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old Mme。 de Bonfalot； who bored her horribly； she made handsome
presents to mean old Mme。 de Chisse； du Bruel's great…aunt； she spent
a summer with the latter lady； and never missed a single mass。 She
even went to confession； received absolution； and took the sacrament；
but this； you must remember； was in the country； and under the aunt's
eyes。
〃 'I shall have real aunts now； do you understand？' she said to us
when she came back in the winter。
〃She was so delighted with her respectability； so glad to renounce her
independence； that she found means to compass her end。 She flattered
the old people。 She went on foot every day to sit for a couple of
hours with Mme。 du Bruel the elder while that lady was illa
Maintenon's stratagem which amazed du Bruel。 And he admired his wife
without criticism； he was so fast in the toils already that he did not
feel his bonds。
〃Claudine succeeded in making him understand that only under the
elastic system of a bourgeois government； only at the bourgeois court
of the Citizen…King； could a Tullia； now metamorphosed into a Mme。 du
Bruel； be accepted in the society which her good sense prevented her
from attempting to enter。 Mme。 de Bonfalot； Mme。 de Chisse； and Mme。
du Bruel received her； she was satisfied。 She took up the position of
a well…conducted； simple； and virtuous woman； and never acted out of
character。 In three years' time she was introduced to the friends of
these ladies。
〃 'And still I cannot persuade myself that young Mme。 du Bruel used to
display her ankles； and the rest； to all Paris； with the light of a
hundred gas…jets pouring upon her；' Mme。 Anselme Popinot remarked
naively。
〃From this point of view； July 1830 inaugurated an era not unlike the
time of the Empire； when a waiting woman was received at Court in the
person of Mme。 Garat； a chief…justice's 'lady。' Tullia had completely
broken； as you may guess； with all her old associates； of her former
acquaintances； she only recognized those who could not compromise her。
At the time of her marriage she had taken a very charming little hotel
between a court and a garden； lavishing money on it with wild
extravagance and putting the best part of her furniture and du Bruel's
into it。 Everything that she thought common or ordinary was sold。 To
find anything comparable to her sparkling splendor； you could only
look back to the days when Sophie Arnould； a Guimard； or a Duthe； in
all her glory； squandered the fortunes of princes。
〃How far did this sumptuous existence affect du Bruel？ It is a
delicate question to ask； and a still more delicate one to answer。 A
single incident will suffice to give you an idea of Tullia's
crotchets。 Her bed…spread of Brussels lace was worth ten thousand
francs。 A famous actress had another like it。 As soon as Claudine
heard this； she allowed her cat； a splendid Angora； to sleep on the
bed。 That trait gives you the woman。 Du Bruel dared not say a word； he
was ordered to spread abroad that challenge in luxury； so that it
might reach the other。 Tullia was very fond of this gift from the Duc
de Rhetore； but one day； five years after her marriage； she played
with her cat to such purpose that the coverletfurbelows； flounces；
and allwas torn to shreds； and replaced by a sensible quilt； a quilt
that was a quilt； and not a symptom of the peculiar form of insanity
which drives these women to make up by an insensate luxury for the
childish days when they lived on raw apples； to quote the expression
of a journalist。 The day when the bed…spread was torn to tatters
marked a new epoch in her married life。
〃Cursy was remarkable for his ferocious industry。 Nobody suspects the
source to which Paris owes the patch…and…powder eighteenth century
vaudevilles that flooded the stage。 Those thousand…and…one
vaudevilles； which raised such an outcry among the /feuilletonistes/；
were written at Mme。 du Bruel's express desire。 She insisted that her
husband should purchase the hotel on which she had spent so much；
where she had housed five hundred thousand francs' worth of furniture。
Wherefore Tullia never enters into explanations； she understands the
sovereign woman's reason to admiration。
〃 'People made a good deal of fun of Cursy；' said she； 'but； as a
matter of fact； he found this house in the eighteenth century rouge…
box； powder； puffs； and spangles。 He would never have thought of it
but for me；' she added； burying herself in the cushions in her
fireside corner。
〃She delivered herself thus on her return from a first night。 Du
Bruel's piece had succeeded； and she foresaw an avalanche of
criticisms。 Tullia had her At Homes。 Every Monday she gave a tea…
party； her society was as select as might be； and she neglected
nothing that could make her house pleasant。 There was a bouillotte in
one room； conversation in another； and sometimes a concert （always
short） in the large drawing…room。 None but the most eminent artists
performed in the house。 Tullia had so much good sense； that she
attained to the most exquisite tact； and herein； in all probability；
lay the secret of her ascendency over du Bruel； at any rate； he loved
her with the love which use and wont at length makes indispensable to
life。 Every day adds another thread to the strong； irresistible；
intangible web； which enmeshes the most delicate fancies； takes
captive every most transient mood； and binding them together； holds a
man captive hand and foot； heart and head。
〃Tullia knew Cursy well； she knew every weak point in his armor； knew
also how to heal his wounds。
〃A passion of this kind is inscrutable for any observer； even for a
man who prides himself； as I do； on a certain expertness。 It is
everywhere unfathomable； the dark depths in it are darker than in any
other mystery； the colors confused even in the highest lights。
〃Cursy was an old playwright； jaded by the life of the theatrical
world。 He liked comfort； he liked a luxurious； affluent； easy
existence； he enjoyed being a king in his own house； he liked to be
host to a party of men of letters in a hotel resplendent with royal
luxury； with carefully chosen works of art shining in the setting。
Tullia allowed du Bruel to enthrone himself amid the tribe； there were
plenty of journalists whom it was easy enough to catch and ensnare；
and； thanks to her evening parties and a well…timed loan here and
there； Cursy was not attacked too seriouslyhis plays succeeded。 For
these reasons he would not have separated from Tullia for an empire。
If she had been unfaithful； he would probably have passed it over； on
condition that none of his accustomed joys should be retrenched； yet；
strange to say； Tullia caused him no twinges on this account。 No fancy
was laid to her charge； if there had been any； she certainly had been
very careful of appearances。
〃 'My dear fellow；' du Bruel would say； laying down the law to us on
the boulevard； 'there is nothing like one of these women who have sown
their wild oats and got over their passions。 Such women as Claudine
have lived their bachelor life； they have been over head and ears in
pleasure； and make the most adorable wives that could be wished； they
have nothing to learn；