第7章

Iam，afterall，myfather"sandmother"sonlychild。Youhavemoretohopeforfrommethanfromanyoneelseintheworld——"

"Certainly，mademoiselle，andyoumaycountonusforlifeordeath，"

exclaimedMariette，rejoicedattheunexpectedturnofaffairs。

"Inthefirstplace，silenceforsilence，"saidRosalie。"IwillnotmarryMonsieurdeSoulas；butonethingIwillhave，andmusthave；myhelpandfavorareyoursononeconditiononly。"

"Whatisthat？"

"ImustseetheletterswhichMonsieurSavaronsendstothepostbyJerome。"

"Butwhatfor？"saidMarietteinalarm。

"Oh!merelytoreadthem，andyouyourselfshallpostthemafterwards。

Itwillcausealittledelay；thatisall。"

Atthismomenttheywentintochurch，andeachofthem，insteadofreadingtheorderofMass，fellintoherowntrainofthought。

"Dear，dear，howmanysinsarethereinallthat？"thoughtMariette。

Rosalie，whosesoul，brain，andheartwerecompletelyupsetbyreadingthestory，bythistimeregardeditashistory，writtenforherrival。

Bydintofthinkingofnothingelse，likeachild，sheendedbybelievingthatthe/EasternReview/wasnodoubtforwardedtoAlbert"slady-love。

"Oh!"saidshetoherself，herheadburiedinherhandsintheattitudeofapersonlostinprayer；"oh!howcanIgetmyfathertolookthroughthelistofpeopletowhomthe/Review/issent？"

Afterbreakfastshetookaturninthegardenwithherfather，coaxingandcajolinghim，andbroughthimtothekiosk。

"Doyousuppose，mydearlittlepapa，thatour/Review/iseverreadabroad？"

"Itisbutjuststarted——"

"Well，Iwillwagerthatitis。"

"Itishardlypossible。"

"Justgoandfindout，andnotethenamesofanysubscribersoutofFrance。"

TwohourslaterMonsieurdeWattevillesaidtohisdaughter:

"Iwasright；thereisnotoneforeignsubscriberasyet。TheyhopetogetsomeatNeufchatel，atBerne，andatGeneva。Onecopy，isinfact，senttoItaly，butitisnotpaidfor——toaMilaneseladyathercountryhouseatBelgirate，onLagoMaggiore。

"Whatishername？"

"TheDuchessed"Argaiolo。"

"Doyouknowher，papa？"

"Ihaveheardabouther。ShewasbybirthaPrincessSoderini，aFlorentine，averygreatlady，andquiteasrichasherhusband，whohasoneofthelargestfortunesinLombardy。TheirvillaontheLagoMaggioreisoneofthesightsofItaly。"

Twodaysafter，MarietteplacedthefollowingletterinMademoiselledeWatteville"shand:——

AlbertSavarontoLeopoldHannequin。

"Yes，"tisso，mydearfriend；IamatBesancon，whileyouthoughtIwastraveling。Iwouldnottellyouanythingtillsuccessshouldbegin，andnowitisdawning。Yes，mydearLeopold，aftersomanyabortiveundertakings，overwhichIhaveshedthebestofmyblood，havewastedsomanyefforts，spentsomuchcourage，Ihavemadeupmymindtodoasyouhavedone——tostartonabeatenpath，onthehighroad，asthelongestbutthesafest。Icanseeyoujumpwithsurpriseinyourlawyer"schair!

"Butdonotsupposethatanythingischangedinmypersonallife，ofwhichyoualoneintheworldknowthesecret，andthatunderthereservations/she/insistson。Ididnottellyou，myfriend；

butIwashorriblywearyofParis。Theoutcomeofthefirstenterprise，onwhichIhadfoundedallmyhopes，andwhichcametoabadendinconsequenceoftheutterrascalityofmytwopartners，whocombinedtocheatandfleeceme——me，thougheverythingwasdonebymyenergy——mademegiveupthepursuitofafortuneafterthelossofthreeyearsofmylife。Oneoftheseyearswasspentinthelawcourts，andperhapsIshouldhavecomeworseoutofthescrapeifIhadnotbeenmadetostudylawwhenI

wastwenty。

"Imadeupmymindtogointopoliticssolely，totheendthatI

maysomedayfindmynameonalistforpromotiontotheSenateunderthetitleofComteAlbertSavarondeSavarus，andsoreviveinFranceagoodnamenowextinctinBelgium——thoughindeedIamneitherlegitimatenorlegitimized。"

