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singularity of a face that was not pale but yellow。 This complexion
seemed to bespeak an irritable temper and violent passions。 His hair；
already silvered； and carefully dressed； seemed to furrow his head
with streaks of black and white alternately。 The trimness of this head
spoiled the resemblance I had remarked in the Count to the wonderful
monk described by Lewis after Schedoni in the /Confessional of the
Black Penitents （The Italian）/； a superior creation； as it seems to
me； to /The Monk/。
〃The Count was already shaved； having to attend early at the law
courts。 Two candelabra with four lights； screened by lamp…shades； were
still burning at the opposite ends of the writing…table； and showed
plainly that the magistrate rose long before daylight。 His hands；
which I saw when he took hold of the bell…pull to summon his servant；
were extremely fine； and as white as a woman's。
〃As I tell you this story；〃 said the Consul…General； interrupting
himself； 〃I am altering the titles and the social position of this
gentleman； while placing him in circumstances analogous to what his
really were。 His profession； rank； luxury； fortune； and style of
living were the same； all these details are true； but I would not be
false to my benefactor； nor to my usual habits of discretion。
〃Instead of feelingas I really was； socially speakingan insect in
the presence of an eagle；〃 the narrator went on after a pause； 〃I felt
I know not what indefinable impression from the Count's appearance；
which； however； I can now account for。 Artists of genius〃 （and he
bowed gracefully to the Ambassador； the distinguished lady； and the
two Frenchmen）； 〃real statesmen； poets； a general who has commanded
armiesin short； all really great minds are simple； and their
simplicity places you on a level with themselves。You who are all of
superior minds；〃 he said； addressing his guests； 〃have perhaps
observed how feeling can bridge over the distances created by society。
If we are inferior to you in intellect； we can be your equals in
devoted friendship。 By the temperatureallow me the wordof our
hearts I felt myself as near my patron as I was far below him in rank。
In short； the soul has its clairvoyance； it has presentiments of
suffering； grief； joy； antagonism； or hatred in others。
〃I vaguely discerned the symptoms of a mystery； from recognizing in
the Count the same effects of physiognomy as I had observed in my
uncle。 The exercise of virtue； serenity of conscience； and purity of
mind had transfigured my uncle； who from being ugly had become quite
beautiful。 I detected a metamorphosis of a reverse kind in the Count's
face； at the first glance I thought he was about fifty…five； but after
an attentive examination I found youth entombed under the ice of a
great sorrow； under the fatigue of persistent study； under the glowing
hues of some suppressed passion。 At a word from my uncle the Count's
eyes recovered for a moment the softness of the periwinkle flower； and
he had an admiring smile； which revealed what I believed to be his
real age； about forty。 These observations I made； not then but
afterwards； as I recalled the circumstances of my visit。
〃The man…servant came in carrying a tray with his master's breakfast
on it。
〃 'I did not ask for breakfast；' remarked the Count； 'but leave it；
and show monsieur to his rooms。'
〃I followed the servant； who led the way to a complete set of pretty
rooms； under a terrace； between the great courtyard and the servants'
quarters； over a corridor of communication between the kitchens and
the grand staircase。 When I returned to the Count's study； I
overheard； before opening the door； my uncle pronouncing this judgment
on me：
〃 'He may do wrong； for he has strong feelings； and we are all liable
to honorable mistakes； but he has no vices。'
〃 'Well；' said the Count； with a kindly look； 'do you like yourself
there？ Tell me。 There are so many rooms in this barrack that； if you
were not comfortable； I could put you elsewhere。'
〃 'At my uncle's I had but one room；' replied I。
〃 'Well； you can settle yourself this evening；' said the Count； 'for
your possessions； no doubt； are such as all students own； and a
hackney coach will be enough to convey them。 To…day we will all three
dine together；' and he looked at my uncle。
〃A splendid library opened from the Count's study； and he took us in
there； showing me a pretty little recess decorated with paintings；
which had formerly served； no doubt； as an oratory。
〃 'This is your cell；' said he。 'You will sit there when you have to
