ar--" he continued, with a
suppliant air.

"What does this mean?" inquired Mme. de Wimphen.

"Come, come," said Mme. d'Aiglemont, turning to her husband; smiling at
her friend as if to say, "You will soon see."

Julie held up her head; but as her husband came close to her, she
swerved at the last, so that his kiss fell not on her throat, but on the
broad frill about it.

"You will be my witness before heaven now that I need a firman to obtain
this little grace of her," said the Marquis, addressing Mme. de Wimphen.
"This is how this wife of mine understands love. She has brought me to
this pass, by what trickery I am at a loss to know.... A pleasant time
to you!" and he went.

"But your poor husband is really very good-natured," cried Louisa de
Wimphen, when the two women were alone together. "He loves you."

"Oh! not another syllable after that last word. The name I bear makes me
shudder----"

"Yes, but Victor obeys you implicitly," said Louisa.

"His obedience is founded in part upon the great esteem which I have
inspired in him. As far as outward things go, I am a model wife. I make
his house pleasant to him; I shut my eyes to his intrigues; I touch not
a penny of his fortune. He is free to squander the interest exactly as
he pleases; I only stipulate that he shall not touch the principal. At
this price I have peace. He neither explains nor attempts to explain my
life. But though my husband is guided by me, that does not say that I
have nothing to fear from his character. I am a bear leader who daily
trembles lest the muzzle should give way at last. If Victor once took
it into his head that I had forfeited my right to his esteem, what would
happen next I dare not think; for he is violent, full of personal pride,
and vain above all things. While his wits are not keen enough to enable
him to behave discreetly at a delicate crisis when his lowest passions
are involved, his character is weak, and he would very likely kill me
provisionally even if he died of remorse next day. But there is no fear
of that fatal good fortune."

A brief pause followed. Both women were thinking of the real cause of
this state of affairs. Julie gave Louisa a glance which revealed her
thoughts.

"I have been cruelly obeyed," she cried. "Yet I never forbade him to
write to me. Oh! _he_ has forgotten me, and he is right. If his life had
been spoiled, it would have been too tragical; one life is enough, is it
not? Would you believe it,