Mostpersonshaveencountered，incertainprovincesinFrance，anumberofChevaliersdeValois。OnelivedinNormandy，anotheratBourges，athirdwithwhomwehaveheretodoflourishedinAlencon，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。
　　Oneofhisparticulargraceswastheairandmannerimitated，nodoubt，fromMolewithwhichhetooksnufffromagoldboxadornedwiththeportraitofthePrincessGoritza，——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，explainingthatsincehisearshadbeenboredhehadceasedtohaveheadacheshehadhadheadaches。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，——apropertywhichobligedhimtoseehismanofbusinesswhoheldtheannuitypapersquarterly。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"
　　centuryindistinctionfromthe"grand"centurycouldalonehaveinventedthatcompromisebetweencontemptuoussilenceandasarcasmwhichmightnothavebeenunderstood。Heacceptedpoorplayersandknewhowtomakethebestofthem。Hisdelightfulequabilityoftempermademanypersonssay，——
　　"IdoadmiretheChevalierdeValois!"
　　Hisconversation，hismanners，seemedbland，likehisperson。Heendeavoredtoshockneithermannorwoman。Indulgenttodefectsbothphysicalandmental，helistenedpatientlybythehelpofthePrincessGoritzatothemanydullpeoplewhorelatedtohimthepettymiseriesofprovinciallife，——aneggill-boiledforbreakfast，coffeewithfeatheredcream，burlesquedetailsabouthealth，disturbedsleep，dreams，visits。Thechevaliercouldcallupalanguishinglook，hecouldtakeonaclassicattitudetofeigncompassion，whichmadehimamostvaluablelistener；hecouldputinan"Ah!"anda"Bah!"anda"WhatDIDyoudo？"withcharmingappropriateness。HediedwithoutanyonesuspectinghimofevenanallusiontothetenderpassagesofhisromancewiththePrincessGoritza。Hasanyoneeverreflectedontheserviceadeadsentimentcandotosociety；howlovemaybecomebothsocialanduseful？Thiswillservetoexplainwhy，inspiteofhisconstantwinningatplayheneverleftasalonwithoutcarryingoffwithhimaboutsixfrancs，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。Manyofhisfriendshewasbythattimedead，youwillpleaseremarkhavecontestedmordicusthiscuriousfact，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；hewasneverbetrayedintoanepigramhehadplentyofwitwhichmighthaveclosedtohimanagreeablesalon。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；