasure to be 7ith you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat a 9harming mood you are in to8night=

M5 D #ALL'#

"o7 as< )andol to remain5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

My dear sir, Monsieur de )andol 7ill do as he pleases5 (e <no7s that %am al7ays glad to see him5 @6)ises, and after refle9ting for a se9ond65+ill you dine 7ith us, Monsieur de )andol? /ou <no7 you 9an go dire9tlyafter dinner5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ith the greatest pleasure, Madame5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

9use my absen9e for a minute5 %t is eight o*9lo9<, and % must gi>esome ne7 dire9tions for dinner5

@6 it6 Mme5 de #allus5

#C " %%%5

M5 de #allus 6and6 M5 a9 ues de )andol5H



M5 D #ALL'#

My dear fello7, you 7ill do me the greatest ser>i9e if you 7ill pass the7hole e>ening here5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

But % ha>e told you that % 9annot5

M5 D #ALL'#

%s it altogether88absolutely88impossible?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Absolutely5

M5 D #ALL'#

% most earnestly as< you to remain5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And 7hy?

M5 D #ALL'#

!or the best of reasons88be9ause88be9ause % 7ant to ma<e pea9e 7ith my7ife5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

$ea9e? %s there a rupture bet7een you?

M5 D #ALL'#

"ot a >ery great one, but you <no7 7hat you ha>e seen this e>ening5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

%s it your fault or hers?

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, mine, % suppose5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

The de>il=

M5 D #ALL'#

% ha>e had annoyan9es outside, serious annoyan9es, and they ha>e made me bad8tempered, so mu9h so that % ha>e been unpleasant and aggressi>e inmy beha>ior to7ard her5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

But % don*t see ho7 a third party 9an 9ontribute to7ard pea9e bet7eenyou5

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear fello7, you 7ill enable me to ma<e her understand in an indire9tmanner, 7hile a>oiding all indeli9ate and 7ounding e planations, that myideas 9on9erning life ha>e altogether 9hanged5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then you 7ish to be88to be88re9on9iled to her altogether?

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, no, no, no88on the 9ontrary88

AC-' # D )A"DOL

$ardon me, % do not understand you5

M5 D #ALL'#

Listen: % 7ish to establish and maintain a 6status uo6 of a pa9ifi9neutrality88a sort of $latoni9 pea9e5 @6Laughs65 But % am going intodetails that 9annot interest you5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

$ardon me again5 !rom the moment that you as< me to play a part in this>ery interesting affair, % must <no7 e a9tly 7hat part % am to play5

M5 D #ALL'#



+hy, ust a 9on9iliatory role5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Then you 7ish to 9on9lude a pea9e 7ithout restri9tions for yourself?

M5 D #ALL'#

"o7 you ha>e it5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

That is to say, that, after the disappointments and annoyan9es of 7hi9hyou ha>e ust told me, and 7hi9h % presume are ended, you 7ish to ha>e

pea9e at home and yet be free to en oy any happiness that you maya9 uire outside5

M5 D #ALL'#

Let me go farther5 My dear fello7, the present situation bet7een my 7ifeand myself is >ery mu9h strained, and % ne>er 9are to find myself alone7ith her altogether, be9ause my position is a false one5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, in that 9ase, my dear fello7, % 7ill remain5

M5 D #ALL'#

All the e>ening?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

All the e>ening5

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear De )andol, you are indeed a friend= % shall ne>er forget it5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, ne>er mind that5 @6A short silen9e65 +ere you at the Opera lastnight?

M5 D #ALL'#





AC-' # D )A"DOL

+ere there many of you?

M5 D #ALL'#

"o, about a doFen5 /ou <no7 she is rather parti9ular5

AC-' # D )A"DOL5

%t is pleasant to be intimate 7ith her, is it not?

M5 D #ALL'#

uisite= And then, you <no7, she is a 7oman in a million5 % do not<no7 7hether you agree 7ith me, but % find there are so fe7 7omen that

are really 7omen5AC-' # D )A"DOL @6laughs6

% ha>e found that out5

M5 D #ALL'#

/es, and you ha>e found out that there are 7omen 7ho ha>e a feminineair, but 7ho are not 7omen5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

plain yourself5

M5 D #ALL'#

Good gra9ious= Our so9iety 7omen, 7ith >ery rare e 9eptions, are simply pi9tures; they are pretty; they are distinguished; but they 9harm youonly in their dra7ing8rooms5 The part they play 9onsists entirely inma<ing men admire their dress, their dainty 7ays, all of 7hi9h areassumed5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Men lo>e them, ne>ertheless5

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, >ery rarely, my dear fello75



AC-' # D )A"DOL

$ardon me=

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, yes, dreamers do5 But men88real men88men 7ho are passionate, men 7hoare positi>e, men 7ho are tender, do not lo>e the so9iety 7oman of to8day, sin9e she is in9apable of lo>e5 My dear fello7, loo< around you5/ou see intrigues88e>eryone sees them; but 9an you lay your finger upona single real lo>e affair88a lo>e that is disinterested, su9h a lo>e asthere used to be88inspired by a single 7oman of our a9 uaintan9e? Don*t% spea< the truth? %t flatters a man to ha>e a mistress88it flattershim, it amuses him, and then it tires him5 But turn to the other pi9tureand loo< at the 7oman of the stage5 There is not one 7ho has not at

least fi>e or si lo>e affairs on the 9arpet; idioti9 follies, 9ausing ban<rupt9y, s9andal, and sui9ides5 Men lo>e them; yes, they lo>e these7omen be9ause these 7omen <no7 ho7 to inspire lo>e, and be9ause they arelo>ing 7omen5 /es, indeed, 6they6 <no7 ho7 to 9on uer men; theyunderstand the sedu9tion of a smile; they <no7 ho7 to attra9t, seiFe,and 7rap us up in their hearts, ho7 to ensla>e us 7ith a loo<, and theyneed not be beautiful at that5 They ha>e a 9on uering po7er that 7ene>er find in our 7i>es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And the #antelli is a sedu9tress of this <ind?

M5 D #ALL'#

#he is first among the first= Ah, the 9unning little 9o uette= 6#he6 <no7s ho7 to ma<e men run after her5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Does she do only that?

M5 D #ALL'#

A 7oman of that sort does not gi>e herself the trouble of ma<ing men runafter her unless she has some further ob e9t in >ie75

AC-' # D )A"DOL

The de>il= /ou ma<e me belie>e you attend t7o first nights in the same



e>ening5

M5 D #ALL'#

My dear boy, don*t imagine su9h a thing5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Great hea>ens= you ha>e su9h a satisfied and triumphant air88an air sodesirous of 9alm at home5 %f % am de9ei>ed % am sorry88for your sa<e5

M5 D #ALL'#

+ell, 7e 7ill assume that you are de9ei>ed and88

#C " %.5

6The same, and6 Mme5 de #allus5H

M5 D #ALL'# @6gaily6

+ell, my dear, a9 ues remains5 (e has 9onsented for my sa<e5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% 9ongratulate you5 And ho7 did you a9hie>e that mira9le?

M5 D #ALL'#

Oh, easily enough, in the 9ourse of 9on>ersation5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

And of 7hat ha>e you been tal<ing?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Of the happiness that 9omes to a man 7ho remains uietly at home5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

That sort of happiness has but little attra9tion for me5 % li<e thee 9itement of tra>el5



AC-' # D )A"DOL

There is a time for e>erything; and tra>el is >ery often inopportune and>ery in9on>enient5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

But ho7 about that important appointment of yours at nine o*9lo9<? (a>eyou gi>en it up altogether, Monsieur de )andol?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% ha>e, Madame5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

/ou are >ery 9hangeable5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, no, % am simply adapting myself to 9ir9umstan9es5

M5 D #ALL'#

+ill you pardon me if % 7rite a note? @6#its at des< at the other end of the dra7ing8room56

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6to6 a9 ues de )andol

+hat has happened?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, nothing; e>erything is all right5

MM , D #ALL'#

+hen do 7e go?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"ot at all5

MM 5 D #ALL'#



Are you mad? +hy?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

$lease don*t as< me no7 about it5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

% am sure that he is laying a trap for us5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"ot at all5 (e is >ery uiet, >ery 9ontented, and has absolutely nosuspi9ion5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Then 7hat does it all mean?

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o7, be 9alm5 (e is happy, % tell you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

That is not true5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

% tell you it is5 (e has made me the 9onfidant of all his happiness5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%t is ust a tri9<; he 7ishes to 7at9h us5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, no; he is 9onfiding and 9on9iliatory5 The only fear he has is of you5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Of me?

AC-' # D )A"DOL



/es; in the same 7ay that you are, all the time, afraid of him5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Great hea>ens= /ou ha>e lost your head5 /ou are tal<ing at random5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Listen88% am sure that he intends to go out this e>ening5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

+ell, in that 9ase, let us go out too5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

"o, no,88% tell you there is nothing more for us to fear5MM 5 D #ALL'#

+hat nonsense= /ou 7ill end by maddening me 7ith your blindness5

M5 D #ALL'# @6from the other end of the dra7ing8room6

My dear, % ha>e some good ne7s for you5 % ha>e been able to get another night at the Opera for you e>ery 7ee<5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

)eally, it is >ery good of you to afford me the opportunity of applauding Madame #antelli so often5

M5 D #ALL'# @6from the same pla9e6

+ell, she is >ery 9le>er5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

And e>erybody says she is 9harming5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6irritably6

/es; it is only su9h 7omen 7ho please men5

AC-' # D )A"DOL



/ou are un ust5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Oh, my dear )andol; it is only for su9h 7omen that men 9ommit follies,

and @6sar9asti9ally6 , understand me, the measure of a man*s folly isoften the measure of his lo>e5

M5 D #ALL'# @6from the same pla9e6

Oh, no, my dear girl,88men do not marry them, and marriage is the onlyreal folly that a man 9an 9ommit 7ith a 7oman5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

A beautiful idea, truly, 7hen a 7oman has to endure all man*s 9apri9es5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Oh, no, not ha>ing anything to lose, they ha>e nothing to ris<5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

Ah, men are sad 9reatures= They marry a young girl be9ause she is demureand self89ontained, and they lea>e her on the morro7 to dangle after agirl 7ho is not young and 7ho 9ertainly is not demure, her 9hief attra9tion being that all the ri9h and 7ell8<no7n men about to7n ha>e atone time been in her fa>or5 The more danglers she has after her, themore she is esteemed, the more she is sought after, and the more she isrespe9ted; that is to say, 7ith that <ind of $arisian respe9t 7hi9ha99rues to a 7oman in the degree of her notoriety88a notoriety dueeither to the s9andal she 9reates, or the s9andal men 9reate about her5Ah, yes, you men are so ni9e in these things=

M5 D #ALL'# @6laughs gently6

Ta<e 9are= One 7ould thin< you 7ere ealous5

MM 5 D #ALL'#

%? ealous? !or 7hom do you ta<e me? @6The butler announ9es65 Madame isser>ed5 @6(ands a letter to6 M5 de #allus5

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6to6 a9 ues de )andol

/our arm, M5 a9 ues de )andol5



AC-' # D )A"DOL @6in a lo7 tone6

(o7 % lo>e you=

MM 5 D #ALL'# @6indifferently6

ust a little, % suppose5

AC-' # D )A"DOL

Ah, no; 7ith all my soul=

M5 D #ALL'# @6after reading his letter6

Come along, then, let us go to dinner5 % ha>e to go out this e>ening5

6Curtain56

M'#OTT

O)

A C)%T%CAL #%T'AT%O"

A COM D/ %" T() ACT#

M'#OTT

D)AMAT%# $ )#O"A

A" MA)T%" L



"ephe7 of M5 Martinel, a painter; not yet thirty years of age, butalready 7ell <no7n and the re9ipient of >arious honors5

L O" D $ T%T$)

Brother to Gilberts Martinel, a young la7yer about thirty years of age5

M5 MA)T%" L

An old gunma<er of (a>re, aged fifty8fi>e5

M5 D $ T%T$)

An old magistrate, offi9er of the Legion of (onor5 Aged si ty5

D)5 $ LL )%"

A fashionable physi9ian of about thirty8fi>e5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

#ister to M5 de $etitpre, about fifty8fi>e years of age5

( ")% TT L . -'

"i9<named Musotte; a little model, formerly ean Martinel*s mistress5T7enty8t7o years of age5

MM 5 !LAC(

A mid7ife5 !ormerly a ballet8dan9er at the Opera5 About thirty8fi>eyears of age5

G%LB )T MA)T%" L

Daughter of M5 and Mme5 de $etitpre, married in the morning to eanMartinel5 About t7enty years old5



L%# BAB%"

A nurse, about t7enty8si 5

# ).A"T#

6Time: $aris of to8day5 The first and third a9ts ta<e pla9e in6 M5 de$etitpre*s 6dra7ing8room5

The se9ond a9t ta<es pla9e in6 Musotte*s 6bed9hamber65

A9t %

#C " %5

6A ri9hly yet 9lassi9ally furnished dra7ing8room in6 M5 de $etitpre*shouse5 6A table6, C5; 6sofas6, )5; 69hairs and arm9hairs6, L5 6+idedoors6, C5, 6opening upon a terra9e or gallery5 Doors6 )5 6and6 L5 6of6 C5 6Lighted lamps65H

6 nter from6 )5 M5 de $etitpre, Monsieur Martinel, Madame de )on9hard,Leon de $etitpre, ean 6and6 Gilberte5 Gilberte 6is in her bridalattire, but 7ithout 7reath and >eil65

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6after bo7ing to6 M5 Martinel, 67hose arm sherelin uishes, seats herself6 )5

Gilberte, Gilberte=

G%LB )T @6lea>es ean*s arm6

+hat is it, Auntie?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

The 9offee, my dear 9hild5

G%LB )T @6goes to the table6

% 7ill gi>e you some, Auntie5



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Don*t soil your go7n5

L O" @69omes up6

"o, no, not to8day shall my sister ser>e 9offee5 The day of her marriage= "o, indeed, % 7ill ta<e 9are of that5 @6To6 Mme5 de )on9hard5/ou <no7 that % am a la7yer, my dear Aunt, and therefore 9an doe>erything5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, % <no7 your abilities, Leon, and % appre9iate them88

L O" @6smiles, and gi>es his Aunt a 9up of 9offee6

/ou are too good5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6ta<ing 9up, dryly6

!or 7hat they are 7orth5

L O" @6aside, turns to the table6

There she goes again88another little slap at me= That is ne>er 7anting5@6offers a 9up to6 Martinel5 /ou 7ill ta<e a small 9up, 7on*t you, M5Martinel, and a nip of old brandy 7ith it? % <no7 your tastes5 +e 7illta<e good 9are of you5

MA)T%" L

Than< you, Leon5

L O" @6to6 $etitpre

+ill you ha>e a 9up, father?

$ T%T$)

% 7ill, my son5

L O" @6to the ne7ly married 9ouple, seated L5 and tal<ing aside6

And you, you bridal pair there? @6The 9ouple, absorbed in ea9h other, donot ans7er56 Oh, % suppose 7e must not bother you5 @6(e sets 9up do7n



on the table6 5

$ T%T$) @6to6 Martinel

/ou don*t smo<e, % belie>e?

MA)T%" L

"e>er, than< you5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/ou astonish me= My brother and Leon 7ould not miss smo<ing ea9h day for anything in the 7orld5 But 7hat an abomination a 9igar is=

$ T%T$)

A deli9ious abomination, Clarisse5

L O" @6turns to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

Almost all abominations are deli9ious, Auntie; in fa9t many of them, tomy personal <no7ledge, are e uisite5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/ou naughty fello7=

$ T%T$) @6ta<es6 Leon*s 6arm6

Come and smo<e in the billiard8room, sin9e your aunt ob e9ts to it here5

L O" @6to6 $etitpre

The day 7hen she 7ill lo>e anything e 9ept her spaniels88

$ T%T$)

(old your tongue and 9ome along5 @6 it6 C5

MA)T%" L @6to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

This is the sort of marriage that % li<e88a marriage that, in this $arisof yours, you don*t ha>e >ery often5 After the 7edding brea<fast, 7hi9hta<es pla9e dire9tly after you 9ome from the 9hur9h, all the guests gohome, e>en the maids of honor and the ushers5 The married 9ouple remain



at home and dine 7ith their parents or relati>es5 %n the e>ening they play billiards or 9ards, ust as on an ordinary night; the ne7ly married9ouple entertain ea9h other5 @Gilberte 6and6 ean 6rise, and hand inhand slo7ly retire6 C5 Then, before midnight, good night=

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6aside6

+hi9h is altogether >ery 6bourgeois6=

MA)T%" L @6sits6 )5 6upon the sofa beside6 Mme5 de )on9hard

As to ne7ly married 9ouples88instead of going on that absurd andtraditional thing you 9all a honeymoon, it is far better for them to goat on9e to the apartment or house prepared for them5 % dare say you 7illthin< my plan la9<ing in fashion and display, but % 9annot help that5!or myself, % must say that % li<e absen9e of all ostentation5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/our plan is not a99ording to the 9ustoms of polite so9iety, Monsieur5

MA)T%" L

$olite so9iety, indeed= +hy, there are thirty8si different <inds of polite so9iety5 !or instan9e, ta<e (a>re5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6interrupts6

% <no7 only ours5 @6Corre9ts herself56 That is, % mean to say, mine,7hi9h is the 9orre9t one5

MA)T%" L

Oh, naturally, naturally= "e>ertheless, simple as it may be, thismarriage is an a9<no7ledged fa9t, and % hope that you ha>e ta<en intoyour good boo<s my dear nephe7, 7ho, until no788

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

% 9an hardly help doing so sin9e he is my brother*s son8in8la7, and mynie9e*s husband5

MA)T%" L

+ell, that is not the only thing, is it? % am >ery happy that the affair is o>er88although my life has been spent in the midst of diffi9ulties5



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+hat= /our life?

MA)T%" L

% mean 9ommer9ial diffi9ulties, not matrimonial5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+hat 9ommer9ial diffi9ulties 9an you ha>e88you, a Croesus 7ho has ustgi>en fi>e hundred thousand fran9s in do7ry to his nephe75 @6+ith asigh56 !i>e hundred thousand fran9s= ust 7hat my late husbands uandered5

MA)T%" LOh= /es, % <no7 that, Madame de )on9hard5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6sighs again6

% 7as ruined and deserted after ust one year of married life,Monsieur88one year5 % ust had time to realiFe ho7 happy % 9ould be, for the s9oundrel, the 7ret9h, <ne7 ho7 to ma<e me lo>e him5

MA)T%" L

Then he 7as a s9oundrel?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh= Monsieur, he 7as a man of fashion5

MA)T%" L

+ell, that did not pre>ent him from88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, don*t let us tal< any more about my misfortunes5 %t 7ould be toolong and too sad, and e>erybody else is so happy here ust no75

MA)T%" L

And % am happier than anybody else, % assure you5 My nephe7 is su9h a



good fello75 % lo>e him as % 7ould a son5 "o7, as for myself, % made myfortune in trade88


That is >ery e>ident5

MA)T%" L @6resumes6

%n the sea8going trade5 But my nephe7 7ill gain fame for our name by hisreno7n as an artist; the only differen9e bet7een us is that he ma<es hisfortune 7ith his brushes, and % ha>e made mine 7ith ships5 Art, to8day,Madame, may be as important as trade, but it is less profitable5 Ta<e mynephe75 Although he has made a >ery early su99ess, it is % 7ho ha>eenabled him to5 +hen my poor brother died, his 7ife follo7ing him almostimmediately, % found myself, 7hile uite a young man, left alone 7ith

this baby5 +ell, % made him learn e>erything that % 9ould5 (e studied9hemistry, musi9, and literature, but he had a leaning to7ard art morethan to the other things5 % assure you that % en9ouraged him in it, andyou see ho7 he has su99eeded5 (e is only ust thirty, is 7ell <no7n, andhas ust been de9orated5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6dryly6

Thirty years old, and only ust de9orated; that is slo7 for an artist5

MA)T%" L

$sha7= (e 7ill ma<e up for lost time5 @6)ises6 But % am afraid % amgetting boastful5 /ou must pardon me, % am a plain man, and ust no7 alittle e hilarated by dining5 %t is all $etitpre*s fault5 (is Burgundyis e 9ellent5 %t is a 7ine that you may say is a friend to 7isdom5 And7e are a99ustomed to drin< a good deal at (a>re5 @6Ta<es up his glass of

brandy and finishes it56


#urely that is enough about (a>re5

MA)T%" L @6turns to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

+ell, there is a treaty bet7een us88a treaty 7hi9h 7ill last887hi9h nofoolishness 9an brea<, su9h as that 7hi9h has failed to brea< thismarriage5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6rises and 9rosses6 L5



!oolishness= /ou spea< >ery lightly about it5 But no7 that the marriageis a thing a99omplished, it is all right5 % had destined my nie9e for another sphere than a painter*s 7orld5 (o7e>er, 7hen you 9an*t get athrush, eat a bla9<bird, as the pro>erb says5

MA)T%" L

But a 7hite bla9<bird, Madame, for your nie9e is a pearl5 Let me tellyou, the happiness of these 9hildren 7ill be the happiness of myde9lining years5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

% 7ish that it may be, Monsieur, 7ithout daring to hope for it5

MA)T%" L "e>er mind5 There are t7o things on 7hi9h % am an e pert88the merits of 7omen and of 7ine5


spe9ially upon the latter5

MA)T%" L

They are the only t7o things 7orth <no7ing in life5

#C " %%5

6The same 9hara9ters and6 $etitpre 67ho enters6 C, 67ith6 Leon5H

$ T%T$)

"o7 that this red8letter day has gone by as any other day goes, 7ill you play a game of billiards 7ith me, Monsieur Martinel?

MA)T%" L

Most 9ertainly, % am >ery fond of billiards5

L O" @69omes do7n stage6



/ou are li<e my father5 %t seems to me that 7hen anyone begins to li<e billiards at all, they be9ome infatuated 7ith the game; and you t7o people are t7o of a <ind5

MA)T%" L

My son, 7hen a man gro7s old, and has no family, he has to ta<e refugein su9h pleasures as these5 %f you ta<e bait8fishing as your di>ersionin the morning and billiards for the afternoon and e>ening, you ha>e t7o<inds of amusement that are both 7orthy and attra9ti>e5

L O"

Oh, ho= Bait8fishing, indeed= That means to say, getting up early andsitting 7ith your feet in the 7ater through 7ind and rain in the hope of

9at9hing, perhaps ea9h uarter of an hour, a fish about the siFe of amat9h5 And you 9all that an attra9ti>e pastime?

MA)T%" L

% do, 7ithout a doubt5 But do you belie>e that there is a single lo>er in the 7orld 9apable of doing as mu9h for his mistress throughout ten,t7el>e, or fifteen years of life? %f you as<ed my opinion, % thin< he7ould gi>e it up at the end of a fortnight5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Of a truth; he 7ould5

L O" @6interrupts6

$ardon me, % should gi>e it up at the end of a 7ee<5

MA)T%" L

/ou spea< sensibly5

$ T%T$)

Come along, my dear fello75

MA)T%" L

#hall 7e play fifty up?



$ T%T$)

!ifty up 7ill do5

MA)T%" L @6turns to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

+e shall see you again shortly, Madame5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, % ha>e had enough of (a>re for the present5

@6 it6 Martinel 6and6 $etitpre C5

#C " %%%5

Leon 6and6 Mme5 de )on9hard5H

L O"

Martinel is a good fello75 "ot a man of 9ulture, but bright as sunshineand straight as a rule5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6seated6 L5

(e is la9<ing in distin9tion of manner5

L O" @6inad>ertently6

(o7 about yourself, Aunt?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+hat do you mean?

L O" @69orre9ts himself and approa9hes6 Mme5 de )on9hard

% said, ho7 about yourself? /ou <no7 7hat % mean88you ha>e su9h anintimate <no7ledge of the 7orld that you are a better udge of humannature than anyone % <no75

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D



%ndeed, % am5 /ou 7ere too small a boy to re9olle9t it, butne>ertheless, % 7ent a great deal into so9iety before my husband spentall my money, and let me tell you that % 7as a great su99ess5 !or instan9e, at a grand ball gi>en by the Tur<ish ambassador, at 7hi9h %7as dressed as #alammbo88

L O" @6interrupts6

+hat, you, the Carthaginian prin9ess?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Certainly5 +hy not? Let me tell you that % 7as greatly admired, for myappearan9e 7as e uisite5 My dear, that 7as in eighteen hundred andsi ty88

L O" @6sits near6 Mme5 de )on9hardOh, no dates= for goodness sa<e, no dates=

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

%t is not ne9essary to be sar9asti95

L O"

+hat= %, sar9asti9? God forbid= %t is simply this: in >ie7 of the fa9tthat you did not 7ish this marriage to ta<e pla9e, and that % did, andthat the marriage has ta<en pla9e, % feel >ery happy5 Do you understandme? %t is a triumph for me, and % must 9onfess that % feel >erytriumphant this e>ening5 Tomorro7, ho7e>er, >anish the triumpher, andthere 7ill remain only your affe9tionate little nephe75 Come, smile,Auntie5 At heart you are not as ill8natured as you pretend to be, andthat is pro>ed by the generosity of soul you ha>e e>in9ed in founding at

"euilly, despite your modest means, a hospital for88lost dogs=

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+hat else 9ould % do5 +hen a 7oman is alone and has no 9hildren88and %7as married su9h a short time88do you <no7 7hat % am, after all? #implyan old maid, and li<e all old maids88

L O" @6finishes the senten9e for her6

/ou lo>e toy dogs5



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

As mu9h as % hate men5

L O"

/ou mean to say one man5 +ell, % 9ould hardly blame you for hating him5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And you <no7 for 7hat <ind of girl he abandoned and ruined me5 /ou ne>er sa7 her, did you?

L O"

$ardon me, % did see her on9e in the Champs8 lysees5 % 7as 7al<ing 7ith

you and my father5 A gentleman and lady 9ame to7ard us; you be9amee 9ited, ui9<ened your steps, and 9lut9hed ner>ously at my father*sarm, and % heard you say in a lo7 >oi9e, EDon*t loo< at them; it isshe=E

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And 7hat 7ere you doing?

L O"

%?88% 7as loo<ing at him5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6rises6

And you thought her horrible, didn*t you?

L O"

% really don*t <no75 /ou <no7 % 7as only ele>en years old5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @69rosses6 )5

/ou are insufferable= Go a7ay, or % shall stri<e you5

L O" @6soothingly, and rising6

There, there, Aunt, % 7on*t do it again5 % 7ill be good, % promise you,if you 7ill forgi>e me5





MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

There are other <inds of engineers5 Then, abo>e all, she should not ha>emarried a handsome man5

L O"

Do you reproa9h ean for his good loo<s? %f you do, my dear Aunt, thereare a good many men in the 7orld 7ho must plead guilty5 #uppose, e>en,that a man has no need of good loo<s, it does not follo7 that he oughtto be ugly5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6sits on a little stool by the table, 9lasps her hands, and loo<s up7ard6

My husband 7as handsome, nay, superb, a >eritable guardsman88and % <no7

ho7 mu9h it 9ost me5L O"

%t might ha>e 9ost you a great deal more if he had been ugly= @Mme5 de)on9hard 6rises to go a7ay65 Besides ean is not only good8loo<ing buthe is good5 (e is not >ain, but modest; and he has genius, 7hi9h ismanifesting itself more and more e>ery day5 (e 7ill 9ertainly attainmembership in the %nstitute5 That 7ould please you, 7ould it not? That7ould be 7orth more than a simple engineer; and, moreo>er, e>ery 7omanfinds him 9harming, e 9ept you5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

That*s the >ery thing for 7hi9h % blame him5 (e is too good and toohonest5 (e has already painted the portraits of a 9ro7d of 7omen, and he7ill 9ontinue to do that5 They 7ill be alone 7ith him in his studio for hours at a time, and e>erybody <no7s 7hat goes on in those studios5

L O"

/ou ha>e been a99ustomed to go there, my dear Aunt?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6dreamily6

Oh, yes5 @6Corre9ts herself65 % mean to say, on9e % 7ent to (ora9e.ernet*s studio5

L O"



The painter of battle s9enes=

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, 7hat % say of ean, % say of all artists88that they ought not to

be allo7ed to marry into a family of la7yers and magistrates, su9h asours5 #u9h doings al7ays bring trouble5 % as< you as a man, is it possible to be a good husband under su9h 9onditions88among a 9ro7d of 7omen 9ontinually around you 7ho do nothing but unrobe and re8dressthemsel>es, 7hether they be 9lients or models 6pointedly6H, espe9iallymodels? @Mme5 de )on9hard 6rises and6 Leon 6is silent65 % said

6models6, Leon5

L O"

% understand you, Aunt5 /ou ma<e a >ery pointed and deli9ate allusion to

ean*s past5 +ell, 7hat of it? %f he did ha>e one of his models for amistress, he lo>ed her, and lo>ed her sin9erely for three years88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/ou mean to tell me a man 9an lo>e su9h 7omen?

L O"

>ery 7oman 9an be lo>ed, my dear Aunt; and this 7oman 9ertainlydeser>ed to be lo>ed more than most 7omen5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

A great thing, truly, for a model to be pretty= That is the essentialthing, % should thin<5

L O"

+hether it be essential or not, it is ne>ertheless >ery ni9e to be pretty5 But this girl 7as better than pretty, for she had a nature 7hi9h7as e 9eptionally tender, good, and sin9ere5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, then, 7hy did he lea>e her?

L O"

+hat= Can you as< me su9h a uestion?88you, 7ho <no7 so mu9h about the



7orld and the 7orld*s opinions? @6!olds his arms65 +ould you ad>o9atefree lo>e?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6indignantly6

/ou <no7 % 7ould not5

L O" @6seriously6

Listen5 The truth is, that it happened to ean as it has happened tomany others besides him88that is to say, there 7as a pretty littlenineteen8year8old girl 7hom he met, 7hom he lo>ed, and 7ith 7hom heestablished an intima9y little by little88an intima9y 7hi9h lasted one,t7o, three years88the usual duration of that sort of thing5 Then, asusually happens, there 9ame a rupture88a rupture 7hi9h is sometimes>iolent, sometimes gentle, but 7hi9h is ne>er altogether good8natured5

Then also, as usual in su9h 9ases, ea9h 7ent a separate 7ay88the eternalending, 7hi9h is al7ays prosai9, be9ause it is true to life5 But the onething that distinguishes ean*s 6liaison6 from the usual affair is thetruly admirable 9hara9ter of the girl in the 9ase5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, admirable 9hara9ter= Mademoiselle88tell me, 7hat is the name of thisyoung lady? %f you mentioned it % ha>e forgotten it5 Mademoiselle Mus88Mus88

L O"

Musotte, Auntie; little Musotte5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Musette= $sha7, that*s a >ery 9ommon name5 %t reminds me of the Latinuarter and of Bohemian life5 @6+ith disgust56 Musette=

L O"

"o, no; not Musette5 Musotte, 7ith an O instead of an 5 #he is namedMusotte be9ause of her pretty little nose; 9an*t you understand?Musotte, the name e plains itself5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @67ith 9ontempt6

Oh, yes; a 6fin8de8sie9le6 Musotte, 7hi9h is still 7orse5 Musotte is nota name5



L O"

My dear Aunt, it is only a ni9<name5 The ni9<8name of a model5 (er truename is (enriette Le>e ue5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6puFFled6

Le>e ue?

L O"

/es, Le>e ue5 +hat does this uestioning mean? %t is ust as % told you,or else % <no7 nothing about it5 "o7, (enriette Le>e ue, or Musotte, if you prefer that term, has not only been faithful to ean during the

9ourse of her lo>e affair 7ith him; has not only been de>oted andadoring, and full of a tenderness 7hi9h 7as e>er 7at9hful, but at the>ery hour of her rupture 7ith him, she ga>e proof of her greatness of soul5 #he a99epted e>erything 7ithout reproa9h, 7ithout re9rimination;the poor little girl understood e>erything88understood that all 7asfinished and finished fore>er5 +ith the intuition of a 7oman, she feltthat ean*s lo>e for my sister 7as real and deep, she bo7ed her head to9ir9umstan9es and she departed, a99epting, 7ithout a murmur, theloneliness that ean*s a9tion brought upon her5 #he 9arried her fidelityto the end, for she 7ould ha>e slain herself sooner than be9ome@6hesitating out of respe9t for6 Mme5 de )on9hard a 9ourtesan5 And this% 6<no765

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And has ean ne>er seen her sin9e?

L O"

"ot on9e; and that is more than eight months ago5 (e 7ished for ne7s of her, and he ga>e me the tas< of getting it5 % ne>er found her and % ha>ene>er been able to gain any <no7ledge of her, so 9unningly did shearrange this flight of hers88this flight 7hi9h 7as so noble and soself8sa9rifi9ing5 @6Changing his tone56 But % don*t <no7 7hy % repeatall this5 /ou <no7 it ust as 7ell as % do, for % ha>e told it to you adoFen times5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

%t is ust as in9redible at the t7entieth time as at the first5



L O"

%t is ne>ertheless the truth5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6sar9asti9ally6

+ell, if it is really the truth, you 7ere terribly 7rong in helping eanto brea< his 9onne9tion 7ith su9h an admirable 7oman5

L O"

Oh, no, Aunt, % only did my duty5 /ou ha>e e>en 9alled me hairbrained,and perhaps you 7ere right; but you <no7 that % 9an be >ery serious 7hen% 7ish5 %f this three8year8old 6liaison6 had lasted until no7, ean7ould ha>e been ruined5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, ho7 9ould 7e help that?

L O"

+ell, these things are frightful88these entanglements88% 9an*t helpusing the 7ord5 %t 7as my duty as a friend88and % 7ish to impress itupon you88to res9ue ean; and as a brother, it 7as my duty to marry mysister to su9h a man as he5 The future 7ill tell you 7hether % 7as rightor not5 @6Coa ingly56 And then, my dear Aunt, 7hen later you ha>e alittle nephe7 or a little nie9e to ta<e 9are of, to dandle in your arms,you 7ill banish all these little spaniels that you are ta<ing 9are of at

"euilly5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

The poor little darlings= %, abandon them= Don*t you <no7 that % lo>ethem as a mother lo>es her 9hildren?

