de l'Estorade; but what I said to him was not unfaithful to any secret that concerned you personally.""Ah! you are such a united pair," said Madame de l'Estorade, with a heavy sigh."I don't regret that you have told all that to your husband; in fact, two heads are better than one to advise me in the cruel position in which I am placed.""What has happened?" asked Madame de Camps.
"My husband is losing his head," replied the countess."I don't see a trace of his old moral sense left in him.Far from understanding that he is, as Monsieur de Camps said just now, the accomplice of the shameful attack which is going on, and that he has not, like those who started it, the excuse of ignorance, he actually seems to take delight in this wickedness.Just now he brought me that vile paper triumphantly, and I could scarcely prevent his being very angry with me for not agreeing with his opinion that it was infinitely witty and amusing.""That letter of Monsieur Gaston's was a terrible shock to him," said Madame de Camps,--"a shock not only to his heart but to his body.""I admit that," said her husband; "but, hang it! a man is a man, and he ought to take the words of a maniac for what they are worth.""It is certainly very singular that Monsieur de Sallenauve does not return," said Madame Octave; "for that Joseph Bricheteau, to whom you gave his address, must have written to him.""Oh!" cried the countess, "there's fatality in the whole thing.
To-morrow the question of confirming the election or not comes up in the Chamber; and if Monsieur de Sallenauve is not here by that time, the ministry expects to annul it.""It is infamous," said Monsieur de Camps, "and I have a great mind to go to the president of the Chamber, and tell him how matters are.""I would have asked you to do so at the risk of my husband suspecting my interference, but one thing restrained me.Monsieur de Sallenauve particularly desires that Monsieur Gaston's mental condition be not made public.""It is evident," said Madame de Camps, "that do defend him in any way would go against his wishes.After all, the decision against him in the Chamber is very doubtful, whereas Monsieur Gaston's madness, if mentioned publicly, would never be forgotten.""But I have not told you the worst so far as I am concerned," said Madame de l'Estorade."Just before dinner my husband imparted to me an absolutely Satanic desire of his--order, I might call it.""What was it?" asked Madame de Camps, anxiously.
"He wishes me to go with him to the Chamber to-morrow,--to the gallery reserved for the peers of France,--and listen to the discussion.""He is actually, as you say, losing his head," cried Monsieur de Camps; "he is like Thomas Diafoirus, proposing to take his fiance to enjoy a dissection--"Madame de Camps made her husband a sign which meant, "Don't pour oil on the fire." Then she asked the countess whether she had tried to show M.de l'Estorade the impropriety of that step.
"The moment I began to object," replied the countess, "he was angry, and said I must be very anxious to keep up our intimacy with 'that man' when I rejected such a natural opportunity to show publicly that the acquaintance was at an end.""Well, my dear, you will have to go," said Madame de Camps."The peace of your home before everything else! Besides, considering all things, your presence at the discussion may be taken as a proof of kindly interest.""For sixteen years," remarked Monsieur de Camps, "you have ruled and governed in your home; and here, at last, is a revolution which cruelly overturns your power.""Ah, monsieur, I beg you to believe that that sovereignty--which Ialways sought to conceal--I never used arbitrarily.""As if I did not know that!" replied Monsieur de Camps, taking Madame de l'Estorade's hand and pressing it affectionately."I am, nevertheless, of my wife's opinion: you will have to drink this cup.""But I shall die of shame in listening to the ministerial infamies; Ishall feel that they are cutting the throat of a man whom two words from me could save.""True," said Monsieur de Camps, "and a man, too, who has done you a vast service.But you must choose: do you prefer to bring hell into your home, and exasperate the unhealthy condition of your husband's mind?""Listen to me, dearest," said Madame de Camps."Tell Monsieur de l'Estorade that I want to go to this session, and ask him for a permit; don't yield the point to any objections.I shall then be there to take care of you, and perhaps protect you from yourself.""I did not dare ask it of you," replied Madame de l'Estorade."We don't usually invite friends to see us commit bad actions; but since you are so kind as to offer, I can truly say I shall be less wretched if you are with me.Now good-bye; I don't want my husband to find me out when he comes home.He is dining with Monsieur de Rastignac, where, no doubt, they are plotting for to-morrow.""Yes, go; and I will write you a note in the course of an hour, as if I had not seen you, asking you to get me a permit for to-morrow's session, which I am told will be very interesting.""To be reduced to conspiracy!" cried Madame de l'Estorade, kissing her friend.
"My dear love," said Madame de Camps, "they say the life of a Christian is a struggle, but that of a woman married in a certain way is a pitched battle.Have patience and courage."So saying, the two friends separated.
The next day, about two o'clock, Madame de l'Estorade, accompanied by her husband and Madame Octave de Camps, took their places in the gallery reserved for the members of the peerage.She seemed ill, and answered languidly the bows and salutations that were addressed to her from all parts of the Chamber.Madame de Camps, who was present for the first time in the parliamentary precincts, made two observations:
