learned that a wife must hide from every one； even from her parents；
woes for which it is so difficult to find sympathy。 The storms and
sufferings of the upper spheres are appreciated only by the lofty
spirits who inhabit there。 In any circumstance we can only be judged
by our equals。
Thus poor Augustine found herself thrown back on the horror of her
meditations； in the cold atmosphere of her home。 Study was indifferent
to her； since study had not brought her back her husband's heart。
Initiated into the secret of these souls of fire； but bereft of their
resources； she was compelled to share their sorrows without sharing
their pleasures。 She was disgusted with the world； which to her seemed
mean and small as compared with the incidents of passion。 In short；
her life was a failure。
One evening an idea flashed upon her that lighted up her dark grief
like a beam from heaven。 Such an idea could never have smiled on a
heart less pure； less virtuous than hers。 She determined to go to the
Duchesse de Carigliano； not to ask her to give her back her husband's
heart； but to learn the arts by which it had been captured； to engage
the interest of this haughty fine lady for the mother of her lover's
children； to appeal to her and make her the instrument of her future
happiness； since she was the cause of her present wretchedness。
So one day Augustine； timid as she was； but armed with supernatural
courage； got into her carriage at two in the afternoon to try for
admittance to the boudoir of the famous coquette； who was never
visible till that hour。 Madame de Sommervieux had not yet seen any of
the ancient and magnificent mansions of the Faubourg Saint…Germain。 As
she made her way through the stately corridors； the handsome
staircases； the vast drawing…roomsfull of flowers； though it was in
the depth of winter； and decorated with the taste peculiar to women
born to opulence or to the elegant habits of the aristocracy；
Augustine felt a terrible clutch at her heart； she coveted the secrets
of an elegance of which she had never had an idea； she breathed in an
air of grandeur which explained the attraction of the house for her
husband。 When she reached the private rooms of the Duchess she was
filled with jealousy and a sort of despair； as she admired the
luxurious arrangement of the furniture； the draperies and the
hangings。 Here disorder was a grace； here luxury affected a certain
contempt of splendor。 The fragrance that floated in the warm air
flattered the sense of smell without offending it。 The accessories of
the rooms were in harmony with a view； through plate…glass windows； of
the lawns in a garden planted with evergreen trees。 It was all
bewitching； and the art of it was not perceptible。 The whole spirit of
the mistress of these rooms pervaded the drawing…room where Augustine
awaited her。 She tried to divine her rival's character from the aspect
of the scattered objects； but there was here something as impenetrable
in the disorder as in the symmetry； and to the simple…minded young
wife all was a sealed letter。 All that she could discern was that； as
a woman； the Duchess was a superior person。 Then a painful thought
came over her。
〃Alas！ And is it true；〃 she wondered； 〃that a simple and loving heart
is not all…sufficient to an artist； that to balance the weight of
these powerful souls they need a union with feminine souls of a
strength equal to their own？ If I had been brought up like this siren；
our weapons at least might have been equal in the hour of struggle。〃
〃But I am not at home！〃 The sharp； harsh words； though spoken in an
undertone in the adjoining boudoir； were heard by Augustine； and her
heart beat violently。
〃The lady is in there；〃 replied the maid。
〃You are an idiot！ Show her in；〃 replied the Duchess； whose voice was
sweeter； and had assumed the dulcet tones of politeness。 She evidently
now meant to be heard。
Augustine shyly entered the room。 At the end of the dainty boudoir she
saw the Duchess lounging luxuriously on an ottoman covered with brown
velvet and placed in the centre of a sort of apse outlined by soft
folds of white muslin over a yellow lining。 Ornaments of gilt bronze；
arranged with exquisite taste； enhanced this sort of dais； under which
the Duchess reclined like a Greek statue。 The dark hue of the velvet
gave relief to every fascinating charm。 A subdued light； friendly to
her beauty； fell like a reflection rather than a direct illumination。
A few rare flowers raised their perfumed heads from costly Sevres
vases。 At the moment when this picture was presented to Augustine's
astonished eyes； she was approaching so noiselessly that she caught a
glance from those of the enchantress。 This look seemed to say to some
one whom Augustine did not at first perceive； 〃Stay； you will see a
pretty woman； and make her visit seem less of a bore。〃
On seeing Augustine； the Duchess rose and made her sit down by her。
〃And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit； madame？〃 she said
with a most gracious smile。
〃Why all the falseness？〃 thought Augustine； replying only with a bow。
