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later why I feel desirous to know the truth of all this。〃
〃You shall know it；〃 said Vandenesse。 〃If you stay masked I will take
you to supper with Nathan and Florine； it would be rather amusing for
a woman of your rank to fool an actress after bewildering the wits of
a clever man about these important facts； you can harness them both to
the same hoax。 I'll make some inquiries about Nathan's infidelities；
and if I discover any of his recent adventures you shall enjoy the
sight of a courtesan's fury； it is magnificent。 Florine will boil and
foam like an Alpine torrent； she adores Nathan； he is everything to
her； she clings to him like flesh to the bones or a lioness to her
cubs。 I remember seeing； in my youth； a celebrated actress （who wrote
like a scullion） when she came to a friend of mine to demand her
letters。 I have never seen such a sight again； such calm fury； such
insolent majesty； such savage self…control Are you ill； Marie？〃
〃No； they have made too much fire。〃 The countess turned away and threw
herself on a sofa。 Suddenly； with an unforeseen movement； impelled by
the horrible anguish of her jealousy； she rose on her trembling legs；
crossed her arms； and came slowly to her husband。
〃What do you know？〃 she asked。 〃You are not a man to torture me； you
would crush me without making me suffer if I were guilty。〃
〃What do you expect me to know； Marie？〃
〃Well！ about Nathan。〃
〃You think you love him；〃 he replied； 〃but you love a phantom made of
words。〃
〃Then you know〃
〃All；〃 he said。
The word fell on Marie's head like the blow of a club。
〃If you wish it； I will know nothing；〃 he continued。 〃You are standing
on the brink of a precipice； my child； and I must draw you from it。 I
have already done something。 See！〃
He drew from his pocket her letter of guarantee and the four notes
endorsed by Schmucke； and let the countess recognize them； then he
threw them into the fire。
〃What would have happened to you； my poor Marie； three months hence？〃
he said。 〃The sheriffs would have taken you to a public court…room。
Don't bow your head； don't feel humiliated； you have been the dupe of
noble feelings； you have coquetted with poesy； not with a man。 All
womenall； do you hear me； Marie？would have been seduced in your
position。 How absurd we should be； we men； we who have committed a
thousand follies through a score of years； if we were not willing to
grant you one imprudence in a lifetime！ God keep me from triumphing
over you or from offering you a pity you repelled so vehemently the
other day。 Perhaps that unfortunate man was sincere when he wrote to
you； sincere in attempting to kill himself； sincere in returning that
same night to Florine。 Men are worth less than women。 It is not for my
own sake that I speak at this moment； but for yours。 I am indulgent；
but the world is not； it shuns a woman who makes a scandal。 Is that
just？ I know not； but this I know； the world is cruel。 Society refuses
to calm the woes itself has caused； it gives its honors to those who
best deceive it； it has no recompense for rash devotion。 I see and
know all that。 I can't reform society； but this I can do； I can
protect you； Marie； against yourself。 This matter concerns a man who
has brought you trouble only； and not one of those high and sacred
loves which do； at times； command our abnegation； and even bear their
own excuse。 Perhaps I have been wrong in not varying your happiness；
in not providing you with gayer pleasures； travel； amusements；
distractions for the mind。 Besides； I can explain to myself the
impulse that has driven you to a celebrated man； by the jealous envy
you have roused in certain women。 Lady Dudley； Madame d'Espard； and my
sister…in…law Emilie count for something in all this。 Those women；
against whom I ought to have put you more thoroughly on your guard；
have cultivated your curiosity more to trouble me and cause me
unhappiness； than to fling you into a whirlpool which； as I believe；
you would never have entered。〃
As she listened to these words； so full of kindness； the countess was
torn by many conflicting feelings； but the storm within her breast was
ruled by one of them；a keen admiration for her husband。 Proud and
noble souls are prompt to recognize the delicacy with which they are
treated。 Tact is to sentiments what grace is to the body。 Marie
appreciated the grandeur of the man who bowed before a woman in fault；
that he might not see her blush。 She ran from the room like one beside
herself； but instantly returned； fearing lest her hasty action might
cause him uneasiness。
〃Wait；〃 she said； and disappeared again。
Felix had ably prepared her excuse； and he was instantly rewarded for
his generosity。 His wife returned with Nathan's letters in her hand；
and gave them to him。
〃Judge me；〃 she said； kneeling down beside him。
〃Are we able to judge where we love？〃 he answered； throwing the
letters into the fire； for he felt that later his wife might not
forgive him for having read them。 Marie； with her head upon his knee；
burst into tears。
〃My child；〃 he said； raising her head； 〃where are your letters？〃
At this question the poor woman no longer felt the intolerable burning
of her cheeks； she turned cold。
〃That you may not suspect me of calumniating a man whom you think
worthy of you； I will make Florine herself return you those letters。〃
〃Oh！ Surely he would give them back to me himself。〃
〃Suppose that he refused to do so？〃
The countess dropped her head。
〃The world disgusts me；〃 she said。 〃I don't want to enter it again。 I
want to live alone with you； if you forgive me。〃
〃But you might get bored again。 Besides； what would the world say if
you left it so abruptly？ In the spring we will travel； we will go to
Italy； and all over Europe； you shall see life。 But to…morrow night we
must go to the Opera…ball； there is no other way to get those letters
without compromising you； besides； by giving them up； Florine will
prove to you her power。〃
〃And must I see that？〃 said the countess； frightened。
〃To…morrow night。〃
The next evening； about midnight； Nathan was walking about the foyer
of the Opera with a mask on his arm； to whom he was attending in a
sufficiently conjugal manner。 Presently two masked women came up to
him。
〃You poor fool！ Marie is here and is watching you；〃 said one of them；
who was Vandenesse； disguised as a woman。
〃If you choose to listen to me I will tell you secrets that Nathan is
hiding from you；〃 said the other woman； who was the countess； to
Florine。
Nathan had abruptly dropped Florine's arm to follow the count； who
adroitly slipped into the crowd and was out of sight in a moment。
Florine followed the countess； who sat down on a seat close at hand；
to which the count； doubling on Nathan； returned almost immediately to
guard his wife。
〃Explain yourself； my dear；〃 said Florine； 〃and