He intended, if he married, to allow the Marquise de
Valorsay perfect freedom, with an unlimited amount of money, the
handsomest carriages, and the most magnificent diamonds in Paris--
everything, indeed, that could gratify her vanity, and render her
existence a fairylike dream. 'With such ideas on her husband's
part the marchioness will be very difficult to please if she is
not contented with her lot,' he added, glancing covertly at me.
This exasperated me beyond endurance, and I dryly replied: 'The
mere thought of such a husband would drive me to the shelter of a
convent.' He seemed considerably disconcerted; and I noticed that
the general, I mean M. de Fondege, gave him a mischievous look.
"However, when the gentlemen had gone, M. de Chalusse scolded me
severely. He said that my sentimental philosophy was quite out of
place in a drawing-room, and that my ideas of life, marriage, and
duty could only have been gained in a foundling asylum. As I
attempted to reply, he interrupted me to sound the praises of the
Marquis de Valorsay, who not only came of an ancient family, and
possessed immense, unencumbered estates, but was a talented,
handsome man into the bargain; in short, one of those favored
mortals whom all young girls sigh for. The scales fell from my
eyes. I instantly understood that M. de Chalusse had selected the
Marquis de Valorsay to be my husband, and thus the marquis had
designedly explained his matrimonial programme for my benefit.
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