第1章
Oneofthefewdrawing-roomswhere，undertheRestoration，theArchbishopofBesanconwassometimestobeseen，wasthatoftheBaronnedeWatteville，towhomhewasparticularlyattachedonaccountofherreligioussentiments。
Awordastothislady，themostimportantladyofBesancon。
MonsieurdeWatteville，adescendantofthefamousWatteville，themostsuccessfulandillustriousofmurderersandrenegades——hisextraordinaryadventuresaretoomuchapartofhistorytoberelatedhere——thisnineteenthcenturyMonsieurdeWattevillewasasgentleandpeaceableashisancestorofthe/GrandSiecle/hadbeenpassionateandturbulent。Afterlivinginthe/Comte/(LaFrancheComte)likeawood-louseinthecrackofawainscot，hehadmarriedtheheiressofthecelebratedhouseofRupt。MademoiselledeRuptbroughttwentythousandfrancsayearinthefundstoaddtothetenthousandfrancsayearinrealestateoftheBarondeWatteville。TheSwissgentleman"scoat-of-arms(theWattevillesareSwiss)wasthenborneasanescutcheonofpretenceontheoldshieldoftheRupts。Themarriage，arrangedin1802，wassolemnizedin1815afterthesecondRestoration。WithinthreeyearsofthebirthofadaughterallMadamedeWatteville"sgrandparentsweredead，andtheirestateswoundup。
MonsieurdeWatteville"shousewasthensold，andtheysettledintheRuedelaPrefectureinthefineoldmansionoftheRupts，withanimmensegardenstretchingtotheRueduPerron。MadamedeWatteville，devoutasagirl，becameevenmoresoafterhermarriage。SheisoneofthequeensofthesaintlybrotherhoodwhichgivestheuppercirclesofBesanconasolemnairandprudishmannersinharmonywiththecharacterofthetown。
MonsieurleBarondeWatteville，adry，leanmandevoidofintelligence，lookedwornoutwithoutanyoneknowingwhereby，forheenjoyedtheprofoundestignorance；butashiswifewasared-hairedwoman，andofasternnaturethatbecameproverbial(westillsay"assharpasMadamedeWatteville")，somewitsofthelegalprofessiondeclaredthathehadbeenwornagainstthatrock——/Rupt/isobviouslyderivedfrom/rupes/。ScientificstudentsofsocialphenomenawillnotfailtohaveobservedthatRosaliewastheonlyoffspringoftheunionbetweentheWattevillesandtheRupts。
MonsieurdeWattevillespenthisexistenceinahandsomeworkshopwithalathe；hewasaturner!Assubsidiarytothispursuit，hetookupafancyformakingcollections。Philosophicaldoctors，devotedtothestudyofmadness，regardthistendencytowardscollectingasafirstdegreeofmentalaberrationwhenitissetonsmallthings。TheBarondeWattevilletreasuredshellsandgeologicalfragmentsoftheneighborhoodofBesancon。Somecontradictoryfolk，especiallywomen，wouldsayofMonsieurdeWatteville，"Hehasanoblesoul!Heperceivedfromthefirstdaysofhismarriedlifethathewouldneverbehiswife"smaster，sohethrewhimselfintoamechanicaloccupationandgoodliving。"
ThehouseoftheRuptswasnotdevoidofacertainmagnificenceworthyofLouisXIV。，andboretracesofthenobilityofthetwofamilieswhohadmingledin1815。Thechandeliersofglasscutintheshapeofleaves，thebrocades，thedamask，thecarpets，thegiltfurniture，wereallinharmonywiththeoldliveriesandtheoldservants。Thoughservedinblackenedfamilyplate，roundalooking-glasstrayfurnishedwithDresdenchina，thefoodwasexquisite。ThewinesselectedbyMonsieurdeWatteville，who，tooccupyhistimeandvaryhisemployments，washisownbutler，enjoyedasortoffamethroughoutthedepartment。MadamedeWatteville"sfortunewasafineone；whileherhusband"s，whichconsistedonlyoftheestateofRouxey，worthabouttenthousandfrancsayear，wasnotincreasedbyinheritance。ItisneedlesstoaddthatinconsequenceofMadamedeWatteville"scloseintimacywiththeArchbishop，thethreeorfourcleverorremarkableAbbesofthediocesewhowerenotaversetogoodfeedingwereverymuchathomeatherhouse。