"Ah!Iknewit!Heisofnoblebirth!"exclaimedRosalie，droppingtheletter。

"YouknowhowconscientiouslyIstudied，howfaithfulandusefulI

wasasanobscurejournalist，andhowexcellentasecretarytothestatesmanwho，onhispart，wastruetomein1829。FlungtothedepthsoncemorebytherevolutionofJulyjustwhenmynamewasbecomingknown，attheverymomentwhen，asMasterofAppeals，I

wasabouttofindmyplaceasanecessarywheelinthepoliticalmachine，Icommittedtheblunderofremainingfaithfultothefallen，andfightingforthem，withoutthem。Oh!whywasIbutthree-and-thirty，andwhydidInotapplytoyoutomakemeeligible？Iconcealedfromyouallmydevotednessandmydangers。

Whatwouldyouhave？Iwasfulloffaith。Weshouldnothaveagreed。

"Tenmonthsago，whenyousawmesogayandcontented，writingmypoliticalarticles，Iwasindespair；Iforesawmyfate，attheageofthirty-seven，withtwothousandfrancsformywholefortune，withoutthesmallestfame，justhavingfailedinanobleundertaking，thefounding，namely，ofadailypaperansweringonlytoaneedofthefutureinsteadofappealingtothepassionsofthemoment。Ididnotknowwhichwaytoturn，andIfeltmyownvalue!Iwanderedabout，gloomyandhurt，throughthelonelyplacesofParis——Pariswhichhadslippedthroughmyfingers——

thinkingofmycrushedambitions，butnevergivingthemup。Oh，whatfranticlettersIwroteatthattimeto/her/，mysecondconscience，myotherself!SometimesIwouldsaytomyself，"WhydidIsketchsovastaprogrammeoflife？Whydemandeverything？

Whynotwaitforhappinesswhiledevotingmyselftosomemechanicalemployment。"

"IthenlookedaboutmeforsomemodestappointmentbywhichI

mightlive。Iwasabouttogettheeditorshipofapaperunderamanagerwhodidnotknowmuchaboutit，amanofwealthandambition，whenItookfright。"Would/she/everacceptasherhusbandamanwhohadstoopedsolow？"Iwondered。

"Thisreflectionmademetwo-and-twentyagain。But，oh，mydearLeopold，howthesouliswornbytheseperplexities!Whatmustnotthecagedeaglessuffer，andimprisonedlions!——TheysufferwhatNapoleonsuffered，notatSaintHelena，butontheQuayoftheTuileries，onthe10thofAugust，whenhesawLouisXVI。defendinghimselfsobadlywhilehecouldhavequelledtheinsurrection；asheactuallydid，onthesamespot，alittlelater，inVendemiaire。

Well，mylifehasbeenatormentofthatkind，extendingoverfouryears。HowmanyaspeechtotheChamberhaveInotdeliveredinthedesertedalleysoftheBoisdeBoulogne!Thesewastedharangueshaveatanyratesharpenedmytongueandaccustomedmymindtoformulateitsideasinwords。AndwhileIwasundergoingthissecrettorture，youweregettingmarried，youhadpaidforyourbusiness，youweremadelaw-clerktotheMaireofyourdistrict，aftergainingacrossforawoundatSaint-Merri。

"Now，listen。WhenIwasasmallboyandtorturedcock-chafers，thepoorinsectshadoneformofstrugglewhichusedalmosttoputmeinafever。ItwaswhenIsawthemmakingrepeatedeffortstoflybutwithoutgettingaway，thoughtheycouldspreadtheirwings。Weusedtosay，"Theyaremarkingtime。"Nowwasthissympathy？Wasitavisionofmyownfuture？——Oh!tospreadmywingsandyetbeunabletofly!ThathasbeenmypredicamentsincethatfineundertakingbywhichIwasdisgusted，butwhichhasnowmadefourfamiliesrich。

