Chapter 4 - Page 2

quarter of what they were worth, had rendered our hero
sufficiently celebrated in Orleans, a city where, in general, we should
be puzzled to say why he came to pass his days of penitence. Provincial
_debauches, petits-maitres_ of six hundred livres a year, shared the
fragments of his opulence.

Among the admirers of these splendid toilettes, our friend Malicorne was
conspicuous; he was the son of a syndic of the city, of whom M. de Conde,
always needy as a De Conde, often borrowed money at enormous interest.
M. Malicorne kept the paternal money-chest; that is to say, that in those
times of easy morals, he had made for himself, by following the example
of his father, and lending at high interest for short terms, a revenue of
eighteen hundred livres, without reckoning six hundred livres furnished
by the generosity of the syndic; so that Malicorne was the king of the
gay youth of Orleans, having two thousand four hundred livres to scatter,
squander, and waste on follies of every kind. But, quite contrary to
Manicamp, Malicorne was terribly ambitious. He loved from ambition; he
spent money out of ambition; and he would have ruined himself for
ambition. Malicorne had determined to rise, at whatever price it might
cost, and for this, whatever price it did cost, he had given himself a
mistress and a friend. The mistress, Mademoiselle de Montalais, was
cruel, as regarded love; but she was of a noble family, and that was
sufficient for Malicorne. The friend had little or no friendship, but he
was the favorite of the Comte de Guiche, himself the friend of Monsieur,
the king's brother; and that was sufficient for Malicorne. Only, in the
chapter of charges, Mademoiselle de Montalais cost _per annum_: -
ribbons, gloves, and sweets, a thousand livres. De Manicamp cost - money
lent, never returned - from twelve to fifteen hundred livres _per
annum_. So that there was nothing left for Malicorne. Ah! yes, we are
mistaken; there was left the paternal strong box. He employed a mode of
proceeding, upon which he preserved the most profound secrecy, and which
consisted in advancing to himself, from the coffers of the syndic, half a
dozen year's profits, that is to say, fifteen thousand livres, swearing
to himself - observe, quite to himself - to repay this deficiency as
soon as an opportunity should present itself. The opportunity was
expected to be the concession of a good post in the household of
Monsieur, when that household would be established at the period of his
marriage. This juncture had arrived, and the household was about to be
established. A good post in the family of a prince of the blood, when it
is given by the credit, and on the recommendation of a friend, like the
Comte de Guiche, is worth at least twelve thousand