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queens in France？ They can play with you as they like； when they like；
and as much as they like。〃 Here she danced her vinaigrette with an
airy movement of feminine impertinence and mocking gayety。 〃I have
often heard miserable little specimens of my sex regretting that they
were women； wishing they were men； I have always regarded them with
pity。 If I had to choose； I should still elect to be a woman。 A fine
pleasure； indeed； to owe one's triumph to force； and to all those
powers which you give yourselves by the laws you make！ But to see you
at our feet； saying and doing foolish things；ah！ it is an
intoxicating pleasure to feel within our souls that weakness triumphs！
But when we triumph； we ought to keep silence； under pain of losing
our empire。 Beaten； a woman's pride should gag her。 The slave's
silence alarms the master。〃
This chatter was uttered in a voice so softly sarcastic； so dainty；
and with such coquettish motions of the head； that d'Arthez； to whom
this style of woman was totally unknown； sat before her exactly like a
partridge charmed by a setter。
〃I entreat you； madame；〃 he said； at last； 〃to tell me how it was
possible that a man could make you suffer？ Be assured that where； as
you say； other women are common and vulgar； you can only seem
distinguished； your manner of saying things would make a cook…book
interesting。〃
〃You go fast in friendship；〃 she said； in a grave voice which made
d'Arthez extremely uneasy。
The conversation changed； the hour was late； and the poor man of
genius went away contrite for having seemed curious； and for wounding
the sensitive heart of that rare woman who had so strangely suffered。
As for her； she had passed her life in amusing herself with men； and
was another Don Juan in female attire； with this difference： she would
certainly not have invited the Commander to supper； and would have got
the better of any statue。
It is impossible to continue this tale without saying a word about the
Prince de Cadignan； better known under the name of the Duc de
Maufrigneuse； otherwise the spice of the princess's confidences would
be lost； and strangers would not understand the Parisian comedy she
was about to play for her man of genius。
The Duc de Maufrigneuse； like a true son of the old Prince de
Cadignan； is a tall； lean man； of elegant shape； very graceful； a
sayer of witty things； colonel by the grace of God； and a good soldier
by accident； brave as a Pole； which means without sense or
discernment； and hiding the emptiness of his mind under the jargon of
good society。 After the age of thirty…six he was forced to be as
absolutely indifferent to the fair sex as his master Charles X。；
punished； like that master； for having pleased it too well。 For
eighteen years the idol of the faubourg Saint…Germain； he had； like
other heirs of great families led a dissipated life； spent solely on
pleasure。 His father； ruined by the revolution； had somewhat recovered
his position on the return of the Bourbons； as governor of a royal
domain； with salary and perquisites； but this uncertain fortune the
old prince spent； as it came； in keeping up the traditions of a great
seigneur before the revolution； so that when the law of indemnity was
passed； the sums he received were all swallowed up in the luxury he
displayed in his vast hotel。
The old prince died some little time before the revolution of July
aged eighty…seven。 He had ruined his wife； and had long been on bad
terms with the Duc de Navarreins； who had married his daughter for a
first wife； and to whom he very reluctantly rendered his accounts。 The
Duc de Maufrigneuse； early in life； had had relations with the
Duchesse d'Uxelles。 About the year 1814； when Monsieur de Maufrigneuse
was forty…six years of age； the duchess； pitying his poverty； and
seeing that he stood very well at court； gave him her daughter Diane；
then in her seventeenth year； and possessing； in her own right； some
fifty or sixty thousand francs a year； not counting her future
expectations。 Mademoiselle d'Uxelles thus became a duchess； and； as
her mother very well knew； she enjoyed the utmost liberty。 The duke；
after obtaining the unexpected happiness of an heir； left his wife
entirely to her own devices； and went off to amuse himself in the
various garrisons of France； returning occasionally to Paris； where he
made debts which his father paid。 He professed the most entire
conjugal indulgence； always giving the duchess a week's warning of his
return； he was adored by his regiment； beloved by the Dauphin； an
adroit courtier； somewhat of a gambler； and totally devoid of
affectation。 Having succeeded to his father's office as governor of
one of the royal domains； he managed to please the two kings； Louis
XVIII。 and Charles X。； which proves he made the most of his nonentity；
and even the liberals liked him； but his conduct and life were covered
with the finest varnish； language； noble manners； and deportment were
brought by him to a state of perfection。 But； as the old prince said；
it was impossible for him to continue the traditions of the Cadignans；
who were all well known to have ruined their wives； for the duchess
was running through her property on her own account。
These particulars were so well understood in the court circles and in
the faubourg Saint…Germain； that during the last five years of the
Restoration they were considered ancient history； and any one who
mentioned them would have been laughed at。 Women never spoke of the
charming duke without praising him； he was excellent； they said； to
his wife； could a man be better？ He had left her the entire disposal
of her own property； and had always defended her on every occasion。 It
is true that； whether from pride； kindliness； or chivalry； Monsieur de
Maufrigneuse had saved the duchess under various circumstances which
might have ruined other women； in spite of Diane's surroundings； and
the influence of her mother and that of the Duc de Navarreins； her
father…in…law； and her husband's aunt。
For several ensuing days the princess revealed herself to d'Arthez as
remarkable for her knowledge of literature。 She discussed with perfect
fearlessness the most difficult questions； thanks to her daily and
nightly reading； pursued with an intrepidity worthy of the highest
praise。 D'Arthez； amazed； and incapable of suspecting that Diane
d'Uxelles merely repeated at night that which she read in the morning
（as some writers do）； regarded her as a most superior woman。 These
conversations； however； led away from Diane's object； and she tried to
get back to the region of confidences from which d'Arthez had
prudently retired after her coquettish rebuff； but it was not as easy
as she expected to bring back a man of his nature who had once been
startled away。
However； after a month of literary campaigning and the finest platonic
discourses； d'Arthez grew bolder； and arrived every day at three
o'clock。 He retire