George P. James

George P. James. The Ancient Regime

London:  Longman, 1841.

Synopsis of The Ancient Regime

 

Written in 1841, during the height of James's career, The Ancient Regime is a self-proclaimed story of "the education of a girl from infancy to womanhood, by a man unconnected with her by blood, together with the results to both" (Preface). This in part is true, in part not, seeing as how the first eighteen years of the girl's life is glossed over in only a few pages.

The story begins in Paris in 17--, with a filigree-worker named Pierre Morin, his wife and the child named Annette. They are poor, and Pierre slaves over his work just to feed his small family. Soon, however, enters into their apartment the Abbe de Castleneau, who had just offered the mother money on the street to help her baby, which she politely declined. He is taken by her honor and dignity, and offers to help them in any way he can. He suggests taking the child and raising her; since they are poor, they agree.

Pierre then goes to work for Fiteau, a goldsmith who locks Pierre in his store in order to make sure Pierre finishes his work hastily. While inside, Pierre witnesses two men murder Fiteau, and foils their escape. There is a third person present with the two assailants, but he is uninvolved in the murder, and flees quickly, seen only by Morin and by Fiteau's servant-boy, Pierre Jean. Pierre Morin is questioned by the police lieutenant, and Pierre's honesty and attention to detail earn him the lieutenant's admiration. He offers Pierre a station with the police, which Pierre happily accepts.

When Pierre goes to find the child and the abbe, however, they no longer reside in the apartment they were in. They have fled, the abbe leaving a debt that has mysteriously been paid by an unknown source.

Fast-forward eighteen years. A distant relative of the abbe has died, and since the abbe is the only survivor, he inherits the large estate of Castleneau out in the countryside. Along with this comes great wealth, and the title of Count. Since the abbe was never fully involved in the church, and was not tied to it, he abandons his post as abbe and takes as his sole occupation teaching Annette. He does not instruct her on normal subjects, however, but on matters of the heart; basically, on how to "love." The country is ideal for this, beautiful, enchanting, in direct contrast with the city, which is filthy, dank, full of corruption and greed.

The Count and Annette remain relatively secluded, but after eighteen years begin to open up to the country around them. One of their neighbors is the Marquis de Cajare, who has a son in the army near to Annette's age. The Baron of Cajare, we soon learn, loses Annette's favor with his stern, conniving ways, and is to be the story's main villain.

While Annette is out in the woods, visiting a large stone fountain with a cross at the center, she encounters a man and woman, and the woman instantly hugs her and shows her unbridled affection. They leave, and Annette wonders who the mysterious people are (though the reader understands they are her birth mother and Pierre Morin).

At this same fountain later, Annette is attacked by a wolf, but is saved by a gentleman who shoots the wolf with his pistol just as the wolf lurches for Annette's neck. The gentleman is very kind but asks for anonymity, not revealing his name to Annette for unknown reasons.

The next day, when Annette is on her way to visit the ailing Count de Nogent, another neighbor, she again runs into her rescuer, and discovers that he is Ernest de Nogent, the Count's son. The reason he seeks anonymity is because he is absent from his military assignment without leave, home without permission to help his ailing father. Since he is assigned under the Baron de Cajare, Cajare soon shows up to arrest Ernest. At the same time, Pierre Morin, now the confidential agent and advisor of police, arrives to arrest Cajare. Nogent is ordered to return to his post, and Cajare is taken under Morin's custody.

Soon after the Count de Castleneau is summoned to Paris by the King. On the way to Paris he meets Ernest, who is traveling there as well to apologize for taking his leave. When they meet Louis XV, a very feminine and yet domineering character, who is surrounded by filthy-talking, gambling swindlers, we discover that the Count has been brought into question by Cajare. The Count swears that it is only because of Cajare's inability to win over Annette. The King orders the Count to stay in Paris for the duration of a trial against Cajare, and advises him to send for Annette. Secretly, the Count tells Ernest that he will never send for her.
However, she receives a courier soon (none other than Pierre Jean, the servant-boy of Fiteau), with a note in a counterfeit of her father's hand, stating that Annette must come immediately to Paris. She goes with Pierre Jean, who ends up kidnapping her and taking her to a house out in the country.

Meanwhile, both Ernest and Pierre Morin discover this plot, and that it is the handiwork of none other than Cajare. They work together to foil it, and since Pierre Morin knows almost everything about everyone, he knows exactly where Cajare has had her taken. They go separately to the place at night.

