Your fortune is immense, and you leave him to beg. An advocate
can be very eloquent when a cause is eloquent in itself; there are here
circumstances which might turn public opinion strongly against you."

"But, monsieur," said the Comtesse, provoked by the way in which
Derville turned and laid her on the gridiron, "even if I grant that your
M. Chabert is living, the law will uphold my second marriage on account
of the children, and I shall get off with the restitution of two hundred
and twenty-five thousand francs to M. Chabert."

"It is impossible to foresee what view the Bench may take of the
question. If on one side we have a mother and children, on the other we
have an old man crushed by sorrows, made old by your refusals to know
him. Where is he to find a wife? Can the judges contravene the law? Your
marriage with Colonel Chabert has priority on its side and every legal
right. But if you appear under disgraceful colors, you might have an
unlooked-for adversary. That, madame, is the danger against which I
would warn you."

"And who is he?"

"Comte Ferraud."

"Monsieur Ferraud has too great an affection for me, too much respect
for the mother of his children--"

"Do not talk of such absurd things," interrupted Derville, "to lawyers,
who are accustomed to read hearts to the bottom. At this instant
Monsieur Ferraud has not the slightest wish to annual your union, and I
am quite sure that he adores you; but if some one were to tell him that
his marriage is void, that his wife will be called before the bar of
public opinion as a criminal--"

"He would defend me, monsieur."

"No, madame."

"What reason could he have for deserting me, monsieur?"

"That he would be free to marry the only daughter of a peer of France,
whose title would be conferred on him by patent from the King."

The Countess turned pale.

"A hit!" said Derville to himself. "I have you on the hip; the poor
Colonel's case is won."--"Besides, madame," he went on aloud, "he would
feel all the less remorse because a man covered with glory--a
General, Count, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor--is not such a bad
alternative; and if that man insisted on his wife's returning to him--"

"Enough, enough, monsieur!" she exclaimed. "I will never have any lawyer
but you. What is to be done?"

"Compromise!" said Derville.

"Does he still love me?" she said.

"Well, I do not think he can do otherwise."

The Countess raised her head at these words.