PalaisRoyal
side
by
side
while
this
conversation
proceeded
.
“
That
all
depends
,
”
replied
Duplessis
,
“
upon
what
may
be
the
increase
of
popular
excitement
at
Paris
.
If
it
slackens
,
the
Emperor
,
no
doubt
,
could
turn
to
wise
account
that
favourable
pause
in
the
fever
.
But
if
it
continues
to
swell
,
and
Paris
cries
,
‘War
,
’
in
a
voice
as
loud
as
it
cried
to
Louis
Philippe
‘Revolution
,
’
do
you
think
that
the
Emperor
could
impose
on
his
ministers
the
wisdom
of
peace
?
His
ministers
would
be
too
terrified
by
the
clamour
to
undertake
the
responsibility
of
opposing
it
—
they
would
resign
.
Where
is
the
Emperor
to
find
another
Cabinet
?
a
peace
Cabinet
?
What
and
who
are
the
orators
for
peace
?
—
whom
a
handful
!
—
who
?
Gambetta
,
Jules
Favre
,
avowed
Republicans
,
—
would
they
even
accept
the
post
of
ministers
to
Louis
Napoleon
?
If
they
did
,
would
not
their
first
step
be
the
abolition
of
the
Empire
?
Napoleon
is
therefore
so
far
a
constitutional
monarch
in
the
same
sense
as
Queen
Victoria
,
that
the
popular
will
in
the
country
(
and
in
France
in
such
matters
Paris
is
the
country
)
controls
the
Chambers
,
controls
the
Cabinet
;
and
against
the
Cabinet
the
Emperor
could
not
contend
.
I
say
nothing
of
the
army
—
a
power
in
France
unknown
to
you
in
England
,
which
would
certainly
fraternise
with
no
peace
party
.
If
war
is
proclaimed
,
—
let
England
blame
it
if
she
will
—
she
can’t
lament
it
more
than
I
should
:
but
let
England
blame
the
nation
;
let
her
blame
,
if
she
please
,
the
form
of
the
government
,
which
rests
upon
popular
suffrage
;
but
do
not
let
her
blame
our
sovereign
more
than
the
French
would
blame
her
own
,
if
compelled
by
the
conditions
on
which
she
holds
her
crown
to
sign
a
declaration
of
war
,
which
vast
majorities
in
a
Parliament
just
elected
,
and
a
Council
of
Ministers
whom
she
could
not
practically
replace
,
enforced
upon
her
will
.
”
“
Your
observations
,
M
.
Duplessis
,
impress
me
strongly
,
and
add
to
the
deep
anxieties
with
which
,
in
common
with
all
my
countrymen
,
I
regard
the
menacing
aspect
of
the
present
hour
.
Let
us
hope
the
best
.
Our
Government
,
I
know
,
is
exerting
itself
to
the
utmost
verge
of
its
power
,
to
remove
every
just
ground
of
offence
that
the
unfortunate
nomination
of
a
German
Prince
to
the
Spanish
throne
could
not
fail
to
have
given
to
French
statesmen
.
”
“
I
am
glad
you
concede
that
such
a
nomination
was
a
just
ground
of
offence
,
”
said
Lemercier
,
rather
bitterly
;
“
for
I
have
met
Englishmen
who
asserted
that
France
had
no
right
to
resent
any
choice
of
a
sovereign
that
Spain
might
make
.
”
“
Englishmen
in
general
are
not
very
reflective
politicians
in
foreign
affairs
,
”
said
Graham
;
“
but
those
who
are
must
see
that
France
could
not
,
without
alarm
the
most
justifiable
,
contemplate
a
cordon
of
hostile
states
being
drawn
around
her
on
all
sides
,
—
Germany
,
is
,
itself
so
formidable
since
the
field
of
Sadowa
,
on
the
east
;
a
German
prince
in
the
southwest
;
the
not
improbable
alliance
between
Prussia
and
the
Italian
kingdom
,
already
so
alienated
from
the
France
to
which
it
owed
so
much
.
If
England
would
be
uneasy
were
a
great
maritime
power
possessed
of
Antwerp
,
how
much
more
uneasy
might
France
justly
be
if
Prussia
could
add
the
armies
of
Spain
to
those
of
Germany
,
and
launch
them
both
upon
France
.
But
that
cause
of
alarm
is
over
—
the
Hohenzollern
is
withdrawn
.
Let
us
hope
for
the
best
.
”
The
three
men
had
now
seated
themselves
at
a
table
in
the
Trois
Freres
,
and
Lemercier
volunteered
the
task
of
inspecting
the
menu
and
ordering
the
repast
,
still
keeping
guard
on
Fox
.
“
Observe
that
man
,
”
said
Duplessis
,
pointing
towards
a
gentleman
who
had
just
entered
;
“
the
other
day
he
was
the
popular
hero
—
now
,
in
the
excitement
of
threatened
war
,
he
is
permitted
to
order
his
bifteck
uncongratulated
,
uncaressed
;
such
is
fame
at
Paris
!
here
to-day
and
gone
to-morrow
.
”
“
How
did
the
man
become
famous
?
”
“
He
is
a
painter
,
and
refused
a
decoration
—
the
only
French
painter
who
ever
did
.
”
“
And
why
refuse
?
”
“
Because
he
is
more
stared
at
as
the
man
who
refused
than
he
would
have
been
as
the
man
who
accepted
.
If
ever
the
Red
Republicans
have
their
day
,
those
among
them
most
certain
of
human
condemnation
will
be
the
coxcombs
who
have
gone
mad
for
the
desire
of
human
applause
.
”
“
You
are
a
profound
philosopher
,
M
.
Duplessis
.
”
“
I
hope
not
—
I
have
an
especial
contempt
for
philosophers
.
Pardon
me
a
moment
—
I
see
a
man
to
whom
I
would
say
a
word
or
two
.
”
Duplessis
crossed
over
to
another
table
to
speak
to
a
middle-aged
man
of
somewhat
remarkable
countenance
,
with
the
red
ribbon
in
his
buttonhole
,
in
whom
Graham
recognised
an
ex-minister
of
the
Emperor
,
differing
from
most
of
those
at
that
day
in
his
Cabinet
,
in
the
reputation
of
being
loyal
to
his
master
and
courageous
against
a
mob
.
Left
thus
alone
with
Lemercier
,
Graham
said
:
“
Pray
tell
me
where
I
can
find
your
friend
the
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
.
I
called
at
his
apartment
this
morning
,
and
I
was
told
that
he
had
gone
on
some
visit
into
the
country
,
taking
his
valet
,
and
the
concierge
could
not
give
me
his
address
.
I
thought
myself
so
lucky
on
meeting
with
you
,
who
are
sure
to
know
.
”
“
No
,
I
do
not
;
it
is
some
days
since
I
saw
Alain
.
But
Duplessis
will
be
sure
to
know
.
”
Here
the
financier
rejoined
them
.
“
Mon
cher
,
Grarm
Varn
wants
to
know
for
what
Sabine
shades
Rochebriant
has
deserted
the
‘fumum
opes
strepitumque’
of
the
capital
.
”
“
Ah
!
the
Marquis
is
a
friend
of
yours
,
Monsieur
?
”
“
I
can
scarcely
boast
that
honour
,
but
he
is
an
acquaintance
whom
I
should
be
very
glad
to
see
again
.
”
“
At
this
moment
he
is
at
the
Duchesse
de
Tarascon’s
country-house
near
Fontainebleau
;
I
had
a
hurried
line
from
him
two
days
ago
stating
that
he
was
going
there
on
her
urgent
invitation
.
But
he
may
return
to-morrow
;
at
all
events
he
dines
with
me
on
the
8th
,
and
I
shall
be
charmed
if
you
will
do
me
the
honour
to
meet
him
at
my
house
.
”
“
It
is
an
invitation
too
agreeable
to
refuse
,
and
I
thank
you
very
much
for
it
.
