Theabbediedwhenorthodoxythusexpiredinthediocese。
　　In1819，thepropertyoftheAbbedeSpondeincreasedMadameduBousquier'sincomefromrealestatetotwenty-fivethousandfrancswithoutcountingPrebaudetorthehouseintheVal-Noble。AboutthistimeduBousquierreturnedtohiswifethecapitalofhersavingswhichshehadyieldedtohim；andhemadeheruseitinpurchasinglandscontiguoustoPrebaudet，whichmadethatdomainoneofthemostconsiderableinthedepartment，fortheestatesoftheAbbedeSpondealsoadjoinedit。DuBousquierthuspassedforoneoftherichestmenofthedepartment。Thisableman，theconstantcandidateoftheliberals，missingbysevenoreightvotesonlyinalltheelectoralbattlesfoughtundertheRestoration，andwhoostensiblyrepudiatedtheliberalsbytryingtobeelectedasaministerialroyalistwithouteverbeingabletoconquertheaversionoftheadministration，——thisrancorousrepublican，madwithambition，resolvedtorivaltheroyalismandaristocracyofAlenconatthemomentwhentheyoncemorehadtheupperhand。HestrengthenedhimselfwiththeChurchbythedeceitfulappearanceofawell-feignedpiety:
　　heaccompaniedhiswifetomass；hegavemoneyfortheconventsofthetown；heassistedthecongregationoftheSacre-Coeur；hetooksideswiththeclergyonalloccasionswhentheclergycameintocollisionwiththetown，thedepartment，ortheState。Secretlysupportedbytheliberals，protectedbytheChurch，callinghimselfaconstitutionalroyalist，hekeptbesidethearistocracyofthedepartmentintheonehopeofruiningit，——andhedidruinit。Everonthewatchforthefaultsandblundersofthenobilityandthegovernment，helaidplansforhisvengeanceagainstthe"chateau-people，"andespeciallyagainstthed'Esgrignons，inwhosebosomhewasonedaytothrustapoisoneddagger。
　　Amongotherbenefitstothetownhegavemoneyliberallytorevivethemanufactureofpointd'Alencon；herenewedthetradeinlinens，andthetownhadafactory。Inscribinghimselfthusupontheinterestsandheartofthemasses，bydoingwhattheroyalistsdidnotdo，duBousquierdidnotreallyriskafarthing。Backedbyhisfortune，hecouldaffordtowaitresultswhichenterprisingpersonswhoinvolvethemselvesareforcedtoabandontoluckiersuccessors。
　　DuBousquiernowposedasabanker。ThisminiatureLafittewasapartnerinallnewenterprises，takinggoodsecurity。Heservedhimselfwhileapparentlyservingtheinterestsofthecommunity。Hewastheprimemoverofinsurancecompanies，theprotectorofnewenterprisesforpublicconveyance；hesuggestedpetitionsforaskingtheadministrationforthenecessaryroadsandbridges。Thuswarned，thegovernmentconsideredthisactionanencroachmentofitsownauthority。Astrugglewasbeguninjudiciously，forthegoodofthecommunitycompelledtheauthoritiestoyieldintheend。DuBousquierembitteredtheprovincialnobilityagainstthecourtnobilityandthepeerage；andfinallyhebroughtabouttheshockingadhesionofastrongpartyofconstitutionalroyaliststothewarfaresustainedbythe"JournaldesDebats，"andM。deChateaubriandagainstthethrone，——anungratefuloppositionbasedonignobleinterests，whichwasonecauseofthetriumphofthebourgeoisieandjournalismin1830。
