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diff --git a/1305-h/1305-h.htm b/1305-h/1305-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34916f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/1305-h/1305-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2583 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Ball at Sceaux, by Honore de Balzac + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1305 ***</div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE BALL AT SCEAUX + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + BY HONORE DE BALZAC + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated By Clara Bell + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + To Henri de Balzac, his brother Honore. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE BALL AT SCEAUX </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> ADDENDUM </a><br /><br /> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + THE BALL AT SCEAUX + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The Comte de Fontaine, head of one of the oldest families in Poitou, had + served the Bourbon cause with intelligence and bravery during the war in + La Vendee against the Republic. After having escaped all the dangers which + threatened the royalist leaders during this stormy period of modern + history, he was wont to say in jest, “I am one of the men who gave + themselves to be killed on the steps of the throne.” And the pleasantry + had some truth in it, as spoken by a man left for dead at the bloody + battle of Les Quatre Chemins. Though ruined by confiscation, the staunch + Vendeen steadily refused the lucrative posts offered to him by the Emperor + Napoleon. Immovable in his aristocratic faith, he had blindly obeyed its + precepts when he thought it fitting to choose a companion for life. In + spite of the blandishments of a rich but revolutionary parvenu, who valued + the alliance at a high figure, he married Mademoiselle de Kergarouet, + without a fortune, but belonging to one of the oldest families in + Brittany. + </p> + <p> + When the second revolution burst on Monsieur de Fontaine he was encumbered + with a large family. Though it was no part of the noble gentlemen’s views + to solicit favors, he yielded to his wife’s wish, left his country estate, + of which the income barely sufficed to maintain his children, and came to + Paris. Saddened by seeing the greediness of his former comrades in the + rush for places and dignities under the new Constitution, he was about to + return to his property when he received a ministerial despatch, in which a + well-known magnate announced to him his nomination as marechal de camp, or + brigadier-general, under a rule which allowed the officers of the Catholic + armies to count the twenty submerged years of Louis XVIII.‘s reign as + years of service. Some days later he further received, without any + solicitation, ex officio, the crosses of the Legion of Honor and of + Saint-Louis. + </p> + <p> + Shaken in his determination by these successive favors, due, as he + supposed, to the monarch’s remembrance, he was no longer satisfied with + taking his family, as he had piously done every Sunday, to cry “Vive le + Roi” in the hall of the Tuileries when the royal family passed through on + their way to chapel; he craved the favor of a private audience. The + audience, at once granted, was in no sense private. The royal drawing-room + was full of old adherents, whose powdered heads, seen from above, + suggested a carpet of snow. There the Count met some old friends, who + received him somewhat coldly; but the princes he thought ADORABLE, an + enthusiastic expression which escaped him when the most gracious of his + masters, to whom the Count had supposed himself to be known only by name, + came to shake hands with him, and spoke of him as the most thorough + Vendeen of them all. Notwithstanding this ovation, none of these august + persons thought of inquiring as to the sum of his losses, or of the money + he had poured so generously into the chests of the Catholic regiments. He + discovered, a little late, that he had made war at his own cost. Towards + the end of the evening he thought he might venture on a witty allusion to + the state of his affairs, similar, as it was, to that of many other + gentlemen. His Majesty laughed heartily enough; any speech that bore the + hall-mark of wit was certain to please him; but he nevertheless replied + with one of those royal pleasantries whose sweetness is more formidable + than the anger of a rebuke. One of the King’s most intimate advisers took + an opportunity of going up to the fortune-seeking Vendeen, and made him + understand by a keen and polite hint that the time had not yet come for + settling accounts with the sovereign; that there were bills of much longer + standing than his on the books, and there, no doubt, they would remain, as + part of the history of the Revolution. The Count prudently withdrew from + the venerable group, which formed a respectful semi-circle before the + august family; then, having extricated his sword, not without some + difficulty, from among the lean legs which had got mixed up with it, he + crossed the courtyard of the Tuileries and got into the hackney cab he had + left on the quay. With the restive spirit, which is peculiar to the + nobility of the old school, in whom still survives the memory of the + League and the day of the Barricades (in 1588), he bewailed himself in his + cab, loudly enough to compromise him, over the change that had come over + the Court. “Formerly,” he said to himself, “every one could speak freely + to the King of his own little affairs; the nobles could ask him a favor, + or for money, when it suited them, and nowadays one cannot recover the + money advanced for his service without raising a scandal! By Heaven! the + cross of Saint-Louis and the rank of brigadier-general will not make good + the three hundred thousand livres I have spent, out and out, on the royal + cause. I must speak to the King, face to face, in his own room.” + </p> + <p> + This scene cooled Monsieur de Fontaine’s ardor all the more effectually + because his requests for an interview were never answered. And, indeed, he + saw the upstarts of the Empire obtaining some of the offices reserved, + under the old monarchy, for the highest families. + </p> + <p> + “All is lost!” he exclaimed one morning. “The King has certainly never + been other than a revolutionary. But for Monsieur, who never derogates, + and is some comfort to his faithful adherents, I do not know what hands + the crown of France might not fall into if things are to go on like this. + Their cursed constitutional system is the worst possible government, and + can never suit France. Louis XVIII. and Monsieur Beugnot spoiled + everything at Saint Ouen.” + </p> + <p> + The Count, in despair, was preparing to retire to his estate, abandoning, + with dignity, all claims to repayment. At this moment the events of the + 20th March (1815) gave warning of a fresh storm, threatening to overwhelm + the legitimate monarch and his defenders. Monsieur de Fontaine, like one + of those generous souls who do not dismiss a servant in a torrent of rain; + borrowed on his lands to follow the routed monarchy, without knowing + whether this complicity in emigration would prove more propitious to him + than his past devotion. But when he perceived that the companions of the + King’s exile were in higher favor than the brave men who had protested, + sword in hand, against the establishment of the republic, he may perhaps + have hoped to derive greater profit from this journey into a foreign land + than from active and dangerous service in the heart of his own country. + Nor was his courtier-like calculation one of these rash speculations which + promise splendid results on paper, and are ruinous in effect. He was—to + quote the wittiest and most successful of our diplomates—one of the + faithful five hundred who shared the exile of the Court at Ghent, and one + of the fifty thousand who returned with it. During the short banishment of + royalty, Monsieur de Fontaine was so happy as to be employed by Louis + XVIII., and found more than one opportunity of giving him proofs of great + political honesty and sincere attachment. One evening, when the King had + nothing better to do, he recalled Monsieur de Fontaine’s witticism at the + Tuileries. The old Vendeen did not let such a happy chance slip; he told + his history with so much vivacity that a king, who never forgot anything, + might remember it at a convenient season. The royal amateur of literature + also observed the elegant style given to some notes which the discreet + gentleman had been invited to recast. This little success stamped Monsieur + de Fontaine on the King’s memory as one of the loyal servants of the + Crown. + </p> + <p> + At the second restoration the Count was one of those special envoys who + were sent throughout the departments charged with absolute jurisdiction + over the leaders of revolt; but he used his terrible powers with + moderation. As soon as the temporary commission was ended, the High + Provost found a seat in the Privy Council, became a deputy, spoke little, + listened much, and changed his opinions very considerably. Certain + circumstances, unknown to historians, brought him into such intimate + relations with the Sovereign, that one day, as he came in, the shrewd + monarch addressed him thus: “My friend Fontaine, I shall take care never + to appoint you to be director-general, or minister. Neither you nor I, as + employees, could keep our place on account of our opinions. Representative + government has this advantage; it saves Us the trouble We used to have, of + dismissing Our Secretaries of State. Our Council is a perfect inn-parlor, + whither public opinion sometimes sends strange travelers; however, We can + always find a place for Our faithful adherents.” + </p> + <p> + This ironical speech was introductory to a rescript giving Monsieur de + Fontaine an appointment as administrator in the office of Crown lands. As + a consequence of the intelligent attention with which he listened to his + royal Friend’s sarcasms, his name always rose to His Majesty’s lips when a + commission was to be appointed of which the members were to receive a + handsome salary. He had the good sense to hold his tongue about the favor + with which he was honored, and knew how to entertain the monarch in those + familiar chats in which Louis XVIII. delighted as much as in a + well-written note, by his brilliant manner of repeating political + anecdotes, and the political or parliamentary tittle-tattle—if the + expression may pass—which at that time was rife. It is well known + that he was immensely amused by every detail of his Gouvernementabilite—a + word adopted by his facetious Majesty. + </p> + <p> + Thanks to the Comte de Fontaine’s good sense, wit, and tact, every member + of his numerous family, however young, ended, as he jestingly told his + Sovereign, in attaching himself like a silkworm to the leaves of the + Pay-List. Thus, by the King’s intervention, his eldest son found a high + and fixed position as a lawyer. The second, before the restoration a mere + captain, was appointed to the command of a legion on the return from + Ghent; then, thanks to the confusion of 1815, when the regulations were + evaded, he passed into the bodyguard, returned to a line regiment, and + found himself after the affair of the Trocadero a lieutenant-general with + a commission in the Guards. The youngest, appointed sous-prefet, ere long + became a legal official and director of a municipal board of the city of + Paris, where he was safe from changes in Legislature. These bounties, + bestowed without parade, and as secret as the favor enjoyed by the Count, + fell unperceived. Though the father and his three sons each had sinecures + enough to enjoy an income in salaries almost equal to that of a chief of + department, their political good fortune excited no envy. In those early + days of the constitutional system, few persons had very precise ideas of + the peaceful domain of the civil service, where astute favorites managed + to find an equivalent for the demolished abbeys. Monsieur le Comte de + Fontaine, who till lately boasted that he had not read the Charter, and + displayed such indignation at the greed of courtiers, had, before long, + proved to his august master that he understood, as well as the King + himself, the spirit and resources of the representative system. At the + same time, notwithstanding the established careers open to his three sons, + and the pecuniary advantages derived from four official appointments, + Monsieur de Fontaine was the head of too large a family to be able to + re-establish his fortune easily and rapidly. + </p> + <p> + His three sons were rich in prospects, in favor, and in talent; but he had + three daughters, and was afraid of wearying the monarch’s benevolence. It + occurred to him to mention only one by one, these virgins eager to light + their torches. The King had too much good taste to leave his work + incomplete. The marriage of the eldest with a Receiver-General, Planat de + Baudry, was arranged by one of those royal speeches which cost nothing and + are worth millions. One evening, when the Sovereign was out of spirits, he + smiled on hearing of the existence of another Demoiselle de Fontaine, for + whom he found a husband in the person of a young magistrate, of inferior + birth, no doubt, but wealthy, and whom he created Baron. When, the year + after, the Vendeen spoke of Mademoiselle Emilie de Fontaine, the King + replied in his thin sharp tones, “Amicus Plato sed magis amica Natio.” + Then, a few days later, he treated his “friend Fontaine” to a quatrain, + harmless enough, which he styled an epigram, in which he made fun of these + three daughters so skilfully introduced, under the form of a trinity. Nay, + if report is to be believed, the monarch had found the point of the jest + in the Unity of the three Divine Persons. + </p> + <p> + “If your Majesty would only condescend to turn the epigram into an + epithalamium?” said the Count, trying to turn the sally to good account. + </p> + <p> + “Though I see the rhyme of it, I fail to see the reason,” retorted the + King, who did not relish any pleasantry, however mild, on the subject of + his poetry. + </p> + <p> + From that day his intercourse with Monsieur de Fontaine showed less + amenity. Kings enjoy contradicting more than people think. Like most + youngest children, Emilie de Fontaine was a Benjamin spoilt by almost + everybody. The King’s coolness, therefore, caused the Count all the more + regret, because no marriage was ever so difficult to arrange as that of + this darling daughter. To understand all the obstacles we must make our + way into the fine residence where the official was housed at the expense + of the nation. Emilie had spent her childhood on the family estate, + enjoying the abundance which suffices for the joys of early youth; her + lightest wishes had been law to her sisters, her brothers, her mother, and + even her father. All her relations doted on her. Having come to years of + discretion just when her family was loaded with the favors of fortune, the + enchantment of life continued. The luxury of Paris seemed to her just as + natural as a wealth of flowers or fruit, or as the rural plenty which had + been the joy of her first years. Just as in her childhood she had never + been thwarted in the satisfaction of her playful desires, so now, at + fourteen, she was still obeyed when she rushed into the whirl of fashion. + </p> + <p> + Thus, accustomed by degrees to the enjoyment of money, elegance of dress, + of gilded drawing-rooms and fine carriages, became as necessary to her as + the compliments of flattery, sincere or false, and the festivities and + vanities of court life. Like most spoiled children, she tyrannized over + those who loved her, and kept her blandishments for those who were + indifferent. Her faults grew with her growth, and her parents were to + gather the bitter fruits of this disastrous education. At the age of + nineteen Emilie de Fontaine had not yet been pleased to make a choice from + among the many young men whom her father’s politics brought to his + entertainments. Though so young, she asserted in society all the freedom + of mind that a married woman can enjoy. Her beauty was so remarkable that, + for her, to appear in a room was to be its queen; but, like sovereigns, + she had no friends, though she was everywhere the object of attentions to + which a finer nature than hers might perhaps have succumbed. Not a man, + not even an old man, had it in him to contradict the opinions of a young + girl