"Oh!Iknow，"repliedtheAbbe。"Youwrote'/Ambitionforlove'ssake/!'——Ah!myson，itwasloveindespairthatmademeapriestin1786，attheageoftwo-and-twenty。In1788Iwasinchargeofaparish。Iknowlife——Ihaverefusedthreebishopricsalready；ImeantodieatBesancon。"
　　"Comeandseeher!"criedSavarus，seizingacandle，andleadingtheAbbeintothehandsomeroomwherehungtheportraitoftheDuchessed'Argaiolo，whichhelightedup。
　　"Sheisoneofthosewomenwhoareborntoreign!"saidtheVicar-
　　General，understandinghowgreatanaffectionAlbertshowedhimbythismarkofconfidence。"Butthereisprideonthatbrow；itisimplacable；shewouldneverforgiveaninsult!ItistheArchangelMichael，theangelofExecution，theinexorableangel——'Allornothing'isthemottoofthistypeofangel。Thereissomethingdivinelypitilessinthathead。"
　　"Youhaveguessedwell，"criedSavarus。"But，mydearAbbe，formorethantwelveyearsnowshehadreignedovermylife，andIhavenotathoughtforwhichtoblamemyself——"
　　"Ah!ifyoucouldonlysaythesameofGod!"saidthepriestwithsimplicity。"Now，totalkofyouraffairs。FortendaysIhavebeenatworkforyou。Ifyouarearealpolitician，thistimeyouwillfollowmyadvice。YouwouldnotbewhereyouarenowifyouwouldhavegonetotheWattevilleswhenIfirsttoldyou。Butyoumustgothereto-morrow；Iwilltakeyouintheevening。TheRouxeyestatesareindanger；thecasemustbedefendedwithinthreedays。Theelectionwillnotbeoverinthreedays。Theywilltakegoodcarenottoappointexaminersthefirstday。Therewillbeseveralvotingdays，andyouwillbeelectedbyballot——"
　　"Howcanthatbe？"askedSavarus。
　　"BywinningtheRouxeylawsuityouwillgaineightyLegitimistvotes；
　　addthemtothethirtyIcancommand，andyouhaveahundredandten。
　　Then，astwentyremaintoyouoftheBouchercommittee，youwillhaveahundredandthirtyinall。"
　　"Well，"saidAlbert，"wemustgetseventy-fivemore。"
　　"Yes，"saidthepriest，"sincealltherestareMinisterial。But，myson，youhavetwohundredvotes，andthePrefecturenomorethanahundredandeighty。"
　　"Ihavetwohundredvotes？"saidAlbert，standingstupidwithamazement，afterstartingtohisfeetasifshotupbyaspring。
　　"YouhavethoseofMonsieurdeChavoncourt，"saidtheAbbe。
　　"How？"saidAlbert。
　　"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt。"
　　"Never!"
　　"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，"thepriestrepeatedcoldly。
　　"Butyousee——sheisinexorable，"saidAlbert，pointingtoFrancesca。
　　"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，"saidtheAbbecalmlyforthethirdtime。
　　ThistimeAlbertunderstood。TheVicar-Generalwouldnotbeimplicatedinaschemewhichatlastsmiledonthedespairingpolitician。Awordmorewouldhavecompromisedthepriest'sdignityandhonor。
　　"To-morroweveningattheHoteldeRuptyouwillmeetMadamedeChavoncourtandherseconddaughter。Youcanthankherbeforehandforwhatsheisgoingtodoforyou，andtellherthatyourgratitudeisunbounded，thatyouarehersbodyandsoul，thathenceforthyourfutureisthatofherfamily。Youarequitedisinterested，foryouhavesomuchconfidenceinyourselfthatyouregardthenominationasdeputyasasufficientfortune。
　　"YouwillhaveastrugglewithMadamedeChavoncourt；shewillwantyoutopledgeyourword。Allyourfuturelife，myson，liesinthatevening。But，understandclearly，Ihavenothingtodowithit。IamanswerableonlyforLegitimistvoters；IhavesecuredMadamedeWatteville，andthatmeansallthearistocracyofBesancon。AmedeedeSoulasandVauchelles，whowillbothvoteforyou，havewonovertheyoungmen；MadamedeWattevillewillgettheoldones。Astomyelectors，theyareinfallible。"
　　"AndwhoonearthhasgainedoverMadamedeChavoncourt？"askedSavarus。
