第9章

newsituationsseemtimeworn；thebest-turnedandmosthighlypolishedphraseslimpandsquint；metaphorsandimagesgrinorcontradicteachother；whatsoeverisfalsestrikestheeye。InlikemannerthispoorwomantrembledlestsheshouldseeonthelipsofMonsieurdeTroisvilleasmileofcontemptforthisepiscopalsalon；shedreadedthecoldlookhemightcastoverthatancientdining-room；inshort，shefearedtheframemightinjureandagetheportrait。Supposetheseantiquitiesshouldcastareflectedlightofoldageuponherself？

Thisquestionmadeherfleshcreep。Shewouldgladly，atthatmoment，spendhalfhersavingsonrefittingherhouseifsomefairywandcoulddoitinamoment。Whereisthegeneralwhohasnottrembledontheeveofabattle？ThepoorwomanwasnowbetweenherAusterlitzandherWaterloo。

"MadamelaVicomtessedeTroisville，"shesaidtoherself；"anoblename!Ourpropertywillgotoagoodfamily，atanyrate。"

Shefellapreytoanirritationwhichmadeeveryfibreofhernervesquivertoalltheirpapillae，longsunkinflesh。Herblood，lashedbythisnewhope，wasinmotion。Shefeltthestrengthtoconverse，ifnecessary，withMonsieurdeTroisville。

ItisuselesstorelatetheactivitywithwhichJosette，Jacquelin，Mariette，Moreau，andhisagentswentabouttheirfunctions。Itwaslikethebusynessofantsabouttheireggs。

Allthatdailycarehadalreadyrenderedneatandcleanwasagaingoneoverandbrushedandrubbedandscrubbed。Thechinaofceremonysawthelight；thedamasklinenmarked"A，B，C"wasdrawnfromdepthswhereitlayunderatripleguardofwrappings，stillfurtherdefendedbyformidablelinesofpins。Aboveall，MademoiselleCormonsacrificedonthealtarofherhopesthreebottlesofthefamousliqueursofMadameAmphoux，themostillustriousofallthedistillersofthetropics，——anameverydeartogourmets。Thankstothedevotionofherlieutenants，mademoisellewassoonreadyfortheconflict。Thedifferentweapons——furniture，cookery，provisions，inshort，allthevariousmunitionsofwar，togetherwithabodyofreserveforces——werereadyalongthewholeline。Jacquelin，Mariette，andJosettereceivedorderstoappearinfulldress。Thegardenwasraked。Theoldmaidregrettedthatshecouldn"tcometoanunderstandingwiththenightingalesnestinginthetrees，inordertoobtaintheirfinesttrilling。

Atlast，aboutfouro"clock，attheverymomentwhentheAbbedeSpondereturnedhome，andjustasmademoisellebegantothinkshehadsetthetablewiththebestplateandlinenandpreparedthechoicestdishestonopurpose，theclick-clackofapostilionwasheardintheVal-Noble。

""Tishe!"shesaidtoherself，thesnapofthewhipechoinginherheart。

Trueenough；heraldedbyallthisgossip，apost-chaise，inwhichwasasinglegentleman，madesogreatasensationcomingdowntherueSaint-BlaiseandturningintotherueduCoursthatseverallittlegamainsandsomegrownpersonsfollowedit，andstoodingroupsaboutthegateofthehotelCormontoseeitenter。Jacquelin，whoforesawhisownmarriageinthatofhismistress，hadalsoheardtheclick-

clackintherueSaint-Blaise，andhadopenedwidethegatesintothecourtyard。Thepostilion，afriendofhis，tookprideinmakingafineturn-in，anddrewupsharplybeforetheportico。Theabbecameforwardtogreethisguest，whosecarriagewasemptiedwithaspeedthathighwaymenmightputintotheoperation；thechaiseitselfwasrolledintothecoach-house，thegatesclosed，andinafewmomentsallsignsofMonsieurdeTroisville"sarrivalhaddisappeared。NeverdidtwochemicalsblendintoeachotherwithgreaterrapiditythanthehotelCormondisplayedinabsorbingtheVicomtedeTroisville。

Mademoiselle，whoseheartwasbeatinglikealizardcaughtbyaherdsman，satheroicallystillonhersofa，besidethefireinthesalon。Josetteopenedthedoor；andtheVicomtedeTroisville，followedbytheAbbedeSponde，presentedhimselftotheeyesofthespinster。

