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it is essential that you should know。 Ah； ha！ And I propose to make up
to you for my clumsiness by introducing you to five of the prettiest
women in Paris。 So； so； young man； your brow is clearing！ I am fond of
young people； and I like to see them happy。 Their happiness reminds me
of the good times of my youth； when adventures were not lacking； any
more than duels。 We were gay dogs then！ Nowadays you think and worry
over everything； as though there had never been a fifteenth and a
sixteenth century。〃
〃But； monsieur； are we not in the right？ The sixteenth century only
gave religious liberty to Europe； and the nineteenth will give it
political lib〃
〃Oh； we will not talk politics。 I am a perfect old womanultra you
see。 But I do not hinder young men from being revolutionary； so long
as they leave the King at liberty to disperse their assemblies。〃
When they had gone a little way； and the Count and his companion were
in the heart of the woods； the old sailor pointed out a slender young
birch sapling； pulled up his horse； took out one of his pistols； and
the bullet was lodged in the heart of the tree； fifteen paces away。
〃You see； my dear fellow； that I am not afraid of a duel；〃 he said
with comical gravity； as he looked at Monsieur Longueville。
〃Nor am I；〃 replied the young man； promptly cocking his pistol； he
aimed at the hole made by the Comte's bullet； and sent his own close
to it。
〃That is what I call a well…educated man；〃 cried the admiral with
enthusiasm。
During this ride with the youth； whom he already regarded as his
nephew； he found endless opportunities of catechizing him on all the
trifles of which a perfect knowledge constituted； according to his
private code； an accomplished gentleman。
〃Have you any debts？〃 he at last asked of his companion； after many
other inquiries。
〃No； monsieur。〃
〃What； you pay for all you have？〃
〃Punctually； otherwise we should lose our credit； and every sort of
respect。〃
〃But at least you have more than one mistress？ Ah； you blush； comrade！
Well； manners have changed。 All these notions of lawful order；
Kantism； and liberty have spoilt the young men。 You have no Guimard
now； no Duthe； no creditorsand you know nothing of heraldry； why； my
dear young friend； you are not fully fledged。 The man who does not sow
his wild oats in the spring sows them in the winter。 If I have but
eighty thousand francs a year at the age of seventy； it is because I
ran through the capital at thirty。 Oh！ with my wifein decency and
honor。 However； your imperfections will not interfere with my
introducing you at the Pavillon Planat。 Remember； you have promised to
come； and I shall expect you。〃
〃What an odd little old man！〃 said Longueville to himself。 〃He is so
jolly and hale； but though he wishes to seem a good fellow； I will not
trust him too far。〃
Next day； at about four o'clock； when the house party were dispersed
in the drawing…rooms and billiard…room； a servant announced to the
inhabitants of the Villa Planat； 〃Monsieur DE Longueville。〃 On hearing
the name of the old admiral's protege； every one； down to the player
who was about to miss his stroke； rushed in； as much to study
Mademoiselle de Fontaine's countenance as to judge of this phoenix of
men； who had earned honorable mention to the detriment of so many
rivals。 A simple but elegant style of dress； an air of perfect ease；
polite manners； a pleasant voice with a ring in it which found a
response in the hearer's heart…strings； won the good…will of the
family for Monsieur Longueville。 He did not seem unaccustomed to the
luxury of the Receiver…General's ostentatious mansion。 Though his
conversation was that of a man of the world； it was easy to discern
that he had had a brilliant education； and that his knowledge was as
thorough as it was extensive。 He knew so well the right thing to say
in a discussion on naval architecture； trivial； it is true； started by
the old admiral； that one of the ladies remarked that he must have
passed through the Ecole Polytechnique。
〃And I think； madame；〃 he replied； 〃that I may regard it as an honor
to have got in。〃
In spite of urgent pressing； he refused politely but firmly to be kept
to dinner； and put an end to the persistency of the ladies by saying
that he was the Hippocrates of his young sister； whose delicate health
required great care。
〃Monsieur is perhaps a medical man？〃 asked one of Emilie's sisters…in…
law with ironical meaning。
〃Monsieur has left the Ecole Polytechnique；〃 Mademoiselle de Fontaine
kindly put in； her face had flushed with richer color； as she learned
that the young lady of the ball was Monsieur Longueville's sister。
〃But； my dear； he may be a doctor and yet have been to the Ecole
Polytechniqueis it not so； monsieur？〃
〃There is nothing to prevent it； madame；〃 replied the young man。
Every eye was on Emilie； who was gazing with uneasy curiosity at the
fascinating stranger。 She breathed more freely when he added； not
without a smile； 〃I have not the honor of belonging to the medical
profession； and I even gave up going into the Engineers in order to
preserve my independence。〃
〃And you did well；〃 said the Count。 〃But how can you regard it as an
honor to be a doctor？〃 added the Breton nobleman。 〃Ah； my young
friend； such a man as you〃
〃Monsieur le Comte； I respect every profession that has a useful
purpose。〃
〃Well； in that we agree。 You respect those professions； I imagine； as
a young man respects a dowager。〃
Monsieur Longueville made his visit neither too long nor too short。 He
left at the moment when he saw that he had pleased everybody； and that
each one's curiosity about him had been roused。
〃He is a cunning rascal！〃 said the Count； coming into the drawing…room
after seeing him to the door。
Mademoiselle de Fontaine； who had been in the secret of this call； had
dressed with some care to attract the young man's eye； but she had the
little disappointment of finding that he did not bestow on her so much
attention as she thought she deserved。 The family were a good deal
surprised at the silence into which she had retired。 Emilie generally
displayed all her arts for the benefit of newcomers； her witty
prattle； and the inexhaustible eloquence of her eyes and attitudes。
Whether it was that the young man's pleasing voice and attractive
manners had charmed her； that she was seriously in love； and that this
feeling had worked a change in her； her demeanor had lost all its
affectations。 Being simple and natural； she must； no doubt； have
seemed more beautiful。 Some of her sisters； and an old lady； a friend
of the family； saw in this behavior a refinement of art。 They supposed
that Emilie； judging the man worthy of her； intended to delay
revealing her merits； so as to dazzle him suddenly when she found that
she pleased him。 Every member of the family was curious to know what
this caprici