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certain monarchical old men； he had frankly modernized himself。 He was
always seen in a maroon…colored coat with gilt buttons； half…tight
breeches of poult…de…soie with gold buckles； a white waistcoat without
embroidery； and a tight cravat showing no shirt…collar；a last
vestige of the old French costume which he did not renounce； perhaps；
because it enabled him to show a neck like that of the sleekest abbe。
His shoes were noticeable for their square buckles； a style of which
the present generation has no knowledge； these buckles were fastened
to a square of polished black leather。 The chevalier allowed two
watch…chains to hang parallel to each other from each of his waistcoat
pockets；another vestige of the eighteenth century； which the
Incroyables had not disdained to use under the Directory。 This
transition costume； uniting as it did two centuries； was worn by the
chevalier with the high…bred grace of an old French marquis； the
secret of which is lost to France since the day when Fleury； Mole's
last pupil； vanished。
The private life of this old bachelor was apparently open to all eyes；
though in fact it was quite mysterious。 He lived in a lodging that was
modest； to say the best of it； in the rue du Cours； on the second
floor of a house belonging to Madame Lardot； the best and busiest
washerwoman in the town。 This circumstance will explain the excessive
nicety of his linen。 Ill…luck would have it that the day came when
Alencon was guilty of believing that the chevalier had not always
comported himself as a gentleman should； and that in fact he was
secretly married in his old age to a certain Cesarine；the mother of
a child which had had the impertinence to come into the world without
being called for。
〃He had given his hand；〃 as a certain Monsieur du Bousquier remarked；
〃to the person who had long had him under irons。〃
This horrible calumny embittered the last days of the dainty chevalier
all the more because； as the present Scene will show； he had lost a
hope long cherished to which he had made many sacrifices。
Madame Lardot leased to the chevalier two rooms on the second floor of
her house； for the modest sum of one hundred francs a year。 The worthy
gentleman dined out every day； returning only in time to go to bed。
His sole expense therefore was for breakfast； invariably composed of a
cup of chocolate； with bread and butter and fruits in their season。 He
made no fire except in the coldest winter； and then only enough to get
up by。 Between eleven and four o'clock he walked about； went to read
the papers； and paid visits。 From the time of his settling in Alencon
he had nobly admitted his poverty； saying that his whole fortune
consisted in an annuity of six hundred francs a year； the sole remains
of his former opulence；a property which obliged him to see his man
of business （who held the annuity papers） quarterly。 In truth； one of
the Alencon bankers paid him every three months one hundred and fifty
francs； sent down by Monsieur Bordin of Paris； the last of the
procureurs du Chatelet。 Every one knew these details because the
chevalier exacted the utmost secrecy from the persons to whom he first
confided them。
Monsieur de Valois gathered the fruit of his misfortunes。 His place at
table was laid in all the most distinguished houses in Alencon； and he
was bidden to all soirees。 His talents as a card…player； a narrator；
an amiable man of the highest breeding； were so well known and
appreciated that parties would have seemed a failure if the dainty
connoisseur was absent。 Masters of houses and their wives felt the
need of his approving grimace。 When a young woman heard the chevalier
say at a ball； 〃You are delightfully well…dressed！〃 she was more
pleased at such praise than she would have been at mortifying a rival。
Monsieur de Valois was the only man who could perfectly pronounce
certain phrases of the olden time。 The words； 〃my heart；〃 〃my jewel；〃
〃my little pet；〃 〃my queen；〃 and the amorous diminutives of 1770； had
a grace that was quite irresistible when they came from his lips。 In
short； the chevalier had the privilege of superlatives。 His
compliments； of which he was stingy； won the good graces of all the
old women； he made himself agreeable to every one； even to the
officials of the government； from whom he wanted nothing。 His behavior
at cards had a lofty distinction which everybody noticed： he never
complained； he praised his adversaries when they lost； he did not
rebuke or teach his partners by showing them how they ought to have
played。 When； in the course of a deal； those sickening dissertations
on the game would take place； the chevalier invariably drew out his
snuff…box with a gesture that was worthy of Mole； looked at the
Princess Goritza； raised the cover with dignity； shook； sifted； massed
the snuff； and gathered his pinch； so that by the time the cards were
dealt he had decorated both nostrils and replaced the princess in his
waistcoat pocket；always on his left side。 A gentleman of the 〃good〃
century （in distinction from the 〃grand〃 century） could alone have
invented that compromise between contemptuous silence and a sarcasm
which might not have been understood。 He accepted poor players and
knew how to make the best of them。 His delightful equability of temper
made many persons say；
〃I do admire the Chevalier de Valois！〃
His conversation； his manners； seemed bland； like his person。 He
endeavored to shock neither man nor woman。 Indulgent to defects both
physical and mental； he listened patiently （by the help of the
Princess Goritza） to the many dull people who related to him the petty
miseries of provincial life；an egg ill…boiled for breakfast； coffee
with feathered cream； burlesque details about health； disturbed sleep；
dreams； visits。 The chevalier could call up a languishing look； he
could take on a classic attitude to feign compassion； which made him a
most valuable listener； he could put in an 〃Ah！〃 and a 〃Bah！〃 and a
〃What DID you do？〃 with charming appropriateness。 He died without any
one suspecting him of even an allusion to the tender passages of his
romance with the Princess Goritza。 Has any one ever reflected on the
service a dead sentiment can do to society； how love may become both
social and useful？ This will serve to explain why； in spite of his
constant winning at play （he never left a salon without carrying off
with him about six francs）； the old chevalier remained the spoilt
darling of the town。 His losseswhich； by the bye； he always
proclaimed； were very rare。
All who know him declare that they have never met； not even in the
Egyptian museum at Turin； so agreeable a mummy。 In no country in the
world did parasitism ever take on so pleasant a form。 Never did
selfishness of a most concentrated kind appear less forth…putting；
less offensive； than in this old gentleman； it stood him in place of
devoted friendship。 If some one asked Monsieur de Valois to do him a
little service which might have discommoded him； that some one did not
part from the worthy chevalier without being truly enchanted with him；
and quite convinced that he either could not do the service demanded；
or that he should injure the affair if he meddled in it。
To explain the problematic existence of the chevalier； the historian；
whom Truth； that cruel wanton； grasps by the throat； is compelled to
say that after the 〃glorious〃 sad days of July； Alencon discovered
that the chevalier's nightly winnings amounted to about one hundred
and fifty francs every three months； and that the clever old nobleman
had had the pluck to send to himself his annuity in order not to
appear in the eyes of a community； which loves the main chance； to be
entirely without resources。 Many of his friends （he was by that time
dead； you will please remark） have contested mordicus this curious
fact； declaring it to be a fable； and upholding the Chevalier de
Valois as a respectable and worthy gentleman whom the liberals
calumniated。 Luckily for shrewd players； there are people to be found
among the spectators who will always sustain them。 Ashamed of having
to defend a piece of wrong…doing； they stoutly deny it。 Do not accuse
them of wilful infatuation； such men have a sense of their dignity；
governments set them the example of a virtue which consists in burying
their dead without chanting the Misere of their defeats。 If the
chevalier did allow himself this bit of shrewd practice；which； by
the bye； would have won him the regard of the Chevalier de Gramont； a
smile from the Baron de Foeneste； a shake of the hand from the Marquis
de Moncade；was he any the less that amiable guest； that witty
talker； that imperturbable card…player； that famous teller of
anecdotes； in whom all Alencon took delight？ Besides； in what way was
this action； which is certainly within the rights of a man's own will；
in what way was it contrary to the ethics of a gentleman？ Whe