recognizedthe
Frenchman
.
Louvier
doubted
De
Mauleon’s
word
no
more
,
bowed
his
head
,
and
said
,
“
Victor
de
Mauleon
,
I
have
wronged
you
;
go
on
.
”
“
On
the
day
after
you
left
for
Aix
came
that
horse-race
on
which
my
all
depended
:
it
was
lost
.
The
loss
absorbed
the
whole
of
my
remaining
fortune
;
it
absorbed
about
twenty
thousand
francs
in
excess
,
a
debt
of
honour
to
De
N
.
,
whom
you
called
my
friend
.
Friend
he
was
not
;
imitator
,
follower
,
flatterer
,
yes
.
Still
I
deemed
him
enough
my
friend
to
say
to
him
,
‘Give
me
a
little
time
to
pay
the
money
;
I
must
sell
my
stud
,
or
write
to
my
only
living
relation
from
whom
I
have
expectations.’
You
remember
that
relation
,
—
Jacques
de
Mauleon
,
old
and
unmarried
.
By
De
N.‘s
advice
I
did
write
to
my
kinsman
.
No
answer
came
;
but
what
did
come
were
fresh
bills
from
creditors
.
I
then
calmly
calculated
my
assets
.
The
sale
of
my
stud
and
effects
might
suffice
to
pay
every
sou
that
I
owed
,
including
my
debt
to
De
N
.
;
but
that
was
not
quite
certain
.
At
all
events
,
when
the
debts
were
paid
I
should
be
beggared
.
Well
,
you
know
,
Louvier
,
what
we
Frenchmen
are
:
how
Nature
has
denied
to
us
the
quality
of
patience
;
how
involuntarily
suicide
presents
itself
to
us
when
hope
is
lost
;
and
suicide
seemed
to
me
here
due
to
honour
,
namely
,
to
the
certain
discharge
of
my
liabilities
,
—
for
the
stud
and
effects
of
Victor
de
Mauleon
,
roi
des
viveurs
,
would
command
much
higher
prices
if
he
died
like
Cato
than
if
he
ran
away
from
his
fate
like
Pompey
.
Doubtless
De
N
.
guessed
my
intention
from
my
words
or
my
manner
;
but
on
the
very
day
in
which
I
had
made
all
preparations
for
quitting
the
world
from
which
sunshine
had
vanished
,
I
received
in
a
blank
envelope
bank-notes
amounting
to
seventy
thousand
francs
,
and
the
post-mark
on
the
envelope
was
that
of
the
town
of
Fontainebleau
,
near
to
which
lived
my
rich
kinsman
Jacques
.
I
took
it
for
granted
that
the
sum
came
from
him
.
Displeased
as
he
might
have
been
with
my
wild
career
,
still
I
was
his
natural
heir
.
The
sum
sufficed
to
pay
my
debt
to
De
N
.
,
to
all
creditors
,
and
leave
a
surplus
.
My
sanguine
spirits
returned
.
I
would
sell
my
stud
;
I
would
retrench
,
reform
,
go
to
my
kinsman
as
the
penitent
son
.
The
fatted
calf
would
be
killed
,
and
I
should
wear
purple
yet
.
You
understand
that
,
Louvier
?
”
“
Yes
,
yes
;
so
like
you
.
Go
on
.
”
“
Now
,
then
,
came
the
thunderbolt
!
Ah
!
in
those
sunny
days
you
used
to
envy
me
for
being
so
spoilt
by
women
.
The
Duchesse
de
—
—
—
had
conceived
for
me
one
of
those
romantic
fancies
which
women
without
children
and
with
ample
leisure
for
the
waste
of
affection
do
sometimes
conceive
for
very
ordinary
men
younger
than
themselves
,
but
in
whom
they
imagine
they
discover
sinners
to
reform
or
heroes
to
exalt
.
I
had
been
honoured
by
some
notes
from
the
Duchesse
in
which
this
sort
of
romance
was
owned
.
I
had
not
replied
to
them
encouragingly
.
In
truth
,
my
heart
was
then
devoted
to
another
,
—
the
English
girl
whom
I
had
wooed
as
my
wife
;
who
,
despite
her
parents’
retraction
of
their
consent
to
our
union
when
they
learned
how
dilapidated
were
my
fortunes
,
pledged
herself
to
remain
faithful
to
me
,
and
wait
for
better
days
.
”
Again
De
Mauleon
paused
in
suppressed
emotion
,
and
then
went
on
hurriedly
:
“
No
,
the
Duchesse
did
not
inspire
me
with
guilty
passion
,
but
she
did
inspire
me
with
an
affectionate
respect
.
I
felt
that
she
was
by
nature
meant
to
be
a
great
and
noble
creature
,
and
was
,
nevertheless
,
at
that
moment
wholly
misled
from
her
right
place
amongst
women
by
an
illusion
of
mere
imagination
about
a
man
who
happened
then
to
be
very
much
talked
about
,
and
perhaps
resembled
some
Lothario
in
the
novels
which
she
was
always
reading
.
We
lodged
,
as
you
may
remember
,
in
the
same
house
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
remember
.
I
remember
how
you
once
took
me
to
a
great
ball
given
by
the
Duchesse
;
how
handsome
I
thought
her
,
though
no
longer
young
;
and
you
say
right
—
how
I
did
envy
you
,
that
night
!
”
“
From
that
night
,
however
,
the
Duc
,
not
unnaturally
,
became
jealous
.
He
reproved
the
Duchesse
for
her
too
amiable
manner
towards
a
mauvais
sujet
like
myself
,
and
forbade
her
in
future
to
receive
my
visits
.
It
was
then
that
these
notes
became
frequent
and
clandestine
,
brought
to
me
by
her
maid
,
who
took
back
my
somewhat
chilling
replies
.
“
But
to
proceed
.
In
the
flush
of
my
high
spirits
,
and
in
the
insolence
of
magnificent
ease
with
which
I
paid
De
N
—
—
—
the
trifle
I
owed
him
,
something
he
said
made
my
heart
stand
still
.
”
“
I
told
him
that
the
money
received
had
come
from
Jacques
de
Mauleon
,
and
that
I
was
going
down
to
his
house
that
day
to
thank
him
.
He
replied
,
‘Don’t
go
;
it
did
not
come
from
him.’
‘It
must
;
see
the
post-mark
of
the
envelope
,
—
Fontainebleau.’
‘I
posted
it
at
Fontainebleau.’
‘You
sent
me
the
money
,
you
!
’
‘Nay
,
that
is
beyond
my
means
.
Where
it
came
from
,
’
said
this
miserable
,
‘much
more
may
yet
come
;
’
and
then
be
narrated
,
with
that
cynicism
so
in
vogue
at
Paris
,
how
he
had
told
the
Duchesse
(
who
knew
him
as
my
intimate
associate
)
of
my
stress
of
circumstance
,
of
his
fear
that
I
meditated
something
desperate
;
how
she
gave
him
the
jewels
to
sell
and
to
substitute
;
how
,
in
order
to
baffle
my
suspicion
and
frustrate
my
scruples
,
he
had
gone
to
Fontainebleau
and
there
posted
the
envelope
containing
the
bank-notes
,
out
of
which
he
secured
for
himself
the
payment
he
deemed
otherwise
imperilled
.
De
N
.
having
made
this
confession
,
hurried
down
the
stairs
swiftly
enough
to
save
himself
a
descent
by
the
window
.
Do
you
believe
me
still
?
”
“
Yes
;
you
were
always
so
hot-blooded
,
and
De
N
.
so
considerate
of
self
,
I
believe
you
implicitly
.
”
“
Of
course
I
did
what
any
man
would
do
;
I
wrote
a
hasty
letter
to
the
Duchesse
,
stating
all
my
gratitude
for
an
act
of
pure
friendship
so
noble
;
urging
also
the
reasons
that
rendered
it
impossible
for
a
man
of
honour
to
profit
by
such
an
act
.