　　"Askmenoquestions，"repliedtheAbbe。"MonsieurdeChavoncourt，whohasthreedaughterstomarry，isnotcapableofincreasinghiswealth。
　　ThoughVauchellesmarriestheeldestwithoutanythingfromherfather，becauseheroldauntistosettlesomethingonher，whatistobecomeofthetwoothers？Sidonieissixteen，andyourambitionisasgoodasagoldmine。SomeonehastoldMadamedeChavoncourtthatshewilldobetterbygettingherdaughtermarriedthanbysendingherhusbandtowastehismoneyinParis。ThatsomeonemanagesMadamedeChavoncourt，andMadamedeChavoncourtmanagesherhusband。"
　　"Thatisenough，mydearAbbe。Iunderstand。WhenonceIamreturnedasdeputy，Ihavesomebody'sfortunetomake，andbymakingitlargeenoughIshallbereleasedfrommypromise。Inmeyouhaveason，amanwhowillowehishappinesstoyou。Greatheavens!whathaveIdonetodeservesotrueafriend？"
　　"YouwonatriumphfortheChapter，"saidtheVicar-General，smiling。
　　"Now，astoallthis，beassecretasthetomb。Wearenothing，wehavedonenothing。Ifwewereknowntohavemeddledinelectionmatters，weshouldbeeatenupalivebythePuritansoftheLeft——whodoworse——andblamedbysomeofourownparty，whowanteverything。
　　MadamedeChavoncourthasnosuspicionofmyshareinallthis。IhaveconfidedinnoonebutMadamedeWatteville，whomwemaytrustaswetrustourselves。"
　　"IwillbringtheDuchesstoyoutobeblessed!"criedSavarus。
　　Afterseeingouttheoldpriest，Albertwenttobedintheswaddlingclothesofpower。
　　Nextevening，asmaywellbesupposed，bynineo'clockMadamelaBaronnedeWatteville'sroomswerecrowdedbythearistocracyofBesanconinconvocationextraordinary。Theywerediscussingtheexceptionalstepofgoingtothepoll，toobligethedaughteroftheRupts。ItwasknownthattheformerMasterofAppeals，thesecretaryofoneofthemostfaithfulministersundertheElderBranch，wastobepresentedthatevening。MadamedeChavoncourtwastherewithherseconddaughterSidonie，exquisitelydressed，whilehereldersister，secureofherlover，hadnotindulgedinanyoftheartsofthetoilet。Incountrytownstheselittlethingsareremarked。TheAbbedeGrancey'sfineandcleverheadwastobeseenmovingfromgrouptogroup，listeningtoeverything，seemingtobeapartfromitall，bututteringthoseincisivephraseswhichsumupaquestionanddirecttheissue。
　　"IftheElderBranchweretoreturn，"saidhetoanoldstatesmanofseventy，"whatpoliticianswouldtheyfind？"——"Berryer，aloneonhisbench，doesnotknowwhichwaytoturn；ifhehadsixtyvotes，hewouldoftenscotchthewheelsoftheGovernmentandupsetMinistries!"——
　　"TheDucdeFitz-JamesistobenominatedatToulouse。"——"YouwillenableMonsieurdeWattevilletowinhislawsuit。"——"IfyouvoteforMonsieurSavarus，theRepublicanswillvotewithyouratherthanwiththeModerates!"etc。，etc。
　　Atnineo'clockAlberthadnotarrived。MadamedeWattevillewasdisposedtoregardsuchdelayasanimpertinence。
　　"MydearBaroness，"saidMadamedeChavoncourt，"donotletsuchseriousissuesturnonsuchatrifle。Thevarnishonhisbootsisnotdry——oraconsultation，perhaps，detainsMonsieurdeSavarus。"
　　RosalieshotasideglanceatMadamedeChavoncourt。
　　"SheisverylenienttoMonsieurdeSavarus，"shewhisperedtohermother。
　　"Yousee，"saidtheBaronesswithasmile，"thereisaquestionofamarriagebetweenSidonieandMonsieurdeSavarus。"
　　MademoiselledeWattevillehastilywenttoawindowlookingoutoverthegarden。
　　Atteno'clockAlbertdeSavarushadnotyetappeared。Thestormthatthreatenednowburst。Someofthegentlemensatdowntocards，findingthethingintolerable。TheAbbedeGrancey，whodidnotknowwhattothink，wenttothewindowwhereRosaliewashidden，andexclaimedaloudinhisamazement，"Hemustbedead!"