　　ThusduBousquier，incommonwiththeclassherepresented，hadthesatisfactionofbeholdingthefuneralofroyalty。Theoldrepublican，smotheredwithmasses，whoforfifteenyearshadplayedthatcomedytosatisfyhisvendetta，himselfthrewdownwithhisownhandthewhiteflagofthemayoraltytotheapplauseofthemultitude。NomaninFrancecastuponthenewthroneraisedinAugust，1830，aglanceofmoreintoxicated，joyousvengeance。TheaccessionoftheYoungerBranchwasthetriumphoftheRevolution。TohimthevictoryofthetricolormeanttheresurrectionofMontagne，whichthistimeshouldsurelybringthenobilitydowntothedustbymeansmorecertainthanthatoftheguillotine，becauselessviolent。Thepeeragewithoutheredity；theNationalGuard，whichputsonthesamecamp-bedthecornergrocerandthemarquis；theabolitionoftheentailsdemandedbyabourgeoislawyer；theCatholicChurchdeprivedofitssupremacy；
　　andalltheotherlegislativeinventionsofAugust，1830，——weretoduBousquierthewisestpossibleapplicationoftheprinciplesof1793。
　　Since1830thismanhasbeenareceiver-general。HereliedforhisadvancementonhisrelationswiththeDucd'Orleans，fatherofLouisPhilippe，andwithMonsieurdeFolmon，formerlystewardtotheDuchess-dowagerofOrleans。Hereceivesabouteightythousandfrancsayear。IntheeyesofthepeopleabouthimMonsieurduBousquierisamanofmeans，——arespectableman，steadyinhisprinciples，upright，andobliging。AlenconowestohimitsconnectionwiththeindustrialmovementbywhichBrittanymaypossiblysomedaybejoinedtowhatispopularlycalledmoderncivilization。Alencon，whichupto1816couldboastofonlytwoprivatecarriages，saw，withoutamazement，inthecourseoftenyears，coupes，landaus，tilburies，andcabrioletsrollingthroughherstreets。Theburghersandtheland-owners，alarmedatfirstlestthepriceofeverythingshouldincrease，recognizedlaterthatthisincreaseinthestyleoflivinghadacontraryeffectupontheirrevenues。ThepropheticremarkofduRonceret，"DuBousquierisaverystrongman，"wasadoptedbythewholecountry-
　　side。
　　But，unhappilyforthewife，thatsayinghasadoublemeaning。Thehusbanddoesnotinanywayresemblethepublicpolitician。Thisgreatcitizen，soliberaltotheworldabouthim，sokindlyinspiredwithloveforhisnativeplace，isadespotinhisownhouse，andutterlydevoidofconjugalaffection。Thisman，soprofoundlyastute，hypocritical，andsly；thisCromwelloftheVal-Noble，——behavesinhishomeashebehavestothearistocracy，whomhecaressesinhopestothrottlethem。LikehisfriendBernadotte，hewearsavelvetgloveuponhisironhand。Hiswifehasgivenhimnochildren。Suzanne'sremarkandthechevalier'sinsinuationswerethereforejustified。Buttheliberalbourgeoisie，theconstitutional-royalist-bourgeoisie，thecountry-squires，themagistracy，andthe"churchparty"laidtheblameonMadameduBousquier。"Shewastooold，"theysaid；"MonsieurduBousquierhadmarriedhertoolate。Besides，itwasveryluckyforthepoorwoman；itwasdangerousatheragetobearchildren!"WhenMadameduBousquierconfided，weeping，herperiodicdespairtoMesdamesduCoudraiandduRonceret，thoseladieswouldreply，——
　　"Butyouarecrazy，mydear；youdon'tknowwhatyouarewishingfor；
　　achildwouldbeyourdeath。"
　　Manymen，whosehopeswerefastenedonduBousquier'striumph，sanghispraisestotheirwives，whointurnrepeatedthemtothepoorwifeinsomesuchspeechasthis:——
　　"Youareverylucky，dear，tohavemarriedsuchanableman；you'llescapethemiseryofwomenwhosehusbandsaremenwithoutenergy，incapableofmanagingtheirproperty，orbringinguptheirchildren。"
　　"Yourhusbandismakingyouqueenofthedepartment，mylove。He'llneverleaveyouembarrassed，nothe!Why，heleadsallAlencon。"
