"Thedeuceisinit!"saidSavarus。"Iamattachedtoyou，andIcoulddoagreatdealforyou，Father!PerhapswemaycompoundwiththeDevil。WhateverMonsieurdeWatteville'sbusinessmaybe，byengagingGirardet，andpromptinghim，itwillbepossibletodragtheproceedingsouttilltheelectionsareover。IwillnotundertaketopleadtillthedayafterIamreturned。"
　　"Dothisonething，"saidtheAbbe。"CometotheHoteldeRupt:thereisayoungpersonofnineteentherewho，oneofthesedays，willhaveahundredthousandfrancsayear，andyoucanseemtobepayingyourcourttoher——"
　　"Ah!theyoungladyIsometimesseeinthekiosk？"
　　"Yes，MademoiselleRosalie，"repliedtheAbbedeGrancey。"Youareambitious。Ifshetakesafancytoyou，youmaybeeverythinganambitiousmancanwish——whoknows？AMinisterperhaps。AmancanalwaysbeaMinisterwhoaddsahundredthousandfrancsayeartoyouramazingtalents。"
　　"Monsieurl'Abbe，ifMademoiselledeWattevillehadthreetimesherfortune，andadoredmeintothebargain，itwouldbeimpossiblethatI
　　shouldmarryher——"
　　"Youaremarried？"exclaimedtheAbbe。
　　"NotinchurchnorbeforetheMaire，butmorallyspeaking，"saidSavarus。
　　"Thatisevenworsewhenamancaresaboutitasyouseemtocare，"
　　repliedtheAbbe。"Everythingthatisnotdone，canbeundone。Donotstakeyourfortuneandyourprospectsonawoman'sliking，anymorethanawisemancountsonadeadman'sshoesbeforestartingonhisway。"
　　"LetussaynomoreaboutMademoiselledeWatteville，"saidAlbertgravely，"andagreeastothefacts。Atyourdesire——forIhavearegardandrespectforyou——IwillappearforMonsieurdeWatteville，butaftertheelections。UntilthenGirardetmustconductthecaseundermyinstructions。ThatisthemostIcando。"
　　"Buttherearequestionsinvolvedwhichcanonlybesettledafterinspectionofthelocalities，"saidtheVicar-General。
　　"Girardetcango，"saidSavarus。"Icannotallowmyself，inthefaceofatownIknowsowell，totakeanystepwhichmightcompromisethesupremeintereststhatliebeyondmyelection。"
　　TheAbbeleftSavarusaftergivinghimakeenlook，inwhichheseemedtobelaughingattheyoungathlete'suncompromisingpolitics，whileadmiringhisfirmness。
　　"Ah!Iwouldhavedraggedmyfatherintoalawsuit——Iwouldhavedoneanythingtogethimhere!"criedRosalietoherself，standinginthekioskandlookingatthelawyerinhisroom，thedayafterAlbert'sinterviewwiththeAbbe，whohadreportedtheresulttoherfather。"I
　　wouldhavecommittedanymortalsin，andyouwillnotentertheWattevilles'drawing-room；Imaynothearyourfinevoice!YoumakeconditionswhenyourhelpisrequiredbytheWattevillesandtheRupts!——Well，Godknows，Imeanttobecontentwiththesesmalljoys；
　　withseeingyou，hearingyouspeak，goingwithyoutolesRouxey，thatyourpresencemighttomemaketheplacesacred。ThatwasallIasked。
　　Butnow——nowImeantobeyourwife——Yes，yes；lookat/her/
　　portrait，at/her/drawing-room，/her/bedroom，atthefoursidesof/her/villa，thepointsofviewfrom/her/gardens。Youexpectherstatue？Iwillmakehermarbleherselftowardsyou!——Afterall，thewomandoesnotlove。Art，science，books，singing，music，haveabsorbedhalfhersensesandherintelligence。Sheisold，too；sheispastthirty；myAlbertwillnotbehappy!"
