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heart to see a direct insult to her in the indirect appeal of Maitre
Mathias； 〃I will tear that contract up if you do not take them。〃
She left the room in one of those furious passions which long for the
power to destroy everything； and which the sense of impotence drives
almost to madness。
〃For Heaven's sake； take them； Paul；〃 whispered Natalie in his ear。
〃My mother is angry； I shall know why to…night； and I will tell you。
We must pacify her。〃
Calmed by this first outburst； madame kept the necklace and ear…rings；
which she was wearing； and brought the other jewels； valued at one
hundred and fifty thousand francs by Elie Magus。 Accustomed to the
sight of family diamonds in all valuations of inheritance； Maitre
Mathias and Solonet examined these jewels in their cases and exclaimed
upon their duty。
〃You will lose nothing； after all； upon the 'dot；' Monsieur le comte；〃
said Solonet； bringing the color to Paul's face。
〃Yes；〃 said Mathias； 〃these jewels will meet the first payment on the
purchase of the new estate。〃
〃And the costs of the contract；〃 added Solonet。
Hatred feeds； like love； on little things； the least thing strengthens
it； as one beloved can do no evil； so the person hated can do no good。
Madame Evangelista assigned to hypocrisy the natural embarrassment of
Paul； who was unwilling to take the jewels； and not knowing where to
put the cases； longed to fling them from the window。 Madame
Evangelista spurred him with a glance which seemed to say； 〃Take your
property from here。〃
〃Dear Natalie；〃 said Paul； 〃put away these jewels； they are yours； I
give them to you。〃
Natalie locked them into the drawer of a console。 At this instant the
noise of the carriages in the court…yard and the murmur of voices in
the receptions…rooms became so loud that Natalie and her mother were
forced to appear。 The salons were filled in a few moments； and the
fete began。
〃Profit by the honeymoon to sell those diamonds；〃 said the old notary
to Paul as he went away。
While waiting for the dancing to begin； whispers went round about the
marriage； and doubts were expressed as to the future of the promised
couple。
〃Is it finally arranged？〃 said one of the leading personages of the
town to Madame Evangelista。
〃We had so many documents to read and sign that I fear we are rather
late；〃 she replied； 〃but perhaps we are excusable。〃
〃As for me； I heard nothing；〃 said Natalie； giving her hand to her
lover to open the ball。
〃Both of those young persons are extravagant； and the mother is not of
a kind to check them；〃 said a dowager。
〃But they have founded an entail； I am told； worth fifty thousand
francs a year。〃
〃Pooh！〃
〃In that I see the hand of our worthy Monsieur Mathias；〃 said a
magistrate。 〃If it is really true； he has done it to save the future
of the family。〃
〃Natalie is too handsome not to be horribly coquettish。 After a couple
of years of marriage；〃 said one young woman； 〃I wouldn't answer for
Monsieur de Manerville's happiness in his home。〃
〃The Pink of Fashion will then need staking；〃 said Solonet； laughing。
〃Don't you think Madame Evangelista looks annoyed？〃 asked another。
〃But； my dear； I have just been told that all she is able to keep is
twenty…five thousand francs a year； and what is that to her？〃
〃Penury！〃
〃Yes； she has robbed herself for Natalie。 Monsieur de Manerville has
been so exacting〃
〃Extremely exacting；〃 put in Maitre Solonet。 〃But before long he will
be peer of France。 The Maulincours and the Vidame de Pamiers will use
their influence。 He belongs to the faubourg Saint…Germain。〃
〃Oh！ he is received there； and that is all；〃 said a lady； who had
tried to obtain him as a son…in…law。 〃Mademoiselle Evangelista； as the
daughter of a merchant； will certainly not open the doors of the
chapter…house of Cologne to him！〃
〃She is grand…niece to the Duke of Casa…Reale。〃
〃Through the female line！〃
The topic was presently exhausted。 The card…players went to the
tables； the young people danced； the supper was served； and the ball
was not over till morning； when the first gleams of the coming day
whitened the windows。
Having said adieu to Paul； who was the last to go away； Madame
Evangelista went to her daughter's room； for her own had been taken by
the architect to enlarge the scene of the fete。 Though Natalie and her
mother were overcome with sleep； they said a few words to each other
as soon as they were alone。
〃Tell me； mother dear； what was the matter with you？〃
〃My darling； I learned this evening to what lengths a mother's
tenderness can go。 You know nothing of business； and you are ignorant
of the suspicions to which my integrity has been exposed。 I have
trampled my pride under foot； for your happiness and my reputation
were at stake。〃
〃Are you talking of the diamonds？ Poor boy； he wept； he did not want
them； I have them。〃
〃Sleep now； my child。 We will talk business when we wakefor；〃 she
added； sighing； 〃you and I have business now； another person has come
between us。〃
〃Ah！ my dear mother； Paul will never be an obstacle to our happiness；
yours and mine；〃 murmured Natalie； as she went to sleep。
〃Poor darling！ she little knows that the man has ruined her。〃
Madame Evangelista's soul was seized at that moment with the first
idea of avarice； a vice to which many become a prey as they grow aged。
It came into her mind to recover in her daughter's interest the whole
of the property left by her husband。 She told herself that her honor
demanded it。 Her devotion to Natalie made her； in a moment； as shrewd
and calculating as she had hitherto been careless and wasteful。 She
resolved to turn her capital to account； after investing a part of it
in the Funds； which were then selling at eighty francs。 A passion
often changes the whole character in a moment； an indiscreet person
becomes a diplomatist； a coward is suddenly brave。 Hate made this
prodigal woman a miser。 Chance and luck might serve the project of
vengeance； still undefined and confused； which she would now mature in
her mind。 She fell asleep； muttering to herself； 〃To…morrow！〃 By an
unexplained phenomenon； the effects of which are familiar to all
thinkers； her mind； during sleep； marshalled its ideas； enlightened
them； classed them； prepared a means by which she was to rule Paul's
life； and showed her a plan which she began to carry out on that very
to…morrow。
CHAPTER V
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACTTHIRD DAY
Though the excitement of the fete had driven from Paul's mind the
anxious thoughts that now and then assailed it； when he was alone with
himself and in his bed they returned to torment him。
〃It seems to me；〃 he said to himself； 〃that without that good Mathias
my mother…in…law would have tricked me。 And yet； is that believable？
What interest could lead her to deceive me？ Are we not to joi