第1章

Mostpersonshaveencountered，incertainprovincesinFrance，anumberofChevaliersdeValois。OnelivedinNormandy，anotheratBourges，athird(withwhomwehaveheretodo)flourishedinAlencon，anddoubtlesstheSouthpossessesothers。ThenumberoftheValesiantribeis，however，ofnoconsequencetothepresenttale。Allthesechevaliers，amongwhomweredoubtlesssomewhowereValoisasLouisXIV。wasBourbon，knewsolittleofoneanotherthatitwasnotadvisabletospeaktooneabouttheothers。TheywereallwillingtoleavetheBourbonsintranquilpossessionofthethroneofFrance；foritwastooplainlyestablishedthatHenriIV。becamekingforwantofamaleheirinthefirstOrleansbranchcalledtheValois。IfthereareanyValois，theydescendfromCharlesdeValois，Ducd\'Angouleme，sonofCharlesIX。andMarieTouchet，themalelinefromwhomended，untilprooftothecontrarybeproduced，inthepersonoftheAbbedeRothelin。TheValois-Saint-Remy，whodescendedfromHenriII。，alsocametoanendinthefamousLamothe-ValoisimplicatedintheaffairoftheDiamondNecklace。 Eachofthesemanychevaliers，ifwemaybelievereports，was，liketheChevalierofAlencon，anoldgentleman，tall，thin，withered，andmoneyless。HeofBourgeshademigrated；heofTourainehidhimself；heofAlenconfoughtinLaVendeeand\"chouanized\"somewhat。TheyouthofthelatterwasspendinParis，wheretheRevolutionovertookhimwhenthirtyyearsofageinthemidstofhisconquestsandgallantries。 TheChevalierdeValoisofAlenconwasacceptedbythehighestaristocracyoftheprovinceasagenuineValois；andhedistinguishedhimself，liketherestofhishomonyms，byexcellentmanners，whichprovedhimamanofsociety。Hedinedouteveryday，andplayedcardseveryevening。Hewasthoughtwitty，thankstohisfoibleforrelatingaquantityofanecdotesonthereignofLouisXV。andthebeginningsoftheRevolution。Whenthesetaleswereheardforthefirsttime，theywereheldtobewellnarrated。Hehad，moreover，thegreatmeritofnotrepeatinghispersonalbonsmotsandofneverspeakingofhislove-affairs，thoughhissmilesandhisairsandgracesweredelightfullyindiscreet。TheworthygentlemanusedhisprivilegeasaVoltaireannobletostayawayfrommass；andgreatindulgencewasshowntohisirreligionbecauseofhisdevotiontotheroyalcause。 Oneofhisparticulargraceswastheairandmanner(imitated，nodoubt，fromMole)withwhichhetooksnufffromagoldboxadornedwiththeportraitofthePrincessGoritza，——acharmingHungarian，celebratedforherbeautyinthelastyearsofthereignofLouisXV。 Havingbeenattachedduringhisyouthtothatillustriousstranger，hestillmentionedherwithemotion。ForhersakehehadfoughtaduelwithMonsieurdeLauzun。 Thechevalier，nowfifty-eightyearsofage，ownedtoonlyfifty；andhemightwellallowhimselfthatinnocentdeception，for，amongtheotheradvantagesgrantedtofairthinpersons，hemanagedtopreservethestillyouthfulfigurewhichsavesmenaswellaswomenfromanappearanceofoldage。Yes，rememberthis:alloflife，orratheralltheelegancethatexpresseslife，isinthefigure。Amongthechevalier\'sotherpossessionsmustbecountedanenormousnosewithwhichnaturehadendowedhim。Thisnosevigorouslydividedapalefaceintotwosectionswhichseemedtohavenoknowledgeofeachother，foronesidewouldreddenundertheprocessofdigestion，whiletheothercontinuedwhite。 Thisfactisworthyofremarkataperiodwhenphysiologyissobusywiththehumanheart。Theincandescence，sotocallit，wasontheleftside。Thoughhislongslimlegs，supportingalankbody，andhispallidskin，werenotindicativeofhealth，MonsieurdeValoisatelikeanogreanddeclaredhehadamaladycalledintheprovinces\"hotliver，\"perhapstoexcusehismonstrousappetite。Thecircumstanceofhissingularflushconfirmedthisdeclaration；butinaregionwhererepastsaredevelopedonthelineofthirtyorfortydishesandlastfourhours，thechevalier\'sstomachwouldseemtohavebeenablessingbestowedbyProvidenceonthegoodtownofAlencon。