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up and die in an evening's space。 All eyes were turned on her when she entered a room； she reaped her harvest of flatteries and some few words of warmer admiration； which she encouraged by a gesture or a glance； but never suffered to penetrate deeper than the skin。 Her tone and bearing and everything else about her imposed her will upon others。 Her life was a sort of fever of vanity and perpetual enjoyment； which turned her head。 She was daring enough in conversation； she would listen to anything； corrupting the surface； as it were； of her heart。 Yet when she returned home； she often blushed at the story that had made her laugh； at the scandalous tale that supplied the details； on the strength of which she analysed the love that she had never known； and marked the subtle distinctions of modern passion； not with comment on the part of complacent hypocrites。 For women know how to say everything among themselves； and more of them are ruined by each other than corrupted by men。
There came a moment when she discerned that not until a woman is loved will the world fully recognise her beauty and her wit。 What does a husband prove？ Simply that a girl or woman was endowed with wealth； or well brought up； that her mother managed cleverly that in some way she satisfied a man's ambitions。 A lover constantly bears witness to her personal perfections。 Then followed the discovery still in Mme de Langeais's early womanhood； that it was possible to be loved without committing herself； without permission； without vouchsafing any satisfaction beyond the most meagre dues。 There was more than one demure feminine hypocrite to instruct her in the art of playing such dangerous comedies。
So the Duchess had her court； and the number of her adorers and courtiers guaranteed her virtue。 She was amiable and fascinating； she flirted till the ball or the evening's gaiety was at an end。 Then the curtain dropped。 She was cold； indifferent； self…contained again till the next day brought its renewed sensations； superficial as before。 Two or three men were completely deceived； and fell in love in earnest。 She laughed at them； she was utterly insensible。 〃I am loved！〃 she told herself。 〃He loves me！〃 The certainty sufficed her。 It is enough for the miser to know that his every whim might be fulfilled if he chose； so it was with the Duchess； and perhaps she did not even go so far as to form a wish。
One evening she chanced to be at the house of an intimate friend Mme la Vicomtesse de Fontaine； one of the humble rivals who cordially detested her； and went with her everywhere。 In a 〃friendship〃 of this sort both sides are on their guard； and never lay their armour aside； confidences are ingeniously indiscreet； and not unfrequently treacherous。 Mme de Langeais had distributed her little patronising； friendly； or freezing bows； with the air natural to a woman who knows the worth of her smiles； when her eyes fell upon a total stranger。 Something in the man's large gravity of aspect startled her； and； with a feeling almost like dread； she turned to Mme de Maufrigneuse with； 〃Who is the newcomer； dear？〃
〃Someone that you have heard of； no doubt。 The Marquis de Montriveau。〃
〃Oh！ is it he？〃
She took up her eyeglass and submitted him to a very insolent scrutiny； as if he had been a picture meant to receive glances； not to return them。
〃Do introduce him； he ought to be interesting。〃
〃Nobody more tiresome and dull； dear。 But he is the fashion。〃
M。 Armand de Montriveau； at that moment all unwittingly the object of general curiosity； better deserved attention than any of the idols that Paris needs must set up to worship for a brief space； for the city is vexed by periodical fits of craving； a passion for engouement and sham enthusiasm； which must be satisfied。 The Marquis was the only son of General de Montriveau； one of the ci…devants who served the Republic nobly； and fell by Joubert's side at Novi。 Bonaparte had placed his son at the school at Chalons； with the orphans of other generals who fell on the battlefield； leaving their children under the protection of the Republic。 Armand de Montriveau left school with his way to make； entered the artillery； and had only reached a major's rank at the time of the Fontainebleau disaster。 In his section of the service the chances of advancement were not many。 There are fewer officers； in the first place； among the gunners than in any other corps； and in the second place； the feeling in the artillery was decidedly Liberal； not to say Republican； and the Emperor； feeling little confidence in a body of highly educated men who were apt to think for themselves； gave promotion grudgingly in the service。 In the artillery； accordingly； the general rule of the army did not apply； the commanding officers were not invariably the most remarkable men in their department； because there was less to be feared from mediocrities。 The artillery was a separate corps in those days； and only came under Napoleon in action。
Besides these general causes； other reasons； inherent in Armand de Montriveau's character； were sufficient in themselves to account for his tardy promotion。 He was alone in the world。 He had been thrown at the age of twenty into the whirlwind of men directed by Napoleon； his interests were bounded by himself； any day he might lose his life； it became a habit of mind with him to live by his own self…respect and the consciousness that he had done his duty。 Like all shy men； he was habitually silent； but his shyness sprang by no means from timidity； it was a kind of modesty in him； he found any demonstration of vanity intolerable。
There was no sort of swagger about his fearlessness in action； nothing escaped his eyes； he could give sensible advice to his chums with unshaken coolness； he could go under fire； and duck upon occasion to avoid bullets。 He was kindly； but his expression was haughty and stern； and his face gained him this character。 In everything he was rigorous as arithmetic； he never permitted the slightest deviation from duty on any plausible pretext； nor blinked the consequences of a fact。 He would lend himself to nothing of which he was ashamed； he never asked anything for himself； in short； Armand de Montriveau was one of many great men unknown to fame； and philosophical enough to despise it； living without attaching themselves to life； because they have not found their opportunity of developing to the full their power to do and feel。
People were afraid of Montriveau； they respected him； but he was not very popular。 Men may indeed allow you to rise above them； but to decline to descend as low as they can do is the one unpardonable sin。 In their feeling towards loftier natures； there is a trace of hate and fear。 Too much honour with them implies censure of themselves； a thing forgiven neither to the living nor to the dead。
After the Emperor's farewells at Fontainebleau； Montriveau； noble though he was； was put on half…pay。 Perhaps the heads of the War Office took fright at uncompromising uprightness worthy of antiquity； or perhaps it was known that he felt bound by his oath to the Imperial Eagle。 During the Hundred Days he was made a Colonel of the Guard； and left on the field of Waterloo。 His wounds kept him in Belgium he was not present at the disbanding of the Army of the Loire； but the King's government declined to recognise promotion made during the Hundred Days； and Armand de Montriveau left France。
An adventurous spirit； a loftiness of thought hitherto satisfied by the hazards of war； drove him on an exploring expedition through Upper Egypt； his sanity or impulse directed his enthusiasm to a project of great importance； he turned his attention to that unexplored Central Africa which occupies the learned of today。 The scientific expedition was long and unfortunate。 He had made a valuable collection of notes bearing on various geographical and commercial problems； of which solutions are still eagerly sought； and succeeded； after surmounting many obstacles； in reaching the heart of the continent； when he was betrayed into the hands of a hostile native tribe。 Then； stripped of all that he had； for two years he led a wandering life in the desert； the slave of savages； threatened with death at every moment； and more cruelly treated than a dumb animal in the power of pitiless children。 Physical strength； and a mind braced to endurance； enabled him to survive the horrors of that captivity； but his miraculous escape well…nigh exhausted his energies。 When he reached the French colony at Senegal； a half…dead fugitive covered with rags； his memories of his former life were dim and shapeless。 The great sacrifices made in his travels were all forgotten like his studies of African dialects； his discoveries； and observations。 One story will give an idea of all that he passed through。 Once for several days the children of the sheikh of the tribe amused themselves by putting him up for a mark and flinging horses' knuckle…bones at his head。
Montriveau came back to Paris in 1818 a ruined man。 He had no interest； and wished for none。 He would have died twenty times over sooner than ask a favour of anyone； he would not even press the recognition of his claim