do not frighten you away, you will find there are
some amusements even here."

She threw him the ogling glance of the provinces, where women put so
much prudence and reserve into their eyes that they impart to them the
prudish concupiscence peculiar to certain ecclesiastics to whom all
pleasure is either a theft or an error. Charles was so completely out
of his element in this abode, and so far from the vast chateau and the
sumptuous life with which his fancy had endowed his uncle, that as he
looked at Madame des Grassins he perceived a dim likeness to Parisian
faces. He gracefully responded to the species of invitation addressed
to him, and began very naturally a conversation, in which Madame des
Grassins gradually lowered her voice so as to bring it into harmony with
the nature of the confidences she was making. With her, as with Charles,
there was the need of conference; so after a few moments spent in
coquettish phrases and a little serious jesting, the clever provincial
said, thinking herself unheard by the others, who were discussing the
sale of wines which at that season filled the heads of every one in
Saumur,--

"Monsieur if you will do us the honor to come and see us, you will give
as much pleasure to my husband as to myself. Our salon is the only one
in Saumur where you will find the higher business circles mingling with
the nobility. We belong to both societies, who meet at our house simply
because they find it amusing. My husband--I say it with pride--is as
much valued by the one class as by the other. We will try to relieve
the monotony of your visit here. If you stay all the time with Monsieur
Grandet, good heavens! what will become of you? Your uncle is a sordid
miser who thinks of nothing but his vines; your aunt is a pious soul who
can't put two ideas together; and your cousin is a little fool, without
education, perfectly common, no fortune, who will spend her life in
darning towels."

"She is really very nice, this woman," thought Charles Grandet as he
duly responded to Madame des Grassins' coquetries.

"It seems to me, wife, that you are taking possession of monsieur," said
the stout banker, laughing.

On this remark the notary and the president said a few words that were
more or less significant; but the abbe, looking at them slyly, brought
their thoughts to a focus by taking a pinch of snuff and saying as
he handed round his snuff-box: "Who can do the honors of Saumur for
monsieur so well a