第2章
Allthesemanoeuvreswerecrownedwithcompletesuccess。In1834themothersofthefortynoblefamiliescomposingthehighsocietyofBesanconquotedMonsieurAmedeedeSoulasasthemostcharmingyoungmaninthetown；noonewouldhavedaredtodisputehisplaceascockofthewalkattheHoteldeRupt，andallBesanconregardedhimasRosaliedeWatteville"sfuturehusband。TherehadevenbeensomeexchangeofideasonthesubjectbetweentheBaronessandAmedee，towhichtheBaron"sapparentnonentitygavesomecertainty。
MademoiselledeWatteville，towhomherenormousprospectivefortuneatthattimelentconsiderableimportance，hadbeenbroughtupexclusivelywithintheprecinctsoftheHoteldeRupt——whichhermotherrarelyquitted，sodevotedwasshetoherdearArchbishop——andseverelyrepressedbyanexclusivelyreligiouseducation，andbyhermother"sdespotism，whichheldherrigidlytoprinciples。Rosalieknewabsolutelynothing。IsitknowledgetohavelearnedgeographyfromGuthrie，sacredhistory，ancienthistory，thehistoryofFrance，andthefourrulesallpassedthroughthesieveofanoldJesuit？Dancingandmusicwereforbidden，asbeingmorelikelytocorruptlifethantograceit。TheBaronesstaughtherdaughtereveryconceivablestitchintapestryandwomen"swork——plainsewing，embroidery，netting。AtseventeenRosaliehadneverreadanythingbutthe/Lettresedifiantes/
andsomeworksonheraldry。Nonewspaperhadeverdefiledhersight。
SheattendedmassattheCathedraleverymorning，takentherebyhermother，camebacktobreakfast，didneedleworkafteralittlewalkinthegarden，andreceivedvisitors，sittingwiththebaronessuntildinner-time。Then，afterdinner，exceptingonMondaysandFridays，sheaccompaniedMadamedeWattevilletootherhousestospendtheevening，withoutbeingallowedtotalkmorethanthematernalrulepermitted。
AteighteenMademoiselledeWattevillewasaslight，thingirlwithaflatfigure，fair，colorless，andinsignificanttothelastdegree。
Hereyes，ofaverylightblue，borrowedbeautyfromtheirlashes，which，whendowncast，threwashadowonhercheeks。Afewfrecklesmarredthewhitenessofherforehead，whichwasshapelyenough。HerfacewasexactlylikethoseofAlbertDurer"ssaints，orthoseofthepaintersbeforePerugino；thesameplump，thoughslendermodeling，thesamedelicacysaddenedbyecstasy，thesamesevereguilelessness。
Everythingabouther，eventoherattitude，wassuggestiveofthosevirgins，whosebeautyisonlyrevealedinitsmysticalradiancetotheeyesofthestudiousconnoisseur。Shehadfinehandsthoughred，andaprettyfoot，thefootofanaristocrat。
Shehabituallyworesimplecheckedcottondresses；butonSundaysandintheeveninghermotherallowedhersilk。Thecutofherfrocks，madeatBesancon，almostmadeherugly，whilehermothertriedtoborrowgrace，beauty，andelegancefromParisfashions；forthroughMonsieurdeSoulassheprocuredthesmallesttriflesofherdressfromthence。Rosaliehadneverwornapairofsilkstockingsorthinboots，butalwayscottonstockingsandleathershoes。Onhighdaysshewasdressedinamuslinfrock，herhairplainlydressed，andhadbronzekidshoes。
Thiseducation，andherownmodestdemeanor，hidinRosalieaspiritofiron。Physiologistsandprofoundobserverswilltellyou，perhapstoyourastonishment，thattempers，characteristics，wit，orgeniusreappearinfamiliesatlongintervals，preciselylikewhatareknownashereditarydiseases。Thustalent，likethegout，sometimesskipsovertwogenerations。WehaveanillustriousexampleofthisphenomenoninGeorgeSand，inwhomareresuscitatedtheforce，thepower，andtheimaginativefacultyoftheMarechaldeSaxe，whosenaturalgranddaughtersheis。
ThedecisivecharacterandromanticdaringofthefamousWattevillehadreappearedinthesoulofhisgrand-niece，reinforcedbythetenacityandprideofbloodoftheRupts。Butthesequalities——orfaults，ifyouwillhaveitso——wereasdeeplyburiedinthisyounggirlishsoul，apparentlysoweakandyielding，astheseethinglavaswithinahillbeforeitbecomesavolcano。MadamedeWattevillealone，perhaps，suspectedthisinheritancefromtwostrains。ShewassoseveretoherRosalie，thatsherepliedonedaytotheArchbishop，whoblamedherforbeingtoohardonthechild，"Leavemetomanageher，monseigneur。Iknowher!ShehasmorethanoneBeelzebubinherskin!"