whose lightest look could rekindle love in the coldest heart. + </p> + <p> + She had been educated with a care which her sisters had not enjoyed; + painted pretty well, spoke Italian and English, and played the piano + brilliantly; her voice, trained by the best masters, had a ring in it + which made her singing irresistibly charming. Clever, and intimate with + every branch of literature, she might have made folks believe that, as + Mascarille says, people of quality come into the world knowing everything. + She could argue fluently on Italian or Flemish painting, on the Middle + Ages or the Renaissance; pronounced at haphazard on books new or old, and + could expose the defects of a work with a cruelly graceful wit. The + simplest thing she said was accepted by an admiring crowd as a fetfah of + the Sultan by the Turks. She thus dazzled shallow persons; as to deeper + minds, her natural tact enabled her to discern them, and for them she put + forth so much fascination that, under cover of her charms, she escaped + their scrutiny. This enchanting veneer covered a careless heart; the + opinion—common to many young girls—that no one else dwelt in a + sphere so lofty as to be able to understand the merits of her soul; and a + pride based no less on her birth than on her beauty. In the absence of the + overwhelming sentiment which, sooner or later, works havoc in a woman’s + heart, she spent her young ardor in an immoderate love of distinctions, + and expressed the deepest contempt for persons of inferior birth. + Supremely impertinent to all newly-created nobility, she made every effort + to get her parents recognized as equals by the most illustrious families + of the Saint-Germain quarter. + </p> + <p> + These sentiments had not escaped the observing eye of Monsieur de + Fontaine, who more than once, when his two elder girls were married, had + smarted under Emilie’s sarcasm. Logical readers will be surprised to see + the old Royalist bestowing his eldest daughter on a Receiver-General, + possessed, indeed, of some old hereditary estates, but whose name was not + preceded by the little word to which the throne owed so many partisans, + and his second to a magistrate too lately Baronified to obscure the fact + that his father had sold firewood. This noteworthy change in the ideas of + a noble on the verge of his sixtieth year—an age when men rarely + renounce their convictions—was due not merely to his unfortunate + residence in the modern Babylon, where, sooner or later, country folks all + get their corners rubbed down; the Comte de Fontaine’s new political + conscience was also a result of the King’s advice and friendship. The + philosophical prince had taken pleasure in converting the Vendeen to the + ideas required by the advance of the nineteenth century, and the new + aspect of the Monarchy. Louis XVIII. aimed at fusing parties as Napoleon + had fused things and men. The legitimate King, who was not less clever + perhaps than his rival, acted in a contrary direction. The last head of + the House of Bourbon was just as eager to satisfy the third estate and the + creations of the Empire, by curbing the clergy, as the first of the + Napoleons had been to attract the grand old nobility, or to endow the + Church. The Privy Councillor, being in the secret of these royal projects, + had insensibly become one of the most prudent and influential leaders of + that moderate party which most desired a fusion of opinion in the + interests of the nation. He preached the expensive doctrines of + constitutional government, and lent all his weight to encourage the + political see-saw which enabled his master to rule France in the midst of + storms. Perhaps Monsieur de Fontaine hoped that one of the sudden gusts of + legislation, whose unexpected efforts then startled the oldest + politicians, might carry him up to the rank of peer. One of his most rigid + principles was to recognize no nobility in France but that of the peerage—the + only families that might enjoy any privileges. + </p> + <p> + “A nobility bereft of privileges,” he would say, “is a tool without a + handle.” + </p> + <p> + As far from Lafayette’s party as he was from La Bourdonnaye’s, he ardently + engaged in the task of general reconciliation, which was to result in a + new era and splendid fortunes for France. He strove to convince the + families who frequented his drawing-room, or those whom he visited, how + few favorable openings would henceforth be offered by a civil or military + career. He urged mothers to give their boys a start in independent and + industrial professions, explaining that military posts and high Government + appointments must at last pertain, in a quite constitutional order, to the + younger sons of members of the peerage. According to him, the people had + conquered a sufficiently large share in practical government by its + elective assembly, its appointments to law-offices, and those of the + exchequer, which, said he, would always, as heretofore, be the natural + right of the distinguished men of the third estate. + </p> + <p> + These new notions of the head of the Fontaines, and the prudent matches + for his eldest girls to which they had led, met with strong resistance in + the bosom of his family. The Comtesse de Fontaine remained faithful to the + ancient beliefs which no woman could disown, who, through her mother, + belonged to the Rohans. Although she had for a while opposed the happiness + and fortune awaiting her two eldest girls, she yielded to those private + considerations which husband and wife confide to each other when their + heads are resting on the same pillow. Monsieur de Fontaine calmly pointed + out to his wife, by exact arithmetic that their residence in Paris, the + necessity for entertaining, the magnificence of the house which made up to + them now for the privations so bravely shared in La Vendee, and the + expenses of their sons, swallowed up the chief part of their income from + salaries. They must therefore seize, as a boon from heaven, the + opportunities which offered for settling their girls with such wealth. + Would they not some day enjoy sixty—eighty—a hundred thousand + francs a year? Such advantageous matches were not to be met with every day + for girls without a portion. Again, it was time that they should begin to + think of economizing, to add to the estate of Fontaine, and re-establish + the old territorial fortune of the family. The Countess yielded to such + cogent arguments, as every mother would have done in her place, though + perhaps with a better grace; but she declared that Emilie, at any rate, + should marry in such a way as to satisfy the pride she had unfortunately + contributed to foster in the girl’s young soul. + </p> + <p> + Thus events, which ought to have brought joy into the family, had + introduced a small leaven of discord. The Receiver-General and the young + lawyer were the objects of a ceremonious formality which the Countess and + Emilie contrived to create. This etiquette soon found even ampler + opportunity for the display of domestic tyranny; for Lieutenant-General de + Fontaine married Mademoiselle Mongenod, the daughter of a rich banker; the + President very sensibly found a wife in a young lady whose father, twice + or thrice a millionaire, had traded in salt; and the third brother, + faithful to his plebeian doctrines, married Mademoiselle Grossetete, the + only daughter of the Receiver-General at Bourges. The three sisters-in-law + and the two brothers-in-law found the high sphere of political bigwigs, + and the drawing-rooms of the Faubourg Saint-Germain, so full of charm and + of personal advantages, that they united in forming a little court round + the overbearing Emilie. This treaty between interest and pride was not, + however, so firmly cemented but that the young despot was, not + unfrequently, the cause of revolts in her little realm. Scenes, which the + highest circles would not have disowned, kept up a sarcastic temper among + all the members of this powerful family; and this, without seriously + diminishing the regard they professed in public, degenerated sometimes in + private into sentiments far from charitable. Thus the Lieutenant-General’s + wife, having become a Baronne, thought herself quite as noble as a + Kergarouet, and imagined that her good hundred thousand francs a year gave + her the right to be as impertinent as her sister-in-law Emilie, whom she + would sometimes wish to see happily married, as she announced that the + daughter of some peer of France had married Monsieur So-and-So with no + title to his name. The Vicomtesse de Fontaine amused herself by eclipsing + Emilie in the taste and magnificence that were conspicuous in her dress, + her furniture, and her carriages. The satirical spirit in which her + brothers and sisters sometimes received the claims avowed by Mademoiselle + de Fontaine roused her to wrath that a perfect hailstorm of sharp sayings + could hardly mitigate. So when the head of the family felt a slight chill + in the King’s tacit and precarious friendship, he trembled all the more + because, as a result of her sisters’ defiant mockery, his favorite + daughter had never looked so high. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of these circumstances, and at a moment when this petty + domestic warfare had become serious, the monarch, whose favor Monsieur de + Fontaine still hoped to regain, was attacked by the malady of which he was + to die. The great political chief, who knew so well how to steer his bark + in the midst of tempests, soon succumbed. Certain then of favors to come, + the Comte de Fontaine made every effort to collect the elite of marrying + men about his youngest daughter. Those who may have tried to solve the + difficult problem of settling a haughty and capricious girl, will + understand the trouble taken by the unlucky father. Such an affair, + carried out to the liking of his beloved child, would worthily crown the + career the Count had followed for these ten years at Paris. From the way + in which his family claimed salaries under every department, it might be + compared with the House of Austria, which, by intermarriage, threatens to + pervade Europe. The old Vendeen was not to be discouraged in bringing + forward suitors, so much had he his daughter’s happiness at heart, but + nothing could be more absurd than the way in which the impertinent young + thing pronounced her verdicts and judged the merits of her adorers. It + might have been supposed that, like a princess in the Arabian Nights, + Emilie was rich enough and beautiful enough to choose from among all the + princes in the world. Her objections were each more preposterous than the + last: one had too thick knees and was bow-legged, another was + short-sighted, this one’s name was Durand, that one limped, and almost all + were too fat. Livelier, more attractive, and gayer than ever after + dismissing two or three suitors, she rushed into the festivities of the + winter season, and to balls, where her keen eyes criticised the + celebrities of the day, delighted in encouraging proposals which she + invariably rejected. + </p> + <p> + Nature had bestowed on her all the advantages needed for playing the part + of Celimene. Tall and slight, Emilie de Fontaine could assume a dignified + or a frolicsome mien at her will. Her neck was rather long, allowing her + to affect beautiful attitudes of scorn and impertinence. She had + cultivated a large variety of those turns of the head and feminine + gestures, which emphasize so cruelly or so happily a hint of a smile. Fine + black hair, thick and strongly-arched eyebrows, lent her countenance an + expression of pride, to which her coquettish instincts and her mirror had + taught her to add terror by a stare, or gentleness by the softness of her + gaze, by the set of the gracious curve of her lips, by the coldness or the + sweetness of her smile. When Emilie meant to conquer a heart, her pure + voice did not lack melody; but she could also give it a sort of curt + clearness when she was minded to paralyze a partner’s indiscreet tongue. + Her colorless face and alabaster brow were like the limpid surface of a + lake, which by turns is rippled by the impulse of a breeze and recovers + its glad serenity when the air is still. More than one young man, a victim + to her scorn, accused her of acting a part; but she justified herself by + inspiring her detractors with the desire to please her, and then + subjecting them to all her most contemptuous caprice. Among the young + girls of fashion, not one knew better than she how to assume an air of + reserve when a man of talent was introduced to her, or how to display the + insulting politeness which treats an equal as an inferior, and to pour out + her impertinence on all who tried to hold their heads on a level with + hers. Wherever she went she seemed to be accepting homage rather than + compliments, and even in a princess her airs and manner would have + transformed the chair on which she sat into an imperial throne. + </p> + <p> + Monsieur de Fontaine discovered too late how utterly the education of the + daughter he loved had been ruined by the tender devotion of the whole + family. The admiration which the world is at first ready to bestow on a + young girl, but for which, sooner or later, it takes its revenge, had + added to Emilie’s pride, and increased her self-confidence. Universal + subservience had developed in her the selfishness natural to spoilt + children, who, like kings, make a plaything of everything that comes to + hand. As yet the graces of youth and the charms of talent hid these faults + from every eye; faults all the more odious in a woman, since she can only + please by self-sacrifice and unselfishness; but nothing escapes the eye of + a good father, and Monsieur de Fontaine often tried to explain to his + daughter the more important pages of the mysterious book of life. Vain + effort! He had to lament his daughter’s capricious indocility and ironical + shrewdness too often to persevere in a task so difficult as that of + correcting an ill-disposed nature. He contented himself with giving her + from time to time some gentle and kind advice; but he had the sorrow of + seeing his tenderest words slide from his daughter’s heart as if it were + of marble. A father’s eyes are slow to be unsealed, and it needed more + than one experience before the old Royalist perceived that his daughter’s + rare caresses were bestowed on him with an air of condescension. She was + like young children, who seem to say to their mother, “Make haste to kiss + me, that I may go to play.” In short, Emilie vouchsafed to be fond of her + parents. But often, by those sudden whims, which seem inexplicable in + young girls, she kept aloof and scarcely ever appeared; she complained of + having to share her father’s and mother’s heart with too many people; she + was jealous of every one, even of her brothers and sisters. Then, after + creating a desert about her, the strange girl accused all nature of her + unreal solitude and her wilful griefs. Strong in the experience of her + twenty years, she blamed fate, because, not knowing that the mainspring of + happiness is in ourselves, she demanded it of the circumstances of life. + She would have fled to the ends of the earth to escape a marriage such as + those of her two sisters, and nevertheless her heart was full of horrible + jealousy at seeing them married, rich, and happy. In short, she sometimes + led her mother—who was as much a victim to her vagaries as Monsieur + de Fontaine—to suspect that she had a touch of madness. + </p> + <p> + But such aberrations are quite inexplicable; nothing is commoner than this + unconfessed pride developed in the heart of young girls belonging to + families high in the social scale, and gifted by nature with great beauty. + They are almost all convinced that their mothers, now forty or fifty years + of age, can neither sympathize with their young souls, nor conceive of + their imaginings. They fancy that most mothers, jealous of their girls, + want to dress them in their own way with the premeditated purpose of + eclipsing them or robbing them of admiration. Hence, often, secret tears + and dumb revolt against supposed tyranny. In the midst of these woes, + which become very real though built on an imaginary basis, they have also + a mania for composing a scheme of life, while casting for themselves a + brilliant horoscope; their magic consists in taking their dreams for + reality; secretly, in their long meditations, they resolve to give their + heart and hand to none but the man possessing this or the other + qualification; and they paint in fancy a model to which, whether or no, + the future lover must correspond. After