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in him； all the more painful for you； because you will feel yourself
responsible； and you will end by despising the man whom you have not
accustomed yourself to respect。 Remember； too； that scorn with a woman
is only the earliest phase of hatred。 You are too noble and generous；
I know； ever to forget the sacrifices which Felipe has made for you；
but what further sacrifices will be left for him to make when he has；
so to speak； served up himself at the first banquet？ Woe to the man；
as to the woman； who has left no desire unsatisfied！ All is over then。
To our shame or our glorythe point is too nice for me to decideit
is of love alone that women are insatiable。
Oh！ Louise； change yet； while there is still time。 If you would only
adopt the same course with Macumer that I have done with l'Estorade；
you might rouse the sleeping lion in your husband； who is made of the
stuff of heroes。 One might almost say that you grudge him his
greatness。 Would you feel no pride in using your power for other ends
than your own gratification； in awakening the genius of a gifted man；
as I in raising to a higher level one of merely common parts？
Had you remained with us； I should still have written this letter； for
in talking you might have cut me short or got the better of me with
your sharp tongue。 But I know that you will read this thoughtfully and
weigh my warnings。 Dear heart； you have everything in life to make you
happy； do not spoil your chances； return to Paris； I entreat you； as
soon as Macumer comes back。 The engrossing claims of society； of which
I complained； are necessary for both of you； otherwise you would spend
your life in mutual self…absorption。 A married woman ought not to be
too lavish of herself。 The mother of a family； who never gives her
household an opportunity of missing her； runs the risk of palling on
them。 If I have several children； as I trust for my own sake I may； I
assure you I shall make a point of reserving to myself certain hours
which shall be held sacred； even to one's children one's presence
should not be a matter of daily bread。
Farewell； my dear jealous soul！ Do you know that many women would be
highly flattered at having roused this passing pang in you？ Alas！ I
can only mourn； for what is not mother in me is your dear friend。 A
thousand loves。 Make what excuse you will for leaving； if you are not
sure of Macumer； I am of Louis。
XXXVII
THE BARONNE DE MACUMER TO THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
Genoa。
My beloved beauty；I was bitten with the fancy to see something of
Italy； and I am delighted at having carried off Macumer； whose plans
in regard to Sardinia are postponed。
This country is simple ravishing。 The churchesabove all； the chapels
have a seductive； bewitching air； which must make every female
Protestant yearn after Catholicism。 Macumer has been received with
acclamation； and they are all delighted to have made an Italian of so
distinguished a man。 Felipe could have the Sardinian embassy at Paris
if I cared about it； for I am made much of at court。
If you write； address your letters to Florence。 I have not time now to
go into any details； but I will tell you the story of our travels
whenever you come to Paris。 We only remain here a week； and then go on
to Florence； taking Leghorn on the way。 We shall stay a month in
Tuscany and a month at Naples； so as to reach Rome in November。 Thence
we return home by Venice； where we shall spend the first fortnight of
December； and arrive in Paris； /via/ Milan and Turin； for January。
Our journey is a perfect honeymoon； the sight of new places gives
fresh life to our passion。 Macumer did not know Italy at all； and we
have begun with that splendid Cornice road； which might be the work of
fairy architects。
Good…bye； darling。 Don't be angry if I don't write。 It is impossible
to get a minute to oneself in traveling； my whole time is taken up
with seeing； admiring； and realizing my impressions。 But not a word to
you of these till memory has given them their proper atmosphere。
XXXVIII
THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE TO THE BARONNE DE MACUMER
September。
My dear；There is lying for you at Chantepleurs a full reply to the
letter you wrote me from Marseilles。 This honeymoon journey； so far
from diminishing the fears I there expressed； makes me beg of you to
get my letter sent on from Nivernais。
The Government； it is said； are resolved on dissolution。 This is
unlucky for the Crown； since the last session of this loyal Parliament
would have been devoted to the passing of laws； essential to the
consolidation of its power； and it is not less so for us； as Louis
will not be forty till the end of 1827。 Fortunately； however； my
father has agreed to stand； and he will resign his seat when the right
moment arrives。
Your godson has found out how to walk without his godmother's help。 He
is altogether delicious； and begins to make the prettiest little signs
to me； which bring home to one that here is really a thinking being；
not a mere animal or sucking machine。 His smiles are full of meaning。
I have been so successful in my profession of nurse that I shall wean
Armand in December。 A year at the breast is quite enough； children who
are suckled longer are said to grow stupid； and I am all for popular
sayings。
You must make a tremendous sensation in Italy； my fair one with the
golden locks。 A thousand loves。
XXXIX
THE BARONNE DE MACUMER TO THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
Your atrocious letter has reached me here； the steward having
forwarded it by my orders。 Oh！ Renee 。 。 。 but I will spare you the
outburst of my wounded feelings； and simply tell you the effect your
letter produced。
We had just returned from a delightful reception given in our honor by
the ambassador； where I appeared in all my glory； and Macumer was
completely carried away in a frenzy of love which I could not
describe。 Then I read him your horrible answer to my letter； and I
read it sobbing； at the risk of making a fright of myself。 My dear
Arab fell at my feet； declaring that you raved。 Then he carried me off
to the balcony of the palace where we are staying； from which we have
a view over part of the city； there he spoke to me words worthy of the
magnificent moonlight scene which lay stretched before us。 We both
speak Italian now； and his love； told in that voluptuous tongue； so
admirably adapted to the expression of passion； sounded in my ears
like the most exquisite poetry。 He swore that； even were you right in
your predictions； he would not exchange for a lifetime a single one of
our blessed nights or charming mornings。 At this reckoning he has
already lived a thousand years。 He is content to have me for his
mistress； and would claim no other title than that of lover。 So proud
and pleased is he to see himself every day the chosen of my heart；
that were Heaven to offer him the alternative between living as you
would have us to for another thirty years with five children； and five
years spent amid the dear roses of our love； he would not hesitate。 He
would take my love； such as it is； and death。
While he was whispering this in my ear； his arm round me； my head
resting on