The Dead Marquise: A Romance

Front matter

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Preface

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Neuilly, Aug. 22, 1862.

Monsieur: — It has been my felicity to have formed one of the household of the late Marquise de Sainte-Maure, — having acted as her principal maidin-waiting for over twenty years, and up to the very moment of her release from life, three months ago. In this connection, it becomes my painful duty to allude with just condemnation to the heirs of Madame la Marquise. These were all of distant degree, and none of them had ever paid her any attentions except of the most interested character. Yet, I grieve to state, that after her lamented decease, they exhibited the most extraordinary and culpable rapacity, not to be justified by other than long continued previous afifection and intercourse ; — in their division of

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her effects, stripping the chateau of all articles of the slightest value, and even extorting from ray charge those few pieces of jewelry which, upon such melancholy occasions, it so properly behooves a domestic of tried' and faithful service to retain. Nothing, in feet. Monsieur, has been permitted to remain in my possession, excepting the pages here enclosed, composed by Madame la Marquise during the last few months of her failing life ; and with which pages, perhaps from their being written in a trembling and partially illegible hand, no one of the heirs has cared to make himself acquainted.

I confess. Monsieur, that I myself have not read any of these pages. But it has been suggested to me, that, with some trifling alteration, they might be made available for farce or comedy at the Odeon, or Opera Comique; and that^ for this purpose, I might part with them for a suitable consideration, and thereby partially reimburse myself for the iniquitous frustration of my reasonable expectations. If, therefore, it should be in your mind to use the manuscript, you are at liberty so to do ; and I will esteem it a favor if you will send to me, as their probable value, the sum of forty francs. With respectful consideration, I remain. Monsieur,

Celeste Dupont.

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To MademoiseUe Celeste Dupont, of the Ju/iisehold of the late Mwrquise de Sainte-Maui'e^ NeuiUy.

Paris, September 13, 1852.

Mademoiselle : — Permit me to express mj^ obligations for the Mss. you have so kindly forwarded to me. In finding myself thus selected, as, in your judgment, the most suitable person to bestow upon them that proper and satisfactory attention which they seem so eminently to deserve, I feel that I cannot too warmly or gratefully acknowledge the compliment you have conferred upon me. Allow me, nevertheless, to tender my conviction, that your real estimate of the purpose and nature of the Mss. would have been greatly different from what it now is, if you had thought them worthy of an attempted perusal. I cannot forget that the late lamented Marquise has been spoken of as one who, bowing beneath the weight of past sorrows, had voluntarily retired from a world which, in its turn, had too soon consented to forget her ; bearing thenceforth, her isolation with sweet, sad serenity, and simply striving to beautify her daily life with the practices of abundant and well-bestowed charities. It does not seem, therefore, that she could have been one wfiose pen would indulge in mirth-compelling thoughts to

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recollections. And when I recall to your mind what I have more lately learned, that she expired suddenly and without warning, while giving expressibn to what must have been almost the concluding sentence, and that her death was supposed to have been hastened by some tender emotion of the mind, stimulated to undue activity by the realization of having at last arrived at the end of a mournful task, you will perhaps agree with me, that the Mss. can scarcely contain elements suitable for re-arrangement in farce or comedy. But inasmuch as I may be able to make other use of them, with your permission I will now retain them ; and I take pleasure herewith in placing.at your disposal the sum of forty francs, mentioned by you as your estimate of their value.

With great respect I subscribe myself. Mademoiselle,

Obediently Yours,

Theophiltts Leolebo.

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COISTTENTS.

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