CHAPTER X

Brittany had kept its promise ; Laure was a marchioness. The wedding was celebrated with ail the luxury and

magnificence which M. Levrault could command. The festivities lasted a whole week, and the only thing that was wanting to make them complète was love. M. Levrault, who since their last interview distrusted Jolibois, neither invited him to the wedding, nor asked him to draw up the marriage contract. The unfortunate man did not foresee the vengeance which the lawyer would take for this slight.

A few days after the wedding M. Levrault, the marchioness, and the newly-married couple left Brittany to settle together in Paris. They had not been there three months before the storm began to brew. Once mistress of the house, the marchioness began to carry her head high and to ignore M. Levrault. It was ail over with the soothing manner and the flattering language which he had experienced at La Trélade. The marchioness occupied the best apartments in the house ; servants, horses, carriages, everything was at her disposai, but, worst of ail, not a word was said about going to Court.

Becoming impatient, M. Levrault went up one morning to the young marquis's room, and asked him what he intended doing. What was his ambition ? What part did he intend taking in the management of public affairs ? When did he propose to range himself on the side of the new Government? *'Who told you I ever had such an intention ? " said the marquis. " Your mother," said M. Levrault. ^'Impossible," he repHed, "you must be mistaken ; my mother would never forgive me if I took such a course," and with thèse words he left the room. Later in the day M. Levrault sought an interview with the marchioness, and complained bitterly of the way he was being treated. He had been deceived, he had been made sport of. She had stooped to court and flatter him in order to restore her shattered fortune, and to mingle again in society. He hated her party ; he detested her caste, and if he had not thought that her son would one day support the new king, he would

Passages for Translation into French 247

not have given him his daughter and a third of his fortune. While M. Levrault was uttering thèse last words, Gaston, who had just corne in, was standing at the drawing-room door. " Mother/' he said, " I now understand everything ; you have trafficked with my name. You have struck a bargain which I have not signed, but which I will hold to." Then turning to M. Levrault, he said : " You may be satisfied, sir, we will go to Court."