with her。 Valerie led Crevel into the drawing…room。
〃Valerie； my angel；〃 said the amorous Mayor； 〃Monsieur Marneffe cannot
have long to live。 If you will be faithful to me； when he dies we will
be married。 Think it over。 I have rid you of Hulot。So just consider
whether this Brazilian is to compare with a Mayor of Paris； a man who；
for your sake； will make his way to the highest dignities； and who can
already offer you eighty…odd thousand francs a year。〃
〃I will think it over；〃 said she。 〃You will see me in the Rue du
Dauphin at two o'clock； and we can discuss the matter。 But be a good
boyand do not forget the bond you promised to transfer to me。〃
She returned to the dining…room； followed by Crevel； who flattered
himself that he had hit on a plan for keeping Valerie to himself； but
there he found Baron Hulot； who； during this short colloquy； had also
arrived with the same end in view。 He； like Crevel； begged for a brief
interview。 Madame Marneffe again rose to go to the drawing…room； with
a smile at the Brazilian that seemed to say； 〃What fools they are！
Cannot they see you？〃
〃Valerie；〃 said the official； 〃my child； that cousin of yours is an
American cousin〃
〃Oh； that is enough！〃 she cried； interrupting the Baron。 〃Marneffe
never has been； and never will be； never can be my husband！ The first；
the only man I ever loved； has come back quite unexpectedly。 It is no
fault of mine！ But look at Henri and look at yourself。 Then ask
yourself whether a woman； and a woman in love； can hesitate for a
moment。 My dear fellow； I am not a kept mistress。 From this day forth
I refuse to play the part of Susannah between the two Elders。 If you
really care for me； you and Crevel； you will be our friends； but all
else is at an end； for I am six…and…twenty； and henceforth I mean to
be a saint； an admirable and worthy wifeas yours is。〃
〃Is that what you have to say？〃 answered Hulot。 〃Is this the way you
receive me when I come like a Pope with my hands full of Indulgences？
Well； your husband will never be a first…class clerk； nor be
promoted in the Legion of Honor。〃
〃That remains to be seen；〃 said Madame Marneffe； with a meaning look
at Hulot。
〃Well； well； no temper；〃 said Hulot in despair。 〃I will call this
evening； and we will come to an understanding。〃
〃In Lisbeth's rooms then。〃
〃Very goodat Lisbeth's；〃 said the old dotard。
Hulot and Crevel went downstairs together without speaking a word till
they were in the street； but outside on the sidewalk they looked at
each other with a dreary laugh。
〃We are a couple of old fools；〃 said Crevel。
〃I have got rid of them；〃 said Madame Marneffe to Lisbeth； as she sat
down once more。 〃I never loved and I never shall love any man but my
Jaguar；〃 she added； smiling at Henri Montes。 〃Lisbeth； my dear； you
don't know。 Henri has forgiven me the infamy to which I was reduced by
poverty。〃
〃It was my own fault；〃 said the Brazilian。 〃I ought to have sent you a
hundred thousand francs。〃
〃Poor boy！〃 said Valerie； 〃I might have worked for my living； but my
fingers were not made for thatask Lisbeth。〃
The Brazilian went away the happiest man in Paris。
At noon Valerie and Lisbeth were chatting in the splendid bedroom
where this dangerous woman was giving to her dress those finishing
touches which a lady alone can give。 The doors were bolted； the
curtains drawn over them； and Valerie related in every detail all the
events of the evening； the night； the morning。
〃What do you think of it all； my darling？〃 she said to Lisbeth in
conclusion。 〃Which shall I be when the time comesMadame Crevel； or
Madame Montes？〃
〃Crevel will not last more than ten years； such a profligate as he
is；〃 replied Lisbeth。 〃Montes is young。 Crevel will leave you about
thirty thousand francs a year。 Let Montes wait； he will be happy
enough as Benjamin。 And so； by the time you are three…and…thirty； if
you take care of your looks； you may marry your Brazilian and make a
fine show with sixty thousand francs a year of your ownespecially
under the wing of a Marechale。〃
〃Yes； but Montes is a Brazilian； he will never make his mark；〃
observed Valerie。
〃We live in the day of railways；〃 said Lisbeth； 〃when foreigners rise
to high positions in France。〃
〃We shall see；〃 replied Valerie； 〃when Marneffe is dead。 He has not
much longer to suffer。〃
〃These attacks that return so often are a sort of physical remorse；〃
said Lisbeth。 〃Well； I am off to see Hortense。〃
〃Yesgo； my angel！〃 replied Valerie。 〃And bring me my artist。Three
years； and I have not gained an inch of ground！ It is a disgrace to
