第2章

consequently，thekindoldgentlemanwasadoredinreturn。Womenhaveaninstinctwhichenablesthemtodivinethemenwholovethem，wholiketobenearthem，andexactnopaymentforgallantries。Inthisrespectwomenhavetheinstinctofdogs，whoinamixedcompanywillgostraighttothemantowhomanimalsaresacred。

ThepoorChevalierdeValoisretainedfromhisformerlifetheneedofbestowinggallantprotection，aqualityoftheseigneursofotherdays。Faithfultothesystemofthe"petitemaison，"helikedtoenrichwomen，——theonlybeingswhoknowhowtoreceive，becausetheycanalwaysreturn。Butthepoorchevaliercouldnolongerruinhimselfforamistress。Insteadofthechoicestbonbonswrappedinbank-bills，hegallantlypresentedpaper-bagsfulloftoffee。LetussaytothegloryofAlenconthatthetoffeewasacceptedwithmorejoythanlaDutheevershowedatagiltserviceorafineequipageofferedbytheComted"Artois。AllthesegrisettesfullyunderstoodthefallenmajestyoftheChevalierdeValois，andtheykepttheirprivatefamiliaritieswithhimaprofoundsecretforhissake。Iftheywerequestionedabouthimincertainhouseswhentheycarriedhomethelinen，theyalwaysspokerespectfullyofthechevalier，andmadehimoutolderthanhereallywas；theytalkedofhimasamostrespectablemonsieur，whoselifewasaflowerofsanctity；butonceintheirownregionstheyperchedonhisshoulderslikesomanyparrots。Helikedtobetoldthesecretswhichwasherwomendiscoverinthebosomofhouseholds，anddayafterdaythesegirlswouldtellhimthecancanswhichweregoingtheroundofAlencon。Hecalledthemhis"petticoatgazettes，"his"talkingfeuilletons。"NeverdidMonsieurdeSartineshavespiesmoreintelligentandlessexpensive，orminionswhoshowedmorehonorwhiledisplayingtheirrascalityofmind。Soitmaybesaidthatinthemornings，whilebreakfasting，thechevalierusuallyamusedhimselfasmuchasthesaintsinheaven。

Suzannewasoneofhisfavorites，aclever，ambitiousgirl，madeofthestuffofaSophieArnold，andhandsomewithal，asthehandsomestcourtesaninvitedbyTitiantoposeonblackvelvetforamodelofVenus；althoughherface，fineabouttheeyesandforehead，degenerated，lowerdown，intocommonnessofoutline。HerswasaNormanbeauty，fresh，high-colored，redundant，thefleshofRubenscoveringthemusclesoftheFarneseHercules，andnottheslenderarticulationsoftheVenusde"Medici，Apollo"sgracefulconsort。

"Well，mychild，tellmeyourgreatoryourlittleadventure，whateveritis。"

TheparticularpointaboutthechevalierwhichwouldhavemadehimnoticeablefromParistoPekin，wasthegentlepaternityofhismannertogrisettes。Theyremindedhimoftheillustriousoperaticqueensofhisearlydays，whosecelebritywasEuropeanduringagoodthirdoftheeighteenthcentury。Itiscertainthattheoldgentleman，whohadlivedindaysgonebywiththatfemininenationnowasmuchforgottenasmanyothergreatthings，——liketheJesuits，theBuccaneers，theAbbes，andtheFarmers-General，——hadacquiredanirresistiblegood-

humor，akindlyease，alaisser-allerdevoidofegotism，theself-

effacementofJupiterwithAlcmene，ofthekingintendingtobeduped，whocastshisthunderboltstothedevil，wantshisOlympusfulloffollies，littlesuppers，feminineprofusions——butwithJunooutoftheway，beitunderstood。

Inspiteofhisoldgreendamaskdressing-gownandthebarenessoftheroominwhichhesat，wherethefloorwascoveredwithashabbytapestryinplaceofcarpet，andthewallswerehungwithtavern-paperpresentingtheprofilesofLouisXVI。andmembersofhisfamily，tracedamongthebranchesofaweepingwillowwithothersentimentalitiesinventedbyroyalismduringtheTerror，——inspiteofhisruins，thechevalier，trimminghisbeardbeforeashabbyoldtoilet-table，drapedwithtrumperylace，exhaledanessenceoftheeighteenthcentury。Allthelibertinegracesofhisyouthreappeared；

heseemedtohavethewealthofthreehundredthousandfrancsofdebt，whilehisvis-a-viswaitedbeforethedoor。Hewasgrand，——likeBerthierontheretreatfromMoscow，issuingorderstoanarmythatexistednolonger。

