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the powers of her being。 So； for the last two months； she had seemed
to the inhabitants of Cinq…Cygne more beautiful than at any other
period of her life。 Her cheeks became rosy； hope gave pride to her
brow； but when old d'Hauteserre read the Gazette at night and
discussed the conservative course of the First Consul she lowered her
eyes to conceal her passionate hopes of the coming fall of that enemy
of the Bourbons。
No one at the chateau had the faintest idea that the young countess
had met her cousins the night before。 The two sons of Monsieur and
Madame d'Hauteserre had passed the preceding night in Laurence's own
room； under the same roof with their father and mother； and Laurence；
after knowing them safely in bed had gone between one and two o'clock
in the morning to a rendezvous with her cousins in the forest； where
she hid them in the deserted hut of a wood…dealer's agent。 The
following day； certain of seeing them again； she showed no signs of
her joy； nothing about her betrayed emotion； she was able to efface
all traces of pleasure at having met them again； in fact； she was
impassible。 Catherine； her pretty maid； daughter of her former nurse；
and Gothard； both in the secret； modelled their behavior upon hers。
Catherine was nineteen years old。 At that age a girl is a fanatic and
would let her throat be cut before betraying a thought of one she
loves。 As for Gothard； merely to inhale the perfume which the countess
used in her hair and among her clothes he would have born the rack
without a word。
CHAPTER V
ROYALIST HOMES AND PORTRAITS UNDER THE CONSULATE
At the moment when Marthe； driven by the imminence of the peril； was
gliding with the rapidity of a shadow towards the breach of which
Michu had told her； the salon of the chateau of Cinq…Cygne presented a
peaceful sight。 Its occupants were so far from suspecting the storm
that was about to burst upon them that their quiet aspect would have
roused the compassion of any one who knew their situation。 In the
large fireplace； the mantel of which was adorned with a mirror with
shepherdesses in paniers painted on its frame； burned a fire such as
can be seen only in chateaus bordering on forests。 At the corner of
this fireplace； on a large square sofa of gilded wood with a
magnificent brocaded cover； the young countess lay as it were
extended； in an attitude of utter weariness。 Returning at six o'clock
from the confines of Brie； having played the part of scout to the four
gentlemen whom she guided safely to their last halting…place before
they entered Paris； she had found Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre
just finishing their dinner。 Pressed by hunger she sat down to table
without changing either her muddy habit or her boots。 Instead of doing
so at once after dinner； she was suddenly overcome with fatigue and
allowed her head with its beautiful fair curls to drop on the back of
the sofa； her feet being supported in front of her by a stool。 The
warmth of the fire had dried the mud on her habit and on her boots。
Her doeskin gloves and the little peaked cap with its green veil and a
whip lay on the table where she had flung them。 She looked sometimes
at the old Boule clock which stood on the mantelshelf between the
candelabra； perhaps to judge if her four conspirators were asleep； and
sometimes at the card…table in front of the fire where Monsieur and
Madame d'Hauteserre； the cure of Cinq…Cygne； and his sister were
playing a game of boston。
Even if these personages were not embedded in this drama； their
portraits would have the merit of representing one of the aspects of
the aristocracy after its overthrow in 1793。 From this point of view；
a sketch of the salon at Cinq…Cygne has the raciness of history seen
in dishabille。
Monsieur d'Hauteserre； then fifty…two years of age； tall； spare； high…
colored； and robust in health； would have seemed the embodiment of
vigor if it were not for a pair of porcelain blue eyes； the glance of
which denoted the most absolute simplicity。 In his face； which ended
in a long pointed chin； there was； judging by the rules of design； an
unnatural distance between his nose and mouth which gave him a
submissive air； wholly in keeping with his character； which
harmonized； in fact； with other details of his appearance。 His gray
hair； flattened by his hat； which he wore nearly all day； looked much
like a skull…cap on his head； and defined its pear…shaped outline。 His
forehead； much wrinkled by life in the open air and by constant
anxieties； was flat and expressionless。 His aquiline nose redeemed the