TheBaronesskeptallthekeenerwatchoverherdaughter，becausesheconsideredherhonorasamothertobeatstake。Afterall，shehadnothingelsetodo。ClotildedeRupt，atthistimefive-and-thirty，andasgoodaswidowed，withahusbandwhoturnedegg-cupsineveryvarietyofwood，whosethismindonmakingwheelswithsixspokesoutofiron-wood，andmanufacturedsnuff-boxesforeveryoneofhisacquaintance，flirtedinstrictproprietywithAmedeedeSoulas。Whenthisyoungmanwasinthehouse，shealternatelydismissedandrecalledherdaughter，andtriedtodetectsymptomsofjealousyinthatyouthfulsoul，soastohaveoccasiontorepressthem。Sheimitatedthepoliceinitsdealingswiththerepublicans；butshelaboredinvain。Rosalieshowednosymptomsofrebellion。Thenthearidbigotaccusedherdaughterofperfectinsensibility。RosalieknewhermotherwellenoughtobesurethatifshehadthoughtyoungMonsieurdeSoulas/nice/，shewouldhavedrawndownonherselfasmartreproof。Thus，toallhermother"sincitementsherepliedmerelybysuchphrasesasarewronglycalledJesuitical——wrongly，becausetheJesuitswerestrong，andsuchreservationsarethe/chevauxdefrise/
behindwhichweaknesstakesrefuge。Thenthemotherregardedthegirlasadissembler。IfbymischanceasparkofthetruenatureoftheWattevillesandtheRuptsblazedout，themotherarmedherselfwiththerespectduefromchildrentotheirparentstoreduceRosalietopassiveobedience。
Thiscovertbattlewascarriedoninthemostsecretseclusionofdomesticlife，withcloseddoors。TheVicar-General，thedearAbbeGrancey，thefriendofthelateArchbishop，cleverashewasinhiscapacityofthechiefFatherConfessorofthediocese，couldnotdiscoverwhetherthestrugglehadstirredupsomehatredbetweenthemotheranddaughter，whetherthemotherwerejealousinanticipation，orwhetherthecourtAmedeewaspayingtothegirlthroughhermotherhadnotoversteppeditsduelimits。Beingafriendofthefamily，neithermothernordaughter，confessedtohim。Rosalie，alittletoomuchharried，morally，aboutyoungdeSoulas，couldnotabidehim，touseahomelyphrase，andwhenhespoketoher，tryingtotakeherheartbysurprise，shereceivedhimbutcoldly。Thisaversion，discernedonlybyhermother"seyes，wasaconstantsubjectofadmonition。
"Rosalie，IcannotimaginewhyyouaffectsuchcoldnesstowardsAmedee。Isitbecauseheisafriendofthefamily，andbecausewelikehim——yourfatherandI？"
"Well，mamma，"repliedthepoorchildoneday，"ifImadehimwelcome，shouldInotbestillmoreinthewrong？"
"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"criedMadamedeWatteville。"Whatisthemeaningofsuchwords？Yourmotherisunjust，nodoubt，andaccordingtoyou，wouldbesoinanycase!Neverletsuchananswerpassyourlipsagaintoyourmother——"andsoforth。
Thisquarrellastedthreehoursandthree-quarters。Rosalienotedthetime。Hermother，palewithfury，senthertoherroom，whereRosalieponderedonthemeaningofthisscenewithoutdiscoveringit，soguilelesswasshe。ThusyoungMonsieurdeSoulas，whowassupposedbyeveryonetobeveryneartheendhewasaimingat，allneckclothsset，andbydintofpotsofpatentblacking——anendwhichrequiredsomuchwaxingofhismoustaches，somanysmartwaistcoats，woreoutsomanyhorseshoesandstays——forheworealeathervest，thestaysofthe/lion/——Amedee，Isay，wasfurtherawaythananychancecomer，althoughhehadonhissidetheworthyandnobleAbbedeGrancey。
"Madame，"saidMonsieurdeSoulas，addressingtheBaroness，whilewaitingtillhissoupwascoolenoughtoswallow，andaffectingtogivearomanticturntohisnarrative，"onefinemorningthemail-
