CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Discussion with a Master

When Julien gave the new letter to Mrs de Rênal, she was very calm. "If this goes wrong I'll lose everything," she said. "Take this box of money and hide it in the mountains."

This was the worst time in Mr de Rênal's life. He tried to guess who wrote the letter. Besides his wife, he only had ten friends. All of them envy me! He thought. Especially Mr Valenod! Can it be that I have no friends to ask for advice? Oh, Falcoz!

Falcoz was his childhood friend, but he was not a noble. Ten years ago Falcoz started a newspaper, but the government took away his license. He asked his old friend for help, but Mr de Rênal refused. Now Mr de Rênal thought, I have money and power, but still I need him.

What can I do? he thought. If I surprise them in bed, I can kill them both. The law is on my side, and I won't go to jail. Mr de Rênal looked at his knife, but the thought of blood frightened him.

I can throw them out of my house, but then they'll go to Paris. She'll inherit her aunt's money and I'll look like a fool. All my friends in Verrières will laugh! If only she were dead. No one would laugh at me then.

Mrs de Rênal knew her plan had only one chance. She gave her husband the letter and said, "A man gave me this horrible letter today. I demand you send this Mr Sorel away right now."

Mr de Rênal read the letter. This letter was also on blue paper, and Mr de Rênal was both tired and angry. "You must dismiss Julien," his wife said. "He's only a worker's son, and he'll find another job. Mr Valenod or Mr de Maugiron might hire him, for example."

"You're very stupid!" Mr de Rênal yelled. "Women don't understand anything!" Mr de Rênal yelled for a long time, but Mrs de Rênal was calm. She was only thinking of Julien. She wanted him to be proud of her.

"Send him away for a month. He can stay with his friend in the woods," she said. "I've never thought he was a good person since he refused to marry Elisa. He would get a fortune because she sometimes meets Mr Valenod secretly."

This was surprising. "Ah!" said Mr de Rênal. "This is interesting."

Mrs de Rênal continued, "Mr Valenod even sent me letters before."

Now Mr de Rênal was even angrier. "Show me these letters! Where are they?"

Mr de Rênal found the old letters and made a discovery. "These letters are on the same paper as the second anonymous letter!" He wanted to go and talk to Mr Valenod right away, but Mrs de Rênal calmed him down.

"Many people in town envy you," she said. "If you start this new trouble they will laugh at you." Mr de Rênal agreed, so he decided not to talk to Mr Valenod or Elisa right away.

At dinner Mr de Rênal said to Julien, "You may go to Verrières for a week."

When Mr de Rênal left, Mrs de Rênal told Julien what she had done. Mrs de Rênal still wanted to see him that night, but Julien thought it was not wise. "I think you don't care about me," she said.

"I'm just worried. I will miss you very much," he replied.

(end of section)