He was, in fact, like one intoxicated with the delights of liberty
and companionship. He enjoyed a certain eclat from the manner of his
coming, and was soon a universal favourite among the officers.
Unfortunately, the influence and example there were not such as to
lead him to think more of his wife. The Duke of Enghien had been
married against his will to a poor little childish creature, niece to
Cardinal de Richelieu, and he made it the fashion to parade, not only
neglect, but contempt, of one's wife. He was the especial hero of
our young Count's adoration, and therefore it was the less wonder
that, when in the course of the winter, the chaplain wrote that the
young Madame le Comtesse was in the most imminent danger, after
having given birth to the long desired son and heir, he treated the
news with supreme carelessness. We should never have known whether
she lived or died, had not the courier, by whom M. de Bellaise wrote
to her as well as to his uncle, brought back one of her formal little
letters, ill-spelt and unmeaning, thanking Monsieur son frere and
Madame sa femme for their goodness, and saying she was nearly
recovered.
'It cuts me to the heart to receive such letters,' said my husband,
'and to feel how little I can be to her. Some day I hope I may know
her better, and make her feel what a brother means.'
All this happened while we were in garrison for the winter at Nancy.
Again we offered M.
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