AtaceremonialdinnergiveninhonorofIknownotwhosewedding，atthebeginningofSeptember1834，whenthewomenwerestandinginacircleroundthedrawing-roomfire，andthemeningroupsbythewindows，everyoneexclaimedwithpleasureattheentranceofMonsieurl"AbbedeGrancey，whowasannounced。
"Well，andthelawsuit？"theyallcried。
"Won!"repliedtheVicar-General。"TheverdictoftheCourt，fromwhichwehadnohope，youknowwhy——"
ThiswasanallusiontothemembersoftheFirstCourtofAppealof1830；theLegitimistshadalmostallwithdrawn。
"Theverdictisinourfavoroneverypoint，andreversesthedecisionoftheLowerCourt。"
"Everybodythoughtyouweredonefor。"
"Andweshouldhavebeen，butforme。ItoldouradvocatetobeofftoParis，andatthecrucialmomentIwasabletosecureanewpleader，towhomweoweourvictory，awonderfulman——"
"AtBesancon？"saidMonsieurdeWatteville，guilelessly。
"AtBesancon，"repliedtheAbbedeGrancey。
"Ohyes，Savaron，"saidahandsomeyoungmansittingneartheBaroness，andnameddeSoulas。
"Hespentfiveorsixnightsoverit；hedevoureddocumentsandbriefs；hehadsevenoreightinterviewsofseveralhourswithme，"
continuedMonsieurdeGrancey，whohadjustreappearedattheHoteldeRuptforthefirsttimeinthreeweeks。"Inshort，MonsieurSavaronhasjustcompletelybeatenthecelebratedlawyerwhomouradversarieshadsentforfromParis。Thisyoungmaniswonderful，thebigwigssay。
Thusthechapteristwicevictorious；ithastriumphedinlawandalsoinpolitics，sinceithasvanquishedLiberalisminthepersonoftheCounselofourMunicipality——"Ouradversaries，"soouradvocatesaid，"mustnotexpecttofindreadinessonallsidestoruintheArchbishoprics。"——ThePresidentwasobligedtoenforcesilence。AllthetownsfolkofBesanconapplauded。ThusthepossessionofthebuildingsoftheoldconventremainswiththeChapteroftheCathedralofBesancon。MonsieurSavaron，however，invitedhisParisianopponenttodinewithhimastheycameoutofcourt。Heaccepted，saying，"Honortoeveryconqueror，"andcomplimentedhimonhissuccesswithoutbitterness。"
"Andwheredidyouunearththislawyer？"saidMadamedeWatteville。"I
neverheardhisnamebefore。"
"Why，youcanseehiswindowsfromhence，"repliedtheVicar-General。
"MonsieurSavaronlivesintheRueduPerron；thegardenofhishousejoinsontoyours。"
"ButheisnotanativeoftheComte，"saidMonsieurdeWatteville。
"Solittleisheanativeofanyplace，thatnooneknowswherehecomesfrom，"saidMadamedeChavoncourt。
"Butwhoishe？"askedMadamedeWatteville，takingtheAbbe"sarmtogointothedining-room。"Ifheisastranger，bywhatchancehashesettledatBesancon？Itisastrangefancyforabarrister。"
"Verystrange!"echoedAmedeedeSoulas，whosebiographyisherenecessarytotheunderstandingofthistale。
