Allthesemanoeuvreswerecrownedwithcompletesuccess。In1834themothersofthefortynoblefamiliescomposingthehighsocietyofBesanconquotedMonsieurAmedeedeSoulasasthemostcharmingyoungmaninthetown；noonewouldhavedaredtodisputehisplaceascockofthewalkattheHoteldeRupt，andallBesanconregardedhimasRosaliedeWatteville'sfuturehusband。TherehadevenbeensomeexchangeofideasonthesubjectbetweentheBaronessandAmedee，towhichtheBaron'sapparentnonentitygavesomecertainty。
　　MademoiselledeWatteville，towhomherenormousprospectivefortuneatthattimelentconsiderableimportance，hadbeenbroughtupexclusivelywithintheprecinctsoftheHoteldeRupt——whichhermotherrarelyquitted，sodevotedwasshetoherdearArchbishop——andseverelyrepressedbyanexclusivelyreligiouseducation，andbyhermother'sdespotism，whichheldherrigidlytoprinciples。Rosalieknewabsolutelynothing。IsitknowledgetohavelearnedgeographyfromGuthrie，sacredhistory，ancienthistory，thehistoryofFrance，andthefourrulesallpassedthroughthesieveofanoldJesuit？Dancingandmusicwereforbidden，asbeingmorelikelytocorruptlifethantograceit。TheBaronesstaughtherdaughtereveryconceivablestitchintapestryandwomen'swork——plainsewing，embroidery，netting。AtseventeenRosaliehadneverreadanythingbutthe/Lettresedifiantes/
　　andsomeworksonheraldry。Nonewspaperhadeverdefiledhersight。
　　SheattendedmassattheCathedraleverymorning，takentherebyhermother，camebacktobreakfast，didneedleworkafteralittlewalkinthegarden，andreceivedvisitors，sittingwiththebaronessuntildinner-time。Then，afterdinner，exceptingonMondaysandFridays，sheaccompaniedMadamedeWattevilletootherhousestospendtheevening，withoutbeingallowedtotalkmorethanthematernalrulepermitted。
　　AteighteenMademoiselledeWattevillewasaslight，thingirlwithaflatfigure，fair，colorless，andinsignificanttothelastdegree。
　　Hereyes，ofaverylightblue，borrowedbeautyfromtheirlashes，which，whendowncast，threwashadowonhercheeks。Afewfrecklesmarredthewhitenessofherforehead，whichwasshapelyenough。HerfacewasexactlylikethoseofAlbertDurer'ssaints，orthoseofthepaintersbeforePerugino；thesameplump，thoughslendermodeling，thesamedelicacysaddenedbyecstasy，thesamesevereguilelessness。
　　Everythingabouther，eventoherattitude，wassuggestiveofthosevirgins，whosebeautyisonlyrevealedinitsmysticalradiancetotheeyesofthestudiousconnoisseur。Shehadfinehandsthoughred，andaprettyfoot，thefootofanaristocrat。
　　Shehabituallyworesimplecheckedcottondresses；butonSundaysandintheeveninghermotherallowedhersilk。Thecutofherfrocks，madeatBesancon，almostmadeherugly，whilehermothertriedtoborrowgrace，beauty，andelegancefromParisfashions；forthroughMonsieurdeSoulassheprocuredthesmallesttriflesofherdressfromthence。Rosaliehadneverwornapairofsilkstockingsorthinboots，butalwayscottonstockingsandleathershoes。Onhighdaysshewasdressedinamuslinfrock，herhairplainlydressed，andhadbronzekidshoes。
　　Thiseducation，andherownmodestdemeanor，hidinRosalieaspiritofiron。Physiologistsandprofoundobserverswilltellyou，perhapstoyourastonishment，thattempers，characteristics，wit，orgeniusreappearinfamiliesatlongintervals，preciselylikewhatareknownashereditarydiseases。Thustalent，likethegout，sometimesskipsovertwogenerations。WehaveanillustriousexampleofthisphenomenoninGeorgeSand，inwhomareresuscitatedtheforce，thepower，andtheimaginativefacultyoftheMarechaldeSaxe，whosenaturalgranddaughtersheis。
　　ThedecisivecharacterandromanticdaringofthefamousWattevillehadreappearedinthesoulofhisgrand-niece，reinforcedbythetenacityandprideofbloodoftheRupts。Butthesequalities——orfaults，ifyouwillhaveitso——wereasdeeplyburiedinthisyounggirlishsoul，apparentlysoweakandyielding，astheseethinglavaswithinahillbeforeitbecomesavolcano。MadamedeWattevillealone，perhaps，suspectedthisinheritancefromtwostrains。ShewassoseveretoherRosalie，thatsherepliedonedaytotheArchbishop，whoblamedherforbeingtoohardonthechild，"Leavemetomanageher，monseigneur。Iknowher!ShehasmorethanoneBeelzebubinherskin!"
