There is an inherent contradiction in a country which prides itself in chopping the head of a monarch but continues to exercise deference in reference to powerful figures: nobility are still often referred to with their title (Monsieur le Comte, Monsieur le Vicomte etc), there is deep respect in conservative milieus of authority figures to the point where it is ridiculous (some people we knew were all up in arms when we referred to "Mr. Chirac" as "Jacques" or even "Chirac").
Important thing to remember about so-called French "nobility". Many of current "Comtes", "Vicomtes" etc. etc. were not descendants of the real nobility, but started to use these titles with purchase of estates; some as late as after collapse of the Second Empire. Some, like VGE's daddy or Maurice Couve de Murville, adopted extended name under rather weak regard to ancestry.
Btw, some people were mistaking Jacques Chaban-Delmas for nobility, but that was diffrent matter (adopting nom de guerre as a part of legal name).
