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francs upon his property。 The apparent authenticity of the
transaction； the rumors and conjectures spread through the town；
forced Madame Claes； naturally much alarmed； to question her husband's
notary and； disregarding her pride； to reveal to him her secret
anxieties or let him guess them； and even ask her the humiliating
question；
〃How is it that Monsieur Claes has not told you of this？〃
Happily； the notary was almost a relation；in this wise： The
grandfather of Monsieur Claes had married a Pierquin of Antwerp； of
the same family as the Pierquins of Douai。 Since the marriage the
latter； though strangers to the Claes； claimed them as cousins。
Monsieur Pierquin； a young man twenty…six years of age； who had just
succeeded to his father's practice； was the only person who now had
access to the House of Claes。
Madame Balthazar had lived for several months in such complete
solitude that the notary was obliged not only to confirm the rumor of
the disasters； but to give her further particulars； which were now
well known throughout the town。 He told her that it was probably that
her husband owed considerable sums of money to the house which
furnished him with chemicals。 That house； after making inquiries as to
the fortune and credit of Monsieur Claes； accepted all his orders and
sent the supplies without hesitation； notwithstanding the heavy sums
of money which became due。 Madame Claes requested Pierquin to obtain
the bill for all the chemicals that had been furnished to her husband。
Two months later； Messieurs Protez and Chiffreville； manufacturers of
chemical products； sent in a schedule of accounts rendered； which
amounted to over one hundred thousand francs。 Madame Claes and
Pierquin studied the document with an ever…increasing surprise。 Though
some articles； entered in commercial and scientific terms； were
unintelligible to them； they were frightened to see entries of
precious metals and diamonds of all kinds； though in small quantities。
The large sum total of the debt was explained by the multiplicity of
the articles； by the precautions needed in transporting some of them；
more especially valuable machinery； by the exorbitant price of certain
rare chemicals； and finally by the cost of instruments made to order
after the designs of Monsieur Claes himself。
The notary had made inquiries； in his client's interest； as to
Messieurs Protez and Chiffreville； and found that their known
integrity was sufficient guarantee as to the honesty of their
operations with Monsieur Claes； to whom； moreover； they frequently
sent information of results obtained by chemists in Paris； for the
purpose of sparing him expense。 Madame Claes begged the notary to keep
the nature of these purchases from the knowledge of the people of
Douai； lest they should declare the whole thing a mania； but Pierquin
replied that he had already delayed to the very last moment the
notarial deeds which the importance of the sum borrowed necessitated；
in order not to lessen the respect in which Monsieur Claes was held。
He then revealed the full extent of the evil； telling her plainly that
if she could not find means to prevent her husband from thus madly
making way with his property； in six months the patrimonial fortune of
the Claes would be mortgaged to its full value。 As for himself； he
said； the remonstrances he had already made to his cousin； with all
the consideration due to a man so justly respected； had been wholly
unavailing。 Balthazar had replied； once for all； that he was working
for the fame and the fortune of his family。
Thus； to the tortures of the heart which Madame Claes had borne for
two yearsone following the other with cumulative sufferingwas now
added a dreadful and ceaseless fear which made the future terrifying。
Women have presentiments whose accuracy is often marvellous。 Why do
they fear so much more than they hope in matters that concern the
interests of this life？ Why is their faith given only to religious
ideas of a future existence？ Why do they so ably foresee the
catastrophes of fortune and the crises of fate？ Perhaps the sentiment
which unites them to the men they love gives them a sense by which
they weigh force； measure faculties； understand tastes； passions；
vices； virtues。 The perpetual study of these causes in the midst of
which they live gives them； no doubt； the fatal power of foreseeing
effects in all possible relations of earthly life。 What they see of
the present enables them to judge of the future with an intuitive
ability explained by the perfection of their nervous system； which
allows them to seize the lightest indications of thought and feeling。
Their whole being vibrates in communion with great moral convulsions。
Either they feel； or they see。
Now； although separated from her husband for over two years； Madame
Claes foresaw the loss of their property。 She fully understood the
deliberate ardor； the well…considered； inalterable steadfastness of
Balthazar； if it were indeed true that he was seeking to make gold； he
was capable of throwing his last crust into the crucible with absolute
indifference。 But what was he really seeking？ Up to this time maternal
feeling and conjugal love had been so mingled in the heart of this
woman that the children； equally beloved by husband and wife； had
never come between them。 Suddenly she found herself at times more
mother than wife； though hitherto she had been more wife than mother。
However ready she had been to sacrifice her fortune and even her
children to the man who had chosen her； loved her； adored her； and to
whom she was still the only woman in the world； the remorse she felt
for the weakness of her maternal love threw her into terrible
alternations of feeling。 As a wife； she suffered in heart； as a
mother； through her children； as a Christian； for all。
She kept silence； and hid the cruel struggle in her soul。 Her husband；
sole arbiter of the family fate； was the master by whose will it must
be guided； he was responsible to God only。 Besides； could she reproach
him for the use he now made of his fortune； after the
disinterestedness he had shown to her for many happy years？ Was she to
judge his purposes？ And yet her conscience； in keeping with the spirit
of the law； told her that parents were the depositaries and guardians
of property； and possessed no right to alienate the material welfare
of the children。 To escape replying to such stern questions she
preferred to shut her eyes； like one who refuses to see the abyss into
whose depths he knows he is about to fall。
For more than six months her husband had given her no money for the
household expenses。 She sold secretly； in Paris； the handsome diamond
ornaments her brother had given her on her marriage； and placed the
family on a footing of the strictest economy。 She sent away the
governess of her children； and even the nurse of little Jean。 Formerly
the luxury of carriages and horses was unknown among