The stately manner of Germain caught his glance at once, and bowing deferentially he inquired the name.
"It does not matter," said Germain.
"A Normandy squire," thought the genealogist, from something in the accent. He invited his visitor to seat himself in the chair facing his table, and took his own seat at the opposite side.
"I am newly arrived at Court," said Germain. "What is the best way to become acquainted with the history of the great families?"
"Not in the least likely you come to me for that," thought the expert. "It is simple," said he aloud. "Read my Repertory of Genealogy, which is to be had for fifty livres of the bookseller Giraud, No. 79, Palais Royal, and which is the infallible standard upon the subject, and is read by the whole of the Court, the noblesse, the magistrature, and in general the French nation."
"Very well, I shall obtain it," answered Germain; "but can you now answer questions about some of the less conspicuous lines?"
"I have only, sir, to be told a name, and I guarantee for twenty livres to relate in written abstract the history of every branch of it which was ever noble. I also, for a fee, according to the difficulties, make a specialty of resuscitating genealogies which have been dimmed by lapse of time or by those misfortunes which often make it seem to the inexperienced that such blood is ignoble—an impression which is without question in itself the most deplorable misfortune of all in such cases. I have discovered barons in chair-menders, and viscounts in cheese-hawkers," and he looked at Germain cheerfully.
"Such things do not concern me," was the haughty reply. "I am interested in a family named Lecour. I desire an account of the titles now or heretofore possessed by persons of that name."
The professional consulted a register "L" on a shelf behind.
"The name is a common one, sir, yet the list is not long. Indeed so common is the name, and so short the list of its stocks of distinction that there have been but two. One is the well-known family of Amiens, the other is now obscure."