Ever since he had been confirmed in his present office by a royal decree, Monsieur du Ronceret had been in favor of du Bousquier.

To others the purveyor seemed dangerous,--a man of bad habits, capable of anything.

In the provinces, as in Paris, men before the public eye are like that statue in the fine allegorical tale of Addison, for which two knights on arriving near it fought; for one saw it white, the other saw it black.

Then, when they were both off their horses, they saw it was white one side and black the other.

A third knight coming along declared it red.
When the chevalier went home that night, he made many reflections, as follows:-- "It is high time now to spread a rumor of my marriage with Mademoiselle Cormon.