InallagesFranceandEnglandhavecarriedonanexchangeoftrifles，whichisallthemoreconstantbecauseitevadesthetyrannyoftheCustom-house。ThefashionthatiscalledEnglishinParisiscalledFrenchinLondon，andthisisreciprocal。Thehostilityofthetwonationsissuspendedontwopoints——theusesofwordsandthefashionsofdress。/GodSavetheKing/，thenationalairofEngland，isatunewrittenbyLullifortheChorusofEstherorofAthalie。Hoops，introducedatParisbyanEnglishwoman，wereinventedinLondon，itisknownwhy，byaFrenchwoman，thenotoriousDuchessofPortsmouth。TheywereatfirstsojeeredatthatthefirstEnglishwomanwhoappearedinthemattheTuileriesnarrowlyescapedbeingcrushedbythecrowd；buttheywereadopted。ThisfashiontyrannizedovertheladiesofEuropeforhalfacentury。Atthepeaceof1815，forayear，thelongwaistsoftheEnglishwereastandingjest；allPariswenttoseePothierandBrunetin/LesAnglaisespourrire/；butin1816and1817thebeltoftheFrenchwoman，whichin1814cutheracrossthebosom，graduallydescendedtillitreachedthehips。
WithintenyearsEnglandhasmadetwolittlegiftstoourlanguage。
The/Incroyable/，the/Merveilleux/，the/Elegant/，thethreesuccessesofthe/petit-maitre/ofdiscreditableetymology，havemadewayforthe"dandy"andthe"lion。"The/lion/isnottheparentofthe/lionne/。The/lionne/isduetothefamoussongbyAlfreddeMusset:
AvezvouvudansBarcelone……
C"estmamaitresseetmalionne。
Therehasbeenafusion——or，ifyoupreferit，aconfusion——ofthetwowordsandtheleadingideas。WhenanabsurditycanamuseParis，whichdevoursasmanymasterpiecesasabsurdities，theprovincescanhardlybedeprivedofthem。So，assoonasthe/lion/paradedPariswithhismane，hisbeardandmoustaches，hiswaistcoatsandhiseyeglass，maintainedinitsplace，withoutthehelpofhishands，bythecontractionofhischeek，andeye-socket，thechieftownsofsomedepartmentshadtheirsub-lions，whoprotestedbythesmartnessoftheirtrouser-strapsagainsttheuntidinessoftheirfellow-townsmen。
Thus，in1834，Besanconcouldboastofa/lion/，inthepersonofMonsieurAmedee-SylvaindeSoulas，speltSouleyasatthetimeoftheSpanishoccupation。AmedeedeSoulasisperhapstheonlymaninBesancondescendedfromaSpanishfamily。SpainsentmentomanageherbusinessintheComte，butveryfewSpaniardssettledthere。TheSoulasremainedinconsequenceoftheirconnectionwithCardinalGranvelle。YoungMonsieurdeSoulaswasalwaystalkingofleavingBesancon，adulltown，church-going，andnotliterary，amilitarycentreandgarrisontown，ofwhichthemannersandcustomsandphysiognomyareworthdescribing。Thisopinionallowedofhislodging，likeamanuncertainofthefuture，inthreeveryscantilyfurnishedroomsattheendoftheRueNeuve，justwhereitopensintotheRuedelaPrefecture。
YoungMonsieurdeSoulascouldnotpossiblylivewithoutatiger。Thistigerwasthesonofoneofhisfarmers，asmallservantagedfourteen，thick-set，andnamedBabylas。Theliondressedhistigerverysmartly——ashorttunic-coatofiron-graycloth，beltedwithpatentleather，brightblueplushbreeches，aredwaistcoat，polishedleathertop-boots，ashinyhatwithblacklacing，andbrassbuttonswiththearmsofSoulas。Amedeegavethisboywhitecottonglovesandhiswashing，andthirty-sixfrancsamonthtokeephimself——asumthatseemedenormoustothegrisettesofBesancon:fourhundredandtwentyfrancsayeartoachildoffifteen，withoutcountingextras!Theextrasconsistedinthepriceforwhichhecouldsellhisturnedclothes，apresentwhenSoulasexchangedoneofhishorses，andtheperquisiteofthemanure。Thetwohorses，treatedwithsordideconomy，cost，onewithanother，eighthundredfrancsayear。HisbillsforarticlesreceivedfromParis，suchasperfumery，cravats，jewelry，patentblacking，andclothes，rantoanothertwelvehundredfrancs。
