Matrimony in France.
A case throwing light of the curious state of Parisian society has just been tried before the
Civil Tribunal.
It ran to some length but the fact are few and simple.
The
Marquiside Trevelic, who was represented to be long to one of the noblest families in
France, his ancestors having figured in the Crusades, was some time ago anxious to marry, and as his exchequer is not flourishing he required a young lady who, in addition to youth, beauty and virtue, should possess wealth.
But though, from his rank and name having access to the best society, both aristocratic and financial, of the capital, he doubted that he could himself find a suitable damsel, and so he charged a certain
Madame Jolly de Monteson to seek out one for him, promising to pay her for her trouble.
This female, whose occupation is to negotiate marriages, introduced him to a respectable and rich family, in which was a young lady ready to wed. A marriage was resolved on, but, for some reason not stated, it was broked off. On that the
Marquiside Trevelec prayed
Madame Jolly de Montesson to resume her search for a wife for him, and she said that she knew two rich young ladies,
sisters, Millies. A.--, whose parents wanted husbands for them.
The marquis has a brother, the
Count de Trevelec, who was also desirous to marry, and an understanding was come to between them and
Madame de Montesson that the pay her 500 pounds sterling each, of she could secure for them the hands of the two girls, with 12,000 pounds sterling fortune to each, and a lesser sum in the event of the fortune being less.
In the event of only one of the brothers being accepted 500 pounds sterling were to be paid by him alone.
This understanding was set forth in a deed drawn up and executed in due form.
But the father of the girls, a retired trader, would not allow them to wed nobles, and so the affair fell to the ground.
Madame de Montesson, however, knew two other sisters, Millies. B. --, of the Ru--,both pretty, both young, both rich, and to their family and to them she introduced the brothers, through the family physician.
The result was that the
Marquis de Trevelec was accepted by, and in due time married to, the elder sister, but no union was brought about between the younger girl and the younger brother.
After the marriage.
Madame de Montesson called on the
Marquis de Trevelec to pay her £600, according to his agreement; but he refused, on the ground that he had only authorized her to negotiate a marriage with one of the Maides --, and that she had nothing to do beyond getting him introduced by the doctor, with his marriage with Maides B.--A great deal of angry correspondence took place between the parties, but they could not agree, and the woman brought an action for £600.
She, to support it, produced her agreement, which expressly said that she should be paid that sum in the event of her obtaining the marriage of the
Marquis to one of the Mdlies.A — or one of the Mdlies. B.--But the
Marquis maintained that the document was only applicable to the Mdlies A.--. and that the words "or the Mdlies. B.--had been added after he had signed it.
The tribunal, after weighing all the facts and reading all the correspondence in the case, came to the conclusion that the agreement was not appointed the marriage effected between he
Marquis and the Mdlie.
B--, but considering that it was through the plaintiff that he had become acquainted with her, and that he knew that she expected to be paid for her services, it ordered him to gave her £20.
Such is the way marriages are made in high life in
Paris.
