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and condemned by the Church； she would rise； go to the window on the
courtyard and gaze with terror at the chimney of the laboratory。 If
the smoke were rising； an expression of despair came into her face； a
conflict of thoughts and feelings raged in her heart and mind。 She
beheld her children's future fleeing in that smoke； butwas she not
saving their father's life？ was it not her first duty to make him
happy？ This last thought calmed her for a moment。
She obtained the right to enter the laboratory and remain there； but
even this melancholy satisfaction was soon renounced。 Her sufferings
were too keen when she saw that Balthazar took no notice of her； or
seemed at times annoyed by her presence； in that fatal place she went
through paroxysms of jealous impatience； angry desires to destroy the
building；a living death of untold miseries。 Lemulquinier became to
her a species of barometer： if she heard him whistle as he laid the
breakfast…table or the dinner…table； she guessed that Balthazar's
experiments were satisfactory； and there were prospects of a coming
success； if； on the other hand； the man were morose and gloomy； she
looked at him and trembled；Balthazar must surely be dissatisfied。
Mistress and valet ended by understanding each other； notwithstanding
the proud reserve of the one and the reluctant submission of the
other。
Feeble and defenceless against the terrible prostrations of thought；
the poor woman at last gave way under the alternations of hope and
despair which increased the distress of the loving wife； and the
anxieties of the mother trembling for her children。 She now practised
the doleful silence which formerly chilled her heart； not observing
the gloom that pervaded the house； where whole days went by in that
melancholy parlor without a smile； often without a word。 Led by sad
maternal foresight； she trained her daughters to household work； and
tried to make them skilful in womanly employments； that they might
have the means of living if destitution came。 The outward calm of this
quiet home covered terrible agitations。 Towards the end of the summer
Balthazar had used the money derived from the diamonds； and was twenty
thousand francs in debt to Messieurs Protez and Chiffreville。
In August； 1813； about a year after the scene with which this history
begins； although Claes had made a few valuable experiments； for which；
unfortunately； he cared but little； his efforts had been without
result as to the real object of his researches。 There came a day when
he ended the whole series of experiments； and the sense of his
impotence crushed him； the certainty of having fruitlessly wasted
enormous sums of money drove him to despair。 It was a frightful
catastrophe。 He left the garret； descended slowly to the parlor； and
threw himself into a chair in the midst of his children； remaining
motionless for some minutes as though dead； making no answer to the
questions his wife pressed upon him。 Tears came at last to his relief；
and he rushed to his own chamber that no one might witness his
despair。
Josephine followed him and drew him into her own room； where； alone
with her； Balthazar gave vent to his anguish。 These tears of a man；
these broken words of the hopeless toiler； these bitter regrets of the
husband and father； did Madame Claes more harm than all her past
sufferings。 The victim consoled the executioner。 When Balthazar said
to her in a tone of dreadful conviction： 〃I am a wretch； I have
gambled away the lives of my children； and your life； you can have no
happiness unless I kill myself；〃the words struck home to her heart；
she knew her husband's nature enough to fear he might at once act out
the despairing wish： an inward convulsion； disturbing the very sources
of life itself； seized her； and was all the more dangerous because she
controlled its violent effects beneath a deceptive calm of manner。
〃My friend；〃 she said； 〃I have consulted； not Pierquin； whose
friendship does not hinder him from feeling some secret satisfaction
at our ruin； but an old man who has been as good to me as a father。
The Abbe de Solis； my confessor； has shown me how we can still save
ourselves from ruin。 He came to see the pictures。 The value of those
in the gallery is enough to pay the sums you have borrowed on your
property； and also all that you owe to Messieurs Protez and
Chiffreville； who have no doubt an account against you。〃
Claes made an affirmative sign and bowed his head； the hair of which
was now white。
〃Monsieur de Solis knows the Happe and Duncker families of Amsterdam；
they have a mania for pictures； and are anxious； like all parvenus； to
display a luxury which ought to belong only to the old families： he
thinks they will pay the full value of ours。 By this means we can
recover our independence； and out of the purchase money； which will
amount to over one hundred thousand ducats； you will have enough to
continue the experiments。 Your daughters and I will be content with
very little； we can fill up the empty frames with other pictures in
course of time and by economy； meantime you will be happy。〃
Balthazar raised his head and looked at his wife with a joy that was
mingled with fear。 Their roles were changed。 The wife was the
protector of the husband。 He； so tender； he； whose heart was so at one
with his Pepita's； now held her in his arms without perceiving the
horrible convulsion that made her palpitate； and even shook her hair
and her lips with a nervous shudder。
〃I dared not tell you；〃 he said； 〃that between me and the
Unconditioned； the Absolute； scarcely a hair's breadth intervenes。 To
gasify metals； I only need to find the means of submitting them to
intense heat in some centre where the pressure of the atmosphere is
nil；in short； in a vacuum。〃
Madame Claes could not endure the egotism of this reply。 She expected
a passionate acknowledgment of her sacrificesshe received a problem
in chemistry！ The poor woman left her husband abruptly and returned to
the parlor； where she fell into a chair between her frightened
daughters； and burst into tears。 Marguerite and Felicie took her
hands； kneeling one on each side of her； not knowing the cause of her
grief； and asking at intervals； 〃Mother； what is it？〃
〃My poor children； I am dying； I feel it。〃
The answer struck home to Marguerite's heart； she saw； for the first
time on her mother's face； the signs of that peculiar pallor which
only comes on olive…tinted skins。
〃Martha； Martha！〃 cried Felicie； 〃come quickly； mamma wants you。〃
The old duenna ran in from the kitchen； and as soon as she saw the
livid hue of the dusky skin usually high…colored； she cried out in
Spanish；
〃Body of Christ！ madame is dying！〃
Then she rushed precipitately back； told Josette to heat water for a
footbath； and returned to the parlor。
〃Don't alarm Monsieur Claes； say nothing to him； Martha；〃 said her
mistress。 〃My poor dear girls；〃 sh