Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 1

r had not I told him a

ife went elsewhere-to endow a charity hospital. The Comte de Camors began a suit to recover it before the tribunal of the Council of State, but compromised it for an annuity of thirty thousand francs. This stopped at his death. He enjoyed, besides, several fat sinecures, which his name, his social rank, and

for his father continued unabated, and he did not read with the less respect or confidence the singular missive which figures at the beginning of this story. The moral theories which this letter advanced were not new to him. They were a part of the very atmosph

was reclining on the lounge in his smoking-room, his face dark as night and as his thoughts, when a servant entered and handed him

ied the servant, "but he insists

traordina

ad something very ser

ced the chamber, a smile of bitter mockery wreathing his lip

sed. He rushed to the young Count and seized him by both hands, while Camors remark

me late to see you, for which I crave pardon; but

very marrow. "In mourning! an

Lescande, and covered his

t to Lescande's bitter sobs, then made a movement to take his ha

was seized with congestion-of the lungs-of the brain-I don't know!-but she is dead! And so good!-so gentle, so loving! to the last moment! Oh, my friend! my friend! A few moments before she died, she called me to her side. 'Oh, I lov

h you, my

wrong. You also

whether a report I hear is correct. Pardon me if I mistake, for you know I never would dream of offendin

nterrupted Cam

little son can wait while I work for him. Then, after selling my house, I shall

h moved, "but I need nothing. My affairs are disordered

with you

el

where to find me. I may c

u m

you no good now; but I shall

nother

remained immovable, with his features c

decided his

accountable impulse to smother in

fiding, Camors-if there be any truth in old spiritual laws-should have seen himself gui

strong beings and weak ones- lambs and lions-he had played only the lion's part in destroying his companion. He

ded that this doctrine was that very truth which he had sought, and which his father had bequeathed to him as the whole ru

was no longer oppressed by doubts, agitation, and remorse. This doctrine, if not the most elevated,

said; and he determined never to do anything which, in his eyes, partook of that character. Moreover, were there not

er to the individual than to the doctrine; and whether men's beliefs did not always influence their actions. Howe

nd control men; to revel in all the joys of intellect, of the senses, and of rank; to subdue as servile instincts all natural sentiments; to scorn, as chimeras and hypocrisies,

and vigorous will, that he would return to the world-his brow calm and grave, h

h. He determined, above all, not to retrench, but to preserve, despite the narrowness of his present fortune, thos

s cold toward the needy as it is warm to those not needing its countenance. Had he been thus ignorant,

en, for greater security, left Paris, and neglected to notify the young Count in what retreat they had chosen to hide their grief. Nevertheless he was soon to learn it,

n the Corps Legislatif. He had a voice of thunder, and when he rolled out, "Bah! Enough! Stop this order of the day!" the senate trembled, and the government commis

ct that politeness demanded toward a relative; met him som

rtune. Consequently he was hunted by an eager pack of cousins and relatives; and Ma

arly reserved in his intercourse with the General. Therefore he

R KI

t is agreeable to you to join them, I shall always feel happy to give

your house before lea

visi

end your grief: that y

which I sympathize wi

ar kinsman, the

RQUIS DE CAMPVA

AMPVALLON, Vo

usin, that I may have something o

a mirror, under the veil of the mysterious postscript, the reflection of seven hundred thousand francs of ground-rent which made the splendid income of the General. He recalled that his

all the comforts and luxuries the Western line is reputed to afford its guests, Camors arrived in the evening at the station, where the General's carriage awaited him. The seignorial

o throw a wet blanket over the assembled circle. To make up for this, the General gave him the warmest welcome; only-as he had a short memory or lit

mpress even himself- for it was noticeable that after a remark, the General always seemed astonished, as if startled by the

k, and reminding one of those fabled beings who blew fire from their nostrils; a huge moustache, white and grizzly; small gray eyes, always fixed, like those of a doll

f his host, but, notwithstanding, was its

g a cup of coffee, when the General approached him from the extreme end of the room with a sever

