This made her terribly sick but did not kill her.  The count had to nurse her and to listen to the whole story of her passion, her tearful protests and her oaths never to take to any man again.  In her contempt for those swine, as she called them, she could not, however, keep her heart free, for she always had some sweetheart round her, and her exhausted body inclined to incomprehensible fancies and perverse tastes.  As Zoe designedly relaxed her efforts the service of the house had got to such a pitch that Muffat did not dare to push open a door, to pull a curtain or to unclose a cupboard.  The bells did not ring; men lounged about everywhere and at every moment knocked up against one another.  He had now to cough before entering a room, having almost caught the girl hanging round Francis’ neck one evening that he had just gone out of the dressing room for two minutes to tell the coachman to put the horses to, while her hairdresser was finishing her hair.  She gave herself up suddenly behind his back; she took her pleasure in every corner, quickly, with the first man she met.  Whether she was in her chemise or in full dress did not matter.  She would come back to the count red all over, happy at having cheated him.  As for him, he was plagued to death; it was an abominable infliction!

In his jealous anguish the unhappy man was comparatively at peace when he left Nana and Satin alone together.  He would have willingly urged her on to this vice, to keep the men off her.  But all was spoiled in this direction too.  Nana deceived Satin as she deceived the count, going mad over some monstrous fancy or other and picking up girls at the street corners.  Coming back in her carriage, she would suddenly be taken with a little slut that she saw on the pavement; her senses would be captivated, her imagination excited.  She would take the little slut in with her, pay her and send her away again.  Then, disguised as a man, she would go to infamous houses and look on at scenes of debauch to while away hours of boredom.  And Satin, angry at being thrown over every moment, would turn the house topsy-turvy with the most awful scenes.  She had at last acquired a complete ascendancy over Nana, who now respected her.  Muffat even thought of an alliance between them.  When he dared not say anything he let Satin loose.  Twice she had compelled her darling to take up with him again, while he showed himself obliging and effaced himself in her favor at the least sign.  But this good understanding lasted no time, for Satin, too, was a little cracked.  On certain days she would very nearly go mad and would smash everything, wearing herself out in tempest of love and anger, but pretty all the time.  Zoe must have excited her, for the maid took her into corners as if she wanted to tell her about her great design of which she as yet spoke to no one.