第11章
herfather，whomshemadeveryhappy，whonolongercomplainedofhishealth，andwhowasgrowingfat，accompaniedherinherexpeditions。
AstheBaroness"name-daygrewnear——hernamewasLouise——theVicar-
GeneralcameonedaytolesRouxey，deputed，nodoubt，byMadamedeWattevilleandMonsieurdeSoulas，tonegotiateapeacebetweenmotheranddaughter。
"ThatlittleRosaliehasaheadonhershoulders，"saidthefolkofBesancon。
AfterhandsomelypayinguptheninetythousandfrancsspentonlesRouxey，theBaronessallowedherhusbandathousandfrancsamonthtoliveon；shewouldnotputherselfinthewrong。ThefatheranddaughterwereperfectlywillingtoreturntoBesanconforthe15thofAugust，andtoremaintheretilltheendofthemonth。
When，afterdinner，theVicar-GeneraltookMademoiselledeWattevilleapart，toopenthequestionofthemarriage，byexplainingtoherthatitwasvaintothinkanymoreofAlbert，ofwhomtheyhadhadnonewsforayearpast，hewasstoppedatoncebyasignfromRosalie。ThestrangegirltookMonsieurdeGranceybythearm，andledhimtoaseatunderaclumpofrhododendrons，whencetherewasaviewofthelake。
"Listen，dearAbbe，"saidshe。"YouwhomIloveasmuchasmyfather，foryouhadanaffectionformyAlbert，ImustatlastconfessthatI
committedcrimestobecomehiswife，andhemustbemyhusband——Here；
readthis。"
Sheheldouttohimanumberofthe/Gazette/whichshehadinherapronpocket，pointingoutthefollowingparagraphunderthedateofFlorence，May25th:——
"TheweddingofMonsieurleDucdeRhetore，eldestsonoftheDucdeChaulieu，theformerAmbassador，toMadamelaDuchessed"Argaiolo，/nee/PrincessSoderini，wassolemnizedwithgreatsplendor。NumerousentertainmentsgiveninhonorofthemarriagearemakingFlorencegay。TheDuchess"fortuneisoneofthefinestinItaly，forthelateDukelefthereverything。
"Thewomanhelovedismarried，"saidshe。"Idividedthem。"
"You？How？"askedtheAbbe。
Rosaliewasabouttoreply，whenshewasinterruptedbyaloudcryfromtwoofthegardeners，followingonthesoundofabodyfallingintothewater；shestarted，andranoffscreaming，"Oh!father!"——TheBaronhaddisappeared。
Intryingtoreachapieceofgraniteonwhichhefanciedhesawtheimpressionofashell，acircumstancewhichwouldhavecontradictedsomesystemofgeology，MonsieurdeWattevillehadgonedowntheslope，losthisbalance，andslippedintothelake，which，ofcourse，wasdeepestcloseundertheroadway。ThemenhadthegreatestdifficultyinenablingtheBarontocatchholdofapolepusheddownattheplacewherethewaterwasbubbling，butatlasttheypulledhimout，coveredwithmud，inwhichhehadsunk；hewasgettingdeeperanddeeperin，bydintofstruggling。MonsieurdeWattevillehaddinedheavily，digestionwasinprogress，andwasthuschecked。
Whenhehadbeenundressed，washed，andputtobed，hewasinsuchevidentdangerthattwoservantsatoncesetoutonhorseback:onetoridetoBesancon，andtheothertofetchthenearestdoctorandsurgeon。WhenMadamedeWattevillearrived，eighthourslater，withthefirstmedicalaidfromBesancon，theyfoundMonsieurdeWattevillepastallhope，inspiteoftheintelligenttreatmentoftheRouxeydoctor。Thefrighthadproducedseriouseffusiononthebrain，andtheshocktothedigestionwashelpingtokillthepoorman。
Thisdeath，whichwouldneverhavehappened，saidMadamedeWatteville，ifherhusbandhadstayedatBesancon，wasascribedbyhertoherdaughter"sobstinacy。ShetookanaversionforRosalie，abandoningherselftogriefandregretsthatwereevidentlyexaggerated。ShespokeoftheBaronas"herdearlamb!"
