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owes nearly 800；000 livres to his wine merchant； and nearly three
millions and a half to his purveyor。＇15＇ The same disorder exists in
the houses which surround the throne。 〃Mme。 de Guéménée owes 60；000
livres to her shoe…maker； 16；000 livres to her paper…hanger； and the
rest in proportion。〃 Another lady； whom the Marquis de Mirabeau sees
with hired horses； replies at his look of astonishment； 〃It is not
because there are not seventy horses in our stables； but none of them
are able to walk to day。〃＇16＇ Mme。 de Montmorin； on ascertaining that
her husband's debts are greater than his property； thinks she can save
her dowry of 200；000 livres； but is informed that she had given
security for a tailor's bill； which； 〃incredible and ridiculous to
say； amounts to the sum of 180；000 livres。〃＇17＇ 〃One of the decided
manias of these days；〃 says Mme。 d'Oberkirk； 〃is to be ruined in
everything and by everything。〃 〃The two brothers Villemer build
country cottages at from 500；000 to 600；000 livres； one of them keeps
forty horses to ride occasionally in the Bois de Boulogne on
horseback。〃＇18＇ In one night M。 de Chenonceaux； son of M。 et Mme。
Dupin； loses at play 700；000 livres。 〃M。 de Chenonceaux and M。 de
Francueil ran through seven or eight millions at this epoch。 〃＇19＇
〃The Duc de Lauzun； at the age of twenty…six； after having run through
the capital of 100；000 crowns revenue； is prosecuted by his creditors
for nearly two millions of indebtedness。〃＇20＇ 〃M。 le Prince de Conti
lacks bread and wood； although with an income of 600；000 livres；〃 for
the reason that 〃he buys and builds wildly on all sides。〃＇21＇ Where
would be the pleasure if these people were reasonable？ What kind of a
seignior is he who studies the price of things？ And how can the
exquisite be reached if one grudges money？ Money； accordingly； must
flow and flow on until it is exhausted； first by the innumerable
secret or tolerated bleedings through domestic abuses； and next in
broad streams of the master's own prodigality； through structures；
furniture； toilets； hospitality； gallantry； and pleasures。 The Comte
d'Artois； that he may give the queen a fête； demolishes； rebuilds；
arranges； and furnishes Bagatelle from top to bottom； employing nine
hundred workmen； day and night； and； as there is no time to go any
distance for lime； plaster； and cut stone； he sends patrols of the
Swiss guards on the highways to seize； pay for； and immediately bring
in all carts thus loaded。＇22＇ The Marshal de Soubise； entertaining the
king one day at dinner and over night； in his country house； expends
200；000 livres。＇23＇ Mme。 de Matignon makes a contract to be furnished
every day with a new head…dress at 24；000 livres per annum。 Cardinal
de Rohan has an alb bordered with point lace； which is valued at more
than 100；000 livres； while his kitchen utensils are of massive
silver。＇24＇ … Nothing is more natural； considering their ideas of
money； hoarded and piled up； instead of being a fertilizing stream； it
is a useless marsh exhaling bad odors。 The queen； having presented the
Dauphin with a carriage whose silver…gilt trappings are decked with
rubies and sapphires； naively exclaims； 〃Has not the king added
200；000 livres to my treasury？ That is no reason for keeping
them！〃＇25＇ They would rather throw it out of the window。 Which was
actually done by the Marshal de Richelieu with a purse he had given to
his grandson； and which the lad； not knowing how to use； brought back
intact。 Money； on this occasion； was at least of service to the
passing street…sweeper that picked it up。 But had there been no
passer…by to pick it up； it would have been thrown into the river。 One
day Mme。 de B … ； being with the Prince de Conti； hinted that she
would like a miniature of her canary bird set in a ring。 The Prince
offers to have it made。 His offer is accepted； but on condition that
the miniature be set plain and without jewels。 Accordingly the
miniature is placed in a simple rim of gold。 But； to cover over the
painting； a large diamond； made very thin； serves as a glass。 Mme。 de
B … ； having returned the diamond； 〃M。 le Prince de Conti had it
ground to powder which he used to dry the ink of the note he wrote to
Mme。 de B … on the subject。〃 This pinch of powder cost 4 or 5；000
livres； but we may divine the turn and tone of the note。 The extreme
of profusion must accompany the height of gallantry； the man of the
world being so much the more important according to his contempt for
money。
III。 UNIVERSAL PLEASURE SEEKING。
Moral divorce of husband and wife。 … Gallantry。 … Separation of
parents and children。 … Education； its object and omissions。 … The
tone of servants and purveyors。 … Pleasure seeking universal。
In a drawing room the woman who receives the least attention from a
man is his own wife； and she returns the compliment。 Hence at a time
like this； when people live for society and in society； there is no
place for conjugal intimacy。 … Moreover； when a married couple
occupy an exalted position they are separated by custom and decorum。
Each party has his or her own household； or at least their own
apartments； servants； equipage； receptions and distinct society； and；
as entertainment entails ceremony； they stand towards each other in
deference to their rank on the footing of polite strangers。 They are
each announced in each other's apartment； they address each other
〃Madame； Monsieur；〃 and not alone in public； but in private； they
shrug their shoulders when； sixty leagues out from Paris； they
encounter in some old chateau a provincial wife ignorant enough to say
〃my dear 〃 to her husband before company。＇26＇ … Already separated at
the fireside； the two lives diverge beyond it at an ever increasing
radius。 The husband has a government of his own： his private command；
his private regiment； his post at court； which keeps him absent from
home； only in his declining years does his wife consent to follow him
into garrison or into the provinces。＇27＇ And rather is this the case
because she is herself occupied； and as seriously as himself； often
with a position near a princess； and always with an important circle
of company which she must maintain。 At this epoch woman is as active
as man；＇28＇ following the same career； and with the same resources；
consisting of the flexible voice； the winning grace； the insinuating
manner； the tact； the quick perception of the right moment； and the
art of pleasing； demanding； and obtaining； there is not a lady at
court who does not bestow regiments and benefices。 Through this right
the wife has her personal retinue of solicitors and protégés； also；
like her husband； her friends； her enemies； her own ambitions；
disappointments； and rancorous feeling； nothing could be more
effectual in the disruption of a household than this similarity of
occupation and this division of interests。 … The tie thus loosened
ends by being sundered under the