M. Gillenormand had inherited it from a grim maternal great-aunt, who had died a centenarian.
He had had two wives. His manners were something between those of the courtier, which he had never been, and the lawyer, which he might have been. He was gay, and caressing when he had a mind.
In his youth he had been one of those men who are always deceived by their wives and never by their mistresses, because they are, at the same time, the most sullen of husbands and the most charming of lovers in existence.
He was a connoisseur of painting.
He had in his chamber a marvellous portrait of no one knows whom, painted by Jordaens, executed with great dashes of the brush, with millions of details, in a confused and hap-hazard manner.
M. Gillenormand''s attire was not the habit of Louis XIV.
nor yet that of Louis XVI.; it was that of the Incroyables of the Directory.
He had thought himself young up to that period and had followed the fashions. His coat was of light-weight cloth with voluminous revers, a long swallow-tail and large steel buttons.
With this he wore knee-breeches and buckle shoes.
He always thrust his hands into his fobs. He said authoritatively:
"The French Revolution is a heap of blackguards."
BOOK SECOND.--THE GREAT BOURGEOIS
CHAPTER III
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