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of taking their Christian names from the Bible； so as to have nothing
in common with the Saints of the Roman Church。
Mademoiselle Dinah Piedefer was placed by her mother in one of the
best schools in Bourges； that kept by the Demoiselles Chamarolles； and
was soon as highly distinguished for the qualities of her mind as for
her beauty； but she found herself snubbed by girls of birth and
fortune； destined by…and…by to play a greater part in the world than a
mere plebeian； the daughter of a mother who was dependent on the
settlement of Piedefer's estate。 Dinah； having raised herself for the
moment above her companions； now aimed at remaining on a level with
them for the rest of her life。 She determined； therefore； to renounce
Calvinism； in the hope that the Cardinal would extend his favor to his
proselyte and interest himself in her prospects。 You may from this
judge of Mademoiselle Dinah's superiority； since at the age of
seventeen she was a convert solely from ambition。
The Archbishop； possessed with the idea that Dinah Piedefer would
adorn society； was anxious to see her married。 But every family to
whom the prelate made advances took fright at a damsel gifted with the
looks of a princess； who was reputed to be the cleverest of
Mademoiselle Chamarolles' pupils and who； at the somewhat theatrical
ceremonial of prize…giving； always took a leading part。 A thousand
crowns a year； which was as much as she could hope for from the estate
of La Hautoy when divided between the mother and daughter； would be a
mere trifle in comparison with the expenses into which a husband would
be led by the personal advantages of so brilliant a creature。
As soon as all these facts came to the ears of little Polydore de la
Baudrayefor they were the talk of every circle in the Department of
the Cherhe went to Bourges just when Madame Piedefer； a devotee at
high services； had almost made up her own mind and her daughter's to
take the first comer with well…lined pocketsthe first /chien
coiffe/； as they say in Le Berry。 And if the Cardinal was delighted to
receive Monsieur de la Baudraye； Monsieur de la Baudraye was even
better pleased to receive a wife from the hands of the Cardinal。 The
little gentleman only demanded of His Eminence a formal promise to
support his claims with the President of the Council to enable him to
recover his debts from the Duc de Navarreins 〃and others〃 by a lien on
their indemnities。 This method； however； seemed to the able Minister
then occupying the Pavillon Marsan rather too sharp practice； and he
gave the vine…owner to understand that his business should be attended
to all in good time。
It is easy to imagine the excitement produced in the Sancerre district
by the news of Monsieur de la Baudraye's imprudent marriage。
〃It is quite intelligible；〃 said President Boirouge； 〃the little man
was very much startled； as I am told； at hearing that handsome young
Milaud； the Attorney…General's deputy at Nevers； say to Monsieur de
Clagny as they were looking at the turrets of La Baudraye； 'That will
be mine some day。''But；' says Clagny； 'he may marry and have
children。''Impossible！'So you may imagine how such a changeling as
little La Baudraye must hate that colossal Milaud。〃
There was at Nevers a plebeian branch of the Milauds； which had grown
so rich in the cutlery trade that the present representative of that
branch had been brought up to the civil service； in which he had
enjoyed the patronage of Marchangy； now dead。
It will be as well to eliminate from this story； in which moral
developments play the principal part； the baser material interests
which alone occupied Monsieur de la Baudraye； by briefly relating the
results of his negotiations in Paris。 This will also throw light on
certain mysterious phenomena of contemporary history； and the
underground difficulties in matters of politics which hampered the
Ministry at the time of the Restoration。
The promises of Ministers were so illusory that Monsieur de la
Baudraye determined on going to Paris at the time when the Cardinal's
presence was required there by the sitting of the Chambers。
This is how the Duc de Navarreins； the principal debtor threatened by
Monsieur de la Baudraye； got out of the scrape。
The country gentleman； lodging at the Hotel de Mayence； Rue Saint…
Honore； near the Place Vendome； one morning received a visit from a
confidential agent of the Ministry； who was an expert in 〃winding up〃
business。 This elegant personage； who stepped out of an elegant cab；
and was dressed in the most elegant style； was requested to walk up to
No。 3that is to say； to the third floor； to a small room where he
found his provincial concocting a cup of coffee over his bedroom fire。
〃Is it to Monsieur Milaud de la Baudraye that I have the honor〃
〃Yes；〃 said the little man； draping himself in his dressing…gown。
After examining this garment； the illicit offspring of an old chine
wrapper of Madame Piedefer's and a gown of the late lamented Madame de
la Baudraye； the emissary considered the man； the dressing…gown； and
the little stove on which the milk was boiling in a tin saucepan； as
so homogeneous and characteristic； that he deemed it needless to beat
about the bush。
〃I will lay a wager； monsieur；〃 said he； audaciously； 〃that you dine
for forty sous at Hurbain's in the Palais Royal。〃
〃Pray； why？〃
〃Oh； I know you； having seen you there；〃 replied the Parisian with
perfect gravity。 〃All the princes' creditors dine there。 You know that
you recover scarcely ten per cent on debts from these fine gentlemen。
I would not give you five per cent on a debt to be recovered from the
estate of the late Duc d'Orleansnor even；〃 he added in a low voice
〃from MONSIEUR。〃
〃So you have come to buy up the bills？〃 said La Baudraye； thinking
himself very clever。
〃Buy them！〃 said his visitor。 〃Why； what do you take me for？ I am
Monsieur des Lupeaulx； Master of Appeals； Secretary…General to the
Ministry； and I have come to propose an arrangement。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃Of course； monsieur； you know the position of your debtor〃
〃Of my debtors〃
〃Well； monsieur； you understand the position of your debtors； they
stand high in the King's good graces； but they have no money； and are
obliged to make a good show。Again； you know the difficulties of the
political situation。 The aristocracy has to be rehabilitated in the
face of a very strong force of the third estate。 The King's ideaand
France does him scant justiceis to create a peerage as a national
institution analogous to the English peerage。 To realize this grand
idea we need yearsand millions。/Noblesse oblige/。 The Duc de
Navarreins； who is； as you know； first gentleman of the Bedchamber to
the King； does not repudiate his debt； but he cannotNow； be
reasonable。Consider the state of politics。 We are emerging from the
pit of the Revolution。and you yourself are nobleHe simply cannot
pay〃
〃Monsieur〃
〃You are hasty；〃 said des Lupeaulx。 〃Listen。 He cannot pay in money。
Well； then； you； a clever man； can take payment in favorsRoyal or
Ministerial。〃
〃What！ When in 1793 my father put down one hundred thousand〃
〃My dear sir