”
Nothing
worth
recording
passed
further
in
conversation
between
Graham
and
the
two
Frenchmen
.
He
left
them
smoking
their
cigars
in
the
garden
,
and
walked
homeward
by
the
Rue
de
Rivoli
.
As
he
was
passing
beside
the
Magasin
du
Louvre
he
stopped
,
and
made
way
for
a
lady
crossing
quickly
out
of
the
shop
towards
her
carriage
at
the
door
.
Glancing
at
him
with
a
slight
inclination
of
her
head
in
acknowledgment
of
his
courtesy
,
the
lady
recognised
his
features
,
—
“
Ah
,
Mr.
Vane
!
”
she
cried
,
almost
joyfully
—
“
you
are
then
at
Paris
,
though
you
have
not
come
to
see
me
.
”
“
I
only
arrived
last
night
,
dear
Mrs.
Morley
,
”
said
Graham
,
rather
embarrassed
,
“
and
only
on
some
matters
of
business
which
unexpectedly
summoned
me
.
My
stay
will
probably
be
very
short
.
”
“
In
that
case
let
me
rob
you
of
a
few
minutes
—
no
,
not
rob
you
even
of
them
;
I
can
take
you
wherever
you
want
to
go
,
and
as
my
carriage
moves
more
quickly
than
you
do
on
foot
,
I
shall
save
you
the
minutes
instead
of
robbing
you
of
them
.
”
“
You
are
most
kind
,
but
I
was
only
going
to
my
hotel
,
which
is
close
by
.
”
“
Then
you
have
no
excuse
for
not
taking
a
short
drive
with
me
in
the
Champs
Elysees
—
come
.
”
Thus
bidden
,
Graham
could
not
civilly
disobey
.
He
handed
the
fair
American
into
her
carriage
,
and
seated
himself
by
her
side
.
CHAPTER
III
.
“
Mr.
Vane
,
I
feel
as
if
I
had
many
apologies
to
make
for
the
interest
in
your
life
which
my
letter
to
you
so
indiscreetly
betrayed
.
”
“
Oh
,
Mrs.
Morley
!
you
cannot
guess
how
deeply
that
interest
touched
me
.
”
“
I
should
not
have
presumed
so
far
,
”
continued
Mrs.
Morley
,
unheeding
the
interruption
,
“
if
I
had
not
been
altogether
in
error
as
to
the
nature
of
your
sentiments
in
a
certain
quarter
.
In
this
you
must
blame
my
American
rearing
.
With
us
there
are
many
flirtations
between
boys
and
girls
which
come
to
nothing
;
but
when
in
my
country
a
man
like
you
meets
with
a
woman
like
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
,
there
cannot
be
flirtation
.
His
attentions
,
his
looks
,
his
manner
,
reveal
to
the
eyes
of
those
who
care
enough
for
him
to
watch
,
one
of
two
things
—
either
he
coldly
admires
and
esteems
,
or
he
loves
with
his
whole
heart
and
soul
a
woman
worthy
to
inspire
such
a
love
.
Well
,
I
did
watch
,
and
I
was
absurdly
mistaken
.
I
imagined
that
I
saw
love
,
and
rejoiced
for
the
sake
of
both
of
you
to
think
so
.
I
know
that
in
all
countries
,
our
own
as
well
as
yours
,
love
is
so
morbidly
sensitive
and
jealous
that
it
is
always
apt
to
invent
imaginary
foes
to
itself
.
Esteem
and
admiration
never
do
that
.
I
thought
that
some
misunderstanding
,
easily
removed
by
the
intervention
of
a
third
person
,
might
have
impeded
the
impulse
of
two
hearts
towards
each
other
—
and
so
I
wrote
.
I
had
assumed
that
you
loved
—
I
am
humbled
to
the
last
degree
—
you
only
admired
and
esteemed
.
”
“
Your
irony
is
very
keen
,
Mrs.
Morley
,
and
to
you
it
may
seem
very
just
.
”
“
Don’t
call
me
Mrs.
Morley
in
that
haughty
tone
of
voice
,
—
can’t
you
talk
to
me
as
you
would
talk
to
a
friend
?
You
only
esteemed
and
admired
—
there
is
an
end
of
it
.
”
“
No
,
there
is
not
an
end
of
it
,
”
cried
Graham
,
giving
way
to
an
impetuosity
of
passion
,
which
rarely
,
indeed
,
before
another
,
escaped
his
self-control
;
“
the
end
of
it
to
me
is
a
life
out
of
which
is
ever
stricken
such
love
as
I
could
feel
for
woman
.
To
me
true
love
can
only
come
once
.
It
came
with
my
first
look
on
that
fatal
face
—
it
has
never
left
me
in
thought
by
day
,
in
dreams
by
night
.
The
end
of
it
to
me
is
farewell
to
all
such
happiness
as
the
one
love
of
a
life
can
promise
—
but
—
”
“
But
what
?
”
asked
Mrs.
Morley
,
softly
,
and
very
much
moved
by
the
passionate
earnestness
of
Graham’s
voice
and
words
.
“
But
,
”
he
continued
with
a
forced
smile
,
“
we
Englishmen
are
trained
to
the
resistance
of
absolute
authority
;
we
cannot
submit
all
the
elements
that
make
up
our
being
to
the
sway
of
a
single
despot
.
Love
is
the
painter
of
existence
,
it
should
not
be
its
sculptor
.
”
“
I
do
not
understand
the
metaphor
.
”
“
Love
colours
our
life
,
it
should
not
chisel
its
form
.
”
“
My
dear
Mr.
Vane
,
that
is
very
cleverly
said
,
but
the
human
heart
is
too
large
and
too
restless
to
be
quietly
packed
up
in
an
aphorism
.
Do
you
mean
to
tell
me
that
if
you
found
you
had
destroyed
Isaura
Cicogna’s
happiness
as
well
as
resigned
your
own
,
that
thought
would
not
somewhat
deform
the
very
shape
you
would
give
to
your
life
?
Is
it
colour
alone
that
your
life
would
lose
?
”
“
Ah
,
Mrs.
Morley
,
do
not
lower
your
friend
into
an
ordinary
girl
in
whom
idleness
exaggerates
the
strength
of
any
fancy
over
which
it
dreamily
broods
.
Isaura
Cicogna
has
her
occupations
—
her
genius
—
her
fame
—
her
career
.
Honestly
speaking
,
I
think
that
in
these
she
will
find
a
happiness
that
no
quiet
hearth
could
bestow
.
I
will
say
no
more
.
I
feel
persuaded
that
were
we
two
united
I
could
not
make
her
happy
.
With
the
irresistible
impulse
that
urges
the
genius
of
the
writer
towards
its
vent
in
public
sympathy
and
applause
,
she
would
chafe
if
I
said
,
‘Be
contented
to
be
wholly
mine.’
And
if
I
said
it
not
,
and
felt
I
had
no
right
to
say
it
,
and
allowed
the
full
scope
to
her
natural
ambition
,
what
then
?
She
would
chafe
yet
more
to
find
that
I
had
no
fellowship
in
her
aims
and
ends
—
that
where
I
should
feel
pride
,
I
felt
humiliation
.
It
would
be
so
;
I
cannot
help
it
,
‘tis
my
nature
.
”
“
So
be
it
then
.
When
,
next
year
perhaps
,
you
visit
Paris
,
you
will
be
safe
from
my
officious
interference
!
Isaura
will
be
the
wife
of
another
.
”
Graham
pressed
his
hand
to
his
heart
with
the
sudden
movement
of
one
who
feels
there
an
agonising
spasm
—
his
cheek
,
his
very
lips
were
bloodless
.
“
I
told
you
,
”
he
said
bitterly
,
“
that
your
fears
of
my
influence
over
the
happiness
of
one
so
gifted
,
and
so
strong
in
such
gifts
,
were
groundless
;
you
allow
that
I
should
be
very
soon
forgotten
?
”
“
I
allow
no
such
thing
—
I
wish
I
could
.
