第12章

Theabbediedwhenorthodoxythusexpiredinthediocese。

In1819，thepropertyoftheAbbedeSpondeincreasedMadameduBousquier"sincomefromrealestatetotwenty-fivethousandfrancswithoutcountingPrebaudetorthehouseintheVal-Noble。AboutthistimeduBousquierreturnedtohiswifethecapitalofhersavingswhichshehadyieldedtohim；andhemadeheruseitinpurchasinglandscontiguoustoPrebaudet，whichmadethatdomainoneofthemostconsiderableinthedepartment，fortheestatesoftheAbbedeSpondealsoadjoinedit。DuBousquierthuspassedforoneoftherichestmenofthedepartment。Thisableman，theconstantcandidateoftheliberals，missingbysevenoreightvotesonlyinalltheelectoralbattlesfoughtundertheRestoration，andwhoostensiblyrepudiatedtheliberalsbytryingtobeelectedasaministerialroyalist(withouteverbeingabletoconquertheaversionoftheadministration)，——thisrancorousrepublican，madwithambition，resolvedtorivaltheroyalismandaristocracyofAlenconatthemomentwhentheyoncemorehadtheupperhand。HestrengthenedhimselfwiththeChurchbythedeceitfulappearanceofawell-feignedpiety:

heaccompaniedhiswifetomass；hegavemoneyfortheconventsofthetown；heassistedthecongregationoftheSacre-Coeur；hetooksideswiththeclergyonalloccasionswhentheclergycameintocollisionwiththetown，thedepartment，ortheState。Secretlysupportedbytheliberals，protectedbytheChurch，callinghimselfaconstitutionalroyalist，hekeptbesidethearistocracyofthedepartmentintheonehopeofruiningit，——andhedidruinit。Everonthewatchforthefaultsandblundersofthenobilityandthegovernment，helaidplansforhisvengeanceagainstthe"chateau-people，"andespeciallyagainstthed"Esgrignons，inwhosebosomhewasonedaytothrustapoisoneddagger。

Amongotherbenefitstothetownhegavemoneyliberallytorevivethemanufactureofpointd"Alencon；herenewedthetradeinlinens，andthetownhadafactory。Inscribinghimselfthusupontheinterestsandheartofthemasses，bydoingwhattheroyalistsdidnotdo，duBousquierdidnotreallyriskafarthing。Backedbyhisfortune，hecouldaffordtowaitresultswhichenterprisingpersonswhoinvolvethemselvesareforcedtoabandontoluckiersuccessors。

DuBousquiernowposedasabanker。ThisminiatureLafittewasapartnerinallnewenterprises，takinggoodsecurity。Heservedhimselfwhileapparentlyservingtheinterestsofthecommunity。Hewastheprimemoverofinsurancecompanies，theprotectorofnewenterprisesforpublicconveyance；hesuggestedpetitionsforaskingtheadministrationforthenecessaryroadsandbridges。Thuswarned，thegovernmentconsideredthisactionanencroachmentofitsownauthority。Astrugglewasbeguninjudiciously，forthegoodofthecommunitycompelledtheauthoritiestoyieldintheend。DuBousquierembitteredtheprovincialnobilityagainstthecourtnobilityandthepeerage；andfinallyhebroughtabouttheshockingadhesionofastrongpartyofconstitutionalroyaliststothewarfaresustainedbythe"JournaldesDebats，"andM。deChateaubriandagainstthethrone，——anungratefuloppositionbasedonignobleinterests，whichwasonecauseofthetriumphofthebourgeoisieandjournalismin1830。

