“Are you looking for your wife? She felt rather indisposed while you were dancing, and Dulac took her home. You know Dulac?--a tall fellow,--one of our amateur orchestra.” “I do not know the gentleman, but I will thank him when I see him.” “He is a good fellow, who plays the violin very well. I will bring him to one of your receptions if you wish.” “Do so. Good-night; it is late.” “It was rather a pleasant affair, and people enjoyed themselves; don’t you think so?” “Oh, yes! I enjoyed myself amazingly.” I returned home. I expected a scene; it is always an advantage to be prepared. If only my wife might be in bed and asleep! But no, I heard her walking back and forth in the salon. Aha! I met the maid carrying a mattress. Madame was having a bed made for herself in her boudoir. What a bore not to find peace and quiet at home! to have more scenes and quarrels! And we had been married only three years and a half! Well, I knew that I must face the storm, and I entered the salon. Madame was in a most dishevelled condition; she almost frightened me. She was holding a phial of salts to her nose. I was kind enough to go to her and ask her if she were ill. She did not answer. I was on the point of taking a light and leaving the room, when madame sprang to her feet and planted herself in front of me. “So you have left that woman at last, have you, monsieur?” “I don’t know what you mean by _that woman_, madame. I danced with a lady whom I esteem, and who has been generous enough to forgive you for the shameful remarks that you made before her.” “She has been generous enough to forgive me! really, that is most noble of her! But I, monsieur, I do not forgive that lady, whom you _esteem_, for having the assurance to dance with you in my presence. That her clown of a husband should not object is quite worthy of him; but you, monsieur, have you no shame?” “Yes, madame, I was ashamed this evening, and I was ashamed because I was the husband of a woman who behaved as you did!” “What an abominable thing! You dare reprove me?” “Yes, you, who slander in public a respectable woman.” “Say a prostitute, monsieur.” “You who publicly exhibit your absurd jealousy!” “In truth, I am absurd to be jealous of you, you are not worth the trouble!” “But do not expect, madame, that I will put up with such conduct! that you can insult my friends and that I shall keep quiet!” “You ought to have made a scene before your mistress; that would have pleased her.” “You did not hesitate to humiliate me before the world; for it is humiliating for a man to be put in the position in which I was put at that ball.” “I shall go nowhere else with you, monsieur; then you cannot say that I shame you or humiliate you.” “You will do well, madame. It is much better not to go with your husband than to behave as you did this evening.” “From the tone in which you speak to me, monsieur, I see who the people are whom you have just left! You are profiting by their advice!”