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yours； excuse me。 But this I say； if Madame Jules was a court duchess；
Henri is rich enough to satisfy all her fancies； and it is my business
to protect my property； I've a right to； for I love him； that I do。 He
is my /first/ inclination； my happiness and all my future fate depends
on it。 I fear nothing； monsieur； I am honest； I never lied； or stole
the property of any living soul； no matter who。 If an empress was my
rival； I'd go straight to her； empress as she was； because all pretty
women are equals； monsieur〃
〃Enough！ enough！〃 said Jules。 〃Where do you live？〃
〃Rue de la Corderie…du…Temple； number 14； monsieur；Ida Gruget；
corset…maker； at your service；for we make lots of corsets for men。〃
〃Where does the man whom you call Ferragus live？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； pursing up her lips； 〃in the first place； he's
not a man； he is a rich monsieur； much richer； perhaps； than you are。
But why do you ask me his address when your wife knows it？ He told me
not to give it。 Am I obliged to answer you？ I'm not； thank God； in a
confessional or a police…court； I'm responsible only to myself。〃
〃If I were to offer you ten thousand francs to tell me where Monsieur
Ferragus lives； how then？〃
〃Ha！ n； o； /no/； my little friend； and that ends the matter；〃 she
said； emphasizing this singular reply with a popular gesture。 〃There's
no sum in the world could make me tell you。 I have the honor to bid
you good…day。 How do I get out of here？〃
Jules； horror…struck； allowed her to go without further notice。 The
whole world seemed to crumble beneath his feet； and above him the
heavens were falling with a crash。
〃Monsieur is served；〃 said his valet。
The valet and the footman waited in the dining…room a quarter of an
hour without seeing master or mistress。
〃Madame will not dine to…day；〃 said the waiting…maid； coming in。
〃What's the matter； Josephine？〃 asked the valet。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。 〃Madame is crying； and is going to bed。
Monsieur has no doubt got some love…affair on hand； and it has been
discovered at a very bad time。 I wouldn't answer for madame's life。
Men are so clumsy； they'll make you scenes without any precaution。〃
〃That's not so；〃 said the valet； in a low voice。 〃On the contrary；
madame is the one whoyou understand？ What times does monsieur have
to go after pleasures； he； who hasn't slept out of madame's room for
five years； who goes to his study at ten and never leaves it till
breakfast； at twelve。 His life is all known； it is regular； whereas
madame goes out nearly every day at three o'clock； Heaven knows
where。〃
〃And monsieur too；〃 said the maid； taking her mistress's part。
〃Yes； but he goes straight to the Bourse。 I told him three times that
dinner was ready；〃 continued the valet； after a pause。 〃You might as
well talk to a post。〃
Monsieur Jules entered the dining…room。
〃Where is madame？〃 he said。
〃Madame is going to bed； her head aches；〃 replied the maid； assuming
an air of importance。
Monsieur Jules then said to the footmen composedly： 〃You can take
away； I shall go and sit with madame。〃
He went to his wife's room and found her weeping； but endeavoring to
smother her sobs with her handkerchief。
〃Why do you weep？〃 said Jules； 〃you need expect no violence and no
reproaches from me。 Why should I avenge myself？ If you have not been
faithful to my love； it is that you were never worthy of it。〃
〃Not worthy？〃 The words were repeated amid her sobs and the accent in
which they were said would have moved any other man than Jules。
〃To kill you； I must love more than perhaps I do love you；〃 he
continued。 〃But I should never have the courage； I would rather kill
myself； leaving you to yourhappiness； and withwhom！〃
He did not end his sentence。
〃Kill yourself！〃 she cried； flinging herself at his feet and clasping
them。
But he； wishing to escape the embrace； tried to shake her off；
dragging her in so doing toward the bed。
〃Let me alone；〃 he said。
〃No； no； Jules！〃 she cried。 〃If you love me no longer I shall die。 Do
