as to disgrace youdisgrace myself and our child。
〃I refuse to be a Madame Marneffe； once launched on such a course；
a woman of my temper might not； perhaps； be able to stop。 I am；
unfortunately for myself； a Hulot； not a Fischer。
〃Alone； and absent from the scene of your dissipations； I am sure
of myself； especially with my child to occupy me； and by the side
of a strong and noble mother； whose life cannot fail to influence
the vehement impetuousness of my feelings。 There； I can be a good
mother； bring our boy up well； and live。 Under your roof the wife
would oust the mother； and constant contention would sour my
temper。
〃I can accept a death…blow； but I will not endure for twenty…five
years； like my mother。 If； at the end of three years of perfect；
unwavering love； you can be unfaithful to me with your father…in…
law's mistress； what rivals may I expect to have in later years？
Indeed； monsieur； you have begun your career of profligacy much
earlier than my father did； the life of dissipation； which is a
disgrace to the father of a family； which undermines the respect
of his children； and which ends in shame and despair。
〃I am not unforgiving。 Unrelenting feelings do not beseem erring
creatures living under the eye of God。 If you win fame and fortune
by sustained work； if you have nothing to do with courtesans and
ignoble； defiling ways； you will find me still a wife worthy of
you。
〃I believe you to be too much a gentleman； Monsieur le Comte； to
have recourse to the law。 You will respect my wishes； and leave me
under my mother's roof。 Above all； never let me see you there。 I
have left all the money lent to you by that odious woman。
Farewell。
〃HORTENSE HULOT。〃
This letter was written in anguish。 Hortense abandoned herself to the
tears； the outcries of murdered love。 She laid down her pen and took
it up again； to express as simply as possible all that passion
commonly proclaims in this sort of testamentary letter。 Her heart went
forth in exclamations； wailing and weeping； but reason dictated the
words。
Informed by Louise that all was ready； the young wife slowly went
round the little garden； through the bedroom and drawing…room； looking
at everything for the last time。 Then she earnestly enjoined the cook
to take the greatest care for her master's comfort； promising to
reward her handsomely if she would be honest。 At last she got into the
hackney coach to drive to her mother's house； her heart quite broken；
crying so much as to distress the maid； and covering little Wenceslas
with kisses； which betrayed her still unfailing love for his father。
The Baroness knew already from Lisbeth that the father…in…law was
largely to blame for the son…in…law's fault； nor was she surprised to
see her daughter； whose conduct she approved； and she consented to
give her shelter。 Adeline； perceiving that her own gentleness and
patience had never checked Hector； for whom her respect was indeed
fast diminishing； thought her daughter very right to adopt another
course。
In three weeks the poor mother had suffered two wounds of which the
pain was greater than any ill…fortune she had hitherto endured。 The
Baron had placed Victorin and his wife in great difficulties； and
then； by Lisbeth's account； he was the cause of his son…in…law's
misconduct； and had corrupted Wenceslas。 The dignity of the father of
the family； so long upheld by her really foolish self…sacrifice； was
now overthrown。 Though they did not regret the money the young Hulots
were full alike of doubts and uneasiness as regarded the Baron。 This
sentiment； which was evidence enough； distressed the Baroness； she
foresaw a break…up of the family tie。
Hortense was accommodated in the dining…room； arranged as a bedroom
with the help of the Marshal's money； and the anteroom became the
dining…room； as it is in many apartments。
When Wenceslas returned home and had read the two letters； he felt a
kind of gladness mingled with regret。 Kept so constantly under his
wife's eye； so to speak； he had inwardly rebelled against this fresh
thraldom； /a la/ Lisbeth。 Full fed with love for three years past； he
too had been reflecting during the last fortnight； and he found a
family heavy on his hands。 He had just been congratulated by Stidmann
on the passion he had inspired in Valerie； for Stidmann； with an
under…thought that was not unnatural； saw that he might flatter the
husband's vanity in the hope of consoling the victim。 And Wenceslas
was glad to be able to return to Madame Marneffe。
Still； he remembered the pure and unsullied happiness he had known；
