the present marquis, and who has been and still continues absent,
warring in Italy, since before his father's death - is the stepson
of the present Dowager, she being the mother of the younger son,
Marius de Condillac.

"Should you observe me to be anywhere at error, I beg, monsieur,
that you will have the complaisance to correct me."

The Seneschal bowed gravely, and Monsieur de Garnache continued:

"Now this younger son - I believe that he is in his twenty-first year
at present - has been something of a scapegrace."

"A scapegrace? Bon Dieu, no. That is a harsh name to give him.
A little indiscreet at times, a little rash, as is the way of youth."

He would have said more, but the man from Paris was of no mind to
waste time on quibbles.

"Very well," he snapped, cutting in. "We will say, a little
indiscreet. My errand is not concerned with Monsieur Marius's
morals or with his lack of them. These indiscretions which you
belittle appear to have been enough to have estranged him from his
father, a circumstance which but served the more to endear him to
his mother. I am told that she is a very handsome woman, and that
the boy favours her surprisingly."

"Ah!" sighed the Seneschal in a rapture. "A beautiful woman - a
noble, splendid woman.'