Her silence was compulsory。 The young woman saw before her a
superfluous witness of the scene。 This personage was； of all the
Colonels in the army； the youngest； the most fashionable； and the
finest man。 His face； full of life and youth； but already expressive；
was further enhanced by a small moustache twirled up into points； and
as black as jet； by a full imperial； by whiskers carefully combed； and
a forest of black hair in some disorder。 He was whisking a riding whip
with an air of ease and freedom which suited his self…satisfied
expression and the elegance of his dress； the ribbons attached to his
button…hole were carelessly tied； and he seemed to pride himself much
more on his smart appearance than on his courage。 Augustine looked at
the Duchesse de Carigliano； and indicated the Colonel by a sidelong
glance。 All its mute appeal was understood。
〃Good…bye； then； Monsieur d'Aiglemont； we shall meet in the Bois de
Boulogne。〃
These words were spoken by the siren as though they were the result of
an agreement made before Augustine's arrival； and she winged them with
a threatening look that the officer deserved perhaps for the
admiration he showed in gazing at the modest flower； which contrasted
so well with the haughty Duchess。 The young fop bowed in silence；
turned on the heels of his boots； and gracefully quitted the boudoir。
At this instant； Augustine； watching her rival； whose eyes seemed to
follow the brilliant officer； detected in that glance a sentiment of
which the transient expression is known to every woman。 She perceived
with the deepest anguish that her visit would be useless； this lady；
full of artifice； was too greedy of homage not to have a ruthless
heart。
〃Madame；〃 said Augustine in a broken voice； 〃the step I am about to
take will seem to you very strange； but there is a madness of despair
which ought to excuse anything。 I understand only too well why
Theodore prefers your house to any other； and why your mind has so
much power over his。 Alas！ I have only to look into myself to find
more than ample reasons。 But I am devoted to my husband； madame。 Two
years of tears have not effaced his image from my heart； though I have
lost his。 In my folly I dared to dream of a contest with you； and I
have come to you to ask you by what means I may triumph over yourself。
Oh； madame；〃 cried the young wife； ardently seizing the hand which her
rival allowed her to hold； 〃I will never pray to God for my own
happiness with so much fervor as I will beseech Him for yours； if you
will help me to win back Sommervieux's regardI will not say his
love。 I have no hope but in you。 Ah！ tell me how you could please him；
and make him forget the first days〃 At these words Augustine broke
down； suffocated with sobs she could not suppress。 Ashamed of her
weakness； she hid her face in her handkerchief； which she bathed with
tears。
〃What a child you are； my dear little beauty！〃 said the Duchess；
carried away by the novelty of such a scene； and touched； in spite of
herself； at receiving such homage from the most perfect virtue perhaps
in Paris。 She took the young wife's handkerchief； and herself wiped
the tears from her eyes； soothing her by a few monosyllables murmured
with gracious compassion。 After a moment's silence the Duchess；
grasping poor Augustine's hands in both her ownhands that had a rare
character of dignity and powerful beautysaid in a gentle and
friendly voice： 〃My first warning is to advise you not to weep so
bitterly； tears are disfiguring。 We must learn to deal firmly with the
sorrows that make us ill； for love does not linger long by a sick…bed。
Melancholy； at first； no doubt； lends a certain attractive grace； but
it ends by dragging the features and blighting the loveliest face。 And
besides； our tyrants are so vain as to insist that their slaves should
be always cheerful。〃
〃But； madame； it is not in my power not to feel。 How is it possible；
without suffering a thousand deaths； to see the face which once beamed
with love and gladness turn chill； colorless； and indifferent？ I
cannot control my heart！〃
〃So much the worse； sweet child。 But I fancy I know all your story。 In
the first place； if your husband is unfaithful to you； understand
clearly that I am not his accomplice。 If I was anxious to have him in
my drawing…room； it was； I own； out of vanity； he was famous； and he
went nowhere。 I like you too much already to tell you all the mad
things he has done for my sake。 I will only reveal one； because it may
perhaps help us to bring him back to you； and to punish him for the
audacity of his behavior to me。 He will end by compromising me。 I know
the world too well； my dear； to abandon myself to the discretion of a
too superior man。 You should know that one may allow them to court
one； but marry themthat is a mistake！ We women ought to admire men
of genius； and delight in them as a spectacle； but as to living with
them？ Never。No； no。 It is like wanting to find pleasure in
inspecting the machinery of the opera instead of sitting in a box to
enjoy its brilliant illusions。 But this misfortune ha