[Author's note]

   We know that this discernment, this foresight of new beauty, M. de Montesquiou has extended out to diverse artistic industries. His name is inseparable for example from the names of Gallé and Lalique. And always with an eclecticism that makes him admire and honour talents the most opposed to what in appearance would seem to be those he must love uniquely (for example, who can forget the statue and the privileged altar that he erected to Mme Valmore? Mme Valore's maidservant had entrusted to M. de Montesquiou the care of looking after her tomb. But he had already raised up and restored to life "the tree of greatness" on that tomb).