I will follow you!  Just so Mlle. Mars might have spoken those words to send a thrill through two thousand listening men and women.  When a Duchesse de Maufrigneuse offers, in such words, to make such a sacrifice to love, she has paid her debt.  How should Victurnien speak of sordid details after that?  He could so much the better hide his schemes, because Diane was particularly careful not to inquire into them.  She was now, and always, as de Marsay said, an invited guest at a banquet wreathed with roses, a banquet which mankind, as in duty bound, made ready for her.

Victurnien would not go till the promise had been sealed.  He must draw courage from his happiness before he could bring himself to do a deed on which, as he inwardly told himself, people would be certain to put a bad construction.  Still (and this was the thought that decided him) he counted on his aunt and father to hush up the affair; he even counted on Chesnel.  Chesnel would think of one more compromise.  Besides, “this business,” as he called it in his thoughts, was the only way of raising money on the family estate.  With three hundred thousand francs, he and Diane would lead a happy life hidden in some palace in Venice; and there they would forget the world.  They went through their romance in advance.

Next day Victurnien made out a bill for three hundred thousand francs, and took it to the Kellers.  The Kellers advanced the money, for du Croisier happened to have a balance at the time; but they wrote to let him know that he must not draw again on them without giving them notice.  Du Croisier, much astonished, asked for a statement of accounts.  It was sent.  Everything was explained.  The day of his vengeance had arrived.

When Victurnien had drawn “his” money, he took it to Mme. de Maufrigneuse.  She locked up the banknotes in her desk, and proposed to bid the world farewell by going to the Opera to see it for the last time.  Victurnien was thoughtful, absent, and uneasy.  He was beginning to reflect.  He thought that his seat in the Duchess’ box might cost him dear; that perhaps, when he had put the three hundred thousand francs in safety, it would be better to travel post, to fall at Chesnel’s feet, and tell him all.  But before they left the opera-house, the Duchess, in spite of herself, gave Victurnien an adorable glance, her eyes were shining with the desire to go back once more to bid farewell to the nest which she loved so much.  And boy that he was, he lost a night.

The next day, at three o’clock, he was back again at the Hotel de Maufrigneuse; he had come to take the Duchess’ orders for that night’s escape.  And, “Why should we go?” asked she; “I have thought it all out.  The Vicomtesse de Beauseant and the Duchesse de Langeais disappeared.  If I go too, it will be something quite commonplace.  We will brave the storm.  It will be a far finer thing to do.  I am sure of success.”  Victurnien’s eyes dazzled; he felt as if his skin were dissolving and the blood oozing out all over him.