L O"

Oh, yes; you 9an be9ome an aunt to them, then, be9ause you 7ill ha>e to be9ome a mother to your little nephe75

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, hold your tongue; you irritate me5 ean 6appears 7ith6 Gilberte 6for a moment at C56H



A" @6to ser>ant entering6 )5

oseph, ha>e you forgotten nothing, espe9ially the flo7ers?

# ).A"T

Monsieur and Madame may rest assured that e>erything has been done5

@6 it ser>ant6 L5

L O" @6to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

Loo< at them; aren*t they a bonny 9ouple?

#C " %.5

6The same 7ith6 ean 6and6 Gilberte5H

A" @6approa9hes6 Mme5 de )on9hard 6and spea<s to her6

Do you <no7 of 7hom 7e 7ere tal<ing ust no7? +e 7ere tal<ing of you5

L O" @6aside6

Ahem= ahem=

A"

/es; % 7as ust saying that % had not made you a present on the o99asionof my nuptials, be9ause the 9hoosing of it demanded a great deal of refle9tion5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6dryly6

But Gilberte made me a >ery pretty one for you both, Monsieur5

A"

But that is not enough5 % ha>e been loo<ing for something 7hi9h %thought 7ould be parti9ularly a99eptable to you; and do you <no7 7hat %found? %t is a >ery small thing, but % as< you, Madame, to be so good asto a99ept this little po9<etboo<, 7hi9h holds some ban<8notes, for the



benefit of your dear little deserted pets5 /ou 9an add to your home for these little pets some additional <ennels on the sole 9ondition that you7ill allo7 me from time to time to 9ome and pet your little pensioners,and on the additional 9ondition that you 7ill not pi9< out the most>i9ious among them to greet me5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6greatly impressed6

+ith all my heart, % than< you5 (o7 good of you to thin< of my poor little orphans=

L O" @67hispers to6 ean

/ou diplomat, you=

A"

There is nothing e traordinary about it, Madame5 % am >ery fond of dumbanimals5 They are really the foster8brothers of man, sa9rifi9ed for them, sla>es to them, and in many 9ases their food5 They are the truemartyrs of the 7orld5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+hat you say is >ery true, Monsieur, and % ha>e often thought of it inthat 7ay5 !or instan9e, ta<e those poor horses, s9ourged and beaten by9oa9hmen in the streets5

L O" @67ith sar9asti9 emphasis6

And the pheasants, Auntie, and the partridges and the bla9<9o9< fallingon all sides under a hail of lead, flying pani98stri9<en before thehorrible massa9re of the guns5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, don*t tal< li<e that, it ma<es me shudder; it is horrible=

A" @6turns to6 Gilberte

(orrible, indeed=

L O" @6after a pause, in light tone6

$erhaps so, but they are good eating5



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/ou are pitiless5

L O" @6aside to his aunt6

$itiless, perhaps, to7ard animals, but not pitiless, li<e you, to7ard people5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6in the same tone6

+hat do you mean by that?

L O" @6in the same tone pointing to6 ean 6and6 Gilberte, 67ho areseated on a sofa6 )5

Do you thin< that your presen9e here 9an be a99eptable to those t7olo>ers? @6Ta<es her arm65 My father has 9ertainly finished smo<ing;9ome into the billiard8room for a little 7hile5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And 7hat are you going to do?

L O"

% am going do7n into my study on the ground floor, and % shall 9ome uphere after a little 7hile5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6sar9asti9ally6

/our study, indeed88your studio88you mean, you ras9al, 7here your 9lients are88models88

L O" @67ith mo9< modesty6

Oh, Auntie5 My 9lients, at least, don*t unrobe88alas= @6 it6 Leon )5, 6gi>ing a mo9< benedi9tion to the lo>ers65 Children, re9ei>e my benedi9tion=

@6 it6 Madame de )on9hard C5

#C " .5



ean 6and6 Gilberte 6seated on the sofa at right65H

A"

At last, you are my 7ife, Mademoiselle5

G%LB )T

Mademoiselle?

A"

!orgi>e me5 % hardly <no7 ho7 to address you5

G%LB )T

Call me Gilberte5 There is nothing sho9<ing about that, is there?

A"

Gilberte, at last, at last, at last, you are my 7ife=

G%LB )T

And truly, not 7ithout a good deal of trouble5

A"

And 7hat a dainty, energeti9 little 9reature you are= (o7 you fought7ith your father, and 7ith your aunt, for it is only through you, andthan<s to you, that 7e are married, for 7hi9h % than< you 7ith all myheart88the heart 7hi9h belongs to you5

G%LB )T

But it is only be9ause % trusted you, and that is all5

A"

And ha>e you only trust for me?

G%LB )T

#tupid boy= /ou <no7 that you pleased me5 %f you had only pleased me, my9onfiden9e in you 7ould ha>e been useless5 One must lo>e first5 +ithout



that, Monsieur, nothing 9an 9ome5

A"

Call me ean, ust as % ha>e 9alled you Gilberte5

G%LB )T @6hesitates6

But that is not altogether the same thing5 %t seems to me88that88that88%9annot do it5 @6)ises and 9rosses6 L5

A" @6rises6

But % lo>e you5 % am no trifler, belie>e me; % lo>e you5 % am the man7ho lo>es you be9ause he has found in you ualities that areinestimable5 /ou are one of those perfe9t 9reatures 7ho ha>e as mu9h

brains as sentiment; and the sentimentality that permeates you is notthe si9<ly sentimentality of ordinary 7omen5 %t is that gloriously beautiful fa9ulty of tenderness 7hi9h 9hara9teriFes great souls, and7hi9h one ne>er meets else7here in the 7orld5 And then, you are so

beautiful, so gra9eful, 7ith a gra9e that is all your o7n, and %, 7ho ama painter, you <no7 ho7 % adore the beautiful5 Then, abo>e e>erything,you dre7 me to you, but not only that, you 7iped out the tra9es of the7orld from my mind and eyes5

G%LB )T

% li<e to hear you say that5 But, don*t tal< any more ust no7 in that7ay, be9ause it embarrasses me5 (o7e>er, % <no7, for % try to foreseee>erything, that to en oy these things % must listen to them to8day, for your 7ords breathe the passion of a lo>er5 $erhaps in the future your 7ords 7ill be as s7eet, for they 9ould not help being so 7hen a manspea<s as you spo<e and lo>es as you appear to lo>e, but at the sametime, they 7ill be different5

A"

Oh=

G%LB )T @6sits on stool near the table6

Tell me it o>er again5

A"

+hat dre7 me to you 7as the mysterious harmony bet7een your natural form



and the soul 7ithin it5 Do you re9olle9t my first >isit to this house?

G%LB )T

Oh, yes, >ery 7ell5 My brother brought you to dinner, and % belie>e that

you did not 7ish to 9ome5

A" @6laughs6

%f that 7ere true, it 7as >ery indis9reet of your brother to tell you5And he told you that? % am annoyed that he did so, and % 9onfess % didhesitate some7hat, for you <no7 % 7as an artist a99ustomed to theso9iety of artists, 7hi9h is li>ely, 7itty, and sometimes rather free,and % felt some7hat disturbed at the idea of entering a house so seriousas yours88a house peopled by dignified la7yers and young ladies5 But %7as so fond of your brother, % found him so full of no>elty, so gay, so

7ittily sar9asti9 and dis9erning, under his assumed le>ity, that notonly did % go e>ery7here 7ith him, but % follo7ed him to the e tent of meeting you5 And % ne>er 9ease to than< him for it5 Do you remember 7hen% entered the dra7ing8room 7here you and your family 7ere sitting, you7ere arranging in a 9hina >ase some flo7ers that had ust been sent toyou?

G%LB )T

% do5

A"

/our father spo<e to me of my 'n9le Martinel, 7hom he had formerly<no7n5 This at on9e formed a lin< bet7een us, for all the time that %7as tal<ing to him % 7as 7at9hing you arrange your flo7ers5

G%LB )T @6smiles6

/ou loo<ed far too long and too steadfastly for a first introdu9tion5

A"

% 7as loo<ing at you as an artist loo<s, and 7as admiring you, for %found your figure, your mo>ements, and your entire self attra9ti>e5 Andthen for the last si months % ha>e often 9ome to this house, to 7hi9hyour brother in>ited me and 7hither your presen9e attra9ted me, andfinally % felt your s7ay as a lo>er feels the s7ay of the one he adores5There 7as an ine pli9able, unseen attra9tion 9alling me to you5 @6#its

beside her6 )5 6of table65 Then a dim idea entered my brain,88an idea



that one day you might be9ome my 7ife5 %t gained possession of my soul,and % immediately too< steps to rene7 the friendship bet7een your father and my un9le5 The t7o men again be9ame friends5 Did you ne>er di>ine mymaneu>ers?

G%LB )T

Di>ine your maneu>ers? "o, % suspe9ted a little at times, but % 7as soastounded that a man li<e you88in the full flush of su99ess, so 7ell<no7n, so sought after88should 9on9ern himself 7ith su9h a little,unimportant girl as %, that, really, % 9ould pla9e no faith in thesin9erity of your attention5

A"

"e>ertheless, 7e ui9<ly <ne7 ho7 to understand ea9h other, did 7e not?

G%LB )T

/our 9hara9ter pleased me5 % felt that you 7ere loyal, and then youentertained me greatly, for you brought into our house that artisti9 air 7hi9h ga>e my fan9ies life5 % ought to tell you that my brother hadalready 7arned me that % should li<e you5 /ou <no7 that Leon lo>es you5

A"

% <no7 it, and % thin< it 7as in 6his6 brain that the first idea of our marriage had birth5 @6After a short silen9e6 /ou remember our returnfrom #aint8Germain after 7e had dined in the (enri %.5 $a>ilion?

G%LB )T

% remember it 7ell5

A"

My un9le and your aunt 7ere in the front of the landau, and you and % onthe rear seat, and in another 9arriage 7ere your father and Leon5 +hat aglorious spring night= But ho7 9oldly you treated me=

G%LB )T

% 7as so embarrassed=

A"



/ou ought to re9all that % put to you that day a uestion 7hi9h % hadalready as<ed you, be9ause you 9annot deny that % had paid you >erytender attention and that you had 9aptured my heart5

G%LB )T

True5 "e>ertheless it surprised and upset me5 Oh, ho7 often ha>e %remembered it sin9e= But % ha>e ne>er been able to re9all the >ery 7ordsyou used5 Do you remember them?

A"

"o; they 9ame from my lips, issuing from the bottom of my heart li<e a prayer for mer9y5 % only <no7 that % told you that % should ne>er re8enter your house if you did not gi>e me some little hope that thereshould be a day 7hen you 7ould <no7 me better5 /ou pondered a long time

before you ans7ered me, but you spo<e in su9h a lo7 tone that % 7asan ious to ma<e you repeat it5

G%LB )T @6ta<es up his senten9e and spea<s as if in a dream6

% said that it 7ould pain me greatly if % should see you no more5

A"

/es, that is 7hat you said5

G%LB )T

/ou ha>e forgotten nothing=

A"

Could anyone forget that? @6+ith deep emotion56 Do you <no7 7hat %thin<? As 7e loo< at ea9h other and e amine our hearts, our souls, our mutual understanding, our lo>e, % >erily belie>e that 7e ha>e set out onthe true road to happiness5 @60isses her5 !or a moment they aresilent56

G%LB )T @6rises6

But % must lea>e you5 @6Goes to7ard door6 L5 % must prepare for our ourney5 Mean7hile, go and find my father5

A" @6follo7s her6





L O"

-ui9<= +hat is it?

MA)T%" L

% had ust finished my game at billiards 7hen a ser>ant brought me aletter addressed to M5 Martinel, 7ithout any Christian name by 7hi9h toidentify it, but 7ith these 7ords on the letter E 9eedingly urgent5E %thought it 7as addressed to me, so % tore open the en>elope, and % read7ords intended for ean887ords 7hi9h ha>e 7ell8nigh ta<en a7ay myreason5 % 9ame to find you in order to as< ad>i9e, for this is a thing7hi9h must be de9ided upon the moment5

L O"

Tell me, 7hat is it?MA)T%" L

% am responsible for my o7n a9tions, M5 Leon, and % 7ould as< ad>i9e of no one if the matter 9on9erned myself only, but unfortunately it9on9erns ean; therefore, % hesitate88the matter is so gra>e, and thenthe se9ret is not mine88% 9ame upon it a99identally5

L O"

Tell me ui9<ly, and do not doubt my faith5

MA)T%" L

% do not doubt your faith5 (ere is the letter5 %t is from Dr5 $ellerin,7ho is ean*s physi9ian, 7ho is his friend, our friend, a good fello7, afree li>er, and a physi9ian to many 7omen of the 7orld, and one 7ho7ould not 7rite su9h things unless ne9essity 9ompelled him5 @6(ands theletter to6 Leon, 67ho holds it 9lose to his eyes56

L O" @6reads6

EM/ D A) !)% "D:

E% am more than annoyed at ha>ing to 9ommuni9ate 7ith you upon thise>ening, abo>e e>ery other e>ening, upon su9h a sub e9t as this5 But %am sure that if % did other7ise you 7ould ne>er forgi>e me5 /our former mistress, (enriette Le>e ue, is dying and 7ould bid you fare7ell5@6Thro7s a glan9e at6 Martinel 67ho signs to him to 9ontinue56 #he 7ill



not li>e through the night5 #he dies after bringing into the 7orld, somefifteen days ago, a 9hild 7ho on her deathbed she s7ears is yours5 #olong as she 7as in no danger, she determined to lea>e you in ignoran9eof this 9hild*s e isten9e5 But, to8day, doomed to death, she 9alls toyou5 % <no7 ho7 you ha>e lo>ed her in the past5 But you must do as you

thin< fit5 #he li>es in the )ue Chaptal at "umber I15 Let me <no7 ho7 %9an ser>e you, my dear fello7, and belie>e me,

EAl7ays yours,

E$ LL )%"5E

MA)T%" L

There you are5 That letter 9ame this e>ening5 That is to say, at the one

moment abo>e all others 7hen su9h a misfortune 9ould threaten the 7holefuture88the 7hole life of your sister and of ean5 +hat 7ould you do if you 7ere %? +ould you <eep this 9onfounded letter, or 7ould you gi>e itto him? %f % <eep it, 7e may sa>e appearan9es, but su9h an a9t 7ould beun7orthy of me5

L O" @6energeti9ally6

% should say so5 /ou must gi>e the letter to ean5

MA)T%" L

+ell, 7hat 7ill he do?

L O"

(e alone is the udge of his o7n a9tions5 +e ha>e no right to hideanything from him5

MA)T%" L

#upposing he 9onsults me?

L O"

(e 7ill not do it5 %n su9h situations a man 9onsults only his9ons9ien9e5

MA)T%" L



But he treats me li<e a father5 %f he hesitates a moment bet7een hisattention to his 7ife and the effa9ement of his happiness, 7hat shall %tell him to do?

L O"

ust 7hat you 7ould do yourself in li<e 9ase5

MA)T%" L

My impulse 7ould be to go to the 7oman5 +hat 7ould be yours?

L O" @6resolutely6

% should go5

MA)T%" LBut ho7 about your sister?

L O" @6sadly, seating himself by the table6

/es, my poor little sister= +hat an a7a<ening for her=

MA)T%" L @6after a fe7 se9onds* hesitation, 9rosses abruptly from6 L5 6to6 )5

"o; it is too hard a thing to do5 % shall not gi>e him this letter5 %shall be blamed perhaps, but so mu9h the 7orse5 %n any 9ase, % sa>e him5

L O"

/ou 9annot do su9h a thing, sir5 +e both <no7 my sister, poor littlegirl, and % am sure that if this marriage is annulled, she 7ill die5@6)ises65 +hen a man has for three years en oyed the lo>e of su9h a7oman as the one 7ho sends for him, he 9annot refuse to see her on her deathbed 7hate>er may happen5

MA)T%" L

+hat 7ill Gilberte do?

L O"

#he 7orships ean88but you <no7 ho7 proud she is5



MA)T%" L

+ill she a99ept the situation? +ill she forgi>e it?

L O"

Of that % am >ery doubtful, espe9ially after all that has been saidabout this poor girl in the family 9ir9le5 But 7hat does that matter?ean must be 7arned at on9e5 % am going to find him and bring him toyou5 @6)ises as if to go out6 C5

MA)T%" L

+ell, ho7 7ould you li<e me to tell him?

L O" #imply gi>e him the letter5 @6 it6 Leon C5

#C " .%%5

MA)T%" L @6alone6

$oor 9hildren= in the midst of their happiness and at the Fenith of oy=And that other poor girl, 7ho is no7 suffering and slo7ly dying=(ea>ens= (o7 un ust and ho7 9ruel life is at times5

#C " .%%%5

6)e8enter6 Leon 67ith6 eanH

A" @67al<s bris<ly to6 C5 6of stage6

+hat is it all about?

MA)T%" L

One minute, my poor boy; read this, and forgi>e me for ha>ing openedyour letter5 % opened it be9ause % thought it 7as intended for me5@6Gi>es letter to6 ean, 6and 7at9hes him read it56 Leon 6also 7at9heshim, standing6 L5



A" @6after reading the letter, spea<s to himself in a lo7 tone,tou9hed 7ith deep but 9ontained emotion6

% must do it= % o7e it to her= @6To Martinel56 'n9le, % lea>e my 7ife

in your 9harge5 #ay nothing until % return, and remain here till % 9ome ba9<5 +ait for me5 @6Turns to6 Leon5 % <no7 you 7ell enough to realiFethat you do not disappro>e of 7hat % am doing5 To you % 9onfide myfuture5 % am going5 @6Turns to the door6 )5, 6but after 9asting a glan9eat the door6 L5, 67hi9h leads to his 7ife*s 9hamber, says to6 Leon5 Toyou % o7e the lo>e your sister has besto7ed upon me5 (elp me no7 to

preser>e it5

@6 it ui9<ly6 )5

#C " % 5

Martinel 6and6 Leon5H

MA)T%" L @6seated6 )5

+hat shall 7e do no7? +hat are 7e going to say? +hat e planations 9an 7egi>e?

L O"

Let me manage it5 %t is only right that % should do it sin9e % broughtabout this marriage5

MA)T%" L @6rises6

+ell, %*d dearly lo>e to be forty8eight hours older5 @6)ising65 %9onfess % do not li<e these lo>e tragedies, and moreo>er the fa9t of the9hild entering into the 9ase is a7ful5 +hat is going to be9ome of that

poor little mortal? +e 9annot send him to the foundling asylum5 @6 nter6 Gilberte L5 Gilberte=

#C " 5

Gilberte 6has remo>ed her marriage robes, and no7 7ears a handsome house



go7n5 #he 9arries an opera 9loa<, 7hi9h she thro7s o>er a 9hair neat thedoor65

G%LB )T

+here is ean?

L O"

Do not be disturbed, he 7ill be ba9< dire9tly5

G%LB )T @6in astonishment6

(as he gone out?

L O"

/es5

G%LB )T

Gone out? And on this e>ening, abo>e all others=

L O"

A sudden and gra>e 9ir9umstan9e 9ompelled him to go out for an hour5

G%LB )T @6e 9itedly6

+hat is going on? +hat is it that you are hiding from me? /our story isimpossible5 #ome a7ful misfortune must ha>e happened5

L O" A"D MA)T%" L @6together6

Oh, no, no=

G%LB )T

Then, 7hat is it? Tell me= #pea<=

L O"

% 9annot tell you anything5 Be patient for an hour5 %t is ean*s duty totell you of the sudden and une pe9ted 9all 7hi9h has summoned him hen9eat su9h a time5



G%LB )T

+hat 9urious 7ords you use= A sudden and une pe9ted 9all? (e is anorphan88his un9le is his only relati>e,88then 7hat? +ho? +hy? Oh, God,ho7 you frighten me=

L O"

There are duties of many <inds, my dear; friendship, pity, sympathy 9animpose many of them5 But % must not say any more5 Be patient for anhour, % implore you5

G%LB )T @6to6 Martinel

And you, 'n9le? #pea<= % implore you= +hat is he doing? +here has hegone? % feel88oh, % feel the shado7 of a terrible misfortune ho>ering

o>er us; spea<, % entreat5MA)T%" L @67ith tears in his eyes6

But % 9annot tell you any more, my dear 9hild5 % 9annot5 Li<e your brother, % promised to say nothing, and % 7ould ha>e done ust as eanhas done5 +ait for an hour, % besee9h you88 ust an hour5

G%LB )T

And you, too, are upset5 %t must be a 9atastrophe5

MA)T%" L

"o, no= The fa9t that you are so distressed agitates me, be9ause you<no7 % lo>e you 7ith my 7hole heart5 @6 mbra9es her65

G%LB )T @6to6 Leon

/ou ha>e spo<en of friendship, of pity, and of sympathy, but if it 7ereany of these reasons you 9ould tell me so; mean7hile, as % loo< at yout7o, % feel that here is some unspo<en reason, some mystery 7hi9happalls me5

L O" @6resolutely6

My dear little sister, 7on*t you trust in me?

G%LB )T



/es, you ought to <no7 all5

L O"

+ill you trust me absolutely?

G%LB )T

Absolutely5

L O"

% s7ear to you, on my faith as a gentleman, that % 7ould ha>e done ustas ean has done; that his absolute fidelity to you, his fidelity, 7hi9h

perhaps is e>en e aggerated by lo>e for you, is the only reason 7hi9hhad led him to forget at this >ery moment the >ery thing that he has

gone to learn ane75G%LB )T @6loo<s6 Leon 6straight in the eyes6

% belie>e you, Leon, and % than< you5 "e>ertheless, % tremble yet and %shall tremble until he returns5 %f you s7ear to me that my husband 7asentirely ignorant of the 9ause 7hi9h has made him lea>e me at thissupreme moment, % 7ill 9ontent myself as 7ell as % 9an, trusting in yout7o5 @6#he stret9hes both hands to the t7o men65

#C " %5

6The same, 7ith6 M5 de $etitpre 6and6 Mme5 de )on9hard, 67ho entersui9<ly6 C5H

$ T%T$)

+hat is this % hear? ean Martinel gone out?

MA)T%" L

(e is 9oming ba9< >ery soon, sir5

$ T%T$)

But 7hy on earth did he go out on su9h an e>ening as this 7ithout a 7ordof e planation to his 7ife? @6Turns to6 Gilberte /ou <no7 nothing about



it, do you?

G%LB )T @6seated6 L5 6of table6

!ather, % <no7 nothing at all about it5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And 7ithout a 7ord of e planation to the family= That is indeed a la9< of 9ourtesy5

$ T%T$) @6to6 Martinel

And 7hy has he a9ted in this 7ay, sir?

MA)T%" L

/our son <no7s as mu9h as % do, sir; but neither of us 9an re>eal it toyou5 Moreo>er, your daughter has 9onsented to 7ait until she 9an learnall about it from her husband on his return5

$ T%T$)

My daughter has 9onsented88but % do not 9onsent= Besides, it seems thatyou alone 7ere fore7arned of this sudden departure5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6in agitation to6 Martinel

%t 7as to you they brought the letter, and you 7ere the one 7ho read itfirst5

MA)T%" L

/ou are 9orre9tly informed, Madame; a letter 7as deli>ered here, but %7ould not shoulder the responsibility of this matter, and % sho7ed theletter to your son, sir @6turns to6 $etitpre , and as<ed his ad>i9e 7iththe intention of follo7ing it5

L O"

The ad>i9e that % ga>e is e a9tly 7hat my brother8in8la7 has done of hiso7n >olition, and % esteem him all the more for it5

$ T%T$) @6turns to6 Leon

%t is % 7ho should ha>e been 9onsulted, not you5 %f ean*s a9tion is



indeed e 9usable, his 7ant of 9ourtesy is absolutely unpardonable5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

%t is s9andalous=

L O" @6to6 M5 $etitpre

/es, it 7ould ha>e been better to 9onsult you, but the urgen9y of thematter did not allo7 it5 /ou 7ould ha>e dis9ussed the matter; my aunt7ould ha>e dis9ussed the matter; 7e should all ha>e dis9ussed the matter the 7hole night long, and you <no7 there are times 7hen one 9annotafford to lose e>en se9onds5 #ilen9e 7as ne9essary until ean*s return5+hen he does return he 7ill hide nothing from you, and % feel sure thatyou 7ill udge him as % myself ha>e udged him5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6turns to6 MartinelBut this letter, from 7hom did it 9ome?

MA)T%" L

Oh, % 9an tell you that5 %t 9ame from a physi9ian5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

!rom a physi9ian88a physi9ian88then he must ha>e a si9< patient88and itis on a99ount of this patient that he made ean 9ome to him5 But 7ho isthe patient? Oh, ho= % surmise that it is a 7oman88that 7oman88hisformer mistress, 7ho has played this 9ard today5 #i9<= % suppose she hasmade a pretense of poisoning herself in order to sho7 him that she lo>eshim still and 7ill al7ays lo>e him5 Oh, the little 7ret9h= @6To6 Leon5This is the <ind of people you stand up for= /es, you=

L O"

%t 7ould be only reasonable, my dear Aunt, not to air all thesere>olting theories of yours in Gilberte*s presen9e, espe9ially 7hen youreally <no7 nothing at all5

G%LB )T @6rises6

Do not spea< any more about it, % pray you5 >erything that % ha>e heard ust no7 distresses me beyond measure5 % 7ill 7ait for my husband; % donot 7ish to <no7 anything e 9ept from his lips, as % ha>e absolute9onfiden9e in him5 %f misfortune has threatened us, % 7ill not hear su9h



things tal<ed of5 @6 it6 L, 6a99ompanied by6 $etitpre5 6#hortsilen9e65

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6turns to6 Leon

+ell, Leon, do you al7ays 7in? /ou see 7hat 9harming fello7s thesehusbands are88e>ery one of them=

ACT %%5

#C " %5

Musotte*s 6bedroom, neatly furnished, but 7ithout lu ury5 Disordered bedstands6 L5 6A s9reen stands6 L5 %5 5, 6almost hiding6 Musotte, 67holies stret9hed at length upon a steamer89hair5 Beside the bed is a9radle, the head of 7hi9h is turned up stage5 On the mantelpie9e and onsmall tables at6 )5 6and6 L5 6are >ials of medi9ine, 9ups, 9hafing8dish,et95 A table stands6, )5 %5 5 Musotte 6is sleeping65 La Babin 6and6 Mme5 !la9he 6stand6 C5 6loo<ing at her65

LA BAB%" @6in lo7 tones6

(o7 she sleeps=

MM 5 !LAC( @6in the same >oi9e6

But she 7ill not sleep long no7, unless she is going into her lastsleep5

LA BAB%"

Oh, there is no 9han9e of that5 That is enough to gi>e one the horrors5!an9y losing one*s life for a 9hild=

MM 5 !LAC(

But ho7 9an you pre>ent it? Death is as ne9essary as birth, or the 7orld7ould be9ome too small for us all5

LA BAB%" @6sits6 )5 6of table6

All people ought to die in the same 7ay and at the same age88e>ery one



of us; then one 7ould <no7 7hat to e pe9t5

MM 5 !LAC( @6pours out some tea6

+hat simple ideas you ha>e, Madame Babin= $ersonally, % 7ould rather not

<no7 the hour of my death5 % 7ould sooner finish my life 7hile sleepingin the middle of the night88during slumber887ithout suffering88by asudden failure of the heart5

LA BAB%"

Loo< at the si9< 7oman5 (o7 silly of her to 7ish to rest upon thatsteamer89hair as she has done5 The do9tor told her plainly that su9h aneffort 7ould probably finish her5

MM 5 !LAC( @6sits6 L5 6of table6

Oh, % understand her moti>e5 +hen a girl li<e her has a lo>er she9ommits e>ery <ind of folly, and more espe9ially, nurse, 7hen they areat all 9o uettish; but you 9ountry people do not <no7 anything aboutsu9h things5 They are 9o uettish through and through5 That is the reasonshe 7ished to loo< her prettiest5 #he 7as afraid of being thought ugly,don*t you understand? #o % had to put on her 6peignoir6, and tidy her up, and arrange her hair ust as % ha>e done5

LA BAB%"

Oh, these $arisians= %t is ne9essary that they should ha>e a hairdresser e>en to the last gasp= @6A short silen9e65 But 7ill this gentleman of hers 9ome?

MM 5 !LAC(

% do not thin< so5 Men are not o>erfond of obeying the 9alls of their former mistresses at su9h times, and then, this lo>er of hers 7asmarried to8day, poor fello7=

LA BAB%"

+ell, that is a o<e5

MM 5 !LAC(

% should say so5

LA BAB%"



Certainly, then, he 7on*t 9ome5 %n su9h a 9ase 7ould 6you6 go to see aman?

MM 5 !LAC(

Oh, if % lo>ed him >ery mu9h % should go5

LA BAB%"

>en if you 7ere marrying another the same day?

MM 5 !LAC(

ust the same5 !or su9h a 9ombination of 9ir9umstan9es 7ould pier9e myheart; 7ould penetrate me 7ith a strong emotion,88and, oh, % am so fond

of su9h emotions=LA BAB%"

+ell, so far as % am 9on9erned, % 9ertainly 7ould not go5 % should betoo mu9h afraid of the sho9<5

MM 5 !LAC(

But Do9tor $ellerin asserts that the man 7ill 9ome5

LA BAB%"

Do you <no7 this physi9ian 7ell?

MM 5 !LAC(

+ho, Do9tor $ellerin?

LA BAB%"

/es; he has the air of a 9harming man of the 7orld5

MM 5 !LAC(

Oh, yes; he is all that, but he is also a good physi9ian5 Then he issu9h good 9ompany, and has su9h a smooth tongue5 And you <no7 he is not

physi9ian to the Opera for nothing5

LA BAB%"



That little puppy of a88

MM 5 !LAC(

A puppy= /ou don*t >ery often find puppies among men of his 9aliber, andthen,8oh, ho7 he used to lo>e the girls= Oh, oh= Although, for thematter of that, there are many physi9ians 7ho are li<e him5 %t 7as atthe Opera that % first met him5

LA BAB%"

At the Opera=

MM 5 !LAC(

/es, at the Opera5 /ou <no7, % 7as a dan9er there for eight years5 /es,indeed, e>en %88 ust as you see me, a dan9er at the Opera5

LA BAB%"

/ou, Madame !la9he=

MM 5 !LAC(

/es, my mother 7as a mid7ife, and taught me the business at the sametime that she taught me dan9ing, be9ause she al7ays said it 7as 7ell toha>e t7o strings to your bo75 Dan9ing, you see, is all >ery 7ell,

pro>ided you are not too ambitious of appearing on first nights, but,unhappily, that 7as the 9ase 7ith me5 % 7as as slender as a thread 7hen% 7as t7enty, and >ery agile, but % gre7 fat and s9ant of breath, and

be9ame rather hea>y in my steps; so 7hen my mother died, as % had mydiploma as a mid7ife, % too< her apartment and her business, and % addedthe title of EMid7ife to the Opera,E for all their business 9omes to me5They li<e me >ery mu9h there5 +hen % 7as dan9ing, they used to 9all meMademoiselle !la99hi the premiere5

LA BAB%"

Then you ha>e been married sin9e then?

MM 5 !LAC(

"o, but a 7oman in my profession should al7ays assume the title of Madame for the sa<e of its dignity5 /ou <no7, it gi>es 9onfiden9e5 But,ho7 about you, nurse, from 7hat pla9e do you 9ome? /ou <no7, you ha>e



only ust 9ome here, and nobody 9onsulted me about engaging you5

LA BAB%"

% am from />etot5

MM 5 !LAC(

%s this your first engagement as a nurse?

LA BAB%"

"o, my third5 % ha>e had t7o daughters and a little boy5

MM 5 !LAC(

And your husband, is he a farmer or a gardener?LA BAB%" @6#imply6

% am not married5

MM 5 !LAC( @6laughing6

"ot married, and 7ith three 9hildren= 'pon my 7ord, let me 9omplimentyou; you are indeed pre9o9ious5

LA BAB%"

Don*t tal< about it; it 7as not my 7ill5 %t is the good God 7ho doesthese things5 One 9annot pre>ent it5

MM 5 !LAC(

(o7 simple you are= "o7 you 7ill probably ha>e a fourth 9hild5

LA BAB%"

That*s >ery possible5

MM 5 !LAC(

+ell, 7hat does your lo>er do? +hat is his business? Or perhaps you ha>emore than one?

LA BAB%" @67ith indignation6



There has ne>er been more than one5 % gi>e you my 7ord, upon my hope of sal>ation5 (e is a lemonade8seller at />etot5

MM 5 !LAC(

%s he a handsome fello7?

LA BAB%"

% belie>e you, indeed= (e is handsome= @6Confidentially65 %f % tell youall this, it is only be9ause you are a mid7ife, and a mid7ife in su9haffairs as this is li<e a priest in the 9onfessional5 But you, Madame!la9he, you, 7ho ha>e been a dan9er at the Opera, you must also ha>ehad, surely88little lo>e affairs88little intrigues?

MM 5 !LAC( @6e>idently flattered, and in a dreamy tone6Oh, yes, one or t7o=

LA BAB%" @6laughs6

And ha>e you ne>er had88this sort of a99ident? @6$oints to the 9radle65

MM 5 !LAC(

"o5

LA BAB%"

(o7 did that 9ome?

MM 5 !LAC( @6rises and approa9hes the mantelpie9e6

$robably be9ause % 7as a mid7ife5

LA BAB%"

+ell, % <no7 one in your profession 7ho has had fi>e5

MM 5 !LAC( @67ith 9ontempt6

#he e>idently did not 9ome from $aris5

LA BAB%"



That*s true; she 9ame from Courbe>oie5

M'#OTT @6in a feeble >oi9e6 %s no one there?

MM 5 !LAC(

#he is a7a<ening5 There, there= @6!olds up the s9reen 7hi9h hides thelong steamer89hair65

M'#OTT

(asn*t he 9ome yet?

MM 5 !LAC(

"o5

M'#OTT

(e 7ill arri>e too late88my God= My God=

MM 5 !LAC(

+hat an idea= (e 7ill 9ome5

M'#OTT

And my little darling88my 9hild?

