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secret part。 When their cause was lost by the elevation of Napoleon；
he took refuge in the quietude of the country and domestic life；
accepting the unmerited accusations that followed him as the
inevitable reward of those who risk all to win all； and who succumb
after serving as pivot to the political machine。 Knowing nothing of
the fortunes； nor of the past； nor of the future of my family； I was
unaware of this devoted service which the Comte de Mortsauf well
remembered。 Moreover； the antiquity of our name； the most precious
quality of a man in his eyes； added to the warmth of his greeting。 I
knew nothing of these reasons until later； for the time being the
sudden transition to cordiality put me at my ease。 When the two
children saw that we were all three fairly engaged in conversation；
Madeleine slipped her head from her father's hand； glanced at the open
door； and glided away like an eel； Jacques following her。 They
rejoined their mother； and I heard their voices and their movements；
sounding in the distance like the murmur of bees about a hive。
I watched the count； trying to guess his character； but I became so
interested in certain leading traits that I got no further than a
superficial examination of his personality。 Though he was only forty…
five years old； he seemed nearer sixty； so much had the great
shipwreck at the close of the eighteenth century aged him。 The
crescent of hair which monastically fringed the back of his head；
otherwise completely bald； ended at the ears in little tufts of gray
mingled with black。 His face bore a vague resemblance to that of a
white wolf with blood about its muzzle； for his nose was inflamed and
gave signs of a life poisoned at its springs and vitiated by diseases
of long standing。 His flat forehead； too broad for the face beneath
it； which ended in a point； and transversely wrinkled in crooked
lines； gave signs of a life in the open air； but not of any mental
activity； it also showed the burden of constant misfortunes； but not
of any efforts made to surmount them。 His cheekbones； which were brown
and prominent amid the general pallor of his skin； showed a physical
structure which was likely to ensure him a long life。 His hard； light…
yellow eye fell upon mine like a ray of wintry sun； bright without
warmth； anxious without thought； distrustful without conscious cause。
His mouth was violent and domineering； his chin flat and long。 Thin
and very tall； he had the bearing of a gentleman who relies upon the
conventional value of his caste； who knows himself above others by
right； and beneath them in fact。 The carelessness of country life had
made him neglect his external appearance。 His dress was that of a
country…man whom peasants and neighbors no longer considered except
for his territorial worth。 His brown and wiry hands showed that he
wore no gloves unless he mounted a horse； or went to church； and his
shoes were thick and common。
Though ten years of emigration and ten years more of farm…life had
changed his physical condition； he still retained certain vestiges of
nobility。 The bitterest liberal （a term not then in circulation） would
readily have admitted his chivalric loyalty and the imperishable
convictions of one who puts his faith to the 〃Quotidienne〃； he would
have felt respect for the man religiously devoted to a cause； honest
in his political antipathies； incapable of serving his party but very
capable of injuring it； and without the slightest real knowledge of
the affairs of France。 The count was in fact one of those upright men
who are available for nothing； but stand obstinately in the way of
all； ready to die under arms at the post assigned to them； but
preferring to give their life rather than to give their money。
During dinner I detected； in the hanging of his flaccid cheeks and the
covert glances he cast now and then upon his children； the traces of
some wearing thought which showed for a moment upon the surface。
Watching him； who could fail to understand him？ Who would not have
seen that he had fatally transmitted to his children those weakly
bodies in which the principle of life was lacking。 But if he blamed
himself he denied to others the right to judge him。 Harsh as one who
knows himself in fault； yet without greatness of soul or charm to
compensate for the weight of misery he had thrown into the balance；
his private life was no doubt the scene of irascibilities that were
plainly revealed in his angular features and by the incessant
restlessness of his eye。 When his wife returned； followed by the
children who seemed fastened to her side； I felt the presence of
unhappiness； just as in walking over the roof of a vault the feet
become in some way conscious of the depths below。 Seeing these four
human beings together； holding them all as it were in one glance；
letting my eye pass from one to the other； studying their countenances
and their respective attitudes； thoughts steeped in sadness fell upon
my heart as a fine gray rain dims a charming landscape after the sun
has risen clear。
When the immediate subject of conversation was exhausted the count
told his wife who I was； and related certain circumstances connected
with my family that were wholly unknown to me。 He asked me my age。
When I told it； the countess echoed my own exclamation of surprise at
her daughter's age。 Perhaps she had thought me fifteen。 Later on； I
discovered that this was still another tie which bound her strongly to
me。 Even then I read her soul。 Her motherhood quivered with a tardy
ray of hope。 Seeing me at over twenty years of age so slight and
delicate and yet so nervously strong； a voice cried to her； 〃They too
will live！〃 She looked at me searchingly； and in that moment I felt
the barriers of ice melting between us。 She seemed to have many
questions to ask； but uttered none。
〃If study has made you ill；〃 she said； 〃the air of our valley will
soon restore you。〃
〃Modern education is fatal to children；〃 remarked the count。 〃We stuff
them with mathematics and ruin their health with sciences； and make
them old before their time。 You must stay and rest here；〃 he added；
turning to me。 〃You are crushed by the avalanche of ideas that have
rolled down upon you。 What sort of future will this universal
education bring upon us unless we prevent its evils by replacing
public education in the hands of the religious bodies？〃
These words were in harmony with a speech he afterwards made at the
elections when he refused his support to a man whose gifts would have
done good service to the royalist cause。 〃I shall always distrust men
of talent；〃 he said。
Presently the count proposed that we should make the tour of the
gardens。
〃Monsieur〃 said his wife。
〃Well； what； my dear？〃 he said； turning to her with an arrogant
harshness which showed plainly enough how absolute he chose to be in
his own home。
〃Monsieur de Vandenesse walked from Tours this morning and Monsieur de
Chessel； not aware of it； has already taken him on foot over
Frapesle。〃
〃Very imprudent of you；〃 the count said； turning to me； 〃but at your
age〃 and he shook his head in sign of regret。
The conversation was resumed。 I soon saw how intractable his royalism
was； and how much care was needed to swim safely in his waters。 The
man…servant； who had now put on his livery； announced dinner。 Monsieur
de Chessel gave his arm to Madame de Mortsauf； and the count gaily
seized mine to lead me into the dining…room； which was on the ground…
floor facing the salon。
This room； floored with white tiles made in Touraine； and wainscoted
to the height of three feet； was hung with a varnished paper divided
into wide panels by wreaths of flowers and fruit； the windows had
cambric curtains trimmed with red； the buffets were old pieces by
Boulle himself； and the woodwork of the chairs； which were covered by
hand…made tapestry； was carved oak。 The dinner； plentifully supplied；
was not luxurious； family silver without uniformity； Dresden china
which was not then in fashion； octagonal decanters； knives with agate
handles； and lacquered trays beneath the wine…bottles； were the chief
features of the table； but flowers adorned the porcelai