"Atlast，sevenmonthsago，IdeterminedtomakemyselfanameattheParisBar，seeinghowmanyvacancieshadbeenleftbythepromotionofseverallawyerstoeminentpositions。ButwhenI

rememberedtherivalryIhadseenamongmenofthepress，andhowdifficultitistoachieveanythingofanykindinParis，thearenawheresomanychampionsmeet，Icametoadeterminationpainfultomyself，butcertaininitsresults，andperhapsquickerthananyother。InthecourseofourconversationsyouhadgivenmeapictureofthesocietyofBesancon，oftheimpossibilityforastrangertogetonthere，toproducethesmallesteffect，togetintosociety，ortosucceedinanywaywhatever。ItwastherethatIdeterminedtosetupmyflag，thinking，andrightly，thatI

shouldmeetwithnoopposition，butfindmyselfalonetocanvassfortheelection。ThepeopleoftheComtewillnotmeettheoutsider？Theoutsiderwillmeetthem!Theyrefusetoadmithimtotheirdrawing-rooms，hewillnevergothere!Henevershowshimselfanywhere，noteveninthestreets!Butthereisoneclassthatelectsthedeputies——thecommercialclass。Iamgoingespeciallytostudycommercialquestions，withwhichIamalreadyfamiliar；Iwillgaintheirlawsuits，Iwilleffectcompromises，I

willbethegreatestpleaderinBesancon。ByandbyIwillstarta/Review/，inwhichIwilldefendtheinterestsofthecountry，willcreatethem，orpreservethem，orresuscitatethem。WhenI

shallhavewonasufficientnumberofvotes，mynamewillcomeoutoftheurn。Foralongtimetheunknownbarristerwillbetreatedwithcontempt，butsomecircumstancewillarisetobringhimtothefront——someunpaiddefence，oracasewhichnootherpleaderwillundertake。

"Well，mydearLeopold，Ipackedupmybooksinelevencases，I

boughtsuchlaw-booksasmightproveuseful，andIsenteverythingoff，furnitureandall，bycarriertoBesancon。Icollectedmydiplomas，andIwenttobidyougood-bye。ThemailcoachdroppedmeatBesancon，where，inthreedays"time，Ichosealittlesetofroomslookingoutoversomegardens。IsumptuouslyarrangedthemysteriousprivateroomwhereIspendmynightsanddays，andwheretheportraitofmydivinityreigns——ofhertowhommylifeisdedicate，whofillsitwholly，whoisthemainspringofmyefforts，thesecretofmycourage，thecauseofmytalents。Then，assoonasthefurnitureandbookshadcome，Iengagedanintelligentman-servant，andthereIsatforfivemonthslikeahibernatingmarmot。

"Mynamehad，however，beenenteredonthelistoflawyersinthetown。AtlastIwascalledonedaytodefendanunhappywretchattheAssizes，nodoubtinordertohearmespeakforonce!OneofthemostinfluentialmerchantsofBesanconwasonthejury；hehadadifficulttasktofulfil；Ididmyutmostfortheman，andmysuccesswasabsoluteandcomplete。Myclientwasinnocent；Iverydramaticallysecuredthearrestoftherealcriminals，whohadcomeforwardaswitnesses。Inshort，theCourtandthepublicwereunitedintheiradmiration。Imanagedtosavetheexaminingmagistrate"spridebypointingouttheimpossibilityofdetectingaplotsoskilfullyplanned。

"ThenIhadtofightacaseformymerchant，andwonhissuit。TheCathedralChapternextchosemetodefendatremendousactionagainstthetown，whichhadbeengoingonforfouryears；Iwonthat。Thus，afterthreetrials，IhadbecomethemostfamousadvocateofFranche-Comte。