"Niece，thisisMonsieurleVicomtedeTroisville，thegrandsonofoneofmyoldschoolmates；MonsieurdeTroisville，myniece，MademoiselleCormon。"

"Ah!thatgooduncle；howwellhedoesit!"thoughtRose-Marie-

Victoire。

TheVicomtedeTroisvillewas，topainthimintwowords，duBousquierennobled。Betweenthetwomentherewaspreciselythedifferencewhichseparatesthevulgarstylefromthenoblestyle。Iftheyhadbothbeenpresent，themostfanaticliberalwouldnothavedeniedtheexistenceofaristocracy。Theviscount"sstrengthhadallthedistinctionofelegance；hisfigurehadpreserveditsmagnificentdignity。Hehadblueeyes，blackhair，anoliveskin，andlookedtobeaboutforty-sixyearsofage。YoumighthavethoughthimahandsomeSpaniardpreservedintheiceofRussia。Hismanner，carriage，andattitude，alldenotedadiplomatwhohadseenEurope。Hisdresswasthatofawell-bredtraveller。Asheseemedfatigued，theabbeofferedtoshowhimtohisroom，andwasmuchamazedwhenhisniecethrewopenthedooroftheboudoir，transformedintoabedroom。

MademoiselleCormonandherunclethenleftthenoblestrangertoattendtohisownaffairs，aidedbyJacquelin，whobroughtuphisluggage，andwentthemselvestowalkbesidetheriveruntiltheirguesthadmadehistoilet。AlthoughtheAbbedeSpondechancedtobeevenmoreabsent-mindedthanusual，MademoiselleCormonwasnotlesspreoccupied。Theybothwalkedoninsilence。TheoldmaidhadneverbeforemetanymanasseductiveasthisOlympeanviscount。Shemighthavesaidtoherself，astheGermansdo，"Thisismyideal!"insteadofwhichshefeltherselfboundfromheadtofoot，andcouldonlysay，"Here"smyaffair!"ThensheflewtoMariettetoknowifthedinnercouldbeputbackawhilewithoutlossofexcellence。

"Uncle，yourMonsieurdeTroisvilleisveryamiable，"shesaid，onreturning。

"Why，niece，hehasn"tasyetsaidaword。"

"Butyoucanseeitinhisways，hismanners，hisface。Isheabachelor？"

"I"msureIdon"tknow，"repliedtheabbe，whowasthinkingofadiscussiononmercy，latelybegunbetweentheAbbeCouturierandhimself。"MonsieurdeTroisvillewrotemethathewantedtobuyahousehere。Ifhewasmarried，hewouldn"tcomealoneonsuchanerrand，"addedtheabbe，carelessly，notconceivingtheideathathisniececouldbethinkingofmarriage。

"Isherich？"

"Heisayoungersonoftheyoungerbranch，"repliedheruncle。"Hisgrandfathercommandedasquadron，butthefatherofthisyoungmanmadeabadmarriage。"

"Youngman!"exclaimedtheoldmaid。"Itseemstome，uncle，thathemustbeatleastforty-five。"Shefeltthestrongestdesiretoputtheiryearsonapar。

"Yes，"saidtheabbe；"buttoapoorpriestofseventy，Rose，amanoffortyseemsayouth。"

AllAlenconknewbythistimethatMonsieurdeTroisvillehadarrivedattheCormons。Thetravellersoonrejoinedhishosts，andbegantoadmiretheBrillante，thegarden，andthehouse。

"Monsieurl"abbe，"hesaid，"mywholeambitionistohaveahouselikethis。"Theoldmaidfanciedadeclarationlurkedinthatspeech，andsheloweredhereyes。"Youmustenjoyitverymuch，mademoiselle，"

addedtheviscount。

"Howcoulditbeotherwise？Ithasbeeninourfamilysince1574，theperiodatwhichoneofourancestors，stewardtotheDucd"Alencon，acquiredthelandandbuiltthehouse，"repliedMademoiselleCormon。

"Itisbuiltonpiles，"sheadded。

Jacquelinannounceddinner。MonsieurdeTroisvilleofferedhisarmtothehappywoman，whoendeavorednottoleantooheavilyuponit；shefeared，asusual，toseemtomakeadvances。

