We should part no more。 And this is the dearest wish of
〃YOUR HECTOR。〃
That evening the Baron told his wife that he had business with the
Minister at Saint…Cloud； that he would come home at about four or five
in the morning； and he went to the Rue du Dauphin。 It was towards the
end of the month of June。
Few men have in the course of their life known really the dreadful
sensation of going to their death； those who have returned from the
foot of the scaffold may be easily counted。 But some have had a vivid
experience of it in dreams； they have gone through it all； to the
sensation of the knife at their throat； at the moment when waking and
daylight come to release them。Well； the sensation to which the
Councillor of State was a victim at five in the morning in Crevel's
handsome and elegant bed； was immeasurably worse than that of feeling
himself bound to the fatal block in the presence of ten thousand
spectators looking at you with twenty thousand sparks of fire。
Valerie was asleep in a graceful attitude。 She was lovely； as a woman
is who is lovely enough to look so even in sleep。 It is art invading
nature； in short； a living picture。
In his horizontal position the Baron's eyes were but three feet above
the floor。 His gaze； wandering idly； as that of a man who is just
awake and collecting his ideas； fell on a door painted with flowers by
Jan； an artist disdainful of fame。 The Baron did not indeed see twenty
thousand flaming eyes； like the man condemned to death； he saw but
one； of which the shaft was really more piercing than the thousands on
the Public Square。
Now this sensation； far rarer in the midst of enjoyment even than that
of a man condemned to death； was one for which many a splenetic
Englishman would certainly pay a high price。 The Baron lay there；
horizontal still； and literally bathed in cold sweat。 He tried to
doubt the fact； but this murderous eye had a voice。 A sound of
whispering was heard through the door。
〃So long as it is nobody but Crevel playing a trick on me！〃 said the
Baron to himself； only too certain of an intruder in the temple。
The door was opened。 The Majesty of the French Law； which in all
documents follows next to the King； became visible in the person of a
worthy little police…officer supported by a tall Justice of the Peace；
both shown in by Monsieur Marneffe。 The police functionary； rooted in
shoes of which the straps were tied together with flapping bows； ended
at top in a yellow skull almost bare of hair； and a face betraying him
as a wide…awake； cheerful； and cunning dog； from whom Paris life had
no secrets。 His eyes； though garnished with spectacles； pierced the
glasses with a keen mocking glance。 The Justice of the Peace； a
retired attorney； and an old admirer of the fair sex； envied the
delinquent。
〃Pray excuse the strong measures required by our office； Monsieur le
Baron！〃 said the constable； 〃we are acting for the plaintiff。 The
Justice of the Peace is here to authorize the visitation of the
premises。I know who you are； and who the lady is who is accused。〃
Valerie opened her astonished eyes； gave such a shriek as actresses
use to depict madness on the stage； writhed in convulsions on the bed；
like a witch of the Middle Ages in her sulphur…colored frock on a bed
of faggots。
〃Death； and I am ready！ my dear Hectorbut a police court？Oh！
never。〃
With one bound she passed the three spectators and crouched under the
little writing…table； hiding her face in her hands。
〃Ruin！ Death！〃 she cried。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Marneffe to Hulot； 〃if Madame Marneffe goes mad； you
are worse than a profligate； you will be a murderer。〃
What can a man do； what can he say； when he is discovered in a bed
which is not his； even on the score of hiring； with a woman who is no
more his than the bed is？Well； this：
〃Monsieur the Justice of the Peace； Monsieur the Police Officer；〃 said
the Baron with some dignity； 〃be good enough to take proper care of
that unhappy woman； whose reason seems to me to be in danger。You can
harangue me afterwards。 The doors are locked； no doubt； you need not
fear that she will get away； or I either； seeing the costume we wear。〃
The two functionaries bowed to the magnate's injunctions。
〃You； come here； miserable cur！〃 said Hulot in a low voice to
Marneffe； taking him by the arm and drawing him closer。 〃It is not I；
but you； who will be the murderer！ You want to be head…clerk of your
room and officer of the Legion of Honor？〃
〃That in the first place； Chief！〃 replied Marneffe； with a bow。
〃You shall be all that； only soothe your wife and dismiss these
