第7章

Rememberthatthismonologue，addressedtothePrincessGoritza，wasmentallyutteredwhilehetookapinchofsnuff。

MadameGransonhaddivinedthatthechevalierwastalkingaboutAthanase。Eagertoknowtheresultoftheconversation，shefollowedMademoiselleCormon，whowasnowapproachingtheyoungmanwithmuchdignity。ButatthismomentJacquelinappearedtoannouncethatmademoisellewasserved。Theoldmaidgaveaglanceofappealtothechevalier；butthegallantrecorderofmortgages，whowasbeginningtoseeinthemannersofthatgentlemanthebarrierwhichtheprovincialnoblesweresettingupaboutthistimebetweenthemselvesandthebourgeoisie，madethemostofhischancetocutoutMonsieurdeValois。HewasclosetoMademoiselleCormon，andpromptlyofferedhisarm，whichshefoundherselfcompelledtoaccept。Thechevalierthendarted，outofpolicy，uponMadameGranson。

"MademoiselleCormon，mydearlady，"hesaidtoher，walkingslowlyafteralltheotherguests，"feelstheliveliestinterestinyourdearAthanase；butIfearitwillvanishthroughhisownfault。Heisirreligiousandliberal；heisagitatingthismatterofthetheatre；

hefrequentstheBonapartists；hetakesthesideofthatrector。Suchconductmaymakehimlosehisplaceinthemayor"soffice。Youknowwithwhatcarethegovernmentisbeginningtoweedoutsuchopinions。

IfyourdearAthanaseloseshisplace，wherecanhefindotheremployment？Iadvisehimnottogethimselfinbadodorwiththeadministration。"

"MonsieurleChevalier，"saidthepoorfrightenedmother，"howgratefulIamtoyou!Youareright:mysonisthetoolofabadsetofpeople；Ishallenlightenhim。"

ThechevalierhadlongsincefathomedthenatureofAthanase，andrecognizedinitthatunyieldingelementofrepublicanconvictionstowhichinhisyouthayoungmaniswillingtosacrificeeverything，carriedawaybytheword"liberty，"soill-definedandsolittleunderstood，butwhichtopersonsdisdainedbyfateisabannerofrevolt；andtosuch，revoltisvengeance。Athanasewouldcertainlypersistinthatfaith，forhisopinionswerewoveninwithhisartisticsorrows，withhisbittercontemplationofthesocialstate。

Hewasignorantofthefactthatatthirty-sixyearsofage，——theperiodoflifewhenamanhasjudgedmenandsocialinterestsandrelations，——theopinionsforwhichhewasreadytosacrificehisfuturewouldbemodifiedinhim，astheyareinallmenofrealsuperiority。ToremainfaithfultotheLeftsideofAlenconwastogaintheaversionofMademoiselleCormon。There，indeed，thechevaliersawtrue。

Thusweseethatthissociety，sopeacefulinappearance，wasinternallyasagitatedasanydiplomaticcircle，wherecraft，ability，andpassionsgroupthemselvesaroundthegravequestionsofanempire。

Theguestswerenowseatedatthetableladenwiththefirstcourse，whichtheyateasprovincialseat，withoutshameatpossessingagoodappetite，andnotasinParis，whereitseemsasifjawsgnashedundersumptuarylaws，whichmadeittheirbusinesstocontradictthelawsofanatomy。InParispeopleeatwiththeirteeth，andtriflewiththeirpleasure；intheprovincesthingsaredonenaturally，andinterestisperhapsrathertoomuchconcentratedonthegrandanduniversalmeansofexistencetowhichGodhascondemnedhiscreatures。

ItwasattheendofthefirstcoursethatMademoiselleCormonmadethemostcelebratedofher"speeches"；itwastalkedaboutforfullytwoyears，andisstilltoldatthegatheringsofthelesserbourgeoisiewheneverthetopicofhermarriagecomesup。

