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in momentous circumstances； 〃we have a very brilliant society here；
monsieur。 It assembles at my house； and you shall judge of it this
evening； for some of my faithful friends have no doubt heard of my
return and your arrival。 Among them is the Chevalier de Valois； a
seigneur of the old court； a man of infinite wit and taste； then there
is Monsieur le Marquis d'Esgrignon and Mademoiselle Armande； his
sister〃 （she bit her tongue with vexation）；〃a woman remarkable in
her way；〃 she added。 〃She resolved to remain unmarried in order to
leave all her fortune to her brother and nephew。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the viscount。 〃Yes； the d'Esgrignons；I remember
them。〃
〃Alencon is very gay；〃 continued the old maid； now fairly launched。
〃There's much amusement： the receiver…general gives balls； the prefect
is an amiable man； and Monseigneur the bishop sometimes honors us with
a visit〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the viscount； smiling； 〃I have done wisely to come
back； like the hare； to die in my form。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃I； too； attach myself or I die。〃
The viscount smiled。
〃Ah！〃 thought the old maid； 〃all is well； he understands me。〃
The conversation continued on generalities。 By one of those mysterious
unknown and undefinable faculties； Mademoiselle Cormon found in her
brain； under the pressure of her desire to be agreeable； all the
phrases and opinions of the Chevalier de Valois。 It was like a duel in
which the devil himself pointed the pistol。 Never was any adversary
better aimed at。 The viscount was far too well…bred to speak of the
excellence of the dinner； but his silence was praise。 As he drank the
delicious wines which Jacquelin served to him profusely； he seemed to
feel he was with friends； and to meet them with pleasure； for the true
connoisseur does not applaud； he enjoys。 He inquired the price of
land； of houses； of estates； he made Mademoiselle Cormon describe at
length the confluence of the Sarthe and the Brillante； he expressed
surprise that the town was placed so far from the river； and seemed to
be much interested in the topography of the place。
The silent abbe left his niece to throw the dice of conversation； and
she truly felt that she pleased Monsieur de Troisville； who smiled at
her gracefully； and committed himself during this dinner far more than
her most eager suitors had ever done in ten days。 Imagine； therefore；
the little attentions with which he was petted； you might have thought
him a cherished lover； whose return brought joy to the household。
Mademoiselle foresaw the moment when the viscount wanted bread； she
watched his every look； when he turned his head she adroitly put upon
his plate a portion of some dish he seemed to like； had he been a
gourmand； she would almost have killed him； but what a delightful
specimen of the attentions she would show to a husband！ She did not
commit the folly of depreciating herself； on the contrary； she set
every sail bravely； ran up all her flags； assumed the bearing of the
queen of Alencon； and boasted of her excellent preserves。 In fact； she
fished for compliments in speaking of herself； for she saw that she
pleased the viscount； the truth being that her eager desire had so
transformed her that she became almost a woman。
At dessert she heard； not without emotions of delight； certain sounds
in the antechamber and salon which denoted the arrival of her usual
guests。 She called the attention of her uncle and Monsieur de
Troisville to this prompt attendance as a proof of the affection that
was felt for her； whereas it was really the result of the poignant
curiosity which had seized upon the town。 Impatient to show herself in
all her glory； Mademoiselle Cormon told Jacquelin to serve coffee and
liqueurs in the salon； where he presently set out； in view of the
whole company； a magnificent liqueur…stand of Dresden china which saw
the light only twice a year。 This circumstance was taken note of by
the company； standing ready to gossip over the merest trifle：
〃The deuce！〃 muttered du Bousquier。 〃Actually Madame Amphoux's
liqueurs； which they only serve at the four church festivals！〃
〃Undoubtedly the marriage was arranged a year ago by letter；〃 said the
chief…justice du Ronceret。 〃The postmaster tells me his office has
received letters postmarked Odessa for more than a year。〃