Addtothisthegroom，ortiger，thehorses，averysuperiorstyleofdress，andsixhundredfrancsayearforrent，andyouwillseeagrandtotalofthreethousandfrancs。
Now，MonsieurdeSoulas"fatherhadlefthimonlyfourthousandfrancsayear，theincomefromsomecottagefarmswhichlentpainfuluncertaintytotherents。Thelionhadhardlythreefrancsadayleftforfood，amusements，andgambling。Heveryoftendinedout，andbreakfastedwithremarkablefrugality。Whenhewaspositivelyobligedtodineathisowncost，hesenthistigertofetchacoupleofdishesfromacookshop，neverspendingmorethantwenty-fivesous。
YoungMonsieurdeSoulaswassupposedtobeaspendthrift，recklesslyextravagant，whereasthepoormanmadethetwoendsmeetintheyearwithakeennessandskillwhichwouldhavedonehonortoathriftyhousewife。AtBesanconinthosedaysnooneknewhowgreatataxonaman"scapitalweresixfrancsspentinpolishtospreadonhisbootsorshoes，yellowglovesatfiftysousapair，cleanedinthedeepestsecrecytomakethemthreetimesrenewed，cravatscostingtenfrancs，andlastingthreemonths，fourwaistcoatsattwenty-fivefrancs，andtrousersfittingclosetotheboots。Howcouldhedootherwise，sinceweseewomeninParisbestowingtheirspecialattentiononsimpletonswhovisitthem，andcutoutthemostremarkablemenbymeansofthesefrivolousadvantages，whichamancanbuyforfifteenlouis，andgethishaircurledandafinelinenshirtintothebargain？
Ifthisunhappyyouthshouldseemtoyoutohavebecomea/lion/onverycheapterms，youmustknowthatAmedeedeSoulashadbeenthreetimestoSwitzerland，bycoachandinshortstages，twicetoParis，andoncefromParistoEngland。Hepassedasawell-informedtraveler，andcouldsay，"InEngland，whereIwent……"Thedowagersofthetownwouldsaytohim，"You，whohavebeeninEngland……"HehadbeenasfarasLombardy，andseentheshoresoftheItalianlakes。Hereadnewbooks。Finally，whenhewascleaninghisgloves，thetigerBabylasrepliedtocallers，"Monsieurisverybusy。"AnattempthadbeenmadetowithdrawMonsieurAmedeedeSoulasfromcirculationbypronouncinghim"Amanofadvancedideas。"Amedeehadthegiftofutteringwiththegravityofanativethecommonplacesthatwereinfashion，whichgavehimthecreditofbeingoneofthemostenlightenedofthenobility。Hispersonwasgarnishedwithfashionabletrinkets，andhisheadfurnishedwithideashall-markedbythepress。
In1834Amedeewasayoungmanoffive-and-twenty，ofmediumheight，dark，withaveryprominentthorax，well-madeshoulders，ratherplumplegs，feetalreadyfat，whitedimpledhands，abeardunderhischin，moustachesworthyofthegarrison，agood-natured，fat，rubicundface，aflatnose，andbrownexpressionlesseyes；nothingSpanishabouthim。
Hewasprogressingrapidlyinthedirectionofobesity，whichwouldbefataltohispretensions。Hisnailswerewellkept，hisbeardtrimmed，thesmallestdetailsofhisdressattendedtowithEnglishprecision。
HenceAmedeedeSoulaswaslookeduponasthefinestmaninBesancon。
Ahairdresserwhowaiteduponhimatafixedhour——anotherluxury，costingsixtyfrancsayear——heldhimupasthesovereignauthorityinmattersoffashionandelegance。
