consequently，thekindoldgentlemanwasadoredinreturn。Womenhaveaninstinctwhichenablesthemtodivinethemenwholovethem，wholiketobenearthem，andexactnopaymentforgallantries。Inthisrespectwomenhavetheinstinctofdogs，whoinamixedcompanywillgostraighttothemantowhomanimalsaresacred。
　　ThepoorChevalierdeValoisretainedfromhisformerlifetheneedofbestowinggallantprotection，aqualityoftheseigneursofotherdays。Faithfultothesystemofthe"petitemaison，"helikedtoenrichwomen，——theonlybeingswhoknowhowtoreceive，becausetheycanalwaysreturn。Butthepoorchevaliercouldnolongerruinhimselfforamistress。Insteadofthechoicestbonbonswrappedinbank-bills，hegallantlypresentedpaper-bagsfulloftoffee。LetussaytothegloryofAlenconthatthetoffeewasacceptedwithmorejoythanlaDutheevershowedatagiltserviceorafineequipageofferedbytheComted'Artois。AllthesegrisettesfullyunderstoodthefallenmajestyoftheChevalierdeValois，andtheykepttheirprivatefamiliaritieswithhimaprofoundsecretforhissake。Iftheywerequestionedabouthimincertainhouseswhentheycarriedhomethelinen，theyalwaysspokerespectfullyofthechevalier，andmadehimoutolderthanhereallywas；theytalkedofhimasamostrespectablemonsieur，whoselifewasaflowerofsanctity；butonceintheirownregionstheyperchedonhisshoulderslikesomanyparrots。Helikedtobetoldthesecretswhichwasherwomendiscoverinthebosomofhouseholds，anddayafterdaythesegirlswouldtellhimthecancanswhichweregoingtheroundofAlencon。Hecalledthemhis"petticoatgazettes，"his"talkingfeuilletons。"NeverdidMonsieurdeSartineshavespiesmoreintelligentandlessexpensive，orminionswhoshowedmorehonorwhiledisplayingtheirrascalityofmind。Soitmaybesaidthatinthemornings，whilebreakfasting，thechevalierusuallyamusedhimselfasmuchasthesaintsinheaven。
　　Suzannewasoneofhisfavorites，aclever，ambitiousgirl，madeofthestuffofaSophieArnold，andhandsomewithal，asthehandsomestcourtesaninvitedbyTitiantoposeonblackvelvetforamodelofVenus；althoughherface，fineabouttheeyesandforehead，degenerated，lowerdown，intocommonnessofoutline。HerswasaNormanbeauty，fresh，high-colored，redundant，thefleshofRubenscoveringthemusclesoftheFarneseHercules，andnottheslenderarticulationsoftheVenusde'Medici，Apollo'sgracefulconsort。
　　"Well，mychild，tellmeyourgreatoryourlittleadventure，whateveritis。"
　　TheparticularpointaboutthechevalierwhichwouldhavemadehimnoticeablefromParistoPekin，wasthegentlepaternityofhismannertogrisettes。Theyremindedhimoftheillustriousoperaticqueensofhisearlydays，whosecelebritywasEuropeanduringagoodthirdoftheeighteenthcentury。Itiscertainthattheoldgentleman，whohadlivedindaysgonebywiththatfemininenationnowasmuchforgottenasmanyothergreatthings，——liketheJesuits，theBuccaneers，theAbbes，andtheFarmers-General，——hadacquiredanirresistiblegood-
　　humor，akindlyease，alaisser-allerdevoidofegotism，theself-
　　effacementofJupiterwithAlcmene，ofthekingintendingtobeduped，whocastshisthunderboltstothedevil，wantshisOlympusfulloffollies，littlesuppers，feminineprofusions——butwithJunooutoftheway，beitunderstood。