"Monsieurlechevalier，"repliedSuzanne，drolly，"seemstomeI

needn"ttellyouanything；you"veonlytolook。"

AndSuzannepresentedasideviewofherselfwhichgaveasortoflawyer"scommenttoherwords。Thechevalier，who，youmustknow，wasaslyoldbird，loweredhisrighteyeonthegrisette，stillholdingtherazorathisthroat，andpretendedtounderstand。

"Well，well，mylittleduck，we"lltalkaboutthatpresently。Butyouareratherprevious，itseemstome。"

"Why，Monsieurlechevalier，oughtItowaituntilmymotherbeatsmeandMadameLardotturnsmeoff？IfIdon"tgetawaysoontoParis，I

shallneverbeabletomarryhere，wheremenaresoridiculous。"

"Itcan"tbehelped，mydear；societyischanging；womenarejustasmuchvictimstothepresentstateofthingsasthenobilitythemselves。Afterpoliticaloverturncomestheoverturnofmorals。

Alas!beforelongwomanwon"texist"(hetookoutthecotton-wooltoarrangehisears):"she"llloseeverythingbyrushingintosentiment；

she"llwringhernerves；good-byetoallthegoodlittlepleasuresofourtime，desiredwithoutshame，acceptedwithoutnonsense。"(Hepolishedupthelittlenegroes"heads。)"Womenhadhystericsinthosedaystogettheirends，butnow"(hebegantolaugh)"theirvaporsendincharcoal。Inshort，marriage"(herehepickeduphispincerstoremoveahair)"willbecomeathingintolerable；whereasitusedtobesogayinmyday!ThereignsofLouisXIV。andLouisXV——rememberthis，mychild——saidfarewelltothefinestmannersandmoralseverknowntotheworld。"

"But，Monsieurlechevalier，"saidthegrisette，"thematternowconcernsthemoralsandhonorofyourpoorlittleSuzanne，andIhopeyouwon"tabandonher。"

"Abandonher!"criedthechevalier，finishinghishair；"I"dsoonerabandonmyownname。"

"Ah!"exclaimedSuzanne。

"Now，listentome，youlittlemischief，"saidthechevalier，sittingdownonahugesofa，formerlycalledaduchesse，whichMadameLardothadbeenatsomepainstofindforhim。

HedrewthemagnificentSuzannebeforehim，holdingherlegsbetweenhisknees。Shelethimdoasheliked，althoughinthestreetshewasoffishenoughtoothermen，refusingtheirfamiliaritiespartlyfromdecorumandpartlyforcontemptfortheircommonness。Shenowstoodaudaciouslyinfrontofthechevalier，who，havingfathomedinhisdaymanyothermysteriesinmindsthatwerefarmorewily，tookinthesituationatasingleglance。Heknewverywellthatnoyounggirlwouldjokeaboutarealdishonor；buthetookgoodcarenottoknockovertheprettyscaffoldingofherlieashetouchedit。

"Weslanderourselves，"hesaidwithinimitablecraft；"weareasvirtuousasthatbeautifulbiblicalgirlwhosenamewebear；wecanalwaysmarryasweplease，butwearethirstyforParis，wherecharmingcreatures——andwearenofool——getrichwithouttrouble。Wewanttogoandseeifthegreatcapitalofpleasureshasn"tsomeyoungChevalierdeValoisinstoreforus，withacarriage，diamonds，anopera-box，andsoforth。Russians，Austrians，Britons，havemillionsonwhichwehaveaneye。Besides，wearepatriotic；wewanttohelpFranceingettingbackhermoneyfromthepocketsofthosegentry。

