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practical joke； and accused the Muse of Sancerre of having a finger in
it。 They had all looked forward to a delightful evening； and had all
strained in vain every faculty of their mind。 Nothing makes provincial
folks so angry as the notion of having been a laughing…stock for Paris
folks。
Madame Piedefer left the table to say to her daughter； 〃Do go and talk
to the ladies； they are quite annoyed by your behavior。〃
Lousteau could not fail to see Dinah's great superiority over the best
women of Sancerre； she was better dressed； her movements were
graceful； her complexion was exquisitely white by candlelightin
short； she stood out against this background of old faces； shy and
ill…dressed girls； like a queen in the midst of her court。 Visions of
Paris faded from his brain； Lousteau was accepting the provincial
surroundings； and while he had too much imagination to remain
unimpressed by the royal splendor of this chateau； the beautiful
carvings； and the antique beauty of the rooms； he had also too much
experience to overlook the value of the personality which completed
this gem of the Renaissance。 So by the time the visitors from Sancerre
had taken their leave one by onefor they had an hour's drive before
themwhen no one remained in the drawing…room but Monsieur de Clagny；
Monsieur Lebas； Gatien； and Monsieur Gravier； who were all to sleep at
Anzythe journalist had already changed his mind about Dinah。 His
opinion had gone through the evolution that Madame de la Baudraye had
so audaciously prophesied at their first meeting。
〃Ah； what things they will say about us on the drive home！〃 cried the
mistress of the house； as she returned to the drawing…room after
seeing the President and the Presidente to their carriage with Madame
and Mademoiselle Popinot…Chandier。
The rest of the evening had its pleasant side。 In the intimacy of a
small party each one brought to the conversation his contribution of
epigrams on the figure the visitors from Sancerre had cut during
Lousteau's comments on the paper wrapped round the proofs。
〃My dear fellow；〃 said Bianchon to Lousteau as they went to bedthey
had an enormous room with two beds in it〃you will be the happy man
of this woman's choice/nee/ Piedefer！〃
〃Do you think so？〃
〃It is quite natural。 You are supposed here to have had many
mistresses in Paris； and to a woman there is something indescribably
inviting in a man whom other women favorsomething attractive and
fascinating； is it that she prides herself on being longer remembered
than all the rest？ that she appeals to his experience； as a sick man
will pay more to a famous physician？ or that she is flattered by the
revival of a world…worn heart？〃
〃Vanity and the senses count for so much in love affairs；〃 said
Lousteau； 〃that there may be some truth in all those hypotheses。
However； if I remain； it will be in consequence of the certificate of
innocence； without ignorance； that you have given Dinah。 She is
handsome； is she not？〃
〃Love will make her beautiful；〃 said the doctor。 〃And； after all； she
will be a rich widow some day or other！ And a child would secure her
the life…interest in the Master of La Baudraye's fortune〃
〃Why； it is quite an act of virtue to make love to her；〃 said
Lousteau； rolling himself up in the bed…clothes； 〃and to…morrow； with
your helpyes； to…morrow； Iwell； good…night。〃
On the following day； Madame de la Baudraye； to whom her husband had
six months since given a pair of horses； which he also used in the
fields； and an old carriage that rattled on the road； decided that she
would take Bianchon so far on his way as Cosne； where he would get
into the Lyons diligence as it passed through。 She also took her
mother and Lousteau； but she intended to drop her mother at La
Baudraye； to go on to Cosne with the two Parisians； and return alone
with Etienne。 She was elegantly dressed； as the journalist at once
perceivedbronze kid boots； gray silk stockings； a muslin dress； a
green silk scarf with shaded fringe at the ends； and a pretty black
lace bonnet with flowers in it。 As to Lousteau； the wretch had assumed
his war…paintpatent leather boots； trousers of English kerseymere
with pleats in front； a very open waistcoat showing a particularly
fine shirt and the black brocade waterfall of his handsome cravat； and
a very thin； very short black riding…coat。
Monsieur de Clagny and Monsieur Gravier looked at each other； feeling
rather silly as they beheld the two Parisians in the carriage； while
they； like two simpletons； were left standing at the foot of the
steps。 Monsieur de la Baudraye； who stood at the top waving his little
hand in a little farewell to the doctor； could not forbear from
smiling as he heard Monsieur de Clagny say to Monsieur Gravier：
〃You should have escorted them on horseback。〃
At this juncture； Gatien； riding Monsieur de la Baudraye's quiet
little mare； came out of the side road from the stables and joined the
party in the chaise。
〃Ah； good；〃 said the Receiver…General； 〃the boy has mounted guard。〃
〃What a bore！〃 cried Dinah as she saw Gatien。 〃In thirteen yearsfor
I have been married nearly thirteen yearsI have never had three
hours' liberty。
〃Married； madame？〃 said the journalist with a smile。 〃You remind me of
a saying of Michaud'she was so witty！ He was setting out for the
Holy Land； and his friends were remonstrating with him； urging his
age； and the perils of such an expedition。 'And then；' said one； 'you
are married。''Married！' said he； 'so little married。' 〃
Even the rigid Madame Piedefer could not repress a smile。
〃I should not be surprised to see Monsieur de Clagny mounted on my
pony to complete the escort；〃 said Dinah。
〃Well； if the Public Prosecutor does not pursue us； you can get rid of
this little fellow at Sancerre。 Bianchon must； of course； have left
something behind on his tablethe notes for the first lecture of his
courseand you can ask Gatien to go back to Anzy to fetch it。〃
This simple little plot put Madame de la Baudraye into high spirits。
From the road between Anzy to Sancerre； a glorious landscape
frequently comes into view； of the noble stretches of the Loire；
looking like a lake； and it was got over very pleasantly； for Dinah
was happy in finding herself well understood。 Love was discussed in
theory； a subject allowing lovers /in petto/ to take the measure； as
it were； of each other's heart。 The journalist took a tone of refined
corruption to prove that love obeys no law； that the character of the
lovers gives infinite variety to its incidents； that the circumstances
of social life add to the multiplicity of its manifestations； that in
love all is possible and true； and that any given woman； after
resisting every temptation and the seductions of the most passionate
lover； may be carried off her feet in the course of a few hours by a
fancy； an internal whirlwind of which God alone would ever know the
secret！
〃Why；〃 said he； 〃is not that the key to all the adventures we have
talked over these three days past？〃
For these three days； indeed； Dinah's lively imagination had been full
of the most insidious romances； and the conversation of the two
Pa