Iam，afterall，myfather'sandmother'sonlychild。Youhavemoretohopeforfrommethanfromanyoneelseintheworld——"
　　"Certainly，mademoiselle，andyoumaycountonusforlifeordeath，"
　　exclaimedMariette，rejoicedattheunexpectedturnofaffairs。
　　"Inthefirstplace，silenceforsilence，"saidRosalie。"IwillnotmarryMonsieurdeSoulas；butonethingIwillhave，andmusthave；myhelpandfavorareyoursononeconditiononly。"
　　"Whatisthat？"
　　"ImustseetheletterswhichMonsieurSavaronsendstothepostbyJerome。"
　　"Butwhatfor？"saidMarietteinalarm。
　　"Oh!merelytoreadthem，andyouyourselfshallpostthemafterwards。
　　Itwillcausealittledelay；thatisall。"
　　Atthismomenttheywentintochurch，andeachofthem，insteadofreadingtheorderofMass，fellintoherowntrainofthought。
　　"Dear，dear，howmanysinsarethereinallthat？"thoughtMariette。
　　Rosalie，whosesoul，brain，andheartwerecompletelyupsetbyreadingthestory，bythistimeregardeditashistory，writtenforherrival。
　　Bydintofthinkingofnothingelse，likeachild，sheendedbybelievingthatthe/EasternReview/wasnodoubtforwardedtoAlbert'slady-love。
　　"Oh!"saidshetoherself，herheadburiedinherhandsintheattitudeofapersonlostinprayer；"oh!howcanIgetmyfathertolookthroughthelistofpeopletowhomthe/Review/issent？"
　　Afterbreakfastshetookaturninthegardenwithherfather，coaxingandcajolinghim，andbroughthimtothekiosk。
　　"Doyousuppose，mydearlittlepapa，thatour/Review/iseverreadabroad？"
　　"Itisbutjuststarted——"
　　"Well，Iwillwagerthatitis。"
　　"Itishardlypossible。"
　　"Justgoandfindout，andnotethenamesofanysubscribersoutofFrance。"
　　TwohourslaterMonsieurdeWattevillesaidtohisdaughter:
　　"Iwasright；thereisnotoneforeignsubscriberasyet。TheyhopetogetsomeatNeufchatel，atBerne，andatGeneva。Onecopy，isinfact，senttoItaly，butitisnotpaidfor——toaMilaneseladyathercountryhouseatBelgirate，onLagoMaggiore。
　　"Whatishername？"
　　"TheDuchessed'Argaiolo。"
　　"Doyouknowher，papa？"
　　"Ihaveheardabouther。ShewasbybirthaPrincessSoderini，aFlorentine，averygreatlady，andquiteasrichasherhusband，whohasoneofthelargestfortunesinLombardy。TheirvillaontheLagoMaggioreisoneofthesightsofItaly。"
　　Twodaysafter，MarietteplacedthefollowingletterinMademoiselledeWatteville'shand:——
　　AlbertSavarontoLeopoldHannequin。
　　"Yes，'tisso，mydearfriend；IamatBesancon，whileyouthoughtIwastraveling。Iwouldnottellyouanythingtillsuccessshouldbegin，andnowitisdawning。Yes，mydearLeopold，aftersomanyabortiveundertakings，overwhichIhaveshedthebestofmyblood，havewastedsomanyefforts，spentsomuchcourage，Ihavemadeupmymindtodoasyouhavedone——tostartonabeatenpath，onthehighroad，asthelongestbutthesafest。Icanseeyoujumpwithsurpriseinyourlawyer'schair!
