Caroline, whom Justine watches in the glass, turns pale: all the tortures of the previous petty trouble return, and Justine sees that she has become as indispensable to her mistress as spies are to the government when a conspiracy is discovered. Still, Caroline’s friends do not understand why she keeps so disagreeable a servant girl, one who wears a hat, whose manners are impertinent, and who gives herself the airs of a lady. This stupid domination is talked of at Madame Deschars’, at Madame de Fischtaminel’s, and the company consider it funny. A few ladies think they can see certain monstrous reasons for it, reasons which compromise Caroline’s honor. Axiom.--In society, people can put cloaks on every kind of truth, even the prettiest. In short the _aria della calumnia_ is executed precisely as if Bartholo were singing it. It is averred that Caroline cannot discharge her maid. Society devotes itself desperately to discovering the secret of this enigma. Madame de Fischtaminel makes fun of Adolphe who goes home in a rage, has a scene with Caroline and discharges Justine. This produces such an effect upon Justine, that she falls sick, and takes to her bed. Caroline observes to her husband, that it would be awkward to turn a girl in Justine’s condition into the street, a girl who is so much attached to them, too, and who has been with them sine their marriage. “Let her go then as soon as she is well!” says Adolphe. Caroline, reassured in regard to Adolphe, and indecently swindled by Justine, at last comes to desire to get rid of her: she applies a violent remedy to the disease, and makes up her mind to go under the Caudine Forks of another petty trouble, as follows: THE AVOWAL. One morning, Adolphe is petted in a very unusual manner. The too happy husband wonders what may be the cause of this development of affection, and he hears Caroline, in her most winning tones, utter the word: “Adolphe?” “Well?” he replies, in alarm at the internal agitation betrayed by Caroline’s voice. “Promise not to be angry.” “Well.” “Not to be vexed with me.” “Never. Go on.” “To forgive me and never say anything about it.” “But tell me what it is!” “Besides, you are the one that’s in the wrong--” “Speak, or I’ll go away.” “There’s no one but you that can get me out of the scrape--and it was you that got me into it.” “Come, come.” “It’s about--” “About--” “About Justine!” “Don’t speak of her, she’s discharged. I won’t see her again, her style of conduct exposes your reputation--” “What can people say--what have they said?” The scene changes, the result of which is a secondary explanation which makes Caroline blush, as she sees the bearing of the suppositions of her best friends. “Well, now, Adolphe, it’s to you I owe all this. Why didn’t you tell me about Frederick?” “Frederick the Great? The King of Prussia?”