Inside the house, Cajare comes into the room where Annette is held, and claims he has arrived to rescue her. At first she believes him, but after he leaves the room he begins commanding the vigilantes, and Annette realizes that he has orchestrated the entire plot. She escapes out a window, just as Ernest squares off with Cajare in the front of the house. Pierre Morin arrives as well, and after taking Cajare custody, they search the house for Annette. She is nowhere to be found.
Annette, escaping into the woods, is suddenly met by the "mysterious" woman, named Louise, who she saw at the fountain before. Together, in Louise's carriage, they make their way to safety. They board for one night at a disheveled house, but are soon in danger as the inhabitants become violent. In bursts Ernest, who has somehow found them, and squares off with one of the men who wields a gun. Ernest kills the man, but is wounded. The King then shows up with his party, and orders Annette to go to Versailles where the Count is currently staying. Ernest is not badly hurt, and recovers. He and Annette meet in Versailles soon after, and confess their love for one another. They agree to get married.

While this is happening, somehow Cajare has avoided detention once again (it is implied that the corrupt King has a hand in his easy escapes), and plots for his revenge, which includes gaining Annette as his wife. Pierre Jean, his accomplice, offers him the information that Annette is Pierre Morin's daughter, and that she will not be able to marry Ernest because of her low birth. They send a letter to the Duke of Choisel, Ernest's uncle, because they know he will never stand for such a union.

The Duke, upon receiving this letter, states that although they've agreed to an engagement, Ernest and Annette can not be married. Here it is hinted that Annette may not be Pierre Morin's daughter, but of a higher birth. But, since there is no documentation, the Duke regrettably cannot give his consent.
Pierre Jean then offers Cajare another bit of information, that of the third assailant. He tells Cajare that the Count de Castleneau was indeed the third person present at the murder of Fiteau, and that Cajare can use this as leverage against the Count to force Annette's hand. Cajare goes to the Count and in this venture he somewhat succeeds, but pushes too far, and the Count throws him out, stating that he will take whatever punishment he may receive, instead of giving Annette to a deviant like himself. After Cajare leaves he faints, and when Ernest arrives, he is forced to tell his side of the story. He admits to being present that day, but states he had nothing to do with the murder. He fled as soon as he understood the situation, and therefore had no part in Fiteau's death.

Soon all the male characters are brought together in a sort of courtroom setting in Versailles, where all grievances are aired and accusations are made. Cajare charges the Count with his involvement in the murder, and also charges Pierre Morin for knowing that the Count was present and yet holding his tongue. However, papers soon reveal that Morin in fact mentioned the count, and the police had him watched. Since he caused no problems after the murder, and was apparently uninvolved, they did not pursue him.

It is therefore the Count's word against Cajare's. And Cajare has been only a week before charged with using rigged dice in gambling. They also bring in Pierre Jean, and the contract they drew up involving their dastardly mischief and attempts to win over Annette through illegitimate means. Cajare's character is in disrepute, and therefore the Count is absolved. In anger Cajare lunges at Pierre Morin, who easily dodges him, and uses it as another proof of his guilt. Morin orders him to be banished to the Colonies.

Months pass, and the Count, Annette and Ernest happily ride back to Castleneau. On their way, Pierre Morin and the "mysterious" woman, Louise d'Argencerre, meet up with them. They explain to everyone the whole of Annette's story. Annette is not, after all, Pierre Morin's child, but the child of this woman, Louise d'Argencerre, and her late husband. When Annette's father died, Louise left the child with the Morins to keep her hidden from her own disapproving father. The Morins then believed them both to be dead, and sent the child away with the Abbe to have a better life. Louise soon returned looking for her child; when Pierre and his wife told her, she said they did the right thing, and even paid the Abbe's debts so he could securely leave the city. She watched Annette grow up then with interest, but always from a distance.

But, now they possess the rightful documents of Annette's birth. Annette will then not only inherit the Count's money, but Louise's as well. They all plan to live together in Castleneau. And, since Annette is born of a high family, any objections to her and Ernest's union are wiped away.
The Count steps between Ernest and Annette, and offers his blessing. However, there is a loud bang, and the Count stumbles, then falls over. In the distance, Cajare, once again escaping punishment, wields the pistol. Ernest goes to him and fights him, killing him with a sword. But it is too late; the Count lies dead at Annette's feet. This is where the story ends.

-- Prepared by Joe Rein, University of Nebraska, April 2006.
© Joe Rein, 2006.