“Well,” cried Maxime, “go on; what happened?  Was Arthur furious?”

“You know nothing about it, my old fellow.  When Arthur came in and ‘surprised’ us, Fabien and me, he retreated on the tips of his toes to the dining-room, where he began to clear his throat, ‘broum, broum!’ and cough, and knock the chairs about.  That great fool of a Fabien, to whom, of course, I can’t explain the whole matter, was frightened.  There, my dear Maxime, is the point we have reached.”

Maxime nodded his head, and played for a few moments with his cane.

“I have known such natures,” he said.  “And the only way for you to do is to pitch Arthur out of the window and lock the door upon him.  This is how you must manage it.  Play that scene over again with Fabien; when Arthur surprises you, give Fabien a glance Arthur can’t mistake; if he gets angry, that will end the matter; if he still says, ’broum, broum!’ it is just as good; you can end it a better way.”

“How?”

“Why, get angry, and say:  ’I believed you loved me, respected me; but I see you’ve no feeling at all, not even jealousy,’—­you know the tirade.  ‘In a case like this, Maxime’ (bring me in) ’would kill his man on the spot’ (then weep).  ‘And Fabien, he’ (mortify him by comparing him with that fellow), ’Fabien whom I love, Fabien would have drawn a dagger and stabbed you to the heart.  Ah, that’s what it is to love!  Farewell, monsieur; take back your house and all your property; I shall marry Fabien; he gives me his name; he marries me in spite of his old mother—­but you—­’”

“I see!  I see!” cried Madame Schontz.  “I’ll be superb!  Ah!  Maxime, there will never be but one Maxime, just as there’s only one de Marsay.”

“La Palferine is better than I,” replied the Comte de Trailles, modestly.  “He’ll make his mark.”

“La Palferine has tongue, but you have fist and loins.  What weights you’ve carried! what cuffs you’ve given!”

“La Palferine has all that, too; he is deep and he is educated, whereas I am ignorant,” replied Maxime.  “I have seen Rastignac, who has made an arrangement with the Keeper of the Seals.  Fabien is to be appointed chief-justice at once, and officer of the Legion of honor after one year’s service.”

“I shall make myself devote,” said Madame Schontz, accenting that speech in a manner which obtained a nod of approbation from Maxime.

“Priests can do more than even we,” he replied sententiously.

“Ah! can they?” said Madame Schontz.  “Then I may still find some one in the provinces fit to talk to.  I’ve already begun my role.  Fabien has written to his mother that grace has enlightened me; and he has fascinated the good woman with my million and the chief-justiceship.  She consents that we shall live with her, and sends me her portrait, and wants mine.  If Cupid looked at hers he would die on the spot.  Come, go away, Maxime.  I must put an end to my poor Arthur to-night, and it breaks my heart.”