ng
my hands in his, while I listened in a sort of external ecstasy. It
is incredible how much a desire for vengeance will induce us to put up
with! I appeared vexed at the entrance of my husband, who made a scene
on the viscount's departure: 'I assure you, sir,' said I, after having
listened to his reproaches, 'that _it's altogether moral_.' My husband
saw the point and went no more to Madame de Fischtaminel's. I received
Monsieur de Lustrac no more, either."

"But," I interrupted, "this Lustrac that you, like many others, take for
a bachelor, is a widower, and childless."

"Really!"

"No man ever buried his wife deeper than he buried his: she will hardly
be found at the day of judgment. He married before the Revolution, and
your _altogether moral_ reminds me of a speech of his that I shall have
to repeat for your benefit. Napoleon appointed Lustrac to an important
office, in a conquered province. Madame de Lustrac, abandoned for
governmental duties, took a private secretary for her private affairs,
though it was altogether moral: but she was wrong in selecting him
without informing her husband. Lustrac met this secretary in a state
of some excitement, in consequence of a lively discussion in his wife's
chamber, and at an exceedingly early hour in the morning. The city
desired nothing better than to laugh at its governor, and this adventure
made such a sensation that Lustrac himself begged the Emperor to recall
him. Napoleon desired his representatives to be men of morality, and
he held that such disasters as this must inevitably take from a man's
consideration. You know that among the Emperor's unhappy passions, was
that of reforming his court and his government. Lustrac's request was
granted, therefore, but without compensation. When he returned to Paris,
he reappeared at his mansion, with his wife; he took her into society--a
step which is certainly conformable to the most refined habits of the
aristocracy--but then there are always people who want to find out about
it. They inquired the reason of this chivalrous championship. 'So you
are reconciled, you and Madame de Lustrac,' some one said to him in the
lobby of the Emperor's theatre, 'you have pardoned her, have you? So
much the better.' 'Oh,' replied he, with a satisfied air, 'I became
convinced--' 'Ah, that she was innocent, very good.' 'No, I became
convinced that it was altogether physical.'"

Caroline smiled.

"The opinion of your admirer reduced this w