Chateau of Prince Polignac | Page 6

francs daily for herself and three and a
half for her little girl; and where else could she live with a better
junction of economy and comfort? And then the gentleman who always
sat next to her was so exceedingly civil!
The gentleman's name was M. Lacordaire. So much she knew, and had
learned to call him by his name very frequently. Mimmy, too, was quite
intimate with M. Lacordaire; but nothing more than his name was
known of him. But M. Lacordaire carried a general letter of
recommendation in his face, manner, gait, dress, and tone of voice. In
all these respects there was nothing left to be desired; and, in addition
to this, he was decorated, and wore the little red ribbon of the Legion of
Honour, ingeniously twisted into the shape of a small flower.
M. Lacordaire might be senior in age to Mrs. Thompson by about ten
years, nor had he about him any of the airs or graces of a would-be

young man. His hair, which he wore very short, was grizzled, as was
also the small pretence of a whisker which came down about as far as
the middle of his ear; but the tuft on his chin was still brown, without a
gray hair. His eyes were bright and tender, his voice was low and soft,
his hands were very white, his clothes were always new and well fitting,
and a better-brushed hat could not be seen out of Paris, nor perhaps in
it.
Now, during the weeks which Mrs. Thompson had passed at La Puy,
the acquaintance which she had formed with M. Lacordaire had
progressed beyond the prolonged meals in the salle a manger. He had
occasionally sat beside her evening table as she took her English cup of
tea in her own room, her bed being duly screened off in its distant niche
by becoming curtains; and then he had occasionally walked beside her,
as he civilly escorted her to the lions of the place; and he had once
accompanied her, sitting on the back seat of a French voiture, when she
had gone forth to see something of the surrounding country.
On all such occasions she had been accompanied by one of her
daughters, and the world of Le Puy had had nothing material to say
against her. But still the world of Le Puy had whispered a little,
suggesting that M. Lacordaire knew very well what he was about. But
might not Mrs. Thompson also know as well what she was about? At
any rate, everything had gone on very pleasantly since the acquaintance
had been made. And now, so much having been explained, we will go
back to the elaborate breakfast at the Hotel des Ambassadeurs.
Mrs. Thompson, holding Mimmy by the hand, walked into the room
some few minutes after the last bell had been rung, and took the place
which was now hers by custom. The gentlemen who constantly
frequented the house all bowed to her, but M. Lacordaire rose from his
seat and offered her his hand.
"And how is Mees Meemy this morning?" said he; for 'twas thus he
always pronounced her name.
Miss Mimmy, answering for herself, declared that she was very well,
and suggested that M. Lacordaire should give her a fig from off a dish
that was placed immediately before him on the table. This M.
Lacordaire did, presenting it very elegantly between his two fingers,
and making a little bow to the little lady as he did so.
"Fie, Mimmy!" said her mother; "why do you ask for the things before

the waiter brings them round?"
"But, mamma," said Mimmy, speaking English, "M. Lacordaire always
gives me a fig every morning."
"M. Lacordaire always spoils you, I think," answered Mrs. Thompson,
in French. And then they went thoroughly to work at their breakfast.
During the whole meal M. Lacordaire attended assiduously to his
neighbour; and did so without any evil result, except that one
Frenchman with a black moustache, at the head of the table, trod on the
toe of another Frenchman with another black moustache-- winking as
he made the sign--just as M. Lacordaire, having selected a bunch of
grapes, put it on Mrs. Thompson's plate with infinite grace. But who
among us all is free from such impertinences as these?
"But madame really must see the chateau of Prince Polignac before she
leaves Le Puy," said M. Lacordaire.
"The chateau of who?" asked Mimmy, to whose young ears the French
words were already becoming familiar.
"Prince Polignac, my dear. Well, I really don't know, M. Lacordaire;--I
have seen a great deal of the place already, and I shall be going now
very soon; probably in a day or two," said Mrs. Thompson.
"But madame must positively see the chateau,"