第10章
"Oh!Iknow，"repliedtheAbbe。"Youwrote"/Ambitionforlove"ssake/!"——Ah!myson，itwasloveindespairthatmademeapriestin1786，attheageoftwo-and-twenty。In1788Iwasinchargeofaparish。Iknowlife——Ihaverefusedthreebishopricsalready；ImeantodieatBesancon。"
"Comeandseeher!"criedSavarus，seizingacandle，andleadingtheAbbeintothehandsomeroomwherehungtheportraitoftheDuchessed"Argaiolo，whichhelightedup。
"Sheisoneofthosewomenwhoareborntoreign!"saidtheVicar-
General，understandinghowgreatanaffectionAlbertshowedhimbythismarkofconfidence。"Butthereisprideonthatbrow；itisimplacable；shewouldneverforgiveaninsult!ItistheArchangelMichael，theangelofExecution，theinexorableangel——"Allornothing"isthemottoofthistypeofangel。Thereissomethingdivinelypitilessinthathead。"
"Youhaveguessedwell，"criedSavarus。"But，mydearAbbe，formorethantwelveyearsnowshehadreignedovermylife，andIhavenotathoughtforwhichtoblamemyself——"
"Ah!ifyoucouldonlysaythesameofGod!"saidthepriestwithsimplicity。"Now，totalkofyouraffairs。FortendaysIhavebeenatworkforyou。Ifyouarearealpolitician，thistimeyouwillfollowmyadvice。YouwouldnotbewhereyouarenowifyouwouldhavegonetotheWattevilleswhenIfirsttoldyou。Butyoumustgothereto-morrow；Iwilltakeyouintheevening。TheRouxeyestatesareindanger；thecasemustbedefendedwithinthreedays。Theelectionwillnotbeoverinthreedays。Theywilltakegoodcarenottoappointexaminersthefirstday。Therewillbeseveralvotingdays，andyouwillbeelectedbyballot——"
"Howcanthatbe？"askedSavarus。
"BywinningtheRouxeylawsuityouwillgaineightyLegitimistvotes；
addthemtothethirtyIcancommand，andyouhaveahundredandten。
Then，astwentyremaintoyouoftheBouchercommittee，youwillhaveahundredandthirtyinall。"
"Well，"saidAlbert，"wemustgetseventy-fivemore。"
"Yes，"saidthepriest，"sincealltherestareMinisterial。But，myson，youhavetwohundredvotes，andthePrefecturenomorethanahundredandeighty。"
"Ihavetwohundredvotes？"saidAlbert，standingstupidwithamazement，afterstartingtohisfeetasifshotupbyaspring。
"YouhavethoseofMonsieurdeChavoncourt，"saidtheAbbe。
"How？"saidAlbert。
"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt。"
"Never!"
"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，"thepriestrepeatedcoldly。
"Butyousee——sheisinexorable，"saidAlbert，pointingtoFrancesca。
"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，"saidtheAbbecalmlyforthethirdtime。
ThistimeAlbertunderstood。TheVicar-Generalwouldnotbeimplicatedinaschemewhichatlastsmiledonthedespairingpolitician。Awordmorewouldhavecompromisedthepriest"sdignityandhonor。
"To-morroweveningattheHoteldeRuptyouwillmeetMadamedeChavoncourtandherseconddaughter。Youcanthankherbeforehandforwhatsheisgoingtodoforyou，andtellherthatyourgratitudeisunbounded，thatyouarehersbodyandsoul，thathenceforthyourfutureisthatofherfamily。Youarequitedisinterested，foryouhavesomuchconfidenceinyourselfthatyouregardthenominationasdeputyasasufficientfortune。
"YouwillhaveastrugglewithMadamedeChavoncourt；shewillwantyoutopledgeyourword。Allyourfuturelife，myson，liesinthatevening。But，understandclearly，Ihavenothingtodowithit。IamanswerableonlyforLegitimistvoters；IhavesecuredMadamedeWatteville，andthatmeansallthearistocracyofBesancon。AmedeedeSoulasandVauchelles，whowillbothvoteforyou，havewonovertheyoungmen；MadamedeWattevillewillgettheoldones。Astomyelectors，theyareinfallible。"
"AndwhoonearthhasgainedoverMadamedeChavoncourt？"askedSavarus。