Unhappily
,
what
had
been
sent
was
paid
away
ere
I
knew
the
facts
;
but
I
could
not
bear
the
thought
of
life
till
my
debt
to
her
was
acquitted
;
in
short
,
Louvier
,
conceive
for
yourself
the
sort
of
letter
which
I
—
which
any
honest
man
—
would
write
,
under
circumstances
so
cruel
.
”
“
H’m
!
”
grunted
Louvier
.
“
Something
,
however
,
in
my
letter
,
conjoined
with
what
De
N
.
had
told
her
as
to
my
state
of
mind
,
alarmed
this
poor
woman
,
who
had
deigned
to
take
in
me
an
interest
so
little
deserved
.
Her
reply
,
very
agitated
and
incoherent
,
was
brought
to
me
by
her
maid
,
who
had
taken
my
letter
,
and
by
whom
,
as
I
before
said
,
our
correspondence
had
been
of
late
carried
on
.
In
her
reply
she
implored
me
to
decide
,
to
reflect
on
nothing
till
I
had
seen
her
;
stated
how
the
rest
of
her
day
was
pre-engaged
;
and
since
to
visit
her
openly
had
been
made
impossible
by
the
Due’s
interdict
,
enclosed
the
key
to
the
private
entrance
to
her
rooms
,
by
which
I
could
gain
an
interview
with
her
at
ten
o’clock
that
night
,
an
hour
at
which
the
Duc
had
informed
her
he
should
be
out
till
late
at
his
club
.
Now
,
however
great
the
indiscretion
which
the
Duchesse
here
committed
,
it
is
due
to
her
memory
to
say
that
I
am
convinced
that
her
dominant
idea
was
that
I
meditated
self-destruction
;
that
no
time
was
to
be
lost
to
save
me
from
it
;
and
for
the
rest
she
trusted
to
the
influence
which
a
woman’s
tears
and
adjurations
and
reasonings
have
over
even
the
strongest
and
hardest
men
.
It
is
only
one
of
those
coxcombs
in
whom
the
world
of
fashion
abounds
who
could
have
admitted
a
thought
that
would
have
done
wrong
to
the
impulsive
,
generous
,
imprudent
eagerness
of
a
woman
to
be
in
time
to
save
from
death
by
his
own
hand
a
fellow-being
for
whom
she
had
conceived
an
interest
.
I
so
construed
her
note
.
At
the
hour
she
named
I
admitted
myself
into
the
rooms
by
the
key
she
sent
.
You
know
the
rest
:
I
was
discovered
by
the
Duc
and
by
the
agents
of
police
in
the
cabinet
in
which
the
Duchesse’s
jewels
were
kept
.
The
key
that
admitted
me
into
the
cabinet
was
found
in
my
possession
.
”
De
Mauleon’s
voice
here
faltered
,
and
he
covered
his
face
with
a
convulsive
hand
.
Almost
in
the
same
breath
he
recovered
from
visible
sign
of
emotion
,
and
went
on
with
a
half
laugh
.
“
Ah
!
you
envied
me
,
did
you
,
for
being
spoiled
by
the
women
?
Enviable
position
indeed
was
mine
that
night
!
The
Duc
obeyed
the
first
impulse
of
his
wrath
.
He
imagined
that
I
had
dishonoured
him
;
he
would
dishonour
me
in
return
.
Easier
to
his
pride
,
too
,
a
charge
against
the
robber
of
jewels
than
against
a
favoured
lover
of
his
wife
.
But
when
I
,
obeying
the
first
necessary
obligation
of
honour
,
invented
on
the
spur
of
the
moment
the
story
by
which
the
Duchesse’s
reputation
was
cleared
from
suspicion
,
accused
myself
of
a
frantic
passion
and
the
trickery
of
a
fabricated
key
,
the
Due’s
true
nature
of
gentilhomme
came
back
.
He
retracted
the
charge
which
he
could
scarcely
even
at
the
first
blush
have
felt
to
be
well-founded
;
and
as
the
sole
charge
left
was
simply
that
which
men
comme
il
faut
do
not
refer
to
criminal
courts
and
police
investigations
,
I
was
left
to
make
my
bow
unmolested
and
retreat
to
my
own
rooms
,
awaiting
there
such
communciations
as
the
Duc
might
deem
it
right
to
convey
to
me
on
the
morrow
.
“
But
on
the
morrow
the
Duc
,
with
his
wife
and
personal
suite
,
quitted
Paris
en
route
for
Spain
;
the
bulk
of
his
retinue
,
including
the
offending
Abigail
,
was
discharged
;
and
,
whether
through
these
servants
or
through
the
police
,
the
story
before
evening
was
in
the
mouth
of
every
gossip
in
club
or
cafe
,
—
exaggerated
,
distorted
,
to
my
ignominy
and
shame
.
My
detection
in
the
cabinet
,
the
sale
of
the
jewels
,
the
substitution
of
paste
by
De
N
.
,
who
was
known
to
be
my
servile
imitator
and
reputed
to
be
my
abject
tool
,
all
my
losses
on
the
turf
,
my
debts
,
—
all
these
scattered
fibres
of
flax
were
twisted
together
in
a
rope
that
would
have
hanged
a
dog
with
a
much
better
name
than
mine
.
If
some
disbelieved
that
I
could
be
a
thief
,
few
of
those
who
should
have
known
me
best
held
me
guiltless
of
a
baseness
almost
equal
to
that
of
theft
,
—
the
exaction
of
profit
from
the
love
of
a
foolish
woman
.
”
“
But
you
could
have
told
your
own
tale
,
shown
the
letters
you
had
received
from
the
Duchesse
,
and
cleared
away
every
stain
on
your
honour
.
”
“
How
?
—
shown
her
letters
,
ruined
her
character
,
even
stated
that
she
had
caused
her
jewels
to
be
sold
for
the
uses
of
a
young
roue
!
Ah
,
no
,
Louvier
!
I
would
rather
have
gone
to
the
galleys
.
”
“
H’m
!
”
grunted
Louvier
again
.
“
The
Duc
generously
gave
me
better
means
of
righting
myself
.
Three
days
after
he
quitted
Paris
I
received
a
letter
from
him
,
very
politely
written
,
expressing
his
great
regret
that
any
words
implying
the
suspicion
too
monstrous
and
absurd
to
need
refutation
should
have
escaped
him
in
the
surprise
of
the
moment
;
but
stating
that
since
the
offence
I
had
owned
was
one
that
he
could
not
overlook
,
he
was
under
the
necessity
of
asking
the
only
reparation
I
could
make
.
That
if
it
‘deranged’
me
to
quit
Paris
,
he
would
return
to
it
for
the
purpose
required
;
but
that
if
I
would
give
him
the
additional
satisfaction
of
suiting
his
convenience
,
he
should
prefer
to
await
my
arrival
at
Bayonne
,
where
he
was
detained
by
the
indisposition
of
the
Duchesse
.
”
“
You
have
still
that
letter
?
”
asked
Louvier
,
quickly
.
“
Yes
;
with
other
more
important
documents
constituting
what
I
may
call
my
pieces
justificatives
.
“
I
need
not
say
that
I
replied
stating
the
time
at
which
I
should
arrive
at
Bayonne
,
and
the
hotel
at
which
I
should
await
the
Duc’s
command
.
Accordingly
I
set
out
that
same
day
,
gained
the
hotel
named
,
despatched
to
the
Duc
the
announcement
of
my
arrival
,
and
was
considering
how
I
should
obtain
a
second
in
some
officer
quartered
in
the
town
—
for
my
soreness
and
resentment
at
the
marked
coldness
of
my
former
acquaintances
at
Paris
had
forbidden
me
to
seek
a
second
among
any
of
that
faithless
number
—
when
the
Due
himself
entered
my
room
.
Judge
of
my
amaze
at
seeing
him
in
person
;
judge
how
much
greater
the
amaze
became
when
he
advanced
with
a
grave
but
cordial
smile
,
offering
me
his
hand
!
“
‘Monsieur
de
Mauleon
,
’
said
he
,
‘since
I
wrote
to
you
,
facts
have
become
known
to
me
which
would
induce
me
rather
to
ask
your
friendship
than
call
on
you
to
defend
your
life
.