　　"ButIwish，"saidthepoorwife，"thathegavelesstimetothepublicand——"
　　"Youarehardtoplease，mydearMadameduBousquier。Iassureyouthatallthewomenintownenvyyouyourhusband。"
　　Misjudgedbysociety，whichbeganbyblamingher，thepiouswomanfoundampleopportunityinherhometodisplayhervirtues。Shelivedintears，butsheneverceasedtopresenttoothersaplacidface。TosoChristianasoulacertainthoughtwhichpeckedforeveratherheartwasacrime:"IlovedtheChevalierdeValois，"itsaid；"butI
　　havemarriedduBousquier。"TheloveofpoorAthanaseGransonalsoroselikeaphantomofremorse，andpursuedhereveninherdreams。
　　Thedeathofheruncle，whosegriefsatthelastburstforth，madeherlifestillmoresorrowful；forshenowfeltthesufferingherunclemusthaveenduredinwitnessingthechangeofpoliticalandreligiousopinionintheoldhouse。Sorrowoftenfallslikeathunderbolt，asitdidonMadameGranson；butinthisoldmaiditslowlyspreadlikeadropofoil，whichneverleavesthestuffthatslowlyimbibesit。
　　TheChevalierdeValoiswasthemaliciousmanipulatorwhobroughtaboutthecrowningmisfortuneofMadameduBousquier'slife。Hisheartwassetonundeceivingherpioussimplicity；forthechevalier，expertinlove，divinedduBousquier，themarriedman，ashehaddivinedduBousquier，thebachelor。Butthewaryrepublicanwasdifficultofattack。Hissalonwas，ofcourse，closedtotheChevalierdeValois，astoallthosewho，intheearlydaysofhismarriage，hadslightedtheCormonmansion。Hewas，moreover，impervioustoridicule；hepossessedavastfortune；hereignedinAlencon；hecaredaslittleforhiswifeasRichardIII。caredforthedeadhorsewhichhadhelpedhimwinabattle。Topleaseherhusband，MadameduBousquierhadbrokenoffrelationswiththed'Esgrignonhousehold，whereshewentnolonger，exceptthatsometimeswhenherhusbandleftherduringhistripstoParis，shewouldpayabriefvisittoMademoiselleArmande。
　　Aboutthreeyearsafterhermarriage，atthetimeoftheAbbedeSponde'sdeath，MademoiselleArmandejoinedMadameduBousquierastheywereleavingSaint-Leonard's，wheretheyhadgonetoheararequiemsaidforhim。Thegenerousdemoisellethoughtthatonthisoccasionsheowedhersympathytothenieceintrouble。Theywalkedtogether，talkingofthedeardeceased，untiltheyreachedtheforbiddenhouse，intowhichMademoiselleArmandeenticedMadameduBousquierbythecharmofhermannerandconversation。Thepoordesolatewomanwasgladtotalkofherunclewithonewhomhetrulyloved。Moreover，shewantedtoreceivethecondolencesoftheoldmarquis，whomshehadnotseenfornearlythreeyears。Itwashalf-
　　pastoneo'clock，andshefoundatthehoteld'EsgrignontheChevalierdeValois，whohadcometodinner。Ashebowedtoher，hetookherbythehands。
　　"Well，dear，virtuous，andbelovedlady，"hesaid，inatoneofemotion，"wehavelostoursaintedfriend；weshareyourgrief。Yes，yourlossisaskeenlyfelthereasinyourownhome，——moreso，"headded，alludingtoduBousquier。
　　Afterafewmorewordsoffuneraloration，inwhichallpresentspokefromtheheart，thechevaliertookMadameduBousquier'sarm，and，gallantlyplacingitwithinhisown，presseditadoringlyasheledhertotherecessofawindow。
　　"Areyouhappy？"hesaidinafatherlyvoice。
　　"Yes，"shesaid，droppinghereyes。
