Adrienne had heard M. Baleinier without interrupting him; she now looked at him fixedly, and said:  “Pray, sir, how much do they pay you to make me pass for mad?”

“Madame!” cried M. Baleinier, who felt stung in spite of, himself.

“You know I am rich,” continued Adrienne, with overwhelming disdain; “I will double the sum that they give you.  Come, sir—­in the name of friendship, as you call it, let me have the pleasure of outbidding them.”

“Your keepers,” said M. Baleinier, recovering all his coolness, “have informed me, in their report of the night’s proceedings, that you made similar propositions to them.”

“Pardon me, sir; I offered them what might be acceptable to poor women, without education, whom misfortune has forced to undertake a painful employment—­but to you, sir a man of the world, a man of science, a man of great abilities—­that is quite different—­the pay must be a great deal higher.  There is treachery at all prices; so do not found your refusal on the smallness of my offer to those wretched women.  Tell me—­how much do you want?”

“Your keepers, in their report of the night, have also spoken of threats,” resumed M. Baleinier, with the same coolness; “have you any of those likewise to address me?  Believe me, my poor child, you will do well to exhaust at once your attempts at corruption, and your vain threats of vengeance.  We shall then come to the true state of the case.”

“So you deem my threats vain!” cried Mdlle. de Cardoville, at length giving way to the full tide of her indignation, till then restrained.  “Do you think, sir, that when I leave this place—­for this outrage must have an end—­that I will not proclaim aloud your infamous treachery?  Do you think chat I will not denounce to the contempt and horror of all, your base conspiracy with Madame de Saint-Dizier?  Oh! do you think that I will conceal the frightful treatment I have received!  But, mad as I may be, I know that there are laws in this country, by which I will demand a full reparation for myself, and shame, disgrace, and punishment, for you, and for those who have employed you!  Henceforth, between you and me will be hate and war to the death; and all my strength, all my intelligence—­”

“Permit me to interrupt you, my dear Mdlle.  Adrienne,” said the doctor, still perfectly calm and affectionate:  “nothing can be more unfavorable to your cure, than to cherish idle hopes:  they will only tend to keep up a state of deplorable excitement:  it is best to put the facts fairly before you, that you may understand clearly your position.

“1.  It is impossible for you to leave this house. 2.  You can have no communication with any one beyond its walls. 3.  No one enters here that I cannot perfectly depend upon. 4.  I am completely indifferent to your threats of vengeance because law and reason are both in my favor.”

“What! have you the right to shut me up here?”