Madame
la
Duchesse
has
been
seriously
ill
since
we
left
Paris
,
and
I
refrained
from
all
explanations
likely
to
add
to
the
hysterical
excitement
under
which
she
was
suffering
.
It
is
only
this
day
that
her
mind
became
collected
,
and
she
herself
then
gave
me
her
entire
confidence
.
Monsieur
,
she
insisted
on
my
reading
the
letters
that
you
addressed
to
her
.
Those
letters
,
Monsieur
,
suffice
to
prove
your
innocence
of
any
design
against
my
peace
.
The
Duchesse
has
so
candidly
avowed
her
own
indiscretion
,
has
so
clearly
established
the
distinction
between
indiscretion
and
guilt
,
that
I
have
granted
her
my
pardon
with
a
lightened
heart
and
a
firm
belief
that
we
shall
be
happier
together
than
we
have
been
yet.’
“
The
Due
continued
his
journey
the
next
day
,
but
he
subsequently
honoured
me
with
two
or
three
letters
written
as
friend
to
friend
,
and
in
which
you
will
find
repeated
the
substance
of
what
I
have
stated
him
to
say
by
word
of
mouth
.
”
“
But
why
not
then
have
returned
to
Paris
?
Such
letters
,
at
least
,
you
might
have
shown
,
and
in
braving
your
calumniators
you
would
have
soon
lived
them
down
.
”
“
You
forget
that
I
was
a
ruined
man
.
When
,
by
the
sale
of
my
horses
,
etc.
,
my
debts
,
including
what
was
owed
to
the
Duchesse
,
and
which
I
remitted
to
the
Duc
,
were
discharged
,
the
balance
left
to
me
would
not
have
maintained
me
a
week
at
Paris
.
Besides
,
I
felt
so
sore
,
so
indignant
.
Paris
and
the
Parisians
had
become
to
me
so
hateful
.
And
to
crown
all
,
that
girl
,
that
English
girl
whom
I
had
so
loved
,
on
whose
fidelity
I
had
so
counted
—
well
,
I
received
a
letter
from
her
,
gently
but
coldly
bidding
me
farewell
forever
.
I
do
not
think
she
believed
me
guilty
of
theft
;
but
doubtless
the
offence
I
had
confessed
,
in
order
to
save
the
honour
of
the
Duchesse
,
could
but
seem
to
her
all
sufficient
!
Broken
in
spirit
,
bleeding
at
heart
to
the
very
core
,
still
self-destruction
was
no
longer
to
be
thought
of
.
I
would
not
die
till
I
could
once
more
lift
up
my
head
as
Victor
de
Mauleon
.
”
“
What
then
became
of
you
,
my
poor
Victor
?
”
“
Ah
!
that
is
a
tale
too
long
for
recital
.
I
have
played
so
many
parts
that
I
am
puzzled
to
recognize
my
own
identity
with
the
Victor
de
Mauleon
whose
name
I
abandoned
.
I
have
been
a
soldier
in
Algeria
,
and
won
my
cross
on
the
field
of
battle
,
—
that
cross
and
my
colonel’s
letter
are
among
my
pieces
justificatives
;
I
have
been
a
gold-digger
in
California
,
a
speculator
in
New
York
,
of
late
in
callings
obscure
and
humble
.
But
in
all
my
adventures
,
under
whatever
name
,
I
have
earned
testimonials
of
probity
,
could
manifestations
of
so
vulgar
a
virtue
be
held
of
account
by
the
enlightened
people
of
Paris
.
I
come
now
to
a
close
.
The
Vicomte
de
Mauleon
is
about
to
re-appear
in
Paris
,
and
the
first
to
whom
he
announces
that
sublime
avatar
is
Paul
Louvier
.
When
settled
in
some
modest
apartment
,
I
shall
place
in
your
hands
my
pieces
justificatives
.
I
shall
ask
you
to
summon
my
surviving
relations
or
connections
,
among
which
are
the
Counts
de
Vandemar
,
Beauvilliers
,
De
Passy
,
and
the
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
,
with
any
friends
of
your
own
who
sway
the
opinions
of
the
Great
World
.
You
will
place
my
justification
before
them
,
expressing
your
own
opinion
that
it
suffices
;
in
a
word
,
you
will
give
me
the
sanction
of
your
countenance
.
For
the
rest
,
I
trust
to
myself
to
propitiate
the
kindly
and
to
silence
the
calumnious
.
I
have
spoken
;
what
say
you
?
”
“
You
overrate
my
power
in
society
.
Why
not
appeal
yourself
to
your
high-born
relations
?
”
“
No
,
Louvier
;
I
have
too
well
considered
the
case
to
alter
my
decision
.
It
is
through
you
,
and
you
alone
,
that
I
shall
approach
my
relations
.
My
vindicator
must
be
a
man
of
whom
the
vulgar
cannot
say
,
‘Oh
,
he
is
a
relation
,
—
a
fellow-noble
;
those
aristocrats
whitewash
each
other.’
It
must
be
an
authority
with
the
public
at
large
,
—
a
bourgeois
,
a
millionaire
,
a
roi
de
la
Bourse
.
I
choose
you
,
and
that
ends
the
discussion
.
”
Louvier
could
not
help
laughing
good-humouredly
at
the
sang
froid
of
the
Vicomte
.
He
was
once
more
under
the
domination
of
a
man
who
had
for
a
time
dominated
all
with
whom
he
lived
.
De
Mauleon
continued
:
“
Your
task
will
be
easy
enough
.
Society
changes
rapidly
at
Paris
.
Few
persons
now
exist
who
have
more
than
a
vague
recollection
of
the
circumstances
which
can
be
so
easily
explained
to
my
complete
vindication
when
the
vindication
comes
from
a
man
of
your
solid
respectability
and
social
influence
.
Besides
,
I
have
political
objects
in
view
.
You
are
a
Liberal
;
the
Vandemars
and
Rochebriants
are
Legitimists
.
I
prefer
a
godfather
on
the
Liberal
side
.
Pardieu
,
mon
ami
,
why
such
coquettish
hesitation
?
Said
and
done
.
Your
hand
on
it
.
”
“
There
is
my
hand
then
.
I
will
do
all
I
can
to
help
you
.
”
“
I
know
you
will
,
old
friend
;
and
you
do
both
kindly
and
wisely
.
”
Here
De
Mauleon
cordially
pressed
the
hand
he
held
,
and
departed
.
On
gaining
the
street
,
the
Vicomte
glided
into
a
neighbouring
courtyard
,
in
which
he
had
left
his
fiacre
,
and
bade
the
coachman
drive
towards
the
Boulevard
Sebastopol
.
On
the
way
,
he
took
from
a
small
bag
that
he
had
left
in
the
carriage
the
flaxen
wig
and
pale
whiskers
which
distinguished
M
.
Lebeau
,
and
mantled
his
elegant
habiliments
in
an
immense
cloak
,
which
he
had
also
left
in
the
fiacre
.
Arrived
at
the
Boulevard
Sebastopol
,
he
drew
up
the
collar
of
the
cloak
so
as
to
conceal
much
of
his
face
,
stopped
the
driver
,
paid
him
quickly
,
and
,
bag
in
hand
,
hurried
on
to
another
stand
of
fiacres
at
a
little
distance
,
entered
one
,
drove
to
the
Faubourg
Montmartre
,
dismissed
the
vehicle
at
the
mouth
of
a
street
not
far
from
M
.
Lebeau’s
office
,
and
gained
on
foot
the
private
side-door
of
the
house
,
let
himself
in
with
his
latchkey
,
entered
the
private
room
on
the
inner
side
of
his
office
,
locked
the
door
,
and
proceeded
leisurely
to
exchange
the
brilliant
appearance
which
the
Vicomte
de
Mauleon
had
borne
on
his
visit
to
the
millionaire
for
the
sober
raiment
and
bourgeois
air
of
M
.
Lebeau
,
the
letter-writer
.