Accordingtocertaindoctors，heatontheleftsidedenotesaprodigalheart。Thechevalier\'sgallantriesconfirmedthisscientificassertion，theresponsibilityforwhichdoesnotrest，fortunately，onthehistorian。 Inspiteofthesesymptoms，MonsieurdeValois\'constitutionwasvigorous，consequentlylong-lived。Ifhisliver\"heated，\"touseanold-fashionedword，hisheartwasnotlessinflammable。Hisfacewaswrinkledandhishairsilvered；butanintelligentobserverwouldhaverecognizedatoncethestigmataofpassionandthefurrowsofpleasurewhichappearedinthecrow\'s-feetandthemarches-du-palais，soprizedatthecourtofCythera。Everythingaboutthisdaintychevalierbespokethe\"ladies\'man。\"Hewassominuteinhisablutionsthathischeekswereapleasuretolookupon；theyseemedtohavebeenlavedinsomemiraculouswater。Thepartofhisskullwhichhishairrefusedtocovershonelikeivory。Hiseyebrows，likehishair，affectedyouthbythecareandregularitywithwhichtheywerecombed。Hisskin，alreadywhite，seemedtohavebeenextra-whitenedbysomesecretcompound。 Withoutusingperfumes，thechevalierexhaledacertainfragranceofyouth，thatrefreshedtheatmosphere。Hishands，whichwerethoseofagentleman，andwerecaredforlikethehandsofaprettywoman，attractedtheeyetotheirrosy，well-shapednails。Inshort，haditnotbeenforhismagisterialandstupendousnose，thechevaliermighthavebeenthoughtatrifletoodainty。 Wemustherecompelourselvestospoilthisportraitbytheavowalofalittleness。Thechevalierputcottoninhisears，andwore，appendedtothem，twolittleear-ringsrepresentingnegroes\'headsindiamonds，ofadmirableworkmanship。Heclungtothesesingularappendages，explainingthatsincehisearshadbeenboredhehadceasedtohaveheadaches(hehadhadheadaches)。Wedonotpresentthechevalierasanaccomplishedman；butsurelywecanpardon，inanoldcelibatewhoseheartsendssomuchbloodtohisleftcheek，theseadorablequalities，founded，perhaps，onsomesublimesecrethistory。 Besides，theChevalierdeValoisredeemedthosenegroes\'headsbysomanyothergracesthatsocietyfeltitselfsufficientlycompensated。 Hereallytooksuchimmensetroubletoconcealhisageandgivepleasuretohisfriends。Inthefirstplace，wemustcallattentiontotheextremecarehegavetohislinen，theonlydistinctionthatwell- bredmencannowadaysexhibitintheirclothes。Thelinenofthechevalierwasinvariablyofafinenessandwhitenessthatweretrulyaristocratic。Asforhiscoat，thoughremarkableforitscleanliness，itwasalwayshalfworn-out，butwithoutspotsorcreases。Thepreservationofthatgarmentwassomethingmarvelloustothosewhonoticedthechevalier\'shigh-bredindifferencetoitsshabbiness。Hedidnotgosofarastoscrapetheseamswithglass，——arefinementinventedbythePrinceofWales；buthedidpracticetherudimentsofEnglishelegancewithapersonalsatisfactionlittleunderstoodbythepeopleofAlencon。Theworldowesagreatdealtopersonswhotakesuchpainstopleaseit。InthisthereiscertainlysomeaccomplishmentofthatmostdifficultpreceptoftheGospelaboutrenderinggoodforevil。 Thisfreshnessofablutionandalltheotherlittlecaresharmonizedcharminglywiththeblueeyes，theivoryteeth，andtheblondpersonoftheoldchevalier。 TheonlyblemishwasthatthisretiredAdonishadnothingmanlyabouthim；heseemedtobeemployingthistoiletvarnishtohidetheruinsoccasionedbythemilitaryserviceofgallantryonly。Butwemusthastentoaddthathisvoiceproducedwhatmightbecalledanantithesistohisblonddelicacy。Unlessyouadoptedtheopinionofcertainobserversofthehumanheart，andthoughtthatthechevalierhadthevoiceofhisnose，hisorganofspeechwouldhaveamazedyoubyitsfullandredundantsound。