The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

for more than a month, went to see her under the impulse of extreme curiosity. Nothing was ever more amu

use her in the chase. Of these two women, both so celebrated in the social world, one was far stronger than the other. The princess rose by a head above the marquise, and the marquise was inwardly conscious of that superiority. In this, perhaps, lay the secret of their intimacy.

erceived a direct question on t

ost complete, immense, infi

can yo

the jasmine? Ah! there are none but men of genius who know how to love! I apply to my grand Daniel d'Arthez the

at I no longer see you

iety a word, a mere jest can do much harm. One speech can kill, for they put such venom into a single sentence! Ah! if you knew how I long that you might meet with a love like this! Yes, it is

friend?" said Madame d'Espard. "Do you think m

sing it is so strong that it naturally inspires a feel

e departed; as she watched her

er the trouble of trying to get Danie

idst of some interesting topic on which he was discoursing eloquentl

lready have made her an enemy of mine, if by chance she has discovered that since her dinner you have scarcely left my house. Besides, my friend, I don't like to see you dropping your connection with society, and neglecting your occupations and your work. I should again be strangely calumniated. What would the world say? That I

n the following day and went to see Madame d'Espard, who received him with charming coquetry. The marquise took

s d'Esgrignon, the two brothers Vandenesse, du Tillet, one of the richest bankers in Paris, the Baron de Nucingen, Raoul Nathan, Lady Dudley, two very tre

y, Maxime de Trailles turned

, don't you, of the P

w him with equal contempt and fear; but as no one was bold enough to show him any sentiments but those of the utmost courtesy he saw nothing of this public opinion, or else he accepted and shared the general dissimulation. He owed to the Comte de Marsay the greatest degree of elevation to which he could attain. De Marsay, whose knowledge of Maxime was of long-standing, jud

t the Chamber?" asked Baron de

man can have anything to do with. I owe to her the mise

rest friend. I have never seen or known anything in the prin

stignac. "When a man has been thrown by a fine

e Marquis d'Esgrignon loo

uch terms with the princess tha

pologetic portrait of the princess, which put the whole table in good humor. As the jest was extremely obscure

ion you seem to have of the princess-all the othe

ch an accusation is absol

ncon, who completely ruined himself for her some twelve years

Cadignan went to Alencon to save Monsieur d'Esgrignon from a trial

iosity that were almost stupid, then she turned her eyes on Mad

rd, whose protection was like that of the lightning-rod which draws the flash. W

nature; she doesn't invent, she makes no effort, she offers you the choicest refinements as the

raignment that the company appeared to accept it as a conclusion. No one said more; the princess was c

She squanders patrimonies as they do; she drives her lovers to usurers; she poc

T the whole table was startled, every one paused, fork in air, their eyes fixed alternately on the b

selves in danger for her sake, she saves them, and says no harm of any one. Among the multitude, why shouldn't there be one woman w

r than wit," said

ffee was served, Blondet and Nathan went up to d'Arthez with an eagerness no one else dared to imitate, so unable w

ave been carried away by your heart or your imagination, not to have taken up the defence of a beloved woman-a fault they were enticing you to commit, because it would hav

. "It is as clever as it is difficult t

duty of all men of honor to protect her quand meme," replied d'Arthez, coldl

counsel!" said N

s were worth it," said Rasti

ld do in case d'Arthez believed the world which spoke the truth, instead of believing her who lied; for never had so noble a nature, so complete a man, a soul so pure, a conscience so ingenuous come beneath her hand. Though she had told him cruel lies she was dr

her that she had staked her happiness on this issue. Her eyes, gazing into space, took in the whole of d'Arthez's person; their light poured through his flesh, she read his soul; suspicion had not so much as t

nd you have avenged me!" she cried,

e utterly unknown to him, Daniel allowed his hand to be taken between h

id, "how cou

y! do you not see tha

l her summers in a villa on the lake of Geneva, where the great writer joins her. She returns to Paris for a few months in winter. D'Arthez is never seen ex

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