Then
after
locking
up
his
former
costume
in
a
drawer
of
his
secretaire
,
he
sat
himself
down
and
wrote
the
following
lines
:
—
DEAR
MONSIEUR
GEORGES
,
—
I
advise
you
strongly
,
from
information
that
has
just
reached
me
,
to
lose
no
time
in
pressing
M
.
Savarin
to
repay
the
sum
I
recommended
you
to
lend
him
,
and
for
which
you
hold
his
bill
due
this
day
.
The
scandal
of
legal
measures
against
a
writer
so
distinguished
should
be
avoided
if
possible
.
He
will
avoid
it
and
get
the
money
somehow
;
but
he
must
be
urgently
pressed
.
If
you
neglect
this
warning
,
my
responsibility
is
past
.
Agreez
mes
sentimens
les
plus
sinceres
.
J
.
L
.
CHAPTER
II
.
The
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
is
no
longer
domiciled
in
an
attic
in
the
gloomy
Faubourg
.
See
him
now
in
a
charming
appartement
de
garcon
an
premier
in
the
Rue
du
Helder
,
close
by
the
promenades
and
haunts
of
the
mode
.
It
had
been
furnished
and
inhabited
by
a
brilliant
young
provincial
from
Bordeaux
,
who
,
coming
into
an
inheritance
of
one
hundred
thousand
francs
,
had
rushed
up
to
Paris
to
enjoy
himself
,
and
make
his
million
at
the
Bourse
.
He
had
enjoyed
himself
thoroughly
,
—
he
had
been
a
darling
of
the
demi
monde
;
he
had
been
a
successful
and
an
inconstant
gallant
.
Zelie
had
listened
to
his
vows
of
eternal
love
,
and
his
offers
of
unlimited
cachemires
;
Desiree
,
succeeding
Zelie
,
had
assigned
to
him
her
whole
heart
—
or
all
that
was
left
of
it
—
in
gratitude
for
the
ardour
of
his
passion
,
and
the
diamonds
and
coupe
which
accompanied
and
attested
the
ardour
;
the
superb
Hortense
,
supplanting
Desiree
,
received
his
visits
in
the
charming
apartment
he
furnished
for
her
,
and
entertained
him
and
his
friends
at
the
most
delicate
little
suppers
,
for
the
moderate
sum
of
four
thousand
francs
a
month
.
Yes
,
he
had
enjoyed
himself
thoroughly
,
but
he
had
not
made
a
million
at
the
Bourse
.
Before
the
year
was
out
,
the
one
hundred
thousand
francs
were
gone
.
Compelled
to
return
to
his
province
,
and
by
his
hard-hearted
relations
ordained
,
on
penalty
of
starvation
,
to
marry
the
daughter
of
an
avoue
,
for
the
sake
of
her
dot
and
a
share
in
the
hated
drudgery
of
the
avoue’s
business
,
—
his
apartment
was
to
be
had
for
a
tenth
part
of
the
original
cost
of
its
furniture
.
A
certain
Chevalier
de
Finisterre
,
to
whom
Louvier
had
introduced
the
Marquis
as
a
useful
fellow
who
knew
Paris
,
and
would
save
him
from
being
cheated
,
had
secured
this
bijou
of
an
apartment
for
Alain
,
and
concluded
the
bargain
for
the
bagatelle
of
L500
.
The
Chevalier
took
the
same
advantageous
occasion
to
purchase
the
English
well-bred
hack
and
the
neat
coupe
and
horses
which
the
Bordelais
was
also
necessitated
to
dispose
of
.
These
purchases
made
,
the
Marquis
had
some
five
thousand
francs
(
L200
)
left
out
of
Louvier’s
premium
of
L1
,
000.
The
Marquis
,
however
,
did
not
seem
alarmed
or
dejected
by
the
sudden
diminution
of
capital
so
expeditiously
effected
.
The
easy
life
thus
commenced
seemed
to
him
too
natural
to
be
fraught
with
danger
;
and
easy
though
it
was
,
it
was
a
very
simple
and
modest
sort
of
life
compared
with
that
of
many
other
men
of
his
age
to
whom
Enguerrand
had
introduced
him
,
though
most
of
them
had
an
income
less
than
his
,
and
few
,
indeed
,
of
them
were
his
equals
in
dignity
of
birth
.
Could
a
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
,
if
he
lived
at
Paris
at
all
,
give
less
than
three
thousand
francs
a
year
for
his
apartment
,
or
mount
a
more
humble
establishment
than
that
confined
to
a
valet
and
a
tiger
,
two
horses
for
his
coupe
and
one
for
the
saddle
?
“
Impossible
,
”
said
the
Chevalier
de
Finisterre
,
decidedly
;
and
the
Marquis
bowed
to
so
high
an
authority
.
He
thought
within
himself
,
“
If
I
find
in
a
few
months
that
I
am
exceeding
my
means
,
I
can
but
dispose
of
my
rooms
and
my
horses
,
and
return
to
Rochebriant
a
richer
man
by
far
than
I
left
it
.
”
To
say
truth
,
the
brilliant
seductions
of
Paris
had
already
produced
their
effect
,
not
only
on
the
habits
,
but
on
the
character
and
cast
of
thought
,
which
the
young
noble
had
brought
with
him
from
the
feudal
and
melancholy
Bretagne
.
Warmed
by
the
kindness
with
which
,
once
introduced
by
his
popular
kinsmen
,
he
was
everywhere
received
,
the
reserve
or
shyness
which
is
the
compromise
between
the
haughtiness
of
self-esteem
and
the
painful
doubt
of
appreciation
by
others
rapidly
melted
away
.
He
caught
insensibly
the
polished
tone
,
at
once
so
light
and
so
cordial
,
of
his
new-made
friends
.
With
all
the
efforts
of
the
democrats
to
establish
equality
and
fraternity
,
it
is
among
the
aristocrats
that
equality
and
fraternity
are
most
to
be
found
.
All
gentilshommes
in
the
best
society
are
equals
;
and
whether
they
embrace
or
fight
each
other
,
they
embrace
or
fight
as
brothers
of
the
same
family
.
But
with
the
tone
of
manners
Alain
de
Rochebriant
imbibed
still
more
insensibly
the
lore
of
that
philosophy
which
young
idlers
in
pursuit
of
pleasure
teach
to
each
other
.
Probably
in
all
civilized
and
luxurious
capitals
that
philosophy
is
very
much
the
same
among
the
same
class
of
idlers
at
the
same
age
;
probably
it
flourishes
in
Pekin
not
less
than
at
Paris
.
If
Paris
has
the
credit
,
or
discredit
,
of
it
more
than
any
other
capital
,
it
is
because
in
Paris
more
than
in
any
other
capital
it
charms
the
eye
by
grace
and
amuses
the
ear
by
wit
.
A
philosophy
which
takes
the
things
of
this
life
very
easily
;
which
has
a
smile
and
a
shrug
of
the
shoulders
for
any
pretender
to
the
Heroic
;
which
subdivides
the
wealth
of
passion
into
the
pocket-money
of
caprices
,
is
always
in
or
out
of
love
ankle-deep
,
never
venturing
a
plunge
;
which
,
light
of
heart
as
of
tongue
,
turns
“
the
solemn
plausibilities
”
of
earth
into
subjects
for
epigrams
and
bons
mots
,
—
jests
at
loyalty
to
kings
and
turns
up
its
nose
at
enthusiasm
for
commonwealths
,
abjures
all
grave
studies
and
shuns
all
profound
emotions
.
We
have
crowds
of
such
philosophers
in
London
;
but
there
they
are
less
noticed
,
because
the
agreeable
attributes
of
the
sect
are
there
dimmed
and
obfuscated
.
It
is
not
a
philosophy
that
flowers
richly
in
the
reek
of
fogs
and
in
the
teeth
of
east
winds
;
it
wants
for
full
development
the
light
atmosphere
of
Paris
.
Now
this
philosophy
began
rapidly
to
exercise
its
charms
upon
Alain
de
Rochebriant
.