　　Inspiteofhisoldgreendamaskdressing-gownandthebarenessoftheroominwhichhesat，wherethefloorwascoveredwithashabbytapestryinplaceofcarpet，andthewallswerehungwithtavern-paperpresentingtheprofilesofLouisXVI。andmembersofhisfamily，tracedamongthebranchesofaweepingwillowwithothersentimentalitiesinventedbyroyalismduringtheTerror，——inspiteofhisruins，thechevalier，trimminghisbeardbeforeashabbyoldtoilet-table，drapedwithtrumperylace，exhaledanessenceoftheeighteenthcentury。Allthelibertinegracesofhisyouthreappeared；
　　heseemedtohavethewealthofthreehundredthousandfrancsofdebt，whilehisvis-a-viswaitedbeforethedoor。Hewasgrand，——likeBerthierontheretreatfromMoscow，issuingorderstoanarmythatexistednolonger。
　　"Monsieurlechevalier，"repliedSuzanne，drolly，"seemstomeI
　　needn'ttellyouanything；you'veonlytolook。"
　　AndSuzannepresentedasideviewofherselfwhichgaveasortoflawyer'scommenttoherwords。Thechevalier，who，youmustknow，wasaslyoldbird，loweredhisrighteyeonthegrisette，stillholdingtherazorathisthroat，andpretendedtounderstand。
　　"Well，well，mylittleduck，we'lltalkaboutthatpresently。Butyouareratherprevious，itseemstome。"
　　"Why，Monsieurlechevalier，oughtItowaituntilmymotherbeatsmeandMadameLardotturnsmeoff？IfIdon'tgetawaysoontoParis，I
　　shallneverbeabletomarryhere，wheremenaresoridiculous。"
　　"Itcan'tbehelped，mydear；societyischanging；womenarejustasmuchvictimstothepresentstateofthingsasthenobilitythemselves。Afterpoliticaloverturncomestheoverturnofmorals。
　　Alas!beforelongwomanwon'texist"hetookoutthecotton-wooltoarrangehisears:"she'llloseeverythingbyrushingintosentiment；
　　she'llwringhernerves；good-byetoallthegoodlittlepleasuresofourtime，desiredwithoutshame，acceptedwithoutnonsense。"Hepolishedupthelittlenegroes'heads。"Womenhadhystericsinthosedaystogettheirends，butnow"hebegantolaugh"theirvaporsendincharcoal。Inshort，marriage"herehepickeduphispincerstoremoveahair"willbecomeathingintolerable；whereasitusedtobesogayinmyday!ThereignsofLouisXIV。andLouisXV——rememberthis，mychild——saidfarewelltothefinestmannersandmoralseverknowntotheworld。"
　　"But，Monsieurlechevalier，"saidthegrisette，"thematternowconcernsthemoralsandhonorofyourpoorlittleSuzanne，andIhopeyouwon'tabandonher。"
　　"Abandonher!"criedthechevalier，finishinghishair；"I'dsoonerabandonmyownname。"
　　"Ah!"exclaimedSuzanne。
　　"Now，listentome，youlittlemischief，"saidthechevalier，sittingdownonahugesofa，formerlycalledaduchesse，whichMadameLardothadbeenatsomepainstofindforhim。
　　HedrewthemagnificentSuzannebeforehim，holdingherlegsbetweenhisknees。Shelethimdoasheliked，althoughinthestreetshewasoffishenoughtoothermen，refusingtheirfamiliaritiespartlyfromdecorumandpartlyforcontemptfortheircommonness。Shenowstoodaudaciouslyinfrontofthechevalier，who，havingfathomedinhisdaymanyothermysteriesinmindsthatwerefarmorewily，tookinthesituationatasingleglance。Heknewverywellthatnoyounggirlwouldjokeaboutarealdishonor；buthetookgoodcarenottoknockovertheprettyscaffoldingofherlieashetouchedit。
