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me。 Paul is a most easy…going man。 Dear fellow！ yes； certainly； we
must make his life prosperous。 You will make him happy； and I will be
responsible for his political success。 The Spanish ambassador used to
be a friend of mine； and I'll renew the relationas I will with the
rest of my old acquaintance。 Oh！ you'll see！ we shall soon be in the
very heart of Parisian life； all will be enjoyment for us。 You shall
have the pleasures； my dearest； and I the last occupation of
existence；the game of ambition！ Don't be alarmed when you see me
selling this house。 Do you suppose we shall ever come back to live in
Bordeaux？ no。 Lanstrac？ yes。 But we shall spend all our winters in
Paris； where our real interests lie。 Well； Natalie； tell me； was it
very difficult to do what I asked of you？〃
〃My little mamma！ every now and then I felt ashamed。〃
〃Solonet advises me to put the proceeds of this house into an
annuity；〃 said Madame Evangelista； 〃but I shall do otherwise； I won't
take a penny of my fortune from you。〃
〃I saw you were all very angry；〃 said Natalie。 〃How did the tempest
calm down？〃
〃By an offer of my diamonds；〃 replied Madame Evangelista。 〃Solonet was
right。 How ably he conducted the whole affair。 Get out my jewel…case；
Natalie。 I have never seriously considered what my diamonds are worth。
When I said a hundred thousand francs I talked nonsense。 Madame de
Gyas always declared that the necklace and ear…rings your father gave
me on our marriage day were worth at least that sum。 My poor husband
was so lavish！ Then my family diamond； the one Philip the Second gave
to the Duke of Alba； and which my aunt bequeathed to me； the
'Discreto；' was； I think； appraised in former times at four thousand
quadruples；one of our Spanish gold coins。〃
Natalie laid out upon her mother's toilet…table the pearl necklace；
the sets of jewels； the gold bracelets and precious stones of all
description； with that inexpressible sensation enjoyed by certain
women at the sight of such treasures； by whichso commentators on the
Talmud saythe fallen angels seduce the daughters of men； having
sought these flowers of celestial fire in the bowels of the earth。
〃Certainly；〃 said Madame Evangelista； 〃though I know nothing about
jewels except how to accept and wear them； I think there must be a
great deal of money in these。 Then； if we make but one household； I
can sell my plate； the weight of which； as mere silver； would bring
thirty thousand francs。 I remember when we brought it from Lima； the
custom…house officers weighed and appraised it。 Solonet is right； I'll
send to…morrow to Elie Magus。 The Jew shall estimate the value of
these things。 Perhaps I can avoid sinking any of my fortune in an
annuity。〃
〃What a beautiful pearl necklace！〃 said Natalie。
〃He ought to give it to you； if he loves you；〃 replied her mother；
〃and I think he might have all my other jewels reset and let you keep
them。 The diamonds are a part of your property in the contract。 And
now； good…night； my darling。 After the fatigues of this day we both
need rest。〃
The woman of luxury； the Creole； the great lady； incapable of
analyzing the results of a contract which was not yet in force； went
to sleep in the joy of seeing her daughter married to a man who was
easy to manage； who would let them both be mistresses of his home； and
whose fortune； united to theirs； would require no change in their way
of living。 Thus having settled her account with her daughter； whose
patrimony was acknowledged in the contract； Madame Evangelista could
feel at her ease。
〃How foolish of me to worry as I did；〃 she thought。 〃But I wish the
marriage were well over。〃
So Madame Evangelista； Paul； Natalie； and the two notaries were
equally satisfied with the first day's result。 The Te Deum was sung in
both camps；a dangerous situation； for there comes a moment when the
vanquished side is aware of its mistake。 To Madame Evangelista's mind；
her son…in…law was the vanquished side。
CHAPTER IV
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACTSECOND DAY
The next day Elie Magus （who happened at that time to be in Bordeaux）
obeyed Madame Evangelista's summons； believing； from general rumor as
to the marriage of Comte Paul with Mademoiselle Natalie； that it
concerned a purchase of jewels for the bride。 The Jew was； therefore；
astonished when he learned that； on the contrary； he was sent for to
estimate the value of the mother…in…law's property。 The instinct of
his race； as well as certain insidious questions； made him aware that
the value of the diamonds was included in the marriage…contract。 The
stones were not to be sold； and yet he was to estimate them as if some
private person were buying them from a dealer。 Jewellers alone know
how to distinguish between the diamonds of Asia and those of Brazil。
The stones of Golconda and Visapur are known by a whiteness and
glittering brilliancy which others have not；the water of the
Brazilian diamonds having a yellow tinge which reduces their selling
value。 Madame Evangelista's necklace and ear…rings； being composed
entirely of Asiatic diamonds； were valued by Elie Magus at two hundred
and fifty thousand francs。 As for the 〃Discreto；〃 he pronounced it one
of the finest diamonds in the possession of private persons； it was
known to the trade and valued at one hundred thousand francs。 On
hearing this estimate； which proved to her the lavishness of her
husband； Madame Evangelista asked the old Jew whether she should be
able to obtain that money immediately。
〃Madame；〃 replied the Jew； 〃if you wish to sell I can give you only
seventy…five thousand for the brilliant； and one hundred and sixty
thousand for the necklace and earrings。〃
〃Why such reduction？〃
〃Madame；〃 replied Magus； 〃the finer the diamond； the longer we keep it
unsold。 The rarity of such investments is one reason for the high
value set upon precious stones。 As the merchant cannot lose the
interest of his money； this additional sum； joined to the rise and
fall to which such merchandise is subject； explains the difference
between the price of purchase and the price of sale。 By owning these
diamonds you have lost the interest on three hundred thousand francs
for twenty years。 If you wear your jewels ten times a year； it costs
you three thousand francs each evening to put them on。 How many
beautiful gowns you could buy with that sum。 Those who own diamonds
are； therefore； very foolish； but； luckily for us； women are never
willing to understand the calculation。〃
〃I thank you for explaining it to me； and I shall profit by it。〃
〃Do you wish to sell？〃 asked Magus； eagerly。
〃What are the other jewels worth？〃
The Jew examined the gold of the settings； held the pearls to the
light； scrutinized the rubies； the diadems； clasps； bracelets； and
chains； and said； in a mumbling tone：
〃A good many Portuguese diamonds from Brazil are among them。 They are
not worth more than a