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crime。 His legs trembled。 The hot blood poured into his swelling heart
in torrents greater than at any other moment of his life； and left it
again with untold violence。 Conflicting thoughts struggled in his
mind； and yet one thought predominated；he had not been loyal to the
being he loved most。 It was impossible for him to argue with his
conscience； whose voice； rising high with conviction； came like an
echo of those inward cries of his love during the cruel hours of doubt
he had lately lived through。
He spent the greater part of the day wandering about Paris； for he
dared not go home。 This man of integrity and honor feared to meet the
spotless brow of the woman he had misjudged。 We estimate wrongdoing in
proportion to the purity of our conscience； the deed which is scarcely
a fault in some hearts； takes the proportions of a crime in certain
unsullied souls。 The slightest stain on the white garment of a virgin
makes it a thing ignoble as the rags of a mendicant。 Between the two
the difference lies in the misfortune of the one； the wrong…doing of
the other。 God never measures repentance； he never apportions it。 As
much is needed to efface a spot as to obliterate the crimes of a
lifetime。 These reflections fell with all their weight on Jules；
passions； like human laws； will not pardon； and their reasoning is
more just； for are they not based upon a conscience of their own as
infallible as an instinct？
Jules finally came home pale； despondent； crushed beneath a sense of
his wrong…doing； and yet expressing in spite of himself the joy his
wife's innocence had given him。 He entered her room all throbbing with
emotion； she was in bed with a high fever。 He took her hand； kissed
it； and covered it with tears。
〃Dear angel；〃 he said； when they were alone； 〃it is repentance。〃
〃And for what？〃 she answered。
As she made that reply； she laid her head back upon the pillow； closed
her eyes； and remained motionless； keeping the secret of her
sufferings that she might not frighten her husband；the tenderness of
a mother； the delicacy of an angel！ All the woman was in her answer。
The silence lasted long。 Jules； thinking her asleep； went to question
Josephine as to her mistress's condition。
〃Madame came home half…dead； monsieur。 We sent at once for Monsieur
Haudry。〃
〃Did he come？ What did he say？〃
〃He said nothing； monsieur。 He did not seem satisfied； gave orders
that no one should go near madame except the nurse； and said he should
come back this evening。〃
Jules returned softly to his wife's room and sat down in a chair
before the bed。 There he remained； motionless； with his eyes fixed on
those of Clemence。 When she raised her eyelids she saw him； and
through those lids passed a tender glance； full of passionate love；
free from reproach and bitterness；a look which fell like a flame of
fire upon the heart of that husband； nobly absolved and forever loved
by the being whom he had killed。 The presentiment of death struck both
their minds with equal force。 Their looks were blended in one anguish；
as their hearts had long been blended in one love； felt equally by
both； and shared equally。 No questions were uttered； a horrible
certainty was there；in the wife an absolute generosity； in the
husband an awful remorse； then； in both souls the same vision of the
end； the same conviction of fatality。
There came a moment when； thinking his wife asleep； Jules kissed her
softly on the forehead； then after long contemplation of that
cherished face； he said：
〃Oh God！ leave me this angel still a little while that I may blot out
my wrong by love and adoration。 As a daughter； she is sublime； as a
wife； what word can express her？〃
Clemence raised her eyes； they were full of tears。
〃You pain me；〃 she said； in a feeble voice。
It was getting late； Doctor Haudry came； and requested the husband to
withdraw during his visit。 When the doctor left the sick…room Jules
asked him no question； one gesture was enough。
〃Call in consultation any physician in whom you place confidence； I
may be wrong。〃
〃Doctor； tell me the truth。 I am a man； and I can bear it。 Besides； I
have the deepest interest in knowing it； I have certain affairs to
settle。〃
〃Madame Jules is dying；〃 said the physician。 〃There is some moral
malady which has made great progress； and it has complicated her
physical condition； which was already dangerous； and made still more
so by her great imprudence。 To walk about barefooted at night！ to go
out when I forbade it！ on foot yesterday in the rain； to…day in a
carriage！ She must have meant to kill herself。 But still； my judgment
is not final； she has youth； and a most amazing nervous strength。 It
may be best to risk all to win all by employing some violent reagent。
But I will not take upon myself to order it； nor will I advise it； in
consultation I shall oppose it。〃
Jules returned to his wife。 For eleven days and eleven nights he
remained beside her bed； taking no sleep during the day when he laid
his head upon the foot of the bed。 No man ever pushed the jealousy of
care and the craving for devotion to such an extreme as he。 He could
not endure that the slightest service should be done by others for his
wife。 There were days of uncertainty； false hopes； now a little
better； then a crisis；in short； all the horrible mutations of death
as it wavers； hesitates； and finally strikes。 Madame Jules always
found strength to smile at her husband。 She pitied him； knowing that
soon he would be alone。 It was a double death；that of life； that of
love； but life grew feebler； and love grew mightier。 One frightful
night there was； when Clemence passed through that delirium which
precedes the death of youth。 She talked of her happy love； she talked
of her father； she related her mother's revelations on her death…bed；
and the obligations that mother had laid upon her。 She struggled； not
for life； but for her love which she could not leave。
〃Grant； O God！〃 she said； 〃that he may not know I want him to die with
me。〃
Jules； unable to bear the scene； was at that moment in the adjoining
room； and did not hear the prayer； which he would doubtless have
fulfilled。
When this crisis was over； Madame Jules recovered some strength。 The
next day she was beautiful and tranquil； hope seemed to come to her；
she adorned herself； as the dying often do。 Then she asked to be alone
all day； and sent away her husband with one of those entreaties made
so earnestly that they are granted as we grant the prayer of a little
child。
Jules； indeed； had need of this day。 He went to Monsieur de Maulincour
to demand the satisfaction agreed upon between them。 It was not
without great difficulty that he succeeded in reaching the presence of
the author of these misfortunes； but the vidame； when he learned that
the visit related to an affair of honor； obeyed the precepts of his
whole life； and himself took Jules into the baron's chamber。
Monsieur Desmarets looked about him in search of his antagonist。
〃Yes！ that is really he；〃 said the vidame； motioning to a man who was
sitting in an arm…chair beside the fire。
〃Who is it？ Jules？〃 said the dying man in a broken voice