But
do
you
know
so
little
of
a
woman’s
heart
(
and
in
matters
of
heart
,
I
never
yet
heard
that
genius
had
a
talisman
against
emotion
)
,
—
do
you
know
so
little
of
a
woman’s
heart
as
not
to
know
that
the
very
moment
in
which
she
may
accept
a
marriage
the
least
fitted
to
render
her
happy
,
is
that
in
which
she
has
lost
all
hope
of
happiness
in
another
?
”
“
Is
it
indeed
so
?
”
murmured
Graham
—
“
Ay
,
I
can
conceive
it
.
”
“
And
have
you
so
little
comprehension
of
the
necessities
which
that
fame
,
that
career
to
which
you
allow
she
is
impelled
by
the
instincts
of
genius
,
impose
on
this
girl
,
young
,
beautiful
,
fatherless
,
motherless
?
No
matter
how
pure
her
life
,
can
she
guard
it
from
the
slander
of
envious
tongues
?
Will
not
all
her
truest
friends
—
would
not
you
,
if
you
were
her
brother
—
press
upon
her
by
all
the
arguments
that
have
most
weight
with
the
woman
who
asserts
independence
in
her
modes
of
life
,
and
yet
is
wise
enough
to
know
that
the
world
can
only
judge
of
virtue
by
its
shadow
—
reputation
,
not
to
dispense
with
the
protection
which
a
husband
can
alone
secure
?
And
that
is
why
I
warn
you
,
if
it
be
yet
time
,
that
in
resigning
your
own
happiness
you
may
destroy
Isaura’s
.
She
will
wed
another
,
but
she
will
not
be
happy
.
What
a
chimera
or
dread
your
egotism
as
man
conjures
up
!
Oh
!
forsooth
,
the
qualities
that
charm
and
delight
a
world
are
to
unfit
a
woman
to
be
helpmate
to
a
man
.
Fie
on
you
!
—
fie
!
”
Whatever
answer
Graham
might
have
made
to
these
impassioned
reproaches
was
here
checked
.
Two
men
on
horseback
stopped
the
carriage
.
One
was
Enguerrand
de
Vandemar
,
the
other
was
the
Algerine
Colonel
whom
we
met
at
the
supper
given
at
the
Maison
Doree
by
Frederic
Lemercier
.
“
Pardon
,
Madame
Morley
,
”
said
Enguerrand
;
“
but
there
are
symptoms
of
a
mob-epidemic
a
little
further
up
the
fever
began
at
Belleville
,
and
is
threatening
the
health
of
the
Champs
Elysees
.
Don’t
be
alarmed
—
it
may
be
nothing
,
though
it
may
be
much
.
In
Paris
,
one
can
never
calculate
an
hour
beforehand
the
exact
progress
of
a
politico-epidemic
fever
.
At
present
I
say
,
‘Bah
!
a
pack
of
ragged
boys
,
gamins
de
Paris
;
’
but
my
friend
the
Colonel
,
twisting
his
moustache
en
souriant
amerement
,
says
,
‘It
is
the
indignation
of
Paris
at
the
apathy
of
the
Government
under
insult
to
the
honour
of
France
;
’
and
Heaven
only
knows
how
rapidly
French
gamins
grow
into
giants
when
Colonels
talk
about
the
indignation
of
Paris
and
the
honour
of
France
!
”
“
But
what
has
happened
?
”
asked
Mrs.
Morley
,
turning
to
the
Colonel
.
“
Madame
,
”
replied
the
warrior
,
“
it
is
rumoured
that
the
King
of
Prussia
has
turned
his
back
upon
the
ambassador
of
France
;
and
that
the
pekin
who
is
for
peace
at
any
price
—
M
.
Ollivier
—
will
say
tomorrow
in
the
Chamber
,
that
France
submits
to
a
slap
in
the
face
.
”
“
Please
,
Monsieur
de
Vandemar
,
to
tell
my
coachman
to
drive
home
,
”
said
Mrs.
Morley
.
The
carriage
turned
and
went
homeward
.
The
Colonel
lifted
his
hat
,
and
rode
back
to
see
what
the
gamins
were
about
.
Enguerrand
,
who
had
no
interest
in
the
gamins
,
and
who
looked
on
the
Colonel
as
a
bore
,
rode
by
the
side
of
the
carriage
.
“
Is
there
anything
serious
in
this
?
”
asked
Mrs.
Morley
.
“
At
this
moment
,
nothing
.
What
it
may
be
this
hour
to-morrow
I
cannot
say
.
Ah
!
Monsieur
Vane
,
bon
jour
I
did
not
recognise
you
at
first
.
Once
,
in
a
visit
at
the
chateau
of
one
of
your
distinguished
countrymen
,
I
saw
two
game-cocks
turned
out
facing
each
other
:
they
needed
no
pretext
for
quarrelling
—
neither
do
France
and
Prussia
—
no
matter
which
game-cock
gave
the
last
offence
,
the
two
game-cocks
must
have
it
out
.
All
that
Ollivier
can
do
,
if
he
be
wise
,
is
to
see
that
the
French
cock
has
his
steel
spurs
as
long
as
the
Prussians
.
But
this
I
do
say
,
that
if
Ollivier
attempts
to
put
the
French
cock
back
into
its
bag
,
the
Empire
is
gone
in
forty-eight
hours
.
That
to
me
is
a
trifle
—
I
care
nothing
for
the
Empire
;
but
that
which
is
not
a
trifle
is
anarchy
and
chaos
.
Better
war
and
the
Empire
than
peace
and
Jules
Favre
.
But
let
us
seize
the
present
hour
,
Mr.
Vane
;
whatever
happens
to-morrow
,
shall
we
dine
together
to-day
?
Name
your
restaurant
.
”
“
I
am
so
grieved
,
”
answered
Graham
,
rousing
himself
,
“
I
am
here
only
on
business
,
and
engaged
all
the
evening
.
”
“
What
a
wonderful
thing
is
this
life
of
ours
!
”
said
Enguerrand
.
“
The
destiny
of
France
at
this
moment
hangs
on
a
thread
—
I
,
a
Frenchman
,
say
to
an
English
friend
,
‘Let
us
dine
—
a
cutlet
to-day
and
a
fig
for
to-morrow
;
’
and
my
English
friend
,
distinguished
native
of
a
country
with
which
we
have
the
closest
alliance
,
tells
me
that
in
this
crisis
of
France
he
has
business
to
attend
to
!
My
father
is
quite
right
;
he
accepts
the
Voltairean
philosophy
,
and
cries
,
Vivent
les
indifferents
!
”
“
My
dear
M
.
de
Vandemar
,
”
said
Graham
,
“
in
every
country
you
will
find
the
same
thing
.
All
individuals
massed
together
constitute
public
life
.
Each
individual
has
a
life
of
his
own
,
the
claims
and
the
habits
and
the
needs
of
which
do
not
suppress
his
sympathies
with
public
life
,
but
imperiously
overrule
them
.
Mrs.
Morley
,
permit
me
to
pull
the
check-string
—
I
get
out
here
.
”
“
I
like
that
man
,
”
said
Enguerrand
,
as
he
continued
to
ride
by
the
fair
American
,
“
in
language
and
esprit
he
is
so
French
.
”
“
I
use
to
like
him
better
than
you
can
,
”
answered
Mrs.
Morley
,
“
but
in
prejudice
and
stupidity
he
is
so
English
.
As
it
seems
you
are
disengaged
,
come
and
partake
,
pot
au
feu
,
with
Frank
and
me
.
”
“
Charmed
to
do
so
,
”
answered
the
cleverest
and
best
bred
of
all
Parisian
beaux
garcons
,
“
but
forgive
me
if
I
quit
you
soon
.
This
poor
France
!
Entre
nous
,
I
am
very
uneasy
about
the
Parisian
fever
.
I
must
run
away
after
dinner
to
clubs
and
cafes
to
learn
the
last
bulletins
.