fellows。〃
〃Nay； nay！〃 said Marneffe knowingly。 〃These gentlemen must draw up
their report as eyewitnesses to the fact； without that； the chief
evidence in my case； where should I be？ The higher official ranks are
chokeful of rascalities。 You have done me out of my wife； and you have
not promoted me； Monsieur le Baron； I give you only two days to get
out of the scrape。 Here are some letters〃
〃Some letters！〃 interrupted Hulot。
〃Yes； letters which prove that you are the father of the child my wife
expects to give birth to。You understand？ And you ought to settle on
my son a sum equal to what he will lose through this bastard。 But I
will be reasonable； this does not distress me； I have no mania for
paternity myself。 A hundred louis a year will satisfy me。 By to…morrow
I must be Monsieur Coquet's successor and see my name on the list for
promotion in the Legion of Honor at the July fetes； or elsethe
documentary evidence and my charge against you will be laid before the
Bench。 I am not so hard to deal with after all； you see。〃
〃Bless me； and such a pretty woman！〃 said the Justice of the Peace to
the police constable。 〃What a loss to the world if she should go mad！〃
〃She is not mad；〃 said the constable sententiously。 The police is
always the incarnation of scepticism。〃Monsieur le Baron Hulot has
been caught by a trick；〃 he added； loud enough for Valerie to hear
him。
Valerie shot a flash from her eye which would have killed him on the
spot if looks could effect the vengeance they express。 The police…
officer smiled； he had laid a snare； and the woman had fallen into it。
Marneffe desired his wife to go into the other room and clothe herself
decently； for he and the Baron had come to an agreement on all points；
and Hulot fetched his dressing…gown and came out again。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he to the two officials； 〃I need not impress on you
to be secret。〃
The functionaries bowed。
The police…officer rapped twice on the door； his clerk came in； sat
down at the 〃bonheur…du…jour；〃 and wrote what the constable dictated
to him in an undertone。 Valerie still wept vehemently。 When she was
dressed； Hulot went into the other room and put on his clothes。
Meanwhile the report was written。
Marneffe then wanted to take his wife home； but Hulot； believing that
he saw her for the last time； begged the favor of being allowed to
speak with her。
〃Monsieur； your wife has cost me dear enough for me to be allowed to
say good…bye to herin the presence of you all； of course。〃
Valerie went up to Hulot； and he whispered in her ear：
〃There is nothing left for us but to fly； but how can we correspond？
We have been betrayed〃
〃Through Reine；〃 she answered。 〃But my dear friend； after this scandal
we can never meet again。 I am disgraced。 Besides； you will hear
dreadful things about meyou will believe them〃
The Baron made a gesture of denial。
〃You will believe them； and I can thank God for that； for then perhaps
you will not regret me。〃
〃He will /not/ die a second…class clerk！〃 said Marneffe to Hulot； as
he led his wife away； saying roughly； 〃Come； madame； if I am foolish
to you； I do not choose to be a fool to others。〃
Valerie left the house； Crevel's Eden； with a last glance at the
Baron； so cunning that he thought she adored him。 The Justice of the
Peace gave Madame Marneffe his arm to the hackney coach with a
flourish of gallantry。 The Baron； who was required to witness the
report； remained quite bewildered； alone with the police…officer。 When
the Baron had signed； the officer looked at him keenly； over his
glasses。
〃You are very sweet on the little lady； Monsieur le Baron？〃
〃To my sorrow； as you see。〃
〃Suppose that she does not care for you？〃 the man went on； 〃that she
is deceiving you？〃
〃I have long known that； monsieurhere； in this very spot； Monsieur
Crevel and I told each other〃
〃Oh！ Then you knew that you were in Monsieur le Maire's private
snuggery？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
The constable lightly touched his hat with a respectful gesture。
〃You are very much in love；〃 said he。 〃I say no more。 I respect an
inveterate passion； as a doctor respects an inveterate complaint。I
saw Monsieur de Nucingen； the banker； attacked in the same way〃
〃He is a friend of mine；〃 said the Baron。 〃Many a time have I supped
with his handsome Esther。 She was worth the two million francs she
cost him。〃
〃And more；〃 said the officer。 〃That caprice of the old Baron's cost
four persons their lives。 Oh！ such passions as these are like the
cholera！〃
〃What had you to say to me？〃 asked the Baron；