Lucien, as was told at the beginning of the Scene, to be revenged on Madame d’Espard, who aimed at depriving her husband of his liberty of action, was able to put the true facts before the Public Prosecutor and the Comte de Serizy.
These two important authorities being thus won over to the Marquis d’Espard’s party, his wife had barely escaped the censure of the Bench by her husband’s generous intervention.
On hearing, yesterday, of Lucien’s arrest, the Marquise d’Espard had sent her brother-in-law, the Chevalier d’Espard, to see Madame Camusot.
Madame Camusot had set off forthwith to call on the notorious Marquise.
Just before dinner, on her return home, she had called her husband aside in the bedroom.
“If you can commit that little fop Lucien de Rubempre for trial, and secure his condemnation,” said she in his ear, “you will be Councillor to the Supreme Court ——”
“How?”
“Madame d’Espard longs to see that poor young man guillotined.
I shivered as I heard what a pretty woman’s hatred can be!”
“Do not meddle in questions of the law,” said Camusot.
“I! meddle!” said she. “If a third person could have heard us, he could not have guessed what we were talking about.
The Marquise and I were as exquisitely hypocritical to each other as you are to me at this moment.
She began by thanking me for your good offices in her suit, saying that she was grateful in spite of its having failed.
She spoke of the terrible functions devolved on you by the law,
‘It is fearful to have to send a man to the scaffold — but as to that man, it would be no more than justice,’ and so forth.
Then she lamented that such a handsome young fellow, brought to Paris by her cousin, Madame du Chatelet, should have turned out so badly.
‘That,’ said she, ‘is what bad women like Coralie and Esther bring young men to when they are corrupt enough to share their disgraceful profits!’
Next came some fine speeches about charity and religion!
Madame du Chatelet had said that Lucien deserved a thousand deaths for having half killed his mother and his sister. “Then she spoke of a vacancy in the Supreme Court — she knows the Keeper of the Seals.
‘Your husband, madame, has a fine opportunity of distinguishing himself,’ she said in conclusion — and that is all.”
“We distinguish ourselves every day when we do our duty,” said Camusot.
“You will go far if you are always the lawyer even to your wife,” cried Madame Camusot. “Well, I used to think you a goose. Now I admire you.”
The lawyer’s lips wore one of those smiles which are as peculiar to them as dancers’ smiles are to dancers.
“Madame, can I come in?” said the maid.
“What is it?” said her mistress.
“Madame, the head lady’s-maid came from the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse while you were out, and she will be obliged if you would go at once to the Hotel de Cadignan.”
“Keep dinner back,” said the lawyer’s wife, remembering that the driver of the hackney coach that had brought her home was waiting to be paid.
She put her bonnet on again, got into the coach, and in twenty minutes was at the Hotel de Cadignan.
Madame Camusot was led up the private stairs, and sat alone for ten minutes in a boudoir adjoining the Duchess’ bedroom. The Duchess presently appeared, splendidly dressed, for she was starting for Saint–Cloud in obedience to a Royal invitation.
“Between you and me, my dear, a few words are enough.”
“Yes, Madame la Duchesse.”
“Lucien de Rubempre is in custody, your husband is conducting the inquiry; I will answer for the poor boy’s innocence; see that he is released within twenty-four hours.
— This is not all.
Some one will ask to-morrow to see Lucien in private in his cell; your husband may be present if he chooses, so long as he is not discovered. The King looks for high courage in his magistrates in the difficult position in which he will presently find himself; I will bring your husband forward, and recommend him as a man devoted to the King even at the risk of his head.
Our friend Camusot will be made first a councillor, and then the President of Court somewhere or other. — Good-bye.
— I am under orders, you will excuse me, I know?
“You will not only oblige the public prosecutor, who cannot give an opinion in this affair; you will save the life of a dying woman, Madame de Serizy.
So you will not lack support. “In short, you see, I put my trust in you, I need not say — you know ——”
She laid a finger to her lips and disappeared.
“And I had not a chance of telling her that Madame d’Espard wants to see Lucien on the scaffold!” thought the judge’s wife as she returned to her hackney cab.
She got home in such a state of anxiety that her husband, on seeing her, asked:
“What is the matter, Amelie?”
“We stand between two fires.”
She told her husband of her interview with the Duchess, speaking in his ear for fear the maid should be listening at the door.
“Now, which of them has the most power?” she said in conclusion. “The Marquise was very near getting you into trouble in the silly business of the commission on her husband, and we owe everything to the Duchess.
“One made vague promises, while the other tells you you shall first be Councillor and then President.
— Heaven forbid I should advise you; I will never meddle in matters of business; still, I am bound to repeat exactly what is said at Court and what goes on ——”
“But, Amelie, you do not know what the Prefet of police sent me this morning, and by whom?
By one of the most important agents of the superior police, the Bibi–Lupin of politics, who told me that the Government had a secret interest in this trial.
— Now let us dine and go to the Varietes. We will talk all this over to-night in my private room, for I shall need your intelligence; that of a judge may not perhaps be enough ——”