cs. Madame Diard made no observation on this unusual
meanness. When her husband told her that he was going to the
watering-places and that she would stay at Bordeaux, Juana offered no
difficulty, and at once formed a plan to teach the children Spanish
and Italian, and to make them read the two masterpieces of the two
languages. She was glad to lead a retired life, simply and naturally
economical. To spare herself the troubles of material life, she arranged
with a "traiteur" the day after Diard's departure to send in their
meals. Her maid then sufficed for the service of the house, and she thus
found herself without money, but her wants all provided for until her
husband's return. Her pleasures consisted in taking walks with the
children. She was then thirty-three years old. Her beauty, greatly
developed, was in all its lustre. Therefore as soon as she appeared,
much talk was made in Bordeaux about the beautiful Spanish stranger. At
the first advances made to her Juana ceased to walk abroad, and confined
herself wholly to her own large garden.

Diard at first made a fortune at the baths. In two months he won three
hundred thousand dollars, but it never occurred to him to send any money
to his wife; he kept it all, expecting to make some great stroke of
fortune on a vast stake. Towards the end of the second month the Marquis
de Montefiore appeared at the same baths. The marquis was at this time
celebrated for his wealth, his handsome face, his fortunate marriage
with an Englishwoman, and more especially for his love of play. Diard,
his former companion, encountered him, and desired to add his spoils to
those of others. A gambler with four hundred thousand francs in hand is
always in a position to do as he pleases. Diard, confident in his luck,
renewed acquaintance with Montefiore. The latter received him very
coldly, but nevertheless they played together, and Diard lost every
penny that he possessed, and more.

"My dear Montefiore," said the ex-quartermaster, after making a tour
of the salon, "I owe you a hundred thousand francs; but my money is in
Bordeaux, where I have left my wife."

Diard had the money in bank-bills in his pocket; but with the
self-possession and rapid bird's-eye view of a man accustomed to catch
at all resources, he still hoped to recover himself by some one of the
endless caprices of play. Montefiore had already mentioned his intention
of visiting Bordeaux. Had he paid his debt on the spot, Diard