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closely to the bones； as though some inward fire were incessantly
drying its juices。 Sometimes； when he gazed into space； as if to see
the realization of his hopes； it almost seemed as though the flames
that devoured his soul were issuing from his nostrils。
The inspired feelings that animate great men shone forth on the pale
face furrowed with wrinkles； on the brow haggard with care like that
of an old monarch； but above all they gleamed in the sparkling eye；
whose fires were fed by chastity imposed by the tyranny of ideas and
by the inward consecration of a great intellect。 The cavernous eyes
seemed to have sunk in their orbits through midnight vigils and the
terrible reaction of hopes destroyed； yet ceaselessly reborn。 The
zealous fanaticism inspired by an art or a science was evident in this
man； it betrayed itself in the strange； persistent abstraction of his
mind expressed by his dress and bearing； which were in keeping with
the anomalous peculiarities of his person。
His large； hairy hands were dirty； and the nails； which were very
long； had deep black lines at their extremities。 His shoes were not
cleaned and the shoe…strings were missing。 Of all that Flemish
household； the master alone took the strange liberty of being
slovenly。 His black cloth trousers were covered with stains； his
waistcoat was unbuttoned； his cravat awry； his greenish coat ripped at
the seams；completing an array of signs； great and small； which in
any other man would have betokened a poverty begotten of vice； but
which in Balthazar Claes was the negligence of genius。
Vice and Genius too often produce the same effects； and this misleads
the common mind。 What is genius but a long excess which squanders time
and wealth and physical powers； and leads more rapidly to a hospital
than the worst of passions？ Men even seem to have more respect for
vices than for genius； since to the latter they refuse credit。 The
profits accruing from the hidden labors of the brain are so remote
that the social world fears to square accounts with the man of
learning in his lifetime； preferring to get rid of its obligations by
not forgiving his misfortunes or his poverty。
If； in spite of this inveterate forgetfulness of the present；
Balthazar Claes had abandoned his mysterious abstractions； if some
sweet and companionable meaning had revisited that thoughtful
countenance； if the fixed eyes had lost their rigid strain and shone
with feeling； if he had ever looked humanly about him and returned to
the real life of common things； it would indeed have been difficult
not to do involuntary homage to the winning beauty of his face and the
gracious soul that would then have shone from it。 As it was； all who
looked at him regretted that the man belonged no more to the world at
large； and said to one another： 〃He must have been very handsome in
his youth。〃 A vulgar error！ Never was Balthazar Claes's appearance
more poetic than at this moment。 Lavater； had he seen him； would fain
have studied that head so full of patience； of Flemish loyalty； and
pure morality；where all was broad and noble； and passion seemed calm
because it was strong。
The conduct of this man could not be otherwise than pure； his word was
sacred； his friendships seemed undeviating； his self…devotedness
complete： and yet the will to employ those qualities in patriotic
service； for the world or for the family； was directed； fatally；
elsewhere。 This citizen； bound to guard the welfare of a household； to
manage property； to guide his children towards a noble future； was
living outside the line of his duty and his affections； in communion
with an attendant spirit。 A priest might have thought him inspired by
the word of God； an artist would have hailed him as a great master； an
enthusiast would have taken him for a seer of the Swedenborgian faith。
At the present moment； the dilapidated； uncouth； and ruined clothes
that he wore contrasted strangely with the graceful elegance of the
woman who was sadly admiring him。 Deformed persons who have intellect；
or nobility of soul； show an exquisite taste in their apparel。 Either
they dress simply； convinced that their charm is wholly moral； or they
make others forget their imperfections by an elegance of detail which
diverts the eye and occupies the mind。 Not only did this woman possess
a noble soul； but she loved Balthazar Claes with that instinct of the
woman which gives a foretaste of the communion of angels。 Brought up
in one of the most illustrious families of Belgium； she would have
learned good taste had she not possessed it； and now； taught by the
desire of constantly pleasing the man she loved； she knew how to
clothe herself admirably； and without producing incongruity between
her elegance and the defects of her conformation。 The bust； however；
was defective in the shoulders only； one of which was noticeably much
larger than the other。
She looked out of the window into the court…yard； then towards the
garden； as if to make sure she was alone with Balthazar； and presently
said； in a gentle voice and with a look full of a Flemish woman's
submissiveness；for between these two love had long since driven out
the pride of her Spanish nature：
〃Balthazar； are you so very busy？ this is the thirty…third Sunday
since you have been to mass or vespers。〃
Claes did not answer； his wife bowed her head； clasped her hands； and
waited： she knew that his silence meant neither contempt nor
indifference； only a tyrannous preoccupation。 Balthazar was one of
those beings who preserve deep in their souls and after long years all
their youthful delicacy of feeling； he would have thought it criminal
to wound by so much as a word a woman weighed down by the sense of
physical disfigurement。 No man knew better than he that a look； a
word； suffices to blot out years of happiness； and is the more cruel
because it contrasts with the unfailing tenderness of the past： our
nature leads us to suffer more from one discord in our happiness than
pleasure coming in the midst of trouble can bring us joy。
Presently Balthazar appeared to waken； he looked quickly about him；
and said；
〃Vespers？ Ah； yes！ the children are at vespers。〃
He made a few steps forward； and looked into the garden； where
magnificent tulips were growing on all sides； then he suddenly stopped
short as if brought up against a wall； and cried out；
〃Why should they not combine within a given time？〃
〃Is he going mad？〃 thought the wife； much terrified。
To give greater interest to the present scene； which was called forth
by the situation of their affairs； it is absolutely necessary to
glance back at the past lives of Balthazar Claes and the granddaughter
of the Duke of Casa…Real。
Towards the year 1783； Monsieur Balthazar Claes…Molina de Nourho； then
twenty…two years of age； was what is called in France a fine man。 He
came to finish his education in Paris； where he acquired excellent