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Relative to her Highness, the duke succeeds in bribing all." "But a rascal like Steinbock!" "I know," a bit wearily. "It is pardonable to say that I believe her Highness has been very foolish." The girl made a gesture which conceded this fact. "It is too late to retreat, as I have told you. Steinbock is already on the way. We must trust him. But you?" "After all, what does a consulate amount to?"
The Comte de Rastignac, at that time Under-secretary of State, wished to possess a work by the artist, whose glory was waxing amid the acclamations of his rivals. Steinbock sold to him the charming group of two little boys crowning a little girl, and he promised to secure for the sculptor a studio attached to the Government marble-quarries, situated, as all the world knows, at Le Gros-Caillou.
"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."
The cook presently returned to say, unfortunately in loud tones, that her master was not in the studio. In the midst of her anguish, Hortense heard, and the hysterical fit came on again. "Go and fetch madame's mother," said Louise to the cook. "Quick run!" "If I knew where to find Steinbock, I would go and fetch him!" exclaimed Stidmann in despair. "He is with that woman!" cried the unhappy wife.
Wenceslas was its object, and, a failure as an artist, he became in Madame Marneffe's hands a lover so perfect that he was to her what she had been to Baron Hulot. Valerie was holding a slipper in one hand, and Steinbock clasped the other, while her head rested on his shoulder.
"Monsieur le Comte Wenceslas Steinbock is grandnephew to the famous general who served under Charles XII., King of Sweden. The young Count, having taken part in the Polish rebellion, found a refuge in France, where his well-earned fame as a sculptor has procured him a patent of naturalization."
"Brazilian," said the old woman, "look out for your angel's carriage and servants." The Baron pointed out Valerie's carriage as they passed it. "She has told them to come for her at ten o'clock, and she is gone in a cab to the house where she visits Count Steinbock. She has dined there, and will come to the Opera in half an hour. It is well contrived!" said Madame Nourrisson.
The Baroness, as a prudent housewife, calculated that an evening party would cost less than a dinner, and allow of a larger number of invitations; so Hortense's wedding was much talked about. Marshal Prince Wissembourg and the Baron de Nucingen signed in behalf of the bride, the Comtes de Rastignac and Popinot in behalf of Steinbock.
Our witnesses are Stidmann, Steinbock, Vignon, and Massol, all wide-awake men, who will be at the mairie by chance, and who will so far sacrifice themselves as to attend mass. "Your colleague will perform the civil marriage, for once in a way, as early as half-past nine. Mass is at ten; we shall be at home to breakfast by half-past eleven.
Is she better fun than I am?" "I don't want to talk about her," said Hulot. "And I hear she has come round my Crevel, and little Steinbock, and a gorgeous Brazilian?" "Very likely." "And that she has got a house as good as this, that Crevel has given her. The baggage! She is my provost-marshal, and finishes off those I have spoiled.
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