“She therefore received my communication with sincere pleasure.  I also informed her that I did not intend taking any receipt for this sum, and that no reclamation of it should be made at any time, on any account.

“Now, my dear Camors, do me one favor.  To tell you my inmost thought, I shall be most happy to see you carry into execution your project of laudable ambition.  My own new position, my age, my tastes, and those I perceive in the Marquise, claim all my leisure—­all my liberty of action.  Consequently, I desire as soon as possible to present you to my generous and faithful constituents, as well for the Corps Legislatif as for the General Council.  You had better make your preliminary arrangements as soon as possible.  Why should you defer it?  You are very well cultivated—­very capable.  Well, let us go ahead—­let us begin at once.  What do you say?”

“I should prefer, General, to be more mature; but it would be both folly and ingratitude in me not to accede to your kind wish.  What shall I do first?”

“Well, my young friend, instead of leaving tomorrow for Paris, you must go to your estate at Reuilly:  go there and conquer Des Rameures.”

“And who are the Des Rameures, General?”

“You do not know the Des Rameures?  The deuce! no; you can not know them!  That is unfortunate, too.

“Des Rameures is a clever fellow, a very clever fellow, and all-powerful in his neighborhood.  He is an original, as you will see; and with him lives his niece, a charming woman.  I tell you, my boy, you must please them, for Des Rameures is the master of the county.  He protects me, or else, upon my honor, I should be stopped on the road!”

“But, General, what shall I do to please this Des Rameures?”

“You will see him.  He is, as I tell you, a great oddity.  He has not been in Paris since 1825; he has a horror of Paris and Parisians.  Very well, it only needs a little tact to flatter his views on that point.  We always need a little tact in this world, young man.”

“But his niece, General?”

“Ah, the deuce!  You must please the niece also.  He adores her, and she manages him completely, although he grumbles a little sometimes.”

“And what sort of woman is she?”

“Oh, a respectable woman—­a perfectly respectable woman.  A widow; somewhat a devotee, but very well informed.  A woman of great merit.”

“But what course must I take to please this lady?”

“What course?  By my faith, young man, you ask a great many questions.  I never yet learned to please a woman.  I am green as a goose with them always.  It is a thing I can not understand; but as for you, my young comrade, you have little need to be instructed in that matter.  You can’t fail to please her; you have only to make yourself agreeable.  But you will know how to do it—­you will conduct yourself like an angel, I am sure.”

“Captivate Des Rameures and his niece—­this is your advice!”