Hey!hey!mydearlittledevil"sduck!itisn"tabadplan。Theworldyouliveinmaycryoutabit，butsuccessjustifiesallthings。Theworstthinginthisworld，mydear，istobewithoutmoney；that"sourdisease，yoursandmine。Nowinasmuchaswehaveplentyofwit，wethoughtitwouldbeagoodthingtoparadeourdearlittlehonor，ordishonor，tocatchanoldboy；butthatoldboy，mydearheart，knowstheAlphaandOmegaoffemaletricks，——whichmeansthatyoucouldeasierputsaltonasparrow"stailthantomakemebelieveIhaveanythingtodowithyourlittleaffair。GotoParis，mydear；goatthecostofanoldcelibate，Iwon"tpreventit；infact，I"llhelpyou，foranoldbachelor，Suzanne，isthenaturalmoney-boxofayounggirl。Butdon"tdragmeintothematter。Listen，myqueen，youwhoknowlifeprettywell；youwouldmegreatharmandgivememuchpain，——harm，becauseyouwouldpreventmymarriageinatownwherepeopleclingtomorality；pain，becauseifyouareintrouble(whichIdeny，youslypuss!)Ihaven"tapennytogetyououtofit。I"maspoorasachurchmouse；youknowthat，mydear。Ah!ifImarryMademoiselleCormon，ifIamoncemorerich，ofcourseIwouldpreferyoutoCesarine。You"vealwaysseemedtomeasfineasthegoldtheygildonlead；youweremadetobetheloveofagreatseigneur。Ithinkyousocleverthatthetrickyouaretryingtoplayoffonmedoesn"tsurprisemeonebit；Iexpectedit。Youareflingingthescabbardafterthesword，andthat"sdaringforagirl。Ittakesnerveandsuperiorideastodoit，myangel，andthereforeyouhavewonmyrespectfulesteem。"

"Monsieurlechevalier，Iassureyou，youaremistaken，and——"

Shecolored，anddidnotdaretosaymore。Thechevalier，withasingleglance，hadguessedandfathomedherwholeplan。

"Yes，yes!Iunderstand:youwantmetobelieveit，"hesaid。"Well!I

dobelieveit。Buttakemyadvice:gotoMonsieurduBousquier。

Haven"tyoutakenlinenthereforthelastsixoreightmonths？I"mnotaskingwhatwentonbetweenyou；butIknowtheman:hehasimmenseconceit；heisanoldbachelor，andveryrich；andheonlyspendsaquarterofacomfortableincome。IfyouareascleverasI

suppose，youcangotoParisathisexpense。There，runalong，mylittledoe；goandtwisthimroundyourfinger。Only，mindthis:beassuppleassilk；ateverywordtakeadoubleturnroundhimandmakeaknot。Heisamantofearscandal，andifhehasgivenyouachancetoputhiminthepillory——inshort，understand；threatenhimwiththeladiesoftheMaternityHospital。Besides，he"sambitious。Amansucceedsthroughhiswife，andyouarehandsomeandcleverenoughtomakethefortuneofahusband。Hey!themischief!youcouldholdyourownagainstallthecourtladies。"

Suzanne，whosemindtookinataflashthechevalier"slastwords，waseagertorunofftoduBousquier，but，notwishingtodeparttooabruptly，shequestionedthechevalieraboutParis，allthewhilehelpinghimtodress。Thechevalier，however，divinedherdesiretobeoff，andfavoreditbyaskinghertotellCesarinetobringuphischocolate，whichMadameLardotmadeforhimeverymorning。Suzannethenslippedawaytohernewvictim，whosebiographymustherebegiven。

BornofanoldAlenconfamily，duBousquierwasacrossbetweenthebourgeoisandthecountrysquire。Findinghimselfwithoutmeansonthedeathofhisfather，hewent，likeotherruinedprovincials，toParis。

OnthebreakingoutoftheRevolutionhetookpartinpublicaffairs。

Inspiteofrevolutionaryprinciples，whichmadeahobbyofrepublicanhonesty，themanagementofpublicbusinessinthosedayswasbynomeansclean。Apoliticalspy，astock-jobber，acontractor，amanwhoconfiscatedincollusionwiththesyndicofacommunethepropertyofemigresinordertosellthemandbuythemin，aminister，andageneralwereallequallyengagedinpublicbusiness。From1793to1799

duBousquierwascommissaryofprovisionstotheFrencharmies。Helivedinamagnificenthotelandwasoneofthematadorsoffinance，didbusinesswithOuvrard，keptopenhouse，andledthescandalouslifeoftheperiod，——thelifeofaCincinnatus，onsacksofcornharvestedwithouttrouble，stolenrations，"littlehouses"fullofmistresses，inwhichweregivensplendidfetestotheDirectorsoftheRepublic。

ThecitizenduBousquierwasoneofBarras"familiars；hewasonthebestoftermswithFouche，stoodverywellwithBernadotte，andfullyexpectedtobecomeaministerbythrowinghimselfintothepartywhichsecretlycaballedagainstBonaparteuntilMarengo。IfithadnotbeenforKellermann"schargeandDesaix"sdeath，duBousquierwouldprobablyhavebecomeaminister。HewasoneofthechiefassistancesofthatsecretgovernmentwhomNapoleon"slucksendbehindthescenesin1793。(See"AnHistoricalMystery。")TheunexpectedvictoryofMarengowasthedefeatofthatpartywhoactuallyhadtheirproclamationsprintedtoreturntotheprinciplesoftheMontagneincasetheFirstConsulsuccumbed。

