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he Marquise turned her white face to Vandenesse； and； with terror in her eyes； indicated her husband； who stood with his eyes fixed absently on the flower pattern of the carpet。 The diplomatist； accomplished man of the world though he was； could no longer contain his wrath； he gave the man of law a withering glance。
〃Step this way； sir；〃 he said； and he went hurriedly to the door of the ante…chamber； the notary left his sentence half finished； and followed； quaking； and the husband and wife were left together。
〃Now； sir〃 said the Marquise de Vandenessehe banged the drawing…room door； and spoke with concentrated rage〃ever since dinner you have done nothing but make blunders and talk folly。 For heaven's sake； go。 You will make the most frightful mischief before you have done。 If you are a clever man in your profession； keep to your profession； and if by any chance you should go into society； endeavor to be more circumspect。〃
With that he went back to the drawing…room； and did not even wish the notary good…evening。 For a moment that worthy stood dumfounded； bewildered； utterly at a loss。 Then； when the buzzing in his ears subsided； he thought he heard someone moaning in the next room。 Footsteps came and went； and bells were violently rung。 He was by no means anxious to meet the Marquis again； and found the use of his legs to make good his escape； only to run against a hurrying crowd of servants at the door。
〃Just the way of all these grand folk；〃 said he to himself outside in the street as he looked about for a cab。 〃They lead you on to talk with compliments； and you think you are amusing them。 Not a bit of it。 They treat you insolently； put you at a distance； even put you out at the door without scruple。 After all； I talked very cleverly； I said nothing but what was sensible； well turned； and discreet； and； upon my word； he advises me to be more circumspect in future。 I will take good care of that！ Eh！ the mischief take it！ I am a notary and a member of my chamber！Pshaw！ it was an ambassador's fit of temper； nothing is sacred for people of that kind。 To…morrow he shall explain what he meant by saying that I had done nothing but blunder and talk nonsense in his house。 I will ask him for an explanationthat is； I will ask him to explain my mistake。 After all is done and said； I am in the wrong perhaps Upon my word； it is very good of me to cudgel my brains like this。 What business is it of mine？〃
So the notary went home and laid the enigma before his spouse； with a complete account of the evening's events related in sequence。
And she replied； 〃My dear Crottat； His Excellency was perfectly right when he said that you had done nothing but blunder and talk folly。〃
〃Why？〃
〃My dear； if I told you why； it would not prevent you from doing the same thing somewhere else to…morrow。 I tell you againtalk of nothing but business when you go out； that is my advice to you。〃
〃If you will not tell me； I shall ask him to…morrow〃
〃Why； dear me！ the veriest noodle is careful to hide a thing of that kind； and do you suppose that an ambassador will tell you about it？ Really； Crottat； I have never known you so utterly devoid of common… sense。〃
〃Thank you； my dear。〃
V。
TWO MEETINGS
One of Napoleon's orderly staff…officers； who shall be known in this history only as the General or the Marquis； had come to spend the spring at Versailles。 He made a large fortune under the Restoration； and as his place at Court would not allow him to go very far from Paris； he had taken a country house between the church and the barrier of Montreuil； on the road that leads to the Avenue de Saint…Cloud。
The house had been built originally as a retreat for the short…lived loves of some /grand seigneur/。 The grounds were very large； the gardens on either side extending from the first houses of Montreuil to the thatched cottages near the barrier； so that the owner could enjoy all the pleasures of solitude with the city almost at his gates。 By an odd piece of contradiction； the whole front of the house itself； with the principal entrance； gave directly upon the street。 Perhaps in time past it was a tolerably lonely road； and indeed this theory looks all the more probable when one comes to think of it； for not so very far away； on this same road； Louis Quinze built a delicious summer villa for Mlle。 de Romans； and the curious in such things will discover that the wayside /casinos/ are adorned in a style that recalls traditions of the ingenious taste displayed in debauchery by our ancestors who； with all the license paid to their charge； sought to invest it with secrecy and mystery。
One winter evening the family were by themselves in the lonely house。 The servants had received permission to go to Versailles to celebrate the wedding of one of their number。 It was Christmas time； and the holiday makers； presuming upon the double festival； did not scruple to outstay their leave of absence； yet； as the General was well known to be a man of his word； the culprits felt some twinges of conscience as they danced on after the hour of return。 The clocks struck eleven； and still there was no sign of the servants。
A deep silence prevailed over the country…side； broken only by the sound of the northeast wind whistling through the black branches； wailing about the house； dying in gusts along the corridors。 The hard frost had purified the air； and held the earth in its grip； the roads gave back every sound with the hard metallic ring which always strikes us with a new surprise； the heavy footsteps of some belated reveler； or a cab returning to Paris； could be heard for a long distance with unwonted distinctness。 Out in the courtyard a few dead leaves set a… dancing by some eddying gust found a voice for the night which fain had been silent。 It was； in fact； one of those sharp； frosty evenings that wring barren expressions of pity from our selfish ease for wayfarers and the poor； and fills us with a luxurious sense of the comfort of the fireside。
But the family party in the salon at that hour gave not a thought to absent servants nor houseless folk； nor to the gracious charm with which a winter evening sparkles。 No one played the philosopher out of season。 Secure in the protection of an old soldier； women and children gave themselves up to the joys of home life； so delicious when there is no restraint upon feeling； and talk and play and glances are bright with frankness and affection。
The General sat； or more properly speaking； lay buried； in the depths of a huge； high…back armchair by the hearth。 The heaped…up fire burned scorching clear with the excessive cold of the night。 The good father leaned his head slightly to one side against the back of the chair； in the indolence of perfect serenity and a glow of happiness。 The languid； half…sleepy droop of his outstretched arms seemed to complete his expression of placid content。 He was watching his youngest； a boy of five or thereabouts； who； half clad as he was； declined to allow his mother to undress him。 The little one fled from the night…gown and cap with which he was threatened now and again； and stoutly declined to part with his embroidered collar； laughing when his mother called to him； for he saw that she too was laughing at this declaration of infant independence。 The next step was to go back to a game of romps with his sister。 She was as much a child as he； but more mischievous； and she was older by two years； and could speak distinctly already； whereas his inarticulate words and confused ideas were a puzzle even to his parents。 Little Moina's playfulness； somewhat coquettish already； provoked inextinguishable laughter； explosions of merriment which went off like fireworks for no apparent cause。 As they tumbled about before the fire； unconcernedly displaying little plump bodies and delicate white contours； as the dark and golden curls mingled in a collision of rosy cheeks dimpled with childish glee； a father surely； a mother most certainly； must have understood those little souls； and seen the character and power of passion already developed for their eyes。 As the cherubs frolicked about； struggling； rolling； and tumbling without fear of hurt on the soft carpet； its flowers looked pale bes