"ButIburymylifeinthedeepestmystery，andsohidemyaims。I

haveadoptedhabitswhichpreventmyacceptinganyinvitations。I

amonlytobeconsultedbetweensixandeightinthemorning；Igotobedaftermydinner，andworkatnight。TheVicar-General，amanofparts，andveryinfluential，whoplacedtheChapter"scaseinmyhandsaftertheyhadlostitinthelowerCourt，ofcourseprofessedtheirgratitude。"Monsieur，"saidI，"Iwillwinyoursuit，butIwantnofee；Iwantmore"(startofalarmontheAbbe"spart)。"YoumustknowthatIamagreatloserbyputtingmyselfforwardinantagonismtothetown。Icamehereonlytoleavetheplaceasdeputy。Imeantoengageonlyincommercialcases，becausecommercialmenreturnthemembers；theywilldistrustmeifIdefend"thepriests"——fortothemyouaresimplypriests。IfIundertakeyourdefence，itisbecauseIwas，in1828，privatesecretarytosuchaMinister"(againastartofsurpriseonthepartofmyAbbe)，"andMasterofAppeals，underthenameofAlbertdeSavarus"(anotherstart)。"Ihaveremainedfaithfultomonarchicalopinions；but，asyouhavenotthemajorityofvotesinBesancon，Imustgainvotesamongthecitizens。SothefeeIaskofyouisthevotesyoumaybeablesecretlytosecureformeattheopportunemoment。Letuseachkeepourowncounsel，andIwilldefend，fornothing，everycasetowhichapriestofthisdiocesemaybeaparty。Notawordaboutmypreviouslife，andwewillbetruetoeachother。"

"Whenhecametothankmeafterwards，hegavemeanoteforfivehundredfrancs，andsaidinmyear，"Thevotesareabargainallthesame。"——Ihaveinthecourseoffiveinterviewsmadeafriend，Ithink，ofthisVicar-General。

"NowIamoverwhelmedwithbusiness，andIundertakenocasesbutthosebroughttomebymerchants，sayingthatcommercialquestionsaremyspecialty。Thislineofconductattachesbusinessmentome，andallowsmetomakefriendswithinfluentialpersons。Soallgoeswell。WithinafewmonthsIshallhavefoundahousetopurchaseinBesancon，soastosecureaqualification。Icountonyourlendingmethenecessarycapitalforthisinvestment。IfI

shoulddie，ifIshouldfail，thelosswouldbetoosmalltobeanyconsiderationbetweenyouandme。Youwillgettheinterestoutoftherental，andIshalltakegoodcaretolookoutforsomethingcheap，sothatyoumaylosenothingbythismortgage，whichisindispensable。

"Oh!mydearLeopold，nogamblerwiththelastremainsofhisfortuneinhispocket，bentonstakingitattheCercledesEtrangersforthelasttimeonenight，whenhemustcomeawayrichorruined，everfeltsuchaperpetualringinginhisears，suchanervousmoistureonhispalms，suchafeveredtumultinhisbrain，suchinwardqualmsinhisbodyasIgothrougheverydaynowthatIamplayingmylastcardinthegameofambition。Alas!mydearandonlyfriend，fornearlytenyearsnowIhavebeenstruggling。

Thisbattlewithmenandthings，inwhichIhaveunceasinglypouredoutmystrengthandenergy，andsoconstantlywornthespringsofdesire，has，sotospeak，underminedmyvitality。Withalltheappearanceofastrongmanofgoodhealth，Ifeelmyselfawreck。Everydaycarrieswithitashredofmyinmostlife。AteveryfresheffortIfeelthatIshouldneverbeabletobeginagain。Ihavenopower，novigorleftbutforhappiness；andifitshouldnevercometocrownmyheadwithroses，the/me/thatisreallymewouldceasetoexist，Ishouldbearuinedthing。I

shouldwishfornothingmoreintheworld。Ishouldwanttoceasefromliving。Youknowthatpowerandfame，thevastmoralempirethatIcrave，isbutsecondary；itistomeonlyameanstohappiness，thepedestalformyidol。

"Toreachthegoalanddie，liketherunnerofantiquity!Toseefortuneanddeathstandonthethresholdhandinhand!Towinthebelovedwomanjustwhenloveisextinct!Tolosethefacultyofenjoymentafterearningtherighttobehappy!——Ofhowmanymenhasthisbeenthefate!

