Part 21 (2/2)

Soain, were entirely of his own invention; and if from the depths of her tomb the duchess could have heard all that M de Meaux said about her, she never would have bornelife and fortune have troubled her so keenly

The King thought this funeral oration excellently well coe, however, he disapproved, though which these were he did not do me the honour to say

BOOK 4

CHAPTER XLIX

President de Nesmond--Melladoro--A Coic Sequel

President de Nesistrate as he as of very great service to e al dispute of mine, or when I had reason to fear annoyance on the part ofwife caused him, and it will be seen that, by the side of this poor President, M de Montespanbeen a er, he was in some measure accustomed to this state, until love laid a snare for hiarden that lay below his s--a garden owned by his neighbour, a farhter He at once fell passionately in love with her, as David once loved Bathsheba

The President married Clorinde, as very pleased to have a fine name and a title But her husband soon saw--if not with surprise, at least with pain--that his wife did not love hiation, danced one day with Clorinde; to her he see She lost her heart, and without further delay confessed to hi home, the President said to his youthful consort, ”Mada your i Spaniard hi you say can please me more,” she replied, ”for this proves that he is aware of , I hope that he ish to see iven at the Spanish Eed to secure an invitation, and ith one of her cousins The young Spaniard did the honours of the evening, and showed theed to attend an all-night sitting at the Tourelle,--[The parlia ladies did not like going ho Spaniard had the privilege of conducting the back with them After cards and a little music, they had supper about daybreak; and when the President returned, at five o'clock, he saw Melladoro, to whom he was formally introduced by madaer, forced condescension, and diplo were easily perceived by the Spaniard, who showed not a trace of astonishment This was because Clorinde's absolute sway over her husband was as patent as the fact that, in his own house, the President was powerless to do as he liked

Melladoro, as only twenty years old, thought he hadconquest He asked to be allowed to present his respects occasionally, when Clorinde promptly invited him to do so, in her husband's na, and he took leave of the ladies Two days after this he reappeared; then he came five or six times a week, until at last it was settled that a place should be laid for him every day at the President's table

That year it was M de Nes vacation-tient motives of health, which made it imperative for hie consented to forego his vacation and take his place on the bench for four months; so M de Nesmond was able to leave Paris

When the time came to set out by coach, istrate, backed up by his father-in-law, showed firmness, and they set out for the Chateau de Nesues from Paris

M de Nesmond found the country far from enjoyable His wife, who always sat by herself in her dressing-gown and seldom consented to see a soul, on uests at table in order to sulk andher periods of suffering and depression, she continuallyhis person, she desired to have his portrait Alarreed to write a letter himself to the author of all this trouble, who soon sent the lady a handsome sweetmeat-box ornaht of this, Clorinde became like another woown, to show the portrait how deeply enainal

”Monsieur,” she said to her husband, ”I aave istrate older than hi, no doubt, and you, therefore, ought to kno revolting to youth, all freshness and perfus and caresses of decrepitude As yet I do not detest you, but it is absolutely impossible to love you On the contrary, I am in love with Melladoro; perhaps in your day you were as attractive as he is, and kne to make the oing back to Paris? I shall be ever so grateful to you if you will Or loomy abode of your ancestors? To show myself obedient, I will consent; only in this case you ation, and your coach-and-six, to bring Melladoro here without delay”

At this speech M de Nesust, but frankly refused to entertain such a proposal for one rief She could neither eat nor sleep, and being already in a weakly state, soon developed syhtened her doctors

M de Nesth sent his rival a polite and pressing invitation to come and stay at the chateau

This state of affairs went on for six whole years, during which time Madame de Nesmond lavished upon her coal, orderly spouse

At last the President could stand it no longer, but went andHis Majesty at once asked the Spanish Ambassador to have Melladoro recalled