some little experience of life, + and the serious reflections that come with years, by dint of seeing the + world and its prosaic round, by dint of observing unhappy examples, the + brilliant hues of their ideal are extinguished. Then, one fine day, in the + course of events, they are quite astonished to find themselves happy + without the nuptial poetry of their day-dreams. It was on the strength of + that poetry that Mademoiselle Emilie de Fontaine, in her slender wisdom, + had drawn up a programme to which a suitor must conform to be excepted. + Hence her disdain and sarcasm. + </p> + <p> + “Though young and of an ancient family, he must be a peer of France,” said + she to herself. “I could not bear not to see my coat-of-arms on the panels + of my carriage among the folds of azure mantling, not to drive like the + princes down the broad walk of the Champs-Elysees on the days of + Longchamps in Holy Week. Besides, my father says that it will someday be + the highest dignity in France. He must be a soldier—but I reserve + the right of making him retire; and he must bear an Order, that the + sentries may present arms to us.” + </p> + <p> + And these rare qualifications would count for nothing if this creature of + fancy had not the most amiable temper, a fine figure, intelligence, and, + above all, if he were not slender. To be lean, a personal grace which is + but fugitive, especially under a representative government, was an + indispensable condition. Mademoiselle de Fontaine had an ideal standard + which was to be the model. A young man who at the first glance did not + fulfil the requisite conditions did not even get a second look. + </p> + <p> + “Good Heavens! see how fat he is!” was with her the utmost expression of + contempt. + </p> + <p> + To hear her, people of respectable corpulence were incapable of sentiment, + bad husbands, and unfit for civilized society. Though it is esteemed a + beauty in the East, to be fat seemed to her a misfortune for a woman; but + in a man it was a crime. These paradoxical views were amusing, thanks to a + certain liveliness of rhetoric. The Count felt nevertheless that by-and-by + his daughter’s affections, of which the absurdity would be evident to some + women who were not less clear-sighted than merciless, would inevitably + become a subject of constant ridicule. He feared lest her eccentric + notions should deviate into bad style. He trembled to think that the + pitiless world might already be laughing at a young woman who remained so + long on the stage without arriving at any conclusion of the drama she was + playing. More than one actor in it, disgusted by a refusal, seemed to be + waiting for the slightest turn of ill-luck to take his revenge. The + indifferent, the lookers-on were beginning to weary of it; admiration is + always exhausting to human beings. The old Vendeen knew better than any + one that if there is an art in choosing the right moment for coming + forward on the boards of the world, on those of the Court, in a + drawing-room or on the stage, it is still more difficult to quit them in + the nick of time. So during the first winter after the accession of + Charles X., he redoubled his efforts, seconded by his three sons and his + sons-in-law, to assemble in the rooms of his official residence the best + matches which Paris and the various deputations from departments could + offer. The splendor of his entertainments, the luxury of his dining-room, + and his dinners, fragrant with truffles, rivaled the famous banquets by + which the ministers of that time secured the vote of their parliamentary + recruits. + </p> + <p> + The Honorable Deputy was consequently pointed at as a most influential + corrupter of the legislative honesty of the illustrious Chamber that was + dying as it would seem of indigestion. A whimsical result! his efforts to + get his daughter married secured him a splendid popularity. He perhaps + found some covert advantage in selling his truffles twice over. This + accusation, started by certain mocking Liberals, who made up by their flow + of words for their small following in the Chamber, was not a success. The + Poitevin gentleman had always been so noble and so honorable, that he was + not once the object of those epigrams which the malicious journalism of + the day hurled at the three hundred votes of the centre, at the Ministers, + the cooks, the Directors-General, the princely Amphitryons, and the + official supporters of the Villele Ministry. + </p> + <p> + At the close of this campaign, during which Monsieur de Fontaine had on + several occasions brought out all his forces, he believed that this time + the procession of suitors would not be a mere dissolving view in his + daughter’s eyes; that it was time she should make up her mind. He felt a + certain inward satisfaction at having well fulfilled his duty as a father. + And having left no stone unturned, he hoped that, among so many hearts + laid at Emilie’s feet, there might be one to which her caprice might give + a preference. Incapable of repeating such an effort, and tired, too, of + his daughter’s conduct, one morning, towards the end of Lent, when the + business at the Chamber did not demand his vote, he determined to ask what + her views were. While his valet was artistically decorating his bald + yellow head with the delta of powder which, with the hanging “ailes de + pigeon,” completed his venerable style of hairdressing, Emilie’s father, + not without some secret misgivings, told his old servant to go and desire + the haughty damsel to appear in the presence of the head of the family. + </p> + <p> + “Joseph,” he added, when his hair was dressed, “take away that towel, draw + back the curtains, put those chairs square, shake the rug, and lay it + quite straight. Dust everything.—Now, air the room a little by + opening the window.” + </p> + <p> + The Count multiplied his orders, putting Joseph out of breath, and the old + servant, understanding his master’s intentions, aired and tidied the room, + of course the least cared for of any in the house, and succeeded in giving + a look of harmony to the files of bills, the letter-boxes, the books and + furniture of this sanctum, where the interests of the royal demesnes were + debated over. When Joseph had reduced this chaos to some sort of order, + and brought to the front such things as might be most pleasing to the eye, + as if it were a shop front, or such as by their color might give the + effect of a kind of official poetry, he stood for a minute in the midst of + the labyrinth of papers piled in some places even on the floor, admired + his handiwork, jerked his head, and went. + </p> + <p> + The anxious sinecure-holder did not share his retainer’s favorable + opinion. Before seating himself in his deep chair, whose rounded back + screened him from draughts, he looked round him doubtfully, examined his + dressing-gown with a hostile expression, shook off a few grains of snuff, + carefully wiped his nose, arranged the tongs and shovel, made the fire, + pulled up the heels of his slippers, pulled out his little queue of hair + which had lodged horizontally between the collar of his waistcoat and that + of his dressing-gown restoring it to its perpendicular position; then he + swept up the ashes of the hearth, which bore witness to a persistent + catarrh. Finally, the old man did not settle himself till he had once more + looked all over the room, hoping that nothing could give occasion to the + saucy and impertinent remarks with which his daughter was apt to answer + his good advice. On this occasion he was anxious not to compromise his + dignity as a father. He daintily took a pinch of snuff, cleared his throat + two or three times, as if he were about to demand a count out of the + House; then he heard his daughter’s light step, and she came in humming an + air from Il Barbiere. + </p> + <p> + “Good-morning, papa. What do you want with me so early?” Having sung these + words, as though they were the refrain of the melody, she kissed the + Count, not with the familiar tenderness which makes a daughter’s love so + sweet a thing, but with the light carelessness of a mistress confident of + pleasing, whatever she may do. + </p> + <p> + “My dear child,” said Monsieur de Fontaine, gravely, “I sent for you to + talk to you very seriously about your future prospects. You are at this + moment under the necessity of making such a choice of a husband as may + secure your durable happiness——” + </p> + <p> + “My good father,” replied Emilie, assuming her most coaxing tone of voice + to interrupt him, “it strikes me that the armistice on which we agreed as + to my suitors is not yet expired.” + </p> + <p> + “Emilie, we must to-day forbear from jesting on so important a matter. For + some time past the efforts of those who most truly love you, my dear + child, have been concentrated on the endeavor to settle you suitably; and + you would be guilty of ingratitude in meeting with levity those proofs of + kindness which I am not alone in lavishing on you.” + </p> + <p> + As she heard these words, after flashing a mischievously inquisitive look + at the furniture of her father’s study, the young girl brought forward the + armchair which looked as if it had been least used by petitioners, set it + at the side of the fireplace so as to sit facing her father, and settled + herself in so solemn an attitude that it was impossible not to read in it + a mocking intention, crossing her arms over the dainty trimmings of a + pelerine a la neige, and ruthlessly crushing its endless frills of white + tulle. After a laughing side glance at her old father’s troubled face, she + broke silence. + </p> + <p> + “I never heard you say, my dear father, that the Government issued its + instructions in its dressing-gown. However,” and she smiled, “that does + not matter; the mob are probably not particular. Now, what are your + proposals for legislation, and your official introductions?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall not always be able to make them, headstrong girl!—Listen, + Emilie. It is my intention no longer to compromise my reputation, which is + part of my children’s fortune, by recruiting the regiment of dancers + which, spring after spring, you put to rout. You have already been the + cause of many dangerous misunderstandings with certain families. I hope to + make you perceive more truly the difficulties of your position and of + ours. You are two-and-twenty, my dear child, and you ought to have been + married nearly three years since. Your brothers and your two sisters are + richly and happily provided for. But, my dear, the expenses occasioned by + these marriages, and the style of housekeeping you require of your mother, + have made such inroads on our income that I can hardly promise you a + hundred thousand francs as a marriage portion. From this day forth I shall + think only of providing for your mother, who must not be sacrificed to her + children. Emilie, if I were to be taken from my family Madame de Fontaine + could not be left at anybody’s mercy, and ought to enjoy the affluence + which I have given her too late as the reward of her devotion in my + misfortunes. You see, my child, that the amount of your fortune bears no + relation to your notions of grandeur. Even that would be such a sacrifice + as I have not hitherto made for either of my children; but they have + generously agreed not to expect in the future any compensation for the + advantage thus given to a too favored child.” + </p> + <p> + “In their position!” said Emilie, with an ironical toss of her head. + </p> + <p> + “My dear, do not so depreciate those who love you. Only the poor are + generous as a rule; the rich have always excellent reasons for not handing + over twenty thousand francs to a relation. Come, my child, do not pout, + let us talk rationally.—Among the young marrying men have you + noticed Monsieur de Manerville?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he minces his words—he says Zules instead of Jules; he is + always looking at his feet, because he thinks them small, and he gazes at + himself in the glass! Besides, he is fair. I don’t like fair men.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, Monsieur de Beaudenord?” + </p> + <p> + “He is not noble! he is ill made and stout. He is dark, it is true.—If + the two gentlemen could agree to combine their fortunes, and the first + would give his name and his figure to the second, who should keep his dark + hair, then—perhaps——” + </p> + <p> + “What can you say against Monsieur de Rastignac?” + </p> + <p> + “Madame de Nucingen has made a banker of him,” she said with meaning. + </p> + <p> + “And our cousin, the Vicomte de Portenduere?” + </p> + <p> + “A mere boy, who dances badly; besides, he has no fortune. And, after all, + papa, none of these people have titles. I want, at least, to be a countess + like my mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you seen no one, then, this winter——” + </p> + <p> + “No, papa.” + </p> + <p> + “What then do you want?” + </p> + <p> + “The son of a peer of France. + </p> + <p> + “My dear girl, you are mad!” said Monsieur de Fontaine, rising. + </p> + <p> + But he suddenly lifted his eyes to heaven, and seemed to find a fresh + fount of resignation in some religious thought; then, with a look of + fatherly pity at his daughter, who herself was moved, he took her hand, + pressed it, and said with deep feeling: “God is my witness, poor mistaken + child, I have conscientiously discharged my duty to you as a father—conscientiously, + do I say? Most lovingly, my Emilie. Yes, God knows! This winter I have + brought before you more than one good man, whose character, whose habits, + and whose temper were known to me, and all seemed worthy of you. My child, + my task is done. From this day forth you are the arbiter of your fate, and + I consider myself both happy and unhappy at finding myself relieved of the + heaviest of paternal functions. I know not whether you will for any long + time, now, hear a voice which, to you, has never been stern; but remember + that conjugal happiness does not rest so much on brilliant qualities and + ample fortune as on reciprocal esteem. This happiness is, in its nature, + modest, and devoid of show. So now, my dear, my consent is given + beforehand, whoever the son-in-law may be whom you introduce to me; but if + you should be unhappy, remember you will have no right to accuse your + father. I shall not refuse to take proper steps and help you, only your + choice must be serious and final. I will never twice compromise the + respect due to my white hairs.” + </p> + <p> + The affection thus expressed by her father, the solemn tones of his urgent + address, deeply touched Mademoiselle de Fontaine; but she concealed her + emotion, seated herself on her father’s knees—for he had dropped all + tremulous into his chair again—caressed him fondly, and coaxed him + so engagingly that the old man’s brow cleared. As soon as Emilie thought + that her father had got over his painful agitation, she said in a gentle + voice: “I have to thank you for your graceful attention, my dear father. + You have had your room set in order to receive your beloved daughter. You + did not perhaps know that you would find her so foolish and so headstrong. + But, papa, is it so difficult to get married to a peer of France? You + declared that they were manufactured by dozens. At least, you will not + refuse to advise me.” + </p> + <p> + “No, my poor child, no;—and more than once I may have occasion to + cry, ‘Beware!’ Remember that the making of peers is so recent a force in + our government machinery that they have no great fortunes. Those who are + rich look to becoming richer. The wealthiest member of our peerage has not + half the income of the least rich lord in the English Upper Chamber. Thus + all the French peers are on the lookout for great heiresses for their + sons, wherever they may meet with them. The necessity in which they find + themselves of marrying for money will certainly exist for at least two + centuries. + </p> + <p> + “Pending such a fortunate accident as you long for—and this + fastidiousness may cost you the best years of your life—your + attractions might work a miracle, for men often marry for love in these + days. When experience lurks behind so sweet a face as yours it may achieve + wonders. In the first place, have you not the gift of recognizing virtue + in the greater or smaller dimensions of a man’s body? This is no small + matter! To so wise a young person as you are, I need not enlarge on all + the difficulties of the enterprise. I am sure that you would never + attribute good sense to a stranger because he had a handsome face, or all + the virtues because he had a fine figure. And I am quite of your mind in + thinking that the sons of peers ought to have an air peculiar to + themselves, and perfectly distinctive manners. Though nowadays no external + sign stamps a man of rank, those young men will have, perhaps, to you the + indefinable something that will reveal it. Then, again, you have your + heart well in hand, like a good horseman who is sure his steed cannot + bolt. Luck be with you, my dear!” + </p> + <p> + “You are making game of me, papa. Well, I assure you that I would rather + die in Mademoiselle de Conde’s convent than not be the wife of a peer of + France.” + </p> + <p> + She slipped out of her father’s arms, and proud of being her own mistress, + went off singing the air of Cara non dubitare, in the “Matrimonio + Segreto.” + </p> + <p> + As it happened, the family were that day keeping the anniversary of a + family fete. At dessert Madame Planat, the Receiver-General’s wife, spoke + with some enthusiasm of a young American owning an immense fortune, who + had fallen passionately in love with her sister, and made through her the + most splendid proposals. + </p> + <p> + “A banker, I rather think,” observed Emilie carelessly. “I do not like + money dealers.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Emilie,” replied the Baron de Villaine, the husband of the Count’s + second daughter, “you do not like lawyers either; so that if you refuse + men of wealth who have not titles, I do not quite see in what class you + are to choose a husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Especially, Emilie, with your standard of slimness,” added the + Lieutenant-General. + </p> + <p> + “I know what I want,” replied the young lady. + </p> + <p> + “My sister wants a fine name, a fine young man, fine prospects, and a + hundred thousand francs a year,” said the Baronne de Fontaine. “Monsieur + de Marsay, for instance.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, my dear,” retorted Emilie, “that I do not mean to make such a + foolish marriage as some I have seen. Moreover, to put an end to these + matrimonial discussions, I hereby declare that I shall look on anyone who + talks to me of marriage as a foe to my peace of mind.” + </p> + <p> + An uncle of Emilie’s, a vice-admiral, whose fortune had just been + increased by twenty thousand francs a year in consequence of the Act of + Indemnity, and a man of seventy, feeling himself privileged to say hard + things to his grand-niece, on whom he doted, in order to mollify the + bitter tone of the discussion now exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Do not tease my poor little Emilie; don’t you see she is waiting till the + Duc de Bordeaux comes of age!” + </p> + <p> + The old man’s pleasantry was received with general laughter. + </p> + <p> + “Take care I don’t marry you, old fool!” replied the young girl, whose + last words were happily drowned in the noise. + </p> + <p> + “My dear children,” said Madame de Fontaine, to soften this saucy retort, + “Emilie, like you, will take no advice but her mother’s.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless me! I shall take no advice but my own in a matter which concerns no + one but myself,” said Mademoiselle de Fontaine very distinctly. + </p> + <p> + At this all eyes were turned to the head of the family. Every one seemed + anxious as to what he would do to assert his dignity. The venerable + gentleman enjoyed much consideration, not only in the world; happier than + many fathers, he was also appreciated by his family, all its members + having a just esteem for the solid qualities by which he had been able to + make their fortunes. Hence he was treated with the deep respect which is + shown by English families, and some aristocratic houses on the continent, + to the living representatives of an ancient pedigree. Deep silence had + fallen; and the guests looked alternately from the spoilt girl’s proud and + sulky pout to the severe faces of Monsieur and Madame de Fontaine. + </p> + <p> + “I have made my daughter Emilie mistress of her own fate,” was the reply + spoken by the Count in a deep voice. + </p> + <p> + Relations and guests gazed at Mademoiselle de Fontaine with mingled + curiosity and pity. The words seemed to declare that fatherly affection + was weary of the contest with a character that the whole family knew to be + incorrigible. The sons-in-law muttered, and the brothers glanced at their + wives with mocking smiles. From that moment every one ceased to take any + interest in the haughty girl’s prospects of marriage. Her old uncle was + the only person who, as an old sailor, ventured to stand on her tack, and + take her broadsides, without ever troubling himself to return her fire. + </p> + <p> + When the fine weather was settled, and after the budget was voted, the + whole family—a perfect example of the parliamentary families on the + northern side of the Channel who have a footing in every government + department, and ten votes in the House of Commons—flew away like a + brood of young birds to the charming neighborhoods of Aulnay, Antony, and + Chatenay. The wealthy Receiver-General had lately purchased in this part + of the world a country-house for his wife, who remained in Paris only + during the session. Though the fair Emilie despised the commonalty, her + feeling was not carried so far as to scorn the advantages of a fortune + acquired in a profession; so she accompanied her sister to the sumptuous + villa, less out of affection for the members of her family who were + visiting there, than because fashion has ordained that every woman who has + any self-respect must leave Paris in the summer. The green seclusion of + Sceaux answered to perfection the requirements of good style and of the + duties of an official position. + </p> + <p> + As it is extremely doubtful that the fame of the “Bal de Sceaux” should + ever have extended beyond the borders of the Department of the Seine, it + will be necessary to give some account of this weekly festivity, which at + that time was important enough to threaten to become an institution. The + environs of the little town of Sceaux enjoy a reputation due to the + scenery, which is considered enchanting. Perhaps it is quite ordinary, and + owes its fame only to the stupidity of the Paris townsfolk, who, emerging + from the stony abyss in which they are buried, would find something to + admire in the flats of La Beauce. However, as the poetic shades of Aulnay, + the hillsides of Antony, and the valley of the Bieve are peopled with + artists who have traveled far, by foreigners who are very hard to please, + and by a great many pretty women not devoid of taste, it is to be supposed + that the Parisians are right. But Sceaux possesses another attraction not + less powerful to the Parisian. In the midst of a garden whence there are + delightful views, stands a large rotunda open on all sides, with a light, + spreading roof supported on elegant pillars. This rural baldachino + shelters a dancing-floor. The most stuck-up landowners of the neighborhood + rarely fail to make an excursion thither once or twice during the season, + arriving at this rustic palace of Terpsichore either in dashing parties on + horseback, or in the light and elegant carriages which powder the + philosophical pedestrian with dust. The hope of meeting some women of + fashion, and of being seen by them—and the hope, less often + disappointed, of seeing young peasant girls, as wily as judges—crowds + the ballroom at Sceaux with numerous swarms of lawyers’ clerks, of the + disciples of Aesculapius, and other youths whose complexions are kept pale + and moist by the damp atmosphere of Paris back-shops. And a good many + bourgeois marriages have had their beginning to the sound of the band + occupying the centre of this circular ballroom. If that roof could speak, + what love-stories could it not tell! + </p> + <p> + This interesting medley gave the Sceaux balls at that time a spice of more + amusement than those of two or three places of the same kind near Paris; + and it had incontestable advantages in its rotunda, and the beauty of its + situation and its gardens. Emilie was the first to express a wish to play + at being COMMON FOLK at this gleeful suburban entertainment, and promised + herself immense pleasure in mingling with the crowd. Everybody wondered at + her desire to wander through such a mob; but is there not a keen pleasure + to grand people in an incognito? Mademoiselle de Fontaine amused herself + with imagining all these town-bred figures; she fancied herself leaving + the memory of a bewitching glance and smile stamped on more than one + shopkeeper’s heart, laughed beforehand at the damsels’ airs, and sharpened + her pencils for the scenes she proposed to sketch in her satirical album. + Sunday could not come soon enough to satisfy her impatience. + </p> + <p> + The party from the Villa Planat set out on foot, so as not to betray the + rank of the personages who were about to honor the ball with their + presence. They dined early. And the month of May humored this aristocratic + escapade by one of its finest evenings. Mademoiselle de Fontaine was quite + surprised to find in the rotunda some quadrilles made up of persons who + seemed to belong to the upper classes. Here and there, indeed, were some + young men who look as though they must have saved for a month to shine for + a day; and she perceived several couples whose too hearty glee suggested + nothing conjugal; still, she could only glean instead of gathering a + harvest. She was amused to see that pleasure in a cotton dress was so very + like pleasure robed in satin, and that the girls of the middle class + danced quite as well as ladies—nay, sometimes better. Most of the + women were simply and suitably dressed. Those who in this assembly + represented the ruling power, that is to say, the country-folk, kept apart + with wonderful politeness. In fact, Mademoiselle Emilie had to study the + various elements that composed the mixture before she could find any + subject for pleasantry. But she had not time to give herself up to + malicious criticism, or opportunity for hearing many of the startling + speeches which caricaturists so gladly pick up. The haughty young lady + suddenly found a flower in this wide field—the metaphor is + reasonable—whose splendor and coloring worked on her imagination + with all the fascination of novelty. It often happens that we look at a + dress, a hanging, a blank sheet of paper, with so little heed that we do + not at first detect a stain or a bright spot which afterwards strikes the + eye as though it had come there at the very instant when we see it; and by + a sort of moral phenomenon somewhat resembling this, Mademoiselle de + Fontaine discovered in a young man the external perfection of which she + had so long dreamed. + </p> + <p> + Seated on one of the clumsy chairs which marked the boundary line of the + circular floor, she had placed herself at the end of the row formed by the + family party, so as to be able to stand up or push forward as her fancy + moved her, treating the living pictures and groups in the hall as if she + were in a picture gallery; impertinently turning her eye-glass on persons + not two yards away, and making her remarks as though she were criticising + or praising a study of a head, a painting of genre. Her eyes, after + wandering over the vast moving picture, were suddenly caught by this + figure, which seemed to have been placed on purpose in one corner of the + canvas, and in the best light, like a person out of all proportion with + the rest. + </p> + <p> + The stranger, alone and absorbed in thought, leaned lightly against one of + the columns that supported the roof; his arms were folded, and he leaned + slightly on one side as though he had placed himself there to have his + portrait taken by a painter. His attitude, though full of elegance and + dignity, was devoid of affectation. Nothing suggested that he had half + turned his head, and bent it a little to the right like Alexander, or Lord + Byron, and some other great men, for the sole purpose of attracting + attention. His fixed gaze followed a girl who was dancing, and betrayed + some strong feeling. His slender, easy frame recalled the noble + proportions of the Apollo. Fine black hair curled naturally over a high + forehead. At a glance Mademoiselle de Fontaine observed that his linen was + fine, his gloves fresh, and evidently bought of a good maker, and his feet + were small and well shod in boots of Irish kid. He had none of the vulgar + trinkets displayed by the dandies of the National Guard or the Lovelaces + of the counting-house. A black ribbon, to which an eye-glass was attached, + hung over a waistcoat of the most fashionable cut. Never had the + fastidious Emilie seen a man’s eyes shaded by such long, curled lashes. + Melancholy and passion were expressed in this face, and the complexion was + of a manly olive hue. His mouth seemed ready to smile, unbending the + corners of eloquent lips; but this, far from hinting at gaiety, revealed + on the contrary a sort of pathetic grace. There was too much promise in + that head, too much distinction in his whole person, to allow of one’s + saying, “What a handsome man!” or “What a fine man!” One wanted to know + him. The most clear-sighted observer, on seeing this stranger, could not + have helped taking him for a clever man attracted to this rural festivity + by some powerful motive. + </p> + <p> + All these observations cost Emilie only a minute’s attention, during which + the privileged gentleman under her severe scrutiny became the object of + her secret admiration. She did not say to herself, “He must be a peer of + France!” but “Oh, if only he is noble, and he surely must be——” + Without finishing her thought, she suddenly rose, and followed by her + brother the General, she made her way towards the column, affecting to + watch the merry quadrille; but by a stratagem of the eye, familiar to + women, she lost not a gesture of the young man as she went towards him. + The stranger politely moved to make way for the newcomers, and went to + lean against another pillar. Emilie, as much nettled by his politeness as + she might have been by an impertinence, began talking to her brother in a + louder voice than good taste enjoined; she turned and tossed her head, + gesticulated eagerly, and laughed for no particular reason, less to amuse + her brother than to attract the attention of the imperturbable stranger. + None of her little arts succeeded. Mademoiselle de Fontaine then followed + the direction in which his eyes were fixed, and discovered the cause of + his indifference. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of the quadrille, close in front of them, a pale girl was + dancing; her face was like one of the divinities which Girodet has + introduced into his immense composition of French Warriors received by + Ossian. Emilie fancied that she recognized her as a distinguished milady + who for some months had been living on a neighboring estate. Her partner + was a lad of about fifteen, with red hands, and dressed in nankeen + trousers, a blue coat, and white shoes, which showed that the damsel’s + love of dancing made her easy to please in the matter of partners. Her + movements did not betray her apparent delicacy, but a faint flush already + tinged her white cheeks, and her complexion was gaining color. + Mademoiselle de Fontaine went nearer, to be able to examine the young lady + at the moment when she returned to her place, while the side couples in + their turn danced the figure. But the stranger went up to the pretty + dancer, and leaning over, said in a gentle but commanding tone: + </p> + <p> + “Clara, my child, do not dance any more.” + </p> + <p> + Clara made a little pouting face, bent her head, and finally smiled. When + the dance was over, the young man wrapped her in a cashmere shawl with a + lover’s care, and seated her in a place sheltered from the wind. Very soon + Mademoiselle de Fontaine, seeing them rise and walk round the place as if + preparing to leave, found means to follow them under pretence of admiring + the views from the garden. Her brother lent himself with malicious + good-humor to the divagations of her rather eccentric wanderings. Emilie + then saw the attractive couple get into an elegant tilbury, by which stood + a mounted groom in livery. At the moment when, from his high seat, the + young man was drawing the reins even, she caught a glance from his eye + such as a man casts aimlessly at the crowd; and then she enjoyed the + feeble satisfaction of seeing him turn his head to look at her. The young + lady did the same. Was it from jealousy? + </p> + <p> + “I imagine you have now seen enough of the garden,” said her brother. “We + may go back to the dancing.” + </p> + <p> + “I am ready,” said she. “Do you think the girl can be a relation of Lady + Dudley’s?” + </p> + <p> + “Lady Dudley may have some male relation staying with her,” said the Baron + de Fontaine; “but a young girl!