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grisette with claws； scissors； impudent as a Spanish woman； snarling
as a prudish English woman proclaiming her conjugal rights； coquettish
as a great lady； though more frank； and ready for everything； a
perfect /lionne/ in her way； issuing from the little apartment of
which she had dreamed so often； with its red…calico curtains； its
Utrecht velvet furniture； its tea…table； the cabinet of china with
painted designs； the sofa； the little moquette carpet； the alabaster
clock and candlesticks （under glass cases）； the yellow bedroom； the
eider…down quilt；in short； all the domestic joys of a grisette's
life； and in addition； the woman…of…all…work （a former grisette
herself； now the owner of a moustache）； theatre…parties； unlimited
bonbons； silk dresses； bonnets to spoil；in fact； all the felicities
coveted by the grisette heart except a carriage； which only enters her
imagination as a marshal's baton into the dreams of a soldier。 Yes；
this grisette had all these things in return for a true affection； or
in spite of a true affection； as some others obtain it for an hour a
day；a sort of tax carelessly paid under the claws of an old man。
The young woman who now entered the presence of Monsieur and Madame
Jules had a pair of feet so little covered by her shoes that only a
slim black line was visible between the carpet and her white
stockings。 This peculiar foot…gear； which Parisian caricaturists have
well…rendered； is a special attribute of the grisette of Paris； but
she is even more distinctive to the eyes of an observer by the care
with which her garments are made to adhere to her form； which they
clearly define。 On this occasion she was trigly dressed in a green
gown； with a white chemisette； which allowed the beauty of her bust to
be seen； her shawl； of Ternaux cashmere； had fallen from her
shoulders； and was held by its two corners； which were twisted round
her wrists。 She had a delicate face； rosy cheeks； a white skin；
sparkling gray eyes； a round； very promising forehead； hair carefully
smoothed beneath her little bonnet； and heavy curls upon her neck。
〃My name is Ida；〃 she said； 〃and if that's Madame Jules to whom I have
the advantage of speaking； I've come to tell her all I have in my
heart against her。 It is very wrong； when a woman is set up and in her
furniture； as you are here； to come and take from a poor girl a man
with whom I'm as good as married； morally； and who did talk of making
it right by marrying me before the municipality。 There's plenty of
handsome young men in the worldain't there； monsieur？to take your
fancy； without going after a man of middle age； who makes my
happiness。 Yah！ I haven't got a fine hotel like this； but I've got my
love； I have。 I hate handsome men and money； I'm all heart； and〃
Madame Jules turned to her husband。
〃You will allow me； monsieur； to hear no more of all this；〃 she said；
retreating to her bedroom。
〃If the lady lives with you； I've made a mess of it； but I can't help
that；〃 resumed Ida。 〃Why does she come after Monsieur Ferragus every
day？〃
〃You are mistaken； mademoiselle；〃 said Jules； stupefied； 〃my wife is
incapable〃
〃Ha！ so you're married； you two；〃 said the grisette showing some
surprise。 〃Then it's very wrong； monsieur；isn't it？for a woman who
has the happiness of being married in legal marriage to have relations
with a man like Henri〃
〃Henri！ who is Henri？〃 said Jules； taking Ida by the arm and pulling
her into an adjoining room that his wife might hear no more。
〃Why； Monsieur Ferragus。〃
〃But he is dead；〃 said Jules。
〃Nonsense； I went to Franconi's with him last night； and he brought me
homeas he ought。 Besides； your wife can tell you about him； didn't
she go there this very afternoon at three o'clock？ I know she did； for
I waited in the street； and saw her；all because that good…natured
fellow； Monsieur Justin； whom you know perhaps；a little old man with
jewelry who wears corsets；told me that Madame Jules was my rival。
That name； monsieur； sounds mighty like a feigned one； but if it is
yours； excuse me。 But this I say； if Madame Jules was a court duchess；
Henri is rich enough to satisfy all her fancies； and it is my business
to protect my property； I've a right to； for I love him； that I do。 He
is my /first/ inclination； my happiness and all my future fate depends
on it。 I fear nothing； monsieur； I am honest； I never lied； or stole
the property of any living soul； no matter who。 If an empress was my
rival； I'd go straight to her； empress as she was； because all pretty
women are equals； monsieur〃
〃Enough！ enough！〃 said Jules。 〃Where do you live？〃
〃Rue de la Corderie…du…Temple； number 14； monsieur；Ida Gruget；
corset…maker； at your service；for we make lots of corsets for men。〃
〃Where does the man whom you call Ferragus live？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； pursing up her lips； 〃in the first place； he's
not a man； he is a rich monsieur； much richer； perhaps； than you are。
But why do you ask me his address when your wife knows it？ He told me
not to give it。 Am I obliged to answer you？ I'm not； thank God； in a
confessional or a police…court； I'm responsible only to myself。〃
〃If I were to offer you ten thousand francs to tell me where Monsieur
Ferragus lives； how then？〃
〃Ha！ n； o； /no/； my little friend； and that ends the matter；〃 she
said； emphasizing this singular reply with a popular gesture。 〃There's
no sum in the world could make me tell you。 I have the honor to bid
you good…day。 How do I get out of here？〃
Jules； horror…struck； allowed her to go without further notice。 The
whole world seemed to crumble beneath his feet； and above him the
heavens were falling with a crash。
〃Monsieur is served；〃 said his valet。
The valet and the footman waited in the dining…room a quarter of an
hour without seeing master or mistress。
〃Madame will not dine to…day；〃 said the waiting…maid； coming in。
〃What's the matter； Josephine？〃 asked the valet。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。 〃Madame is crying； and is going to bed。
Monsieur has no doubt got some love…affair on hand； and it has been
discovered at a very bad time。 I wouldn't answer for madame's life。
Men are so clumsy； they'll make you scenes without any precaution。〃
〃That's not so；〃 said the valet； in a low voice。 〃On the contrary；
madame is the one whoyou understand？ What times does monsieur have
to go after pleasures； he； who hasn't slept out of madame's room for
five years； who goes to his study at ten and never leaves it till
breakfast； at twelve。 His life is all known； it is regular； whereas
madame goes out nearly every day at three o'clock； Heaven knows
where。〃
〃And monsieur too；〃 said the maid； taking her mistress's part。
〃Yes； but he goes straight to the Bourse。 I told him three times that
dinner was ready；〃 continued the valet； after a pause。 〃You might as
well talk to a post。〃
Monsieur Jules entered the dining…room。
〃Where is madame？〃 he said。
〃Madame is going to bed； her head aches；〃 replied the maid； assuming
an air of importance。
Monsieur Jules then said to the footmen composedly： 〃You can take
away； I shall go and sit with madame。〃
He went to his wife's room and found her we