　　TheBaronesskeptallthekeenerwatchoverherdaughter，becausesheconsideredherhonorasamothertobeatstake。Afterall，shehadnothingelsetodo。ClotildedeRupt，atthistimefive-and-thirty，andasgoodaswidowed，withahusbandwhoturnedegg-cupsineveryvarietyofwood，whosethismindonmakingwheelswithsixspokesoutofiron-wood，andmanufacturedsnuff-boxesforeveryoneofhisacquaintance，flirtedinstrictproprietywithAmedeedeSoulas。Whenthisyoungmanwasinthehouse，shealternatelydismissedandrecalledherdaughter，andtriedtodetectsymptomsofjealousyinthatyouthfulsoul，soastohaveoccasiontorepressthem。Sheimitatedthepoliceinitsdealingswiththerepublicans；butshelaboredinvain。Rosalieshowednosymptomsofrebellion。Thenthearidbigotaccusedherdaughterofperfectinsensibility。RosalieknewhermotherwellenoughtobesurethatifshehadthoughtyoungMonsieurdeSoulas/nice/，shewouldhavedrawndownonherselfasmartreproof。Thus，toallhermother'sincitementsherepliedmerelybysuchphrasesasarewronglycalledJesuitical——wrongly，becausetheJesuitswerestrong，andsuchreservationsarethe/chevauxdefrise/
　　behindwhichweaknesstakesrefuge。Thenthemotherregardedthegirlasadissembler。IfbymischanceasparkofthetruenatureoftheWattevillesandtheRuptsblazedout，themotherarmedherselfwiththerespectduefromchildrentotheirparentstoreduceRosalietopassiveobedience。
　　Thiscovertbattlewascarriedoninthemostsecretseclusionofdomesticlife，withcloseddoors。TheVicar-General，thedearAbbeGrancey，thefriendofthelateArchbishop，cleverashewasinhiscapacityofthechiefFatherConfessorofthediocese，couldnotdiscoverwhetherthestrugglehadstirredupsomehatredbetweenthemotheranddaughter，whetherthemotherwerejealousinanticipation，orwhetherthecourtAmedeewaspayingtothegirlthroughhermotherhadnotoversteppeditsduelimits。Beingafriendofthefamily，neithermothernordaughter，confessedtohim。Rosalie，alittletoomuchharried，morally，aboutyoungdeSoulas，couldnotabidehim，touseahomelyphrase，andwhenhespoketoher，tryingtotakeherheartbysurprise，shereceivedhimbutcoldly。Thisaversion，discernedonlybyhermother'seyes，wasaconstantsubjectofadmonition。
　　"Rosalie，IcannotimaginewhyyouaffectsuchcoldnesstowardsAmedee。Isitbecauseheisafriendofthefamily，andbecausewelikehim——yourfatherandI？"
　　"Well，mamma，"repliedthepoorchildoneday，"ifImadehimwelcome，shouldInotbestillmoreinthewrong？"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"criedMadamedeWatteville。"Whatisthemeaningofsuchwords？Yourmotherisunjust，nodoubt，andaccordingtoyou，wouldbesoinanycase!Neverletsuchananswerpassyourlipsagaintoyourmother——"andsoforth。
　　Thisquarrellastedthreehoursandthree-quarters。Rosalienotedthetime。Hermother，palewithfury，senthertoherroom，whereRosalieponderedonthemeaningofthisscenewithoutdiscoveringit，soguilelesswasshe。ThusyoungMonsieurdeSoulas，whowassupposedbyeveryonetobeveryneartheendhewasaimingat，allneckclothsset，andbydintofpotsofpatentblacking——anendwhichrequiredsomuchwaxingofhismoustaches，somanysmartwaistcoats，woreoutsomanyhorseshoesandstays——forheworealeathervest，thestaysofthe/lion/——Amedee，Isay，wasfurtherawaythananychancecomer，althoughhehadonhissidetheworthyandnobleAbbedeGrancey。
　　"Madame，"saidMonsieurdeSoulas，addressingtheBaroness，whilewaitingtillhissoupwascoolenoughtoswallow，andaffectingtogivearomanticturntohisnarrative，"onefinemorningthemail-