Theconversation，becominglivelyasthepenultimateentreewasreached，hadturnednaturallyontheaffairofthetheatreandtheconstitutionallyswornrector。Inthefirstfervorofroyalty，duringtheyear1816，thosewholaterwerecalledJesuitswereallfortheexpulsionoftheAbbeFrancoisfromhisparish。DuBousquier，suspectedbyMonsieurdeValoisofsustainingthepriestandbeingatthebottomofthetheatreintrigues，andonwhosebacktheadroitchevalierwouldinanycasehaveputthosesinswithhiscustomarycleverness，wasinthedockwithnolawyertodefendhim。Athanase，theonlyguestloyalenoughtostandbyduBousquier，hadnotthenervetoemithisideasinthepresenceofthosepotentatesofAlencon，whominhishearthethoughtstupid。Nonebutprovincialyouthsnowretainarespectfuldemeanorbeforemenofacertainage，anddareneithertocensurenorcontradictthem。Thetalk，diminishedundertheeffectofcertaindeliciousducksdressedwitholives，wasfallingflat。MademoiselleCormon，feelingthenecessityofmaintainingitagainstherownducks，attemptedtodefendduBousquier，whowasbeingrepresentedasaperniciousfomenterofintrigues，capableofanytrickery。

"Asforme，"shesaid，"IthoughtthatMonsieurduBousquiercaredchieflyforchildishthings。"

Underexistingcircumstancestheremarkhadenormoussuccess。

MademoiselleCormonobtainedagreattriumph；shebroughtthenoseofthePrincessGoritzaflatonthetable。Thechevalier，wholittleexpectedsuchanaptremarkfromhisDulcinea，wassoamazedthathecouldatfirstfindnowordstoexpresshisadmiration；heapplaudednoiselessly，astheydoattheOpera，tappinghisfingerstogethertoimitateapplause。

"Sheisadorablywitty，"hesaidtoMadameGranson。"Ialwayssaidthatsomedayshewouldunmaskherbatteries。"

"Inprivatesheisalwayscharming，"repliedthewidow。

"Inprivate，madame，allwomenhavewit，"returnedthechevalier。

TheHomericlaughthusraisedhavingsubsided，MademoiselleCormonaskedthereasonofhersuccess。ThenbegantheFORTEofthegossip。

DuBousquierwasdepictedasaspeciesofcelibatePereGigogne，amonster，whoforthelastfifteenyearshadkepttheFoundlingHospitalsupplied。Hisimmoralhabitswereatlastrevealed!theseParisiansaturnaliasweretheresultofthem，etc。，etc。ConductedbytheChevalierdeValois，amostableleaderofanorchestraofthiskind，theopeningoftheCANCANwasmagnificent。

"Ireallydon"tknow，"hesaid，"whatshouldhinderaduBousquierfrommarryingaMademoiselleSuzanneWhat"s-her-name。WhatIShername，doyouknow？Suzette!ThoughIhavelodgingsatMadameLardot"s，Iknowhergirlsonlybysight。IfthisSuzetteisatall，fine，saucygirl，withgrayeyes，aslimwaist，andaprettyfoot，whomIhaveoccasionallyseen，andwhosebehavioralwaysseemedtomeextremelyinsolent，sheisfarsuperiorinmannerstoduBousquier。Besides，thegirlhasthenobilityofbeauty；fromthatpointofviewthemarriagewouldbeapooroneforher；shemightdobetter。YouknowhowtheEmperorJosephhadthecuriositytoseetheduBarryatLuciennes。Heofferedherhisarmtowalkabout，andthepoorthingwassosurprisedatthehonorthatshehesitatedtoacceptit:"Beautyiseveraqueen，"saidtheEmperor。Andhe，youknow，wasanAustrian-German，"

addedthechevalier。"ButIcantellyouthatGermany，whichisthoughthereveryrustic，isalandofnoblechivalryandfinemanners，especiallyinPolandandHungary，where——"

Herethechevalierstopped，fearingtoslipintosomeallusiontohispersonalhappiness；hetookouthissnuff-box，andconfidedtherestofhisremarkstotheprincess，whohadsmileduponhimforthirty-sixyearsandmore。

"ThatspeechwasratheradelicateoneforLouisXV。，"saidduRonceret。

"Butitwas，Ithink，theEmperorJosephwhomadeit，andnotLouisXV。，"remarkedMademoiselleCormon，inacorrectingtone。