　　Hearingthat"Yes，"MadamedeTroisville，thedaughterofthePrincessScherbellof，andtheoldMarquisedeCasterancameupandjoinedthechevalier，togetherwithMademoiselleArmande。Theyallwenttowalkinthegardenuntildinnerwasserved，withoutanyperceptiononthepartofMadameduBousquierthatalittleconspiracywasafoot。"Wehaveher!nowletusfindoutthesecretofthecase，"werethewordswrittenintheeyesofallpresent。
　　"Tomakeyourhappinesscomplete，"saidMademoiselleArmande，"yououghttohavechildren，——afineladlikemynephew——"
　　TearsseemedtostartinMadameduBousquier'seyes。
　　"Ihavehearditsaidthatyouweretheonetoblameinthematter，andthatyoufearedthedangersofapregnancy，"saidthechevalier。
　　"I!"shesaidartlessly。"IwouldbuyachildwithahundredyearsofpurgatoryifIcould。"
　　Onthequestionthusstartedadiscussionarose，conductedbyMadamedeTroisvilleandtheoldMarquisedeCasteranwithsuchdelicacyandadroitnessthatthepoorvictimrevealed，withoutbeingawareofit，thesecretsofherhouse。MademoiselleArmandehadtakenthechevalier'sarm，andwalkedawaysoastoleavethethreewomenfreetodiscusswedlock。MadameduBousquierwasthenenlightenedonthevariousdeceptionsofhermarriage；andasshewasstillthesamesimpletonshehadalwaysbeen，sheamusedheradvisersbydelightfulnaivetes。
　　AlthoughatfirstthedeceptivemarriageofMademoiselleCormonmadealaughthroughoutthetown，whichwassooninitiatedintothestoryofthecase，beforelongMadameduBousquierwontheesteemandsympathyofallthewomen。ThefactthatMademoiselleCormonhadflungherselfheadlongintomarriagewithoutsucceedinginbeingmarried，madeeverybodylaughather；butwhentheylearnedtheexceptionalpositioninwhichthesternnessofherreligiousprinciplesplacedher，alltheworldadmiredher。"ThatpoorMadameduBousquier"tooktheplaceof"ThatgoodMademoiselleCormon。"
　　ThusthechevaliercontrivedtorenderduBousquierbothridiculousandodiousforatime；butridiculeendsbyweakening；whenallhadsaidtheirsayabouthim，thegossipdiedout。Besides，atfifty-sevenyearsofagethedumbrepublicanseemedtomanypeopletohavearighttoretire。Thisaffair，however，envenomedthehatredwhichduBousquieralreadyboretothehouseofEsgrignontosuchadegreethatitmadehimpitilesswhenthedayofvengeancecame。[See"TheGalleryofAntiquities。"]MadameduBousquierreceivedordersneveragaintosetfootintothathouse。Bywayofreprisalsuponthechevalierforthetrickthusplayedhim，duBousquier，whohadjustcreatedthejournalcalledthe"Courrierdel'Orne，"causedthefollowingnoticetobeinsertedinit:——
　　"BondstotheamountofonethousandfrancsayearwillbepaidtoanypersonwhocanprovetheexistenceofoneMonsieurdePombretonbefore，during，oraftertheEmigration。"
　　Althoughhermarriagewasessentiallynegative，MadameduBousquiersawsomeadvantagesinit:wasitnotbettertointerestherselfinthemostremarkablemaninthetownthantolivealone？DuBousquierwaspreferabletoadog，orcat，orthosecanariesthatspinsterslove。Heshowedforhiswifeasentimentmorerealandlessselfishthanthatwhichisfeltbyservants，confessors，andhopefulheirs。
　　Laterinlifeshecametoconsiderherhusbandastheinstrumentofdivinewrath；forshethensawinnumerablesinsinherformerdesiresformarriage；sheregardedherselfasjustlypunishedforthesorrowshehadbroughtonMadameGranson，andforthehasteneddeathofheruncle。Obedienttothatreligionwhichcommandsustokisstherodwithwhichthepunishmentisinflicted，shepraisedherhusband，andpubliclyapprovedhim。Butintheconfessional，oratnight，whenpraying，sheweptoften，imploringGod'sforgivenessfortheapostasyofthemanwhothoughtthecontraryofwhatheprofessed，andwhodesiredthedestructionofthearistocracyandtheChurch，——thetworeligionsofthehouseofCormon。
