Chapter 41

           THEREWASonemaninGrasse,however,whodidnottrustthispeace.HisnamewasAntoineRichis,heheldthetitleofsecondconsul,andhelivedinagrandresidenceattheentrancetotherueDroite.RichiswasawidowerandhadadaughternamedLaure.Althoughnotyetfortyyearsoldandofundi-minishedvigor,heintendedtoputoffasecondmarriageforsometimeyet.Firsthewantedtofindahusbandforhisdaughter.Andnotthefirstcomer,either,butamanofrank.TherewasabarondeBouyonwhohadasonandanestatenearVence,amanofgoodreputationandmiserablefinancialsituation,withwhomRichishadalreadyconcludedacontractconcerningthefuturemarriageoftheirchildren.OncehehadmarriedLaureoff,heplannedtoputouthisowncourtingfeelersinthedirectionofthehighlyesteemedhousesofDree,Maubert,orFontmichel-notbecausehewasvainandwouldbedamnedifhedidn’tgetanoblebedmate,butbecausehewantedtofoundadynastyandtoputhisownposterityonatrackleadingdirectlytothehighestsocialandpoliticalinfluence.Forthatheneededatleasttwosons,onetotakeoverhisbusiness,theothertopursuealawcareerleadingtotheparliamentinAixandadvancementtothenobility.Givenhispresentrank,however,hecouldholdouthopesforsuchsuccessonlyifhemanagedintimatelytounitehisownpersonandfamilywithprovincialnobility.Onlyonethingjustifiedsuchhigh-soaringplans:hisfabulouswealth.AntoineRichiswasfarandawaythewealthiestcitizenanywherearound.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 257 из 326