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 touch you on a sensitive spot； or disoblige you in any way；
and I will prove it。 If you are determined to get Monsieur Coquet's
place； and he will really be a loss in the War Office； for he has been
here since 1809； I will go into the country for a fortnight； so as to
leave the field open between you and the Marshal； who loves you as a
son。 Then I shall take neither part； and shall have nothing on my
conscience as an administrator。〃
〃Thank you very much；〃 said Hulot。 〃I will reflect on what you have
said。〃
〃In allowing myself to say so much； my dear friend； it is because your
personal interest is far more deeply implicated than any concern or
vanity of mine。 In the first place； the matter lies entirely with the
Marshal。 And then； my good fellow； we are blamed for so many things；
that one more or less！ We are not at the maiden stage in our
experience of fault…finding。 Under the Restoration； men were put in
simply to give them places； without any regard for the office。We are
old friends〃
〃Yes；〃 the Baron put in； 〃and it is in order not to impair our old and
valued friendship that I〃
〃Well； well；〃 said the departmental manager； seeing Hulot's face
clouded with embarrassment； 〃I will take myself off； old fellow。But
I warn you！ you have enemiesthat is to say； men who covet your
splendid appointment； and you have but one anchor out。 Now if； like
me； you were a Deputy； you would have nothing to fear； so mind what
you are about。〃
This speech； in the most friendly spirit； made a deep impression on
the Councillor of State。
〃But； after all； Roger； what is it that is wrong？ Do not make any
mysteries with me。〃
The individual addressed as Roger looked at Hulot； took his hand； and
pressed it。
〃We are such old friends； that I am bound to give you warning。 If you
want to keep your place； you must make a bed for yourself； and instead
of asking the Marshal to give Coquet's place to Marneffe； in your
place I would beg him to use his influence to reserve a seat for me on
the General Council of State； there you may die in peace； and； like
the beaver； abandon all else to the pursuers。〃
〃What； do you think the Marshal would forget〃
〃The Marshal has already taken your part so warmly at a General
Meeting of the Ministers； that you will not now be turned out； but it
was seriously discussed！ So give them no excuse。 I can say no more。 At
this moment you may make your own terms； you may sit on the Council of
State and be made a Peer of the Chamber。 If you delay too long； if you
give any one a hold against you； I can answer for nothing。Now； am I
to go？〃
〃Wait a little。 I will see the Marshal；〃 replied Hulot； 〃and I will
send my brother to see which way the wind blows at headquarters。〃
The humor in which the Baron came back to Madame Marneffe's may be
imagined； he had almost forgotten his fatherhood； for Roger had taken
the part of a true and kind friend in explaining the position。 At the
same time Valerie's influence was so great that； by the middle of
dinner； the Baron was tuned up to the pitch； and was all the more
cheerful for having unwonted anxieties to conceal； but the hapless man
was not yet aware that in the course of that evening he would find
himself in a cleft stick； between his happiness and the danger pointed
out by his friendcompelled； in short； to choose between Madame
Marneffe and his official position。
At eleven o'clock； when the evening was at its gayest； for the room
was full of company； Valerie drew Hector into a corner of her sofa。
〃My dear old boy；〃 said she； 〃your daughter is so annoyed at knowing
that Wenceslas comes here； that she has left him 'planted。' Hortense
is wrong…headed。 Ask Wenceslas to show you the letter the little fool
has written to him。
〃This division of two lovers； of which I am reputed to be the cause；
may do me the greatest harm； for this is how virtuous women undermine
each other。 It is disgraceful to pose as a victim in order to cast the
blame on a woman whose only crime is that she keeps a pleasant house。
If you love me； you will clear my character by reconciling the sweet
turtle…doves。
〃I do not in the least care about your son…in…law's visits； you
brought him heretake him away again！ If you have any authority in
your family； it seems to me that you may very well insist on your
wife's patching up this squabble。 Tell the worthy old lady from me；
that if I am unjustly charged with having caused a young couple to
quarrel； with upsetting the unity of a family； and annexing both the
father and the son…in…law； I will deserve my reputation by annoying
them in my own way！ Why； here is Lisbeth talking of throwing me over！
She prefers to stick to her family； and I cannot blame her for it。 She
will throw me over； says she； unless the young people make friends
again。 A pretty state of things！ Our expenses here will be trebled！〃
〃Oh； as for that！〃 said the Baron； on hearing of his daughter's strong
measures； 〃I will have no nonsense of that kind。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Valerie。 〃And now for the next thing。What about
Coquet's pla