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He really took such immense trouble to conceal his age and give
pleasure to his friends。 In the first place； we must call attention to
the extreme care he gave to his linen； the only distinction that well…
bred men can nowadays exhibit in their clothes。 The linen of the
chevalier was invariably of a fineness and whiteness that were truly
aristocratic。 As for his coat； though remarkable for its cleanliness；
it was always half worn…out； but without spots or creases。 The
preservation of that garment was something marvellous to those who
noticed the chevalier's high…bred indifference to its shabbiness。 He
did not go so far as to scrape the seams with glass；a refinement
invented by the Prince of Wales； but he did practice the rudiments of
English elegance with a personal satisfaction little understood by the
people of Alencon。 The world owes a great deal to persons who take
such pains to please it。 In this there is certainly some
accomplishment of that most difficult precept of the Gospel about
rendering good for evil。 This freshness of ablution and all the other
little cares harmonized charmingly with the blue eyes； the ivory
teeth； and the blond person of the old chevalier。
The only blemish was that this retired Adonis had nothing manly about
him； he seemed to be employing this toilet varnish to hide the ruins
occasioned by the military service of gallantry only。 But we must
hasten to add that his voice produced what might be called an
antithesis to his blond delicacy。 Unless you adopted the opinion of
certain observers of the human heart； and thought that the chevalier
had the voice of his nose； his organ of speech would have amazed you
by its full and redundant sound。 Without possessing the volume of
classical bass voices； the tone of it was pleasing from a slightly
muffled quality like that of an English bugle； which is firm and
sweet； strong but velvety。
The chevalier had repudiated the ridiculous costume still preserved by
certain monarchical old men； he had frankly modernized himself。 He was
always seen in a maroon…colored coat with gilt buttons； half…tight
breeches of poult…de…soie with gold buckles； a white waistcoat without
embroidery； and a tight cravat showing no shirt…collar；a last
vestige of the old French costume which he did not renounce； perhaps；
because it enabled him to show a neck like that of the sleekest abbe。
His shoes were noticeable for their square buckles； a style of which
the present generation has no knowledge； these buckles were fastened
to a square of polished black leather。 The chevalier allowed two
watch…chains to hang parallel to each other from each of his waistcoat
pockets；another vestige of the eighteenth century； which the
Incroyables had not disdained to use under the Directory。 This
transition costume； uniting as it did two centuries； was worn by the
chevalier with the high…bred grace of an old French marquis； the
secret of which is lost to France since the day when Fleury； Mole's
last pupil； vanished。
The private life of this old bachelor was apparently open to all eyes；
though in fact it was quite mysterious。 He lived in a lodging that was
modest； to say the best of it； in the rue du Cours； on the second
floor of a house belonging to Madame Lardot； the best and busiest
washerwoman in the town。 This circumstance will explain the excessive
nicety of his linen。 Ill…luck would have it that the day came when
Alencon was guilty of believing that the chevalier had not always
comported himself as a gentleman should； and that in fact he was
secretly married in his old age to a certain Cesarine；the mother of
a child which had had the impertinence to come into the world without
being called for。
〃He had given his hand；〃 as a certain Monsieur du Bousquier remarked；
〃to the person who had long had him under irons。〃
This horrible calumny embittered the last days of the dainty chevalier
all the more because； as the present Scene will show； he had lost a
hope long cherished to which he had made many sacrifices。
Madame Lardot leased to the chevalier two rooms on the second floor of
her house； for the modest sum of one hundred francs a year。 The worthy
gentleman dined out every day； returning only in time to go to bed。
His sole expense therefore was for breakfast； invariably composed of a
cup of chocolate； with bread and butter and fruits in their season。 He
made no fire except in the coldest winter； and then only enough to get
up by。 Between eleven and four o'clock he walked about； went to read
the papers； and paid visits。 From the time of his settling in Alencon
he had nobly admitted his poverty； saying that his whole fortune
consisted in an annuity of six hundred francs a year； the sole remains
of his former opulence；a property which obliged him to see his man
of business （who held the annuity papers） quarterly。 In truth； one of
the Alencon bankers paid him every three months one hundred and fifty
francs； sent down by Monsieur Bordin of Paris； the last of the
procureurs du Chatelet。 Every one knew these details because the
chevalier exacted the utmost secrecy from the persons to whom he first
confided them。
Monsieur de Valois gathered the fruit of his misfortunes。 His place at
table was laid in all the most distinguished houses in Alencon； and he
was bidden to all soirees。 His talents as a card…player； a narrator；
an amiable man of the highest breeding； were so well known and
appreciated that parties would have seemed a failure if the dainty
connoisseur was absent。 Masters of houses and their wives felt the
need of his approving grimace。 When a young woman heard the chevalier
say at a ball； 〃You are delightfully well…dressed！〃 she was more
pleased at such praise than she would have been at mortifying a rival。
Monsieur de Valois was the only man who could perfectly pronounce
certain phrases of the olden time。 The words； 〃my heart；〃 〃my jewel；〃
〃my little pet；〃 〃my queen；〃 and the amorous diminutives of 1770； had
a grace that was quite irresistible when they came from his lips。 In
short； the chevalier had the privilege of superlatives。 His
compliments； of which he was stingy； won the good graces of all the
old women； he made himself agreeable to every one； even to the
officials of the government； from whom he wanted nothing。 His behavior
at cards had a lofty distinction which everybody noticed： he never
complained； he praised his adversaries when they lost； he did not
rebuke or teach his partners by showing them how they ought to have
played。 When； in the course of a deal； those sickening dissertations
on the game would take place； the chevalier invariably drew out his
snuff…box with a gesture that was worthy of Mole； looked at the
Princess Goritza； raised the cover with dignity； shook； sifted； massed
the snuff； and gathered his pinch； so that by the time the cards were
dealt he had decorated both nostrils and replaced the princess in his
waistcoat pocket；always on his le