This is of a piece with his whole conduct now: everything that passes in the village I am made acquainted with; he has even confided to me several important family secrets;--in short, on every affair, even of the slightest moment, M. le Commandant is consulted. Moreover, M. Bonnemain pays me a regular visit at ten every morning to know my pleasure for the day. Several ridiculous petitions to the Duke (all of which he attends to) have been suppressed, and the complainants brought before me. But this is out of fashion; at present nobody thinks of complaining; we are all too good friends for that. Nor is this all: I begin to have hopes that my Fauigny affair has at last obtained a proper hearing, since an officer sent by Sir Edward Barnes came down to inquire how matters stand, and whether I have as yet paid any of the money. _August 21st._--Called at Rue de Richelieu this morning to learn from Sir George Wood what is in the wind, but he knew nothing about it.[26] _August 26th._--I find an undoubted communication from Sir George Wood’s major of brigade (Captain Baynes, R.A.), informing me that the Fauigny (or lead) affair had assumed a more favourable appearance, and that Sir George desired I would take no further steps in it until I heard again from him. This is established; but then follow some contradictions which I cannot reconcile, and must therefore note them down as they are, rather than lose them altogether. M. Fauigny, quite elated at the attention paid to his first complaint, had employed an appraiser, or some such person, to draw up a complete estimate of furniture destroyed, and every sort of damage done to the chateau, with which he again waited on the Duke, in the hope that all would be ordered to be paid as before. This time, however, he was unfortunate in arriving just as the Duke dismounted, in a very ill humour, at his residence in the Elysée Bourbon. With true French effrontery, M. Fauigny followed his Grace up the grand staircase. Arrived at the landing, the Duke, probably observing him for the first time, turned sharply, demanding, “What the devil do you want, sir?” Nothing daunted by this rough address, M. Fauigny mentioned his subject in a few words, presenting at the same time his _bill_, instead of taking which, the Duke, turning hastily away, in his usual rough manner, exclaimed to his aide-de-camp, “Pooh!--kick the rascal down-stairs!” Such is the story as I got it--whether exactly true or not is more than I can now decide; but this much is certain, that Sir Edward Barnes immediately communicated to Sir George Wood M. Fauigny’s discomfiture, adding, “Send word of this to your friend Captain Mercer, and let him do as he pleases about the lead.”