the ball at sceaux-第2节
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This ironical speech was introductory to a rescript giving Monsieur de
Fontaine an appointment as administrator in the office of Crown lands。
As a consequence of the intelligent attention with which he listened
to his royal Friend's sarcasms； his name always rose to His Majesty's
lips when a commission was to be appointed of which the members were
to receive a handsome salary。 He had the good sense to hold his tongue
about the favor with which he was honored； and knew how to entertain
the monarch in those familiar chats in which Louis XVIII。 delighted as
much as in a well…written note； by his brilliant manner of repeating
political anecdotes； and the political or parliamentary tittle…tattle
if the expression may passwhich at that time was rife。 It is well
known that he was immensely amused by every detail of his
Gouvernementabilitea word adopted by his facetious Majesty。
Thanks to the Comte de Fontaine's good sense； wit； and tact； every
member of his numerous family； however young； ended； as he jestingly
told his Sovereign； in attaching himself like a silkworm to the leaves
of the Pay…List。 Thus； by the King's intervention； his eldest son
found a high and fixed position as a lawyer。 The second； before the
restoration a mere captain； was appointed to the command of a legion
on the return from Ghent； then； thanks to the confusion of 1815； when
the regulations were evaded； he passed into the bodyguard； returned to
a line regiment； and found himself after the affair of the Trocadero a
lieutenant…general with a commission in the Guards。 The youngest；
appointed sous…prefet； ere long became a legal official and director
of a municipal board of the city of Paris； where he was safe from
changes in Legislature。 These bounties； bestowed without parade； and
as secret as the favor enjoyed by the Count； fell unperceived。 Though
the father and his three sons each had sinecures enough to enjoy an
income in salaries almost equal to that of a chief of department；
their political good fortune excited no envy。 In those early days of
the constitutional system； few persons had very precise ideas of the
peaceful domain of the civil service； where astute favorites managed
to find an equivalent for the demolished abbeys。 Monsieur le Comte de
Fontaine； who till lately boasted that he had not read the Charter；
and displayed such indignation at the greed of courtiers； had； before
long； proved to his august master that he understood； as well as the
King himself； the spirit and resources of the representative system。
At the same time； notwithstanding the established careers open to his
three sons； and the pecuniary advantages derived from four official
appointments； Monsieur de Fontaine was the head of too large a family
to be able to re…establish his fortune easily and rapidly。
His three sons were rich in prospects； in favor； and in talent； but he
had three daughters； and was afraid of wearying the monarch's
benevolence。 It occurred to him to mention only one by one； these
virgins eager to light their torches。 The King had too much good taste
to leave his work incomplete。 The marriage of the eldest with a
Receiver…General； Planat de Baudry； was arranged by one of those royal
speeches which cost nothing and are worth millions。 One evening； when
the Sovereign was out of spirits； he smiled on hearing of the
existence of another Demoiselle de Fontaine； for whom he found a
husband in the person of a young magistrate； of inferior birth； no
doubt； but wealthy； and whom he created Baron。 When； the year after；
the Vendeen spoke of Mademoiselle Emilie de Fontaine； the King replied
in his thin sharp tones； 〃Amicus Plato sed magis amica Natio。〃 Then； a
few days later； he treated his 〃friend Fontaine〃 to a quatrain；
harmless enough； which he styled an epigram； in which he made fun of
these three daughters so skilfully introduced； under the form of a
trinity。 Nay； if report is to be believed； the monarch had found the
point of the jest in the Unity of the three Divine Persons。
〃If your Majesty would only condescend to turn the epigram into an
epithalamium？〃 said the Count； trying to turn the sally to good
account。
〃Though I see the rhyme of it； I fail to see the reason；〃 retorted the
King； who did not relish any pleasantry； however mild； on the subject
of his poetry。
From that day his intercourse with Monsieur de Fontaine showed less
amenity。 Kings enjoy contradicting more than people think。 Like most
youngest children； Emilie de Fontaine was a Benjamin spoilt by almost
everybody。 The King's coolness； therefore； caused the Count all the
more regret； because no marriage was ever so difficult to arrange as
that of this darling daughter。 To understand all the obstacles we must
make our way into the fine residence where the official was housed at
the expense of the nation。 Emilie had spent her childhood on the
family estate； enjoying the abundance which suffices for the joys of
early youth； her lightest wishes had been law to her sisters； her
brothers； her mother； and even her father。 All her relations doted on
her。 Having come to years of discretion just when her family was
loaded with the favors of fortune； the enchantment of life continued。
The luxury of Paris seemed to her just as natural as a wealth of
flowers or fruit； or as the rural plenty which had been the joy of her
first years。 Just as in her childhood she had never been thwarted in
the satisfaction of her playful desires； so now； at fourteen； she was
still obeyed when she rushed into the whirl of fashion。
Thus； accustomed by degrees to the enjoyment of money； elegance of
dress； of gilded drawing…rooms and fine carriages； became as necessary
to her as the compliments of flattery； sincere or false； and the
festivities and vanities of court life。 Like most spoiled children；
she tyrannized over those who loved her； and kept her blandishments
for those who were indifferent。 Her faults grew with her growth； and
her parents were to gather the bitter fruits of this disastrous
education。 At the age of nineteen Emilie de Fontaine had not yet been
pleased to make a choice from among the many young men whom her
father's politics brought to his entertainments。 Though so young； she
asserted in society all the freedom of mind that a married woman can
enjoy。 Her beauty was so remarkable that； for her； to appear in a room
was to be its queen； but； like sovereigns； she had no friends； though
she was everywhere the object of attentions to which a finer nature
than hers might perhaps have succumbed。 Not a man； not even an old
man； had it in him to contradict the opinions of a young girl whose
lightest look could rekindle love in the coldest heart。
She had been educated with a care which her sisters had not enjoyed；
painted pretty well； spoke Italian and English； and played the piano
brilliantly； her voice； trained by the best masters； had a ring in it
which made her singing irresistibly charming。 Clever； and intimate
with every branch of literature； she might have made folks believe
that； as Mascarille says； people of quality come into the world
knowing everything。 She could argue fluently on Italian or Flemish
painting； on the Middle Ages or the Renaissance； pronounced at
haphazard on books new or old； and could expose the defects of a work
with a cruelly graceful wit。 The simplest thing she said was accepted
by an admiring crowd as a fetfah of the Sultan by the Turks。 She thus
dazzled shallow persons； as to deeper minds； her natural tact enabled
her to discern them； and for them she put forth so much fascination
that； under cover of her charms； she escaped their scrutiny。 This
enchanting veneer covered a careless heart； the opinioncommon to
many young girlsthat no one else dwelt in a sphere so lofty as to be
able to understand the merits of her soul； and a pride based no less
on her birth than on her beauty。 In the absence of the overwhelming
sentiment which； sooner or later； works havoc in a woman's heart； she
spent her young ardor in an immoderate love of distinctions； and
expressed the deepest contempt for persons of inferior birth。
Supremely impertinent to all newly…created nobility； she made every
effort to get her parents recognized as equals by the most illustrious
families of the Saint…Germain quarter。
These sentiments had not escaped the observing eye of Monsieur de
Fontaine； who more than once； when his two elder girls were married；
had smarted under Emilie's sarcasm。 Logical readers will be surprised
to see the old Royalist bestowing his eldest daughter on a Receiver…
General； possessed； indeed； of some old hereditary estates； but whose
name was not preceded by the little word to which the throne owed so
many partisans； and his second to a magistrate too lately Baronified
to obscure the fact that his father had sold firewood。 This noteworthy
change in the ideas of a noble on the verge of his sixtieth ye
