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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？ When so
many persons are forced to pay annuities to others； what more natural
than to pay one to his own best friend？ But Laius is dead
To return to the period of which we are writing： after about fifteen
years of this way of life the chevalier had amassed ten thousand and
some odd hundred francs。 On the return of the Bourbons； one of his old
friends； the Marquis de Pombreton； formerly lieutenant in the Black
mousquetaires； returned to himso he saidtwelve hundred pistoles
which he had lent to the marquis for the purpose of emigrating。 This
event made a sensation； it was used later to refute the sarcasms of
the 〃Constitutionnel；〃 on the method employed by some emigres in
paying their debts。 When this noble act of the Marquis de Pombreton
was lauded before the chevalier； the good man reddened even to his
right cheek。 Every one rejoiced frankly at this windfall for Monsieur
de Valois； who went about consulting moneyed people as to the safest
manner of investing this fragment of his past opulence。 Confiding in
the future of the Restoration； he finally placed his money on the
Grand…Livre at the moment when the funds were at fifty…six francs and
twenty…five centimes。 Messieurs de Lenoncourt； de Navarreins； de
Verneuil； de Fontaine； and La Billardiere； to whom he was known； he
said； obtained for him； from the king's privy purse； a pension of
three hundred francs； and sent him； moreover； the cross of Saint…
Louis。 Never was it known positively by what means the old chevalier
obtained these two solemn consecrations of his title and merits。 But
one thing is certain； the cross of Saint…Louis authorized him to take
the rank of retired colonel in view of his service in the Catholic
armies of the West。
Besides his fiction of an annuity； about which no one at the present
time knew anything； the chevalier really had； therefore； a bona fide
income of a thousand francs。 But in spite of this bettering of his
circumstances； he made no change in his life； manners； or appearance；
except that the red ribbon made a fine effect on his maroon…colored
coat； and completed； so to speak； the physiognomy of a gentleman。
After 1802； the chevalier sealed his letters with a very old seal；
ill…engraved to be sure； by which the Casterans； the d'Esgrignons； the
Troisvilles were enabled to see that he bore： Party of France； two
cottises gemelled gules； and gules； five mascles or； placed end to
end； on a chief sable； a cross argent。 For crest； a knight's helmet。
For motto： 〃Valeo。〃 Bearing such noble arms； the so…called bastard of
the Valois had the right to get into all the royal carriages of the
world。
Many persons envied the quiet existence of this old bachelor； spent on
whist； boston； backgammon； reversi； and piquet； all well played； on
dinners well digested； snuff gracefully inhaled； and tranquil walks
about the town。 Nearly all Alencon believed this life to be exempt
from ambitions and serious interests； but no man has a life as simple
as envious neighbors attribute to him。 You will find in the most out…
of…the way villages human mollusks； creatures apparently dead； who
have passions for lepidoptera or for conchology； let us say；beings
who will give themselves infinite pains about moths； butterflies； or
the concha Veneris。 Not only did the chevalier have his own particular
shells； but he cherished an ambitious desire which he pursued with a
craft so profound as to be worthy of Sixtus the Fifth： he wanted to
marry a certain rich old maid； with the intention； no doubt； of making
her a stepping…stone by which to reach the more elevated regions of
the court。 There； then； lay the secret of his royal bearing and of his
residence in Alencon。
CHAPTER II
SUSANNAH AND THE ELDERS
On a Wednesday morning； early； toward the middle of spring； in the
year 16；such was his mode of reckoning；at the moment when the
chevalier was putting on his old green…flowered damask dressing…gown；
he heard； despite the cotton in his ears； the light step of a young
girl who was running up the stairway。 Presently three taps were
discreetly struck upon the door； then； without waiting for any
response； a handsome girl slipped like an eel into the room occupied
by the old bachelor。
〃Ah！ is it you； Suzanne？〃 said the Chevalier de Valois； without
discontinuing his occupation； which was that of stropping his razor。
