things, inquired the history of the young vicomte.
He had paid his father’s debts, sold the family
castle, made his home on one of the three farms which
he owned in the town of Etouvent. These estates
brought him in an income of five or six thousand livres.
The vicomte was economical and lived in this modest
manner for two or three years, so that he might save
enough to cut a figure in society, and to marry advantageously,
without contracting debts or mortgaging his farms.
The priest added, “He is a very charming young
man, so steady and quiet, though there is very little
to amuse him in the country.” The baron
said, “Bring him in to see us, Monsieur l’Abbe,
it will be a distraction for him occasionally.”
After the coffee the baron and the priest took a turn
about the grounds and then returned to say good-night
to the ladies.
* * * *
*
M. DE LAMARE
The following Sunday the baroness and Jeanne went
to mass, prompted by a feeling of respect for their
pastor, and after service waited to see the priest
and invite him to luncheon the following Thursday.
He came out of the sacristy leaning familiarly on
the arm of a tall young man. As soon as he perceived
the ladies, he exclaimed:
“How fortunate! Allow me, baroness and
Mlle. Jeanne, to present to you your neighbor,
M. le Vicomte de Lamare.”
The vicomte said he had long desired to make their
acquaintance, and began to converse in a well-bred
manner. He had a face of which women dream and
that men dislike. His black, wavy hair shaded
a smooth, sunburnt forehead, and two large straight
eyebrows, that looked almost artificial, cast a deep
and tender shadow over his dark eyes, the whites of
which had a bluish tinge.
His long, thick eyelashes accentuated the passionate
eloquence of his expression which wrought havoc in
the drawing-rooms of society, and made peasant girls
carrying baskets turn round to look at him. The
languorous fascination of his glance impressed one
with the depth of his thoughts and lent weight to
his slightest words. His beard, fine and glossy,
concealed a somewhat heavy jaw.
Two days later, M. de Lamare made his first call,
just as they were discussing the best place for a
new rustic bench. The vicomte was consulted and
agreed with the baroness, who differed from her husband.
M. de Lamare expatiated on the picturesqueness of
the country and from time to time, as if by chance,
his eyes met those of Jeanne, and she felt a strange
sensation at the quickly averted glance which betrayed
tender admiration and an awakened sympathy.
M. de Lamare’s father, who had died the preceding
year, had known an intimate friend of the baroness’s
father, M. Cultaux, and this fact led to an endless
conversation about family, relations, dates, etc.,
and names heard in her childhood were recalled, and
led to reminiscences.
