Moreover I had a visit from my sister-in-law; I was astonished at her
venturing out, but though very thin, she looked radiant, for her
husband had come into Paris in the train of the Princes, and had
actually passed half an hour with her! I was less gratified when I
found what he had come for. It was to desire his wife to come to me
and inform me that it was the will and pleasure of the Prince of
Conde that I should accept the addresses of the Baron de Lamont.
'Thank you, sister,' I said, smiling a little, for I knew it was of
no use to scold her or argue with her, and I would have spoken of
something else, but she held my hand and entreated:
'You will, then?'
'Oh! you have been charged to throw your influence into the scale,'
I said, laughing; and the poor thing had to confess that he had said
to her, with an air so noble, so amiable, that here was an
opportunity of being of some real use to him if she would persuade
Madame de Bellaise to marry M. de Lamont.
'To him!' I might well exclaim.
'Well, you see,' Cecile explained, 'M. le Prince said to him: 'The
Bellaise is your sister-in-law, is she not? It is for you to
overcome her ridiculous scruples and make her accept Lamont, who is
desperately in love with her, and whose fortune needs to be
repaired.''
'I see,' I replied; 'but I cannot carry my complaisance so far.'
'But,' faltered Cecile, 'he is very handsome and very distinguished--'
'Come, Cecile, you have done your duty.
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