Part 47 (1/2)
”My dear love,” said Ernest, ”we should go into society as we go to the theatre, not to please others but to enjoy ourselves; when the play is tiresome, you are not compelled to stay to the end.”
”And Monsieur Dulac?” I said after a moment; ”you have not mentioned him, Ernest. Don't be afraid to tell me what you know. I suppose that he is more devoted than ever to Madame Blemont.”
”You are mistaken; he had no sooner recovered from his wound, and that was not long ago, than he went on a journey; I am told that he has gone to Italy.”
I confess that that news pleased me. And yet what did it matter to me now whether it was Dulac or some other man who was attentive to Madame Blemont, as I should have nothing more in common with that woman? Madame Blemont! She still called herself so, Ernest a.s.sured me. I hoped that she would have resumed her mother's name. Was it not cruel to be unable to take one's name away from a woman who dishonored it? If Madame Blemont should have other children, they too would bear my name and would share my property. Was that justice? But divorce was prohibited, because it was considered immoral! Oh! of course it is much more moral to leave to a guilty wife the name of the husband whom she abandons, and to strange children a t.i.tle and property to which they have no right!
And Ernest insisted that I should return to that circle where Madame Blemont was welcomed and made much of; whereas they would consider that they compromised themselves by inviting dear little Marguerite, who loved her children, devoted herself to her family and made Ernest happy; and why? because she was not married. Oh! that society, overflowing with vices and absurd prejudices, disgusted me! I left it to Madame Blemont; I did not propose to share anything with her thenceforth.
I promised my friends to go often to see them. I had not yet made up my mind what I would do; but I still intended to travel, to leave Paris, especially since I knew that Madame Blemont had returned.
My concierge informed me that a gentleman had called to see me for the third time. From the description that he gave me I could not doubt that it was Belan, and I ordered the man always to tell him that I was out.
He also handed me a card upon which was the name of Giraud. Would those people never leave me to myself? Unluckily my business had made it necessary for me to leave my address at my former apartment; but I determined to settle all the cases which had been placed in my hands with all possible speed, in order that I might leave Paris as soon as possible.
I spent a part of every day going about to my former clients, to whom I restored their papers, on the pretext that my health compelled me to abandon my profession. In my peregrinations I occasionally saw Belan or Giraud, but I always succeeded in avoiding them. I had just finished my last business. I felt free once more, and was congratulating myself upon being able to follow my inclinations, when, as I walked rapidly through the Palais-Royal, I was stopped by Belan. That time I had no opportunity to avoid him.
”Ah! I have caught you at last! Upon my word, I am in luck; where in the devil have you been hiding, my dear friend? I have been to your apartment a great many times, but you are always out.”
”I have many matters to arrange, my dear Belan, and at this moment I am in a great hurry.”
”I don't care for that, I don't propose to let you go; I have too many things to tell you. But I say, have you left your wife?”
”Yes, we could not agree.”
”That is what I said at once: 'They did not agree.' I admit that you are generally blamed; you are looked upon as a jealous husband, a domestic tyrant.”
”People may say what they choose; it is quite indifferent to me.”
”And you are right. As for myself, if I only could separate from my mother-in-law! Great heaven! how happy I would be! But Armide refuses to leave her mother, and the result is that I am constantly between two fires: when one is not picking a quarrel with me, the other is. To be sure, I am perfectly at ease now concerning my wife's fidelity. The marquis no longer comes to see us; I don't know why, but he has entirely ceased his visits. As for Armide, she has become so crabbed, so sour; mon Dieu! there are times when I think that I should prefer to be a cuckold, and to have my wife amiable; and yet----”
”Belan, I am obliged to leave you.”
”Pshaw! what's your hurry? You are very lucky now, you are living as a bachelor again; you are raising the deuce----”
”I am giving my whole attention to settling up my business, and----”
”Oh, yes! playing the saint! I know you, you rake! faith! between ourselves, I will tell you that I too have made a little acquaintance.
Look you, we men are not saints, and although one is married, one may have weaknesses, moments of forgetfulness; indeed, that is quite legitimate for us. But I have to take the greatest precautions, for if my wife or my mother-in-law should surprise me----”
”Adieu, Belan. I wish you all the pleasure in the world.”
”But where are you going so fast? I will go with you.”
I was not at all anxious for the little man's company; and to get rid of him, I told him that I was going to the Bois de Boulogne. He clapped his hands and cried:
”Parbleu! how nicely it happens! That is just where I have arranged to meet my little one--near the Chateau de Madrid. I never see her except outside the barrier.”
”But I have business in another direction.”
”Never mind; we will take a cab and drive to the Bois together.”