　　Withallherfeelingsbruisedandimmolatedwithinher，compelledbydutytomakeherhusbandhappy，attachedtohimbyacertainindefinableaffection，born，perhaps，ofhabit，herlifebecameoneperpetualcontradiction。Shehadmarriedamanwhoseconductandopinionsshehated，butwhomshewasboundtocareforwithdutifultenderness。OftenshewalkedwiththeangelswhenduBousquierateherpreservesorthoughtthedinnergood。Shewatchedtoseethathisslightestwishwassatisfied。Ifhetoreoffthecoverofhisnewspaperandleftitonatable，insteadofthrowingitaway，shewouldsay:——
　　"Rene，leavethatwhereitis；monsieurdidnotplaceittherewithoutintention。"
　　IfduBousquierhadajourneytotake，shewasanxiousabouthistrunk，hislinen；shetookthemostminuteprecautionsforhismaterialbenefit。IfhewenttoPrebaudet，sheconsultedthebarometertheeveningbeforetoknowiftheweatherwouldbefine。Shewatchedforhiswillinhiseyes，likeadogwhichhearsandseesitsmasterwhilesleeping。WhenthestoutduBousquier，touchedbythisscrupulouslove，wouldtakeherroundthewaistandkissherforehead，saying，"Whatagoodwomanyouare!"tearsofpleasurewouldcomeintotheeyesofthepoorcreature。ItisprobablythatduBousquierfelthimselfobligedtomakecertainconcessionswhichobtainedforhimtherespectofRose-Marie-Victoire；forCatholicvirtuedoesnotrequireadissimulationascompleteasthatofMadameduBousquier。Oftenthegoodsaintsatmutelybyandlistenedtothehatredofmenwhoconcealedthemselvesunderthecloakofconstitutionalroyalists。SheshudderedassheforesawtheruinoftheChurch。Occasionallysheriskedastupidword，anobservationwhichduBousquiercutshortwithaglance。
　　TheworriesofsuchanexistenceendedbystupefyingMadameduBousquier，whofounditeasierandalsomoredignifiedtoconcentrateherintelligenceonherownthoughtsandresignherselftoleadalifethatwaspurelyanimal。Shethenadoptedthesubmissionofaslave，andregardeditasameritoriousdeedtoacceptthedegradationinwhichherhusbandplacedher。Thefulfilmentofhiswillneveroncecausedhertomurmur。Thetimidsheepwenthenceforthinthewaytheshepherdledher；shegaveherselfuptotheseverestreligiouspractices，andthoughtnomoreofSatanandhisworksandvanities。
　　ThusshepresentedtotheeyesoftheworldaunionofallChristianvirtues；andduBousquierwascertainlyoneoftheluckiestmeninthekingdomofFranceandofNavarre。
　　"Shewillbeasimpletontoherlastbreath，"saidtheformercollector，who，however，dinedwithhertwiceaweek。
　　ThishistorywouldbestrangelyincompleteifnomentionweremadeofthecoincidenceoftheChevalierdeValois'sdeathoccurringatthesametimeasthatofSuzanne'smother。Thechevalierdiedwiththemonarchy，inAugust，1830。HehadjoinedthecortegeofCharlesX。atNonancourt，andpiouslyescortedittoCherbourgwiththeTroisvilles，Casterans，d'Esgrignons，Verneuils，etc。Theoldgentlemanhadtakenwithhimfiftythousandfrancs，——thesumtowhichhissavingsthenamounted。Heofferedthemtooneofthefaithfulfriendsofthekingfortransmissiontohismaster，speakingofhisapproachingdeath，anddeclaringthatthemoneycameoriginallyfromthegoodnessoftheking，and，moreover，thatthepropertyofthelastoftheValoisbelongedofrighttothecrown。ItisnotknownwhetherthefervorofhiszealconqueredthereluctanceoftheBourbon，whoabandonedhisfinekingdomofFrancewithoutcarryingawaywithhimafarthing，andwhooughttohavebeentouchedbythedevotionofthechevalier。Itiscertain，however，thatCesarine，theresiduarylegateoftheoldman，receivedfromhisestateonlysixhundredfrancsayear。ThechevalierreturnedtoAlencon，cruellyweakenedbygriefandbyfatigue；hediedontheverydaywhenCharlesX。arrivedonaforeignshore。
