of virtue？〃 in the tone of a man who might have taken his revenge on
one who should have triumphed where he had failed。
So it needs no great intuition to discern what were the motives in a
simple； guileless； and noble soul for the fanaticism of Madame Hulot's
love。 Having fully persuaded herself that her husband could do her no
wrong； she made herself in the depths of her heart the humble； abject；
and blindfold slave of the man who had made her。 It must be noted；
too； that she was gifted with great good sensethe good sense of the
people； which made her education sound。 In society she spoke little；
and never spoke evil of any one； she did not try to shine； she thought
out many things； listened well； and formed herself on the model of the
best…conducted women of good birth。
In 1815 Hulot followed the lead of the Prince de Wissembourg； his
intimate friend； and became one of the officers who organized the
improvised troops whose rout brought the Napoleonic cycle to a close
at Waterloo。 In 1816 the Baron was one of the men best hated by the
Feltre administration； and was not reinstated in the Commissariat till
1823； when he was needed for the Spanish war。 In 1830 he took office
as the fourth wheel of the coach； at the time of the levies； a sort of
conscription made by Louis Philippe on the old Napoleonic soldiery。
From the time when the younger branch ascended the throne； having
taken an active part in bringing that about； he was regarded as an
indispensable authority at the War Office。 He had already won his
Marshal's baton； and the King could do no more for him unless by
making him minister or a peer of France。
From 1818 till 1823； having no official occupation； Baron Hulot had
gone on active service to womankind。 Madame Hulot dated her Hector's
first infidelities from the grand /finale/ of the Empire。 Thus； for
twelve years the Baroness had filled the part in her household of
/prima donna assoluta/； without a rival。 She still could boast of the
old…fashioned； inveterate affection which husbands feel for wives who
are resigned to be gentle and virtuous helpmates； she knew that if she
had a rival； that rival would not subsist for two hours under a word
of reproof from herself； but she shut her eyes； she stopped her ears；
she would know nothing of her husband's proceedings outside his home。
In short； she treated her Hector as a mother treats a spoilt child。
Three years before the conversation reported above； Hortense； at the
Theatre des Varietes； had recognized her father in a lower tier stage…
box with Jenny Cadine； and had exclaimed：
〃There is papa！〃
〃You are mistaken； my darling； he is at the Marshal's；〃 the Baroness
replied。
She too had seen Jenny Cadine； but instead of feeling a pang when she
saw how pretty she was； she said to herself； 〃That rascal Hector must
think himself very lucky。〃
She suffered nevertheless； she gave herself up in secret to rages of
torment； but as soon as she saw Hector； she always remembered her
twelve years of perfect happiness； and could not find it in her to
utter a word of complaint。 She would have been glad if the Baron would
have taken her into his confidence； but she never dared to let him see
that she knew of his kicking over the traces； out of respect for her
husband。 Such an excess of delicacy is never met with but in those
grand creatures； daughters of the soil； whose instinct it is to take
blows without ever returning them； the blood of the early martyrs
still lives in their veins。 Well…born women； their husbands' equals；
feel the impulse to annoy them； to mark the points of their tolerance；
like points at billiards； by some stinging word； partly in the spirit
of diabolical malice； and to secure the upper hand or the right of
turning the tables。
The Baroness had an ardent admirer in her brother…in…law； Lieutenant…
General Hulot； the venerable Colonel of the Grenadiers of the Imperial
Infantry Guard； who was to have a Marshal's baton in his old age。 This
veteran； after having served from 1830 to 1834 as Commandant of the
military division； including the departments of Brittany； the scene of
his exploits in 1799 and 1800； had come to settle in Paris near his
brother； for whom he had a fatherly affection。
This old soldier's heart was in sympathy with his sister…in…law； he
admired her as the noblest and saintliest of her sex。 He had never
married； because he hoped to find a second Adeline； though he had
vainly sought for her through twenty campaigns in as many lands。 To
maintain her place in the esteem of this blameless and spotless old
republicanof whom Napoleon had said； 〃That brave old Hulot is the
most obstinate republican； but he will never be false to me〃Adeline
would have endured griefs even greater than those that had just come
upon her。 But the old soldier； seventy…two years of age； battered by
thirty campaigns； and wounded for the twenty…seventh time at Waterloo；
was Adeline's admirer； and not a 〃protector。〃 The poor old Count；
among other infirmities； could only hear through a speaking trumpet。