"Everythingissoharmonioushere，"saidtheviscount，asheseatedhimselfattable。

"Yes，ourtreesarefullofbirds，whichgiveusconcertsfornothing；

nooneeverfrightensthem；andthenightingalessingatnight，"saidMademoiselleCormon。

"Iwasspeakingoftheinteriorofthehouse，"remarkedtheviscount，whodidnottroublehimselftoobserveMademoiselleCormon，andthereforedidnotperceivethedulnessofhermind。"Everythingissoinkeeping，——thetonesofcolor，thefurniture，thegeneralcharacter。"

"Butitcostsagreatdeal；taxesareenormous，"respondedtheexcellentwoman。

"Ah!taxesarehigh，arethey？"saidtheviscount，preoccupiedwithhisownideas。

"Idon"tknow，"repliedtheabbe。"Myniecemanagesthepropertyofeachofus。"

"Taxesarenotofmuchimportancetotherich，"saidMademoiselleCormon，notwishingtobethoughtmiserly。"Asforthefurniture，I

shallleaveitasitis，andchangenothing，——unlessImarry；andthen，ofcourse，everythingheremustsuitthehusband。"

"Youhavenobleprinciples，mademoiselle，"saidtheviscount，smiling。

"Youwillmakeonehappyman。"

"Nooneevermadetomesuchaprettyspeech，"thoughttheoldmaid。

TheviscountcomplimentedMademoiselleCormonontheexcellenceofherserviceandtheadmirablearrangementsofthehouse，remarkingthathehadsupposedtheprovincesbehindtheageinthatrespect；but，onthecontrary，hefoundthem，astheEnglishsay，"verycomfortable。"

"Whatcanthatwordmean？"shethought。"Oh，whereisthechevaliertoexplainittome？"Comfortable，"——thereseemtobeseveralwordsinit。Well，courage!"shesaidtoherself。"Ican"tbeexpectedtoansweraforeignlanguage——But，"shecontinuedaloud，feelinghertongueuntiedbytheeloquencewhichnearlyallhumancreaturesfindinmomentouscircumstances，"wehaveaverybrilliantsocietyhere，monsieur。Itassemblesatmyhouse，andyoushalljudgeofitthisevening，forsomeofmyfaithfulfriendshavenodoubtheardofmyreturnandyourarrival。AmongthemistheChevalierdeValois，aseigneuroftheoldcourt，amanofinfinitewitandtaste；thenthereisMonsieurleMarquisd"EsgrignonandMademoiselleArmande，hissister"(shebithertonguewithvexation)，——"awomanremarkableinherway，"sheadded。"Sheresolvedtoremainunmarriedinordertoleaveallherfortunetoherbrotherandnephew。"

"Ah!"exclaimedtheviscount。"Yes，thed"Esgrignons，——Irememberthem。"

"Alenconisverygay，"continuedtheoldmaid，nowfairlylaunched。

"There"smuchamusement:thereceiver-generalgivesballs；theprefectisanamiableman；andMonseigneurthebishopsometimeshonorsuswithavisit——"

"Well，then，"saidtheviscount，smiling，"Ihavedonewiselytocomeback，likethehare，todieinmyform。"

"Yes，"shesaid。"I，too，attachmyselforIdie。"

Theviscountsmiled。

"Ah!"thoughttheoldmaid，"alliswell；heunderstandsme。"

Theconversationcontinuedongeneralities。Byoneofthosemysteriousunknownandundefinablefaculties，MademoiselleCormonfoundinherbrain，underthepressureofherdesiretobeagreeable，allthephrasesandopinionsoftheChevalierdeValois。Itwaslikeaduelinwhichthedevilhimselfpointedthepistol。Neverwasanyadversarybetteraimedat。Theviscountwasfartoowell-bredtospeakoftheexcellenceofthedinner；buthissilencewaspraise。AshedrankthedeliciouswineswhichJacquelinservedtohimprofusely，heseemedtofeelhewaswithfriends，andtomeetthemwithpleasure；forthetrueconnoisseurdoesnotapplaud，heenjoys。Heinquiredthepriceofland，ofhouses，ofestates；hemadeMademoiselleCormondescribeatlengththeconfluenceoftheSartheandtheBrillante；heexpressedsurprisethatthetownwasplacedsofarfromtheriver，andseemedtobemuchinterestedinthetopographyoftheplace。

Thesilentabbelefthisniecetothrowthediceofconversation；andshetrulyfeltthatshepleasedMonsieurdeTroisville，whosmiledathergracefully，andcommittedhimselfduringthisdinnerfarmorethanhermosteagersuitorshadeverdoneintendays。Imagine，therefore，thelittleattentionswithwhichhewaspetted；youmighthavethoughthimacherishedlover，whosereturnbroughtjoytothehousehold。

