We shudder to think of the result of such unions from the three points
of view of increasing crime； degeneracy of the race； and miserable
households。
As to the mere financial mischief that results from domestic
peculation； that too is immense from a political point of view。 Life
being made to cost double； any superfluity becomes impossible in most
households。 Now superfluity means half the trade of the world； as it
is half the elegance of life。 Books and flowers are to many persons as
necessary as bread。
Lisbeth； well aware of this dreadful scourge of Parisian households；
determined to manage Valerie's； promising her every assistance in the
terrible scene when the two women had sworn to be like sisters。 So she
had brought from the depths of the Vosges a humble relation on her
mother's side； a very pious and honest soul； who had been cook to the
Bishop of Nancy。 Fearing； however； her inexperience of Paris ways； and
yet more the evil counsel which wrecks such fragile virtue； at first
Lisbeth always went to market with Mathurine； and tried to teach her
what to buy。 To know the real prices of things and command the
salesman's respect； to purchase unnecessary delicacies； such as fish；
only when they were cheap； to be well informed as to the price current
of groceries and provisions； so as to buy when prices are low in
anticipation of a rise；all this housekeeping skill is in Paris
essential to domestic economy。 As Mathurine got good wages and many
presents； she liked the house well enough to be glad to drive good
bargains。 And by this time Lisbeth had made her quite a match for
herself； sufficiently experienced and trustworthy to be sent to market
alone； unless Valerie was giving a dinnerwhich； in fact； was not
unfrequently the case。 And this was how it came about。
The Baron had at first observed the strictest decorum； but his passion
for Madame Marneffe had ere long become so vehement； so greedy； that
he would never quit her if he could help it。 At first he dined there
four times a week； then he thought it delightful to dine with her
every day。 Six months after his daughter's marriage he was paying her
two thousand francs a month for his board。 Madame Marneffe invited any
one her dear Baron wished to entertain。 The dinner was always arranged
for six； he could bring in three unexpected guests。 Lisbeth's economy
enabled her to solve the extraordinary problem of keeping up the table
in the best style for a thousand francs a month； giving the other
thousand to Madame Marneffe。 Valerie's dress being chiefly paid for by
Crevel and the Baron； the two women saved another thousand francs a
month on this。
And so this pure and innocent being had already accumulated a hundred
and fifty thousand francs in savings。 She had capitalized her income
and monthly bonus； and swelled the amount by enormous interest； due to
Crevel's liberality in allowing his 〃little Duchess〃 to invest her
money in partnership with him in his financial operations。 Crevel had
taught Valerie the slang and the procedure of the money market； and；
like every Parisian woman； she had soon outstripped her master。
Lisbeth； who never spent a sou of her twelve hundred francs； whose
rent and dress were given to her； and who never put her hand in her
pocket； had likewise a small capital of five or six thousand francs；
of which Crevel took fatherly care。
At the same time； two such lovers were a heavy burthen on Valerie。 On
the day when this drama reopens； Valerie； spurred by one of those
incidents which have the effect in life that the ringing of a bell has
in inducing a swarm of bees to settle； went up to Lisbeth's rooms to
give vent to one of those comforting lamentationsa sort of cigarette
blown off from the tongueby which women alleviate the minor miseries
of life。
〃Oh； Lisbeth； my love； two hours of Crevel this morning！ It is
crushing！ How I wish I could send you in my place！〃
〃That； unluckily； is impossible；〃 said Lisbeth； smiling。 〃I shall die
a maid。〃
〃Two old men lovers！ Really； I am ashamed sometimes！ If my poor mother
could see me。〃
〃You are mistaking me for Crevel！〃 said Lisbeth。
〃Tell me； my little Betty； do you not despise me？〃
〃Oh！ if I had but been pretty； what adventures I would have had！〃
cried Lisbeth。 〃That is your justification。〃
〃But you would have acted only at the dictates of your heart；〃 said
Madame Marneffe； with a sigh。
〃Pooh！ Marneffe is a dead man they have forgotten to bury；〃 replied
Lisbeth。 〃The Baron is as good as your husband； Crevel is your adorer；
it seems to me that you are quite in orderlike every other married