MM 5 !LAC(

(e is sleeping li<e an angel5

M'#OTT @6after loo<ing at herself in a hand8mirror6

% must not loo< li<e this 7hen he 9omes5 Oh, God= Bring my 9hild88% 7antto see him5

MM 5 !LAC(

But if % sho7 him to you he 7ill 7a<e up, and 7ho <no7s if he 7ill go tosleep again5

M'#OTT

Bring the 9radle here5 @6A gesture of refusal from6 Mme !la9he5 /es,



yes= % insist, @Mme5 !la9he 6and the nurse gently bring the 9radle toher65 "earer, nearer, so that % 9an see him 7ell88the darling= My9hild, my 9hild= And % am going to lea>e him= #oon % shall disappear into the un<no7n5 Oh5 God, 7hat agony=

MM 5 !LAC(

"o7 don*t go 7orrying yourself li<e that; you are not as ill as youthin<5 % ha>e seen lots 7orse than you5 Come, 9ome= you are going tore9o>er5 Ta<e a7ay the 9radle, nurse5 @6They put the 9radle again in its

pla9e; then to the nurse65 That 7ill do, that 7ill do5 +at9h me5 /ou<no7 >ery 7ell that it is only % 7ho 9an uiet it5 @6#its near the9radle, and sings a lullaby 7hile ro9<ing it65

EA little gray fo7l Came into the barn,

To lay a big egg !or the good boy that sleeps5 Go to sleep, go to sleep, My little 9hi9<en= Go to sleep, sleep, my 9hi9<=E

LA BAB%" @6stands near the end of the mantelpie9e, drin<s the sugared7ater, and slips loaf sugar into her po9<et; aside6

% must not forget the main thing5 % ha>e ust seen in the <it9hen theremains of a leg of mutton, to 7hi9h % should li<e to go and say a fe77ords5 % am brea<ing in t7o 7ith hunger ust no75

MM 5 !LAC( @6sings softly6

EA little bla9< fo7l Came into the room, To lay a big egg !or the good boy that sleeps5 #leep, sleep, my little 9hi9<en, #leep, oh, sleep, my 9hi9<=E

M'#OTT @6from the long 9hair, after moaning se>eral times6

(as he gone to sleep again?

MM 5 !LAC( @6goes to7ard6 Musotte

/es, Mademoiselle, ust as if he 7ere a little esus5 Do you 7ish to<no7 7hat % thin< about him, this young man lying here? /ou 7ill lead



him to the altar for his marriage5 (e is a e7el, li<e yourself, mydear5

M'#OTT

Do you really thin< him pretty?

MM 5 !LAC(

On the honor of a mid7ife, % ha>e seldom brought into the 7orld one so pretty5 %t is a pleasure to <no7 that one has brought to the light su9ha little Cupid as he is5

M'#OTT

And to thin< that in a fe7 hours, perhaps, % shall see him no more; loo<

at him no more; lo>e him no more=MM 5 !LAC(

Oh, no, no= /ou are tal<ing unreasonably5

M'#OTT

Ah, % <no7 it too 7ell= % heard you tal<ing 7ith the nurse5 % <no7 thatthe end is >ery near; this night, perhaps5 +ould the do9tor ha>e 7rittento ean to 9ome and see me on this e>ening88the e>ening of hismarriage88if % 7ere not at the point of death? @6The bell rings65Musotte 6utters a 9ry65 Ah, there he is= it is he= -ui9<= ui9<= Oh,God, ho7 % suffer= @6 it6 Mme5 !la9he C5 Musotte 6gaFes after her5nter6 Dr5 $ellerin, 6in e>ening 9lothes65

#C " %%5

M'#OTT @6despairingly6

Ah= it is not he=

$ LL )%" @6approa9hes6 Musotte

(as he not 9ome yet?

M'#OTT



(e 7ill not 9ome5

D)5 $ LL )%"

(e 7ill= % am 9ertain of it; % <no7 it5

M'#OTT

"o=

D)5 $ LL )%"

% s7ear it= @6Turns to7ard6 Mme5 !la9he5 (asn*t he ans7ered the noteyet?

MM 5 !LAC( "o, Do9tor5

D)5 $ LL )%"

+ell, he 7ill 9ome5 (o7 is my patient?

MM 5 !LAC(

#he has rested a little5

M'#OTT @6in an agitated >oi9e6

All is o>er= % feel that % shall not rest any more until he 9omes, or until % depart 7ithout ha>ing seen him5

D)5 $ LL )%"

(e 7ill 9ome if you 7ill go to sleep immediately and sleep untilto8morro7 morning5

M'#OTT

/ou 7ould not ha>e 7ritten to him to 9ome this e>ening if % had beenable to 7ait until to8morro7 morning5 @6The bell rings65 %f that is nothe, % am lost88lost= @Mme5 !la9he 6runs to open the door65 Musotte

6listens intently, and hears from belo7 a man*s >oi9e; then murmursdespairingly65 %t is not he=



MM 5 !LAC( @6re8enters 7ith a >ial in her hand6

%t is the medi9ine from the 9hemist5

M'#OTT @6agitated6

Oh, God= ho7 horrible= (e is not 9oming; 7hat ha>e % done? Do9tor, sho7me my 9hild5 % 7ill see him on9e more5

D)5 $ LL )%"

But he sleeps, my little Musotte5

M'#OTT

+ell, he has plenty of time in the future for sleep5

D)5 $ LL )%"

Come, 9ome, 9alm yourself5

M'#OTT

%f ean does not 9ome, 7ho 7ill ta<e 9are of my 9hild?88for it is ean*s9hild, % s7ear to you5 Do you belie>e me? Oh, ho7 % lo>ed him=

D)5 $ LL )%"

/es, my dear little 9hild, 7e belie>e you5 But please be 9alm5

M'#OTT @67ith in9reasing agitation6

Tell me, 7hen you 7ent a7ay ust no7 7here did you go?

D)5 $ LL )%"

To see a patient5

M'#OTT

That is not true5 /ou 7ent to see ean, and he 7ould not 9ome 7ith you,or he 7ould be here no75

D)5 $ LL )%"

On my 7ord of honor, no5



M'#OTT

/es, % feel it5 /ou ha>e seen him, and you do not dare to tell me for fear it 7ould <ill me5

D)5 $ LL )%"

Ah, the fe>er is 9oming ba9< again5 This must not go on5 % don*t 7ishyou to be delirious 7hen he 9omes5 @6Turns to6 Mme5 !la9he5 +e mustgi>e her a hypodermi9 in e9tion5 Gi>e me the morphia5 @Mme5 !la9he

6brings the needle and morphia, from the mantelpie9e and gi>es it to6 Dr5 $ellerin5

M'#OTT @6un9o>ers her o7n arm6

But for this relief, % do not <no7 ho7 % should ha>e borne up during thelast fe7 days5 @Dr5 $ellerin 6administers the hypodermi965

D)5 $ LL )%"

"o7, you must go to sleep; % forbid you to spea<5 % 7on*t ans7er you,and % tell you of a 9ertainty that in a uarter of an hour ean 7ill behere5 @Musotte 6stret9hes herself out obediently upon the 9ou9h and goesto sleep65

LA BAB%" @6silently repla9es the s9reen 7hi9h hides6 Musotte

(o7 she sleeps= +hat a benedi9tion that drug is= But % don*t 7ant any of it5 %t s9ares me; it is a de>il*s potion5 @6#its near the 9radle andreads a ne7spaper65

MM 5 !LAC( @6in a lo7 >oi9e to6 Dr5 $ellerin

Oh, the poor girl, 7hat misery=

D)5 $ LL )%" @6in the same tone6

/es, she is a bra>e girl5 %t is some time sin9e % first met her 7ithean Martinel, 7ho ga>e her three years of 9omplete happiness5 #he has a

pure and simple soul5

MM 5 !LAC(

+ell, 7ill this Monsieur Martinel 9ome?



D)5 $ LL )%"

% thin< so5 (e is a man of feeling, but it is a diffi9ult thing for himto lea>e his 7ife and his people on su9h a day as this5

MM 5 !LAC(

%t 9ertainly is a most e traordinary 9ase5 A >eritable 6fias9o65

D)5 $ LL )%"

%t is, indeed5

MM 5 !LAC( @69hanges her tone6

+here ha>e you been ust no7? /ou did not put on e>ening dress and a

7hite 9ra>at to go and see a patient?D)5 $ LL )%"

% 7ent to see the first part of the Montargy ballet dan9ed5

MM 5 !LAC( @6interested, and leaning upon the edge of the table6

And 7as it good? Tell me5

D)5 $ LL )%" @6sits6 L5 6of table6

%t 7as >ery 7ell dan9ed5

MM 5 !LAC(

The ne7 dire9tors do things in style, don*t they?

D)5 $ LL )%"

eanne Merali and Gabrielle $oi>rier are first 9lass5

MM 5 !LAC(

$oi>rier88the little $oi>rier88is it possible= As to Merali % am not somu9h astonished; although she is distin9tly ugly, she has her good

points5 And ho7 about Mauri?

D)5 $ LL )%"



Oh, a mar>el88an absolute mar>el, 7ho dan9es as no one else 9an5 A human bird 7ith limbs for 7ings5 %t 7as absolute perfe9tion5

MM 5 !LAC(

Are you in lo>e 7ith her?

D)5 $ LL )%"

Oh, no; merely an admirer5 /ou <no7 ho7 % 7orship the dan9e5

MM 5 !LAC(

And the 6danseuses6 also, at times5 @6Lo7ering her eyes56 Come, ha>eyou forgotten?

D)5 $ LL )%"One 9an ne>er forget artists of your 7orth, my dear5

MM 5 !LAC(

/ou are simply teasing me5

D)5 $ LL )%"

% only do you usti9e5 /ou <no7 that formerly, 7hen % 7as a youngdo9tor, % had for you a >ery ardent passion 7hi9h lasted si 7ee<s5 Tellme, don*t you regret the time of the grand 6fete6?

MM 5 !LAC(

A little5 But reason 9omes 7hen one is young no longer, and % ha>enothing to 9omplain of5 My business is >ery prosperous5

D)5 $ LL )%"

/ou are ma<ing money, then? They tell me that you are gi>ing daintylittle dinners5

MM 5 !LAC(

% belie>e you, and % ha>e a parti9ularly good 69hef65 +on*t you gi>e methe pleasure of entertaining you at dinner one of these days, my dear Do9tor?



D)5 $ LL )%"

.ery 7illingly, my dear5

MM 5 !LAC(

#hall % ha>e any other physi9ians, or do you prefer to 9ome alone?

D)5 $ LL )%"

Alone, if you please5 % am not fond of a third party5 @6The bellrings56

M'#OTT @6a7a<ens6

Ah, some one rang, run and see5 @6 it6 Mme5 !la9he5 6A short silen9e56

A .O%C @67ithout6

Madame (enriette Le>e ue?

M'#OTT @6emitting an anguished 9ry6

Ah, it is he= There he is= @6Ma<es an effort to rise5 nter6 eanMartinel5 ean= ean= At last= @6#prings up and stret9hes her arms tohim56

#C " %%%5

6The same,887ith6 ean Martinel5H

A" @69omes rapidly for7ard, <neels near the long steamer89hair, and<isses6 Musotte*s 6hands6

My poor little Musotte= @6They begin to 7eep and dry their eyes; thenthey remain silent and motionless5 At last6 ean 6rises and holds up hishand to6 Dr5 $ellerin5

$ LL )%"

Did % do 7ell?

A"



/ou did indeed, and % than< you5

$ LL )%" @6introdu9es them6

Madame !la9he, the mid7ife88the nurse88@6indi9ates the 9radle 7ith agra>e gesture6 and there=

A" @6approa9hes the 9radle and lifts the little 9urtain, ta<es up the9hild and <isses it on the mouth; then lays it do7n again6

(e is a splendid boy=

D)5 $ LL )%"

A >ery pretty 9hild5

MM 5 !LAC(

A superb morsel88one of my prettiest5

A" @6in a lo7 >oi9e6

And Musotte, ho7 is she?

M'#OTT @67ho has heard him6

%,88% am almost lost5 % <no7 surely that all is o>er5 @6To6 ean5 Ta<ethat little 9hair, dear, and seat yourself near me, and let us tal< aslong as % am able to spea<5 % ha>e so many things to say to you, for 7eshall ne>er be together any more5 % am so glad to see you again thatnothing else no7 seems of any importan9e5

A" @6approa9hing her6 Don*t agitate yourself5 Don*t get e 9ited5

M'#OTT

(o7 9an % help being agitated at seeing you again?

A" @6sits on the lo7 9hair, ta<es6 Musotte*s 6hand6

My poor Musotte, % 9annot tell you 7hat a sho9< it 7as to me 7hen %learned ust no7 that you 7ere so ill5

M'#OTT



And on this day of all days= %t must ha>e sho9<ed you greatly5

A"

+hat= Do you <no7 of it then?

M'#OTT

/es, sin9e % felt so ill, % <ept myself informed about you e>ery day, inorder that % might not pass a7ay 7ithout ha>ing seen you and spo<en toyou again, for % ha>e so mu9h to say to you5 @6At a sign from6 ean,Mme5 !la9he, $ellerin, 6and6 La Babin 6e it6 )5

#C " %.5Musotte 6and6 ean5H

M'#OTT

Then you re9ei>ed the letter?

A"

/es5

M'#OTT

And you 9ame immediately?

A"

Certainly5

M'#OTT

Than<s88ah= than<s5 % hesitated a long time before 7arningyou88hesitated e>en this morning, but % heard the mid7ife tal<ing 7iththe nurse and learned that to8morro7 perhaps it might be too late, so %sent Do9tor $ellerin to 9all you immediately5

A"

+hy didn*t you 9all me sooner?



M'#OTT

% ne>er thought that my illness 7ould be9ome so serious5 % did not 7ishto trouble your life5

A" @6points to the 9radle6

But that 9hild= (o7 is it that % 7as not told of this sooner?

M'#OTT

/ou 7ould ne>er ha>e <no7n it, if his birth had not <illed me5 % 7ouldha>e spared you this pain88this 9loud upon your life5 +hen you left me,you ga>e me enough to li>e upon5 >erything 7as o>er bet7een us; and

besides, at any other moment than this, 7ould you belie>e me if % said

to you: EThis is your 9hild?EA"

/es, % ha>e ne>er doubted you5

M'#OTT

/ou are as good as e>er, my ean5 "o, no, % am not lying to you; he isyours, that little one there5 % s7ear it to you on my deathbed; % s7ear it to you before God=

A"

% ha>e already told you that % belie>ed you5 % ha>e al7ays belie>ed you5

M'#OTT

Listen, this is all that has happened5 As soon as you left me, % be9ame>ery ill5 % suffered so mu9h that % thought % 7as going to die5 Thedo9tor ordered a 9hange of air5 /ou remember, it 7as in the spring5 %7ent to #aint8Malo88to that old relati>e, of 7hom % ha>e often tal<ed toyou5

A"

/es, yes5

M'#OTT



%t 7as in #aint8Malo, after some days, that % realiFed that you had leftme a pledge of your affe9tion5 My first desire 7as to tell youe>erything, for % <ne7 that you 7ere an honest man88that you 7ould ha>ere9ogniFed this 9hild, perhaps e>en ha>e gi>en up your marriage; but %7ould not ha>e had you do that5 All 7as o>er; 7as it not?88and it 7as

better that it should be so5 % <ne7 that % 9ould ne>er be your 7ife@6smiles6 , Musotte, me, Madame Martinel88oh, no=

A"

My poor, dear girl5 (o7 brutal and hard 7e men are, 7ithout thin<ing of it and 7ithout 7ishing to be so=

M'#OTT

Don*t say that5 % 7as not made for you5 % 7as only a little model; and

you, you 7ere a rising artist, and % ne>er thought that you 7ould belongto me fore>er5 @ ean 6sheds tears65 "o, no, don*t 9ry; you ha>e nothingto reproa9h yourself 7ith5 /ou ha>e al7ays been so good to me5 %t isonly God 7ho has been 9ruel to me5

A"

Musotte=

M'#OTT

Let me go on5 % remained at #aint8Malo 7ithout re>ealing my 9ondition5Then % 9ame ba9< to $aris, and here some months after7ard the little one7as born88the 9hild= +hen % fully understood 7hat had happened to me, %e perien9ed at first su9h fear; yes, su9h fear= Then % remembered thathe 7as bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh; that you had gi>enhim life, and that he 7as a pledge from you5 But one is so stupid 7henone <no7s nothing5 One*s ideas 9hange ust as one*s moods 9hange, and %

be9ame 9ontented all at on9e; 9ontented 7ith the thought that % 7ould bring him up, that he 7ould gro7 to be a man, that he 7ould 9all memother5 @6+eeps56 "o7, he 7ill ne>er 9all me mother5 (e 7ill ne>er puthis little arms around my ne9<, be9ause % am going to lea>e him; be9ause% am going a7ay88% don*t <no7 7here; but there, 7here e>erybody goes5Oh, God= My God=

A"

Calm yourself, my little Musotte5 +ould you be able to spea< as you dospea< if you 7ere as ill as you thin< you are?



M'#OTT

/ou do not see that the fe>er is burning 7ithin me; that % am losing myhead, and don*t <no7 longer 7hat % say5

A"

"o, no; please 9alm yourself5

M'#OTT

$et me; pet me, ean, and you 7ill 9alm me5

A" @6<isses her hair; then resumes6

There, there; don*t spea< any more for a minute or t7o5 Let us remain

uietly here near ea9h other5M'#OTT

But % must spea< to you; % ha>e so many things to say to you yet, and donot <no7 ho7 to say them5 My head is beyond my 9ontrol5 Oh, my God= ho7shall % do it? @6)aises herself, loo<s around her and sees the 9radle56Ah, yes, % <no7; % re9olle9t, it is he, my 9hild5 Tell me, ean, 7hat7ill you do 7ith him? /ou <no7 that % am an orphan, and 7hen % am gonehe 7ill be here all alone88alone in the 7orld= $oor little thing= Listen,ean, my head is uite 9lear no75 % shall understand >ery 7ell 7hat youans7er me no7, and the pea9e of my 9losing moments depends upon it5 %ha>e no one to lea>e the little one to but you5

A"

% promise you that % 7ill ta<e him, loo< after him, and bring him up5

M'#OTT

As a father?

A"

As a father5

M'#OTT

/ou ha>e already seen him?



A"

/es5

M'#OTT

Go and loo< at him again5 @ ean 6goes o>er to the 9radle56

A"

(e is pretty, isn*t he?

M'#OTT

>erybody says so5 Loo< at him, the poor little darling, 7ho has en oyedonly a fe7 days of life as yet5 (e belongs to us5 /ou are his father; %

am his mother, but soon he 7ill ha>e a mother no more5 @6%n anguish56$romise me that he shall al7ays ha>e a father5

A" @6goes o>er to her6

% promise it, my darling=

M'#OTT

A true father, 7ho 7ill al7ays lo>e him 7ell?

A" % promise it5

M'#OTT

/ou 7ill be good88>ery good88to him?

A"

% s7ear it to you=

M'#OTT

And then, there is something else88but % dare not88

A"

Tell it to me5

M'#OTT



#in9e % 9ame ba9< to $aris, % ha>e sought to see you 7ithout being seen by you, and % ha>e seen you three times5 a9h time you 7ere 7ithher887ith your s7eetheart, your 7ife, and 7ith a gentleman88her father,% thin<5 Oh, ho7 % loo<ed at her= % as<ed myself: E+ill she lo>e him as

% ha>e lo>ed him? +ill she ma<e him happy? %s she good?E Tell me, do youreally belie>e she is >ery good?

A"

/es, darling, % belie>e it5

M'#OTT

/ou are >ery 9ertain of it?

A"/es, indeed5

M'#OTT

And % thought so, too, simply from seeing her pass by5 #he is so pretty=% ha>e been a little ealous, and % 7ept on 9oming ba9<5 But 7hat areyou going to do no7 as bet7een her and your son?

A"

% shall do my duty5

M'#OTT

/our duty? Does that mean by her or by him?

A"

By him5

M'#OTT

Listen, ean: 7hen % am no more, as< your 7ife from me, from the mouthof a dead 7oman, to adopt him, this dear little morsel of humanity8tolo>e him as % 7ould ha>e lo>ed him; to be a mother to him in my stead5%f she is tender and <ind, she 7ill 9onsent5 Tell her ho7 you sa7 mesuffer88that my last prayer, my last suppli9ation on earth 7as offeredup for her5 +ill you do this?



A"

% promise you that % 7ill5

M'#OTT

Ah= (o7 good you are= "o7 % fear nothing; my poor little darling issafe, and % am happy and 9alm5 Ah, ho7 9alm % am= /ou didn*t <no7, didyou, that % 9alled him ean, after you? That does not displease you,does it?

A" @67eeps6

"o, no=

M'#OTT/ou 7eep88so you still lo>e me a little, ean? Ah, ho7 % than< you for this= But if % only 9ould li>e; it must be possible5 % feel so mu9h

better sin9e you 9ame here, and sin9e you ha>e promised me all that %ha>e as<ed you5 Gi>e me your hand5 At this moment % 9an re9all all our life together, and % am 9ontent88almost gay; in fa9t, % 9an laugh88see,% 9an laugh, though % don*t <no7 7hy5 @6Laughs56

A"

Oh, 9alm yourself for my sa<e, dear little Musotte5

M'#OTT

%f you 9ould only understand ho7 re9olle9tions throng upon me5 Do youremember that % posed for your EMendiante,E for your E.iolet #eller,Efor your EGuilty +oman,E 7hi9h 7on for you your first medal? And do youremember the brea<fast at Ledoyen*s on .arnishing Day? There 7ere morethan t7enty8fi>e at a table intended for ten5 +hat follies 7e 9ommitted,espe9ially that little, little887hat did he 9all himself88% mean thatlittle 9omi9 fello7, 7ho 7as al7ays ma<ing portraits 7hi9h resembled noone? Oh, yes, Ta>ernier= And you too< me home 7ith you to your studio,7here you had t7o great mani<ins 7hi9h frightened me so, and % 9alled toyou, and you 9ame in to reassure me5 Oh, ho7 hea>enly all that 7as= Doyou remember? @6Laughs again65 Oh, if that life 9ould only begin o>er again= @6Cries suddenly65 Ah, 7hat pain= @6To6 ean, 67ho is going for the do9tor65 "o, stay, stay= @6#ilen9e5 A sudden 9hange 9omes o>er her fa9e65 #ee, ean, 7hat glorious 7eather= %f you li<e, 7e 7ill ta<e the

baby for a sail on a ri>er steamboat; that 7ill be so olly= % lo>e



those little steamboats; they are so pretty5 They glide o>er the 7ater ui9<ly and 7ithout noise5 "o7 that % am your 7ife, % 9an assertmyself88% am armed5 Darling, % ne>er thought that you 7ould marry me5And loo< at our little one88ho7 pretty he is, and ho7 he gro7s= (e is9alled ean after you5 And %88% ha>e my t7o little eans88mine88altogether

mine= /ou don*t <no7 ho7 happy % am5 And the little one 7al<s to8day for the first time= @6Laughs aloud, 7ith her arms stret9hed out, pointing tothe 9hild 7hi9h she thin<s is before her65

A" @67eeps6

Musotte= Musotte= Don*t you <no7 me?

M'#OTT

%ndeed % <no7 you= Am % not your 7ife? 0iss me, darling5 0iss me, my

little one5A" @6ta<es her in his arms, 7eeping and repeating6

Musotte= Musotte= @Musotte 6rises upon her 9ou9h, and 7ith a gesture to6 ean 6points to the 9radle, to7ard 7hi9h he goes, nodding E/es, yes,E7ith his head5 +hen6 ean 6rea9hes the 9radle,6 Musotte, 67ho has raisedherself upon her hands, falls lifeless upon the long steamer89hair56 ean, 6frightened, 9alls out6 $ellerin= $ellerin=

#C " .5

6The same:6 $ellerin, Mme5 !la9he, 6and6 La Babin, 6enter ui9<ly6 )5H

$ LL )%" @67ho has gone s7iftly to6 Musotte, 6feels her pulse andlistens at the heart6

(er heart is not beating= Gi>e me a mirror, Madame !la9he5

A"

My God= @Mme5 !la9he 6gi>es a hand8mirror to6 $ellerin, 67ho holds it before the lips of6 Musotte, 6$ause65

$ LL )%" @6in a lo7 >oi9e6

#he is dead=



A" @6ta<es the dead 7oman*s hand and <isses it fondly, his >oi9e9ho<ed 7ith emotion6

!are7ell, my dear little Musotte= To thin< that a moment ago you 7ere

spea<ing to me88a moment ago you 7ere loo<ing at me, you sa7 me, andno788all is o>er=

$ LL )%" @6goes to6 ean 6and ta<es him by the shoulder6

"o7, you must go at on9e5 Go= /ou ha>e nothing more to do here5 /our duty is o>er5

A" @6rises6

% go5 !are7ell, poor little Musotte=

$ LL )%"

% 7ill ta<e 9are of e>erything this e>ening5 But the 9hild, do you 7ishme to find an asylum for him?

A"

Oh, no, % 7ill ta<e him5 % ha>e s7orn it to that poor, dead darling5Come and oin me immediately at my house, and bring him 7ith you5 Then %shall ha>e another ser>i9e to re uest of you5 But ho7 about Musotte, 7hois going to remain 7ith her?

MM 5 !LAC(

%, Monsieur5 (a>e no an iety; % am a9 uainted 7ith all that must bedone5

A"

Than< you, Madame5 @6Approa9hes the bed; 9loses6 Musotte*s 6eyes and<isses her fondly and for a long time upon her forehead65 !are7ell,Musotte, fore>er= @6Goes softly to the 9radle, remo>es the >eil, <issesthe 9hild and spea<s to it in a firm >oi9e 7hi9h at the same time isfull of tears65 % shall see you again dire9tly, my little ean=

@6 it ui9<ly6 5



ACT %%%5

#C " %5

6#ame setting as in6 A9t %5H

Monsieur de $etitpre, Mme5 de )on9hard, M5 Martinel, 6and6 Leon5H

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @67al<s about in an agitated manner6

#e>en minutes to midnight= %t is nearly t7o hours sin9e ean left us=

L O" @6seated6 L5

But, my dear Aunt, ust allo7 a half hour in the 9arriage for going anda half hour for returning, and there remains ust one hour for the business he had to attend to5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+as it so >ery long, then88the business that 9alled him hen9e?

L O"

/es, my dear Aunt; and no7, 7hy 7orry yourself by 9ounting the minutes?/our agitation 7ill 9hange nothing in the end, and 7ill not hastenean*s return by a single se9ond, or ma<e the hands of the 9lo9< mo>emore ui9<ly5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

(o7 9an you as< me not to 7orry 7hen my mind is full of an iety, 7hen myheart is beating, and % feel the tears rising into my eyes?

L O"

But, my dear Aunt, you <no7 >ery 7ell you do not feel as badly as that5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Oh, you irritate me=

MA)T%" L @6seated near the table6



Don*t torment yourself, Madame5 True, the situation is a rather deli9ateone, but it need not dis uiet you or frighten us, if 7e <no7 ho7 to

bring to its 9onsideration at this moment 9oolness and reason5

L O"

ust so, my dear Aunt, Monsieur Martinel spea<s truly5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @69rosses6 )5

/ou ought to be beaten, you t7o= /ou <no7 e>erything, and 7on*t tellanything5 (o7 annoying men are= There is ne>er any means of ma<ing themtell a se9ret5

MA)T%" L

ean 7ill 9ome presently and 7ill tell you e>erything5 (a>e a little patien9e5

$ T%T$)

/es; let us be 9alm5 Let us tal< of other things, or be silent, if 7e9an5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Be silent= That is about, the most diffi9ult thing88

A # ).A"T @6enters6 )5

A gentleman 7ishes to see M5 Martinel5

MA)T%" L @6rises65

$ardon me for a moment5 @6To the ser>ant56 .ery 7ell, % am 9oming5@6 it6 )5

#C " %%5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6approa9hes ser>ant ui9<ly6

Baptiste, Baptiste= +ho is as<ing for M5 Martinel?



# ).A"T

% do not <no7, Madame5 %t 7as the hall porter 7ho 9ame upstairs5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, run no7 and loo< 7ithout sho7ing yourself, and 9ome ba9< and tellus at on9e5

$ T%T$) @67ho has risen at the entran9e of the ser>ant6

"o, % 7ill permit no spying; let us 7ait5 +e shall not ha>e to 7ait longno75 @6To the ser>ant56 /ou may go5 @6 it ser>ant56

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6to6 $etitpre

% do not understand you at all5 /ou are absolutely 9alm5 One 7ould thin< that your daughter*s happiness 7as nothing to you5 !or myself, % am profoundly agitated5

$ T%T$)

That 7ill do no good5 @6#its near the table6 )5 Let us tal<88tal< reasonably, no7 that 7e are a family party and Monsieur Martinel isabsent5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6#its6 )5

%f that man 7ould only go ba9< to (a>re=

L O" @6#its6 L5 6of table6

That 7ould not 9hange anything e>en if he 9ould go ba9< to (a>re5

$ T%T$)

!or my part, % thin<88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6interrupts6

Do you 7ish to hear my opinion? +ell, % thin< that they are preparing usfor some unpleasant surprise; that they 7ish to entrap us, as one mightsay5

$ T%T$)



But 7hy? %n 7hose interest? ean Martinel is an honest man, and he lo>esmy 9hild5 Leon, 7hose udgment % admire, although he is my son88

L O"

Than< you, father=

$ T%T$)

Leon bears ean as mu9h affe9tion as esteem5 As to the un9le88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Don*t tal< about them, % pray5 %t is this 7oman 7ho is see<ing to entrapus5 #he has played some little 9omedy, and she 9hooses to8day abo>e allothers for its 6denouement65 %t is her stage 9lima ; her masterpie9e of

trea9hery5L O"

As in EThe Ambigu5E

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Do not laugh5 % <no7 these 7omen5 % ha>e suffered enough at their hands5

$ T%T$)

Oh, my poor Clarisse; if you really understood them, you 7ould ha>e heldyour husband better than you did5


+hat do you mean by EunderstandingE them? $ardon me88to li>e 7ith thatroisterer 9oming in upon me 7hen and 7hen9e he pleased88% prefer my

bro<en life and my loneliness887ith you=

$ T%T$)

"o doubt you are right from your point of >ie7 of a married 7oman; butthere are other points of >ie7, perhaps less selfish and 9ertainlysuperior, su9h as that of family interest5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Of family interest, indeed? Do you mean to say that % 7as 7rong from the



point of >ie7 of the family interest88you, a magistrate=

$ T%T$)

My duties as a magistrate ha>e made me >ery prudent, for % ha>e seen

pass under my eyes many e ui>o9al and terrible situations, 7hi9h notonly agoniFed my 9ons9ien9e but ga>e me many 9ruel hours of inde9ision5Man is often so little responsible and 9ir9umstan9es are often so

po7erful5 Our impenetrable nature is so 9apri9ious, our instin9ts are somysterious that 7e must be tolerant and e>en indulgent in the presen9eof faults 7hi9h are not really 9rimes, and 7hi9h e hibit nothing >i9iousor abandoned in the man himself5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

#o, then, to de9ei>e one*s 7ife is not de9eitful, and you say su9h a

thing before your son? Truly, a pretty state of affairs= @6Crosses6 L5L O"

Oh, % ha>e my opinion also about that, my dear Aunt5

$ T%T$) @6rises6

%t is not almost a 9rime,88it is one5 But it is loo<ed upon to8day as so9ommon a thing that one s9ar9ely punishes it at all5 %t is punished bydi>or9e, 7hi9h is a house of refuge for most men5 The la7 prefers toseparate them 7ith de9en9y88timidly, rather than drag them apart as informer times5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/our learned theories are re>olting, and % 7ish88

L O" @6rises6

Ah, here is Monsieur Martinel5

#C " %%%5

6The same, and6 Monsieur Martinel5H

MA)T%" L @67ith great emotion6



% 9ome to fulfill an e 9eedingly diffi9ult tas<5 ean, 7ho has gone tohis o7n house, before daring to present himself here, has sent Do9tor $ellerin to me5 % am 9ommissioned by him to ma<e you a9 uainted 7ith thesad position in 7hi9h ean finds himself,88in 7hi9h 7e all find

oursel>es5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Ah, ha= "o7, % am going to learn something=

MA)T%" L

By a letter 7hi9h you 7ill read presently, 7e ha>e learned this e>ening,in this house, of a ne7 misfortune5 A 7oman of 7hose e isten9e you areall a7are 7as at the point of death5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Did % not predi9t that she 7ould do ust this thing?

L O"

Let M5 Martinel spea<, my dear Aunt5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And no7 that this 7oman has seen him, ho7 does she feel88his dying patient? Better, 7ithout a doubt?

MA)T%" L @6 uietly6

#he died, Madame, died before his eyes5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Died this e>ening= %mpossible=

MA)T%" L

"e>ertheless, it is so, Madame5

L O" @6aside6

$oor little Musotte=



MA)T%" L

There is a serious thing to be 9onsidered here5 This 7oman left a 9hild,and that 9hild*s father is ean5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6stupefied6

A 9hild=

MA)T%" L @6to6 $etitpre

)ead the physi9ian*s letter, Monsieur5 @6(ands6 $etitpre 6the letter,and6 $etitpre 6reads it65

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

(e had a 9hild and he has ne>er 9onfessed it; has ne>er said anythingabout it; has hidden it from us= +hat infamy=

MA)T%" L

(e 7ould ha>e told you in due time5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

(e 7ould ha>e told= That is altogether too strong88you are mo9<ing us=

L O"

But, my dear Aunt, let my father ans7er5 % shall go and find Gilberte5#he 7ill be dying of an iety5 +e ha>e no right to hide the truth fromher any longer5 % am going to a9 uaint her 7ith it5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6a99ompanying him to the door6

/ou ha>e a pleasant tas<, but you 7ill not su99eed in arranging matters5

L O" @6at door6 L5

%n any 9ase % shall not embroil them 7ith ea9h other as you 7ould5

@6 it6 L5



#C " %.5

$etitpre, Martinel, 6and6 Madame de )on9hard5H

$ T%T$) @67ho has finished reading the letter6

Then, Martinel, you say that your nephe7 7as ignorant of the situationof this 7oman5

MA)T%" L

'pon my honor5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

%t is in9redible5

MA)T%" L

% 7ill ans7er you in a 7ord5 %f my nephe7 had <no7n of this situation,7ould he ha>e done 7hat he has this e>ening?

