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truths before which all educations； laws； and philosophical systems
must give way。 Let us repeat continually： it is absurd to force
sentiments into one formula： appearing as they do； in each individual
man； they combine with the elements that form his nature and take his
own physiognomy。
Madame Granson； as she stood on that fatal spot； saw a woman approach
it； who exclaimed；
〃Was it here？〃
That woman wept as the mother wept。 It was Suzanne。 Arriving that
morning at the hotel du More； she had been told of the catastrophe。 If
poor Athanase had been living； she meant to do as many noble souls；
who are moneyless； dream of doing； and as the rich never think of
doing；she meant to have sent him several thousand francs； writing up
the envelope the words： 〃Money due to your father from a comrade who
makes restitution to you。〃 This tender scheme had been arranged by
Suzanne during her journey。
The courtesan caught sight of Madame Granson and moved rapidly away；
whispering as she passed her； 〃I loved him！〃
Suzanne； faithful to her nature； did not leave Alencon on this
occasion without changing the orange…blossoms of the bride to rue。 She
was the first to declare that Madame du Bousquier would never be
anything but Mademoiselle Cormon。 With one stab of her tongue she
revenged poor Athanase and her dear chevalier。
Alencon now witnessed a suicide that was slower and quite differently
pitiful from that of poor Athanase； who was quickly forgotten by
society； which always makes haste to forget its dead。 The poor
Chevalier de Valois died in life； his suicide was a daily occurrence
for fourteen years。 Three months after the du Bousquier marriage
society remarked； not without astonishment； that the linen of the
chevalier was frayed and rusty； that his hair was irregularly combed
and brushed。 With a frowsy head the Chevalier de Valois could no
longer be said to exist！ A few of his ivory teeth deserted； though the
keenest observers of human life were unable to discover to what body
they had hitherto belonged； whether to a foreign legion or whether
they were indigenous； vegetable or animal； whether age had pulled them
from the chevalier's mouth； or whether they were left forgotten in the
drawer of his dressing…table。 The cravat was crooked； indifferent to
elegance。 The negroes' heads grew pale with dust and grease。 The
wrinkles of the face were blackened and puckered； the skin became
parchment。 The nails； neglected； were often seen； alas！ with a black
velvet edging。 The waistcoat was tracked and stained with droppings
which spread upon its surface like autumn leaves。 The cotton in the
ears was seldom changed。 Sadness reigned upon that brow； and slipped
its yellowing tints into the depths of each furrow。 In short； the
ruins； hitherto so cleverly hidden； now showed through the cracks and
crevices of that fine edifice； and proved the power of the soul over
the body； for the fair and dainty man； the cavalier； the young blood；
died when hope deserted him。 Until then the nose of the chevalier was
ever delicate and nice； never had a damp black blotch； nor an amber
drop fall from it； but now that nose； smeared with tobacco around the
nostrils； degraded by the driblets which took advantage of the natural
gutter placed between itself and the upper lip；that nose； which no
longer cared to seem agreeable； revealed the infinite pains which the
chevalier had formerly taken with his person； and made observers
comprehend； by the extent of its degradation； the greatness and
persistence of the man's designs upon Mademoiselle Cormon。
Alas； too； the anecdotes went the way of the teeth； the clever sayings
grew rare。 The appetite； however； remained； the old nobleman saved
nothing but his stomach from the wreck of his hopes； though he
languidly prepared his pinches of snuff； he ate alarming dinners。
Perhaps you will more fully understand the disaster that this marriage
was to the mind and heart of the chevalier when you learn that his
intercourse with the Princess Goritza became less frequent。
One day he appeared in Mademoiselle Armande's salon with the calf of
his leg on the shin…bone。 This bankruptcy of the graces was； I do
assure you； terrible； and struck all Alencon with horror。 The late
young man had become an old one； this human being； who； by the
breaking…down of his spirit； had passed at once from fifty to ninety