Even
in
the
society
of
professed
Legitimists
,
he
felt
that
faith
had
deserted
the
Legitimist
creed
or
taken
refuge
only
as
a
companion
of
religion
in
the
hearts
of
high-born
women
and
a
small
minority
of
priests
.
His
chivalrous
loyalty
still
struggled
to
keep
its
ground
,
but
its
roots
were
very
much
loosened
.
He
saw
—
for
his
natural
intellect
was
keen
—
that
the
cause
of
the
Bourbon
was
hopeless
,
at
least
for
the
present
,
because
it
had
ceased
,
at
least
for
the
present
,
to
be
a
cause
.
His
political
creed
thus
shaken
,
with
it
was
shaken
also
that
adherence
to
the
past
which
had
stifled
his
ambition
of
a
future
.
That
ambition
began
to
breathe
and
to
stir
,
though
he
owned
it
not
to
others
,
though
,
as
yet
,
he
scarce
distinguished
its
whispers
,
much
less
directed
its
movements
towards
any
definite
object
.
Meanwhile
,
all
that
he
knew
of
his
ambition
was
the
new-born
desire
for
social
success
.
We
see
him
,
then
,
under
the
quick
operation
of
this
change
in
sentiments
and
habits
,
reclined
on
the
fauteuil
before
his
fireside
,
and
listening
to
his
college
friend
,
of
whom
we
have
so
long
lost
sight
,
Frederic
Lemercier
.
Frederic
had
breakfasted
with
Alain
,
—
a
breakfast
such
as
might
have
contented
the
author
of
the
“
Almanach
des
Gourmands
,
”
and
provided
from
the
cafe
Anglais
.
Frederic
has
just
thrown
aside
his
regalia
.
“
Pardieu
!
my
dear
Alain
.
If
Louvier
has
no
sinister
object
in
the
generosity
of
his
dealings
with
you
,
he
will
have
raised
himself
prodigiously
in
my
estimation
.
I
shall
forsake
,
in
his
favour
,
my
allegiance
to
Duplessis
,
though
that
clever
fellow
has
just
made
a
wondrous
coup
in
the
Egyptians
,
and
I
gain
forty
thousand
francs
by
having
followed
his
advice
.
But
if
Duplessis
has
a
head
as
long
as
Louvier’s
,
he
certainly
has
not
an
equal
greatness
of
soul
.
Still
,
my
dear
friend
,
will
you
pardon
me
if
I
speak
frankly
,
and
in
the
way
of
a
warning
homily
?
”
“
Speak
;
you
cannot
oblige
me
more
.
”
“
Well
,
then
,
I
know
that
you
can
no
more
live
at
Paris
in
the
way
you
are
doing
,
or
mean
to
do
,
without
some
fresh
addition
to
your
income
,
than
a
lion
could
live
in
the
Jardin
des
Plantes
upon
an
allowance
of
two
mice
a
week
.
”
“
I
don’t
see
that
.
Deducting
what
I
pay
to
my
aunt
,
—
and
I
cannot
get
her
to
take
more
than
six
thousand
francs
a
year
,
—
I
have
seven
hundred
napoleons
left
,
net
and
clear
.
My
rooms
and
stables
are
equipped
,
and
I
have
twenty-five
hundred
francs
in
hand
.
On
seven
hundred
napoleons
a
year
,
I
calculate
that
I
can
very
easily
live
as
I
do
;
and
if
I
fail
—
well
,
I
must
return
to
Pochebriant
.
Seven
hundred
napoleons
a
year
will
be
a
magnificent
rental
there
.
”
Frederic
shook
his
head
.
“
You
do
not
know
how
one
expense
leads
to
another
.
Above
all
,
you
do
not
calculate
the
chief
part
of
one’s
expenditure
,
—
the
unforeseen
.
You
will
play
at
the
Jockey
Club
,
and
lose
half
your
income
in
a
night
.
”
“
I
shall
never
touch
a
card
.
”
“
So
you
say
now
,
innocent
as
a
lamb
of
the
force
of
example
.
At
all
events
,
beau
seigneur
,
I
presume
you
are
not
going
to
resuscitate
the
part
of
the
Ermite
de
la
Chaussee
d’Antin
;
and
the
fair
Parisiennes
are
demons
of
extravagance
.
”
“
Demons
whom
I
shall
not
court
.
”
“
Did
I
say
you
would
?
They
will
court
you
.
Before
another
month
has
flown
you
will
be
inundated
with
billets-doux
.
”
“
It
is
not
a
shower
that
will
devastate
my
humble
harvest
.
But
,
mon
cher
,
we
are
falling
upon
very
gloomy
topics
.
Laissez-moi
tranquille
in
my
illusions
,
if
illusions
they
be
.
Ah
,
you
cannot
conceive
what
a
new
life
opens
to
the
man
who
,
like
myself
,
has
passed
the
dawn
of
his
youth
in
privation
and
fear
,
when
he
suddenly
acquires
competence
and
hope
.
If
it
lasts
only
a
year
,
it
will
be
something
to
say
‘Vixi.’
”
“
Alain
,
”
said
Frederic
;
very
earnestly
,
“
believe
me
,
I
should
not
have
assumed
the
ungracious
and
inappropriate
task
of
Mentor
,
if
it
were
only
a
year’s
experience
at
stake
,
or
if
you
were
in
the
position
of
men
like
myself
,
—
free
from
the
encumbrance
of
a
great
name
and
heavily
mortgaged
lands
.
Should
you
fail
to
pay
regularly
the
interest
due
to
Louvier
,
he
has
the
power
to
put
up
at
public
auction
,
and
there
to
buy
in
for
himself
,
your
chateau
and
domain
.
”
“
I
am
aware
that
in
strict
law
he
would
have
such
power
,
though
I
doubt
if
he
would
use
it
.
Louvier
is
certainly
a
much
better
and
more
generous
fellow
than
I
could
have
expected
;
and
if
I
believe
De
Finisterre
,
he
has
taken
a
sincere
liking
to
me
on
account
of
affection
to
my
poor
father
.
But
why
should
not
the
interest
be
paid
regularly
?
The
revenues
from
Rochebriant
are
not
likely
to
decrease
,
and
the
charge
on
them
is
lightened
by
the
contract
with
Louvier
.
And
I
will
confide
to
you
a
hope
I
entertain
of
a
very
large
addition
to
my
rental
.
”
“
How
?
”
“
A
chief
part
of
my
rental
is
derived
from
forests
,
and
De
Finisterre
has
heard
of
a
capitalist
who
is
disposed
to
make
a
contract
for
their
sale
at
the
fall
this
year
,
and
may
probably
extend
it
to
future
years
,
at
a
price
far
exceeding
that
which
I
have
hitherto
obtained
.
”
“
Pray
be
cautious
.
De
Finisterre
is
not
a
man
I
should
implicitly
trust
in
such
matters
.
”
“
Why
?
Do
you
know
anything
against
him
?
He
is
in
the
best
society
,
—
perfect
gentilhomme
,
—
and
,
as
his
name
may
tell
you
,
a
fellow-Breton
.
You
yourself
allow
,
and
so
does
Enguerrand
,
that
the
purchases
he
made
for
me
—
in
this
apartment
,
my
horses
,
etc.
—
are
singularly
advantageous
.
”
“
Quite
true
;
the
Chevalier
is
reputed
sharp
and
clever
,
is
said
to
be
very
amusing
,
and
a
first-rate
piquet-player
.
I
don’t
know
him
personally
,
—
I
am
not
in
his
set
.
I
have
no
valid
reason
to
disparage
his
character
,
nor
do
I
conjecture
any
motive
he
could
have
to
injure
or
mislead
you
.
Still
,
I
say
,
be
cautious
how
far
you
trust
to
his
advice
or
recommendation
.
”
“
Again
I
ask
why
?
”
“
He
is
unlucky
to
his
friends
.
He
attaches
himself
much
to
men
younger
than
himself
;
and
somehow
or
other
I
have
observed
that
most
of
them
have
come
to
grief
.
