"'I often tried, monsieur,' said she, 'but it was too heavy.'"

"Well, and what became of the woman?" asked the two Parisians.

"She was sentenced and executed at Tours," replied the lawyer; "but
her repentance and piety had attracted interest in spite of her
monstrous crime."

"And do you suppose, said Bianchon, "that we know all the tragedies
that are played out behind the curtain of private life that the public
never lifts?--It seems to me that human justice is ill adapted to
judge of crimes as between husband and wife. It has every right to
intervene as the police; but in equity it knows nothing of the heart
of the matter."

"The victim has in many cases been for so long the tormentor," said
Madame de la Baudraye guilelessly, "that the crime would sometimes
seem almost excusable if the accused could tell all."

This reply, led up to by Bianchon and by the story which Clagny had
told, left the two Parisians excessively puzzled as to Dinah's
position.

At bedtime council was held, one of those discussions which take place
in the passages of old country-houses where the bachelors linger,
candle in hand, for mysterious conversations.

Monsieur Gravier was now informed of the object in view during this
entertaining evening which had brought Madame de la Baudraye's