"
Thereupon, as if she wished to avoid any further questioning on
the subject, she hurriedly continued: "At last a new and even
greater trouble came--a positive calamity, which made me forget
the disgrace attached to my birth. One morning at breakfast,
about a month ago, the count informed me that he expected two
guests to dinner that evening. This was such an unusual
occurrence that I was struck speechless with astonishment. 'It is
extraordinary, I admit,' he added, gayly; 'but it is nevertheless
true. M. de Fondege and the Marquis de Valorsay will dine here
this evening. So, my dear Marguerite, look your prettiest in
honor of our old friend.' At six o'clock the two gentlemen
arrived together. I was well acquainted with M. de Fondege--the
general, as he was commonly called. He was the count's only
intimate friend, and often visited us. But I had never before
seen the Marquis de Valorsay, nor had I ever heard his name until
M. de Chalusse mentioned it that morning. I don't pretend to
judge him. I will only say that as soon as I saw him, the dislike
I felt for him bordered on aversion. My false position rendered
his close scrutiny actually painful to me, and his attentions and
compliments pleased me no better. At dinner he addressed his
conversation exclusively to me, and I particularly remember a
certain picture he drew of a model household, which positively
disgusted me. In his opinion, a husband ought to content himself
with being his wife's prime minister--the slave of her slightest
caprice.
Pages:
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248