Withoutpossessingthevolumeofclassicalbassvoices，thetoneofitwaspleasingfromaslightlymuffledqualitylikethatofanEnglishbugle，whichisfirmandsweet，strongbutvelvety。 Thechevalierhadrepudiatedtheridiculouscostumestillpreservedbycertainmonarchicaloldmen；hehadfranklymodernizedhimself。Hewasalwaysseeninamaroon-coloredcoatwithgiltbuttons，half-tightbreechesofpoult-de-soiewithgoldbuckles，awhitewaistcoatwithoutembroidery，andatightcravatshowingnoshirt-collar，——alastvestigeoftheoldFrenchcostumewhichhedidnotrenounce，perhaps，becauseitenabledhimtoshowanecklikethatofthesleekestabbe。 Hisshoeswerenoticeablefortheirsquarebuckles，astyleofwhichthepresentgenerationhasnoknowledge；thesebuckleswerefastenedtoasquareofpolishedblackleather。Thechevalierallowedtwowatch-chainstohangparalleltoeachotherfromeachofhiswaistcoatpockets，——anothervestigeoftheeighteenthcentury，whichtheIncroyableshadnotdisdainedtouseundertheDirectory。 Thistransitioncostume，unitingasitdidtwocenturies，waswornbythechevalierwiththehigh-bredgraceofanoldFrenchmarquis，thesecretofwhichislosttoFrancesincethedaywhenFleury，Mole\'slastpupil，vanished。 Theprivatelifeofthisoldbachelorwasapparentlyopentoalleyes，thoughinfactitwasquitemysterious。Helivedinalodgingthatwasmodest，tosaythebestofit，intherueduCours，onthesecondfloorofahousebelongingtoMadameLardot，thebestandbusiestwasherwomaninthetown。Thiscircumstancewillexplaintheexcessivenicetyofhislinen。Ill-luckwouldhaveitthatthedaycamewhenAlenconwasguiltyofbelievingthatthechevalierhadnotalwayscomportedhimselfasagentlemanshould，andthatinfacthewassecretlymarriedinhisoldagetoacertainCesarine，——themotherofachildwhichhadhadtheimpertinencetocomeintotheworldwithoutbeingcalledfor。 \"Hehadgivenhishand，\"asacertainMonsieurduBousquierremarked，\"tothepersonwhohadlonghadhimunderirons。\" Thishorriblecalumnyembitteredthelastdaysofthedaintychevalierallthemorebecause，asthepresentScenewillshow，hehadlostahopelongcherishedtowhichhehadmademanysacrifices。 MadameLardotleasedtothechevaliertworoomsonthesecondfloorofherhouse，forthemodestsumofonehundredfrancsayear。Theworthygentlemandinedouteveryday，returningonlyintimetogotobed。 Hissoleexpensethereforewasforbreakfast，invariablycomposedofacupofchocolate，withbreadandbutterandfruitsintheirseason。Hemadenofireexceptinthecoldestwinter，andthenonlyenoughtogetupby。Betweenelevenandfouro\'clockhewalkedabout，wenttoreadthepapers，andpaidvisits。FromthetimeofhissettlinginAlenconhehadnoblyadmittedhispoverty，sayingthathiswholefortuneconsistedinanannuityofsixhundredfrancsayear，thesoleremainsofhisformeropulence，——apropertywhichobligedhimtoseehismanofbusiness(whoheldtheannuitypapers)quarterly。Intruth，oneoftheAlenconbankerspaidhimeverythreemonthsonehundredandfiftyfrancs，sentdownbyMonsieurBordinofParis，thelastoftheprocureursduChatelet。Everyoneknewthesedetailsbecausethechevalierexactedtheutmostsecrecyfromthepersonstowhomhefirstconfidedthem。 MonsieurdeValoisgatheredthefruitofhismisfortunes。HisplaceattablewaslaidinallthemostdistinguishedhousesinAlencon，andhewasbiddentoallsoirees。Histalentsasacard-player，anarrator，anamiablemanofthehighestbreeding，weresowellknownandappreciatedthatpartieswouldhaveseemedafailureifthedaintyconnoisseurwasabsent。Mastersofhousesandtheirwivesfelttheneedofhisapprovinggrimace。Whenayoungwomanheardthechevaliersayataball，\"Youaredelightfullywell-dressed!\"shewasmorepleasedatsuchpraisethanshewouldhavebeenatmortifyingarival。 