His father, realizing the wisdom of such a step, made but slight objection, and at the age of twenty Florimond set out for the Italian wars.

Two years afterwards, a little over six months ago, his father died, and was followed to the grave some weeks later by Monsieur de La Vauvraye.

The latter, with a want of foresight which has given rise to the present trouble, misjudging the character of the Dowager of Condillac, entrusted to her care his daughter Valerie pending Florimond's return, when the nuptials would naturally be immediately celebrated.

I am probably telling you no more than you already know.
But you owe the infliction to your own unwillingness to answer my questions." "No, no, monsieur; I assure you that in what you say there is much that is entirely new to me." "I rejoice to hear it, Monsieur de Tressan," said Garnache very seriously, "for had you been in possession of all these facts, Her Majesty might have a right to learn how it chanced that you had nowise interfered in what is toward at Condillac.
"But to proceed: Madame de Condillac and her precious Benjamin--this Marius--finding themselves, in Florimond's absence, masters of the situation, have set about turning it to their own best advantage.
Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye, whilst being nominally under their guardianship, finds herself practically gaoled by them, and odious plans are set before her to marry Marius.

Could the Dowager but accomplish this, it would seem that she would not only be assuring a future of ease and dignity for her son, but also be giving vent to all her pent-up hatred of her stepson.
"Mademoiselle, however, withstands them, and in this she is aided by a fortuitous circumstance which has arisen out of the overbearing arrogance that appears to be madame's chief characteristic.