524 FRENCH NOVELISTS. 



pointed and epigrammatic j he made use of irony as an habitual 

 weapon, rarely for the destruction of others, except when interest and 

 opportunity concurred to urge him to it. His pliability and tact had 

 brought him safe through the perils of the revolutionary assemblies, 

 and he was now the devoted adherent of Buonaparte. The hand of 

 the young and beautiful Salicetta de Naviers was to be his reward 

 par ordre. 



Salicetta's mother had been Spanish, and her daughter had all the 

 grace and engaging eccentricity of the children of the south. She 

 had received a mystic education in Spain, and at fifteen found herself 

 transplanted into the midst of a society without religion. French 

 manners were cold and deceitful in her eyes, for her mind was filled 

 with the Spanish and Moorish romances, in which mistresses cut off 

 their long hair in the absence of their lovers, while the lovers heroi- 

 cally plunged poniards into their arms to demonstrate the strength of 

 their affection. But a short extract will give a better idea of her 

 character than pages of description. Her uncle and aunt, the Count 

 and Countess de Naviers, are charged to communicate to her the 

 proposal of Juviessy, when the following scene takes place : 



" The Count and Countess entered the saloon with a grave deportment. 

 The efforts of the Count in particular, to maintain an air of dignity, were 

 so comical, that the gaiety of Salicetta could not withstand it. * Excuse 

 me, uncle/ said she, ' but your gravity is irresistible ;' and she sunk upon 

 a sofa, while laughter brought tears between her long black eyelashes. 



"' This gaiety augurs well/ said the Count to his wife: but observing 

 signs of discontent upon her countenance, he was silent. 



" ' Eh ! what !' said Salicetta, ' what do you mean ?' 



"' You shall know it presently, my little niece/ said the Count, caress- 

 ingly. 



" ' Presently oh no let it be immediately don't keep me in sus- 

 pense quick quick, I beg of you/ said she, joining her hands. 



"' Bless me, what impetuosity," said the Countess, ' at the moment when 

 you should be calm and collected, in order to receive the proposals we are 

 to make to you with propriety/ 



" ' Enough, aunt, I guess what is to follow this preamble. Has another 

 lover presented himself?' 



" ' Exactly/ said she, with a quiet archness, meant to repress the agita- 

 tion of the young Spaniard. 



" ' Gracious Heavens! Another? and one that does not even attempt 

 to press his own suit : probably he is some great Lord, who will not con- 

 descend to make himself agreeable. Let us hear ? Is he tall or short 

 or dark or fair his name, his name ?' 



" ' I shall not tell you his name, Salicetta ; you are not in a temper to 

 hear it; suffice it to say, that the man who bears it will render it illus- 

 trious: he deserves your esteem your affection he cannot fail to secure.' 



" ' And why, then, do you fear to mention his name ?' 



" ' What pride in those few words ! No, I am not afraid to mention the 

 distinguished individual who does you the honour of soliciting your hand ; 

 but I am at a loss to know how you can reconcile vanity and devotion.' 

 And she rose to depart. 



" ' My dearest aunt, you must not go away displeased with me ; I shall 

 be quiet and attentive : do sit down, and I shall do all you require/ 



" ' Ah, we shall come to an understanding/ said the Count, somewhat 

 ashamed of the part he had played in the business : * surely there is no 