$ T%T$)

plain yourself more 9learly5

MA)T%" L

%t is >ery simple5 %f he had <no7n sooner of the danger this 7oman 7asin, do you thin< that he 7ould ha>e 7aited until the last moment, andha>e 9hosen this >ery e>ening88this supreme moment88to say good8bye tothis poor, dying 7oman, and to re>eal to you the e isten9e of hisillegitimate son? "o, men hide these unfortunate 9hildren 7hen and ho7they please5 /ou <no7 that as 7ell as %, Monsieur5 To run the ris< of thro7ing us all into su9h a state of emotion and threatening his o7nfuture, as he has done, it 7ould seem that ean must be a madman, and heis by no means that5 (ad he <no7n sooner of this situation, do you thin< that he 7ould not ha>e 9onfided in me, and that % 7ould ha>e been sostupid88yes, %88as not to a>ert this disaster? +hy, % tell you it is as9lear as day5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6agitated, 7al<s to and fro rapidly6 L5

Clear as the day889lear as the day=

MA)T%" L



/es, indeed5 %f 7e had not re9ei>ed this pie9e of ne7s as a bomb 7hi9hdestroys the po7er of refle9tion, if 7e 9ould ha>e ta<en time to reasonthe thing out, to ma<e plans, 7e 9ould ha>e hidden e>erything from you,and the de>il 7ould ha>e been in it before you 7ould ha>e <no7n

anything= Our fault has been that of being too sin9ere and too loyal5/et, % do not regret it; it is al7ays better to a9t openly in life5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

$ermit me, Monsieur88

$ T%T$)

#ilen9e, Clarisse5 @6To6 Martinel5 Be it so, Monsieur5 There is nouestion of your honor or of your loyalty, 7hi9h ha>e been absolutely

patent in this unfortunate affair5 % 7illingly admit that your nephe7<ne7 nothing of the situation, but ho7 about the 9hild? +hat is there to pro>e that it is ean*s?

MA)T%" L

ean alone 9an pro>e or dispro>e that5 (e belie>es it, and you <no7 thatit is not to his interest to belie>e it5 There is nothing >ery oyfulabout su9h a 9ompli9ation88a poor, little foundling thrusting himself upon one li<e a thunderbolt, 7ithout 7arning, and upon the >ery e>eningof one*s marriage5 But ean belie>es that the 9hild is his, and %88andall of us88must 7e not a99ept it as he has a99epted it, as the 9hild*sfather has a99epted it? Come, no75 @6A short silen9e56 /ou as< me to

pro>e to you that this 9hild belongs to ean?

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D A"D $ T%T$) @6together6

/es=

MA)T%" L

Then first pro>e to me that it is not ean*s 9hild5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/ou as< an impossibility5

MA)T%" L

And so do you5 The prin9ipal udge in the matter, loo< you, is my nephe7



himself5 +e others 9an do nothing but a99ept his de9ision5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

But mean7hile88

$ T%T$)

#ilen9e, Clarisse5 Monsieur Martinel is right5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6ironi9ally6

#ay that again5

MA)T%" L

There 9an be no better reason, Madame5 @6To6 $etitpre5 % 7as uite surethat you 7ould understand me, Monsieur, for you are a man of sense5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And 7hat am %, then?

MA)T%" L

/ou are a 7oman of the 7orld, Madame5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And it is e a9tly as a 7oman of the 7orld that % protest, Monsieur5 /ouha>e a >ery pretty 7ay of putting things, but none the less this is afa9t: ean Martinel brings to his bride, as a nuptial present, on theday of his marriage, an illegitimate 9hild5 +ell, % as< you, 7oman of the 7orld or not, 9an she a99ept su9h a thing?

$ T%T$)

My sister is in the right this time, Monsieur Martinel5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And by no means too soon5

$ T%T$)

%t is e>ident that a situation e ists patent and undeniable, 7hi9h



pla9es us in an a7<7ard dilemma5 +e ha>e 7edded our daughter to a mansupposedly free from all ties and all 9ompli9ations in life, and then9omes887hat you <no7 has 9ome5 The 9onse uen9es should be endured byhim, not by us5 +e ha>e been 7ounded and de9ei>ed in our 9onfiden9e, andthe 9onsent that 7e ha>e gi>en to this marriage 7e should 9ertainly ha>e

refused, had 7e <no7n the a9tual 9ir9umstan9es5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+e should ha>e refused? % should say so88not only on9e, but t7i9e5Besides, this 9hild, if ean brings it into the house, 7ill 9ertainly bea 9ause of trouble among us all5 Consider, Gilberte 7ill probably be9omea mother in her turn, and then 7hat ealousies, 7hat ri>alries, 7hathatred, perhaps, 7ill arise bet7een this intruder and her o7n 9hildren5This 9hild 7ill be a >eritable apple of dis9ord5

MA)T%" LOh, no, no= he 7ill not be a burden to anyone5 Than<s to ean*sliberality, this 9hild*s mother 7ill ha>e left him enough to li>e9omfortably, and, later, 7hen he has be9ome a man, he 7ill tra>el, nodoubt5 (e 7ill do as % ha>e done; as nine8tenths of the human ra9e do5

$ T%T$)

+ell, until then, 7ho 7ill ta<e 9are of it?

MA)T%" L

%, if it is agreeable5 % am a free man, retired from business; and it7ill gi>e me something to do, something to distra9t me5 % am ready tota<e him 7ith me at on9e, the poor little thing88@6loo<s at6 Mme5 de)on9hard unless Madame, 7ho is so fond of sa>ing lost dogs88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

That 9hild= %= Oh, that 7ould be a pie9e of foolishness5

MA)T%" L

/et, Madame, if you 9are to ha>e him, % 7ill yield my right most7illingly5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

But Monsieur, % ne>er said88



MA)T%" L

"ot as yet, true, but perhaps you 7ill say it before >ery long, for % am beginning to understand you5 /ou are an assumed man8hater and nothing

else5 /ou ha>e been unhappy in your married life and that has embitteredyou88 ust as mil< may turn upon its surfa9e, but at the bottom of the9hurn there is butter of fine uality5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6fro7ns6

+hat a 9omparison=88mil<88butter88psha7= ho7 >ulgar=

$ T%T$)

But Clarisse88

MA)T%" L

(ere is your daughter5

#C " .5

6The same, and6 Gilberte 6and6 Leon 67ho enter6 L5H

$ T%T$) @6approa9hes Gilberte6

Before seeing your husband again, if you de9ide to see him, it isne9essary that 7e should de9ide e a9tly 7hat you are going to say tohim5

G%LB )T @6greatly mo>ed, sits6 L5 6of table6

% <ne7 it 7as some great misfortune5

MA)T%" L @6sits beside her6

/es, my 9hild; but there are t7o <inds of misfortune88those that 9omefrom the faults of men, and those that spring purely from the haFards of fate; that is to say, destiny5 %n the first 9ase, the man is guilty; inthe se9ond 9ase, he is a >i9tim5 Do you understand me?

G%LB )T



/es, Monsieur5

MA)T%" L

A misfortune of 7hi9h some one person is the >i9tim 9an also 7oundanother person >ery 9ruelly5 But 7ill not the heart of this se9ond7ounded and altogether inno9ent, person besto7 a pardon upon thein>oluntary author of her disaster?

G%LB )T @6in a sad >oi9e6

That depends upon the suffering 7hi9h she undergoes5

MA)T%" L Mean7hile, you <ne7 that before ean lo>ed you, before he9on9ei>ed the idea of marrying you, he had88an intrigue5 /ou a99epted

the fa9t as one 7hi9h had nothing e 9eptional about it5G%LB )T

% did a99ept it5

MA)T%" L

And no7 your brother may tell you the rest5

G%LB )T

/es, Monsieur5

MA)T%" L

+hat shall % say to ean?

G%LB )T

% am too mu9h agitated to tell you yet5 This 7oman, of 7hom % did notthin< at all, 7hose >ery e isten9e 7as a matter of indifferen9e tome88her death has frightened me5 %t seems that she has 9ome bet7een eanand me, and 7ill al7ays remain there5 >erything that % ha>e heard of her prophesies this estrangement5 But you <ne7 her88this 7oman did younot, Monsieur?

MA)T%" L

/es, Madame, and % 9an say nothing but good of her5 /our brother and %



ha>e al7ays loo<ed upon her as irreproa9hable in her fidelity to ean5#he lo>ed him 7ith a pure, de>oted, absolute, and lasting affe9tion5 %spea< as a man 7ho has deplored deeply this intrigue, for % loo< uponmyself as a father to ean, but 7e must try to be ust to e>eryone5

G%LB )T

And did ean lo>e her >ery mu9h, too?

MA)T%" L

Oh, yes, 9ertainly he did, but his lo>e began to 7ane5 Bet7een themthere 7as too mu9h of a moral and so9ial distan9e5 (e li>ed 7ith her,ho7e>er, dra7n to her by the <no7ledge of the deep and tender affe9tion7hi9h she besto7ed upon him5

G%LB )T @6gra>ely6And ean 7ent to see her die?

MA)T%" L

(e had ust time to say fare7ell to her5

G%LB )T @6to herself6

%f % 9ould only tell 7hat passed bet7een them at that moment= Ah, this7ret9hed death is 7orse for me than if she 7ere ali>e=

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6rises6 )5 6and goes up stage6

% really do not understand you, my dear5 The 7oman has died88so mu9h the better for you5 May God deli>er you from all su9h=

G%LB )T

"o, my dear Aunt; the feeling % ha>e ust no7 is so painful that % 7ouldsooner <no7 her to be far a7ay than to <no7 her dead5

$ T%T$) @69omes do7n6

/es, % admit that is the sentiment of a 7oman mo>ed by a horrible9atastrophe; but there is one gra>e 9ompli9ation in the matter88that of the 9hild5 +hate>er may be done 7ith it, he 7ill none the less be theson of my son8in8la7 and a mena9e to us all5



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

And a sub e9t for ridi9ule5 #ee 7hat the 7orld 7ill say of us in alittle 7hile5

L O"

Lea>e the 7orld to itself, my dear Aunt, and let us o99upy oursel>es7ith our o7n business5 @6Goes to Gilberte65 "o7, Gilberte, is it theidea of the 9hild that mo>es you so deeply?

G%LB )T

Oh, no,88the poor little darling=

$ T%T$)

#u9h is the foolishness of 7omen 7ho <no7 nothing of life5

L O"

+ell, father, 7hy, if 7e ha>e so many different >ie7s,88a99ording as 7eare spe9tators or a9tors in the 9ourse of e>ents,887hy is there so mu9hdifferen9e bet7een the life of the imagination and the a9tual life;

bet7een that 7hi9h one ought to do; that 7hi9h you 7ould that othersshould do, and that 7hi9h you do yourself5 /es, 7hat has happened is>ery painful; but the surprise of the e>ent, its 9oin9iden9e 7ith thenuptial day ma<es it still more painful5 +e magnify88e>erything in our emotion, 7hen it is oursel>es that misfortune tou9hes5 #uppose, for amoment, that you had read this in your daily ne7spaper88

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6seated6 L5 6of table, indignantly6

%n my daily ne7spaper=

L O"

Or in a roman9e5 +hat emotion 7e should feel; 7hat tears 7e should shed=(o7 your sympathy 7ould ui9<ly go out to the poor little 9hild 7hose

birth 7as attained at the 9ost of his mother*s life= (o7 ean 7ould goup in your esteem; ho7 fran<, ho7 loyal, ho7 stan9h in his fealty you7ould 9onsider him; 7hile, on the other hand, if he had deserted thedying 7oman, and had spirited a7ay the little one into some distant>illage, you 7ould not ha>e had enough s9orn for him, or enough insultsfor him5 /ou 7ould loo< upon him as a being 7ithout heart and 7ithoutfear; and, you, my dear Aunt, thin<ing of the innumerable little bad



dogs 7ho o7e you their li>es, you 7ould 9ry out 7ith for9ible gestures:E+hat a miserable s9oundrel=E

MA)T%" L @6seated6 L5

That*s perfe9tly true5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

Dogs are 7orth more than men5

L O"

Little 9hildren are not men, my dear Aunt5 They ha>e not had time to be9ome bad5

$ T%T$)All that is >ery ingenious, Leon, and your spe9ial pleading ismagnifi9ent5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

/es, if you 7ould only plead li<e that at the $alais5

$ T%T$)

But this has nothing to do 7ith a roman9e or 7ith imaginary personages5+e ha>e married Gilberte to a young man in the ordinary 9onditions of life5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ithout enthusiasm5

$ T%T$)

+ithout enthusiasm, it is true, but ne>ertheless they are married, ustthe same5 "o7, on the e>ening of his nuptials, he brings us a present88%must say % do not 9are for a present 7hi9h ba7ls5

L O"

+hat does that pro>e, unless it is that your son8in8la7 is a bra>e man?+hat he has ust done88ris<ed his happiness in order to a99omplish hisduty88does it not say better than anything else 9ould, ho7 9apable of



de>otion he is?

MA)T%" L

Clear as the day5


And this man from (a>re admires him=

$ T%T$)

Then you maintain that Gilberte, on the day, of her entry upon marriedlife, should be9ome the adopted mother of the son of her husband*smistress?

L O"a9tly; ust as % maintain all that is honorable and disinterested5 And

you 7ould thin< as % do if the thing did not 9on9ern your daughter5

$ T%T$)

"o; it is an ine 9usable situation5

L O"

+ell, then, 7hat do you propose to do?

$ T%T$)

+ell, nothing less than a di>or9e5 The s9andal of this night issuffi9ient5


Gilberte di>or9ed= /ou don*t dream of that, do you? (a>e all our friends9losing their doors on her, the greater part of her relati>es lost toher= Di>or9ed= Come, 9ome= in spite of your ne7 la7, that has not yet9ome into our 9ustom and shall not 9ome in so soon5 )eligion forbids it;the 7orld a99epts it only under protest; and 7hen you ha>e against you

both religion and the 7orld88

$ T%T$)

But statisti9s pro>e88



MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

$sha7= #tatisti9s= /ou 9an ma<e them say 7hat you 7ish5 "o, no di>or9efor Gilberte5 @6%n a soft, lo7 >oi9e65 #imply a legal separation88that

is admissible, at least, and it is good form5 Let them separate5 % amseparated88all fashionable people separate, and e>erything goes allright, but as to di>or9e88

L O" @6seriously6

%t seems to me that only one person has a right to spea< in this matter,and 7e are forgetting her too long5 @6Turns to Gilberte65 /ou ha>eheard e>erything, Gilberte; you are mistress of your o7n udgment and of your de9ision5 'pon a 7ord from you depend either pardon or rupture5 Myfather has made his argument5 +hat does your heart say? @6Gilberte tries

to spea<, but stops and brea<s do7n65 Thin< al7ays that in refusing to pardon ean you 7ound me, and if % see you unhappy from your determination to say no, % shall suffer e 9eedingly5 Monsieur Martinelas<s from you at on9e an ans7er for ean5 Let us do better5 % 7ill goand find him5 %t is from your lips; it is, abo>e all, in your eyes, thathe 7ill learn his fate5 @6Brings her gently to the front of the stage65My little sister, my5 dear little sister, don*t be too proud; don*t betoo haughty= Listen to that 7hi9h your 9hagrin murmurs in your soul5Listen 7ell, but do not mista<e it for pride5

G%LB )T

But % ha>e no pride5 % do not <no7 ho7 % feel5 % am ill5 My oy has been blighted, and it poisons me5

L O"

Ta<e 9are= %t ta<es so little in su9h moments as these to ma<e 7ounds7hi9h are in9urable5

G%LB )T

"o, no= % am too mu9h distressed5 $erhaps % shall be hard, for % amafraid of him and of myself5 % am afraid of brea<ing off e>erything, or of yielding e>erything5

L O"

% am going to find ean5



G%LB )T @6resolutely6

"o, % do not 7ish to see him5 % forbid it=

L O"

Let me tell you something, my little Gilberte: /ou are less intelligentthan % thought5

G%LB )T

+hy?

L O"

Be9ause in su9h moments as these it is ne9essary to say yes or no at

on9e5 @6 ean appears at door6 )5

#C " .%5

6The same, and6 ean Martinel 6standing at door6 )5H

G%LB )T @67ith a stifled 9ry6

%t is he=

L O" @6goes up to6 ean 6and ta<ing him by the hand6

+el9ome=

A"

% am li<e a prisoner a7aiting the de9ision of his udges887hether it bea9 uittal or death5 The moments through 7hi9h % ha>e ust passed % shallne>er forget5

L O"

/our un9le and % ha>e said all that 7e had to say5 "o7 spea< for yourself5

A"



% do not <no7 ho75 %t must be to my 7ife alone5 % dare not spea< beforeyou all5 % as< but a moment5 After that % go, and % shall lea>e thehouse if my 7ife*s attitude indi9ates that % ought5 % shall do e a9tly7hat she 7ould ha>e me5 % shall be9ome that 7hi9h she may order5 But %must hear from her 6o7n6 lips her de9ision as to my life5 @6To6

Gilberte5 /ou 9annot refuse me that, Madame5 %t is the only prayer that% shall e>er ma<e to you, % s7ear, if this re uest to you remainsungranted5 @6They stand fa9e to fa9e and loo< at ea9h other65

G%LB )T

"o, % 9annot refuse you5 !ather, Aunt, please lea>e me alone for a fe7minutes 7ith Monsieur Martinel5 /ou 9an see that % am perfe9tly 9alm5

$ T%T$)

But88but88A" @6determinedly to6 M5 $etitpre

Monsieur, % shall not gainsay your 7ill in anything5 % shall do nothing7ithout your appro>al5 % ha>e not returned here to 9ontest your authority or to spea< of rights; but % respe9tfully as< permission toremain alone a fe7 minutes 7ith88my 7ife= Consider that this is perhapsour last inter>ie7 and that our future depends upon it5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

%t is solely the future of Gilberte 7hi9h 9on9erns me5

A" @6to6 Mme5 de )on9hard

% appeal simply to your heart, Madame; your heart, 7hi9h has suffered5Do not forget that your irritation and your bitterness against me 9omefrom the misfortune that another man has infli9ted upon you5 /our lifehas been bro<en by him5 Do not 7ish the same for me5 /ou ha>e beenunhappy; married s9ar9ely a year5 @6$oints to6 Gilberte5 +ill you saythat she shall be married s9ar9ely a day, and that later she shall tal< of her bro<en life889easelessly guarding in her mind the memory of thise>ening*s disaster? @6At a mo>ement of6 Mme5 de )on9hard5 % <no7 you to

be <ind, although you deny it, and % promise you, Madame, that if %remain Gilberte*s husband, % shall lo>e you as a son, as a son 7orthy of you5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6>ery mu9h mo>ed6



A son= (e has stirred me deeply= @6+hispers to6 $etitpre5 Come a7ay,let us lea>e them alone5 @6 mbra9es6 Gilberte5

$ T%T$) @6to6 ean

+ell, so be it, Monsieur5 @6)ises and e it6 C5, 6offering his arm to6 Mme5 de )on9hard5

MA)T%" L @6to6 Leon

They are going to tal< 7ith that @6tou9hes his heart6 ; it is the onlytrue elo uen9e5

@6 it 7ith6 Leon C5

#C " .%%5 Gilberte and ean5H

A"

/ou <no7 all, do you not?

G%LB )T

/es5 And % ha>e been deeply 7ounded5

A"

% hope you do not a99use me of lying or of any other dissimulation5

G%LB )T

Oh, no=

A"

Do you blame me for ha>ing left you this e>ening?

G%LB )T

% blame no one 7ho does his duty5

A"



/ou did not <no7 this 7oman88and she is dead5

G%LB )T

%t is ust be9ause she is dead that she troubles me thus5

A"

%mpossible; you must ha>e another reason5 @6+ith hesitation56 The9hild?

G%LB )T @6 ui9<ly6

"o, no= don*t de9ei>e yourself5 The poor little darling= it is not hisfault5 "o, % suffer from something 7hi9h is pe9uliar to myself, 7hi9h

9an 9ome only from me, and 7hi9h % 9annot 9onfess to you5 %t is a sorro7deep in my heart, so <een, 7hen % felt it spring to birth under the7ords of my brother and your un9le, that, should % e>er e perien9e itagain 7hen li>ing 7ith you as your 7ife, % should ne>er be able todispel it5

A"

+hat is it?

G%LB )T

% 9annot tell it5 @6#its6 L5

A" @6stands6

Listen to me5 %t is ne9essary that at this moment there should not be bet7een us the shado7 of a misunderstanding5 All our life depends uponit5 /ou are my 7ife, but % admit that you are absolutely free after 7hathas happened5 % 7ill do as you 7ish5 % am ready to agree to e>erythingyou desire, e>en to a di>or9e if you demand it5 But 7hat 7ill happen tome after that % do not <no7, for % lo>e you so that the thought of losing you after 7inning you 7ill thro7 me mer9ilessly into somedesperate resol>e5 @6#ees6 Gilberte 6mo>ed56 % do not see< to softenyou, to mo>e you88% simply tell you the na<ed truth5 % feel, and % ha>efelt during the 7hole night, through all the sho9<s and horribleemotions of the drama that has ust been ena9ted, that you hold for methe <eenest 7ound5 %f you banish me no7, % am a lost man5

G%LB )T @6mu9h mo>ed6



Do you really lo>e me as mu9h as that?

A"

+ith a lo>e that % feel is ineffa9eable5

G%LB )T

Did you lo>e her?

A"

% did indeed lo>e her5 % e perien9ed a tender atta9hment for a gentleand de>oted girl5 @6%n a lo7 >oi9e, 7ith passion56 Listen: that 7hi9h %am going to tell you is un7orthy, perhaps infamous, but % am only a

human being, feeble as anyone else5 +ell, ust no7, in the presen9e of this poor, dying girl, my eyes 7ere filled 7ith tears and my sobs 9ho<edme88all my being >ibrated 7ith sorro7; but at the bottom of my soul, inthe depths of my being, % thought only of you5

G%LB )T @6rises ui9<ly6

Do you mean that?

A" @6simply6

% 9annot lie to you5

G%LB )T

+ell, do you <no7 7hat made me suffer ust no7 7hen my brother told meof this intrigue and death? % 9an tell it to you no75 % 7as ealous= %t7as un7orthy of me, 7asn*t it? ealous of this poor, dead 7oman= But hespo<e so 7ell of her as to mo>e me, and % felt that she lo>ed you somu9h that you might find me perhaps indifferent and 9old after her, andthat hurt me so= % had so mu9h fear of e perien9ing that that % thoughtof renoun9ing you5

A"

And no7?88Gilberte= Gilberte=

G%LB )T @6e tends her hands6

% am here, ean= ta<e me=



A"

Ah, ho7 grateful % am5 @60isses her hands; then immediately after, 7ithemotion56 But here another anguish seiFes me5 % ha>e promised this poor

7oman to ta<e and 9herish this 9hild in my o7n home5 @Gilberte 6ma<es amo>ement65 That is not all5 Do you <no7 7hat her last thought, her last prayer 7as? #he entreated me to 9ommend the 9hild to you5

G%LB )T

To me=

A"

To you, Gilberte5

G%LB )T @6profoundly mo>ed6

#he did this, the poor 7oman? Did she belie>e that % 7ould ta<e88

A"

#he hoped it, and in that hope her death 7as made easier5

G%LB )T @6in e alted mood, 9rosses6 )5

/es, % 7ill ta<e it= 7here is it?

A"

At my house5

G%LB )T

At your house? /ou must go to it immediately5

A"

+hat= lea>e you no7, at this moment?

G%LB )T

+e 7ill go together, sin9e % 7as to ha>e a99ompanied you to your housethis e>ening5



A" @6 oyously6

Oh, Gilberte= But your father 7ill not let us go5

G%LB )T

+ell, do you <no7 7hat 7e must do, sin9e my pa9<ing is finished, and mymaid a7aits me at your house? /ou must 9arry me off5

A"

Carry you off?

G%LB )T

Gi>e me my 9loa< and let us go5 All 9an be e plained tomorro75 @6#ho7s

the 9loa< that she had left upon the 9hair in the first a9t56 My 9loa<, please5

A" @6pi9<s up the 9loa< ui9<ly and thro7s it o>er her shoulders6

/ou are the most adorable 9reature= @Gilberte 6ta<es his arm and they goto7ard door6 )5

#C " .%%%5

6 nter6 Mme5 de )on9hard, M5 $etitpre, M5 Martinel, 6and6 Leon C5H

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D

+ell, 7hat are they doing? Are they going a7ay no7?

$ T%T$)

+hy, 7hat does it mean?

G%LB )T

/es; father, % am going a7ay5 % am going 7ith my husband; but % shall behere to8morro7 to as< pardon for this hurried flight, and to e plain toyou the reason for it5

$ T%T$)



+ere you going 7ithout saying good8bye to us887ithout embra9ing us?

G%LB )T

/es, in order to a>oid more dis9ussions5

L O"

#he is right5 Let them go5

G%LB )T @6thro7s herself upon6 $etitpre*s 6ne9<6

Till to8morro7, father; till to8morro7, my dear Aunt5 Good night, all; %ha>e had enough of emotion and fatigue5

MM 5 D )O"C(A)D @6goes to6 Gilberte 6and embra9es her6/es, run along, darling88there is a little one o>er there 7ho 7aits for a mother=

6Curtain56

T( LA"C )*# +%!

A"D

OT( ) TAL #

T( LA"C )*# +%!

%t 7as after Bourba<i*s defeat in the east of !ran9e5 The army, bro<enup, de9imated and 7orn out, had been obliged to retreat into#7itFerland, after that terrible 9ampaign5 %t 7as only the shortduration of the struggle that sa>ed a hundred and fifty thousand menfrom 9ertain death5 (unger, the terrible 9old, and for9ed mar9hes in thesno7 7ithout boots, o>er bad mountainous roads, had 9aused the

6fran9s8tireurs6 espe9ially the greatest suffering, for 7e 7ere 7ithouttents and almost 7ithout food, al7ays in front 7hen 7e 7ere mar9hing



to7ard Belfort, and in the rear 7hen returning by the ura5 Of our brigade, that had numbered t7el>e hundred men on the first of anuary,there remained only t7enty8t7o pale, thin, ragged 7ret9hes, 7hen atlength 7e su99eeded in rea9hing #7iss territory5

There 7e 7ere safe and 9ould rest5 >erybody <no7s 7hat sympathy 7assho7n to the unfortunate !ren9h army, and ho7 7ell it 7as 9ared for5 +eall gained fresh life, and those 7ho had been ri9h and happy before the7ar de9lared that they had ne>er e perien9ed a greater feeling of 9omfort than they did then5 ust thin<5 +e a9tually had something to eate>ery day, and 9ould sleep e>ery night5

Mean7hile, the 7ar 9ontinued in the east of !ran9e, 7hi9h had beene 9luded from the armisti9e5 Besan9on still <ept the enemy in 9he9<, andthe latter had their re>enge by ra>aging the Comte !ran9he5 #ometimes 7eheard that they had approa9hed uite 9lose to the frontier, and 7e sa7

#7iss troops, 7ho 7ere to form a line of obser>ation bet7een us and theGermans, set out on their mar9h5

But this hurt our pride, and as 7e regained health and strength thelonging for fighting laid hold of us5 %t 7as disgra9eful and irritatingto <no7 that 7ithin t7o or three leagues of us the Germans 7ere>i9torious and insolent, to feel that 7e 7ere prote9ted by our 9apti>ity, and to feel that on that a99ount 7e 7ere po7erless againstthem5

One day, our 9aptain too< fi>e or si of us aside, and spo<e to us aboutit, long and earnestly5 (e 7as a fine fello7, that 9aptain5 (e had beena sub8lieutenant in the oua>es, 7as tall and thin and as hard as steel,and during the 7hole 9ampaign had gi>en a great deal of trouble to theGermans5 (e fretted in ina9ti>ity and 9ould not a99ustom himself to theidea of being a prisoner and of doing nothing5

EConfound it=E he said to us, Edoes it not pain you to <no7 that thereare a lot of uhlans 7ithin t7o hours of us? Does it not almost dri>e youmad to <no7 that those beggarly 7ret9hes are 7al<ing about as masters inour mountains, 7here si determined men might <ill a 7hole troop anyday? % 9annot endure it any longer, and % must go there5E

EBut ho7 9an you manage it, Captain?E

E(o7? %t is not >ery diffi9ult= ust as if 7e had not done a thing or t7o 7ithin the last si months, and got out of 7oods that 7ere guarded

by men >ery different from the #7iss5 The day that you 7ish to 9rosso>er into !ran9e, % 7ill underta<e to get you there5E



EThat may be; but 7hat shall 7e do in !ran9e 7ithout any arms?E

E+ithout arms? +e 7ill get them o>er yonder, by o>e=E

E/ou are forgetting the treaty,E another soldier said; E7e shall run the

ris< of doing the #7iss an in ury, if Manteuffel learns that they ha>eallo7ed prisoners to return to !ran9e5E

ECome,E said the 9aptain, Ethose are all poor reasons5 % mean to go and<ill some $russians; that is all % 9are about5 %f you do not 7ish to doas % do, 7ell and good; only say so at on9e5 % 9an uite 7ell go bymyself; % do not re uire anybody*s 9ompany5E

"aturally 7e all protested, and as it 7as uite impossible to ma<e the9aptain alter his mind, 7e felt obliged to promise to go 7ith him5 +eli<ed him too mu9h to lea>e him in the lur9h, sin9e he had ne>er failed

us in any e tremity; and so the e pedition 7as de9ided on5

%%5

The 9aptain had a plan of his o7n, a plan he had been 9ogitating o>er for some time5 A man in that part of the 9ountry, 7hom he <ne7, 7asgoing to lend him a 9art, and si suits of peasants* 9lothes5 +e 9ouldhide under some stra7 at the bottom of the 7agon, 7hi9h 7ould be loaded7ith Gruyere 9heese5 This 9heese he 7as supposed to be going to sell in!ran9e5 The 9aptain told the sentinels that he 7as ta<ing t7o friends7ith him to prote9t his goods, in 9ase anyone should try to rob him,7hi9h did not seem an e traordinary pre9aution5 A #7iss offi9er seemedto loo< at the 7agon in a <no7ing manner, but that 7as in order toimpress his soldiers5 %n a 7ord, neither offi9ers nor men made it out5

EGet on,E the 9aptain said to the horses, as he 9ra9<ed his 7hip, 7hileour men uietly smo<ed their pipes5 % 7as half suffo9ated in my bo ,7hi9h only admitted the air through some holes in front, 7hile at thesame time % 7as nearly froFen, for it 7as terribly 9old5

EGet on,E the 9aptain said again, and the 7agon loaded 7ith Gruyere9heese entered !ran9e5

The $russian lines 7ere >ery badly guarded, as the enemy trusted to the7at9hfulness of the #7iss5 The sergeant spo<e "orth German, 7hile our 9aptain spo<e the bad German of the E!our CantonsE; so they 9ould not





The first night of his arri>al, the 9aptain began it himself5 'nder the prete t of e amining the 9ountry round, he 7ent along the highroad5 %must tell you that the little >illage 7hi9h ser>ed as our fortress 7as asmall 9olle9tion of poor, badly built houses, 7hi9h had been desertedlong before5 %t lay on a steep slope, 7hi9h terminated in a 7ooded

plain5 The 9ountry people sold 7ood; they sent it do7n the ra>ines,7hi9h are 9alled 69oulees6 lo9ally, and 7hi9h led do7n to the plain, andthere they sta9<ed it into piles, 7hi9h 7ere sold thri9e a year to the7ood mer9hants5 The spot 7here this mar<et 7as held 7as indi9ated by t7osmall houses by the side of the highroad, 7hi9h ser>ed for

publi98houses5 The 9aptain had gone do7n there by one of these 69oulees65

(e had been gone about half an hour, and 7e 7ere on the loo<out at thetop of the ra>ine, 7hen 7e heard a shot5 The 9aptain had ordered us notto stir, and only to 9ome to him 7hen 7e heard him blo7 his trumpet5 %t

7as made of a goat*s horn, and 9ould be heard a league off, but it ga>eno sound, and in spite of our 9ruel an iety, 7e 7ere obliged to 7ait insilen9e, 7ith our rifles by our side5

To go do7n these 69oulees6 is easy, you need only let yourself glidedo7n; but it is more diffi9ult to get up again5 /ou ha>e to s9ramble up

by 9at9hing hold of the hanging bran9hes of the trees, and sometimes onall fours, by sheer strength5 A 7hole mortal hour passed, and still the9aptain did not 9ome, nothing mo>ed in the brush7ood5 The 9aptain*s 7ife

began to gro7 impatient; 7hat 9ould he be doing? +hy did he not 9all us?Did the shot that 7e had heard pro9eed from an enemy, and had he <illedor 7ounded our leader, her husband? They did not <no7 7hat to thin<, but% myself fan9ied that either he 7as dead or that his enterprise 7assu99essful5 % 7as merely an ious and 9urious to <no7 7hi9h5

#uddenly, 7e heard the sound of his trumpet, and 7ere mu9h surprisedthat instead of 9oming from belo7, as 7e had e pe9ted, it 9ame from the>illage behind us5 +hat did that mean? %t 7as a mystery to us, but thesame idea stru9< us all, that he had been <illed, and that the $russians7ere blo7ing the trumpet to dra7 us into an ambush5 +e thereforereturned to the 9ottage, <eeping a 9areful loo<out, 7ith our fingers onthe trigger and hiding under the bran9hes5 But his 7ife, in spite of our entreaties, rushed on, leaping li<e a tigress5 #he thought that she hadto a>enge her husband, and had fi ed the bayonet to her rifle5 +e lostsight of her at the moment that 7e heard the trumpet again, and a fe7moments later 7e heard her 9alling out to us:

ECome on= 9ome on= he is ali>e= it is he=E

+e hastened on, and sa7 the 9aptain smo<ing his pipe at the entran9e of



the >illage, but strangely enough he 7as on horseba9<5

EAh=E said he to us, Eyou see that there is something to be done here5(ere % am on horseba9< already; % <no9<ed o>er a uhlan yonder, and too< his horse; % suppose they 7ere guarding the 7ood, but it 7as by drin<ing

and s7illing in 9lo>er5 One of them, the sentry at the door, had nottime to see me before % ga>e him a sugarplum in his stoma9h, and then, before the others 9ould 9ome out, % umped on to the horse and 7as off li<e a shot5 ight or ten of them follo7ed me, % thin<, but % too< the9rossroads through the 7ood; % ha>e got s9rat9hed and torn a bit, buthere % am5 And no7, my good fello7s, attention, and ta<e 9are= Those

brigands 7ill not rest until they ha>e 9aught us, and 7e must re9ei>ethem 7ith rifle bullets5 Come along; let us ta<e up our posts=E