coachdroppedattheHotelNationalagentlemanfromParis，who，afterseekingapartments，madeuphismindinfavorofthefirstfloorinMademoiselleGalard"shouse，RueduPerron。ThenthestrangerwentstraighttotheMairie，andhadhimselfregisteredasaresidentwithallpoliticalqualifications。Finally，hehadhisnameenteredonthelistofthebarristerstotheCourt，showinghistitleindueform，andhelefthiscardonallhisnewcolleagues，theMinisterialofficials，theCouncillorsoftheCourt，andthemembersofthebench，withthename，"ALBERTSAVARON。""
"ThenameofSavaronisfamous，"saidMademoiselledeWatteville，whowasstronginheraldicinformation。"TheSavaronsofSavarusareoneoftheoldest，noblest，andrichestfamiliesinBelgium。"
"HeisaFrenchman，andnoman"sson，"repliedAmedeedeSoulas。"IfhewishestobearthearmsoftheSavaronsofSavarus，hemustaddabar-sinister。ThereisnooneleftoftheBrabantfamilybutaMademoiselledeSavarus，arichheiress，andunmarried。"
"Thebar-sinisteris，ofcourse，thebadgeofabastard；butthebastardofaComtedeSavarusisnoble，"answeredRosalie。
"Enough，thatwilldo，mademoiselle!"saidtheBaroness。
"Youinsistedonherlearningheraldry，"saidMonsieurdeWatteville，"andsheknowsitverywell。"
"Goon，Ibeg，MonsieurdeSoulas。"
"Youmaysupposethatinatownwhereeverythingisclassified，known，pigeon-holed，ticketed，andnumbered，asinBesancon，AlbertSavaronwasreceivedwithouthesitationbythelawyersofthetown。Theyweresatisfiedtosay，"HereisamanwhodoesnotknowhisBesancon。Whothedevilcanhavesenthimhere？Whatcanhehopetodo？SendinghiscardtotheJudgesinsteadofcallinginperson!Whatablunder!"Andso，threedaysafter，Savaronhadceasedtoexist。HetookashisservantoldMonsieurGalard"sman——Galardbeingdead——Jerome，whocancookalittle。AlbertSavaronwasallthemorecompletelyforgotten，becausenoonehadseenhimormethimanywhere。"
"Then，doeshenotgotomass？"askedMadamedeChavoncourt。
"HegoesonSundaystoSaint-Pierre，buttotheearlyserviceateightinthemorning。Heriseseverynightbetweenoneandtwointhemorning，workstilleight，hashisbreakfast，andthengoesonworking。Hewalksinhisgarden，goingroundfifty，orperhapssixtytimes；thenhegoesin，dines，andgoestobedbetweensixandseven。"
"Howdidyoulearnallthat？"MadamedeChavoncourtaskedMonsieurdeSoulas。
"Inthefirstplace，madame，IliveintheRueNeuve，atthecorneroftheRueduPerron；Ilookoutonthehousewherethismysteriouspersonagelodges；then，ofcourse，therearecommunicationsbetweenmytigerandJerome。"
"AndyougossipwithBabylas？"
"Whatwouldyouhavemedooutriding？"
"Well——andhowwasitthatyouengagedastrangerforyourdefence？"
askedtheBaroness，thusplacingtheconversationinthehandsoftheVicar-General。
"ThePresidentoftheCourtplayedthispleaderatrickbyappointinghimtodefendattheAssizesahalf-wittedpeasantaccusedofforgery。
ButMonsieurSavaronprocuredthepoorman"sacquittalbyprovinghisinnocenceandshowingthathehadbeenatoolinthehandsoftherealculprits。Notonlydidhislineofdefencesucceed，butitledtothearrestoftwoofthewitnesses，whowereprovedguiltyandcondemned。
HisspeechstrucktheCourtandthejury。Oneofthese，amerchant，placedadifficultcasenextdayinthehandsofMonsieurSavaron，andhewonit。Inthepositioninwhichwefoundourselves，MonsieurBerryerfindingitimpossibletocometoBesancon，MonsieurdeGarcenaultadvisedhimtoemploythisMonsieurAlbertSavaron，foretellingoursuccess。AssoonasIsawhimandheardhim，Ifeltfaithinhim，andIwasnotwrong。"
"Ishethensoextraordinary？"askedMadamedeChavoncourt。
