umstances, with an
awkward apology for his presence, tending only to make every one else
more awkward yet; nor made set speeches, nor foolish compliments, on a
subject too important for such trifling.

He did not trouble me with any attentions, which he perceived would be
at that moment distasteful, but exhibited the most marked desire to
cultivate the acquaintance of Auguste, to whom he showed a degree of
deference, though himself somewhat the senior, as to a military man,
that flattered his _esprit de corps_, mingled with a sort of frank
cordiality, which except from countryman to countryman in a foreign
land, would perhaps have been a little overdone: but, under the actual
circumstances, it could not have been improved.

For the short time he remained, he conversed well, and wittily; yet with
a strain of fancy and feeling, blended with his wit, which rendered it
singularly original and attractive; and perfectly succeeded, though I
know not whether he intended it or not, in directing the attention of
the company from my altered and somewhat unamiable mood.

Among other things I remember, that in the course of conversation, while
tendering some civilities to Auguste, the use of his riding horses, his
cabriolet, or his services in showing him some of the lions of London,
he observed that Monsieur de Chatenoeuf must not consider such an offer
impertinent on his part, since he believed, if our genealogy were
properly traced, some sort of cousinship could be established; as more
than one of the De Chavannes had intermarried in old times with the
Chatenoeufs of Gascony, when both the families, like their native
provinces, had been acting in alliance with the English Plantagenets,
against the French kings of the house of Valois.

A few words were said, in connexion with this, touching the singularity
of the fact, that it would seem as if England had something to do with
the associations of the two families; but I do not think the remark was
made by De Chavannes, and whatever it was, it was not sufficiently
pointed to be in any way offensive or annoying.

On the whole, hurt as I was in some sort by the idea which had taken
hold of me, that the Gironacs, through a false and indelicate idea of
advancing my welfare, were endeavouring to promote a liking between
myself and the Count, I cannot deny, that the evening on the whole, was
a pleasant one, and that, if at first it had been my impression that De
Chavannes was agreeab