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of the most insidious romances； and the conversation of the two
Parisians had affected the woman as the most mischievous reading might
have done。 Lousteau watched the effects of this clever manoeuvre； to
seize the moment when his prey； whose readiness to be caught was
hidden under the abstraction caused by irresolution； should be quite
dizzy。
Dinah wished to show La Baudraye to her two visitors； and the farce
was duly played out of remembering the papers left by Bianchon in his
room at Anzy。 Gatien flew off at a gallop to obey his sovereign；
Madame Piedefer went to do some shopping in Sancerre； and Dinah went
on to Cosne alone with the two friends。 Lousteau took his seat by the
lady； Bianchon riding backwards。 The two friends talked affectionately
and with deep compassion for the fate of this choice nature so ill
understood and in the midst of such vulgar surroundings。 Bianchon
served Lousteau well by making fun of the Public Prosecutor； of
Monsieur Gravier； and of Gatien； there was a tone of such genuine
contempt in his remarks； that Madame de la Baudraye dared not take the
part of her adorers。
〃I perfectly understand the position you have maintained；〃 said the
doctor as they crossed the Loire。 〃You were inaccessible excepting to
that brain…love which often leads to heart…love； and not one of those
men； it is very certain； is capable of disguising what； at an early
stage of life； is disgusting to the senses in the eyes of a refined
woman。 To you； now； love is indispensable。〃
〃Indispensable！〃 cried Dinah； looking curiously at the doctor。 〃Do you
mean that you prescribe love to me？〃
〃If you go on living as you live now； in three years you will be
hideous；〃 replied Bianchon in a dictatorial tone。
〃Monsieur！〃 said Madame de la Baudraye； almost frightened。
〃Forgive my friend；〃 said Lousteau； half jestingly。 〃He is always the
medical man； and to him love is merely a question of hygiene。 But he
is quite disinterestedit is for your sake only that he speaksas is
evident； since he is starting in an hour〃
At Cosne a little crowd gathered round the old repainted chaise； with
the arms on the panels granted by Louis XIV。 to the new La Baudraye。
Gules； a pair of scales or； on a chief azure （color on color） three
cross…crosslets argent。 For supporters two greyhounds argent； collared
azure； chained or。 The ironical motto； /Deo sic patet fides et
hominibus/； had been inflicted on the converted Calvinist by Hozier
the satirical。
〃Let us get out； they will come and find us；〃 said the Baroness；
desiring her coachman to keep watch。
Dinah took Bianchon's arm； and the doctor set off by the banks of the
Loire at so rapid a pace that the journalist had to linger behind。 The
physician had explained by a single wink that he meant to do Lousteau
a good turn。
〃You have been attracted by Etienne；〃 said Bianchon to Dinah； 〃he has
appealed strongly to your imagination； last night we were talking
about you。He loves you。 But he is frivolous； and difficult to hold；
his poverty compels him to live in Paris； while everything condemns
you to live at Sancerre。Take a lofty view of life。 Make Lousteau
your friend； do not ask too much of him； he will come three times a
year to spend a few days with you； and you will owe to him your
beauty； happiness； and fortune。 Monsieur de la Baudraye may live to be
a hundred； but he might die in a few days if he should leave off the
flannel winding…sheet in which he swathes himself。 So run no risks； be
prudent both of you。Say not a workI have read your heart。〃
Madame de la Baudraye was defenceless under this serried attack； and
in the presence of a man who spoke at once as a doctor； a confessor；
and confidential friend。
〃Indeed！〃 said she。 〃Can you suppose that any woman would care to
compete with a journalist's mistresses？Monsieur Lousteau strikes me
as agreeable and witty； but he is /blase/； etc。； etc。〃
Dinah had turned back； and was obliged to check the flow of words by
which she tried to disguise her intentions； for Etienne； who seemed to
be studying progress in Cosne； was coming to meet them。
〃Believe me；〃 said Bianchon； 〃what he wants is to be truly loved； and
if he alters his course of life； it will be to the benefit of his
talent。〃
Dinah's coachman hurried up breathlessly to say that the diligence had
come in； and they walked on quickly； Madame de la Baudraye between the
two men。
〃Good…bye； my children！〃 said Bianchon； before they got into the town；
〃you have my blessing！〃
He released Madame de la Baudraye's hand from his arm； and allowed
Lousteau to draw it into his； with a tender look； as he pressed it to
his heart。 What a difference to Dinah！ Etienne's arm thrilled her
deeply。 Bianchon's had not stirred her in the least。 She and the
journalist exchanged one of those glowing looks that are more than an
avowal。
〃Only provincial women wear muslin gowns in these days；〃 thought
Lousteau to himself； 〃the only stuff which shows every crease。 This
woman； who has chosen me for her lover； will make a fuss over her
frock！ If she had but put on a foulard skirt； I should be happy。What
is the meaning of these difficulties〃
While Lousteau was wondering whether Dinah had put on a muslin gown on
purpose to protect herself by an insuperable obstacle； Bianchon； with
the help of the coachman； was seeing his luggage piled on the
diligence。 Finally； he came to take leave of Dinah； who was
excessively friendly with him。
〃Go home； Madame la Baronne； leave me hereGatien will be coming；〃 he
added in an undertone。 〃It is getting late；〃 said he aloud。 〃Good…
bye！〃
〃Good…byegreat man！〃 cried Lousteau； shaking hands with Bianchon。
When the journalist and Madame de la Baudraye； side by side in the
rickety old chaise； had recrossed the Loire； they both were unready to
speak。 In these circumstances； the first words that break the silence
are full of terrible meaning。
〃Do you know how much I love you？〃 said the journalist point blank。
Victory might gratify Lousteau； but defeat could cause him no grief。
This indifference was the secret of his audacity。 He took Madame de la
Baudraye's hand as he spoke these decisive words； and pressed it in
both his； but Dinah gently released it。
〃Yes； I am as good as an actress or a /grisette/；〃 she said in a voice
that trembled； though she spoke lightly。 〃But can you suppose that a
woman who； in spite of her absurdities； has some intelligence； will
have reserved the best treasures of her heart for a man who will
regard her merely as a transient pleasure？I am not surprised to hear
from your lips the words which so many men have said to mebut〃
The coachman turned round。
〃Here comes Monsieur Gatien；〃 said he。
〃I love you； I will have you； you shall be mine； for I have never felt
for any woman the passion I have for you！〃 said Lousteau in her ear。
〃In spite of my will； perhaps？〃 said she； with a smile。
〃At least you must seem to have been assaulted to save my honor；〃 said
the Parisian； to whom the fatal immaculateness of clean muslin
suggested a ridiculous notion。
Before Gatien had reached the end of the bridge； the outrageous
journalist had crumpled u