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law of /maximum/； of their great investments in cloth； of the way they
had weathered bankruptcies； and； above all； the famous failure of
Lecocq； Monsieur Guillaume's battle of Marengo。 Then； when they had
exhausted the tale of lawsuits； they recapitulated the sum total of
their most profitable stock…takings； and told each other old stories
of the Saint…Denis quarter。 At two o'clock old Guillaume went to cast
an eye on the business at the Cat and Racket； on his way back he
called at all the shops； formerly the rivals of his own； where the
young proprietors hoped to inveigle the old draper into some risky
discount； which； as was his wont； he never refused point…blank。 Two
good Normandy horses were dying of their own fat in the stables of the
big house； Madame Guillaume never used them but to drag her on Sundays
to high Mass at the parish church。 Three times a week the worthy
couple kept open house。 By the influence of his son…in…law
Sommervieux； Monsieur Guillaume had been named a member of the
consulting board for the clothing of the Army。 Since her husband had
stood so high in office； Madame Guillaume had decided that she must
receive； her rooms were so crammed with gold and silver ornaments； and
furniture； tasteless but of undoubted value； that the simplest room in
the house looked like a chapel。 Economy and expense seemed to be
struggling for the upper hand in every accessory。 It was as though
Monsieur Guillaume had looked to a good investment； even in the
purchase of a candlestick。 In the midst of this bazaar； where splendor
revealed the owner's want of occupation； Sommervieux's famous picture
filled the place of honor； and in it Monsieur and Madame Guillaume
found their chief consolation； turning their eyes； harnessed with eye…
glasses； twenty times a day on this presentment of their past life； to
them so active and amusing。 The appearance of this mansion and these
rooms； where everything had an aroma of staleness and mediocrity； the
spectacle offered by these two beings； cast away； as it were； on a
rock far from the world and the ideas which are life； startled
Augustine； she could here contemplate the sequel of the scene of which
the first part had struck her at the house of Lebasa life of stir
without movement； a mechanical and instinctive existence like that of
the beaver； and then she felt an indefinable pride in her troubles； as
she reflected that they had their source in eighteen months of such
happiness as； in her eyes； was worth a thousand lives like this； its
vacuity seemed to her horrible。 However； she concealed this not very
charitable feeling； and displayed for her parents her newly…acquired
accomplishments of mind； and the ingratiating tenderness that love had
revealed to her； disposing them to listen to her matrimonial
grievances。 Old people have a weakness for this kind of confidence。
Madame Guillaume wanted to know the most trivial details of that alien
life； which to her seemed almost fabulous。 The travels of Baron da la
Houtan； which she began again and again and never finished； told her
nothing more unheard…of concerning the Canadian savages。
〃What； child； your husband shuts himself into a room with naked women！
And you are so simple as to believe that he draws them？〃
As she uttered this exclamation； the grandmother laid her spectacles
on a little work…table； shook her skirts； and clasped her hands on her
knees； raised by a foot…warmer； her favorite pedestal。
〃But； mother； all artists are obliged to have models。〃
〃He took good care not to tell us that when he asked leave to marry
you。 If I had known it； I would never had given my daughter to a man
who followed such a trade。 Religion forbids such horrors； they are
immoral。 And at what time of night do you say he comes home？〃
〃At one o'clocktwo〃
The old folks looked at each other in utter amazement。
〃Then he gambles？〃 said Monsieur Guillaume。 〃In my day only gamblers
stayed out so late。〃
Augustine made a face that scorned the accusation。
〃He must keep you up through dreadful nights waiting for him；〃 said
Madame Guillaume。 〃But you go to bed； don't you？ And when he has lost；
the wretch wakes you。〃
〃No； mamma； on the contrary； he is sometimes in very good spirits。 Not
unfrequently； indeed； when it is fine； he suggests that I should get
up and go into the woods。〃
〃The woods！ At that hour？ Then have you such a small set of rooms that
his bedroom and his sitting…room are not enough； and that he must run
about？ But it is just to give you cold that the wretch proposes such
expeditions。 He wants to get rid of you。 Did one ever hear of a man
settled in life； a well…behaved； quiet man galloping about like a
warlock？〃
〃But； my dear mother； you do not understand that he must have
excitement to fire his genius。 He is fond of scenes which〃
〃I would make scenes for him； fine scenes！〃 cried Madame Guillaume；
interrupting her daughter。 〃How can you show any consideration to such
a man？ In the first place； I don't like his drinking water only； it is
not wholesome。 Why does he object to see a woman eating？ What queer
notion is that！ But he is mad。 All you tell us about him is
impossible。 A man cannot leave his home without a word； and never come
back for ten days。 And then he tells you he has been to Dieppe to
paint the sea。 As if any one painted the sea！ He crams you with a pack
of tales that are too absurd。〃
Augustine opened her lips to defend her husband； but Madame Guillaume
enjoined silence with a wave of her hand； which she obeyed by a
survival of habit； and her mother went on in harsh tones： 〃Don't talk
to me about the man！ He never set foot in church excepting to see you
and to be married。 People without religion are capable of anything。
Did Guillaume ever dream of hiding anything from me； of spending three
days without saying a word to me； and of chattering afterwards like a
blind magpie？〃
〃My dear mother； you judge superior people too severely。 If their
ideas were the same as other folks'； they would not be men of genius。〃
〃Very well； then let men of genius stop at home and not get married。
What！ A man of genius is to make his wife miserable？ And because he is
a genius it is all right！ Genius； genius！ It is not so very clever to
say black one minute and white the next； as he does； to interrupt
other people； to dance such rigs at home； never to let you know which
foot you are to stand on； to compel his wife never to be amused unless
my lord is in gay spirits； and to be dull when he is dull。〃
〃But； mother； the very nature of such imaginations〃
〃What are such 'imaginations'？〃 Madame Guillaume went on； interrupting
her daughter again。 〃Fine ones his are； my word！ What possesses a man
that all on a sudden； without consulting a doctor； he takes it into
his head to eat nothing but vegetables？ If indeed it were from
religious motives； it might do him some goodbut he has no more
religion than a Huguenot。 Was there ever a man known who； like him；
loved horses better than his fellow…creatures； had his hair curled
like a heathen； laid statues under muslin coverlets； shut his shutters
in broad day to work by lamp…light？ There； get along；