Page 236 of 896

Yet, Monseigneur had slowly found that vulgar embarrassments

crept into his affairs, both private and public; and he had, as

to both classes of affairs, allied himself perforce with a

Farmer-General. As to finances public, because Monseigneur could

not make anything at all of them, and must consequently let them

out to somebody who could; as to finances private, because

Farmer-Generals were rich, and Monseigneur, after generations of

great luxury and expense, was growing poor. Hence Monseigneur had

taken his sister from a convent, while there was yet time to ward

off the impending veil, the cheapest garment she could wear, and

had bestowed her as a prize upon a very rich Farmer-General, poor

in family.