Mademoiselleforesawthemomentwhentheviscountwantedbread；shewatchedhiseverylook；whenheturnedhisheadsheadroitlyputuponhisplateaportionofsomedishheseemedtolike；hadhebeenagourmand，shewouldalmosthavekilledhim；butwhatadelightfulspecimenoftheattentionsshewouldshowtoahusband!Shedidnotcommitthefollyofdepreciatingherself；onthecontrary，sheseteverysailbravely，ranupallherflags，assumedthebearingofthequeenofAlencon，andboastedofherexcellentpreserves。Infact，shefishedforcomplimentsinspeakingofherself，forshesawthatshepleasedtheviscount；thetruthbeingthathereagerdesirehadsotransformedherthatshebecamealmostawoman。

Atdessertsheheard，notwithoutemotionsofdelight，certainsoundsintheantechamberandsalonwhichdenotedthearrivalofherusualguests。ShecalledtheattentionofheruncleandMonsieurdeTroisvilleto

thispromptattendanceasaproofoftheaffectionthatwasfeltforher；whereasitwasreallytheresultofthepoignantcuriositywhichhadseizeduponthetown。Impatienttoshowherselfinallherglory，MademoiselleCormontoldJacquelintoservecoffeeandliqueursinthesalon，wherehepresentlysetout，inviewofthewholecompany，amagnificentliqueur-standofDresdenchinawhichsawthelightonlytwiceayear。Thiscircumstancewastakennoteofbythecompany，standingreadytogossipoverthemeresttrifle:——

"Thedeuce!"mutteredduBousquier。"ActuallyMadameAmphoux"sliqueurs，whichtheyonlyserveatthefourchurchfestivals!"

"Undoubtedlythemarriagewasarrangedayearagobyletter，"saidthechief-justiceduRonceret。"ThepostmastertellsmehisofficehasreceivedletterspostmarkedOdessaformorethanayear。"

MadameGransontrembled。TheChevalierdeValois，thoughhehaddinedwiththeappetiteoffourmen，turnedpaleeventotheleftsectionofhisface。Feelingthathewasabouttobetrayhimself，hesaidhastily，——

"Don"tyouthinkitisverycoldto-day？Iamalmostfrozen。"

"TheneighborhoodofRussia，perhaps，"saidduBousquier。

Thechevalierlookedathimasiftosay，"Wellplayed!"

MademoiselleCormonappearedsoradiant，sotriumphant，thatthecompanythoughtherhandsome。Thisextraordinarybrilliancywasnottheeffectofsentimentonly。Sinceearlymorningherbloodhadbeenwhirlingtempestuouslywithinher，andhernerveswereagitatedbythepresentimentofsomegreatcrisis。Itrequiredallthesecircumstancescombinedtomakehersounlikeherself。Withwhatjoydidshenowmakehersolemnpresentationoftheviscounttothechevalier，thechevaliertotheviscount，andallAlencontoMonsieurdeTroisville，andMonsieurdeTroisvilletoallAlencon!

Byanaccidentwhollyexplainable，theviscountandchevalier，aristocratsbynature，cameinstantlyintounison；theyrecognizedeachotheratonceasmenbelongingtothesamesphere。Accordingly，theybegantoconversetogether，standingbeforethefireplace。A

circleformedaroundthem；andtheirconversation，thoughutteredinalowvoice，waslistenedtoinreligioussilence。Togivetheeffectofthissceneitisnecessarytodramatizeit，andtopictureMademoiselleCormonoccupiedinpouringoutthecoffeeofherimaginarysuitor，withherbacktothefireplace。

MonsieurdeValois。"Monsieurlevicomtehascome，Iamtold，tosettleinAlencon？"

MonsieurdeTroisville。"Yes，monsieur，Iamlookingforahouse。"

[MademoiselleCormon，cupinhand，turnsround。]"Itmustbealargehouse"[MademoiselleCormonoffershimthecup]"tolodgemywholefamily。"[Theeyesoftheoldmaidaretroubled。]

MonsieurdeValois。"Areyoumarried？"

MonsieurdeTroisville。"Yes，forthelastsixteenyears，toadaughterofthePrincessScherbellof。"

