Moreover, the glances of the
baron, directed alternately to his wife and to her friend, were easy
to interpret, and Madame B----- interpreted them.
"Poor Louise," she said, "she is overtired. Going out does not suit
her, her tastes are so simple. At Ecouen she was always reading--"
"And you, what used you to do?"
"I, sir? Oh, I thought about nothing but acting comely. It was my
passion!"
"But why do you so rarely visit Madame de V-----? We have a country
house at Saint-Prix, where we could have a comedy acted, in a little
theatre which I have built there."
"If I have not visited Madame de V-----, whose fault is it?" she
replied. "You are so jealous that you will not allow her either to
visit her friends or to receive them."
"I jealous!" cried Monsieur de V-----, "after four years of marriage,
and after having had three children!"
"Hush," said Emilie, striking the fingers of the baron with her fan,
"Louise is not asleep!"
The carriage stopped, and the baron offered his hand to his wife's
fair friend and helped her to get out.
"I hope," said Madame B-----, "that you will not prevent Louise from
coming to the ball which I am giving this week."
The baron made her a respectful bow.
This ball was a triumph of Madame B-----'s and the ruin of the husband
of Louise; for he became desperately enamored of Emilie, to whom he
would have sacrificed a hundred lawful wives.
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