Joseph Balsamo by Alexandre Dumas Page A

which Andre seemed pleased, and regarded him with less stern-ness, or, rather, with less uneasiness, than before.
    ” Would you think, sir,” continued the baron, chuck-ing Nicole under the chin, ” would you think that this damsel had been in a convent with my daughter, and is
     
    JOSEPH BALSAMO. 53
    really what one might call educated ? Oh, Mademoiselle Nicole would not quit her mistress for a moment. There is a devotedness in her which would greatly delight the philosophers who maintain that these creatures have souls.”
    ” Sir,” said Andre, displeased, ” it is not devotedness which prevents Nicole from leaving me ; it is because I order her to remain.”
    Balsamo raised his eyes to Nicole, to see the effect of these contemptuous words, and he observed, from her compressed lips, that she was not insensible to the humilia-tions to which her position of domestic exposed her. But the emotion was transitory ; for, in turning away to hide it, her eyes rested with interest on a window of the room which looked into the courtyard. Everything roused the curiosity of Balsamo, and, as he followed her eyes, he thought he saw what interested her the face of a man at the window. “In truth,” thought he, f< every one has a mystery in this house, and I hope soon to know Mademoiselle Andre’s. I have found out the baron’s, and I guess what Nicole’s is.” While thus communing with himself, the baron observed his absence of mind.
    ” You are in a reverie, my dear guest,” said he. ” Well, it is infectious here it attacks every one. Let me reckon : first, Mademoiselle de Taverney falls into reveries ; then Mademoiselle Nicole does the same ; then the good-for- nothing fellow who shot the partridges is in a perpetual reverie, and very likely the partridges were in a reverie, when he shot them.”
    ” Gilbert ? ” asked Balsamo.
    ” Yes. Oh, a philosopher, like Monsieur La Brie here. But excuse me ! perhaps you are a friend of theirs ? If so, I warn vou you will be none of mine.”
    ” No, sir ; I am neither for them nor against them,” replied Balsamo. ” I know nothing of them.”
    ” Ventrebleu ! so much the better. They are wretches as mischievous as they are ugly the monarchy will be ruined by their opinions ; no one laughs now ; they read they read and what, I pray you ? Sentiments lika
     
    64 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
    this : Under a monarchical government it is difficult for a people to be virtuous. Or this : Monarchy is an institution invented for the corruption of the morals of men, and the purpose of enslaving them. Or else this : If the power of kings comes from God, it comes as diseases and other scourges of the human race come from Him. You call that improving, I hope ! A virtuous people ! Now, I ask you, of what use would they be ? Everything has gone wrong since the king spoke to Voltaire, and read ‘ Diderot ‘ ? “
    At this moment Balsarno thought he saw the pale face which he had seen before, again appear at the window ; but it vanished when he looked in that direction.
    ” Is mademoiselle a philosopher ?” asked Balsamo, turning to Andre, with a smile.
    ” I don’t even know what philosophy is,” replied Andre. ” I like what is serious.”
    ” Ha ! mademoiselle ! ” cried the baron, “then, in my opinion, nothing is more serious than good living like that, I pray you.”
    ” But mademoiselle does not hate life, I presume ? ” said Balsamo.
    ” That depends on circumstances,” replied Andre.
    ” “What a stupid phrase ! ” exclaimed the baron. “Would you believe it, sir, my son once made me, word for word, a similar reply ? “
    ” You have a son, then, sir ? “
    ” Oh, mon Dieu ! sir, yes. I have that misfortune. The Chevalier de Taverney, lieutenant in the body-guard of the Dauphin a most excellent young man ! ” And the baron uttered these four words as if he would have crushed each letter in them.
    ” I congratulate you, sir,” said Balsamo, with a bow.
    ” Oh, yes ;