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headlong into marriage without succeeding in being married； made
everybody laugh at her； but when they learned the exceptional position
in which the sternness of her religious principles placed her； all the
world admired her。 〃That poor Madame du Bousquier〃 took the place of
〃That good Mademoiselle Cormon。〃
Thus the chevalier contrived to render du Bousquier both ridiculous
and odious for a time； but ridicule ends by weakening； when all had
said their say about him； the gossip died out。 Besides； at fifty…seven
years of age the dumb republican seemed to many people to have a right
to retire。 This affair； however； envenomed the hatred which du
Bousquier already bore to the house of Esgrignon to such a degree that
it made him pitiless when the day of vengeance came。 ＇See 〃The Gallery
of Antiquities。〃＇ Madame du Bousquier received orders never again to
set foot into that house。 By way of reprisals upon the chevalier for
the trick thus played him； du Bousquier； who had just created the
journal called the 〃Courrier de l'Orne；〃 caused the following notice
to be inserted in it：
〃Bonds to the amount of one thousand francs a year will be paid to
any person who can prove the existence of one Monsieur de
Pombreton before； during； or after the Emigration。〃
Although her marriage was essentially negative； Madame du Bousquier
saw some advantages in it： was it not better to interest herself in
the most remarkable man in the town than to live alone？ Du Bousquier
was preferable to a dog； or cat； or those canaries that spinsters
love。 He showed for his wife a sentiment more real and less selfish
than that which is felt by servants； confessors； and hopeful heirs。
Later in life she came to consider her husband as the instrument of
divine wrath； for she then saw innumerable sins in her former desires
for marriage； she regarded herself as justly punished for the sorrow
she had brought on Madame Granson； and for the hastened death of her
uncle。 Obedient to that religion which commands us to kiss the rod
with which the punishment is inflicted； she praised her husband； and
publicly approved him。 But in the confessional； or at night； when
praying； she wept often； imploring God's forgiveness for the apostasy
of the man who thought the contrary of what he professed； and who
desired the destruction of the aristocracy and the Church；the two
religions of the house of Cormon。
With all her feelings bruised and immolated within her； compelled by
duty to make her husband happy； attached to him by a certain
indefinable affection； born； perhaps； of habit； her life became one
perpetual contradiction。 She had married a man whose conduct and
opinions she hated； but whom she was bound to care for with dutiful
tenderness。 Often she walked with the angels when du Bousquier ate her
preserves or thought the dinner good。 She watched to see that his
slightest wish was satisfied。 If he tore off the cover of his
newspaper and left it on a table； instead of throwing it away； she
would say：
〃Rene； leave that where it is； monsieur did not place it there without
intention。〃
If du Bousquier had a journey to take； she was anxious about his
trunk； his linen； she took the most minute precautions for his
material benefit。 If he went to Prebaudet； she consulted the barometer
the evening before to know if the weather would be fine。 She watched
for his will in his eyes； like a dog which hears and sees its master
while sleeping。 When the stout du Bousquier； touched by this
scrupulous love； would take her round the waist and kiss her forehead；
saying； 〃What a good woman you are！〃 tears of pleasure would come into
the eyes of the poor creature。 It is probably that du Bousquier felt
himself obliged to make certain concessions which obtained for him the
respect of Rose…Marie…Victoire； for Catholic virtue does not require a
dissimulation as complete as that of Madame du Bousquier。 Often the
good saint sat mutely by and listened to the hatred of men who
concealed themselves under the cloak of constitutional royalists。 She
shuddered as she foresaw the ruin of the Church。 Occasionally she
risked a stupid word； an observation which du Bousquier cut short with
a glance。
The worries of such an existence ended by stupefying Madame du
Bousquier； who found it easier and also more dignified to concentrate
her intelligence on her own thoughts and resign herself to lead a life
that was purely animal。 She then adopted the submission of a slave；
and regarded it as a meritorious deed to accept the degradation in
which her husband placed her。 The fulfilment of his will never once
caused her to murmur。 The timid sheep went henceforth in the way the
shepherd led her； she gave herself up to the severest religious
practices； and thought no more of Satan and his works and vanities。
Thus she presented to the eyes of the world a union of all Christian
virtues； and du Bousquier was certainly one of the luckiest men in the
kingdom of France and of Navarre。
〃She will be a simpleton to her last breath；〃 said the former
collector； who； however； dined with her twice a week。
This history would be strangely incomplete if no mention were made of
the coincidence of the Chevalier de Valois's death occurring at the
same time as that of Suzanne's mother。 The chevalier died with the
monarchy； in August； 1830。 He had joined the cortege of Charles X。 at
Nonancourt； and piously escorted it to Cherbourg with the Troisvilles；
Casterans； d'Esgrignons； Verneuils； etc。 The old gentleman had taken
with him fifty thousand francs；the sum to which his savings then
amounted。 He offered them to one of the faithful friends of the king
for transmission to his master； speaking of his approaching death； and
declaring that the money came originally from the goodness of the
king； and； moreover； that the property of the last of the Valois
belonged of right to the crown。 It is not known whether the fervor of
his zeal conquered the reluctance of the Bourbon； who abandoned his
fine kingdom of France without carrying away with him a farthing； and
who ought to have been touched by the devotion of the chevalier。 It is
certain； however； that Cesarine； the residuary legate of the old man；
received from his estate only six hundred francs a year。 The chevalier
returned to Alencon； cruelly weakened by grief and by fatigue； he died
on the very day when Charles X。 arrived on a foreign shore。
Madame du Val…Noble and her protector； who was just then afraid of the
vengeance of the liberal party； were glad of a pretext to remain
incognito in the village where Suzanne's mother died。 At the sale of
the chevalier's effects； which took place at that time； Suzanne；
anxious to obtain a souvenir of her first and last friend； pushed up
the price of the famous snuff…box； which was finally knocked down to
her for a thousand francs。 The portrait of the Princess Goritza was
alone worth that sum。 Two years later； a young dandy； who was making a
collection of the fine snuff…boxes of the last century； obtained from
Madame du Val…Noble the chevalier's treasure。 The charming confidant
of many a love and the pleasure of an old age is now on exhibition in
a species of private museum。 If the dead could know what happens after
them； the chevalier's head would surely blush upon its left cheek。
If this history has no other effect than to inspire the possessors of
precious relics with holy fear； and induce them to make codicils to
secure these touching souvenirs of joys that are no more by
bequeathing them to loving hands； it will have done an immense service
to the chivalrous and romantic portion of the community； but it does；
in truth； contain a far higher moral。 Does it not show the necessity
for a new species of education？ Does it not invoke； from the
enlightened solicitude of the ministers of Public Instruction； the
creation of chairs of anthropology；a science in which Germany
outstrips us？ Modern myths are even less understood than ancient ones；
harried as we are with myths。 Myths are pressing us from every point；
they serve all theories； they explain all questions。 They are；
according to human ideas； the torches of history； they would save
empires from revolution if only the professors of history would force
the explanations they give into the mind of the provincial masses。 If
Mademoiselle Cormon had been a reader or a student； and if there had
existed in the department of the Orne a professor of anthropology； or
even had she read Ariosto； the frightful disasters of her conjugal
life would never have occurred。 She would probably have known why the
Italian poet makes Angelica prefer Medoro； who was a blond Chevalier
de Valois； to Orlando； whose mare was dead； and who knew no better
than to fly into a passion。 Is not Medoro the mythic form for all
courtiers of feminine royalty； and Orlando the myth of disorderly；
furious； and impotent revolutions； wh