ConvincedoftheimpossibilityofBonaparte"striumph，duBousquierstakedthegreaterpartofhispropertyonafallintheFunds，andkepttwocouriersonthefieldofbattle。ThefirststartedforPariswhenMelas"victorywascertain；thesecond，startingfourhourslater，broughtthenewsofthedefeatoftheAustrians。DuBousquiercursedKellermannandDesaix；hedarednotcurseBonaparte，whomightowehimmillions。Thisalternativeofmillionstobeearnedandpresentruinstaringhimintheface，deprivedthepurveyorofmostofhisfaculties:hebecamenearlyimbecileforseveraldays；themanhadsoabusedhishealthbyexcessesthatwhenthethunderboltfelluponhimhehadnostrengthtoresist。ThepaymentofhisbillsagainsttheExchequergavehimsomehopesforthefuture，but，inspiteofalleffortstoingratiatehimself，Napoleon"shatredtothecontractorswhohadspeculatedonhisdefeatmadeitselffelt；duBousquierwasleftwithoutasou。Theimmoralityofhisprivatelife，hisintimacywithBarrasandBernadotte，displeasedtheFirstConsulevenmorethanhismanoeuvresattheBourse，andhestruckduBousquier"snamefromthelistofthegovernmentcontractors。

OutofallhispastopulenceduBousquiersavedonlytwelvehundredfrancsayearfromaninvestmentintheGrandLivre，whichhehadhappenedtoplacetherebypurecaprice，andwhichsavedhimfrompenury。AmanruinedbytheFirstConsulinterestedthetownofAlencon，towhichhenowreturned，whereroyalismwassecretlydominant。DuBousquier，furiousagainstBonaparte，relatingstoriesagainsthimofhismeanness，ofJosephine"simproprieties，andalltheotherscandalousanecdotesofthelasttenyears，waswellreceived。

Aboutthistime，whenhewassomewherebetweenfortyandfifty，duBousquier"sappearancewasthatofabachelorofthirty-six，ofmediumheight，plumpasapurveyor，proudofhisvigorouscalves，withastronglymarkedcountenance，aflattenednose，thenostrilsgarnishedwithhair，blackeyeswiththicklashes，fromwhichdartedshrewdglanceslikethoseofMonsieurdeTalleyrand，thoughsomewhatdulled。

Hestillworerepublicanwhiskersandhishairverylong；hishands，adornedwithbunchesofhaironeachknuckle，showedthepowerofhismuscularsystemintheirprominentblueveins。HehadthechestoftheFarneseHercules，andshouldersfittocarrythestocks。SuchshouldersareseennowadaysonlyatTortoni"s。ThiswealthofmasculinevigorcountedformuchinduBousquier"srelationswithothers。Andyetinhim，asinthechevalier，symptomsappearedwhichcontrastedoddlywiththegeneralaspectoftheirpersons。Thelatepurveyorhadnotthevoiceofhismuscles。Wedonotmeanthathisvoicewasamerethread，suchaswesometimeshearissuingfromthemouthofthesewalruses；onthecontrary，itwasastrongvoice，butstifled，anideaofwhichcanbegivenonlybycomparingitwiththenoiseofasawcuttingintosoftandmoistenedwood，——thevoiceofaworn-outspeculator。

InspiteoftheclaimswhichtheenmityoftheFirstConsulgaveMonsieurduBousquiertoentertheroyalistsocietyoftheprovince，hewasnotreceivedinthesevenoreightfamilieswhocomposedthefaubourgSaint-GermainofAlencon，amongwhomtheChevalierdeValoiswaswelcome。Hehadofferedhimselfinmarriage，throughhernotary，toMademoiselleArmande，sisterofthemostdistinguishednobleinthetown；towhichofferhereceivedarefusal。Heconsoledhimselfasbesthecouldinthesocietyofadozenrichfamilies，formermanufacturersoftheoldpointd"Alencon，ownersofpasturesandcattle，ormerchantsdoingawholesalebusinessinlinen，amongwhom，ashehoped，hemightfindawealthywife。Infact，allhishopesnowconvergedtotheperspectiveofafortunatemarriage。Hewasnotwithoutacertainfinancialability，whichmanypersonsusedtotheirprofit。Likearuinedgamblerwhoadvisesneophytes，hepointedoutenterprisesandspeculations，togetherwiththemeansandchancesofconductingthem。Hewasthoughtagoodadministrator，anditwasoftenaquestionofmakinghimmayorofAlencon；butthememoryofhisunderhandjobberystillclungtohim，andhewasneverreceivedattheprefecture。Allthesucceedinggovernments，eventhatoftheHundredDays，refusedtoappointhimmayorofAlencon，——aplacehecoveted，which，couldhehavehadit，would，hethought，havewonhimthehandofacertainoldmaidonwhomhismatrimonialviewsnowturned。