　　"Butdonotsupposethatanythingischangedinmypersonallife，ofwhichyoualoneintheworldknowthesecret，andthatunderthereservations/she/insistson。Ididnottellyou，myfriend；
　　butIwashorriblywearyofParis。Theoutcomeofthefirstenterprise，onwhichIhadfoundedallmyhopes，andwhichcametoabadendinconsequenceoftheutterrascalityofmytwopartners，whocombinedtocheatandfleeceme——me，thougheverythingwasdonebymyenergy——mademegiveupthepursuitofafortuneafterthelossofthreeyearsofmylife。Oneoftheseyearswasspentinthelawcourts，andperhapsIshouldhavecomeworseoutofthescrapeifIhadnotbeenmadetostudylawwhenI
　　wastwenty。
　　"Imadeupmymindtogointopoliticssolely，totheendthatI
　　maysomedayfindmynameonalistforpromotiontotheSenateunderthetitleofComteAlbertSavarondeSavarus，andsoreviveinFranceagoodnamenowextinctinBelgium——thoughindeedIamneitherlegitimatenorlegitimized。"
　　"Ah!Iknewit!Heisofnoblebirth!"exclaimedRosalie，droppingtheletter。
　　"YouknowhowconscientiouslyIstudied，howfaithfulandusefulI
　　wasasanobscurejournalist，andhowexcellentasecretarytothestatesmanwho，onhispart，wastruetomein1829。FlungtothedepthsoncemorebytherevolutionofJulyjustwhenmynamewasbecomingknown，attheverymomentwhen，asMasterofAppeals，I
　　wasabouttofindmyplaceasanecessarywheelinthepoliticalmachine，Icommittedtheblunderofremainingfaithfultothefallen，andfightingforthem，withoutthem。Oh!whywasIbutthree-and-thirty，andwhydidInotapplytoyoutomakemeeligible？Iconcealedfromyouallmydevotednessandmydangers。
　　Whatwouldyouhave？Iwasfulloffaith。Weshouldnothaveagreed。
　　"Tenmonthsago，whenyousawmesogayandcontented，writingmypoliticalarticles，Iwasindespair；Iforesawmyfate，attheageofthirty-seven，withtwothousandfrancsformywholefortune，withoutthesmallestfame，justhavingfailedinanobleundertaking，thefounding，namely，ofadailypaperansweringonlytoaneedofthefutureinsteadofappealingtothepassionsofthemoment。Ididnotknowwhichwaytoturn，andIfeltmyownvalue!Iwanderedabout，gloomyandhurt，throughthelonelyplacesofParis——Pariswhichhadslippedthroughmyfingers——
　　thinkingofmycrushedambitions，butnevergivingthemup。Oh，whatfranticlettersIwroteatthattimeto/her/，mysecondconscience，myotherself!SometimesIwouldsaytomyself，'WhydidIsketchsovastaprogrammeoflife？Whydemandeverything？
　　Whynotwaitforhappinesswhiledevotingmyselftosomemechanicalemployment。'
　　"IthenlookedaboutmeforsomemodestappointmentbywhichI
　　mightlive。Iwasabouttogettheeditorshipofapaperunderamanagerwhodidnotknowmuchaboutit，amanofwealthandambition，whenItookfright。'Would/she/everacceptasherhusbandamanwhohadstoopedsolow？'Iwondered。
　　"Thisreflectionmademetwo-and-twentyagain。But，oh，mydearLeopold，howthesouliswornbytheseperplexities!Whatmustnotthecagedeaglessuffer，andimprisonedlions!——TheysufferwhatNapoleonsuffered，notatSaintHelena，butontheQuayoftheTuileries，onthe10thofAugust，whenhesawLouisXVI。defendinghimselfsobadlywhilehecouldhavequelledtheinsurrection；asheactuallydid，onthesamespot，alittlelater，inVendemiaire。
　　Well，mylifehasbeenatormentofthatkind，extendingoverfouryears。HowmanyaspeechtotheChamberhaveInotdeliveredinthedesertedalleysoftheBoisdeBoulogne!Thesewastedharangueshaveatanyratesharpenedmytongueandaccustomedmymindtoformulateitsideasinwords。AndwhileIwasundergoingthissecrettorture，youweregettingmarried，youhadpaidforyourbusiness，youweremadelaw-clerktotheMaireofyourdistrict，aftergainingacrossforawoundatSaint-Merri。
