ign which meant, "Don't pour oil on
the fire." Then she asked the countess whether she had tried to show M.
de l'Estorade the impropriety of that step.

"The moment I began to object," replied the countess, "he was angry, and
said I must be very anxious to keep up our intimacy with 'that man'
when I rejected such a natural opportunity to show publicly that the
acquaintance was at an end."

"Well, my dear, you will have to go," said Madame de Camps. "The peace
of your home before everything else! Besides, considering all things,
your presence at the discussion may be taken as a proof of kindly
interest."

"For sixteen years," remarked Monsieur de Camps, "you have ruled and
governed in your home; and here, at last, is a revolution which cruelly
overturns your power."

"Ah, monsieur, I beg you to believe that that sovereignty--which I
always sought to conceal--I never used arbitrarily."

"As if I did not know that!" replied Monsieur de Camps, taking Madame de
l'Estorade's hand and pressing it affectionately. "I am, nevertheless,
of my wife's opinion: you will have to drink this cup."

"But I shall die of shame in listening to the ministerial infamies; I
shall feel that they are cutting the throat of a man whom two words from
me could save."

"True," said Monsieur de Camps, "and a man, too, who has done you a
vast service. But you must choose: do you prefer to bring hell into your
home, and exasperate the unhealthy condition of your husband's mind?"

"Listen to me, dearest," said Madame de Camps. "Tell Monsieur de
l'Estorade that I want to go to this session, and ask him for a permit;
don't yield the point to any objections. I shall then be there to take
care of you, and perhaps protect you from yourself."

"I did not dare ask it of you," replied Madame de l'Estorade. "We don't
usually invite friends to see us commit bad actions; but since you are
so kind as to offer, I can truly say I shall be less wretched if you are
with me. Now good-bye; I don't want my husband to find me out when he
comes home. He is dining with Monsieur de Rastignac, where, no doubt,
they are plotting for to-morrow."

"Yes, go; and I will write you a note in the course of an hour, as if I
had not seen you, asking you to get me a permit for to-morrow's session,
which I am told will be very interesting."

"To be reduced to conspiracy!" cried Madame de l'Estorade, kissing her
friend.

"My dear love," said Madame de Camps, "they say the lif