“Well, now, Adolphe, it’s to you I owe all this. Why didn’t you tell me about Frederick?”
“Frederick the Great? The King of Prussia?”
“What creatures men are! Hypocrite, do you want to make me believe that you have forgotten your son so soon, M’lle Suzanne Beauminet’s son?”
“Then you know—?”
“The whole thing! And old other Mahuchet, and your absences from home to give him a good dinner on holidays.”
“How like moles you pious women can be if you try!” exclaims Adolphe, in his terror.
“It was Justine that found it out.”
“Ah! Now I understand the reason of her insolence.”
“Oh, your Caroline has been very wretched, dear, and this spying system, which was produced by my love for you, for I do love you, and madly too,—if you deceived me, I would fly to the extremity of creation,—well, as I was going to say, this unfounded jealousy has put me in Justine’s power, so, my precious, get me out of it the best way you can!”
“Let this teach you, my angel, never to make use of your servants, if you want them to be of use to you. It is the lowest of tyrannies, this being at the mercy of one’s people.”