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"My dear cousin," Lisbeth was saying to the Baron, "I shall go to see Adeline early to-morrow; for, as you must see, I cannot, with any decency, remain here. I will go and keep house for your brother the Marshal." "I am going home this evening," said Hulot. "Very well, you will see me at breakfast to-morrow," said Lisbeth, smiling.
"Well, could we hoodwink you, you, one of the shining lights of the law?" said she. "For that sum we have secured a maid's conscience and a picture by Raphael. It is not dear." Hulot, still bewildered, sat with wide open eyes. "Well, then," his visitor went on, "we have purchased the honesty of Mademoiselle Reine Tousard, a damsel from whom Madame Marneffe has no secrets " "I understand!"
By a very obvious chance Hulot, coming to Strasbourg, saw the Fischer family. Adeline's father and his younger brother were at that time contractors for forage in the province of Alsace. Adeline, then sixteen years of age, might be compared with the famous Madame du Barry, like her, a daughter of Lorraine.
"Hulot was the first instance of love through fire and water," said she; "this is the second. But it ought not to count, as it comes from the Tropics."
Though the sight of the Brazilian gave him a shock, Crevel begged Madame Marneffe to grant him two minutes' speech with her. Valerie led Crevel into the drawing-room. "Valerie, my angel," said the amorous Mayor, "Monsieur Marneffe cannot have long to live. If you will be faithful to me, when he dies we will be married. Think it over. I have rid you of Hulot.
"Not so mad!" said he, taking Madame Hulot round the knees; "old Crevel has his price, since you thought of applying to him, my angel." "They submit to have a man's arms round their knees, it would seem!" thought the saintly woman, covering her face with her hands. "Once you offered me a fortune!" said she, turning red. "Ay, mother! but that was three years ago!" replied Crevel.
"Listen," said Hulot; "can you put me up for a few days in a servant's room under the roof? I have nothing not a farthing, not a hope; no food, no pension, no wife, no children, no roof over my head; without honor, without courage, without a friend; and worse than all that, liable to imprisonment for not meeting a bill." "Poor old fellow! you are without most things. Are you also sans culotte?"
"Hulot was the first instance of love through fire and water," said she; "this is the second. But it ought not to count, as it comes from the Tropics."
He is the only man I know who can laugh over the death of a comrade without being thought unfeeling." "He's the true French soldier," said Hulot, in a grave tone. "Just look at him pulling his epaulets back to his shoulders, to show he is a captain," cried Gerard, laughing, "as if his rank mattered!"
"Well, go downstairs and wait for me; for I suppose you do not wish to look on at the various ceremonies required by your cousin's state." Hulot slowly turned away. "You old profligate," cried Lisbeth, "you have not even asked me how your children are? What are you going to do for Adeline? I, at any rate, will take her my savings to-morrow."
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