a good soul with no prejudices, and I will put things
plainly to you. You want to do as Valerie does--very good. But that is
not all; you must have a gull, a stockholder, a Hulot.--Well, I know
a retired tradesman--in fact, a hosier. He is heavy, dull, has not an
idea, I am licking him into shape, but I don't know when he will do
me credit. My man is a deputy, stupid and conceited; the tyranny of
a turbaned wife, in the depths of the country, has preserved him in a
state of utter virginity as to the luxury and pleasures of Paris life.
But Beauvisage--his name is Beauvisage--is a millionaire, and, like me,
my dear, three years ago, he will give a hundred thousand crowns to be
the lover of a real lady.--Yes, you see," he went on, misunderstanding a
gesture on Adeline's part, "he is jealous of me, you understand; jealous
of my happiness with Madame Marneffe, and he is a fellow quite capable
of selling an estate to purchase a--"

"Enough, Monsieur Crevel!" said Madame Hulot, no longer controlling her
disgust, and showing all her shame in her face. "I am punished beyond
my deserts. My conscience, so sternly repressed by the iron hand of
necessity, tells me, at this final insult, that such sacrifices are
impossible.--My pride is gone; I do not say now, as I did the first
time, 'Go!' after receiving this mortal thrust. I have lost the right to
do so. I have flung myself before you like a prostitute.

"Yes," she went on, in reply to a negative on Crevel's part, "I have
fouled my life, till now so pure, by a degrading thought; and I am
inexcusable!--I know it!--I deserve every insult you can offer me! God's
will be done! If, indeed, He desires the death of two creatures worthy
to appear before Him, they must die! I shall mourn them, and pray for
them! If it is His will that my family should be humbled to the dust,
we must bow to His avenging sword, nay, and kiss it, since we are
Christians.--I know how to expiate this disgrace, which will be the
torment of all my remaining days.

"I who speak to you, monsieur, am not Madame Hulot, but a wretched,
humble sinner, a Christian whose heart henceforth will know but one
feeling, and that is repentance, all my time given up to prayer and
charity. With such a sin on my soul, I am the last of women, the first
only of penitents.--You have been the means of bringing me to a right
mind; I can hear the Voice of God speaking within me, and I can thank
you!"

She was shaking with the nervou