ThusduBousquier，incommonwiththeclassherepresented，hadthesatisfactionofbeholdingthefuneralofroyalty。Theoldrepublican，smotheredwithmasses，whoforfifteenyearshadplayedthatcomedytosatisfyhisvendetta，himselfthrewdownwithhisownhandthewhiteflagofthemayoraltytotheapplauseofthemultitude。NomaninFrancecastuponthenewthroneraisedinAugust，1830，aglanceofmoreintoxicated，joyousvengeance。TheaccessionoftheYoungerBranchwasthetriumphoftheRevolution。TohimthevictoryofthetricolormeanttheresurrectionofMontagne，whichthistimeshouldsurelybringthenobilitydowntothedustbymeansmorecertainthanthatoftheguillotine，becauselessviolent。Thepeeragewithoutheredity；theNationalGuard，whichputsonthesamecamp-bedthecornergrocerandthemarquis；theabolitionoftheentailsdemandedbyabourgeoislawyer；theCatholicChurchdeprivedofitssupremacy；

andalltheotherlegislativeinventionsofAugust，1830，——weretoduBousquierthewisestpossibleapplicationoftheprinciplesof1793。

Since1830thismanhasbeenareceiver-general。HereliedforhisadvancementonhisrelationswiththeDucd"Orleans，fatherofLouisPhilippe，andwithMonsieurdeFolmon，formerlystewardtotheDuchess-dowagerofOrleans。Hereceivesabouteightythousandfrancsayear。IntheeyesofthepeopleabouthimMonsieurduBousquierisamanofmeans，——arespectableman，steadyinhisprinciples，upright，andobliging。AlenconowestohimitsconnectionwiththeindustrialmovementbywhichBrittanymaypossiblysomedaybejoinedtowhatispopularlycalledmoderncivilization。Alencon，whichupto1816couldboastofonlytwoprivatecarriages，saw，withoutamazement，inthecourseoftenyears，coupes，landaus，tilburies，andcabrioletsrollingthroughherstreets。Theburghersandtheland-owners，alarmedatfirstlestthepriceofeverythingshouldincrease，recognizedlaterthatthisincreaseinthestyleoflivinghadacontraryeffectupontheirrevenues。ThepropheticremarkofduRonceret，"DuBousquierisaverystrongman，"wasadoptedbythewholecountry-

side。

But，unhappilyforthewife，thatsayinghasadoublemeaning。Thehusbanddoesnotinanywayresemblethepublicpolitician。Thisgreatcitizen，soliberaltotheworldabouthim，sokindlyinspiredwithloveforhisnativeplace，isadespotinhisownhouse，andutterlydevoidofconjugalaffection。Thisman，soprofoundlyastute，hypocritical，andsly；thisCromwelloftheVal-Noble，——behavesinhishomeashebehavestothearistocracy，whomhecaressesinhopestothrottlethem。LikehisfriendBernadotte，hewearsavelvetgloveuponhisironhand。Hiswifehasgivenhimnochildren。Suzanne"sremarkandthechevalier"sinsinuationswerethereforejustified。Buttheliberalbourgeoisie，theconstitutional-royalist-bourgeoisie，thecountry-squires，themagistracy，andthe"churchparty"laidtheblameonMadameduBousquier。"Shewastooold，"theysaid；"MonsieurduBousquierhadmarriedhertoolate。Besides，itwasveryluckyforthepoorwoman；itwasdangerousatheragetobearchildren!"WhenMadameduBousquierconfided，weeping，herperiodicdespairtoMesdamesduCoudraiandduRonceret，thoseladieswouldreply，——

"Butyouarecrazy，mydear；youdon"tknowwhatyouarewishingfor；

achildwouldbeyourdeath。"

Manymen，whosehopeswerefastenedonduBousquier"striumph，sanghispraisestotheirwives，whointurnrepeatedthemtothepoorwifeinsomesuchspeechasthis:——

"Youareverylucky，dear，tohavemarriedsuchanableman；you"llescapethemiseryofwomenwhosehusbandsaremenwithoutenergy，incapableofmanagingtheirproperty，orbringinguptheirchildren。"

"Yourhusbandismakingyouqueenofthedepartment，mylove。He"llneverleaveyouembarrassed，nothe!Why，heleadsallAlencon。"

