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who； by the bye； would behave in like circumstances exactly as the
Poles do。 The French aristocracy； so nobly succored during the
Revolution by the Polish lords； certainly did not return the kindness
in 1832。 Let us have the melancholy courage to admit this； and to say
that the faubourg Saint…Germain is still the debtor of Poland。
Was Comte Adam rich； or was he poor； or was he an adventurer？ This
problem was long unsolved。 The diplomatic salons； faithful to
instructions； imitated the silence of the Emperor Nicholas； who held
that all Polish exiles were virtually dead and buried。 The court of
the Tuileries； and all who took their cue from it； gave striking proof
of the political quality which was then dignified by the name of
sagacity。 They turned their backs on a Russian prince with whom they
had all been on intimate terms during the Emigration； merely because
it was said that the Emperor Nicholas gave him the cold shoulder。
Between the caution of the court and the prudence of the diplomates；
the Polish exiles of distinction lived in Paris in the Biblical
solitude of 〃super flumina Babylonis；〃 or else they haunted a few
salons which were the neutral ground of all opinions。 In a city of
pleasure； like Paris； where amusements abound on all sides； the
heedless gayety of a Pole finds twice as many encouragements as it
needs to a life of dissipation。
It must be said； however； that Adam had two points against him；his
appearance； and his mental equipment。 There are two species of Pole；
as there are two species of Englishwoman。 When an Englishwoman is not
very handsome she is horribly ugly。 Comte Adam belonged in the second
category of human beings。 His small face； rather sharp in expression；
looked as if it had been pressed in a vise。 His short nose； and fair
hair； and reddish beard and moustache made him look all the more like
a goat because he was small and thin； and his tarnished yellow eyes
caught you with that oblique look which Virgil celebrates。 How came
he； in spite of such obvious disadvantages； to possess really
exquisite manners and a distinguished air？ The problem is solved
partly by the care and elegance of his dress； and partly by the
training given him by his mother； a Radziwill。 His courage amounted to
daring； but his mind was not more than was needed for the ephemeral
talk and pleasantry of Parisian conversation。 And yet it would have
been difficult to find among the young men of fashion in Paris a
single one who was his superior。 Young men talk a great deal too much
in these days of horses； money； taxes； deputies； French CONVERSATION
is no longer what it was。 Brilliancy of mind needs leisure and certain
social inequalities to bring it out。 There is； probably； more real
conversation in Vienna or St。 Petersburg than in Paris。 Equals do not
need to employ delicacy or shrewdness in speech； they blurt out things
as they are。 Consequently the dandies of Paris did not discover the
great seigneur in the rather heedless young fellow who； in their
talks； would flit from one subject to another； all the more intent
upon amusement because he had just escaped from a great peril； and；
finding himself in a city where his family was unknown； felt at
liberty to lead a loose life without the risk of disgracing his name。
But one fine day in 1834 Adam suddenly bought a house in the rue de la
Pepiniere。 Six months later his style of living was second to none in
Paris。 About the time when he thus began to take himself seriously he
had seen Clementine du Rouvre at the Opera and had fallen in love with
her。 A year later the marriage took place。 The salon of Madame
d'Espard was the first to sound his praises。 Mothers of daughters then
learned too late that as far back as the year 900 the family of the
Laginski was among the most illustrious of the North。 By an act of
prudence which was very unPolish； the mother of the young count had
mortgaged her entire property on the breaking out of the insurrection
for an immense sum lent by two Jewish bankers in Paris。 Comte Adam was
now in possession of eighty thousand francs a year。 When this was
discovered society ceased to be surprised at the imprudence which had
been laid to the charge of Madame de Serizy； the Marquis de
Ronquerolles； and the Chevalier du Rouvre in yielding to the foolish
passion of their niece。 People jumped； as usual； from one extreme of
judgment to the other。
During the winter of 1836 Comte Adam was the fashion； and Clementine
Laginska one of the queens of Paris。 Madame Laginska is now a member
of that charming circle of young women represented by Mesdames de
Lestorade； de Portenduere； Marie de Vandenesse； du Guenic； and de
Maufrigneuse； the flowers of our present Paris； who live at such
immeasurable distance from the parvenus； the vulgarians； and the
speculators of the new regime。
This preamble is necessary to show the sphere in which was done one of
those noble actions； less rare than the calumniators of our time
admit；actions which； like pearls； the fruit of pain and suffering；
are hidden within rough shells； lost in the gulf； the sea； the tossing
waves of what we call society； the century； Paris； London； St。
Petersburg；or what you will。
If the axiom that architecture is the expression of manner and morals
was ever proved； it was certainly after the insurrection of 1830；
during the present reign of the house of Orleans。 As all the old
fortunes are diminishing in France； the majestic mansions of our
ancestors are constantly being demolished and replaced by species of
phalansteries； in which the peers of July occupy the third floor above
some newly enriched empirics on the lower floors。 A mixture of styles
is confusedly employed。 As there is no longer a real court or nobility
to give the tone； there is no harmony in the production of art。 Never；
on the other hand； has architecture discovered so many economical ways
of imitating the real and the solid； or displayed more resources； more
talent； in distributing them。 Propose to an architect to build upon
the garden at the back of an old mansion； and he will run you up a
little Louvre overloaded with ornament。 He will manage to get in a
courtyard； stables； and if you care for it； a garden。 Inside the house
he will accommodate a quantity of little rooms and passages。 He is so
clever in deceiving the eye that you think you will have plenty of
space； but it is only a nest of small rooms； after all； in which a
ducal family has to turn itself about in the space that its own
bakehouse formerly occupied。
The hotel of the Comtesse Laginska； rue de la Pepiniere； is one of
these creations； and stands between court and garden。 On the right； in
the court； are the kitchens and offices； to the left the coachhouse
and stables。 The porter's lodge is between two charming portes…
cocheres。 The chief luxury of the house is a delightful greenhouse
contrived at the end of a boudoir on the ground…floor which opens upon