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the world； and that is what we are doing。〃
〃I know； Juana； that YOU are never in the wrong。〃
The words were said bitterly； and cast； for the rest of their lives
together； a coldness between them。
On the morrow of that fatal day Diard went back to his old companions
and found distractions for his mind in play。 Unfortunately； he won
much money； and continued playing。 Little by little； he returned to
the dissipated life he had formerly lived。 Soon he ceased even to dine
in his own home。
Some months went by in the enjoyment of this new independence； he was
determined to preserve it； and in order to do so he separated himself
from his wife； giving her the large apartments and lodging himself in
the entresol。 By the end of the year Diard and Juana only saw each
other in the morning at breakfast。
Like all gamblers； he had his alternations of loss and gain。 Not
wishing to cut into the capital of his fortune； he felt the necessity
of withdrawing from his wife the management of their income； and the
day came when he took from her all she had hitherto freely disposed of
for the household benefit； giving her instead a monthly stipend。 The
conversation they had on this subject was the last of their married
intercourse。 The silence that fell between them was a true divorce；
Juana comprehended that from henceforth she was only a mother； and she
was glad； not seeking for the causes of this evil。 For such an event
is a great evil。 Children are conjointly one with husband and wife in
the home； and the life of her husband could not be a source of grief
and injury to Juana only。
As for Diard； now emancipated； he speedily grew accustomed to win and
lose enormous sums。 A fine player and a heavy player； he soon became
celebrated for his style of playing。 The social consideration he had
been unable to win under the Empire； he acquired under the Restoration
by the rolling of his gold on the green cloth and by his talent for
all games that were in vogue。 Ambassadors； bankers； persons with
newly…acquired large fortunes； and all those men who； having sucked
life to the dregs； turn to gambling for its feverish joys； admired
Diard at their clubs；seldom in their own houses；and they all
gambled with him。 He became the fashion。 Two or three times during the
winter he gave a fete as a matter of social pride in return for the
civilities he received。 At such times Juana once more caught a glimpse
of the world of balls； festivities； luxury； and lights； but for her it
was a sort of tax imposed upon the comfort of her solitude。 She； the
queen of these solemnities； appeared like a being fallen from some
other planet。 Her simplicity； which nothing had corrupted； her
beautiful virginity of soul； which her peaceful life restored to her；
her beauty and her true modesty； won her sincere homage。 But observing
how few women ever entered her salons； she came to understand that
though her husband was following； without communicating its nature to
her； a new line of conduct； he had gained nothing actually in the
world's esteem。
Diard was not always lucky； far from it。 In three years he had
dissipated three fourths of his fortune； but his passion for play gave
him the energy to continue it。 He was intimate with a number of men；
more particularly with the roues of the Bourse； men who； since the
revolution； have set up the principle that robbery done on a large
scale is only a SMIRCH to the reputation；transferring thus to
financial matters the loose principles of love in the eighteenth
century。 Diard now became a sort of business man； and concerned
himself in several of those affairs which are called SHADY in the
slang of the law…courts。 He practised the decent thievery by which so
many men； cleverly masked； or hidden in the recesses of the political
world； make their fortunes；thievery which； if done in the streets by
the light of an oil lamp； would see a poor devil to the galleys； but；
under gilded ceilings and by the light of candelabra； is sanctioned。
Diard brought up； monopolized； and sold sugars； he sold offices； he
had the glory of inventing the 〃man of straw〃 for lucrative posts
which it was necessary to keep in his own hands for a short time； he
bought votes； receiving； on one occasion； so much per cent on the
purchase of fifteen parliamentary votes which all passed on one
division from the benches of the Left to the benches of the Right。
Such actions are no longer crimes or thefts；they are called
governing； developing industry； becoming a financial power。 Diard was
placed by public opinion on the bench of infamy where many an able man
was already seated。 On that bench is the aristocracy of evil。 It is
the upper Chamber of scoundrels of high life。 Diard was； therefore；
not a mere commonplace gambler who is seen to be a blackguard； and
ends by begging。 That style of gambler is no longer seen in society of
a certain topographical height。 In these days bold scoundrels die
brilliantly in the chariot of vice with the trappings of luxury。
Diard； at least； did not buy his remorse at a low price； he made
himself one of these privileged men。 Having studied the machinery of
government and learned all the secrets and the passions of the men in
power； he was able to maintain himself in the fiery furnace into which
he had sprung。
Madame Diard knew nothing of her husband's infernal life。 Glad of his
abandonment； she felt no curiosity about him； and all her hours were
occupied。 She devoted what money she had to the education of her
children； wishing to make men of them； and giving them straight…
forward reasons； without； however； taking the bloom from their young
imaginations。 Through them alone came her interests and her emotions；
consequently； she suffered no longer from her blemished life。 Her
children were to her what they are to many mothers for a long period
of time；a sort of renewal of their own existence。 Diard was now an
accidental circumstance； not a participator in her life； and since he
had ceased to be the father and the head of the family； Juana felt
bound to him by no tie other than that imposed by conventional laws。
Nevertheless； she brought up her children to the highest respect for
paternal authority； however imaginary it was for them。 In this she was
greatly seconded by her husband's continual absence。 If he had been
much in the home Diard would have neutralized his wife's efforts。 The
boys had too much intelligence and shrewdness not to have judged their
father； and to judge a father is moral parricide。
In the long run； however； Juana's indifference to her husband wore
itself away； it even changed to a species of fear。 She understood at
last how the conduct of a father might long weigh on the future of her
children； and her motherly solicitude brought her many； though
incomplete； revelations of the truth。 From day to day the dread of
some unknown but inevitable evil in the shadow of which she lived
became more and more k