　　"Weslanderourselves，"hesaidwithinimitablecraft；"weareasvirtuousasthatbeautifulbiblicalgirlwhosenamewebear；wecanalwaysmarryasweplease，butwearethirstyforParis，wherecharmingcreatures——andwearenofool——getrichwithouttrouble。Wewanttogoandseeifthegreatcapitalofpleasureshasn'tsomeyoungChevalierdeValoisinstoreforus，withacarriage，diamonds，anopera-box，andsoforth。Russians，Austrians，Britons，havemillionsonwhichwehaveaneye。Besides，wearepatriotic；wewanttohelpFranceingettingbackhermoneyfromthepocketsofthosegentry。
　　Hey!hey!mydearlittledevil'sduck!itisn'tabadplan。Theworldyouliveinmaycryoutabit，butsuccessjustifiesallthings。Theworstthinginthisworld，mydear，istobewithoutmoney；that'sourdisease，yoursandmine。Nowinasmuchaswehaveplentyofwit，wethoughtitwouldbeagoodthingtoparadeourdearlittlehonor，ordishonor，tocatchanoldboy；butthatoldboy，mydearheart，knowstheAlphaandOmegaoffemaletricks，——whichmeansthatyoucouldeasierputsaltonasparrow'stailthantomakemebelieveIhaveanythingtodowithyourlittleaffair。GotoParis，mydear；goatthecostofanoldcelibate，Iwon'tpreventit；infact，I'llhelpyou，foranoldbachelor，Suzanne，isthenaturalmoney-boxofayounggirl。Butdon'tdragmeintothematter。Listen，myqueen，youwhoknowlifeprettywell；youwouldmegreatharmandgivememuchpain，——harm，becauseyouwouldpreventmymarriageinatownwherepeopleclingtomorality；pain，becauseifyouareintroublewhichIdeny，youslypuss!Ihaven'tapennytogetyououtofit。I'maspoorasachurchmouse；youknowthat，mydear。Ah!ifImarryMademoiselleCormon，ifIamoncemorerich，ofcourseIwouldpreferyoutoCesarine。You'vealwaysseemedtomeasfineasthegoldtheygildonlead；youweremadetobetheloveofagreatseigneur。Ithinkyousocleverthatthetrickyouaretryingtoplayoffonmedoesn'tsurprisemeonebit；Iexpectedit。Youareflingingthescabbardafterthesword，andthat'sdaringforagirl。Ittakesnerveandsuperiorideastodoit，myangel，andthereforeyouhavewonmyrespectfulesteem。"
　　"Monsieurlechevalier，Iassureyou，youaremistaken，and——"
　　Shecolored，anddidnotdaretosaymore。Thechevalier，withasingleglance，hadguessedandfathomedherwholeplan。
　　"Yes，yes!Iunderstand:youwantmetobelieveit，"hesaid。"Well!I
　　dobelieveit。Buttakemyadvice:gotoMonsieurduBousquier。
　　Haven'tyoutakenlinenthereforthelastsixoreightmonths？I'mnotaskingwhatwentonbetweenyou；butIknowtheman:hehasimmenseconceit；heisanoldbachelor，andveryrich；andheonlyspendsaquarterofacomfortableincome。IfyouareascleverasI
　　suppose，youcangotoParisathisexpense。There，runalong，mylittledoe；goandtwisthimroundyourfinger。Only，mindthis:beassuppleassilk；ateverywordtakeadoubleturnroundhimandmakeaknot。Heisamantofearscandal，andifhehasgivenyouachancetoputhiminthepillory——inshort，understand；threatenhimwiththeladiesoftheMaternityHospital。Besides，he'sambitious。Amansucceedsthroughhiswife，andyouarehandsomeandcleverenoughtomakethefortuneofahusband。Hey!themischief!youcouldholdyourownagainstallthecourtladies。"
　　Suzanne，whosemindtookinataflashthechevalier'slastwords，waseagertorunofftoduBousquier，but，notwishingtodeparttooabruptly，shequestionedthechevalieraboutParis，allthewhilehelpinghimtodress。Thechevalier，however，divinedherdesiretobeoff，andfavoreditbyaskinghertotellCesarinetobringuphischocolate，whichMadameLardotmadeforhimeverymorning。Suzannethenslippedawaytohernewvictim，whosebiographymustherebegiven。