　　"Whatisthematterthatyoustayhere，Rosalie？"askedhermother，interruptingherreflections。"MonsieurdeSoulasisinthedrawing-
　　room，andheobservedyourattitude，whichcertainlybetraysmorethoughtfulnessthanisdueatyourage。"
　　"Then，isMonsieurdeSoulasafoetothought？"askedRosalie。
　　"Thenyouwerethinking？"saidMadamedeWatteville。
　　"Why，yes，mamma。"
　　"Why，no!youwerenotthinking。Youwerestaringatthatlawyer'swindowwithanattentionthatisneitherbecoming，nordecent，andwhichMonsieurdeSoulas，ofallmen，oughtnevertohaveobserved。"
　　"Why？"saidRosalie。
　　"Itistime，"saidtheBaroness，"thatyoushouldknowwhatourintentionsare。Amedeelikesyou，andyouwillnotbeunhappyasComtessedeSoulas。"
　　Rosalie，aswhiteasalily，madenoreply，socompletelywasshestupefiedbycontendingfeelings。Andyetinthepresenceofthemanshehadthisinstantbeguntohatevehemently，sheforcedthekindofsmilewhichaballet-dancerputsonforthepublic。Nay，shecouldevenlaugh；shehadthestrengthtoconcealherrage，whichpresentlysubsided，forshewasdeterminedtomakeuseofthisfatsimpletontofurtherherdesigns。
　　"MonsieurAmedee，"saidshe，atthemomentwhenhermotherwaswalkingaheadoftheminthegarden，affectingtoleavetheyoungpeopletogether，"wereyounotawarethatMonsieurAlbertSavarondeSavarusisaLegitimist？"
　　"ALegitimist？"
　　"Until1830hewasMasterofAppealstotheCouncilofState，attachedtothesupremeMinisterialCouncil，andinfavorwiththeDauphinandDauphiness。Itwouldbeverygoodofyoutosaynothingagainsthim，butitwouldbebetterstillifyouwouldattendtheelectionthisyear，carrytheday，andhinderthatpoorMonsieurdeChavoncourtfromrepresentingthetownofBesancon。"
　　"WhatsuddeninteresthaveyouinthisSavaron？"
　　"MonsieurAlbertSavarondeSavarus，thenaturalsonoftheComtedeSavarus——praykeepthesecretofmyindiscretion——ifheisreturneddeputy，willbeouradvocateinthesuitaboutlesRouxey。LesRouxey，myfathertellsme，willbemyproperty；Iintendtolivethere，itisalovelyplace!Ishouldbebroken-heartedatseeingthatfinepieceofthegreatdeWatteville'sworkdestroyed。"
　　"Thedevil!"thoughtAmedee，asheleftthehouse。"Theheiressisnotsuchafoolashermotherthinksher。"
　　MonsieurdeChavoncourtisaRoyalist，ofthefamous221。Hence，fromthedayaftertherevolutionofJuly，healwayspreachedthesalutarydoctrineoftakingtheoathsandresistingthepresentorderofthings，afterthepatternoftheToriesagainsttheWhigsinEngland。
　　ThisdoctrinewasnotacceptabletotheLegitimists，who，intheirdefeat，hadthewittodivideintheiropinions，andtotrusttotheforceofinertiaandtoProvidence。MonsieurdeChavoncourtwasnotwhollytrustedbyhisownparty，butseemedtotheModeratesthebestmantochoose；theypreferredthetriumphofhishalf-heartedopinionstotheacclamationofaRepublicanwhoshouldcombinethevotesoftheenthusiastsandthepatriots。MonsieurdeChavoncourt，highlyrespectedinBesancon，wastherepresentativeofanoldparliamentaryfamily；hisfortune，ofaboutfifteenthousandfrancsayear，wasnotanoffencetoanybody，especiallyashehadasonandthreedaughters。
　　Withsuchafamily，fifteenthousandfrancsayearareamerenothing。
　　Nowwhen，underthesecircumstances，thefatherofthefamilyisabovebribery，itwouldbehardiftheelectorsdidnotesteemhim。Electorswaxenthusiasticovera/beauideal/ofparliamentaryvirtue，justastheaudienceinthepitdoattherepresentationofthegeneroussentimentstheysolittlepractise。
　　MadamedeChavoncourt，atthistimeawomanofforty，wasoneofthebeautiesofBesancon。WhiletheChamberwassitting，shelivedmeagrelyinoneoftheircountryplacestorecoupherselfbyeconomyforMonsieurdeChavoncourt'sexpensesinParis。Inthewintershereceivedverycreditablyonceaweek，onTuesdays，understandingherbusinessasmistressofthehouse。YoungChavoncourt，ayouthoftwo-