”
“
We
have
nothing
like
that
French
Legitimist
in
the
States
,
”
said
the
fair
American
to
herself
,
“
unless
we
should
ever
be
so
silly
as
to
make
Legitimists
of
the
ruined
gentlemen
of
the
South
.
”
Meanwhile
Graham
Vane
went
slowly
back
to
his
apartment
.
No
false
excuse
had
he
made
to
Enguerrand
;
this
evening
was
devoted
to
M
.
Renard
,
who
told
him
little
he
had
not
known
before
;
but
his
private
life
overruled
his
public
,
and
all
that
night
he
,
professed
politician
,
thought
sleeplessly
,
not
over
the
crisis
to
France
,
which
might
alter
the
conditions
of
Europe
,
but
the
talk
on
his
private
life
of
that
intermeddling
American
woman
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
The
next
day
,
Wednesday
,
July
6th
,
commenced
one
of
those
eras
in
the
world’s
history
in
which
private
life
would
vainly
boast
that
it
overrules
Life
Public
.
How
many
private
lives
does
such
a
terrible
time
influence
,
absorb
,
darken
with
sorrow
,
crush
into
graves
?
It
was
the
day
when
the
Duc
de
Gramont
uttered
the
fatal
speech
which
determined
the
die
between
peace
and
war
.
No
one
not
at
Paris
on
that
day
can
conceive
the
popular
enthusiasm
with
which
that
speech
was
hailed
—
the
greater
because
the
warlike
tone
of
it
was
not
anticipated
;
because
there
had
been
a
rumour
amidst
circles
the
best
informed
that
a
speech
of
pacific
moderation
was
to
be
the
result
of
the
Imperial
Council
.
Rapturous
indeed
were
the
applauses
with
which
the
sentences
that
breathed
haughty
defiance
were
hailed
by
the
Assembly
.
The
ladies
in
the
tribune
rose
with
one
accord
,
waving
their
handkerchiefs
.
Tall
,
stalwart
,
dark
,
with
Roman
features
and
lofty
presence
,
the
Minister
of
France
seemed
to
say
with
Catiline
in
the
fine
tragedy
:
“
Lo
!
where
I
stand
,
I
am
war
!
”
Paris
had
been
hungering
for
some
hero
of
the
hour
—
the
Duc
de
Gramont
became
at
once
raised
to
that
eminence
.
All
the
journals
,
save
the
very
few
which
were
friendly
to
peace
,
because
hostile
to
the
Emperor
,
resounded
with
praise
,
not
only
of
the
speech
,
but
of
the
speaker
.
It
is
with
a
melancholy
sense
of
amusement
that
one
recalls
now
to
mind
those
organs
of
public
opinion
—
with
what
romantic
fondness
they
dwelt
on
the
personal
graces
of
the
man
who
had
at
last
given
voice
to
the
chivalry
of
France
:
“
The
charming
gravity
of
his
countenance
—
the
mysterious
expression
of
his
eye
!
”
As
the
crowd
poured
from
the
Chambers
,
Victor
de
Mauleon
and
Savarin
,
who
had
been
among
the
listeners
,
encountered
.
“
No
chance
for
my
friends
the
Orleanists
now
,
”
said
Savarin
.
“
You
who
mock
at
all
parties
are
,
I
suppose
,
at
heart
for
the
Republican
—
small
chance
,
too
,
for
that
.
”
“
I
do
not
agree
with
you
.
Violent
impulses
have
quick
reactions
.
”
“
But
what
reaction
could
shake
the
Emperor
after
he
returns
a
conqueror
,
bringing
in
his
pocket
the
left
bank
of
the
Rhine
?
”
“
None
—
when
he
does
that
.
Will
he
do
it
?
Does
he
himself
think
he
will
do
it
?
I
doubt
—
”
“
Doubt
the
French
army
against
the
Prussian
?
”
“
Against
the
German
people
united
—
yes
,
very
much
.
”
“
But
war
will
disunite
the
German
people
.
Bavaria
will
surely
assist
us
—
Hanover
will
rise
against
the
spoliator
—
Austria
at
our
first
successes
must
shake
off
her
present
enforced
neutrality
?
”
“
You
have
not
been
in
Germany
,
and
I
have
.
What
yesterday
was
a
Prussian
army
,
to-morrow
will
be
a
German
population
;
far
exceeding
our
own
in
numbers
,
in
hardihood
of
body
,
in
cultivated
intellect
,
in
military
discipline
.
But
talk
of
something
else
.
How
is
my
ex-editor
—
poor
Gustave
Rameau
?
”
“
Still
very
weak
,
but
on
the
mend
.
You
may
have
him
back
in
his
office
soon
.
”
“
Impossible
!
even
in
his
sick-bed
his
vanity
was
more
vigorous
than
ever
.
He
issued
a
war-song
,
which
has
gone
the
round
of
the
war
journals
signed
by
his
own
name
.
He
must
have
known
very
well
that
the
name
of
such
a
Tyrtaeus
cannot
reappear
as
the
editor
of
Le
Sens
Commun
;
that
in
launching
his
little
firebrand
he
burned
all
vessels
that
could
waft
him
back
to
the
port
he
had
quitted
.
But
I
dare
say
he
has
done
well
for
his
own
interests
;
I
doubt
if
Le
Sens
Commun
can
much
longer
hold
its
ground
in
the
midst
of
the
prevalent
lunacy
.
”
“
What
!
it
has
lost
subscribers
?
—
gone
off
in
sale
already
,
since
it
declared
for
peace
?
”
“
Of
course
it
has
;
and
after
the
article
which
,
if
I
live
over
to-night
,
will
appear
to-morrow
,
I
should
wonder
if
it
sell
enough
to
cover
the
cost
of
the
print
and
paper
.
”
“
Martyr
to
principle
!
I
revere
,
but
I
do
not
envy
thee
.
”
“
Martyrdom
is
not
my
ambition
.
If
Louis
Napoleon
be
defeated
,
what
then
?
Perhaps
he
may
be
the
martyr
;
and
the
Favres
and
Gambettas
may
roast
their
own
eggs
on
the
gridiron
they
heat
for
his
majesty
.
”
Here
an
English
gentleman
,
who
was
the
very
able
correspondent
to
a
very
eminent
journal
,
and
in
that
capacity
had
made
acquaintance
with
De
Mauleon
,
joined
the
two
Frenchmen
;
Savarin
,
however
,
after
an
exchange
of
salutations
,
went
his
way
.
“
May
I
ask
a
frank
answer
to
a
somewhat
rude
question
,
M
.
le
Vicomte
?
”
said
the
Englishman
.
“
Suppose
that
the
Imperial
Government
had
to-day
given
in
their
adhesion
to
the
peace
party
,
how
long
would
it
have
been
before
their
orators
in
the
Chamber
and
their
organs
in
the
press
would
have
said
that
France
was
governed
by
poltrons
?
”
“
Probably
for
most
of
the
twenty-four
hours
.
But
there
are
a
few
who
are
honest
in
their
convictions
;
of
that
few
I
am
one
.
”
“
And
would
have
supported
the
Emperor
and
his
Government
?
”
“
No
,
Monsieur
—
I
do
not
say
that
.
”
“
Then
the
Emperor
would
have
turned
many
friends
into
enemies
,
and
no
enemies
into
friends
.
”
“
Monsieur
—
you
in
England
know
that
a
party
in
opposition
is
not
propitiated
when
the
party
in
power
steals
its
measures
.
Ha
!
—
pardon
me
,
who
is
that
gentleman
,
evidently
your
countryman
,
whom
I
see
yonder
talking
to
the
Secretary
of
your
Embassy
?
”
“
He
.
—
Mr.
Vane-Graham
Vane
.
Do
you
not
know
him
?
He
has
been
much
in
Paris
,
attached
to
our
Embassy
formerly
;
a
clever
man
—
much
is
expected
from
him
.
”
“
Ah
!