you wish to know all？〃
〃Yes。〃
He took her； grasped her violently； and sat down on the edge of the
bed； holding her between his legs。 Then； looking at that beautiful
face now red as fire and furrowed with tears；
〃Speak；〃 he said。
Her sobs began again。
〃No； it is a secret of life and death。 If I tell it； INo； I cannot。
Have mercy； Jules！〃
〃You have betrayed me〃
〃Ah！ Jules； you think so now； but soon you will know all。〃
〃But this Ferragus； this convict whom you go to see； a man enriched by
crime； if he does not belong to you； if you do not belong to him〃
〃Oh； Jules！〃
〃Speak！ Is he your mysterious benefactor？the man to whom we owe our
fortune； as persons have said already？〃
〃Who said that？〃
〃A man whom I killed in a duel。〃
〃Oh； God！ one death already！〃
〃If he is not your protector； if he does not give you money； if it is
you； on the contrary； who carry money to him； tell me； is he your
brother？〃
〃What if he were？〃 she said。
Monsieur Desmarets crossed his arms。
〃Why should that have been concealed from me？〃 he said。 〃Then you and
your mother have both deceived me？ Besides； does a woman go to see her
brother every day； or nearly every day？〃
His wife had fainted at his feet。
〃Dead；〃 he said。 〃And suppose I am mistaken？〃
He sprang to the bell…rope； called Josephine； and lifted Clemence to
the bed。
〃I shall die of this；〃 said Madame Jules； recovering consciousness。
〃Josephine；〃 cried Monsieur Desmarets。 〃Send for Monsieur Desplein；
send also to my brother and ask him to come here immediately。〃
〃Why your brother？〃 asked Clemence。
But Jules had already left the room。
CHAPTER IV
WHERE GO TO DIE？
For the first time in five years Madame Jules slept alone in her bed；
and was compelled to admit a physician into that sacred chamber。 These
in themselves were two keen pangs。 Desplein found Madame Jules very
ill。 Never was a violent emotion more untimely。 He would say nothing
definite； and postponed till the morrow giving any opinion； after
leaving a few directions； which were not executed； the emotions of the
heart causing all bodily cares to be forgotten。
When morning dawned； Clemence had not yet slept。 Her mind was absorbed
in the low murmur of a conversation which lasted several hours between
the brothers； but the thickness of the walls allowed no word which
could betray the object of this long conference to reach her ears。
Monsieur Desmarets； the notary； went away at last。 The stillness of
the night； and the singular activity of the senses given by powerful
emotion； enabled Clemence to distinguish the scratching of a pen and
the involuntary movements of a person engaged in writing。 Those who
are habitually up at night； and who observe the different acoustic
effects produced in absolute silence； know that a slight echo can be
readily perceived in the very places where louder but more equable and
continued murmurs are not distinct。 At four o'clock the sound ceased。
Clemence rose； anxious and trembling。 Then； with bare feet and without
a wrapper； forgetting her illness and her moist condition； the poor
woman opened the door softly without noise and looked into the next
room。 She saw her husband sitting； with a pen in his hand； asleep in
his arm…chair。 The candles had burned to the sockets。 She slowly
advanced and read on an envelope； already sealed； the words； 〃This is
my will。〃
She knelt down as if before an open grave and kissed her husband's
hand。 He woke instantly。
〃Jules； my friend； they grant some days to criminals condemned to
death；〃 she said； looking at him with eyes that blazed with fever and
with love。 〃Your innocent wife asks only two。 Leave me free for two
days； andwait！ After that； I shall die happyat least； you will
regret me。〃
〃Clemence； I grant them。〃
Then； as she kissed her husband's hands in the tender transport of her
heart； Jules； under the spell of that cry of innocence； took her in
his arms and kissed her forehead； though ashamed to feel himself still
under subjection to the power of that noble beauty。
On the morrow； after taking a few hours' rest； Jules entered his
wife's