ThelastoftheWattevilleswasburiedonanislandinthelakeatlesRouxey，wheretheBaronesshadalittleGothicmonumenterectedofwhitemarble，likethatcalledthetombofHeloiseatPere-Lachaise。
AmonthafterthiscatastrophethemotheranddaughterhadsettledintheHoteldeRupt，wheretheylivedinsavagesilence。Rosaliewassufferingfromrealsorrow，whichhadnovisibleoutlet；sheaccusedherselfofherfather"sdeath，andshefearedanotherdisaster，muchgreaterinhereyes，andverycertainlyherownwork；neitherGirardettheattorneynortheAbbedeGranceycouldobtainanyinformationconcerningAlbert。Thissilencewasappalling。InaparoxysmofrepentanceshefeltthatshemustconfesstotheVicar-GeneralthehorriblemachinationsbywhichshehadseparatedFrancescaandAlbert。
Theyhadbeensimple，butformidable。MademoiselledeWattevillehadinterceptedAlbert"sletterstotheDuchessaswellasthatinwhichFrancescaannouncedherhusband"sillness，warningherloverthatshecouldwritetohimnomoreduringthetimewhileshewasdevoted，aswasherduty，tothecareofthedyingman。Thus，whileAlbertwaswhollyoccupiedwithelectionmatters，theDuchesshadwrittenhimonlytwoletters；oneinwhichshetoldhimthattheDucd"Argaiolowasindanger，andoneannouncingherwidowhood——twonobleandbeautifulletterswhichRosaliekeptback。
Afterseveralnights"laborshesucceededinimitatingAlbert"swritingveryperfectly。ShehadsubstitutedthreelettersofherownwritingforthreeofAlbert"s，andtheroughcopieswhichsheshowedtotheoldpriestmadehimshudder——thegeniusofevilwasrevealedinthemtosuchperfection。Rosalie，writinginAlbert"sname，hadpreparedtheDuchessforachangeintheFrenchman"sfeelings，falselyrepresentinghimasfaithless，andshehadansweredthenewsoftheDucd"Argaiolo"sdeathbyannouncingthemarriageerelongofAlbertandMademoiselledeWatteville。Thetwoletters，intendedtocrossontheroad，had，infact，doneso。TheinfernalclevernesswithwhichtheletterswerewrittensomuchastonishedtheVicar-Generalthathereadthemasecondtime。Francesca，stabbedtotheheartbyagirlwhowantedtokillloveinherrival，hadansweredthelastinthesefourwords:"Youarefree。Farewell。"
"Purelymoralcrimes，whichgivenoholdtohumanjustice，arethemostatrociousanddetestable，"saidtheAbbeseverely。"Godoftenpunishesthemonearth；hereinliesthereasonoftheterriblecatastropheswhichtousseeminexplicable。Ofallsecretcrimesburiedinthemysteryofprivatelife，themostdisgracefulisthatofbreakingthesealofaletter，orofreadingitsurreptitiously。Everyone，whoeveritmaybe，andurgedbywhateverreason，whoisguiltyofsuchanacthasstainedhishonorbeyondretrieving。
"Doyounotfeelallthatistouching，thatisheavenlyinthestoryoftheyouthfulpage，falselyaccused，andcarryingthelettercontainingtheorderforhisexecution，whosetsoutwithoutathoughtofill，andwhomProvidenceprotectsandsaves——miraculously，wesay!