"ButtheresurelyisamomentwhenTantalusrebels，crosseshisarms，anddefieshell，throwinguphispartoftheeternaldupe。

ThatiswhatIshallcometoifanythingshouldthwartmyplan；

if，afterstoopingtothedustofprovinciallife，prowlinglikeastarvingtigerroundthesetradesmen，theseelectors，tosecuretheirvotes；if，afterwranglinginthesesqualidcases，andgivingthemmytime——thetimeImighthavespentonLagoMaggiore，seeingthewatersshesees，baskinginhergaze，hearinghervoice——if，afterall，IfailedtoscalethetribuneandconquertheglorythatshouldsurroundthenamethatistosucceedtothatofArgaiolo!Nay，morethanthis，Leopold；therearedayswhenIfeelaheadylanguor；deepdisgustsurgesupfromthedepthsofmysoul，especiallywhen，abandonedtolongday-dreams，Ihavelostmyselfinanticipationofthejoysofblissfullove!Mayitnotbethatourdesirehasonlyacertainmodicumofpower，andthatitperishes，perhaps，ofatoolavisheffusionofitsessence？For，afterall，atthispresent，mylifeisfair，illuminatedbyfaith，work，andlove。

"Farewell，myfriend；Isendlovetoyourchildren，andbegyoutoremembermetoyourexcellentwife——Yours，"ALBERT。"

Rosaliereadthislettertwicethrough，anditsgeneralpurportwasstampedonherheart。ShesuddenlysawthewholeofAlbert"spreviousexistence，forherquickintelligencethrewlightonallthedetails，andenabledhertotakeitallin。Byaddingthisinformationtothelittlenovelpublishedinthe/Review/，shenowfullyunderstoodAlbert。Ofcourse，sheexaggeratedthegreatness，remarkableasitwas，ofthisloftysoulandpotentwill，andherloveforAlbertthenceforthbecameapassion，itsviolenceenhancedbyallthestrengthofheryouth，thewearinessofhersolitude，andtheunspentenergyofhercharacter。Loveisinayounggirltheeffectofanaturallaw；butwhenhercravingforaffectioniscenteredinanexceptionalman，itismingledwiththeenthusiasmwhichoverflowsinayouthfulheart。ThusMademoiselledeWattevillehadinafewdaysreachedamorbidandverydangerousstageofenamoredinfatuation。TheBaronesswasmuchpleasedwithherdaughter，who，beingunderthespellofherabsorbingthoughts，neverresistedherwill，seemedtobedevotedtofeminineoccupations，andrealizedhermother"sidealofadociledaughter。

ThelawyerwasnowengagedinCourttwoorthreetimesaweek。Thoughhewasoverwhelmedwithbusiness，hefoundtimetoattendthetrials，callonthelitigiousmerchants，andconductthe/Review/；keepinguphispersonalmystery，fromtheconvictionthatthemorecovertandhiddenwashisinfluence，themorerealitwouldbe。Butheneglectednomeansofsuccess，readingupthelistofelectorsofBesancon，andfindingouttheirinterests，theircharacters，theirvariousfriendshipsandantipathies。DideveraCardinalhopingtobemadePopegivehimselfmoretrouble？

OneeveningMariette，oncomingtodressRosalieforaneveningparty，handedtoher，notwithoutmanygroansoverthistreachery，aletterofwhichtheaddressmadeMademoiselledeWattevilleshiverandreddenandturnpaleagainasshereadtheaddress:

ToMadamelaDuchessed"Argaiolo(neePrincesseSoderini)

