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in broad day to work by lamp…light？ There； get along； if he were not
so grossly immoral； he would be fit to shut up in a lunatic asylum。
Consult Monsieur Loraux； the priest at Saint Sulpice； ask his opinion
about it all； and he will tell you that your husband； does not behave
like a Christian。〃
〃Oh； mother； can you believe？〃
〃Yes； I do believe。 You loved him； and you can see none of these
things。 But I can remember in the early days after your marriage。 I
met him in the Champs…Elysees。 He was on horseback。 Well； at one
minute he was galloping as hard as he could tear； and then pulled up
to a walk。 I said to myself at that moment； 'There is a man devoid of
judgement。' 〃
〃Ah； ha！〃 cried Monsieur Guillaume； 〃how wise I was to have your money
settled on yourself with such a queer fellow for a husband！〃
When Augustine was so imprudent as to set forth her serious grievances
against her husband； the two old people were speechless with
indignation。 But the word 〃divorce〃 was ere long spoken by Madame
Guillaume。 At the sound of the word divorce the apathetic old draper
seemed to wake up。 Prompted by his love for his daughter； and also by
the excitement which the proceedings would bring into his uneventful
life； father Guillaume took up the matter。 He made himself the leader
of the application for a divorce； laid down the lines of it； almost
argued the case； he offered to be at all the charges； to see the
lawyers； the pleaders； the judges； to move heaven and earth。 Madame de
Sommervieux was frightened； she refused her father's services； said
she would not be separated from her husband even if she were ten times
as unhappy； and talked no more about her sorrows。 After being
overwhelmed by her parents with all the little wordless and consoling
kindnesses by which the old couple tried in vain to make up to her for
her distress of heart； Augustine went away； feeling the impossibility
of making a superior mind intelligible to weak intellects。 She had
learned that a wife must hide from every one； even from her parents；
woes for which it is so difficult to find sympathy。 The storms and
sufferings of the upper spheres are appreciated only by the lofty
spirits who inhabit there。 In any circumstance we can only be judged
by our equals。
Thus poor Augustine found herself thrown back on the horror of her
meditations； in the cold atmosphere of her home。 Study was indifferent
to her； since study had not brought her back her husband's heart。
Initiated into the secret of these souls of fire； but bereft of their
resources； she was compelled to share their sorrows without sharing
their pleasures。 She was disgusted with the world； which to her seemed
mean and small as compared with the incidents of passion。 In short；
her life was a failure。
One evening an idea flashed upon her that lighted up her dark grief
like a beam from heaven。 Such an idea could never have smiled on a
heart less pure； less virtuous than hers。 She determined to go to the
Duchesse de Carigliano； not to ask her to give her back her husband's
heart； but to learn the arts by which it had been captured； to engage
the interest of this haughty fine lady for the mother of her lover's
children； to appeal to her and make her the instrument of her future
happiness； since she was the cause of her present wretchedness。
So one day Augustine； timid as she was； but armed with supernatural
courage； got into her carriage at two in the afternoon to try for
admittance to the boudoir of the famous coquette； who was never
visible till that hour。 Madame de Sommervieux had not yet seen any of
the ancient and magnificent mansions of the Faubourg Saint…Germain。 As
she made her way through the stately corridors； the handsome
staircases； the vast drawing…roomsfull of flowers； though it was in
the depth of winter； and decorated with the taste peculiar to women
born to opulence or to the elegant habits of the aristocracy；
Augustine felt a terrible clutch at her heart； she coveted the secrets
of an elegance of which she had never had an idea； she breathed in an
air of grandeur which explained the attraction of the house for her
husband。 When she reached the private rooms of the Duchess she was
filled with jealousy and a sort of despair； as she admired the
luxurious arrangement of the furniture； the draperies and the
hangings。 Here disorder was a grace； here luxury affected a certain
contempt of splendor。 The fragrance that floated in the warm air
flattered the sense of smell without offending it。 The accessories of
the rooms were in harmony with a view； through plate…glass windows； of
the lawns in a garden planted with evergreen trees。 It was all
bewitching； and the art of it was not perceptible。 The whole spirit of
the mistress of these rooms pervaded the drawing…room where Augustine
awaited her。 She tried to divine her rival's character from the aspect
of the scattered objects； but there was here something as impenetrable
in the disorder as in the symmetry； and to the simple…minded young
wife all was a sealed letter。 All that she could discern was that； as
a woman； the Duchess was a superior person。 Then a painful thought
came over her。
〃Alas！ And is it true；〃 she wondered； 〃that a simple and loving heart
is not all…sufficient to an artist； that to balance the weight of
these powerful souls they need a union with feminine souls of a
strength equal to their own？ If I had been brought up like this siren；
our weapons at least might have been equal in the hour of struggle。〃
〃But I am not at home！〃 The sharp； harsh words； though spoken in an
undertone in the adjoining boudoir； were heard by Augustine； and her
heart beat violently。
〃The lady is in there；〃 replied the maid。
〃You are an idiot！ Show her in；〃 replied the Duchess； whose voice was
sweeter； and had assumed the dulcet tones of politeness。 She evidently
now meant to be heard。
Augustine shyly entered the room。 At the end of the dainty boudoir she
saw the Duchess lounging luxuriously on an ottoman covered with brown
velvet and placed in the centre of a sort of apse outlined by soft
folds of white muslin over a yellow lining。 Ornaments of gilt bronze；
arranged with exquisite taste； enhanced this sort of dais； under which
the Duchess reclined like a Greek statue。 The dark hue of the velvet
gave relief to every fascinating charm。 A subdued light； friendly to
her beauty； fell like a reflection rather than a direct illumination。
A few rare flowers raised their perfumed heads from costly Sevres
vases。 At the moment when this picture was presented to Augustine's
astonished eyes； she was approaching so noiselessly that she caught a
glance from those of the enchantress。 This look seemed to say to some
one whom Augustine did not at first perceive； 〃Stay； you will see a
pretty woman； and make her visit seem less of a bore。〃
On seeing Augustine； the Duchess rose and made her sit down by her。
〃And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit； madame？〃 she said
with a most gracious smile。
〃Why all the falseness？〃 thought Augustine； replying only with a bow。
Her silence was compulsory。 The young woman saw before her a
superfluous witness of the