　　coachdroppedattheHotelNationalagentlemanfromParis，who，afterseekingapartments，madeuphismindinfavorofthefirstfloorinMademoiselleGalard'shouse，RueduPerron。ThenthestrangerwentstraighttotheMairie，andhadhimselfregisteredasaresidentwithallpoliticalqualifications。Finally，hehadhisnameenteredonthelistofthebarristerstotheCourt，showinghistitleindueform，andhelefthiscardonallhisnewcolleagues，theMinisterialofficials，theCouncillorsoftheCourt，andthemembersofthebench，withthename，'ALBERTSAVARON。'"
　　"ThenameofSavaronisfamous，"saidMademoiselledeWatteville，whowasstronginheraldicinformation。"TheSavaronsofSavarusareoneoftheoldest，noblest，andrichestfamiliesinBelgium。"
　　"HeisaFrenchman，andnoman'sson，"repliedAmedeedeSoulas。"IfhewishestobearthearmsoftheSavaronsofSavarus，hemustaddabar-sinister。ThereisnooneleftoftheBrabantfamilybutaMademoiselledeSavarus，arichheiress，andunmarried。"
　　"Thebar-sinisteris，ofcourse，thebadgeofabastard；butthebastardofaComtedeSavarusisnoble，"answeredRosalie。
　　"Enough，thatwilldo，mademoiselle!"saidtheBaroness。
　　"Youinsistedonherlearningheraldry，"saidMonsieurdeWatteville，"andsheknowsitverywell。"
　　"Goon，Ibeg，MonsieurdeSoulas。"
　　"Youmaysupposethatinatownwhereeverythingisclassified，known，pigeon-holed，ticketed，andnumbered，asinBesancon，AlbertSavaronwasreceivedwithouthesitationbythelawyersofthetown。Theyweresatisfiedtosay，'HereisamanwhodoesnotknowhisBesancon。Whothedevilcanhavesenthimhere？Whatcanhehopetodo？SendinghiscardtotheJudgesinsteadofcallinginperson!Whatablunder!'Andso，threedaysafter，Savaronhadceasedtoexist。HetookashisservantoldMonsieurGalard'sman——Galardbeingdead——Jerome，whocancookalittle。AlbertSavaronwasallthemorecompletelyforgotten，becausenoonehadseenhimormethimanywhere。"
　　"Then，doeshenotgotomass？"askedMadamedeChavoncourt。
　　"HegoesonSundaystoSaint-Pierre，buttotheearlyserviceateightinthemorning。Heriseseverynightbetweenoneandtwointhemorning，workstilleight，hashisbreakfast，andthengoesonworking。Hewalksinhisgarden，goingroundfifty，orperhapssixtytimes；thenhegoesin，dines，andgoestobedbetweensixandseven。"
　　"Howdidyoulearnallthat？"MadamedeChavoncourtaskedMonsieurdeSoulas。
　　"Inthefirstplace，madame，IliveintheRueNeuve，atthecorneroftheRueduPerron；Ilookoutonthehousewherethismysteriouspersonagelodges；then，ofcourse，therearecommunicationsbetweenmytigerandJerome。"
　　"AndyougossipwithBabylas？"
　　"Whatwouldyouhavemedooutriding？"
　　"Well——andhowwasitthatyouengagedastrangerforyourdefence？"
　　askedtheBaroness，thusplacingtheconversationinthehandsoftheVicar-General。
　　"ThePresidentoftheCourtplayedthispleaderatrickbyappointinghimtodefendattheAssizesahalf-wittedpeasantaccusedofforgery。
　　ButMonsieurSavaronprocuredthepoorman'sacquittalbyprovinghisinnocenceandshowingthathehadbeenatoolinthehandsoftherealculprits。Notonlydidhislineofdefencesucceed，butitledtothearrestoftwoofthewitnesses，whowereprovedguiltyandcondemned。
　　HisspeechstrucktheCourtandthejury。Oneofthese，amerchant，placedadifficultcasenextdayinthehandsofMonsieurSavaron，andhewonit。Inthepositioninwhichwefoundourselves，MonsieurBerryerfindingitimpossibletocometoBesancon，MonsieurdeGarcenaultadvisedhimtoemploythisMonsieurAlbertSavaron，foretellingoursuccess。AssoonasIsawhimandheardhim，Ifeltfaithinhim，andIwasnotwrong。"
　　"Ishethensoextraordinary？"askedMadamedeChavoncourt。