　　BornofanoldAlenconfamily，duBousquierwasacrossbetweenthebourgeoisandthecountrysquire。Findinghimselfwithoutmeansonthedeathofhisfather，hewent，likeotherruinedprovincials，toParis。
　　OnthebreakingoutoftheRevolutionhetookpartinpublicaffairs。
　　Inspiteofrevolutionaryprinciples，whichmadeahobbyofrepublicanhonesty，themanagementofpublicbusinessinthosedayswasbynomeansclean。Apoliticalspy，astock-jobber，acontractor，amanwhoconfiscatedincollusionwiththesyndicofacommunethepropertyofemigresinordertosellthemandbuythemin，aminister，andageneralwereallequallyengagedinpublicbusiness。From1793to1799
　　duBousquierwascommissaryofprovisionstotheFrencharmies。Helivedinamagnificenthotelandwasoneofthematadorsoffinance，didbusinesswithOuvrard，keptopenhouse，andledthescandalouslifeoftheperiod，——thelifeofaCincinnatus，onsacksofcornharvestedwithouttrouble，stolenrations，"littlehouses"fullofmistresses，inwhichweregivensplendidfetestotheDirectorsoftheRepublic。
　　ThecitizenduBousquierwasoneofBarras'familiars；hewasonthebestoftermswithFouche，stoodverywellwithBernadotte，andfullyexpectedtobecomeaministerbythrowinghimselfintothepartywhichsecretlycaballedagainstBonaparteuntilMarengo。IfithadnotbeenforKellermann'schargeandDesaix'sdeath，duBousquierwouldprobablyhavebecomeaminister。HewasoneofthechiefassistancesofthatsecretgovernmentwhomNapoleon'slucksendbehindthescenesin1793。See"AnHistoricalMystery。"TheunexpectedvictoryofMarengowasthedefeatofthatpartywhoactuallyhadtheirproclamationsprintedtoreturntotheprinciplesoftheMontagneincasetheFirstConsulsuccumbed。
　　ConvincedoftheimpossibilityofBonaparte'striumph，duBousquierstakedthegreaterpartofhispropertyonafallintheFunds，andkepttwocouriersonthefieldofbattle。ThefirststartedforPariswhenMelas'victorywascertain；thesecond，startingfourhourslater，broughtthenewsofthedefeatoftheAustrians。DuBousquiercursedKellermannandDesaix；hedarednotcurseBonaparte，whomightowehimmillions。Thisalternativeofmillionstobeearnedandpresentruinstaringhimintheface，deprivedthepurveyorofmostofhisfaculties:hebecamenearlyimbecileforseveraldays；themanhadsoabusedhishealthbyexcessesthatwhenthethunderboltfelluponhimhehadnostrengthtoresist。ThepaymentofhisbillsagainsttheExchequergavehimsomehopesforthefuture，but，inspiteofalleffortstoingratiatehimself，Napoleon'shatredtothecontractorswhohadspeculatedonhisdefeatmadeitselffelt；duBousquierwasleftwithoutasou。Theimmoralityofhisprivatelife，hisintimacywithBarrasandBernadotte，displeasedtheFirstConsulevenmorethanhismanoeuvresattheBourse，andhestruckduBousquier'snamefromthelistofthegovernmentcontractors。
　　OutofallhispastopulenceduBousquiersavedonlytwelvehundredfrancsayearfromaninvestmentintheGrandLivre，whichhehadhappenedtoplacetherebypurecaprice，andwhichsavedhimfrompenury。AmanruinedbytheFirstConsulinterestedthetownofAlencon，towhichhenowreturned，whereroyalismwassecretlydominant。DuBousquier，furiousagainstBonaparte，relatingstoriesagainsthimofhismeanness，ofJosephine'simproprieties，andalltheotherscandalousanecdotesofthelasttenyears，waswellreceived。
