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〃Poor Thaddeus！〃 said Adam； as Paz disappeared； 〃what a misfortune for
a man of his distinction to be the plaything of the lowest kind of
circus…rider。 He will lose everything； and get lower and lower； and
won't be recognizable before long。 Here； read that；〃 added the count；
giving Malaga's letter to his wife。
Clementine read the letter； which smelt of tobacco； and threw it from
her with a look of disgust。
〃Thick as the bandage is over his eyes；〃 continued Adam； 〃he must have
found out something； Malaga tricked him； no doubt。〃
〃But he goes back to her；〃 said Clementine； 〃and he will forgive her！
It is for such horrible women as that that you men have indulgence。〃
〃Well； they need it；〃 said Adam。
〃Thaddeus used to show some decencyin living apart from us；〃 she
remarked。 〃He had better go altogether。〃
〃Oh； my dear angel； that's going too far；〃 said the count； who did not
want the death of the sinner。
Paz； who knew Adam thoroughly； had enjoined him to secrecy； pretending
to excuse his dissipations； and had asked his friend to lend him a few
thousand francs for Malaga。
〃He is a very firm fellow；〃 said Adam。
〃How so？〃 asked Clementine。
〃Why； for having spent no more than ten thousand francs on her； and
letting her send him that letter before he would ask me for enough to
pay her debts。 For a Pole； I call that firm。〃
〃He will ruin you；〃 said Clementine； in the sharp tone of a Parisian
woman； when she shows her feline distrusts。
〃Oh； I know him；〃 said Adam； 〃he will sacrifice Malaga； if I ask him。〃
〃We shall see；〃 remarked the countess。
〃If it is best for his own happiness； I sha'n't hesitate to ask him to
leave her。 Constantin says that since Paz has been with her he； sober
as he is； has sometimes come home quite excited。 If he takes to
intoxication I shall be just as grieved as if he were my own son。〃
〃Don't tell me anything more about it；〃 cried the countess； with a
gesture of disgust。
Two days later the captain perceived in the manner； the tones of
voice； but； above all； in the eyes of the countess； the terrible
results of Adam's confidences。 Contempt had opened a gulf between the
beloved woman and himself。 He was suddenly plunged into the deepest
distress of mind； for the thought gnawed him； 〃I have myself made her
despise me！〃 His own folly stared him in the face。 Life then became a
burden to him； the very sun turned gray。 And yet； amid all these
bitter thoughts； he found again some moments of pure joy。 There were
times when he could give himself up wholly to his admiration for his
mistress； who paid not the slightest attention to him。 Hanging about
in corners at her parties and receptions； silent； all heart and eyes；
he never lost one of her attitudes； nor a tone of her voice when she
sang。 He lived in her life； he groomed the horse which SHE rode； he
studied the ways and means of that splendid establishment； to the
interests of which he was now more devoted than ever。 These silent
pleasures were buried in his heart like those of a mother； whose heart
a child never knows； for is it knowing anything unless we know it all？
His love was more perfect than the love of Petrarch for Laura； which
found its ultimate reward in the treasures of fame； the triumph of the
poem which she had inspired。 Surely the emotion that the Chevalier
d'Assas felt in dying must have been to him a lifetime of joy。 Such
emotions as these Paz enjoyed daily；without dying； but also without
the guerdon of immortality。
But what is Love； that； in spite of all these ineffable delights； Paz
should still have been unhappy？ The Catholic religion has so magnified
Love that she has wedded it indissolubly to respect and nobility of
spirit。 Love is therefore attended by those sentiments and qualities
of which mankind is proud； it is rare to find true Love existing where
contempt is felt。 Thaddeus was suffering from the wounds his own hand
had given him。 The trial of his former life； when he lived beside his
mistress； unknown； unappreciated； but generously working for her； was
better than this。 Yes； he wanted the reward of his virtue； her
respect； and he had lost it。 He grew thin and yellow； and so ill with
constant low fever that during the month of January he was obliged to
keep his bed； though he refused to see a doctor。 Comte Adam became
very uneasy about him； but the countess had the cruelty to remark：
〃Let him alone； don't you see it is only some Olympian trouble？〃 This
remark； being repeated to Thaddeus； gave him the courage of despair；
he left his bed； went out； tried a few amusements； and recovered his
health。
About the end of February Adam lost a large sum of money at the
Jockey…Club； and as he was afraid of his wife； he begged Thaddeus to
let the sum appear in the accounts as if he had spent it on Malaga。
〃There's nothing surprising in your spending that sum on the girl； but
if the countess finds out that I have lost it at cards I shall be
lowered in her opinion； and she will always be suspicious in future。〃
〃Ha！ this； too！〃 exclaimed Thaddeus； with a sigh。
〃Now； Thaddeus； if you will do me this service we shall be forever
quits；though； indeed； I am your debtor now。〃
〃Adam； you will have children； don't gamble any more；〃 said Paz。
〃So Malaga has cost us another twenty thousand francs；〃 cried the
countess； some time later； when she discovered this new generosity to
Paz。 〃First； ten thousand； now twenty more；thirty thousand！ the
income of which is fifteen hundred！ the cost of my box at the Opera；
and the whole fortune of many a bourgeois。 Oh； you Poles！〃 she said；
gathering some flowers in her greenhouse； 〃you are really
incomprehensible。 Why are you not furious with him？〃
〃Poor Paz is〃
〃Poor Paz； poor Paz； indeed！〃 she cried； interrupting him； 〃what good
does he do us？ I shall take the management of the household myself。
You can give him the allowance he refused； and let him settle it as he
likes with his Circus。〃
〃He is very useful to us； Clementine。 He has certainly saved over
forty thousand francs this last year。 And besides； my dear angel； he
has managed to put a hundred thousand with Nucingen； which a steward
would have pocketed。〃
Clementine softened down； but she was none the less hard in her
feelings to Thaddeus。 A few days later； she requested him to come to
that boudoir where； one year earlier； she had been surprised into
comparing him with her husband。 This time she received him alone；
without perceiving the slightest danger in so doing。
〃My dear Paz；〃 she said； with the condescending familiarity of the
great to their inferiors； 〃if you love Adam as you say you do； you
will do a thing which he will not ask of you； but which I； his wife；
do not hesitate to exact。〃
〃About Malaga？〃 said Thaddeus； with bitterness in his heart。
〃Well； yes；〃 she said； 〃if you wish to end your days in this house and
continue goo