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'he has to be hyked into a pair of stays to get them things on！'
'Come； come； Mr。 Rowley；' said I； 'this is telling tales out of
school！ Do not you be deceived。 The greatest men of antiquity；
including Caesar and Hannibal and Pope Joan； may have been very
glad； at my time of life or Alain's； to follow his example。 'Tis a
misfortune common to all； and really；' said I； bowing to myself
before the mirror like one who should dance the minuet； 'when the
result is so successful as this； who would do anything but
applaud？'
My toilet concluded； I marched on to fresh surprises。 My chamber；
my new valet and my new clothes had been beyond hope： the dinner；
the soup； the whole bill of fare was a revelation of the powers
there are in man。 I had not supposed it lay in the genius of any
cook to create； out of common beef and mutton； things so different
and dainty。 The wine was of a piece； the doctor a most agreeable
companion； nor could I help reflecting on the prospect that all
this wealth； comfort and handsome profusion might still very
possibly become mine。 Here were a change indeed； from the common
soldier and the camp kettle； the prisoner and his prison rations；
the fugitive and the horrors of the covered cart！
CHAPTER XVII … THE DESPATCH…BOX
THE doctor had scarce finished his meal before he hastened with an
apology to attend upon his patient； and almost immediately after I
was myself summoned and ushered up the great staircase and along
interminable corridors to the bedside of my great…uncle the Count。
You are to think that up to the present moment I had not set eyes
on this formidable personage； only on the evidences of his wealth
and kindness。 You are to think besides that I had heard him
miscalled and abused from my earliest childhood up。 The first of
the EMIGRES could never expect a good word in the society in which
my father moved。 Even yet the reports I received were of a
doubtful nature； even Romaine had drawn of him no very amiable
portrait； and as I was ushered into the room； it was a critical eye
that I cast on my great…uncle。 He lay propped on pillows in a
little cot no greater than a camp…bed； not visibly breathing。 He
was about eighty years of age； and looked it； not that his face was
much lined； but all the blood and colour seemed to have faded from
his body； and even his eyes； which last he kept usually closed as
though the light distressed him。 There was an unspeakable degree
of slyness in his expression； which kept me ill at ease； he seemed
to lie there with his arms folded； like a spider waiting for prey。
His speech was very deliberate and courteous； but scarce louder
than a sigh。
'I bid you welcome； MONSIEUR LE VICOMTE ANNE；' said he； looking at
me hard with his pale eyes； but not moving on his pillows。 'I have
sent for you； and I thank you for the obliging expedition you have
shown。 It is my misfortune that I cannot rise to receive you。 I
trust you have been reasonably well entertained？'
'MONSIEUR MON ONCLE；' I said； bowing very low； 'I am come at the
summons of the head of my family。'
'It is well；' he said。 'Be seated。 I should be glad to hear some
news … if that can be called news that is already twenty years old
… of how I have the pleasure to see you here。'
By the coldness of his address； not more than by the nature of the
times that he bade me recall； I was plunged in melancholy。 I felt
myself surrounded as with deserts of friendlessness； and the
delight of my welcome was turned to ashes in my mouth。
'That is soon told； MONSEIGNEUR；' said I。 'I understand that I
need tell you nothing of the end of my unhappy parents？ It is only
the story of the lost dog。'
'You are right。 I am sufficiently informed of that deplorable
affair； it is painful to me。 My nephew； your father； was a man who
would not be advised；' said he。 'Tell me； if you please； simply of
yourself。'
'I am afraid I must run the risk of harrowing your sensibility in
the beginning；' said I； with a bitter smile； 'because my story
begins at the foot of the guillotine。 When the list came out that
night； and her name was there； I was already old enough； not in
years but in sad experience； to understand the extent of my
misfortune。 She … ' I paused。 'Enough that she arranged with a
friend； Madame de Chasserades； that she should take charge of me；