　　MadameduVal-Nobleandherprotector，whowasjustthenafraidofthevengeanceoftheliberalparty，weregladofapretexttoremainincognitointhevillagewhereSuzanne'smotherdied。Atthesaleofthechevalier'seffects，whichtookplaceatthattime，Suzanne，anxioustoobtainasouvenirofherfirstandlastfriend，pushedupthepriceofthefamoussnuff-box，whichwasfinallyknockeddowntoherforathousandfrancs。TheportraitofthePrincessGoritzawasaloneworththatsum。Twoyearslater，ayoungdandy，whowasmakingacollectionofthefinesnuff-boxesofthelastcentury，obtainedfromMadameduVal-Noblethechevalier'streasure。Thecharmingconfidantofmanyaloveandthepleasureofanoldageisnowonexhibitioninaspeciesofprivatemuseum。Ifthedeadcouldknowwhathappensafterthem，thechevalier'sheadwouldsurelyblushuponitsleftcheek。
　　Ifthishistoryhasnoothereffectthantoinspirethepossessorsofpreciousrelicswithholyfear，andinducethemtomakecodicilstosecurethesetouchingsouvenirsofjoysthatarenomorebybequeathingthemtolovinghands，itwillhavedoneanimmenseservicetothechivalrousandromanticportionofthecommunity；butitdoes，intruth，containafarhighermoral。Doesitnotshowthenecessityforanewspeciesofeducation？Doesitnotinvoke，fromtheenlightenedsolicitudeoftheministersofPublicInstruction，thecreationofchairsofanthropology，——ascienceinwhichGermanyoutstripsus？Modernmythsareevenlessunderstoodthanancientones，harriedaswearewithmyths。Mythsarepressingusfromeverypoint；
　　theyservealltheories，theyexplainallquestions。
　　Theyare，accordingtohumanideas，thetorchesofhistory；theywouldsaveempiresfromrevolutionifonlytheprofessorsofhistorywouldforcetheexplanationstheygiveintothemindoftheprovincialmasses。IfMademoiselleCormonhadbeenareaderorastudent，andiftherehadexistedinthedepartmentoftheOrneaprofessorofanthropology，orevenhadshereadAriosto，thefrightfuldisastersofherconjugallifewouldneverhaveoccurred。ShewouldprobablyhaveknownwhytheItalianpoetmakesAngelicapreferMedoro，whowasablondChevalierdeValois，toOrlando，whosemarewasdead，andwhoknewnobetterthantoflyintoapassion。IsnotMedorothemythicformforallcourtiersoffeminineroyalty，andOrlandothemythofdisorderly，furious，andimpotentrevolutions，whichdestroybutcannotproduce？
　　Wepublish，butwithoutassuminganyresponsibilityforit，thisopinionofapupilofMonsieurBallanche。
　　Noinformationhasreachedusastothefateofthenegroes'headsindiamonds。YoumayseeMadameduVal-NobleeveryeveningattheOpera。
　　ThankstotheeducationgivenherbytheChevalierdeValois，shehasalmosttheairofawell-bredwoman。
　　MadameduBousquierstilllives；isnotthatasmuchastosayshestillsuffers？Afterreachingtheageofsixty——theperiodatwhichwomenallowthemselvestomakeconfessions——shesaidconfidentiallytoMadameduCoudrai，thatshehadneverbeenabletoenduretheideaofdyinganoldmaid。