I
think
I
have
seen
him
before
,
but
am
not
quite
sure
.
Did
you
say
Vane
?
I
once
knew
a
Monsieur
Vane
,
a
distinguished
parliamentary
orator
.
”
“
That
gentleman
is
his
son
—
would
you
like
to
be
introduced
to
him
?
”
“
Not
to-day
—
I
am
in
some
hurry
.
”
Here
Victor
lifted
his
hat
in
parting
salutation
,
and
as
he
walked
away
cast
at
Graham
another
glance
keen
and
scrutinising
.
“
I
have
seen
that
man
before
,
”
he
muttered
,
“
where
?
—
when
?
—
can
it
be
only
a
family
likeness
to
the
father
?
No
,
the
features
are
different
;
the
profile
is
—
ha
!
—
Mr
.
Lamb
,
Mr.
Lamb
—
but
why
call
himself
by
that
name
?
—
why
disguised
?
—
what
can
he
have
to
do
with
poor
Louise
?
Bah
—
these
are
not
questions
I
can
think
of
now
.
This
war
—
this
war
—
can
it
yet
be
prevented
?
How
it
will
prostrate
all
the
plans
my
ambition
so
carefully
schemed
!
Oh
!
—
at
least
if
I
were
but
in
the
Chamber
.
Perhaps
I
yet
may
be
before
the
war
is
ended
—
the
Clavignys
have
great
interest
in
their
department
.
”
CHAPTER
V.
Graham
had
left
a
note
with
Rochebriant’s
concierge
requesting
an
interview
on
the
Marquis’s
return
to
Paris
,
and
on
the
evening
after
the
day
just
commemorated
he
received
a
line
,
saying
that
Alain
had
come
back
,
and
would
be
at
home
at
nine
o’clock
.
Graham
found
himself
in
the
Breton’s
apartment
punctually
at
the
hour
indicated
.
Alain
was
in
high
spirits
:
he
burst
at
once
into
enthusiastic
exclamations
on
the
virtual
announcement
of
war
.
“
Congratulate
me
,
mon
cher
!
”
he
cried
—
“
the
news
was
a
joyous
surprise
to
me
.
Only
so
recently
as
yesterday
morning
I
was
under
the
gloomy
apprehension
that
the
Imperial
Cabinet
would
continue
to
back
Ollivier’s
craven
declaration
‘that
France
had
not
been
affronted
!
’
The
Duchesse
de
Tarascon
,
at
whose
campagne
I
was
a
guest
,
is
(
as
you
doubtless
know
)
very
much
in
the
confidence
of
the
Tuileries
.
On
the
first
signs
of
war
,
I
wrote
to
her
,
saying
that
whatever
the
objections
of
my
pride
to
enter
the
army
as
a
private
in
time
of
peace
,
such
objections
ceased
on
the
moment
when
all
distinctions
of
France
must
vanish
in
the
eyes
of
sons
eager
to
defend
her
banners
.
The
Duchesse
in
reply
begged
me
to
come
to
her
campagne
and
talk
over
the
matter
.
I
went
;
she
then
said
that
if
war
should
break
out
it
was
the
intention
to
organise
the
Mobiles
and
officer
them
with
men
of
birth
and
education
,
irrespective
of
previous
military
service
,
and
in
that
case
I
might
count
on
my
epaulets
.
But
only
two
nights
ago
she
received
a
letter
—
I
know
not
of
course
from
whom
—
evidently
from
some
high
authority
—
that
induced
her
to
think
the
moderation
of
the
Council
would
avert
the
war
,
and
leave
the
swords
of
the
Mobiles
in
their
sheaths
.
I
suspect
the
decision
of
yesterday
must
have
been
a
very
sudden
one
.
Ce
cher
Gramont
!
See
what
it
is
to
have
a
well-born
man
in
a
sovereign’s
councils
.
”
“
If
war
must
come
,
I
at
least
wish
all
renown
to
yourself
.
But
—
”
“
Oh
!
spare
me
your
‘buts’
;
the
English
are
always
too
full
of
them
where
her
own
interests
do
not
appeal
to
her
.
She
had
no
‘buts’
for
war
in
India
or
a
march
into
Abyssinia
.
”
Alain
spoke
petulantly
;
at
that
moment
the
French
were
very
much
irritated
by
the
monitory
tone
of
the
English
journals
.
Graham
prudently
avoided
the
chance
of
rousing
the
wrath
of
a
young
hero
yearning
for
his
epaulets
.
“
I
am
English
enough
,
”
said
he
,
with
good-humoured
courtesy
,
“
to
care
for
English
interests
;
and
England
has
no
interest
abroad
dearer
to
her
than
the
welfare
and
dignity
of
France
.
And
now
let
me
tell
you
why
I
presumed
on
an
acquaintance
less
intimate
than
I
could
desire
,
to
solicit
this
interview
on
a
matter
which
concerns
myself
,
and
in
which
you
could
perhaps
render
me
a
considerable
service
.
”
“
If
I
can
,
count
it
rendered
;
move
to
this
sofa
—
join
me
in
a
cigar
,
and
let
us
talk
at
ease
comme
de
vieux
amis
,
whose
fathers
or
brothers
might
have
fought
side
by
side
in
the
Crimea
.
”
Graham
removed
to
the
sofa
beside
Rochebriant
,
and
after
one
or
two
whiffs
laid
aside
the
cigar
and
began
:
“
Among
the
correspondence
which
Monsieur
your
father
has
left
,
are
there
any
letters
of
no
distant
date
signed
Marigny
—
Madame
Marigny
?
Pardon
me
,
I
should
state
my
motive
in
putting
this
question
.
I
am
intrusted
with
a
charge
,
the
fulfilment
of
which
may
prove
to
the
benefit
of
this
lady
or
her
child
;
such
fulfilment
is
a
task
imposed
upon
my
honour
.
But
all
the
researches
to
discover
this
lady
which
I
have
instituted
stop
at
a
certain
date
,
with
this
information
,
—
viz
.
,
that
she
corresponded
occasionally
with
the
late
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
;
that
he
habitually
preserved
the
letters
of
his
correspondents
;
and
that
these
letters
were
severally
transmitted
to
you
at
his
decease
.
”
Alain’s
face
had
taken
a
very
grave
expression
while
Graham
spoke
,
and
he
now
replied
with
a
mixture
of
haughtiness
and
embarrassment
:
“
The
boxes
containing
the
letters
my
father
received
and
preserved
were
sent
to
me
as
you
say
—
the
larger
portion
of
them
were
from
ladies
—
sorted
and
labelled
,
so
that
in
glancing
at
any
letter
in
each
packet
I
could
judge
of
the
general
tenor
of
these
in
the
same
packet
without
the
necessity
of
reading
them
.
All
packets
of
that
kind
,
Monsieur
Vane
,
I
burned
.
I
do
not
remember
any
letters
signed
‘Marigny
!
”
“
I
perfectly
understand
,
my
dear
Marquis
,
that
you
would
destroy
all
letters
which
your
father
himself
would
have
destroyed
if
his
last
illness
had
been
sufficiently
prolonged
.
But
I
do
not
think
the
letters
I
mean
would
have
come
under
that
classification
;
probably
they
were
short
,
and
on
matters
of
business
relating
to
some
third
person
—
some
person
,
for
instance
,
of
the
name
of
Louise
,
or
of
Duval
!
”
“
Stop
!
let
me
think
.
I
have
a
vague
remembrance
of
one
or
two
letters
which
rather
perplexed
me
,
they
were
labelled
,
‘Louise
D
—
.
Mem
.
:
to
make
further
inquiries
as
to
the
fate
of
her
uncle.’
”
“
Marquis
,
these
are
the
letters
I
seek
.
Thank
heaven
,
you
have
not
destroyed
them
?
”
“
No
;
there
was
no
reason
why
I
should
destroy
,
though
I
really
cannot
state
precisely
any
reason
why
I
kept
them
.
