"His wife! Well," added he respectfully, "wives should not be kept from their husbands when they seek them in their distress."
He then went in search of Benoit, who appeared with his keys of office.
"Citoyen," said he, "here is a wife wants to see her husband."
"I fear she is an aristocrat, then," replied Benoit, smiling and approaching us.
"Ha!" cried he, "is it you? What is become of your spectacles? And do you want to see your husband, poor thing? Who is he?"
I told him. He shook his head, saying to himself—"Who could have supposed he had a wife, and such a one too!"
"Citoyenne," said he, "you cannot see your husband to-night, nor shall he know you are here; but to-morrow, at nine in the morning, I will admit you. Yes, and for your sake I will show him all the indulgence I can. So it was for this, was it, you came to Paris? I thought there was a mystery. Good girl! good girl!"
So saying, he walked hastily away, and we returned to our home, at once disappointed and cheered.
Oh! how I longed for the light of morning! Oh! how I longed to exhibit the superiority of the wife over the mistress! With what pleasure I anticipated the joy, mixed with shame and sorrow, no doubt, but still triumphant over every other feeling with which Pendarves would behold and receive me! How he would value this proof of tenderness and duty! while I should fondly assure him that all was forgotten and all forgiven!—So did I paint the scene to which I was hastening. Such were the hopes which flushed my cheek and irradiated my countenance.
At length the appointed hour drew near; and I had just reached the gates of the Luxembourg, had just desired to be shown to Benoit, when I looked up and beheld De Walden!