woman。〃
〃No； it is not that； dear； adorable thing； that is not where the shoe
pinches； you do not choose to understand。〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Lisbeth。 〃The unexpressed factor is part of my
revenge； what can I do？ I am working it out。〃
〃I love Wenceslas so that I am positively growing thin； and I can
never see him；〃 said Valerie； throwing up her arms。 〃Hulot asks him to
dinner； and my artist declines。 He does not know that I idolize him；
the wretch！ What is his wife after all？ Fine flesh！ Yes； she is
handsome； but II know myselfI am worse！〃
〃Be quite easy； my child； he will come；〃 said Lisbeth； in the tone of
a nurse to an impatient child。 〃He shall。〃
〃But when？〃
〃This week perhaps。〃
〃Give me a kiss。〃
As may be seen； these two women were but one。 Everything Valerie did；
even her most reckless actions； her pleasures； her little sulks； were
decided on after serious deliberation between them。
Lisbeth； strangely excited by this harlot existence； advised Valerie
on every step； and pursued her course of revenge with pitiless logic。
She really adored Valerie； she had taken her to be her child； her
friend； her love； she found her docile； as Creoles are； yielding from
voluptuous indolence； she chattered with her morning after morning
with more pleasure than with Wenceslas； they could laugh together over
the mischief they plotted； and over the folly of men； and count up the
swelling interest on their respective savings。
Indeed； in this new enterprise and new affection； Lisbeth had found
food for her activity that was far more satisfying than her insane
passion for Wenceslas。 The joys of gratified hatred are the fiercest
and strongest the heart can know。 Love is the gold； hatred the iron of
the mine of feeling that lies buried in us。 And then； Valerie was； to
Lisbeth； Beauty in all its glorythe beauty she worshiped； as we
worship what we have not； beauty far more plastic to her hand than
that of Wenceslas； who had always been cold to her and distant。
At the end of nearly three years； Lisbeth was beginning to perceive
the progress of the underground mine on which she was expending her
life and concentrating her mind。 Lisbeth planned； Madame Marneffe
acted。 Madame Marneffe was the axe； Lisbeth was the hand the wielded
it； and that hand was rapidly demolishing the family which was every
day more odious to her； for we can hate more and more； just as； when
we love； we love better every day。
Love and hatred are feelings that feed on themselves； but of the two；
hatred has the longer vitality。 Love is restricted within limits of
power； it derives its energies from life and from lavishness。 Hatred
is like death； like avarice； it is； so to speak； an active
abstraction； above beings and things。
Lisbeth； embarked on the existence that was natural to her； expended
in it all her faculties； governing； like the Jesuits； by occult
influences。 The regeneration of her person was equally complete； her
face was radiant。 Lisbeth dreamed of becoming Madame la Marechale
Hulot。
This little scene； in which the two friends had bluntly uttered their
ideas without any circumlocution in expressing them； took place
immediately on Lisbeth's return from market； whither she had been to
procure the materials for an elegant dinner。 Marneffe； who hoped to
get Coquet's place； was to entertain him and the virtuous Madame
Coquet； and Valerie hoped to persuade Hulot； that very evening； to
consider the head…clerk's resignation。
Lisbeth dressed to go to the Baroness； with whom she was to dine。
〃You will come back in time to make tea for us； my Betty？〃 said
Valerie。
〃I hope so。〃
〃You hope sowhy？ Have you come to sleeping with Adeline to drink her
tears while she is asleep？〃
〃If only I could！〃 said Lisbeth； laughing。 〃I would not refuse。 She is
expiating her happinessand I am glad； for I remember our young days。
It is my turn now。 She will be in the mire； and I shall be Comtesse de
Forzheim！〃
Lisbeth set out for the Rue Plumet； where she now went as to the
theatreto indulge her emotions。
The residence Hulot had found for his wife consisted of a large； bare
entrance…room； a drawing…room； and a bed and dressing…room。 The
dining…room was next the drawing…room on one side。 Two servants' rooms
and a kitchen on the third floor completed the accommodation； which
was not unworthy of a Councillor of State； high up in the War Office。
The house； the court…yard； and the stairs were extremely handsome。
The Baroness； who had to furnish her drawing…room； bed…room； and
dining…room with the relics of her sp