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about the town。 Nearly all Alencon believed this life to be exempt
from ambitions and serious interests； but no man has a life as simple
as envious neighbors attribute to him。 You will find in the most out…
of…the way villages human mollusks； creatures apparently dead； who
have passions for lepidoptera or for conchology； let us say；beings
who will give themselves infinite pains about moths； butterflies； or
the concha Veneris。 Not only did the chevalier have his own particular
shells； but he cherished an ambitious desire which he pursued with a
craft so profound as to be worthy of Sixtus the Fifth： he wanted to
marry a certain rich old maid； with the intention； no doubt； of making
her a stepping…stone by which to reach the more elevated regions of
the court。 There； then； lay the secret of his royal bearing and of his
residence in Alencon。
CHAPTER II
SUSANNAH AND THE ELDERS
On a Wednesday morning； early； toward the middle of spring； in the
year 16；such was his mode of reckoning；at the moment when the
chevalier was putting on his old green…flowered damask dressing…gown；
he heard； despite the cotton in his ears； the light step of a young
girl who was running up the stairway。 Presently three taps were
discreetly struck upon the door； then； without waiting for any
response； a handsome girl slipped like an eel into the room occupied
by the old bachelor。
〃Ah！ is it you； Suzanne？〃 said the Chevalier de Valois； without
discontinuing his occupation； which was that of stropping his razor。
〃What have you come for； my dear little jewel of mischief？〃
〃I have come to tell you something which may perhaps give you as much
pleasure as pain？〃
〃Is it anything about Cesarine？〃
〃Cesarine！ much I care about your Cesarine！〃 she said with a saucy
air； half serious； half indifferent。
This charming Suzanne； whose present comical performance was to
exercise a great influence in the principal personages of our history；
was a work…girl at Madame Lardot's。 One word here on the topography of
the house。 The wash…rooms occupied the whole of the ground floor。 The
little courtyard was used to hang out on wire cords embroidered
handkerchiefs； collarets； capes； cuffs； frilled shirts； cravats；
laces； embroidered dresses；in short； all the fine linen of the best
families of the town。 The chevalier assumed to know from the number of
her capes in the wash how the love…affairs of the wife of the prefect
were going on。 Though he guessed much from observations of this kind；
the chevalier was discretion itself； he was never betrayed into an
epigram （he had plenty of wit） which might have closed to him an
agreeable salon。 You are therefore to consider Monsieur de Valois as a
man of superior manners； whose talents； like those of many others；
were lost in a narrow sphere。 Onlyfor； after all； he was a manhe
permitted himself certain penetrating glances which could make some
women tremble； although they all loved him heartily as soon as they
discovered the depth of his discretion and the sympathy that he felt
for their little weaknesses。
The head woman； Madame Lardot's factotum； an old maid of forty…six；
hideous to behold； lived on the opposite side of the passage to the
chevalier。 Above them were the attics where the linen was dried in
winter。 Each apartment had two rooms；one lighted from the street；
the other from the courtyard。 Beneath the chevalier's room there lived
a paralytic； Madame Lardot's grandfather； an old buccaneer named
Grevin； who had served under Admiral Simeuse in India； and was now
stone…deaf。 As for Madame Lardot； who occupied the other lodging on
the first floor； she had so great a weakness for persons of condition
that she may well have been thought blind to the ways of the
chevalier。 To her； Monsieur de Valois was a despotic monarch who did
right in all things。 Had any of her workwomen been guilty of a
happiness attributed to the chevalier she would have said； 〃He is so
lovable！〃 Thus； though the house was of glass； like all provincial
houses； it was discreet as a robber's cave。
A born confidant to all the little intrigues of the work…rooms； the
chevalier never passed the door； which usually stood open； without
giving something to his little ducks；chocolate； bonbons； ribbons；
laces； gilt crosses； and such like trifles adored by grisettes；
consequently； the kind old gentleman was adored in return。 Women have
an instinct which enables them to divine the men who love them； who
like to be near them； and exact no payment for gallantries。 In this
respect women have the instinct of dogs； who in a mixed company will
go straight to the man to whom animals are sacred。
The poor Chevalier de Valois retained from his former life the need of
bestowing gallant protection； a quality of the seigneurs of other
days。 Faithful to the system of the 〃petite maison；〃 he liked to
enrich women；the only beings who know how to receive； because they
can always return。 But the poor chevalier could no longer ruin himself
for a mistress。 Instead of the choicest bonbons wrapped in bank…bills；
he gallantly presented paper…bags full of toffee。 Let us say to the
glory of Alencon that the toffee was accepted with more joy than la
Duthe ever showed at a gilt service or a fine equipage offered by the
Comte d'Artois。 All these grisettes fully understood the fallen
majesty of the Chevalier de Valois； and they kept their private
familiarities with him a profound secret for his sake。 If they were
questioned about him in certain houses when they carried home the
linen； they always spoke respectfully of the chevalier； and made him
out older than he really was； they talked of him as a most respectable
monsieur； whose life was a flower of sanctity； but once in their own
regions they perched on his shoulders like so many parrots。 He liked
to be told the secrets which washerwomen discover in the bosom of
households； and day after day these girls would tell him the cancans
which were going the round of Alencon。 He called them his 〃petticoat
gazettes；〃 his 〃talking feuilletons。〃 Never did Monsieur de Sartines
have spies more intelligent and less expensive； or minions who showed
more honor while displaying their rascality of mind。 So it may be said
that in the mornings； while breakfasting； the chevalier usually amused
himself as much as the saints in heaven。
Suzanne was one of his favorites； a clever； ambitious girl； made of
the stuff of a Sophie Arnold； and handsome withal； as the handsomest
courtesan invited by Titian to pose on black velvet for a model of
Venus； although her face； fine about the eyes and forehead；
degenerated； lower down； into commonness of outline。 Hers was a Norman
beauty； fresh； high…colored； redundant； the flesh of Rubens covering
the muscles of the Farnese Hercules； and not the slender articulations
of the Venus de' Medici； Apollo's graceful consort。
〃Well； my child； tell me your great or your little adventu