res not. But he was often harsh and brutal towards
Madeleine, who shrugged her shoulders and treated him like a clumsy
child. She was, besides, astonished at his continual ill-humor, and
repeated: "I cannot make you out. You are always grumbling, and yet your
position is a splendid one."

He would turn his back without replying.

He had declared at first that he would not go to the governor's
entertainment, and that he would never more set foot in the house of
that dirty Jew. For two months Madame Walter had been writing to him
daily, begging him to come, to make an appointment with her whenever he
liked, in order, she said, that she might hand over the seventy thousand
francs she had gained for him. He did not reply, and threw these
despairing letters into the fire. Not that he had renounced receiving
his share of their profits, but he wanted to madden her, to treat her
with contempt, to trample her under feet. She was too rich. He wanted to
show his pride. The very day of the exhibition of the picture, as
Madeleine pointed out to him that he was very wrong not to go, he
replied: "Hold your tongue. I shall stay at home."

Then after dinner he suddenly said: "It will be better after all to
undergo this affliction. Get dressed at once."

She was expecting this, and said: "I will be ready in a quarter of an
hour." He dressed growling, and even in the cab he continued to spit out
his spleen.

The court-yard of the Carlsbourg mansion was lit up by four electric
lights, looking like four small bluish moons, one at each corner. A
splendid carpet was laid down the high flight of steps, on each of which
a footman in livery stood motionless as a statue.

Du Roy muttered: "Here's a fine show-off for you," and shrugged his
shoulders, his heart contracted by jealousy.

His wife said: "Be quiet and do likewise."

They went in and handed their heavy outer garments to the footmen who
advanced to meet them. Several ladies were also there with their
husbands, freeing themselves from their furs. Murmurs of: "It is very
beautiful, very beautiful," could be heard. The immense entrance hall
was hung with tapestry, representing the adventures of Mars and Venus.
To the right and left were the two branches of a colossal double
staircase, which met on the first floor. The banisters were a marvel of
wrought-iron work, the dull old gilding of which glittered with discreet
luster beside the steps of pink marble. At the entrance to the
re