meant to be revenged on that rascal Hulot。 But your husband； my
beauty； found himself a mistressa jewel of a woman； a pearl； a
cunning hussy then aged three…and…twenty； for she is six…and…twenty
now。 It struck me as more amusing； more complete； more Louis XV。； more
Marechal de Richelieu； more first…class altogether； to filch away that
charmer； who； in point of fact； never cared for Hulot； and who for
these three years has been madly in love with your humble servant。〃
As he spoke； Crevel； from whose hands the Baroness had released her
own； had resumed his favorite attitude； both thumbs were stuck into
his armholes； and he was patting his ribs with his fingers； like two
flapping wings； fancying that he was thus making himself very
attractive and charming。 It was as much as to say； 〃And this is the
man you would have nothing to say to！〃
〃There you are my dear； I had my revenge； and your husband knows it。 I
proved to him clearly that he was basketedjust where he was before；
as we say。 Madame Marneffe is my mistress； and when her precious
Marneffe kicks the bucket； she will be my wife。〃
Madame Hulot stared at Crevel with a fixed and almost dazed look。
〃Hector knew it？〃 she said。
〃And went back to her；〃 replied Crevel。 〃And I allowed it； because
Valerie wished to be the wife of a head…clerk； but she promised me
that she would manage things so that our Baron should be so
effectually bowled over that he can never interfere any more。 And my
little duchessfor that woman is a born duchess； on my soul！kept
her word。 She restores you your Hector； madame； virtuous in
perpetuity； as she saysshe is so witty！ He has had a good lesson； I
can tell you！ The Baron has had some hard knocks； he will help no more
actresses or fine ladies； he is radically cured； cleaned out like a
beer…glass。
〃If you had listened to Crevel in the first instance； instead of
scorning him and turning him out of the house； you might have had four
hundred thousand francs； for my revenge has cost me all of that。But
I shall get my change back； I hope； when Marneffe diesI have
invested in a wife； you see； that is the secret of my extravagance。 I
have solved the problem of playing the lord on easy terms。〃
〃Would you give your daughter such a mother…in…law？ cried Madame
Hulot。
〃You do not know Valerie； madame；〃 replied Crevel gravely； striking
the attitude of his first manner。 〃She is a woman with good blood in
her veins； a lady； and a woman who enjoys the highest consideration。
Why； only yesterday the vicar of the parish was dining with her。 She
is pious； and we have presented a splendid monstrance to the church。
〃Oh！ she is clever； she is witty； she is delightful； well informed
she has everything in her favor。 For my part； my dear Adeline； I owe
everything to that charming woman； she has opened my mind； polished my
speech； as you may have noticed； she corrects my impetuosity； and
gives me words and ideas。 I never say anything now that I ought not。 I
have greatly improved； you must have noticed it。 And then she has
encouraged my ambition。 I shall be a Deputy； and I shall make no
blunders； for I shall consult my Egeria。 Every great politician； from
Numa to our present Prime Minister； has had his Sibyl of the fountain。
A score of deputies visit Valerie； she is acquiring considerable
influence； and now that she is about to be established in a charming
house； with a carriage； she will be one of the occult rulers of Paris。
〃A fine locomotive！ That is what such a woman is。 Oh； I have blessed
you many a time for your stern virtue。〃
〃It is enough to make one doubt the goodness of God！〃 cried Adeline；
whose indignation had dried her tears。 〃But； no！ Divine justice must
be hanging over her head。〃
〃You know nothing of the world； my beauty；〃 said the great politician；
deeply offended。 〃The world； my Adeline； loves success！ Say； now； has
it come to seek out your sublime virtue； priced at two hundred
thousand francs？〃
The words made Madame Hulot shudder； the nervous trembling attacked
her once more。 She saw that the ex…perfumer was taking a mean revenge
on her as he had on Hulot； she felt sick with disgust； and a spasm
rose to her throat； hindering speech。
〃Money！〃 she said at last。 〃Always money！〃
〃You touched me deeply；〃 said Crevel； reminded by these words of the
woman's humiliation； 〃when I beheld you there； weeping at my feet！
You perhaps will not believe me； but if I had my pocket…book about me；
it would have been yours。Come； do you really want such a sum？〃
As she heard this question； big with two hundred thousand francs；
Adeline forgot the odious insults heaped on her by this cheap…jack
fine gentleman； before the tempting picture of success described by
Machiavelli…Crevel； who only wanted to find out her secrets and laugh
over them with Valerie。
〃Oh！ I will do anything； everything；〃 cried the unhappy woman。
〃Monsieur； I will sell myselfI will be a Valerie； if I must。〃
〃You will find that difficult；〃 replied Crevel。 〃Valerie is a
masterpiece in her way。 My good mother； twenty…five years of virtue