　　Aboutthistime，whenhewassomewherebetweenfortyandfifty，duBousquier'sappearancewasthatofabachelorofthirty-six，ofmediumheight，plumpasapurveyor，proudofhisvigorouscalves，withastronglymarkedcountenance，aflattenednose，thenostrilsgarnishedwithhair，blackeyeswiththicklashes，fromwhichdartedshrewdglanceslikethoseofMonsieurdeTalleyrand，thoughsomewhatdulled。
　　Hestillworerepublicanwhiskersandhishairverylong；hishands，adornedwithbunchesofhaironeachknuckle，showedthepowerofhismuscularsystemintheirprominentblueveins。HehadthechestoftheFarneseHercules，andshouldersfittocarrythestocks。SuchshouldersareseennowadaysonlyatTortoni's。ThiswealthofmasculinevigorcountedformuchinduBousquier'srelationswithothers。Andyetinhim，asinthechevalier，symptomsappearedwhichcontrastedoddlywiththegeneralaspectoftheirpersons。Thelatepurveyorhadnotthevoiceofhismuscles。Wedonotmeanthathisvoicewasamerethread，suchaswesometimeshearissuingfromthemouthofthesewalruses；onthecontrary，itwasastrongvoice，butstifled，anideaofwhichcanbegivenonlybycomparingitwiththenoiseofasawcuttingintosoftandmoistenedwood，——thevoiceofaworn-outspeculator。
　　InspiteoftheclaimswhichtheenmityoftheFirstConsulgaveMonsieurduBousquiertoentertheroyalistsocietyoftheprovince，hewasnotreceivedinthesevenoreightfamilieswhocomposedthefaubourgSaint-GermainofAlencon，amongwhomtheChevalierdeValoiswaswelcome。Hehadofferedhimselfinmarriage，throughhernotary，toMademoiselleArmande，sisterofthemostdistinguishednobleinthetown；towhichofferhereceivedarefusal。Heconsoledhimselfasbesthecouldinthesocietyofadozenrichfamilies，formermanufacturersoftheoldpointd'Alencon，ownersofpasturesandcattle，ormerchantsdoingawholesalebusinessinlinen，amongwhom，ashehoped，hemightfindawealthywife。Infact，allhishopesnowconvergedtotheperspectiveofafortunatemarriage。Hewasnotwithoutacertainfinancialability，whichmanypersonsusedtotheirprofit。Likearuinedgamblerwhoadvisesneophytes，hepointedoutenterprisesandspeculations，togetherwiththemeansandchancesofconductingthem。Hewasthoughtagoodadministrator，anditwasoftenaquestionofmakinghimmayorofAlencon；butthememoryofhisunderhandjobberystillclungtohim，andhewasneverreceivedattheprefecture。Allthesucceedinggovernments，eventhatoftheHundredDays，refusedtoappointhimmayorofAlencon，——aplacehecoveted，which，couldhehavehadit，would，hethought，havewonhimthehandofacertainoldmaidonwhomhismatrimonialviewsnowturned。
　　DuBousquier'saversiontotheImperialgovernmenthadthrownhimatfirstintotheroyalistcirclesofAlencon，whereheremainedinspiteoftherebuffshereceivedthere；butwhen，afterthefirstreturnoftheBourbons，hewasstillexcludedfromtheprefecture，thatmortificationinspiredhimwithahatredasdeepasitwassecretagainsttheroyalists。Henowreturnedtohisoldopinions，andbecametheleaderoftheliberalpartyinAlencon，theinvisiblemanipulatorofelections，anddidimmenseharmtotheRestorationbytheclevernessofhisunderhandproceedingsandtheperfidyofhisoutwardbehavior。DuBousquier，likeallthosewholivebytheirheadsonly，carriedonhishatredswiththequiettranquillityofarivulet，feebleapparently，butinexhaustible。Hishatredwasthatofanegro，sopeacefulthatitdeceivedtheenemy。Hisvengeance，broodedoverforfifteenyears，wasasyetsatisfiedbynovictory，noteventhatofJuly，1830。
