While scandalous millionaire bonuses and other offensive corporate payments have recently captured national attention, behind closed doors couples practice their own dubious compensation arrangements. Today we read about Robert Charlton, a cheating British husband that regularly made amends by giving his wife jewelry intended to assuage her pain for his escapades. According to press reports, last month the late couples' daughter auctioned the tainted jewels for almost half a million dollars.
This is just the kind of anecdote the French novelist Guy de Maupassant would have greatly appreciated. It brings echoes of his In the Bedroom , a short story he published in In it, de Maupassant the tale of the Comte de Sallure, who once had dallied with various mistresses, offering the women "money, jewels, suppers, dinners, theatres. The newly smitten Sallure became jealous of his estranged wife's many admirers.
One evening, returning home from a reception, Sallure resolved to seduce her by declaring his reborn passion. After reminding her husband of his infidelities and his earlier claims that "marriage between two intelligent people was just a partnership," the Countess agreed to rekindle their relationship, but at a price.
Sallure would have to pay her five thousand monthly francs, approximately what he had spent on each of his mistresses. When the husband protested "that the idea of a man paying for his wife is stupid," the Countess explained the bargain:.
Well, you want me. You can't marry me because we are already married. So why shouldn't you buy me? Instead of going to some slut who would just squander it, your money will stay here, in your own home. By putting a price on our lawful love you'll give it a new value.