"Mademoiselle，"saidthechevalier，observingthemaliciousglanceexchangedbetweenthejudge，thenotary，andtherecorder，"MadameduBarrywastheSuzanneofLouisXV。，——acircumstancewellknowntoscampslikeourselves，butunsuitablefortheknowledgeofyoungladies。Yourignoranceprovesyoutobeaflawlessdiamond；historicalcorruptionsdonotenteryourmind。"

TheAbbedeSpondelookedgraciouslyattheChevalierdeValois，andnoddedhisheadinsignofhislaudatoryapprobation。

"Doesn"tmademoiselleknowhistory？"askedtherecorderofmortgages。

"IfyoumixupLouisXV。andthisgirlSuzanne，howamItoknowhistory？"repliedMademoiselleCormon，angelically，gladtoseethatthedishofduckswasemptyatlast，andtheconversationsoreadytorevivethatallpresentlaughedwiththeirmouthsfullatherlastremark。

"Poorgirl!"saidtheAbbedeSponde。"Whenagreatmisfortunehappens，charity，whichisdivinelove，andasblindaspaganlove，oughtnottolookintothecausesofit。Niece，youarepresidentoftheMaternitySociety；youmustsuccorthatpoorgirl，whowillnowfinditdifficulttomarry。"

"Poorchild!"ejaculatedMademoiselleCormon。

"DoyousupposeduBousquierwouldmarryher？"askedthejudge。

"Ifheisanhonorablemanheoughttodoso，"saidMadameGranson；

"butreally，totellthetruth，mydoghasbettermoralsthanhe——"

"Azoris，however，agoodpurveyor，"saidtherecorderofmortgages，withtheairofsayingawittything。

AtdessertduBousquierwasstillthetopicofconversation，havinggivenrisetovariouslittlejokeswhichthewinerenderedsparkling。

Followingtheexampleoftherecorder，eachguestcappedhisneighbor"sjokewithanother:DuBousquierwasafather，butnotaconfessor；hewasfatherless；hewasfatherLY；hewasnotareverendfather；noryetaconscript-father——

"Norcanhebeafoster-father，"saidtheAbbedeSponde，withagravitywhichstoppedthelaughter。

"Noranoblefather，"addedthechevalier。

TheChurchandthenobilitydescendedthusintothearenaofpuns，without，however，losingtheirdignity。

"Hush!"exclaimedtherecorderofmortgages。"IhearthecreakingofduBousquier"sboots。"

Itusuallyhappensthatamanisignorantofrumorsthatareafloatabouthim。Awholetownmaybetalkingofhisaffairs；maycalumniateanddecryhim，butifhehasnogoodfriends，hewillknownothingaboutit。NowtheinnocentduBousquierwassuperbinhisignorance。

NoonehadtoldhimasyetofSuzanne"srevelations；hethereforeappearedveryjauntyandslightlyconceitedwhenthecompany，leavingthedining-room，returnedtothesalonfortheircoffee；severalotherguestshadmeantimeassembledfortheevening。MademoiselleCormon，fromasenseofshamefacedness，darednotlookattheterribleseducer。SheseizeduponAthanase，andbegantolecturehimwiththequeerestplatitudesaboutroyalistpoliticsandreligiousmorality。

Notpossessing，liketheChevalierdeValois，asnuff-boxadornedwithaprincess，bythehelpofwhichhecouldstandthistorrentofsilliness，thepoorpoetlistenedtothewordsofherwhomhelovedwithastupidair，gazing，meanwhile，atherenormousbust，whichhelditselfbeforehiminthatstillreposewhichistheattributeofallgreatmasses。Hisloveproducedinhimasortofintoxicationwhichchangedtheshrillvoiceoftheoldmaidintoasoftmurmur，andherflatremarksintowittyspeeches。Loveisamakeroffalsecoin，continuallychangingcopperpenniesintogold-pieces，andsometimesturningitsrealgoldintocopper。

"Well，Athanase，willyoupromiseme？"

Thisfinalsentencestrucktheearoftheabsorbedyoungmanlikeoneofthosenoiseswhichwakeuswithabound。

"What，mademoiselle？"

