The Secret Memoires of the Duc de Roquelaure (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV Three Months at Grand-Mesnil--M. de Magnancourt's mania--The fearful consequences that sometimes ensued from it--His scheme about me--Mademoiselle Therese d'Oysanville--A faithful sketch--The word marriage--Perturbing effect of it on me--M. de Magnancourt's efforts--The love of liberty--A serious communication--An avowal by deputy--What is to be done?--Embarrassment--I resolve on a grievous sacrifice--Sinister joy of the schemer--An interview secured with difficulty--Sad figure cut by the two lovers--A new kind of declaration--Mutual satisfaction--A vow of friendship--M. de Magnancourt owns he is beaten--Concerning the contradictory tendencies in love--Judicious reflections on this point--The mystery of the heart. About the middle of the summer I returned to M. de Lesdiguieres at his pleasant country house of Grand-Mesnil. There I met a certain M. de Magnancourt, whom I have never forgotten. It is true I have my reasons for remembering him. M. de Magnancourt was afflicted with an extremely dangerous madness, and I very narrowly escaped falling a victim to it. He was an obstinate and tyrannical old man, who had no other pleasure on earth but concocting marriages. Let a man be fair or dark, gentle or simple; let a maid be noble or of low degree, it mattered not; all was fish that came to his net, provided he had someone to marry. He got me to his house at Grand-Mesnil, where he was M. de Lesdiguieres's neighbour, under the most specious pretexts; but in reality he was plotting against my liberty, and a little more and I should have been caught in the trap. This same M. de Magnancourt had, according to report, contrived the marriage of Mademoiselle Bigot de la Honville with Gondran, and certainly this example was not encouraging to people, for Madame de...