ow the fair sex to
take, from time to time, its revenge?"

"Genius is stronger than wit," said Blondet to Nathan.

This broadside of sarcasms was in fact the discharge of a battery of
cannons against a platoon of musketry. When coffee was served, Blondet
and Nathan went up to d'Arthez with an eagerness no one else dared to
imitate, so unable were the rest of the company to show the admiration
his conduct inspired from the fear of making two powerful enemies.

"This is not the first time we have seen that your character equals your
talent in grandeur," said Blondet. "You behaved just now more like a
demi-god than a man. Not to have been carried away by your heart or
your imagination, not to have taken up the defence of a beloved woman--a
fault they were enticing you to commit, because it would have given
those men of society eaten up with jealousy of your literary fame a
triumph over you--ah! give me leave to say you have attained the height
of private statesmanship."

"Yes, you are a statesman," said Nathan. "It is as clever as it is
difficult to avenge a woman without defending her."

"The princess is one of those heroines of the legitimist party, and
it is the duty of all men of honor to protect her quand meme," replied
d'Arthez, coldly. "What she has done for the cause of her masters would
excuse all follies."

"He keeps his own counsel!" said Nathan to Blondet.

"Precisely as if the princess were worth it," said Rastignac, joining
the other two.

D'Arthez went to the princess, who was awaiting him with the keenest
anxiety. The result of this experiment, which Diane had herself brought
about, might be fatal to her. For the first time in her life this woman
suffered in her heart. She knew not what she should do in case d'Arthez
believed the world which spoke the truth, instead of believing her who
lied; for never had so noble a nature, so complete a man, a soul so
pure, a conscience so ingenuous come beneath her hand. Though she had
told him cruel lies she was driven to do so by the desire of knowing a
true love. That love--she felt it dawning in her heart; yes, she loved
d'Arthez; and now she was condemned forever to deceive him! She must
henceforth remain to him the actress who had played that comedy to blind
his eyes.

When she heard Daniel's step in the dining-room a violent commotion, a
shudder which reached to her very vitals came over her. That convulsion,
never felt during all the years of her adven