Butdoyouknowwhereinthemiraclelies？Virtuehasagloryaspotentasthatofinnocentchildhood。
"Isaythesethingsnotmeaningtoadmonishyou，"saidtheoldpriest，withdeepgrief。"I，alas!amnotyourspiritualdirector；youarenotkneelingatthefeetofGod；Iamyourfriend，appalledbydreadofwhatyourpunishmentmaybe。WhathasbecomeofthatunhappyAlbert？
Hashe，perhaps，killedhimself？Therewastremendouspassionunderhisassumptionofcalm。IunderstandnowthatoldPrinceSoderini，thefatheroftheDuchessd"Argaiolo，cameheretotakebackhisdaughter"slettersandportraits。ThiswasthethunderboltthatfellonAlbert"shead，andhewentoff，nodoubt，totrytojustifyhimself。Buthowisitthatinfourteenmonthshehasgivenusnonewsofhimself？"
"Oh!ifImarryhim，hewillbesohappy!"
"Happy？——Hedoesnotloveyou。Besides，youhavenogreatfortunetogivehim。Yourmotherdetestsyou；youmadeherafiercereplywhichrankles，andwhichwillbeyourruin。Whenshetoldyouyesterdaythatobediencewastheonlywaytorepairyourerrors，andremindedyouoftheneedformarrying，mentioningAmedee——"Ifyouaresofondofhim，marryhimyourself，mother!"——Didyou，ordidyounot，flingthesewordsinherteeth？"
"Yes，"saidRosalie。
"Well，Iknowher，"MonsieurdeGranceywenton。"InafewmonthsshewillbeComtessedeSoulas!Shewillbesuretohavechildren；shewillgiveMonsieurdeSoulasfortythousandfrancsayear；shewillbenefithiminotherways，andreduceyourshareofherfortuneasmuchaspossible。Youwillbepooraslongasshelives，andsheisbuteight-and-thirty!YourwholeestatewillbethelandoflesRouxey，andthesmallsharelefttoyouafteryourfather"slegaldebtsaresettled，if，indeed，yourmothershouldconsenttoforegoherclaimsonlesRouxey。Fromthepointofviewofmaterialadvantages，youhavedonebadlyforyourself；fromthepointofviewoffeeling，Iimagineyouhavewreckedyourlife。Insteadofgoingtoyourmother——"Rosalieshookherheadfiercely。
"Toyourmother，"thepriestwenton，"andtoreligion，whereyouwould，atthefirstimpulseofyourheart，havefoundenlightenment，counsel，andguidance，youchosetoactinyourownway，knowingnothingoflife，andlisteningonlytopassion!"
ThesewordsofwisdomterrifiedMademoiselledeWatteville。
"AndwhatoughtItodonow？"sheaskedafterapause。
"Torepairyourwrong-doing，youmustascertainitsextent，"saidtheAbbe。
"Well，IwillwritetotheonlymanwhocanknowanythingofAlbert"sfate，MonsieurLeopoldHannequin，anotaryinParis，hisfriendsincechildhood。"
"Writenomore，unlesstodohonortotruth，"saidtheVicar-General。
"Placetherealandthefalselettersinmyhands，confesseverythingindetailasthoughIwerethekeeperofyourconscience，askingmehowyoumayexpiateyoursins，anddoingasIbidyou。Ishallsee——
for，aboveallthings，restorethisunfortunatemantohisinnocenceintheeyesofthewomanhehadmadehisdivinityonearth。Thoughhehaslosthishappiness，Albertmuststillhopeforjustification。"
RosaliepromisedtoobeytheAbbe，hopingthatthestepshemighttakewouldperhapsendinbringingAlbertbacktoher。
NotlongafterMademoiselledeWatteville"sconfessionaclerkcametoBesanconfromMonsieurLeopoldHannequin，armedwithapowerofattorneyfromAlbert；hecalledfirstonMonsieurGirardet，begginghisassistanceinsellingthehousebelongingtoMonsieurSavaron。TheattorneyundertooktodothisoutoffriendshipforAlbert。TheclerkfromParissoldthefurniture，andwiththeproceedscouldrepaysomemoneyowedbySavarontoGirardet，whoontheoccasionofhisinexplicabledeparturehadlenthimfivethousandfrancswhileundertakingtocollecthisassets。WhenGirardetaskedwhathadbecomeofthehandsomeandnoblepleader，towhomhehadbeensomuchattached，theclerkrepliedthatnooneknewbuthismaster，andthatthenotaryhadseemedgreatlydistressedbythecontentsofthelastletterhehadreceivedfromMonsieurAlbertdeSavarus。
