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The Ball at Sceaux
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Clara Bell
To Henri de Balzac； his brother Honore。
The Comte de Fontaine； head of one of the oldest families in Poitou；
had served the Bourbon cause with intelligence and bravery during the
war in La Vendee against the Republic。 After having escaped all the
dangers which threatened the royalist leaders during this stormy
period of modern history； he was wont to say in jest； 〃I am one of the
men who gave themselves to be killed on the steps of the throne。〃 And
the pleasantry had some truth in it； as spoken by a man left for dead
at the bloody battle of Les Quatre Chemins。 Though ruined by
confiscation； the staunch Vendeen steadily refused the lucrative posts
offered to him by the Emperor Napoleon。 Immovable in his aristocratic
faith； he had blindly obeyed its precepts when he thought it fitting
to choose a companion for life。 In spite of the blandishments of a
rich but revolutionary parvenu； who valued the alliance at a high
figure； he married Mademoiselle de Kergarouet； without a fortune； but
belonging to one of the oldest families in Brittany。
When the second revolution burst on Monsieur de Fontaine he was
encumbered with a large family。 Though it was no part of the noble
gentlemen's views to solicit favors； he yielded to his wife's wish；
left his country estate； of which the income barely sufficed to
maintain his children； and came to Paris。 Saddened by seeing the
greediness of his former comrades in the rush for places and dignities
under the new Constitution； he was about to return to his property
when he received a ministerial despatch； in which a well…known magnate
announced to him his nomination as marechal de camp； or brigadier…
general； under a rule which allowed the officers of the Catholic
armies to count the twenty submerged years of Louis XVIII。's reign as
years of service。 Some days later he further received； without any
solicitation； ex officio； the crosses of the Legion of Honor and of
Saint…Louis。
Shaken in his determination by these successive favors； due； as he
supposed； to the monarch's remembrance； he was no longer satisfied
with taking his family； as he had piously done every Sunday； to cry
〃Vive le Roi〃 in the hall of the Tuileries when the royal family
passed through on their way to chapel； he craved the favor of a
private audience。 The audience； at once granted； was in no sense
private。 The royal drawing…room was full of old adherents； whose
powdered heads； seen from above； suggested a carpet of snow。 There the
Count met some old friends； who received him somewhat coldly； but the
princes he thought ADORABLE； an enthusiastic expression which escaped
him when the most gracious of his masters； to whom the Count had
supposed himself to be known only by name； came to shake hands with
him； and spoke of him as the most thorough Vendeen of them all。
Notwithstanding this ovation； none of these august persons thought of
inquiring as to the sum of his losses； or of the money he had poured
so generously into the chests of the Catholic regiments。 He
discovered； a little late； that he had made war at his own cost。
Towards the end of the evening he thought he might venture on a witty
allusion to the state of his affairs； similar； as it was； to that of
many other gentlemen。 His Majesty laughed heartily enough； any speech
that bore the hall…mark of wit was certain to please him； but he
nevertheless replied with one of those royal pleasantries whose
sweetness is more formidable than the anger of a rebuke。 One of the
King's most intimate advisers took an opportunity of going up to the
fortune…seeking Vendeen； and made him understand by a keen and polite
hint that the time had not yet come for settling accounts with the
sovereign； that there were bills of much longer standing than his on
the books； and there； no doubt； they would remain； as part of the
history of the Revolution。 The Count prudently withdrew from the
venerable group； which formed a respectful semi…circle before the
august family； then； having extricated his sword； not without some
difficulty； from among the lean legs which had got mixed up with it；
he crossed the courtyard of the Tuileries and got into the hackney cab
he had left on the quay。 With the restive spirit； which is peculiar to
the nobility of the old school； in whom still survives the memory of
the League and the day of the Barricades （in 1588）； he bewailed
himself in his cab； loudly enough to compromise him； over the change
that had come over the Court。 〃Formerly；〃 he said to himself； 〃every
one could speak freely to the King of his own little affairs； the
nobles could ask him a favor； or for money； when it suited them； and
nowadays one cannot recover the money advanced for his service without
raising a scandal！ By Heaven！ the cross of Saint…Louis and the rank of
brigadier…general will not make good the three hundred thousand livres
I have spent； out and out； on the royal cause。 I must speak to the
King； face to face； in his own room。〃
This scene cooled Monsieur de Fontaine's ardor all the more
effectually because his requests for an interview were never answered。
And； indeed； he saw the upstarts of the Empire obtaining some of the
offices reserved； under the old monarchy； for the highest families。
〃All is lost！〃 he exclaimed one morning。 〃The King has certainly never
been other than a revolutionary。 But for Monsieur； who never
derogates； and is some comfort to his faithful adherents； I do not
know what hands the crown of France might not fall into if things are
to go on like this。 Their cursed constitutional system is the worst
possible government； and can never suit France。 Louis XVIII。 and
Monsieur Beugnot spoiled everything at Saint Ouen。〃
The Count； in despair； was preparing to retire to his estate；
abandoning； with dignity； all claims to repayment。 At this moment the
events of the 20th March （1815） gave warning of a fresh storm；
threatening to overwhelm the legitimate monarch and his defenders。
Monsieur de Fontaine； like one of those generous souls who do not
dismiss a servant in a torrent of rain； borrowed on his lands to
follow the routed monarchy； without knowing whether this complicity in
emigration would prove more propitious to him than his past devotion。
But when he perceived that the companions of the King's exile were in
higher favor than the brave men who had protested； sword in hand；
against the establishment of the republic； he may perhaps have hoped
to derive greater profit from this journey into a foreign land than
from active and dangerous service in the heart of his own country。 Nor
was his courtier…like calculation one of these rash speculations which
promise splendid results on paper； and are ruinous in effect。 He was
to quote the wittiest and most successful of our diplomatesone of
the faithful five hundred who shared the exile of the Court at Ghent；
and one of the fifty thousand who returned with it。 During the short
banishment of royalty； Monsieur de Fontaine was so happy as to be
employed by Louis XVIII。； and found more than one opportunity of
giving him proofs of great political honesty and sincere attachment。
One evening； when the King had nothing better to do； he recalled
Monsieur de Fontaine's witticism at the Tuileries。 The old Vendeen did
not let such a happy chance slip； he told his history with so much
vivacity that a king； who never forgot anything； might remember it at
a convenient season。 The royal amateur of literature also observed the
elegant style given to some notes which the discreet gentleman had
been invited to recast。 This little success stamped Monsieur de
Fontaine on the King's memory as one of the loyal servants of the
Crown。
At the second restoration the Count was one of those special envoys
who were sent throughout the departments charged with absolute
jurisdiction over the leaders