Both she and her husband were in despair over it, and though
Marianne had done her utmost to pacify her friend and reconcile her to
circumstances, there were reasons to fear that in her distracted
condition she might do something desperate.
Four days later, when the Froments lunched with the Seguins du Hordel at
the luxurious mansion in the Avenue d'Antin, they came upon similar
trouble there. Seguin, who was positively enraged, did not scruple to
accuse his wife of infidelity, and, on his side, he took to quite a
bachelor life. He had been a gambler in his younger days, and had never
fully cured himself of that passion, which now broke out afresh, like a
fire which has only slumbered for a time. He spent night after night at
his club, playing at baccarat, and could be met in the betting ring at
every race meeting. Then, too, he glided into equivocal society and
appeared at home only at intervals to vent his irritation and spite and
jealousy upon his ailing wife.
She, poor woman, was absolutely guiltless of the charges preferred
against her. But knowing her husband, and unwilling for her own part to
give up her life of pleasure, she had practised concealment as long as
possible.
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