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Updated: June 8, 2025
Need I say that, upon receiving this letter, I resolved, without any delay, to set out for Devereux Court? I summoned Desmarais to me; he answered not my call: he was from home, an unfrequent occurrence with the necessitarian valet. I waited his return, which was not for some hours, in order to give him sundry orders for my departure.
"Ah, ah!" said Desmarais, musingly, and in a tone very different from that in which he usually spoke; "must it be so, indeed? For twenty years of youth and manhood I have clung to that man, and woven my destiny with his, because I believed him born under the star which shines on statesmen and pontiffs. Does dread Necessity now impel me to betray him? him, the only man I ever loved. So so so!
"If Monsieur," said he, with a sort of smile, "will kill his poor, old, faithful servant, let him strike. Fate is not to be resisted; and prayers are useless!" "Oswald," said I, "release your prisoner; wait here, and keep strict watch. Jean Desmarais, follow me!" I ascended the stairs, and Desmarais followed.
A small escritoire stood in this room, and in it I was accustomed to keep whatever I considered most precious. With many a wistful look and murmur at my promise, I consigned the packet to one of the drawers of this escritoire. As I was locking the drawer, the sweet voice of Desmarais accosted me.
They must be dull indeed if they do not hold out to you more tempting inducements than that colossal offspring of the press." "Pardon me, Sir," said Desmarais, very respectfully, and closing the book, "pardon me, I was not aware of your return. Will Monsieur doff his cloak?" "No; shut the door, wheel round that chair, and favour me with a sight of your book."
"Will Monsieur condescend to notice its effect?" answered Desmarais, producing a pair of gloves which were tinted of the most delicate flesh-colour; the colouring was so nice, that when the gloves were on, it would have been scarcely possible, at any distance, to distinguish them from the naked flesh. "'Tis a rare invention," said I.
The exquisite Desmarais hemmed thrice, "Will Monsieur be so very kind as to excuse my accompanying him?" said he, with his usual air and tone of obsequious respect. "And why?" The valet explained. A relation of his was in England only for a few days: the philosopher was most anxious to enjoy his society, a pleasure which fate might not again allow him.
"Then, most wise Desmarais, if you steal this diamond loop from my hat, you are only an unlucky man, not a guilty one, and worthy of my sympathy, not anger?" "Exactly so; but you must hang me for it. You cannot control events, but you can modify man. Education, law, adversity, prosperity, correction, praise, modify him, without his choice, and sometimes without his perception.
I repeat if this be one of thy inventions, thou wilt hang." "I have said what is true," said Desmarais, bitterly; "and were not life so very pleasant to me, I would sooner have met the rack." I made no reply; but, summoning Oswald, surrendered Desmarais to his charge.
Fielding, that, on returning from a drum at Lady Hasselton's, I entered my anteroom with so silent a step, that I did not arouse even the keen senses of Monsieur Desmarais. He was seated by the fire, with his head supported by his hands, and intently poring over a huge folio.
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