work with me； for you will not be tethered by a chain；' and he
explained in detail the kind and duration of my employment with him。
As I listened I felt that he was a great political teacher。
〃It took me about a month to familiarize myself with people and
things； to learn the duties of my new office； and accustom myself to
the Count's methods。 A secretary necessarily watches the man who makes
use of him。 That man's tastes； passions； temper； and manias become the
subject of involuntary study。 The union of their two minds is at once
more and less than a marriage。
〃During these months the Count and I reciprocally studied each other。
I learned with astonishment that Comte Octave was but thirty…seven
years old。 The merely superficial peacefulness of his life and the
propriety of his conduct were the outcome not solely of a deep sense
of duty and of stoical reflection； in my constant intercourse with
this manan extraordinary man to those who knew him wellI felt vast
depths beneath his toil； beneath his acts of politeness； his mask of
benignity； his assumption of resignation； which so closely resembled
calmness that it is easy to mistake it。 Just as when walking through
forest…lands certain soils give forth under our feet a sound which
enables us to guess whether they are dense masses of stone or a void；
so intense egoism； though hidden under the flowers of politeness； and
subterranean caverns eaten out by sorrow sound hollow under the
constant touch of familiar life。 It was sorrow and not despondency
that dwelt in that really great soul。 The Count had understood that
actions； deeds； are the supreme law of social man。 And he went on his
way in spite of secret wounds； looking to the future with a tranquil
eye； like a martyr full of faith。
〃His concealed sadness； the bitter disenchantment from which he
suffered； had not led him into philosophical deserts of incredulity；
this brave statesman was religious； without ostentation； he always
attended the earliest mass at Saint…Paul's for pious workmen and
servants。 Not one of his friends； no one at Court； knew that he so
punctually fulfilled the practice of religion。 He was addicted to God
as some men are addicted to a vice； with the greatest mystery。 Thus
one day I came to find the Count at the summit of an Alp of woe much
higher than that on which many are who think themselves the most
tried； who laugh at the passions and the beliefs of others because
they have conquered their own； who play variations in every key of
irony and disdain。 He did not mock at those who still follow hope into
the swamps whither she leads； nor those who climb a peak to be alone；
nor those who persist in the fight； reddening the arena with their
blood and strewing it with their illusions。 He looked on the world as
a whole； he mastered its beliefs； he listened to its complaining； he
was doubtful of affection； and yet more of self…sacrifice； but this
great and stern judge pitied them； or admired them； not with transient
enthusiasm； but with silence； concentration； and the communion of a
deeply…touched soul。 He was a sort of catholic Manfred； and unstained
by crime； carrying his choiceness into his faith； melting the snows by
the fires of a sealed volcano； holding converse with a star seen by
himself alone！
〃I detected many dark riddles in his ordinary life。 He evaded my gaze
not like a traveler who； following a path； disappears from time to
time in dells or ravines according to the formation of the soil； but
like a sharpshooter who is being watched； who wants to hide himself；
and seeks a cover。 I could not account for his frequent absences at
the times when he was working the hardest； and of which he made no
secret from me； for he would say； 'Go on with this for me；' and trust
me with the work in hand。
〃This man； wrapped in the threefold duties of the statesman； the
judge； and the orator； charmed me by a taste for flowers； which shows
an elegant mind； and which is shared by almost all persons of
refinement。 His garden and his study were full of the rarest plants；
but he always bought them half…withered。 Perhaps it pleased him to see
such an image of his own fate！ He was faded like these dying flowers；
whose almost decaying fragrance mounted strangely to his brain。 The
Count loved his country； he devoted himself to public interests with
the frenzy of a heart that seeks to cheat some other passion； but the
studies and work into which he threw himself were not enough for him；
there were frightful struggles in his mind； of which some echoes
reached me。 Finally； he would give utterance to harrowing aspirations
for hap