itor's calm discretion and the self-contained beatitude of a
devotee, fresh from the confessional and absolution.

"Mme. de Maufrigneuse went pretty briskly to the point this evening,"
said the Duchesse de Grandlieu, when only half-a-dozen persons were
left in Mlle. des Touches' little drawing-room--to wit, des Lupeaulx,
a Master of Requests, who at that time stood very well at court,
Vandenesse, the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu, Canalis, and Mme. de Serizy.

"D'Esgrignon and Maufrigneuse are two names that are sure to cling
together," said Mme. de Serizy, who aspired to epigram.

"For some days past she has been out at grass on Platonism," said des
Lupeaulx.

"She will ruin that poor innocent," added Charles de Vandenesse.

"What do you mean?" asked Mlle. des Touches.

"Oh, morally and financially, beyond all doubt," said the Vicomtesse,
rising.

The cruel words were cruelly true for young d'Esgrignon.

Next morning he wrote to his aunt describing his introduction into the
high world of the Faubourg Saint-Germain in bright colors flung by the
prism of love, explaining the reception which met him everywhere in a
way which gratified his father's family pride. The Marquis would have
the whole long letter read to him twice; he rubbed his hands when
he heard of the Vidame de Pamiers' dinner--the Vidame was an old
acquaintance--and of the subsequent introduction to the Duchess; but at
Blondet's name he lost himself in conjectures. What could the younger
son of a judge, a public prosecutor during the Revolution, have been
doing there?

There was joy that evening among the Collection of Antiquities. They
talked over the young Count's success. So discreet were they with regard
to Mme. de Maufrigneuse, that the one man who heard the secret was the
Chevalier. There was no financial postscript at the end of the letter,
no unpleasant reference to the sinews of war, which every young man
makes in such a case. Mlle. Armande showed it to Chesnel. Chesnel was
pleased and raised not a single objection. It was clear, as the Marquis
and the Chevalier agreed, that a young man in favor with the Duchesse
de Maufrigneuse would shortly be a hero at court, where in the old
days women were all-powerful. The Count had not made a bad choice. The
dowagers told over all the gallant adventures of the Maufrigneuses
from Louis XIII. to Louis XVI.--they spared to inquire into preceding
reigns--and when all was done they were enchanted.--Mme. de Mau