　　"Now，listen。WhenIwasasmallboyandtorturedcock-chafers，thepoorinsectshadoneformofstrugglewhichusedalmosttoputmeinafever。ItwaswhenIsawthemmakingrepeatedeffortstoflybutwithoutgettingaway，thoughtheycouldspreadtheirwings。Weusedtosay，'Theyaremarkingtime。'Nowwasthissympathy？Wasitavisionofmyownfuture？——Oh!tospreadmywingsandyetbeunabletofly!ThathasbeenmypredicamentsincethatfineundertakingbywhichIwasdisgusted，butwhichhasnowmadefourfamiliesrich。
　　"Atlast，sevenmonthsago，IdeterminedtomakemyselfanameattheParisBar，seeinghowmanyvacancieshadbeenleftbythepromotionofseverallawyerstoeminentpositions。ButwhenI
　　rememberedtherivalryIhadseenamongmenofthepress，andhowdifficultitistoachieveanythingofanykindinParis，thearenawheresomanychampionsmeet，Icametoadeterminationpainfultomyself，butcertaininitsresults，andperhapsquickerthananyother。InthecourseofourconversationsyouhadgivenmeapictureofthesocietyofBesancon，oftheimpossibilityforastrangertogetonthere，toproducethesmallesteffect，togetintosociety，ortosucceedinanywaywhatever。ItwastherethatIdeterminedtosetupmyflag，thinking，andrightly，thatI
　　shouldmeetwithnoopposition，butfindmyselfalonetocanvassfortheelection。ThepeopleoftheComtewillnotmeettheoutsider？Theoutsiderwillmeetthem!Theyrefusetoadmithimtotheirdrawing-rooms，hewillnevergothere!Henevershowshimselfanywhere，noteveninthestreets!Butthereisoneclassthatelectsthedeputies——thecommercialclass。Iamgoingespeciallytostudycommercialquestions，withwhichIamalreadyfamiliar；Iwillgaintheirlawsuits，Iwilleffectcompromises，I
　　willbethegreatestpleaderinBesancon。ByandbyIwillstarta/Review/，inwhichIwilldefendtheinterestsofthecountry，willcreatethem，orpreservethem，orresuscitatethem。WhenI
　　shallhavewonasufficientnumberofvotes，mynamewillcomeoutoftheurn。Foralongtimetheunknownbarristerwillbetreatedwithcontempt，butsomecircumstancewillarisetobringhimtothefront——someunpaiddefence，oracasewhichnootherpleaderwillundertake。
　　"Well，mydearLeopold，Ipackedupmybooksinelevencases，I
　　boughtsuchlaw-booksasmightproveuseful，andIsenteverythingoff，furnitureandall，bycarriertoBesancon。Icollectedmydiplomas，andIwenttobidyougood-bye。ThemailcoachdroppedmeatBesancon，where，inthreedays'time，Ichosealittlesetofroomslookingoutoversomegardens。IsumptuouslyarrangedthemysteriousprivateroomwhereIspendmynightsanddays，andwheretheportraitofmydivinityreigns——ofhertowhommylifeisdedicate，whofillsitwholly，whoisthemainspringofmyefforts，thesecretofmycourage，thecauseofmytalents。Then，assoonasthefurnitureandbookshadcome，Iengagedanintelligentman-servant，andthereIsatforfivemonthslikeahibernatingmarmot。
　　"Mynamehad，however，beenenteredonthelistoflawyersinthetown。AtlastIwascalledonedaytodefendanunhappywretchattheAssizes，nodoubtinordertohearmespeakforonce!OneofthemostinfluentialmerchantsofBesanconwasonthejury；hehadadifficulttasktofulfil；Ididmyutmostfortheman，andmysuccesswasabsoluteandcomplete。Myclientwasinnocent；Iverydramaticallysecuredthearrestoftherealcriminals，whohadcomeforwardaswitnesses。Inshort，theCourtandthepublicwereunitedintheiradmiration。Imanagedtosavetheexaminingmagistrate'spridebypointingouttheimpossibilityofdetectingaplotsoskilfullyplanned。
　　"ThenIhadtofightacaseformymerchant，andwonhissuit。TheCathedralChapternextchosemetodefendatremendousactionagainstthetown，whichhadbeengoingonforfouryears；Iwonthat。Thus，afterthreetrials，IhadbecomethemostfamousadvocateofFranche-Comte。
