arriage portion of thirty thousand crowns to her husband, who was
syndic of the goldsmiths. These thirty thousand crowns had become very
fruitful during twenty years. The jeweler, though a millionaire, was a
modest man. He had purchased a substantial carriage, built in 1648,
ten years after the king's birth. This carriage, or rather house
upon wheels, excited the admiration of the whole quarter in which he
resided--it was covered with allegorical paintings, and clouds scattered
over with stars. The marquise entered this somewhat extraordinary
vehicle, sitting opposite the clerk, who endeavored to put his knees
out of the way, afraid even of touching the marquise's dress. It was
the clerk, too, who told the coachman, who was very proud of having a
marquise to drive, to take the road to Saint-Mande.

CHAPTER 103. The Dowry

Monsieur Faucheux's horses were serviceable animals, with thickset
knees, and legs that had some difficulty in moving. Like the carriage,
they belonged to the earlier part of the century. They were not as fleet
as the English horses of M. Fouquet, and consequently took two hours
to get to Saint-Mande. Their progress, it might be said, was majestic.
Majesty, however, precludes hurry. The marquise stopped the carriage at
the door so well known to her, although she had seen it only once, under
circumstances, it will be remembered, no less painful than those
which brought her now to it again. She drew a key from her pocket, and
inserted it in the lock, pushed open the door, which noiselessly yielded
to her touch, and directed the clerk to carry the chest upstairs to the
first floor. The weight of the chest was so great that the clerk was
obliged to get the coachman to assist him with it. They placed it in a
small cabinet, anteroom, or boudoir rather, adjoining the saloon where
we once saw M. Fouquet at the marquise's feet. Madame de Belliere gave
the coachman a louis, smiled gracefully at the clerk, and dismissed them
both. She closed the door after them, and waited in the room, alone
and barricaded. There was no servant to be seen about the rooms, but
everything was prepared as though some invisible genius had divined the
wishes and desires of an expected guest. The fire was laid, candles
in the candelabra, refreshments upon the table, books scattered about,
fresh-cut flowers in the vases. One might almost have imagined it an
enchanted house. The marquise lighted the candles, inhaled the perfume