case comes to trial。 I've had enough of your collaboration by this
time。〃
Under the injustice of these remarks la Peyrade felt his anger rising。
However； he saw himself disarmed； and not wishing to come to an open
rupture； he parted from Thuillier； saying that he forgave a man
excited by fear； and would go to see him later in the afternoon； when
he would probably be calmer； they could then decide on what steps they
had better take。
Accordingly； about four o'clock； the Provencal arrived at the house in
the Place de la Madeleine。 Thuillier's irritation was quieted； but
frightful consternation had taken its place。 If the executioner were
coming in half an hour to lead him to the scaffold he could not have
been more utterly unstrung and woe…begone。 When la Peyrade entered
Madame Thuillier was trying to make him take an infusion of linden…
leaves。 The poor woman had come out of her usual apathy； and proved
herself； beside the present Sabinus； another Eponina。
As for Brigitte； who presently appeared； bearing a foot…bath； she had
no mercy or restraint towards Theodose； her sharp and bitter
reproaches； which were out of all proportion to the fault； even
supposing him to have committed one would have driven a man of the
most placid temperament beside himself。 La Peyrade felt that all was
lost to him in the Thuillier household； where they now seemed to seize
with joy the occasion to break their word to him and to give free rein
to revolting ingratitude。 On an ironical allusion by Brigitte to the
manner in which he decorated his friends； la Peyrade rose and took
leave； without any effort being made to retain him。
After walking about the streets for awhile； la Peyrade； in the midst
of his indignation； turned to thoughts of Madame de Godollo； whose
image； to tell the truth； had been much in his mind since their former
interview。
CHAPTER VI
'TWAS THUS THEY BADE ADIEU
Not only once when the countess met the barrister at the Thuilliers
had she left the room； but the same performance took place at each of
their encounters； and la Peyrade had convinced himself； without
knowing exactly why； that in each case； this affectation of avoiding
him； signified something that was not indifference。 To have paid her
another visit immediately would certainly have been very unskilful；
but now a sufficient time had elapsed to prove him to be a man who was
master of himself。 Accordingly； he returned upon his steps to the
Boulevard de la Madeleine； and without asking the porter if the
countess was at home； he passed the lodge as if returning to the
Thuilliers'； and rang the bell of the entresol。
The maid who opened the door asked him； as before； to wait until she
notified her mistress； but； on this occasion； instead of showing him
into the dining…room； she ushered him into a little room arranged as a
library。
He waited long； and knew not what to think of the delay。 Still； he
reassured himself with the thought that if she meant to dismiss him he
would not have been asked to wait at all。 Finally the maid reappeared；
but even then it was not to introduce him。
〃Madame la comtesse；〃 said the woman； 〃was engaged on a matter of
business； but she begged monsieur be so kind as to wait； and to amuse
himself with the books in the library； because she might be detained
longer than she expected。〃
The excuse； both in form and substance； was certainly not
discouraging； and la Peyrade looked about him to fulfil the behest to
amuse himself。 Without opening any of the carved rosewood bookcases；
which enclosed a collection of the most elegantly bound volumes he had
ever laid his eyes upon； he saw on an oblong table with claw feet a
pell…mell of books sufficient for the amusement of a man whose
attention was keenly alive elsewhere。
But； as he opened one after another of the various volumes； he began
to fancy that a feast of Tantalus had been provided for him： one book
was English； another German； a third Russian； there was even one in
cabalistic letters that seemed Turkish。 Was this a polyglottic joke
the countess had arranged for him？
One volume； however； claimed particular attention。 The binding； unlike
those of the other books； was less rich than dainty。 Lying by itself
at a corner of the table； it was open； with the back turned up； the
edges of the leaves resting on the green table…cloth in the shape of a
tent。 La Peyrade took it up； being careful not to lose the page which
it seemed to have been some one's intention to mark。 It proved to be a
volume of the illustrated edition of Monsieur Scribe's works。 The
engraving which presented itself on the open page to la Peyrade's
eyes； was entitled 〃The Hatred of a Woman〃； the principal personage of
which is a young widow； desperately pursuing a poor young man who
cannot help himself。 There is hatred all round。 Through her devilries
she almost makes him lose his reputation； and does make him miss a
rich marriage； but the end is that she gives him more than she took
away from him； and makes a husband of the man who was thought her
victim。
If chance had put this volume apart from the rest； and had left it
open at the precise page where la Peyrade found it marked； it must be
