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。 At sight of his fresh； well…preserved complexion； smooth forehead； and ascetic's mouth； Montriveau's countenance grew uncommonly dark； he said not a word under the malicious scrutiny of the other's gaze； and greeted neither the lady nor the priest。 The lover apart； Montriveau was not wanting in tact； so a few glances exchanged with the bishop…designate told him that here was the real forger of the Duchess's armoury of scruples。
That an ambitious abbe should control the happiness of a man of Montriveau's temper； and by underhand ways！ The thought burst in a furious tide over his face； clenched his fists； and set him chafing and pacing to and fro； but when he came back to his place intending to make a scene； a single look from the Duchess was enough。 He was quiet。
Any other woman would have been put out by her lover's gloomy silence； it was quite otherwise with Mme de Langeais。 She continued her conversation with M。 de Gondrand on the necessity of re…establishing the Church in its ancient splendour。 And she talked brilliantly。
The Church； she maintained； ought to be a temporal as well as a spiritual power； stating her case better than the Abbe had done； and regretting that the Chamber of Peers； unlike the English House of Lords； had no bench of bishops。 Nevertheless； the Abbe rose； yielded his place to the General； and took his leave； knowing that in Lent he could play a return game。 As for the Duchess； Montriveau's behaviour had excited her curiosity to such a pitch that she scarcely rose to return her director's low bow。
〃What is the matter with you； my friend？〃
〃Why； I cannot stomach that Abbe of yours。〃
〃Why did you not take a book？〃 she asked； careless whether the Abbe； then closing the door； heard her or no。
The General paused； for the gesture which accompanied the Duchess's speech further increased the exceeding insolence of her words。
〃My dear Antoinette； thank you for giving love precedence of the Church； but； for pity's sake； allow me to ask one question。〃
〃Oh！ you are questioning me！ I am quite willing。 You are my friend； are you not？ I certainly can open the bottom of my heart to you； you will see only one image there。〃
〃Do you talk about our love to that man？〃
〃He is my confessor。〃
〃Does he know that I love you？〃
〃M。 de Montriveau； you cannot claim； I think； to penetrate the secrets of the confessional？〃
〃Does that man know all about our quarrels and my love for you？〃
〃That man； monsieur； say God！〃
〃God again！ _I_ ought to be alone in your heart。 But leave God alone where He is； for the love of God and me。 Madame； you SHALL NOT go to confession again； or〃
〃Or？〃 she repeated sweetly。
〃Or I will never come back here。〃
〃Then go； Armand。 Good…bye； good…bye forever。〃
She rose and went to her boudoir without so much as a glance at Armand； as he stood with his hand on the back of a chair。 How long he stood there motionless he himself never knew。 The soul within has the mysterious power of expanding as of contracting space。
He opened the door of the boudoir。 It was dark within。 A faint voice was raised to say sharply
〃I did not ring。 What made you come in without orders？ Go away； Suzette。〃
〃Then you are ill；〃 exclaimed Montriveau。
〃Stand up； monsieur； and go out of the room for a minute at any rate；〃 she said； ringing the bell。
〃Mme la Duchesse rang for lights？〃 said the footman； coming in with the candles。 When the lovers were alone together； Mme de Langeais still lay on her couch； she was just as silent and motionless as if Montriveau had not been there。
〃Dear； I was wrong；〃 he began； a note of pain and a sublime kindness in his voice。 〃Indeed； I would not have you without religion〃
〃It is fortunate that you can recognise the necessity of a conscience；〃 she said in a hard voice； without looking at him。 〃I thank you in God's name。〃
The General was broken down by her harshness； this woman seemed as if she could be at will a sister or a stranger to him。 He made one despairing stride towards the door。 He would leave her forever without another word。 He was wretched； and the Duchess was laughing within herself over mental anguish far more cruel than the old judicial torture。 But as for going away； it was not in his power to do it。 In any sort of crisis； a woman is； as it were； bursting with a certain quantity of things to say； so long as she has not delivered herself of them； she experiences the sensation which we are apt to feel at the sight of something incomplete。 Mme de Langeais had not said all that was in her mind。 She took up her parable and said
〃We have not the same convictions； General； I am pained to think。 It would be dreadful if a woman could not believe in a religion which permits us to love beyond the grave。 I set Christian sentiments aside； you cannot understand them。 Let me simply speak to you of expediency。 Would you forbid a woman at court the table of the Lord when it is customary to take the sacrament at Easter？ People must certainly do something for their party。 The Liberals； whatever they may wish to do； will never destroy the religious instinct。 Religion will always be a political necessity。 Would you undertake to govern a nation of logic…choppers？ Napoleon was afraid to try； he persecuted ideologists。 If you want to keep people from reasoning； you must give them something to feel。 So let us accept the Roman Catholic Church with all its consequences。 And if we would have France go to mass； ought we not to begin by going ourselves？ Religion； you see； Armand； is a bond uniting all the conservative principles which enable the rich to live in tranquillity。 Religion and the rights of property are intimately connected。 It is certainly a finer thing to lead a nation by ideas of morality than by fear of the scaffold； as in the time of the Terrorthe one method by which your odious Revolution could enforce obedience。 The priest and the kingthat means you； and me； and the Princess my neighbour； and； in a word； the interests of all honest people personified。 There； my friend； just be so good as to belong to your party； you that might be its Sylla if you had the slightest ambition that way。 I know nothing about politics myself； I argue from my own feelings； but still I know enough to guess that society would be overturned if people were always calling its foundations in question〃
〃If that is how your Court and your Government think； I am sorry for you；〃 broke in Montriveau。 〃The Restoration； madam； ought to say； like Catherine de Medici； when she heard that the battle of Dreux was lost； ‘Very well； now we will go to the meeting…house。' Now 1815 was your battle of Dreux。 Like the royal power of those days； you won in fact； while you lost in right。 Political Protestantism has gained an ascendancy over people's minds。 If you have no mind to issue your Edict of Nantes； or if； when it is issued； you publish a Revocation； if you should one day be accused and convicted of repudiating the Charter； which is simply a pledge given to maintain the interests established under the Republic； then the Revolution will rise again； terrible in her strength； and strike but a single blow。 It wi