Onhearingthis，theVicar-GeneralwrotetoLeopold。Thiswastheworthynotary"sreply:——
"ToMonsieurl"AbbedeGrancey，Vicar-GeneraloftheDioceseofBesancon。
"PARIS。
"Alas，monsieur，itisinnobody"spowertorestoreAlberttothelifeoftheworld；hehasrenouncedit。HeisanoviceinthemonasteryoftheGrandChartreusenearGrenoble。Youknow，betterthanIwhohavebutjustlearnedit，thatonthethresholdofthatcloistereverythingdies。Albert，foreseeingthatIshouldgotohim，placedtheGeneraloftheOrderbetweenmyutmosteffortsandhimself。Iknowhisnoblesoulwellenoughtobesurethatheisthevictimofsomeodiousplotunknowntous；buteverythingisatanend。TheDuchessed"Argaiolo，nowDuchessedeRhetore，seemstometohavecarriedseveritytoanextreme。AtBelgirate，whichshehadleftwhenAlbertflewthither，shehadleftinstructionsleadinghimtobelievethatshewaslivinginLondon。FromLondonAlbertwentinsearchofhertoNaples，andfromNaplestoRome，whereshewasnowengagedtotheDucdeRhetore。WhenAlbertsucceededinseeingMadamed"Argaiolo，atFlorence，itwasattheceremonyofhermarriage。
"Ourpoorfriendswoonedinthechurch，andevenwhenhewasindangerofdeathhecouldneverobtainanyexplanationfromthiswoman，whomusthavehadIknownotwhatinherheart。ForsevenmonthsAlberthadtraveledinpursuitofacruelcreaturewhothoughtitsporttoescapehim；heknewnotwhereorhowtocatchher。
"IsawhimonhiswaythroughParis；andifyouhadseenhim，asI
did，youwouldhavefeltthatnotawordmightbespokenabouttheDuchess，attheriskofbringingonanattackwhichmighthavewreckedhisreason。Ifhehadknownwhathiscrimewas，hemighthavefoundmeanstojustifyhimself；butbeingfalselyaccusedofbeingmarried!——whatcouldhedo？Albertisdead，quitedeadtotheworld。Helongedforrest；letushopethatthedeepsilenceandprayerintowhichhehasthrownhimselfmaygivehimhappinessinanotherguise。You，monsieur，whohaveknownhim，mustgreatlypityhim；andpityhisfriendsalso。
"Yours，etc。"
AssoonashereceivedthisletterthegoodVicar-GeneralwrotetotheGeneraloftheCarthusianorder，andthiswastheletterhereceivedfromAlbertSavarus:——
"BrotherAlberttoMonsieurl"AbbedeGrancey，Vicar-GeneraloftheDioceseofBesancon。
"LAGRANDECHARTREUSE。
"Irecognizedyourtendersoul，dearandwell-belovedVicar-
General，andyourstillyouthfulheart，inallthatthereverendFatherGeneralofourOrderhasjusttoldme。Youhaveunderstoodtheonlywishthatlurksinthedepthsofmyheartsofarasthethingsoftheworldareconcerned——togetjusticedonetomyfeelingsbyherwhohastreatedmesobadly!Butbeforeleavingmeatlibertytoavailmyselfofyouroffer，theGeneralwantedtoknowthatmyvocationwassincere；hewassokindastotellmehisidea，onfindingthatIwasdeterminedtopreserveabsolutesilenceonthispoint。IfIhadyieldedtothetemptationtorehabilitatethemanoftheworld，thefriarwouldhavebeenrejectedbythismonastery。Gracehascertainlydoneherwork，but，thoughshort，thestrugglewasnotthelesskeenorthelesspainful。IsnotthisenoughtoshowyouthatIcouldneverreturntotheworld？