MonsieurdeValoiswastheonlymanwhocouldperfectlypronouncecertainphrasesoftheoldentime。Thewords，\"myheart，\"\"myjewel，\" \"mylittlepet，\"\"myqueen，\"andtheamorousdiminutivesof1770，hadagracethatwasquiteirresistiblewhentheycamefromhislips。Inshort，thechevalierhadtheprivilegeofsuperlatives。Hiscompliments，ofwhichhewasstingy，wonthegoodgracesofalltheoldwomen；hemadehimselfagreeabletoeveryone，eventotheofficialsofthegovernment，fromwhomhewantednothing。Hisbehavioratcardshadaloftydistinctionwhicheverybodynoticed:henevercomplained；hepraisedhisadversarieswhentheylost；hedidnotrebukeorteachhispartnersbyshowingthemhowtheyoughttohaveplayed。When，inthecourseofadeal，thosesickeningdissertationsonthegamewouldtakeplace，thechevalierinvariablydrewouthissnuff-boxwithagesturethatwasworthyofMole，lookedatthePrincessGoritza，raisedthecoverwithdignity，shook，sifted，massedthesnuff，andgatheredhispinch，sothatbythetimethecardsweredealthehaddecoratedbothnostrilsandreplacedtheprincessinhiswaistcoatpocket，——alwaysonhisleftside。Agentlemanofthe\"good\" century(indistinctionfromthe\"grand\"century)couldalonehaveinventedthatcompromisebetweencontemptuoussilenceandasarcasmwhichmightnothavebeenunderstood。Heacceptedpoorplayersandknewhowtomakethebestofthem。Hisdelightfulequabilityoftempermademanypersonssay，—— \"IdoadmiretheChevalierdeValois!\" Hisconversation，hismanners，seemedbland，likehisperson。Heendeavoredtoshockneithermannorwoman。Indulgenttodefectsbothphysicalandmental，helistenedpatiently(bythehelpofthePrincessGoritza)tothemanydullpeoplewhorelatedtohimthepettymiseriesofprovinciallife，——aneggill-boiledforbreakfast，coffeewithfeatheredcream，burlesquedetailsabouthealth，disturbedsleep，dreams，visits。Thechevaliercouldcallupalanguishinglook，hecouldtakeonaclassicattitudetofeigncompassion，whichmadehimamostvaluablelistener；hecouldputinan\"Ah!\"anda\"Bah!\"anda\"WhatDIDyoudo？\"withcharmingappropriateness。HediedwithoutanyonesuspectinghimofevenanallusiontothetenderpassagesofhisromancewiththePrincessGoritza。Hasanyoneeverreflectedontheserviceadeadsentimentcandotosociety；howlovemaybecomebothsocialanduseful？Thiswillservetoexplainwhy，inspiteofhisconstantwinningatplay(heneverleftasalonwithoutcarryingoffwithhimaboutsixfrancs)，theoldchevalierremainedthespoiltdarlingofthetown。Hislosses——which，bythebye，healwaysproclaimed，wereveryrare。 Allwhoknowhimdeclarethattheyhavenevermet，notevenintheEgyptianmuseumatTurin，soagreeableamummy。Innocountryintheworlddidparasitismevertakeonsopleasantaform。Neverdidselfishnessofamostconcentratedkindappearlessforth-putting，lessoffensive，thaninthisoldgentleman；itstoodhiminplaceofdevotedfriendship。IfsomeoneaskedMonsieurdeValoistodohimalittleservicewhichmighthavediscommodedhim，thatsomeonedidnotpartfromtheworthychevalierwithoutbeingtrulyenchantedwithhim，andquiteconvincedthatheeithercouldnotdotheservicedemanded，orthatheshouldinjuretheaffairifhemeddledinit。 Toexplaintheproblematicexistenceofthechevalier，thehistorian，whomTruth，thatcruelwanton，graspsbythethroat，iscompelledtosaythatafterthe\"glorious\"saddaysofJuly，Alencondiscoveredthatthechevalier\'snightlywinningsamountedtoaboutonehundredandfiftyfrancseverythreemonths；andthatthecleveroldnoblemanhadhadtheplucktosendtohimselfhisannuityinordernottoappearintheeyesofacommunity，whichlovesthemainchance，tobeentirelywithoutresources。Manyofhisfriends(hewasbythattimedead，youwillpleaseremark)havecontestedmordicusthiscuriousfact，declaringittobeafable，andupholdingtheChevalierdeValoisasarespectableandworthygentlemanwhomtheliberalscalumniated。