Amedeesleptlate，dressedandwentouttowardsnoon，togotooneofhisfarmsandpractisepistol-shooting。HeattachedasmuchimportancetothisexerciseasLordByrondidinhislaterdays。Then，atthreeo"clockhecamehome，admiredonhorsebackbythegrisettesandtheladieswhohappenedtobeattheirwindows。Afteranaffectationofstudyorbusiness，whichseemedtoengagehimtillfour，hedressedtodineout，spenttheeveninginthedrawing-roomsofthearistocracyofBesanconplayingwhist，andwenthometobedateleven。Nolifecouldbemoreaboveboard，moreprudent，ormoreirreproachable，forhepunctuallyattendedtheservicesatchurchonSundaysandholydays。
Toenableyoutounderstandhowexceptionalissuchalife，itisnecessarytodevoteafewwordstoanaccountofBesancon。Notowneverofferedmoredeafanddumbresistancetoprogress。AtBesancontheofficials，theemployes，themilitary，inshort，everyoneengagedingoverningit，sentthitherfromParistofillapostofanykind，areallspokenofbytheexpressivegeneralnameof/theColony/。Thecolonyisneutralground，theonlygroundwhere，asinchurch，theupperrankandthetownsfolkoftheplacecanmeet。Here，firedbyaword，alook，orgesture，arestartedthosefeudsbetweenhouseandhouse，betweenawomanofrankandacitizen"swife，whichenduretilldeath，andwidentheimpassablegulfwhichpartsthetwoclassesofsociety。WiththeexceptionoftheClermont-Mont-Saint-Jean，theBeauffremont，thedeScey，andtheGramontfamilies，withafewotherswhocomeonlytostayontheirestatesintheComte，thearistocracyofBesancondatesnofurtherbackthanacoupleofcenturies，thetimeoftheconquestbyLouisXIV。Thislittleworldisessentiallyofthe/parlement/，andarrogant，stiff，solemn，uncompromising，haughtybeyondallcomparison，evenwiththeCourtofVienna，forinthisthenobilityofBesanconwouldputtheViennesedrawing-roomstoshame。AstoVictorHugo，Nodier，Fourier，thegloriesofthetown，theyarenevermentioned，noonethinksaboutthem。Themarriagesinthesefamiliesarearrangedinthecradle，sorigidlyarethegreatestthingssettledaswellasthesmallest。Nostranger，nointruder，everfindshiswayintooneofthesehouses，andtoobtainanintroductionforthecolonelsorofficersoftitlebelongingtothefirstfamiliesinFrancewhenquarteredthere，requireseffortsofdiplomacywhichPrinceTalleyrandwouldgladlyhavemasteredtouseatacongress。
In1834AmedeewastheonlymaninBesanconwhoworetrouser-straps；
thiswillaccountfortheyoungman"sbeingregardedasalion。AndalittleanecdotewillenableyoutounderstandthecityofBesancon。
Sometimebeforetheopeningofthisstory，theneedaroseattheprefectureforbringinganeditorfromParisfortheofficialnewspaper，toenableittoholditsownagainstthelittle/Gazette/，droppedatBesanconbythegreat/Gazette/，andthe/Patriot/，whichfriskedinthehandsoftheRepublicans。Parissentthemayoungman，knowingnothingaboutlaFrancheComte，whobeganbywritingthemaleadingarticleoftheschoolofthe/Charivari/。Thechiefofthemoderateparty，amemberofthemunicipalcouncil，sentforthejournalistandsaidtohim，"Youmustunderstand，monsieur，thatweareserious，morethanserious——tiresome；weresentbeingamused，andarefuriousathavingbeenmadetolaugh。BeashardofdigestionasthetoughestdisquisitionsintheRevuedesDeuxMondes，andyouwillhardlyreachthelevelofBesancon。"
