Let me paint the scene for you. We're in France, sometime after the 1870 war. The Lemerciers are a middle-class family clinging to their idea of a good name. The father, Monsieur Lemercier, is all about duty and honor. His wife supports him, and their son, Robert, is supposed to be the promising future. Then, Robert gets involved with some shady financial dealings—a kind of forgery scandal. It's not a murder mystery, but in their social circle, it might as well be.

The Story

The news of Robert's actions hits the family like a silent bomb. The story follows them through the 'days of trial' mentioned in the title. It's a slow, tense unfolding. We see the father's rigid world shatter, the mother's quiet distress, and Robert's own confusion and shame. The plot isn't packed with action; it's packed with difficult conversations, strained silences, and the exhausting work of damage control. They have to face lawyers, neighbors, and their own crumbling pride. It's a close-up look at a private crisis.

Why You Should Read It

What got me was how real it felt. Margueritte doesn't judge his characters harshly. He shows you their fear, their love, and their stubborn pride. You understand why Monsieur Lemercier is so rigid—his entire identity is tied to being respectable. The book asks a question that's still relevant: how much of our lives is built on keeping up a front for others? It's a quiet, psychological story that focuses on the weight of small failures in a world obsessed with looking successful.

Final Verdict

This isn't a flashy page-turner. It's for readers who love character studies and historical atmosphere. If you enjoy authors who explore family dynamics and social pressure—think a French, less dramatic version of some Edith Wharton themes—you'll find this fascinating. It's a perfect, thoughtful read for a quiet afternoon, pulling you into the tense, hushed drawing rooms of the past.