Luckilyforshrewdplayers，therearepeopletobefoundamongthespectatorswhowillalwayssustainthem。Ashamedofhavingtodefendapieceofwrong-doing，theystoutlydenyit。Donotaccusethemofwilfulinfatuation；suchmenhaveasenseoftheirdignity； governmentssetthemtheexampleofavirtuewhichconsistsinburyingtheirdeadwithoutchantingtheMisereoftheirdefeats。Ifthechevalierdidallowhimselfthisbitofshrewdpractice，——which，bythebye，wouldhavewonhimtheregardoftheChevalierdeGramont，asmilefromtheBarondeFoeneste，ashakeofthehandfromtheMarquisdeMoncade，——washeanythelessthatamiableguest，thatwittytalker，thatimperturbablecard-player，thatfamoustellerofanecdotes，inwhomallAlencontookdelight？Besides，inwhatwaywasthisaction，whichiscertainlywithintherightsofaman\'sownwill，——inwhatwaywasitcontrarytotheethicsofagentleman？Whensomanypersonsareforcedtopayannuitiestoothers，whatmorenaturalthantopayonetohisownbestfriend？ButLaiusisdead—— Toreturntotheperiodofwhichwearewriting:afteraboutfifteenyearsofthiswayoflifethechevalierhadamassedtenthousandandsomeoddhundredfrancs。OnthereturnoftheBourbons，oneofhisoldfriends，theMarquisdePombreton，formerlylieutenantintheBlackmousquetaires，returnedtohim——sohesaid——twelvehundredpistoleswhichhehadlenttothemarquisforthepurposeofemigrating。Thiseventmadeasensation；itwasusedlatertorefutethesarcasmsofthe\"Constitutionnel，\"onthemethodemployedbysomeemigresinpayingtheirdebts。WhenthisnobleactoftheMarquisdePombretonwaslaudedbeforethechevalier，thegoodmanreddenedeventohisrightcheek。EveryonerejoicedfranklyatthiswindfallforMonsieurdeValois，whowentaboutconsultingmoneyedpeopleastothesafestmannerofinvestingthisfragmentofhispastopulence。ConfidinginthefutureoftheRestoration，hefinallyplacedhismoneyontheGrand-Livreatthemomentwhenthefundswereatfifty-sixfrancsandtwenty-fivecentimes。MessieursdeLenoncourt，deNavarreins，deVerneuil，deFontaine，andLaBillardiere，towhomhewasknown，hesaid，obtainedforhim，fromtheking\'sprivypurse，apensionofthreehundredfrancs，andsenthim，moreover，thecrossofSaint- Louis。Neverwasitknownpositivelybywhatmeanstheoldchevalierobtainedthesetwosolemnconsecrationsofhistitleandmerits。Butonethingiscertain；thecrossofSaint-LouisauthorizedhimtotaketherankofretiredcolonelinviewofhisserviceintheCatholicarmiesoftheWest。 Besideshisfictionofanannuity，aboutwhichnooneatthepresenttimeknewanything，thechevalierreallyhad，therefore，abonafideincomeofathousandfrancs。Butinspiteofthisbetteringofhiscircumstances，hemadenochangeinhislife，manners，orappearance，exceptthattheredribbonmadeafineeffectonhismaroon-coloredcoat，andcompleted，sotospeak，thephysiognomyofagentleman。 After1802，thechevaliersealedhisletterswithaveryoldseal，ill-engravedtobesure，bywhichtheCasterans，thed\'Esgrignons，theTroisvilleswereenabledtoseethathebore:PartyofFrance，twocottisesgemelledgules，andgules，fivemasclesor，placedendtoend；onachiefsable，acrossargent。Forcrest，aknight\'shelmet。 Formotto:\"Valeo。\"Bearingsuchnoblearms，theso-calledbastardoftheValoishadtherighttogetintoalltheroyalcarriagesoftheworld。 Manypersonsenviedthequietexistenceofthisoldbachelor，spentonwhist，boston，backgammon，reversi，andpiquet，allwellplayed，ondinnerswelldigested，snuffgracefullyinhaled，andtranquilwalksaboutthetown。NearlyallAlenconbelievedthislifetobeexemptfromambitionsandseriousinterests；butnomanhasalifeassimpleasenviousneighborsattributetohim。