years of age； frightened society。 Besides； his secret was betrayed； he
had waited and watched for Mademoiselle Cormon； he had； like a patient
hunter； adjusted his aim for ten whole years； and finally had missed
the game！ In short； the impotent Republic had won the day from Valiant
Chivalry； and that； too； under the Restoration！ Form triumphed； mind
was vanquished by matter； diplomacy by insurrection。 And； O final
blow！ a mortified grisette revealed the secret of the chevalier's
mornings； and he now passed for a libertine。 The liberals cast at his
door all the foundlings hitherto attributed to du Bousquier。 But the
faubourg Saint…Germain of Alencon accepted them proudly： it even said；
〃That poor chevalier； what else could he do？〃 The faubourg pitied him；
gathered him closer to their circle； and brought back a few rare
smiles to his face； but frightful enmity was piled upon the head of du
Bousquier。 Eleven persons deserted the Cormon salon； and passed to
that of the d'Esgrignons。
The old maid's marriage had a signal effect in defining the two
parties in Alencon。 The salon d'Esgrignon represented the upper
aristocracy （the returning Troisvilles attached themselves to it）； the
Cormon salon represented； under the clever influence of du Bousquier；
that fatal class of opinions which； without being truly liberal or
resolutely royalist； gave birth to the 221 on that famous day when the
struggle openly began between the most august； grandest； and only true
power； ROYALTY； and the most false； most changeful； most oppressive of
all powers；the power called PARLIAMENTARY； which elective assemblies
exercise。 The salon du Ronceret； secretly allied to the Cormon salon；
was boldly liberal。
The Abbe de Sponde； after his return from Prebaudet； bore many and
continual sufferings； which he kept within his breast； saying no word
of them to his niece。 But to Mademoiselle Armande he opened his heart；
admitting that； folly for folly； he would much have preferred the
Chevalier de Valois to Monsieur du Bousquier。 Never would the dear
chevalier have had the bad taste to contradict and oppose a poor old
man who had but a few days more to live； du Bousquier had destroyed
everything in the good old home。 The abbe said； with scanty tears
moistening his aged eyes；
〃Mademoiselle； I haven't even the little grove where I have walked for
fifty years。 My beloved lindens are all cut down！ At the moment of my
death the Republic appears to me more than ever under the form of a
horrible destruction of the Home。〃
〃You must pardon your niece；〃 said the Chevalier de Valois。
〃Republican ideas are the first error of youth which seeks for
liberty； later it finds it the worst of despotisms；that of an
impotent canaille。 Your poor niece is punished where she sinned。〃
〃What will become of me in a house where naked women are painted on
the walls？〃 said the poor abbe。 〃Where shall I find other lindens
beneath which to read my breviary？〃
Like Kant； who was unable to collect his thoughts after the fir…tree
at which he was accustomed to gaze while meditating was cut down； so
the poor abbe could never attain the ardor of his former prayers while
walking up and down the shadeless paths。 Du Bousquier had planted an
English garden。
〃It was best；〃 said Madame du Bousquier； without thinking so； but the
Abbe Couterier had authorized her to commit many wrongs to please her
husband。
These restorations destroyed all the venerable dignity； cordiality；
and patriarchal air of the old house。 Like the Chevalier de Valois；
whose personal neglect might be called an abdication； the bourgeois
dignity of the Cormon salon no longer existed when it was turned to
white and gold； with mahogany ottomans covered in blue satin。 The
dining…room； adorned in modern taste； was colder in tone than it used
to be； and the dinners were eaten with less appetite than formerly。
Monsieur du Coudrai declared that he felt his puns stick in his throat
as he glanced at the figures painted on the walls； which looked him
out of countenance。 Externally； the house was still provincial； but
internally everything revealed the purveyor of the Directory and the
bad taste of the money…changer；for instance； columns in stucco；
glass doors； Greek mouldings； meaningless outlines； all styles
conglomerated； magnificence out of place and out of season。
The town of Alencon gabbled for two weeks over this luxury； which
seemed unparalleled； but a few months later the community was proud of
it； and several rich