and by the favour of our jailers I was suffered to remain in the
shelter of the ABBAYE。 That was my only refuge； there was no
corner of France that I could rest the sole of my foot upon except
the prison。 Monsieur le Comte； you are as well aware as I can be
what kind of a life that was； and how swiftly death smote in that
society。 I did not wait long before the name of Madame de
Chasserades succeeded to that of my mother on the list。 She passed
me on to Madame de Noytot； she； in her turn； to Mademoiselle de
Braye； and there were others。 I was the one thing permanent； they
were all transient as clouds； a day or two of their care； and then
came the last farewell and … somewhere far off in that roaring
Paris that surrounded us … the bloody scene。 I was the cherished
one； the last comfort； of these dying women。 I have been in
pitched fights； my lord； and I never knew such courage。 It was all
done smiling； in the tone of good society； BELLE MAMAN was the name
I was taught to give to each； and for a day or two the new 〃pretty
mamma〃 would make much of me； show me off； teach me the minuet； and
to say my prayers； and then； with a tender embrace； would go the
way of her predecessors； smiling。 There were some that wept too。
There was a childhood！ All the time Monsieur de Culemberg kept his
eye on me； and would have had me out of the ABBAYE and in his own
protection； but my 〃pretty mammas〃 one after another resisted the
idea。 Where could I be safer？ they argued； and what was to become
of them without the darling of the prison？ Well； it was soon shown
how safe I was！ The dreadful day of the massacre came； the prison
was overrun； none paid attention to me； not even the last of my
〃pretty mammas；〃 for she had met another fate。 I was wandering
distracted； when I was found by some one in the interests of
Monsieur de Culemberg。 I understand he was sent on purpose； I
believe； in order to reach the interior of the prison； he had set
his hand to nameless barbarities： such was the price paid for my
worthless； whimpering little life！ He gave me his hand； it was
wet； and mine was reddened； he led me unresisting。 I remember but
the one circumstance of my flight … it was my last view of my last
pretty mamma。 Shall I describe it to you？' I asked the Count； with
a sudden fierceness。
'Avoid unpleasant details；' observed my great…uncle gently。
At these words a sudden peace fell upon me。 I had been angry with
the man before； I had not sought to spare him； and now； in a
moment； I saw that there was nothing to spare。 Whether from
natural heartlessness or extreme old age； the soul was not at home；
and my benefactor； who had kept the fire lit in my room for a month
past … my only relative except Alain； whom I knew already to be a
hired spy … had trodden out the last sparks of hope and interest。
'Certainly；' said I； 'and； indeed； the day for them is nearly over。
I was taken to Monsieur de Culemberg's； … I presume； sir； that you
know the Abbe de Culemberg？'
He indicated assent without opening his eyes。
'He was a very brave and a very learned man … '
'And a very holy one；' said my uncle civilly。
'And a very holy one； as you observe；' I continued。 'He did an
infinity of good； and through all the Terror kept himself from the
guillotine。 He brought me up； and gave me such education as I
have。 It was in his house in the country at Dammarie； near Melun；
that I made the acquaintance of your agent； Mr。 Vicary； who lay
there in hiding； only to fall a victim at the last to a gang of
CHAUFFEURS。'
'That poor Mr。 Vicary！' observed my uncle。 'He had been many times
in my interests to France； and this was his first failure。 QUEL
CHARMANT HOMME； N'EST…CE PAS？'
'Infinitely so；' said I。 'But I would not willingly detain you any
further with a story； the details of which it must naturally be
more or less unpleasant for you to hear。 Suffice it that； by M。 de
Culemberg's own advice； I said farewell at eighteen to that kind
preceptor and his books； and entered the service of France； and
have since then carried arms in such a manner as not to disgrace my
family。'
'You narrate well； VOUS AVES LA VOIX CHAUDE；' said my uncle；
turning on his pillows as if to study me。 'I have a very good
account of you by Monsieur de Mauseant； whom you helped in Spain。
And you had some education from the Abbe de Cu