+e set out5 One of us too< up his position a good 7ay from the >illageof the 9rossroads; % 7as posted at the entran9e of the main street,

7here the road from the le>el 9ountry enters the >illage, 7hile the t7oothers, 7ith the 9aptain and his 7ife, too< up positions in the middleof the >illage, near the 9hur9h, 7hose to7er ser>ed for an obser>atoryand 9itadel5

+e had not been in our pla9es long before 7e heard a shot follo7ed byanother; then t7o, then three5 The first 7as e>idently a

69hassepot6,88one re9ogniFed it by the sharp report, 7hi9h sounds li<ethe 9ra9< of a 7hip,887hile the other three 9ame from the lan9ers*9arbines5

The 9aptain 7as furious5 (e had gi>en orders to the outpost to let theenemy pass, and merely to follo7 them at a distan9e if they mar9hedto7ard the >illage, and to oin me 7hen they had gone 7ell bet7een thehouses5 Then they 7ere to appear suddenly, ta<e the patrol bet7een t7ofires, and not allo7 a single man to es9ape, for posted as 7e 7ere, thesi of us 9ould ha>e hemmed in ten $russians, if needful5

EThat 9onfounded $iedelot has roused them,E the 9aptain said, Eand they7ill not >enture to 9ome on blindfold any longer5 And then % am uitesure that he has managed to get 7ounded himself someho7 or other, for 7ehear nothing of him5 %t ser>es him right; 7hy did he not obey orders?EAnd then, after a moment, he grumbled in his beard: EAfter all, % amsorry for the poor fello7; he is so bra>e and shoots so 7ell=E

The 9aptain 7as right in his 9on e9tures5 +e 7aited until e>ening,7ithout seeing the uhlans; they had retreated after the first atta9<,

but unfortunately 7e had not seen $iedelot either5 +as he dead or a prisoner? +hen night 9ame the 9aptain proposed that 7e should go out andloo< for him, and so the three of us started5 At the 9rossroads 7e found



a bro<en rifle and some blood, 7hile the ground 7as trampled do7n5 But7e did not find either a 7ounded man or a dead body, although 7esear9hed e>ery thi9<et5 At midnight 7e returned 7ithout ha>ingdis9o>ered anything of our unfortunate 9omrade5

E%t is >ery strange,E the 9aptain gro7led5 EThey must ha>e <illed himand thro7n him into the bushes some7here; they 9annot possibly ha>eta<en him prisoner, as he 7ould ha>e 9alled out for help5 % 9annotunderstand it all5E ust as he said that, bright, red flames shot up inthe dire9tion of the inn on the highroad, 7hi9h illuminated the s<y5

E#9oundrels= 9o7ards=E shouted the 9aptain5 E% 7ill bet that they ha>eset fire to the t7o houses in the mar<et8pla9e, in order to ha>e their re>enge, and then they 7ill s9uttle off 7ithout saying a 7ord5 They 7ill

be satisfied 7ith ha>ing <illed a man and setting fire to t7o houses5All right5 %t shall not pass o>er li<e that5 +e must go for them; they

7ill not li<e to lea>e their illuminations in order to fight5EE%t 7ould be a great stro<e of lu9< if 7e 9ould set $iedelot free at thesame time,E said some one5

The fi>e of us set off, full of rage and hope5 %n t7enty minutes 7e hadgot to the bottom of the 69oulee6, and had not yet seen anyone 7hen7ithin a hundred yards of the inn5 The fire 7as behind the house, and soall that 7e sa7 of it 7as the refle9tion abo>e the roof5 (o7e>er, 7e7ere 7al<ing rather slo7ly, as 7e 7ere afraid of a trap, 7hen suddenly7e heard $iedelot*s 7ell8<no7n >oi9e5 %t had a strange sound, ho7e>er,for it 7as at the same time dull and >ibrant, stifled and 9lear, as if he 7as 9alling out as loud as he 9ould 7ith a gag in his mouth5 (eseemed to be hoarse and panting, and the unlu9<y fello7 <ept e 9laiming:E(elp= (elp=E

+e sent all thoughts of pruden9e to the de>il and in t7o bounds 7ere atthe ba9< of the inn, 7here a terrible sight met our eyes5

%.5

$iedelot 7as being burned ali>e5 (e 7as 7rithing in the middle of a heapof fagots, against a sta<e to 7hi9h they had fastened him, and theflames 7ere li9<ing him 7ith their sharp tongues5 +hen he sa7 us, histongue seemed to sti9< in his throat, he drooped his head, and seemed as



if he 7ere going to die5 %t 7as only the affair of a moment to upset the burning pile, to s9atter the embers, and to 9ut the ropes that fastenedhim5

$oor fello7= %n 7hat a terrible state 7e found him5 The e>ening before

he had had his left arm bro<en, and it seemed as if he had been badly beaten sin9e then, for his 7hole body 7as 9o>ered 7ith 7ounds, bruises,and blood5 The flames had also begun their 7or< on him, and he had t7olarge burns, one on his loins, and the other on his right thigh, and his

beard and his hair 7ere s9or9hed5 $oor $iedelot=

"obody <no7s the terrible rage 7e felt at this sight= +e 7ould ha>erushed headlong at a hundred thousand $russians5 Our thirst for >engean9e 7as intense; but the 9o7ards had run a7ay, lea>ing their 9rime

behind them5 +here 9ould 7e find them no7? Mean7hile, ho7e>er, the9aptain*s 7ife 7as loo<ing after $iedelot, and dressing his 7ounds as

best she 9ould, 7hile the 9aptain himself shoo< hands 7ith hime 9itedly5 %n a fe7 minutes he 9ame to himself5

EGood morning, Captain, good morning, all of you,E he said5 EAh= thes9oundrels, the 7ret9hes= +hy, t7enty of them 9ame to surprise us5E

ET7enty, do you say?E

E/es, there 7as a 7hole band of them, and that is 7hy % disobeyedorders, Captain, and fired on them, for they 7ould ha>e <illed you all5#o % preferred to stop them5 That frightened them, and they did not>enture to go further than the 9rossroads5 They 7ere su9h 9o7ards5 !our of them shot at me at t7enty yards, as if % had been a target, and thenthey slashed me 7ith their s7ords5 My arm 7as bro<en, so that % 9ouldonly use my bayonet 7ith one hand5E

EBut 7hy did you not 9all for help?E

E% too< good 9are not to do that, for you 7ould all ha>e 9ome, and you7ould neither ha>e been able to defend me nor yoursel>es, being onlyfi>e against t7enty5E

E/ou <no7 that 7e should not ha>e allo7ed you to ha>e been ta<en, poor old fello75E

E% preferred to die by myself, don*t you see= % did not 7ant to bringyou there, for it 7ould ha>e been a mere ambush5E

E+ell, 7e 7ill not tal< about it any more5 Do you feel rather easier?E



E"o, % am suffo9ating5 % <no7 that % 9annot li>e mu9h longer5 The brutes= They tied me to a tree, and beat me till % 7as half dead, andthen they shoo< my bro<en arm, but % did not ma<e a sound5 % 7ouldrather ha>e bitten my tongue out than ha>e 9alled out before them5 "o7 %9an say 7hat % am suffering and shed tears; it does one good5 Than< you,

my <ind friends5E

E$oor $iedelot= But 7e 7ill a>enge you, you may be sure=E

E/es, yes, % 7ant you to do that5 spe9ially, there is a 7oman amongthem, 7ho passes as the 7ife of the lan9er 7hom the 9aptain <illedyesterday5 #he is dressed li<e a lan9er, and it 7as she 7ho tortured methe most yesterday, and suggested burning me5 %n fa9t it 7as she 7ho setfire to the 7ood5 Oh= the 7ret9h, the brute88Ah= ho7 % am suffering= Myloins, my arms=E and he fell ba9< panting and e hausted, 7rithing in histerrible agony, 7hile the 9aptain*s 7ife 7iped the perspiration from his

forehead5 +e all shed tears of grief and rage, as if 7e had been9hildren5 % 7ill not des9ribe the end to you; he died half an hour later, but before that he told us in 7hi9h dire9tion the enemy had gone5+hen he 7as dead, 7e ga>e oursel>es time to bury him, and then 7e setout in pursuit of them, 7ith our hearts full of fury and hatred5

E+e 7ill thro7 oursel>es on the 7hole $russian army, if it be needful,Ethe 9aptain said, Ebut 7e 7ill a>enge $iedelot5 +e must 9at9h thoses9oundrels5 Let us s7ear to die, rather than not to find them, and if %am <illed first, these are my orders: all the prisoners that you ma<eare to be shot immediately, and as for the lan9er*s 7ife, she is to be>iolated before she is put to death5E

E#he must not be shot, be9ause she is a 7oman,E the 9aptain*s 7ife said5E%f you sur>i>e, % am sure that you 7ould not shoot a 7oman5 Outragingher 7ill be uite suffi9ient5 But if you are <illed in this pursuit, %7ant one thing, and that is to fight 7ith her; % 7ill <ill her 7ith myo7n hands, and the others 9an do 7hat they li<e 7ith her if she <illsme5E

E+e 7ill outrage her= +e 7ill burn her= +e 7ill tear her to pie9es=$iedelot shall be a>enged, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth=E

.5

The ne t morning 7e une pe9tedly fell on an outpost of uhlans four



leagues a7ay5 #urprised by our sudden atta9<, they 7ere not able tomount their horses, nor e>en to defend themsel>es, and in a fe7 moments7e had fi>e prisoners, 9orresponding to our o7n number5 The 9aptainuestioned them, and from their ans7ers 7e felt 9ertain that they 7erethe same 7hom 7e had en9ountered the pre>ious day5 Then a >ery 9urious

operation too< pla9e5 One of us 7as told off to as9ertain their se , andnothing 9an depi9t our oy 7hen 7e dis9o>ered 7hat 7e 7ere see<ing amongthem, the female e e9utioner 7ho had tortured our friend5

The four others 7ere shot on the spot, 7ith their ba9<s to7ard us and9lose to the muFFles of our rifles, and then 7e turned our attention tothe 7oman5 +hat 7ere 7e going to do 7ith her? % must a9<no7ledge that 7e7ere all of us in fa>or of shooting her5 (atred, and the 7ish to a>enge$iedelot had e tinguished all pity in us, and 7e had forgotten that 7e7ere going to shoot a 7oman5 But a 7oman reminded us of it, the9aptain*s 7ife; at her entreaties, therefore, 7e determined to <eep her

a prisoner5 The 9aptain*s poor 7ife 7as to be se>erely punished for thisa9t of 9lemen9y5

The ne t day 7e heard that the armisti9e had been e tended to theeastern part of !ran9e, and 7e had to put an end to our little 9ampaign5T7o of us, 7ho belonged to the neighborhood, returned home5 #o thereremained only four of us, all told: the 9aptain, his 7ife, and t7o men5+e belonged to Besan9on, 7hi9h 7as still being besieged in spite of thearmisti9e5

ELet us stop here,E said the 9aptain5 E% 9annot belie>e that the 7ar isgoing to end li<e this5 The de>il ta<e it= #urely there are men stillleft in !ran9e, and no7 is the time to pro>e 7hat they are made of5 Thespring is 9oming on, and the armisti9e is only a trap laid for the$russians5 During the time that it lasts, a ne7 army 7ill be formed, andsome fine morning 7e shall fall upon them again5 +e shall be ready, and7e ha>e a hostage88let us remain here5E

+e fi ed our uarters there5 %t 7as terribly 9old, and 7e did not go outmu9h, as somebody had al7ays to <eep the female prisoner in sight5

#he 7as sullen and ne>er spo<e sa>e to refer to her husband, 7hom the9aptain had <illed5 #he loo<ed at him 9ontinually 7ith fier9e eyes, and7e felt that she 7as tortured by a 7ild longing for re>enge5 That seemedto us to be the most suitable punishment for the terrible torments thatshe had made $iedelot suffer, for impotent >engean9e is su9h intense

pain=

Alas= 7e 7ho <ne7 ho7 to a>enge our 9omrade ought to ha>e <no7n thatthis 7oman 7ould find a 7ay to a>enge her husband, and should ha>e been



on our guard5 %t is true that one of us <ept 7at9h e>ery night, and thatat first 7e tied her by a long rope to the great oa< ben9h that 7asfastened to the 7all5 But, by and by, as she had ne>er tried to es9ape,in spite of her hatred for us, 7e rela ed our e treme pruden9e andallo7ed her to sleep some7here else, and 7ithout being tied5 +hat had 7e

to fear? #he 7as at the end of the room, a man 7as on guard at the door,and bet7een her and the sentinel the 9aptain*s 7ife and t7o other menused to lie5 #he 7as alone and unarmed against four, so there 9ould beno danger5

One night 7hen 7e 7ere asleep, and the 9aptain 7as on guard, thelan9er*s 7ife 7as lying more uietly in her 9orner than usual5 #he hade>en smiled during the e>ening for the first time sin9e she had been our

prisoner5 #uddenly, ho7e>er, in the middle of the night, 7e 7erea7a<ened by a terrible 9ry5 +e got up, groping about5 #9ar9ely 7ere 7eup 7hen 7e stumbled o>er a furious 9ouple 7ho 7ere rolling about and

fighting on the ground5 %t 7as the 9aptain and the lan9er*s 7ife5 +ethre7 oursel>es on to them and separated them in a moment5 #he 7asshouting and laughing, and he seemed to ha>e the death rattle5 All thistoo< pla9e in the dar<5 T7o of us held her, and 7hen a light 7as stru9<,a terrible sight met our eyes5 The 9aptain 7as lying on the floor in a

pool of blood, 7ith an enormous 7ound in his throat, and his s7ord bayonet, that had been ta<en from his rifle, 7as sti9<ing in the red,gaping 7ound5 A fe7 minutes after7ard he died, 7ithout ha>ing been ableto utter a 7ord5

(is 7ife did not shed a tear5 (er eyes 7ere dry, her throat 7as9ontra9ted, and she loo<ed at the lan9er*s 7ife steadfastly, and 7ith a9alm fero9ity that inspired fear5

EThis 7oman belongs to me,E she said to us suddenly5 E/ou s7ore to menot a 7ee< ago to let me <ill her as % 9hose if she <illed my husband,and you must <eep your oath5 /ou must fasten her se9urely to thefirepla9e, upright against the ba9< of it, and then you 9an go 7here youli<e, but far from here5 % 7ill ta<e my re>enge on her to myself5 Lea>ethe 9aptain*s body, and 7e three, he, she, and %, 7ill remain here5E

+e obeyed and 7ent a7ay5 #he promised to 7rite to us to Gene>a, as 7e7ere returning there5

.%5



T7o days later, % re9ei>ed the follo7ing letter, dated the day after 7ehad left5 %t had been 7ritten at an inn on the highroad:

EMy !riend:

E% am 7riting to you, a99ording to my promise5 !or the moment % am atthis inn, 7here % ha>e ust handed my prisoner o>er to a $russianoffi9er5

E% must tell you, my friend, that this poor 7oman left t7o 9hildren inGermany5 #he had follo7ed her husband, 7hom she adored, as she did not7ish him to be e posed to the ris<s of 7ar by himself, and as her 9hildren 7ere 7ith their grandparents5 % ha>e learned all this sin9eyesterday, and it has turned my ideas of >engean9e into more humanefeelings5 At the >ery moment 7hen % felt pleasure in insulting this7oman, and in threatening her 7ith the most fearful torments88in

re9alling $iedelot, 7ho had been burned ali>e, and in threatening her 7ith a similar death, she loo<ed at me 9oldly, and said:

E*+hy should you reproa9h me, !ren9h7oman? /ou thin< that you 7ill doright in a>enging your husband*s death, is not that so?*

E*/es,* % replied5

E*.ery 7ell then; in <illing him, % did 7hat you are going to do in burning me5 % a>enged my husband, for your husband <illed him5*

E*+ell,* % replied, *as you appro>e of this >engean9e, prepare to endureit5*

E*% do not fear it5*

EAnd in fa9t she did not seem to ha>e lost 9ourage5 (er fa9e 7as 9alm,and she loo<ed at me 7ithout trembling, 7hile % brought 7ood and driedlea>es together, and fe>erishly thre7 on to them the po7der from some9artridges, to ma<e her funeral pile the more 9ruel5

E% hesitated in my thoughts of perse9ution for a moment5 But the9aptain*s body 7as there, pale and 9o>ered 7ith blood, and he seemed to

be loo<ing at me 7ith large, glassy eyes, and % applied myself to my7or< again after <issing his pale lips5 #uddenly, ho7e>er, on raising myhead, % sa7 that she 7as 9rying, and % felt rather surprised5

E*#o you are frightened?* % said to her5

E*"o, but 7hen % sa7 you <iss your husband, % thought of mine, of all





%5

%n front of the building, half farmhouse, half manor8house, one of those

rural habitations of a mi ed 9hara9ter 7hi9h 7ere all but seigneurial,and 7hi9h are at the present time o99upied by large 9ulti>ators, thedogs, lashed beside the apple8trees in the or9hard near the house, <ept

bar<ing and ho7ling at the sight of the shooting8bags 9arried by thegame<eepers and the boys5 %n the spa9ious dining8room <it9hen, (autot#enior and (autot unior, M5 Bermont, the ta 89olle9tor, and M5 Mondaru,the notary, 7ere ta<ing a bite and drin<ing some 7ine before going outto shoot, for it 7as the opening day5

(autot #enior, proud of all his possessions, tal<ed boastfully beforehand of the game 7hi9h his guests 7ere going to find on his lands5

(e 7as a big "orman, one of those po7erful, ruddy, bony men, 7ho 9anlift 7agonloads of apples on their shoulders5 (alf peasant, half gentleman, ri9h, respe9ted, influential, in>ested 7ith authority, hemade his son Cesar go as far as the third form at s9hool, so that hemight be an edu9ated man, and there he had brought his studies to a stopfor fear of his be9oming a fine gentleman and paying no attention to theland5

Cesar (autot, almost as tall as his father, but thinner, 7as a good son,do9ile, 9ontent 7ith e>erything, full of admiration, respe9t, anddeferen9e for the 7ishes and opinions of his sire5

M5 Bermont, the ta 89olle9tor, a stout little man, 7ho sho7ed on his red9hee<s a thin net7or< of >iolet >eins resembling the tributaries and the7inding 9ourses of ri>ers on maps, as<ed:

EAnd hares88are there any hares on it?E

(autot #enior ans7ered: EAs many as you li<e, espe9ially in the$uysatier lands5E

E+hi9h dire9tion shall 7e begin in?E as<ed the notary, a olly notary,fat and pale, big8paun9hed too, and strapped up in an entirely ne7hunting 9ostume bought at )ouen5

E+ell, that 7ay, through these grounds5 +e 7ill dri>e the partridgesinto the plain, and 7e 7ill beat there again5E

And (autot #enior rose up5 They all follo7ed his e ample, too< their guns out of the 9orners, e amined the lo9<s, stamped 7ith their feet in



order to feel themsel>es firmer in their boots 7hi9h 7ere rather hard,not ha>ing as yet been rendered fle ible by the heat of the blood5 Thenthey 7ent out; and the dogs, standing ere9t at the ends of their leashes, ga>e >ent to pier9ing ho7ls 7hile beating the air 7ith their

pa7s5

They set forth for the lands referred to5 These 9onsisted of a littleglen, or rather a long undulating stret9h of inferior soil, 7hi9h had onthat a99ount remained un9ulti>ated, furro7ed 7ith mountain8torrents,9o>ered 7ith ferns, an e 9ellent preser>e for game5

The sportsmen too< up their positions at some distan9e from ea9h other,(autot #enior posting himself at the right, (autot unior at the left,and the t7o guests in the middle5 The <eeper and those 7ho 9arried thegame8bags follo7ed5 %t 7as the an ious moment 7hen the first shot isa7aited, 7hen the heart beats a little, 7hile the ner>ous finger <eeps

feeling at the trigger e>ery se9ond5#uddenly the shot 7ent off5 (autot #enior had fired5 They all stopped,and sa7 a partridge brea<ing off from a 9o>ey 7hi9h 7as rushing along atgreat speed to fall do7n into a ra>ine under a thi9< gro7th of

brush7ood5 The sportsman, be9oming e 9ited, rushed for7ard 7ith rapidstrides, thrusting aside the briers 7hi9h stood in his path, anddisappeared in his turn into the thi9<et in uest of his game5

Almost at the same instant, a se9ond shot 7as heard5

E(a= ha= the ras9al=E e 9laimed M5 Bermont, Ehe 7ill unearth a hare do7nthere5E

They all 7aited, 7ith their eyes ri>eted on the heap of bran9hes through7hi9h their gaFe failed to penetrate5

The notary, ma<ing a spea<ing8trumpet of his hands, shouted:

E(a>e you got them?E

(autot #enior made no response5

Then Cesar, turning to7ard the <eeper, said to him:

E ust go and assist him, oseph5 +e must <eep 7al<ing in a straightline5 +e*ll 7ait5E

And oseph, an old stump of a man, lean and <notty, all of 7hose ointsformed protuberan9es, pro9eeded at an easy pa9e do7n the ra>ine,



sear9hing at e>ery opening through 7hi9h a passage 9ould be effe9ted7ith the 9autiousness of a fo 5 Then, suddenly, he 9ried:

EOh= 9ome= 9ome= an unfortunate thing has o99urred5E

They all hurried for7ard, plunging through the briers5

The elder (autot, 7ho had fallen on his side, in a fainting 9ondition,<ept both his hands o>er his stoma9h, from 7hi9h flo7ed do7n upon thegrass through the linen >est torn by the lead, long streamlets of blood5As he 7as laying do7n his gun, in order to seiFe the partridge 7ithinrea9h of him, he had let the firearm fall, and the se9ond dis9harge,going off 7ith the sho9<, had torn open his entrails5 They dre7 him outof the tren9h; they remo>ed his 9lothes and they sa7 a frightful 7ound,through 7hi9h the intestines 9ame out5 Then, after ha>ing bandaged himthe best 7ay they 9ould, they brought him ba9< to his o7n house, and

a7aited the do9tor, 7ho had been sent for, as 7ell as a priest5+hen the do9tor arri>ed, he gra>ely shoo< his head, and, turning to7ardyoung (autot, 7ho 7as sobbing on a 9hair:

EMy poor boy,E said he, Ethis does not loo< 7ell5E

But, 7hen the dressing 7as finished, the 7ounded man mo>ed his fingers,opened his mouth, then his eyes, 9ast around him troubled, haggardglan9es, then appeared to sear9h about in his memory, to re9olle9t, tounderstand, and he murmured:

EAh= good God= this has done for me=E

The do9tor held his hand5

E+hy no, 7hy no, some days of rest merely88it 7ill be nothing5E

(autot returned:

E%t has done for me= My stoma9h is split open= % <no7 it 7ell5E

Then, all of a sudden:

E% 7ant to tal< to the son, if % ha>e the time5E

(autot unior, in spite of himself, shed tears, and <ept repeating li<ea little boy:

E$*pa, p*pa, poor p*pa=E



But the father, in a firmer tone:

ECome= stop 9rying88this is not the time for it5 % ha>e to tal< to you5#it do7n there uite 9lose to me5 %t 7ill be ui9<ly done, and % shall

be more 9alm5 As for the rest of you, <indly gi>e me one minute5E

They all 7ent out, lea>ing the father and son fa9e to fa9e5

As soon as they 7ere alone:

EListen, son= you are t7enty8four years; one 9an say things li<e this toyou5 And then there is not su9h mystery about these matters as 7e importinto them5 /ou <no7 7ell that your mother has been se>en years dead,isn*t that so? and that % am not more than forty8fi>e years myself,seeing that % got married at nineteen? %s not that true?E

The son faltered:

E/es, it is true5E

E#o then your mother has been se>en years dead, and % ha>e remained a7ido7er5 +ell= a man li<e me 9annot remain 7ithout a 7ife atthirty8eight, isn*t that true?E

The son replied:

E/es, it is true5E

The father, out of breath, uite pale, and his fa9e 9ontra9ted 7ithsuffering, 7ent on:

EGod= 7hat pain % feel= +ell, you understand5 Man is not made to li>ealone, but % did not 7ant to ta<e a su99essor to your mother, sin9e %

promised her not to do so5 Then88you understand?E

E/es, father5E

E#o, % <ept a young girl at )ouen, )ue d* perlan 12, in the third story,the se9ond door,88% tell you all this, don*t forget,88but a young girl,7ho has been >ery ni9e to me, lo>ing, de>oted, a true 7oman, eh? /ou9omprehend, my lad?E

E/es, father5E

E#o then, if % am 9arried off, % o7e something to her, something



substantial, that 7ill pla9e her in a safe position5 /ou understand?E

E/es, father5E

E% tell you that she is an honest girl, and that, but for you, and the

remembran9e of your mother, and again but for the house in 7hi9h 7ethree li>ed, % 7ould ha>e brought her here, and then married her, for 9ertain88listen88listen, my lad5 % might ha>e made a 7ill88% ha>en*tdone so5 % did not 7ish to do so88for it is not ne9essary to 7rite do7nthings88things of this sort88it is too hurtful to the legitimate9hildren88and then it embroils e>erything88it ruins e>eryone= Loo< you,the stamped paper, there*s no need of it88ne>er ma<e use of it5 %f % amri9h, it is be9ause % ha>e not made 7aste of 7hat % ha>e during my o7nlife5 /ou understand, my son?E

E/es, father5E

EListen again88listen 7ell to me= #o then, % ha>e made no 7ill88% didnot desire to do so88and then % <ne7 7hat you 7ere; you ha>e a goodheart; you are not niggardly, not too near, in any 7ay; % said to myself that 7hen my end approa9hed % 7ould tell you all about it, and that %7ould beg of you not to forget the girl5 And then listen again= +hen %am gone, ma<e your 7ay to the pla9e at on9e88and ma<e su9h arrangementsthat she may not blame my memory5 /ou ha>e plenty of means5 % lea>e itto you88% lea>e you enough5 Listen= /ou 7on*t find her at home e>ery dayin the 7ee<5 #he 7or<s at Madame Moreau*s in the )ue Beau>oisine5 Gothere on a Thursday5 That is the day she e pe9ts me5 %t has been my dayfor the past si years5 $oor little thing= she 7ill 7eep=88% say allthis to you be9ause % ha>e <no7n you so 7ell, my son5 One does not tellthese things in publi9 either to the notary or to the priest5 Theyhappen88e>eryone <no7s that88but they are not tal<ed about, sa>e in 9aseof ne9essity5 Then there is no outsider in the se9ret, nobody e 9ept thefamily, be9ause the family 9onsists of one person alone5 /ouunderstand?E

E/es, father5E

EDo you promise?E

E/es, father5E

EDo you s7ear it?E

E/es, father5E

E% beg of you, % implore of you, so do not forget5 % bind you to it5E



E"o, father5E

E/ou 7ill go yourself5 % 7ant you to ma<e sure of e>erything5E

E/es, father5E

EAnd, then, you 7ill see88you 7ill see 7hat she 7ill e plain to you5 Asfor me, % 9an say no more to you5 /ou ha>e >o7ed to do it5E

E/es, father5E

EThat*s good, my son5 mbra9e me5 !are7ell5 % am going to brea< up, %*msure5 Tell them they may 9ome in5E

/oung (autot embra9ed his father, groaning 7hile he did so; then, al7ays

do9ile, he opened the door, and the priest appeared in a 7hite surpli9e,9arrying the holy oils5

But the dying man had 9losed his eyes and he refused to open them again,he refused to ans7er, he refused to sho7, e>en by a sign, that heunderstood5

(e had spo<en enough, this man; he 9ould spea< no more5 Besides he no7felt his heart 9alm; he 7anted to die in pea9e5 +hat need had he to ma<ea 9onfession to the deputy of God, sin9e he had ust done so to his son,7ho 9onstituted his o7n family?

(e re9ei>ed the last rites, 7as purified and absol>ed, in the midst of his friends and his ser>ants on their bended <nees, 7ithout any mo>ementof his fa9e indi9ating that he still li>ed5

(e e pired about midnight, after four hours* 9on>ulsi>e mo>ements, 7hi9hsho7ed that he must ha>e suffered dreadfully in his last moments5

%%5

%t 7as on the follo7ing Tuesday that they buried him; the shooting hadopened on #unday5 On his return home, after ha>ing a99ompanied hisfather to the 9emetery, Cesar (autot spent the rest of the day 7eeping5(e s9ar9ely slept at all on the follo7ing night, and he felt so sad ona7a<ening that he as<ed himself ho7 he 9ould go on li>ing5



(o7e>er, he <ept thin<ing until e>ening that, in order to obey the last7ish of his father, he ought to repair to )ouen ne t day, and see thisgirl Catholine Donet, 7ho resided in the )ue d* perlan in the thirdstory, se9ond door5 (e had repeated to himself in a 7hisper, ust as a

little boy repeats a prayer, this name and address a 9ountless number of times, so that he might not forget them, and he ended by lisping them9ontinually, 7ithout being able to stop or to thin< of 7hat they 7ere,so mu9h 7ere his tongue and his mind possessed by the 9ommission5

A99ordingly, on the follo7ing day, about eight o*9lo9<, he orderedGraindorge to be yo<ed to the tilbury, and set forth at the ui9< trotting pa9e of the hea>y "orman horse, along the highroad fromAin>ille to )ouen5 (e 7ore his bla9< fro9<89oat, a tall sil< hat on hishead, and bree9hes 7ith straps; and he did not, on a99ount of theo99asion, dispense 7ith the handsome 9ostume, the blue o>eralls 7hi9h

s7elled in the 7ind, prote9ting the 9loth from dust and from stains, and7hi9h 7as to be remo>ed ui9<ly the moment he umped out of the 9oa9h5

(e entered )ouen a99ordingly ust as it 7as stri<ing ten o*9lo9<, dre7up, as he had usually done, at the (otel des Bon8 nfants, in the )ue desTrois8Mar9s, submitted to the hugs of the landlord and his 7ife andtheir fi>e 9hildren, for they had heard the melan9holy ne7s5 After that,he had to tell them all the parti9ulars about the a99ident, 7hi9h 9ausedhim to shed tears, to repel all the proffered attentions 7hi9h theysought to thrust upon him merely be9ause he 7as 7ealthy, and to de9linee>en the brea<fast they 7anted him to parta<e of, thus 7ounding their sensibilities5

Then, ha>ing 7iped the dust off his hat, brushed his 9oat and remo>edthe mud stains from his boots, he set forth in sear9h of the )ued* perlan, 7ithout >enturing to ma<e in uiries from anyone, for fear of

being re9ogniFed and arousing suspi9ions5

At length, being unable to find the pla9e, he sa7 a priest passing by,and, trusting to the professional dis9retion 7hi9h 9hur9hmen possess, heuestioned the e99lesiasti95

(e had only a hundred steps farther to go; it 7as e a9tly the se9ondstreet to the right5

Then he hesitated5 'p to that moment, he had obeyed, li<e a mere animal,the e pressed 7ish of the de9eased5 "o7 he felt uite agitated,9onfused, humiliated, at the idea of finding himself88the son88in the

presen9e of this 7oman 7ho had been his father*s mistress5 All themorality 7hi9h lies buried in our breasts, heaped up at the bottom of



our sensuous emotions by 9enturies of hereditary instru9tion, all thathe had been taught, sin9e he had learned his 9ate9hism, about 9reaturesof e>il life, the instin9ti>e 9ontempt 7hi9h e>ery man entertains for them, e>en though he may marry one of them, all the narro7 honesty of the peasant in his 9hara9ter, 7as stirred up 7ithin him and held him

ba9<, ma<ing him gro7 red 7ith shame5

But he said to himself:

E% promised the father, % must not brea< my promise5E

Then he ga>e a push to the door of the house bearing the number 12,7hi9h stood a ar, dis9o>ered a gloomy8loo<ing stair9ase, as9ended threeflights, per9ei>ed a door, then a se9ond door, 9ame upon the string of a

bell, and pulled it5 The ringing, 7hi9h resounded in the apartment before 7hi9h he stood, sent a shi>er through his frame5 The door 7as

opened, and he found himself fa9ing a young lady >ery 7ell dressed, a brunette 7ith a fresh 9omple ion, 7ho gaFed at him 7ith eyes of astonishment5

(e did not <no7 7hat to say to her, and she, 7ho suspe9ted nothing, and7ho 7as 7aiting for him to spea<, did not in>ite him to 9ome in5 Theystood loo<ing thus at one another for nearly half a minute, at the endof 7hi9h she said in a uestioning tone:

E/ou ha>e something to tell me, Monsieur?E

(e falteringly replied:

E% am M5 (autot*s son5E

#he ga>e a start, turned pale, and stammered out as if she had <no7n himfor a long time:

EMonsieur Cesar?E

E/es5E

EAnd 7hat ne t?E

E% ha>e 9ome to spea< to you on the part of my father5E

#he arti9ulated:

EOh, my God=E



#he then dre7 ba9< so that he might enter5 (e shut the door and follo7edher into the interior5 Then he sa7 a little boy of four or fi>e years

playing 7ith a 9at, seated on the floor in front of a sto>e, from 7hi9hrose the steam of dishes 7hi9h 7ere being <ept hot5

ETa<e a seat,E she said5

(e sat do7n5

#he as<ed:

E+ell?E

(e no longer >entured to spea<, <eeping his eyes fi ed on the table7hi9h stood in the 9enter of the room, 7ith three 9o>ers laid on it, oneof 7hi9h 7as for a 9hild5 (e glan9ed at the 9hair 7hi9h had its ba9<

turned to the fire5 They had been e pe9ting him5 That 7as his bread7hi9h he sa7, and 7hi9h he re9ogniFed near the for<, for the 9rust had been remo>ed on a99ount of (autot*s bad teeth5 Then, raising his eyes,he noti9ed on the 7all his father*s portrait, the large photograph ta<enat $aris the year of the e hibition, the same as that 7hi9h hung abo>ethe bed in the sleeping apartment at Ain>ille5

The young 7oman again as<ed:

E+ell, Monsieur Cesar?E

(e <ept staring at her5 (er fa9e 7as li>id 7ith anguish; and she 7aited,her hands trembling 7ith fear5

Then he too< 9ourage5

E+ell, Mam*Felle, papa died on #unday last ust after he had opened theshooting5E

#he 7as so mu9h o>er7helmed that she did not mo>e5 After a silen9e of afe7 se9onds, she faltered in an almost inaudible tone:

