Beauchene works. She was a frantic pleasure-lover, and destitute of both
conscience and moral principles. Her conduct had given rise to scandal
even before her extraordinary elopement with Baron de Lowicz, that needy
adventurer with a face like an archangel's and the soul of a swindler.
The result of the union was a stillborn child. Then Seraphine, who was
extremely egotistical and avaricious, quarrelled with her husband and
drove him away. He repaired to Berlin, and was killed there in a brawl at
a gambling den. Delighted at being rid of him, Seraphine made every use
of her liberty as a young widow. She figured at every fete, took part in
every kind of amusement, and many scandalous stories were told of her;
but she contrived to keep up appearances and was thus still received
everywhere.

"You are living in the country, are you not?" she asked again, turning
towards Mathieu.

"Yes, we have been there for three weeks past."

"Constance told me of it. I met her the other day at Madame Seguin's. We
are on the best terms possible, you know, now that I give my brother good
advice."

In point of fact her sister-in-law, Constance, hated her, but with her
usual boldness she treated the matter as a joke.

"We talked about Dr. Gaude," she resumed; "I fancied that she wanted to
ask for his address; but she did not dare."

"Dr. Gaude!" interrupted Morange. "Ah! yes, a friend of my wife's spoke
to her about him. He's a wonderfully clever man, it appears. Some of his