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Steinbock had acquired fashionable habits; he went to the play, to the opera; he talked admirably about art; and in the eyes of the world he maintained his reputation as a great artist by his powers of conversation and criticism. There are many clever men in Paris who spend their lives in talking themselves out, and are content with a sort of drawing-room celebrity.

"And all that," said Bixiou, "for that little Madame Marneffe! There is a precious hussy for you!" "She is just going to marry my friend Crevel," said du Tillet. "And she is madly in love with my friend Steinbock," Leon de Lora put in. These three phrases were like so many pistol-shots fired point-blank at Montes. He turned white, and the shock was so painful that he rose with difficulty.

And besides she is in debt. How much do you owe?" asked Carabine, nipping Cydalise's arm. "She is worth all she can get," said the old woman. "The point is that she can find a buyer." "Listen!" cried Montes, fully aware at last of this masterpiece of womankind "you will show me Valerie " "And Count Steinbock. Certainly!" said Madame Nourrisson.

All this catastrophe will be the work of a few minutes, for a friend of mine lets the furnished room to Count Steinbock where Valerie is at this moment taking coffee a queer sort of coffee, but she calls it her coffee. So let us understand each other, Brazil! I like Brazil, it is a hot country. What is to become of my niece?"

"Hortense is an angel; I should be a wretch." "And one is enough in the family!" said Lisbeth. "Artists ought never to marry!" exclaimed Steinbock. "Ah! that is what I always told you in the Rue du Doyenne. Your groups, your statues, your great works, ought to be your children." "What are you talking about?" Valerie asked, joining Lisbeth. "Give us tea, Cousin."

Under such circumstances I met the Princess Hildegarde of Barscheit; and I never betrayed her confidence until this writing, when I have her express permission. Of Hermann Steinbock I never saw anything more. Thus the only villain passes from the scene.

Steinbock, with Polish vainglory, wanted to appear familiar with this drawing-room fairy. After defying Stidmann, Vignon, and Crevel with a look, he took Valerie's hand and forced her to sit down by him on the settee. "You are rather too lordly, Count Steinbock," said she, resisting a little. But she laughed as she dropped on to the seat, not without arranging the rosebud pinned into her bodice.

Presently Steinbock came out to join the cousins, and thanked the old maid effusively for his prompt release. Lisbeth replied Jesuitically that the creditor having given very vague promises, she had not hoped to be able to get him out before the morrow, and that the person who had lent her the money, ashamed, perhaps, of such mean conduct, had been beforehand with her.

If she tried to make the duke believe that she had married Steinbock, her uncle would probe the matter to the bottom, and in the end cover her with ridicule. But you can not tell a young woman anything, when she is a princess and in the habit of having her own way. It is remarkable how stupid clever women can be at times. The Honorable Betty understood, but her Highness would not be convinced.

By floods of tears, Adeline persuaded him to swallow a little broth; she nursed him, sitting by his bed, and feeling only, of all the emotions that once had filled her heart, the deepest pity for him. At half-past twelve, Lisbeth showed into her dear Marshal's room for she would not leave him, so much was she alarmed at the evident change in him Count Steinbock and the notary.