has
fine appointments."

"If they spend sixty thousand francs a year," said the judge, "how much
do you spend?"

"Well," said Madame d'Espard, "about the same." The Chevalier started a
little, the Marquise colored; Bianchon looked at Rastignac; but Popinot
preserved an expression of simplicity which quite deceived Madame
d'Espard. The chevalier took no part in the conversation; he saw that
all was lost.

"These people, madame, might be indicted before the superior Court,"
said Popinot.

"That was my opinion," exclaimed the Marquise, enchanted. "If threatened
with the police, they would have come to terms."

"Madame," said Popinot, "when M. d'Espard left you, did he not give
you a power of attorney enabling you to manage and control your own
affairs?"

"I do not understand the object of all these questions," said the
Marquise with petulance. "It seems to me that if you would only consider
the state in which I am placed by my husband's insanity, you ought to be
troubling yourself about him, and not about me."

"We are coming to that, madame," said the judge. "Before placing in
your hands, or in any others, the control of M. d'Espard's property,
supposing he were pronounced incapable, the Court must inquire as to how
you have managed your own. If M. d'Espard gave you the power, he would
have shown confidence in you, and the Court would recognize the fact.
Had you any power from him? You might have bought or sold house property
or invested money in business?"

"No, monsieur, the Blamont-Chauvrys are not in the habit of trading,"
said she, extremely nettled in her pride as an aristocrat, and
forgetting the business in hand. "My property is intact, and M. d'Espard
gave me no power to act."

The Chevalier put his hand over his eyes not to betray the vexation
he felt at his sister-in-law's short-sightedness, for she was ruining
herself by her answers. Popinot had gone straight to the mark in spite
of his apparent doublings.

"Madame," said the lawyer, indicating the Chevalier, "this gentleman, of
course, is your near connection? May we speak openly before these other
gentlemen?"

"Speak on," said the Marquise, surprised at this caution.

"Well, madame, granting that you spend only sixty thousand francs
a year, to any one who sees your stables, your house, your train of
servants, and a style of housekeeping which strikes me as far more
luxurious than that of the Jeanrenauds, that sum would seem well laid
out."