"ButIwish，"saidthepoorwife，"thathegavelesstimetothepublicand——"

"Youarehardtoplease，mydearMadameduBousquier。Iassureyouthatallthewomenintownenvyyouyourhusband。"

Misjudgedbysociety，whichbeganbyblamingher，thepiouswomanfoundampleopportunityinherhometodisplayhervirtues。Shelivedintears，butsheneverceasedtopresenttoothersaplacidface。TosoChristianasoulacertainthoughtwhichpeckedforeveratherheartwasacrime:"IlovedtheChevalierdeValois，"itsaid；"butI

havemarriedduBousquier。"TheloveofpoorAthanaseGransonalsoroselikeaphantomofremorse，andpursuedhereveninherdreams。

Thedeathofheruncle，whosegriefsatthelastburstforth，madeherlifestillmoresorrowful；forshenowfeltthesufferingherunclemusthaveenduredinwitnessingthechangeofpoliticalandreligiousopinionintheoldhouse。Sorrowoftenfallslikeathunderbolt，asitdidonMadameGranson；butinthisoldmaiditslowlyspreadlikeadropofoil，whichneverleavesthestuffthatslowlyimbibesit。

TheChevalierdeValoiswasthemaliciousmanipulatorwhobroughtaboutthecrowningmisfortuneofMadameduBousquier"slife。Hisheartwassetonundeceivingherpioussimplicity；forthechevalier，expertinlove，divinedduBousquier，themarriedman，ashehaddivinedduBousquier，thebachelor。Butthewaryrepublicanwasdifficultofattack。Hissalonwas，ofcourse，closedtotheChevalierdeValois，astoallthosewho，intheearlydaysofhismarriage，hadslightedtheCormonmansion。Hewas，moreover，impervioustoridicule；hepossessedavastfortune；hereignedinAlencon；hecaredaslittleforhiswifeasRichardIII。caredforthedeadhorsewhichhadhelpedhimwinabattle。Topleaseherhusband，MadameduBousquierhadbrokenoffrelationswiththed"Esgrignonhousehold，whereshewentnolonger，exceptthatsometimeswhenherhusbandleftherduringhistripstoParis，shewouldpayabriefvisittoMademoiselleArmande。

Aboutthreeyearsafterhermarriage，atthetimeoftheAbbedeSponde"sdeath，MademoiselleArmandejoinedMadameduBousquierastheywereleavingSaint-Leonard"s，wheretheyhadgonetoheararequiemsaidforhim。Thegenerousdemoisellethoughtthatonthisoccasionsheowedhersympathytothenieceintrouble。Theywalkedtogether，talkingofthedeardeceased，untiltheyreachedtheforbiddenhouse，intowhichMademoiselleArmandeenticedMadameduBousquierbythecharmofhermannerandconversation。Thepoordesolatewomanwasgladtotalkofherunclewithonewhomhetrulyloved。Moreover，shewantedtoreceivethecondolencesoftheoldmarquis，whomshehadnotseenfornearlythreeyears。Itwashalf-

pastoneo"clock，andshefoundatthehoteld"EsgrignontheChevalierdeValois，whohadcometodinner。Ashebowedtoher，hetookherbythehands。

"Well，dear，virtuous，andbelovedlady，"hesaid，inatoneofemotion，"wehavelostoursaintedfriend；weshareyourgrief。Yes，yourlossisaskeenlyfelthereasinyourownhome，——moreso，"headded，alludingtoduBousquier。

Afterafewmorewordsoffuneraloration，inwhichallpresentspokefromtheheart，thechevaliertookMadameduBousquier"sarm，and，gallantlyplacingitwithinhisown，presseditadoringlyasheledhertotherecessofawindow。