So long as Baron Hulot d'Ervy was a fine man； his flirtations did not
damage his fortune； but when a man is fifty； the Graces claim payment。
At that age love becomes vice； insensate vanities come into play。
Thus； at about that time； Adeline saw that her husband was incredibly
particular about his dress； he dyed his hair and whiskers； and wore a
belt and stays。 He was determined to remain handsome at any cost。 This
care of his person； a weakness he had once mercilessly mocked at； was
carried out in the minutest details。
At last Adeline perceived that the Pactolus poured out before the
Baron's mistresses had its source in her pocket。 In eight years he had
dissipated a considerable amount of money； and so effectually； that；
on his son's marriage two years previously； the Baron had been
compelled to explain to his wife that his pay constituted their whole
income。
〃What shall we come to？〃 asked Adeline。
〃Be quite easy；〃 said the official； 〃I will leave the whole of my
salary in your hands； and I will make a fortune for Hortense； and some
savings for the future； in business。〃
The wife's deep belief in her husband's power and superior talents； in
his capabilities and character； had； in fact； for the moment allayed
her anxiety。
What the Baroness' reflections and tears were after Crevel's departure
may now be clearly imagined。 The poor woman had for two years past
known that she was at the bottom of a pit； but she had fancied herself
alone in it。 How her son's marriage had been finally arranged she had
not known； she had known nothing of Hector's connection with the
grasping Jewess； and； above all； she hoped that no one in the world
knew anything of her troubles。 Now； if Crevel went about so ready to
talk of the Baron's excesses； Hector's reputation would suffer。 She
could see； under the angry ex…perfumer's coarse harangue； the odious
gossip behind the scenes which led to her son's marriage。 Two
reprobate hussies had been the priestesses of this union planned at
some orgy amid the degrading familiarities of two tipsy old sinners。
〃And has he forgotten Hortense！〃 she wondered。
〃But he sees her every day； will he try to find her a husband among
his good…for…nothing sluts？〃
At this moment it was the mother that spoke rather than the wife； for
she saw Hortense laughing with her Cousin Bettythe reckless laughter
of heedless youth； and she knew that such hysterical laughter was
quite as distressing a symptom as the tearful reverie of solitary
walks in the garden。
Hortense was like her mother； with golden hair that waved naturally；
and was amazingly long and thick。 Her skin had the lustre of mother…
of…pearl。 She was visibly the offspring of a true marriage； of a pure
and noble love in its prime。 There was a passionate vitality in her
countenance； a brilliancy of feature； a full fount of youth； a fresh
vigor and abundance of health； which radiated from her with electric
flashes。 Hortense invited the eye。
When her eye； of deep ultramarine blue； liquid with the moisture of
innocent youth； rested on a passer…by； he was involuntarily thrilled。
Nor did a single freckle mar her skin； such as those with which many a
white and golden maid pays toll for her milky whiteness。 Tall； round
without being fat； with a slender dignity as noble as her mother's；
she really deserved the name of goddess； of which old authors were so
lavish。 In fact； those who saw Hortense in the street could hardly
restrain the exclamation； 〃What a beautiful girl！〃
She was so genuinely innocent； that she could say to her mother：
〃What do they mean； mamma； by calling me a beautiful girl when I am
with you？ Are not you much handsomer than I am？〃
And； in point of fact； at seven…and…forty the Baroness might have been
preferred to her daughter by amateurs of sunset beauty； for she had
not yet lost any of her charms； by one of those phenomena which are
especially rare in Paris； where Ninon was regarded as scandalous；
simply because she thus seemed to enjoy such an unfair advantage over
the plainer women of the seventeenth century。
Thinking of her daughter brought her back to the father； she saw him
sinking by degrees； day after day； down to the social mire； and even
dismissed some day from his appointment。 The idea of her idol's fall；
with a vague vision of the disasters prophesied by Crevel； was such a
terror to the poor woman； that she became rapt in the contemplation
like an ecstatic。
Cousin Betty； from time to time； as she chatted with Hortense； looked
round to see when they might return to the drawing…room； but her young
cousin was pelting her with questions； and at the moment when the
Baroness opened the glass door she did not happen to be looking。
Lisbeth Fischer； though the daughter of the eldest of the three
brothers； was five years younger than Madame Hulot； she was far from
being as handsome as her cousin； and had been desperately jealous of
Adeline。 Jealousy was the fundamental passion of this character；
marked by eccentricitiesa word invented by the English to describe
the craziness not of the asylum； but of respectable households。 A
native o