ed liberty； for I did not dream that the horrible weight of this cursed union was going to hinder my getting on； at that distance。 Happily； it is overI am free。〃
〃Yes； Jenkins； free。 But why do you not make your wife the poor creature who has shared your life so long； so humble and devoted as she is？〃
〃Oh！〃 said he； with an outburst of sincerity； 〃between my two prisons I would prefer the other； where I could be frankly indifferent。 But the atrocious comedy of conjugal love； of unwearying happiness； when for so long I had loved you and thought of you alone！ There is not such a torture on earth。 If I can guess； the poor woman must have uttered a cry of relief and happiness at the separation。 It is the only adieu I hoped for from her。〃
〃But who forced you to such a thing？〃
〃Paris； society； the world。 Married by its opinion； we were held by it。〃
〃And now you are held no longer？〃
〃Now something comes before allit is the idea of losing you； of seeing you no longer。 Oh！ when I learned of your flight； when I saw the bill over your door TO LET； I felt sure that it was all up with poses and grimaces； that I had nothing else to do but to set out； to run quickly after my happiness； which you were taking away。 You were leaving ParisI have left it。 Everything of yours was being sold； everything of mine will be sold。〃
〃And she？〃 said Felicia trembling。 〃She； the irreproachable companion； the honest woman whom no one has ever suspected； where will she go？ What will she do？ And it is her place you have just offered me。 A stolen place； think what a hell！ Well； and your motto； good Jenkins； virtuous Jenkins； what shall we do with it？ '/Le bien sans esperance/；' eh！〃
At this sneer； cutting his face like a whip； the wretch answered panting：
〃That will do！ Do not sneer at me so。 It is too horrible now。 Does it not touch you； then； to be loved as I love you in sacrificing everything to youfortune； honour； respect？ See； look at me。 I have snatched my mask off for you； I have snatched if off before all。 And now； see； here is the hypocrite。〃
He heard the muffled noise of two knees falling on the floor。 And stammering； distracted with love； weak before her； he begged her to consent to this marriage； to give him the right to follow her everywhere； to defend her。 Then the words failed him； stifled in a passionate sob； so deep； so lacerating that it should have touched any heart； above all among this splendid impassible scenery in this perfumed heat。 But Felicia was not touched。 〃Let us have done； Jenkins；〃 said she brusquely。 〃What you ask is impossible。 We have nothing to hide from each other； and after your confidences just now； I wish to make one to you； which humbles my pride； but your degradation makes you worthy。 I was Mora's mistress。〃
Paul knew this。 And yet it was so sad to hear this beautiful； pure voice laden with such a confession； in the midst of the intoxicating air； that he felt his heart contract。
〃I knew it；〃 answered Jenkins in a low voice； 〃I have the letters you wrote to him。〃
〃My letters？〃
〃Oh； I will give them to youhere。 I know them by heart。 I have read and reread them。 It is that which hurts one； when one loves。 But I have suffered other tortures。 When I think that it was I〃 He stopped himself。 He choked。 〃I who had to furnish fuel for your flames； warm this frozen lover； send him to you ardent and young Ah！ he has devoured my pearlsI might refuse over and over again； he was always taking them。 At last I was mad。 You wish to burn； wretched woman。 Well； burn； then！〃
Paul rose to his feet in terror。 Was he going to hear the confession of a crime？ But the shame of hearing more was not inflicted on him。 A violent knocking； this time on his own door； warned him that his /calesino/ was ready。
〃Is the French gentleman ready？〃
In the next room there was silence； then a whisper。There had been some one near who had heard them。Paul de Gery hurried downstairs。 He must get out of this room to escape the weight of so much infamy。
As the post…chaise swayed； he saw among the common white curtains； which float at all the windows in the south； a pale figure with the hair of a goddess； and great burning eyes fixed on him。 But a glance at Aline's portrait quickly dispelled this disturbing vision； and forever cured of his old love； he travelled until evening through the magic landscape with the lovely bride of the /dejeuner/； who carried in the folds of her modest robe and mantle all the violets of Bordighera。
THE FIRST NIGHT OF 〃REVOLT〃
〃Take your places for the first act！〃