owned that； after what had passed between himself and the countess；
chance can sometimes seem clever and adroit。 As he stood there；
thinking over the significance which this more or less accidental
combination might have； la Peyrade read through a number of scenes to
see whether in the details as well as the general whole they applied
to the present situation。 While thus employed； the sound of an opening
door was heard； and he recognized the silvery and slightly drawling
voice of the countess； who was evidently accompanying some visitor to
the door。
〃Then I may promise the ambassadress；〃 said a man's voice； 〃that you
will honor her ball with your presence？〃
〃Yes； commander； if my headache； which is just beginning to get a
little better； is kind enough to go away。〃
〃Au revoir； then； fairest lady；〃 said the gentleman。 After which the
doors were closed； and silence reigned once more。
The title of commander reassured la Peyrade somewhat； for it was not
the rank of a young dandy。 He was nevertheless curious to know who
this personage was with whom the countess had been shut up so long。
Hearing no one approach the room he was in； he went to the window and
opened the curtain cautiously； prepared to let it drop back at the
slightest noise； and to make a quick right…about…face to avoid being
caught； 〃flagrante delicto；〃 in curiosity。 An elegant coupe； standing
at a little distance； was now driven up to the house； a footman in
showy livery hastened to open the door； and a little old man； with a
light and jaunty movement； though it was evident he was one of those
relics of the past who have not yet abandoned powder； stepped quickly
into the carriage； which was then driven rapidly away。 La Peyrade had
time to observe on his breast a perfect string of decorations。 This；
combined with the powdered hair； was certain evidence of a diplomatic
individual。
La Peyrade had picked up his book once more； when a bell from the
inner room sounded； quickly followed by the appearance of the maid；
who invited him to follow her。 The Provencal took care NOT to replace
the volume where he found it； and an instant later he entered the
presence of the countess。
A pained expression was visible on the handsome face of the foreign
countess； who； however； lost nothing of her charm in the languor that
seemed to overcome her。 On the sofa beside her was a manuscript
written on gilt…edged paper； in that large and opulent handwriting
which indicates an official communication from some ministerial office
or chancery。 She held in her hand a crystal bottle with a gold
stopper； from which she frequently inhaled the contents； and a strong
odor of English vinegar pervaded the salon。
〃I fear you are ill； madame；〃 said la Peyrade； with interest。
〃Oh！ it is nothing；〃 replied the countess； 〃only a headache； to which
I am very subject。 But you； monsieur； what has become of you？ I was
beginning to lose all hope of ever seeing you again。 Have you come to
announce to me some great news？ The period of your marriage with
Mademoiselle Colleville is probably so near that I think you can speak
of it。〃
This opening disconcerted la Peyrade。
〃But； madame；〃 he answered； in a tone that was almost tart； 〃you； it
seems to me； must know too well everything that goes on in the
Thuillier household not to be aware that the event you speak of is not
approaching； and； I may add； not probable。〃
〃No； I assure you； I know nothing； I have strictly forbidden myself
from taking any further interest in an affair which I felt I had
meddled with very foolishly。 Mademoiselle Brigitte and I talk of
everything except Celeste's marriage。〃
〃And it is no doubt the desire to allow me perfect freedom in the
matter that induces you to take flight whenever I have the honor to
meet you in the Thuillier salon？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the countess； 〃that ought to be the reason that makes me
leave the room； else； why should I be so distant？〃
〃Ah！ madame； there are other reasons that might make a woman avoid a
man's presence。 For instance； if he has displeased her； if the advice；
given to him with rare wisdom and kindness； was not received with
proper eagerness and gratitude。〃
〃Oh； my dear monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃I have no such ardor in
proselytizing that I am angry with those who are not docile to my
advice。 I am； like others； very apt to make mistakes。〃
〃On the contrary； madame； in the matter of my marriage your judgment
was perfectly correct。〃
〃How so？〃 said the countess； eagerly。 〃Has the seizure of the
pamphlet； coming directly after the failure to obtain the cross； led
to a rupture？〃
〃No；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃my influence in the Thuillier household rests
on a solid basis； the services I have rendered Mademoiselle Brigitte
and her brother outweigh these checks； which； after all； are not
irreparable。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 said the countess。
〃Certainly；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃when the Comtesse du Bruel takes it
into her head to seriously obtain that