The Clique of Gold

tell their whole private history, and to confide to their neighbors even their most im

son. Was he really what he appeared to be? The girl almost doubted it. Although wholly inexperienced, she still had been struck by certain astounding changes in Papa Ravinet. Thus, whenever he became animated, his carriage, his gestures, and his m

ot? Is not Paris the haven in which all shipwrecked sailors of society seek a refuge? Does not Paris alone offer to all wretched and guilty people a hiding-place, where they can begin a new life, lost and unknown in the vast multitude? What discoveries might be made there? Ho

rness of Papa Ravinet to serve her, nor his perseverance in offering her his advice. Was it

or had his interests ever been mixed up with hers? Was he anxious to make a return for s

udence to put myself in the power o

ll back into that state of forlorn wretchedness, from

er having exhausted their sufferings, now began to cling to life with an almost desperate affection. It seemed a

only friend upon earth, what would you suffer if you knew that yo

ld have required an amount of energy which she did not p

an is your

thought how she could tell him the truth without telling him all; how she could confess enough to enable him to ser

e narrow circle of a family,-intrigues of the most abominable character, which people suspect, and oft

good people near Rosiers and Saint Mathurin were fond of pointing out to strangers the massive towers of Ville-Han

tleman, a little too proud, perhaps,

time about forty years old, quite tall and good-looking, solemn and courteous, obliging, although reserved, and very good-natured as long as no one spoke in his presence of the church o

being clever and well-informed, of which he was very proud and very careful. He lived freely, almost profusely, and thus put aside eve

hounds, and six hunters. Finally, he kept half a dozen lazy servants in the house, whose gorge

erfect, but for his

g over hedges, or floundering in the swamps. This he carried so far, that the ladies of the neighborhood, who had

e had not lacked opportunities to remedy the evil. There was not a good mother for twenty miles ar

s kept their sweetest smiles for him; and kind welcomes were offered on all sides. But all these m

certain person, half housekeeper, half companion, who lived in the castle, and

e, gossiping tales. One fine morning in the month of July, 1847, the lady died suddenly of apop

nt appeared in the official journal. And whom do you think he married? The daughter of a poor widow, the Baroness Rupert, who lived in g

and ancient family; if she had been

ied her in Austria; others, in Sweden. Her husband, they added, had been made a baron after the fashio

eautiful. Moreover, she had, up to this time, been looked upon as a sensible, modest girl, very bright and very sweet

nt, no dower, not

tural, that a great nobleman like the count should end thus miserably, ridiculously? that he should marry a pe

he not perhaps, after all, a designing hypocrite, who had very quietly, in he

intimacy had existed between the mother of the bride and the housekeeper at the cast

of Angers, and at the houses of the nobility near him. No more affectionate smiles, no tender welcomes, no little white hands stealthily seeking his. The doors that formerly seemed to fly

dy, who gave the keynote to society,

damsel who used to give music-lessons to my nieces

lamed her for the noblest of virtues; for all the blame was laid upon her. When people met her, they looked away, so as not to have to bow to her. Even when she was leaning on the count's arm, there were persons who spoke very kindly to him, and did not say a word to his

sir? How shall I chastise you to

ience put the rest of them on their guard. But their opinions remained

anker at Dresden, died, and left his "beloved niece Pauline" half a million dollars. This immensely wealthy man, who had never assisted his sister in her troubles, and who would ha

ave had her vengeance on all her miserable slanderers, and enjoyed a boundless popularity. Bu

o the entreaties and the orders of her mother. An excellent daughter, as she was to become the best of mothers, and the most faithful

isted, at least for the

free will, given her heart to another. She had bestowed her first and warmest affections upon a young man who was only two or t

's poverty. It could not be expected that those keen, thrifty peasants, Champcey's father and mo

dying day and night to prepare for his examination. And the old couple were not a little proud of these "gentlemen," their sons. They tol

o well, that he never me

aid to himself, "it will

uline's mother waite

d sworn she would bury this love of hers so deep in the innermost recesses of her he

t well-nigh overcame her, and crushed her-sweetly and sadly, like the memory o

air, in which he overwhelmed her with irony and contempt. Later, whether he had forgotten her or not, he also had married; a

thought called up a blush on her brow, she quickly triumphed over it. Like a brave, loyal woman, she renewed her oath, and swore to devote herself entirely

narrow his mind was, how empty his thoughts, and how cold his heart. She had long since found out that the brilliant man of the world, whom everybody considered so clever, was

ad heard so many people say that she was not his equal, that he finally bel

have thought that nothing more could be expected of her than to keep sacred her marriage-vows. Bu

rling curly head she built a thousand castles in the air. From that moment she roused herself from the languor to which she had

ast a new light upon her fate. One morning,

before she died, when she knew she was go

the count's for

eping in the background, and sheltering herself under the very humility of her position, she had been in truth the intellect, the energy, and the stron

husband's, the countess had sufficient self-control no

ss and for our peace, I will sto

jealous, and despotic, like all weak men, he dreaded nothing so much as what he called an insult to his authority. He meant to be master everywhere, in every thing, an

-cock!" was one of

he wind. The countess knew it; and this knowledge made her strong. After working for many months patiently and cautiously, she thoug

er position unpleasant, and was anxious to leave the country. It recalled to her, besides, too many painful memories. There were certain roads and lanes which she could never pass without a pang at her heart. On the other ha

going to leave Ville-Handry, that he had bought a town-house in Paris and th

t at her disappointment. "She would not agree to it at all; but I am no

the magnificent house in Varennes Street, a princely mansion, which, however, did not cost them mor

prived of the active exercise and the fresh air he enjoyed in the country, he should miss his many occupations and duties, and either succumb to wearine

of fifty, can take the place of all others,-ambition. Thus he came to Paris with the secret desire

ce to her in this enterprise. She managed to assemble at her house all the celebrities of the day. Her relations helped her; and soon her Wednesdays and Saturdays became famous in Paris. People exerted themselves to the utmost to obtain an invitat

at questions of the day. She studied characters; watched the passions of some, and discovered the cunning tricks of others, ever anxious to find out what enemies she would have to fear, and what allies to conciliate. Like one of those ill-taught professors who stud

ed the fruit

d imperturbable self-possession. He spoke in public, and made an impression by his good common-sense. He advised others, and they were struck by his sagacity. He had soon e

y wife is one of those timid women who cannot understand that men are made for the ex

ld, the prouder she became of her own usefulness to him. Her feelings were very much tho

s the world, to know what she was to her husband; and she taught her not only to love him as her father, but to respect and admire him as a ma

to have sprung from his own fertile brains. He was even sometimes surprised at the want of good sense in his wife, and pointed out to her, quite ironically, that the steps from which she tried hardest to dissuade him were the most successful he took. But no irony could turn the countess from the path which she had traced out for

nd a large fortune; but, in return, she had given him, and without his being aware of it, a position of some eminence.

longer under ob

herself, "we are qu

hours during which her thoughts, escaping from the contr

She had been

he found himself forsaken by her whom he loved be

chosen among a thousand, had brought their son a fortune of a hundred thousand dollars; but she was a bad woman. And after eight years of wretch

se formerly occupied by Pauline's mother; and there, in a narrow lane, his body was found by some peasants coming home from marke

erstand, he said, how a man in good position, with a bright future b

ce for his suicide!" he added. "I

d. She understood but too well why Peter had wishe

" she thought,

Fortunately her mother died nearly at the same time; and this mi

living in real luxury during her last years. Her selfishness was so intense, that

hich her lover's suicide added bitter remorse to all her former grief. What would have become of her, if her chi

en one afternoon, as she was going down stairs, a servant came to tell her that there w

her his card; she

l Cham

her. Pale as death, the cou

ervant, rather surprised at th

elt as if she wa

ied in a scarcely audib

wenty- three or twenty-four years old, with a frank and open fa

her; for she could not have uttered

ut he did not guess the cause. Peter had never

why he came, showing neither

moted over him; and he had asked for leave of absence to appeal to the secretary of the navy. He felt quite sure of the justice of his claims; but he also knew that strong re

ening to him, the countes

she replied; "and he will tell you so himself, if you w

ide by side, was suddenly struck with an idea which seemed to her nothing less than inspiration from on high. Why might she not intrust the future happiness of

before falling asleep, "it must be so

later, Count Ville-Handry said to one of

, when he is a lieutenant, and a few years older, if it should so happen that he liked Henrietta, and asked

nfortunately, a constant visitor

nce of certain high personages, he had been temporarily assigned to duty in the bureau o

t deal of each other, and, to all ap

ountess, "why are they

nts. She felt as if she would not live long; and she trembled at the

f superior ability, learned to mistrust his judgment! A hundred times the countess was on

she suddenly was seized with vertigo. She did

her hair; but, instead of taking it, she suddenly raised he

the whole house was alive. They se

andry had died from