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abyss which separated her from the Claes of earlier days。 From that
time Balthazar's condition grew rapidly worse。 The man formerly so
wrapped up in his domestic happiness； who played for hours with his
children on the parlor carpet or round the garden paths； who seemed
able to exist only in the light of his Pepita's dark eyes； did not
even perceive her pregnancy； seldom shared the family life； and even
forgot his own。
The longer Madame Claes postponed inquiring into the cause of his
preoccupation the less she dared to do so。 At the very idea； her blood
ran cold and her voice grew faint。 At last the thought occurred to her
that she had ceased to please her husband； and then indeed she was
seriously alarmed。 That fear now filled her mind； drove her to
despair； then to feverish excitement； and became the text of many an
hour of melancholy reverie。 She defended Balthazar at her own expense；
calling herself old and ugly； then she imagined a generous though
humiliating consideration for her in this secret occupation by which
he secured to her a negative fidelity； and she resolved to give him
back his independence by allowing one of those unspoken divorces which
make the happiness of many a marriage。
Before bidding farewell to conjugal life； Madame Claes made some
attempt to read her husband's heart； and found it closed。 Little by
little； she saw him become indifferent to all that he had formerly
loved； he neglected his tulips； he cared no longer for his children。
There could be no doubt that he was given over to some passion that
was not of the heart； but which； to a woman's mind； is not less
withering。 His love was dormant； not lost： this might be a
consolation； but the misfortune remained the same。
The continuance of such a state of things is explained by one word；
hope； the secret of all conjugal situations。 It so happened that
whenever the poor woman reached a depth of despair which gave her
courage to question her husband； she met with a few brief moments of
happiness when she was able to feel that if Balthazar was indeed in
the clutch of some devilish power； he was permitted； sometimes at
least； to return to himself。 At such moments； when her heaven
brightened； she was too eager to enjoy its happiness to trouble him
with importunate questions： later； when she endeavored to speak to
him； he would suddenly escape； leave her abruptly； or drop into the
gulf of meditation from which no word of hers could drag him。
Before long the reaction of the moral upon the physical condition
began its ravages；at first imperceptibly； except to the eyes of a
loving woman following the secret thought of a husband through all its
manifestations。 Often she could scarcely restrain her tears when she
saw him； after dinner； sink into an armchair by the corner of the
fireplace； and remain there； gloomy and abstracted。 She noted with
terror the slow changes which deteriorated that face； once； to her
eyes； sublime through love： the life of the soul was retreating from
it； the structure remained； but the spirit was gone。 Sometimes the
eyes were glassy； and seemed as if they had turned their gaze and were
looking inward。 When the children had gone to bed； and the silence and
solitude oppressed her； Pepita would say； 〃My friend； are you ill？〃
and Balthazar would make no answer； or if he answered； he would come
to himself with a quiver； like a man snatched suddenly from sleep； and
utter a 〃No〃 so harsh and grating that it fell like a stone on the
palpitating heart of his wife。
Though she tried to hide this strange state of things from her
friends； Madame Claes was obliged sometimes to allude to it。 The
social world of Douai； in accordance with the custom of provincial
towns； had made Balthazar's aberrations a topic of conversation； and
many persons were aware of certain details that were still unknown to
Madame Claes。 Disregarding the reticence which politeness demanded； a
few friends expressed to her so much anxiety on the subject that she
found herself compelled to defend her husband's peculiarities。
〃Monsieur Claes；〃 she said； 〃has undertaken a work which wholly
absorbs him； its success will eventually redound not only to the honor
of the family but to that of his country。〃
This mysterious explanation was too flattering to the ambition of a
town whose local patriotism and desire for glory exceed those of other
places； not to be readily accepted； and it produced on all minds a
reaction in favor of Balthazar。
The supposition of his wife was； to a certain extent； well…founded。
Several artificers of various trades had long been at work in the
garret of the front house； where Balthazar went early every morning。
After remaining； at first； for several hours； an absence to which his
wife and household grew gradually accustomed； he ended by being there
all day。 Butunexpected shock！Madame Claes learned through the
humiliating medium of some women friends； who showed surprise at her
ignorance； that her husband constantly imported instruments of
physical science； valuable materials； books； machinery； etc。； from
Paris； and was on the highroad to ruin in search of the Philosopher's
Stone。 She ought； so her kind friends added； to think of her children；
and her own future； it was criminal not to use her influence to draw
Monsieur Claes from the fatal path on which he had entered。
Though Madame Claes； with the tone and manner of a great lady；
silenced these absurd speeches； she was inwardly terrified in spite of
her apparent confidence； and she resolved to break through her present
system of silence and resignation。 She brought about one of those
little scenes in which husband and wife are on an equal footing； less
timid at such a moment； she dared to ask Balthazar the reason for his
change； the motive of his constant seclusion。 The Flemish husband
frowned； and replied：
〃My dear； you could not understand it。〃
Soon after； however； Josephine insisted on being told the secret；
gently complaining that she was not allowed to share all the thoughts
of one whose life she shared。
〃Very well； since it interests you so much；〃 said Balthazar； taking
his wife upon his knee and caressing her black hair； 〃I will tell you
that I have returned to the study of chemistry； and I am the happiest
man on earth。〃
CHAPTER IV
Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry；
the aspect of his house was changed。 Whether it were that society was
affronted by his perpetual absent…mindedness and chose to think itself
in the way； or that Madame Claes's secret anxieties made her less
agreeable than before； certain it is that she no longer saw any but
her intimate friends。 Balthazar went nowhere； shut himself up in his
laboratory all day； sometimes stayed there all night； and only
appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner…time。
After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country…
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