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that slow bending forward； with lowered eyes and straightened figure；
gradually recovering and modestly glancing at the person while
gracefully raising the body up； altogether much more refined and more
delicate than words； but very expressive as the means of manifesting
respect。〃 … This is but a single action； and very common； there are
a hundred others； and of importance。 Imagine； if it is possible； the
degree of elegance and perfection to which they attained through good
breeding。 I select one at random； a duel between two princes of the
blood； the Comte d'Artois and the Duc de Bourbon； the latter being the
offended party； the former； his superior； had to offer him a
meeting＇51＇； 〃As soon as the Comte d'Artois saw him he leaped to the
ground； and walking directly up to him； said to him smiling：
'Monsieur； the public pretends that we are seeking each other。' The
Duc de Bourbon； removing his hat； replied； 'Monsieur； I am here to
receive your orders。' … 'To execute your own；' returned the Comte
d'Artois； 'but you must allow me to return to my carriage。' He comes
back with a sword； and the duel begins。 After a certain time they are
separated； the seconds deciding that honor is satisfied； 'It is not
for me to express an opinion；' says the Comte d'Artois； 'Monsieur le
Duc de Bourbon is to express his wishes； I am here only to receive his
orders。' … 'Monsieur；' responds the Duc de Bourbon； addressing the
Comte d'Artois； meanwhile lowering the point of his sword； 'I am
overcome with gratitude for your kindness； and shall never be
insensible to the honor you have done me。' 〃 … Could there be a more
just and delicate sentiment of rank； position； and circumstance； and
could a duel be surrounded with more graces？ There is no situation；
however thorny； which is not saved by politeness。 Through habit； and a
suitable expression； even in the face of the king； they conciliate
resistance and respect。 When Louis XV； having exiled the Parliament；
caused it to be proclaimed through Mme。 Du Barry that his mind was
made up and that it would not be changed； 〃Ah； Madame；〃 replied the
Duc de Nivernais； 〃when the king said that he was looking at
yourself。〃 … 〃My dear Fontenelle；〃 said one of his lady friends to
him； placing her hand on his heart； 〃the brain is there likewise。〃
Fontenelle smiled and made no reply。 We see here； even with an
academician； how truths are forced down； a drop of acid in a sugar…
plum； the whole so thoroughly intermingled that the piquancy of the
flavor only enhances its sweetness。 Night after night； in each
drawing…room； sugar…plums of this description are served up； two or
three along with the drop of acidity； all the rest not less exquisite；
but possessing only the sweetness and the perfume。 Such is the art of
social worldliness； an ingenious and delightful art； which； entering
into all the details of speech and of action； transforms them into
graces； which imposes on man not servility and falsehood； but civility
and concern for others； and which； in exchange； extracts for him out
of human society all the pleasure it can afford。
V。 HAPPINESS。
What constitutes happiness in the 18th Century。 … The fascination
of display。 … Indolence； recreation； light conversation。
One can very well understand this kind of pleasure in a summary
way； but how is it to be made apparent？ Taken by themselves the
pastimes of society are not to be described； they are too ephemeral；
their charm arises from their accompaniments。 A narrative of them
would be but tasteless dregs； does the libretto of an opera give any
idea of the opera itself？ … If the reader would revive for himself
this vanished world let him seek for it in those works that have
preserved its externals or its accent； and first in the pictures and
engravings of Watteau； Fragonard and the Saint…Aubins； and then in the
novels and dramas of Voltaire and Marivaux； and even in Collé and
Crébillon fils；＇52＇ then do we see the breathing figures and hear
their voices； What bright； winning； intelligent faces beaming with
pleasure and with the desire to please！ What ease in bearing and in
gesture！ What piquant grace in the toilet； in the smile； in
vivaciousness of expression； in the control of the fluted voice； in
the coquetry of hidden meanings！ How involuntarily we stop to look and
listen！ Attractiveness is everywhere； in the small spirituelle heads；
in the slender hands； in the rumpled attire； in the pretty features；
in the demeanor。 The slightest gesture； a pouting or mutinous turn of
the head； a plump little wrist peering from its nest of lace； a
yielding waist bent over an embroidery frame； the rapid rustling of an
opening fan； is a feast for the eyes and the intellect。 It is indeed
all daintiness； a delicate caress for delicate senses； extending to
the external decoration of life； to the sinuous outlines； the showy
drapery； and the refinements of comfort in the furniture and
architecture。 Fill your imagination with these accessories and with
these figures and you will take as much interest in their amusements
as they did。 In such a place and in such company it suffices to be
together to be content。 Their indolence is no burden to them for they
sport with existence。 … At Chanteloup； the Duc de Choiseul； in
disgrace； finds the fashionable world flocking to see him； nothing is
done and yet no hours of the day are unoccupied。＇53＇ 〃The Duchess has
only two hours' time to herself and these two hours are devoted to her
toilet and her letters； the calculation is a simple one： she gets up
at eleven； breakfasts at noon； and this is followed by conversation；
which lasts three or four hours； dinner comes at six； after which
there is play and the reading of the memoirs of Mme。 de Maintenon。〃
Ordinarily 〃the company remains together until two o'clock in the
morning。〃 Intellectual freedom is complete。 There is no confusion； no
anxiety。 They play whist and tric…trac in the afternoon and faro in
the evening。 〃They do to day what they did yesterday and what they
will do to…morrow； the dinner…supper is to them the most important
affair in life； and their only complaint in the world is of their
digestion。 Time goes so fast I always fancy that I arrived only the
evening before。〃 Sometimes they get up a little race and the ladies
are disposed to take part in it； 〃for they are all very agile and able
to run around the drawing room five or six times every day。〃 But they
prefer indoors to the open air； in these days true sunshine consists
of candle…light and the finest sky is a painted ceiling； is there any
other less subject to inclemencies or better adapted to conversation
and merriment？ … They accordingly chat and jest； in words with
present friends； and by letters with absent friends。 They lecture old
Mme。 du Deffant； who is too lively and whom they style the 〃little
girl〃； the young Duchesse； tender and sensible； is 〃her grandmamma。〃
As for 〃grand