—and she kept it from him?
—Yes.
—Why would she?
—She was greedy and predatory.
—I could see predatory, but greedy? A greedy courtesan?… These two lovers
had lived in perfect harmony for five or six years.
—Thanks to the shrewdness of the one and the unconditional confidence of the other.
—Ah. It is true that it would have been impossible for the shadow of a doubt to enter a soul as pure as Tanié´s. The one thing I did occasionally notice was that Madame Reymer quickly forgot her original poverty, was tormented by her love of wealth and splendor, was humiliated that so beautiful a woman had traveled on foot…
—That she had not gone by coach?
—And the spark of vice brought out the worst in her. You laugh?… It was then that M. de Maurepas[1] hatched the plan to build a market up north. The success of the enterprise demanded a lively and intelligent man. He had his eye on Tanié, to whom he had entrusted the direction of many important business ventures while he was at the Cape, which were always carried out to the satisfaction of the minister. Tanié was upset by this mark of distinction. He was so content, so happy with his girl! He loved, he was or he thought himself loved.
—Well said.