Farewell, Manicamp,” and he left the room.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
CHAPTER 81
The Courtyard of the Hotel Grammont
On Malicorne’s arrival at Orleans, he was informed that the
Comte de Guiche had just set out for Paris. Malicorne rested
himself for a couple of hours, and then prepared to continue
his journey. He reached Paris during the night, and alighted
at a small hotel, where, in his previous journeys to the
capital, he had been accustomed to put up, and at eight
o’clock the next morning presented himself at the Hotel
Grammont. Malicorne arrived just in time, for the Comte de
Guiche was on the point of taking leave of Monsieur before
setting out for Havre, where the principal members of the
French nobility had gone to await Madame’s arrival from
England. Malicorne pronounced the name of Manicamp and was
immediately admitted. He found the Comte de Guiche in the
courtyard of the Hotel Grammont, inspecting his horses,
which his trainers and equerries were passing in review
before him. The count, in the presence of his tradespeople
and of his servants, was engaged in praising or blaming, as
the case seemed to deserve, the appointments, horses, and
harness that were being submitted to him; when, in the midst
of this important occupation, the name of Manicamp was
announced.
“Manicamp!” he exclaimed, “let him enter by all means.” And
he advanced a few steps toward the door.
Malicorne slipped through the half-open door, and looking at
the Comte de Guiche, who was surprised to see a face he did
not recognize, instead of the one he expected, said:
“Forgive me, monsieur le comte, but I believe a mistake has
been made. M. Manicamp himself was announced to you, instead
of which it is only an envoy from him.”
“Ah!” exclaimed De Guiche, coldly, “and what do you bring
me?”
“A letter, monsieur le comte.” Malicorne handed him the
first document, and narrowly watched the count’s face, who,
as he read it began to laugh.
“What!” he exclaimed, “another maid of honor? Are all the
maids of honor in France, then, under his protection?”
Malicorne bowed. “Why does he not come himself?” he
inquired.
“He is confined to his bed.”
“The deuce! he has no money then, I suppose,” said De
Guiche, shrugging his shoulders. “What does he do with his
money?”
Malicorne made a movement, to indicate that upon this
subject he was as ignorant as the count himself. “Why does
he not make use of his credit, then?” continued De Guiche.
“With regard to that, I think —- ”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“What?”
“That Manicamp has credit with no one but yourself, monsieur
le comte!”
“He will not be at Havre, then?” Whereupon Malicorne made
another movement.
“But every one will be there.”
“I trust, monsieur le comte, that he will not neglect so
excellent an opportunity.”
“He should be at Paris by this time.”
“He will take the direct road perhaps to make up for lost
time.”
“Where is he now?”
“At Orleans.”
“Monsieur,” said De Guiche, “you seem to me a man of very
good taste.”
Malicorne was wearing some of Manicamp’s old-new clothes. He
bowed in return, saying, “You do me a very great honor,
monsieur le comte.”
“Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?”
“My name is Malicorne, monsieur.”
“M. de Malicorne, what do you think of these
pistol-holsters?”
Malicorne was a man of great readiness, and immediately
understood the position of affairs. Besides, the “de” which
had been prefixed to his name, raised him to the rank of the
person with whom he was conversing. He looked at the
holsters with the air of a connoisseur and said, without
hesitation: “Somewhat heavy, monsieur.”
“You see,” said De Guiche to the saddler, “this gentleman,
who understands these matters well, thinks the holsters
heavy, a complaint I had already made.” The saddler was full
of excuses.
“What do you think,” asked De Guiche, “of this horse, which
I have just purchased?”
“To look at it, it seems perfect, monsieur le comte; but I
must mount it before I give you my opinion.”
“Do so, M. de Malicorne, and ride him round the court two or