Thebellannounceddinner。ContiofferedhisarmtoCamille；CalystegavehistoBeatrix。Camilledrewbacktoletthemarquisepass，butthelatterhadfoundamomentinwhichtolookatCalyste，andimpressuponhim，byputtingherfingeronherlips，theabsolutenecessityofdiscretion。
Contiwasextremelygayduringthedinner；perhapsthiswasonlyonewayofprobingMadamedeRochefide，whoplayedherpartextremelyill。
Ifherconducthadbeenmerecoquetry，shemighthavedeceivedevenConti；buthernewlovewasreal，anditbetrayedher。Thewilymusician，farfromaddingtoherembarrassment，pretendednottohaveperceivedit。Atdessert，hebroughttheconversationroundtowomen，andlaudedthenobilityoftheirsentiments。Manyawoman，hesaid，whomighthavebeenwillingtoabandonamaninprosperity，wouldsacrificealltohiminmisfortune。Womenhadtheadvantageovermeninconstancy；nothingeverdetachedthemfromtheirfirstlover，towhomtheyclungasamatterofhonor，unlesshewoundedthem；theyfeltthatasecondlovewasunworthyofthem，andsoforth。Hisethicswereofthehighestorder；sheddingincenseonthealtarwhereheknewthatoneheartatleast，piercedbymanyablow，wasbleeding。CamilleandBeatrixaloneunderstoodthebitternessofthesarcasmsshotforthintheguiseofeulogy。Attimestheybothflushedscarlet，buttheywereforcedtocontrolthemselves。Whendinnerwasover，theytookeachotherbythearmtoreturntoCamille’ssalon，and，asifbymutualconsent，theyturnedasideintothegreatsalon，wheretheycouldbealoneforaninstantinthedarkness。”ItisdreadfultoletContirideovermeroughshod；andyetIcan’tdefendmyself，”saidBeatrix，inalowvoice。”Thegalley-slaveisalwaysaslavetohischain-companion。Iamlost；Imustneedsreturntomygalleys！Anditisyou，Camille，whohavecastmethere！Ah！youbroughthimbackadaytoosoon，oradaytoolate。Irecognizeyourinfernaltalentasauthor。Well，yourrevengeiscomplete，thefinaleperfect！””ImayhavetoldyouthatIwouldwritetoConti，buttodoitwasanothermatter，”criedCamille。”Iamincapableofsuchbaseness。Butyouareunhappy，andIwillforgivethesuspicion。””WhatwillbecomeofCalyste？”saidthemarquise，withnaiveself-
conceit。”ThenConticarriesyouoff，doeshe？”askedCamille。”Ah！youthinkyoutriumph！”criedBeatrix。
AngerdistortedherhandsomefaceasshesaidthosebitterwordstoCamille，whowastryingtohidehersatisfactionunderafalseexpressionofsympathy。Unfortunately，thesparkleinhereyesbeliedthesadnessofherface，andBeatrixwaslearnedinsuchdeceptions。