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baron。 This manthis devil； ratheris called Gratien； Henri； Victor；
Jean…Joseph Bourignard。 The Sieur Gratien Bourignard is a former ship…
builder； once very rich； and； above all； one of the handsomest men of
his day in Paris；a Lovelace； capable of seducing Grandison。 My
information stops short there。 He has been a simple workman； and the
Companions of the Order of the Devorants did； at one time； elect him
as their chief； under the title of Ferragus XXIII。 The police ought to
know that； if the police were instituted to know anything。 The man has
moved from the rue des Vieux…Augustins； and now roosts rue Joquelet；
where Madame Jules Desmarets goes frequently to see him； sometimes her
husband； on his way to the Bourse； drives her as far as the rue
Vivienne； or she drives her husband to the Bourse。 Monsieur le vidame
knows about these things too well to want me to tell him if it is the
husband who takes the wife； or the wife who takes the husband； but
Madame Jules is so pretty； I'd bet on her。 All that I have told you is
positive。 Bourignard often plays at number 129。 Saving your presence；
monsieur； he's a rogue who loves women； and he has his little ways
like a man of condition。 As for the rest； he wins sometimes； disguises
himself like an actor； paints his face to look like anything he
chooses； and lives； I may say； the most original life in the world。 I
don't doubt he has a good many lodgings； for most of the time he
manages to evade what Monsieur le vidame calls 〃parliamentary
investigations。〃 If monsieur wishes； he could be disposed of
honorably； seeing what his habits are。 It is always easy to get rid of
a man who loves women。 However； this capitalist talks about moving
again。 Have Monsieur le vidame and Monsieur le baron any other
commands to give me？〃
〃Justin； I am satisfied with you； don't go any farther in the matter
without my orders； but keep a close watch here； so that Monsieur le
baron may have nothing to fear。〃
〃My dear boy；〃 continued the vidame； when they were alone； 〃go back to
your old life； and forget Madame Jules。〃
〃No； no；〃 said Auguste； 〃I will never yield to Gratien Bourignard。 I
will have him bound hand and foot； and Madame Jules also。〃
That evening the Baron Auguste de Maulincour； recently promoted to
higher rank in the company of the Body…Guard of the king； went to a
ball given by Madame la Duchesse de Berry at the Elysee…Bourbon。
There； certainly； no danger could lurk for him； and yet； before he
left the palace； he had an affair of honor on his hands；an affair it
was impossible to settle except by a duel。
His adversary； the Marquis de Ronquerolles； considered that he had
strong reasons to complain of Monsieur de Maulincour； who had given
some ground for it during his former intimacy with Monsieur de
Ronquerolles' sister； the Comtesse de Serizy。 That lady； the one who
detested German sentimentality； was all the more exacting in the
matter of prudery。 By one of those inexplicable fatalities； Auguste
now uttered a harmless jest which Madame de Serizy took amiss； and her
brother resented it。 The discussion took place in the corner of a
room； in a low voice。 In good society； adversaries never raise their
voices。 The next day the faubourg Saint…Germain and the Chateau talked
over the affair。 Madame de Serizy was warmly defended； and all the
blame was laid on Maulincour。 August personages interfered。 Seconds of
the highest distinction were imposed on Messieurs de Maulincour and de
Ronquerolles and every precaution was taken on the ground that no one
should be killed。
When Auguste found himself face to face with his antagonist； a man of
pleasure； to whom no one could possibly deny sentiments of the highest
honor； he felt it was impossible to believe him the instrument of
Ferragus； chief of the Devorants； and yet he was compelled； as it
were； by an inexplicable presentiment； to question the marquis。
〃Messieurs；〃 he said to the seconds； 〃I certainly do not refuse to
meet the fire of Monsieur de Ronquerolles； but before doing so； I here
declare that I was to blame； and I offer him whatever excuses he may
desire； and publicly if he wishes it； because when the matter concerns
a woman； nothing； I think； can degrade a man of honor。 I therefore
appeal to his generosity and good sense； is there not something rather
silly in fighting without a cause？〃
Monsieur de Ronquerolles would not allow of this way of ending the
affair； and then the baron； his suspicions revived； walked up to him。
〃Well； then！ Monsieur le marquis；〃 he said； 〃pledge me； in presence of
these gentlemen； your word as a gentleman that you have no other
reason for vengeance than that you have chosen to put forward。〃
〃Monsieur； that is a question you have no right to ask。〃
So saying； Monsieur de Ronquerolles took his place。 It was agreed； in
advance； that the adversaries were to be satisfied with one exchange
of shots。 Monsieur de Ronquerolles； in spite of the great distance
determined by the seconds； which seemed to make the death of either
party problematical； if not impossible； brought down the baron。 The
ball went through the latter's body just below the heart； but
fortunately without doing vital injury。
〃You aimed too well； monsieur；〃 said the baron； 〃to be avenging only a
paltry quarrel。〃
And he fainted。 Monsieur de Ronquerolles； who believed him to be a
dead man； smiled sardonically as he heard those words。
After a fortnight； during which time the dowager and the vidame gave
him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long
experience only； the baron began to return to life。 But one morning
his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow； by revealing anxieties to
which； in her last days； she was now subjected。 She showed him a
letter signed F； in which the history of her grandson's secret
espionage was recounted step by step。 The letter accused Monsieur de
Maulincour of actions that were unworthy of a man of honor。 He had； it
said； placed an old woman at the stand of hackney…coaches in the rue
de Menars； an old spy； who pretended to sell water from her cask to
the coachmen； but who was really there to watch the actions of Madame
Jules Desmarets。 He had spied upon the daily life of a most
inoffensive man； in order to detect his secrets；secrets on which
depended the lives of three persons。 He had brought upon himself a
relentless struggle； in which； although he had escaped with life three
times； he must inevitably succumb； because his death had been sworn
and would be compassed if all human means were employed upon it。
Monsieur de Maulincour could no longer escape his fate by even
promising to respect the mysterious life of these three persons；
because it was impossible to believe the word of a gentleman who had
fallen to the level of a police…spy； and for what reason？ Merely to
trouble the respectable life of an innocent woman and a harmless old
man。
The letter itself was nothing to Auguste in comparison to the tender
reproaches of his grandmother。 To lack respect to a woman！ to spy upon
her actions without a right to do so！ Ought a man ever to spy upon a
woman whom he loved？in short； she poured out a torrent of those
excellent reasons which prove nothing； and they put the young baron；
for the first time in his life； into one of those great human furies
in which are born； and from which issue the most vital actions of a
man's life。
〃Since it is war to the knife；〃 he said in conclusion； 〃I shall kill
my enemy by any means that I can lay hold of。〃
The vidame went immediately； at Auguste's request； to the chief of the
private police of Paris； and without bringing Madame Jules' name or
person into the narrative； although they were really the gist of it；
he made the official aware of the fears of the family of Maulincour
about this mysterious person who was bold enough to swear the death of
an officer of the Guards； in defiance of the law and the police。 The
chief pushed up his green spectacles in amazement； blew his nose
several times； and offered snuff to the vidame； who； to save his
dignity； pretended not to use tobacco； although his own nose was
discolored with it。 Then the chief took n