　　"ButIburymylifeinthedeepestmystery，andsohidemyaims。I
　　haveadoptedhabitswhichpreventmyacceptinganyinvitations。I
　　amonlytobeconsultedbetweensixandeightinthemorning；Igotobedaftermydinner，andworkatnight。TheVicar-General，amanofparts，andveryinfluential，whoplacedtheChapter'scaseinmyhandsaftertheyhadlostitinthelowerCourt，ofcourseprofessedtheirgratitude。'Monsieur，'saidI，'Iwillwinyoursuit，butIwantnofee；Iwantmore'startofalarmontheAbbe'spart。'YoumustknowthatIamagreatloserbyputtingmyselfforwardinantagonismtothetown。Icamehereonlytoleavetheplaceasdeputy。Imeantoengageonlyincommercialcases，becausecommercialmenreturnthemembers；theywilldistrustmeifIdefend"thepriests"——fortothemyouaresimplypriests。IfIundertakeyourdefence，itisbecauseIwas，in1828，privatesecretarytosuchaMinister'againastartofsurpriseonthepartofmyAbbe，'andMasterofAppeals，underthenameofAlbertdeSavarus'anotherstart。'Ihaveremainedfaithfultomonarchicalopinions；but，asyouhavenotthemajorityofvotesinBesancon，Imustgainvotesamongthecitizens。SothefeeIaskofyouisthevotesyoumaybeablesecretlytosecureformeattheopportunemoment。Letuseachkeepourowncounsel，andIwilldefend，fornothing，everycasetowhichapriestofthisdiocesemaybeaparty。Notawordaboutmypreviouslife，andwewillbetruetoeachother。'
　　"Whenhecametothankmeafterwards，hegavemeanoteforfivehundredfrancs，andsaidinmyear，'Thevotesareabargainallthesame。'——Ihaveinthecourseoffiveinterviewsmadeafriend，Ithink，ofthisVicar-General。
　　"NowIamoverwhelmedwithbusiness，andIundertakenocasesbutthosebroughttomebymerchants，sayingthatcommercialquestionsaremyspecialty。Thislineofconductattachesbusinessmentome，andallowsmetomakefriendswithinfluentialpersons。Soallgoeswell。WithinafewmonthsIshallhavefoundahousetopurchaseinBesancon，soastosecureaqualification。Icountonyourlendingmethenecessarycapitalforthisinvestment。IfI
　　shoulddie，ifIshouldfail，thelosswouldbetoosmalltobeanyconsiderationbetweenyouandme。Youwillgettheinterestoutoftherental，andIshalltakegoodcaretolookoutforsomethingcheap，sothatyoumaylosenothingbythismortgage，whichisindispensable。
　　"Oh!mydearLeopold，nogamblerwiththelastremainsofhisfortuneinhispocket，bentonstakingitattheCercledesEtrangersforthelasttimeonenight，whenhemustcomeawayrichorruined，everfeltsuchaperpetualringinginhisears，suchanervousmoistureonhispalms，suchafeveredtumultinhisbrain，suchinwardqualmsinhisbodyasIgothrougheverydaynowthatIamplayingmylastcardinthegameofambition。Alas!mydearandonlyfriend，fornearlytenyearsnowIhavebeenstruggling。
　　Thisbattlewithmenandthings，inwhichIhaveunceasinglypouredoutmystrengthandenergy，andsoconstantlywornthespringsofdesire，has，sotospeak，underminedmyvitality。Withalltheappearanceofastrongmanofgoodhealth，Ifeelmyselfawreck。Everydaycarrieswithitashredofmyinmostlife。AteveryfresheffortIfeelthatIshouldneverbeabletobeginagain。Ihavenopower，novigorleftbutforhappiness；andifitshouldnevercometocrownmyheadwithroses，the/me/thatisreallymewouldceasetoexist，Ishouldbearuinedthing。I
　　shouldwishfornothingmoreintheworld。Ishouldwanttoceasefromliving。Youknowthatpowerandfame，thevastmoralempirethatIcrave，isbutsecondary；itistomeonlyameanstohappiness，thepedestalformyidol。
　　"Toreachthegoalanddie，liketherunnerofantiquity!Toseefortuneanddeathstandonthethresholdhandinhand!Towinthebelovedwomanjustwhenloveisextinct!Tolosethefacultyofenjoymentafterearningtherighttobehappy!——Ofhowmanymenhasthisbeenthefate!