EOh= it is not possible=E

Then, on a sudden, tears sho7ed themsel>es in her eyes, and 9o>ering her fa9e 7ith her hands, she burst out sobbing5

At that point the little boy turned round, and, seeing his mother 7eeping, began to ho7l5 Then, realiFing that this sudden trouble 7as

brought about by the stranger, he rushed at Cesar, 9aught hold of his



bree9hes 7ith one hand and 7ith the other hit him 7ith all his strengthon the thigh5 And Cesar remained agitated, deeply affe9ted, 7ith this7oman mourning for his father at one side of him, and the little boydefending his mother at the other5 (e felt their emotion ta<ing

possession of himself, and his eyes 7ere beginning to brim o>er 7ith the

same sorro7; so, to re9o>er his self89ommand, he began to tal<:

E/es,E he said, Ethe a99ident o99urred on #unday, at eight o*9lo9<88E

And he told, as if she 7ere listening to him, all the fa9ts 7ithoutforgetting a single detail, mentioning the most tri>ial matters 7ith theminuteness of a 9ountryman5 And the 9hild still <ept assailing him,ma<ing <i9<s at his an<les5

+hen he 9ame to the time at 7hi9h his father had spo<en about her, her attention 7as 9aught by hearing her o7n name, and, un9o>ering her fa9e,

she said:E$ardon me= % 7as not follo7ing you; % 7ould li<e to <no788if you do notmind beginning o>er again5E

(e related e>erything at great length, 7ith stoppages, brea<s, andrefle9tions of his o7n from time to time5 #he listened to him eagerlyno7 per9ei>ing 7ith a 7oman*s <een sensibility all the sudden 9hanges of fortune 7hi9h his narrati>e indi9ated, and trembling 7ith horror, e>eryno7 and then, e 9laiming:

EOh, my God=E

The little fello7, belie>ing that she had 9almed do7n, 9eased beatingCesar, in order to 9at9h his mother*s hand, and he listened, too, as if he understood5

+hen the narrati>e 7as finished, young (autot 9ontinued:

E"o7, 7e 7ill settle matters together in a99ordan9e 7ith his 7ishes5Listen: % am 7ell off, he has left me plenty of means5 % don*t 7ant youto ha>e anything to 9omplain about88E

But she ui9<ly interrupted him:

EOh= Monsieur Cesar, Monsieur Cesar, not today5 % am 9ut to theheart88another time88another day5 "o, not to8day5 %f % a99ept, listen=*Tis not for myself88no, no, no, % s7ear to you5 *Tis for the 9hild5Besides this pro>ision 7ill be put to his a99ount5E



Thereupon Cesar s9ared, di>ined the truth, and stammering:

E#o then88*tis his88the 9hild?E

E+hy, yes,E she said5

And (autot unior gaFed at his brother 7ith a 9onfused emotion, intenseand painful5

After a lengthened silen9e, for she had begun to 7eep afresh, Cesar,uite embarrassed, 7ent on:

E+ell, then, Mam*Felle Donet, % am going5 +hen 7ould you 7ish to tal< this o>er 7ith me?E

#he e 9laimed:

EOh= no, don*t go= don*t go= Don*t lea>e me all alone 7ith mile5 %7ould die of grief5 % ha>e no longer anyone, anyone but my 9hild5 Oh=7hat 7ret9hedness, 7hat 7ret9hedness5 Monsieur Cesar= #top= #it do7nagain5 /ou 7ill say something more to me5 /ou 7ill tell me 7hat he 7asdoing o>er there all the 7ee<5E

And Cesar resumed his seat, a99ustomed to obey5

#he dre7 o>er another 9hair for herself in front of the sto>e, 7here thedishes had all this time been simmering, too< mile upon her <nees, andas<ed Cesar a thousand uestions about his father 7ith referen9e tomatters of an intimate nature, 7hi9h made him feel, 7ithout reasoning onthe sub e9t, that she had lo>ed (autot 7ith all the strength of her frail 7oman*s heart5

And, by the natural 9on9atenation of his ideas887hi9h 7ere rather limited in number88he re9urred on9e more to the a99ident, and set abouttelling the story o>er again 7ith all the same details5

+hen he said: E(e had a hole in his stoma9h88you 9ould put your t7ofists into it,E she ga>e >ent to a sort of shrie<, and the tears gushedforth again from her eyes5

Then, seiFed by the 9ontagion of her grief, Cesar began to 7eep, too,and as tears al7ays soften the fibers of the heart, he bent o>er mile7hose forehead 7as 9lose to his o7n mouth and <issed him5

The mother, re9o>ering her breath, murmured:



E$oor lad, he is an orphan no7=E

EAnd so am %,E said Cesar5

And they 9eased to tal<5

But suddenly the pra9ti9al instin9t of the house7ife, a99ustomed to bethoughtful about many things, re>i>ed in the young 7oman*s breast5

E/ou ha>e perhaps ta<en nothing all the morning, Monsieur Cesar5E

E"o, Mam*Felle5E

EOh= you must be hungry5 /ou 7ill eat a morsel5E

EThan<s,E he said, E% am not hungry; % ha>e had too mu9h trouble5E

#he replied:

E%n spite of sorro7, 7e must li>e5 /ou 7ill not refuse to let me getsomething for you= And then you 7ill remain a little longer5 +hen youare gone % don*t <no7 7hat 7ill be9ome of me5E

(e yielded after some further resistan9e, and, sitting do7n 7ith his ba9< to the fire, fa9ing her, he ate a plateful of tripe, 7hi9h had been bubbling in the sto>e, and dran< a glass of red 7ine5 But he 7ould notallo7 her to un9or< the bottle of 7hite 7ine5 (e se>eral times 7iped themouth of the little boy, 7ho had smeared all his 9hin 7ith sau9e5

As he 7as rising up to go, he as<ed:

E+hen 7ould you li<e me to 9ome ba9< to spea< about this business toyou, Mam*Felle Donet?E

E%f it is all the same to you, say ne t Thursday, Monsieur Cesar5 %nthat 7ay % 7ould lose none of my time, as % al7ays ha>e my Thursdaysfree5E

EThat 7ill suit me88ne t Thursday5E

E/ou 7ill 9ome to lun9h5 +on*t you?E

EOh= On that point % 9an*t gi>e you a promise5E

EThe reason % suggested it is that people 9an 9hat better 7hen they areeating5 One has more time, too5E



E+ell, be it so5 About t7el>e o*9lo9<, then5E And he too< his departure,after he had again <issed little mile, and pressed Mademoiselle Donet*shand5

%%%5

The 7ee< appeared long to Cesar (autot5 (e had ne>er before foundhimself alone, and the isolation seemed to him insupportable5 Till no7,he had li>ed at his father*s side, ust li<e his shado7, follo7ed himinto the fields, superintended the e e9ution of his orders, and, 7henthey had been a short time separated, again met him at dinner5 They had

spent the e>enings smo<ing their pipes, fa9e to fa9e 7ith one another,9hatting about horses, 9o7s, or sheep, and the grip of their hands 7henthey rose up in the morning might ha>e been regarded as a manifestationof deep family affe9tion on both sides5

"o7 Cesar 7as alone, he 7ent >a9antly through the pro9ess of dressingthe soil in autumn, e>ery moment e pe9ting to see the tall gesti9ulatingsilhouette of his father rising up at the end of a plain5 To <ill time,he entered the houses of his neighbors, told about the a99ident to all7ho had not heard of it, and sometimes repeated it to the others5 Then,after he had finished his o99upations and his refle9tions, he 7ould sitdo7n at the side of the road, as<ing himself 7hether this <ind of life7as going to last fore>er5

(e fre uently thought of Mademoiselle Donet5 (e li<ed her5 (e 9onsideredher thoroughly respe9table, a gentle and honest young 7oman, as hisfather had said5 /es, undoubtedly she 7as an honest girl5 (e resol>ed toa9t handsomely to7ard her, and to gi>e her t7o thousand fran9s a year,settling the 9apital on the 9hild5 (e e>en e perien9ed a 9ertain

pleasure in thin<ing that he 7as going to see her on the follo7ingThursday and arrange this matter 7ith her5 And then the notion of this

brother, this little 9hap of fi>e, 7ho 7as his father*s son, plaguedhim, annoyed him a little, and at the same time, e 9ited him5 (e had, asit 7ere, a family in this brat, sprung from a 9landestine allian9e, 7ho7ould ne>er bear the name of (autot, a family 7hi9h he might ta<e or lea>e, ust as he pleased, but 7hi9h 7ould re9all his father5

And so, 7hen he sa7 himself on the road to )ouen on Thursday morning,9arried along by Graindorge trotting 7ith 9lattering foot8beats, he felthis heart lighter, more at pea9e than he had hitherto felt it sin9e his



berea>ement5

On entering Mademoiselle Donet*s apartment, he sa7 the table laid as onthe pre>ious Thursday, 7ith the sole differen9e that the 9rust had not

been remo>ed from the bread5 (e pressed the young 7oman*s hand, <issed

mile on the 9hee<s, and sat do7n, more or less as if he 7ere in his o7nhouse, his heart s7elling in the same 7ay5 Mademoiselle Donet seemed tohim a little thinner and paler5 #he must ha>e grie>ed sorely5 #he 7oreno7 an air of 9onstraint in his presen9e, as if she understood 7hat shehad not felt the 7ee< before under the first blo7 of her misfortune, andshe e hibited an e 9essi>e deferen9e to7ard him, a mournful humility,and made tou9hing efforts to please him, as if to pay him ba9< by her attentions for the <indness he had manifested to7ard her5 They 7ere along time at lun9h tal<ing o>er the business 7hi9h had brought himthere5 #he did not 7ant so mu9h money5 %t 7as too mu9h5 #he earnedenough to li>e on herself, but she only 7ished that mile might find a

fe7 sous a7aiting him 7hen he gre7 big5 Cesar held out, ho7e>er, ande>en added a gift of a thousand fran9s for herself for the e pense of mourning5

+hen he had ta<en his 9offee, she as<ed:

EDo you smo<e?E

E/es88% ha>e my pipe5E

(e felt in his po9<et5 Good God= (e had forgotten it= (e 7as be9ominguite 7oe8begone about it 7hen she offered him a pipe of his father*sthat had been shut up in a 9upboard5 (e a99epted it, too< it up in hishand, re9ogniFed it, smelled it, spo<e of its uality in a tone of emotion, filled it 7ith toba99o, and lighted it5 Then he set mileastride on his <nee, and made him play the 9a>alier, 7hile she remo>edthe table9loth and put the soiled plates at one end of the sideboard inorder to 7ash them as soon as he 7as gone5

About three o*9lo9<, he rose up 7ith regret, uite annoyed at thethought of ha>ing to go5

E+ell= Mademoiselle Donet,E he said, E% 7ish you good e>ening, and amdelighted to ha>e found you li<e this5E

#he remained standing before him, blushing, mu9h affe9ted, and gaFed athim 7hile she thought of the other5

E#hall 7e not see one another again?E she said5



(e replied simply:

E+hy, yes, Mam*Felle, if it gi>es you pleasure5E

ECertainly, Monsieur Cesar5 +ill ne t Thursday suit you then?E

E/es, Mademoiselle Donet5E

E/ou 7ill 9ome to lun9h, of 9ourse?E

E+ell88if you are so <ind as to in>ite me, % 9an*t refuse5E

E%t is understood, then, Monsieur Cesar88ne t Thursday, at t7el>e, thesame as to8day5E

EThursday at t7el>e, Mam*Felle Donet=E

"O -'A)T )

The broad sunlight thre7 its burning rays on the fields, and under thissho7er of flame life burst forth in glo7ing >egetation from the earth5As far as the eye 9ould see, the soil 7as green; and the s<y 7as blue tothe >erge of the horiFon5 The "orman farms s9attered through the plainseemed at a distan9e li<e little 7oods in9losed ea9h in a 9ir9le of thin

bee9h8trees5 Coming 9loser, on opening the 7orm8eaten stile, one fan9iedthat he sa7 a giant garden, for all the old apple8trees, as <notted asthe peasants, 7ere in blossom5 The 7eather8beaten bla9< trun<s, 9roo<ed,t7isted, ranged along the in9losure, displayed beneath the s<y their glittering domes, rosy and 7hite5 The s7eet perfume of their blossomsmingled 7ith the hea>y odors of the open stables and 7ith the fumes of the steaming dunghill, 9o>ered 7ith hens and their 9hi9<ens5 %t 7asmidday5 The family sat at dinner in the shado7 of the pear8tree planted

before the door88the father, the mother, the four 9hildren, the t7omaidser>ants, and the three farm laborers5 They s9ar9ely uttered a 7ord5Their fare 9onsisted of soup and of a ste7 9omposed of potatoes mashedup in lard5

!rom time to time one of the maidser>ants rose up, and 7ent to the9ellar to fet9h a pit9her of 9ider5

The husband, a big fello7 of about forty, stared at a >ine8tree, uitee posed to >ie7, 7hi9h stood 9lose to the farmhouse, t7ining li<e a



serpent under the shutters the entire length of the 7all5

(e said, after a long silen9e:

EThe father*s >ine8tree is blossoming early this year5 $erhaps it 7ill

bear good fruit5E

The peasant*s 7ife also turned round, and gaFed at the tree 7ithoutspea<ing5

This >ine8tree 7as planted e a9tly in the pla9e 7here the father of the peasant had been shot5

%t 7as during the 7ar of 12J45 The $russians 7ere in o99upation of theentire 9ountry5 General !aidherbe, 7ith the Army of the "orth, 7as attheir head5

"o7 the $russian staff had ta<en up its uarters in this farmhouse5 Theold peasant 7ho o7ned it, $ere Milon, re9ei>ed them, and ga>e them the

best treatment he 9ould5

!or a 7hole month the German >anguard remained on the loo<out in the>illage5 The !ren9h 7ere posted ten leagues a7ay 7ithout mo>ing, andyet, ea9h night, some of the uhlans disappeared5

All the isolated s9outs, those 7ho 7ere sent out on patrol, 7hene>er they started in groups of t7o or three, ne>er 9ame ba9<5

They 7ere pi9<ed up dead in the morning in a field, near a farmyard, ina dit9h5 Their horses e>en 7ere found lying on the roads 7ith their throats 9ut by a saber stro<e5 These murders seemed to ha>e beena99omplished by the same men, 7ho 9ould not be dis9o>ered5

The 9ountry 7as terroriFed5 $easants 7ere shot on mere information,7omen 7ere imprisoned, attempts 7ere made to obtain re>elations from9hildren by fear5

But, one morning, $ere Milon 7as found stret9hed in his stable 7ith agash a9ross his fa9e5

T7o uhlans ripped open 7ere seen lying three <ilometers a7ay from thefarmhouse5 One of them still grasped in his hand his blood8stained7eapon5 (e had fought and defended himself5

A 9oun9il of 7ar ha>ing been immediately 9onstituted, in the open air,in front of the farmhouse, the old man 7as brought before it5



(e 7as si ty8eight years old5 (e 7as small, thin, a little 9roo<ed, 7ithlong hands resembling the 9la7s of a 9rab5 (is faded hair, s9anty andslight, li<e the do7n on a young du9<, allo7ed his s9alp to be plainlyseen5 The bro7n, 9rimpled s<in of his ne9< sho7ed the big >eins 7hi9h

san< under his a7s and reappeared at his temples5 (e 7as regarded inthe distri9t as a miser and a hard man in business transa9tions5

(e 7as pla9ed standing bet7een four soldiers in front of the <it9hentable, 7hi9h had been 9arried out of the house for the purpose5 !i>eoffi9ers and the Colonel sat fa9ing him5 The Colonel 7as the first tospea<5

E$ere Milon,E he said, in !ren9h, Esin9e 7e 9ame here 7e ha>e hadnothing to say of you but praise5 /ou ha>e al7ays been obliging, ande>en 9onsiderate to7ard us5 But to8day a terrible a99usation rests on

you, and the matter must be 9leared up5 (o7 did you get the 7ound onyour fa9e?E

The peasant ga>e no reply5

The Colonel 7ent on:

E/our silen9e 9ondemns you, $ere Milon5 But % 7ant you to ans7er me, doyou understand? Do you <no7 7ho has <illed the t7o uhlans 7ho 7ere foundthis morning near the 9rossroads?E

The old man said in a 9lear >oi9e:

E%t 7as %=E

The Colonel, surprised, remained silent for a se9ond, loo<ing steadfullyat the prisoner5 $ere Milon maintained his impassi>e demeanor, his air of rusti9 stupidity, 7ith do7n9ast eyes, as if he 7ere tal<ing to his9ure5 There 7as only one thing that 9ould re>eal his internal agitation,the 7ay in 7hi9h he slo7ly s7allo7ed his sali>a 7ith a >isible effort,as if he 7ere 9ho<ing5

The old peasant*s family88his son ean, his daughter8in8la7, and t7olittle 9hildren stood ten pa9es behind, s9ared and dismayed5

The Colonel 9ontinued:

EDo you <no7 also 7ho <illed all the s9outs of our army 7hom 7e ha>efound e>ery morning, for the past month, lying here and there in thefields?E



The old man ans7ered 7ith the same brutal impassi>eness:

E%t 7as %=E

E%t is you, then, that <illed them all?E

EAll of them8yes, it 7as %5E

E/ou alone?E

E% alone5E

ETell me the 7ay you managed to do it?E

This time the peasant appeared to be affe9ted; the ne9essity of spea<ing

at some length in9ommoded him5E% <no7 myself5 % did it the 7ay % found easiest5E

The Colonel pro9eeded:

E% 7arn you, you must tell me e>erything5 /ou 7ill do 7ell, therefore,to ma<e up your mind about it at on9e5 (o7 did you begin it?E

The peasant 9ast an uneasy glan9e to7ard his family, 7ho remained in alistening attitude behind him5 (e hesitated for another se9ond or so,then all of a sudden he 9ame to a resolution on the matter5

E% 9ame home one night about ten o*9lo9<, and the ne t day you 7erehere5 /ou and your soldiers ga>e me fifty 9ro7ns for forage 7ith a 9o7and t7o sheep5 #aid % to myself: *As long as % get t7enty 9ro7ns out of them, %*ll sell them the >alue of it5* But then % had other things in myheart, 7hi9h %*ll tell you about no75 % 9ame a9ross one of your 9a>alrymen smo<ing his pipe near my di<e, ust behind my barn5 % 7entand too< my s9ythe off the hoo<, and % 9ame ba9< 7ith short steps from

behind, 7hile he lay there 7ithout hearing anything5 And % 9ut off hishead 7ith one stro<e, li<e a feather, 7hile he only said *Oof=* /ou ha>eonly to loo< at the bottom of the pond; you*ll find him there in a 9oal

bag 7ith a big stone tied to it5

E% got an idea into my head5 % too< all he had on him from his boots tohis 9ap, and % hid them in the ba<ehouse in the Martin 7ood behind thefarmyard5E

The old man stopped5 The offi9ers, spee9hless, loo<ed at one another5



The e amination 7as resumed, and this is 7hat they 7ere told5

On9e he had a99omplished this murder, the peasant li>ed 7ith only onethought: ETo <ill the $russians=E (e hated them 7ith the sly andfero9ious hatred of a 9ountryman 7ho 7as at the same time 9o>etous and

patrioti95 (e had got an idea into his head, as he put it5 (e 7aited for a fe7 days5

(e 7as allo7ed to go and 9ome freely, to go out and return ust as he pleased, as long as he displayed humility, submissi>eness, and9omplaisan9e to7ard the 9on uerors5

"o7, e>ery e>ening he sa7 the 9a>alrymen bearing dispat9hes lea>ing thefarmhouse; and he 7ent out, one night, after dis9o>ering the name of the>illage to 7hi9h they 7ere going, and after pi9<ing up by asso9iating7ith the soldiers the fe7 7ords of German he needed5

(e made his 7ay through his farmyard, slipped into the 7ood, rea9hed the ba<ehouse, penetrated to the end of the long passage, and ha>ing foundthe 9lothes of the soldier 7hi9h he had hidden there, he put them on5Then he 7ent pro7ling about the fields, 9reeping along, <eeping to theslopes so as to a>oid obser>ation, listening to the least sounds,restless as a poa9her5

+hen he belie>ed the time had arri>ed he too< up his position at theroadside, and hid himself in a 9lump of brush7ood5 (e still 7aited5 Atlength, near midnight, he heard the galloping of a horse*s hoofs on thehard soil of the road5 The old man put his ear to the ground to ma<esure that only one 9a>alryman 7as approa9hing; then he got ready5

The uhlan 9ame on at a >ery ui9< pa9e, 9arrying some dispat9hes5 (erode for7ard 7ith 7at9hful eyes and strained ears5 As soon as he 7as nomore than ten pa9es a7ay, $ere Milon dragged himself a9ross the road,groaning: E(ilfe= hilfe=E E(elp= help=EH5

The 9a>alryman dre7 up, re9ogniFed a German soldier dismounted, belie>edthat he 7as 7ounded, leaped do7n from his horse, dre7 near the prostrateman, ne>er suspe9ting anything, and, as he stooped o>er the stranger, here9ei>ed in the middle of the stoma9h the long, 9ur>ed blade of thesaber5 (e san< do7n 7ithout any death throes, merely ui>ering 7ith afe7 last shudders5

Then the "orman, radiant 7ith the mute oy of an old peasant, rose up,and merely to please himself, 9ut the dead soldier*s throat5 After that,he dragged the 9orpse to the di<e and thre7 it in5



The horse 7as uietly 7aiting for its rider, $ere Milon got on thesaddle and started a9ross the plain at the gallop5

At the end of an hour, he per9ei>ed t7o more uhlans approa9hing thestaff8 uarters side by side5 (e rode straight to7ard them, 9rying:

E(ilfe= hilfe=E The $russians let him 9ome on, re9ogniFing the uniform7ithout any distrust5

And li<e a 9annon ball the old man shot bet7een the t7o, bringing bothof them to the ground 7ith his saber and a re>ol>er5 The ne t thing hedid 7as to 9ut the throats of the horses88the German horses= Then,softly he re8entered the ba<ehouse and hid the horse he had riddenhimself in the dar< passage5 There he too< off the uniform, put on on9emore his o7n old 9lothes, and going to his bed, slept till morning5

!or four days, he did not stir out, a7aiting the 9lose of the open

in uiry as to the 9ause of the soldiers* deaths; but, on the fifth day,he started out again, and by a similar stratagem <illed t7o moresoldiers5

Then9eforth, he ne>er stopped5 a9h night he 7andered about, pro7ledthrough the 9ountry at random, 9utting do7n some $russians, sometimeshere, sometimes there, galloping through the deserted fields under themoonlight, a lost uhlan, a hunter of men5 Then, 7hen he had finished histas<, lea>ing behind him 9orpses lying along the roads, the old horseman7ent to the ba<ehouse 7here he 9on9ealed both the animal and theuniform5 About midday he 9almly returned to the spot to gi>e the horse afeed of oats and some 7ater, and he too< e>ery 9are of the animal,e a9ting therefore the hardest 7or<5

But, the night before his arrest, one of the soldiers he atta9<ed puthimself on his guard, and 9ut the old peasant*s fa9e 7ith a slash of asaber5

(e had, ho7e>er, <illed both of them5 (e had e>en managed to go ba9< andhide his horse and put on his e>eryday garb, but, 7hen he rea9hed thestable, he 7as o>er9ome by 7ea<ness and 7as not able to ma<e his 7ayinto the house5

(e had been found lying on the stra7, his fa9e 9o>ered 7ith blood5

+hen he had finished his story, he suddenly lifted his head and glan9ed proudly at the $russian offi9ers5

The Colonel, tugging at his musta9he, as<ed:





All the offi9ers sprang to their feet and yelled out orders at the sametime5

%n less than a minute the old man, still as impassi>e as e>er, 7as stu9< up against the 7all and shot, 7hile he 9ast a smile at ean, his eldest

son, and then at his daughter8in8la7 and the t7o 9hildren, 7ho 7erestaring 7ith terror at the s9ene5

T( O)$(A"

Mademoiselle #our9e had adopted this boy under >ery sad 9ir9umstan9es5#he 7as at the time thirty8si years old5 #he 7as disfigured, ha>ing in

her infan9y slipped off her nurse*s lap into the firepla9e, and gettingher fa9e so sho9<ingly burned that it e>er after7ard presented afrightful appearan9e5 This deformity had made her resol>e not to marry,for she did not 7ant any man to marry her for her money5

A female neighbor of hers, being left a 7ido7 during her pregnan9y, diedin 9hildbirth, 7ithout lea>ing a sou5 Mademoiselle #our9e too< thene7born 9hild, put him out to nurse, reared him, sent him to a

boarding8s9hool, then brought him home in his fourteenth year, in order to ha>e in her empty house somebody 7ho 7ould lo>e her, 7ho 7ould loo< after her, 7ho 7ould ma<e her old age pleasant5

#he resided on a little property four leagues a7ay from )ennes, and sheno7 dispensed 7ith a ser>ant5 The e penses ha>ing in9reased to more thandouble 7hat they had been sin9e this orphan*s arri>al, her in9ome of three thousand fran9s 7as no longer suffi9ient to support three persons5

#he attended to the house<eeping and the 9oo<ing herself, and sent the boy out on errands, letting him further o99upy himself 7ith 9ulti>atingthe garden5 (e 7as gentle, timid, silent, and 9aressing5 And shee perien9ed a deep oy, a fresh oy at being embra9ed by him, 7ithoutany apparent surprise or repugnan9e being e hibited by him on a99ount of her ugliness5 (e 9alled her EAuntE and treated her as a mother5

%n the e>ening they both sat do7n at the fireside, and she got ni9ethings ready for him5 #he heated some 7ine and toasted a sli9e of bread,and it made a 9harming little meal before going to bed5 #he often too< him on her <nees and 9o>ered him 7ith <isses, murmuring in his ear 7ith

passionate tenderness5 #he 9alled him: EMy little flo7er, my 9herub, myadored angel, my di>ine e7el5E (e softly a99epted her 9aresses,



9on9ealing his head on the old maid*s shoulder5 Although he 7as no7nearly fifteen years old, he had remained small and 7ea<, and had arather si9<ly appearan9e5

#ometimes Mademoiselle #our9e brought him to the 9ity to see t7o married

female relati>es of hers, distant 9ousins, 7ho 7ere li>ing in thesuburbs, and 7ho 7ere the only members of her family in e isten9e5 Thet7o 7omen had al7ays found fault 7ith her for ha>ing adopted this boy,on a99ount of the inheritan9e; but for all that they ga>e her a 9ordial7el9ome, ha>ing still hopes of getting a share for themsel>es, a third,no doubt, if 7hat she possessed 7ere only e ually di>ided5

#he 7as happy, >ery happy, al7ays ta<en up 7ith her adopted 9hild5 #he bought boo<s for him to impro>e his mind, and he de>oted himself ardently to reading5

(e no longer no7 9limbed on her <nees to fondle her as he had formerlydone; but instead 7ould go and sit do7n in his little 9hair in the9himney89orner and open a >olume5 The lamp pla9ed at the edge of thelittle table, abo>e his head, shone on his 9urly hair and on a portionof his forehead; he did not mo>e, he did not raise his eyes, he did notma<e any gesture5 (e read on, interested, entirely absorbed in thead>entures 7hi9h formed the sub e9t of the boo<5

#he, seated opposite to him, gaFed at him 7ith an eager, steady loo<,astonished at his studiousness, ealous, often on the point of burstinginto tears5

#he said to him no7 and then: E/ou 7ill fatigue yourself, my treasure=Ein the hope that he 7ould raise his head and 9ome a9ross to embra9e her;

but he did not e>en ans7er her; he had not heard or understood 7hat she7as saying; he paid no attention to anything sa>e 7hat he read in these

pages5

!or t7o years he de>oured an in9al9ulable number of >olumes5 (is9hara9ter 9hanged5

After this, he as<ed Mademoiselle #our9e many times for money, 7hi9h shega>e him5 As he al7ays 7anted more, she ended by refusing, for she 7as

both regular and energeti9 and <ne7 ho7 to a9t rationally 7hen it 7asne9essary to do so5 By dint of entreaties he obtained a large sum onenight from her; but 7hen he urged her to gi>e him another sum a fe7 dayslater, she sho7ed herself infle ible, and did not gi>e 7ay to himfurther, in fa9t5

(e appeared to be satisfied 7ith her de9ision5



(e again be9ame uiet, as he had formerly been, lo>ing to remain seatedfor entire hours, 7ithout mo>ing, plunged in deep re>erie5 (e no7 didnot e>en tal< to Madame #our9e, merely ans7ering her remar<s 7ith short,formal 7ords5 "e>ertheless, he 7as agreeable and attenti>e in his manner

to7ard her; but he ne>er embra9ed her no75

#he had by this time gro7n slightly afraid of him 7hen they sat fa9ingone another at night at opposite sides of the firepla9e5 #he 7anted to7a<e him up, to ma<e him say something, no matter 7hat, that 7ould brea< this dreadful silen9e, 7hi9h 7as li<e the dar<ness of a 7ood5 But he didnot appear to listen to her, and she shuddered 7ith the terror of a poor feeble 7oman 7hen she had spo<en to him fi>e or si times su99essi>ely7ithout being able to get a 7ord out of him5

+hat 7as the matter 7ith him? +hat 7as going on in that 9losed8up head?