　　TheVicar-Generalsteppedoutintothegarden，followedbyMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisdaughter，andtheyallthreewentuptothekiosk。
　　InAlbert'sroomsallwasdark；notalightwastobeseen。
　　"Jerome!"criedRosalie，seeingtheservantintheyardbelow。TheAbbelookedatherwithastonishment。"Whereintheworldisyourmaster？"sheaskedtheman，whocametothefootofthewall。
　　"Gone——inapost-chaise，mademoiselle。"
　　"Heisruined!"exclaimedtheAbbedeGrancey，"orheishappy!"
　　ThejoyoftriumphwasnotsoeffectuallyconcealedonRosalie'sfacethattheVicar-Generalcouldnotdetectit。Heaffectedtoseenothing。
　　"Whatcanthisgirlhavehadtodowiththisbusiness？"heaskedhimself。
　　Theyallthreereturnedtothedrawing-room，whereMonsieurdeWattevilleannouncedthestrange，theextraordinary，theprodigiousnewsofthelawyer'sdeparture，withoutanyreasonassignedforhisevasion。Byhalf-pastelevenonlyfifteenpersonsremained，amongthemMadamedeChavoncourtandtheAbbedeGodenars，anotherVicar-General，amanofaboutforty，whohopedforabishopric，thetwoChavoncourtgirls，andMonsieurdeVauchelles，theAbbedeGrancey，Rosalie，AmedeedeSoulas，andaretiredmagistrate，oneofthemostinfluentialmembersoftheuppercircleofBesancon，whohadbeenveryeagerforAlbert'selection。TheAbbedeGranceysatdownbytheBaronessinsuchapositionastowatchRosalie，whoseface，usuallypale，woreafeverishflush。
　　"WhatcanhavehappenedtoMonsieurdeSavarus？"saidMadamedeChavoncourt。
　　AtthismomentaservantinliverybroughtinaletterfortheAbbedeGranceyonasilvertray。
　　"Prayreadit，"saidtheBaroness。
　　TheVicar-Generalreadtheletter；hesawRosaliesuddenlyturnaswhiteasherkerchief。
　　"Sherecognizesthewriting，"saidhetohimself，afterglancingatthegirloverhisspectacles。Hefoldeduptheletter，andcalmlyputitinhispocketwithoutaword。InthreeminuteshehadmetthreelooksfromRosaliewhichwereenoughtomakehimguesseverything。
　　"SheisinlovewithAlbertSavarus!"thoughttheVicar-General。
　　Heroseandtookleave。Hewasgoingtowardsthedoorwhen，inthenextroom，hewasovertakenbyRosalie，whosaid:
　　"MonsieurdeGrancey，itwasfromAlbert!"
　　"Howdoyouknowthatitwashiswriting，torecognizeitfromsofar？"
　　Thegirl'sreply，caughtasshewasinthetoilsofherimpatienceandrage，seemedtotheAbbesublime。
　　"Ilovehim!——Whatisthematter？"shesaidafterapause。
　　"Hegivesuptheelection。"
　　Rosalieputherfingertoherlip。
　　"Iaskyoutobeassecretasifitwereaconfession，"saidshebeforereturningtothedrawing-room。"Ifthereisanendoftheelection，thereisanendofthemarriagewithSidonie。"
　　Inthemorning，onherwaytoMass，MademoiselledeWattevilleheardfromMariettesomeofthecircumstanceswhichhadpromptedAlbert'sdisappearanceatthemostcriticalmomentofhislife。
　　"Mademoiselle，anoldgentlemanfromParisarrivedyesterdaymorningattheHotelNational；hecameinhisowncarriagewithfourhorses，andacourierinfront，andaservant。Indeed，Jerome，whosawthecarriagereturning，declareshecouldonlybeaprinceora/milord/。"
　　"Wasthereacoronetonthecarriage？"askedRosalie。
　　"Idonotknow，"saidMariette。"JustastwowasstrikinghecametocallonMonsieurSavarus，andsentinhiscard；andwhenhesawit，JeromesaysMonsieurturnedaspaleasasheet，andsaidhewastobeshownin。Ashehimselflockedthedoor，itisimpossibletotellwhattheoldgentlemanandthelawyersaidtoeachother；buttheyweretogetheraboveanhour，andthentheoldgentleman，withthelawyer，calleduphisservant。Jeromesawtheservantgooutagainwithanimmensepackage，fourfeetlong，whichlookedlikeagreatpaintingoncanvas。Theoldgentlemanhadinhishandalargeparcelofpapers。
　　MonsieurSavaronwaspalerthandeath，andhe，soproud，sodignified，wasinastatetobepitied。ButhetreatedtheoldgentlemansorespectfullythathecouldnothavebeenpolitertotheKinghimself。
