able close to the fireplace. Then she drew back,
and the rehearsal began once more. In a soliloquy which followed the
scene, Madame de Guiraud with considerable power spoke these two
sentences: "'But what a treacherous gulf is the heart of man! In
truth, we are worth more than they!'"

And Helene, what ought she to do now? Within her breast the question
raised a storm that stirred her to vague thoughts of violence. She
experienced an irresistible desire to be revenged on Juliette's
tranquillity, as if that self-possession were an insult directed
against her own fevered heart. She dreamed of facilitating her fall,
that she might see whether she would always retain this unruffled
demeanor. And she thought of herself scornfully as she recalled her
delicacy and scruples. Twenty times already she ought to have said to
Henri: "I love you; let us go away together." Could she have done so,
however, without the most intense emotion? Could she have displayed
the callous composure of this woman, who, three hours before her first
assignation, was rehearsing a comedy in her own home? Even at this
moment she trembled more than Juliette; what maddened her was the
consciousness of her own passion amidst the quiet cheerfulness of this
drawing-room; she was terrified lest she should burst out into some
angry speech. Was she a coward, then?

But all at once a door opened, and Henri's voice reached her ear: "Do
not disturb yourselves. I'm only passing."

The rehearsal was drawing to a close. Juliette, who was still reading
Chavigny's part, had just caught hold of Madame de Guiraud's hand.
"Ernestine, I adore you!" she exclaimed with an outburst of passionate
earnestness.

"Then Madame de Blainville is no longer beloved by you?" inquired
Madame de Guiraud.

However, so long as her husband was present Juliette declined to
proceed. There was no need of the men knowing anything about it. The
doctor showed himself most polite to the ladies; he complimented them
and predicted an immense success. With black gloves on his hands and
his face clean-shaven he was about to begin his round of visits. On
his entry he had merely greeted Helene with a slight bow. At the
Comedie Francais he had seen some very great actress in the character
of Madame de Lery, and he acquainted Madame de Guiraud with some of
the usual by-play of the scene.

"At the moment when Chavigny is going to throw himself at your feet,
you fling the purse into the fire. Dispass