Червоне та чорне

Conversation with a Lord and Master

           Inordertofeelquitesafe,MadamedeRênalwantedtoknowtheideaswhichtheletterhadsucceedinginsuggestingtothemanonwhomherfatedepended,for,intheprovincesthehusbandsarethemastersofpublicopinion.Ahusbandwhocomplainscovershimselfwithridicule,aninconveniencewhichbecomesnolessdangerousinFrancewitheachsucceedingyear;butifherefusestoprovidehiswifewithmoney,shefallstothestatusofalabouringwomanatfifteensousaday,whilethevirtuoussoulshavescruplesaboutemployingher.

           AnodalisqueintheseragliocanlovetheSultanwithallhermight.Heisall-powerfulandshehasnohopeofstealinghisauthoritybyaseriesoflittlesubtleties.Themaster’svengeanceisterribleandbloodybutmartialandgenerous;adaggerthrustfinisheseverything.Butitisbystabbingherwithpubliccontemptthatanineteenth-centuryhusbandkillshiswife.Itisbyshuttingagainstherthedoorsofallthedrawing-rooms.

           WhenMadamedeRênalreturnedtoherroom,herfeelingofdangerwasvividlyawakened.Shewasshockedbythedisorderinwhichshefoundit.Thelocksofalltheprettylittleboxeshadbeenbroken.Manyplanksinthefloorhadbeenliftedup."Hewouldhavenopityonme,"shesaidtoherself."Tothinkofhisspoilinglikethis,thiscolouredwoodfloorwhichhelikessomuch;hegetsredwithragewheneveroneofhischildrencomesintoitwithwetshoes,andnowitisspoiltforever."Thespectacleofthisviolenceimmediatelybanishedthelastscrupleswhichshewasentertainingwithrespecttothatvictorywhichshehadwononlytoorapidly.

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