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Updated: June 9, 2025
I shall not be sorry to give personally a little lesson to the government, which I trust will profit by it. You know me I am no Jacobin; at first I thought that would succeed. But when I see what is going on!" "What is going on, General?" "When I see a Tonnelier a great dignitary! It makes me long for the pen of Tacitus, on my word.
When his nephew was old enough to comprehend him, Baron Tonnelier was no longer peer of France; but being one who does himself no hurt and sometimes much good by a fall, he filled a high office under the new government. He endeavored to discharge its duties conscientiously, as he had those of the preceding reign.
In the midst of these honorable conflicts one person, who took no part in them, attracted the greatest share of Camors's interest; first for her beauty and afterward for her qualities. This was an orphan of excellent family, but very poor, of whom Madame de la Roche-Jugan and Madame Tonnelier had taken joint charge.
"Well, then, Mademoiselle Charlotte, the day that you become a great artiste, rich, triumphant, idolized, wealthy drinking, in deep draughts, all the joys of life that day Uncle Tonnelier will invoke outraged morals, our aunt will swoon with prudery in the arms of her old lovers, and Madame de la Roche-Jugan will groan and turn her yellow eyes to heaven! But what will all that matter to you?"
"Aunt de la Roche-Jugan treats you harshly?" "Undoubtedly; she dreads that I may entrap her son. Good heavens!" "The little Tonneliers are jealous of you, and Uncle Tonnelier torments you?" "Basely!" she said; and two tears swam on her eyelashes, then glistened like diamonds on her cheek. "And what do you believe of the religion of our aunt?"
Messrs. Bacquiere and Van-Cuyp were naturally the first sufferers, and their charming wives made them understand, at intervals during the day, that they thoroughly despised them. It was a bitter Sunday for those poor fellows. The Tonnelier family also felt that little more was to be done there, and left the next morning with a very cold adieu. The conduct of the Countess was more noble.
Without a single allusion to this fact, the Countess failed not to turn the thoughts of the General toward it with all the tact of an accomplished intrigante, with all the ardor of a mother, and with all the piety of an unctuous devotee. Her sister, the Baroness Tonnelier, bitterly confessed her own disadvantage. She was not a widow. And she had no son.
Thick masses of hair framed her sad but splendid brow; and she was badly, or rather poorly dressed, never condescending to wear the cast-off clothes of her relatives, but preferring gowns of simplest material made by her own hands. These draperies gave her the appearance of an antique statue. Her Tonnelier cousins nicknamed her "the goddess." They hated her; she despised them.
"Well, then, Mademoiselle Charlotte, the day that you become a great artiste, rich, triumphant, idolized, wealthy drinking, in deep draughts, all the joys of life that day Uncle Tonnelier will invoke outraged morals, our aunt will swoon with prudery in the arms of her old lovers, and Madame de la Roche-Jugan will groan and turn her yellow eyes to heaven! But what will all that matter to you?"
She married the Baron Tonnelier, whose father, although the son of a miller, had shown ability and honesty enough to fill high positions under the First Empire. The Baron Tonnelier had a large fortune, increasing every day by successful speculation. In his youth he had been a good horseman, a Voltairian, and a Liberal.
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