face somewhat； but the sole indication of any strength of character
lay in the bushy eyebrows which retained their blackness； and in the
brilliant coloring of his skin。 These signs were in some respects not
misleading； for the worthy gentlemen； though simple and very gentle；
was Catholic and monarchical in faith； and no consideration on earth
could make him change his views。 Nevertheless he would have let
himself be arrested without an effort at defence； and would have gone
to the scaffold quietly。 His annuity of three thousand francs kept him
from emigrating。 He therefore obeyed the government /de facto/ without
ceasing to love the royal family and to pray for their return； though
he would firmly have refused to compromise himself by any effort in
their favor。 He belonged to that class of royalists who ceaselessly
remembered that they were beaten and robbed； and who remained
thenceforth dumb； economical； rancorous； without energy； incapable of
abjuring the past； but equally incapable of sacrifice； waiting to
greet triumphant royalty； true to religion and true to the priesthood；
but firmly resolved to bear in silence the shocks of fate。 Such an
attitude cannot be considered that of maintaining opinions； it becomes
sheer obstinacy。 Action is the essence of party。 Without intelligence；
but loyal； miserly as a peasant yet noble in demeanor； bold in his
wishes but discreet in word and action； turning all things to profit；
willing even to be made mayor of Cinq…Cygne； Monsieur d'Hauteserre was
an admirable representative of those honorable gentlemen on whose brow
God Himself has written the word /mites/；Frenchmen who burrowed in
their country homes and let the storms of the Revolution pass above
their heads； who came once more to the surface under the Restoration；
rich with their hidden savings； proud of their discreet attachment to
the monarchy； and who； after 1830； recovered their estates。
Monsieur d'Hauteserre's costume； expressive envelope of his
distinctive character； described to the eye both the man and his
period。 He always wore one of those nut…colored great…coats with small
collars which the Duc d'Orleans made the fashion after his return from
England； and which were； during the Revolution； a sort of compromise
between the hideous popular garments and the elegant surtouts of the
aristocracy。 His velvet waistcoat with flowered stripes； the style of
which recalled those of Robespierre and Saint…Just； showed the upper
part of a shirt…frill in fine plaits。 He still wore breeches； but his
were of coarse blue cloth； with burnished steel buckles。 His stockings
of black spun…silk defined his deer…like legs； the feet of which were
shod in thick shoes； held in place by gaiters of black cloth。 He
retained the former fashion of a muslin cravat in innumerable folds
fastened by a gold buckle at the throat。 The worthy man had not
intended an act of political eclecticism in adopting this costume；
which combined the styles of peasant； revolutionist； and aristocrat；
he simply and innocently obeyed the dictates of circumstances。
Madame d'Hauteserre； forty years of age and wasted by emotions； had a
faded face which seemed to be always posing for its portrait。 A lace
cap； trimmed with bows of white satin； contributed singularly to give
her a solemn air。 She still wore powder； in spite of a white kerchief；
and a gown of puce…colored silk with tight sleeves and full skirt； the
sad last garments of Marie…Antoinette。 Her nose was pinched； her chin
sharp； the whole face nearly triangular； the eyes worn…out with
weeping； but she now wore a touch of rouge which brightened their
grayness。 She took snuff； and each time that she did so she employed
all the pretty precautions of the fashionable women of her early days；
the details of this snuff…taking constituted a ceremony which could be
explained by one factshe had very pretty hands。
For the last two years the former tutor of the Simeuse twins； a friend
of the late Abbe d'Hauteserre； named Goujet； Abbe des Minimes； had
taken charge of the parish of Cinq…Cygne out of friendship for the
d'Hauteserres and the young countess。 His sister； Mademoiselle Goujet；
who possessed a little income of seven hundred francs； added that sum
to the meagre salary of her brother and kept his house。 Neither church
nor parsonage had been sold during the Revolution on account of their
small value。 The abbe and his sister lived close to the chateau； for
the wall of the parsonage garden and that of the park were the same in
places。 Twice a week the pair dined at the chateau； but they came
every evening to play boston with