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〃Not only do I love her； but I venerate her。〃 When he flies into a
passion which defies all restraint and bursts all bonds； the little
woman retires into her own room and leaves him to shout。 But four or
five hours later she will say： 〃Don't get into a passion； my dear； you
might break a blood…vessel； and besides； you hurt me。〃 Then the lion
of Essling retreats out of sight to wipe his eyes。 Sometimes he comes
into the salon when she and I are talking； and if she says： 〃Don't
disturb us； he is reading to me；〃 he leaves us without a word。
It is only strong men； choleric and powerful； thunder…bolts of war；
diplomats with olympian heads； or men of genius； who can show this
utter confidence； this generous devotion to weakness； this constant
protection； this love without jealousy； this easy good humor with a
woman。 Good heavens！ I place the science of the countess's management
of her husband as far above the peevish； arid virtues as the satin of
a causeuse is superior to the Utrecht velvet of a dirty bourgeois
sofa。
My dear fellow； I have spent six days in this delightful country…
house； and I never tire of admiring the beauties of the park；
surrounded by forests where pretty wood…paths lead beside the brooks。
Nature and its silence； these tranquil pleasures； this placid life to
which she woos me；all attract。 Ah！ here is true literature； no fault
of style among the meadows。 Happiness forgets all things here；even
the Debats！ It has rained all the morning； while the countess slept
and Montcornet tramped over his domain； I have compelled myself to
keep my rash； imprudent promise to write to you。
Until now； though I was born at Alencon； of an old judge and a
prefect； so they say； and though I know something of agriculture； I
supposed the tale of estates bringing in four or five thousand francs
a month to be a fable。 Money； to me； meant a couple of dreadful
things；work and a publisher； journalism and politics。 When shall we
poor fellows come upon a land where gold springs up with the grass？
That is what I desire for you and for me and the rest of us in the
name of the theatre； and of the press； and of book…making！ Amen！
Will Florine be jealous of the late Mademoiselle Laguerre？ Our modern
Bourets have no French nobles now to show them how to live； they hire
one opera…box among three of them； they subscribe for their pleasures；
they no longer cut down magnificently bound quartos to match the
octavos in their library； in fact； they scarcely buy even stitched
paper books。 What is to become of us？
Adieu； continue to care for
Your Blondet。
If this letter； dashed off by the idlest pen of the century； had not
by some lucky chance been preserved； it would have been almost
impossible to describe Les Aigues； and without this description the
history of the horrible events that occurred there would certainly be
less interesting。
After that remark some persons will expect to see the flashing of the
cuirass of the former colonel of the guard； and the raging of his
anger as he falls like a waterspout upon his little wife； so that the
end of this present history may be like the end of all modern dramas；
a tragedy of the bed…chamber。 Perhaps the fatal scene will take
place in that charming room with the blue monochromes； where beautiful
ideal birds are painted on the ceilings and the shutters； where
Chinese monsters laugh with open jaws on the mantle…shelf； and
dragons； green and gold； twist their tails in curious convolutions
around rich vases； and Japanese fantasy embroiders its designs of many
colors； where sofas and reclining…chairs and consoles and what…nots
invite to that contemplative idleness which forbids all action。
No； the drama here to be developed is not one of private life； it
concerns things higher； or lower。 Expect no scenes of passion； the
truth of this history is only too dramatic。 And remember； the
historian should never forget that his mission is to do justice to
all； the poor and the prosperous are equals before his pen； to him the
peasant appears in the grandeur of his misery； and the rich in the
pettiness of his folly。 Moreover； the rich man has passions； the
peasant only wants。 The peasant is therefore doubly poor； and if；
politically； his aggressions must be pitilessly repressed； to the eyes
of humanity and religion he is sacred。
CHAPTER II
A BUCOLIC OVERLOOKED BY VIRGIL
When a Parisian drops into the country he is cut off from all his
usual habits； and soon feels the dragging hours； no matter how
attentive his friends may be to him。 Therefore； because it is so
impossible to prolong in a tete…a…tete conversations that are soon
exhausted； the master and mistress of a country…house are apt to say；
calmly； 〃You will be terribly bored here。〃 It is true that to
understand the delights of country life one must have something to do；
some interests in it； one must know the nature of the work to be done；
and the alternating harmony of toil and pleasure；eternal symbol of
human life。
When a Parisian has recovered his powers of sleeping； shaken off the
fatigues of his journey； and accustomed himself to country habits； the
hardest period of the day （if he wears thin boots and is neither a
sportsman nor an agriculturalist） is the early morning。 Between the
hours of waking and breakfasting； the women of the family are sleeping
or dressing； and therefore unapproachable； the master of the house is
out and about on his own affairs； a Parisian is therefore compelled to
be alone from eight to eleven o'clock； the hour chosen in all country…
houses for breakfast。 Now； having got what amusement he can out of
carefully dressing himself； he has soon exhausted that resource。 Then；
perhaps； he has brought with him some work； which he finds it
impossible to do； and which goes back untouched； after he sees the
difficulties of doing it； into his valise； a writer is then obliged to
wander about the park and gape at nothing or count the big trees。 The
easier the life； the more irksome such occupations are；unless；
indeed； one belongs to the sect of shaking quakers or to the honorable
guild of carpenters or taxidermists。 If one really had； like the
owners of estates； to live in the country； it would be well to supply
one's self with a geological； mineralogical； entomological； or
botanical hobby； but a sensible man doesn't give himself a vice merely
to kill time for a fortnight。 The noblest estate； and the finest
chateaux soon pall on those who possess nothing but the sight of them。
The beauties of nature seem rather squalid compared to the
representation of them at the opera。 Paris； by retrospection； shines
from all its facets。 Unless some particular interest attaches us； as
it did in Blondet's case； to scenes honored by the steps and lighted
by the eyes of a certain person； one would envy the birds their wings
and long to get back to the endless； exciting scenes of Paris and its
har