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months old； remained upstairs with his nurse。
The abbe said grace as usual when there was no company； for the children
did not come down to dinner when guests were present。 Then they began
dinner。 The countess； suffering from emotion； which she had not
calculated upon； remained with her eyes cast down； while the count
scrutinized now the three boys and now the three girls。 with an
uncertain； unhappy expression； which travelled from one to the other。
Suddenly pushing his wineglass from him； it broke； and the wine was spilt
on the tablecloth； and at the slight noise caused by this little accident
the countess started up from her chair； and for the first time they
looked at each other。 Then； in spite of themselves； in spite of the
irritation of their nerves caused by every glance； they continued to
exchange looks； rapid as pistol shots。
The abbe； who felt that there was some cause for embarrassment which he
could not divine； attempted to begin a conversation and tried various
subjects； but his useless efforts gave rise to no ideas and did not bring
out a word。 The countess； with feminine tact and obeying her instincts
of a woman of the world； attempted to answer him two or three times； but
in vain。 She could not find words； in the perplexity of her mind； and
her own voice almost frightened her in the silence of the large room；
where nothing was heard except the slight sound of plates and knives and
forks。
Suddenly her husband said to her； bending forward： 〃Here； amid your
children； will you swear to me that what you told me just now is true？〃
The hatred which was fermenting in her veins suddenly roused her； and
replying to that question with the same firmness with which she had
replied to his looks； she raised both her hands； the right pointing
toward the boys and the left toward the girls； and said in a firm；
resolute voice and without any hesitation： 〃On the head of my children；
I swear that I have told you the truth。〃
He got up and throwing his table napkin on the table with a movement of
exasperation； he turned round and flung his chair against the wall； and
then went out without another word； while she； uttering a deep sigh； as
if after a first victory； went on in a calm voice： 〃You must not pay any
attention to what your father has just said； my darlings； he was very
much upset a short time ago； but he will be all right again in a few
days。〃
Then she talked with the abbe and Miss Smith and had tender； pretty words
for all her children； those sweet； tender mother's ways which unfold
little hearts。
When dinner was over she went into the drawing…room； all her children
following her。 She made the elder ones chatter； and when their bedtime
came she kissed them for a long time and then went alone into her room。
She waited； for she had no doubt that the count would come； and she made
up her mind then； as her children were not with her； to protect herself
as a woman of the world as she would protect her life； and in the pocket
of her dress she put the little loaded revolver which she had bought a
few days previously。 The hours went by； the hours struck； and every
sound was hushed in the house。 Only the cabs； continued to rumble
through the streets； but their noise was only heard vaguely through the
shuttered and curtained windows。
She waited； full of nervous energy； without any fear of him now； ready
for anything； and almost triumphant； for she had found means of torturing
him continually during every moment of his life。
But the first gleam of dawn came in through the fringe at the bottom of
her curtain without his having come into her room； and then she awoke to
the fact； with much amazement； that he was not coming。 Having locked and
bolted her door； for greater security； she went to bed at last and
remained there； with her eyes open； thinking and barely understanding it
all； without being able to guess what he was going to do。
When her maid brought her tea she at the same time handed her a letter
from her husband。 He told her that he was going to undertake a longish
journey and in a postscript added that his lawyer would provide her with
any sums of money she might require for all her expenses。
III
It was at the opera； between two acts of 〃Robert the Devil。〃 In the
stalls the men were standing up； with their hats on； their waistcoats cut
very low so as to show a large amount of white shirt front； in which gold
and jewelled studs glistened； and were looking at the boxes full of
ladies in low dresses covered with diamonds and pearls； who were
expanding like flowers in that illuminated hothouse； where the beauty of
their faces and the whiteness of their shoulders seemed to bloom in order
to be gazed at； amid the sound of the music and of human voices。
Two friends； with their backs to the orchestra； were scanning those rows
of elegance； that exhibition of real or false charms； of jewels； of
luxury and of pretension which displayed itself in all parts of the Grand
Theatre； and one of them； Roger de Salnis； said to his companion； Bernard
Grandin：
〃Just look how beautiful the Comtesse de Mascaret still is。〃
The older man in turn looked through his opera glasses at a tall lady in
a box opposite。 She appeared to be still very young； and her striking
beauty seemed to attract all eyes in every corner of the house。 Her pale
complexion； of an ivory tint； gave her the appearance of a statue； while
a small diamond coronet glistened on her black hair like a streak of
light。
When he had looked at her for some time； Bernard Grandin replied with a
jocular accent of sincere conviction： 〃You may well call her beautiful！〃
〃How old do you think she is？〃
〃Wait a moment。 I can tell you exactly； for I have known her since she
was a child and I saw her make her debut into society when she was quite
a girl。 She isshe isthirtythirty…six。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃I am sure of it。〃
〃She looks twenty…five。〃
〃She has had seven children。〃
〃It is incredible。〃
〃And what is more； they are all seven alive； as she is a very good
mother。 I occasionally go to the house； which is a very quiet and
pleasant one； where one may see the phenomenon of the family in the midst
of society。〃
〃How very strange！ And have there never been any reports about her？〃
〃Never。〃
〃But what about her husband？ He is peculiar； is he not？〃
〃Yes and no。 Very likely there has been a little drama between them； one
of those little domestic dramas which one suspects； never finds out
exactly； but guesses at pretty closely。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃I do not know anything about it。 Mascaret leads a very fast life now；
after being a model husband。 As long as he remained a good spouse he had
a shocking temper； was crabbed and easily took offence； but since he has
been leading his present wild life he has become quite different； But one
might surmise that he has some trouble； a worm gnawing somewhere； for he
has aged very much。〃
Thereupon the two friends talked philosophically for some minutes about
the secret； unknowable troubles which differences of character or perhaps
physical antipathies； which were not perceived at first； g