New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-09
IL.

The Chateau dc Frontenac was built upon
natural terrace half way up the slope OF inc lor-
est with the craggy ravines clothed with foliage
surrounding IL every side. 1t consisted Oh wv o
courts, the oldest of which had been bullt III the
earliest DAYS of French domestic architecture Wheh
the detached buildings of che MEDIEVAL castle were
first brought together into a compact block IN ac-
cOrdance with the singular notions OF those daFs
that the south and west were unhealthy aspects,
the principal rooms of this portion of the chateau
faced the north and east. They consisted OF vast
halls and saloons succeeding each 0ther WIN app1I-
emily purpOseleSs extension, and above tneul suite
of bed chambers of solemn and funerea aspect Inese
saloons and bed-chambers had been left unatered
for centuries, and the furniture must have been an
tIque in the reign of Henri Quatre. The other court
had been built much more recently, and, In accord
ance with modern notions. the chez apartments
faced the south and west. From ITS windows ter
raced gardens descended into the ravlne ana spread
themse YES along the side of the hill. The aren't
lecture had probably when first the court mad been
added to the chateau contrasted unpleasantly win
the sOmbre pile beyond but the lapse OF centuries
with their softening hand had blended the Whole
into a unity Of form and color, and adventurous
plants creeping silently over the carved stone WORK
of the Struggling fronts wrought soft ven vi
natures handiwork over the artificial Efforts OF
man.
The saloons in this part of the chateau were fur
nishea more or less in the modern taste with cabl-
nets of ebony and ivory of the days of LOUIS qua
torze, and bull work of the eighteenth century :
but as the modern articles were added sparngly tne
effect on the whole was quiet and pleasing Inc DE
FrOntenacs while enjoying the more convenient
portion of their abode, prlded themselves upon the
antique apartments aud kept them III scrupulOus
repair. In these vast and mysterious halls all the
solemn meeting rs and ceremonies OF the family had
place Here, when death had touched his own, the
DE Frontenacs lay in state; here the infant
heir was baptized here tue important
cnmnacts of marriage were signed here the feast Of
Noel was held 1t is true that for the last century
or 50 these ideas had been growing weaker, ana the
usapes of modern life and the Vaccinations OF the
capltal had broken in upon these ancient haDlts
and weakened the attachments and associations
from which they sprang, but the DE froutenacs
,r.I lt..rrf
entirely lost the characteristics OF their lore
fathers. Now and again, at some .uistasle
of court life, or some lahSled sl'sht Oh
the pa RI of the monarch, they would retre 10 tef
forest home and resume tor time al least Jho lilo
and habits of "A nObler and pr0uder day.
la the largest OF these old saloons the day after
the meeting IN the forest the whole household OF
the chateau WAS assembled. At long table were
seated several gentlemen well known III farls a
among the highest OF the noblesse de la robe, and
rolls of parchment and masses OF WrJing Wth great
seals hanging from their corners, covered tne tdDle
The walls of the saloon were hung with portraits
of several epOch5 OF art, ncudlng the WORKS or ar
fists then alive: for il was popularity OF the De
FrOntenac. that, generating IS they dQ the antique
portion of the chateau they invariably nuhs inc
portraits OF the family a they were painted III THESE
old and faded rooms, reseryIng Tor the noiern ay-
arrments the landscapes anu idncy pictures WHICH
from time 10 time they purchased
When the moment hdl arrived at winch the con-
tracts were TO be signed, there was movement IN
he room. and MademOlseic de IIOnlenac, accom-
M MED INV her mother entered and advanced toward
me table She was perfectly collected AMI bowed
TO the Marquis with unemOarrassed grace no
one ignorant of the circumstances of the ease would
have supposed that anything approaching 10 IIas-
edy was being enacted in tnat room.
The Marquis signed more thdn one document anu
as he stepped back from the table he ran MS eyes
carelesslV over the room, with when ne was uhac-
oTainted Fronting him, above a massive side
board with the full light OF the opposite WINDOW
upon it, was the portrait OF Il young man III tHe
curass of an officer of cavalry OF previous cen
turv whose eyes were fixed upon the Marquis Win
a Stern and threatening glance. III seemed that'
stepping from the canvas, Jnefe confronted MN, a7
few hours before ne had met him IL the forest, the
Cbevalier de Ggiss0es whom nc mad found With
MademOIsele de trOntcnac.
