"No, madame."

"What reason could he have for deserting me, monsieur?"

"That he would be free to marry the only daughter of a peer of France,
whose title would be conferred on him by patent from the King."

The Countess turned pale.

"A hit!" said Derville to himself. "I have you on the hip; the poor
Colonel's case is won."--"Besides, madame," he went on aloud, "he
would feel all the less remorse because a man covered with glory--a
General, Count, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor--is not such a bad
alternative; and if that man insisted on his wife's returning to
him--"

"Enough, enough, monsieur!" she exclaimed. "I will never have any
lawyer but you. What is to be done?"

"Compromise!" said Derville.

"Does he still love me?" she said.

"Well, I do not think he can do otherwise."

The Countess raised her head at these words. A flash of hope shone in
her eyes; she thought perhaps that she could speculate on her first
husband's affection to gain her cause by some feminine cunning.