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〃Here's my affair！〃 Then she flew to Mariette to know if the dinner
could be put back a while without loss of excellence。
〃Uncle； your Monsieur de Troisville is very amiable；〃 she said； on
returning。
〃Why； niece； he hasn't as yet said a word。〃
〃But you can see it in his ways； his manners； his face。 Is he a
bachelor？〃
〃I'm sure I don't know；〃 replied the abbe； who was thinking of a
discussion on mercy； lately begun between the Abbe Couturier and
himself。 〃Monsieur de Troisville wrote me that he wanted to buy a
house here。 If he was married； he wouldn't come alone on such an
errand；〃 added the abbe； carelessly； not conceiving the idea that his
niece could be thinking of marriage。
〃Is he rich？〃
〃He is a younger son of the younger branch；〃 replied her uncle。 〃His
grandfather commanded a squadron； but the father of this young man
made a bad marriage。〃
〃Young man！〃 exclaimed the old maid。 〃It seems to me； uncle； that he
must be at least forty…five。〃 She felt the strongest desire to put
their years on a par。
〃Yes；〃 said the abbe； 〃but to a poor priest of seventy； Rose； a man of
forty seems a youth。〃
All Alencon knew by this time that Monsieur de Troisville had arrived
at the Cormons。 The traveller soon rejoined his hosts； and began to
admire the Brillante； the garden； and the house。
〃Monsieur l'abbe；〃 he said； 〃my whole ambition is to have a house like
this。〃 The old maid fancied a declaration lurked in that speech； and
she lowered her eyes。 〃You must enjoy it very much； mademoiselle；〃
added the viscount。
〃How could it be otherwise？ It has been in our family since 1574； the
period at which one of our ancestors； steward to the Duc d'Alencon；
acquired the land and built the house；〃 replied Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃It is built on piles；〃 she added。
Jacquelin announced dinner。 Monsieur de Troisville offered his arm to
the happy woman； who endeavored not to lean too heavily upon it； she
feared； as usual； to seem to make advances。
〃Everything is so harmonious here；〃 said the viscount； as he seated
himself at table。
〃Yes； our trees are full of birds； which give us concerts for nothing；
no one ever frightens them； and the nightingales sing at night；〃 said
Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃I was speaking of the interior of the house；〃 remarked the viscount；
who did not trouble himself to observe Mademoiselle Cormon； and
therefore did not perceive the dulness of her mind。 〃Everything is so
in keeping；the tones of color； the furniture； the general
character。〃
〃But it costs a great deal； taxes are enormous；〃 responded the
excellent woman。
〃Ah！ taxes are high； are they？〃 said the viscount； preoccupied with
his own ideas。
〃I don't know；〃 replied the abbe。 〃My niece manages the property of
each of us。〃
〃Taxes are not of much importance to the rich；〃 said Mademoiselle
Cormon； not wishing to be thought miserly。 〃As for the furniture； I
shall leave it as it is； and change nothing；unless I marry； and
then； of course； everything here must suit the husband。〃
〃You have noble principles； mademoiselle；〃 said the viscount； smiling。
〃You will make one happy man。〃
〃No one ever made to me such a pretty speech；〃 thought the old maid。
The viscount complimented Mademoiselle Cormon on the excellence of her
service and the admirable arrangements of the house； remarking that he
had supposed the provinces behind the age in that respect； but； on the
contrary； he found them； as the English say； 〃very comfortable。〃
〃What can that word mean？〃 she thought。 〃Oh； where is the chevalier to
explain it to me？ 'Comfortable；'there seem to be several words in
it。 Well； courage！〃 she said to herself。 〃I can't be expected to
answer a foreign language But；〃 she continued aloud； feeling her
tongue untied by the eloquence which nearly all human creatures find
in momentous circumstances； 〃we have a very brilliant society here；
monsieur。 It assembles at my house； and you shall judge of it this
evening； for some of my faithful friends have no doubt heard of my
return and your arrival。 Among them is the Chevalier de Valois； a
seigneur of the old court； a man of infinite wit and taste； then there
is Monsieur le Marquis d'Esgrignon and Mademoiselle Armande； his
sister〃 （she bit her tongue with vexation）；〃a woman remarkable in
her way；〃 she added。 〃She resolved to remain unmarried in order to
leave all her fortune to her brother and nephew。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the viscount。 〃Yes； the d'Esgrignons；I remember
them。〃
〃Alencon is very gay；〃 continued the old maid； now fairly launched。
〃There's much amusement： the receiver…general gives balls； the prefect
is an amiable man； and Monseigneur the bishop sometimes honors us with
a visit〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the viscount； smiling； 〃I have done wisely to come
back； like the hare； to die in my form。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃I； too； attach myself or I die。〃
The viscount smiled。
〃Ah！〃 thought the old maid； 〃all is well； he understands me。〃
The conversation continued on generalities。 By one of those mysterious
unknown and undefinable faculties； Mademoiselle Cormon found in her
brain； under the pressure of her desire to be agreeable； all the
phrases and opinions of the Chevalier de Valois。 It was like a duel in
which the devil himself pointed the pistol。 Never was any adversary
better aimed at。 The viscount was far too well…bred to speak of the
excellence of the dinner； but his silence was praise。 As he drank the
delicious wines which Jacquelin served to him profusely； he seemed to
feel he was with friends； and to meet them with pleasure； for the true
connoisseur does not applaud； he enjoys。 He inquired the price of
land； of houses； of estates； he made Mademoiselle Cormon describe at
length the confluence of the Sarthe and the Brillante； he expressed
surprise that the town was placed so far from the river； and seemed to
be much interested in the topography of the place。
The silent abbe left his niece to throw the dice of conversation； and
she truly felt that she pleased Monsieur de Troisville； who smiled at
her gracefully； and committed himself during this dinner far more than
her most eager suitors had ever done in ten days。 Imagine； therefore；
the little attentions with which he was petted； you might have thought
him a cherished lover； whose return brought joy to the household。
Mademoiselle foresaw the moment when the viscount wanted bread； she
watched his every look； when he turned his head she adroitly put upon
his plate a portion of some dish he seemed to like； had he been a
gourmand； she would almost have killed him； but what a delightful
specimen of the attentions she would show to a husband！ She did not
commit the folly of depreciating herself； on the contrary； she set
every sail bravely； ran up all her flags； assumed the bearing of the
queen of Alencon； and boasted of her excellent preserves。 In fact； she
fished