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those tongues say； ALL those minds know； in a single evening； where
the new…comer who aspires to honor among them was born and brought up；
and what that interloper has done； or has not done； in the course of
his life。 There may be no court of assizes for the upper classes of
society； but at any rate they have the most cruel of public
prosecutors； an intangible moral being； both judge and executioner；
who accuses and brands。 Do not hope to hide anything from him； tell
him all yourself； he wants to know all and he will know all。 Do not
ask what mysterious telegraph it was which conveyed to him in the
twinkling of an eye； at any hour； in any place； that story； that bit
of news； that scandal； do not ask what prompts him。 That telegraph is
a social mystery； no observer can report its effects。 Of many
extraordinary instances thereof； one may suffice： The assassination of
the Duc de Berry； which occurred at the Opera…house； was related
within ten minutes in the Ile…Saint…Louis。 Thus the opinion of the 6th
of the line as to its quartermaster filtered through society the night
on which he gave his first ball。
Diard was therefore debarred from succeeding in society。 Henceforth
his wife alone had the power to make anything of him。 Miracle of our
strange civilization！ In Paris； if a man is incapable of being
anything himself； his wife； when she is young and clever； may give him
other chances for elevation。 We sometimes meet with invalid women；
feeble beings apparently； who； without rising from sofas or leaving
their chambers； have ruled society； moved a thousand springs； and
placed their husbands where their ambition or their vanity prompted。
But Juana； whose childhood was passed in her retreat in Tarragona；
knew nothing of the vices； the meannesses； or the resources of
Parisian society； she looked at that society with the curiosity of a
girl； but she learned from it only that which her sorrow and her
wounded pride revealed to her。
Juana had the tact of a virgin heart which receives impressions in
advance of the event； after the manner of what are called
〃sensitives。〃 The solitary young girl； so suddenly become a woman and
a wife； saw plainly that were she to attempt to compel society to
respect her husband； it must be after the manner of Spanish beggars；
carbine in hand。 Besides； the multiplicity of the precautions she
would have to take； would they meet the necessity？ Suddenly she
divined society as； once before； she had divined life； and she saw
nothing around her but the immense extent of an irreparable disaster。
She had； moreover； the additional grief of tardily recognizing her
husband's peculiar form of incapacity； he was a man unfitted for any
purpose that required continuity of ideas。 He could not understand a
consistent part； such as he ought to play in the world； he perceived
it neither as a whole nor in its gradations； and its gradations were
everything。 He was in one of those positions where shrewdness and tact
might have taken the place of strength； when shrewdness and tact
succeed； they are； perhaps； the highest form of strength。
Now Diard； far from arresting the spot of oil on his garments left by
his antecedents； did his best to spread it。 Incapable of studying the
phase of the empire in the midst of which he came to live in Paris； he
wanted to be made prefect。 At that time every one believed in the
genius of Napoleon； his favor enhanced the value of all offices。
Prefectures； those miniature empires； could only be filled by men of
great names； or chamberlains of H。M。 the emperor and king。 Already the
prefects were a species of vizier。 The myrmidons of the great man
scoffed at Diard's pretensions to a prefecture； whereupon he lowered
his demand to a sub…prefecture。 There was； of course； a ridiculous
discrepancy between this latter demand and the magnitude of his
fortune。 To frequent the imperial salons and live with insolent
luxury； and then to abandon that millionaire life and bury himself as
sub…prefect at Issoudun or Savenay was certainly holding himself below
his position。 Juana； too late aware of our laws and habits and
administrative customs； did not enlighten her husband soon enough。
Diard； desperate； petitioned successively all the ministerial powers；
repulsed everywhere； he found nothing open to him； and society then
judged him as the government judged him and as he judged himself。
Diard； grievously wounded on the battlefield； was nevertheless not
decorated； the quartermaster； rich as he was； was allowed no place in
public life； and society logically refused him that to which he
pretended in its midst。
Finally； to cap all； the luckless man felt in his own home the
superiority of his wife。 Though she used great tactwe might say
velvet softness if the term were admissibleto disguise from her
husband this supremacy； which surprised and humiliated herself； Diard
ended by being affected by it。
At a game of life like this men are either unmanned； or they grow the
stronger； or they give themselves to evil。 The courage or the ardor of
this man lessened under the reiterated blows which his own faults
dealt to his self…appreciation； and fault after fault he committed。 In
the first place he had to struggle against his own habits and
character。 A passionate Provencal； frank in his vices as in his
virtues； this man whose fibres vibrated like the strings of a harp；
was all heart to his former friends。 He succored the shabby and
spattered man as readily as the needy of rank； in short； he accepted
everybody； and gave his hand in his gilded salons to many a poor
devil。 Observing this on one occasion； a general of the empire； a
variety of the human species of which no type will presently remain；
refused his hand to Diard； and called him； insolently； 〃my good
fellow〃 when he met him。 The few persons of really good society whom
Diard knew； treated him with that elegant； polished contempt against
which a new…made man has seldom any weapons。 The manners； the semi…
Italian gesticulations； the speech of Diard； his style of dress；all
contributed to repulse the respect which careful observation of
matters of good taste and dignity might otherwise obtain for vulgar
persons； the yoke of such conventionalities can only be cast off by
great and unthinkable powers。 So goes the world。
These details but faintly picture the many tortures to which Juana was
subjected； they came upon her one by one； each social nature pricked
her with its own particular pin； and to a soul which preferred the
thrust of a dagger； there could be no worse suffering than this
struggle in which Diard received insults he did not feel and Juana
felt those she did not receive。 A moment came； an awful moment； when
she gained a clear and lucid perception of society； and felt in one
instant all the sorrows which were gathering themselves together to
fall upon her head。 She judged her husband incapable of rising to the
honored ranks of the social order； and she felt that he would one day
descend to where his instincts led him。 Henceforth Juana felt pity for
him。
The future was very gloomy for this young woman。 She lived in constant
apprehension of some disaster。 This presentiment was in her soul as a
contagion is in the air； but she had strength of mind and will to
disguise her anguish beneath a smile。 Juana had ceased to think of
herself。 She used her influence to make Diard resign his various
pretensions and to show him； as a haven； the peaceful and consoling
life of home。 Evils came from societywhy not banish it？ In his home
Diard found peace and respect； he reigned there。 She felt herself
strong to accept the trying task of making him happy；he； a man
dissatisfied with himself。 Her energy increased with the difficulties
of life； she had all the secret heroism necessary to her position；
religion inspired her with those desires which support the angel
appointed to protect a Christian souloccult poesy； allegorical image
of our two natures！
Diard abandoned his projects； closed his house to the world； and lived
in his home。 But here he found another reef。 The poor soldier had one
of those eccentric souls which need perpetual motion。 Diard was one of
the men who are instinctively compelled to start again the moment they
arrive； and whose vital object seems to be to come and go incessantly；
like the wheels mentioned in Holy Writ。 Perhaps he felt the need of
flying from himself。 Without wearying of Juana； without blaming Juana；
his passion for her； rendered tranquil by time； allowed his natural
character to assert itself。 Henceforth his days of gloom were more
frequent； and he often gave way to southern excitement。 The more
virtuous a woman is and the more irreproachable； the more a man likes
to find fault with her； if only to assert by that act his legal
superiority。 But if by chance she seems really imposing to him； he
feels the need of foisting faults upon her。 A