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At the Hôtel Clichy I was a constant guest; and while with Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie my acquaintance made little progress, with the countess I became a special favorite, she honoring me so far as to take me into her secret counsels, and tell me all the little nothings which Fouché usually disseminated as state secrets, and circulated twice or thrice a week throughout Paris.
Besides, you must do me a service with the countess I have had the bad luck to be for some time out of favor with my aunt Josephine, some trumpery debts of mine they make a work about at the Tuileries. Well, perhaps you could persuade Madame de Lacostellerie to take up my cause; she has great influence with the Empress, and can make her do what she pleases.
Already a rumor was afloat that several officers had received orders to join their regiments; and now I began to fear lest I should leave the capital without meeting her, and was thinking of some plan by which I could attain that object, when a note arrived from Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie, written with more than her usual cordiality, and inviting me to dinner on the following day with a very small party, but when I should meet one of my oldest friends.
Lacostellerie, Madame la Comtesse de Lacostellerie." "By Jove! you remind me I have letters for her, a circumstance I had totally forgotten, though it was coupled with a commission." "A letter! Why, nothing was ever so fortunate. Don't lose a moment; you have just time to leave it, with your card, before dinner. You'll have an invitation for this evening at once."
Is it possible that they who wish to found a new order of things do not see that all these pantomime costumes and characters denote nothing but change, that we are only performing a comedy after all? I scarcely expect it will be a five-act one. And, apropos of comedies, when shall we pay our respects to Madame de Lacostellerie?
Tell me, what are the sources of his power? How is he admitted everywhere, intimate with every one, with influence over all? Why does Fouché fear, and Talleyrand admit him? I know they do this; and can you give me no clew, however faint, to guide me? The Comte de Lacostellerie was refused the Spanish contract; Duchesne interferes, and it is given him.
"I implore your pardon, Mademoiselle," said he, in a voice of well-affected timidity, "nor should I venture to interrupt so interesting a conference, but that the Comtesse de Lacostellerie had sent me to look for you." "You could scarcely have come more apropos, sir. The conversation was entirely of yourself," said she, haughtily, as if in defiance of him.
Happily Madame de Lacostellerie interposed, and by skilfully changing the topic of conversation, averted further unpleasantness. My desire to learn something accurately as to the state of events made me anxious to reach my quarters, and I took the first opportunity of quitting the salon. As I passed through the outer room, Duchesne was standing against a sideboard, holding a glass in his hand.
"But her name? Who is she?" said Duchesne, impatiently. "Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie, the daughter of the house," said the baron, completely overcome with astonishment at our ignorance. "And you not to know this! you, of all men living! Why," he continued, dropping his voice to a lower key, "there never was such a fortune.
"The Chevalier Duchesne! the Chevalier Duchesne!" was repeated from voice to voice, outside the circle; "Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie is waiting to waltz with you." "A thousand pardons," said he, rising. "Burke, continue my game, while I try if I can't push fortune the whole way."
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