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Updated: July 16, 2025
He was a tall, lean man, with a minatory countenance set off by terrible eyes in deep black circles, under enormous eyebrows; and his eloquence, very unlike his love-making, could be incisive. Monsieur Gravier was a little, round man, who in the days of the Empire had been a charming ballad-singer; it was this accomplishment that had won him the high position of Paymaster-General of the forces.
The frivolous spirit and light tone of the Empire had become ponderous in Monsieur Gravier; he did not, or would not, understand the wide difference between manners under the Restoration and under the Empire.
She died before him, in 1852. We adopt the translation of Miss Costello. Agen, with its narrow and crooked streets, is not altogether a pleasant town, excepting, perhaps, the beautiful promenade of the Gravier, where Jasmin lived. Yet the neighbourhood of Agen is exceedingly picturesque, especially the wooded crags of the Hermitage and the pretty villas near the convent of the Carmelites.
Monsieur Gravier was now informed of the object in view during this entertaining evening which had brought Madame de la Baudraye's innocence to light. "But, after all," said Lousteau, "our hostess' serenity may indicate deep depravity instead of the most child-like innocence. The Public Prosecutor looks to me quite capable of suggesting that little La Baudraye should be put in pickle "
In the month of June, one of the most important fairs in the South of France is held on the extensive promenade in front of the Gravier. There Jasmin went to pick up any spare sous by holding horses or cattle, or running errands, or performing any trifling commission for the farmers or graziers.
"He is not to return till to-morrow; who knows what may happen in the course of the night?" said Gatien. "We will know!" cried Monsieur Gravier. In the life of a country house a number of practical jokes are considered admissible, some of them odiously treacherous.
Monsieur de la Baudraye, who stood at the top waving his little hand in a little farewell to the doctor, could not forbear from smiling as he heard Monsieur de Clagny say to Monsieur Gravier: "You should have escorted them on horseback." At this juncture, Gatien, riding Monsieur de la Baudraye's quiet little mare, came out of the side road from the stables and joined the party in the chaise.
He was delighted to make them walk over the twelve hundred acres of waste land that he was intending to reclaim, an undertaking that would cost some hundred thousand francs, but which might yield an increase of thirty to sixty thousand francs a year in the returns of the estate of Anzy. "Do you know why the Public Prosecutor has not come out with us?" asked Gatien Boirouge of Monsieur Gravier.
Monsieur Gravier then remarked to Monsieur de Clagny: "Did you observe that Madame de la Baudraye, after going out in a muslin gown came home in a velvet?" "As she got into the carriage at Cosne, the muslin dress caught on a brass nail and was torn all the way down," replied Lousteau. "Oh!" exclaimed Gatien, stricken to the heart by hearing two such different explanations.
And so the Muse of Sancerre had simply come back to family and married life; but certain evil tongues declared that she had been compelled to come back, for that the little peer's wishes would no doubt be fulfilled he hoped for a little girl. Gatien and Monsieur Gravier lavished every care, every servile attention on the handsome Countess.
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