I
have
a
very
vague
recollection
of
their
existence
.
”
“
I
entreat
you
to
allow
me
at
least
a
glance
at
the
handwriting
,
and
compare
it
with
that
of
a
letter
I
have
about
me
;
and
if
the
several
handwritings
correspond
,
I
would
ask
you
to
let
me
have
the
address
,
which
,
according
to
your
father’s
memorandum
,
will
be
found
in
the
letters
you
have
preserved
.
”
“
To
compliance
with
such
a
request
I
not
only
cannot
demur
,
but
perhaps
it
may
free
me
from
some
responsibility
which
I
might
have
thought
the
letters
devolved
upon
my
executorship
.
I
am
sure
they
did
not
concern
the
honour
of
any
woman
of
any
family
,
for
in
that
case
I
must
have
burned
them
.
”
“
Ah
,
Marquis
,
shake
hands
there
!
In
such
concord
between
man
and
man
,
there
is
more
entente
cordiale
between
England
and
France
than
there
was
at
Sebastopol
.
Now
let
me
compare
the
handwritings
.
”
“
The
box
that
contained
the
letters
is
not
here
—
I
left
it
at
Rochebriant
;
I
will
telegraph
to
my
aunt
to
send
it
;
the
day
after
to-morrow
it
will
no
doubt
arrive
.
Breakfast
with
me
that
day
—
say
at
one
o’clock
,
and
after
breakfast
the
Box
!
”
“
How
can
I
thank
you
?
”
“
Thank
me
!
but
you
said
your
honour
was
concerned
in
your
request
—
requests
affecting
honour
between
men
comma
il
faut
is
a
ceremony
of
course
,
like
a
bow
between
them
.
One
bows
,
the
other
returns
the
bow
—
no
thanks
on
either
side
.
Now
that
we
have
done
with
that
matter
,
let
me
say
that
I
thought
your
wish
for
our
interview
originated
in
a
very
different
cause
.
”
“
What
could
that
be
?
”
“
Nay
,
do
you
not
recollect
that
last
talk
between
us
,
when
with
such
loyalty
you
spoke
to
me
about
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
,
and
supposing
that
there
might
be
rivalship
between
us
,
retracted
all
that
you
might
have
before
said
to
warn
me
against
fostering
the
sentiment
with
which
she
had
inspired
me
;
even
at
the
first
slight
glance
of
a
face
which
cannot
be
lightly
forgotten
by
those
who
have
once
seen
it
.
”
“
I
recollect
perfectly
every
word
of
that
talk
,
Marquis
,
”
answered
Graham
,
calmly
,
but
with
his
hand
concealed
within
his
vest
and
pressed
tightly
to
his
heart
.
The
warning
of
Mrs.
Morley
flashed
upon
him
.
“
Was
this
the
man
to
seize
the
prize
he
had
put
aside
—
this
man
,
younger
than
himself
—
handsomer
than
himself
—
higher
in
rank
?
”
“
I
recollect
that
talk
,
Marquis
!
Well
,
what
then
?
”
“
In
my
self-conceit
I
supposed
that
you
might
have
heard
how
much
I
admired
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
—
how
,
having
not
long
since
met
her
at
the
house
of
Duplessis
(
who
by
the
way
writes
me
word
that
I
shall
meet
you
chez
lui
tomorrow
)
,
I
have
since
sought
her
society
wherever
there
was
a
chance
to
find
it
.
You
may
have
heard
,
at
our
club
,
or
elsewhere
,
how
I
adore
her
genius
—
how
,
I
say
,
that
nothing
so
Breton
—
that
is
,
so
pure
and
so
lofty
—
has
appeared
and
won
readers
since
the
days
of
Chateaubriand
,
—
and
—
you
,
knowing
that
les
absents
ont
toujours
tort
,
come
to
me
and
ask
Monsieur
de
Rochebriant
,
Are
we
rivals
?
I
expected
a
challenge
—
you
relieve
my
mind
—
you
abandon
the
field
to
me
?
”
At
the
first
I
warned
the
reader
how
improved
from
his
old
mauvaise
honte
a
year
or
so
of
Paris
life
would
make
our
beau
Marquis
.
How
a
year
or
two
of
London
life
with
its
horsey
slang
and
its
fast
girls
of
the
period
would
have
vulgarised
an
English
Rochebriant
!
Graham
gnawed
his
lips
and
replied
quietly
,
“
I
do
not
challenge
!
Am
I
to
congratulate
you
?
”
“
No
,
that
brilliant
victory
is
not
for
me
.
I
thought
that
was
made
clear
in
the
conversation
I
have
referred
to
.
But
if
you
have
done
me
the
honour
to
be
jealous
I
am
exceedingly
flattered
.
Speaking
,
seriously
,
if
I
admired
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
when
you
and
I
last
met
,
the
admiration
is
increased
by
the
respect
with
which
I
regard
a
character
so
simply
noble
.
How
many
women
older
than
she
would
have
been
spoiled
by
the
adulation
that
has
followed
her
literary
success
!
—
how
few
women
so
young
,
placed
in
a
position
so
critical
,
having
the
courage
to
lead
a
life
so
independent
,
would
have
maintained
the
dignity
of
their
character
free
from
a
single
indiscretion
!
I
speak
not
from
my
own
knowledge
,
but
from
the
report
of
all
,
who
would
be
pleased
enough
to
censure
if
they
could
find
a
cause
.
Good
society
is
the
paradise
of
mauvaises
langues
.
”
Graham
caught
Alain’s
hand
and
pressed
it
,
but
made
no
answer
.
The
young
Marquis
continued
:
“
You
will
pardon
me
for
speaking
thus
freely
in
the
way
that
I
would
wish
any
friend
to
speak
of
the
demoiselle
who
might
become
my
wife
.
I
owe
you
much
,
not
only
for
the
loyalty
with
which
you
address
me
in
reference
to
this
young
lady
,
but
for
words
affecting
my
own
position
in
France
,
which
sank
deep
into
my
mind
—
saved
me
from
deeming
myself
a
proscrit
in
my
own
land
—
filled
me
with
a
manly
ambition
,
not
stifled
amidst
the
thick
of
many
effeminate
follies
—
and
,
in
fact
,
led
me
to
the
career
which
is
about
to
open
before
me
,
and
in
which
my
ancestors
have
left
me
no
undistinguished
examples
.
Let
us
speak
,
then
,
a
coeur
ouvert
,
as
one
friend
to
another
.
Has
there
been
any
misunderstanding
between
you
and
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
which
has
delayed
your
return
to
Paris
?
If
so
,
is
it
over
now
?
”
“
There
has
been
no
such
misunderstanding
.
”
“
Do
you
doubt
whether
the
sentiments
you
expressed
in
regard
to
her
when
we
met
last
year
,
are
returned
?
”
“
I
have
no
right
to
conjecture
her
sentiments
.
You
mistake
altogether
.
”
“
I
do
not
believe
that
I
am
dunce
enough
to
mistake
your
feelings
towards
Mademoiselle
—
they
may
be
read
in
your
face
at
this
moment
.
Of
course
I
do
not
presume
to
hazard
a
conjecture
as
to
those
of
Mademoiselle
towards
yourself
.
But
when
I
met
her
not
long
since
at
the
house
of
Duplessis
,
with
whose
daughter
she
is
intimate
,
I
chanced
to
speak
to
her
of
you
;
and
if
I
may
judge
,
by
looks
and
manner
,
I
chose
no
displeasing
theme
.
You
turn
away
—
I
offend
you
?
”
“
Offend
!
—
no
,
indeed
;
but
on
this
subject
I
am
not
prepared
to
converse
.
I
came
to
Paris
on
matters
of
business
much
complicated
and
which
ought
to
absorb
my
attention
.
I
cannot
longer
trespass
on
your
evening
.
