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was； moreover； one of those children who flatter the vanities of a
mother； and the princess had； accordingly； made all sorts of
sacrifices for him。 She hired a stable and coach…house； above which he
lived in a little entresol with three rooms looking on the street； and
charmingly furnished； she had even borne several privations to keep a
saddle…horse； a cab…horse； and a little groom for his use。 For
herself； she had only her own maid； and as cook； a former kitchen…
maid。 The duke's groom had； therefore； rather a hard place。 Toby；
formerly tiger to the 〃late〃 Beaudenord （such was the jesting term
applied by the gay world to that ruined gentleman）；Toby； who at
twenty…five years of age was still considered only fourteen； was
expected to groom the horses； clean the cabriolet； or the tilbury； and
the harnesses； accompany his master； take care of the apartments； and
be in the princess's antechamber to announce a visitor； if； by chance；
she happened to receive one。
When one thinks of what the beautiful Duchesse de Maufrigneuse had
been under the Restoration；one of the queens of Paris； a dazzling
queen； whose luxurious existence equalled that of the richest women of
fashion in London；there was something touching in the sight of her
in that humble little abode in the rue de Miromesnil； a few steps away
from her splendid mansion； which no amount of fortune had enabled her
to keep； and which the hammer of speculators has since demolished。 The
woman who thought she was scarcely well served by thirty servants； who
possessed the most beautiful reception…rooms in all Paris； and the
loveliest little private apartments； and who made them the scene of
such delightful fetes； now lived in a small apartment of five rooms；
an antechamber； dining…room； salon； one bed…chamber； and a dressing…
room； with two women…servants only。
〃Ah！ she is devoted to her son；〃 said that clever creature； Madame
d'Espard； 〃and devoted without ostentation； she is happy。 Who would
ever have believed so frivolous a woman was capable of such persistent
resolution！ Our good archbishop has； consequently； greatly encouraged
her； he is most kind to her； and has just induced the old Comtesse de
Cinq…Cygne to pay her a visit。〃
Let us admit a truth！ One must be a queen to know how to abdicate； and
to descend with dignity from a lofty position which is never wholly
lost。 Those only who have an inner consciousness of being nothing in
themselves； show regrets in falling； or struggle； murmuring； to return
to a past which can never return；a fact of which they themselves are
well aware。 Compelled to do without the choice exotics in the midst of
which she had lived； and which set off so charmingly her whole being
（for it is impossible not to compare her to a flower）； the princess
had wisely chosen a ground…floor apartment； there she enjoyed a pretty
little garden which belonged to it；a garden full of shrubs； and an
always verdant turf； which brightened her peaceful retreat。 She had
about twelve thousand francs a year； but that modest income was partly
made up of an annual stipend sent her by the old Duchesse de
Navarreins； paternal aunt of the young duke； and another stipend given
by her mother； the Duchesse d'Uxelles； who was living on her estate in
the country； where she economized as old duchesses alone know how to
economize； for Harpagon is a mere novice compared to them。 The
princess still retained some of her past relations with the exiled
royal family； and it was in her house that the marshal to whom we owe
the conquest of Africa had conferences； at the time of 〃Madame's〃
attempt in La Vendee； with the principal leaders of legitimist
opinion；so great was the obscurity in which the princess lived； and
so little distrust did the government feel for her in her present
distress。
Beholding the approach of that terrible fortieth year； the bankruptcy
of love； beyond which there is so little for a woman as woman； the
princess had flung herself into the kingdom of philosophy。 She took to
reading； she who for sixteen years had felt a cordial horror for
serious things。 Literature and politics are to…day what piety and
devotion once were to her sex；the last refuge of their feminine
pretensions。 In her late social circle it was said that Diane was
writing a book。 Since her transformation from a queen and beauty to a
woman of intellect； the princess had contrived to make a reception in