　　JeromeandMonsieurAlbertSavaronescortedthegentlemantohiscarriage，whichwasstandingwiththehorsesin。Thecourierstartedonthestrokeofthree。
　　"MonsieurSavaronwentstraighttothePrefecture，andfromthattoMonsieurGentillet，whosoldhimtheoldtravelingcarriagethatusedtobelongtoMadamedeSaint-Vierbeforeshedied；thenheorderedposthorsesforsixo'clock。Hewenthometopack；nodoubthewrotealotofletters；finally，hesettledeverythingwithMonsieurGirardet，whowenttohimandstayedtillseven。JeromecarriedanotetoMonsieurBoucher，withwhomhismasterwastohavedined；andthen，athalf-pastseven，thelawyersetout，leavingJeromewiththreemonths'
　　wages，andtellinghimtofindanotherplace。
　　"HelefthiskeyswithMonsieurGirardet，whomhetookhome，andathishouse，Jeromesays，hetookaplateofsoup，forathalf-pastsevenMonsieurGirardethadnotyetdined。WhenMonsieurSavarongotintothecarriagehelookedlikedeath。Jerome，who，ofcourse，sawhismasteroff，heardhimtellthepostilion'TheGenevaRoad!'"
　　"DidJeromeaskthenameofthestrangerattheHotelNational？"
　　"Astheoldgentlemandidnotmeantostay，hewasnotaskedforit。
　　Theservant，byhisordersnodoubt，pretendednottospeakFrench。"
　　"AndtheletterwhichcamesolatetoAbbedeGrancey？"saidRosalie。
　　"ItwasMonsieurGirardet，nodoubt，whooughttohavedeliveredit；
　　butJeromesaysthatpoorMonsieurGirardet，whowasmuchattachedtolawyerSavaron，wasasmuchupsetashewas。Sohewhocamesomysteriously，asMademoiselleGalardsays，isgoneawayjustasmysteriously。"
　　Afterhearingthisnarrative，MademoiselledeWattevillefellintoabroodingandabsentmood，whicheverybodycouldsee。ItisuselesstosayanythingofthecommotionthataroseinBesancononthedisappearanceofMonsieurSavaron。ItwasunderstoodthatthePrefecthadobligedhimwiththegreatestreadinessbygivinghimatonceapassportacrossthefrontier，forhewasthusquitofhisonlyopponent。NextdayMonsieurdeChavoncourtwascarriedtothetopbyamajorityofahundredandfortyvotes。
　　"Jackisgonebythewayhecame，"saidanelectoronhearingofAlbertSavaron'sflight。
　　ThiseventlentweighttotheprevailingprejudiceatBesanconagainststrangers；indeed，twoyearspreviouslytheyhadreceivedconfirmationfromtheaffairoftheRepublicannewspaper。TendayslaterAlbertdeSavaruswasneverspokenofagain。Onlythreepersons——Girardettheattorney，theVicar-General，andRosalie——wereseriouslyaffectedbyhisdisappearance。Girardetknewthatthewhite-hairedstrangerwasPrinceSoderini，forhehadseenhiscard，andhetoldtheVicar-
　　General；butRosalie，betterinformedthaneitherofthem，hadknownforthreemonthspastthattheDucd'Argaiolowasdead。
　　InthemonthofApril1836noonehadhadanynewsfromorofAlbertdeSavarus。JeromeandMarietteweretobemarried，buttheBaronessconfidentiallydesiredhermaidtowaittillherdaughterwasmarried，sayingthatthetwoweddingsmighttakeplaceatthesametime。
　　"ItistimethatRosalieshouldbemarried，"saidtheBaronessonedaytoMonsieurdeWatteville。"Sheisnineteen，andsheisfearfullyalteredintheselastmonths。"
　　"Idonotknowwhatailsher，"saidtheBaron。
　　"Whenfathersdonotknowwhatailstheirdaughters，motherscanguess，"saidtheBaroness；"wemustgethermarried。"
　　"Iamquitewilling，"saidtheBaron。"IshallgiveherlesRouxeynowthattheCourthassettledourquarrelwiththeauthoritiesofRiceysbyfixingtheboundarylineatthreehundredfeetupthesideoftheDentdeVilard。Iamhavingatrenchmadetocollectallthewaterandcarryitintothelake。Thevillagedidnotappeal，sothedecisionisfinal。"
　　"Ithasneveroccurredtoyou，"saidMadamedeWatteville，"thatthisdecisioncostmethirtythousandfrancshandedovertoChantonnit。
　　Thatpeasantwouldtakenothingelse；hesolduspeace——IfyougiveawaylesRouxey，youwillhavenothingleft，"saidtheBaroness。
　　"Idonotneedmuch，"saidtheBaron；"Iambreakingup。"
　　"Youeatlikeanogre!"
