Cousin Bette

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1888. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIX. CONCLUSION OF THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF CELESTIN CREVEL. The immensity of the sum demanded had so startling an effect on Crevel that his lively emotion at beholding a beautiful woman at his feet in tears passed off. Besides, DEGREESo matter how angelic and lovely a woman may be, if she weeps her beauty disappears. The Madame Marneffes pretend to weep occasionally and allow a tear or two to glide down their cheeks; but dissolve in tears and redden their eyes and nose ! -- no, they never commit such a fault as that. "Come, come, my dear, be calm !" said Crevel, taking her beautiful hands in his own and patting them. "Why do you ask me for two hundred thousand francs? what do y0u want of them? who are they for?" "Don't ask me for an explanation," she said; "give them to me. You will save the lives of three persons and your children's honor." "And do you believe, my little woman," said Crevel, "that there's a man in all Paris, who, at the request of a woman who is pretty nearly crazy, would go hunting, hie et nunc, in a drawer, anywhere, for two hundred thousand francs supposed to be hiding there till she happens to want them? Is that your idea of life and business, my lady? Your mysterious beggars must be pretty far gone; send them the sacraments, for nobody in Paris except its serene Highness the Bank of France, or the illustrious Nucingen, or misers in love with gold as other men are with women, can pull hundreds of thousands of francs out of a hiding-place on demand. The civil list, civil as it is, would ask you to call again to-morrow. Everybody makes the most of his money and turns it over and over as best he can. You are much mistaken, my dear angel, if you think it is the king, Louis-Philippe, who reigns over us, -- he himself knows better than that. He knows, as we all d...