The cry of the stage…manager； standing with his hand raised to his mouth to form a trumpet； at the foot of the staircase behind the scenes； echoes under the roof； rises and rolls along； to be lost in the depths of corridors full of the noise of doors banging； of hasty steps； of desperate calls to the /coiffeur/ and the dressers； while there appear one by one on the landings of the various floors； slow and majestic； without moving their heads for fear of disturbing the least detail of their make…up； all the personages of the first act of /Revolt/； in elegant modern ball costumes； with the creaking of new shoes； the silken rustle of the trains； the jingling of rich bracelets pushed up the arm while gloves are being buttoned。 All these people seem excited； nervous； pale beneath their paint； and under the skilfully prepared satin…like surface of the shoulders； tremors flutter like shadows。 Dry…mouthed； they speak little。 The least nervous； while affecting to smile； have in their eyes and voice the hesitation that marks an absent mindthat apprehension of the battle behind the foot…lights which is ever one of the most powerful attractions of the comedian's art； its piquancy； its freshness。
The stage is encumbered by the passage to and fro of machinists and scene…builders hastening about； running into one another in the dim； pallid light falling from above； which will give place directly； as soon as the curtain rises； to the dazzling of the foot…lights。 Cardailhac is there in his dress…coat and white tie； his opera hat on one side； giving a final glance to the arrangement of the scenery； hurrying the workmen； complimenting the /ingenue/ who is waiting dressed and ready； beaming； humming an air； looking superb。 To see him no one would ever guess the terrible worries which distract him。 He is compromised by the fall of the Nabobwhich entails the loss of his directorateand is risking his all on the piece of this evening； obliged； if it be not a success； to leave the cost of this marvellous scenery； these stuffs at a hundred francs the yard； unpaid。 It is a fourth bankruptcy that stares him in the face。 But； bah！ our manager is confident。 Success； like all the monsters that feed on men； loves youth； and this unknown author； whose name is appearing for the first time on a theatre bill； flatters the gambler's superstitions。
Andre Maranne feels less confident。 As the hour for the production of the piece approaches he loses faith in his work； terrified by the sight of the house； at which he looks through the hole in the curtain as through the narrow lens of a stereoscope。
A splendid house； crammed to the roof； notwithstanding the late period of the spring and the fashionable taste for early departure to the country； a house that Cardailhac； a declared enemy of nature and the country； endeavouring always to keep Parisians in Paris till the latest possible date； has succeeded in crowding and making as brilliant as in midwinter。 Fifteen hundred heads are swarming beneath the great central chandelier； erectbent forwardturning round questioning amid a great play of shadows and reflections； some massed in the obscure corners of the floor； others in a bright light reflected through the open doors of the boxes from the white walls of the corridor； the first…night public which is always the same； that brigand…like /tout Paris/ which goes everywhere； carrying those envied places by storm when a favour or a claim by right of some official position fails to secure them。
In the stalls are low…cut waistcoats； clubmen； shining bald heads； wide partings in scanty hair； light…coloured gloves； big opera…glasses raised and directed towards various points。 In the galleries a mixture of different social sets and all kinds of dress； all the people well known as figuring at this kind of solemnity； and the embarrassing promiscuity which places the modest smile of the virtuous woman along… side of the black…ringed eyes； the vermilion…painted lips of her who belongs to another category。 White hats； pink hats； diamonds and paint。 Above； the boxes present the same confusion； actresses and women of the demi…monde； ministers； ambassadors； famous authors； criticsthese last wearing a grave air and frowning brow； sitting crosswise in their /fauteuils/ with the impassive haughtiness of judges whom nothing can corrupt。 The boxes near the stage especially stand out in the general picture brilliantly lighted； occupied by celebrities of the financial world； the women /decollete/ and with bare arms； glittering with jewels like the Queen of Sheba on her visit to the King of Judea。 But on the left； one of these large boxes； entirely empty； attracts attention by reason of its curious decoration； lighted from the back by a Moorish lantern。 Over the whole assembly is an impalpable and floating dust； the flickering of the gas； that odour that mingles with all the pleasures of Paris； its little sputterings； sharp and quick like the breaths drawn by a consumptive； accompanying the movement of opened fans。 And then； too； /ennui/； a gloomy /ennui/； the /ennui/ of seeing the same faces always in the same places； with their defects or their poses； that uniformity of fashionable gatherings which ends by establishing in Paris each winter a spiteful and gossiping provincialism more petty than that of the provinces themselves。
Maranne observed this ill…humour； this lassitude of the public； and thinking of all the changes which the success of his play might bring about in his simple life； he asked himself； full of a great anxiety； what he could do to bring his ideas home to those thousands of people； to pluck them away from their preoccupation； and to send through this crowd a sin