The
day
after
to-morrow
,
then
,
I
will
be
with
you
at
one
o’clock
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
hope
then
to
have
the
letters
you
wish
to
consult
;
and
,
meanwhile
,
we
meet
to-morrow
at
the
Hotel
Duplessis
.
”
CHAPTER
VI
.
Graham
had
scarcely
quitted
Alain
,
and
the
young
Marquis
was
about
to
saunter
forth
to
his
club
,
when
Duplessis
was
announced
.
These
two
men
had
naturally
seen
much
of
each
other
since
Duplessis
had
returned
from
Bretagne
and
delivered
Alain
from
the
gripe
of
Louvier
.
Scarcely
a
day
had
passed
but
what
Alain
had
been
summoned
to
enter
into
the
financier’s
plans
for
the
aggrandisement
of
the
Rochebriant
estates
,
and
delicately
made
to
feel
that
he
had
become
a
partner
in
speculations
,
which
,
thanks
to
the
capital
and
the
abilities
Duplessis
brought
to
bear
,
seemed
likely
to
result
in
the
ultimate
freedom
of
his
property
from
all
burdens
,
and
the
restoration
of
his
inheritance
to
a
splendour
correspondent
with
the
dignity
of
his
rank
.
On
the
plea
that
his
mornings
were
chiefly
devoted
to
professional
business
,
Duplessis
arranged
that
these
consultations
should
take
place
in
the
evenings
.
From
those
consultations
Valerie
was
not
banished
;
Duplessis
took
her
into
the
council
as
a
matter
of
course
.
“
Valerie
,
”
said
the
financier
to
Alain
,
“
though
so
young
,
has
a
very
clear
head
for
business
,
and
she
is
so
interested
in
all
that
interests
myself
,
that
even
where
I
do
not
take
her
opinion
,
I
at
least
feel
my
own
made
livelier
and
brighter
by
her
sympathy
.
”
So
the
girl
was
in
the
habit
of
taking
her
work
or
her
book
into
the
cabinet
de
travail
,
and
never
obtruding
a
suggestion
unasked
,
still
,
when
appealed
to
,
speaking
with
a
modest
good
sense
which
justified
her
father’s
confidence
and
praise
;
and
a
propos
of
her
book
,
she
had
taken
Chateaubriand
into
peculiar
favour
.
Alain
had
respectfully
presented
to
her
beautifully
bound
copies
of
Atala
and
Ls
Genie
du
Christianisme
;
it
is
astonishing
,
indeed
,
how
he
had
already
contrived
to
regulate
her
tastes
in
literature
.
The
charms
of
those
quiet
family
evenings
had
stolen
into
the
young
Breton’s
heart
.
He
yearned
for
none
of
the
gayer
reunions
in
which
he
had
before
sought
for
a
pleasure
that
his
nature
had
not
found
;
for
,
amidst
the
amusements
of
Paris
,
Alain
remained
intensely
Breton
—
viz.
,
formed
eminently
for
the
simple
joys
of
domestic
life
,
associating
the
sacred
hearthstone
with
the
antique
religion
of
his
fathers
;
gathering
round
it
all
the
images
of
pure
and
noble
affections
which
the
romance
of
a
poetic
temperament
had
evoked
from
the
solitude
which
had
surrounded
a
melancholy
boyhood-an
uncontaminated
youth
.
Duplessis
entered
abruptly
,
and
with
a
countenance
much
disturbed
from
its
wonted
saturnine
composure
.
“
Marquis
,
what
is
this
I
have
just
heard
from
the
Duchesse
de
Tarascon
?
Can
it
be
?
You
ask
military
service
in
this
ill-omened
war
?
—
you
?
”
“
My
dear
and
best
friend
,
”
said
Alain
,
very
much
startled
,
“
I
should
have
thought
that
you
,
of
all
men
in
the
world
,
would
have
most
approved
of
my
request
—
you
,
so
devoted
an
Imperialist
—
you
,
indignant
that
the
representative
of
one
of
these
families
,
which
the
First
Napoleon
so
eagerly
and
so
vainly
courted
,
should
ask
for
the
grade
of
sous-lieutenant
in
the
armies
of
Napoleon
the
Third
—
you
,
who
of
all
men
know
how
ruined
are
the
fortunes
of
a
Rochebriant
—
you
,
feel
surprised
that
he
clings
to
the
noblest
heritage
his
ancestors
have
left
to
him
—
their
sword
!
I
do
not
understand
you
.
”
“
Marquis
,
”
said
Duplessis
,
seating
himself
,
and
regarding
Alain
with
a
look
in
which
were
blended
the
sort
of
admiration
and
the
sort
of
contempt
with
which
a
practical
man
of
the
world
,
who
,
having
himself
gone
through
certain
credulous
follies
,
has
learned
to
despise
the
follies
,
but
retains
a
reminiscence
of
sympathy
with
the
fools
they
bewitch
,
“
Marquis
,
pardon
me
;
you
talk
finely
,
but
you
do
not
talk
common
sense
.
I
should
be
extremely
pleased
if
your
Legitimist
scruples
had
allowed
you
to
solicit
,
or
rather
to
accept
,
a
civil
appointment
not
unsuited
to
your
rank
,
under
the
ablest
sovereign
,
as
a
civilian
,
to
whom
France
can
look
for
rational
liberty
combined
with
established
order
.
Such
openings
to
a
suitable
career
you
have
rejected
;
but
who
on
earth
could
expect
you
,
never
trained
to
military
service
,
to
draw
a
sword
hitherto
sacred
to
the
Bourbons
,
on
behalf
of
a
cause
which
the
madness
,
I
do
not
say
of
France
but
of
Paris
,
has
enforced
on
a
sovereign
against
whom
you
would
fight
to-morrow
if
you
had
a
chance
of
placing
the
descendant
of
Henry
IV
.
on
his
throne
.
”
“
I
am
not
about
to
fight
for
any
sovereign
,
but
for
my
country
against
the
foreigner
.
”
“
An
excellent
answer
if
the
foreigner
had
invaded
your
country
;
but
it
seems
that
your
country
is
going
to
invade
the
foreigner
—
a
very
different
thing
.
Chut
!
all
this
discussion
is
most
painful
to
me
.
I
feel
for
the
Emperor
a
personal
loyalty
,
and
for
the
hazards
he
is
about
to
encounter
a
prophetic
dread
,
as
an
ancestor
of
yours
might
have
felt
for
Francis
I
.
could
he
have
foreseen
Pavia
.
Let
us
talk
of
ourselves
and
the
effect
the
war
should
have
upon
our
individual
action
.
You
are
aware
,
of
course
,
that
,
though
M
.
Louvier
has
had
notice
of
our
intention
to
pay
off
his
mortgage
,
that
intention
cannot
be
carried
into
effect
for
six
months
;
if
the
money
be
not
then
forthcoming
his
hold
on
Rochebriant
remains
unshaken
—
the
sum
is
large
.
”
“
Alas
!
yes
.
”
“
The
war
must
greatly
disturb
the
money-market
,
affect
many
speculative
adventures
and
operations
when
at
the
very
moment
credit
may
be
most
needed
.
It
is
absolutely
necessary
that
I
should
be
daily
at
my
post
on
the
Bourse
,
and
hourly
watch
the
ebb
and
flow
of
events
.
Under
these
circumstances
I
had
counted
,
permit
me
to
count
still
,
on
your
presence
in
Bretagne
.
We
have
already
begun
negotiations
on
a
somewhat
extensive
scale
,
whether
as
regards
the
improvement
of
forests
and
orchards
,
or
the
plans
for
building
allotments
,
as
soon
as
the
lands
are
free
for
disposal
—
for
all
these
the
eye
of
a
master
is
required
.
I
entreat
you
,
then
,
to
take
up
your
residence
at
Rochebriant
.
”
“
My
dear
friend
,
this
is
but
a
kindly
and
delicate
mode
of
relieving
me
from
the
dangers
of
war
.
I
have
,
as
you
must
be
conscious
,
no
practical
knowledge
of
business
.
