. Danglars appeared; Debray
reseated himself. At the noise of the door Madame Danglars turned round,
and looked upon her husband with an astonishment she took no trouble
to conceal. "Good-evening, madame," said the banker; "good-evening, M.
Debray."

Probably the baroness thought this unexpected visit signified a desire
to make up for the sharp words he had uttered during the day. Assuming
a dignified air, she turned round to Debray, without answering her
husband. "Read me something, M. Debray," she said. Debray, who was
slightly disturbed at this visit, recovered himself when he saw the
calmness of the baroness, and took up a book marked by a mother-of-pearl
knife inlaid with gold. "Excuse me," said the banker, "but you will
tire yourself, baroness, by such late hours, and M. Debray lives some
distance from here."

Debray was petrified, not only to hear Danglars speak so calmly and
politely, but because it was apparent that beneath outward politeness
there really lurked a determined spirit of opposition to anything his
wife might wish to do. The baroness was also surprised, and showed her
astonishment by a look which would doubtless have had some effect upon
her husband if he had not been intently occupied with the paper, where
he was looking to see the closing stock quotations. The result was, that
the proud look entirely failed of its purpose.

"M. Lucien," said the baroness, "I assure you I have no desire to sleep,
and that I have a thousand things to tell you this evening, which you
must listen to, even though you slept while hearing me."

"I am at your service, madame," replied Lucien coldly.

"My dear M. Debray," said the banker, "do not kill yourself to-night
listening to the follies of Madame Danglars, for you can hear them as
well to-morrow; but I claim to-night and will devote it, if you will
allow me, to talk over some serious matters with my wife." This time
the blow was so well aimed, and hit so directly, that Lucien and the
baroness were staggered, and they interrogated each other with their
eyes, as if to seek help against this aggression, but the irresistible
will of the master of the house prevailed, and the husband was
victorious.

"Do not think I wish to turn you out, my dear Debray," continued
Danglars; "oh, no, not at all. An unexpected occurrence forces me to ask
my wife to have a little conversation with me; it is so rarely I make
such a request, I am sure you cannot grudge it to me." Debr