Besides
,
a
person
in
whose
sagacity
I
have
great
confidence
warned
me
against
making
the
Chevalier’s
acquaintance
,
and
said
to
me
,
in
his
blunt
way
,
‘De
Finisterre
came
to
Paris
with
nothing
;
he
has
succeeded
to
nothing
;
he
belongs
to
no
ostensible
profession
by
which
anything
can
be
made
.
But
evidently
now
he
has
picked
up
a
good
deal
;
and
in
proportion
as
any
young
associate
of
his
becomes
poorer
,
De
Finisterre
seems
mysteriously
to
become
richer
.
Shun
that
sort
of
acquaintance.’
”
“
Who
is
your
sagacious
adviser
!
”
“
Duplessis
.
”
“
Ah
,
I
thought
so
.
That
bird
of
prey
fancies
every
other
bird
looking
out
for
pigeons
.
I
fancy
that
Duplessis
is
,
like
all
those
money-getters
,
a
seeker
after
fashion
,
and
De
Finisterre
has
not
returned
his
bow
.
”
“
My
dear
Alain
,
I
am
to
blame
;
nothing
is
so
irritating
as
a
dispute
about
the
worth
of
the
men
we
like
.
I
began
it
,
now
let
it
be
dropped
;
only
make
me
one
promise
,
—
that
if
you
should
be
in
arrear
,
or
if
need
presses
,
you
will
come
at
once
to
me
.
It
was
very
well
to
be
absurdly
proud
in
an
attic
,
but
that
pride
will
be
out
of
place
in
your
appartement
au
premier
.
”
“
You
are
the
best
fellow
in
the
world
,
Frederic
,
and
I
make
you
the
promise
you
ask
,
”
said
Alain
,
cheerfully
,
but
yet
with
a
secret
emotion
of
tenderness
and
gratitude
.
“
And
now
,
mon
cher
,
what
day
will
you
dine
with
me
to
meet
Raoul
and
Enguerrand
,
and
some
others
whom
you
would
like
to
know
?
”
“
Thanks
,
and
hearty
ones
,
but
we
move
now
in
different
spheres
,
and
I
shall
not
trespass
on
yours
.
Je
suis
trop
bourgeois
to
incur
the
ridicule
of
le
bourgeois
gentilhomme
.
”
“
Frederic
,
how
dare
you
speak
thus
?
My
dear
fellow
,
my
friends
shall
honour
you
as
I
do
.
”
“
But
that
will
be
on
your
account
,
not
mine
.
No
;
honestly
that
kind
of
society
neither
tempts
nor
suits
me
.
I
am
a
sort
of
king
in
my
own
walk
;
and
I
prefer
my
Bohemian
royalty
to
vassalage
in
higher
regions
.
Say
no
more
of
it
.
It
will
flatter
my
vanity
enough
if
you
will
now
and
then
descend
to
my
coteries
,
and
allow
me
to
parade
a
Rochebriant
as
my
familiar
crony
,
slap
him
on
the
shoulder
,
and
call
him
Alain
.
”
“
Fie
!
you
who
stopped
me
and
the
English
aristocrat
in
the
Champs
Elysees
,
to
humble
us
with
your
boast
of
having
fascinated
une
grande
dame
,
—
I
think
you
said
a
duchesse
.
”
“
Oh
,
”
said
Lemercier
,
conceitedly
,
and
passing
his
hand
through
his
scented
locks
,
“
women
are
different
;
love
levels
all
ranks
.
I
don’t
blame
Ruy
Blas
for
accepting
the
love
of
a
queen
,
but
I
do
blame
him
for
passing
himself
off
as
a
noble
,
—
a
plagiarism
,
by
the
by
,
from
an
English
play
.
I
do
not
love
the
English
enough
to
copy
them
.
A
propos
,
what
has
become
of
ce
beau
Grarm
Varn
?
I
have
not
seen
him
of
late
.
”
“
Neither
have
I
.
”
“
Nor
the
belle
Italienne
?
”
“
Nor
her
,
”
said
Alain
,
slightly
blushing
.
At
this
moment
Enguerrand
lounged
into
the
room
.
Alain
stopped
Lemercier
to
introduce
him
to
his
kinsman
.
“
Enguerrand
,
I
present
to
you
M
.
Lemercier
,
my
earliest
and
one
of
my
dearest
friends
.
”
The
young
noble
held
out
his
hand
with
the
bright
and
joyous
grace
which
accompanied
all
his
movements
,
and
expressed
in
cordial
words
his
delight
to
make
M
.
Lemercier’s
acquaintance
.
Bold
and
assured
as
Frederic
was
in
his
own
circles
,
he
was
more
discomposed
than
set
at
ease
by
the
gracious
accost
of
a
lion
,
whom
he
felt
at
once
to
be
of
a
breed
superior
to
his
own
.
He
muttered
some
confused
phrases
,
in
which
ravi
and
flatte
were
alone
audible
,
and
evanished
.
“
I
know
M
.
Lemercier
by
sight
very
well
,
”
said
Enguerrand
,
seating
himself
.
“
One
sees
him
very
often
in
the
Bois
;
and
I
have
met
him
in
the
Coulisses
and
the
Bal
Mabille
.
I
think
,
too
,
that
he
plays
at
the
Bourse
,
and
is
lie
with
M
.
Duplessis
,
who
bids
fair
to
rival
Louvier
one
of
these
days
.
Is
Duplessis
also
one
of
your
dearest
friends
?
”
“
No
,
indeed
.
I
once
met
him
,
and
was
not
prepossessed
in
his
favour
.
”
“
Nevertheless
,
he
is
a
man
much
to
be
admired
and
respected
.
”
“
Why
so
?
”
“
Because
he
understands
so
well
the
art
of
making
what
we
all
covet
,
—
money
.
I
will
introduce
you
to
him
.
”
“
I
have
been
already
introduced
.
”
“
Then
I
will
re-introduce
you
.
He
is
much
courted
in
a
society
which
I
have
recently
been
permitted
by
my
father
to
frequent
,
—
the
society
,
of
the
Imperial
Court
.
”
“
You
frequent
that
society
,
and
the
Count
permits
it
?
”
“
Yes
;
better
the
Imperialists
than
the
Republicans
;
and
my
father
begins
to
own
that
truth
,
though
he
is
too
old
or
too
indolent
to
act
on
it
.
”
“
And
Raoul
?
”
“
Oh
,
Raoul
,
the
melancholy
and
philosophical
Raoul
,
has
no
ambition
of
any
kind
,
so
long
as
—
thanks
somewhat
to
me
—
his
purse
is
always
replenished
for
the
wants
of
his
stately
existence
,
among
the
foremost
of
which
wants
are
the
means
to
supply
the
wants
of
others
.
That
is
the
true
reason
why
he
consents
to
our
glove-shop
.
Raoul
belongs
,
with
some
other
young
men
of
the
Faubourg
,
to
a
society
enrolled
under
the
name
of
Saint
Francois
de
Sales
,
for
the
relief
of
the
poor
.
He
visits
their
houses
,
and
is
at
home
by
their
sickbeds
as
at
their
stinted
boards
.
Nor
does
he
confine
his
visitations
to
the
limits
of
our
Faubourg
;
he
extends
his
travels
to
Montmartre
and
Belleville
.
As
to
our
upper
world
,
he
does
not
concern
himself
much
with
its
changes
.
He
says
that
we
have
destroyed
too
much
ever
to
rebuild
solidly
;
and
that
whatever
we
do
build
could
be
upset
any
day
by
a
Paris
mob
,
which
he
declares
to
be
the
only
institution
we
have
left
.
A
wonderful
fellow
is
Raoul
,
—
full
of
mind
,
though
he
does
little
with
it
;
full
of
heart
,
which
he
devotes
to
suffering
humanity
,
and
to
a
poetic
,
knightly
reverence
(
not
to
be
confounded
with
earthly
love
,
and
not
to
be
degraded
into
that
sickly
sentiment
called
Platonic
affection
)
for
the
Comtesse
di
Rimini
,
who
is
six
years
older
than
himself
,
and
who
is
very
faithfully
attached
to
her
husband
,
Raoul’s
intimate
friend
,
whose
honour
he
would
guard
as
his
own
.
