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noise made by the ladies as they rose from the table； 〃no one will
ever more ardently desire your happiness than I； permit me to assure
you of this； as I am taking leave of you。 I am starting for Italy in a
few days。〃
〃With a Duchess； no doubt？〃
〃No； but perhaps with a mortal blow。〃
〃Is not that pure fancy？〃 asked Emilie； with an anxious glance。
〃No；〃 he replied。 〃There are wounds which never heal。〃
〃You are not to go；〃 said the girl； imperiously； and she smiled。
〃I shall go；〃 replied Maximilien； gravely。
〃You will find me married on your return； I warn you；〃 she said
coquettishly。
〃I hope so。〃
〃Impertinent wretch！〃 she exclaimed。 〃How cruel a revenge！〃
A fortnight later Maximilien set out with his sister Clara for the
warm and poetic scenes of beautiful Italy； leaving Mademoiselle de
Fontaine a prey to the most vehement regret。 The young Secretary to
the Embassy took up his brother's quarrel； and contrived to take
signal vengeance on Emilie's disdain by making known the occasion of
the lovers' separation。 He repaid his fair partner with interest all
the sarcasm with which she had formerly attacked Maximilien； and often
made more than one Excellency smile by describing the fair foe of the
counting…house； the amazon who preached a crusade against bankers； the
young girl whose love had evaporated before a bale of muslin。 The
Comte de Fontaine was obliged to use his influence to procure an
appointment to Russia for Auguste Longueville in order to protect his
daughter from the ridicule heaped upon her by this dangerous young
persecutor。
Not long after； the Ministry being compelled to raise a levy of peers
to support the aristocratic party； trembling in the Upper Chamber
under the lash of an illustrious writer； gave Monsieur Guiraudin de
Longueville a peerage； with the title of Vicomte。 Monsieur de Fontaine
also obtained a peerage； the reward due as much to his fidelity in
evil days as to his name； which claimed a place in the hereditary
Chamber。
About this time Emilie； now of age； made； no doubt； some serious
reflections on life； for her tone and manners changed perceptibly。
Instead of amusing herself by saying spiteful things to her uncle； she
lavished on him the most affectionate attentions； she brought him his
stick with a persevering devotion that made the cynical smile； she
gave him her arm； rode in his carriage； and accompanied him in all his
drives； she even persuaded him that she liked the smell of tobacco；
and read him his favorite paper La Quotidienne in the midst of clouds
of smoke； which the malicious old sailor intentionally blew over her；
she learned piquet to be a match for the old count； and this fantastic
damsel even listened without impatience to his periodical narratives
of the battles of the Belle…Poule； the manoeuvres of the Ville de
Paris； M。 de Suffren's first expedition； or the battle of Aboukir。
Though the old sailor had often said that he knew his longitude and
latitude too well to allow himself to be captured by a young corvette；
one fine morning Paris drawing…rooms heard the news of the marriage of
Mademoiselle de Fontaine to the Comte de Kergarouet。 The young
Countess gave splendid entertainments to drown thought； but she； no
doubt； found a void at the bottom of the whirlpool； luxury was
ineffectual to disguise the emptiness and grief of her sorrowing soul；
for the most part； in spite of the flashes of assumed gaiety； her
beautiful face expressed unspoken melancholy。 Emilie appeared；
however； full of attentions and consideration for her old husband；
who； on retiring to his rooms at night； to the sounds of a lively
band； would often say； 〃I do not know myself。 Was I to wait till the
age of seventy…two to embark as pilot on board the Belle Emilie after
twenty years of matrimonial galleys？〃
The conduct of the young Countess was marked by such strictness that
the most clear…sighted criticism had no fault to find with her。
Lookers on chose to think that the vice…admiral had reserved the right
of disposing of his fortune to keep his wife more tightly in hand； but
this was a notion as insulting to the uncle as to the niece。 Their
conduct was indeed so delicately judicious that the men who were most
interested in guessing the secrets of the couple could never decide
whether the old Count regarded her as a wife or as a daughter。 He was
often heard to say that he had rescued his niece as a castaway after
shipwreck； and that； for his part； he had never taken a mean advantage
of hospitality when he had saved an enemy from the fury of the storm。
Though the Countess aspired to reign in Paris and tried to keep pace
with Mesdames the Duchesses de Maufrigneuse and du Chaulieu； the
Marquises d'Espard and d'Aiglemont； the Comtesses Feraud； de
Montcornet； and de Restaud； Madame de Camps； and Mademoiselle des
Touches； she did not yield to the addresses of the young Vicomte de
Portenduere； who made her his idol。
Two years after her marriage； in one of the old drawing…rooms in the
Faubourg Saint…Germain； where she was admired for her character；
worthy of the old school； Emilie heard the Vicomte de Longueville
announced。 In the corner of the room where she was sitting； playing
piquet with the Bishop of Persepolis； her agitation was not observed；
she turned her head and saw her former lover come in； in all the
freshness of youth。 His father's death； and then that of his brother；
killed by the severe climate of Saint…Petersburg； had placed on
Maximilien's head the hereditary plumes of the French peer's hat。 His
fortune matched his learning and his merits； only the day before his
youthful and fervid eloquence had dazzled the Assembly。 At this moment
he stood before the Countess； free； and graced with all the advantages
she had formerly required of her ideal。 Every mother with a daughter
to marry made amiable advances to a man gifted with the virtues which
they attributed to him； as they admired his attractive person； but
Emilie knew； better than any one； that the Vicomte de Longueville had
the steadfast nature in which a wise woman sees a guarantee of
happiness。 She looked at the admiral who； to use his favorite
expression； seemed likely to hold his course for a long time yet； and
cursed the follies of her youth。
At this moment Monsieur de Persepolis said with Episcopal grace： 〃Fair
lady； you have thrown away the king of heartsI have won。 But do not
regret your money。 I keep it for my little seminaries。〃
PARIS； December 1829。
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy。
Beaudenord； Godefroid de
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
The Firm of Nucingen
Dudley； Lady Arabella
The Lily of the Valley
The Magic Skin
The Secrets of a Princess
A Daughter of Eve
Letters of Two Brides
Fontaine； Comte de
The Chouans
Modeste Mignon
Cesar Birotteau
The Government Clerks
Kergarouet； Comte de
The Purse
Ursule Mirouet
Louis XVIII。； Louis…Stanislas…Xavier
The Chouans
The Seamy Side of History
The Gondreville Mystery
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
The Lily of the Valley
Colonel Chabert
The Government Clerks
Manerville； Paul Francois…Joseph； Comte de
The Thirteen
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Marriage Settlement
Marsay； Henri de
The Thirteen
The Unconscious Humorists
Another Study of Woman
The Lily of the Valley
Father Goriot
Jealousies of a Country Town
Ursule Mirouet
A Marriage Settlement
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Letters of Two Brides
Modest Mignon
The Secrets of a Princess
The Gondreville Mystery
A Daughter of Eve
Palma （banker）
The Firm of Nucingen
Cesar Birotteau
Gobseck
Lost Illusions
A Distingui