Summary: Part Three, Chapter 5
Frédéric sets out desperately to find the twelve thousand
francs needed to save Madame Arnoux. He tells Madame Dambreuse he needs
the money to help Dussardier, who he claims has stolen something.
He rushes to the Arnouxes’ house, but they’ve already left. He looks
for Regimbart, who tells him that the lawsuit has already gone through.
Regimbart pities Madame Arnoux.
Frédéric returns to Rosanette, who looks at Pellerin’s
portrait of her dead baby and cries. Frédéric, wondering what will
happen to Madame Arnoux, also cries. Madame Dambreuse finds out
from Regimbart’s wife that Frédéric has given her money to Madame Arnoux,
and cries. Then she vows revenge. She doesn’t let on to Frédéric
that she knows what he did. Instead, she has him invite Deslauriers
over, saying she must consult him about a legal matter.
Madame Dambreuse tells Deslauriers about the debts the Arnouxes
owe her, the debts that Frédéric had once convinced Dambreuse to
temporarily forgive. Deslauriers, looking for his own revenge against
Madame Arnoux for refusing his advances, tells Madame Dambreuse
to sell the debts at auction. He will have an agent buy them and
then prosecute the Arnouxes.
In November, Frédéric sees a sign on the Arnouxes’ door
declaring that all the furniture and other possessions are going
up for sale. He finds out that Senecal has ordered the sale. He
hurries home and accuses Rosanette of being responsible, but she
denies it. They argue, and he leaves her.
One day, as Madame Dambreuse and Frédéric are riding in
their carriage, Madame Dambreuse decides to visit the sale rooms. Inside,
she goes straight for the auction of the Arnouxes’ possessions.
Frédéric is horrified to see such familiar objects treated so haphazardly.
Madame Dambreuse taunts him by buying something. Frédéric leaves
her.
Frédéric returns to Nogent, hoping to still marry Louise.
But he arrives just as Louise is marrying Deslauriers. He returns
to Paris. There is fighting in the streets, and Frédéric sees Dussardier
get killed by a policeman, who he then recognizes as Senecal.
