the collection of antiquities-第7章
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she lacks the mother's instinctive knowledge when and how to be severe； she has no sudden warnings； none of the uneasy presentiments of the mother's heart； for a mother； bound to her child from the beginnings of life by all the fibres of her being； still is conscious of the communication； still vibrates with the shock of every trouble； and thrills with every joy in the child's life as if it were her own。 If Nature has made of woman； physically speaking； a neutral ground； it has not been forbidden to her； under certain conditions； to identify herself completely with her offspring。 When she has not merely given life； but given of her whole life； you behold that wonderful； unexplained； and inexplicable thingthe love of a woman for one of her children above the others。 The outcome of this story is one more proof of a proven trutha mother's place cannot be filled。 A mother foresees danger long before a Mlle。 Armande can admit the possibility of it； even if the mischief is done。 The one prevents the evil； the other remedies it。 And besides； in the maiden's motherhood there is an element of blind adoration； she cannot bring herself to scold a beautiful boy。
A practical knowledge of life； and the experience of business； had taught the old notary a habit of distrustful clear…sighted observation something akin to the mother's instinct。 But Chesnel counted for so little in the house （especially since he had fallen into something like disgrace over that unlucky project of a marriage between a d'Esgrignon and a du Croisier）； that he had made up his mind to adhere blindly in future to the family doctrines。 He was a common soldier； faithful to his post； and ready to give his life； it was never likely that they would take his advice； even in the height of the storm； unless chance should bring him； like the King's bedesman in The Antiquary； to the edge of the sea； when the old baronet and his daughter were caught by the high tide。
Du Croisier caught a glimpse of his revenge in the anomalous education given to the lad。 He hoped； to quote the expressive words of the author quoted above； 〃to drown the lamb in its mother's milk。〃 THIS was the hope which had produced his taciturn resignation and brought that savage smile on his lips。
The young Comte Victurnien was taught to believe in his own supremacy as soon as an idea could enter his head。 All the great nobles of the realm were his peers； his one superior was the King； and the rest of mankind were his inferiors； people with whom he had nothing in common； towards whom he had no duties。 They were defeated and conquered enemies； whom he need not take into account for a moment； their opinions could not affect a noble； and they all owed him respect。 Unluckily； with the rigorous logic of youth； which leads children and young people to proceed to extremes whether good or bad； Victurnien pushed these conclusions to their utmost consequences。 His own external advantages； moreover； confirmed him in his beliefs。 He had been extraordinarily beautiful as a child； he became as accomplished a young man as any father could wish。
He was of average height； but well proportioned； slender； and almost delicate…looking； but muscular。 He had the brilliant blue eyes of the d'Esgrignons； the finely…moulded aquiline nose； the perfect oval of the face； the auburn hair； the white skin； and the graceful gait of his family； he had their delicate extremities； their long taper fingers with the inward curve； and that peculiar distinction of shapeliness of the wrist and instep； that supple felicity of line； which is as sure a sign of race in men as in horses。 Adroit and alert in all bodily exercises； and an excellent shot； he handled arms like a St。 George； he was a paladin on horseback。 In short； he gratified the pride which parents take in their children's appearance； a pride founded； for that matter； on a just idea of the enormous influence exercised by physical beauty。 Personal beauty has this in common with noble birth； it cannot be acquired afterwards； it is everywhere recognized； and often is more valued than either brains or money； beauty has only to appear and triumph； nobody asks more of beauty than that it should simply exist。
Fate had endowed Victurnien； over and above the privileges of good looks and noble birth； with a high spirit； a wonderful aptitude of comprehension； and a good memory。 His education； therefore； had been complete。 He knew a good deal more than is usually known by young provincial nobles； who develop into highly…distinguished sportsmen； owners of land； and consumers of tobacco； and are apt to treat art； sciences； letters； poetry； or anything offensively above their intellects； cavalierly enough。 Such gifts of nature and education surely would one day realize the Marquis d'Esgrignon's ambitions； he already saw his son a Marshal of France if Victurnien's tastes were for the army； an ambassador if diplomacy held any attractions for him； a cabinet minister if that career seemed good in his eyes； every place in the state belonged to Victurnien。 And； most gratifying thought of all for a father； the young Count would have made his way in the world by his own merits even if he had not been a d'Esgrignon。
All through his happy childhood and golden youth； Victurnien had never met with opposition to his wishes。 He had been the king of the house； no one curbed the little prince's will； and naturally he grew up insolent and audacious； selfish as a prince； self…willed as the most high…spirited cardinal of the Middle Ages；defects of character which any one might guess from his qualities； essentially those of the noble。
The Chevalier was a man of the good old times when the Gray Musketeers were the terror of the Paris theatres； when they horsewhipped the watch and drubbed servers of writs； and played a host of page's pranks； at which Majesty was wont to smile so long as they were amusing。 This charming deceiver and hero of the ruelles had no small share in bringing about the disasters which afterwards befell。 The amiable old gentleman； with nobody to understand him； was not a little pleased to find a budding Faublas； who looked the part to admiration； and put him in mind of his own young days。 So； making no allowance for the difference of the times； he sowed the maxims of a roue of the Encyclopaedic period broadcast in the boy's mind。 He told wicked anecdotes of the reign of His Majesty Louis XV。； he glorified the manners and customs of the year 1750； he told of the orgies in petites maisons； the follies of courtesans； the capital tricks played on creditors； the manners； in short； which furnished forth Dancourt's comedies and Beaumarchais' epigrams。 And unfortunately； the corruption lurking beneath the utmost polish tricked itself out in Voltairean wit。 If the Chevalier went rather too far at times； he always added as a corrective that a man must always behave himself like a gentleman。
Of all this discourse； Victurnien comprehended just so much as flattered his passions。 From the first he saw his old father laughing with the Chevalier。 The two elderly men considered that the pride of a d'Esgrignon was a sufficient safeguard against anything unbefitting； as for a dishonorable action； no one in the house imagined that a d'Esgrignon could be guilty of it。 HONOR； the great principle of Monarchy； was planted firm like a beacon in the hearts of the family； it lighted up the least action； it kindled the least thought of a d'Esgrignon。 〃A d'Esgrignon ought not to permit himself to do such and such a thing； he bears a name which pledges him to make a future worthy of the past〃a noble teaching which should have been sufficient in itself to keep alive the tradition of noblessehad been； as it were； the burden of Victurnien's cradle song。 He heard them from the old Marquis； from Mlle。 Armande； from Chesnel； from the intimates of the house。 And so it came to pass that good and evil met； and in equal forces； in the boy's soul。
At the age of eighteen； Victurnien went into society。 He noticed some slight discrepancies between the outer world of the town and the inner world of the Hotel d'Esgrignon； but he in no wise tried to seek the causes of them。 And； indeed； the causes were to be found in Paris。 He had yet