both of us！Wenceslas and Henrithese are my two passionsone for
love； the other for fancy。〃
〃You are lovely this morning；〃 said Lisbeth； putting her arm round
Valerie's waist and kissing her forehead。 〃I enjoy all your pleasures；
your good fortune； your dressesI never really lived till the day
when we became sisters。〃
〃Wait a moment； my tiger…cat！〃 cried Valerie； laughing； 〃your shawl is
crooked。 You cannot put a shawl on yet in spite of my lessons for
three yearsand you want to be Madame la Marechale Hulot！〃
Shod in prunella boots； over gray silk stockings； in a gown of
handsome corded silk； her hair in smooth bands under a very pretty
black velvet bonnet； lined with yellow satin； Lisbeth made her way to
the Rue Saint…Dominique by the Boulevard des Invalides； wondering
whether sheer dejection would at last break down Hortense's brave
spirit； and whether Sarmatian instability； taken at a moment when；
with such a character； everything is possible； would be too much for
Steinbock's constancy。
Hortense and Wenceslas had the ground floor of a house situated at the
corner of the Rue Saint…Dominique and the Esplanade des Invalides。
These rooms； once in harmony with the honeymoon； now had that half…
new； half…faded look that may be called the autumnal aspect of
furniture。 Newly married folks are as lavish and wasteful； without
knowing it or intending it； of everything about them as they are of
their affection。 Thinking only of themselves； they reck little of the
future； which； at a later time； weighs on the mother of a family。
Lisbeth found Hortense just as she had finished dressing a baby
Wenceslas； who had been carried into the garden。
〃Good…morning； Betty；〃 said Hortense； opening the door herself to her
cousin。 The cook was gone out； and the house…servant； who was also the
nurse； was doing some washing。
〃Good…morning； dear child；〃 replied Lisbeth； kissing her。 〃Is
Wenceslas in the studio？〃 she added in a whisper。
〃No； he is in the drawing…room talking to Stidmann and Chanor。〃
〃Can we be alone？〃 asked Lisbeth。
〃Come into my room。〃
In this room； the hangings of pink…flowered chintz with green leaves
on a white ground； constantly exposed to the sun； were much faded； as
was the carpet。 The muslin curtains had not been washed for many a
day。 The smell of tobacco hung about the room； for Wenceslas； now an
artist of repute； and born a fine gentleman； left his cigar…ash on the
arms of the chairs and the prettiest pieces of furniture； as a man
does to whom love allows everythinga man rich enough to scorn vulgar
carefulness。
〃Now； then； let us talk over your affairs；〃 said Lisbeth； seeing her
pretty cousin silent in the armchair into which she had dropped。 〃But
what ails you？ You look rather pale； my dear。〃
〃Two articles have just come out in which my poor Wenceslas is pulled
to pieces； I have read them； but I have hidden them from him； for they
would completely depress him。 The marble statue of Marshal Montcornet
is pronounced utterly bad。 The bas…reliefs are allowed to pass muster；
simply to allow of the most perfidious praise of his talent as a
decorative artist； and to give the greater emphasis to the statement
that serious art is quite out of his reach！ Stidmann； whom I besought
to tell me the truth； broke my heart by confessing that his own
opinion agreed with that of every other artist； of the critics； and
the public。 He said to me in the garden before breakfast； 'If
Wenceslas cannot exhibit a masterpiece next season； he must give up
heroic sculpture and be content to execute idyllic subjects； small
figures； pieces of jewelry； and high…class goldsmiths' work！' This
verdict is dreadful to me； for Wenceslas； I know； will never accept
it； he feels he has so many fine ideas。〃
〃Ideas will not pay the tradesman's bills；〃 remarked Lisbeth。 〃I was
always telling him sonothing but money。 Money is only to be had for
work donethings that ordinary folks like well enough to buy them。
When an artist has to live and keep a family； he had far better have a
design for a candlestick on his counter； or for a fender or a table；
than for groups or statues。 Everybody must have such things； while he
may wait months for the admirer of the groupand for his money…〃
〃You are right； my good Lisbeth。 Tell him all that； I have not the
courage。Besides； as he was saying to Stidmann； if he goes back to
ornamental work and small sculpture； he must give up all hope of the
Institute and grand works of art； and we should not get the three
hundred thousand francs' worth of work promised at Versailles and by
th