conversation
the tinge of melancholy that was needed to keep it serious. She revived
his love without awakening his desires, and allowed her first husband to
discern the mental wealth she had acquired while trying to accustom him
to moderate his pleasure to that which a father may feel in the society
of a favorite daughter.

The Colonel had known the Countess of the Empire; he found her a
Countess of the Restoration.

At last, by a cross-road, they arrived at the entrance to a large park
lying in the little valley which divides the heights of Margency from
the pretty village of Groslay. The Countess had there a delightful
house, where the Colonel on arriving found everything in readiness
for his stay there, as well as for his wife's. Misfortune is a kind
of talisman whose virtue consists in its power to confirm our original
nature; in some men it increases their distrust and malignancy, just as
it improves the goodness of those who have a kind heart.

Sorrow had made the Colonel even more helpful and good than he had
always been, and he could understand some secrets of womanly distress
which are unrevealed to most men. Nevertheless, in spite of his loyal
trustfulness, he could not help saying to his wife:

"Then you felt quite sure you would bring me here?"

"Yes," replied she, "if I found Colonel Chabert in Derville's client."

The appearance of truth she contrived to give to this answer dissipated
the slight suspicions which the Colonel was ashamed to have felt. For
three days the Countess was quite charming to her first husband. By
tender attentions and unfailing sweetness she seemed anxious to wipe out
the memory of the sufferings he had endured, and to earn forgiveness
for the woes which, as she confessed, she had innocently caused him. She
delighted in displaying for him the charms she knew he took pleasure
in, while at the same time she assumed a kind of melancholy; for men are
more especially accessible to certain ways, certain graces of the heart
or of the mind which they cannot resist. She aimed at interesting him in
her position, and appealing to his feelings so far as to take possession
of his mind and control him despotically.

Ready for anything to attain her ends, she did not yet know what she
was to do with this man; but at any rate she meant to annihilate him
socially. On the evening of the third day she felt that in spite of her
efforts she could not conceal her uneasiness as to the results of h