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〃We went into the drawing…room。 The dinner was delightful。 Men of real
information； politicians to whom business gives both consummate
experience and the practice of speech； are admirable story…tellers；
when they tell stories。 With them there is no medium； they are either
heavy； or they are sublime。 In this delightful sport Prince Metternich
is as good as Charles Nodier。 The fun of a statesman； cut in facets
like a diamond； is sharp； sparkling； and full of sense。 Being sure
that the proprieties would be observed by these three superior men； my
uncle allowed his wit full play； a refined wit； gentle； penetrating；
and elegant； like that of all men who are accustomed to conceal their
thoughts under the black robe。 And you may rely upon it； there was
nothing vulgar nor idle in this light talk； which I would compare； for
its effect on the soul； to Rossini's music。
〃The Abbe Gaudron was； as M。 de Grandville said； a Saint Peter rather
than a Saint Paul； a peasant full of faith； as square on his feet as
he was tall； a sacerdotal of whose ignorance in matters of the world
and of literature enlivened the conversation by guileless amazement
and unexpected questions。 They came to talking of one of the plague
spots of social life； of which we were just now speakingadultery。 My
uncle remarked on the contradiction which the legislators of the Code；
still feeling the blows of the revolutionary storm； had established
between civil and religious law； and which he said was at the root of
all the mischief。
〃 'In the eyes of the Church；' said he； 'adultery is a crime； in those
of your tribunals it is a misdemeanor。 Adultery drives to the police
court in a carriage instead of standing at the bar to be tried。
Napoleon's Council of State； touched with tenderness towards erring
women； was quite inefficient。 Ought they not in this case to have
harmonized the civil and the religious law； and have sent the guilty
wife to a convent； as of old？'
〃 'To a convent！' said M。 de Serizy。 'They must first have created
convents； and in those days monasteries were being turned into
barracks。 Besides； think of what you say； M。 l'Abbegive to God what
society would have none of？'
〃 'Oh！' said the Comte de Grandville； 'you do not know France。 They
were obliged to leave the husband free to take proceedings： well；
there are not ten cases of adultery brought up in a year。'
〃 'M。 l'Abbe preaches for his own saint； for it was Jesus Christ who
invented adultery；' said Comte Octave。 'In the East； the cradle of the
human race； woman was merely a luxury； and there was regarded as a
chattel； no virtues were demanded of her but obedience and beauty。 By
exalting the soul above the body； the modern family in Europea
daughter of Christinvented indissoluble marriage； and made it a
sacrament。'
〃 'Ah！ the Church saw the difficulties；' exclaimed M。 de Grandville。
〃 'This institution has given rise to a new world；' the Count went on
with a smile。 'But the practices of that world will never be that of a
climate where women are marriageable at seven years of age； and more
than old at five…and…twenty。 The Catholic Church overlooked the needs
of half the globe。So let us discuss Europe only。
〃 'Is woman our superior or our inferior？ That is the real question so
far as we are concerned。 If woman is our inferior； by placing her on
so high a level as the Church does； fearful punishments for adultery
were needful。 And formerly that was what was done。 The cloister or
death sums up early legislation。 But since then practice has modified
the law； as is always the case。 The throne served as a hotbed for
adultery； and the increase of this inviting crime marks the decline of
the dogmas of the Catholic Church。 In these days； in cases where the
Church now exacts no more than sincere repentance from the erring
wife； society is satisfied with a brand…mark instead of an execution。
The law still condemns the guilty； but it no longer terrifies them。 In
short； there are two standards of morals： that of the world； and that
of the Code。 Where the Code is weak； as I admit with our dear Abbe；
the world is audacious and satirical。 There are so few judges who
would not gladly have committed the fault against which they hurl the
rather stolid thunders of their 〃Inasmuch。〃 The world； which gives the
lie to the law alike in its rejoicings； in its habits； and in its
pleasures； is severer than the Code and the Church； the world punishes
a blunder after encouraging hypocrisy。 The whole economy of the law on
marriage seems to me to require reconstruction from the bottom to the
top。 The French law would be perfect perhaps if it excluded daughters
from inheriting。'
〃 'We three among us know the question very thoroughly；' said the
Comte de Grandville with a laugh。 'I have a wife I cannot live with。
Serizy has a wife who will not live with him。 As for you； Octave；
yours ran away from you。 So we three represent every case of the
conjugal conscience； and； no doubt； if ever divorce is brought in
again； we shall form the committee。'
〃Octave's fork dropped on his glass； broke it； and broke his plate。 He
had turned as pale as death； and flashed a thunderous glare at M。 de
Grandville； by which he hinted at my presence； and which I caught。
〃 'Forgive me； my dear fellow。 I did not see Maurice；' the President
went on。 'Serizy and I； after being the witnesses to your marriage；
became your accomplices； I did not think I was committing an
indiscretion in the presence of these two venerable priests。'
〃M。 de Serizy changed the subject by relating all he had done to
please his wife without ever succeeding。 The old man concluded that it
was impossible to regulate human sympathies and antipathies； he
maintained that social law was never more perfect than when it was
nearest to natural law。 Now Nature takes no account of the affinities
of souls； her aim is fulfilled by the propagation of the species。
Hence； the Code； in its present form； was wise in leaving a wide
latitude to chance。 The incapacity of daughters to inherit so long as
there were male heirs was an excellent provision； whether to hinder
the degeneration of the race； or to make households happier by
abolishing scandalous unions and giving the sole preference to moral
qualities and beauty。
〃 'But then；' he exclaimed； lifting his hand with a gesture of
disgust； 'how are we to perfect legislation in a country which insists
on bringing together seven or eight hundred legislators！After all；
if I am sacrificed；' he added； 'I have a child to succeed me。'
〃 'Setting aside all the religious question；' my uncle said； 'I would
remark to your Excellency that Nature only owes us life； and that it
is society that owes us happiness。 Are you a father？' asked my uncle。
〃 'And Ihave I any children？' said Comte Octave in a hollow voice；
and his tone made such an impression that there was no more talk of
wives or marriage。
〃When coffee had been served； the two Counts and the two priests stole
away； seeing that poor Octave had fallen into a fit of melancholy
which prevented his noticing their disappearance。 My patron was
sitting in an armchair by the fire； in the attitude of a man crushed。
〃 'You now know the secret of my life； said he to me on noticing that
we were alone。 'After three years of married life； one evening when I
came in I found a letter in which the Countess announced her flight。
The letter did not lack dignity； for it is in the nature of women to
preserve some virtues even when committing that horrible sin。The
story is now that my wife went abroad in a ship that was wrecked； she
is supposed to be dead。 I have lived alone for seven years！Enough
for this evening； Maurice。 We will talk of my situation when I have
grown used to the idea of speaking of it to you。 When we suffer from a
chronic disease； it needs time to become accustomed to improvement。
That improvement often seems to be merely another aspect of the
complaint。'
〃I went to bed greatly agitated； for the mystery； far from being
explained； seemed to me more obscure than ever。 I foresaw some strange
drama indeed； for I understood that there could be no vulgar
difference between the