From that day she would retreat behind the line of duty, conjugal fidelity, honor, and all the other fine sentiments which would need numbering after the fashion of Homer.
At the first attack, all this household battalion would make a furious sortie; should I succeed in overthrowing them and take up my quarters in the trenches, there would then be a gathering of the reserve force, and boiling oil or tar would rain upon my head, representing virtue, religion, heaven, and hell." "A sort of conjugal earthquake," interrupted Marillac.
"I calculated the strength and approximate duration of these means of defence.

The whole thing appeared to me only a question of time, a few days or weeks at most--so long on the husband's account, so long on the father confessor's account.

I deserved to be boxed on the ears for my presumption; I was.
"A combat is necessary in order to secure a victory.

In spite of all my efforts and ruses, it was not possible for me to fight this combat; I did not succeed, in spite of all my challenges, in shattering, as I expected, this virtuous conjugal fortress.

Madame de Bergenheim still persisted in her systematic reserve, with incredible prudence and skill.