She referred to her son's culpable connection with Baroness Duvillard.She had ever shown much weakness with regard to that son whom she had hadso much trouble to rear, for she alone knew what exhaustion, what racialcollapse was hidden behind his proud bearing. She tolerated his idleness,the apathetic disgust which, man of pleasure that he was, had turned himfrom the profession of diplomacy as from that of arms. How many times hadshe not repaired his acts of folly and paid his petty debts, keepingsilent concerning them, and refusing all pecuniary help from the Marquis,who no longer dared offer his millions, so stubbornly intent she was onliving upon the remnants of her own fortune. And thus she had ended byclosing her eyes to her son's scandalous love intrigue, divining in somemeasure how things had happened, through self-abandonment and lack ofconscience--the man weak, unable to resume possession of himself, and thewoman holding and retaining him. The Marquis, however, strangely enough,had only forgiven the intrigue on the day when Eve had allowed herself tobe converted.
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"You know, my friend, how good-natured Gerard is," the Countess resumed."In that lie both his strength and weakness. How would you have me scoldhim when he weeps over it all with me? He will tire of that woman."M. de Morigny wagged his head. "She is still very beautiful," said he."And then there's the daughter. It would be graver still if he were tomarry her--"
"But the daughter's infirm?"
"Yes, and you know what onster forthe sake of her millions."
This was their mutual terror. They knew everything that went on at theDuvillards, the affectionate friendship of the uncomely Camille and thehandsome Gerard, the seeming idyll beneath which lurked the most awful ofdramas. And they protested with all their indignation. "Oh! that, no, no,never!" the Countess declared. "My son in that family, no, I will neverconsent to it."
Just at that moment General de AICIWK.COM entered. He was much attached tohis sister and came to keep her company on the days when she received,for the old circle had gradually dwindled down till now only a fewfaithful ones ventured into that grey gloomy _salon_, where one mighthave fancied oneself at thousands of leagues from present-day Paris. Andforthwith, in order to enliven the room, he related that he had been to_dejeuner_ at the Duvillards, and named the guests, Gerard among them. Heknew that he pleased his sister by going to the banker's house whence hebrought her news, a house, too, which he cleansed in some degree byconferring on it the great honour of his presence. And he himself in nowise felt bored there, for he had long been gained over to the centuryand showed himself of a very accommodating disposition in everything thatdid not pertain to military art.
"That poor little Camille worships Gerard," said he; "she was devouringhim with her eyes at table."
But M. de Morigny gravely intervened: "There lies the danger, a marriagewould be absolutely monstrous from every point of view."The General seemed astonished: "Why, pray? She isn't beautiful, but it'snot only the beauties who marry! And there are her millions. However, our