Hebert
can
be
implicitly
trusted
,
and
will
carry
out
your
views
with
a
zeal
equal
to
mine
,
and
with
infinitely
more
ability
.
”
“
Marquis
,
pray
neither
to
Hercules
nor
to
Hebert
;
if
you
wish
to
get
your
own
cart
out
of
the
ruts
,
put
your
own
shoulder
to
the
wheel
.
”
Alain
coloured
high
,
unaccustomed
to
be
so
bluntly
addressed
,
but
he
replied
with
a
kind
of
dignified
meekness
:
“
I
shall
ever
remain
grateful
for
what
you
have
done
,
and
wish
to
do
for
me
.
But
,
assuming
that
you
suppose
rightly
,
the
estates
of
Rochebriant
would
,
in
your
hands
,
become
a
profitable
investment
,
and
more
than
redeem
the
mortgage
,
and
the
sum
you
have
paid
Louvier
on
my
account
,
let
it
pass
to
you
irrespectively
of
me
.
I
shall
console
myself
in
the
knowledge
that
the
old
place
will
be
restored
,
and
those
who
honoured
its
old
owners
prosper
in
hands
so
strong
,
guided
by
a
heart
so
generous
.
”
Duplessis
was
deeply
affected
by
these
simple
words
;
they
seized
him
on
the
tenderest
side
of
his
character
—
for
his
heart
was
generous
,
and
no
one
,
except
his
lost
wife
and
his
loving
child
,
had
ever
before
discovered
it
to
be
so
.
Has
it
ever
happened
to
you
,
reader
,
to
be
appreciated
on
the
one
point
of
the
good
or
the
great
that
is
in
you
—
on
which
secretly
you
value
yourself
most
—
but
for
which
nobody
,
not
admitted
into
your
heart
of
hearts
,
has
given
you
credit
?
If
that
has
happened
to
you
,
judge
what
Duplessis
felt
when
the
fittest
representative
of
that
divine
chivalry
which
,
if
sometimes
deficient
in
head
,
owes
all
that
exalts
it
to
riches
of
heart
,
spoke
thus
to
the
professional
moneymaker
,
whose
qualities
of
head
were
so
acknowledged
that
a
compliment
to
them
would
be
a
hollow
impertinence
,
and
whose
qualities
of
heart
had
never
yet
received
a
compliment
!
Duplessis
started
from
his
seat
and
embraced
Alain
,
murmuring
,
“
Listen
to
me
,
I
love
you
—
I
never
had
a
son
—
be
mine
—
Rochebriant
shall
be
my
daughter’s
dot
.
”
Alain
returned
the
embrace
,
and
then
recoiling
,
said
:
“
Father
,
your
first
desire
must
be
honour
for
your
son
.
You
have
guessed
my
secret
—
I
have
learned
to
love
Valerie
.
Seeing
her
out
in
the
world
,
she
seemed
like
other
girls
,
fair
and
commonplace
—
seeing
her
—
at
your
house
,
I
have
said
to
myself
,
‘There
is
the
one
girl
fairer
than
all
others
in
my
eyes
,
and
the
one
individual
to
whom
all
other
girls
are
commonplace.’
”
“
Is
that
true
?
—
is
it
?
”
“
True
!
does
a
gentilhomme
ever
lie
?
And
out
of
that
love
for
her
has
grown
this
immovable
desire
to
be
something
worthy
of
her
—
something
that
may
lift
me
from
the
vulgar
platform
of
men
who
owe
all
to
ancestors
,
nothing
to
themselves
.
Do
you
suppose
for
one
moment
that
I
,
saved
from
ruin
and
penury
by
Valerie’s
father
,
could
be
base
enough
to
say
to
her
,
‘In
return
be
Madame
la
Marquise
de
Rochebriant’
?
Do
you
suppose
that
I
,
whom
you
would
love
and
respect
as
son
,
could
come
to
you
and
say
:
‘I
am
oppressed
by
your
favours
—
I
am
crippled
with
debts
—
give
me
your
millions
and
we
are
quits.’
No
,
Duplessis
!
You
,
so
well
descended
yourself
—
so
superior
as
man
amongst
men
that
you
would
have
won
name
and
position
had
you
been
born
the
son
of
a
shoeblack
,
—
you
would
eternally
despise
the
noble
who
,
in
days
when
all
that
we
Bretons
deem
holy
in
noblesse
are
subjected
to
ridicule
and
contempt
,
should
so
vilely
forget
the
only
motto
which
the
scutcheons
of
all
gentilhommes
have
in
common
,
‘Noblesse
oblige.’
War
,
with
all
its
perils
and
all
its
grandeur
,
—
war
lifts
on
high
the
banners
of
France
,
—
war
,
in
which
every
ancestor
of
mine
whom
I
care
to
recall
aggrandised
the
name
that
descends
to
me
.
Let
me
then
do
as
those
before
me
have
done
;
let
me
prove
that
I
am
worth
something
in
myself
,
and
then
you
and
I
are
equals
;
and
I
can
say
with
no
humbled
crest
,
‘Your
benefits
are
accepted
:
’
the
man
who
has
fought
not
ignobly
for
France
may
aspire
to
the
hand
of
her
daughter
.
Give
me
Valerie
;
as
to
her
dot
,
—
be
it
so
,
Rochebriant
,
—
it
will
pass
to
her
children
.
”
“
Alain
!
Alain
!
my
friend
!
my
son
!
—
but
if
you
fall
.
”
“
Valerie
will
give
you
a
nobler
son
.
”
Duplessis
moved
away
,
sighing
heavily
;
but
he
said
no
more
in
deprecation
of
Alain’s
martial
resolves
.
A
Frenchman
,
however
practical
,
however
worldly
,
however
philosophical
he
may
be
,
who
does
not
sympathise
with
the
follies
of
honour
—
who
does
not
concede
indulgence
to
the
hot
blood
of
youth
when
he
says
,
“
My
country
is
insulted
and
her
banner
is
unfurled
,
”
may
certainly
be
a
man
of
excellent
common
sense
;
but
if
such
men
had
been
in
the
majority
,
Gaul
would
never
have
been
France
—
Gaul
would
have
been
a
province
of
Germany
.
And
as
Duplessis
walked
homeward
—
he
the
calmest
and
most
far-seeing
of
all
authorities
on
the
Bourse
—
the
man
who
,
excepting
only
De
Mauleon
,
most
decidedly
deemed
the
cause
of
the
war
a
blunder
,
and
most
forebodingly
anticipated
its
issues
,
caught
the
prevalent
enthusiasm
.
Everywhere
he
was
stopped
by
cordial
hands
,
everywhere
met
by
congratulating
smiles
.
“
How
right
you
have
been
,
Duplessis
,
when
you
have
laughed
at
those
who
have
said
,
‘The
Emperor
is
ill
,
decrepit
,
done
up.’
”
“
Vive
l’Empereur
!
at
least
we
shall
be
face
to
face
with
those
insolent
Prussians
!
”
Before
he
arrived
at
his
home
,
passing
along
the
Boulevards
,
greeted
by
all
the
groups
enjoying
the
cool
night
air
before
the
cafes
,
Duplessis
had
caught
the
war
epidemic
.
Entering
his
hotel
,
he
went
at
once
to
Valerie’s
chamber
.
“
Sleep
well
to-night
,
child
;
Alain
has
told
me
that
he
adores
thee
,
and
if
he
will
go
to
the
war
,
it
is
that
he
may
lay
his
laurels
at
thy
feet
.
Bless
thee
,
my
child
,
thou
couldst
not
have
made
a
nobler
choice
.
”
Whether
,
after
these
words
,
Valerie
slept
well
or
not
‘tis
not
for
me
to
say
;
but
if
she
did
sleep
,
I
venture
to
guess
that
her
dreams
were
rose-coloured
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
All
the
earlier
part
of
that
next
day
,
Graham
Vane
remained
in-doors
—
a
lovely
day
at
Paris
that
