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Far from finding in his talk the romance which the Public Prosecutor, the Sous-prefet, the Presiding Judge, and his deputy, Lebas, had discovered there to say nothing of Monsieur de la Baudraye and Dinah the ladies now gathered round the tea-table, took the matter as a practical joke, and accused the Muse of Sancerre of having a finger in it.
The Marquise d'Espard, to whom Monsieur de Canalis read the list of ladies thus appointed, one evening at the Opera, said, on hearing that of the Countess: "I have lived a long time in the world, and I can remember nothing finer than the manoeuvres undertaken for the rehabilitation of Madame de la Baudraye."
"Oh, yes!" cried Madame de la Baudraye, "he is high-minded, full of delicate feeling " "We were in such good spirits when we set out," said Lousteau; "now you are overdone, and you speak to me so bitterly why? Are you not accustomed to being told how handsome and how clever you are?
It has every right to intervene as the police; but in equity it knows nothing of the heart of the matter." "The victim has in many cases been for so long the tormentor," said Madame de la Baudraye guilelessly, "that the crime would sometimes seem almost excusable if the accused could tell all."
In his agitation, while Madame de la Baudraye was pouring out a flood of words, Etienne understood the child to say, "Mother is there," the only circumstance that suggested itself as possible, and he went in. Felicie and her mother, who were by this time in the bed-room, crept into a corner on seeing Etienne enter with a woman.
"Oh!" cried Dinah, "in everything that relates to business, I trust no one but Monsieur de Clagny. He knows the law, come to terms with him; what he does, will be done right." "I have no occasion for Monsieur de Clagny," answered Monsieur de la Baudraye, "to take my children from you " "Your children!" exclaimed Dinah. "Your children, to whom you have not sent a sou! Your children!"
On seeing the affectations of their too amiable hostess which were, indeed, affectations of soul and mind the friends glanced at each other, and put on a deeply serious expression to listen to Madame de la Baudraye, who made them a set speech of thanks for coming to cheer the monotony of her days.
The journalist, who understood, took Gatien by the arm and pressed it as a hint to him to be silent. A few minutes later Etienne left Dinah's three adorers and took possession of little La Baudraye. Then Gatien was cross-questioned as to the events of the day.
Ten days after the evening at the theatre when they had met, Monsieur de Clagny came to call at four o'clock, after coming out of court, and found Madame de la Baudraye making a little cap.
At five o'clock, Monsieur de Clagny who had been promoted to the post of Attorney-General enlightened Madame de la Baudraye as to her position; still, he undertook to arrange everything by a bargain with the old fellow, whose visit had been prompted by avarice alone.
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