—No!” + </p> + <p> + Next day Mademoiselle de Fontaine expressed a wish to take a ride. Then + she gradually accustomed her old uncle and her brothers to escorting her + in very early rides, excellent, she declared for her health. She had a + particular fancy for the environs of the hamlet where Lady Dudley was + living. Notwithstanding her cavalry manoeuvres, she did not meet the + stranger so soon as the eager search she pursued might have allowed her to + hope. She went several times to the “Bal de Sceaux” without seeing the + young Englishman who had dropped from the skies to pervade and beautify + her dreams. Though nothing spurs on a young girl’s infant passion so + effectually as an obstacle, there was a time when Mademoiselle de Fontaine + was on the point of giving up her strange and secret search, almost + despairing of the success of an enterprise whose singularity may give some + idea of the boldness of her temper. In point of fact, she might have + wandered long about the village of Chatenay without meeting her Unknown. + The fair Clara—since that was the name Emilie had overheard—was + not English, and the stranger who escorted her did not dwell among the + flowery and fragrant bowers of Chatenay. + </p> + <p> + One evening Emilie, out riding with her uncle, who, during the fine + weather, had gained a fairly long truce from the gout, met Lady Dudley. + The distinguished foreigner had with her in her open carriage Monsieur + Vandenesse. Emilie recognized the handsome couple, and her suppositions + were at once dissipated like a dream. Annoyed, as any woman must be whose + expectations are frustrated, she touched up her horse so suddenly that her + uncle had the greatest difficulty in following her, she had set off at + such a pace. + </p> + <p> + “I am too old, it would seem, to understand these youthful spirits,” said + the old sailor to himself as he put his horse to a canter; “or perhaps + young people are not what they used to be. But what ails my niece? Now she + is walking at a foot-pace like a gendarme on patrol in the Paris streets. + One might fancy she wanted to outflank that worthy man, who looks to me + like an author dreaming over his poetry, for he has, I think, a notebook + in his hand. My word, I am a great simpleton! Is not that the very young + man we are in search of!” + </p> + <p> + At this idea the old admiral moderated his horse’s pace so as to follow + his niece without making any noise. He had played too many pranks in the + years 1771 and soon after, a time of our history when gallantry was held + in honor, not to guess at once that by the merest chance Emilie had met + the Unknown of the Sceaux gardens. In spite of the film which age had + drawn over his gray eyes, the Comte de Kergarouet could recognize the + signs of extreme agitation in his niece, under the unmoved expression she + tried to give to her features. The girl’s piercing eyes were fixed in a + sort of dull amazement on the stranger, who quietly walked on in front of + her. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that’s it,” thought the sailor. “She is following him as a pirate + follows a merchantman. Then, when she has lost sight of him, she will be + in despair at not knowing who it is she is in love with, and whether he is + a marquis or a shopkeeper. Really these young heads need an old fogy like + me always by their side...” + </p> + <p> + He unexpectedly spurred his horse in such a way as to make his niece’s + bolt, and rode so hastily between her and the young man on foot that he + obliged him to fall back on to the grassy bank which rose from the + roadside. Then, abruptly drawing up, the Count exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Couldn’t you get out of the way?” + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon, monsieur. But I did not know that it lay with me to + apologize to you because you almost rode me down.” + </p> + <p> + “There, enough of that, my good fellow!” replied the sailor harshly, in a + sneering tone that was nothing less than insulting. At the same time the + Count raised his hunting-crop as if to strike his horse, and touched the + young fellow’s shoulder, saying, “A liberal citizen is a reasoner; every + reasoner should be prudent.” + </p> + <p> + The young man went up the bankside as he heard the sarcasm; then he + crossed his arms, and said in an excited tone of voice, “I cannot suppose, + monsieur, as I look at your white hairs, that you still amuse yourself by + provoking duels——” + </p> + <p> + “White hairs!” cried the sailor, interrupting him. “You lie in your + throat. They are only gray.” + </p> + <p> + A quarrel thus begun had in a few seconds become so fierce that the + younger man forgot the moderation he had tried to preserve. Just as the + Comte de Kergarouet saw his niece coming back to them with every sign of + the greatest uneasiness, he told his antagonist his name, bidding him keep + silence before the young lady entrusted to his care. The stranger could + not help smiling as he gave a visiting card to the old man, desiring him + to observe that he was living at a country-house at Chevreuse; and, after + pointing this out to him, he hurried away. + </p> + <p> + “You very nearly damaged that poor young counter-jumper, my dear,” said + the Count, advancing hastily to meet Emilie. “Do you not know how to hold + your horse in?—And there you leave me to compromise my dignity in + order to screen your folly; whereas if you had but stopped, one of your + looks, or one of your pretty speeches—one of those you can make so + prettily when you are not pert—would have set everything right, even + if you had broken his arm.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear uncle, it was your horse, not mine, that caused the + accident. I really think you can no longer ride; you are not so good a + horseman as you were last year.—But instead of talking nonsense——” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, by Gad! Is it nothing to be so impertinent to your uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “Ought we not to go on and inquire if the young man is hurt? He is + limping, uncle, only look!” + </p> + <p> + “No, he is running; I rated him soundly.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, uncle; I know you there!” + </p> + <p> + “Stop,” said the Count, pulling Emilie’s horse by the bridle, “I do not + see the necessity of making advances to some shopkeeper who is only too + lucky to have been thrown down by a charming young lady, or the commander + of La Belle-Poule.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you think he is anything so common, my dear uncle? He seems to me + to have very fine manners.” + </p> + <p> + “Every one has manners nowadays, my dear.” + </p> + <p> + “No, uncle, not every one has the air and style which come of the habit of + frequenting drawing-rooms, and I am ready to lay a bet with you that the + young man is of noble birth.” + </p> + <p> + “You had not long to study him.” + </p> + <p> + “No, but it is not the first time I have seen him.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor is it the first time you have looked for him,” replied the admiral + with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + Emilie colored. Her uncle amused himself for some time with her + embarrassment; then he said: “Emilie, you know that I love you as my own + child, precisely because you are the only member of the family who has the + legitimate pride of high birth. Devil take it, child, who could have + believed that sound principles would become so rare? Well, I will be your + confidant. My dear child, I see that his young gentleman is not + indifferent to you. Hush! All the family would laugh at us if we sailed + under the wrong flag. You know what that means. We two will keep our + secret, and I promise to bring him straight into the drawing-room.” + </p> + <p> + “When, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “To-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear uncle, I am not committed to anything?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing whatever, and you may bombard him, set fire to him, and leave him + to founder like an old hulk if you choose. He won’t be the first, I + fancy?” + </p> + <p> + “You ARE kind, uncle!” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the Count got home he put on his glasses, quietly took the card + out of his pocket, and read, “Maximilien Longueville, Rue de Sentier.” + </p> + <p> + “Make yourself happy, my dear niece,” he said to Emilie, “you may hook him + with any easy conscience; he belongs to one of our historical families, + and if he is not a peer of France, he infallibly will be.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know so much?” + </p> + <p> + “That is my secret.” + </p> + <p> + “Then do you know his name?” + </p> + <p> + The old man bowed his gray head, which was not unlike a gnarled oak-stump, + with a few leaves fluttering about it, withered by autumnal frosts; and + his niece immediately began to try the ever-new power of her coquettish + arts. Long familiar with the secret of cajoling the old man, she lavished + on him the most childlike caresses, the tenderest names; she even went so + far as to kiss him to induce him to divulge so important a secret. The old + man, who spent his life in playing off these scenes on his niece, often + paying for them with a present of jewelry, or by giving her his box at the + opera, this time amused himself with her entreaties, and, above all, her + caresses. But as he spun out this pleasure too long, Emilie grew angry, + passed from coaxing to sarcasm and sulks; then, urged by curiosity, she + recovered herself. The diplomatic admiral extracted a solemn promise from + his niece that she would for the future be gentler, less noisy, and less + wilful, that she would spend less, and, above all, tell him everything. + The treaty being concluded, and signed by a kiss impressed on Emilie’s + white brow, he led her into a corner of the room, drew her on to his knee, + held the card under the thumbs so as to hide it, and then uncovered the + letters one by one, spelling the name of Longueville; but he firmly + refused to show her anything more. + </p> + <p> + This incident added to the intensity of Mademoiselle de Fontaine’s secret + sentiment, and during chief part of the night she evolved the most + brilliant pictures from the dreams with which she had fed her hopes. At + last, thanks to chance, to which she had so often appealed, Emilie could + now see something very unlike a chimera at the fountain-head of the + imaginary wealth with which she gilded her married life. Ignorant, as all + young girls are, of the perils of love and marriage, she was passionately + captivated by the externals of marriage and love. Is not this as much as + to say that her feeling had birth like all the feelings of extreme youth—sweet + but cruel mistakes, which exert a fatal influence on the lives of young + girls so inexperienced as to trust their own judgment to take care of + their future happiness? + </p> + <p> + Next morning, before Emilie was awake, her uncle had hastened to + Chevreuse. On recognizing, in the courtyard of an elegant little villa, + the young man he had so determinedly insulted the day before, he went up + to him with the pressing politeness of men of the old court. + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear sir, who could have guessed that I should have a brush, at + the age of seventy-three, with the son, or the grandson, of one of my best + friends. I am a vice-admiral, monsieur; is not that as much as to say that + I think no more of fighting a duel than of smoking a cigar? Why, in my + time, no two young men could be intimate till they had seen the color of + their blood! But ‘sdeath, sir, last evening, sailor-like, I had taken a + drop too much grog on board, and I ran you down. Shake hands; I would + rather take a hundred rebuffs from a Longueville than cause his family the + smallest regret.” + </p> + <p> + However coldly the young man tried to behave to the Comte de Kergarouet, + he could not resist the frank cordiality of his manner, and presently gave + him his hand. + </p> + <p> + “You were going out riding,” said the Count. “Do not let me detain you. + But, unless you have other plans, I beg you will come to dinner to-day at + the Villa Planat. My nephew, the Comte de Fontaine, is a man it is + essential that you should know. Ah, ha! And I propose to make up to you + for my clumsiness by introducing you to five of the prettiest women in + Paris. So, so, young man, your brow is clearing! I am fond of young + people, and I like to see them happy. Their happiness reminds me of the + good times of my youth, when adventures were not lacking, any more than + duels. We were gay dogs then! Nowadays you think and worry over + everything, as though there had never been a fifteenth and a sixteenth + century.” + </p> + <p> + “But, monsieur, are we not in the right? The sixteenth century only gave + religious liberty to Europe, and the nineteenth will give it political lib——” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we will not talk politics. I am a perfect old woman—ultra you + see. But I do not hinder young men from being revolutionary, so long as + they leave the King at liberty to disperse their assemblies.” + </p> + <p> + When they had gone a little way, and the Count and his companion were in + the heart of the woods, the old sailor pointed out a slender young birch + sapling, pulled up his horse, took out one of his pistols, and the bullet + was lodged in the heart of the tree, fifteen paces away. + </p> + <p> + “You see, my dear fellow, that I am not afraid of a duel,” he said with + comical gravity, as he looked at Monsieur Longueville. + </p> + <p> + “Nor am I,” replied the young man, promptly cocking his pistol; he aimed + at the hole made by the Comte’s bullet, and sent his own close to it. + </p> + <p> + “That is what I call a well-educated man,” cried the admiral with + enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + During this ride with the youth, whom he already regarded as his nephew, + he found endless opportunities of catechizing him on all the trifles of + which a perfect knowledge constituted, according to his private code, an + accomplished gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “Have you any debts?” he at last asked of his companion, after many other + inquiries. + </p> + <p> + “No, monsieur.” + </p> + <p> + “What, you pay for all you have?” + </p> + <p> + “Punctually; otherwise we should lose our credit, and every sort of + respect.” + </p> + <p> + “But at least you have more than one mistress? Ah, you blush, comrade! + Well, manners have changed. All these notions of lawful order, Kantism, + and liberty have spoilt the young men. You have no Guimard now, no Duthe, + no creditors—and you know nothing of heraldry; why, my dear young + friend, you are not fully fledged. The man who does not sow his wild oats + in the spring sows them in the winter. If I have but eighty thousand + francs a year at the age of seventy, it is because I ran through the + capital at thirty. Oh! with my wife—in decency and honor. However, + your imperfections will not interfere with my introducing you at the + Pavillon Planat. Remember, you have promised to come, and I shall expect + you.” + </p> + <p> + “What an odd little old man!” said Longueville to himself. “He is so jolly + and hale; but though he wishes to seem a good fellow, I will not trust him + too far.” + </p> + <p> + Next day, at about four o’clock, when the house party were dispersed in + the drawing-rooms and billiard-room, a servant announced to the + inhabitants of the Villa Planat, “Monsieur DE Longueville.” On hearing the + name of the old admiral’s protege, every one, down to the player who was + about to miss his stroke, rushed in, as much to study Mademoiselle de + Fontaine’s countenance as to judge of this phoenix of men, who had earned + honorable mention to the detriment of so many rivals. A simple but elegant + style of dress, an air of perfect ease, polite manners, a pleasant voice + with a ring in it which found a response in the hearer’s heart-strings, + won the good-will of the family for Monsieur Longueville. He did not seem + unaccustomed to the luxury of the Receiver-General’s ostentatious mansion. + Though his conversation was that of a man of the world, it was easy to + discern that he had had a brilliant education, and that his knowledge was + as thorough as it was extensive. He knew so well the right thing to say in + a discussion on naval architecture, trivial, it is true, started by the + old admiral, that one of the ladies remarked that he must have passed + through the Ecole Polytechnique. + </p> + <p> + “And I think, madame,” he replied, “that I may regard it as an honor to + have got in.” + </p> + <p> + In spite of urgent pressing, he refused politely but firmly to be kept to + dinner, and put an end to the persistency of the ladies by saying that he + was the Hippocrates of his young sister, whose delicate health required + great care. + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur is perhaps a medical man?” asked one of Emilie’s sisters-in-law + with ironical meaning. + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur has left the Ecole Polytechnique,” Mademoiselle de Fontaine + kindly put in; her face had flushed with richer color, as she learned that + the young lady of the ball was Monsieur Longueville’s sister. + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear, he may be a doctor and yet have been to the Ecole + Polytechnique—is it not so, monsieur?” + </p> + <p> + “There is nothing to prevent it, madame,” replied the young man. + </p> + <p> + Every eye was on Emilie, who was gazing with uneasy curiosity at the + fascinating stranger. She breathed more freely when he added, not without + a smile, “I have not the honor of belonging to the medical profession; and + I even gave up going into the Engineers in order to preserve my + independence.” + </p> + <p> + “And you did well,” said the Count. “But how can you regard it as an honor + to be a doctor?” added the Breton nobleman. “Ah, my young friend, such a + man as you——” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur le Comte, I respect every profession that has a useful purpose.