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they have also a mania for composing a scheme of life； while casting
for themselves a brilliant horoscope； their magic consists in taking
their dreams for reality； secretly； in their long meditations； they
resolve to give their heart and hand to none but the man possessing
this or the other qualification； and they paint in fancy a model to
which； whether or no； the future lover must correspond。 After some
little experience of life； and the serious reflections that come with
years； by dint of seeing the world and its prosaic round； by dint of
observing unhappy examples； the brilliant hues of their ideal are
extinguished。 Then； one fine day； in the course of events； they are
quite astonished to find themselves happy without the nuptial poetry
of their day…dreams。 It was on the strength of that poetry that
Mademoiselle Emilie de Fontaine； in her slender wisdom； had drawn up a
programme to which a suitor must conform to be excepted。 Hence her
disdain and sarcasm。
〃Though young and of an ancient family； he must be a peer of France；〃
said she to herself。 〃I could not bear not to see my coat…of…arms on
the panels of my carriage among the folds of azure mantling； not to
drive like the princes down the broad walk of the Champs…Elysees on
the days of Longchamps in Holy Week。 Besides； my father says that it
will someday be the highest dignity in France。 He must be a soldier
but I reserve the right of making him retire； and he must bear an
Order； that the sentries may present arms to us。〃
And these rare qualifications would count for nothing if this creature
of fancy had not the most amiable temper； a fine figure； intelligence；
and； above all； if he were not slender。 To be lean； a personal grace
which is but fugitive； especially under a representative government；
was an indispensable condition。 Mademoiselle de Fontaine had an ideal
standard which was to be the model。 A young man who at the first
glance did not fulfil the requisite conditions did not even get a
second look。
〃Good Heavens！ see how fat he is！〃 was with her the utmost expression
of contempt。
To hear her； people of respectable corpulence were incapable of
sentiment； bad husbands； and unfit for civilized society。 Though it is
esteemed a beauty in the East； to be fat seemed to her a misfortune
for a woman； but in a man it was a crime。 These paradoxical views were
amusing； thanks to a certain liveliness of rhetoric。 The Count felt
nevertheless that by…and…by his daughter's affections； of which the
absurdity would be evident to some women who were not less clear…
sighted than merciless； would inevitably become a subject of constant
ridicule。 He feared lest her eccentric notions should deviate into bad
style。 He trembled to think that the pitiless world might already be
laughing at a young woman who remained so long on the stage without
arriving at any conclusion of the drama she was playing。 More than one
actor in it； disgusted by a refusal； seemed to be waiting for the
slightest turn of ill…luck to take his revenge。 The indifferent； the
lookers…on were beginning to weary of it； admiration is always
exhausting to human beings。 The old Vendeen knew better than any one
that if there is an art in choosing the right moment for coming
forward on the boards of the world； on those of the Court； in a
drawing…room or on the stage； it is still more difficult to quit them
in the nick of time。 So during the first winter after the accession of
Charles X。； he redoubled his efforts； seconded by his three sons and
his sons…in…law； to assemble in the rooms of his official residence
the best matches which Paris and the various deputations from
departments could offer。 The splendor of his entertainments； the
luxury of his dining…room； and his dinners； fragrant with truffles；
rivaled the famous banquets by which the ministers of that time
secured the vote of their parliamentary recruits。
The Honorable Deputy was consequently pointed at as a most influential
corrupter of the legislative honesty of the illustrious Chamber that
was dying as it would seem of indigestion。 A whimsical result！ his
efforts to get his daughter married secured him a splendid popularity。
He perhaps found some covert advantage in selling his truffles twice
over。 This accusation； started by certain mocking Liberals； who made
up by their flow of words for their small following in the Chamber；
was not a success。 The Poitevin gentleman had always been so noble and
so honorable； that he was not once the object of those epigrams which
the malicious journalism of the day hurled at the three hundred votes
of the centre； at the Ministers； the cooks； the Directors…General； the
princely Amphitryons； and the official supporters of the Villele
Ministry。
At the close of this campaign； during which Monsieur de Fontaine had
on several occasions brought out all his forces； he believed that this
time the procession of suitors would not be a mere dissolving view in
his daughter's eyes； that it was time she should make up her mind。 He
felt a certain inward satisfaction at having well fulfilled his duty
as a father。 And having left no stone unturned； he hoped that； among
so many hearts laid at Emilie's feet； there might be one to which her
caprice might give a preference。 Incapable of repeating such an
effort； and tired； too； of his daughter's conduct； one morning；
towards the end of Lent； when the business at the Chamber did not
demand his vote； he determined to ask what her views were。 While his
valet was artistically decorating his bald yellow head with the delta
of powder which； with the hanging 〃ailes de pigeon；〃 completed his
venerable style of hairdressing； Emilie's father； not without some
secret misgivings； told his old servant to go and desire the haughty
damsel to appear in the presence of the head of the family。
〃Joseph；〃 he added； when his hair was dressed； 〃take away that towel；
draw back the curtains； put those chairs square； shake the rug； and
lay it quite straight。 Dust everything。Now； air the room a little by
opening the window。〃
The Count multiplied his orders； putting Joseph out of breath； and the
old servant； understanding his master's intentions； aired and tidied
the room； of course the least cared for of any in the house； and
succeeded in giving a look of harmony to the files of bills； the
letter…boxes； the books and furniture of this sanctum； where the
interests of the royal demesnes were debated over。 When Joseph had
reduced this chaos to some sort of order； and brought to the front
such things as might be most pleasing to the eye； as if it were a shop
front； or such as by their color might give the effect of a kind of
official poetry； he stood for a minute in the midst of the labyrinth
of papers piled in some places even on the floor； admired his
handiwork； jerked his head； and went。
The anxious sinecure…holder did not share his retainer's favorable
opinion。 Before seating himself in his deep chair； whose rounded back
screened him from draughts； he looked round him doubtfully； examined
his dressing…gown with a hostile expression； shook off a few grains of
snuff； carefully wiped his nose； arranged the tongs and shovel； made
the fire； pulled up the heels of his slippers； pulled out his little
queue of hair which had lodged horizontally between the collar of his
waistcoat and that of his dressing…gown restoring it to its
perpendicular position； then he swept up the ashes of the hearth；
which bore witness to a persistent catarrh。 Finally； the old man did
not settle himself till he had once more looked all over the room；
hoping that nothing could give occasion to the saucy and impertinent
remarks with which his daughter was apt to answer his good advice。 On
this occasion he was anxious not to compromise his dignity as a
father。 He daintily took a pinch of snuff； cleared his throat two or
three times； as if he were about to demand a count out of t