The Ladies' Paradise

Bouthemont is invited to tea at Madame Desforges’s house. He assures his hostess that Mouret will also come, especially since Hartmann will likely be present. Madame Desforges sees Mouret less often these days, so she hoped that Bouthemont would bring Mouret himself. For his part, Bouthemont is concerned about his job due to an inventory issue in his department. Madame Desforges tells Bouthemont that she has arranged for Denise to visit regarding a coat fitting. Once she arrives, Madame Desforges will humiliate both her and Mouret. Madame Desforges asks Bouthemont why he does not have his own store. He mentions the capital needed to start a business and that his family disapproves of stores like The Ladies’ Paradise. Madame Desforges suggests that she may be able to provide him with the capital.

Mouret arrives with Vallagnosc. Mouret turns to Bouthemont, telling him that they need to discuss something. Mouret looks around for Hartmann. A servant announces that Denise has arrived. Madame Desforges makes Denise wait in the hall as more guests arrive. Madame Marty and Madame de Boves both recognize Denise from the store, which makes Mouret suspicious. The women discuss their recent purchases from the store. Madame Marty reveals that her husband was forced to seek extra work as a result of her “orgies of spending” (309). Hartmann enters, and Mouret is pleased to see him. Behind Hartmann, however, he notices Denise in the hallway. Hartmann wishes to talk about the rumored promiscuity of Mouret’s staff. Mouret defends the honor of his female employees, though the other guests disagree. Madame Desforges claims that the staff are as much for sale as the merchandise. Madame Desforges goes to speak to Denise.

Mouret talks to Hartmann about his plan to build The Ladies’ Paradise into a “giant palace of commerce” by expanding the store into a building where Hartmann’s company is set to build a hotel (313). Hartmann says that his bank will not agree to such a move, as it would be too risky. As Mouret presses the matter, Hartmann warns him against expanding the store. Hartmann promises to speak to his colleagues, but Mouret is left feeling discouraged. Vallagnosc appears as Hartmann repeats his joke that the women of Paris will have their revenge against Mouret. A loss of money is not the only way Mouret can be hurt, he warns, and he shares a joke with Vallagnosc about heartbreak.

Mouret is still deeply in love with Denise and concerned about the jealous Madame Desforges. He watches as Madame Desforges tries on her coat and then tells her that the coat does not fit. He will have another made for her. Madame Desforges insists on altering this exact coat, ordering Denise to make the adjustments. Mouret understands that she is trying to humiliate Denise, but Denise is strong enough to maintain her dignity. Upping the ante, Madame Desforges begins to flirt with Mouret. Denise begins to tremble, worrying that Mouret also wants to punish her. When Madame Desforges calls for the coat to be fitted again, Denise is frustrated. She calls Madame Desforges “a little plump” (319), noting that there is no way to make the wearer of the coat thinner. The two women stare angrily at each other. Denise refuses to apologize and claims that Mouret is satisfied with her work. Madame Desforges insinuates that she is a common sex worker. Denise begins to cry; Mouret moves to comfort her, helping her to the door. Denise’s tears of humiliation turn into tears of joy.

Madame Desforges demands an answer from Mouret, and he admits that he is in love with Denise. Madame Desforges collapses despondently into a chair. After a moment, Mouret exits. He finds Vallagnosc alone and, with tears in his eyes, tells his friend that he has “never lived so intensely” (322). When he and Denise are together, Mouret claims, he will finally be happy. Vallagnosc does not share this vivacity. He is so bored that he would take his own life if he were not so lazy. The friends laugh and put aside any differences they might have had. Mouret returns to speak to the rest of the guests. He fires Bouthemont, though he blames others for this decision. Madame Desforges enters, carefully hiding her earlier disappointment. The conversation turns back to The Ladies’ Paradise and the prospect of marriages between social classes; Mouret claims that working-class and middle-class people can and should marry. Bouthemont takes Madame Desforges aside. They hatch plans for a rival store, seeking to recruit Hartmann as a financial backer. Hartmann watches as Mouret charms the women. He wonders whether Mouret will be so lucky with Denise.

