It was the dearest wish of his heart to transform what had been a lifelong friendship in his own generation into a closer relationship in the next--a wish that found a very ready echo in the heart of Monsieur de Condillac.

Florimond de Condillac was sixteen years of age at the time, and Valerie de La Vauvraye fourteen.

For all their tender years, they were betrothed, and they grew up to love each other and to look forward to the consummation of the plans their fathers had laid for them." "Monsieur, monsieur," the Seneschal protested, "how can you possibly infer so much?
How can you say that they loved each other?
What authority can you have for pretending to know what was in their inmost hearts ?" "The authority of Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye," was the unanswerable rejoinder.

"I am telling you, more or less, what she herself wrote to the Queen." "Ah! Well, well--proceed, monsieur." "This marriage should render Florimond de Condillac the wealthiest and most powerful gentleman in Dauphiny--one of the wealthiest in France; and the idea of it pleased the old marquis, inasmuch as the disparity there would be between the worldly possessions of his two sons would serve to mark his disapproval of the younger.

But before settling down, Florimond signified a desire to see the world, as was fit and proper and becoming in a young man who was later to assume such wide responsibilities.