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a general co…operation of ideas；the one element of success which all
conspirators overlook。 It was the clever vengeance of the pretty
woman； who thus inveigled the prime minister； and made him act as
screen for a conspiracy against his own government。
This adventure； worthy of the finest days of the Fronde； was the text
of a very witty letter； in which the princess rendered to 〃Madame〃 an
account of the negotiations。 The Duc de Maufrigneuse went to La
Vendee； and was able to return secretly without being compromised； but
not without taking part in 〃Madame's〃 perils； the latter； however；
sent him home the moment she saw that her cause was lost。 Perhaps； had
he remained； the eager vigilance of the young man might have foiled
that treachery。 However great the faults of the Duchesse de
Maufrigneuse may have seemed in the eyes of the bourgeoisie； the
behavior of her son on this occasion certainly effaced them in the
eyes of the aristocracy。 There was great nobility and grandeur in thus
risking her only son； and the heir of an historic name。 Some persons
are said to intentionally cover the faults of their private life by
public services； and vice versa； but the Princesse de Cadignan made no
such calculation。 Possibly those who apparently so conduct themselves
make none。 Events count for much in such cases。
On one of the first fine days in the month of May； 1833； the Marquise
d'Espard and the princess were turning aboutone could hardly call it
walkingin the single path which wound round the grass…plat in the
garden； about half…past two in the afternoon； just as the sun was
leaving it。 The rays reflected on the walls gave a warm atmosphere to
the little space； which was fragrant with flowers； the gift of the
marquise。
〃We shall soon lose de Marsay；〃 said the marquise； 〃and with him will
disappear your last hope of fortune for your son。 Ever since you
played him that clever trick； he has returned to his affection for
you。〃
〃My son will never capitulate to the younger branch；〃 returned the
princess； 〃if he has to die of hunger； or I have to work with my hands
to feed him。 Besides； Berthe de Cinq…Cygne has no aversion to him。〃
〃Children don't bind themselves to their parents' principles；〃 said
Madame d'Espard。
〃Don't let us talk about it；〃 said the princess。 〃If I can't coax over
the Marquise de Cinq…Cygne； I shall marry Georges to the daughter of
some iron…founderer； as that little d'Esgrignon did。〃
〃Did you love Victurnien？〃 asked the marquise。
〃No；〃 replied the princess； gravely； 〃d'Esgrignon's simplicity was
really only a sort of provincial silliness； which I perceived rather
too lateor； if you choose； too soon。〃
〃And de Marsay？〃
〃De Marsay played with me as if I were a doll。 I was so young at the
time！ We never love men who pretend to teach us； they rub up all our
little vanities。〃
〃And that wretched boy who hanged himself？〃
〃Lucien？ An Antinous and a great poet。 I worshiped him in all
conscience； and I might have been happy。 But he was in love with a
girl of the town； and I gave him up to Madame。 de Serizy。 。 。 。 If he
had cared to love me； should I have given him up？〃
〃What an odd thing； that you should come into collision with an Esther！〃
〃She was handsomer than I；〃 said the Princess。〃Very soon it shall be
three years that I have lived in solitude；〃 she resumed； after a
pause； 〃and this tranquillity has nothing painful to me about it。 To
you alone can I dare to say that I feel I am happy。 I was surfeited
with adoration； weary of pleasure； emotional on the surface of things；
but conscious that emotion itself never reached my heart。 I have found
all the men whom I have known petty； paltry； superficial； none of them
ever caused me a surprise； they had no innocence； no grandeur； no
delicacy。 I wish I could have met with one man able to inspire me with
respect。〃
〃Then are you like me； my dear？〃 asked the marquise； 〃have you never
felt the emotion of love while trying to love？〃
〃Never；〃 replied the princess； laying her hand on the arm of her
friend。
They turned and seated themselves on a rustic bench beneath a jasmine
then coming into flower。 Each had uttered one of those sayings that
are solemn to women who have reached their age。
〃Like you；〃 resumed the princess； 〃I have received more love than most
women； but through all my many adventures； I have never found
happiness。 I committed great follies； but they had an object； and that
object retreated as fast as I approached it。 I feel to…day in my
heart； old as it is； an innocence which has never been touched。 Yes；
under all my experience； lies a first love intact；just as I myself；
in spite of all my losses and fatigues； feel young and beautiful。 We
may love and not be happy； we may be happy and never love； but to love
and be happy； to unite those two immense human experiences； is a
miracle。 That miracle has not taken place for me。〃
〃Nor for me；〃 said Madame d'Espard。
〃I own I am pursued in this retreat by dreadful regret： I have amused
myself all through life； but I have never loved。〃
〃What an incredible secret！〃 cried the marquise。
〃Ah！ my dear；〃 replied the princess； 〃such secrets we can tell to
ourselves； you and I； but nobody in Paris would believe us。〃
〃And；〃 said the marquise； 〃if we were not both over thirty…six years
of age； perhaps we would not tell them to each other。〃
〃Yes； when women are young they have so many stupid conceits；〃 replied
the princess。 〃We are like those poor young men who play with a
toothpick to pretend they have dined。〃
〃Well； at any rate； here we are！〃 said Madame d'Espard； with
coquettish grace； and a charming gesture of well…informed innocence；
〃and； it seems to me； sufficiently alive to think of taking our
revenge。〃
〃When you told me； the other day； that Beatrix had gone off with
Conti； I thought of it all night long；〃 said the princess； after a
pause。 〃I suppose there was happiness in sacrificing her position； her
future； and renouncing society forever。〃
〃She was a little fool；〃 said Madame d'Espard； gravely。 〃Mademoiselle
des Touches was delighted to get rid of Conti。 Beatrix never perceived
how that surrender； made by a superior woman who never for a moment
defended her claims； proved Conti's nothingness。〃
〃Then you think she will be unhappy？〃
〃She is so now；〃 replied Madame d'Espard。 〃Why did she leave her
husband？ What an acknowledgment of weakness！〃
〃Then you think that Madame de Rochefide was not influenced by the
desire to enjoy a true love in peace？〃 asked the princess。
〃No； she was simply imitating Madame de Beausant and Madame de
Langeais； who； be it said； between you and me； would have been； in a
less vulgar period than ours； the La Villiere； the Diane de Poitiers；
the Gabrielle d'Estrees of history。〃
〃Less the king； my dear。 Ah！ I wish I could evoke the shades of those
women； and ask