‘Perhaps he would like to see me,’ I said; and the old lady was ready to embrace me.  She would not have dared to ask it; but I knew how glad Eustace would be to have a personal account of him.

It was still early, and I met with no obstruction.  My message was taken in to ask whether M. Darpent would see me, and he came down himself to lead me upstairs, looking very pale and worn, and giving me his left hand, as in a broken voice he made polite speeches on the honour I had done him.

‘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.’

‘Are you thinking of becoming one of them?’ I exclaimed.

’I know not.  Not while aught remains to be done for my country.  Even that seems closed to me,’ he answered sadly.  ’I am unfortunate man, Madame,’ he added; ’I have convictions, and I cannot crush them as I see others, better than I, can do—­by appealing to simple authority and custom.’

‘They kept you from your Counsellor’s seat, I know,’ said I.

’And made every one, except M. le Premier President, mistrust me for a conceited fellow.  Well, and now they must keep me from casting in my lot with the recluses who labour and pray at Port Royal aux Champs, unless I can satisfy myself on scruples that perhaps my Huguenot breeding, perhaps my conversations with M. votre frere, have awakened in me.  And—­and—­though I have the leisure, I know my head and heart are far from being cool enough to decide on points of theology,’ he added, covering his face for a moment with his hand.