　　and-twenty，andanotheryounggentleman，namedMonsieurdeVauchelles，noricherthanAmedeeandhisschool-friend，werehisintimateallies。
　　TheymadeexcursionstogethertoGranvelle，andsometimeswentoutshooting；theyweresowellknowntobeinseparablethattheywereinvitedtothecountrytogether。
　　Rosalie，whowasintimatewiththeChavoncourtgirls，knewthatthethreeyoungmenhadnosecretsfromeachother。ShereflectedthatifMonsieurdeSoulasshouldrepeatherwords，itwouldbetohistwocompanions。Now，MonsieurdeVauchelleshadhismatrimonialplans，asAmedeehadhis；hewishedtomarryVictoire，theeldestoftheChavoncourts，onwhomanoldauntwastosettleanestateworthseventhousandfrancsayear，andahundredthousandfrancsinhardcash，whenthecontractwastobesigned。Victoirewasthisaunt'sgod-
　　daughterandfavoriteniece。Consequently，youngChavoncourtandhisfriendVauchelleswouldbesuretowarnMonsieurdeChavoncourtofthedangerhewasinfromAlbert'scandidature。
　　ButthisdidnotsatisfyRosalie。ShesentthePrefetofthedepartmentaletterwrittenwithherlefthand，signed"/AfriendtoLouisPhilippe/，"inwhichsheinformedhimofthesecretintentionsofMonsieurAlbertdeSavarus，pointingouttheserioussupportaRoyalistoratormightgivetoBerryer，andrevealingtohimthedeeplyartfulcoursepursuedbythelawyerduringhistwoyears'residenceatBesancon。ThePrefetwasacapableman，apersonalenemyoftheRoyalistparty，devotedbyconvictiontotheGovernmentofJuly——inshort，oneofthosemenofwhom，intheRuedeGrenelle，theMinisteroftheInteriorcouldsay，"WehaveacapitalPrefetatBesancon。"——
　　ThePrefetreadtheletter，and，inobediencetoitsinstructions，heburntit。
　　RosalieaimedatpreventingAlbert'selection，soastokeephimfiveyearslongeratBesancon。
　　Atthattimeanelectionwasafightbetweenparties，andinordertowin，theMinistrychoseitsgroundbychoosingthemomentwhenitwouldgivebattle。Theelectionswerethereforenottotakeplaceforthreemonthsyet。Whenaman'swholelifedependsonanelection，theperiodthatelapsesbetweentheissuingofthewritsforconveningtheelectoralbodies，andthedayfixedfortheirmeetings，isanintervalduringwhichordinaryvitalityissuspended。RosaliefullyunderstoodhowmuchlatitudeAlbert'sabsorbedstatewouldleaveherduringthesethreemonths。BypromisingMariette——assheafterwardsconfessed——totakebothherandJeromeintoherservice，sheinducedthemaidtobringherallthelettersAlbertmightsenttoItaly，andthoseaddressedtohimfromthatcountry。Andallthetimeshewasponderingthesemachinations，theextraordinarygirlwasworkingslippersforherfatherwiththemostinnocentairintheworld。Sheevenmadeagreaterdisplaythaneverofcandorandsimplicity，quiteunderstandinghowvaluablethatcandorandinnocencewouldbetoherends。
　　"Mydaughtergrowsquitecharming!"saidMadamedeWatteville。
　　TwomonthsbeforetheelectionameetingwasheldatthehouseofMonsieurBouchersenior，composedofthecontractorwhoexpectedtogettheworkfortheaqueductfortheArcierwaters；ofMonsieurBoucher'sfather-in-law；ofMonsieurGranet，theinfluentialmantowhomSavarushaddoneaservice，andwhowastonominatehimasacandidate；ofGirardetthelawyer；oftheprinterofthe/EasternReview/；andofthePresidentoftheChamberofCommerce。Infact，theassemblyconsistedoftwenty-sevenpersonsinall，menwhointheprovincesareregardedasbigwigs。Eachmanrepresentedonanaveragesixvotes，butinestimatingtheirvaluestheysaidten，formenalwaysbeginbyexaggeratingtheirowninfluence。Amongthesetwenty-
　　sevenwasonewhowaswhollydevotedtothePrefet，onefalsebrotherwhosecretlylookedforsomefavorfromtheMinistry，eitherforhimselforforsomeonebelongingtohim。
