Madame de Renal found an opportunity of saying to
Julien:Be careful, I order you.
Hehad not thought once again of his impertinent
suggestion, from themoment in which he had made it.
Madame de Renal leaned upon his arm, bending
towards him until hercheek felt the warmth of his.
But, beside herself with impatience, she rose
andwent to glue her ear to Juliens door. Even the thought of virtue and of the
fidelity she had vowed to M.
It might be heldto constitute a claim to the place
of Principal Deputy. He was afraid of Madame deRenal because of her pretty gown. The
sudden resolution he had just made formed a pleasing distraction. The night passed
for these two people very differently. As for Madame Derville, thesewere by no means
her sentiments. Myself, for instance, as Mayor of Verrieres, wellintentioned, honest
as M.
She could have seen in it nothing else than
apainful consequence of their disparity of age.
To this woman, he said to himself, I am not well
born. She left the garden early, and went up towait in her room. As Madame de Renal
had never read any novels,all the refinements of her happiness were new to
her.
Perhaps I am wanting in character, I should have
made Napoleona bad soldier. Half thepopulation climbed up on the roofs. We paytwenty
francs for each servant so that they do not cut our throats. It is impossible, he
told himself,that in Paris there can be anything finer!
She loved him a thousandtimes more than life
itself, and money to her meant nothing. She saw him as Pope, she saw him as First
Minister, likeRichelieu.
This sound aroused him as the crow of the cock
aroused Saint Peter.
It is a most beneficial, but a very strange
institution, repliedMadame de Renal. The Mayor sent for him at five oclock in the
morning. But this arrangement also had its drawbacks. This was not to saythat they
understood anything of the progress that the children hadmade.
Such is, alas, the drawback of an excessive
civilisation.
After which he could findno objection to his
happiness. Our hero did not know what answer to give to so flattering a
question.
Julien was struck by her quavering voice and by the
look in her eyes. Despite the uncertainty andpassion that were devouring her, she
did not dare enter. At first, Madamede Renal admired his prudence. Have Ifailed in
one of the duties I owe to myself?
ValenodsNorman horses, young Sorel, the carpenters
son. It has grown usedto desiring, finds nothing left to desire, and has not yet
acquiredany memories. Juliens tears and despair distressedher greatly.