"But it seems to me," said the old soldier, "that my son is not to be despised as a match; he is your heir, he already has something from his mother, and I expect to leave him something better than a dry name.""All that put together won't make thirty thousand a year, and suitors are already coming forward who have as much as that, not counting their position," returned Madame Marion.
"And?" asked the colonel.
"They have been refused."
"Then what do the Beauvisage family want?" said the colonel, looking alternately at his son and sister.
It may seem extraordinary that Colonel Giguet, the brother of Madame Marion in whose house the society of Arcis had met for twenty-four years, and whose salon was the echo of all reports, all scandals, and all the gossip of the department of the Aube,--a good deal of it being there manufactured,--should be ignorant of facts of this nature.But his ignorance will seem natural when we mention that this noble relic of the Napoleonic legions went to bed at night and rose in the morning with the chickens, as all old persons should do if they wish to live out their lives.He was never present at the intimate conversations which went on in the salon.In the provinces there are two sorts of intimate conversation,--one, which is held officially when all the company are gathered together, playing at cards or conversing; the other, which simmers, like a well made soup, when three or four friends remain around the fireplace, friends who can be trusted to repeat nothing of what is said beyond their own limits.
For nine years, ever since the triumph of his political ideas, the colonel had lived almost entirely outside of social life.Rising with the sun, he devoted himself to horticulture; he adored flowers, and of all flowers he best loved roses.His hands were brown as those of a real gardener; he took care himself of his beds.Constantly in conference with his working gardener he mingled little, especially for the last two years, with the life of others; of whom, indeed, he saw little.He took but one meal with the family, namely, his dinner; for he rose too early to breakfast with his son and sister.To his efforts we owe the famous rose Giguet, known so well to all amateurs.
This old man, who had now passed into the state of a domestic fetich, was exhibited, as we may well suppose, on all extraordinary occasions.
Certain families enjoy the benefit of a demi-god of this kind, and plume themselves upon him as they would upon a title.
"I have noticed," replied Madame Marion to her brother's question, "that ever since the revolution of July Madame Beauvisage has aspired to live in Paris.Obliged to stay here as long as her father lives, she has fastened her ambition on a future son-in-law, and my lady dreams now of the splendors and dignities of political life.""Could you love Cecile?" said the colonel to his son.
"Yes, father."
"And does she like you?"
"I think so; but the thing is, to please the mother and grandfather.
Though old Grevin himself wants to oppose my election, my success would determine Madame Beauvisage to accept me, because she expects to manage me as she pleases and to be minister under my name.""That's a good joke!" cried Madame Marion."What does she take us for?""Whom has she refused?" asked the colonel.
"Well, within the last three months, Antonin Goulard and the procureur-du-roi, Frederic Marest, have received, so they say, equivocal answers which mean anything--except yes.""Heavens!" cried the old man throwing up his arms."What days we live in, to be sure! Why, Lucie was the daughter of a hosier, and the grand-daughter of a farmer.Does Madame Beauvisage want the Comte de Cinq-Cygne for a son-in-law?""Don't laugh at Madame Beauvisage, brother.Cecile is rich enough to choose a husband anywhere, even in the class to which the Cinq-Cygnes belong.But there's the bell announcing the electors, and I disappear --regretting much I can't hear what you are all going to say."