　　Atthispreliminarymeeting，itwasagreedthatSavaronthelawyershouldbenamedascandidate，amotionreceivedwithsuchenthusiasmasnoonelookedforfromBesancon。Albert，waitingathomeforAlfredBouchertofetchhim，waschattingwiththeAbbedeGrancey，whowasinterestedinthisabsorbingambition。Alberthadappreciatedthepriest'svastpoliticalcapacities；andthepriest，touchedbytheyoungman'sentreaties，hadbeenwillingtobecomehisguideandadviserinthisculminatingstruggle。TheChapterdidnotloveMonsieurdeChavoncourt，foritwashiswife'sbrother-in-law，asPresidentoftheTribunal，whohadlostthefamoussuitfortheminthelowerCourt。
　　"Youarebetrayed，mydearfellow，"saidtheshrewdandworthyAbbe，inthatgentle，calmvoicewhicholdpriestsacquire。
　　"Betrayed!"criedthelover，strucktotheheart。
　　"BywhomIknownotatall，"thepriestreplied。"ButatthePrefectureyourplansareknown，andyourhandreadlikeabook。AtthismomentIhavenoadvicetogiveyou。Suchaffairsneedconsideration。Asforthisevening，takethebullbythehorns，anticipatetheblow。Tellthemallyourpreviouslife，andthusyouwillmitigatetheeffectofthediscoveryonthegoodfolksofBesancon。"
　　"Oh，Iwaspreparedforit，"saidAlbertinabrokenvoice。
　　"Youwouldnotbenefitbymyadvice；youhadtheopportunityofmakinganimpressionattheHoteldeRupt；youdonotknowtheadvantageyouwouldhavegained——"
　　"What？"
　　"TheunanimoussupportoftheRoyalists，animmediatereadinesstogototheelection——inshort，aboveahundredvotes。Addingtothesewhat，amongourselves，wecalltheecclesiasticalvote，thoughyouwerenotyetnominated，youweremasterofthevotesbyballot。Undersuchcircumstances，amanmaytemporize，maymakehisway——"
　　AlfredBoucherwhenhecamein，fullofenthusiasm，toannouncethedecisionofthepreliminarymeeting，foundtheVicar-Generalandthelawyercold，calm，andgrave。
　　"Good-night，Monsieurl'Abbe，"saidAlbert。"Wewilltalkofyourbusinessatgreaterlengthwhentheelectionsareover。"
　　AndhetookAlfred'sarm，afterpressingMonsieurdeGrancey'shandwithmeaning。Thepriestlookedattheambitiousman，whosefaceatthatmomentworetheloftyexpressionwhichageneralmayhavewhenhehearsthefirstgunfiredforabattle。Heraisedhiseyestoheaven，andlefttheroom，sayingtohimself，"Whatapriesthewouldmake!"
　　EloquenceisnotattheBar。Thepleaderrarelyputsforththerealpowersofhissoul；ifhedid，hewoulddieofitinafewyears。
　　Eloquenceis，nowadays，rarelyinthepulpit；butitisfoundoncertainoccasionsintheChamberofDeputies，whenanambitiousmanstakesalltowinall，or，stungbyamyriaddarts，atagivenmomentburstsintospeech。Butitisstillmorecertainlyfoundinsomeprivilegedbeings，attheinevitablehourwhentheirclaimsmusteithertriumphorbewrecked，andwhentheyareforcedtospeak。Thusatthismeeting，AlbertSavarus，feelingthenecessityofwinninghimselfsomesupporters，displayedallthefacultiesofhissoulandtheresourcesofhisintellect。Heenteredtheroomwell，withoutawkwardnessorarrogance，withoutweakness，withoutcowardice，quitegravely，andwasnotdismayedatfindinghimselfamongtwentyorthirtymen。Thenewsofthemeetingandofitsdeterminationhadalreadybroughtafewdocilesheeptofollowthebell。
　　BeforelisteningtoMonsieurBoucher，whowasabouttodelugehimwithaspeechannouncingthedecisionoftheBoucherCommittee，Albertbeggedforsilence，and，asheshookhandswithMonsieurBoucher，triedtowarnhim，byasign，ofanunexpecteddanger。
　　"Myyoungfriend，AlfredBoucher，hasjustannouncedtomethehonoryouhavedoneme。Butbeforethatdecisionisirrevocable，"saidthelawyer，"IthinkthatIoughttoexplaintoyouwhoandwhatyourcandidateis，soastoleaveyoufreetotakebackyourwordifmydeclarationshoulddisturbyourconscience!"