MademoiselleCormonrosehastily，andlookedatduBousquier，whoatthatmomentresembledthestoutgodofFablewhichtheRepublicstampeduponhercoins。ShewalkeduptoMadameGranson，andsaidinherear:——

"Mydearfriend，yousonisanidiot。Thatlyceumhasruinedhim，"sheadded，rememberingtheinsistencewithwhichthechevalierhadspokenoftheevilsofeducationinsuchschools。

Whatacatastrophe!Unknowntohimself，thelucklessAthanasehadhadanoccasiontoflinganemberofhisownfireuponthepileofbrushgatheredintheheartoftheoldmaid。Hadhelistenedtoher，hemighthavemadeher，thenandthere，perceivehispassion；for，intheagitatedstateofMademoiselleCormon"smind，asinglewordwouldhavesufficed。Butthatstupidabsorptioninhisownsentiments，whichcharacterizesyoungandtruelove，hadruinedhim，asachildfulloflifesometimeskillsitselfoutofignorance。

"WhathaveyoubeensayingtoMademoiselleCormon？"demandedhismother。

"Nothing。"

"Nothing；well，Icanexplainthat，"shethoughttoherself，puttingofftillthenextdayallfurtherreflectiononthematter，andattachingbutlittleimportancetoMademoiselleCormon"swords；forshefullybelievedthatduBousquierwasforeverlostintheoldmaid"sesteemaftertherevelationofthatevening。

Soonthefourtableswerefilledwiththeirsixteenplayers。Fourpersonswereplayingpiquet，——anexpensivegame，atwhichthemostmoneywaslost。MonsieurChoisnel，theprocureur-du-roi，andtwoladieswentintotheboudoirforagameatbackgammon。Theglasslustreswerelighted；andthentheflowerofMademoiselleCormon"scompanygatheredbeforethefireplace，onsofas，andaroundthetables，andeachcouplesaidtoherastheyarrived，——

"Soyouaregoingto-morrowtoPrebaudet？"

"Yes，Ireallymust，"shereplied。

Onthisoccasionthemistressofthehouseappearedpreoccupied。

MadameGransonwasthefirsttoperceivethequiteunnaturalstateoftheoldmaid"smind，——MademoiselleCormonwasthinking!

"Whatareyouthinkingof，cousin？"shesaidatlast，findingherseatedintheboudoir。

"Iamthinking，"shereplied，"ofthatpoorgirl。AsthepresidentoftheMaternitySociety，Iwillgiveyoufiftyfrancsforher。"

"Fiftyfrancs!"criedMadameGranson。"Butyouhavenevergivenasmuchasthat。"

"But，mydearcousin，itissonaturaltohavechildren。"

ThatimmoralspeechcomingfromtheheartoftheoldmaidstaggeredthetreasureroftheMaternitySociety。DuBousquierhadevidentlyadvancedintheestimationofMademoiselleCormon。

"Uponmyword，"saidMadameGranson，"duBousquierisnotonlyamonster，heisavillain。Whenamanhasdoneawronglikethat，heoughttopaytheindemnity。Isn"tithisplaceratherthanourstolookafterthegirl？——who，totellyouthetruth，seemstomeratherquestionable；thereareplentyofbettermeninAlenconthanthatcynicduBousquier。Agirlmustbedepraved，indeed，togoafterhim。"

"Cynic!YoursonteachesyoutotalkLatin，mydear，whichiswhollyincomprehensible。CertainlyIdon"twishtoexcuseMonsieurduBousquier；butprayexplaintomewhyawomanisdepravedbecausesheprefersonemantoanother。"

"Mydearcousin，supposeyoumarriedmysonAthanase；nothingcouldbemorenatural。Heisyoungandhandsome，fullofpromise，andhewillbethegloryofAlencon；andyeteverybodywillexclaimagainstyou:

eviltongueswillsayallsortsofthings；jealouswomenwillaccuseyouofdepravity，——butwhatwillthatmatter？youwillbeloved，andlovedtruly。IfAthanaseseemedtoyouanidiot，mydear，itisthathehastoomanyideas；extremesmeet。Helivesthelifeofagirloffifteen；hehasneverwallowedintheimpuritiesofParis，nothe!