+hen she had been thus t7o or three hours sitting opposite him, she feltherself getting daft, and longed to rush a7ay and to es9ape into theopen 9ountry in order to a>oid that mute, eternal 9ompanionship and alsosome >ague danger, 7hi9h she 9ould not define, but of 7hi9h she had a

presentiment5

#he fre uently shed tears 7hen she 7as alone5 +hat 7as the matter 7ithhim? +hen she ga>e e pression to a desire, he unmurmuringly 9arried itinto e e9ution5 +hen she 7anted to ha>e anything brought to her from the9ity, he immediately 7ent there to pro9ure it5 #he had no 9omplaint toma<e of him; no, indeed= And yet88

Another year flitted by, and it seemed to her that a ne7 modifi9ationhad ta<en pla9e in the mind of the young man5 #he per9ei>ed it; she feltit; she di>ined it5 (o7? "o matter= #he 7as sure she 7as not mista<en;

but she 9ould not ha>e e plained in 7hat the un<no7n thoughts of thisstrange youth had 9hanged5

%t seemed to her that till no7 he had been li<e a person in a hesitatingframe of mind 7ho had suddenly arri>ed at a determination5 This idea9ame to her one e>ening as she met his glan9e, a fi ed, singular glan9e7hi9h she had not seen in his fa9e before5

Then he 9ommen9ed to 7at9h her in9essantly, and she 7ished she 9ouldhide herself in order to a>oid that 9old eye, ri>eted on her5

(e <ept staring at her, e>ening after e>ening for hours together, onlya>erting his eyes 7hen she said, utterly unner>ed:

EDo not loo< at me li<e that, my 9hild=E





him5

+hy? +hat had she to fear? Did she <no7 7hat it 7as? #he 9ould li>e this7ay no longer= #he felt 9ertain that a misfortune threatened her, afrightful misfortune5

#he set forth se9retly one morning and 7ent into the 9ity to see her relati>es5 #he told them about the matter in a gasping >oi9e5 The t7o7omen thought she 7as going mad and tried to reassure her5

#he said:

E%f you <ne7 the 7ay he loo<s at me from morning till night5 (e ne>er ta<es his eyes off me= At times % feel a longing to 9ry for help, to9all in the neighbors, so mu9h am % afraid5 But 7hat 9ould % say tothem? (e does nothing to me e 9ept to <eep loo<ing at me5E

The t7o female 9ousins as<ed:

E%s he e>er brutal to you? Does he gi>e you sharp ans7ers?E

#he replied:

E"o, ne>er; he does e>erything % 7ish; he 7or<s hard; he is steady; but% am so frightened % don*t mind that mu9h5 (e has something in his head,% am 9ertain of that88 uite 9ertain5 % don*t 9are to remain all aloneli<e that 7ith him in the 9ountry5E

The relati>es, s9ared by her 7ords, de9lared to her that they 7ereastonished and 9ould not understand her; and they ad>ised her to <eepsilent about her fears and her plans, 7ithout, ho7e>er, dissuading her from 9oming to reside in the 9ity, hoping in that 7ay that the entireinheritan9e 7ould e>entually fall into their hands5

They e>en promised to assist her in selling her house and in findinganother near them5

Mademoiselle #our9e returned home5 But her mind 7as so mu9h upset thatshe trembled at the slightest noise, and her hands shoo< 7hene>er anytrifling disturban9e agitated her5

T7i9e she 7ent again to 9onsult her relati>es, uite determined no7 notto remain any longer in this 7ay in her lonely d7elling5 At last shefound a little 9ottage in the suburbs, 7hi9h suited her, and pri>atelyshe bought it5



The signature of the 9ontra9t too< pla9e on a Tuesday morning, andMademoiselle #our9e de>oted the rest of the day to the preparations for her 9hange of residen9e5

At eight o*9lo9< in the e>ening she got into the diligen9e 7hi9h passed

7ithin a fe7 hundred yards of her house, and she told the 9ondu9tor tolet her do7n in the pla9e 7here it 7as his 9ustom to stop for her5 Theman 9alled out to her as he 7hipped his horses:

EGood e>ening, Mademoiselle #our9e88good night=E

#he replied as she 7al<ed on:

EGood e>ening, $ere oseph5E "e t morning, at half past se>en, the postman 7ho 9on>eyed letters to the >illage, noti9ed at the 9rossroad,not far from the highroad, a large splash of blood not yet dry5 (e said

to himself: E(allo= some booFer must ha>e been bleeding from the nose5EBut he per9ei>ed ten pa9es farther on a po9<et8hand<er9hief also stained7ith blood5 (e pi9<ed them up5 The linen 7as fine, and the postman, inalarm, made his 7ay o>er to the di<e, 7here he fan9ied he sa7 a strangeob e9t5

Mademoiselle #our9e 7as lying at the foot on the grass, her throat 9utopen 7ith a <nife5

An hour later, the gendarmes, the e amining magistrate, and other authorities made an in uiry as to the 9ause of death5

The t7o female relati>es, 9alled as 7itnesses, told all about the oldmaid*s fears and her last plans5

The orphan 7as arrested5 #in9e the death of the 7oman 7ho had adoptedhim, he 7ept from morning till night, plunged, at least to allappearan9e, in the most >iolent grief5

(e pro>ed that he had spent the e>ening up to ele>en o*9lo9< in a 9afe5Ten persons had seen him, ha>ing remained there till his departure5

"o7 the dri>er of the diligen9e stated that he had set do7n the murdered7oman on the road bet7een half past nine and ten o*9lo9<5

The a99used 7as a9 uitted5 A 7ill, a long time made, 7hi9h had been leftin the hands of a notary in )ennes, made him uni>ersal legatee5 #o heinherited e>erything5



!or a long time the people of the 9ountry put him into uarantine, asthey still suspe9ted him5 (is house, 7hi9h 7as that of the dead 7oman,7as loo<ed upon as a99ursed5 $eople a>oided him in the street5

But he sho7ed himself so good8natured, so open, so familiar, that

gradually these horrible doubts 7ere forgotten5 (e 7as generous,obliging, ready to tal< to the humblest about anything as long as they9ared to tal< to him5

The notary, Maitre )ameay, 7as one of the first to ta<e his part,attra9ted by his smiling lo ua9ity5 (e said one e>ening at a dinner atthe ta 89olle9tor*s house:

EA man 7ho spea<s 7ith su9h fa9ility and 7ho is al7ays in good8humor 9ould not ha>e su9h a 9rime on his 9ons9ien9e5E

Tou9hed by this argument, the others 7ho 7ere present refle9ted, andthey re9alled to mind the long 9on>ersations 7ith this man 7ho made themstop almost by for9e at the road 9orners to 9ommuni9ate his ideas tothem, 7ho insisted on their going into his house 7hen they 7ere passing

by his garden, 7ho 9ould 9ra9< a o<e better than the lieutenant of thegendarmes himself, and 7ho possessed su9h 9ontagious gaiety that, inspite of the repugnan9e 7ith 7hi9h he inspired them, they 9ould not <eepfrom al7ays laughing 7hen in his 9ompany5

All doors 7ere opened to him after a time5

(e is, to8day, the mayor of his o7n 9ommunity5

A L%. L/ !)% "D

They had beer, 9onstantly in ea9h other*s so9iety for a 7hole 7inter in$aris5 After ha>ing lost sight of ea9h other, as generally happens insu9h 9ases, after lea>ing 9ollege, the t7o friends met again one night,long years after, already old and 7hite8haired, the one a ba9helor, theother married5

M5 de Meroul li>ed si months in $aris and si months in his little9hateau at Tourbe>ille5 (a>ing married the daughter of a gentleman inthe distri9t, he had li>ed a pea9eful, happy life 7ith the indolen9e of a man 7ho has nothing to do5 +ith a 9alm temperament and a sedate mind,7ithout any intelle9tual auda9ity or tenden9y to7ard re>olutionary



independen9e of thought, he passed his time in mildly regretting the past, in deploring the morals and the institutions of to8day, and inrepeating e>ery moment to his 7ife, 7ho raised her eyes to hea>en, andsometimes her hands also, in to<en of energeti9 assent:

E'nder 7hat a go>ernment do 7e li>e, great God=E

Madame de Meroul mentally resembled her husband, ust as if they had been brother and sister5 #he <ne7 by tradition that one ought, first of all, to re>eren9e the $ope and the 0ing=

And she lo>ed them and respe9ted them from the bottom of her heart,7ithout <no7ing them, 7ith a poeti9 e altation, 7ith a hereditaryde>otion, 7ith all the sensibility of a 7ell8born 7oman5 #he 7as <indlyin e>ery feeling of her soul5 #he had no 9hild, and 7as in9essantlyregretting it5

+hen M5 de Meroul 9ame a9ross his old s9hoolfello7 oseph Mouradour at a ball, he e perien9ed from this meeting a profound and genuine delight,for they had been >ery fond of one another in their youth5

After e 9lamations of astonishment o>er the 9hanges 9aused by age intheir bodies and their fa9es, they had as<ed one another a number of uestions as to their respe9ti>e 9areers5

oseph Mouradour, a nati>e of the south of !ran9e, had be9ome a9oun9illor8general in his o7n neighborhood5 !ran< in his manners, hespo<e bris<ly and 7ithout any 9ir9umspe9tion, telling all his thoughts7ith sheer indifferen9e to prudential 9onsiderations5 (e 7as a)epubli9an, of that ra9e of good8natured )epubli9ans 7ho ma<e their o7nease the la7 of their e isten9e, and 7ho 9arry freedom of spee9h to the>erge of brutality5

(e 9alled at his friend*s address in $aris, and 7as immediately afa>orite, on a99ount of his easy 9ordiality, in spite of his ad>an9edopinions5 Madame de Meroul e 9laimed:

E+hat a pity= su9h a 9harming man=E

M5 de Meroul said to his friend, in a sin9ere and 9onfidential tone:E/ou 9annot imagine 7hat a 7rong you do to our 9ountry5E (e 7as atta9hedto his friend ne>ertheless, for no bonds are more solid than those of 9hildhood rene7ed in later life5 oseph Mouradour 9haffed the husbandand 7ife, 9alled them Emy lo>ing turtles,E and o99asionally ga>e >ent toloud de9larations against people 7ho 7ere behind the age, against allsorts of pre udi9es and traditions5



+hen he thus dire9ted the flood of his demo9rati9 elo uen9e, the married pair, feeling ill at ease, <ept silent through a sense of propriety andgood8breeding; then the husband tried to turn off the 9on>ersation inorder to a>oid any fri9tion5 oseph Mouradour did not 7ant to <no7

anyone unless he 7as free to say 7hat he li<ed5

#ummer 9ame round5 The Merouls <ne7 no greater pleasure than to re9ei>etheir old friends in their 9ountry house at Tourbe>ille5 %t 7as anintimate and healthy pleasure, the pleasure of homely gentlefol< 7ho hadspent most of their li>es in the 9ountry5 They used to go to the nearestrail7ay station to meet some of their guests, and dro>e them to thehouse in their 9arriage, 7at9hing for 9ompliments on their distri9t, onthe rapid >egetation, on the 9ondition of the roads in the department,on the 9leanliness of the peasants* houses, on the bigness of the 9attlethey sa7 in the fields, on e>erything that met the eye as far as the

edge of the horiFon5They li<ed to ha>e it noti9ed that their horse trotted in a 7onderfulmanner for an animal employed a part of the year in field87or<; and theya7aited 7ith an iety the ne79omer*s opinion on their family estate,sensiti>e to the slightest 7ord, grateful for the slightest gra9iousattention5

oseph Mouradour 7as in>ited, and he announ9ed his arri>al5 The 7ife andthe husband 9ame to meet the train, delighted to ha>e the opportunity of doing the honors of their house5

As soon as he per9ei>ed them, oseph Mouradour umped out of his9arriage 7ith a >i>a9ity 7hi9h in9reased their satisfa9tion5 (e graspedtheir hands 7armly, 9ongratulated them, and into i9ated them 7ith9ompliments5

(e 7as uite 9harming in his manner as they dro>e along the road to thehouse; he e pressed astonishment at the height of the trees, thee 9ellen9e of the 9rops, and the ui9<ness of the horse5

+hen he pla9ed his foot on the steps in front of the 9hateau, M5 deMeroul said to him 7ith a 9ertain friendly solemnity:

E"o7 you are at home5E

oseph Mouradour ans7ered: EThan<s, old fello7; % 9ounted on that5 !or my part, besides, % ne>er put myself out 7ith my friends5 That*s theonly hospitality % understand5E



Then he 7ent up to his o7n room, 7here he put on the 9ostume of a peasant, as he 7as pleased to des9ribe it, and he 9ame do7n again not>ery long after, attired in blue linen, 7ith yello7 boots, in the9areless rig8out of a $arisian out for a holiday5 (e seemed, too, toha>e be9ome more 9ommon, more olly, more familiar, ha>ing assumed along

7ith his 7ould8be rusti9 garb a free and easy s7agger 7hi9h he thoughtsuited the style of dress5 (is ne7 apparel some7hat sho9<ed M5 andMadame de Meroul, 7ho e>en at home on their estate al7ays remainedserious and respe9table, as the parti9le EdeE before their name e a9teda 9ertain amount of 9eremonial e>en 7ith their intimate friends5

After lun9h they 7ent to >isit the farms; and the $arisian stupefied therespe9table peasants by tal<ing to them as if he 7ere a 9omrade of theirs5

%n the e>ening, the 9ure dined at the house88a fat old priest, 7earing

his #unday suit, 7ho had been spe9ially as<ed that day in order to meetthe ne79omer5

+hen oseph sa7 him he made a grima9e, then he stared at the priest inastonishment as if he belonged to some pe9uliar ra9e of beings, the li<eof 7hi9h he had ne>er seen before at su9h 9lose uarters5 (e told a fe7stories allo7able enough 7ith a friend after dinner, but apparentlysome7hat out of pla9e in the presen9e of an e99lesiasti95 (e did notsay, EMonsieur l*Abbe,E but merely EMonsieurE; and he embarrassed the

priest 7ith philosophi9al >ie7s as to the >arious superstitions that pre>ailed on the surfa9e of the globe5

(e remar<ed:

E/our God, Monsieur, is one of those persons 7hom 7e must respe9t, butalso one of those 7ho must be dis9ussed5 Mine is 9alled )eason; he hasfrom time immemorial been the enemy of yours5E

The Merouls, greatly put out, attempted to di>ert his thoughts5 The 9ureleft >ery early5

Then the husband gently remar<ed:

E/ou 7ent a little too far 7ith that priest5E

But oseph immediately replied:

EThat*s a >ery good o<e, too= Am % to bother my brains about ade>il8dodger? At any rate, do me the fa>or of not e>er again ha>ing su9han old fogy to dinner5 Confound his impuden9e=E



EBut, my friend, remember his sa9red 9hara9ter5E

oseph Mouradour interrupted him:

E/es, % <no75 +e must treat them li<e girls 7ho get roses for being 7ell beha>ed= That*s all right, my boy= +hen these people respe9t my9on>i9tions, % 7ill respe9t theirs=E

This 7as all that happened that day5

"e t morning Madame de Meroul, on entering her dra7ing8room, sa7 lyingon the table three ne7spapers 7hi9h made her dra7 ba9< in horror, ELe.oltaire,E ELa )epubli ue !ran9aise,E and ELa usti9e5E

$resently oseph Mouradour, still in his blue blouse, appeared on the

threshold, reading EL*%ntransigeantE attenti>ely5 (e e 9laimed:E(ere is a splendid arti9le by )o9hefort5 That fello7 is mar>elous5E

(e read the arti9le in a loud >oi9e, laying so mu9h stress on its moststri<ing passages that he did not noti9e the entran9e of his friend5

M5 de Meroul had a paper in ea9h hand: ELe GauloisE for himself and ELeClarionE for his 7ife5

The ardent prose of the master87riter 7ho o>erthre7 the empire,>iolently de9laimed, re9ited in the a99ent of the south, rang throughthe pea9eful dra7ing8room, shoo< the old 9urtains 7ith their rigidfolds, seemed to splash the 7alls, the large upholstered 9hairs, thesolemn furniture fi ed in the same position for the past 9entury, 7ith ahail of 7ords, rebounding, impudent, ironi9al, and 9rushing5

The husband and the 7ife, the one standing, the other seated, listenedin a state of stupor, so s9andaliFed that they no longer e>en >enturedto ma<e a gesture5 Mouradour flung out the 9on9luding passage in thearti9le as one sets off a stream of fire7or<s; then in an emphati9 tonehe remar<ed:

EThat*s a stinger, eh?E

But suddenly he per9ei>ed the t7o prints belonging to his friend, and heseemed himself for a moment o>er9ome 7ith astonishment5 Then he 9amea9ross to his host 7ith great strides, demanding in an angry tone:

E+hat do you 7ant to do 7ith these papers?E



M5 de5 Meroul replied in a hesitating >oi9e:

E+hy, these88these are my88my ne7spapers5E

E/our ne7spapers= Loo< here, no7, you are only laughing at me= /ou 7illdo me the fa>or to read mine, to stir you up 7ith a fe7 ne7 ideas, and,as for yours88this is 7hat % do 7ith them88E

And before his host, filled 7ith 9onfusion, 9ould pre>ent him, he seiFedthe t7o ne7spapers and flung them out through the 7indo75 Then hegra>ely pla9ed ELa usti9eE in the hands of Madame de Meroul and ELe.oltaireE in those of her husband, himself sin<ing into an arm9hair tofinish EL*%ntransigeant5E

The husband and the 7ife, through feelings of deli9a9y, made a sho7 of

reading a little, then they handed ba9< the )epubli9an ne7spapers 7hi9hthey tou9hed 7ith their finger8tips as if they had been poisoned5

Then Mouradour burst out laughing, and said:

EA 7ee< of this sort of nourishment, and %*ll ha>e you 9on>erted to myideas5E

At the end of a 7ee<, in fa9t, he ruled the house5 (e had shut the door on the 9ure, 7hom Madame de Meroul 7ent to see in se9ret5 (e ga>e ordersthat neither the EGauloisE nor the EClarionE 7ere to be admitted intothe house, 7hi9h a manser>ant 7ent to get in a mysterious fashion at the

post8offi9e, and 7hi9h, on his entran9e, 7ere hidden a7ay under the sofa9ushions5 (e regulated e>erything ust as he li<ed, al7ays 9harming,al7ays good8natured, a o>ial and all8po7erful tyrant5

Other friends 7ere about to 9ome on a >isit, religious people 7ithLegitimist opinions5 The master and mistress of the 9hateau 9onsideredit 7ould be impossible to let them meet their li>ely guest, and not<no7ing 7hat to do, announ9ed to oseph Mouradour one e>ening that they7ere obliged to go a7ay from home for a fe7 days about a little matter of business, and they begged of him to remain in the house alone5

(e sho7ed no tra9e of emotion, and replied:

E.ery 7ell; *tis all the same to me; %*ll 7ait here for you as long asyou li<e5 +hat % say is this88there need be no 9eremony bet7een friends5/ou*re uite right to loo< after your o7n affairs887hy the de>ilshouldn*t you? %*ll not ta<e offense at your doing that, uite the9ontrary5 %t only ma<es me feel uite at my ease 7ith you5 Go, my



friends88%*ll 7ait for you5E

M5 and Madame de Meroul started ne t morning5

(e is 7aiting for them5

T( BL%"D MA"

(o7 is it that the sunlight gi>es us su9h oy? +hy does this radian9e7hen it falls on the earth fill us so mu9h 7ith the delight of li>ing?The s<y is all blue, the fields are all green, the houses all 7hite; andour ra>ished eyes drin< in those bright 9olors 7hi9h bring mirthfulness

to our souls5 And then there springs up in our hearts a desire to dan9e,a desire to run, a desire to sing, a happy lightness of thought, a sortof enlarged tenderness; 7e feel a longing to embra9e the sun5

The blind, as they sit in the door7ays, impassi>e in their eternaldar<ness, remain as 9alm as e>er in the midst of this fresh gaiety, and,not 9omprehending 7hat is ta<ing pla9e around them, they 9ontinue e>erymoment to stop their dogs from gamboling5

+hen, at the 9lose of the day, they are returning home on the arm of ayoung brother or a little sister, if the 9hild says: E%t 7as a >ery fineday=E the other ans7ers: E% 9ould noti9e that *t7as fine5 Lulu 7ouldn*t<eep uiet5E

% ha>e <no7n one of these men 7hose life 7as one of the most 9ruelmartyrdoms that 9ould possibly be 9on9ei>ed5

(e 7as a peasant, the son of a "orman farmer5 As long as his father andmother li>ed, he 7as more or less ta<en 9are of; he suffered little sa>efrom his horrible infirmity; but as soon as the old people 7ere gone, alife of atro9ious misery 9ommen9ed for him5 A dependent on a sister of his, e>erybody in the farmhouse treated him as a beggar 7ho is eatingthe bread of others5 At e>ery meal the >ery food he s7allo7ed 7as made asub e9t of reproa9h against him; he 7as 9alled a drone, a 9lo7n; andalthough his brother8in8la7 had ta<en possession of his portion of theinheritan9e, the soup 7as gi>en to him grudgingly88 ust enough to sa>ehim from dying5

(is fa9e 7as >ery pale and his t7o big 7hite eyes 7ere li<e 7afers5 (eremained unmo>ed in spite of the insults infli9ted upon him, so shut up



in himself that one 9ould not tell 7hether he felt them at all5

Moreo>er, he had ne>er <no7n any tenderness; his mother had al7aystreated him >ery un<indly, 9aring s9ar9ely at all for him; for in9ountry pla9es the useless are obno ious, and the peasants 7ould be

glad, li<e hens, to <ill the infirm of their spe9ies5

As soon as the soup had been gulped do7n, he 7ent to the door in summer time and sat do7n, to the 9himney89orner in 7inter time, and, after that, ne>er stirred till night5 (e made no gesture, no mo>ement; onlyhis eyelids, ui>ering from some ner>ous affe9tion, fell do7n sometimeso>er his 7hite sightless orbs5 (ad he any intelle9t, any thin<ingfa9ulty, any 9ons9iousness of his o7n e isten9e? "obody 9ared to in uireas to 7hether he had or no5

!or some years things 7ent on in this fashion But his in9apa9ity for

doing anything as 7ell as his impassi>eness e>entually e asperated hisrelati>es, and he be9ame a laughing8sto9<, a sort of martyred buffoon, a prey gi>en o>er to nati>e fero9ity, to the sa>age gaiety of the brutes7ho surrounded him5

%t is easy to imagine all the 9ruel pra9ti9al o<es inspired by his blindness5 And, in order to ha>e some fun in return for feeding him,they no7 9on>erted his meals into hours of pleasure for the neighborsand of punishment for the helpless 9reature himself5

The peasants from the nearest houses 9ame to this entertainment; it 7astal<ed about from door to door, and e>ery day the <it9hen of thefarmhouse 7as full of people5 !or instan9e, they put on the table infront of his plate, 7hen he 7as beginning to ta<e the soup, a 9at or adog5 The animal instin9ti>ely s9ented out the man*s infirmity, and,softly approa9hing, 9ommen9ed eating noiselessly, lapping up the soupdaintily; and, 7hen a rather loud li9<ing of the tongue a7a<ened the

poor fello7*s attention, it 7ould prudently s9amper a7ay to a>oid the blo7 of the spoon dire9ted at it by the blind man at random=

Then the spe9tators, huddled against the 7alls, burst out laughing,nudged ea9h other, and stamped their feet on the floor5 And he, 7ithoute>er uttering a 7ord, 7ould 9ontinue eating 7ith the aid of his righthand, 7hile stret9hing out his left to prote9t and defend his plate5

At another time they made him 9he7 9or<s, bits of 7ood, lea>es, or e>enfilth, 7hi9h he 7as unable to distinguish5

After this, they got tired e>en of these pra9ti9al o<es; and the brother8in8la7, mad at ha>ing to support him al7ays, stru9< him, 9uffed



him in9essantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to 7ardoff or return the blo7s5 Then 9ame a ne7 pleasure88the pleasure of sma9<ing his fa9e5 And the plo7men, the ser>ant8girls, and e>en e>ery

passing >agabond 7ere e>ery moment gi>ing him 9uffs, 7hi9h 9aused hiseyelashes to t7it9h spasmodi9ally5 (e did not <no7 7here to hide himself

and remained 7ith his arms al7ays held out to guard against people9oming too 9lose to him5

At last he 7as for9ed to beg5

(e 7as pla9ed some7here on the highroad on mar<et8days, and, as soon ashe heard the sound of footsteps or the rolling of a >ehi9le, he rea9hedout his hat, stammering:

ECharity, if you please=E

But the peasant is not la>ish, and, for 7hole 7ee<s, he did not bring ba9< a sou5

Then he be9ame the >i9tim of furious, pitiless hatred5 And this is ho7he died5

One 7inter, the ground 7as 9o>ered 7ith sno7, and it froFe horribly5 "o7his brother8in8la7 led him one morning at this season a great distan9ealong the highroad in order that he might soli9it alms5 The blind man7as left there all day, and, 7hen night 9ame on, the brother8in8la7 toldthe people of his house that he 9ould find no tra9e of the mendi9ant5Then he added:

E$ooh= best not bother about him= (e 7as 9old, and got some one to ta<ehim a7ay5 "e>er fear= he*s not lost5 (e*ll turn up soon enough to8morro7to eat the soup5E

"e t day he did not 9ome ba9<5

After long hours of 7aiting, stiffened 7ith the 9old, feeling that he7as dying, the blind man began to 7al<5 Being unable to find his 7ayalong the road, o7ing to its thi9< 9oating of i9e, he 7ent on at random,falling into di<es, getting up again, 7ithout uttering a sound, his soleob e9t being to find some house 7here he 9ould ta<e shelter5

But by degrees the des9ending sno7 made a numbness steal o>er him, andhis feeble limbs being in9apable of 9arrying him farther, he had to sitdo7n in the middle of an open field5 (e did not get up again5

The 7hite fla<es 7hi9h <ept 9ontinually falling buried him, so that his





there, and % shall hold a re>ie7, li<e a general, at the dinner8hour;and, if % find a single one of them at all 9areless in dress, no matter ho7 little, % mean to send him do7n to the <it9hen to the ser>ant8maids5

The men of to8day ha>e so little 9onsideration for others and so little

good manners that one must be al7ays se>ere 7ith them5 +e li>e indeed inan age of >ulgarity5 +hen they uarrel 7ith one another, they atta9< oneanother 7ith insults 7orthy of street porters, and, in our presen9e,they do not 9ondu9t themsel>es e>en as 7ell as our ser>ants5 %t is atthe seaside that you see this most 9learly5 They are to be found therein battalions, and you 9an udge them in the lump5 Oh, 7hat 9oarse

beings they are=

ust imagine, in a train, one of them, a gentleman 7ho loo<ed 7ell as %thought, at first sight, than<s to his tailor, 7as dainty enough to ta<eoff his boots in order to put on a pair of old shoes= Another, an old

man, 7ho 7as probably some 7ealthy upstart these are the mostill8bredH, 7hile sitting opposite to me, had the deli9a9y to pla9e hist7o feet on the seat uite 9lose to me5 This is a positi>e fa9t5

At the 7atering8pla9es, there is an unrestrained outpouring of unmannerliness5 % must here ma<e one admission88that my indignation is

perhaps due to the fa9t that % am not a99ustomed to asso9iate as a rule7ith the sort of people one 9omes a9ross here, for % should be lesssho9<ed by their manners if % had the opportunity of obser>ing themoftener5 %n the in uiry8offi9e of the hotel % 7as nearly thro7n do7n bya young man, 7ho snat9hed the <ey o>er my head5 Another <no9<ed againstme so >iolently 7ithout begging my pardon or lifting his hat, 9ominga7ay from a ball at the Casino, that he ga>e me a pain in the 9hest5 %tis the same 7ay 7ith all of them5 +at9h them addressing ladies on theterra9e: they s9ar9ely e>er bo75 They merely raise their hands to their headgear5 But indeed, as they are all more or less bald, it is the best

plan5

But 7hat e asperates and disgusts me espe9ially is the liberty they ta<eof tal<ing publi9ly, 7ithout any pre9aution 7hatsoe>er, about the mostre>olting ad>entures5 +hen t7o men are together, they relate to ea9hother, in the broadest language and 7ith the most abominable 9omments,really horrible stories, 7ithout 9aring in the slightest degree 7hether a 7oman*s ear is 7ithin rea9h of their >oi9es5 /esterday, on the bea9h,% 7as for9ed to go a7ay from the pla9e 7here % sat in order not to beany longer the in>oluntary 9onfidant of an obs9ene ane9dote, told insu9h immodest language that % felt as mu9h humiliated as % 7as indignantat ha>ing heard it5 +ould not the most elementary good8breeding ha>etaught them to spea< in a lo7er tone about su9h matters 7hen 7e are near at hand? tretat is, moreo>er, the 9ountry of gossip and s9andal5 !rom



fi>e to se>en o*9lo9< you 9an see people 7andering about in uest of nasty stories about others, 7hi9h they retail from group to group5 Asyou remar<ed to me, my dear Aunt, tittle8tattle is the mar< of pettyindi>iduals and petty minds5 %t is also the 9onsolation of 7omen 7ho areno longer lo>ed or sought after5 %t is enough for me to obser>e the

7omen 7ho are fondest of gossiping to be persuaded that you are uiteright5

The other day % 7as present at a musi9al e>ening at the Casino, gi>en bya remar<able artist, Madame Masson, 7ho sings in a truly delightfulmanner5 % too< the opportunity of applauding the admirable Co uelin, as7ell as t7o 9harming boarders of the .aude>ille, M8888 and Meillet5 %7as able, on the o99asion, to see all the bathers 9olle9ted together this year on the bea9h5 There 7ere not many persons of distin9tion amongthem5

One day % 7ent to lun9h at /port5 % noti9ed a tall man 7ith a beard 7ho7as 9oming out of a large house li<e a 9astle5 %t 7as the painter, ean$aul Laurens5 (e is not satisfied apparently 7ith imprisoning thesub e9ts of his pi9tures; he insists on imprisoning himself5

Then % found myself seated on the shingle 9lose to a man still young, of gentle and refined appearan9e, 7ho 7as reading some >erses5 But he readthem 7ith su9h 9on9entration, 7ith su9h passion, % may say, that he didnot e>en raise his eyes to7ard me5 % 7as some7hat astonished, and %as<ed the 9ondu9tor of the baths, 7ithout appearing to be mu9h9on9erned, the name of this gentleman5 % laughed in7ardly a little atthis reader of rhymes: he seemed behind the age, for a man5 This person,% thought, must be a simpleton5 +ell, Aunt, % am no7 infatuated aboutthis stranger5 ust fan9y, his name is #ully $rudhomme= % turned roundto loo< at him at my ease, ust 7here % sat5 (is fa9e possesses the t7oualities of 9almness and elegan9e5 As somebody 9ame to loo< for him, %7as able to hear his >oi9e, 7hi9h is s7eet and almost timid5 (e 7ould9ertainly not tell obs9ene stories aloud in publi9, or <no9< againstladies 7ithout apologiFing5 (e is sure to be a man of refinement, buthis refinement is of an almost morbid, >ibrating 9hara9ter5 % 7ill trythis 7inter to get an introdu9tion to him5

% ha>e no more ne7s to tell you, my dear Aunt, and % must interrupt thisletter in haste, as the post8hour is near5 % <iss your hands and your 9hee<s5

/our de>oted nie9e,

B )T( D 5



$5#588% should add, ho7e>er, by 7ay of ustifi9ation of !ren9h politeness, that our fello789ountrymen are, 7hen tra>eling, models of good manners in 9omparison 7ith the abominable nglish, 7ho seem to ha>e

been brought up by stable8boys, so mu9h do they ta<e 9are not toin9ommode themsel>es in any 7ay, 7hile they al7ays in9ommode their

neighbors5

MADAM D L5 TO MADAM D 5

L # !) #" #, #aturday5

My dear 9hild,88Many of the things you ha>e said to me are >eryreasonable, but that does not pre>ent you from being 7rong5 Li<e you, %used formerly to feel >ery indignant at the impoliteness of men, 7ho, as% supposed, 9onstantly treated me 7ith negle9t; but, as % gre7 older and

refle9ted on e>erything, putting aside 9o uetry and obser>ing things7ithout ta<ing any part in them myself, % per9ei>ed this mu9h88that if men are not al7ays polite, 7omen are al7ays indes9ribably rude5

+e imagine that 7e should be permitted to do anything, my darling, andat the same time 7e 9onsider that 7e ha>e a right to the utmost respe9t,and in the most flagrant manner 7e 9ommit a9tions de>oid of thatelementary good8breeding of 7hi9h you spea< 7ith passion5

% find, on the 9ontrary, that men ha>e, for us, mu9h 9onsideration, as9ompared 7ith our bearing to7ard them5 Besides, darling, men must needs

be, and are, 7hat 7e ma<e them5 %n a state of so9iety 7here 7omen areall true gentle7omen all men 7ould be9ome gentlemen5

Mar< my 7ords; ust obser>e and refle9t5

Loo< at t7o 7omen meeting in the street5 +hat an attitude ea9h assumesto7ard the other= +hat disparaging loo<s= +hat 9ontempt they thro7 intoea9h glan9e= (o7 they toss their heads 7hile they inspe9t ea9h other tofind something to 9ondemn= And, if the footpath is narro7, do you thin< one 7oman 7ill ma<e room for another, or 7ill beg pardon as she s7eeps

by? "e>er= +hen t7o men ostle ea9h other by a99ident in some narro7lane, ea9h of them bo7s and at the same time gets out of the other*s7ay, 7hile 7e 7omen press against ea9h other, stoma9h to stoma9h, fa9eto fa9e, insolently staring ea9h other out of 9ountenan9e5

Loo< at t7o 7omen 7ho are a9 uaintan9es meeting on a stair9ase beforethe dra7ing8room door of a friend of theirs to 7hom one has ust paid a>isit, and to 7hom the other is about to pay a >isit5 They begin to tal< to ea9h other, and blo9< up the passage5 %f anyone happens to be 9oming



up behind them, man or 7oman, do you imagine that they 7ill putthemsel>es half an in9h out of their 7ay? "e>er= ne>er=

% 7as 7aiting myself, 7ith my 7at9h in my hands, one day last 7inter, ata 9ertain dra7ing8room door5 Behind me t7o gentlemen 7ere also 7aiting

7ithout sho7ing any readiness to lose their temper, li<e me5 The reason7as that they had long gro7n a99ustomed to our un9ons9ionable insolen9e5

The other day, before lea>ing $aris, % 7ent to dine 7ith no less a person than your husband in the Champs8 lysees, in order to en oy theopen air5 >ery table 7as o99upied5 The 7aiter as<ed us not to go, andthere 7ould soon be a >a9ant table5

At that moment, % noti9ed an elderly lady of noble figure, 7ho, ha>ing paid the amount of her 9he9<, seemed on the point of going a7ay5 #he sa7me, s9anned me from head to foot, and did not budge5 !or more than a

full uarter of an hour she sat there, immo>able, putting on her glo>es,and 9almly staring at those 7ho 7ere 7aiting li<e myself5 "o7, t7o youngmen 7ho 7ere ust finishing their dinner, ha>ing seen me in their turn,ui9<ly summoned the 7aiter in order to pay 7hate>er they o7ed, and aton9e offered me their seats, e>en insisting on standing 7hile 7aitingfor their 9hange5 And, bear in mind, my fair nie9e, that % am no longer

pretty, li<e you, but old and 7hite8haired5

%t is 7e do you see?H 7ho should be taught politeness; and the tas< 7ould be su9h a diffi9ult one that (er9ules himself 7ould not be e ualto it5 /ou spea< to me about tretat, and about the people 7ho indulgein Etittle8tattleE along the bea9h of that delightful 7atering8pla9e5 %tis a spot no7 lost to me, a thing of the past, but % found mu9hamusement there in days gone by5

There 7ere only a fe7 of us, people in good so9iety, really goodso9iety, and a fe7 artists, and 7e all fraterniFed5 +e paid littleattention to gossip in those days5

+ell, as 7e had no insipid Casino, 7here people only gather for sho7,7here they tal< in 7hispers, 7here they dan9e stupidly, 7here theysu99eed in thoroughly boring one another, 7e sought some other 7ay of

passing our e>enings pleasantly5 "o7, ust guess 7hat 9ame into the headof one of our husbandry? "othing less than to go and dan9e ea9h night inone of the farmhouses in the neighborhood5

+e started out in a group 7ith a street8organ, generally played by Le$oitte>in, the painter, 7ith a 9otton night9ap on his head5 T7o men9arried lanterns5 +e follo7ed in pro9ession, laughing and 9hatteringli<e a pa9< of fools5



+e 7o<e up the farmer and his ser>ant8maids and laboring men5 +e gotthem to ma<e onion8soup horror=H, and 7e dan9ed under the apple8trees,to the sound of the barrel8organ5 The 9o9<s 7a<ing up began to 9ro7 inthe dar<ness of the outhouses; the horses began pran9ing on the stra7 of

their stables5 The 9ool air of the 9ountry 9aressed our 9hee<s 7ith thesmell of grass and of ne78mo7n hay5

(o7 long ago it is= (o7 long ago it is5 %t is thirty years sin9e then=

% do not 7ant you, my darling, to 9ome for the opening of the huntingseason5 +hy spoil the pleasure of our friends by infli9ting on themfashionable toilettes after a day of >igorous e er9ise in the 9ountry?This is the 7ay, 9hild, that men are spoiled5 % embra9e you5

/our old aunt,

G " .% . D L5

T( CA0

Let us say that her name 7as Madame Anserre so as not to re>eal her realname5

#he 7as one of those $arisian 9omets 7hi9h lea>e, as it 7ere, a trail of fire behind them5 #he 7rote >erses and no>els; she had a poeti9 heart,and 7as rarely beautiful5 #he opened her doors to >ery fe788only toe 9eptional people, those 7ho are 9ommonly des9ribed as prin9es of something or other5 To be a >isitor at her house 9onstituted a 9laim, agenuine 9laim to intelle9t: at least this 7as the estimate set on her in>itations5 (er husband played the part of an obs9ure satellite5 To bethe husband of a 9omet is not an easy thing5 This husband had, ho7e>er,an original idea, that of 9reating a #tate 7ithin a #tate, of possessinga merit of his o7n, a merit of the se9ond order, it is true; but he did,in fa9t, in this fashion, on the days 7hen his 7ife held re9eptions,hold re9eptions also on his o7n a99ount5 (e had his spe9ial set 7hoappre9iated him, listened to him, and besto7ed on him more attentionthan they did on his brilliant partner5

(e had de>oted himself to agri9ulture88to agri9ulture in the Chamber5There are in the same 7ay generals in the Chamber88those 7ho are born,7ho li>e, and 7ho die, on the round leather 9hairs of the +ar Offi9e,



are all of this sort, are they not? #ailors in the Chamber,88>iF5, inthe Admiralty,889oloniFers in the Chamber, et95, et95 #o he had studiedagri9ulture, had studied it deeply, indeed, in its relations to theother s9ien9es, to politi9al e9onomy, to the !ine Arts887e dress up the!ine Arts 7ith e>ery <ind of s9ien9e, and 7e e>en 9all the horrible

rail7ay bridges E7or<s of art5E At length he rea9hed the point 7hen it7as said of him: E(e is a man of ability5E (e 7as uoted in thete9hni9al re>ie7s; his 7ife had su99eeded in getting him appointed amember of a 9ommittee at the Ministry of Agri9ulture5