"Areyouhappy？"hesaidinafatherlyvoice。

"Yes，"shesaid，droppinghereyes。

Hearingthat"Yes，"MadamedeTroisville，thedaughterofthePrincessScherbellof，andtheoldMarquisedeCasterancameupandjoinedthechevalier，togetherwithMademoiselleArmande。Theyallwenttowalkinthegardenuntildinnerwasserved，withoutanyperceptiononthepartofMadameduBousquierthatalittleconspiracywasafoot。"Wehaveher!nowletusfindoutthesecretofthecase，"werethewordswrittenintheeyesofallpresent。

"Tomakeyourhappinesscomplete，"saidMademoiselleArmande，"yououghttohavechildren，——afineladlikemynephew——"

TearsseemedtostartinMadameduBousquier"seyes。

"Ihavehearditsaidthatyouweretheonetoblameinthematter，andthatyoufearedthedangersofapregnancy，"saidthechevalier。

"I!"shesaidartlessly。"IwouldbuyachildwithahundredyearsofpurgatoryifIcould。"

Onthequestionthusstartedadiscussionarose，conductedbyMadamedeTroisvilleandtheoldMarquisedeCasteranwithsuchdelicacyandadroitnessthatthepoorvictimrevealed，withoutbeingawareofit，thesecretsofherhouse。MademoiselleArmandehadtakenthechevalier"sarm，andwalkedawaysoastoleavethethreewomenfreetodiscusswedlock。MadameduBousquierwasthenenlightenedonthevariousdeceptionsofhermarriage；andasshewasstillthesamesimpletonshehadalwaysbeen，sheamusedheradvisersbydelightfulnaivetes。

AlthoughatfirstthedeceptivemarriageofMademoiselleCormonmadealaughthroughoutthetown，whichwassooninitiatedintothestoryofthecase，beforelongMadameduBousquierwontheesteemandsympathyofallthewomen。ThefactthatMademoiselleCormonhadflungherselfheadlongintomarriagewithoutsucceedinginbeingmarried，madeeverybodylaughather；butwhentheylearnedtheexceptionalpositioninwhichthesternnessofherreligiousprinciplesplacedher，alltheworldadmiredher。"ThatpoorMadameduBousquier"tooktheplaceof"ThatgoodMademoiselleCormon。"

ThusthechevaliercontrivedtorenderduBousquierbothridiculousandodiousforatime；butridiculeendsbyweakening；whenallhadsaidtheirsayabouthim，thegossipdiedout。Besides，atfifty-sevenyearsofagethedumbrepublicanseemedtomanypeopletohavearighttoretire。Thisaffair，however，envenomedthehatredwhichduBousquieralreadyboretothehouseofEsgrignontosuchadegreethatitmadehimpitilesswhenthedayofvengeancecame。[See"TheGalleryofAntiquities。"]MadameduBousquierreceivedordersneveragaintosetfootintothathouse。Bywayofreprisalsuponthechevalierforthetrickthusplayedhim，duBousquier，whohadjustcreatedthejournalcalledthe"Courrierdel"Orne，"causedthefollowingnoticetobeinsertedinit:——

"BondstotheamountofonethousandfrancsayearwillbepaidtoanypersonwhocanprovetheexistenceofoneMonsieurdePombretonbefore，during，oraftertheEmigration。"

Althoughhermarriagewasessentiallynegative，MadameduBousquiersawsomeadvantagesinit:wasitnotbettertointerestherselfinthemostremarkablemaninthetownthantolivealone？DuBousquierwaspreferabletoadog，orcat，orthosecanariesthatspinsterslove。Heshowedforhiswifeasentimentmorerealandlessselfishthanthatwhichisfeltbyservants，confessors，andhopefulheirs。

Laterinlifeshecametoconsiderherhusbandastheinstrumentofdivinewrath；forshethensawinnumerablesinsinherformerdesiresformarriage；sheregardedherselfasjustlypunishedforthesorrowshehadbroughtonMadameGranson，andforthehasteneddeathofheruncle。Obedienttothatreligionwhichcommandsustokisstherodwithwhichthepunishmentisinflicted，shepraisedherhusband，andpubliclyapprovedhim。Butintheconfessional，oratnight，whenpraying，sheweptoften，imploringGod"sforgivenessfortheapostasyofthemanwhothoughtthecontraryofwhatheprofessed，andwhodesiredthedestructionofthearistocracyandtheChurch，——thetworeligionsofthehouseofCormon。