〃What have you come for； my dear little jewel of mischief？〃
〃I have come to tell you something which may perhaps give you as much
pleasure as pain？〃
〃Is it anything about Cesarine？〃
〃Cesarine！ much I care about your Cesarine！〃 she said with a saucy
air； half serious； half indifferent。
This charming Suzanne； whose present comical performance was to
exercise a great influence in the principal personages of our history；
was a work…girl at Madame Lardot's。 One word here on the topography of
the house。 The wash…rooms occupied the whole of the ground floor。 The
little courtyard was used to hang out on wire cords embroidered
handkerchiefs； collarets； capes； cuffs； frilled shirts； cravats；
laces； embroidered dresses；in short； all the fine linen of the best
families of the town。 The chevalier assumed to know from the number of
her capes in the wash how the love…affairs of the wife of the prefect
were going on。 Though he guessed much from observations of this kind；
the chevalier was discretion itself； he was never betrayed into an
epigram （he had plenty of wit） which might have closed to him an
agreeable salon。 You are therefore to consider Monsieur de Valois as a
man of superior manners； whose talents； like those of many others；
were lost in a narrow sphere。 Onlyfor； after all； he was a manhe
permitted himself certain penetrating glances which could make some
women tremble； although they all loved him heartily as soon as they
discovered the depth of his discretion and the sympathy that he felt
for their little weaknesses。
The head woman； Madame Lardot's factotum； an old maid of forty…six；
hideous to behold； lived on the opposite side of the passage to the
chevalier。 Above them were the attics where the linen was dried in
winter。 Each apartment had two rooms；one lighted from the street；
the other from the courtyard。 Beneath the chevalier's room there lived
a paralytic； Madame Lardot's grandfather； an old buccaneer named
Grevin； who had served under Admiral Simeuse in India； and was now
stone…deaf。 As for Madame Lardot； who occupied the other lodging on
the first floor； she had so great a weakness for persons of condition
that she may well have been thought blind to the ways of the
chevalier。 To her； Monsieur de Valois was a despotic monarch who did
right in all things。 Had any of her workwomen been guilty of a
happiness attributed to the chevalier she would have said； 〃He is so
lovable！〃 Thus； though the house was of glass； like all provincial
houses； it was discreet as a robber's cave。
A born confidant to all the little intrigues of the work…rooms； the
chevalier never passed the door； which usually stood open； without
giving something to his little ducks；chocolate； bonbons； ribbons；
laces； gilt crosses； and such like trifles adored by grisettes；
consequently； the kind old gentleman was adored in return。 Women have
an instinct which enables them to divine the men who love them； who
like to be near them； and exact no payment for gallantries。 In this
respect women have the instinct of dogs； who in a mixed company will
go straight to the man to whom animals are sacred。
The poor Chevalier de Valois retained from his former life the need of
bestowing gallant protection； a quality of the seigneurs of other
days。 Faithful to the system of the 〃petite maison；〃 he liked to
enrich women；the only beings who know how to receive； because they
can always return。 But the poor chevalier could no longer ruin himself
for a mistress。 Instead of the choicest bonbons wrapped in bank…bills；
he gallantly presented paper…bags full of toffee。 Let us say to the
glory of Alencon that the toffee was accepted with more joy than la
Duthe ever showed at a gilt service or a fine equipage offered by the
Comte d'Artois。 All these grisettes fully understood the fallen
majesty of the Chevalier de Valois； and they kept their private
familiarities with him a profound secret for his sake。 If they were
questioned about him in certain houses when they carried home the
linen； they always spoke respectfully of the chevalier； and made him
out older than he really was； they talked of him as a most respectable
monsieur； whose life was a flower of sanctity； but once in their own
regions they perched on his shoulders like so many parrots。 He liked
to be told the secrets which washerwomen discover in the bosom of
households； and day after day these girls would te