"Askmenoquestions，"repliedtheAbbe。"MonsieurdeChavoncourt，whohasthreedaughterstomarry，isnotcapableofincreasinghiswealth。
ThoughVauchellesmarriestheeldestwithoutanythingfromherfather，becauseheroldauntistosettlesomethingonher，whatistobecomeofthetwoothers？Sidonieissixteen，andyourambitionisasgoodasagoldmine。SomeonehastoldMadamedeChavoncourtthatshewilldobetterbygettingherdaughtermarriedthanbysendingherhusbandtowastehismoneyinParis。ThatsomeonemanagesMadamedeChavoncourt，andMadamedeChavoncourtmanagesherhusband。"
"Thatisenough，mydearAbbe。Iunderstand。WhenonceIamreturnedasdeputy，Ihavesomebody"sfortunetomake，andbymakingitlargeenoughIshallbereleasedfrommypromise。Inmeyouhaveason，amanwhowillowehishappinesstoyou。Greatheavens!whathaveIdonetodeservesotrueafriend？"
"YouwonatriumphfortheChapter，"saidtheVicar-General，smiling。
"Now，astoallthis，beassecretasthetomb。Wearenothing，wehavedonenothing。Ifwewereknowntohavemeddledinelectionmatters，weshouldbeeatenupalivebythePuritansoftheLeft——whodoworse——andblamedbysomeofourownparty，whowanteverything。
MadamedeChavoncourthasnosuspicionofmyshareinallthis。IhaveconfidedinnoonebutMadamedeWatteville，whomwemaytrustaswetrustourselves。"
"IwillbringtheDuchesstoyoutobeblessed!"criedSavarus。
Afterseeingouttheoldpriest，Albertwenttobedintheswaddlingclothesofpower。
Nextevening，asmaywellbesupposed，bynineo"clockMadamelaBaronnedeWatteville"sroomswerecrowdedbythearistocracyofBesanconinconvocationextraordinary。Theywerediscussingtheexceptionalstepofgoingtothepoll，toobligethedaughteroftheRupts。ItwasknownthattheformerMasterofAppeals，thesecretaryofoneofthemostfaithfulministersundertheElderBranch，wastobepresentedthatevening。MadamedeChavoncourtwastherewithherseconddaughterSidonie，exquisitelydressed，whilehereldersister，secureofherlover，hadnotindulgedinanyoftheartsofthetoilet。Incountrytownstheselittlethingsareremarked。TheAbbedeGrancey"sfineandcleverheadwastobeseenmovingfromgrouptogroup，listeningtoeverything，seemingtobeapartfromitall，bututteringthoseincisivephraseswhichsumupaquestionanddirecttheissue。
"IftheElderBranchweretoreturn，"saidhetoanoldstatesmanofseventy，"whatpoliticianswouldtheyfind？"——"Berryer，aloneonhisbench，doesnotknowwhichwaytoturn；ifhehadsixtyvotes，hewouldoftenscotchthewheelsoftheGovernmentandupsetMinistries!"——
"TheDucdeFitz-JamesistobenominatedatToulouse。"——"YouwillenableMonsieurdeWattevilletowinhislawsuit。"——"IfyouvoteforMonsieurSavarus，theRepublicanswillvotewithyouratherthanwiththeModerates!"etc。，etc。
Atnineo"clockAlberthadnotarrived。MadamedeWattevillewasdisposedtoregardsuchdelayasanimpertinence。
"MydearBaroness，"saidMadamedeChavoncourt，"donotletsuchseriousissuesturnonsuchatrifle。Thevarnishonhisbootsisnotdry——oraconsultation，perhaps，detainsMonsieurdeSavarus。"
RosalieshotasideglanceatMadamedeChavoncourt。
"SheisverylenienttoMonsieurdeSavarus，"shewhisperedtohermother。
"Yousee，"saidtheBaronesswithasmile，"thereisaquestionofamarriagebetweenSidonieandMonsieurdeSavarus。"
MademoiselledeWattevillehastilywenttoawindowlookingoutoverthegarden。
Atteno"clockAlbertdeSavarushadnotyetappeared。Thestormthatthreatenednowburst。Someofthegentlemensatdowntocards，findingthethingintolerable。TheAbbedeGrancey，whodidnotknowwhattothink，wenttothewindowwhereRosaliewashidden，andexclaimedaloudinhisamazement，"Hemustbedead!"
