But he had lived there quietly, had sought no preferment of the government--even rejecting many offers--and had confined his recognition to as narrow limits as possible.

He had married and there had been born to him a daughter, whom he had named after the ancient dames of his honorable house, Laure.
The Count d'Aumenier, living thus retired, had fallen into rather careless habits after the death of his wife, and the little demoiselle had been brought up indifferently indeed.

Dark, brown-eyed, black-haired, she had given promise of beauty to come.

Left to her own devices she had acquired accomplishments most unusual in that day and by no means feminine.

She could ride, shoot, swim, run, fence, much better than she could dance the old courtly minuet, or the new and popular waltz, just beginning to make its appearance.