Hartmann convinces his colleagues to sell the property to Mouret, allowing a new entrance to The Ladies’ Paradise to be built. Denise overhears Clara joking about stealing Colomban from Genevieve. Though the comment upsets her, Denise orders Clara back to work. Later, Denise complains to Pauline about trying to keep the sales assistants in order. Pauline and Bauge (who now works at The Ladies’ Paradise) married recently, so Pauline suggests that Denise could make herself “queen” of the store by becoming Mouret’s lover (329). Since Bourdoncle disapproves of love, however, both Pauline’s and Bauge’s jobs are at risk. Bourdoncle dislikes women. He is known to physically abuse his mistresses, and he is concerned that Denise is having a detrimental effect on Mouret. He sees Mouret’s “idiotic obsession” as a threat to the smooth running of the store (332). He hopes to catch Denise in a compromising situation, thus having an excuse to fire her, and he encourages Jouve to keep a close eye on her.

Mouret cannot stop thinking about Denise. He is impressed with her ideas regarding the business. If he offers her even more, he hopes, she will accept him. As powerful as he is in his store, he feels powerless in his inability to convince Denise to love him. He becomes disinterested in the daily profits that once delighted him. When Bourdoncle suggests that Denise is having affairs with Deloche and Hutin, Mouret demands proof. He is distraught by the suggestion that Denise has other lovers. He plans to fire both Deloche and Hutin.

Alongside a female accomplice, Mignot is caught stealing gloves. Though such matters are normally dealt with quietly, Mouret explodes with anger. Bourdoncle has to intervene. When questioned, Mignot says that Albert Lhomme helped him steal from the store. Mignot is fired, and, two days later, Albert is fired as well. Not long after, Mouret confronts Favier for setting his own prices. Favier had been changing the prices to get Hutin fired, so he blames Hutin. When Mouret confronts Hutin, he tells him never to change the prices again. Hutin turns to Favier, who protests his innocence and wonders why Mouret seems furious all the time. Hutin knows that the reason is Denise.

Two days later, Denise is talking to Deloche in the manufacturing room. Hutin spots them and fetches Jouve and Bourdoncle. Though Denise and Deloche are innocently reminiscing about their childhoods in the countryside, Deloche suddenly breaks down in tears and declares his love for Denise. As he describes his love for her, Denise urges him to be quiet. He continues, and her mind wanders as she stares across the Parisian rooftops. She allows Deloche to kiss her hand; he bemoans his lowly position and urges Denise to find someone who will make her happy.

Denise turns to see Mouret in the doorway, consumed by jealousy. Deloche runs away, and Mouret asks to speak to Denise. In his office, he criticizes her, but Denise feels protected by the portrait of Mouret’s late wife. She confesses that she was socializing with Deloche and offers an apology. This only makes Mouret explode, accusing her of giving herself away to worthless individuals like Deloche. Denise is shocked that Mouret could think this of her. If he sees her this way, she says, then she has no interest in working for him. He demands that she address the salacious (and untrue) rumors that he has heard about her. Denise stares him down with quiet dignity. Mouret declares his love for Denise, describing the many affairs that he abandoned because of her. He does not know what she wants from him, as he offered everything he has. Denise calmly tells Mouret that the rumors are false: She does not have a lover, though she admits that she does love someone. However, she keeps this love secret because she does not know where it might lead. She suggests that Mouret should respect women. In Denise’s demeanor, Mouret sees his late wife’s best qualities. He promises himself to Denise once again. She responds by suggesting that in her hands, he might just become a good man. Mouret leads Denise to the office door.

The following day, Denise is promoted. The ladieswear department is divided, with Denise taking over the children’s half. Madame Aurelie suspects that Denise will one day take her job. Denise excels in her new role since she loves children. She shares her business ideas with Mouret and champions the rights of her staff. If Mouret wants his machine to run efficiently, she suggests, then he must build it with good metal. Though he jokingly accuses Denise of socialism, he agrees to provide pensions and create a mutual aid society for the staff. Denise also organizes a festival for the staff and arranges for classes, doctors, and hairdressers. Denise is surprised by her newfound power and popularity.

When Pauline becomes pregnant, she is concerned that she will lose her job. Denise moves quickly to provide rights and medical care for pregnant staff, in opposition to Bourdoncle and his tradition of firing any pregnant employee. After Pauline has the baby, Denise admits to her friend that she loves Mouret. However, she is unwilling to give herself to him. Pauline comforts Denise, who fears that no one truly understands her. Mouret visits the newly constructed extension to his store. While it is everything he dreamed of, he now recognizes the “vanity of his fortune” (360). Such accomplishments do not satisfy him any longer, causing him to break down into tears. He begins to think that he should propose to Denise, as only her love can make him happy.