in the house of my parents or in that of my first husband."
"Oh, I can well believe that, for neither of them was worth a
penny."
"The better reason for my not being conversant with the slang of
the bank, which is here dinning in my ears from morning to night;
that noise of jingling crowns, which are constantly being counted
and re-counted, is odious to me. I only know one thing I dislike
more, which is the sound of your voice."
"Really?" said Danglars. "Well, this surprises me, for I thought
you took the liveliest interest in all my affairs!"
"I? What could put such an idea into your head?"
"Yourself."
"Ah? — what next?"
"Most assuredly."
"I should like to know upon what occasion?"
"Oh, mon Dieu, that is very easily done. Last February you were
the first who told me of the Haitian funds. You had dreamed that a
ship had entered the harbor at Havre, that this ship brought news
that a payment we had looked upon as lost was going to be made. I
know how clear-sighted your dreams are; I therefore purchased
immediately as many shares as I could of the Haitian debt, and I
gained 400,000 francs by it, of which 100,000 have been honestly
paid to you. You spent it as you pleased; that was your business.
In March there was a question about a grant to a railway. Three
companies presented themselves, each offering equal securities. You
told me that your instinct, — and although you pretend to know
nothing about speculations, I think on the contrary, that your
comprehension is very clear upon certain affairs, — well, you told
me that your instinct led you to believe the grant would be given
to the company called the Southern. I bought two thirds of the
shares of that company; as you had foreseen, the shares trebled in
value, and I picked up a million, from which 250,000 francs were
paid to you for pin-money. How have you spent this 250,000 francs?
— it is no business of mine."
"When are you coming to the point?" cried the baroness,
shivering with anger and impatience.
"Patience, madame, I am coming to it."
"That's fortunate."shivering with anger and impatience.
"Patience, madame, I am coming to it."
"That's fortunate."
"In April you went to dine at the minister's. You heard a
private conversation respecting Spanish affairs — on the expulsion
of Don Carlos. I bought some Spanish shares. The expulsion took
place and I pocketed 600,000 francs the day Charles V. repassed the
Bidassoa. Of these 600,000 francs you took 50,000 crowns. They were
yours, you disposed of them according to your fancy, and I asked no
questions; but it is not the less true that you have this year
received 500,000 livres."
"Well, sir, and what then?"
"Ah, yes, it was just after this that you spoiled
everything."
"Really, your manner of speaking" —
"It expresses my meaning, and that is all I want. Well, three
days after that you talked politics with M. Debray, and you fancied
from his words that Don Carlos had returned to Spain. Well, I sold
my shares, the news got out, and I no longer sold — I gave them
away, next day I find the news was false, and by this false report
I have lost 700,000 francs."
"Well?"
"Well, since I gave you a fourth of my gains, I think you owe me
a fourth of my losses; the fourth of 700,000 francs is 175,000
francs."
"What you say is absurd, and I cannot see why M. Debray's name
is mixed up in this affair."
"Because if you do not possess the 175,000 francs I reclaim, you
must have lent them to your friends, and M. Debray is one of your
friends."
"For shame!" exclaimed the baroness.
"Oh, let us have no gestures, no screams, no modern drama, or
you will oblige me to tell you that I see Debray leave here,
pocketing the whole of the 500,000 livres you have handed over to
him this year, while he smiles to himself, saying that he has found
what the most skilful players have never discovered — that is, a
roulette where he wins without playing, and is no loser when he
loses." The baroness became enraged. "Wretch!" she cried, "will you
dare to tell me you did not know what you now reproach me
with?"dare to tell me you did not know what you now reproach me
with?"
"I do not say that I did know it, and I do not say that I did
not know it. I merely tell you to look into my conduct during the
last four years that we have ceased to be husband and wife, and see
whether it has not always been consistent. Some time after our
rupture, you wished to study music, under the celebrated baritone
who made such a successful appearance at the Theatre Italien; at
the same time I felt inclined to learn dancing of the danseuse who
acquired such a reputation in London. This cost me, on your account
and mine, 100,000 francs. I said nothing, for we must have peace in
the house; and 100,000 francs for a lady and gentleman to be
properly instructed in music and dancing are not too much. Well,
you soon become tired of singing, and you take a fancy to study
diplomacy with the minister's secretary. You understand, it
signifies nothing to me so long as you pay for your lessons out of
your own cashbox. But to-day I find you are drawing on mine, and
that your apprenticeship may cost me 700,000 francs per month. Stop
there, madame, for this cannot last. Either the diplomatist must
give his lessons gratis, and I will tolerate him, or he must never
set his foot again in my house; — do you understand, madame?"
"Oh, this is too much," cried Hermine, choking, "you are worse
than despicable."
"But," continued Danglars, "I find you did not even pause there"
—
"Insults!"
"You are right; let us leave these facts alone, and reason
coolly. I have never interfered in your affairs excepting for your
good; treat me in the same way. You say you have nothing to do with
my cash-box. Be it so. Do as you like with your own, but do not
fill or empty mine. Besides, how do I know that this was not a
political trick, that the minister enraged at seeing me in the
opposition, and jealous of the popular sympathy I excite, has not
concerted with M. Debray to ruin me?"
"A probable thing!"
"Why not? Who ever heard of such an occurrence as this? — a