DuBousquier"saversiontotheImperialgovernmenthadthrownhimatfirstintotheroyalistcirclesofAlencon，whereheremainedinspiteoftherebuffshereceivedthere；butwhen，afterthefirstreturnoftheBourbons，hewasstillexcludedfromtheprefecture，thatmortificationinspiredhimwithahatredasdeepasitwassecretagainsttheroyalists。Henowreturnedtohisoldopinions，andbecametheleaderoftheliberalpartyinAlencon，theinvisiblemanipulatorofelections，anddidimmenseharmtotheRestorationbytheclevernessofhisunderhandproceedingsandtheperfidyofhisoutwardbehavior。DuBousquier，likeallthosewholivebytheirheadsonly，carriedonhishatredswiththequiettranquillityofarivulet，feebleapparently，butinexhaustible。Hishatredwasthatofanegro，sopeacefulthatitdeceivedtheenemy。Hisvengeance，broodedoverforfifteenyears，wasasyetsatisfiedbynovictory，noteventhatofJuly，1830。

ItwasnotwithoutsomeprivateintentionthattheChevalierdeValoishadturnedSuzanne"sdesignsuponMonsieurduBousquier。Theliberalandtheroyalisthadmutuallydivinedeachotherinspiteofthewidedissimulationwithwhichtheyhidtheircommonhopefromtherestofthetown。Thetwooldbachelorsweresecretlyrivals。EachhadformedaplantomarrytheDemoiselleCormon，whomMonsieurdeValoishadmentionedtoSuzanne。Both，ensconcedintheirideaandwearingthearmorofapparentindifference，awaitedthemomentwhensomeluckychancemightdelivertheoldmaidovertothem。Thus，ifthetwooldbachelorshadnotbeenkeptasunderbythetwopoliticalsystemsofwhichtheyeachofferedalivingexpression，theirprivaterivalrywouldstillhavemadethemenemies。Epochsputtheirmarkonmen。

Thesetwoindividualsprovedthetruthofthataxiombytheopposinghistorictintsthatwerevisibleintheirfaces，intheirconversation，intheirideas，andintheirclothes。One，abrupt，energetic，withloud，brusquemanners，curt，rudespeech，darkintone，inhair，inlook，terribleapparently，inrealityasimpotentasaninsurrection，representedtherepublicadmirably。Theother，gentleandpolished，elegantandnice，attaininghisendsbytheslowandinfalliblemeansofdiplomacy，faithfultogoodtaste，wastheexpressimageoftheoldcourtierregime。

Thetwoenemiesmetnearlyeveryeveningonthesameground。Thewarwascourteousandbenignonthesideofthechevalier；butduBousquiershowedlessceremonyonhis，thoughstillpreservingtheoutwardappearancesdemandedbysociety，forhedidnotwishtobedrivenfromtheplace。Theythemselvesfullyunderstoodeachother；

butinspiteoftheshrewdobservationwhichprovincialsbestowonthepettyinterestsoftheirownlittlecentre，nooneinthetownsuspectedtherivalryofthesetwomen。MonsieurleChevalierdeValoisoccupiedavantage-ground:hehadneveraskedforthehandofMademoiselleCormon；whereasduBousquier，whoenteredthelistssoonafterhisrejectionbythemostdistinguishedfamilyintheplace，hadbeenrefused。ButthechevalierbelievedthathisrivalhadstillsuchstrongchancesofsuccessthathedealthimthiscoupdeJarnacwithablade(namely，Suzanne)thatwasfinelytemperedforthepurpose。Thechevalierhadcasthisplummet-lineintothewatersofduBousquier；