Withallherfeelingsbruisedandimmolatedwithinher，compelledbydutytomakeherhusbandhappy，attachedtohimbyacertainindefinableaffection，born，perhaps，ofhabit，herlifebecameoneperpetualcontradiction。Shehadmarriedamanwhoseconductandopinionsshehated，butwhomshewasboundtocareforwithdutifultenderness。OftenshewalkedwiththeangelswhenduBousquierateherpreservesorthoughtthedinnergood。Shewatchedtoseethathisslightestwishwassatisfied。Ifhetoreoffthecoverofhisnewspaperandleftitonatable，insteadofthrowingitaway，shewouldsay:——

"Rene，leavethatwhereitis；monsieurdidnotplaceittherewithoutintention。"

IfduBousquierhadajourneytotake，shewasanxiousabouthistrunk，hislinen；shetookthemostminuteprecautionsforhismaterialbenefit。IfhewenttoPrebaudet，sheconsultedthebarometertheeveningbeforetoknowiftheweatherwouldbefine。Shewatchedforhiswillinhiseyes，likeadogwhichhearsandseesitsmasterwhilesleeping。WhenthestoutduBousquier，touchedbythisscrupulouslove，wouldtakeherroundthewaistandkissherforehead，saying，"Whatagoodwomanyouare!"tearsofpleasurewouldcomeintotheeyesofthepoorcreature。ItisprobablythatduBousquierfelthimselfobligedtomakecertainconcessionswhichobtainedforhimtherespectofRose-Marie-Victoire；forCatholicvirtuedoesnotrequireadissimulationascompleteasthatofMadameduBousquier。Oftenthegoodsaintsatmutelybyandlistenedtothehatredofmenwhoconcealedthemselvesunderthecloakofconstitutionalroyalists。SheshudderedassheforesawtheruinoftheChurch。Occasionallysheriskedastupidword，anobservationwhichduBousquiercutshortwithaglance。

TheworriesofsuchanexistenceendedbystupefyingMadameduBousquier，whofounditeasierandalsomoredignifiedtoconcentrateherintelligenceonherownthoughtsandresignherselftoleadalifethatwaspurelyanimal。Shethenadoptedthesubmissionofaslave，andregardeditasameritoriousdeedtoacceptthedegradationinwhichherhusbandplacedher。Thefulfilmentofhiswillneveroncecausedhertomurmur。Thetimidsheepwenthenceforthinthewaytheshepherdledher；shegaveherselfuptotheseverestreligiouspractices，andthoughtnomoreofSatanandhisworksandvanities。

ThusshepresentedtotheeyesoftheworldaunionofallChristianvirtues；andduBousquierwascertainlyoneoftheluckiestmeninthekingdomofFranceandofNavarre。

"Shewillbeasimpletontoherlastbreath，"saidtheformercollector，who，however，dinedwithhertwiceaweek。

ThishistorywouldbestrangelyincompleteifnomentionweremadeofthecoincidenceoftheChevalierdeValois"sdeathoccurringatthesametimeasthatofSuzanne"smother。Thechevalierdiedwiththemonarchy，inAugust，1830。HehadjoinedthecortegeofCharlesX。atNonancourt，andpiouslyescortedittoCherbourgwiththeTroisvilles，Casterans，d"Esgrignons，Verneuils，etc。Theoldgentlemanhadtakenwithhimfiftythousandfrancs，——thesumtowhichhissavingsthenamounted。Heofferedthemtooneofthefaithfulfriendsofthekingfortransmissiontohismaster，speakingofhisapproachingdeath，anddeclaringthatthemoneycameoriginallyfromthegoodnessoftheking，and，moreover，thatthepropertyofthelastoftheValoisbelongedofrighttothecrown。ItisnotknownwhetherthefervorofhiszealconqueredthereluctanceoftheBourbon，whoabandonedhisfinekingdomofFrancewithoutcarryingawaywithhimafarthing，andwhooughttohavebeentouchedbythedevotionofthechevalier。Itiscertain，however，thatCesarine，theresiduarylegateoftheoldman，receivedfromhisestateonlysixhundredfrancsayear。ThechevalierreturnedtoAlencon，cruellyweakenedbygriefandbyfatigue；hediedontheverydaywhenCharlesX。arrivedonaforeignshore。

