The Marquise bowed an agreement.

"But," continued the judge, "if you have no more than twenty-six
thousand francs a year, you may have a hundred thousand francs of debt.
The Court would therefore have a right to imagine that the motives which
prompt you to ask that your husband may be deprived of the control of
his property are complicated by self-interest and the need of paying
your debts--if--you--have--any. The requests addressed to me have
interested me in your position; consider fully and make your confession.
If my suppositions have hit the truth, there is yet time to avoid the
blame which the Court would have a perfect right to express in the
saving clauses of the verdict if you could not show your attitude to be
absolutely honorable and clear.

"It is our duty to examine the motives of the applicant as well as
to listen to the plea of the witness under examination, to ascertain
whether the petitioner may not have been prompted by passion, by a
desire for money, which is unfortunately too common----"

The Marquise was on Saint Laurence's gridiron.

"And I must have explanations on this point. Madame, I have no wish to
call you to account; I only want to know how you have managed to live at
the rate of sixty thousand francs a year, and that for some years past.
There are plenty of women who achieve this in their housekeeping, but
you are not one of those. Tell me, you may have the most legitimate
resources, a royal pension, or some claim on the indemnities lately
granted; but even then you must have had your husband's authority to
receive them."

The Marquise did not speak.

"You must remember," Popinot went on, "that M. d'Espard may wish to
enter a protest, and his counsel will have a right to find out whether
you have any creditors. This boudoir is newly furnished, your rooms are
not now furnished with the things left to you by M. d'Espard in 1816.
If, as you did me the honor of informing me, furniture is costly for
the Jeanrenauds, it must be yet more so for you, who are a great
lady. Though I am a judge, I am but a man; I may be wrong--tell me so.
Remember the duties imposed on me by the law, and the rigorous inquiries
it demands, when the case before it is the suspension from all his
functions of the father of a family in the prime of life. So you will
pardon me, Madame la Marquise, for laying all these difficulties before
you; it will be easy for you to give me an explanation.

"When a man is pr