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Bourgeoisie； the Vicomte de Troisville was a Russian general who had
fought against France； and was now returning with a great fortune made
at the court of Saint…Petersburg； he was a FOREIGNER； one of those
ALLIES so hated by the liberals； the Abbe de Sponde had slyly
negotiated this marriage。 All the persons who had a right to call upon
Mademoiselle Cormon determined to do so that very evening。
During this transurban excitement； which made that of Suzanne almost a
forgotten affair； Mademoiselle was not less agitated； she was filled
with a variety of novel emotions。 Looking about her salon； dining…
room； and boudoir； cruel apprehensions took possession of her。 A
species of demon showed her with a sneer her old…fashioned luxury。 The
handsome things she had admired from her youth up she suddenly
suspected of age and absurdity。 In short； she felt that fear which
takes possession of nearly all authors when they read over a work they
have hitherto thought proof against every exacting or blase critic：
new situations seem timeworn； the best…turned and most highly polished
phrases limp and squint； metaphors and images grin or contradict each
other； whatsoever is false strikes the eye。 In like manner this poor
woman trembled lest she should see on the lips of Monsieur de
Troisville a smile of contempt for this episcopal salon； she dreaded
the cold look he might cast over that ancient dining…room； in short；
she feared the frame might injure and age the portrait。 Suppose these
antiquities should cast a reflected light of old age upon herself？
This question made her flesh creep。 She would gladly； at that moment；
spend half her savings on refitting her house if some fairy wand could
do it in a moment。 Where is the general who has not trembled on the
eve of a battle？ The poor woman was now between her Austerlitz and her
Waterloo。
〃Madame la Vicomtesse de Troisville；〃 she said to herself； 〃a noble
name！ Our property will go to a good family； at any rate。〃
She fell a prey to an irritation which made every fibre of her nerves
quiver to all their papillae； long sunk in flesh。 Her blood； lashed by
this new hope； was in motion。 She felt the strength to converse； if
necessary； with Monsieur de Troisville。
It is useless to relate the activity with which Josette； Jacquelin；
Mariette； Moreau； and his agents went about their functions。 It was
like the busyness of ants about their eggs。 All that daily care had
already rendered neat and clean was again gone over and brushed and
rubbed and scrubbed。 The china of ceremony saw the light； the damask
linen marked 〃A； B； C〃 was drawn from depths where it lay under a
triple guard of wrappings； still further defended by formidable lines
of pins。 Above all； Mademoiselle Cormon sacrificed on the altar of her
hopes three bottles of the famous liqueurs of Madame Amphoux； the most
illustrious of all the distillers of the tropics；a name very dear to
gourmets。 Thanks to the devotion of her lieutenants； mademoiselle was
soon ready for the conflict。 The different weaponsfurniture；
cookery； provisions； in short； all the various munitions of war；
together with a body of reserve forceswere ready along the whole
line。 Jacquelin； Mariette； and Josette received orders to appear in
full dress。 The garden was raked。 The old maid regretted that she
couldn't come to an understanding with the nightingales nesting in the
trees； in order to obtain their finest trilling。
At last； about four o'clock； at the very moment when the Abbe de
Sponde returned home； and just as mademoiselle began to think she had
set the table with the best plate and linen and prepared the choicest
dishes to no purpose； the click…clack of a postilion was heard in the
Val…Noble。
〃'Tis he！〃 she said to herself； the snap of the whip echoing in her
heart。
True enough； heralded by all this gossip； a post…chaise； in which was
a single gentleman； made so great a sensation coming down the rue
Saint…Blaise and turning into the rue du Cours that several little
gamains and some grown persons followed it； and stood in groups about
the gate of the hotel Cormon to see it enter。 Jacquelin； who foresaw
his own marriage in that of his mistress； had also heard the click…
clack in the rue Saint…Blaise； and had opened wide the gates into the
courtyard。 The postilion； a friend of his； took pride in making a fine
turn…in； and drew up sharply before the portico。 The abbe came forward
to greet his guest； whose carriage was emptied with a speed that
highwaymen might put into the operation； the chaise itself was rolled
into the coach…house； the gates closed； and in a few moments all signs
of Monsieur de Troisville's arrival had disappeared。 Never did two
chemicals blend into each other with greater rapidity than the hotel
Cormon displayed in absorbing the Vicomte de Troisville。
Mademoiselle； whose heart was beating like a lizard caught by a
herdsman； sat heroically still on her sofa； beside the fire in the
salon。 Josette opened the door； and the Vicomte de Troisville；
followed by the Abbe de Sponde； presented himself to the eyes of the
spinster。
〃Niece； this is Monsieur le Vicomte de Troisville； the grandson of one
of my old schoolmates； Monsieur de Troisville； my niece； Mademoiselle
Cormon。〃
〃Ah！ that good uncle； how well he does it！〃 thought Rose…Marie…
Victoire。
The Vicomte de Troisville was； to paint him in two words； du Bousquier
ennobled。 Between the two men there was precisely the difference which
separates the vulgar style from the noble style。 If they had both been
present； the most fanatic liberal would not have denied the existence
of aristocracy。 The viscount's strength had all the distinction of
elegance； his figure had preserved its magnificent dignity。 He had
blue eyes； black hair； an olive skin； and looked to be about forty…six
years of age。 You might have thought him a handsome Spaniard preserved
in the ice of Russia。 His manner； carriage； and attitude； all denoted
a diplomat who had seen Europe。 His dress was that of a well…bred
traveller。 As he seemed fatigued； the abbe offered to show him to his
room； and was much amazed when his niece threw open the door of the
boudoir； transformed into a bedroom。
Mademoiselle Cormon and her uncle then left the noble stranger to
attend to his own affairs； aided by Jacquelin； who brought up his
luggage； and went themselves to walk beside the river until their
guest had made his toilet。 Although the Abbe de Sponde chanced to be
even more absent…minded than usual； Mademoiselle Cormon was not less
preoccupied。 They both walked on in silence。 The old maid had never
before met any man as seductive as this Olympean viscount。 She might
have said to herself； as the Germans do； 〃This is my ideal！〃 instead
of which she felt herself bound from head to foot； and could only say；
〃Here's my affair！〃 Then she flew to Mariette to know if the dinner
could be put back a while without loss o