登陆注册
5418600000053

第53章

This history would be strangely incomplete if no mention were made of the coincidence of the Chevalier de Valois's death occurring at the same time as that of Suzanne's mother.The chevalier died with the monarchy, in August, 1830.He had joined the cortege of Charles X.at Nonancourt, and piously escorted it to Cherbourg with the Troisvilles, Casterans, d'Esgrignons, Verneuils, etc.The old gentleman had taken with him fifty thousand francs,--the sum to which his savings then amounted.He offered them to one of the faithful friends of the king for transmission to his master, speaking of his approaching death, and declaring that the money came originally from the goodness of the king, and, moreover, that the property of the last of the Valois belonged of right to the crown.It is not known whether the fervor of his zeal conquered the reluctance of the Bourbon, who abandoned his fine kingdom of France without carrying away with him a farthing, and who ought to have been touched by the devotion of the chevalier.It is certain, however, that Cesarine, the residuary legate of the old man, received from his estate only six hundred francs a year.The chevalier returned to Alencon, cruelly weakened by grief and by fatigue; he died on the very day when Charles X.arrived on a foreign shore.

Madame du Val-Noble and her protector, who was just then afraid of the vengeance of the liberal party, were glad of a pretext to remain incognito in the village where Suzanne's mother died.At the sale of the chevalier's effects, which took place at that time, Suzanne, anxious to obtain a souvenir of her first and last friend, pushed up the price of the famous snuff-box, which was finally knocked down to her for a thousand francs.The portrait of the Princess Goritza was alone worth that sum.Two years later, a young dandy, who was making a collection of the fine snuff-boxes of the last century, obtained from Madame du Val-Noble the chevalier's treasure.The charming confidant of many a love and the pleasure of an old age is now on exhibition in a species of private museum.If the dead could know what happens after them, the chevalier's head would surely blush upon its left cheek.

If this history has no other effect than to inspire the possessors of precious relics with holy fear, and induce them to make codicils to secure these touching souvenirs of joys that are no more by bequeathing them to loving hands, it will have done an immense service to the chivalrous and romantic portion of the community; but it does, in truth, contain a far higher moral.Does it not show the necessity for a new species of education? Does it not invoke, from the enlightened solicitude of the ministers of Public Instruction, the creation of chairs of anthropology,--a science in which Germany outstrips us? Modern myths are even less understood than ancient ones, harried as we are with myths.Myths are pressing us from every point;they serve all theories, they explain all questions.They are, according to human ideas, the torches of history; they would save empires from revolution if only the professors of history would force the explanations they give into the mind of the provincial masses.If Mademoiselle Cormon had been a reader or a student, and if there had existed in the department of the Orne a professor of anthropology, or even had she read Ariosto, the frightful disasters of her conjugal life would never have occurred.She would probably have known why the Italian poet makes Angelica prefer Medoro, who was a blond Chevalier de Valois, to Orlando, whose mare was dead, and who knew no better than to fly into a passion.Is not Medoro the mythic form for all courtiers of feminine royalty, and Orlando the myth of disorderly, furious, and impotent revolutions, which destroy but cannot produce?

We publish, but without assuming any responsibility for it, this opinion of a pupil of Monsieur Ballanche.

No information has reached us as to the fate of the negroes' heads in diamonds.You may see Madame du Val-Noble every evening at the Opera.

Thanks to the education given her by the Chevalier de Valois, she has almost the air of a well-bred woman.

Madame du Bousquier still lives; is not that as much as to say she still suffers? After reaching the age of sixty--the period at which women allow themselves to make confessions--she said confidentially to Madame du Coudrai, that she had never been able to endure the idea of dying an old maid.