　　ItwasnotwithoutsomeprivateintentionthattheChevalierdeValoishadturnedSuzanne'sdesignsuponMonsieurduBousquier。Theliberalandtheroyalisthadmutuallydivinedeachotherinspiteofthewidedissimulationwithwhichtheyhidtheircommonhopefromtherestofthetown。Thetwooldbachelorsweresecretlyrivals。EachhadformedaplantomarrytheDemoiselleCormon，whomMonsieurdeValoishadmentionedtoSuzanne。Both，ensconcedintheirideaandwearingthearmorofapparentindifference，awaitedthemomentwhensomeluckychancemightdelivertheoldmaidovertothem。Thus，ifthetwooldbachelorshadnotbeenkeptasunderbythetwopoliticalsystemsofwhichtheyeachofferedalivingexpression，theirprivaterivalrywouldstillhavemadethemenemies。Epochsputtheirmarkonmen。
　　Thesetwoindividualsprovedthetruthofthataxiombytheopposinghistorictintsthatwerevisibleintheirfaces，intheirconversation，intheirideas，andintheirclothes。One，abrupt，energetic，withloud，brusquemanners，curt，rudespeech，darkintone，inhair，inlook，terribleapparently，inrealityasimpotentasaninsurrection，representedtherepublicadmirably。Theother，gentleandpolished，elegantandnice，attaininghisendsbytheslowandinfalliblemeansofdiplomacy，faithfultogoodtaste，wastheexpressimageoftheoldcourtierregime。
　　Thetwoenemiesmetnearlyeveryeveningonthesameground。Thewarwascourteousandbenignonthesideofthechevalier；butduBousquiershowedlessceremonyonhis，thoughstillpreservingtheoutwardappearancesdemandedbysociety，forhedidnotwishtobedrivenfromtheplace。Theythemselvesfullyunderstoodeachother；
　　butinspiteoftheshrewdobservationwhichprovincialsbestowonthepettyinterestsoftheirownlittlecentre，nooneinthetownsuspectedtherivalryofthesetwomen。MonsieurleChevalierdeValoisoccupiedavantage-ground:hehadneveraskedforthehandofMademoiselleCormon；whereasduBousquier，whoenteredthelistssoonafterhisrejectionbythemostdistinguishedfamilyintheplace，hadbeenrefused。ButthechevalierbelievedthathisrivalhadstillsuchstrongchancesofsuccessthathedealthimthiscoupdeJarnacwithabladenamely，Suzannethatwasfinelytemperedforthepurpose。Thechevalierhadcasthisplummet-lineintothewatersofduBousquier；
　　and，asweshallseebythesequel，hewasnotmistakeninanyofhisconjectures。
　　SuzannetrippedwithalightfootfromtherueduCours，bytheruedelaPortedeSeezandtherueduBercail，totherueduCygne，where，aboutfiveyearsearlier，duBousquierhadboughtalittlehousebuiltofgrayJurastone，whichissomethingbetweenBretonslateandNormangranite。Thereheestablishedhimselfmorecomfortablythananyhouseholderintown；forhehadmanagedtopreservecertainfurnitureanddecorationsfromthedaysofhissplendor。Butprovincialmannersandmoralsobscured，littlebylittle，theraysofthisfallenSardanapalus；thesevestigesofhisformerluxurynowproducedtheeffectofaglasschandelierinabarn。Harmony，thatbondofallwork，humanordivine，waslackingingreatthingsaswellasinlittleones。