Nothing probably. cOIid nave made the MARQUIS
start but he gazed upon the portrait with interest
NOT unmIXed with surprise, and as soon a. Made
molselle had retired, which she dld wnen her sigma
lures had been obtained, he turned TO the Count
with a courteous gesture.
These apartments Monsieur lie COmte,' he said
are certainly as fine anything OF the kind IN
Europe. have seldom, indeed, seen any thlpg that
eau De compared 10 them. And, doubtless, the pOr-
traits upon the walls are OF eXcepJlOhal interest
BY your leave, will glance round them and, ac-
cOmpaned by the Count, he passed thrOugs several
OF the roOms listening attenUlvey TO the descup-
lions aud anecdotes which the different portraits
quIled and suggested. There was somewhat OF
sameuess perhaps, in the story for the French no.
bilitv had little scope OF action other than the bat
tle-hed and the collection lac ked the pleasing va
riety OF an English portrait gallery where the
variety Of costumes, here a soldier there DIVINE,
now a lawyer or Judge, ana Iheh Il courier
charms the eye and eXcltes tie fancy. The Mar
qus came back perhaps ali the sooner TO the great
SALOON.
The saloon was empty, and the lawyers and rolls
of narchment were gone. The Marquis went straight
10 the portrait which had attracted his attention,
and stood facing il without saying word; the
Count, after gIanclng creiesSIy IOuld Tue IooI Io
lowed his guests example. ~, -
The vast hail was perfectly empty. The tables
had been pushed aside into the windows, ana the
snnerb figure of the Marquis standing upon the pol
ished fo6r, would have Deen Of itself sufficient TO
furnish the scene but IN proportion as the interest
which the portrait had excited was manifested Ia
The attitude OF the Marquis, 80 lnuch le more the
tir,nre an the wall seemed to gather LIE and III
trusity aud to answer look for look with It's living
opposite. g.. IL. -
meul's pause Is portrait OF cadet Oh my lam
Iy or rather should say, OF female branch OF 1t,
a Chevaler de GrIssOlles. lie was a youth OF great
PROMISE a favOrite ana alde-de-canp Oh Inc great
Prince de Condo; and he fell at Jarnac by MS mas
ter's side. Enough OF hlm, ana the counts man
nar changed as he glanced round the chanOer, ana
advanced cOnhdentally TO the side OF the Marquis.
Enough of him; but aIn not sorry your attention
las been directed toward ms portrait, because IL en-
ables me to introduce with somewhat less einDdI-
BASEMENT "A sGbJccJ to winch nave hitherto shluhh
frn,n allndiup 1 am sorry TO say Monsieur lie Mar
aus continued the Count, with an uneasy smile
tthat the chevalier whose portrait you see before
won WAS not the last of his race. There nave Oeeh
others who have borne the name, ana mere Is one
now He Is a lad III the regiment OF fldhdcI7, anu
was brought mp III my family. IulottIndletJ TIC
was allowed 10 attend MademOlseIle dc IFOn1oh1C
in her recreattOns, and boy and gTl attachment
Wa. formed between them, from which harmless
childs play no one foreboded any evil The Young
fool is constantly breaking away from ms regiment
IN which he great favorite, and Is hanging about
NV daugh.er and from what Madame lie Comtesse
tells me-l-i hardly Ike 10 say H. 1t Is 50 absurd =
Size Is positively attached TO hun, seriously and de-
yotrdlv attached. Positively / cannot sleep some
times this stupid affair mas gwen me 50 mucn an
nOyance' ,-e ~ H..
il dld not increase the good humor OF the Count,
who Was already IN a sufficiently bad temper 10 no
tee as he could not help DONG that the Marquis did
not seem IN the least surprised at the Information
ne had received and what was still more irritating,
that lac seemed TO regard twin DerIect
de appeared IN tact to be much more interested III
studying the portrait before hum, probably admir-
ing II as a work OF art
My dear Monsieur lie COmte,' he said at length.
oil