　　"ButtheresurelyisamomentwhenTantalusrebels，crosseshisarms，anddefieshell，throwinguphispartoftheeternaldupe。
　　ThatiswhatIshallcometoifanythingshouldthwartmyplan；
　　if，afterstoopingtothedustofprovinciallife，prowlinglikeastarvingtigerroundthesetradesmen，theseelectors，tosecuretheirvotes；if，afterwranglinginthesesqualidcases，andgivingthemmytime——thetimeImighthavespentonLagoMaggiore，seeingthewatersshesees，baskinginhergaze，hearinghervoice——if，afterall，IfailedtoscalethetribuneandconquertheglorythatshouldsurroundthenamethatistosucceedtothatofArgaiolo!Nay，morethanthis，Leopold；therearedayswhenIfeelaheadylanguor；deepdisgustsurgesupfromthedepthsofmysoul，especiallywhen，abandonedtolongday-dreams，Ihavelostmyselfinanticipationofthejoysofblissfullove!Mayitnotbethatourdesirehasonlyacertainmodicumofpower，andthatitperishes，perhaps，ofatoolavisheffusionofitsessence？For，afterall，atthispresent，mylifeisfair，illuminatedbyfaith，work，andlove。
　　"Farewell，myfriend；Isendlovetoyourchildren，andbegyoutoremembermetoyourexcellentwife——Yours，"ALBERT。"
　　Rosaliereadthislettertwicethrough，anditsgeneralpurportwasstampedonherheart。ShesuddenlysawthewholeofAlbert'spreviousexistence，forherquickintelligencethrewlightonallthedetails，andenabledhertotakeitallin。Byaddingthisinformationtothelittlenovelpublishedinthe/Review/，shenowfullyunderstoodAlbert。Ofcourse，sheexaggeratedthegreatness，remarkableasitwas，ofthisloftysoulandpotentwill，andherloveforAlbertthenceforthbecameapassion，itsviolenceenhancedbyallthestrengthofheryouth，thewearinessofhersolitude，andtheunspentenergyofhercharacter。Loveisinayounggirltheeffectofanaturallaw；butwhenhercravingforaffectioniscenteredinanexceptionalman，itismingledwiththeenthusiasmwhichoverflowsinayouthfulheart。ThusMademoiselledeWattevillehadinafewdaysreachedamorbidandverydangerousstageofenamoredinfatuation。TheBaronesswasmuchpleasedwithherdaughter，who，beingunderthespellofherabsorbingthoughts，neverresistedherwill，seemedtobedevotedtofeminineoccupations，andrealizedhermother'sidealofadociledaughter。
　　ThelawyerwasnowengagedinCourttwoorthreetimesaweek。Thoughhewasoverwhelmedwithbusiness，hefoundtimetoattendthetrials，callonthelitigiousmerchants，andconductthe/Review/；keepinguphispersonalmystery，fromtheconvictionthatthemorecovertandhiddenwashisinfluence，themorerealitwouldbe。Butheneglectednomeansofsuccess，readingupthelistofelectorsofBesancon，andfindingouttheirinterests，theircharacters，theirvariousfriendshipsandantipathies。DideveraCardinalhopingtobemadePopegivehimselfmoretrouble？
　　OneeveningMariette，oncomingtodressRosalieforaneveningparty，handedtoher，notwithoutmanygroansoverthistreachery，aletterofwhichtheaddressmadeMademoiselledeWattevilleshiverandreddenandturnpaleagainasshereadtheaddress:
　　ToMadamelaDuchessed'ArgaioloneePrincesseSoderini
　　AtBelgirate，LagoMaggiore，Italy。