TheVicar-Generalsteppedoutintothegarden，followedbyMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisdaughter，andtheyallthreewentuptothekiosk。
InAlbert"sroomsallwasdark；notalightwastobeseen。
"Jerome!"criedRosalie，seeingtheservantintheyardbelow。TheAbbelookedatherwithastonishment。"Whereintheworldisyourmaster？"sheaskedtheman，whocametothefootofthewall。
"Gone——inapost-chaise，mademoiselle。"
"Heisruined!"exclaimedtheAbbedeGrancey，"orheishappy!"
ThejoyoftriumphwasnotsoeffectuallyconcealedonRosalie"sfacethattheVicar-Generalcouldnotdetectit。Heaffectedtoseenothing。
"Whatcanthisgirlhavehadtodowiththisbusiness？"heaskedhimself。
Theyallthreereturnedtothedrawing-room，whereMonsieurdeWattevilleannouncedthestrange，theextraordinary，theprodigiousnewsofthelawyer"sdeparture，withoutanyreasonassignedforhisevasion。Byhalf-pastelevenonlyfifteenpersonsremained，amongthemMadamedeChavoncourtandtheAbbedeGodenars，anotherVicar-General，amanofaboutforty，whohopedforabishopric，thetwoChavoncourtgirls，andMonsieurdeVauchelles，theAbbedeGrancey，Rosalie，AmedeedeSoulas，andaretiredmagistrate，oneofthemostinfluentialmembersoftheuppercircleofBesancon，whohadbeenveryeagerforAlbert"selection。TheAbbedeGranceysatdownbytheBaronessinsuchapositionastowatchRosalie，whoseface，usuallypale，woreafeverishflush。
"WhatcanhavehappenedtoMonsieurdeSavarus？"saidMadamedeChavoncourt。
AtthismomentaservantinliverybroughtinaletterfortheAbbedeGranceyonasilvertray。
"Prayreadit，"saidtheBaroness。
TheVicar-Generalreadtheletter；hesawRosaliesuddenlyturnaswhiteasherkerchief。
"Sherecognizesthewriting，"saidhetohimself，afterglancingatthegirloverhisspectacles。Hefoldeduptheletter，andcalmlyputitinhispocketwithoutaword。InthreeminuteshehadmetthreelooksfromRosaliewhichwereenoughtomakehimguesseverything。
"SheisinlovewithAlbertSavarus!"thoughttheVicar-General。
Heroseandtookleave。Hewasgoingtowardsthedoorwhen，inthenextroom，hewasovertakenbyRosalie，whosaid:
"MonsieurdeGrancey，itwasfromAlbert!"
"Howdoyouknowthatitwashiswriting，torecognizeitfromsofar？"
Thegirl"sreply，caughtasshewasinthetoilsofherimpatienceandrage，seemedtotheAbbesublime。
"Ilovehim!——Whatisthematter？"shesaidafterapause。
"Hegivesuptheelection。"
Rosalieputherfingertoherlip。
"Iaskyoutobeassecretasifitwereaconfession，"saidshebeforereturningtothedrawing-room。"Ifthereisanendoftheelection，thereisanendofthemarriagewithSidonie。"
Inthemorning，onherwaytoMass，MademoiselledeWattevilleheardfromMariettesomeofthecircumstanceswhichhadpromptedAlbert"sdisappearanceatthemostcriticalmomentofhislife。
"Mademoiselle，anoldgentlemanfromParisarrivedyesterdaymorningattheHotelNational；hecameinhisowncarriagewithfourhorses，andacourierinfront，andaservant。Indeed，Jerome，whosawthecarriagereturning，declareshecouldonlybeaprinceora/milord/。"
"Wasthereacoronetonthecarriage？"askedRosalie。
"Idonotknow，"saidMariette。"JustastwowasstrikinghecametocallonMonsieurSavarus，andsentinhiscard；andwhenhesawit，JeromesaysMonsieurturnedaspaleasasheet，andsaidhewastobeshownin。Ashehimselflockedthedoor，itisimpossibletotellwhattheoldgentlemanandthelawyersaidtoeachother；buttheyweretogetheraboveanhour，andthentheoldgentleman，withthelawyer，calleduphisservant。Jeromesawtheservantgooutagainwithanimmensepackage，fourfeetlong，whichlookedlikeagreatpaintingoncanvas。Theoldgentlemanhadinhishandalargeparcelofpapers。
MonsieurSavaronwaspalerthandeath，andhe，soproud，sodignified，wasinastatetobepitied。ButhetreatedtheoldgentlemansorespectfullythathecouldnothavebeenpolitertotheKinghimself。
