ould be established at the
period of his marriage. This juncture had arrived, and the household was
about to be established. A good post in the family of a prince of the
blood, when it is given by the credit, and on the recommendation of
a friend, like the Comte de Guiche, is worth at least twelve thousand
livres per annum; and by the means which M. Malicorne had taken to
make his revenues fructify, twelve thousand livres might rise to twenty
thousand. Then, when once an incumbent of this post, he would marry
Mademoiselle de Montalais. Mademoiselle de Montalais, of a half noble
family, not only would be dowered, but would ennoble Malicorne. But, in
order that Mademoiselle de Montalais, who had not a large patrimonial
fortune, although an only daughter, should be suitably dowered, it was
necessary that she should belong to some great princess, as prodigal as
the dowager Madame was covetous. And in order that the wife should not
be of one party whilst the husband belonged to the other, a situation
which presents serious inconveniences, particularly with characters like
those of the future consorts--Malicorne had imagined the idea of
making the central point of union the household of Monsieur, the king's
brother. Mademoiselle de Montalais would be maid of honor to Madame. M.
Malicorne would be officer to Monsieur.

It is plain the plan was formed by a clear head; it is plain, also,
that it had been bravely executed. Malicorne had asked Manicamp to ask a
brevet of maid of honor of the Comte de Guiche; and the Comte de Guiche
had asked this brevet of Monsieur, who had signed it without hesitation.
The constructive plan of Malicorne--for we may well suppose that
the combinations of a mind as active as his were not confined to the
present, but extended to the future--the constructive plan of Malicorne,
we say, was this:--To obtain entrance into the household of Madame
Henrietta for a woman devoted to himself, who was intelligent, young,
handsome, and intriguing; to learn, by means of this woman, all the
feminine secrets of the young household, whilst he, Malicorne, and his
friend Manicamp, should, between them, know all the male secrets of the
young community. It was by these means that a rapid and splendid fortune
might be acquired at one and the same time. Malicorne was a vile name;
he who bore it had too much wit to conceal this truth from himself; but
an estate might be purchased; and Malicorne of some place, or even De
Ma