Risler could have survived his wife’s treachery, but that of his brother had killed him.

When Sigismond understood, he was petrified with horror.  He stood there, with the letter in his hand, gazing mechanically through the open window.

The clock struck six.

Yonder, over Paris, whose dull roar they could hear although they could not see the city, a cloud of smoke arose, heavy and hot, moving slowly upward, with a fringe of red and black around its edges, like the powder-smoke on a field of battle.  Little by little, steeples, white buildings, a gilded cupola, emerged from the mist, and burst forth in a splendid awakening.

Then the thousands of tall factory chimneys, towering above that sea of clustered roofs, began with one accord to exhale their quivering vapor, with the energy of a steamer about to sail.  Life was beginning anew.  Forward, ye wheels of time!  And so much the worse for him who lags behind!

Thereupon old Planus gave way to a terrible outburst of wrath.

“Ah! harlot-harlot!” he cried, shaking his fist; and no one could say whether he was addressing the woman or the city of Paris.

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     A man may forgive, but he never forgets
     Word “sacrifice,” so vague on careless lips

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks for the entire Fromont and Risler: 

     A man may forgive, but he never forgets
     Abundant details which he sometimes volunteered
     Affectation of indifference
     Always smiling condescendingly
     Charm of that one day’s rest and its solemnity
     Clashing knives and forks mark time
     Convent of Saint Joseph, four shoes under the bed! 
     Deeming every sort of occupation beneath him
     Dreams of wealth and the disasters that immediately followed
     Exaggerated dramatic pantomime
     Faces taken by surprise allow their real thoughts to be seen
     He fixed the time mentally when he would speak
     Little feathers fluttering for an opportunity to fly away
     Make for themselves a horizon of the neighboring walls and roofs
     No one has ever been able to find out what her thoughts were
     Pass half the day in procuring two cakes, worth three sous
     She was of those who disdain no compliment
     Such artificial enjoyment, such idiotic laughter
     Superiority of the man who does nothing over the man who works
     Terrible revenge she would take hereafter for her sufferings
     The poor must pay for all their enjoyments
     The groom isn’t handsome, but the bride’s as pretty as a picture
     Void in her heart, a place made ready for disasters to come
     Wiping his forehead ostentatiously
     Word “sacrifice,” so vague on careless lips
     Would have liked him to be blind only so far as he was concerned