Malicorne was conspicuous; he was the son of a syndic of the
city, of whom M. de Conde, always needy as a De Conde, often
borrowed money at enormous interest. M. Malicorne kept the
paternal money-chest; that is to say, that in those times of
easy morals, he had made for himself, by following the
example of his father, and lending at high interest for
short terms, a revenue of eighteen hundred livres, without
reckoning six hundred livres furnished by the generosity of
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the syndic, so that Malicorne was the king of the gay youth
of Orleans, having two thousand four hundred livres to
scatter, squander, and waste on follies of every kind. But,
quite contrary to Manicamp, Malicorne was terribly
ambitious. He loved from ambition; he spent money out of
ambition; and he would have ruined himself for ambition.
Malicorne had determined to rise, at whatever price it might
cost, and for this, at whatever price it did cost, he had
given himself a mistress and a friend. The mistress,
Mademoiselle de Montalais, was cruel as regarded love; but
she was of a noble family, and that was sufficient for
Malicorne. The friend had little or no friendship, but he
was the favorite of the Comte de Guiche, himself the friend
of Monsieur, the king’s brother, and that was sufficient for
Malicorne. Only, in the chapter of charges, Mademoiselle de
Montalais cost per annum: — ribbons, gloves, and sweets, a
thousand livres. De Manicamp cost — money lent, never
returned — from twelve to fifteen hundred livres per annum.
So that there was nothing left for Malicorne. Ah! yes, we
are mistaken; there was left the paternal strong box. He
employed a mode of proceeding, upon which he preserved the
most profound secrecy, and which consisted in advancing to
himself from the coffers of the syndic, half a dozen year’s
profits, that is to say, fifteen thousand livres, swearing
to himself — observe, quite to himself — to repay this
deficiency as soon as an opportunity should present itself.
The opportunity was expected to be the concession of a good
post in the household of Monsieur, when that household would
be established at the period of his marriage. This juncture
had arrived, and the household was about to be established.
A good post in the family of a prince of the blood, when it
is given by the credit, and on the recommendation of a
friend, like the Comte de Guiche, is worth at least twelve
thousand livres per annum; and by the means which M.
Malicorne had taken to make his revenues fructify, twelve
thousand livres might rise to twenty thousand. Then, when
once an incumbent of this post, he would marry Mademoiselle
de Montalais. Mademoiselle de Montalais, of a half noble
family, not only would be dowered, but would ennoble
Malicorne. But, in order that Mademoiselle de Montalais, who
had not a large patrimonial fortune, although an only
daughter, should be suitably dowered, it was necessary that
she should belong to some great princess, as prodigal as the
dowager Madame was covetous. And in order that the wife
should not be of one party whilst the husband belonged to
the other, a situation which presents serious
inconveniences, particularly with characters like those of
the future consorts — Malicorne had imagined the idea of
making the central point of union the household of Monsieur,
the king’s brother. Mademoiselle de Montalais would be maid
of honor to Madame. M. Malicorne would be officer to
Monsieur.
It is plain the plan was formed by a clear head; it is
plain, also, that it had been bravely executed. Malicorne
had asked Manicamp to ask a brevet of maid of honor of the
Comte de Guiche; and the Comte de Guiche had asked this
brevet of Monsieur, who had signed it without hesitation.
The constructive plan of Malicorne — for we may well
suppose that the combinations of a mind as active as his
were not confined to the present, but extended to the future
— the constructive plan of Malicorne, we say, was this: —
To obtain entrance into the household of Madame Henrietta