She received Daburon as a messenger direct from Providence.  In a little more than half an hour, she told her story, interlarded with numerous interjections and imprecations.

“Do you comprehend this judge?” cried she.  “He must be some frantic Jacobin,—­some son of the furies, who washed their hands in the blood of their king.  Ah! my friend, I read stupor and indignation in your glance.  He listened to the complaint of that impudent scoundrel whom I enabled to live by employing him!  And when I addressed some severe remonstrances to this judge, as it was my duty to do, he had me turned out!  Do you hear? turned out!”

At this painful recollection, she made a menacing gesture with her arm.  In her sudden movement, she struck a handsome scent bottle that her maid held in her hand.  The force of the blow sent it to the other end of the room, where it broke into pieces.

“Stupid, awkward fool!” cried the marchioness, venting her anger upon the frightened girl.

M. Daburon, bewildered at first, now endeavored to calm her exasperation.  She did not allow him to pronounce three words.

“Happily you are here,” she continued; “you are always willing to serve me, I know.  I count upon you! you will exercise your influence, your powerful friends, your credit, to have this pitiful painter and this miscreant of a judge flung into some deep ditch, to teach them the respect due to a woman of my rank.”

The magistrate did not permit himself even to smile at this imperative demand.  He had heard many speeches as absurd issue from her lips without ever making fun of them.  Was she not Claire’s grandmother? for that alone he loved and venerated her.  He blessed her for her granddaughter, as an admirer of nature blesses heaven for the wild flower that delights him with its perfume.

The fury of the old lady was terrible; nor was it of short duration.  At the end of an hour, however, she was, or appeared to be, pacified.  They replaced her head-dress, repaired the disorder of her toilette, and picked up the fragments of broken glass and china.  Vanquished by her own violence, the reaction was immediate and complete.  She fell back helpless and exhausted into an arm-chair.

This magnificent result was due to the magistrate.  To accomplish it, he had had to use all his ability, to exercise the most angelic patience, the greatest tact.  His triumph was the more meritorious, because he came completely unprepared for this adventure, which interfered with his intended proposal.  The first time that he had felt sufficient courage to speak, fortune seemed to declare against him, for this untoward event had quite upset his plans.