_M. de Mar appears to consider himself of very little consequence,
or of very great, since he is absent a whole month from the Hôtel
de Lorraine. Does he think he is not missed? Or is he so sure of
his standing that he fears no supplanting? In either case he is
wrong. He is missed but he will not be missed forever. He may, if
he will, be forgiven; or he may, if he will, be forgotten. If he
would escape oblivion, let him come to-night, at the eleventh hour,
to lay his apologies at the feet of_