It
is
an
episode
in
the
drama
of
Parisian
life
,
and
one
not
so
uncommon
as
the
malignant
may
suppose
.
Di
Rimini
knows
and
approves
of
his
veneration
;
my
mother
,
the
best
of
women
,
sanctions
it
,
and
deems
truly
that
it
preserves
Raoul
safe
from
all
the
temptations
to
which
ignobler
youth
is
exposed
.
I
mention
this
lest
you
should
imagine
there
was
anything
in
Raoul’s
worship
of
his
star
less
pure
than
it
is
.
For
the
rest
,
Raoul
,
to
the
grief
and
amazement
of
that
disciple
of
Voltaire
,
my
respected
father
,
is
one
of
the
very
few
men
I
know
in
our
circles
who
is
sincerely
religious
,
—
an
orthodox
Catholic
,
—
and
the
only
man
I
know
who
practises
the
religion
he
professes
;
charitable
,
chaste
,
benevolent
;
and
no
bigot
,
no
intolerant
ascetic
.
His
only
weakness
is
his
entire
submission
to
the
worldly
common-sense
of
his
good-for-nothing
,
covetous
,
ambitious
brother
Enguerrand
.
I
cannot
say
how
I
love
him
for
that
.
If
he
had
not
such
a
weakness
,
his
excellence
would
gall
me
,
and
I
believe
I
should
hate
him
.
”
Alain
bowed
his
head
at
this
eulogium
.
Such
had
been
the
character
that
a
few
months
ago
he
would
have
sought
as
example
and
model
.
He
seemed
to
gaze
upon
a
flattered
portrait
of
himself
as
he
had
been
.
“
But
,
”
said
Enguerrand
,
“
I
have
not
come
here
to
indulge
in
the
overflow
of
brotherly
affection
.
I
come
to
take
you
to
your
relation
,
the
Duchesse
of
Tarascon
.
I
have
pledged
myself
to
her
to
bring
you
,
and
she
is
at
home
on
purpose
to
receive
you
.
”
“
In
that
case
I
cannot
be
such
a
churl
as
to
refuse
.
And
,
indeed
,
I
no
longer
feel
quite
the
same
prejudices
against
her
and
the
Imperialists
as
I
brought
from
Bretagne
.
Shall
I
order
my
carriage
?
”
“
No
;
mine
is
at
the
door
.
Yours
can
meet
you
where
you
will
,
later
.
Allons
.
”
CHAPTER
III
.
The
Duchesse
de
Tarascon
occupied
a
vast
apartment
in
the
Rue
Royale
,
close
to
the
Tuileries
.
She
held
a
high
post
among
the
ladies
who
graced
the
brilliant
court
of
the
Empress
.
She
had
survived
her
second
husband
the
duke
,
who
left
no
issue
,
and
the
title
died
with
him
.
Alain
and
Enguerrand
were
ushered
up
the
grand
staircase
,
lined
with
tiers
of
costly
exotics
as
if
for
a
fete
;
but
in
that
and
in
all
kinds
of
female
luxury
,
the
Duchesse
lived
in
a
state
of
fete
perpetuelle
.
The
doors
on
the
landing-place
were
screened
by
heavy
portieres
of
Genoa
velvet
,
richly
embroidered
in
gold
with
the
ducal
crown
and
cipher
.
The
two
salons
through
which
the
visitors
passed
to
the
private
cabinet
or
boudoir
were
decorated
with
Gobelin
tapestries
,
fresh
,
with
a
mixture
of
roseate
hues
,
and
depicting
incidents
in
the
career
of
the
first
emperor
;
while
the
effigies
of
the
late
duke’s
father
—
the
gallant
founder
of
a
short-lived
race
figured
modestly
in
the
background
.
On
a
table
of
Russian
malachite
within
the
recess
of
the
central
window
lay
,
preserved
in
glass
cases
,
the
baton
and
the
sword
,
the
epaulettes
and
the
decorations
of
the
brave
Marshal
.
On
the
consoles
and
the
mantelpieces
stood
clocks
and
vases
of
Sevres
that
could
scarcely
be
eclipsed
by
those
in
the
Imperial
palaces
.
Entering
the
cabinet
,
they
found
the
Duchesse
seated
at
her
writing-table
,
with
a
small
Skye
terrier
,
hideous
in
the
beauty
of
the
purest
breed
,
nestled
at
her
feet
.
This
room
was
an
exquisite
combination
of
costliness
and
comfort
,
—
Luxury
at
home
.
The
hangings
were
of
geranium-coloured
silk
,
with
double
curtains
of
white
satin
;
near
to
the
writing-table
a
conservatory
,
with
a
white
marble
fountain
at
play
in
the
centre
,
and
a
trellised
aviary
at
the
back
.
The
walls
were
covered
with
small
pictures
,
—
chiefly
portraits
and
miniatures
of
the
members
of
the
imperial
family
,
of
the
late
Duc
,
of
his
father
the
Marshal
and
Madame
la
Marechale
,
of
the
present
Duchesse
herself
,
and
of
some
of
the
principal
ladies
of
the
court
.
The
Duchesse
was
still
in
the
prime
of
life
.
She
had
passed
her
fortieth
year
,
but
was
so
well
“
conserved
”
that
you
might
have
guessed
her
to
be
ten
years
younger
.
She
was
tall
;
not
large
,
but
with
rounded
figure
inclined
to
en
bon
point
;
with
dark
hair
and
eyes
,
but
fair
complexion
,
injured
in
effect
rather
than
improved
by
pearl-powder
,
and
that
atrocious
barbarism
of
a
dark
stain
on
the
eyelids
which
has
of
late
years
been
a
baneful
fashion
;
dressed
,
—
I
am
a
man
,
and
cannot
describe
her
dress
;
all
I
know
is
that
she
had
the
acknowledged
fame
of
the
best-dressed
subject
of
France
.
As
she
rose
from
her
seat
there
was
in
her
look
and
air
the
unmistakable
evidence
of
grande
dame
,
—
a
family
likeness
in
feature
to
Alain
himself
,
a
stronger
likeness
to
the
picture
of
her
first
cousin
(
his
mother
)
which
was
preserved
at
Rochebriant
.
Her
descent
was
indeed
from
ancient
and
noble
houses
.
But
to
the
distinction
of
race
she
added
that
of
fashion
,
crowning
both
with
a
tranquil
consciousness
of
lofty
position
and
unblemished
reputation
.
“
Unnatural
cousin
!
”
she
said
to
Alain
,
offering
her
hand
to
him
,
with
a
gracious
smile
,
—
“
all
this
age
in
Paris
,
and
I
see
you
for
the
first
time
.
But
there
is
joy
on
earth
as
in
heaven
over
sinners
who
truly
repent
.
You
repent
truly
—
n’est
ce
pas
?
”
It
is
impossible
to
describe
the
caressing
charm
which
the
Duchesse
threw
into
her
words
,
voice
,
and
look
.
Alain
was
fascinated
and
subdued
.
“
Ah
,
Madame
la
Duchesse
,
”
said
he
,
bowing
over
the
fait
hand
he
lightly
held
,
“
it
was
not
sin
,
unless
modesty
be
a
sin
,
which
made
a
rustic
hesitate
long
before
he
dared
to
offer
his
homage
to
the
queen
of
the
graces
.
”
“
Not
badly
said
for
a
rustic
,
”
cried
Enguerrand
;
“
eh
,
Madame
?
”
“
My
cousin
,
you
are
pardoned
,
”
said
the
Duchesse
.
“
Compliment
is
the
perfume
of
gentilhommerie
;
and
if
you
brought
enough
of
that
perfume
from
the
flowers
of
Rochebriant
to
distribute
among
the
ladies
at
court
,
you
will
be
terribly
the
mode
there
.
Seducer
!
