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we make for ourselves； we have not the time to give each individual
client the amount of interest which he himself takes in his affairs。
Still； one day when Gobseck came to dine with me； I asked him as we
left the table if he knew how it was that I had heard no more of M。 de
Restaud。
〃 'There are excellent reasons for that；' he said； 'the noble Count is
at death's door。 He is one of the soft stamp that cannot learn how to
put an end to chagrin； and allow it to wear them out instead。 Life is
a craft； a profession； every man must take the trouble to learn that
business。 When he has learned what life is by dint of painful
experiences； the fibre of him is toughened； and acquires a certain
elasticity； so that he has his sensibilities under his own control； he
disciplines himself till his nerves are like steel springs； which
always bend； but never break； given a sound digestion； and a man in
such training ought to live as long as the cedars of Lebanon； and
famous trees they are。'
〃 'Then is the Count actually dying？' I asked。
〃 'That is possible；' said Gobseck； 'the winding up of his estate will
be a juicy bit of business for you。'
〃I looked at my man； and said； by way of sounding him：
〃 'Just explain to me how it is that we； the Count and I； are the only
men in whom you take an interest？'
〃 'Because you are the only two who have trusted me without
finessing；' he said。
〃Although this answer warranted my belief that Gobseck would act
fairly even if the counter…deed were lost； I resolved to go to see the
Count。 I pleaded a business engagement； and we separated。
〃I went straight to the Rue du Helder； and was shown into a room where
the Countess sat playing with her children。 When she heard my name；
she sprang up and came to meet me； then she sat down and pointed
without a word to a chair by the fire。 Her face wore the inscrutable
mask beneath which women of the world conceal their most vehement
emotions。 Trouble had withered that face already。 Nothing of its
beauty now remained； save the marvelous outlines in which its
principal charm had lain。
〃 'It is essential； madame； that I should speak to M。 le Comte〃
〃 'If so； you would be more favored than I am；' she said； interrupting
me。 'M。 de Restaud will see no one。 He will hardly allow his doctor to
come； and will not be nursed even by me。 When people are ill； they
have such strange fancies！ They are like children； they do not know
what they want。'
〃 'Perhaps； like children； they know very well what they want。'
〃The Countess reddened。 I almost repented a thrust worthy of Gobseck。
So； by way of changing the conversation； I added； 'But M。 de Restaud
cannot possibly lie there alone all day； madame。'
〃 'His oldest boy is with him；' she said。
〃It was useless to gaze at the Countess； she did not blush this time；
and it looked to me as if she were resolved more firmly than ever that
I should not penetrate into her secrets。
〃 'You must understand； madame； that my proceeding is no way
indiscreet。 It is strongly to his interest' I bit my lips； feeling
that I had gone the wrong way to work。 The Countess immediately took
advantage of my slip。
〃 'My interests are in no way separate from my husband's； sir；' said
she。 'There is nothing to prevent your addressing yourself to me'
〃 'The business which brings me here concerns no one but M。 le Comte；'
I said firmly。
〃 'I will let him know of your wish to see him。'
〃The civil tone and expression assumed for the occasion did not impose
upon me； I divined that she would never allow me to see her husband。 I
chatted on about indifferent matters for a little while； so as to
study her； but； like all women who have once begun to plot for
themselves； she could dissimulate with the rare perfection which； in
your sex； means the last degree of perfidy。 If I may dare to say it； I
looked for anything from her； even a crime。 She produced this feeling
in me； because it was so evident from her manner and in all that she
did or said； down to the very inflections of her voice； that she had
an eye to the future。 I went。
〃Now； I will pass on to the final scenes of this adventure； throwing
in a few circumstances brought to light by time； and some details
guessed by Gobseck's perspicacity or by my own。
〃When the Comte de Restaud apparently plunged into the vortex of
dissipation； something passed between the husband and wife； something
which remains an impenetrable secret； but the wife sank even lower in
the husband's eyes。 As soon as he became so ill that he was obliged to
take to his bed； he manifested his aversion for the Countess and the
two youngest children。 He forbade them to enter his room； and any
attempt to disobey his wishes brought on such dangerous attacks that
the doctor implored the Countess to submit to her husband's wish。
〃Mme。 de Restaud had seen the family estates and property； nay； the
very mansion in which she lived； pass into the hands of Gobseck； who
appeared to play the fantastic ogre so far as their wealth was
concerned。 She partially understood what her husband was doing； no
doubt。 M。 de Trailles was traveling in England （his creditors had been
a little too pressing of late）； and no one else was in a position to
enlighten the lady； and explain that her husband was taking
precautions against her at Gobseck's suggestion。 It is said that she
held out for a long while before she gave the signature required by
French law for the sale of the property； nevertheless the Count gained
his point。 The Countess was convinced that her husband was realizing
his fortune； and that somewhere or other there would be a little bunch
of notes representing the amount； they had been deposited with a
notary； or perhaps at the bank； or in some safe hiding…place。
Following out her train of thought； it was evident that M。 de Restaud
must of necessity have some kind of document in his possession by
which any remaining property could be recovered and handed over to his
son。
〃So she made up her mind to keep the strictest possible watch over the
sick…room。 She ruled despotically in the house； and everything in it
was submitted to this feminine espionage。 All day she sat in the salon
adjoining her husband's room； so that she could hear every syllable
that he uttered； every least movement that he made。 She had a bed put
there for her of a night； but she did not sleep very much。 The doctor
was entirely in her interests。 Such wifely devotion seemed
praiseworthy enough。 With the natural subtlety of perfidy； she took
care to disguise M。 de Restaud's repugnance for her； and feigned
distress so perfectly that she gained a sort of celebrity。 Strait…
laced women were even found to say that she had expiated her sins。
Always before her eyes she beheld a vision of the destitution to
follow on the Count's death if her presence of mind should fail her；
and in these ways the wife； repulsed from the bed of pain on which her
husband lay and groaned； had drawn a charmed circle round about it。 So
near； yet kept at a distance； all…powerful； but in disgrace； the
apparently devoted wife was lying in wait for death and opportunity；
crouching like the ant…lion at the bottom of his spiral pit； ever on
the watch for the prey that cannot escape； listening to the fall of
every grain of sand。
〃The strictest censor could not but recognize that the Countess pushed
maternal sentiment to the last degree。 Her father's death had been a
lesson to her； people said。 She worshiped her children。 They were so
young that she could hide the disorders of her life from their eyes；
and could win their love； she had given them the best and most
brilliant education。 I confess that I cannot help admiring her and
feeling sorry for her。 Gobseck used to joke me about it。 Just about
that time she had discovered Maxime's baseness； and was expiating the
sins of the past in tears of blood。 I was sure of it。 Hateful as were
the measures which she took for regaining control of her husband's
money； were they not the result of a mother's love； and a desire to
repair the wrongs she had done her children？ And again； it may be；
like many a woman who has experienced the storm of lawless love； she
felt a longing to lead a virtuous life again。 Perhaps she only learned
the worth of that life when she came to reap the woeful harvest sown
by her errors。
〃Every time that little Ernest came out of his father's room； she put
him through a searching examination as to all that his father had done
or said。 The boy willingly complied with his mother's wishes； and told
her even more than she asked in her anxious affection； as he thought。
〃My visit was a ray of light for the Countess。 She was determined to
see in me the instrument of the Count's vengeance； and resolved that I
should not be allowed to go near the dying man。 I augured ill of all
this； and earnes