Madame Granson trembled。 The Chevalier de Valois； though he had dined
with the appetite of four men； turned pale even to the left section of
his face。 Feeling that he was about to betray himself； he said
hastily；
〃Don't you think it is very cold to…day？ I am almost frozen。〃
〃The neighborhood of Russia； perhaps；〃 said du Bousquier。
The chevalier looked at him as if to say； 〃Well played！〃
Mademoiselle Cormon appeared so radiant； so triumphant； that the
company thought her handsome。 This extraordinary brilliancy was not
the effect of sentiment only。 Since early morning her blood had been
whirling tempestuously within her； and her nerves were agitated by the
presentiment of some great crisis。 It required all these circumstances
combined to make her so unlike herself。 With what joy did she now make
her solemn presentation of the viscount to the chevalier； the
chevalier to the viscount； and all Alencon to Monsieur de Troisville；
and Monsieur de Troisville to all Alencon！
By an accident wholly explainable； the viscount and chevalier；
aristocrats by nature； came instantly into unison； they recognized
each other at once as men belonging to the same sphere。 Accordingly；
they began to converse together； standing before the fireplace。 A
circle formed around them； and their conversation； though uttered in a
low voice； was listened to in religious silence。 To give the effect of
this scene it is necessary to dramatize it； and to picture
Mademoiselle Cormon occupied in pouring out the coffee of her
imaginary suitor； with her back to the fireplace。
Monsieur de Valois。 〃Monsieur le vicomte has come； I am told； to
settle in Alencon？〃
Monsieur de Troisville。 〃Yes； monsieur； I am looking for a house。〃
＇Mademoiselle Cormon； cup in hand； turns round。＇ 〃It must be a large
house〃 ＇Mademoiselle Cormon offers him the cup＇ 〃to lodge my whole
family。〃 ＇The eyes of the old maid are troubled。＇
Monsieur de Valois。 〃Are you married？〃
Monsieur de Troisville。 〃Yes； for the last sixteen years； to a
daughter of the Princess Scherbellof。〃
Mademoiselle Cormon fainted； du Bousquier； who saw her stagger； sprang
forward and received her in his arms； some one opened the door and
allowed him to pass out with his enormous burden。 The fiery
republican； instructed by Josette； found strength to carry the old
maid to her bedroom； where he laid her out on the bed。 Josette； armed
with scissors； cut the corset； which was terribly tight。 Du Bousquier
flung water on Mademoiselle Cormon's face and bosom； which； released
from the corset； overflowed like the Loire in flood。 The poor woman
opened her eyes； saw du Bousquier； and gave a cry of modesty at the
sight of him。 Du Bousquier retired at once； leaving six women； at the
head of whom was Madame Granson； radiant with joy； to take care of the
invalid。
What had the Chevalier de Valois been about all this time？ Faithful to
his system； he had covered the retreat。
〃That poor Mademoiselle Cormon；〃 he said to Monsieur de Troisville；
gazing at the assembly； whose laughter was repressed by his cool
aristocratic glances； 〃her blood is horribly out of order； she
wouldn't be bled before going to Prebaudet （her estate）；and see the
result！〃
〃She came back this morning in the rain；〃 said the Abbe de Sponde；
〃and she may have taken cold。 It won't be anything； it is only a
little upset she is subject to。〃
〃She told me yesterday she had not had one for three months； adding
that she was afraid it would play her a trick at last；〃 said the
chevalier。
〃Ha！ so you are married？〃 said Jacquelin to himself as he looked at
Monsieur de Troisville； who was quietly sipping his coffee。
The faithful servant espoused his mistress's disappointment； he
divined it； and he promptly carried away the liqueurs of Madame
Amphoux； which were offered to a bachelor； and not to the husband of a
Russian woman。
All these details were noticed and laughed at。 The Abbe de Sponde knew
the object of Monsieur de Troisville's journey； but； absent…minded as
usual； he forgot it； not supposing that his niece could have the
slightest interest in Monsieur de Troisville's marriage。 As for the
viscount； preoccupied with the object of his journey； and； like many
husbands； not eager to talk about his wife； he had had no occasion to
say he was married； besides； he would naturally suppose that
Mademoiselle Cormon knew it。
Du Bousquier reappeared； and was questioned furiously。 One of the six
women came down soon after； and announced that Mademoiselle Cormon was
much better