MadameduVal-Nobleandherprotector，whowasjustthenafraidofthevengeanceoftheliberalparty，weregladofapretexttoremainincognitointhevillagewhereSuzanne"smotherdied。Atthesaleofthechevalier"seffects，whichtookplaceatthattime，Suzanne，anxioustoobtainasouvenirofherfirstandlastfriend，pushedupthepriceofthefamoussnuff-box，whichwasfinallyknockeddowntoherforathousandfrancs。TheportraitofthePrincessGoritzawasaloneworththatsum。Twoyearslater，ayoungdandy，whowasmakingacollectionofthefinesnuff-boxesofthelastcentury，obtainedfromMadameduVal-Noblethechevalier"streasure。Thecharmingconfidantofmanyaloveandthepleasureofanoldageisnowonexhibitioninaspeciesofprivatemuseum。Ifthedeadcouldknowwhathappensafterthem，thechevalier"sheadwouldsurelyblushuponitsleftcheek。

Ifthishistoryhasnoothereffectthantoinspirethepossessorsofpreciousrelicswithholyfear，andinducethemtomakecodicilstosecurethesetouchingsouvenirsofjoysthatarenomorebybequeathingthemtolovinghands，itwillhavedoneanimmenseservicetothechivalrousandromanticportionofthecommunity；butitdoes，intruth，containafarhighermoral。Doesitnotshowthenecessityforanewspeciesofeducation？Doesitnotinvoke，fromtheenlightenedsolicitudeoftheministersofPublicInstruction，thecreationofchairsofanthropology，——ascienceinwhichGermanyoutstripsus？Modernmythsareevenlessunderstoodthanancientones，harriedaswearewithmyths。Mythsarepressingusfromeverypoint；

theyservealltheories，theyexplainallquestions。

Theyare，accordingtohumanideas，thetorchesofhistory；theywouldsaveempiresfromrevolutionifonlytheprofessorsofhistorywouldforcetheexplanationstheygiveintothemindoftheprovincialmasses。IfMademoiselleCormonhadbeenareaderorastudent，andiftherehadexistedinthedepartmentoftheOrneaprofessorofanthropology，orevenhadshereadAriosto，thefrightfuldisastersofherconjugallifewouldneverhaveoccurred。ShewouldprobablyhaveknownwhytheItalianpoetmakesAngelicapreferMedoro，whowasablondChevalierdeValois，toOrlando，whosemarewasdead，andwhoknewnobetterthantoflyintoapassion。IsnotMedorothemythicformforallcourtiersoffeminineroyalty，andOrlandothemythofdisorderly，furious，andimpotentrevolutions，whichdestroybutcannotproduce？

Wepublish，butwithoutassuminganyresponsibilityforit，thisopinionofapupilofMonsieurBallanche。

Noinformationhasreachedusastothefateofthenegroes"headsindiamonds。YoumayseeMadameduVal-NobleeveryeveningattheOpera。

ThankstotheeducationgivenherbytheChevalierdeValois，shehasalmosttheairofawell-bredwoman。

MadameduBousquierstilllives；isnotthatasmuchastosayshestillsuffers？Afterreachingtheageofsixty——theperiodatwhichwomenallowthemselvestomakeconfessions——shesaidconfidentiallytoMadameduCoudrai，thatshehadneverbeenabletoenduretheideaofdyinganoldmaid。