Part 35 (1/2)
”I confess, Monsieur Blemont, that I was so surprised, so shocked!--To call me your mistress! Great heaven! who could have said that I had been your mistress?”
”I trust that you do not think it was anything that I have ever said to her, madame?”
”Oh, no indeed, monsieur! But who can have told her that?”
”n.o.body told her, madame. I tell you again, that jealousy alone can inspire such calumny.”
”My attic! she thought to make me blush by reminding me that I once lived in an attic. Oh! I don't blush for it; there is often more virtue, more refinement in an attic than in a boudoir! But do you mean to say that your wife is jealous of me?”
”Yes, madame, ever since I was unfortunate enough to tell her of the evenings which I used to pa.s.s with you and Ernest. If you knew how unhappy her jealousy makes me! Alas! the happy days of our married life pa.s.sed very quickly!”
”Oh! I am very sorry for you, Monsieur Blemont. I pity your wife too, and I forgive her, for Ernest did not hear what she said. But I beg you, never let him know what your wife said!”
”Most certainly, I shall not be the one to tell him!”
”Oh dear! I wish I had not come to this ball. I should have done much better to stay at home.”
That fatal dance ended at last. Everybody went away. Ernest and his wife bade me good-night. I read in Marguerite's eyes how glad she was to go.
My wife had gone. Who could have escorted her? Could she have gone home alone? One thing was certain, that she was no longer there.
Leberger came to me and said:
”Are you looking for your wife? She felt rather indisposed while you were dancing, and Dulac took her home. You know Dulac?--a tall fellow,--one of our amateur orchestra.”
”I do not know the gentleman, but I will thank him when I see him.”
”He is a good fellow, who plays the violin very well. I will bring him to one of your receptions if you wish.”
”Do so. Good-night; it is late.”
”It was rather a pleasant affair, and people enjoyed themselves; don't you think so?”
”Oh, yes! I enjoyed myself amazingly.”
I returned home. I expected a scene; it is always an advantage to be prepared. If only my wife might be in bed and asleep! But no, I heard her walking back and forth in the salon. Aha! I met the maid carrying a mattress. Madame was having a bed made for herself in her boudoir. What a bore not to find peace and quiet at home! to have more scenes and quarrels! And we had been married only three years and a half!
Well, I knew that I must face the storm, and I entered the salon. Madame was in a most dishevelled condition; she almost frightened me. She was holding a phial of salts to her nose.
I was kind enough to go to her and ask her if she were ill. She did not answer. I was on the point of taking a light and leaving the room, when madame sprang to her feet and planted herself in front of me.
”So you have left that woman at last, have you, monsieur?”
”I don't know what you mean by _that woman_, madame. I danced with a lady whom I esteem, and who has been generous enough to forgive you for the shameful remarks that you made before her.”
”She has been generous enough to forgive me! really, that is most n.o.ble of her! But I, monsieur, I do not forgive that lady, whom you _esteem_, for having the a.s.surance to dance with you in my presence. That her clown of a husband should not object is quite worthy of him; but you, monsieur, have you no shame?”
”Yes, madame, I was ashamed this evening, and I was ashamed because I was the husband of a woman who behaved as you did!”