JeromeandMonsieurAlbertSavaronescortedthegentlemantohiscarriage，whichwasstandingwiththehorsesin。Thecourierstartedonthestrokeofthree。
"MonsieurSavaronwentstraighttothePrefecture，andfromthattoMonsieurGentillet，whosoldhimtheoldtravelingcarriagethatusedtobelongtoMadamedeSaint-Vierbeforeshedied；thenheorderedposthorsesforsixo"clock。Hewenthometopack；nodoubthewrotealotofletters；finally，hesettledeverythingwithMonsieurGirardet，whowenttohimandstayedtillseven。JeromecarriedanotetoMonsieurBoucher，withwhomhismasterwastohavedined；andthen，athalf-pastseven，thelawyersetout，leavingJeromewiththreemonths"
wages，andtellinghimtofindanotherplace。
"HelefthiskeyswithMonsieurGirardet，whomhetookhome，andathishouse，Jeromesays，hetookaplateofsoup，forathalf-pastsevenMonsieurGirardethadnotyetdined。WhenMonsieurSavarongotintothecarriagehelookedlikedeath。Jerome，who，ofcourse，sawhismasteroff，heardhimtellthepostilion"TheGenevaRoad!""
"DidJeromeaskthenameofthestrangerattheHotelNational？"
"Astheoldgentlemandidnotmeantostay，hewasnotaskedforit。
Theservant，byhisordersnodoubt，pretendednottospeakFrench。"
"AndtheletterwhichcamesolatetoAbbedeGrancey？"saidRosalie。
"ItwasMonsieurGirardet，nodoubt，whooughttohavedeliveredit；
butJeromesaysthatpoorMonsieurGirardet，whowasmuchattachedtolawyerSavaron，wasasmuchupsetashewas。Sohewhocamesomysteriously，asMademoiselleGalardsays，isgoneawayjustasmysteriously。"
Afterhearingthisnarrative，MademoiselledeWattevillefellintoabroodingandabsentmood，whicheverybodycouldsee。ItisuselesstosayanythingofthecommotionthataroseinBesancononthedisappearanceofMonsieurSavaron。ItwasunderstoodthatthePrefecthadobligedhimwiththegreatestreadinessbygivinghimatonceapassportacrossthefrontier，forhewasthusquitofhisonlyopponent。NextdayMonsieurdeChavoncourtwascarriedtothetopbyamajorityofahundredandfortyvotes。
"Jackisgonebythewayhecame，"saidanelectoronhearingofAlbertSavaron"sflight。
ThiseventlentweighttotheprevailingprejudiceatBesanconagainststrangers；indeed，twoyearspreviouslytheyhadreceivedconfirmationfromtheaffairoftheRepublicannewspaper。TendayslaterAlbertdeSavaruswasneverspokenofagain。Onlythreepersons——Girardettheattorney，theVicar-General，andRosalie——wereseriouslyaffectedbyhisdisappearance。Girardetknewthatthewhite-hairedstrangerwasPrinceSoderini，forhehadseenhiscard，andhetoldtheVicar-
General；butRosalie，betterinformedthaneitherofthem，hadknownforthreemonthspastthattheDucd"Argaiolowasdead。
InthemonthofApril1836noonehadhadanynewsfromorofAlbertdeSavarus。JeromeandMarietteweretobemarried，buttheBaronessconfidentiallydesiredhermaidtowaittillherdaughterwasmarried，sayingthatthetwoweddingsmighttakeplaceatthesametime。
"ItistimethatRosalieshouldbemarried，"saidtheBaronessonedaytoMonsieurdeWatteville。"Sheisnineteen，andsheisfearfullyalteredintheselastmonths。"
"Idonotknowwhatailsher，"saidtheBaron。
"Whenfathersdonotknowwhatailstheirdaughters，motherscanguess，"saidtheBaroness；"wemustgethermarried。"
"Iamquitewilling，"saidtheBaron。"IshallgiveherlesRouxeynowthattheCourthassettledourquarrelwiththeauthoritiesofRiceysbyfixingtheboundarylineatthreehundredfeetupthesideoftheDentdeVilard。Iamhavingatrenchmadetocollectallthewaterandcarryitintothelake。Thevillagedidnotappeal，sothedecisionisfinal。"
"Ithasneveroccurredtoyou，"saidMadamedeWatteville，"thatthisdecisioncostmethirtythousandfrancshandedovertoChantonnit。
Thatpeasantwouldtakenothingelse；hesolduspeace——IfyougiveawaylesRouxey，youwillhavenothingleft，"saidtheBaroness。
"Idonotneedmuch，"saidtheBaron；"Iambreakingup。"
"Youeatlikeanogre!"
