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〃Napoleon I was in the habit of saying that； in fighting a battle； he so ordered matters as to have seventy chances out of a hundred in his favour； he left the rest to Fate。 Ah！ brave people； life is a battle； but the French of to…day will not risk anything。 They are the most honest； the least romantic of men； and I regret it。 Read Antoinette this passage of my letter。 Our young people think that they have a right to the paternal fortune； they consider that their father is wanting in his duty if he does not leave them a settled position； a certain future。 Their second preconceived notion is that they must find a wife who will bring them as much at least as they have to offer her。 I have so much； you have so muchwe are evidently created for each other； let us marry。 All this is deplorable。 I like better to hear of the young American who only expects from his parents the education necessary for a man to make his way； he has his tools given to him and the method of using them； but not a sou。 You have learned to swim； my friend swim。 After that he marries； most frequently a woman who has nothing； and who loves to spend money。 May the God Dollar protect him！ he will gaily make an opening for himself in life； and his wife will give him ten children； who will follow the same course as their father。 Where it is customary for hunger to marry thirst； there are happy marriages； and a hardy race of people。 In all conscience； am I not romantic enough？
〃Let me consider another case。 Take a man who has fortune： he profits thereby to consult his heart only； and offer his name and revenues to the woman he loves and who has no dower。 I clap my hands； I think it the best of examples； and I regret that it is so seldom practised among us。 In France princes never are seen marrying shepherdesses； on the contrary； one too often sees penniless sons…in…law carrying off heiresses； and that is precisely the most objectionable case。 In a romance； or at the theatre； the poor young man who marries a million is a very noble person； in life it is different。 Not if the poor young man had a profession or a trade； if he could procure by his own work a sufficient income to render him independent of his wife； but if he submit to be dependent on her； if he expect from her his daily bread； to roll in her carriage； to ask her for the expenses of his toilet； for his pocket…money； and perhaps for sundry questionable outlaysfrankly； this young man lacks pride； and what is a man who has no pride？ Besides； what surety is there that in marrying it is； indeed； the woman he is in love with and not the dower？ Who assures me that Count Abel Larinski？I name no one； personalities are odious； and I own there are exceptions。 /Dieu/； how rare they are！ If I were Antoinette； I would love the poor； but in their own interest。 I would not marry them。 The interest of the whole human race is at stake。 Beggars are inventive； let them have their own way to make； and they will be sure to invent some means of livelihood； give them the key of a cash…box； and they will cease to strive； you have destroyed their genius。 My dear professor； in fifteen years I have brought about a great many marriages。 Three times I have married hunger to thirst； and； thank God； I once decided a millionaire to marry a poor girl who had not a sou； but I never aided a beggar to marry a rich girl。 Now you have my principles and ideasAre you listening to me still？ You fall asleep sometimes while listening to a sermon。 Good！ you open your eyesI proceed：
〃I have seen your man。 Well； sincerely； he only half pleases me。 I do not deny that he has a handsome head； a sculptor might use it as a model。 I will add that his eyes are very interesting； by turns grave； gentle； gay； or melancholy。 I have nothing to say against his manners or his language； his address is excellent； and he is no boobyfar from it。 With all this there is something about him that shocks meI scarcely know whata mingling of two natures that I cannot explain。 He might be said to resemble； according to circumstances； a lion or a fox； I believe that the fox…nature predominates； that the lion is supplementary。 I simply give you my impressions； which I am perfectly willing to be induced to change。 I am inclined to fancy that M。 Larinski passed his first youth amid vulgar surroundings； that later he came into contact with good society； and being intelligent soon shook off the force of early influences； but there still remain some traces of these。 While he was in my /salon/ his eyes twice took an inventory of its contents； and that with a rapidity which would have done credit to a practised appraiser。 It was then； especially； that he had the air of a fox。
〃Nor is this all。 I read the other day the story of a princess who was travelling over the world； and asked hospitality； one evening； at the door of a palace。 Was she a real princess or an adventuress？ The queen who received her judged it well to ascertain。 For this purpose she prepared for her； with her own hands； a soft bed； composed of two mattresses； on which she piled five feather…beds； between the two mattresses she slipped three peas。 The next day the traveller was asked how she had slept。 'Very badly；' she replied。 'I do not know what was in my bed； but my whole body is bruised； I am black and blue； and I never closed my eyes until dawn！' 'She is a true princess；' cried the queen。 Is M。 Larinski a true prince？ I made him undergo the test of the three peas。 I allowed myself to question him with indiscreet； urgent； improper curiosity； he did not appear to feel the indiscretion。 He replied promptly and submissively； he endeavoured to satisfy me； and I was not satisfied。 I shall see him again to…morrowhe comes to dine at Maisons。 I only wish to be able to prove to myself that he is a true prince。
〃My dear professor； you are the most imprudent of men； and； whatever happens； you have only yourself to blame。 People do not open their doors so easily to strangers。 You tell me that； thanks to M。 Larinski's kindness； you did not break your leg。 Mercy on me！ a father would better break his leg in three places than expose his daughter to the risk of marrying an adventurer； his leg could be easily set。 There is nothing so frightful in that。
〃/Postscriptum/。I open my letter。 I want to prove to you how much I desire to be just； and how far my impartiality goes。 You know that my neighbour； Abbe Miollens； lived a long time in Poland； and has correspondents there。 I begged him to get me information concerning the countof course； without explaining anything to him。 He reports that Count Abel Larinski is a true count。 His
father； the confiscation of the property； the emigration to America； the Isthmus of Panamaall is true； the history is authentic。 Countess Larinski was a saint。 Concerning the son； nothing is known； he must have been three or four years old when he landed in New York。 No one ever saw him； no one seems to know anything about his taking part in the insurrection of 1863。 Having spoken the truth about his parents； it is to be presumed that he told the truth about himself。 Very well； but one can fight for one's country； and have a saint for one's mother； and yet possess none of the qualities that go towards making a happy household。 I take back the word adventurer； but I still hold to all I have said about him。 Why did he take an inventory of my furniture with his eyes？ Why did he sleep so soundly in a bed where there were three peas？ This requires an explanation。
〃Kiss Antoinette for me。 Give my regards to Mlle。 Moiseney； without telling her that I think her a simpleton； it is a conviction in which I shall die。 Was it； indeed； very difficult to descend from that terrible rock of yours？〃
Three days later； Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a second letter：
〃August 19th。
〃I have received this very moment； my dear monsieur； the reply from Vienna that I have been expecting； and which I hasten to share with you。 I had applied to our friend Baron B…； first secretary of the embassy from France to Vienna； in order to try to learn what reputation Count Larinski had left there。 He is esteemed there as a most worthy man； as an inventor who was more daring than wise； as a devoted patriot； as one of those Poles whose only thought is of Poland and of their Utopia； and who would set fire to the four corners of the earth without wincing； for the sole purpose of procuring embers at which to roast their chestnuts。 I will not return to the subject of the gun； you know all about it。 It seems that there was some good in this explosive gun； and that he who invented it united a sort of genius with ingenuousness； inexperience； and ignorance enough to make one weep。 Nothing can be said against the private character of the man。 He had a few debts； and his tradespeople felt considerable anxiety when he left Vienna one morning on foot。 He had no sooner reached Switzerland than he sent back money to settle everything。 Here we have an admirable trait。 However； hi