”
—
here
she
gave
the
Marquis
a
playful
tap
on
the
cheek
,
not
in
a
coquettish
but
in
a
mother-like
familiarity
,
and
looking
at
him
attentively
,
said
:
“
Why
,
you
are
even
handsomer
than
your
father
.
I
shall
be
proud
to
present
to
their
Imperial
Majesties
so
becoming
a
cousin
.
But
seat
yourselves
here
,
Messieurs
,
close
to
my
arm-chair
,
caussons
.
”
The
Duchesse
then
took
up
the
ball
of
the
conversation
.
She
talked
without
any
apparent
artifice
,
but
with
admirable
tact
;
put
just
the
questions
about
Rochebriant
most
calculated
to
please
Alain
,
shunning
all
that
might
have
pained
him
;
asking
him
for
descriptions
of
the
surrounding
scenery
,
the
Breton
legends
;
hoping
that
the
old
castle
would
never
be
spoiled
by
modernizing
restorations
;
inquiring
tenderly
after
his
aunt
,
whom
she
had
in
her
childhood
once
seen
,
and
still
remembered
with
her
sweet
,
grave
face
;
paused
little
for
replies
;
then
turned
to
Enguerrand
with
sprightly
small-talk
on
the
topics
of
the
day
,
and
every
now
and
then
bringing
Alain
into
the
pale
of
the
talk
,
leading
on
insensibly
until
she
got
Enguerrand
himself
to
introduce
the
subject
of
the
emperor
,
and
the
political
troubles
which
were
darkening
a
reign
heretofore
so
prosperous
and
splendid
.
Her
countenance
then
changed
;
it
became
serious
,
and
even
grave
in
its
expression
.
“
It
is
true
,
”
she
said
,
“
that
the
times
grow
menacing
,
menacing
not
only
to
the
throne
,
but
to
order
and
property
and
France
.
One
by
one
they
are
removing
all
the
breakwaters
which
the
empire
had
constructed
between
the
executive
and
the
most
fickle
and
impulsive
population
that
ever
shouted
‘long
live’
one
day
to
the
man
whom
they
would
send
to
the
guillotine
the
next
.
They
are
denouncing
what
they
call
personal
government
.
Grant
that
it
has
its
evils
;
but
what
would
they
substitute
,
—
a
constitutional
monarchy
like
the
English
?
That
is
impossible
with
universal
suffrage
and
without
an
hereditary
chamber
.
The
nearest
approach
to
it
was
the
monarchy
of
Louis
Philippe
,
—
we
know
how
sick
they
became
of
that
.
A
republic
?
—
mon
Dieu
!
composed
of
Republicans
terrified
out
of
their
wits
at
each
other
.
The
moderate
men
,
mimics
of
the
Girondins
,
with
the
Reds
and
the
Socialists
and
the
Communists
,
ready
to
tear
them
to
pieces
.
And
then
—
What
then
?
—
the
commercialists
,
the
agriculturists
,
the
middle
class
combining
to
elect
some
dictator
who
will
cannonade
the
mob
and
become
a
mimic
Napoleon
,
grafted
on
a
mimic
Necker
or
a
mimic
Danton
.
Oh
,
Messieurs
,
I
am
French
to
the
core
.
You
inheritors
of
such
names
must
be
as
French
as
I
am
;
and
yet
you
men
insist
on
remaining
more
useless
to
France
in
the
midst
of
her
need
than
I
am
,
—
I
,
a
woman
who
can
but
talk
and
weep
.
”
The
Duchesse
spoke
with
a
warmth
of
emotion
which
startled
and
profoundly
affected
Alain
.
He
remained
silent
,
leaving
it
to
Enguerrand
to
answer
.
“
Dear
Madame
,
”
said
the
latter
,
“
I
do
not
see
how
either
myself
or
our
kinsman
can
merit
your
reproach
.
We
are
not
legislators
.
I
doubt
if
there
is
a
single
department
in
France
that
would
elect
us
,
if
we
offered
ourselves
.
It
is
not
our
fault
if
the
various
floods
of
revolution
leave
men
of
our
birth
and
opinions
stranded
wrecks
of
a
perished
world
.
The
emperor
chooses
his
own
advisers
,
and
if
they
are
bad
ones
,
his
Majesty
certainly
will
not
ask
Alain
and
me
to
replace
them
.
”
“
You
do
not
answer
—
you
evade
me
,
”
said
the
Duchesse
;
with
a
mournful
smile
.
“
You
are
too
skilled
a
man
of
the
world
,
Monsieur
Enguerrand
,
not
to
know
that
it
is
not
only
legislators
and
ministers
that
are
necessary
to
the
support
of
a
throne
,
and
the
safeguard
of
a
nation
.
Do
you
not
see
how
great
a
help
it
is
to
both
throne
and
nation
when
that
section
of
public
opinion
which
is
represented
by
names
illustrious
in
history
,
identified
with
records
of
chivalrous
deeds
and
loyal
devotion
,
rallies
round
the
order
established
?
Let
that
section
of
public
opinion
stand
aloof
,
soured
and
discontented
,
excluded
from
active
life
,
lending
no
counter-balance
to
the
perilous
oscillations
of
democratic
passion
,
and
tell
me
if
it
is
not
an
enemy
to
itself
as
well
as
a
traitor
to
the
principles
it
embodies
?
”
“
The
principles
it
embodies
,
Madame
,
”
said
Alain
,
“
are
those
of
fidelity
to
a
race
of
kings
unjustly
set
aside
,
less
for
the
vices
than
the
virtues
of
ancestors
.
Louis
XV
.
was
the
worst
of
the
Bourbons
,
—
he
was
the
bien
aime
:
he
escapes
.
Louis
XVI
.
was
in
moral
attributes
the
best
of
the
Bourbons
,
—
he
dies
the
death
of
a
felon
.
Louis
XVIII
.
,
against
whom
much
may
be
said
,
restored
to
the
throne
by
foreign
bayonets
,
reigning
as
a
disciple
of
Voltaire
might
reign
,
secretly
scoffing
alike
at
the
royalty
and
the
religion
which
were
crowned
in
his
person
,
dies
peacefully
in
his
bed
.
Charles
X
.
,
redeeming
the
errors
of
his
youth
by
a
reign
untarnished
by
a
vice
,
by
a
religion
earnest
and
sincere
,
is
sent
into
exile
for
defending
established
order
from
the
very
inroads
which
you
lament
.
He
leaves
an
heir
against
whom
calumny
cannot
invent
a
tale
,
and
that
heir
remains
an
outlaw
simply
because
he
descends
from
Henry
IV
.
,
and
has
a
right
to
reign
.
Madame
,
you
appeal
to
us
as
among
the
representatives
of
the
chivalrous
deeds
and
loyal
devotion
which
characterized
the
old
nobility
of
France
.
Should
we
deserve
that
character
if
we
forsook
the
unfortunate
,
and
gained
wealth
and
honour
in
forsaking
?
”
“
Your
words
endear
you
to
me
.
I
am
proud
to
call
you
cousin
,
”
said
the
Duchesse
.
“
But
do
you
,
or
does
any
man
in
his
senses
believe
that
if
you
upset
the
Empire
you
could
get
back
the
Bourbons
;
that
you
would
not
be
in
imminent
danger
of
a
Government
infinitely
more
opposed
to
the
theories
on
which
rests
the
creed
of
Legitimists
than
that
of
Louis
Napoleon
?
After
all
,
what
is
there
in
the
loyalty
of
you
Bourbonites
that
has
in
it
the
solid
worth
of
an
argument
which
can
appeal
to
the
comprehension
of
mankind
,
except
it
be
the
principle
of
a
hereditary
monarchy
?
Nobody
nowadays
can
maintain
the
right
divine
of
a
single
regal
family
to
impose
itself
upon
a
nation
.
That
dogma
has
ceased
to
be
a
living
principle
;
it
is
only
a
dead
reminiscence
.
But
the
institution
of
monarchy
is
a
principle
strong
and
vital
,
and
appealing
to
the
practical
interests
of
vast
sections
