the Restoration； the handsome Baron； a lady's man once more； had begun
by consoling some old friends now fallen from the political firmament；
like extinguished stars； and then； as he grew old； was captured by
Jenny Cadine and Josepha。
Madame Marneffe had placed her batteries after due study of the
Baron's past life； which her husband had narrated in much detail；
after picking up some information in the offices。 The comedy of modern
sentiment might have the charm of novelty to the Baron； Valerie had
made up her mind as to her scheme； and we may say the trial of her
power that she made this morning answered her highest expectations。
Thanks to her manoeuvres； sentimental； high…flown； and romantic；
Valerie； without committing herself to any promises； obtained for her
husband the appointment as deputy head of the office and the Cross of
the Legion of Honor。
The campaign was not carried out without little dinners at the /Rocher
de Cancale/； parties to the play； and gifts in the form of lace；
scarves； gowns； and jewelry。 The apartment in the Rue du Doyenne was
not satisfactory； the Baron proposed to furnish another magnificently
in a charming new house in the Rue Vanneau。
Monsieur Marneffe got a fortnight's leave； to be taken a month hence
for urgent private affairs in the country； and a present in money； he
promised himself that he would spend both in a little town in
Switzerland； studying the fair sex。
While Monsieur Hulot thus devoted himself to the lady he was
〃protecting；〃 he did not forget the young artist。 Comte Popinot；
Minister of Commerce； was a patron of Art； he paid two thousand francs
for a copy of the /Samson/ on condition that the mould should be
broken； and that there should be no /Samson/ but his and Mademoiselle
Hulot's。 The group was admired by a Prince； to whom the model sketch
for the clock was also shown； and who ordered it； but that again was
to be unique； and he offered thirty thousand francs for it。
Artists who were consulted； and among them Stidmann； were of opinion
that the man who had sketched those two models was capable of
achieving a statue。 The Marshal Prince de Wissembourg； Minister of
War； and President of the Committee for the subscriptions to the
monument of Marshal Montcornet； called a meeting； at which it was
decided that the execution of the work should be placed in Steinbock's
hands。 The Comte de Rastignac； at that time Under…secretary of State；
wished to possess a work by the artist； whose glory was waxing amid
the acclamations of his rivals。 Steinbock sold to him the charming
group of two little boys crowning a little girl； and he promised to
secure for the sculptor a studio attached to the Government marble…
quarries； situated； as all the world knows； at Le Gros…Caillou。
This was a success； such success as is won in Paris； that is to say；
stupendous success； that crushes those whose shoulders and loins are
not strong enough to bear itas； be it said； not unfrequently is the
case。 Count Wenceslas Steinbock was written about in all the
newspapers and reviews without his having the least suspicion of it；
any more than had Mademoiselle Fischer。 Every day； as soon as Lisbeth
had gone out to dinner； Wenceslas went to the Baroness' and spent an
hour or two there； excepting on the evenings when Lisbeth dined with
the Hulots。
This state of things lasted for several days。
The Baron； assured of Count Steinbock's titles and position； the
Baroness； pleased with his character and habits； Hortense； proud of
her permitted love and of her suitor's fame； none of them hesitated to
speak of the marriage； in short； the artist was in the seventh heaven；
when an indiscretion on Madame Marneffe's part spoilt all。
And this was how。
Lisbeth； whom the Baron wished to see intimate with Madame Marneffe；
that she might keep an eye on the couple； had already dined with
Valerie； and she； on her part； anxious to have an ear in the Hulot
house； made much of the old maid。 It occurred to Valerie to invite
Mademoiselle Fischer to a house…warming in the new apartments she was
about to move into。 Lisbeth； glad to have found another house to dine
in； and bewitched by Madame Marneffe； had taken a great fancy to
Valerie。 Of all the persons she had made acquaintance with； no one had
taken so much pains to please her。 In fact； Madame Marneffe； full of
attentions for Mademoiselle Fischer； found herself in the position
towards Lisbeth that Lisbeth held towards the Baroness； Monsieur
Rivet； Crevel； and the others who invited her to dinner。
The Marneffes had excited Lisbeth's compassion by allowing her to see