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, in that we agree. You respect those professions, I imagine, as a + young man respects a dowager.” + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Longueville made his visit neither too long nor too short. He + left at the moment when he saw that he had pleased everybody, and that + each one’s curiosity about him had been roused. + </p> + <p> + “He is a cunning rascal!” said the Count, coming into the drawing-room + after seeing him to the door. + </p> + <p> + Mademoiselle de Fontaine, who had been in the secret of this call, had + dressed with some care to attract the young man’s eye; but she had the + little disappointment of finding that he did not bestow on her so much + attention as she thought she deserved. The family were a good deal + surprised at the silence into which she had retired. Emilie generally + displayed all her arts for the benefit of newcomers, her witty prattle, + and the inexhaustible eloquence of her eyes and attitudes. Whether it was + that the young man’s pleasing voice and attractive manners had charmed + her, that she was seriously in love, and that this feeling had worked a + change in her, her demeanor had lost all its affectations. Being simple + and natural, she must, no doubt, have seemed more beautiful. Some of her + sisters, and an old lady, a friend of the family, saw in this behavior a + refinement of art. They supposed that Emilie, judging the man worthy of + her, intended to delay revealing her merits, so as to dazzle him suddenly + when she found that she pleased him. Every member of the family was + curious to know what this capricious creature thought of the stranger; but + when, during dinner, every one chose to endow Monsieur Longueville with + some fresh quality which no one else had discovered, Mademoiselle de + Fontaine sat for some time in silence. A sarcastic remark of her uncle’s + suddenly roused her from her apathy; she said, somewhat epigrammatically, + that such heavenly perfection must cover some great defect, and that she + would take good care how she judged so gifted a man at first sight. + </p> + <p> + “Those who please everybody, please nobody,” she added; “and the worst of + all faults is to have none.” + </p> + <p> + Like all girls who are in love, Emilie cherished the hope of being able to + hide her feelings at the bottom of her heart by putting the Argus-eyes + that watched on the wrong tack; but by the end of a fortnight there was + not a member of the large family party who was not in this little domestic + secret. When Monsieur Longueville called for the third time, Emilie + believed it was chiefly for her sake. This discovery gave her such + intoxicating pleasure that she was startled as she reflected on it. There + was something in it very painful to her pride. Accustomed as she was to be + the centre of her world, she was obliged to recognize a force that + attracted her outside herself; she tried to resist, but she could not + chase from her heart the fascinating image of the young man. + </p> + <p> + Then came some anxiety. Two of Monsieur Longueville’s qualities, very + adverse to general curiosity, and especially to Mademoiselle de + Fontaine’s, were unexpected modesty and discretion. He never spoke of + himself, of his pursuits, or of his family. The hints Emilie threw out in + conversation, and the traps she laid to extract from the young fellow some + facts concerning himself, he could evade with the adroitness of a + diplomatist concealing a secret. If she talked of painting, he responded + as a connoisseur; if she sat down to play, he showed without conceit that + he was a very good pianist; one evening he delighted all the party by + joining his delightful voice to Emilie’s in one of Cimarosa’s charming + duets. But when they tried to find out whether he were a professional + singer, he baffled them so pleasantly that he did not afford these women, + practised as they were in the art of reading feelings, the least chance of + discovering to what social sphere he belonged. However boldly the old + uncle cast the boarding-hooks over the vessel, Longueville slipped away + cleverly, so as to preserve the charm of mystery; and it was easy to him + to remain the “handsome Stranger” at the Villa, because curiosity never + overstepped the bounds of good breeding. + </p> + <p> + Emilie, distracted by this reserve, hoped to get more out of the sister + than the brother, in the form of confidences. Aided by her uncle, who was + as skilful in such manoeuvres as in handling a ship, she endeavored to + bring upon the scene the hitherto unseen figure of Mademoiselle Clara + Longueville. The family party at the Villa Planat soon expressed the + greatest desire to make the acquaintance of so amiable a young lady, and + to give her some amusement. An informal dance was proposed and accepted. + The ladies did not despair of making a young girl of sixteen talk. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the little clouds piled up by suspicion and created by + curiosity, a light of joy shone in Emilie’s soul, for she found life + delicious when thus intimately connected with another than herself. She + began to understand the relations of life. Whether it is that happiness + makes us better, or that she was too fully occupied to torment other + people, she became less caustic, more gentle, and indulgent. This change + in her temper enchanted and amazed her family. Perhaps, at last, her + selfishness was being transformed to love. It was a deep delight to her to + look for the arrival of her bashful and unconfessed adorer. Though they + had not uttered a word of passion, she knew that she was loved, and with + what art did she not lead the stranger to unlock the stores of his + information, which proved to be varied! She perceived that she, too, was + being studied, and that made her endeavor to remedy the defects her + education had encouraged. Was not this her first homage to love, and a + bitter reproach to herself? She desired to please, and she was enchanting; + she loved, and she was idolized. Her family, knowing that her pride would + sufficiently protect her, gave her enough freedom to enjoy the little + childish delights which give to first love its charm and its violence. + More than once the young man and Mademoiselle de Fontaine walked, + tete-a-tete, in the avenues of the garden, where nature was dressed like a + woman going to a ball. More than once they had those conversations, + aimless and meaningless, in which the emptiest phrases are those which + cover the deepest feelings. They often admired together the setting sun + and its gorgeous coloring. They gathered daisies to pull the petals off, + and sang the most impassioned duets, using the notes set down by Pergolesi + or Rossini as faithful interpreters to express their secrets. + </p> + <p> + The day of the dance came. Clara Longueville and her brother, whom the + servants persisted in honoring with the noble DE, were the principle + guests. For the first time in her life Mademoiselle de Fontaine felt + pleasure in a young girl’s triumph. She lavished on Clara in all sincerity + the gracious petting and little attentions which women generally give each + other only to excite the jealousy of men. Emilie, had, indeed, an object + in view; she wanted to discover some secrets. But, being a girl, + Mademoiselle Longueville showed even more mother-wit than her brother, for + she did not even look as if she were hiding a secret, and kept the + conversation to subjects unconnected with personal interests, while, at + the same time, she gave it so much charm that Mademoiselle de Fontaine was + almost envious, and called her “the Siren.” Though Emilie had intended to + make Clara talk, it was Clara, in fact, who questioned Emilie; she had + meant to judge her, and she was judged by her; she was constantly provoked + to find that she had betrayed her own character in some reply which Clara + had extracted from her, while her modest and candid manner prohibited any + suspicion of perfidy. There was a moment when Mademoiselle de Fontaine + seemed sorry for an ill-judged sally against the commonalty to which Clara + had led her. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” said the sweet child, “I have heard so much of you from + Maximilien that I had the keenest desire to know you, out of affection for + him; but is not a wish to know you a wish to love you?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Clara, I feared I might have displeased you by speaking thus of + people who are not of noble birth.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, be quite easy. That sort of discussion is pointless in these days. As + for me, it does not affect me. I am beside the question.” + </p> + <p> + Ambitious as the answer might seem, it filled Mademoiselle de Fontaine + with the deepest joy; for, like all infatuated people, she explained it, + as oracles are explained, in the sense that harmonized with her wishes; + she began dancing again in higher spirits than ever, as she watched + Longueville, whose figure and grace almost surpassed those of her + imaginary ideal. She felt added satisfaction in believing him to be well + born, her black eyes sparkled, and she danced with all the pleasure that + comes of dancing in the presence of the being we love. The couple had + never understood each other as well as at this moment; more than once they + felt their finger tips thrill and tremble as they were married in the + figures of the dance. + </p> + <p> + The early autumn had come to the handsome pair, in the midst of country + festivities and pleasures; they had abandoned themselves softly to the + tide of the sweetest sentiment in life, strengthening it by a thousand + little incidents which any one can imagine; for love is in some respects + always the same. They studied each other through it all, as much as lovers + can. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well; a flirtation never turned so quickly into a love match,” said + the old uncle, who kept an eye on the two young people as a naturalist + watches an insect in the microscope. + </p> + <p> + The speech alarmed Monsieur and Madame Fontaine. The old Vendeen had + ceased to be so indifferent to his daughter’s prospects as he had promised + to be. He went to Paris to seek information, and found none. Uneasy at + this mystery, and not yet knowing what might be the outcome of the inquiry + which he had begged a Paris friend to institute with reference to the + family of Longueville, he thought it his duty to warn his daughter to + behave prudently. The fatherly admonition was received with mock + submission spiced with irony. + </p> + <p> + “At least, my dear Emilie, if you love him, do not own it to him.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear father, I certainly do love him; but I will await your permission + before I tell him so.” + </p> + <p> + “But remember, Emilie, you know nothing of his family or his pursuits.” + </p> + <p> + “I may be ignorant, but I am content to be. But, father, you wished to see + me married; you left me at liberty to make my choice; my choice is + irrevocably made—what more is needful?” + </p> + <p> + “It is needful to ascertain, my dear, whether the man of your choice is + the son of a peer of France,” the venerable gentleman retorted + sarcastically. + </p> + <p> + Emilie was silent for a moment. She presently raised her head, looked at + her father, and said somewhat anxiously, “Are not the Longuevilles——?” + </p> + <p> + “They became extinct in the person of the old Duc de Rostein-Limbourg, who + perished on the scaffold in 1793. He was the last representative of the + last and younger branch.” + </p> + <p> + “But, papa, there are some very good families descended from bastards. The + history of France swarms with princes bearing the bar sinister on their + shields.” + </p> + <p> + “Your ideas are much changed,” said the old man, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The following day was the last that the Fontaine family were to spend at + the Pavillon Planat. Emilie, greatly disturbed by her father’s warning, + awaited with extreme impatience the hour at which young Longueville was in + the habit of coming, to wring some explanation from him. She went out + after dinner, and walked alone across the shrubbery towards an arbor fit + for lovers, where she knew that the eager youth would seek her; and as she + hastened thither she considered of the best way to discover so important a + matter without compromising herself—a rather difficult thing! + Hitherto no direct avowal had sanctioned the feelings which bound her to + this stranger. Like Maximilien, she had secretly enjoyed the sweetness of + first love; but both were equally proud, and each feared to confess that + love. + </p> + <p> + Maximilien Longueville, to whom Clara had communicated her not unfounded + suspicions as to Emilie’s character, was by turns carried away by the + violence of a young man’s passion, and held back by a wish to know and + test the woman to whom he would be entrusting his happiness. His love had + not hindered him from perceiving in Emilie the prejudices which marred her + young nature; but before attempting to counteract them, he wished to be + sure that she loved him, for he would no sooner risk the fate of his love + than of his life. He had, therefore, persistently kept a silence to which + his looks, his behavior, and his smallest actions gave the lie. + </p> + <p> + On her side, the self-respect natural to a young girl, augmented in + Mademoiselle de Fontaine by the monstrous vanity founded on her birth and + beauty, kept her from meeting the declaration half-way, which her growing + passion sometimes urged her to invite. Thus the lovers had instinctively + understood the situation without explaining to each other their secret + motives. There are times in life when such vagueness pleases youthful + minds. Just because each had postponed speaking too long, they seemed to + be playing a cruel game of suspense. He was trying to discover whether he + was beloved, by the effort any confession would cost his haughty mistress; + she every minute hoped that he would break a too respectful silence. + </p> + <p> + Emilie, seated on a rustic bench, was reflecting on all that had happened + in these three months full of enchantment. Her father’s suspicions were + the last that could appeal to her; she even disposed of them at once by + two or three of those reflections natural to an inexperienced girl, which, + to her, seemed conclusive. Above all, she was convinced that it was + impossible that she should deceive herself. All the summer through she had + not been able to detect in Maximilien a single gesture, or a single word, + which