Well，changetheterms，asmypoorhusbandusedtosay；itisthesamethingwithduBousquierinconnectionwithSuzanne。YOUwouldbecalumniated；butinthecaseofduBousquier，thechargewouldbetrue。Don"tyouunderstandme？"

"NomorethanifyouweretalkingGreek，"repliedMademoiselleCormon，whoopenedhereyeswide，andstrainedalltheforcesofherintellect。

"Well，cousin，ifImustdotallthei"s，itisimpossibleforSuzannetoloveduBousquier。Andiftheheartcountsfornothinginthisaffair——"

"But，cousin，whatdopeoplelovewithifnottheirhearts？"

HereMadameGransonsaidtoherself，asthechevalierhadpreviouslythought:"Mypoorcousinisaltogethertooinnocent；suchstupiditypassesallbounds!——Dearchild，"shecontinuedaloud，"itseemstomethatchildrenarenotconceivedbythespiritonly。"

"Why，yes，mydear；theHolyVirginherself——"

"But，mylove，duBousquierisn"ttheHolyGhost!"

"True，"saidtheoldmaid；"heisaman!——amanwhosepersonalappearancemakeshimdangerousenoughforhisfriendstoadvisehimtomarry。"

"Youcouldyourselfbringaboutthatresult，cousin。"

"Howso？"saidtheoldmaid，withthemeeknessofChristiancharity。

"Bynotreceivinghiminyourhouseuntilhemarries。Youoweittogoodmoralsandtoreligiontomanifestundersuchcircumstancesanexemplarydispleasure。"

"OnmyreturnfromPrebaudetwewilltalkfurtherofthis，mydearMadameGranson。IwillconsultmyuncleandtheAbbeCouturier，"saidMademoiselleCormon，returningtothesalon，wheretheanimationwasnowatitsheight。

Thelights，thegroupofwomenintheirbestclothes，thesolemntone，thedignifiedairoftheassembly，madeMademoiselleCormonnotalittleproudofhercompany。TomanypersonsnothingbettercouldbeseeninParisinthehighestsociety。

AtthismomentduBousquier，whowasplayingwhistwiththechevalierandtwooldladies，——MadameduCoudraiandMadameduRonceret，——wastheobjectofdeepbutsilentcuriosity。Afewyoungwomenarrived，who，underpretextofwatchingthegame，gazedfixedlyathiminsosingularamanner，thoughslyly，thattheoldbachelorbegantothinkthattheremustbesomedeficiencyinhistoilet。

"Canmyfalsefrontbecrooked？"heaskedhimself，seizedbyoneofthoseanxietieswhichbesetoldbachelors。

Hetookadvantageofalosttrick，whichendedaseventhrubber，toriseandleavethetable。

"Ican"ttouchacardwithoutlosing，"hesaid。"Iamdecidedlytoounlucky。"

"Butyouareluckyinotherways，"saidthechevalier，givinghimaslylook。

Thatspeechnaturallymadetheroundsofthesalon，whereeveryoneexclaimedontheexquisitetasteofthechevalier，thePrincedeTalleyrandoftheprovince。

"There"snoonelikeMonsieurdeValoisforsuchwit。"

DuBousquierwenttolookathimselfinalittleoblongmirror，placedabovethe"Deserter，"buthesawnothingstrangeinhisappearance。

Afterinnumerablerepetitionsofthesametext，variedinallkeys，thedepartureofthecompanytookplaceaboutteno"clock，throughthelongantechamber，MademoiselleCormonconductingcertainofherfavoritegueststotheportico。Therethegroupsparted；somefollowedtheBretagneroadtowardsthechateau；theotherswentinthedirectionoftheriverSarthe。Thenbegantheusualconversation，whichfortwentyyearshadechoedatthathourthroughthisparticularstreetofAlencon。Itwasinvariably:——

"MademoiselleCormonlookedverywellto-night。"

"MademoiselleCormon？why，Ithoughtherratherstrange。"

"Howthatpoorabbefails!Didyounoticethatheslept？Hedoesnotknowwhatcardsheholds；heisgettingveryabsent-minded。"

"Weshallsoonhavethegriefoflosinghim。"

"Whatafinenight!Itwillbeafinedayto-morrow。"