the extreme poverty of the house； while varnishing it as usual with
the fairest colors； their friends were under obligations to them and
ungrateful； they had had much illness； Madame Fortin； her mother； had
never known of their distress； and had died believing herself wealthy
to the end； thanks to their superhuman effortsand so forth。
〃Poor people！〃 said she to her Cousin Hulot； 〃you are right to do what
you can for them； they are so brave and so kind！ They can hardly live
on the thousand crowns he gets as deputy…head of the office； for they
have got into debt since Marshal Montcornet's death。 It is barbarity
on the part of the Government to suppose that a clerk with a wife and
family can live in Paris on two thousand four hundred francs a year。〃
And so； within a very short time； a young woman who affected regard
for her； who told her everything； and consulted her； who flattered
her； and seemed ready to yield to her guidance； had become dearer to
the eccentric Cousin Lisbeth than all her relations。
The Baron； on his part； admiring in Madame Marneffe such propriety；
education； and breeding as neither Jenny Cadine nor Josepha； nor any
friend of theirs had to show； had fallen in love with her in a month；
developing a senile passion； a senseless passion； which had an
appearance of reason。 In fact； he found here neither the banter； nor
the orgies； nor the reckless expenditure； nor the depravity； nor the
scorn of social decencies； nor the insolent independence which had
brought him to grief alike with the actress and the singer。 He was
spared； too； the rapacity of the courtesan； like unto the thirst of
dry sand。
Madame Marneffe； of whom he had made a friend and confidante； made the
greatest difficulties over accepting any gift from him。
〃Appointments； official presents； anything you can extract from the
Government； but do not begin by insulting a woman whom you profess to
love；〃 said Valerie。 〃If you do； I shall cease to believe youand I
like to believe you；〃 she added； with a glance like Saint Theresa
leering at heaven。
Every time he made her a present there was a fortress to be stormed； a
conscience to be over…persuaded。 The hapless Baron laid deep
stratagems to offer her some triflecostly； neverthelessproud of
having at last met with virtue and the realization of his dreams。 In
this primitive household； as he assured himself； he was the god as
much as in his own。 And Monsieur Marneffe seemed at a thousand leagues
from suspecting that the Jupiter of his office intended to descend on
his wife in a shower of gold； he was his august chief's humblest
slave。
Madame Marneffe； twenty…three years of age； a pure and bashful middle…
class wife； a blossom hidden in the Rue du Doyenne； could know nothing
of the depravity and demoralizing harlotry which the Baron could no
longer think of without disgust； for he had never known the charm of
recalcitrant virtue； and the coy Valerie made him enjoy it to the
utmostall along the line； as the saying goes。
The question having come to this point between Hector and Valerie； it
is not astonishing that Valerie should have heard from Hector the
secret of the intended marriage between the great sculptor Steinbock
and Hortense Hulot。 Between a lover on his promotion and a lady who
hesitates long before becoming his mistress； there are contests；
uttered or unexpressed； in which a word often betrays a thought； as；
in fencing； the foils fly as briskly as the swords in duel。 Then a
prudent man follows the example of Monsieur de Turenne。 Thus the Baron
had hinted at the greater freedom his daughter's marriage would allow
him； in reply to the tender Valerie； who more than once had exclaimed：
〃I cannot imagine how a woman can go wrong for a man who is not wholly
hers。〃
And a thousand times already the Baron had declared that for five…and…
twenty years all had been at an end between Madame Hulot and himself。
〃And they say she is so handsome！〃 replied Madame Marneffe。 〃I want
proof。〃
〃You shall have it；〃 said the Baron； made happy by this demand； by
which his Valerie committed herself。
Hector had then been compelled to reveal his plans； already being
carried into effect in the Rue Vanneau； to prove to Valerie that he
intended to devote to her that half of his life which belonged to his
lawful wife； supposing that day and night equally divide the existence
of civilized humanity。 He spoke of decently deserting his wife；
leaving her to herself as soon as Hortense should be married。 The
Baroness would then spend all her time with Hortense or the yo