million, and you are cheapening my misfortunes. Very well; now I will
have you--you and your fortune. Our goods are in common, our marriage
is not dissolved--"

"But monsieur is not Colonel Chabert!" cried the Countess, in feigned
amazement.

"Indeed!" said the old man, in a tone of intense irony. "Do you want
proofs? I found you in the Palais Royal----"

The Countess turned pale. Seeing her grow white under her rouge, the
old soldier paused, touched by the acute suffering he was inflicting
on the woman he had once so ardently loved; but she shot such a
venomous glance at him that he abruptly went on:

"You were with La--"

"Allow me, Monsieur Derville," said the Countess to the lawyer. "You
must give me leave to retire. I did not come here to listen to such
dreadful things."

She rose and went out. Derville rushed after her; but the Countess had
taken wings, and seemed to have flown from the place.

On returning to his private room, he found the Colonel in a towering
rage, striding up and down.

"In those times a man took his wife where he chose," said he. "But I
was foolish and chose badly; I trusted to appearances. She has no
heart."