　　"Certainly，madame，"repliedtheVicar-General。
　　"Well，tellusaboutit，"saidMadamedeWatteville。
　　"ThefirsttimeIsawhim，"saidtheAbbedeGrancey，"hereceivedmeinhisouterroomnexttheante-room——oldGalard'sdrawing-room——whichhehashadpaintedlikeoldoak，andwhichIfoundentirelylinedwithlaw-books，arrangedonshelvesalsopaintedasoldoak。Thepaintingandthebooksarethesoledecorationoftheroom，forthefurnitureconsistsofanoldwritingtableofcarvedwood，sixoldarmchairscoveredwithtapestry，windowcurtainsofgraystuffborderedwithgreen，andagreencarpetoverthefloor。Theante-roomstoveheatsthislibraryaswell。AsIwaitedthereIdidnotpicturemyadvocateasayoungman。Butthissingularsettingisinperfectharmonywithhisperson；forMonsieurSavaroncameoutinablackmerinodressing-
　　gowntiedwitharedcord，redslippers，aredflannelwaistcoat，andaredsmoking-cap。"
　　"Thedevil'scolors!"exclaimedMadamedeWatteville。
　　"Yes，"saidtheAbbe；"butamagnificenthead。Blackhairalreadystreakedwithalittlegray，hairlikethatofSaintPeterandSaintPaulinpictures，withthickshiningcurls，hairasstiffashorse-
　　hair；aroundwhitethroatlikeawoman's；asplendidforehead，furrowedbythestrongmedianlinewhichgreatschemes，greatthoughts，deepmeditationsstamponagreatman'sbrow；anolivecomplexionmarbledwithred，asquarenose，eyesofflame，hollowcheeks，withtwolonglines，betrayingmuchsuffering，amouthwithasardonicsmile，andasmallchin，narrow，andtooshort；crow'sfeetonhistemples；deep-seteyes，movingintheirsocketslikeburningballs；but，inspiteofalltheseindicationsofaviolentlypassionatenature，hismannerwascalm，deeplyresigned，andhisvoiceofpenetratingsweetness，whichsurprisedmeinCourtbyitseasyflow；atrueorator'svoice，nowclearandappealing，sometimesinsinuating，butavoiceofthunderwhenneedful，andlendingitselftosarcasmtobecomeincisive。
　　"MonsieurAlbertSavaronisofmiddleheight，neitherstoutnorthin。
　　Andhishandsarethoseofaprelate。
　　"ThesecondtimeIcalledonhimhereceivedmeinhisbed-room，adjoiningthelibrary，andsmiledatmyastonishmentwhenIsawthereawretchedchestofdrawers，ashabbycarpet，acamp-bed，andcottonwindow-curtains。Hecameoutofhisprivateroom，towhichnooneisadmitted，asJeromeinformedme；themandidnotgoin，butmerelyknockedatthedoor。
　　"Thethirdtimehewasbreakfastinginhislibraryonthemostfrugalfare；butonthisoccasion，ashehadspentthenightstudyingourdocuments，asIhadmyattorneywithme，andasthatworthyMonsieurGirardetislong-winded，Ihadleisuretostudythestranger。Hecertainlyisnoordinaryman。Thereismorethanonesecretbehindthatface，atoncesoterribleandsogentle，patientandyetimpatient，broadandyethollow。Isaw，too，thathestoopedalittle，likeallmenwhohavesomeheavyburdentobear。"
　　"WhydidsoeloquentamanleaveParis？ForwhatpurposedidhecometoBesancon？"askedprettyMadamedeChavoncourt。"Couldnoonetellhimhowlittlechanceastrangerhasofsucceedinghere？ThegoodfolksofBesanconwillmakeuseofhim，buttheywillnotallowhimtomakeuseofthem。Why，havingcome，didhemakesolittleeffortthatitneededafreakofthePresident'stobringhimforward？"
　　"Aftercarefullystudyingthatfinehead，"saidtheAbbe，lookingkeenlyattheladywhohadinterruptedhim，insuchawayastosuggestthattherewassomethinghewouldnottell，"andespeciallyafterhearinghimthismorningreplytooneofthebigwigsoftheParisBar，Ibelievethatthisman，whomaybefive-and-thirty，willbyandbymakeagreatsensation。"