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

(Note: The Collection of Antiquities is a companion piece to The Old Maid.In other Addendum appearances they are combined under the title of The Jealousies of a Country Town.)Bordin The Gondreville Mystery The Seamy Side of History The Commission in LunacyBousquier, Du (or Du Croisier or Du Bourguier)The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)The Middle ClassesBousquier, Madame du (du Croisier) (Mlle.Cormon)The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Casteran, De The Chouans The Seamy Side of History The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Beatrix The PeasantryChesnel (or Choisnel)The Seamy Side of History The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Coudrai, Du The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Esgrignon, Charles-Marie-Victor-Ange-Carol, Marquis d' (or Des Grignons)The Chouans The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Esgrignon, Marie-Armande-Claire d'

The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Gaillard, Madame Theodore (Suzanne)

A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Bachelor's Establishment Scenes from a Courtesan's Life Beatrix The Unconscious HumoristsGranson, Athanase The Government Clerks (mentioned only)Lenoncourt, Duc de The Lily of the Valley Cesar Birotteau The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)The Gondreville Mystery BeatrixNavarreins, Duc de Colonel Chabert The Muse of the Department The Thirteen The Peasantry Scenes from a Courtesan's Life The Country Parson The Magic Skin The Gondreville Mystery The Secrets of a Princess Cousin BettyPombreton, Marquis de Lost Illusions A Distinguished Provincial at ParisRonceret, Du The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)BeatrixRonceret, Madame Du The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Simeuse, Admiral de Beatrix The Gondreville MysteryTroisville, Guibelin, Vicomte de The Seamy Side of History The Chouans The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)The PeasantryValois, Chevalier de The Chouans The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)Verneuil, Duc de The Chouans The Collection of Antiquities (companion piece)End

同类推荐
  • 小儿肛胀门

    小儿肛胀门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Tales for Fifteen

    Tales for Fifteen

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 物理小识

    物理小识

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Poems of Cheer

    Poems of Cheer

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仁学

    仁学

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 闪婚厚爱:这个总裁不太冷

    闪婚厚爱:这个总裁不太冷

    “我成全你们!总有一天你们会为你们恶心的行为买单!”三年前,她被渣男贱女设计,赔上了自己的青春。三年后,她霸气回归,准备狠虐渣男贱女,却惹上了腹黑总裁。“跟我结婚,我会帮你达成你想要的一切。”“先生,你太自恋了吧?”总裁大人?对不起,我没兴趣。前任后悔?对不起,一次不忠,终身不用。贱女找茬?呵呵呵,你这是找死。当一切都走向了她预期的结果,她该何去何从。当她选择离开的时候,他又出现在她面前。“女人,没有我的同意你休想离开我!”看我们的总裁大人是如何把怼妻一时爽,追妻火葬场这句话发挥到极致。
  • 文学史书写形态与文化政治

    文学史书写形态与文化政治

    《文学史书写形态与文化政治》各章略依时序讨论:由晚清京师大学堂《章程》与现代“文学”学科观念的建立,以至与“文学史”草创期书写的关系开始,到“五四”前后胡适以“白话文学运动”建构影响深远的文学史观,再到40年代林庚以“诗心”唤起“惊异”的《中国文学史》,转到由中原南迁的柳存仁和司马长风在50年代及70年代香港进行的两种性质完全不同的文学史书写,最后以两种“进行中”的书写活动为对象,看“中国文学史”要添加“香港文学”部分时,或者“香港文学”要进入“文学史”的过程中,所要应付的各种书写问题。
  • 气场心理学:潜能的力量

    气场心理学:潜能的力量

    《气场》之后,“气场”这个原本很深奥的词语,一下子变成了一个热词,成为人们研究、修炼的对象。但是气场的获得,必须经过历练,仅靠“速成”是难以实现的。而且真正的气场也不是“装装样子”,而必须建立在卓越的能力之上。如果没有超强的能力,气场就变成了空中楼阁,是难以长久的,更不能感染人。所以,你必须正确认识和挖掘自己的潜能,使自己获得强大的能力,如此,你的气场才会有根,有基础。
  • 美食供应商

    美食供应商

    “在遥远的东方,存在着一个数次拒绝了米其林三星评价的奇怪小店。那里价格昂贵,一碗配汤蛋炒饭288RMB,哦忘了还有一碟泡菜,但就算是这样也有很多人排队等候。那里不接受预定,只接受本人现场排队,无数人开着专机专程排队,当然并不提供停机位或停车位。那里服务恶劣,竟然让顾客自己端菜收拾碗筷,对了还要擦桌子,哦!上帝这老板简直疯了。”——《米其林美食杂志》-----------------美食普通群,大家都可以进来聊天526149614龙虎斗总群,全订就可以进群啦577415455菜猫不定时出没~
  • 总裁大人快来怀