the perfections of his wife； her judgment； her innocent and guileless
affection；and he regretted her acutely。 He thought of going at once
to his mother…in…law's to crave forgiveness； but； in fact； like Hulot
and Crevel； he went to Madame Marneffe； to whom he carried his wife's
letter to show her what a disaster she had caused； and to discount his
misfortune； so to speak； by claiming in return the pleasures his
mistress could give him。
He found Crevel with Valerie。 The mayor； puffed up with pride； marched
up and down the room； agitated by a storm of feelings。 He put himself
into position as if he were about to speak； but he dared not。 His
countenance was beaming； and he went now and again to the window；
where he drummed on the pane with his fingers。 He kept looking at
Valerie with a glance of tender pathos。 Happily for him； Lisbeth
presently came in。
〃Cousin Betty；〃 he said in her ear； 〃have you heard the news？ I am a
father！ It seems to me I love my poor Celestine the less。Oh！ what a
thing it is to have a child by the woman one idolizes！ It is the
fatherhood of the heart added to that of the flesh！ I saytell
Valerie that I will work for that childit shall be rich。 She tells
me she has some reason for believing that it will be a boy！ If it is a
boy； I shall insist on his being called Crevel。 I will consult my
notary about it。〃
〃I know how much she loves you；〃 said Lisbeth。 〃But for her sake in
the future； and for your own； control yourself。 Do not rub your hands
every five minutes。〃
While Lisbeth was speaking aside on this wise to Crevel； Valerie had
asked Wenceslas to give her back her letter； and she was saying things
that dispelled all his griefs。
〃So now you are free； my dear；〃 said she。 〃Ought any great artist to
marry？ You live only by fancy and freedom！ There； I shall love you so
much； beloved poet； that you shall never regret your wife。 At the same
time； if； like so many people； you want to keep up appearances； I
undertake to bring Hortense back to you in a very short time。〃
〃Oh； if only that were possible！〃
〃I am certain of it；〃 said Valerie； nettled。 〃Your poor father…in…law
is a man who is in every way utterly done for； who wants to appear as
though he could be loved； out of conceit； and to make the world
believe that he has a mistress； and he is so excessively vain on this
point； that I can do what I please with him。 The Baroness is still so
devoted to her old HectorI always feel as if I were talking of the
/Iliad/that these two old folks will contrive to patch up matters
between you and Hortense。 Only； if you want to avoid storms at home
for the future； do not leave me for three weeks without coming to see
your mistressI was dying of it。 My dear boy； some consideration is
due from a gentleman to a woman he has so deeply compromised；
especially when； as in my case； she has to be very careful of her
reputation。
〃Stay to dinner； my darlingand remember that I must treat you with
all the more apparent coldness because you are guilty of this too
obvious mishap。〃
Baron Montes was presently announced； Valerie rose and hurried forward
to meet him； she spoke a few sentences in his ear； enjoining on him
the same reserve as she had impressed on Wenceslas； the Brazilian
assumed a diplomatic reticence suitable to the great news which filled
him with delight； for he； at any rate was sure of his paternity。
Thanks to these tactics； based on the vanity of the man in the lover
stage of his existence； Valerie sat down to table with four men； all
pleased and eager to please； all charmed； and each believing himself
adored； called by Marneffe； who included himself； in speaking to
Lisbeth； the five Fathers of the Church。
Baron Hulot alone at first showed an anxious countenance； and this was
why。 Just as he was leaving the office； the head of the staff of
clerks had come to his private rooma General with whom he had served
for thirty yearsand Hulot had spoken to him as to appointing
Marneffe to Coquet's place； Coquet having consented to retire。
〃My dear fellow；〃 said he； 〃I would not ask this favor of the Prince
without our having agreed on the matter； and knowing that you
approved。〃
〃My good friend；〃 replied the other； 〃you must allow me to observe
that； for your own sake； you should not insist on this nomination。 I
have already told you my opinion。 There would be a scandal in the
office； where there is a great deal too much talk already about you
and Madame Marneffe。 This； of course； is between ourselves。 I have no
wish to to