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Updated: June 11, 2025
Stidmann, like any man who by an involuntary indiscretion has overthrown the structure built on a husband's lie to his wife, could not conceive that his words should produce such an effect; he supposed that the Countess was in such delicate health that the slightest contradiction was mischievous.
"Good-morning, Betty," said Hortense, opening the door herself to her cousin. The cook was gone out, and the house-servant, who was also the nurse, was doing some washing. "Good-morning, dear child," replied Lisbeth, kissing her. "Is Wenceslas in the studio?" she added in a whisper. "No; he is in the drawing-room talking to Stidmann and Chanor." "Can we be alone?" asked Lisbeth.
He found one at last, made by Stidmann for a Russian, who was unable to pay for it when finished, a fox-head in gold, with a ruby of exorbitant value; all his savings went into the purchase, the cost of which was seven thousand francs. Ernest gave a drawing of the arms of La Bastie, and allowed the shop-people twenty hours to engrave them.
How much do you want?" "Well, five or six thousand francs." "I have but three thousand at the most," said Lisbeth. "And what is Wenceslas doing now?" "He has had an offer to work in partnership with Stidmann at a table service for the Duc d'Herouville for six thousand francs. Then Monsieur Chanor will advance four thousand to repay Monsieur de Lora and Bridau a debt of honor."
"Well, then, you promise me?" she said to Steinbock, taking his hand with the timidity of a girl in love. "You are indeed a happy man, my dear fellow," cried Stidmann, "if madame asks a favor of you!" "What is it?" asked Claude Vignon. "A small bronze group," replied Steinbock, "Delilah cutting off Samson's hair." "It is difficult," remarked Vignon. "A bed "
After telling him of the tragedy enacted in the Rue Saint-Dominique, Stidmann scolded Steinbock for not having warned him to keep the secret of yesterday's dinner. "I am done for," said Wenceslas, "but you are forgiven. I had totally forgotten that you were to call this morning, and I blundered in not telling you that we were to have dined with Florent. What can I say?
"Last evening I heard from Stidmann that Wenceslas is to pick him up at eleven this morning to go on business to Chanor's; so that gawk Hortense will be there alone." "But after such a trick as that," replied Lisbeth, "I cannot continue to be your friend in the eyes of the world; I shall have to break with you, to be supposed never to visit you, or even to speak to you."
This catechism bored the Livonian excessively; he seized a gayer moment to say: "And you, my dearest, what would you have done if your artist had proved guilty?" "I," said she, with an air of prompt decision, "I should have taken up Stidmann not that I love him, of course!" "Hortense!" cried Steinbock, starting to his feet with a sudden and theatrical emphasis.
Suspicions were also turned on Victor de Vernisset, a poet of the school of Canalis, whose passion for Madame Schontz was desperate; but the poet accused Stidmann, a young sculptor, of being his fortune rival. This artist, a charming lad, worked for jewellers, for manufacturers in bronze and silver-smiths; he longed to be another Benvenuto Cellini.
"Good-morning, Betty," said Hortense, opening the door herself to her cousin. The cook was gone out, and the house-servant, who was also the nurse, was doing some washing. "Good-morning, dear child," replied Lisbeth, kissing her. "Is Wenceslas in the studio?" she added in a whisper. "No; he is in the drawing-room talking to Stidmann and Chanor." "Can we be alone?" asked Lisbeth.
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