 Gold. I married Madame Barronneau. It is not
for me to say whether there was any great disparity in such a match. Here I
stand, with the contamination of a jail upon me; but it is possible that you may
think me better suited to her than her former husband was.«
    He had a certain air of being a handsome man - which he was not; and a
certain air of being a well-bred man - which he was not. It was mere swagger and
challenge; but in this particular, as in many others, blustering assertion goes
for proof, half over the world.
    »Be it as it may, Madame Barronneau approved of me. That is not to prejudice
me, I hope?«
    His eye happening to light upon John Baptist with this inquiry, that little
man briskly shook his head in the negative, and repeated in an argumentative
tone under his breath, altro, altro, altro, altro - an infinite number of times.
    »Now came the difficulties of our position. I am proud. I say nothing in
defence of pride, but I am proud. It is also my character to govern. I can't
submit; I must govern. Unfortunately, the property of Madame Rigaud was settled
upon herself. Such was the insane act of her late husband. More unfortunately
still, she had relations. When a wife's relations interpose against a husband
who is a gentleman, who is proud, and who must govern, the consequences are
inimical to peace. There was yet another source of difference between us. Madame
Rigaud was unfortunately a little vulgar. I sought to improve her manners and
ameliorate her general tone; she (supported in this likewise by her relations)
resented my endeavours. Quarrels began to arise between us; and, propagated and
exaggerated by the slanders of the relations of Madame Rigaud, to become
notorious to the neighbours. It has been said that I treated Madame Rigaud with
cruelty. I may have been seen to slap her face - nothing more. I have a light
hand; and if I have been seen apparently to correct Madame Rigaud in that
manner, I have done it almost playfully.«
    If the playfulness of Monsieur Rigaud were at all expressed by his smile at
this point, the relations of Madame Rigaud might have said that they would have
much preferred his correcting that unfortunate woman seriously.
    »I am sensitive and brave. I do not advance it as a merit to be sensitive
and brave, but it is my character. If the male relations of Madame Rigaud had
put themselves forward openly,