    总裁大人快来怀

    林初九真的不知道,为啥离个家出个走就卖掉自己的一生…对方还是个大叔…自己明明是喜欢小鲜肉的!!…“夫人?”“哎哎哎,总裁大人我来啦!”
  • 虚皇天尊初真十戒文

    虚皇天尊初真十戒文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王爷,我要收了你

    王爷,我要收了你

    她没有穿越成千金小姐,倒霉的摔进宫,只能假扮小太监。对她温柔体贴的漂亮王爷,只是将她当成刺客加以试探。胜在她屡败屡战,烈男怕女缠,赢得王爷芳心。“王爷,你嫁给我吧!”某女双眼亮晶晶,就像天上小星星。“本王,不入赘。”王爷抬起高傲的头,“除非你拿出千两黄金。”有何难,镀金也是金。“你猜,我还能回来吗?”王爷出征,不能带家属,某女扯着王爷的袖口抖不停,“王爷,你放心,你留下来的遗产,够我改嫁。”可惜,她舍不得王爷回不来。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 招阴

    招阴

    自一出生,我就有记忆力,每年小除夕,都会有一个鬼来问我同一个问题,我不答应他,他就会害死一个我的家人,为此……
  • 万古龙帝

    万古龙帝

    妖族少年薛水随龙族九太子入世,被委以重任,混入人族修仙宗门铁背宗,窃取人族修炼法门,顶着‘散财童子’的名号,在宗门混的如鱼得水。偶得龙之逆鳞,小小锦鲤最终进化成万古龙帝。
  • 老婆,乖乖就范

    老婆,乖乖就范

    她麦点点,无父无母,是言情小说界中的大神。喜欢看帅哥,一副憨憨的傻样,却生的十分漂亮。他苍月离,全球数一数二的跨国集团总裁,腹黑且专情,对女主经常扮猪吃老虎。麦点点和死党的一场赌局,喝醉酒的她随便拉着个男人的问道。“我要向你求婚,我说男人,你愿意娶我吗?”对方露出个妖孽的笑容,“我愿意”“那就好,拜拜。”可以去交差了。隔天后,她被人绑架扔到了民政局冠上别人的姓氏。【片段一】“这是什么?”某女拿着个红色的小本子问着某男。“老婆,这是我们两个的结婚证啊。”某男笑的无比邪魅。“结婚证?老婆?我靠,老娘什么时候跟你结婚了,你他妈的以为这是在写小说哦?”某女怒了,将红本子摔在某男的脸上。某男挑眉敛笑:“老婆,你忘记那天在酒吧时,你跟我求婚了吗?老公我这是在帮你实现愿望呐!”某女一脸疑惑:“...”【片段二】“老婆,今天老公我帮你准备了一道独特的菜色,你要不要尝尝?”某男邪魅的眨眨眼睛。“恩。什么菜,端上来瞧瞧。”某女摸了摸下巴。某男嘻嘻哈哈的望着某女,一下子跳上了桌面,撒娇道:“清纯苍月离,老婆。来吧!来吧!尽情的吃吧!”某女嘴角直抽搐:“...”【片段三】某女到处招桃花,一点都不把某男放在眼里,某男木办法定了个协议。某女一脸愤怒的盯着某协议书:1、从现在开始,点点只许对离一个人好,要爱离,不能骗离。2、答应离的每一件事情,点点都要做到;3、对离讲的每一句话都要是真心。不许骗离、要关心离;4、最最最最重要的一点,点点不准看别的男人、不准想着别的男人,你的心里只准有离,就算是梦,点点也只许梦见离…以上,离早就全部做到,希望点点也能做到。ps:如果点点不能做到的话,离就告诉点点的责任编辑,她的艳照视频是点点发出去的。“靠,苍月离不带你这么无耻的。”麦点点怒。“嘿嘿,老婆,为了你我更无耻的事都能做得出。”苍月离一脸奸笑。【片段四】“夫人,我已经为你准备了四个绝色美女了。”管家。“老婆,你要美女干嘛啊?”苍月离问道。麦点点白了他一眼,望着眼前的几名美女,嫌恶的开口:“这个眼睛没我好看,不要。这个胸没我大,不要。这个屁股没我翘,不要。这个没我白,不要。咦?老公,你旁边那个女子不错,就这个了!”“你好,恭喜你,荣身为苍月离得二奶。”麦点点冲到女子面前,一脸你中奖了的表情。