　　Thisexordiumwasfollowedbyprofoundsilence。Someofthementhoughtitshowedanobleimpulse。
　　Albertgaveasketchofhispreviouscareer，tellingthemhisrealname，hisactionundertheRestoration，andrevealinghimselfasanewmansincehisarrivalatBesancon，whilepledginghimselfforthefuture。Thisaddressheldhishearersbreathless，itwassaid。Thesemen，allwithdifferentinterests，werespellboundbythebrillianteloquencethatflowedatboilingheatfromtheheartandsoulofthisambitiousspirit。Admirationsilencedreflection。Onlyonethingwasclear——thethingwhichAlbertwishedtogetintotheirheads:
　　Wasitnotfarbetterforthetowntohaveoneofthosemenwhoareborntogovernsocietyatlargethanamerevoting-machine？A
　　statesmancarriespowerwithhim。Acommonplacedeputy，howeverincorruptible，isbutaconscience。WhatagloryforProvencetohavefoundaMirabeau，toreturntheonlystatesmansince1830thattherevolutionofJulyhadproduced!
　　Underthepressureofthiseloquence，alltheaudiencebelieveditgreatenoughtobecomeasplendidpoliticalinstrumentinthehandsoftheirrepresentative。TheyallsawinAlbertSavaron，SavarusthegreatMinister。And，readingthesecretcalculationsofhisconstituents，theclevercandidategavethemtounderstandthattheywouldbethefirsttoenjoytherightofprofitingbyhisinfluence。
　　Thisconfessionoffaith，thisambitiousprogramme，thisretrospectofhislifeandcharacterwas，accordingtotheonlymanpresentwhowascapableofjudgingofSavarushehassincebecomeoneoftheleadingmenofBesancon，amasterpieceofskillandoffeeling，offervor，interest，andfascination。Thiswhirlwindcarriedawaytheelectors。
　　Neverhadanymanhadsuchatriumph。But，unfortunately，speech，aweapononlyforclosewarfare，hasonlyanimmediateeffect。
　　Reflectionkillsthewordwhenthewordceasestooverpowerreflection。Ifthevoteshadthenbeentaken，Albert'snamewouldundoubtedlyhavecomeoutoftheballot-box。Atthemoment，hewasconqueror。Buthemustconquereverydayfortwomonths。
　　Albertwenthomequivering。Thetownsfolkhadapplaudedhim，andhehadachievedthegreatpointofsilencingbeforehandthemalignanttalktowhichhisearlycareermightgiverise。ThecommercialinterestofBesanconhadnominatedthelawyer，AlbertSavarondeSavarus，asitscandidate。
　　AlfredBoucher'senthusiasm，atfirstinfectious，presentlybecameblundering。
　　ThePrefet，alarmedbythissuccess，settoworktocounttheMinisterialvotes，andcontrivedtohaveasecretinterviewwithMonsieurdeChavoncourt，soastoeffectacoalitionintheircommoninterests。Everyday，withoutAlbert'sbeingabletodiscoverhow，thevotersintheBouchercommitteediminishedinnumber。
　　NothingcouldresisttheslowgrindingofthePrefecture。ThreeoffourclevermenwouldsaytoAlbert'sclients，"Willthedeputydefendyouandwinyourlawsuits？Willhegiveyouadvice，drawupyourcontracts，arrangeyourcompromises？——Hewillbeyourslaveforfiveyearslonger，if，insteadofreturninghimtotheChamber，youonlyholdoutthehopeofhisgoingtherefiveyearshence。"
　　ThiscalculationdidSavarusallthemoremischief，becausethewivesofsomeofthemerchantshadalreadymadeit。ThepartiesinterestedinthematterofthebridgeandthatofthewaterfromArciercouldnotholdoutagainstatalking-tofromacleverMinisterialist，whoprovedtothemthattheirsafetylayatthePrefecture，andnotinthehandsofanambitiousman。EachdaywasacheckforSavarus，thougheachdaythebattlewasledbyhimandfoughtbyhislieutenants——abattleofwords，speeches，andproceedings。HedarednotgototheVicar-General，andtheVicar-Generalnevershowedhimself。Albertroseandwenttobedinafever，hisbrainonfire。