Youwillfindinthemostout- of-thewayvillageshumanmollusks，creaturesapparentlydead，whohavepassionsforlepidopteraorforconchology，letussay，——beingswhowillgivethemselvesinfinitepainsaboutmoths，butterflies，ortheconchaVeneris。Notonlydidthechevalierhavehisownparticularshells，buthecherishedanambitiousdesirewhichhepursuedwithacraftsoprofoundastobeworthyofSixtustheFifth:hewantedtomarryacertainricholdmaid，withtheintention，nodoubt，ofmakingherastepping-stonebywhichtoreachthemoreelevatedregionsofthecourt。There，then，laythesecretofhisroyalbearingandofhisresidenceinAlencon。 CHAPTERII SUSANNAHANDTHEELDERS OnaWednesdaymorning，early，towardthemiddleofspring，intheyear16，——suchwashismodeofreckoning，——atthemomentwhenthechevalierwasputtingonhisoldgreen-flowereddamaskdressing-gown，heheard，despitethecottoninhisears，thelightstepofayounggirlwhowasrunningupthestairway。Presentlythreetapswerediscreetlystruckuponthedoor；then，withoutwaitingforanyresponse，ahandsomegirlslippedlikeaneelintotheroomoccupiedbytheoldbachelor。 \"Ah!isityou，Suzanne？\"saidtheChevalierdeValois，withoutdiscontinuinghisoccupation，whichwasthatofstroppinghisrazor。 \"Whathaveyoucomefor，mydearlittlejewelofmischief？\" \"Ihavecometotellyousomethingwhichmayperhapsgiveyouasmuchpleasureaspain？\" \"IsitanythingaboutCesarine？\" \"Cesarine!muchIcareaboutyourCesarine!\"shesaidwithasaucyair，halfserious，halfindifferent。 ThischarmingSuzanne，whosepresentcomicalperformancewastoexerciseagreatinfluenceintheprincipalpersonagesofourhistory，wasawork-girlatMadameLardot\'s。Onewordhereonthetopographyofthehouse。Thewash-roomsoccupiedthewholeofthegroundfloor。Thelittlecourtyardwasusedtohangoutonwirecordsembroideredhandkerchiefs，collarets，capes，cuffs，frilledshirts，cravats，laces，embroidereddresses，——inshort，allthefinelinenofthebestfamiliesofthetown。Thechevalierassumedtoknowfromthenumberofhercapesinthewashhowthelove-affairsofthewifeoftheprefectweregoingon。Thoughheguessedmuchfromobservationsofthiskind，thechevalierwasdiscretionitself；hewasneverbetrayedintoanepigram(hehadplentyofwit)whichmighthaveclosedtohimanagreeablesalon。YouarethereforetoconsiderMonsieurdeValoisasamanofsuperiormanners，whosetalents，likethoseofmanyothers，werelostinanarrowsphere。Only——for，afterall，hewasaman——hepermittedhimselfcertainpenetratingglanceswhichcouldmakesomewomentremble；althoughtheyalllovedhimheartilyassoonastheydiscoveredthedepthofhisdiscretionandthesympathythathefeltfortheirlittleweaknesses。 Theheadwoman，MadameLardot\'sfactotum，anoldmaidofforty-six，hideoustobehold，livedontheoppositesideofthepassagetothechevalier。Abovethemweretheatticswherethelinenwasdriedinwinter。Eachapartmenthadtworooms，——onelightedfromthestreet，theotherfromthecourtyard。Beneaththechevalier\'sroomtherelivedaparalytic，MadameLardot\'sgrandfather，anoldbuccaneernamedGrevin，whohadservedunderAdmiralSimeuseinIndia，andwasnowstone-deaf。AsforMadameLardot，whooccupiedtheotherlodgingonthefirstfloor，shehadsogreataweaknessforpersonsofconditionthatshemaywellhavebeenthoughtblindtothewaysofthechevalier。Toher，MonsieurdeValoiswasadespoticmonarchwhodidrightinallthings。Hadanyofherworkwomenbeenguiltyofahappinessattributedtothechevaliershewouldhavesaid，\"Heissolovable!\"Thus，thoughthehousewasofglass，likeallprovincialhouses，itwasdiscreetasarobber\'scave。 Abornconfidanttoallthelittleintriguesofthework-rooms，thechevalierneverpassedthedoor，whichusuallystoodopen，withoutgivingsomethingtohislittleducks，——chocolate，bonbons，ribbons，laces，giltcrosses，andsuchliketriflesadoredbygrisettes；