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The princess lived in the rue de Miromesnil； in a small house； of
which she occupied the ground…floor at a moderate rent。 There she made
the most of the relics of her past magnificence。 The elegance of the
great lady was still redolent about her。 She was still surrounded by
beautiful things which recalled her former existence。 On her chimney…
piece was a fine miniature portrait of Charles X。； by Madame Mirbel；
beneath which were engraved the words； 〃Given by the King〃； and； as a
pendant； the portrait of 〃Madame〃； who was always her kind friend。 On
a table lay an album of costliest price； such as none of the
bourgeoises who now lord it in our industrial and fault…finding
society would have dared to exhibit。 This album contained portraits；
about thirty in number； of her intimate friends； whom the world； first
and last； had given her as lovers。 The number was a calumny； but had
rumor said ten； it might have been； as her friend Madame d'Espard
remarked； good； sound gossip。 The portraits of Maxime de Trailles； de
Marsay； Rastignac； the Marquis d'Esgrignon； General Montriveau； the
Marquis de Ronquerolles and d'Ajuda…Pinto； Prince Galathionne； the
young Ducs de Grandlieu and de Rhetore； the Vicomte de Serizy； and the
handsome Lucien de Rubempre； had all been treated with the utmost
coquetry of brush and pencil by celebrated artists。 As the princess
now received only two or three of these personages； she called the
book； jokingly； the collection of her errors。
Misfortune had made this woman a good mother。 During the fifteen years
of the Restoration she had amused herself far too much to think of her
son； but on taking refuge in obscurity； this illustrious egoist
bethought her that the maternal sentiment； developed to its extreme；
might be an absolution for her past follies in the eyes of sensible
persons； who pardon everything to a good mother。 She loved her son all
the more because she had nothing else to love。 Georges de Maufrigneuse
was； moreover； one of those children who flatter the vanities of a
mother； and the princess had； accordingly； made all sorts of
sacrifices for him。 She hired a stable and coach…house； above which he
lived in a little entresol with three rooms looking on the street； and
charmingly furnished； she had even borne several privations to keep a
saddle…horse； a cab…horse； and a little groom for his use。 For
herself； she had only her own maid； and as cook； a former kitchen…
maid。 The duke's groom had； therefore； rather a hard place。 Toby；
formerly tiger to the 〃late〃 Beaudenord （such was the jesting term
applied by the gay world to that ruined gentleman）；Toby； who at
twenty…five years of age was still considered only fourteen； was
expected to groom the horses； clean the cabriolet； or the tilbury； and
the harnesses； accompany his master； take care of the apartments； and
be in the princess's antechamber to announce a visitor； if； by chance；
she happened to receive one。
When one thinks of what the beautiful Duchesse de Maufrigneuse had
been under the Restoration；one of the queens of Paris； a dazzling
queen； whose luxurious existence equalled that of the richest women of
fashion in London；there was something touching in the sight of her
in that humble little abode in the rue de Miromesnil； a few steps away
from her splendid mansion； which no amount of fortune had enabled her
to keep； and which the hammer of speculators has since demolished。 The
woman who thought she was scarcely well served by thirty servants； who
possessed the most beautiful reception…rooms in all Paris； and the
loveliest little private apartments； and who made them the scene of
such delightful fetes； now lived in a small apartment of five rooms；
an antechamber； dining…room； salon； one bed…chamber； and a dressing…
room； with two women…servants only。
〃Ah！ she is devoted to her son；〃 said that clever creature； Madame
d'Espard； 〃and devoted without ostentation； she is happy。 Who would
ever have believed so frivolous a woman was capable of such persistent
resolution！ Our good archbishop has； consequently； greatly encouraged
her； he is most kind to her； and has just induced the old Comtesse de
Cinq…Cygne to pay her a visit。〃
Let us admit a truth！ One must be a queen to know how to abdicate； and
to descend with dignity from a lofty position which is never wholly
lost。 Those only who have an inner consciousness of being nothing in
themselves； show regrets in falling； or struggle； murmuring； to return
to a past which can never return；a fact of which they themselves are
well aware。 Compelled to do without the choice exotics in the midst of
which she had lived； and which set off so charmingly her whole being
（for it is impossible not to compare her to a flower）； the princess
had wisely chosen a ground…floor apartment； there she enjoyed a pretty
little garden which belonged to it；a garden full of shrubs； and an
always verdant turf； which brightened her peaceful retreat。 She had
about twelve thousand francs a year； but that modest income was partly
made up of an annual stipend sent her by the old Duchesse de
Navarreins； paternal aunt of the young duke； and another stipend given
by her mother； the Duchesse d'Uxelles； who was living on her estate in
the country； where she economized as old duchesses alone know how to
economize； for Harpagon is a mere novice compared to them。 The
princess still retained some of her past relations with the exiled
royal family； and it was in her house that the marshal to whom we owe
the conquest of Africa had conferences； at the time of 〃Madame's〃
attempt in La Vendee； with the principal leaders of legitimist
opinion；so great was the obscurity in which the princess lived； and
so little distrust did the government feel for her in her present
distress。
Beholding the approach of that terrible fortieth year； the bankruptcy
of love； beyond which there is so little for a woman as woman； the
princess had flung herself into the kingdom of philosophy。 She took to
reading； she who for sixteen years had felt a cordial horror for
serious things。 Literature and politics are to…day what piety and
devotion once were to her sex；the last refuge of their feminine
pretensions。 In her late social circle it was said that Diane was
writing a book。 Since her transformation from a queen and beauty to a
woman of intellect； the princess had contrived to make a reception in
her little house a great honor which distinguished the favored person。
Sheltered by her supposed occupation； she was able to deceive one of
her former adorers； de Marsay； the most influential personage of the
political bourgeoisie brought to the fore in July 1830。 She received
him sometimes in the evenings； and； occupied his attention while the
marshal and a few legitimists were talking； in a low voice； in her
bedroom； about the recovery of power； which could be attained only by
a general co…operation of ideas；the one element of success which all
conspirators o