Pages 149 - 286 Summary

Three years after Hortense and Wenceslas Steinbock are married, Madame Marneffe is bleeding Baron Hulot dry and he behaves as though he has not a care in the world. Valérie lives in high style on Baron Hulot's money. In public, though, she plays the part of the dutiful wife. People believe that Madame Marneffe is simply a friend of the Hulot family. Baron Hulot has no idea that his beloved Valérie is now Monsieur Crevel's mistress as well. Crevel pays Madame Marneffe 6,000 francs per year to keep him company. It is Bette who orchestrates the affair between Crevel and Madame Marneffe. By this time, Bette and Madame Marneffe have become the best of friends. Between the two of them, the women profit handsomely off of Valérie's clandestine involvements with the two wealthy old men. One day, however, Val...