"Justso。ButhowevermuchImayeat，Ifeelmylegsgetweakerandweaker——"
"Itisfromworkingthelathe，"saidhiswife。
"Idonotknow，"saidhe。
"WewillmarryRosalietoMonsieurdeSoulas；ifyougiveherlesRouxey，keepthelifeinterest。Iwillgivethemfifteenthousandfrancsayearinthefunds。Ourchildrencanlivehere；Idonotseethattheyaremuchtobepitied。"
"No。IshallgivethemlesRouxeyoutandout。RosalieisfondoflesRouxey。"
"Youareaqueermanwithyourdaughter!ItdoesnotoccurtoyoutoaskmeifIamfondoflesRouxey。"
Rosalie，atoncesentfor，wasinformedthatshewastomarryMonsieurdeSoulasonedayearlyinthemonthofMay。
"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，mother，andtoyoutoo，father，forhavingthoughtofsettlingme；butIdonotmeantomarry；Iamveryhappywithyou。"
"Merespeeches!"saidtheBaroness。"YouarenotinlovewithMonsieurdeSoulas，thatisall。"
"Ifyouinsistontheplaintruth，IwillnevermarryMonsieurdeSoulas——"
"Oh!the/never/ofagirlofnineteen!"retortedhermother，withabittersmile。
"The/never/ofMademoiselledeWatteville，"saidRosaliewithfirmdecision。"Myfather，Iimagine，hasnointentionofmakingmemarryagainstmywishes？"
"No，indeedno!"saidthepoorBaron，lookingaffectionatelyathisdaughter。
"Verywell!"saidtheBaroness，sternlycontrollingtherageofabigotstartledatfindingherselfunexpectedlydefied，"youyourself，MonsieurdeWatteville，maytaketheresponsibilityofsettlingyourdaughter。Considerwell，mademoiselle，forifyoudonotmarrytomymindyouwillgetnothingoutofme!"
ThequarrelthusbegunbetweenMadamedeWattevilleandherhusband，whotookhisdaughter"spart，wentsofarthatRosalieandherfatherwereobligedtospendthesummeratlesRouxey；lifeattheHoteldeRuptwasunendurable。ItthusbecameknowninBesanconthatMademoiselledeWattevillehadpositivelyrefusedtheComtedeSoulas。
AftertheirmarriageMarietteandJeromecametolesRouxeytosucceedtoModinierinduetime。TheBaronrestoredandrepairedthehousetosuithisdaughter"staste。Whensheheardthattheseimprovementshadcostaboutsixtythousandfrancs，andthatRosalieandherfatherwerebuildingaconservatory，theBaronessunderstoodthattherewasaleavenofspiteinherdaughter。TheBaronpurchasedvariousoutlyingplots，andalittleestateworththirtythousandfrancs。MadamedeWattevillewastoldthat，awayfromher，Rosalieshowedmasterlyqualities，thatshewastakingstepstoimprovethevalueoflesRouxey，thatshehadtreatedherselftoaridinghabitandrodeabout；