he still
appear the same in his conduct toward her, pretending not to have
seen her? He ought to fly that very evening, without hesitation,
without turning his head; to fly as if the house were about to
tumble about his head. This was his first thought. It was quickly
stifled under the explosion of the base passions which fermented in
him. Ah, Sauvresy had saved him when he was dying! Sauvresy, after
saving him, had welcomed him, opened to him his heart, purse, house;
at this very moment he was making untiring efforts to restore his
fortunes. Men like Tremorel can only receive such services as
outrages. Had not his sojourn at Valfeuillu been a continual
suffering? Was not his self-conceit tortured from morning till
night? He might count the days by their humiliations. What! Must
he always submit to--if he was not grateful for--the superiority
of a man whom he had always been wont to treat as his inferior?

"Besides," thought he, judging his friend by himself, "he only acts
thus from pride and ostentation. What am I at his house, but a
living witness of his generosity and devotion? He seems to live
for me--it's Tremorel here and Tremorel there! He triumphs over
my misfortunes, and makes his conduct a glory and title to the public
admiration."

He could not forgive his friend for being so rich, so happy, so
highly respected, for having known how to regulate his life, while
he had exhausted his own fortune at thirty. And should he not seize
so good an opportunity to avenge himself for the favors which
overwhelmed him?

"Have I run after his wife?" said he to himself, trying to impose
silence on his conscience. "She comes to me of her own will,
herself, without the least temptation from me. I should be a fool
if I repelled her."

Conceit has irresistible arguments. Hector, when he entered the
house, had made up his mind. He did not fly. Yet he had the excuse
neither of passion nor of temptation; he did not love her, and his
infamy was deliberate, coldly premeditated. Between her and him a
chain more solid than mutual attraction was riveted; their common
hatred of Sauvresy. They owed too much to him. His hand had held
both from degradation.

The first hours of their mutual understanding were spent in angry
words, rather than the cooings of love. They perceived too clearly
the disgrace of their conduct not to try to reassure each other
against their remorse. They tried to prove to each other that
Sauvresy was ridicu