and，asweshallseebythesequel，hewasnotmistakeninanyofhisconjectures。

SuzannetrippedwithalightfootfromtherueduCours，bytheruedelaPortedeSeezandtherueduBercail，totherueduCygne，where，aboutfiveyearsearlier，duBousquierhadboughtalittlehousebuiltofgrayJurastone，whichissomethingbetweenBretonslateandNormangranite。Thereheestablishedhimselfmorecomfortablythananyhouseholderintown；forhehadmanagedtopreservecertainfurnitureanddecorationsfromthedaysofhissplendor。Butprovincialmannersandmoralsobscured，littlebylittle，theraysofthisfallenSardanapalus；thesevestigesofhisformerluxurynowproducedtheeffectofaglasschandelierinabarn。Harmony，thatbondofallwork，humanordivine，waslackingingreatthingsaswellasinlittleones。Thestairs，upwhicheverybodymountedwithoutwipingtheirfeet，wereneverpolished；thewalls，paintedbysomewretchedartisanoftheneighborhood，wereaterrortotheeye；thestonemantel-piece，ill-carved，"swore"withthehandsomeclock，whichwasfurtherdegradedbythecompanyofcontemptiblecandlesticks。LiketheperiodwhichduBousquierhimselfrepresented，thehousewasajumbleofdirtandmagnificence。Beingconsideredamanofleisure，duBousquierledthesameparasitelifeasthechevalier；andhewhodoesnotspendhisincomeisalwaysrich。HisonlyservantwasasortofJocrisse，aladoftheneighborhood，ratheraninny，trainedslowlyandwithdifficultytoduBousquier"srequirements。Hismasterhadtaughthim，ashemightanorang-outang，torubthefloors，dustthefurniture，blackhisboots，brushhiscoats，andbringalanterntoguidehimhomeatnightiftheweatherwerecloudy，andclogsifitrained。Likemanyotherhumanbeings，thisladhadn"tstuffenoughinhimformorethanonevice；hewasaglutton。Often，whenduBousquierwenttoagranddinner，hewouldtakeRenetowaitattable；onsuchoccasionshemadehimtakeoffhisbluecottonjacket，withitsbigpocketshangingroundhiships，andalwaysbulgingwithhandkerchiefs，clasp-knives，fruits，orahandfulofnuts，andforcedhimtoputonaregulationcoat。Renewouldthenstuffhisfillwiththeotherservants。Thisduty，whichduBousquierhadturnedintoareward，wonhimthemostabsolutediscretionfromtheBretonservant。

"Youhere，mademoiselle!"saidRenetoSuzannewhensheentered；

""t"isn"tyourday。Wehaven"tanylinenforthewash，tellMadameLardot。"

"Oldstupid!"saidSuzanne，laughing。

Theprettygirlwentupstairs，leavingRenetofinishhisporringerofbuckwheatinboiledmilk。DuBousquier，stillinbed，wasrevolvinginhismindhisplansoffortune；forambitionwasallthatwaslefttohim，astoothermenwhohavesuckeddrytheorangeofpleasure。

Ambitionandplayareinexhaustible；inawell-organizedmanthepassionswhichproceedfromthebrainwillalwayssurvivethepassionsoftheheart。

"HereamI，"saidSuzanne，sittingdownonthebedandjanglingthecurtain-ringsbackalongtherodwithdespoticvehemence。

"Quesaco，mycharmer？"saidtheoldbachelor，sittingupinbed。

"Monsieur，"saidSuzanne，gravely，"youmustbeastonishedtoseemehereatthishour；butIfindmyselfinaconditionwhichobligesmenottocareforwhatpeoplemaysayaboutit。"

"Whatdoesallthatmean？"saidduBousquier，crossinghisarms。

"Don"tyouunderstandme？"saidSuzanne。"Iknow，"shecontinued，makingaprettylittleface，"howridiculousitisinapoorgirltocomeandnagatamanforwhathethinksamerenothing。Butifyoureallyknewme，monsieur，ifyouknewallthatIamcapableofforamanwhowouldattachhimselftomeasmuchasI"mattachedtoyou，youwouldneverrepenthavingmarriedme。Ofcourseitisn"there，inAlencon，thatIshouldbeofservicetoyou；butifwewenttoParis，youwouldseewhereIcouldleadamanwithyourmindandyourcapacities；andjustatthistimetoo，whentheyareremakingthegovernmentfromtoptotoe。So——betweenourselves，beitsaid——ISwhathashappenedamisfortune？Isn"titratherapieceofluck，whichwillpayyouwell？Whoandwhatareyouworkingfornow？"

"Formyself，ofcourse!"criedduBousquier，brutally。

"Monster!you"llneverbeafather!"saidSuzanne，givingatoneofpropheticmaledictiontothewords。