"Certainly，madame，"repliedtheVicar-General。
"Well，tellusaboutit，"saidMadamedeWatteville。
"ThefirsttimeIsawhim，"saidtheAbbedeGrancey，"hereceivedmeinhisouterroomnexttheante-room——oldGalard"sdrawing-room——whichhehashadpaintedlikeoldoak，andwhichIfoundentirelylinedwithlaw-books，arrangedonshelvesalsopaintedasoldoak。Thepaintingandthebooksarethesoledecorationoftheroom，forthefurnitureconsistsofanoldwritingtableofcarvedwood，sixoldarmchairscoveredwithtapestry，windowcurtainsofgraystuffborderedwithgreen，andagreencarpetoverthefloor。Theante-roomstoveheatsthislibraryaswell。AsIwaitedthereIdidnotpicturemyadvocateasayoungman。Butthissingularsettingisinperfectharmonywithhisperson；forMonsieurSavaroncameoutinablackmerinodressing-
gowntiedwitharedcord，redslippers，aredflannelwaistcoat，andaredsmoking-cap。"
"Thedevil"scolors!"exclaimedMadamedeWatteville。
"Yes，"saidtheAbbe；"butamagnificenthead。Blackhairalreadystreakedwithalittlegray，hairlikethatofSaintPeterandSaintPaulinpictures，withthickshiningcurls，hairasstiffashorse-
hair；aroundwhitethroatlikeawoman"s；asplendidforehead，furrowedbythestrongmedianlinewhichgreatschemes，greatthoughts，deepmeditationsstamponagreatman"sbrow；anolivecomplexionmarbledwithred，asquarenose，eyesofflame，hollowcheeks，withtwolonglines，betrayingmuchsuffering，amouthwithasardonicsmile，andasmallchin，narrow，andtooshort；crow"sfeetonhistemples；deep-seteyes，movingintheirsocketslikeburningballs；but，inspiteofalltheseindicationsofaviolentlypassionatenature，hismannerwascalm，deeplyresigned，andhisvoiceofpenetratingsweetness，whichsurprisedmeinCourtbyitseasyflow；atrueorator"svoice，nowclearandappealing，sometimesinsinuating，butavoiceofthunderwhenneedful，andlendingitselftosarcasmtobecomeincisive。
"MonsieurAlbertSavaronisofmiddleheight，neitherstoutnorthin。
Andhishandsarethoseofaprelate。
"ThesecondtimeIcalledonhimhereceivedmeinhisbed-room，adjoiningthelibrary，andsmiledatmyastonishmentwhenIsawthereawretchedchestofdrawers，ashabbycarpet，acamp-bed，andcottonwindow-curtains。Hecameoutofhisprivateroom，towhichnooneisadmitted，asJeromeinformedme；themandidnotgoin，butmerelyknockedatthedoor。
"Thethirdtimehewasbreakfastinginhislibraryonthemostfrugalfare；butonthisoccasion，ashehadspentthenightstudyingourdocuments，asIhadmyattorneywithme，andasthatworthyMonsieurGirardetislong-winded，Ihadleisuretostudythestranger。Hecertainlyisnoordinaryman。Thereismorethanonesecretbehindthatface，atoncesoterribleandsogentle，patientandyetimpatient，broadandyethollow。Isaw，too，thathestoopedalittle，likeallmenwhohavesomeheavyburdentobear。"
"WhydidsoeloquentamanleaveParis？ForwhatpurposedidhecometoBesancon？"askedprettyMadamedeChavoncourt。"Couldnoonetellhimhowlittlechanceastrangerhasofsucceedinghere？ThegoodfolksofBesanconwillmakeuseofhim，buttheywillnotallowhimtomakeuseofthem。Why，havingcome，didhemakesolittleeffortthatitneededafreakofthePresident"stobringhimforward？"
"Aftercarefullystudyingthatfinehead，"saidtheAbbe，lookingkeenlyattheladywhohadinterruptedhim，insuchawayastosuggestthattherewassomethinghewouldnottell，"andespeciallyafterhearinghimthismorningreplytooneofthebigwigsoftheParisBar，Ibelievethatthisman，whomaybefive-and-thirty，willbyandbymakeagreatsensation。"