are always repellent； like a badly treated disease。 And your virtue
has grown very mouldy； my dear child。 But you shall see how much I
love you。 I will manage to get you your two hundred thousand francs。〃
Adeline； incapable of uttering a word； seized his hand and laid it on
her heart； a tear of joy trembled in her eyes。
〃Oh！ don't be in a hurry； there will be some hard pulling。 I am a
jolly good fellow； a good soul with no prejudices； and I will put
things plainly to you。 You want to do as Valerie doesvery good。 But
that is not all； you must have a gull； a stockholder； a Hulot。Well；
I know a retired tradesmanin fact； a hosier。 He is heavy； dull； has
not an idea； I am licking him into shape； but I don't know when he
will do me credit。 My man is a deputy； stupid and conceited； the
tyranny of a turbaned wife； in the depths of the country； has
preserved him in a state of utter virginity as to the luxury and
pleasures of Paris life。 But Beauvisagehis name is Beauvisageis a
millionaire； and； like me； my dear； three years ago； he will give a
hundred thousand crowns to be the lover of a real lady。Yes； you
see；〃 he went on； misunderstanding a gesture on Adeline's part； 〃he is
jealous of me； you understand； jealous of my happiness with Madame
Marneffe； and he is a fellow quite capable of selling an estate to
purchase a〃
〃Enough； Monsieur Crevel！〃 said Madame Hulot； no longer controlling
her disgust； and showing all her shame in her face。 〃I am punished
beyond my deserts。 My conscience； so sternly repressed by the iron
hand of necessity； tells me； at this final insult； that such
sacrifices are impossible。My pride is gone； I do not say now； as I
did the first time； 'Go！' after receiving this mortal thrust。 I have
lost the right to do so。 I have flung myself before you like a
prostitute。
〃Yes；〃 she went on； in reply to a negative on Crevel's part； 〃I have
fouled my life； till now so pure； by a degrading thought； and I am
inexcusable！I know it！I deserve every insult you can offer me！
God's will be done！ If； indeed； He desires the death of two creatures
worthy to appear before Him； they must die！ I shall mourn them； and
pray for them！ If it is His will that my family should be humbled to
the dust； we must bow to His avenging sword； nay； and kiss it； since
we are Christians。I know how to expiate this disgrace； which will be
the torment of all my remaining days。
〃I who speak to you； monsieur； am not Madame Hulot； but a wretched；
humble sinner； a Christian whose heart henceforth will know but one
feeling； and that is repentance； all my time given up to prayer and
charity。 With such a sin on my soul； I am the last of women； the first
only of penitents。You have been the means of bringing me to a right
mind； I can hear the Voice of God speaking within me； and I can thank
you！〃
She was shaking with the nervous trembling which from that hour never
left her。 Her low； sweet tones were quite unlike the fevered accents
of the woman who was ready for dishonor to save her family。 The blood
faded from her cheeks； her face was colorless； and her eyes were dry。
〃And I played my part very badly； did I not？〃 she went on； looking at
Crevel with the sweetness that martyrs must have shown in their eyes
as they looked up at the Proconsul。 〃True love； the sacred love of a
devoted woman； gives other pleasures； no doubt； than those that are
bought in the open market！But why so many words？〃 said she； suddenly
bethinking herself； and advancing a step further in the way to
perfection。 〃They sound like irony； but I am not ironical！ Forgive me。
Besides； monsieur； I did not want to hurt any one but myself〃
The dignity of virtue and its holy flame had expelled the transient
impurity of the woman who； splendid in her own peculiar beauty； looked
taller in Crevel's eyes。 Adeline had； at this moment； the majesty of
the figures of Religion clinging to the Cross； as painted by the old
Venetians； but she expressed； too； the immensity of her love and the
grandeur of the Catholic Church； to which she flew like a wounded
dove。
Crevel was dazzled； astounded。
〃Madame； I am your slave； without conditions；〃 said he； in an
inspiration of generosity。 〃We will look into this matterand
whatever you wantthe impossible evenI will do。 I will pledge my
securities at the Bank； and in two hours you shall have the money。〃
〃Good God！ a miracle！〃 said poor Adeline； falling on her knees。
She prayed to Heaven with such fervor as touched Crevel deeply； Madame
Hulot saw that he had tears in his eyes when； having ended her prayer；
she rose to her feet。
〃Be a friend to me； monsieur；〃 said she。 〃Your heart is better than
your words and conduct。 God gave you your soul； your passions and the
world have given you your ideas。 Oh； I will love you truly；〃 she
exclaimed； with an angelic tenderness in strange contrast with her
attempts at coquettish trickery。
〃But cease to tremble so；〃 said Crevel。
〃Am I trembling？〃 said the Baroness； unconscious of the infirmity that
had so suddenly come upon her。
〃Yes； why； look；〃 said Crevel； taking Adeline by the arm and showing
her