Thestairs，upwhicheverybodymountedwithoutwipingtheirfeet，wereneverpolished；thewalls，paintedbysomewretchedartisanoftheneighborhood，wereaterrortotheeye；thestonemantel-piece，ill-carved，"swore"withthehandsomeclock，whichwasfurtherdegradedbythecompanyofcontemptiblecandlesticks。LiketheperiodwhichduBousquierhimselfrepresented，thehousewasajumbleofdirtandmagnificence。Beingconsideredamanofleisure，duBousquierledthesameparasitelifeasthechevalier；andhewhodoesnotspendhisincomeisalwaysrich。HisonlyservantwasasortofJocrisse，aladoftheneighborhood，ratheraninny，trainedslowlyandwithdifficultytoduBousquier'srequirements。Hismasterhadtaughthim，ashemightanorang-outang，torubthefloors，dustthefurniture，blackhisboots，brushhiscoats，andbringalanterntoguidehimhomeatnightiftheweatherwerecloudy，andclogsifitrained。Likemanyotherhumanbeings，thisladhadn'tstuffenoughinhimformorethanonevice；hewasaglutton。Often，whenduBousquierwenttoagranddinner，hewouldtakeRenetowaitattable；onsuchoccasionshemadehimtakeoffhisbluecottonjacket，withitsbigpocketshangingroundhiships，andalwaysbulgingwithhandkerchiefs，clasp-knives，fruits，orahandfulofnuts，andforcedhimtoputonaregulationcoat。Renewouldthenstuffhisfillwiththeotherservants。Thisduty，whichduBousquierhadturnedintoareward，wonhimthemostabsolutediscretionfromtheBretonservant。
　　"Youhere，mademoiselle!"saidRenetoSuzannewhensheentered；
　　"'t'isn'tyourday。Wehaven'tanylinenforthewash，tellMadameLardot。"
　　"Oldstupid!"saidSuzanne，laughing。
　　Theprettygirlwentupstairs，leavingRenetofinishhisporringerofbuckwheatinboiledmilk。DuBousquier，stillinbed，wasrevolvinginhismindhisplansoffortune；forambitionwasallthatwaslefttohim，astoothermenwhohavesuckeddrytheorangeofpleasure。
　　Ambitionandplayareinexhaustible；inawell-organizedmanthepassionswhichproceedfromthebrainwillalwayssurvivethepassionsoftheheart。
　　"HereamI，"saidSuzanne，sittingdownonthebedandjanglingthecurtain-ringsbackalongtherodwithdespoticvehemence。
　　"Quesaco，mycharmer？"saidtheoldbachelor，sittingupinbed。
　　"Monsieur，"saidSuzanne，gravely，"youmustbeastonishedtoseemehereatthishour；butIfindmyselfinaconditionwhichobligesmenottocareforwhatpeoplemaysayaboutit。"
　　"Whatdoesallthatmean？"saidduBousquier，crossinghisarms。
　　"Don'tyouunderstandme？"saidSuzanne。"Iknow，"shecontinued，makingaprettylittleface，"howridiculousitisinapoorgirltocomeandnagatamanforwhathethinksamerenothing。Butifyoureallyknewme，monsieur，ifyouknewallthatIamcapableofforamanwhowouldattachhimselftomeasmuchasI'mattachedtoyou，youwouldneverrepenthavingmarriedme。Ofcourseitisn'there，inAlencon，thatIshouldbeofservicetoyou；butifwewenttoParis，youwouldseewhereIcouldleadamanwithyourmindandyourcapacities；andjustatthistimetoo，whentheyareremakingthegovernmentfromtoptotoe。So——betweenourselves，beitsaid——ISwhathashappenedamisfortune？Isn'titratherapieceofluck，whichwillpayyouwell？Whoandwhatareyouworkingfornow？"
　　"Formyself，ofcourse!"criedduBousquier，brutally。
　　"Monster!you'llneverbeafather!"saidSuzanne，givingatoneofpropheticmaledictiontothewords。