him. He felt he was to ha

from the depth of the recess, looked into his eyes as if he wished to pe

ke in the morni

Gene

at home;" and, turning on his heel and joining the ladie

ect of his formidable advance. The first time, having put h

an!" and turne

upon Camors, he said not a

risprudence, and political economy. He took advantage of it; and, resuming the thread of those serious studies which had been broken off during his period of hopelessness, plunged into those recondite themes that pleased his active intelligence and his awakened ambition. Thus he waited patiently until politeness would permit him to bring to an explanation the former friend an

ch was to persuade him he had disease of the heart. She continually felt his pulse with her plump han

me alone. I know I am mortal like everybody else. What

nvert him, but to marry h

to marry Madame de la Roche-Jugan and adopt her son to banish this care. Without a single allusion to this fact, the Countess failed not to turn the thoug

ad no son. But she had two daughters, both of them graceful, very elegant and sparkling. One was Madame Bac

ing recklessly the most risque songs of the minor theatres. Formerly, Camors, in his pensive mood, had taken an aversion to thes

tle animals that fol

killed his game, and tortured his piano. They seemed to think that the General, once accustomed to their sweetness and animation, could not do without it, and that their society would become indispensable to him. They mingled, to

nate education of her nieces; while the Baroness, on her side, lost no opportunity of hold

me Tonnelier had taken joint charge. Mademoiselle Charlotte de Luc d'Estrelles passed six months of each year with the Countess and six with the Baroness. She was twenty-five years of age, tall and blonde, with deep-set eyes under the shadow of sweeping, black lashes. Thick masses

." They hated her; she despised them. The name t

icate, dilating nostrils seemed carved by a cunning chisel from transparent ivory. She had a startled, wild air, such as one sees in pictu

ping upon this poor cousin the attentions he might have paid a queen; but she always seemed as indifferent to them as she was to the opposite course of her involuntary benefactress. Her position at Campvallon was very odd. After Camors's arrival, she

a gentle tap at the door, and Mademoiselle entered, looki

e and grave, but slightly touched with evident emotion. Camors s

I am frank and courageous. I will come at once to the ob

u ask, Mad

o you. You will deem me very romantic, but I have wrought out of our united poverty a very charming picture, I believe. I am sure I should make an excellent wife for the husband I loved. If you must leave France, as they tell me you must, I will follow you-I will be your brave and faithful helpmate.

led yearning, candor, and anguish, fi

natures, both high and noble, a terrible destiny

pose me; but I have searched my heart, and I there find nothing worthy of you. Do me the justice to believe that my decision is based

her with gentle force upon the sofa. He walked half across the room to r

lotte, you are unh

perhaps," s

at this momen

way

che-Jugan trea

ds that I may entrap h

e jealous of you, and Unc

swam on her eyelashes, then glis

elieve of the reli

ve of religion that bestows n

are a non-

the Gospel without believing

into a convent. Why, the

ife," the

, the thoughts, the arts, the luxuries-everything that is beautiful, like yourself.

d, surprised and

once and forever the miserable servitude fate has imposed upon you. Richly endowed as you are, you might b

?-No!" said thi

ut I am as proud as yourself. I never shall reach my aim by any subterfuge. No; strive to study art. I find you beautiful and seductive, but I am governed by sentiments superior to personal interests. I was profoundly touched by

ed, Monsieu

listen to me wi

ll do

le, you have seen littl

ge and to be certain of

family and mine: Monsi

e la Roche-Jugan, and

draughts, all the joys of life-that day Uncle Tonnelier will invoke outraged morals, our aunt will swoon with prudery in the arms

ou advise me to le

sure road to independence, fame, and fortune. And besides, there is no law preventing an actress marrying

n extraordinary thing for me to do! I can not fail t

ent. "Why do you no

t, and our ideas are so different about it. I can not change

and bad indif

before prejudices and phantoms of which one knows the unreality. It is bad to be a slave or a hypocrite, as are three fourth

om her. Her head drooped heavily; then raising it suddenly, she said: "There are sentiments men can not understand. In my b

d t

ome to believe in nothing, like you-and I am far from that yet, thank God!-I should even then remain honest and true-faithful to one love, simply from

a haughty movement of the head in s