The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from A Prince of Bohemia by Honore de Balzac: Tullia allowed du Bruel to enthrone himself amid the tribe; there were
plenty of journalists whom it was easy enough to catch and ensnare;
and, thanks to her evening parties and a well-timed loan here and
there, Cursy was not attacked too seriously--his plays succeeded. For
these reasons he would not have separated from Tullia for an empire.
If she had been unfaithful, he would probably have passed it over, on
condition that none of his accustomed joys should be retrenched; yet,
strange to say, Tullia caused him no twinges on this account. No fancy
was laid to her charge; if there had been any, she certainly had been
very careful of appearances.
" 'My dear fellow,' du Bruel would say, laying down the law to us on
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