This latest glory 7as uite suffi9ient for him5

'nder the prete t of diminishing the e penses, he sent out in>itationsto his friends for the day 7hen his 7ife re9ei>ed hers, so that theyasso9iated together, or rather did not88they formed t7o distin9t groups5Madame, 7ith her es9ort of artists, a9ademi9ians, and ministers,

o99upied a <ind of gallery, furnished and de9orated in the style of thempire5 Monsieur generally 7ithdre7 7ith his agri9ulturists into asmaller portion of the house used as a smo<ing8room and ironi9allydes9ribed by Madame Anserre as the #alon of Agri9ulture5

The t7o 9amps 7ere 9learly separate5 Monsieur, 7ithout ealousy,moreo>er, sometimes penetrated into the A9ademy, and 9ordialhand8sha<ings 7ere e 9hanged; but the A9ademy entertained infinite9ontempt for the #alon of Agri9ulture, and it 7as rarely that one of the

prin9es of s9ien9e, of thought, or of anything else, mingled 7ith theagri9ulturists5

These re9eptions o99asioned little e pense88a 9up of tea, a 9a<e, that7as all5 Monsieur, at an earlier period, had 9laimed t7o 9a<es, one for the A9ademy, and one for the agri9ulturists, but Madame ha>ing rightlysuggested that this 7ay of a9ting seemed to indi9ate t7o 9amps, t7ore9eptions, t7o parties, Monsieur did not press the matter, so that theyused only one 9a<e, of 7hi9h Madame Anserre did the honors at theA9ademy, and 7hi9h then passed into the #alon de Agri9ulture5

"o7, this 9a<e 7as soon, for the A9ademy, a sub e9t of obser>ation 7ell9al9ulated to arouse 9uriosity5 Madame Anserre ne>er 9ut it herself5That fun9tion al7ays fell to the lot of one or other of the illustriousguests5 The parti9ular duty, 7hi9h 7as supposed to 9arry 7ith ithonorable distin9tion, 7as performed by ea9h person for a pretty long

period, in one 9ase for three months, s9ar9ely e>er for more; and it 7asnoti9ed that the pri>ilege of E9utting the 9a<eE 9arried 7ith it a heapof other mar<s of superiority88a sort of royalty, or rather >erya99entuated >i9eroyalty5



The reigning 9utter spo<e in a haughty tone, 7ith an air of mar<ed9ommand; and all the fa>ors of the mistress of the house 7ere for himalone5

These happy indi>iduals 7ere in moments of intima9y des9ribed in hushed

tones behind doors as the Efa>orites of the 9a<e,E and e>ery 9hange of fa>orite introdu9ed into the A9ademy a sort of re>olution5 The <nife 7asa s9epter, the pastry an emblem; the 9hosen ones 7ere 9ongratulated5 Theagri9ulturists ne>er 9ut the 9a<e5 Monsieur himself 7as al7ays e 9luded,although he ate his share5

The 9a<e 7as 9ut in su99ession by poets, by painters, and by no>elists5A great musi9ian had the pri>ilege of measuring the portions of the 9a<efor some time; an ambassador su99eeded him5 #ometimes a man less 7ell<no7n, but elegant and sought after, one of those 7ho are 9alleda99ording to the different epo9hs, Etrue gentleman,E or Eperfe9t

<night,E or Edandy,E or something else, seated himself, in his turn, before the symboli9 9a<e5 a9h of them, during this ephemeral reign,e hibited greater 9onsideration to7ard the husband; then, 7hen the hour of his fall had arri>ed, he passed on the <nife to7ard the other, andmingled on9e more 7ith the 9ro7d of follo7ers and admirers of theEbeautiful Madame Anserre5E

This state of things lasted a long time; but 9omets do not al7ays shine7ith the same brillian9e5 >erything gets 7orn out in so9iety5 One 7ouldha>e said that gradually the eagerness of the 9utters gre7 feebler; theyseemed to hesitate at times 7hen the tray 7as held out to them; thisoffi9e, on9e so mu9h 9o>eted, be9ame less and less desired5 %t 7asretained for a shorter time; they appeared to be less proud of it5

Madame Anserre 7as prodigal of smiles and 9i>ilities5 Alas= no one 7asfound any longer to 9ut it >oluntarily5 The ne79omers seemed to de9linethe honor5 The Eold fa>oritesE reappeared one by one li<e dethroned

prin9es 7ho ha>e been repla9ed for a brief spell in po7er5 Then, the9hosen ones be9ame fe7, >ery fe75 !or a month oh, prodigy=H M, Anserre9ut open the 9a<e; then he loo<ed as if he 7ere getting tired of it; andone e>ening Madame Anserre, the beautiful Madame Anserre, 7as seen9utting it herself5 But this appeared to be >ery 7earisome to her, and,ne t day, she urged one of her guests so strongly to do it that he didnot dare to refuse5

The symbol 7as too 7ell <no7n, ho7e>er; the guests stared at one another 7ith s9ared, an ious fa9es5 To 9ut the 9a<e 7as nothing, but the

pri>ileges to 7hi9h this fa>or had al7ays gi>en a 9laim no7 frightened people; therefore, the moment the dish made its appearan9e thea9ademi9ians rushed pellmell into the #alon of Agri9ulture, as if to



shelter themsel>es behind the husband, 7ho 7as perpetually smiling5 And7hen Madame Anserre, in a state of an iety, presented herself at thedoor 7ith a 9a<e in one hand and the <nife in the other, they all seemedto form a 9ir9le around her husband as if to appeal to him for

prote9tion5

#ome years more passed5 "obody 9ut the 9a<e no7; but yielding to an oldin>eterate habit, the lady 7ho had al7ays been gallantly 9alled Ethe

beautiful Madame AnserreE loo<ed out ea9h e>ening for some de>otee tota<e the <nife, and ea9h time the same mo>ement too< pla9e around her, ageneral flight, s<illfully arranged and full of 9ombined maneu>ers thatsho7ed great 9le>erness, in order to a>oid the offer that 7as rising toher lips5

But, one e>ening, a young man presented himself at her re9eption88aninno9ent, unsophisti9ated youth5 (e <ne7 nothing about the mystery of

the 9a<e; a99ordingly, 7hen it appeared, and 7hen all the rest ran a7ay,7hen Madame Anserre too< from the manser>ant*s hands the dish and the pastry, he remained uietly by her side5

#he thought that perhaps he <ne7 about the matter; she smiled, and in atone 7hi9h sho7ed some emotion, said:

E+ill you be <ind enough, dear Monsieur, to 9ut this 9a<e?E

(e displayed the utmost readiness, and too< off his glo>es, flattered atsu9h an honor being 9onferred on him5

EOh, to be sure, Madame, 7ith the greatest pleasure5E

#ome distan9e a7ay in the 9orner of the gallery, in the frame of thedoor 7hi9h led into the #alon of the Agri9ulturists, fa9es 7hi9he pressed utter amaFement 7ere staring at him5 Then, 7hen the spe9tatorssa7 the ne79omer 9utting 7ithout any hesitation, they ui9<ly 9amefor7ard5

An old poet o9osely slapped the neophyte on the shoulder5

EBra>o, young man=E he 7hispered in his ear5

The others gaFed at him 7ith 9uriosity5 >en the husband appeared to besurprised5 As for the young man, he 7as astonished at the 9onsideration7hi9h they suddenly seemed to sho7 to7ard him; abo>e all, he failed to9omprehend the mar<ed attentions, the manifest fa>or, and the spe9ies of mute gratitude 7hi9h the mistress of the house besto7ed on him5



%t appears, ho7e>er, that he e>entually found out5

At 7hat moment, in 7hat pla9e, 7as the re>elation made to him? "obody9ould tell; but, 7hen he again presented himself at the re9eption, hehad a preo99upied air, almost a shamefa9ed loo<, and he 9ast around him

a glan9e of uneasiness5

The bell rang for tea5 The manser>ant appeared5 Madame Anserre, 7ith asmile, seiFed the dish, 9asting a loo< about her for her young friend;

but he had fled so pre9ipitately that no tra9e of him 9ould be seen anylonger5 Then, she 7ent loo<ing e>ery7here for him, and ere long shedis9o>ered him in the #alon of the Agri9ulturists5 +ith his arm lo9<edin that of the husband, he 7as 9onsulting that gentleman as to the meansemployed for destroying phyllo era5

EMy dear Monsieur,E she said to him, E7ill you be so <ind as to 9ut this

9a<e for me?E(e reddened to the roots of his hair, and hanging do7n his head,stammered out some e 9uses5 Thereupon M5 Anserre too< pity on him, andturning to7ard his 7ife, said:

EMy dear, you might ha>e the goodness not to disturb us5 +e are tal<ingabout agri9ulture5 #o get your 9a<e 9ut by Baptiste5E

And sin9e that day nobody has e>er 9ut Madame Anserre*s 9a<e5

T( CO)#%CA" BA"D%T

The road, 7ith a gentle 7inding, rea9hed the middle of the forest5 Thehuge pine8trees spread abo>e our heads a mournful8loo<ing >ault, andga>e forth a <ind of long, sad 7ail, 7hile at either side their straight, slender trun<s formed, as it 7ere, an army of organ8pipes,from 7hi9h seemed to issue the lo7, monotonous musi9 of the 7ind throughthe tree8tops5

After three hours* 7al<ing there 7as an opening in this ro7 of tangled bran9hes5 (ere and there an enormous pine8parasol, separated from theothers, opening li<e an immense umbrella, displayed its dome of dar< green; then, all of a sudden, 7e gained the boundary of the forest, somehundreds of meters belo7 the defile 7hi9h leads into the 7ild >alley of

"iolo5



On the t7o pro e9ting heights 7hi9h 9ommanded a >ie7 of this pass, someold trees, grotes uely t7isted, seemed to ha>e mounted 7ith painfulefforts, li<e s9outs 7ho had started in ad>an9e of the multitude heapedtogether in the rear5 +hen 7e turned round 7e sa7 the entire forest

stret9hed beneath our feet, li<e a giganti9 basin of >erdure, 7hoseedges, 7hi9h seemed to rea9h the s<y, 7ere 9omposed of bare ra9<sshutting in on e>ery side5

+e resumed our 7al<, and, ten minutes later, 7e found oursel>es in thedefile5

Then % beheld an astonishing lands9ape5 Beyond another forest, a >alley, but a >alley su9h as % had ne>er seen before, a solitude of stone tenleagues long, hollo7ed out bet7een t7o high mountains, 7ithout a fieldor a tree to be seen5 This 7as the "iolo >alley, the fatherland of

Corsi9an liberty, the ina99essible 9itadel, from 7hi9h the in>aders hadne>er been able to dri>e out the mountaineers5

My 9ompanion said to me: E%t is here, that all our bandits ha>e ta<enrefuge5E

re long 7e 7ere at the further end of this 9hasm, so 7ild, soin9on9ei>ably beautiful5

"ot a blade of grass, not a plant88nothing but granite5 As far as our eyes 9ould rea9h 7e sa7 in front of us a desert of glittering stone,heated li<e an o>en by a burning sun 7hi9h seemed to hang for that >ery

purpose right abo>e the gorge5 +hen 7e raised our eyes to7ard the 9rests7e stood daFFled and stupefied by 7hat 7e sa75 They loo<ed red andnot9hed li<e festoons of 9oral, for all the summits are made of

porphyry; and the s<y o>erhead seemed >iolet, lila9, dis9olored by the>i9inity of these strange mountains5 Lo7er do7n the granite 7as of s9intillating gray, and under our feet it seemed rasped, pounded; 7e7ere 7al<ing o>er shining po7der5 At our right, along a long andirregular 9ourse, a tumultuous torrent ran 7ith a 9ontinuous roar5 And7e staggered along under this heat, in this light, in this burning,arid, desolate >alley 9ut by this ra>ine of turbulent 7ater 7hi9h seemedto be e>er hurrying on7ard, 7ithout being able to fertiliFe these ro9<s,lost in this furna9e 7hi9h greedily dran< it up 7ithout being penetratedor refreshed by it5

But suddenly there 7as >isible at our right a little 7ooden 9ross sun< in a little heap of stones5 A man had been <illed there; and % said tomy 9ompanion:



ETell me about your bandits5E

(e replied:

E% <ne7 the most 9elebrated of them, the terrible #t5 Lu9ia5 % 7ill tell

you his history5

E(is father 7as <illed in a uarrel by a young man of the same distri9t,it is said; and #t5 Lu9ia 7as left alone 7ith his sister5 (e 7as a 7ea< and timid youth, small, often ill, 7ithout any energy5 (e did not

pro9laim the 6>endetta6 against the assassin of his father5 All hisrelati>es 9ame to see him, and implored of him to ta<e >engean9e; heremained deaf to their mena9es and their suppli9ations5

EThen, follo7ing the old Corsi9an 9ustom, his sister, in her indignation, 9arried a7ay his bla9< 9lothes, in order that he might not

7ear mourning for a dead man 7ho had not been a>enged5 (e 7as insensibleto e>en this outrage, and rather than ta<e do7n from the ra9< hisfather*s gun, 7hi9h 7as still loaded, he shut himself up, not daring to

bra>e the loo<s of the young men of the distri9t5

E(e seemed to ha>e e>en forgotten the 9rime, and he li>ed 7ith hissister in the obs9urity of their d7elling5

EBut, one day, the man 7ho 7as suspe9ted of ha>ing 9ommitted the murder 7as about to get married5 #t5 Lu9ia did not appear to be mo>ed by thisne7s; but, no doubt out of sheer bra>ado, the bridegroom, on his 7ay tothe 9hur9h, passed before the t7o orphans* house5

EThe brother and the sister, at their 7indo7, 7ere eating little fried9a<es 7hen the young man sa7 the bridal pro9ession mo>ing past thehouse5 #uddenly he began to tremble, rose up 7ithout uttering a 7ord,made the sign of the 9ross, too< the gun 7hi9h 7as hanging o>er thefirepla9e, and 7ent out5

E+hen he spo<e of this later on, he said: *% don*t <no7 7hat 7as thematter 7ith me; it 7as li<e fire in my blood; % felt that % should doit, that in spite of e>erything, % 9ould not resist, and % 9on9ealed thegun in a 9a>e on the road to Corte5*

EAn hour later, he 9ame ba9<, 7ith nothing in his hand, and 7ith hishabitual sad air of 7eariness5 (is sister belie>ed that there 7asnothing further in his thoughts5

EBut 7hen night fell he disappeared5



E(is enemy had, the same e>ening, to repair to Corte on foot,a99ompanied by his t7o bridesmen5

E(e 7as pursuing his 7ay, singing as he 7ent, 7hen #t5 Lu9ia stood before him, and loo<ing straight in the murderer*s fa9e, e 9laimed: *"o7

is the time=* and shot him point8blan< in the 9hest5

EOne of the bridesmen fled; the other stared at the young man, saying:

E*+hat ha>e you done, #t5 Lu9ia?*

EThen he 7as going to hasten to Corte for help, but #t5 Lu9ia said in astern tone:

E*%f you mo>e another step, %*ll shoot you through the legs5*

EThe other, a7are that till no7 he had al7ays appeared timid, said tohim: */ou 7ould not dare to do it=* and he 7as hurrying off 7hen hefell, instantaneously, his thigh shattered by a bullet5

EAnd #t5 Lu9ia, 9oming o>er to 7here he lay, said:

E*% am going to loo< at your 7ound; if it is not serious, %*ll lea>e youthere; if it is mortal, %*ll finish you off5*

E(e inspe9ted the 7ound, 9onsidered it mortal, and slo7ly re8loading hisgun, told the 7ounded man to say a prayer, and shot him through thehead5

E"e t day he 7as in the mountains5

EAnd do you <no7 7hat this #t5 Lu9ia did after this?

EAll his family 7ere arrested by the gendarmes5 (is un9le, the 9ure, 7ho7as suspe9ted of ha>ing in9ited him to this deed of >engean9e, 7ashimself put into prison, and a99used by the dead man*s relati>es5 But hees9aped, too< a gun in his turn, and 7ent to oin his nephe7 in the9a>e5

E"e t, #t5 Lu9ia <illed, one after the other, his un9le*s a99users, andtore out their eyes to tea9h the others ne>er to state 7hat they hadseen 7ith their eyes5

E(e <illed all the relati>es, all the 9onne9tions of his enemy*s family5(e massa9red during his life fourteen gendarmes, burned do7n the housesof his ad>ersaries, and 7as up to the day of his death the most terrible



of the bandits, 7hose memory 7e ha>e preser>ed5E

K K K K K

The sun disappeared behind Monte Cinto and the tall shado7 of the

granite mountain 7ent to sleep on the granite of the >alley5 +eui9<ened our pa9e in order to rea9h before night the little >illage of Alberta99io, nothing better than a heap of stones 7elded beside thestone flan<s of a 7ild gorge5 And % said as % thought of the bandit:

E+hat a terrible 9ustom your 6>endetta6 is=E

My 9ompanion ans7ered 7ith an air of resignation:

E+hat 7ould you ha>e? A man must do his duty=E

T( D' L

%n so9iety, they 9alled him EThe handsome #ignoles5E (e 9alled himself .is9ount Gontran oseph de #ignoles5

An orphan and master of a suffi9ient fortune, he 9ut something of afigure, as the saying is5 (e had an attra9ti>e form, enough readiness of spee9h to ma<e some attempt at 7it, a 9ertain natural gra9e of manner,an air of nobility and pride, and a musta9he 7hi9h 7as both formidableand pleasant to the eye88a thing that pleases the ladies5

(e 7as in demand in dra7ing8rooms, sought for by 7altFers, and heinspired in men that smiling enmity 7hi9h one has for people of energeti9 physi ue5 (e 7as suspe9ted of some lo>e affairs 7hi9h sho7edhim 9apable of mu9h dis9retion, for a young man5 (e li>ed happy,tran uil, in a state of moral 7ell8being most 9omplete5 %t 7as 7ell<no7n that he 7as good at handling a s7ord, and still better 7ith a

pistol5

E%f % 7ere to fight,E he said, E% should 9hoose a pistol5 +ith that7eapon, % am sure of <illing my man5E

"o7, one e>ening, ha>ing es9orted t7o young 7omen, friends of his, tothe theater, being also a99ompanied by their husbands, he offered them,after the play, an i9e at Tortoni*s5 They had been there about tenminutes, 7hen he per9ei>ed that a gentleman, seated at a neighboring



table, gaFed persistently at one of the ladies of his party5 #he seemedtroubled and disturbed, lo7ering her eyes5 !inally, she said to her husband:

EThat man is staring me out of 9ountenan9e5 % do not <no7 him; do you?E

The husband, 7ho had seen nothing, raised his eyes but de9lared:

E"o, not at all5E

The young 7oman replied, half laughing, half angry: E%t is >eryannoying; that indi>idual is spoiling my i9e5E

The husband shrugged his shoulders, replying:

E$sha7= $ay no attention to him5 %f 7e 7ere to noti9e all the insolent

people 7e meet, there 7ould be no end to it5EBut the .is9ount arose brus uely5 (e 9ould not allo7 this un<no7n man tospoil an i9e he had offered5 %t 7as to him that the in ury 7asaddressed, as it 7as through him and for him that his friends hadentered this 69afe65 The affair, then, 9on9erned him only5 (e ad>an9edto7ard the man and said to him:

E/ou ha>e, sir, a manner of loo<ing at these ladies that is not to betolerated5 % beg to as< you to 9ease this attention5E

The other replied: E#o you 9ommand me to <eep the pea9e, do you?E

+ith set teeth, the .is9ount ans7ered: ETa<e 9are, sir, or you 7illfor9e me to forget myself=E

The gentleman replied 7ith a single 7ord, an obs9ene 7ord 7hi9hresounded from one end of the 69afe6 to the other, and made ea9h gueststart 7ith a sudden mo>ement as if they 7ere all on springs5 Those that7ere in front turned around; all the others raised their heads; three7aiters turned about on their heels as if on pi>ots; the t7o ladies atthe 9ounter bounded for7ard, then entirely turned their ba9<s upon thes9ene, as if they had been t7o automatons obeying the same manipulation5

There 7as a great silen9e5 Then, suddenly, a sharp noise rent the air5The .is9ount had stru9< his ad>ersary5 >erybody got up to interpose5Cards 7ere e 9hanged5

After the .is9ount had returned home, he 7al<ed up and do7n his room ata li>ely pa9e for some minutes5 (e 7as too mu9h agitated to refle9t upon



anything5 One idea only ho>ered o>er his mind: Ea duelE; and yet thisidea a7o<e in him as yet, no emotion 7hate>er5 (e had done 7hat he oughtto do; he had sho7n himself 7hat he ought to be5 $eople 7ould tal< of it, appro>e of it, and 9ongratulate him5 (e said aloud, in a high >oi9e,as one spea<s 7hen he is mu9h troubled in thought:

E+hat a beast that man is5E

Then he sat do7n and began to refle9t5 (e 7ould ha>e to find somese9onds in the morning5 +hom should he 9hoose? (e thought o>er the

people of his a9 uaintan9e 7ho 7ere the most 9elebrated and in the best positions5 (e too< finally, Mar uis de la Tour8"oire and ColonelBourdin, a great lord and a soldier 7ho 7as >ery strong5 Their names7ould 9arry in the ournals5 (e per9ei>ed that he 7as thirsty and hedran<, one after the other, three glasses of 7ater; then he began to7al< again5 (e felt himself full of energy5 By sho7ing himself

hot8brained, resolute in all things, by e a9ting rigorous, dangerous9onditions, and by 9laiming a serious duel, a >ery serious one, hisad>ersary 7ould doubtless 7ithdra7 and ma<e some e 9uses5

(e too< up the 9ard 7hi9h he had dra7n from his po9<et and thro7n uponthe table and re8read it as he had in the 69afe,6 by a glan9e of theeye, and again in the 9ab, on returning home, by the light of a gas et:EGeorge Lamil, 1 Mon9ey street5E That 7as all5

(e e amined these assembled letters 7hi9h appeared so mysterious to him,his senses all 9onfused: George Lamil? +ho 7as this man? +hat had hedone? +hy had he loo<ed at that 7oman in su9h a 7ay? +as it notre>olting that a stranger, an un<no7n should 9ome to trouble his lifethus, at a blo7, be9ause he had been pleased to fi his insolent gaFeupon a 7oman? And the .is9ount repeated again, in a loud >oi9e:

E+hat a brute5E

Then he remained motionless, standing, thin<ing, his loo< e>er fi edupon the 9ard5 A 9ertain anger against this pie9e of paper 7as a7a<enedin him, a hateful anger 7hi9h 7as mingled 7ith a strange sentiment of mali9e5 %t 7as stupid, this 7hole story= (e too< a pen<nife 7hi9h layopen at his hand, and pri9<ed the 9ard through the middle of8the printedname, as if he 7ere using a poignard upon some one5

#o he must fight= #hould he 9hoose the s7ord or pistol, for he9onsidered himself the insulted one5 +ith the s7ord he ris<ed less; but7ith the pistol, there 7as a 9han9e of his ad>ersary 7ithdra7ing5 %t israrely that a duel 7ith the s7ord is mortal, a re9ipro9al pruden9ehindering the 9ombatants from <eeping near enough to ea9h other for the



point to stri<e >ery deep; 7ith the pistol he ris<ed his life >eryseriously; but he 9ould also meet the affair 7ith all the honors of thesituation and 7ithout arri>ing at a meeting5 (e said aloud:

E%t is ne9essary to be firm5 (e 7ill be afraid5E

The sound of his o7n >oi9e made him tremble and he began to loo< abouthim5 (e felt >ery ner>ous5 (e dran< still another glass of 7ater, then9ommen9ed to undress, preparatory to retiring5

+hen he 7as ready, he put out his light and 9losed his eyes5 Then hethought:

E% ha>e all day to8morro7 to busy myself 7ith my affairs5 % must sleepfirst, in order to be 9alm5E

(e 7as >ery 7arm under the 9lothes, but he 9ould not su99eed in fallingasleep5 (e turned and turned again, remained for fi>e minutes upon his ba9<, then pla9ed himself upon his left side, then rolled o>er to theright5

(e 7as still thirsty5 (e got up and dran<5 Then a <ind of dis uietseiFed him:

ECan it be that % am afraid?E said he5

+hy should his heart begin to beat so foolishly at ea9h of the 9ustomarynoises about his room?887hen the 9lo9< 7as going to stri<e and thespring made that little grinding noise as it raised itself to ma<e theturn? And he found it 7as ne9essary for him to open his mouth in order to breathe for some se9onds follo7ing this start, so great 7as hisfeeling of oppression5 (e began to reason 7ith himself upon the

possibilities of the thing:

E+hat ha>e % to fear?E

"o, 9ertainly, he should not fear, sin9e he 7as resol>ed to follo7 itout to the end and sin9e he had fully made up his mind to fight 7ithouta ualm5 But he felt himself so profoundly troubled that he as<edhimself:

ECan it be that % am afraid in spite of myself?E

And this doubt in>aded him, this dis uiet, this fear; if a for9e more po7erful than his 7ill, dominating, irresistible, should 9on uer him,7hat 7ould happen to him? /es, 7hat 7ould happen? Certainly he 9ould



7al< upon the earth, if he 7ished to go there5 But if he should tremble?And if he should lose 9ons9iousness? And he thought of his situation, of his reputation, of his name5

And a singular desire too< possession of him to get up and loo< at

himself in the glass5 (e relighted his 9andle5 +hen he per9ei>ed hisfa9e refle9ted in the polished glass, he s9ar9ely <ne7 himself, and itseemed to him that he had ne>er seen himself before5 (is eyes appearedenormous; he 7as pale, 9ertainly; he 7as pale, >ery pale5

(e remained standing there before the mirror5 (e put out his tongue asif to e amine the state of his health, and suddenly this thought enteredhis brain after the fashion of a bullet:

EAfter to8morro7 at this time, % shall perhaps be dead5E

And his heart began to beat furiously5EAfter to8morro7 at this time, % shall perhaps be dead5 This personopposite me, this being % ha>e so often seen in this glass, 7ill be nomore5 (o7 9an it be= % am here, % see myself, % feel that % am ali>e,and in t7enty8four hours % shall be stret9hed upon that bed, dead, myeyes 9losed, 9old, inanimate, departed5E

(e turned around to the bed and distin9tly sa7 himself stret9hed on his ba9< in the same 9lothes he had 7orn on going out5 %n his fa9e 7ere thelines of death, and a rigidity in the hands that 7ould ne>er stir again5

Then a fear of his bed 9ame o>er him, and in order to see it no more he passed into his smo<ing8room5 Me9hani9ally he too< a 9igar, lighted it,and began to 7al< about5 (e 7as 9old5 (e 7ent to7ard the bell to 7a<enhis >alet; but he stopped 7ith his hand on the 9ord:

EThis man 7ould per9ei>e at on9e that % am afraid5E

(e did not ring, but made a fire5 (is hands trembled a little from aner>ous shi>er 7hen they 9ame in 9onta9t 7ith any ob e9t5 (is mind7andered; his thoughts from trouble be9ame frightened, hasty, andsorro7ful; an into i9ation seemed to in>ade his mind as if he 7eredrun<5 And 7ithout 9easing he as<ed:

E+hat am % going to do? +hat is going to be9ome of me?E

(is 7hole body 7as >ibrating, tra>ersed by a er<ing and a trembling; hegot up and approa9hed the 7indo7, opening the 9urtains5



The day had da7ned, a summer day5 A rose89olored s<y made the 9ity rosyon roof and 7all5 A great fall of spread out light, li<e a 9aress fromthe rising sun, en>eloped the 7a<ing 7orld; and, 7ith this light, a gay,rapid, brutal hope in>aded the heart of the .is9ount= (e 7as a fool toallo7 himself to be thus 9ast do7n by fear, e>en before anything 7as

de9ided, before his 7itnesses had seen those of this George Lamil, before he yet <ne7 7hether he 7ere going to fight a duel5

(e made his toilette, dressed himself, and 7al<ed out 7ith firm step5

(e repeated 9onstantly, in 7al<ing: E%t 7ill be ne9essary for me to beenergeti9, >ery energeti95 % must pro>e that % am not afraid5E

(is 7itnesses, the Mar uis and the Colonel, pla9ed themsel>es at hisdisposal and, after ha>ing sha<en hands 7ith him energeti9ally,dis9ussed the 9onditions5 The Colonel as<ed:

EDo you 7ish it to be a serious duel?E

The .is9ount responded: E.ery serious5E

The Mar uis 9ontinued: E+ill you use a pistol?E

E/es5E

E+e lea>e you free to regulate the rest5E

The .is9ount enun9iated, in a dry, er<y >oi9e:

ET7enty steps at the order, and on raising the arm instead of lo7eringit5 9hange of bullets until one is grie>ously 7ounded5E

The Colonel de9lared, in a satisfied tone:

EThese are e 9ellent 9onditions5 /ou shoot 7ell, all the 9han9es are inyour fa>or5E

They separated5 The .is9ount returned home to 7ait for them5 (isagitation, appeased, for a moment, gre7 no7 from minute to minute5 (efelt along his arms, his legs, and in his breast a <ind of trembling, of 9ontinued >ibration; he 9ould not <eep still, either sitting or standing5 There 7as no longer an appearan9e of sali>a in his mouth, andea9h instant he made a noisy mo>ement 7ith his tongue, as if to unglueit from the roof of his mouth5

(e 7ished to brea<fast but he 9ould not eat5 Then the idea 9ame to him



of drin<ing to gi>e himself 9ourage and he brought out a small bottle of rum, 7hi9h he s7allo7ed in si little glasses, one after the other5

A heat, li<e that of a burning fire, in>aded him, follo7ed almostimmediately by a numbness of the soul5 (e thought:

E% ha>e found the remedy5 "o7 all goes 7ell5E

But at the end of an hour, he had emptied the bottle and his state of agitation be9ame intolerable5 (e felt a foolish impulse to roll on theground, to 9ry out and bite5 Then night fell5

A stro<e of the bell ga>e him su9h a sho9< that he had not suffi9ientstrength left to rise and re9ei>e his 7itnesses5 (e dared not e>en spea< to them to say EGood e>ening,E to pronoun9e a single 7ord, for fear thatthey 7ould dis9o>er a 9hange in his >oi9e5

The Colonel announ9ed:

EAll is arranged a99ording to the 9onditions that you ha>e fi ed upon5/our ad>ersary 9laimed the pri>ileges of the offended, but he soonyielded and a99epted all5 (is 7itnesses are t7o military men5E

The .is9ount pronoun9ed the 7ord:

EThan<s5E

The Mar uis 9ontinued:

E 9use us if 7e only 9ome in and go out, for 7e ha>e still a thousandthings to o99upy our attention5 A good do9tor 7ill be ne9essary, sin9ethe 9ombat is only to 9ease after a se>ere 7ound, and you <no7 that

bullets are no trifles5 Then, a pla9e must be found, in some pro imityto a house, 7here 7e may 9arry the 7ounded, if ne9essary, et95, et95;finally, 7e ha>e but t7o or three hours for it5E

The .is9ount, for the se9ond time, arti9ulated:

EThan<s5E

The Colonel as<ed:

E(o7 is it 7ith you? Are you 9alm?E

E/es, >ery 9alm, than< you5E



The t7o men then retired5

+hen he again found himself alone, it seemed to him that he 7as mad5 (isdomesti9 ha>ing lighted the lamps, he seated himself before his table to7rite some letters5 After ha>ing tra9ed, at the top of a page: EThis is

my testament88E he arose 7ith a sha<e and put it a7ay from him, feelinghimself in9apable of forming t7o ideas, or of suffi9ient resolution tode9ide 7hat 7as to be done5

#o he 7as going to fight a duel= There 7as no 7ay to a>oid it5 (o7 9ouldhe e>er go through it? (e 7ished to fight, it 7as his intention and firmresolution so to do; and yet, he felt, that in spite of all his effortof mind and all the tension of his 7ill, he 7ould not be able to

preser>e e>en the ne9essary for9e to go to the pla9e of meeting5 (etried to imagine the 9ombat, his o7n attitude, and the position of hisad>ersary5

!rom time to time, his teeth 9hattered in his mouth 7ith a little hardnoise5 (e tried to read, and too< do7n the Chateau>illard 9ode of dueling5 Then he as<ed himself:

E(as my opponent fre uently fought? %s he <no7n? %s he 9lassed? (o7 am %to <no7?E

(e remembered Baron de .au *s boo< upon e perts 7ith the pistol, and heran through it from one end to the other5 George Lamil 7as notmentioned5 "e>ertheless, if this man 7ere not an e pert, he 7ould not soreadily ha>e a99epted this dangerous 7eapon and these mortal 9onditions5

(e opened, in passing, a bo of Gastinne )enettes 7hi9h stood on alittle stand, too< out one of the pistols, held it in a position tofire, and raised his arm5 But he trembled from head to foot and the gun7or<ed upon all his senses5

Then he said: E%t is impossible5 % 9annot fight in this 9ondition5E

(e loo<ed at the end of the barrel, at that little bla9<, deep hole thatspits out death, he thought of the dishonor, of the 7hisperings in his9ir9le, of the laughs in the dra7ing8rooms, of the s9orn of the ladies,of the allusions of the ournals, of all the insults that 9o7ards 7ouldthro7 at him5

(e 9ontinued to e amine the 7eapon, and, raising the 9o9<, he suddenlysa7 a priming glittering underneath li<e a little red flame5 The pistol7as loaded then, through a 9han9e forgetfulness5 And he found in thisdis9o>ery a 9onfused, ine pli9able oy5



%f in the presen9e of the other man he did not ha>e that 9alm, noble bearing that he should ha>e, he 7ould be lost fore>er5 (e 7ould bespotted, branded 7ith the sign of infamy, hunted from the 7orld= Andthis 9alm, heroi9 bearing he 7ould not ha>e, he <ne7 it, he felt it5

(o7e>er, he 7as bra>e, sin9e he did 7ish to fight= (e 7as bra>e,sin9e5555 The thought that budded ne>er too< form, e>en in his o7n mind;for, opening his mouth 7ide he brus uely thrust the barrel of his pistolinto his throat, and pulled the trigger5555

+hen his >alet, hearing the report, hastened to him, he found him deadupon his ba9<5 A et of blood had splashed upon the 7hite paper on the

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A Comedy of Marriage[1]

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