　　Atlastthedaydawnedofthefirststruggle，practicallytheshowofhands；thevotesarecounted，thecandidatesestimatetheirchances，andclevermencanprophesytheirfailureorsuccess。Itisadecenthustings，withoutthemob，butformidable；agitation，thoughitisnotallowedanyphysicaldisplay，asitisinEngland，isnotthelessprofound。TheEnglishfightthesebattleswiththeirfists，theFrenchwithhardwords。Ourneighborshaveascrimmage，theFrenchtrytheirfatebycoldcombinationscalmlyworkedout。Thisparticularpoliticalbusinessiscarriedoutinoppositiontothecharacterofthetwonations。
　　TheRadicalpartynamedtheircandidate；MonsieurdeChavoncourtcameforward；thenAlbertappeared，andwasaccusedbytheChavoncourtcommitteeandtheRadicalsofbeinganuncompromisingmanoftheRight，asecondBerryer。TheMinistryhadtheircandidate，astalking-
　　horse，usefulonlytoreceivethepurelyMinisterialvotes。Thevotes，thusdivided，gavenoresult。TheRepublicancandidatehadtwenty，theMinistrygotfifty，Alberthadseventy，MonsieurdeChavoncourtobtainedsixty-seven。ButthePrefet'spartyhadperfidiouslymadethirtyofitsmostdevotedadherentsvoteforAlbert，soastodeceivetheenemy。ThevotesforMonsieurdeChavoncourt，addedtotheeightyvotes——therealnumber——atthedisposalofthePrefecture，wouldcarrytheelection，ifonlythePrefetcouldsucceedingainingoverafewoftheRadicals。Ahundredandsixtyvoteswerenotrecorded:thoseofMonsieurdeGrancey'sfollowingandtheLegitimists。
　　Theshowofhandsatanelection，likeadressrehearsalatatheatre，isthemostdeceptivethingintheworld。AlbertSavaruscamehome，puttingabravefaceonthematter，buthalfdead。Hehadhadthewit，thegenius，orthegoodlucktogain，withinthelastfortnight，twostaunchsupporters——Girardet'sfather-in-lawandaveryshrewdoldmerchanttowhomMonsieurdeGranceyhadsenthim。Thesetwoworthymen，hisself-appointedspies，affectedtobeAlbert'smostardentopponentsinthehostilecamp。TowardstheendoftheshowofhandstheyinformedSavarus，throughthemediumofMonsieurBoucher，thatthirtyvoters，unknown，wereworkingagainsthiminhisparty，playingthesametrickthattheywereplayingforhisbenefitontheotherside。
　　AcriminalmarchingtoexecutioncouldnotsufferasAlbertsufferedashewenthomefromthehallwherehisfatewasatstake。Thedespairinglovercouldendurenocompanionship。Hewalkedthroughthestreetsalone，betweeneleveno'clockandmidnight。Atoneinthemorning，Albert，towhomsleephadbeenunknownforthepastthreedays，wassittinginhislibraryinadeeparmchair，hisfaceaspaleasifheweredying，hishandshanginglimp，inaforlornattitudeworthyoftheMagdalen。Tearshungonhislonglashes，tearsthatdimtheeyes，butdonotfall；fiercethoughtdrinksthemup，thefireofthesoulconsumesthem。Alone，hemightweep。Andthen，underthekiosk，hesawawhitefigure，whichremindedhimofFrancesca。
　　"AndforthreemonthsIhavehadnoletterfromher!Whathasbecomeofher？Ihavenotwrittenfortwomonths，butIwarnedher。Issheill？Oh，mylove!Mylife!WillyoueverknowwhatIhavegonethrough？Whatawretchedconstitutionismine!HaveIananeurism？"heaskedhimself，feelinghisheartbeatsoviolentlythatitspulsesseemedaudibleinthesilencelikelittlegrainsofsanddroppingonabigdrum。
　　Atthismomentthreedistincttapssoundedonhisdoor；Alberthastenedtoopenit，andalmostfaintedwithjoyatseeingtheVicar-
　　General'scheerfulandtriumphantmien。Withoutaword，hethrewhisarmsroundtheAbbedeGrancey，heldhimfast，andclaspedhimclosely，lettinghisheadfallontheoldman'sshoulder。Hewasachildagain；hecriedashehadcriedonhearingthatFrancescaSoderiniwasamarriedwoman。Hebetrayedhisweaknesstonoonebuttothispriest，onwhosefaceshonethelightofhope。Thepriesthadbeensublime，andasshrewdashewassublime。
　　"Forgiveme，dearAbbe，butyoucomeatoneofthosemomentswhenthemanvanishes，foryouarenottothinkmevulgarlyambitious。"