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single glance； had guessed and fathomed her whole plan。
〃Yes； yes！ I understand： you want me to believe it；〃 he said。 〃Well！ I
do believe it。 But take my advice： go to Monsieur du Bousquier。
Haven't you taken linen there for the last six or eight months？ I'm
not asking what went on between you； but I know the man： he has
immense conceit； he is an old bachelor； and very rich； and he only
spends a quarter of a comfortable income。 If you are as clever as I
suppose； you can go to Paris at his expense。 There； run along； my
little doe； go and twist him round your finger。 Only； mind this： be as
supple as silk； at every word take a double turn round him and make a
knot。 He is a man to fear scandal； and if he has given you a chance to
put him in the pilloryin short； understand； threaten him with the
ladies of the Maternity Hospital。 Besides； he's ambitious。 A man
succeeds through his wife； and you are handsome and clever enough to
make the fortune of a husband。 Hey！ the mischief！ you could hold your
own against all the court ladies。〃
Suzanne； whose mind took in at a flash the chevalier's last words； was
eager to run off to du Bousquier； but； not wishing to depart too
abruptly； she questioned the chevalier about Paris； all the while
helping him to dress。 The chevalier； however； divined her desire to be
off； and favored it by asking her to tell Cesarine to bring up his
chocolate； which Madame Lardot made for him every morning。 Suzanne
then slipped away to her new victim； whose biography must here be
given。
Born of an old Alencon family； du Bousquier was a cross between the
bourgeois and the country squire。 Finding himself without means on the
death of his father； he went； like other ruined provincials； to Paris。
On the breaking out of the Revolution he took part in public affairs。
In spite of revolutionary principles； which made a hobby of republican
honesty； the management of public business in those days was by no
means clean。 A political spy； a stock…jobber； a contractor； a man who
confiscated in collusion with the syndic of a commune the property of
emigres in order to sell them and buy them in； a minister； and a
general were all equally engaged in public business。 From 1793 to 1799
du Bousquier was commissary of provisions to the French armies。 He
lived in a magnificent hotel and was one of the matadors of finance；
did business with Ouvrard； kept open house； and led the scandalous
life of the period；the life of a Cincinnatus； on sacks of corn
harvested without trouble； stolen rations； 〃little houses〃 full of
mistresses； in which were given splendid fetes to the Directors of the
Republic。
The citizen du Bousquier was one of Barras' familiars； he was on the
best of terms with Fouche； stood very well with Bernadotte； and fully
expected to become a minister by throwing himself into the party which
secretly caballed against Bonaparte until Marengo。 If it had not been
for Kellermann's charge and Desaix's death； du Bousquier would
probably have become a minister。 He was one of the chief assistances
of that secret government whom Napoleon's luck send behind the scenes
in 1793。 （See 〃An Historical Mystery。〃） The unexpected victory of
Marengo was the defeat of that party who actually had their
proclamations printed to return to the principles of the Montagne in
case the First Consul succumbed。
Convinced of the impossibility of Bonaparte's triumph； du Bousquier
staked the greater part of his property on a fall in the Funds； and
kept two couriers on the field of battle。 The first started for Paris
when Melas' victory was certain； the second； starting four hours
later； brought the news of the defeat of the Austrians。 Du Bousquier
cursed Kellermann and Desaix； he dared not curse Bonaparte； who might
owe him millions。 This alternative of millions to be earned and
present ruin staring him in the face； deprived the purveyor of most of
his faculties： he became nearly imbecile for several days； the man had
so abused his health by excesses that when the thunderbolt fell upon
him he had no strength to resist。 The payment of his bills against the
Exchequer gave him some hopes for the future； but； in spite of all
efforts to ingratiate himself； Napoleon's hatred to the contractors
who had speculated on his defeat made itself felt； du Bousquier was
left without a sou。 The immorality of his private life； his intimacy
with Barras and Bernadotte； displeased the First Consul even more than
his manoeuvres at the Bourse； and he struck du Bousquier's name from
the list of the government contractors。
Out of all his past opulence du Bousquier saved only twelve hundred
francs a year from an investment in the Grand Livre； which he had
happened to place there by pure caprice； and which saved him from
penury。 A man ruined by the First Consul interested the town of
Alencon； to which he now returned； where royalism was secretly
dominant。 Du Bousquier； furious against Bonaparte； relating stories
against him of his meanness； of Josephine's improprieties； and all the
other scandalous anecdotes of the last ten years； was well received。
About this time； when he was somewhere between forty and fifty； du
Bousquier's appearance was that of a bachelor of thirty…six； of medium
height； plump as a purveyor； proud of his vigorous calves； with a
strongly marked countenance； a flattened nose； the nostrils garnished
with hair； black eyes with thick lashes； from which darted shrewd
glances like those of Monsieur de Talleyrand； though somewhat dulled。
He still wore republican whiskers and his hair very long； his hands；
adorned with bunches of hair on each knuckle； showed the power of his
muscular system in their prominent blue veins。 He had the chest of the
Farnese Hercules； and shoulders fit to carry the stocks。 Such
shoulders are seen nowadays only at Tortoni's。 This wealth of
masculine vigor counted for much in du Bousquier's relations with
others。 And yet in him； as in the chevalier； symptoms appeared which
contrasted oddly with the general aspect of their persons。 The late
purveyor had not the voice of his muscles。 We do not mean that his
voice was a mere thread； such as we sometimes hear issuing from the
mouth of these walruses； on the contrary； it was a strong voice； but
stifled； an idea of which can be given only by comparing it with the
noise of a saw cutting into soft and moistened wood；the voice of a
worn…out speculator。
In spite of the claims which the enmity of the First Consul gave
Monsieur du Bousquier to enter the royalist society of the province；
he was not received in the seven or eight families who composed the
faubourg Saint…Germain of Alencon； among whom the Chevalier de Valois
was welcome。 He had offered himself in marriage； through her notary；
to Mademoiselle Armande； sister of the most distinguished noble in the
town； to which offer he received a refusal。 He consoled himself as
best he could in the society of a dozen rich famil