"Hencemyforgiveness，whichyouaskfortheauthorofsomuchwoe，isentireandwithoutathoughtofvindictiveness。IwillpraytoGodtoforgivethatyoungladyasIforgiveher，andasI
shallbeseechHimtogiveMadamedeRhetorealifeofhappiness。
Ah!whetheritbedeath，ortheobstinatehandofayounggirlmadlybentonbeingloved，oroneoftheblowsascribedtochance，mustwenotallobeyGod？SorrowinsomesoulsmakesavastvoidthroughwhichtheDivineVoicerings。Ilearnedtoolatethebearingsofthislifeonthatwhichawaitsus；allinmeiswornout；IcouldnotserveintheranksoftheChurchMilitant，andI
laytheremainsofanalmostextinctlifeatthefootofthealtar。
"ThisisthelasttimeIshalleverwrite。Youalone，wholovedme，andwhomIlovedsowell，couldmakemebreakthelawofoblivionIimposedonmyselfwhenIenteredtheseheadquartersofSaintBruno，butyouarealwaysespeciallynamedintheprayersof"BROTHERALBERT。
"November1836。"
"Everythingisforthebestperhaps，"thoughttheAbbedeGrancey。
WhenheshowedthislettertoRosalie，who，withapiousimpulse，kissedthelineswhichcontainedherforgiveness，hesaidtoher:
"Well，nowthatheislosttoyou，willyounotbereconciledtoyourmotherandmarrytheComtedeSoulas？"
"OnlyifAlbertshouldorderit，"saidshe。
"Butyouseeitisimpossibletoconsulthim。TheGeneraloftheOrderwouldnotallowit。"
"IfIweretogotoseehim？"
"NoCarthusianseesanyvisitor。Besides，nowomanbuttheQueenofFrancemayenteraCarthusianmonastery，"saidtheAbbe。"SoyouhavenolongeranyexcusefornotmarryingyoungMonsieurdeSoulas。"
"Idonotwishtodestroymymother"shappiness，"retortedRosalie。
"Satan!"exclaimedtheVicar-General。
TowardstheendofthatwintertheworthyAbbedeGranceydied。ThisgoodfriendnolongerstoodbetweenMadamedeWattevilleandherdaughter，tosoftentheimpactofthosetwoironwills。
Theeventhehadforetoldtookplace。InthemonthofAugust1837
MadamedeWattevillewasmarriedtoMonsieurdeSoulasinParis，whithershewentbyRosalie"sadvice，thegirlmakingashowofkindnessandsweetnesstohermother。MadamedeWattevillebelievedinthisaffectiononthepartofherdaughter，whosimplydesiredtogotoParistogiveherselftheluxuryofabitterrevenge；shethoughtofnothingbutavengingSavarusbytorturingherrival。
MademoiselledeWattevillehadbeendeclaredlegallyofage；shewas，infact，notfarfromone-and-twenty。Hermother，tosettlewithherfinally，hadresignedherclaimsonlesRouxey，andthedaughterhadsignedareleaseforalltheinheritanceoftheBarondeWatteville。
RosalieencouragedhermothertomarrytheComtedeSoulasandsettleallherownfortuneonhim。
"Letuseachbeperfectlyfree，"shesaid。
MadamedeSoulas，whohadbeenuneasyastoherdaughter"sintentions，wastouchedbythisliberality，andmadeherapresentofsixthousandfrancsayearinthefundsasconsciencemoney。AstheComtessedeSoulashadanincomeofforty-eightthousandfrancsfromherownlands，andwasquiteincapableofalienatingtheminordertodiminishRosalie"sshare，MademoiselledeWattevillewasstillafortunetomarry，ofeighteenhundredthousandfrancs；lesRouxey，withtheBaron"sadditions，andcertainimprovements，mightyieldtwentythousandfrancsayear，besidesthevalueofthehouse，rents，andpreserves。SoRosalieandhermother，whosoonadoptedtheParisstyleandfashions，easilyobtainedintroductionstothebestsociety。Thegoldenkey——eighteenhundredthousandfrancs——embroideredonMademoiselledeWatteville"sstomacher，didmorefortheComtessedeSoulasthanherpretensions/ala/deRupt，herinappropriatepride，orevenherratherdistantgreatconnections。