Theeditortookthehint，andthenceforthspokethemostincomprehensiblephilosophicallingo。Hissuccesswascomplete。
IfyoungMonsieurdeSoulasdidnotfallintheesteemofBesanconsociety，itwasoutofpurevanityonitspart；thearistocracywerehappytoaffectamodernair，andtobeabletoshowanyParisiansofrankwhovisitedtheComteayoungmanwhoboresomelikenesstothem。
Allthishiddenlabor，allthisdustthrowninpeople"seyes，thisdisplayoffollyandlatentprudence，hadanobject，orthe/lion/ofBesanconwouldhavebeennosonofthesoil。Amedeewantedtoachieveagoodmarriagebyprovingsomedaythathisfarmswerenotmortgaged，andthathehadsomesavings。Hewantedtobethetalkofthetown，tobethefinestandbest-dressedmanthere，inordertowinfirsttheattention，andthenthehand，ofMademoiselleRosaliedeWatteville。
In1830，atthetimewhenyoungMonsieurdeSoulaswassettingupinbusinessasadandy，Rosaliewasbutfourteen。Hence，in1834，MademoiselledeWattevillehadreachedtheagewhenyoungpersonsareeasilystruckbythepeculiaritieswhichattractedtheattentionofthetowntoAmedee。Therearesomany/lions/whobecome/lions/outofself-interestandspeculation。TheWattevilles，whofortwelveyearshadbeendrawinganincomeoffiftythousandfrancsayear，didnotspendmorethanfour-and-twentythousandfrancsayear，whilereceivingalltheuppercircleofBesanconeveryMondayandFriday。OnMondaytheygaveadinner，onFridayaneveningparty。Thus，intwelveyears，whatasummusthaveaccumulatedfromtwenty-sixthousandfrancsayear，savedandinvestedwiththejudgmentthatdistinguishesthoseoldfamilies!ItwasverygenerallysupposedthatMadamedeWatteville，thinkingshehadlandenough，hadplacedhersavingsinthethreepercents，in1830。Rosalie"sdowrywouldtherefore，asthebestinformedopined，amounttoabouttwentythousandfrancsayear。
SoforthelastfiveyearsAmedeehadworkedlikeamoletogetintothehighestfavorofthesevereBaroness，whilelayinghimselfouttoflatterMademoiselledeWatteville"sconceit。
MadamedeWattevillewasinthesecretofthedevicesbywhichAmedeesucceededinkeepinguphisrankinBesancon，andesteemedhimhighlyforit。Soulashadplacedhimselfunderherwingwhenshewasthirty，andatthattimehaddaredtoadmireherandmakeherhisidol；hehadgotsofarastobeallowed——healoneintheworld——topourouttoheralltheunseemlygossipwhichalmostallveryprecisewomenlovetohear，beingauthorizedbytheirsuperiorvirtuetolookintothegulfwithoutfalling，andintothedevil"ssnareswithoutbeingcaught。Doyouunderstandwhytheliondidnotallowhimselftheverysmallestintrigue？Helivedapubliclife，inthestreetsotospeak，onpurposetoplaythepartofaloversacrificedtodutybytheBaroness，andtofeasthermindwiththesinsshehadforbiddentohersenses。Amanwhoissoprivilegedastobeallowedtopourlightstoriesintotheearofabigotisinhereyesacharmingman。Ifthisexemplaryyouthhadbetterknownthehumanheart，hemightwithoutriskhaveallowedhimselfsomeflirtationsamongthegrisettesofBesanconwholookeduptohimasaking；hisaffairsmightperhapshavebeenallthemorehopefulwiththestrictandprudishBaroness。
ToRosalieourCatoaffectedprodigality；heprofessedalifeofelegance，showingherinperspectivethesplendidpartplayedbyawomanoffashioninParis，whitherhemeanttogoasDepute。