If on one side we have a mother and children, on the other
we have an old man crushed by sorrows, made old by your refusals to
know him. Where is he to find a wife? Can the judges contravene the
law? Your marriage with Colonel Chabert has priority on its side and
every legal right. But if you appear under disgraceful colors, you
might have an unlooked-for adversary. That, madame, is the danger
against which I would warn you."
"And who is he?"
"Comte Ferraud."
"Monsieur Ferraud has too great an affection for me, too much respect
for the mother of his children--"
"Do not talk of such absurd things," interrupted Derville, "to
lawyers, who are accustomed to read hearts to the bottom. At this
instant Monsieur Ferraud has not the slightest wish to annual your
union, and I am quite sure that he adores you; but if some one were to
tell him that his marriage is void, that his wife will be called
before the bar of public opinion as a criminal--"
"He would defend me, monsieur."
"No, madame."
"What reason could he have for deserting me, monsieur?"
"That he would be free to marry the only daughter of a peer of France,
whose title would be conferred on him by patent from the King."
The Countess turned pale.
"A hit!" said Derville to himself. "I have you on the hip; the poor
Colonel's case is won."--"Besides, madame," he went on aloud, "he
would feel all the less remorse because a man covered with glory--a
General, Count, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor--is not such a bad
alternative; and if that man insisted on his wife's returning to
him--"
"Enough, enough, monsieur!" she exclaimed.
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