　　Inhereyesthisdirectionblazedasthewords/Mene/，/Tekel/，/Upharsin/，didintheeyesofBelshazzar。Afterconcealingtheletter，RosaliewentdownstairstoaccompanyhermothertoMadamedeChavoncourt's；andaslongastheendlesseveninglasted，shewastormentedbyremorseandscruples。ShehadalreadyfeltshameathavingviolatedthesecrecyofAlbert'slettertoLeopold；shehadseveraltimesaskedherselfwhether，ifheknewofhercrime，infamousinasmuchasitnecessarilygoesunpunished，thehigh-mindedAlbertcouldesteemher。Herconscienceansweredanuncompromising"No。"
　　Shehadexpiatedhersinbyself-imposedpenances；shefasted，shemortifiedherselfbyremainingonherknees，herarmsoutstretchedforhours，andrepeatingprayersallthetime。ShehadcompelledMariettetosimilarsetsofrepentance；herpassionwasmingledwithgenuineasceticism，andwasallthemoredangerous。
　　"ShallIreadthatletter，shallInot？"sheaskedherself，whilelisteningtotheChavoncourtgirls。Onewassixteen，theotherseventeenandahalf。Rosalielookeduponhertwofriendsasmerechildrenbecausetheywerenotsecretlyinlove——"IfIreadit，"shefinallydecided，afterhesitatingforanhourbetweenYesandNo，"itshall，atanyrate，bethelast。SinceIhavegonesofarastoseewhathewrotetohisfriend，whyshouldInotknowwhathesaysto/her/？Ifitisahorriblecrime，isitnotaproofoflove？Oh，Albert!amInotyourwife？"
　　WhenRosaliewasinbedsheopenedtheletter，datedfromdaytoday，soastogivetheDuchessafaithfulpictureofAlbert'slifeandfeelings。
　　"25th。
　　"MydearSoul，alliswell。TomyotherconquestsIhavejustaddedaninvaluableone:Ihavedoneaservicetooneofthemostinfluentialmenwhoworktheelections。Likethecritics，whomakeothermen'sreputationsbutcannevermaketheirown，hemakesdeputiesthoughhenevercanbecomeone。Theworthymanwantedtoshowhisgratitudewithoutlooseninghispurse-stringsbysayingtome，'WouldyoucaretositintheChamber？Icangetyoureturnedasdeputy。'
　　"'IfIevermakeupmymindtoenteronapoliticalcareer，'
　　repliedIhypocritically，'itwouldbetodevotemyselftotheComte，whichIlove，andwhereIamappreciated。'
　　"'Well，'hesaid，'wewillpersuadeyou，andthroughyouweshallhaveweightintheChamber，foryouwilldistinguishyourselfthere。'
　　"Andso，mybelovedangel，saywhatyouwill，myperseverancewillberewarded。ErelongIshall，fromthehighplaceoftheFrenchTribune，comebeforemycountry，beforeEurope。MynamewillbeflungtoyoubythehundredvoicesoftheFrenchpress。
　　"Yes，asyoutellme，IwasoldwhenIcametoBesancon，andBesanconhasagedmemore；but，likeSixtusV。，Ishallbeyoungagainthedayaftermyelection。Ishallenteronmytruelife，myownsphere。Shallwenotthenstandinthesameline？CountSavarondeSavarus，AmbassadorIknownotwhere，maysurelymarryaPrincessSoderini，thewidowoftheDucd'Argaiolo!Triumphrestorestheyouthofmenwhohavebeenpreservedbyincessantstruggles。Oh，myLife!withwhatgladnessdidIflyfrommylibrarytomyprivateroom，totellyourportraitofthisprogressbeforewritingtoyou!Yes，thevotesIcancommand，thoseoftheVicar-General，ofthepersonsIcanoblige，andofthisclient，makemyelectionalreadysure。
　　"26th。
　　"Wehaveenteredonthetwelfthyearsincethatblesteveningwhen，byalook，thebeautifulDuchesssealedthepromisesmadebytheexileFrancesca。You，dear，arethirty-two，Iamthirty-five；
　　thedearDukeisseventy-seven——thatistosay，tenyearsmorethanyoursandmineputtogether，andhestillkeepswell!Mypatienceisalmostasgreatasmylove，andindeedIneedafewyearsyettorisetothelevelofyourname。Asyousee，Iamingoodspiritsto-day，Icanlaugh；thatistheeffectofhope。