MademoiselleCormonfainted；duBousquier，whosawherstagger，sprangforwardandreceivedherinhisarms；someoneopenedthedoorandallowedhimtopassoutwithhisenormousburden。Thefieryrepublican，instructedbyJosette，foundstrengthtocarrytheoldmaidtoherbedroom，wherehelaidheroutonthebed。Josette，armedwithscissors，cutthecorset，whichwasterriblytight。DuBousquierflungwateronMademoiselleCormon"sfaceandbosom，which，releasedfromthecorset，overflowedliketheLoireinflood。Thepoorwomanopenedhereyes，sawduBousquier，andgaveacryofmodestyatthesightofhim。DuBousquierretiredatonce，leavingsixwomen，attheheadofwhomwasMadameGranson，radiantwithjoy，totakecareoftheinvalid。

WhathadtheChevalierdeValoisbeenaboutallthistime？Faithfultohissystem，hehadcoveredtheretreat。

"ThatpoorMademoiselleCormon，"hesaidtoMonsieurdeTroisville，gazingattheassembly，whoselaughterwasrepressedbyhiscoolaristocraticglances，"herbloodishorriblyoutoforder；shewouldn"tbebledbeforegoingtoPrebaudet(herestate)，——andseetheresult!"

"Shecamebackthismorningintherain，"saidtheAbbedeSponde，"andshemayhavetakencold。Itwon"tbeanything；itisonlyalittleupsetsheissubjectto。"

"Shetoldmeyesterdayshehadnothadoneforthreemonths，addingthatshewasafraiditwouldplayheratrickatlast，"saidthechevalier。

"Ha!soyouaremarried？"saidJacquelintohimselfashelookedatMonsieurdeTroisville，whowasquietlysippinghiscoffee。

Thefaithfulservantespousedhismistress"sdisappointment；hedivinedit，andhepromptlycarriedawaytheliqueursofMadameAmphoux，whichwereofferedtoabachelor，andnottothehusbandofaRussianwoman。

Allthesedetailswerenoticedandlaughedat。TheAbbedeSpondeknewtheobjectofMonsieurdeTroisville"sjourney；but，absent-mindedasusual，heforgotit，notsupposingthathisniececouldhavetheslightestinterestinMonsieurdeTroisville"smarriage。Asfortheviscount，preoccupiedwiththeobjectofhisjourney，and，likemanyhusbands，noteagertotalkabouthiswife，hehadhadnooccasiontosayhewasmarried；besides，hewouldnaturallysupposethatMademoiselleCormonknewit。

DuBousquierreappeared，andwasquestionedfuriously。Oneofthesixwomencamedownsoonafter，andannouncedthatMademoiselleCormonwasmuchbetter，andthatthedoctorhadcome。Sheintendedtostayinbed，asitwasnecessarytobleedher。Thesalonwasnowfull。

MademoiselleCormon"sabsenceallowedtheladiespresenttodiscussthetragi-comicscene——embellished，extended，historified，embroidered，wreathed，colored，andadorned——whichhadjusttakenplace，andwhich，onthemorrow，wasdestinedtooccupyallAlencon。

"ThatgoodMonsieurduBousquier!howwellhecarriedyou!"saidJosettetohermistress。"Hewasreallypaleatthesightofyou；helovesyoustill。"

Thatspeechservedasclosuretothissolemnandterribleevening。

ThroughoutthemorningofthenextdayeverycircumstanceofthelatecomedywasknowninthehouseholdofAlencon，and——letussayittotheshameofthattown，——theycausedinextinguishablelaughter。ButonthatdayMademoiselleCormon(muchbenefitedbythebleeding)wouldhaveseemedsublimeeventotheboldestscoffers，hadtheywitnessedthenobledignity，thesplendidChristianresignationwhichinfluencedherasshegaveherarmtoherinvoluntarydeceivertogointobreakfast。Crueljesters!whycouldyounothaveseenherasshesaidtotheviscount，——

"MadamedeTroisvillewillhavedifficultyinfindingasuitablehouse；domethefavor，monsieur，ofacceptingtheuseofmineduringthetimeyouareinsearchofyours。"

"But，mademoiselle，Ihavetwosonsandtwodaughters；weshouldgreatlyinconvenienceyou。"

"Praydonotrefuseme，"shesaidearnestly。

"ImadeyouthesameofferintheanswerIwrotetoyourletter，"saidtheabbe；"butyoudidnotreceiveit。"

"What，uncle!thenyouknew——"

