Two large tears rolled hot on to his wife's hands, which he pressed to
show his paternal affection.

"Monsieur," she went on, "could you not have guessed what it cost me
to appear before a stranger in a position so false as mine now is? If
I have to blush for it, at least let it be in the privacy of my
family. Ought not such a secret to remain buried in our hearts? You
will forgive me, I hope, for my apparent indifference to the woes of a
Chabert in whose existence I could not possibly believe. I received
your letters," she hastily added, seeing in his face the objection it
expressed, "but they did not reach me till thirteen months after the
battle of Eylau. They were opened, dirty, the writing was
unrecognizable; and after obtaining Napoleon's signature to my second
marriage contract, I could not help believing that some clever
swindler wanted to make a fool of me. Therefore, to avoid disturbing
Monsieur Ferraud's peace of mind, and disturbing family ties, I was
obliged to take precautions against a pretended Chabert. Was I not
right, I ask you?"

"Yes, you were right. It was I who was the idiot, the owl, the dolt,
not to have calculated better what the consequences of such a position
might be.--But where are we going?" he asked, seeing that they had
reached the barrier of La Chapelle.

"To my country house near Groslay, in the valley of Montmorency.
There, monsieur, we will consider the steps to be taken. I know my
duties. Though I am yours by right, I am no longer yours in fact. Can
you wish that we should become the talk of Paris? We need not inform
the public of a situation, which for me has its ridiculous side, and