her little house a great honor which distinguished the favored person。
Sheltered by her supposed occupation； she was able to deceive one of
her former adorers； de Marsay； the most influential personage of the
political bourgeoisie brought to the fore in July 1830。 She received
him sometimes in the evenings； and； occupied his attention while the
marshal and a few legitimists were talking； in a low voice； in her
bedroom； about the recovery of power； which could be attained only by
a general co…operation of ideas；the one element of success which all
conspirators overlook。 It was the clever vengeance of the pretty
woman； who thus inveigled the prime minister； and made him act as
screen for a conspiracy against his own government。
This adventure； worthy of the finest days of the Fronde； was the text
of a very witty letter； in which the princess rendered to 〃Madame〃 an
account of the negotiations。 The Duc de Maufrigneuse went to La
Vendee； and was able to return secretly without being compromised； but
not without taking part in 〃Madame's〃 perils； the latter； however；
sent him home the moment she saw that her cause was lost。 Perhaps； had
he remained； the eager vigilance of the young man might have foiled
that treachery。 However great the faults of the Duchesse de
Maufrigneuse may have seemed in the eyes of the bourgeoisie； the
behavior of her son on this occasion certainly effaced them in the
eyes of the aristocracy。 There was great nobility and grandeur in thus
risking her only son； and the heir of an historic name。 Some persons
are said to intentionally cover the faults of their private life by
public services； and vice versa； but the Princesse de Cadignan made no
such calculation。 Possibly those who apparently so conduct themselves
make none。 Events count for much in such cases。
On one of the first fine days in the month of May； 1833； the Marquise
d'Espard and the princess were turning aboutone could hardly call it
walkingin the single path which wound round the grass…plat in the
garden； about half…past two in the afternoon； just as the sun was
leaving it。 The rays reflected on the walls gave a warm atmosphere to
the little space； which was fragrant with flowers； the gift of the
marquise。
〃We shall soon lose de Marsay；〃 said the marquise； 〃and with him will
disappear your last hope of fortune for your son。 Ever since you
played him that clever trick； he has returned to his affection for
you。〃
〃My son will never capitulate to the younger branch；〃 returned the
princess； 〃if he has to die of hunger； or I have to work with my hands
to feed him。 Besides； Berthe de Cinq…Cygne has no aversion to him。〃
〃Children don't bind themselves to their parents' principles；〃 said
Madame d'Espard。
〃Don't let us talk about it；〃 said the princess。 〃If I can't coax over
the Marquise de Cinq…Cygne； I shall marry Georges to the daughter of
some iron…founderer； as that little d'Esgrignon did。〃
〃Did you love Victurnien？〃 asked the marquise。
〃No；〃 replied the princess； gravely； 〃d'Esgrignon's simplicity was
really only a sort of provincial silliness； which I perceived rather
too lateor； if you choose； too soon。〃
〃And de Marsay？〃
〃De Marsay played with me as if I were a doll。 I was so young at the
time！ We never love men who pretend to teach us； they rub up all our
little vanities。〃
〃And that wretched boy who hanged himself？〃
〃Lucien？ An Antinous and a great poet。 I worshiped him in all
conscience； and I might have been happy。 But he was in love with a
girl of the town； and I gave him up to Madame。 de Serizy。 。 。 。 If he
had cared to love me； should I have given him up？〃
〃What an odd thing； that you should come into collision with an Esther！〃
〃She was handsomer than I；〃 said the Princess。〃Very soon it shall be
three years that I have lived in solitude；〃 she resumed； after a
pause； 〃and this tranquillity has nothing painful to me about it。 To
you alone can I dare to say that I feel I am happy。 I was surfeited
with adoration； weary of pleasure； emotional on the surface of things；
but conscious that emotion itself never reached my heart。 I have found
all the men whom I have known petty； paltry； superficial； none of them
ever caused me a surprise； they had no innocence； no grandeur； no
delicacy。 I wish I could have met with one man able to inspire me with
respect。〃
〃Then are you like me； my dear？〃 asked the marquise； 〃have you never
felt the emotion of love while trying to love