And Madame Desvarennes would be alone in her corner, abandoned like a poor dog, and would die of despair and anger.

What other course then?
She must dissemble, mask her face with indifference, if possible with tenderness, and undertake the difficult task of separating Micheline from the man whom she adored.

It was quite a feat of strategy to plan.

To bring out the husband's faults and to make his errors known, and give her the opportunity of proving his worthlessness.
In a word, to make the young wife understand that she had married an elegant manikin, unworthy of her love.
It would be an easy matter to lay snares for Serge.

He was a gambler.
She could let him have ready money to satisfy his passion.