CHAPTER IX

Six weeks at the most had passed since the viscount's disgrâce, and already the marchioness had made great progress in the estimation of M. Levrault. The merchant prince had feared at first that she would keep him at a distance, and make him remember his humble origin. But far from that, without losing anything of her dignity, the marchioness had succeeded in gaining an ascendency over him. Gaston took no active part in the attack on M. Levrault's wealth, but left to his mother the care of directing the siège, and at length, tired of waiting, the latter determined to give the enemy battle. One day after dinner at La Trélade the marchioness took possession of her host's arm, and led him off quietly into the park, and with infinité skill she proceeded to sound the old man on the subject of his ambition. She wondered that a man of his

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expérience and intelligence could resign himself to a life of inactivity ; wealth was only an instrument, she said, not the suprême end of human existence, and he should make use of it to attain the high position which was his due. Encouraged by this language, M. Levrault confided to her ail his secret plans for marrying his daughter well, and told her how bitterly he had been deceived. In answer to this she pointed out that he had pinned his faith to a section of the nobility which had nothing to offer him.

Her advice was that he should marry Laure to a young représentative of the Legitimist party, and then earn the gratitude of the présent Government by winning him over to the Orleanist cause. For her part, she would never désert from the Legitimist ranks, she would never go again to the Tuileries, Gaston would represent her there. He was free, unconstrained, imbued with libéral ideas, and would rally to the new dynasty. Thèse last words were a fînishing blow for M. Levrault ; ail his hopes and dreams of greatness were reawakened, and he determined to induce the marchioness to consent to an alliance with his family. " If I were to come to you, marchioness," said he, " leading my daughter by the hand, and I said to you, ' Our children love one another, let us unité them,' what would you say ? " — " I would answer," cried the marchioness, " ' Heaven bless the

day which gave me a daughter ' " — " ' And,' " continued

M. Levrault, kissing her hand, which gave me a son.'" An hour later M. Levrault thus addressed his daughter : " Marchioness, come and kiss your father ! " At the sam.e time the marchioness was saying to Gaston : " My son, come and kiss your mother, you are the possessor of millions ! "