could indicate a vulgar origin or vulgar occupations; nay more, his + manner of discussing things revealed a man devoted to the highest + interests of the nation. “Besides,” she reflected, “an office clerk, a + banker, or a merchant, would not be at leisure to spend a whole season in + paying his addresses to me in the midst of woods and fields; wasting his + time as freely as a nobleman who has life before him free of all care.” + </p> + <p> + She had given herself up to meditations far more interesting to her than + these preliminary thoughts, when a slight rustling in the leaves announced + to her than Maximilien had been watching her for a minute, not probably + without admiration. + </p> + <p> + “Do you know that it is very wrong to take a young girl thus unawares?” + she asked him, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Especially when they are busy with their secrets,” replied Maximilien + archly. + </p> + <p> + “Why should I not have my secrets? You certainly have yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you really were thinking of your secrets?” he went on, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “No, I was thinking of yours. My own, I know.” + </p> + <p> + “But perhaps my secrets are yours, and yours mine,” cried the young man, + softly seizing Mademoiselle de Fontaine’s hand and drawing it through his + arm. + </p> + <p> + After walking a few steps they found themselves under a clump of trees + which the hues of the sinking sun wrapped in a haze of red and brown. This + touch of natural magic lent a certain solemnity to the moment. The young + man’s free and eager action, and, above all, the throbbing of his surging + heart, whose hurried beating spoke to Emilie’s arm, stirred her to an + emotion that was all the more disturbing because it was produced by the + simplest and most innocent circumstances. The restraint under which the + young girls of the upper class live gives incredible force to any + explosion of feeling, and to meet an impassioned lover is one of the + greatest dangers they can encounter. Never had Emilie and Maximilien + allowed their eyes to say so much that they dared never speak. Carried a + way by this intoxication, they easily forgot the petty stipulations of + pride, and the cold hesitancies of suspicion. At first, indeed, they could + only express themselves by a pressure of hands which interpreted their + happy thoughts. + </p> + <p> + After slowing pacing a few steps in long silence, Mademoiselle de Fontaine + spoke. “Monsieur, I have a question to ask you,” she said trembling, and + in an agitated voice. “But, remember, I beg, that it is in a manner + compulsory on me, from the rather singular position I am in with regard to + my family.” + </p> + <p> + A pause, terrible to Emilie, followed these sentences, which she had + almost stammered out. During the minute while it lasted, the girl, haughty + as she was, dared not meet the flashing eye of the man she loved, for she + was secretly conscious of the meanness of the next words she added: “Are + you of noble birth?” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the words were spoken she wished herself at the bottom of a + lake. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” Longueville gravely replied, and his face assumed a sort + of stern dignity, “I promise to answer you truly as soon as you shall have + answered in all sincerity a question I will put to you!”—He released + her arm, and the girl suddenly felt alone in the world, as he said: “What + is your object in questioning me as to my birth?” + </p> + <p> + She stood motionless, cold, and speechless. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” Maximilien went on, “let us go no further if we do not + understand each other. I love you,” he said, in a voice of deep emotion. + “Well, then,” he added, as he heard the joyful exclamation she could not + suppress, “why ask me if I am of noble birth?” + </p> + <p> + “Could he speak so if he were not?” cried a voice within her, which Emilie + believed came from the depths of her heart. She gracefully raised her + head, seemed to find new life in the young man’s gaze, and held out her + hand as if to renew the alliance. + </p> + <p> + “You thought I cared very much for dignities?” said she with keen + archness. + </p> + <p> + “I have no titles to offer my wife,” he replied, in a half-sportive, + half-serious tone. “But if I choose one of high rank, and among women whom + a wealthy home has accustomed to the luxury and pleasures of a fine + fortune, I know what such a choice requires of me. Love gives everything,” + he added lightly, “but only to lovers. Once married, they need something + more than the vault of heaven and the carpet of a meadow.” + </p> + <p> + “He is rich,” she reflected. “As to titles, perhaps he only wants to try + me. He has been told that I am mad about titles, and bent on marrying none + but a peer’s son. My priggish sisters have played me that trick.”—“I + assure you, monsieur,” she said aloud, “that I have had very extravagant + ideas about life and the world; but now,” she added pointedly, looking at + him in a perfectly distracting way, “I know where true riches are to be + found for a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “I must believe that you are speaking from the depths of your heart,” he + said, with gentle gravity. “But this winter, my dear Emilie, in less than + two months perhaps, I may be proud of what I shall have to offer you if + you care for the pleasures of wealth. This is the only secret I shall keep + locked here,” and he laid his hand on his heart, “for on its success my + happiness depends. I dare not say ours.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, ours!” + </p> + <p> + Exchanging such sweet nothings, they slowly made their way back to rejoin + the company. Mademoiselle de Fontaine had never found her lover more + amiable or wittier: his light figure, his engaging manners, seemed to her + more charming than ever, since the conversation which had made her to some + extent the possessor of a heart worthy to be the envy of every woman. They + sang an Italian duet with so much expression that the audience applauded + enthusiastically. Their adieux were in a conventional tone, which + concealed their happiness. In short, this day had been to Emilie like a + chain binding her more closely than ever to the Stranger’s fate. The + strength and dignity he had displayed in the scene when they had confessed + their feelings had perhaps impressed Mademoiselle de Fontaine with the + respect without which there is no true love. + </p> + <p> + When she was left alone in the drawing-room with her father, the old man + went up to her affectionately, held her hands, and asked her whether she + had gained any light at to Monsieur Longueville’s family and fortune. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my dear father,” she replied, “and I am happier than I could have + hoped. In short, Monsieur de Longueville is the only man I could ever + marry.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Emilie,” said the Count, “then I know what remains for me to + do.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know of any impediment?” she asked, in sincere alarm. + </p> + <p> + “My dear child, the young man is totally unknown to me; but unless he is + not a man of honor, so long as you love him, he is as dear to me as a + son.” + </p> + <p> + “Not a man of honor!” exclaimed Emilie. “As to that, I am quite easy. My + uncle, who introduced him to us, will answer for him. Say, my dear uncle, + has he been a filibuster, an outlaw, a pirate?” + </p> + <p> + “I knew I should find myself in this fix!” cried the old sailor, waking + up. He looked round the room, but his niece had vanished “like + Saint-Elmo’s fires,” to use his favorite expression. + </p> + <p> + “Well, uncle,” Monsieur de Fontaine went on, “how could you hide from us + all you knew about this young man? You must have seen how anxious we have + been. Is Monsieur de Longueville a man of family?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know him from Adam or Eve,” said the Comte de Kergarouet. + “Trusting to that crazy child’s tact, I got him here by a method of my + own. I know that the boy shoots with a pistol to admiration, hunts well, + plays wonderfully at billiards, at chess, and at backgammon; he handles + the foils, and rides a horse like the late Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He + has a thorough knowledge of all our vintages. He is as good an + arithmetician as Bareme, draws, dances, and sings well. The devil’s in it! + what more do you want? If that is not a perfect gentleman, find me a + bourgeois who knows all this, or any man who lives more nobly than he + does. Does he do anything, I ask you? Does he compromise his dignity by + hanging about an office, bowing down before the upstarts you call + Directors-General? He walks upright. He is a man.—However, I have + just found in my waistcoat pocket the card he gave me when he fancied I + wanted to cut his throat, poor innocent. Young men are very simple-minded + nowadays! Here it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Rue du Sentier, No. 5,” said Monsieur de Fontaine, trying to recall among + all the information he had received, something which might concern the + stranger. “What the devil can it mean? Messrs. Palma, Werbrust & Co., + wholesale dealers in muslins, calicoes, and printed cotton goods, live + there.—Stay, I have it: Longueville the deputy has an interest in + their house. Well, but so far as I know, Longueville has but one son of + two-and-thirty, who is not at all like our man, and to whom he gave fifty + thousand francs a year that he might marry a minister’s daughter; he wants + to be made a peer like the rest of ‘em.—I never heard him mention + this Maximilien. Has he a daughter? What is this girl Clara? Besides, it + is open to any adventurer to call himself Longueville. But is not the + house of Palma, Werbrust & Co. half ruined by some speculation in + Mexico or the Indies? I will clear all this up.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak a soliloquy as if you were on the stage, and seem to account me + a cipher,” said the old admiral suddenly. “Don’t you know that if he is a + gentleman, I have more than one bag in my hold that will stop any leak in + his fortune?” + </p> + <p> + “As to that, if he is a son of Longueville’s, he will want nothing; but,” + said Monsieur de Fontaine, shaking his head from side to side, “his father + has not even washed off the stains of his origin. Before the Revolution he + was an attorney, and the DE he has since assumed no more belongs to him + than half of his fortune.” + </p> + <p> + “Pooh! pooh! happy those whose fathers were hanged!” cried the admiral + gaily. + </p> + <p> + Three or four days after this memorable day, on one of those fine mornings + in the month of November, which show the boulevards cleaned by the sharp + cold of an early frost, Mademoiselle de Fontaine, wrapped in a new style + of fur cape, of which she wished to set the fashion, went out with two of + her sisters-in-law, on whom she had been wont to discharge her most + cutting remarks. The three women were tempted to the drive, less by their + desire to try a very elegant carriage, and wear gowns which were to set + the fashion for the winter, than by their wish to see a cape which a + friend had observed in a handsome lace and linen shop at the corner of the + Rue de la Paix. As soon as they were in the shop the Baronne de Fontaine + pulled Emilie by the sleeve, and pointed out to her Maximilien Longueville + seated behind the desk, and engaged in paying out the change for a gold + piece to one of the workwomen with whom he seemed to be in consultation. + The “handsome stranger” held in his hand a parcel of patterns, which left + no doubt as to his honorable profession. + </p> + <p> + Emilie felt an icy shudder, though no one perceived it. Thanks to the good + breeding of the best society, she completely concealed the rage in her + heart, and answered her sister-in-law with the words, “I knew it,” with a + fulness of intonation and inimitable decision which the most famous + actress of the time might have envied her. She went straight up to the + desk. Longueville looked up, put the patterns in his pocket with + distracting coolness, bowed to Mademoiselle de Fontaine, and came forward, + looking at her keenly. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” he said to the shopgirl, who followed him, looking very + much disturbed, “I will send to settle that account; my house deals in + that way. But here,” he whispered into her ear, as he gave her a + thousand-franc note, “take this—it is between ourselves.—You + will forgive me, I trust, mademoiselle,” he added, turning to Emilie. “You + will kindly excuse the tyranny of business matters.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, monsieur, it seems to me that it is no concern of mine,” replied + Mademoiselle de Fontaine, looking at him with a bold expression of + sarcastic indifference which might have made any one believe that she now + saw him for the first time. + </p> + <p> + “Do you really mean it?” asked Maximilien in a broken voice. + </p> + <p> + Emilie turned her back upon him with amazing insolence. These words, + spoken in an undertone, had escaped the ears of her two sisters-in-law. + When, after buying the cape, the three ladies got into the carriage again, + Emilie, seated with her back to the horses, could not resist one last + comprehensive glance into the depths of the odious shop, where she saw + Maximilien standing with his arms folded, in the attitude of a man + superior to the disaster that has so suddenly fallen on him. Their eyes + met and flashed implacable looks. Each hoped to inflict a cruel wound on + the heart of a lover. In one instant they were as far apart as if one had + been in China and the other in Greenland. + </p> + <p> + Does not the breath of vanity wither everything? Mademoiselle de Fontaine, + a prey to the most violent struggle that can torture the heart of a young + girl, reaped the richest harvest of anguish that prejudice and + narrow-mindedness ever sowed in a human soul. Her face, but just now fresh + and velvety, was streaked with yellow lines and red patches; the paleness + of her cheeks seemed every now and then to turn green. Hoping to hide her + despair from her sisters, she would laugh as she pointed out some + ridiculous dress or passer-by; but her laughter was spasmodic. She was + more deeply hurt by their unspoken compassion than by any satirical + comments for which she might have revenged herself. She exhausted her wit + in trying to engage them in a conversation, in which she tried to expend + her fury in senseless paradoxes, heaping on all men engaged in trade the + bitterest insults and witticisms in the worst taste. + </p> + <p> + On getting home, she had an attack of fever, which at first assumed a + somewhat serious character. By the end of a month the care of her parents + and of the physician restored her to her family. + </p> + <p> + Every one hoped that this lesson would be severe enough to subdue Emilie’s + nature; but she insensibly fell into her old habits and threw herself + again into the world of fashion. She declared that there was no disgrace + in making a mistake. If she, like her father, had a vote in the Chamber, + she would move for an edict, she said, by which all merchants, and + especially dealers in calico, should be branded on the forehead, like + Berri sheep, down to the third generation. She wished that none but nobles + should have the right to wear the antique French costume, which was so + becoming to the courtiers of Louis XV. To hear her, it was a misfortune + for France, perhaps, that there was no outward and visible difference + between a merchant and a peer of France. And a hundred more such + pleasantries, easy to imagine, were rapidly poured out when any accident + brought up the subject. + </p> + <p> + But those who loved Emilie could see through all her banter a tinge of + melancholy. It was clear that Maximilien Longueville still reigned over + that inexorable heart. Sometimes she would be as gentle as she had been + during the brief summer that had seen the birth of her love; sometimes, + again, she was unendurable. Every one made excuses for her inequality of + temper, which had its source in sufferings at once secret and known to + all. The Comte de Kergarouet had some influence over her, thanks to his + increased prodigality, a kind of consolation which rarely fails of its + effect on a Parisian girl. + </p> + <p> + The first ball at which Mademoiselle de Fontaine appeared was at the + Neapolitan ambassador’s. As she took her place in the first quadrille she + saw, a few yards away from her, Maximilien Longueville, who nodded + slightly to her partner. + </p> + <p> + “Is that young man a friend of yours?” she asked, with a scornful air. + </p> + <p> + “Only my brother,” he replied. + </p> + <p> + Emilie could not help starting. “Ah!” he continued, “and he is the noblest + soul living——” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know my name?” asked Emilie, eagerly interrupting him. + </p> + <p> + “No, mademoiselle. It is a crime, I confess, not to remember a name which + is on every lip—I ought to say in every heart. But I have a valid + excuse. I have but just arrived from Germany. My ambassador, who is in + Paris on leave, sent me here this evening to take care of his amiable + wife, whom you may see yonder in that corner.” + </p> + <p> + “A perfect tragic mask!” said Emilie, after looking at the ambassadress. + </p> + <p> + “And yet that is her ballroom face!” said the young man, laughing. “I + shall have to dance with her! So I thought I might have some + compensation.” Mademoiselle de Fontaine courtesied. “I was very much + surprised,” the voluble young secretary went on, “to find my brother here. + On arriving from Vienna I heard that the poor boy was ill in bed; and I + counted on seeing him before coming to this ball; but good policy will + always allow us to indulge family affection. The Padrona della case would + not give me time to call on my poor Maximilien.