They inquired what had happened, pushing, jostling, and asking questions, and by dint of trying to restore tranquillity, increased the confusion. The Marquis de Monclair held his handkerchief to his face, to preserve the remains of his nose; he swore that Murville was a madman who ought to be shut up. Desfleurets followed him, still holding in his hand a pack of cards with which he was preparing some private _coup_. He put in his pockets the phials and sponges that he found within reach, taking advantage of the confusion to restock his toilet table. A number of old coquettes gathered about Charlot, whose youth and other attractions interested them greatly. They examined the injuries and prescribed remedies. The young men a.s.sisted Madame de Geran to restore her composure; those who had retained the most self-possession tried to pacify Murville and insisted that explanations should precede fighting.

The mistress of the house vouchsafed no other explanation than to demand the value of her mirror and toilet articles. Edouard called her a hussy and held everybody at arm's length. Dufresne, who was always on hand in emergencies, pulled Edouard by the coat-tail and forced him to quit the boudoir, sorely against his will, leaving the others to laugh or cry as their private interests might dictate.

"You are a child!" said Dufresne when they were in the street; "why did you make such a row?"

"Why? why? Don't you know that I have been betrayed, shamefully deceived, by that woman, who as I thought adored me? And for whom? for a servant!"

"Bless my soul! is that a reason for turning a house upside down? You must learn to take things philosophically. A man doesn't smash furniture for such a trifle. You will find a thousand other women who will adore you--for your money."

"After all the sacrifices I have made for her!"

"Oh! it's unpleasant, I agree! But, my dear fellow, the money one gives to a woman is always thrown away!--Look you, the most unfortunate feature in all this is your trouble with Monclair. I was obliged to give him a large part of the proceeds of your notes, to induce him not to show his face to a justice of the peace; that would have led to investigations, to law suits and expenses, which one should always avoid.--Peste! do you know that you are a terrible fellow?--Cutting one man's nose off and hammering another man's rump! If I should leave you to yourself, you'd get into a fine mess! Luckily, I am always on hand to cool you down. But this evening has cost you a great deal."

"And so that money that I have been counting on----"

"Oh! never fear, you shall have it; you must make more notes; and besides, the luck will change; no one is unlucky all the time; there are ways of arranging with fortune."

"There are?"

"Yes, yes; you shall know them later. But it is beginning to be light, and it's time to go to bed. Come home with me; to-morrow we will think about our affairs."

Dufresne led Edouard away; and he, bewildered, crushed, desperate on account of his late experiences, was already afraid to cast a glance behind, or to face what the future had in store for him.

XXIII

VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF A GAMBLING HOUSE

"Look here, we must see about settling your affairs now," said Dufresne, as he rose after the stormy night at Madame de Geran's. "You must make more notes for about fifteen thousand francs, and I will try to discount them. I confess, however, that it is more difficult than I thought.

People are none too anxious to have our signatures. They are becoming more exacting. Only a few Jews will take them, and they demand fifty per cent. What do you say to that?"

"That traitress, to betray me for a lackey!"

"What! you are still thinking of your faithless one! What folly!"

"If I could revenge myself!"

"The best revenge is to spend money freely, to live magnificently; then she will regret you. So you see that you still need money. I am going out to obtain some. Meanwhile, do not allow yourself to give way to melancholy, and throw off this languor, which will lead to nothing good.

Go and take a turn at the card tables. That is where you will recover your nerve and your ideas."

"I haven't a sou; what sort of figure should I cut there?"

"You must think up some method of winning. Au revoir; I am going to get some money."

Dufresne went out and Murville went home. He found a letter from his wife there; it was the sixth she had written him since she had gone to the country, but Edouard had never replied. He had read the first ones; they contained Adeline's wishes for his welfare, entreaties that he would take care of his health, but not a word of love; Adeline no longer dared to mention hers. To speak of one's affection to a faithless lover is like speaking of colors to a blind man, of music to a deaf man, of manners to a savage.

Edouard had ceased to read his wife's letters, because he did not know what to reply. His heart said nothing, and his conscience said too much.

He hardened the one, and did not listen to the other. The season was advanced; he was afraid that Adeline would talk of returning, and he felt that her presence would embarra.s.s him more than ever. He desired to conceal from her the condition of his affairs, which confirmed only too fully the fears that his wife and his mother-in-law had manifested.

On entering his apartments, the business agent was greatly surprised to find bailiffs proceeding to levy upon his furniture.

"What does this mean," cried Edouard; "who has sent you to my house?"

"Monsieur," replied a little man in black, "the owner of the house, of which you don't pay the rent."

"You ought to have warned me."

"Summonses have been sent to you."

"I did not read them."

"That isn't my fault."

"I don't know the forms of procedure."

"What! monsieur is joking--a business agent!"

"I am not one now."

"That doesn't concern us."

Edouard left the officers of the law and went up to his office; the clerk was not there. He examined his papers, but he had no knowledge whatever of his business. He tossed the boxes angrily into the middle of the room. He went downstairs and called his servants; they had gone. The concierge alone remained, and he answered Edouard insolently, because he saw that he was ruined.

Murville left his home and walked slowly toward the Palais-Royal, having no idea what course to pursue, or how to rid himself of the bailiffs. He waited for Dufresne, in order to consult him; he arrived at last; he seemed content, and announced that he had obtained some money. Edouard revived at that news, and told Dufresne what was taking place at his house.

"Faith," said Dufresne, "if you take my advice, you will let them go ahead and sell a lot of furniture which is of no use to you now; you don't need such an establishment, as you are living the life of a bachelor; it is sleeping property, and we turn it to some use."

"But if my wife should return----"

"Bah! she prefers the country; and besides, don't you know that in Paris, with plenty of money, one can find in an hour's time, a house and furniture and servants?"

"That is true; but you advised me to live luxuriously."

"We will hire some magnificently furnished lodgings."

"But my reputation----"

"Never fear, it is making progress. Make your fortune and let the fools talk--that is the essential thing."

"Yes, but I am very far from making my fortune!"

"Because you go about it in the wrong way."

"I do whatever you tell me."

"Oh, no! you still have a false delicacy, which does you harm, and which you must get rid of. But come to a restaurant; let us drink some champagne and madeira, and snap our fingers at whatever may happen."