The Hartford herald., 1875-03-17
!

uesque beauty, who amuses herself with
queenly dignity, and who communicates
with ordinary mortals by means of con-
temptuous monosyllables uttered in deep
bass voice. She married some twelve
years ago, an Englishman, a member Of
the diplomatic corps, Lord A, per-
sonage equally handsome and impassive
as herself He addresses at intervals to
his wife an English monosyllable, to which
the latter replies imperturbably with a
French monosyllable. Nevertheless, three
little lords, worthy the pencil Of Lawrence,
who strut majestically around this Olym-
plan couple, attest between the two natures
secret intelligence which escapes the
vulgar observer.
A scarcely less remarkable couple comes
over to us daily from neIghboring cha
teau. The husband is one Monsieur de
Breuilly. formerly an officer in King
Charles ks body-guards, and bosom
friend of the marquis. He is a very live
ly old man, still quite fine-looking. and
wearing over close-cropped gray hair, a
hat too small for his head. He has an
odd, though perhaps natural, way Of scan-
ming his words, and Of speaking with de,
gree of deliberation that seems affected
He would be quite pleasant. however,
were it not that his mind is constantly
tortured by an ardent jealousy, and by no
less ardent apprehension of betraying his
weakness, which, nevertheless is glar-
ing and obvious fact to every one 1t is
difficult to understand how, with such a
disposition and a great deal Of common
sense, he has committed the signal error
lof d a0fe frx n
and pretty woman, and creole, ! believe,
in the bargain.
Monsieur de Breuillyl" said the Mar
quis. as be presented me TO the punctilious
gentleman, my best friend who will in
fallibly become yours also, and who, quite
as infal.ibly. viii cut your throat if you
attempt to show any attention to his wife
"Mon Deul my dear friend" replied
Monsieur de Breuilly. with laugh that
was anything but joyful, and accentuating
each word in his peculiar style, "why rep
resent me to this gentleman as Norman
Otbello? Monsieur may surely Mon
sieur is perfectly free to y besides he
knows and can observe the proper limits
Of things At any rate, sir, here is Mad
anne de Breuilly; suffer me to recommend
her myself to your kind attentions"
Somewhat surprised at this language, I
had the simplicity, or perhaps the inno-
cent malice, of interpreting it literally /
sat down squarely by the side OF Madame
de Breuilly and began paying her marked
attention. while, however. observing the
proper limits of things" In the mean
time, Monsieur de Breuilly was watching
us from distance, with an extraordinary
L.,
gray eyes sparkling like glowing ashes; he
was laughing loud. grinning stamping.
and fairly disjointing his fingers with sim
lister cracks. Monsieur de Malouet came
suddenly 10 me. handed me a whist card,
and taking me aside:
"What the deuce has got into your" he
said.
"Into me? why, nothing"
"Have | not warned you? It's quite a
serious matter. Look at Breullyl 1t is
the only weakness of that gallant man:
every one respects it here. Do likewise, |
beg OF you." ..... ..-..-
From the weakness ofthat gallant man,
it results that his wife is condemned in sos
ciety to perpetual quarantine. The iight>
ing propensities of husband are often but
an additional attraction for the lightning,
but men hesitate to risk their lives with
out any prospect Of possible compensation,
and we have here a man who threatens
you at least with public scandal not only
before harvest, as they say, but even be-
fore the seed has been fairly sown. Such
state of affairs manifestly discourages
the most enterprising, and it is quite rare
Madame de Breuilly has not two vacant
seats on her right and on her left, despite
her nonchalante grace, despite her plaintive
and beseeching looks, that seem TO be ever
saying, Mon Dieu, will no one ever cad
me into temptation?
You would doubtless think that the ev-
ident neglect in which the poor wife lives
ought to be, for her husband, motive of
security. Not at all! His ingenious ms-'
MIA manages to discover in that fact a fresh
motive OF perplexity.
"My friend" he was SAYING yesterday
to Monsieur de Malouet, you know that
| am not more jealous than any one else;
but without being Orosmane, do not pre-
tend to be George Dandin. Well! one
thing troubles me, my friend; have you
noticed that apparently no one pays any
attention to my wifef' ...-
"Parbleu! If that what troubles you"
"Of course it is; you must admit that it
is not natural. Ny wife is pretty; why
don't they pay attention to her as well as
to the other ladies? There is something
suspicious tbere!"
Fortunately, and to the great advantage
OF the social question, all the young wo-
men who reside in turn at the chateau are
not guarded by dragons of that caliber.
A few even, and among them two or three
Parisians out for holiday, display frees
dom of manner, love of pleasure, and an
exaggerated elegance that certainly pass
the bounds of discretion. You are aware
that have not the highest opinion of that
sort OF behavior, which does not
answer my idea of the duties
of woman of the world; neverthe-
less, take side without hesitation with
these giddy ones; and their conduct even
appears to me the very ideal of truth and
sincerity. when hear nightly certain pious
matrons distilling against them, amid low
and vulgar gossip, the venom of the basest
envy that can swell a rural heart. More-
over, it is not always necessary to leave
Paris in order to have the ugly spectacle
Of these provincisls let loose against what
they call vice, namely, youth, elegance,
distinction, charm-in a word, all the
qualities which the worthy ladies possess
no more or have perhaps never possessed.
Nevertheless. with whatever disgust these
chaste vixens inspire me for the virtue they
pretended to uphold 20 virtuel how many
nripaae onpa u,ittad in fhv uoroal I N,