InthemonthofFebruary1838Rosalie，whowaseagerlycourtedbymanyyoungmen，achievedthepurposewhichhadbroughthertoParis。ThiswastomeettheDuchessedeRhetore，toseethiswonderfulwoman，andtooverwhelmherwithperennialremorse。RosaliegaveherselfuptothemostbewilderingeleganceandvanitiesinordertofacetheDuchessonanequalfooting。
Theyfirstmetataballgivenannuallyafter1830forthebenefitofthepensionersontheoldCivilList。Ayoungman，promptedbyRosalie，pointedherouttotheDuchess，saying:
"Thereisaveryremarkableyoungperson，astrong-mindedyoungladytoo!Shedroveaclevermanintoamonastery——theGrandChartreuse——amanofimmensecapabilities，AlbertdeSavarus，whosecareershewrecked。SheisMademoiselledeWatteville，thefamousBesanconheiress——"
TheDuchessturnedpale。Rosalie"seyesmetherswithoneofthoseflasheswhich，betweenwomanandwoman，aremorefatalthanthepistolshotsofaduel。FrancescaSoderini，whohadsuspectedthatAlbertmightbeinnocent，hastilyquittedtheballroom，leavingthespeakerathiswits"endtoguesswhatterribleblowhehadinflictedonthebeautifulDuchessedeRhetore。
"IfyouwanttohearmoreaboutAlbert，cometotheOperaballonTuesdaywithamarigoldinyourhand。"
Thisanonymousnote，sentbyRosalietotheDuchess，broughttheunhappyItaliantotheball，whereMademoiselledeWattevilleplacedinherhandallAlbert"sletters，withthatwrittentoLeopoldHannequinbytheVicar-General，andthenotary"sreply，andeventhatinwhichshehadwrittenherconfessiontotheAbbedeGrancey。
"Idonotchoosetobetheonlysufferer，"shesaidtoherrival，"foronehasbeenasruthlessastheother。"
AfterenjoyingthedismaystampedontheDuchess"beautifulface，Rosaliewentaway；shewentoutnomore，andreturnedtoBesanconwithhermother。
MademoiselledeWatteville，wholivedaloneonherestateoflesRouxey，riding，hunting，refusingtwoorthreeoffersayear，goingtoBesanconfourorfivetimesinthecourseofthewinter，andbusyingherselfwithimprovingherland，wasregardedasaveryeccentricpersonage。ShewasoneofthecelebritiesoftheEasternprovinces。
MadamedeSoulashastwochildren，aboyandagirl，andshehasgrownyounger；butMonsieurdeSoulashasagedagooddeal。
"Myfortunehascostmedear，"saidhetoyoungChavoncourt。"Reallytoknowabigotitisunfortunatelynecessarytomarryher!"
MademoiselledeWattevillebehavesinthemostextraordinarymanner。
"Shehasvagaries，"peoplesay。EveryyearshegoestogazeatthewallsoftheGrandeChartreuse。Perhapsshedreamsofimitatinghergrand-unclebyforcingthewallsofthemonasterytofindahusband，asWattevillebrokethroughthoseofhismonasterytorecoverhisliberty。
SheleftBesanconin1841，intending，itwassaid，togetmarried；buttherealreasonofthisexpeditionisstillunknown，forshereturnedhomeinastatewhichforbidshereverappearinginsocietyagain。ByoneofthosechancesofwhichtheAbbedeGranceyhadspoken，shehappenedtobeontheLoireinasteamboatofwhichtheboilerburst。
MademoiselledeWattevillewassoseverelyinjuredthatshelostherrightarmandherleftleg；herfaceismarkedwithfearfulscars，whichhavebereftherofherbeauty；herhealth，cruellyupset，leavesherfewdaysfreefromsuffering。Inshort，shenowneverleavestheChartreuseoflesRouxey，wheresheleadsalifewhollydevotedtoreligiouspractices。