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, monsieur, your brother is not, like you, in diplomatic employment.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the attache, with a sigh, “the poor fellow sacrificed himself + for me. He and my sister Clara have renounced their share of my father’s + fortune to make an eldest son of me. My father dreams of a peerage, like + all who vote for the ministry. Indeed, it is promised him,” he added in an + undertone. “After saving up a little capital my brother joined a banking + firm, and I hear he has just effected a speculation in Brazil which may + make him a millionaire. You see me in the highest spirits at having been + able, by my diplomatic connections, to contribute to his success. I am + impatiently expecting a dispatch from the Brazilian Legation, which will + help to lift the cloud from his brow. What do you think of him?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, your brother’s face does not look to me like that of a man busied + with money matters.” + </p> + <p> + The young attache shot a scrutinizing glance at the apparently calm face + of his partner. + </p> + <p> + “What!” he exclaimed, with a smile, “can young ladies read the thoughts of + love behind the silent brow?” + </p> + <p> + “Your brother is in love, then?” she asked, betrayed into a movement of + curiosity. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; my sister Clara, to whom he is as devoted as a mother, wrote to me + that he had fallen in love this summer with a very pretty girl; but I have + had no further news of the affair. Would you believe that the poor boy + used to get up at five in the morning, and went off to settle his business + that he might be back by four o’clock in the country where the lady was? + In fact, he ruined a very nice thoroughbred that I had just given him. + Forgive my chatter, mademoiselle; I have but just come home from Germany. + For a year I have heard no decent French, I have been weaned from French + faces, and satiated with Germans, to such a degree that, I believe, in my + patriotic mania, I could talk to the chimeras on a French candlestick. And + if I talk with a lack of reserve unbecoming in a diplomatist, the fault is + yours, mademoiselle. Was it not you who pointed out my brother? When he is + the theme I become inexhaustible. I should like to proclaim to all the + world how good and generous he is. He gave up no less than a hundred + thousand francs a year, the income from the Longueville property.” + </p> + <p> + If Mademoiselle de Fontaine had the benefit of these important + revelations, it was partly due to the skill with which she continued to + question her confiding partner from the moment when she found that he was + the brother of her scorned lover. + </p> + <p> + “And could you, without being grieved, see your brother selling muslin and + calico?” asked Emilie, at the end of the third figure of the quadrille. + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that?” asked the attache. “Thank God, though I pour out a + flood of words, I have already acquired the art of not telling more than I + intend, like all the other diplomatic apprentices I know.” + </p> + <p> + “You told me, I assure you.” + </p> + <p> + Monsieur de Longueville looked at Mademoiselle de Fontaine with a surprise + that was full of perspicacity. A suspicion flashed upon him. He glanced + inquiringly from his brother to his partner, guessed everything, clasped + his hands, fixed his eyes on the ceiling, and began to laugh, saying, “I + am an idiot! You are the handsomest person here; my brother keeps stealing + glances at you; he is dancing in spite of his illness, and you pretend not + to see him. Make him happy,” he added, as he led her back to her old + uncle. “I shall not be jealous, but I shall always shiver a little at + calling you my sister——” + </p> + <p> + The lovers, however, were to prove as inexorable to each other as they + were to themselves. At about two in the morning, refreshments were served + in an immense corridor, where, to leave persons of the same coterie free + to meet each other, the tables were arranged as in a restaurant. By one of + those accidents which always happen to lovers, Mademoiselle de Fontaine + found herself at a table next to that at which the more important guests + were seated. Maximilien was of the group. Emilie, who lent an attentive + ear to her neighbors’ conversation, overheard one of those dialogues into + which a young woman so easily falls with a young man who has the grace and + style of Maximilien Longueville. The lady talking to the young banker was + a Neapolitan duchess, whose eyes shot lightning flashes, and whose skin + had the sheen of satin. The intimate terms on which Longueville affected + to be with her stung Mademoiselle de Fontaine all the more because she had + just given her lover back twenty times as much tenderness as she had ever + felt for him before. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, monsieur, in my country true love can make every kind of sacrifice,” + the Duchess was saying, in a simper. + </p> + <p> + “You have more passion than Frenchwomen,” said Maximilien, whose burning + gaze fell on Emilie. “They are all vanity.” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur,” Emilie eagerly interposed, “is it not very wrong to calumniate + your own country? Devotion is to be found in every nation.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you imagine, mademoiselle,” retorted the Italian, with a sardonic + smile, “that a Parisian would be capable of following her lover all over + the world?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, madame, let us understand each other. She would follow him to a + desert and live in a tent but not to sit in a shop.” + </p> + <p> + A disdainful gesture completed her meaning. Thus, under the influence of + her disastrous education, Emile for the second time killed her budding + happiness, and destroyed its prospects of life. Maximilien’s apparent + indifference, and a woman’s smile, had wrung from her one of those + sarcasms whose treacherous zest always let her astray. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” said Longueville, in a low voice, under cover of the noise + made by the ladies as they rose from the table, “no one will ever more + ardently desire your happiness than I; permit me to assure you of this, as + I am taking leave of you. I am starting for Italy in a few days.” + </p> + <p> + “With a Duchess, no doubt?” + </p> + <p> + “No, but perhaps with a mortal blow.” + </p> + <p> + “Is not that pure fancy?” asked Emilie, with an anxious glance. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he replied. “There are wounds which never heal.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not to go,” said the girl, imperiously, and she smiled. + </p> + <p> + “I shall go,” replied Maximilien, gravely. + </p> + <p> + “You will find me married on your return, I warn you,” she said + coquettishly. + </p> + <p> + “I hope so.” + </p> + <p> + “Impertinent wretch!” she exclaimed. “How cruel a revenge!” + </p> + <p> + A fortnight later Maximilien set out with his sister Clara for the warm + and poetic scenes of beautiful Italy, leaving Mademoiselle de Fontaine a + prey to the most vehement regret. The young Secretary to the Embassy took + up his brother’s quarrel, and contrived to take signal vengeance on + Emilie’s disdain by making known the occasion of the lovers’ separation. + He repaid his fair partner with interest all the sarcasm with which she + had formerly attacked Maximilien, and often made more than one Excellency + smile by describing the fair foe of the counting-house, the amazon who + preached a crusade against bankers, the young girl whose love had + evaporated before a bale of muslin. The Comte de Fontaine was obliged to + use his influence to procure an appointment to Russia for Auguste + Longueville in order to protect his daughter from the ridicule heaped upon + her by this dangerous young persecutor. + </p> + <p> + Not long after, the Ministry being compelled to raise a levy of peers to + support the aristocratic party, trembling in the Upper Chamber under the + lash of an illustrious writer, gave Monsieur Guiraudin de Longueville a + peerage, with the title of Vicomte. Monsieur de Fontaine also obtained a + peerage, the reward due as much to his fidelity in evil days as to his + name, which claimed a place in the hereditary Chamber. + </p> + <p> + About this time Emilie, now of age, made, no doubt, some serious + reflections on life, for her tone and manners changed perceptibly. Instead + of amusing herself by saying spiteful things to her uncle, she lavished on + him the most affectionate attentions; she brought him his stick with a + persevering devotion that made the cynical smile, she gave him her arm, + rode in his carriage, and accompanied him in all his drives; she even + persuaded him that she liked the smell of tobacco, and read him his + favorite paper La Quotidienne in the midst of clouds of smoke, which the + malicious old sailor intentionally blew over her; she learned piquet to be + a match for the old count; and this fantastic damsel even listened without + impatience to his periodical narratives of the battles of the Belle-Poule, + the manoeuvres of the Ville de Paris, M. de Suffren’s first expedition, or + the battle of Aboukir. + </p> + <p> + Though the old sailor had often said that he knew his longitude and + latitude too well to allow himself to be captured by a young corvette, one + fine morning Paris drawing-rooms heard the news of the marriage of + Mademoiselle de Fontaine to the Comte de Kergarouet. The young Countess + gave splendid entertainments to drown thought; but she, no doubt, found a + void at the bottom of the whirlpool; luxury was ineffectual to disguise + the emptiness and grief of her sorrowing soul; for the most part, in spite + of the flashes of assumed gaiety, her beautiful face expressed unspoken + melancholy. Emilie appeared, however, full of attentions and consideration + for her old husband, who, on retiring to his rooms at night, to the sounds + of a lively band, would often say, “I do not know myself. Was I to wait + till the age of seventy-two to embark as pilot on board the Belle Emilie + after twenty years of matrimonial galleys?” + </p> + <p> + The conduct of the young Countess was marked by such strictness that the + most clear-sighted criticism had no fault to find with her. Lookers on + chose to think that the vice-admiral had reserved the right of disposing + of his fortune to keep his wife more tightly in hand; but this was a + notion as insulting to the uncle as to the niece. Their conduct was indeed + so delicately judicious that the men who were most interested in guessing + the secrets of the couple could never decide whether the old Count + regarded her as a wife or as a daughter. He was often heard to say that he + had rescued his niece as a castaway after shipwreck; and that, for his + part, he had never taken a mean advantage of hospitality when he had saved + an enemy from the fury of the storm. Though the Countess aspired to reign + in Paris and tried to keep pace with Mesdames the Duchesses de + Maufrigneuse and du Chaulieu, the Marquises d’Espard and d’Aiglemont, the + Comtesses Feraud, de Montcornet, and de Restaud, Madame de Camps, and + Mademoiselle des Touches, she did not yield to the addresses of the young + Vicomte de Portenduere, who made her his idol. + </p> + <p> + Two years after her marriage, in one of the old drawing-rooms in the + Faubourg Saint-Germain, where she was admired for her character, worthy of + the old school, Emilie heard the Vicomte de Longueville announced. In the + corner of the room where she was sitting, playing piquet with the Bishop + of Persepolis, her agitation was not observed; she turned her head and saw + her former lover come in, in all the freshness of youth. His father’s + death, and then that of his brother, killed by the severe climate of + Saint-Petersburg, had placed on Maximilien’s head the hereditary plumes of + the French peer’s hat. His fortune matched his learning and his merits; + only the day before his youthful and fervid eloquence had dazzled the + Assembly. At this moment he stood before the Countess, free, and graced + with all the advantages she had formerly required of her ideal. Every + mother with a daughter to marry made amiable advances to a man gifted with + the virtues which they attributed to him, as they admired his attractive + person; but Emilie knew, better than any one, that the Vicomte de + Longueville had the steadfast nature in which a wise woman sees a + guarantee of happiness. She looked at the admiral who, to use his favorite + expression, seemed likely to hold his course for a long time yet, and + cursed the follies of her youth. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Monsieur de Persepolis said with Episcopal grace: “Fair + lady, you have thrown away the king of hearts—I have won. But do not + regret your money. I keep it for my little seminaries.” + </p> + <p> + PARIS, December 1829. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + ADDENDUM + </h2> + <p> + The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Beaudenord, Godefroid de + A Distinguished Provincial at Paris + The Firm of Nucingen + + Dudley, Lady Arabella + The Lily of the Valley + The Magic Skin + The Secrets of a Princess + A Daughter of Eve + Letters of Two Brides + + Fontaine, Comte de + The Chouans + Modeste Mignon + Cesar Birotteau + The Government Clerks + + Kergarouet, Comte de + The Purse + Ursule Mirouet + + Louis XVIII., Louis-Stanislas-Xavier + The Chouans + The Seamy Side of History + The Gondreville Mystery + Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life + The Lily of the Valley + Colonel Chabert + The Government Clerks + + Manerville, Paul Francois-Joseph, Comte de + The Thirteen + Lost Illusions + A Distinguished Provincial at Paris + A Marriage Settlement + + Marsay, Henri de + The Thirteen + The Unconscious Humorists + Another Study of Woman + The Lily of the Valley + Father Goriot + Jealousies of a Country Town + Ursule Mirouet + A Marriage Settlement + Lost Illusions + A Distinguished Provincial at Paris + Letters of Two Brides + Modest Mignon + The Secrets of a Princess + The Gondreville Mystery + A Daughter of Eve + + Palma (banker) + The Firm of Nucingen + Cesar Birotteau + Gobseck + Lost Illusions + A Distinguished Provincial at Paris + + Portenduere, Vicomte Savinien de + Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life + Ursule Mirouet + Beatrix + + Rastignac, Eugene de + Father Goriot + A Distinguished Provincial at Paris + Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life + The Interdiction + A Study of Woman + Another Study of Woman + The Magic Skin + The Secrets of a Princess + A Daughter of Eve + The Gondreville Mystery + The Firm of Nucingen + Cousin Betty + The Member for Arcis + The Unconscious Humorists + + Vandenesse, Marquise Charles de (Emilie de Fontaine) + Cesar Birotteau + Ursule Mirouet + A Daughter of Eve +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1305 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |