Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part two

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