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〃Am I to see my father？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Jacques Bricheteau； 〃your father is awaiting you； but I must warn you against a probable cloud on his manner of receiving you。 The marquis has suffered much； the court life which he has always led has trained him to show no outward emotions； besides； he has a horror of everything bourgeois。 You must not be surprised； therefore； at the cold and dignified reception he will probably give you； at heart； he is good and kind； and you will appreciate him better when you know him。〃
〃Here；〃 thought I； 〃are very comforting assurances； and as I myself am not very ardently disposed； I foresee that this interview will be at some degrees below zero。〃
On going into the room where the Marquis awaited me； I saw a very tall； very thin； very bald man； seated at a table on which he was arranging papers。 On hearing the door open； he pushed his spectacles up on his forehead； rested his hands on the arms of his chair； and looking round at us he waited。
〃Monsieur le Comte de Sallenauve；〃 said Jacques Bricheteau； announcing me with the solemnity of an usher of ambassadors or a groom of the Chambers。
But in the presence of the man to whom I owed my life the ice in me was instantly melted； I stepped forward with an eager impulse； feeling the tears rise to my eyes。 He did not move。 There was not the faintest trace of agitation in his face； which had that peculiar look of high dignity that used to be called 〃the grand air〃； he merely held out his hand； limply grasped mine； and then said：
〃Be seated； monsieurfor I have not yet the right to call you my son。〃
When Jacques Bricheteau and I had taken chairs
〃Then you have no objection；〃 said this strange kind of father； 〃to assuming the political position we are trying to secure for you？〃
〃None at all；〃 said I。 〃The notion startled me at first； but I soon grew accustomed to it； and to ensure success； I have punctually carried out all the instructions that were conveyed to me。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said the Marquis； taking up from the table a gold snuff… box which he twirled in his fingers。
Then； after a short silence； he added：
〃Now I owe you certain explanations。 Our good friend Jacques Bricheteau； if he will have the kindness； will lay them before you。〃
This was equivalent to the royal formula of the old regime： 〃My chamberlain will tell you the rest。〃
〃To go back to the origin of everything；〃 said Jacques Bricheteau； accepting the duty thus put upon him； 〃I must first tell you that you are not a legitimate Sallenauve。 When Monsieur le marquis； here present； returned after the emigration； in the year 1808； he made the acquaintance of your mother； and in 1809 you were born as the fruit of their intercourse。 Your birth； as you already know； cost your mother her life； and as misfortunes never come singly； Monsieur de Sallenauve was compromised in a conspiracy against the imperial power and compelled to fly the country。 Brought up in Arcis with me； the marquis； wishing to give me a proof of his friendship； confided to me； on his departure to this new expatriation； the care of your childhood。 I accepted that charge； I will not say with alacrity； but certainly with gratitude。〃
At these words the marquis held out his hand to Jacques Bricheteau； who was seated near him； and after a silent pressure； which did not seem to me remarkably warm； Jacques Bricheteau continued：
〃The mysterious precautions I was forced to take in carrying out my trust are explained by Monsieur le marquis's position towards the various governments which have succeeded each other in France since the period of your birth。 Under the Empire； I feared that a government little indulgent to attacks upon itself might send you to share your father's exile； it was then that the idea of giving you a sort of anonymous existence first occurred to me。 Under the Restoration I feared for you another class of enemies； the Sallenauve family； which has no other representatives at the present day than Monsieur le marquis； was then powerful。 In some way it got wind of your existence； and also of the fact that the marquis had taken the precaution not to recognize you； in order to retain the right to leave you his whole fortune； which； as a natural child； the law would in part have deprived you。 The obscurity in which I kept you seemed to me the best security； against the schemes of greedy relations； and certain mysterious steps taken by them from time to time proved the wisdom of these precautions。 Under the government of July； on the other hand； it was I myself who I feared might endanger you。 I had seen the establishment of the new order of things with the deepest regret； and not believing in its duration； I took part in certain active hostilities against it； which brought me under the ban of the police。〃
Here the recollection that Jacques Bricheteau had been pointed out by the waiter of the Cafe des Arts as a member of the police made me smile； whereupon the speaker stopped and said with a very serious air：
〃Do these explanations which I have the honor to give you seem improbable？〃
I explained the meaning of my smile。
〃That waiter；〃 said Jacques Bricheteau； 〃was not altogether mistaken； for I have long been employed at the prefecture of police in the health department； but I have nothing to do with police espial； on the contrary； I have more than once come near being the victim of it。〃
Here a rather ridiculous noise struck our ears； nothing less than a loud snore from my father； who thus gave us to know that he did not take a very keen interest in the explanations furnished in his name with a certain prolixity。 I don't know whether Jacques Bricheteau's vanity being touched put him slightly out of temper； but he rose impatiently and shook the arm of the sleeper； crying out：
〃Hey！ marquis； if you sleep like this at the Council of state； upon my soul； your country must be well governed！〃
Monsieur de Sallenauve opened his eyes； shook himself； and then said； turning to me：
〃Pardon me； Monsieur le comte； but for the last ten nights I have travelled； without stopping； to meet you here； and though I spent the last night in a bed； I am still much fatigued。〃
So saying he rose； took a large pinch of snuff； and began to walk up and down the room； while Jacques Bricheteau continued：
〃It is a little more than a year since I received a letter from your father explaining his long silence； the plans he had made for you； and the necessity he was under of keeping his incognito for a few years longer。 It was at that very time that you made your attempt to penetrate a secret the existence of which had become apparent to you。〃
〃You made haste to escape me；〃 I said laughing。 〃It was then you went to Stockholm。〃
〃No； I went to your father's residence； I put the letter that he gave me for you into the post at Stockholm。〃
〃I do not seize your〃
〃Nothing is easier to understand；〃 interrupted the marquis。 〃I do not reside in Sweden； and we wished to throw you off the track。〃
〃Will you continue the explanation yourself？〃 asked Jacques Bricheteau； who spoke； as you may have observed； my dear friend； with elegance and fluency。
〃No； no； go on；〃 said the marquis； 〃you are