　　"Justso。ButhowevermuchImayeat，Ifeelmylegsgetweakerandweaker——"
　　"Itisfromworkingthelathe，"saidhiswife。
　　"Idonotknow，"saidhe。
　　"WewillmarryRosalietoMonsieurdeSoulas；ifyougiveherlesRouxey，keepthelifeinterest。Iwillgivethemfifteenthousandfrancsayearinthefunds。Ourchildrencanlivehere；Idonotseethattheyaremuchtobepitied。"
　　"No。IshallgivethemlesRouxeyoutandout。RosalieisfondoflesRouxey。"
　　"Youareaqueermanwithyourdaughter!ItdoesnotoccurtoyoutoaskmeifIamfondoflesRouxey。"
　　Rosalie，atoncesentfor，wasinformedthatshewastomarryMonsieurdeSoulasonedayearlyinthemonthofMay。
　　"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，mother，andtoyoutoo，father，forhavingthoughtofsettlingme；butIdonotmeantomarry；Iamveryhappywithyou。"
　　"Merespeeches!"saidtheBaroness。"YouarenotinlovewithMonsieurdeSoulas，thatisall。"
　　"Ifyouinsistontheplaintruth，IwillnevermarryMonsieurdeSoulas——"
　　"Oh!the/never/ofagirlofnineteen!"retortedhermother，withabittersmile。
　　"The/never/ofMademoiselledeWatteville，"saidRosaliewithfirmdecision。"Myfather，Iimagine，hasnointentionofmakingmemarryagainstmywishes？"
　　"No，indeedno!"saidthepoorBaron，lookingaffectionatelyathisdaughter。
　　"Verywell!"saidtheBaroness，sternlycontrollingtherageofabigotstartledatfindingherselfunexpectedlydefied，"youyourself，MonsieurdeWatteville，maytaketheresponsibilityofsettlingyourdaughter。Considerwell，mademoiselle，forifyoudonotmarrytomymindyouwillgetnothingoutofme!"
　　ThequarrelthusbegunbetweenMadamedeWattevilleandherhusband，whotookhisdaughter'spart，wentsofarthatRosalieandherfatherwereobligedtospendthesummeratlesRouxey；lifeattheHoteldeRuptwasunendurable。ItthusbecameknowninBesanconthatMademoiselledeWattevillehadpositivelyrefusedtheComtedeSoulas。
　　AftertheirmarriageMarietteandJeromecametolesRouxeytosucceedtoModinierinduetime。TheBaronrestoredandrepairedthehousetosuithisdaughter'staste。Whensheheardthattheseimprovementshadcostaboutsixtythousandfrancs，andthatRosalieandherfatherwerebuildingaconservatory，theBaronessunderstoodthattherewasaleavenofspiteinherdaughter。TheBaronpurchasedvariousoutlyingplots，andalittleestateworththirtythousandfrancs。MadamedeWattevillewastoldthat，awayfromher，Rosalieshowedmasterlyqualities，thatshewastakingstepstoimprovethevalueoflesRouxey，thatshehadtreatedherselftoaridinghabitandrodeabout；