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thoughts behind a smiling face which lied to him nobly。 Many young men
for after a certain age men no longer strugglepersist in the
effort to triumph over an evil fate； the thunder of which they hear；
from time to time； on the horizon of their lives； and when at last
they succumb and roll down the precipice of evil； we ought to do them
justice and acknowledge these inward struggles。
Like many men Diard tried all things； and all things were hostile to
him。 His wealth enabled him to surround his wife with the enjoyments
of Parisian luxury。 She lived in a fine house； with noble rooms； where
she maintained a salon； in which abounded artists （by nature no judges
of men）； men of pleasure ready to amuse themselves anywhere； a few
politicians who swelled the numbers； and certain men of fashion； all
of whom admired Juana。 Those who put themselves before the eyes of the
public in Paris must either conquer Paris or be subject to it。 Diard's
character was not sufficiently strong； compact； or persistent to
command society at that epoch； because it was an epoch when all men
were endeavoring to rise。 Social classifications ready…made are
perhaps a great boon even for the people。 Napoleon has confided to us
the pains he took to inspire respect in his court； where most of the
courtiers had been his equals。 But Napoleon was Corsican； and Diard
Provencal。 Given equal genius； an islander will always be more compact
and rounded than the man of terra firma in the same latitude； the arm
of the sea which separates Corsica from Provence is； in spite of human
science； an ocean which has made two nations。
Diard's mongrel position； which he himself made still more
questionable； brought him great troubles。 Perhaps there is useful
instruction to be derived from the almost imperceptible connection of
acts which led to the finale of this history。
In the first place； the sneerers of Paris did not see without
malicious smiles and words the pictures with which the former
quartermaster adorned his handsome mansion。 Works of art purchased the
night before were said to be spoils from Spain； and this accusation
was the revenge of those who were jealous of his present fortune。
Juana comprehended this reproach； and by her advice Diard sent back to
Tarragona all the pictures he had brought from there。 But the public；
determined to see things in the worst light； only said； 〃That Diard is
shrewd； he has sold his pictures。〃 Worthy people continued to think
that those which remained in the Diard salons were not honorably
acquired。 Some jealous women asked how it was that a DIARD （！） had
been able to marry so rich and beautiful a young girl。 Hence comments
and satires without end； such as Paris contributes。 And yet； it must
be said； that Juana met on all sides the respect inspired by her pure
and religious life； which triumphed over everything； even Parisian
calumny； but this respect stopped short with her； her husband received
none of it。 Juana's feminine perception and her keen eye hovering over
her salons； brought her nothing but pain。
This lack of esteem was perfectly natural。 Diard's comrades； in spite
of the virtues which our imaginations attribute to soldiers； never
forgave the former quartermaster of the 6th of the line for becoming
suddenly so rich and for attempting to cut a figure in Paris。 Now in
Paris； from the last house in the faubourg Saint…Germain to the last
in the rue Saint…Lazare； between the heights of the Luxembourg and the
heights of Montmartre； all that clothes itself and gabbles； clothes
itself to go out and goes out to gabble。 All that world of great and
small pretensions； that world of insolence and humble desires； of envy
and cringing； all that is gilded or tarnished； young or old； noble of
yesterday or noble from the fourth century； all that sneers at a
parvenu； all that fears to commit itself； all that wants to demolish
power and worships power if it resists；ALL those ears hear； ALL
those tongues say； ALL those minds know； in a single evening； where
the new…comer who aspires to honor among them was born and brought up；
and what that interloper has done； or has not done； in the course of
his life。 There may be no court of assizes for the upper classes of
society； but at any rate they have the most cruel of public
prosecutors； an intangible moral being； both judge and executioner；
who accuses and brands。 Do not hope to hide anything from him； tell
him all yourself； he wants to know all and he will know all。 Do not
ask what mysterious telegraph it was which conveyed to him in the
twinkling of an eye； at any hour； in any place； that story； that bit
of news； that scandal； do not ask what prompts him。 That telegraph is
a social mystery； no observer can report its effects。 Of many
extraordinary instances thereof； one may suffice： The assassination of
the Duc de Berry； which occurred at the Opera…house； was related
within ten minutes in the Ile…Saint…Louis。 Thus the opinion of the 6th
of the line as to its quartermaster filtered through society the night
on which he gave his first ball。
Diard was therefore debarred from succeeding in society。 Henceforth
his wife alone had the power to make anything of him。 Miracle of our
strange civilization！ In Paris； if a man is incapable of being
anything himself； his wife； when she is young and clever； may give him
other chances for elevation。 We sometimes meet with invalid women；
feeble beings apparently； who； without rising from sofas or leaving
their chambers； have ruled society； moved a thousand springs； and
placed their husbands where their ambition or their vanity prompted。
But Juana； whose childhood was passed in her retreat in Tarragona；
knew nothing of the vices； the meannesses； or the resources of
Parisian society； she looked at that society with the curiosity of a
girl； but she learned from it only that which her sorrow and her
wounded pride revealed to her。
Juana had the tact of a virgin heart which receives impressions in
advance of the event； after the manner of what are called
〃sensitives。〃 The solitary young girl； so suddenly become a woman and
a wife； saw plainly that were she to attempt to compel society to
respect her husband； it must be after the manner of Spanish beggars；
carbine in hand。 Besides； the multiplicity of the precautions she
would have to take； would they meet the necessity？ Suddenly she
divined society as； once before； she had divined life； and she saw
nothing around her but the immense extent of an irreparable disaster。
She had； moreover； the additional grief of tardily recognizing her
husband's peculiar form of incapacity； he was a man unfitted for any
purpose that required continuity of ideas。 He could not understand a
consistent part； such as he ought to play in the world； he perceived
it neither as a whole nor in its gradations； and its gradations were
everything。 He was in one of those positions where shrewdness and tact
might have taken the place