"Whyshouldwediscusshim？Youhavegainedyouraction，andpaidhim，"saidMadamedeWatteville，watchingherdaughter，who，allthetimetheVicar-Generalhadbeenspeaking，seemedtohangonhislips。
Theconversationchanged，andnomorewasheardofAlbertSavaron。
TheportraitsketchedbythecleverestoftheVicars-GeneralofthediocesehadallthegreatercharmforRosaliebecausetherewasaromancebehindit。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadcomeacrossthemarvelous，theexceptional，whichsmilesoneveryyouthfulimagination，andwhichcuriosity，soeageratRosalie"sage，goesforthtomeethalf-way。WhatanidealbeingwasthisAlbert——gloomy，unhappy，eloquent，laborious，ascomparedbyMademoiselledeWattevilletothatchubbyfatCount，burstingwithhealth，payingcompliments，andtalkingofthefashionsintheveryfaceofthesplendoroftheoldcountsofRupt。Amedeehadcosthermanyquarrelsandscoldings，and，indeed，sheknewhimonlytoowell；whilethisAlbertSavaronofferedmanyenigmastobesolved。
"AlbertSavarondeSavarus，"sherepeatedtoherself。
Now，toseehim，tocatchsightofhim!Thiswasthedesireofthegirltowhomdesirewashithertounknown。Sheponderedinherheart，inherfancy，inherbrain，theleastphrasesusedbytheAbbedeGrancey，forallhiswordshadtold。
"Afineforehead!"saidshetoherself，lookingattheheadofeverymanseatedatthetable；"Idonotseeonefineone——MonsieurdeSoulas"istooprominent；MonsieurdeGrancey"sisfine，butheisseventy，andhasnohair，itisimpossibletoseewherehisforeheadends。"
"Whatisthematter，Rosalie；youareeatingnothing？"
"Iamnothungry，mamma，"saidshe。"Aprelate"shands——"shewentontoherself。"IcannotrememberourhandsomeArchbishop"shands，thoughheconfirmedme。"
Finally，inthemidstofhercomingandgoinginthelabyrinthofhermeditations，sherememberedalightedwindowshehadseenfromherbed，gleamingthroughthetreesofthetwoadjoininggardens，whenshehadhappenedtowakeinthenight……"Thenthatwashislight!"
thoughtshe。"Imightseehim!——Iwillseehim。"
"MonsieurdeGrancey，istheChapter"slawsuitquitesettled？"saidRosaliepoint-blanktotheVicar-General，duringamomentofsilence。
MadamedeWattevilleexchangedrapidglanceswiththeVicar-General。
"Whatcanthatmattertoyou，mydearchild？"shesaidtoRosalie，withanaffectedsweetnesswhichmadeherdaughtercautiousfortherestofherdays。
"ItmightbecarriedtotheCourtofAppeal，butouradversarieswillthinktwiceaboutthat，"repliedtheAbbe。
"InevercouldhavebelievedthatRosaliewouldthinkaboutalawsuitallthroughadinner，"remarkedMadamedeWatteville。
"NorIeither，"saidRosalie，inadreamywaythatmadeeveryonelaugh。"ButMonsieurdeGranceywassofullofit，thatIwasinterested。"
Thecompanyrosefromtableandreturnedtothedrawing-room。AllthroughtheeveningRosalielistenedincaseAlbertSavaronshouldbementionedagain；butbeyondthecongratulationsofferedbyeachnewcomertotheAbbeonhavinggainedhissuit，towhichnooneaddedanypraiseoftheadvocate，nomorewassaidaboutit。MademoiselledeWattevilleimpatientlylookedforwardtobedtime。Shehadpromisedherselftowakeatbetweentwoandthreeinthemorning，andtolookatAlbert"sdressing-roomwindows。Whenthehourcame，shefeltalmostpleasureingazingattheglimmerfromthelawyer"scandlesthatshonethroughthetrees，nowalmostbareoftheirleaves。Bythehelpofthestrongsightofayounggirl，whichcuriosityseemstomakelonger，shesawAlbertwriting，andfanciedshecoulddistinguishthecolorofthefurniture，whichshethoughtwasred。Fromthechimneyabovetheroofroseathickcolumnofsmoke。