“Can we be the death of the Comte and Comtesse de Serizy, as well as of Lucien, for the theft of seven hundred and fifty thousand francs as yet unproven, and to Lucien’s personal loss? Will it not be better for him to lose the money than to lose his character? Above all, if he is to drag with him in his fall a Minister of State, and his wife, and the Duchesse du Maufrigneuse.
“This young man is a speckled orange; do not leave it to rot.
“All this will take you about half an hour; go and get it done; we will wait for you. It is half-past three; you will find some judges about. Let me know if you can get a rule of insufficient evidence—or Lucien must wait till to-morrow morning.”
Camusot bowed to the company and went; but Madame de Serizy, who was suffering a good deal from her burns, did not return his bow.
Monsieur de Serizy, who had suddenly rushed away while the public prosecutor and the magistrate were talking together, presently returned, having fetched a small jar of virgin wax. With this he dressed his wife’s fingers, saying in an undertone:
“Leontine, why did you come here without letting me know?”
“My dear,” replied she in a whisper, “forgive me. I seem mad, but indeed your interests were as much involved as mine.”
“Love this young fellow if fatality requires it, but do not display your passion to all the world,” said the luckless husband.
“Well, my dear Countess,” said Monsieur de Granville, who had been engaged in conversation with Comte Octave, “I hope you may take Monsieur de Rubempre home to dine with you this evening.”
This half promise produced a reaction; Madame de Serizy melted into tears.