AtBelgirate，LagoMaggiore，Italy。

Inhereyesthisdirectionblazedasthewords/Mene/，/Tekel/，/Upharsin/，didintheeyesofBelshazzar。Afterconcealingtheletter，RosaliewentdownstairstoaccompanyhermothertoMadamedeChavoncourt"s；andaslongastheendlesseveninglasted，shewastormentedbyremorseandscruples。ShehadalreadyfeltshameathavingviolatedthesecrecyofAlbert"slettertoLeopold；shehadseveraltimesaskedherselfwhether，ifheknewofhercrime，infamousinasmuchasitnecessarilygoesunpunished，thehigh-mindedAlbertcouldesteemher。Herconscienceansweredanuncompromising"No。"

Shehadexpiatedhersinbyself-imposedpenances；shefasted，shemortifiedherselfbyremainingonherknees，herarmsoutstretchedforhours，andrepeatingprayersallthetime。ShehadcompelledMariettetosimilarsetsofrepentance；herpassionwasmingledwithgenuineasceticism，andwasallthemoredangerous。

"ShallIreadthatletter，shallInot？"sheaskedherself，whilelisteningtotheChavoncourtgirls。Onewassixteen，theotherseventeenandahalf。Rosalielookeduponhertwofriendsasmerechildrenbecausetheywerenotsecretlyinlove——"IfIreadit，"shefinallydecided，afterhesitatingforanhourbetweenYesandNo，"itshall，atanyrate，bethelast。SinceIhavegonesofarastoseewhathewrotetohisfriend，whyshouldInotknowwhathesaysto/her/？Ifitisahorriblecrime，isitnotaproofoflove？Oh，Albert!amInotyourwife？"

WhenRosaliewasinbedsheopenedtheletter，datedfromdaytoday，soastogivetheDuchessafaithfulpictureofAlbert"slifeandfeelings。

"25th。

"MydearSoul，alliswell。TomyotherconquestsIhavejustaddedaninvaluableone:Ihavedoneaservicetooneofthemostinfluentialmenwhoworktheelections。Likethecritics，whomakeothermen"sreputationsbutcannevermaketheirown，hemakesdeputiesthoughhenevercanbecomeone。Theworthymanwantedtoshowhisgratitudewithoutlooseninghispurse-stringsbysayingtome，"WouldyoucaretositintheChamber？Icangetyoureturnedasdeputy。"

""IfIevermakeupmymindtoenteronapoliticalcareer，"

repliedIhypocritically，"itwouldbetodevotemyselftotheComte，whichIlove，andwhereIamappreciated。"

""Well，"hesaid，"wewillpersuadeyou，andthroughyouweshallhaveweightintheChamber，foryouwilldistinguishyourselfthere。"

"Andso，mybelovedangel，saywhatyouwill，myperseverancewillberewarded。ErelongIshall，fromthehighplaceoftheFrenchTribune，comebeforemycountry，beforeEurope。MynamewillbeflungtoyoubythehundredvoicesoftheFrenchpress。

"Yes，asyoutellme，IwasoldwhenIcametoBesancon，andBesanconhasagedmemore；but，likeSixtusV。，Ishallbeyoungagainthedayaftermyelection。Ishallenteronmytruelife，myownsphere。Shallwenotthenstandinthesameline？CountSavarondeSavarus，AmbassadorIknownotwhere，maysurelymarryaPrincessSoderini，thewidowoftheDucd"Argaiolo!Triumphrestorestheyouthofmenwhohavebeenpreservedbyincessantstruggles。Oh，myLife!withwhatgladnessdidIflyfrommylibrarytomyprivateroom，totellyourportraitofthisprogressbeforewritingtoyou!Yes，thevotesIcancommand，thoseoftheVicar-General，ofthepersonsIcanoblige，andofthisclient，makemyelectionalreadysure。

"26th。

"Wehaveenteredonthetwelfthyearsincethatblesteveningwhen，byalook，thebeautifulDuchesssealedthepromisesmadebytheexileFrancesca。You，dear，arethirty-two，Iamthirty-five；

thedearDukeisseventy-seven——thatistosay，tenyearsmorethanyoursandmineputtogether，andhestillkeepswell!Mypatienceisalmostasgreatasmylove，andindeedIneedafewyearsyettorisetothelevelofyourname。Asyousee，Iamingoodspiritsto-day，Icanlaugh；thatistheeffectofhope。