"I can't possibly own up to having fought a duel with a mere secretary of M. de la Mole, simply because my coachman stole my visiting cards."
"There is no doubt that all this may make you look ridiculous."
That very evening the chevalier de Beauvoisis and his friend said everywhere that this M. Sorel who was, moreover, quite a charming young man, was a natural son of an intimate friend of the marquis de la Mole.
This statement was readily accepted.
Once it was established, the young diplomatist and friend deigned to call several times on Julien during the fortnight.
Julien owned to them that he had only been to the Opera once in his life.
"That is awful," said one, "that is the only place one does go to.
Your first visit must be when they are playing the
'Comte Ory.'"
The chevalier de Beauvoisis introduced him at the opera to the famous singer Geronimo, who was then enjoying an immense success.
Julien almost paid court to the chevalier. His mixture of self-respect, mysterious self-importance, and fatuous youthfulness fascinated him.
The chevalier, for example, would stammer a little, simply because he had the honour of seeing frequently a very noble lord who had this defect.
Julien had never before found combined in one and the same person the drollery which amuses, and those perfect manners which should be the object of a poor provincial's imitation.
He was seen at the opera with the chevalier de Beauvoisis. This association got him talked about.
"Well," said M. de la Mole to him one day, "so here you are, the natural son of a rich gentleman of Franche-Comte, an intimate friend of mine."
The marquis cut Julien short as he started to protest that he had not in any way contributed to obtaining any credence for this rumour.
"M. de Beauvoisis did not fancy having fought a duel with the son of a carpenter."
"I know it, I know it," said M. de la Mole.
"It is my business now to give some consistency to this story which rather suits me.
But I have one favour to ask of you, which will only cost you a bare half-hour of your time.
Go and watch every opera day at half-past eleven all the people in society coming out in the vestibule.
I still see you have certain provincial mannerisms. You must rid yourself of them.
Besides it would do no harm to know, at any rate by sight, some of the great personages to whom I may one day send you on a commission.
Call in at the box office to get identified.
Admission has been secured for you." _____
CHAPTER XXXVII
AN ATTACK OF GOUT _____
And I got advancement, not on my merit, but because my master had the gout.—Bertolotti. _____
The reader is perhaps surprised by this free and almost friendly tone. We had forgotten to say that the marquis had been confined to his house for six weeks by the gout.
Mademoiselle de la Mole and her mother were at Hyeres near the marquise's mother.
The comte Norbert only saw his father at stray moments.
They got on very well, but had nothing to say to each other.
M. de la Mole, reduced to Julien's society, was astonished to find that he possessed ideas.
He made him read the papers to him.
Soon the young secretary was competent to pick out the interesting passages.
There was a new paper which the marquis abhorred. He had sworn never to read it, and spoke about it every day.
Julien laughed.
In his irritation against the present time, the marquis made him read Livy aloud. The improvised translation of the Latin text amused him.
The marquis said one day in that tone of excessive politeness which frequently tried Julien's patience,
"Allow me to present you with a blue suit, my dear Sorel.
When you find it convenient to wear it and to come and see me, I shall look upon you as the younger brother of the comte de Chaulnes, that is to say, the son of my friend the old Duke."
Julien did not quite gather what it was all about, but he tried a visit in the blue suit that very evening.
The marquis treated him like an equal.
Julien had a spirit capable of appreciating true politeness, but he had no idea of nuances.
Before this freak of the marquis's he would have sworn that it was impossible for him to have been treated with more consideration.
"What an admirable talent," said Julien to himself. When he got up to go, the marquis apologised for not being able to accompany him by reason of his gout.
Julien was preoccupied by this strange idea.
"Perhaps he is making fun of me," he thought.
He went to ask advice of the abbe Pirard, who being less polite than the marquis, made no other answer except to whistle and change the subject.
Julien presented himself to the marquis the next morning in his black suit, with his letter case and his letters for signature.