　　"Whyshouldwediscusshim？Youhavegainedyouraction，andpaidhim，"saidMadamedeWatteville，watchingherdaughter，who，allthetimetheVicar-Generalhadbeenspeaking，seemedtohangonhislips。
　　Theconversationchanged，andnomorewasheardofAlbertSavaron。
　　TheportraitsketchedbythecleverestoftheVicars-GeneralofthediocesehadallthegreatercharmforRosaliebecausetherewasaromancebehindit。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadcomeacrossthemarvelous，theexceptional，whichsmilesoneveryyouthfulimagination，andwhichcuriosity，soeageratRosalie'sage，goesforthtomeethalf-way。WhatanidealbeingwasthisAlbert——gloomy，unhappy，eloquent，laborious，ascomparedbyMademoiselledeWattevilletothatchubbyfatCount，burstingwithhealth，payingcompliments，andtalkingofthefashionsintheveryfaceofthesplendoroftheoldcountsofRupt。Amedeehadcosthermanyquarrelsandscoldings，and，indeed，sheknewhimonlytoowell；whilethisAlbertSavaronofferedmanyenigmastobesolved。
　　"AlbertSavarondeSavarus，"sherepeatedtoherself。
　　Now，toseehim，tocatchsightofhim!Thiswasthedesireofthegirltowhomdesirewashithertounknown。Sheponderedinherheart，inherfancy，inherbrain，theleastphrasesusedbytheAbbedeGrancey，forallhiswordshadtold。
　　"Afineforehead!"saidshetoherself，lookingattheheadofeverymanseatedatthetable；"Idonotseeonefineone——MonsieurdeSoulas'istooprominent；MonsieurdeGrancey'sisfine，butheisseventy，andhasnohair，itisimpossibletoseewherehisforeheadends。"
　　"Whatisthematter，Rosalie；youareeatingnothing？"
　　"Iamnothungry，mamma，"saidshe。"Aprelate'shands——"shewentontoherself。"IcannotrememberourhandsomeArchbishop'shands，thoughheconfirmedme。"
　　Finally，inthemidstofhercomingandgoinginthelabyrinthofhermeditations，sherememberedalightedwindowshehadseenfromherbed，gleamingthroughthetreesofthetwoadjoininggardens，whenshehadhappenedtowakeinthenight……"Thenthatwashislight!"
　　thoughtshe。"Imightseehim!——Iwillseehim。"
　　"MonsieurdeGrancey，istheChapter'slawsuitquitesettled？"saidRosaliepoint-blanktotheVicar-General，duringamomentofsilence。
　　MadamedeWattevilleexchangedrapidglanceswiththeVicar-General。
　　"Whatcanthatmattertoyou，mydearchild？"shesaidtoRosalie，withanaffectedsweetnesswhichmadeherdaughtercautiousfortherestofherdays。
　　"ItmightbecarriedtotheCourtofAppeal，butouradversarieswillthinktwiceaboutthat，"repliedtheAbbe。
　　"InevercouldhavebelievedthatRosaliewouldthinkaboutalawsuitallthroughadinner，"remarkedMadamedeWatteville。
　　"NorIeither，"saidRosalie，inadreamywaythatmadeeveryonelaugh。"ButMonsieurdeGranceywassofullofit，thatIwasinterested。"
　　Thecompanyrosefromtableandreturnedtothedrawing-room。AllthroughtheeveningRosalielistenedincaseAlbertSavaronshouldbementionedagain；butbeyondthecongratulationsofferedbyeachnewcomertotheAbbeonhavinggainedhissuit，towhichnooneaddedanypraiseoftheadvocate，nomorewassaidaboutit。MademoiselledeWattevilleimpatientlylookedforwardtobedtime。Shehadpromisedherselftowakeatbetweentwoandthreeinthemorning，andtolookatAlbert'sdressing-roomwindows。Whenthehourcame，shefeltalmostpleasureingazingattheglimmerfromthelawyer'scandlesthatshonethroughthetrees，nowalmostbareoftheirleaves。Bythehelpofthestrongsightofayounggirl，whichcuriosityseemstomakelonger，shesawAlbertwriting，andfanciedshecoulddistinguishthecolorofthefurniture，whichshethoughtwasred。Fromthechimneyabovetheroofroseathickcolumnofsmoke。