Malicorne and Manicamp.
The introduction of these two new personages into this history and that mysterious affinity of names and sentiments, merit some attention on the part of both historian and reader.We will then enter into some details concerning Messieurs Malicorne and Manicamp.Malicorne we know, had made the journey to Orleans in search of the brevet destined for Mademoiselle de Montalais, the arrival of which had produced such a strong feeling at the castle of Blois.At that moment, M.de Manicamp was at Orleans.Asingular person was this M.de Manicamp; a very intelligent young fellow, always poor, always needy, although he dipped his hand freely into the purse of M.le Comte de Guiche, one of the best furnished purses of the period.M.le Comte de Guiche had had, as the companion of his boyhood, this De Manicamp, a poor gentleman, vassal-born, of the house of Grammont.M.de Manicamp, with his tact and talent, had created himself a revenue in the opulent family of the celebrated marechal.From his infancy he had, with calculation beyond his age, lent his name and complaisance to the follies of the Comte de Guiche.If his noble companion had stolen some fruit destined for Madame la Marechale, if he had broken a mirror, or put out a dog's eye, Manicamp declared himself guilty of the crime committed, and received the punishment, which was not made the milder for falling on the innocent.But this was the way this system of abnegation was paid for: instead of wearing such mean habiliments as his paternal fortunes entitled him to, he was able to appear brilliant, superb, like a young noble of fifty thousand livres a year.It was not that he was mean in character or humble in spirit; no, he was a philosopher, or rather he had the indifference, the apathy, the obstinacy which banish from man every sentiment of the supernatural.His sole ambition was to spend money.But, in this respect, the worthy M.de Manicamp was a gulf.Three or four times every year he drained the Comte de Guiche, and when the Comte de Guiche was thoroughly drained, when he had turned out his pockets and his purse before him, when he declared that it would be at least a fortnight before paternal munificence would refill those pockets and that purse, Manicamp lost all his energy, he went to bed, remained there, ate nothing and sold his handsome clothes, under the pretense that, remaining in bed, he did not want them.During this prostration of mind and strength, the purse of the Comte de Guiche was getting full again, and when once filled, overflowed into that of De Manicamp, who bought new clothes, dressed himself again, and recommenced the same life he had followed before.The mania of selling his new clothes for a quarter of what they were worth had rendered our hero sufficiently celebrated in Orleans, a city where, in general, we should be puzzled to say why he came to pass his days of penitence.Provincial debauches, petits-maitres of six hundred livres a year, shared the fragments of his opulence.
Among the admirers of these splendid toilettes, our friend Malicorne was conspicuous; he was the son of a syndic of the city, of whom M.de Conde, always needy as a De Conde, often borrowed money at enormous interest.M.Malicorne kept the paternal money-chest; that is to say, that in those times of easy morals, he had made for himself, by following the example of his father, and lending at high interest for short terms, a revenue of eighteen hundred livres, without reckoning six hundred livres furnished by the generosity of the syndic, so that Malicorne was the king of the gay youth of Orleans, having two thousand four hundred livres to scatter, squander, and waste on follies of every kind.But, quite contrary to Manicamp, Malicorne was terribly ambitious.He loved from ambition; he spent money out of ambition; and he would have ruined himself for ambition.
Malicorne had determined to rise, at whatever price it might cost, and for this, at whatever price it did cost, he had given himself a mistress and a friend.The mistress, Mademoiselle de Montalais, was cruel as regarded love; but she was of a noble family, and that was sufficient for Malicorne.The friend had little or no friendship, but he was the favorite of the Comte de Guiche, himself the friend of Monsieur, the king's brother, and that was sufficient for Malicorne.Only, in the chapter of charges, Mademoiselle de Montalais cost per annum: -- ribbons, gloves, and sweets, a thousand livres.De Manicamp cost -- money lent, never returned -- from twelve to fifteen hundred livres per annum.
So that there was nothing left for Malicorne.Ah! yes, we are mistaken; there was left the paternal strong box.He employed a mode of proceeding, upon which he preserved the most profound secrecy, and which consisted in advancing to himself from the coffers of the syndic, half a dozen year's profits, that is to say, fifteen thousand livres, swearing to himself -- observe, quite to himself -- to repay this deficiency as soon as an opportunity should present itself.
The opportunity was expected to be the concession of a good post in the household of Monsieur, when that household would be established at the period of his marriage.This juncture had arrived, and the household was about to be established.