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quail； the pigeon and the partridge the natural prey of the hawk？ the
sheep； the stag and the ox that of the great flesh…eating animals； rather
than meat to be fattened and served up to us with truffles； which have
been unearthed by pigs for our special benefit？
〃As to ourselves； the more civilized； intellectual and refined we are；
the more we ought to conquer and subdue that animal instinct； which
represents the will of God in us。 And so； in order to mitigate our lot
as brutes； we have discovered and made everything； beginning with houses；
then exquisite food； sauces； sweetmeats； pastry； drink； stuffs； clothes；
ornaments； beds； mattresses； carriages； railways and innumerable
machines； besides arts and sciences； writing and poetry。 Every ideal
comes from us as do all the amenities of life； in order to make our
existence as simple reproducers； for which divine Providence solely
intended us； less monotonous and less hard。
〃Look at this theatre。 Is there not here a human world created by us；
unforeseen and unknown to eternal fate； intelligible to our minds alone；
a sensual and intellectual distraction； which has been invented solely by
and for that discontented and restless little animal； man？
〃Look at that woman； Madame de Mascaret。 God intended her to live in a
cave； naked or wrapped up in the skins of wild animals。 But is she not
better as she is？ But； speaking of her； does any one know why and how
her brute of a husband； having such a companion by his side； and
especially after having been boorish enough to make her a mother seven
times； has suddenly left her； to run after bad women？〃
Grandin replied： 〃Oh！ my dear fellow； this is probably the only reason。
He found that raising a family was becoming too expensive； and from
reasons of domestic economy he has arrived at the same principles which
you lay down as a philosopher。〃
Just then the curtain rose for the third act； and they turned round； took
off their hats and sat down。
IV
The Comte and Comtesse Mascaret were sitting side by side in the carriage
which was taking them home from the Opera； without speaking but suddenly
the husband said to his wife： 〃Gabrielle！〃
〃What do you want？〃
〃Don't you think that this has lasted long enough？〃
〃What？〃
〃The horrible punishment to which you have condemned me for the last six
years？〃
〃What do you want？ I cannot help it。〃
〃Then tell me which of them it is。〃
〃Never。〃
〃Think that I can no longer see my children or feel them round me；
without having my heart burdened with this doubt。 Tell me which of them
it is； and I swear that I will forgive you and treat it like the others。〃
〃I have not the right to do so。〃
〃Do you not see that I can no longer endure this life； this thought which
is wearing me out； or this question which I am constantly asking myself；
this question which tortures me each time I look at them？ It is driving
me mad。〃
〃Then you have suffered a great deal？〃 she said。
〃Terribly。 Should I； without that； have accepted the horror of living by
your side； and the still greater horror of feeling and knowing that there
is one among them whom I cannot recognize and who prevents me from loving
the others？〃
〃Then you have really suffered very much？〃 she repeated。
And he replied in a constrained and sorrowful voice：
〃Yes； for do I not tell you every day that it is intolerable torture to
me？ Should I have remained in that house； near you and them； if I did
not love them？ Oh！ You have behaved abominably toward me。 All the
affection of my heart I have bestowed upon my children； and that you
know。 I am for them a father of the olden time； as I was for you a
husband of one of the families of old； for by instinct I have remained a
natural man； a man of former days。 Yes； I will confess it； you have made
me terribly jealous； because you are a woman of another race； of another
soul； with other requirements。 Oh！ I shall never forget the things you
said to me； but from that day I troubled myself no more about you。 I did
not kill you； because then I should have had no means on earth of ever
discovering which of ourof your children is not mine。 I have waited；
but I have suffered more than you would believe； for I can no longer
venture to love them； except； perhaps； the two eldest； I no longer
venture to look at them； to call them to me； to kiss them； I cannot take
them on my knee without asking myself； 'Can it be this one？' I have been
correct in my behavior toward you for six years； and even kind and
complaisant。 Tell me the truth； and I swear that I will do nothing
unkind。〃
He thought； in spite of the darkness of the carriage； that he could
perceive that she was moved； and feeling certain that she was going to
speak at last； he said： 〃I beg you； I beseech you to tell me〃 he said。
〃I have been more guilty than you think perhaps；〃 she replied； 〃but I
could no longer endure that life of continual motherhood； and I had only
one means of driving you from me。 I lied before God and I lied； with my
hand raised to my children's head； for I never have wronged you。〃
He seized her arm in the darkness； and squeezing it as he had done on
that terrible day of their drive in the Bois de Boulogne； he stammered：
〃Is that true？〃
〃It is true。〃
But； wild with grief； he said with a groan： 〃I shall have fresh doubts
that will never end！ When did you lie； the last time or now？ How am I
to believe you at present？ How can one believe a woman after that？ I
shall never again know what I am to think。 I would rather you had said
to me； 'It is Jacques or it is Jeanne。'〃
The carriage drove into the courtyard of the house and when it had drawn
up in front of the steps the count alighted first； as usual； and offered
his wife his arm to mount the stairs。 As soon as they reached the first
floor he said： 〃May I speak to you for a few moments longer？〃 And she
replied； 〃I am quite willing。〃
They went into a small drawing…room and a footman； in some surprise；
lighted the wax candles。 As soon as he had left the room and they were
alone the count continued： 〃How am I to know the truth？ I have begged you
a thousand times to speak； but you have remained dumb； impenetrable；
inflexible； inexorable； and now to…day you tell me that you have been
lying。 For six years you have actually allowed me to believe such a
thing！ No； you are lying now； I do not know why； but out of pity for me；
perhaps？〃
She replied in a sincere and convincing manner： 〃If I had not done so； I
should have had four more children in the last six years！〃
〃Can a mother speak like that？〃
〃Oh！〃 she replied； 〃I do not feel that I am the mother of children who
never have been born； it is enough for me to be the mother of those that
I have and to love them with all my heart。 I am a woman of the civilized
world； monsieurwe all areand we are no longer； and we refuse to be；
mere females to restock the earth。〃
She got up； but he seized her hands。 〃Only one word； Gabrielle。 Tell me
the truth！〃
〃I have just told you。 I never have dishonored you。〃
He looked her full in the face； and how beautiful she was； with her gray
eye