'At least, Madame,' he said, trembling, so that he was obliged to
lean on the chair he was setting for me, 'let me hear that you are
come to tell me no bad news.'
I assured him of the contrary, and made him sit down, while I told
him of my brother's improvement, and anxiety respecting himself.
'I may tell him that you are a convalescent, and able to employ
yourself in deep studies,' I said, glancing at a big black book open
on the table beside the arm-chair where he had been sitting.
'It is St. Augustine,' he said. 'I have been profiting by my
leisure. I have almost come to the conclusion that there is nothing
to be done for this unhappy France of ours but to pray for her. I
had some hopes of the young King; but did Madame hear what he did
when our deputies presented their petition to the States-General? He
simply tore the paper, and said: 'Retire, Messieur.' He deems
despotism his right and duty, and will crush all resistance. Men,
like the Garde des Sceaux, have done their best, but we have no
strength without the nobility, who simply use us as tools to gratify
their animosity against one another.'
'Only too true!' I said. 'There is not even permission given to us
nobles to do good among our own peasants.'
'There is permission for nothing but to be vicious sycophants,' cried
he bitterly. 'At least save for the soldier, who thinks only of the
enemies of France. Ah! my mother is right! All we can do to keep
our hands unstained is to retire from the world, and pray, study, and
toil like the recluses of Port Royal.
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