Thepoorwomanstopped。Josettesighed。Neithertheviscountnortheabbeobservedanythingamiss。AfterbreakfasttheAbbedeSpondecarriedoffhisguest，asagreeduponthepreviousevening，toshowhimthevarioushousesinAlenconwhichcouldbebought，andthelotsoflandsonwhichhemightbuild。

Leftaloneinthesalon，MademoiselleCormonsaidtoJosette，withadeeplydistressedair，"Mychild，Iamnowthetalkofthewholetown。"

"Well，then，mademoiselle，youshouldmarry。"

"ButIamnotpreparedtomakeachoice。"

"Bah!ifIwereinyourplace，IshouldtakeMonsieurduBousquier。"

"Josette，MonsieurdeValoissaysheissorepublican。"

"Theydon"tknowwhattheysay，yourgentlemen:sometimestheydeclarethatherobbedtherepublic；hecouldn"tloveitifhedidthat，"saidJosette，departing。

"Thatgirlhasanamazingamountofsense，"thoughtMademoiselleCormon，whoremainedalone，apreytoherperplexities。

Shesawplainlythatapromptmarriagewastheonlywaytosilencethetown。Thislastcheckmate，soevidentlymortifying，wasofanaturetodriveherintosomeextremeaction；forpersonsdeficientinmindfinddifficultyingettingoutofanypath，eithergoodorevil，intowhichtheyhaveentered。

EachofthetwooldbachelorshadfullyunderstoodthesituationinwhichMademoiselleCormonwasabouttofindherself；consequently，eachresolvedtocallinthecourseofthatmorningtoaskafterherhealth，andtakeoccasion，inbachelorlanguage，to"presshispoint。"

MonsieurdeValoisconsideredthatsuchanoccasiondemandedapainstakingtoilet；hethereforetookabathandgroomedhimselfwithextraordinarycare。ForthefirstandlasttimeCesarineobservedhimputtingonwithincredibleartasuspicionofrouge。DuBousquier，ontheotherhand，thatcoarserepublican，spurredbyabriskwill，paidnoattentiontohisdress，andarrivedthefirst。

Suchlittlethingsdecidethefortunesofmen，astheydoofempires。

Kellerman"schargeatMarengo，Blucher"sarrivalatWaterloo，LouisXIV。"sdisdainforPrinceEugene，therectorofDenain，——allthesegreatcausesoffortuneorcatastrophehistoryhasrecorded；butnooneeverprofitsbythemtoavoidthesmallneglectsoftheirownlife。Consequently，observewhathappens:theDuchessedeLangeais(see"HistoryoftheThirteen")makesherselfanunforthelackoftenminutes"patience；JudgePopinot(see"CommissioninLunacy")putsofftillthemorrowthedutyofexaminingtheMarquisd"Espard；

CharlesGrandet(see"EugenieGrandet")goestoParisfromBordeauxinsteadofreturningbyNantes；andsucheventsarecalledchanceorfatality!AtouchofrougecarefullyapplieddestroyedthehopesoftheChevalierdeValois；couldthatnoblemanperishinanyotherway？

HehadlivedbytheGraces，andhewasdoomedtodiebytheirhand。

WhilethechevalierwasgivingthislasttouchtohistoilettheroughduBousquierwasenteringthesalonofthedesolateoldmaid。ThisentranceproducedathoughtinMademoiselleCormon"smindwhichwasfavorabletotherepublican，althoughinallotherrespectstheChevalierdeValoisheldtheadvantages。

"Godwillsit!"shesaidpiously，onseeingduBousquier。

"Mademoiselle，youwillnot，Itrust，thinkmyeagernessimportunate。

IcouldnottrusttomystupidRenetobringnewsofyourcondition，andthereforeIhavecomemyself。"

"Iamperfectlyrecovered，"shereplied，inatoneofemotion。"I

thankyou，MonsieurduBousquier，"sheadded，afteraslightpause，andinasignificanttoneofvoice，"forthetroubleyouhavetaken，andforthatwhichIgaveyouyesterday——"

Sherememberedhavingbeeninhisarms，andthatagainseemedtoheranorderfromheaven。Shehadbeenseenforthefirsttimebyamanwithherlacescut，hertreasuresviolentlyburstingfromtheircasket。

"Icarriedyouwithsuchjoythatyouseemedtomelight。"

HereMademoiselleCormonlookedatduBousquierasshehadneveryetlookedatanymanintheworld。Thusencouraged，thepurveyorcastupontheoldmaidaglancewhichreachedherheart。