Rememberthatthismonologue，addressedtothePrincessGoritza，wasmentallyutteredwhilehetookapinchofsnuff。
　　MadameGransonhaddivinedthatthechevalierwastalkingaboutAthanase。Eagertoknowtheresultoftheconversation，shefollowedMademoiselleCormon，whowasnowapproachingtheyoungmanwithmuchdignity。ButatthismomentJacquelinappearedtoannouncethatmademoisellewasserved。Theoldmaidgaveaglanceofappealtothechevalier；butthegallantrecorderofmortgages，whowasbeginningtoseeinthemannersofthatgentlemanthebarrierwhichtheprovincialnoblesweresettingupaboutthistimebetweenthemselvesandthebourgeoisie，madethemostofhischancetocutoutMonsieurdeValois。HewasclosetoMademoiselleCormon，andpromptlyofferedhisarm，whichshefoundherselfcompelledtoaccept。Thechevalierthendarted，outofpolicy，uponMadameGranson。
　　"MademoiselleCormon，mydearlady，"hesaidtoher，walkingslowlyafteralltheotherguests，"feelstheliveliestinterestinyourdearAthanase；butIfearitwillvanishthroughhisownfault。Heisirreligiousandliberal；heisagitatingthismatterofthetheatre；
　　hefrequentstheBonapartists；hetakesthesideofthatrector。Suchconductmaymakehimlosehisplaceinthemayor'soffice。Youknowwithwhatcarethegovernmentisbeginningtoweedoutsuchopinions。
　　IfyourdearAthanaseloseshisplace，wherecanhefindotheremployment？Iadvisehimnottogethimselfinbadodorwiththeadministration。"
　　"MonsieurleChevalier，"saidthepoorfrightenedmother，"howgratefulIamtoyou!Youareright:mysonisthetoolofabadsetofpeople；Ishallenlightenhim。"
　　ThechevalierhadlongsincefathomedthenatureofAthanase，andrecognizedinitthatunyieldingelementofrepublicanconvictionstowhichinhisyouthayoungmaniswillingtosacrificeeverything，carriedawaybytheword"liberty，"soill-definedandsolittleunderstood，butwhichtopersonsdisdainedbyfateisabannerofrevolt；andtosuch，revoltisvengeance。Athanasewouldcertainlypersistinthatfaith，forhisopinionswerewoveninwithhisartisticsorrows，withhisbittercontemplationofthesocialstate。
　　Hewasignorantofthefactthatatthirty-sixyearsofage，——theperiodoflifewhenamanhasjudgedmenandsocialinterestsandrelations，——theopinionsforwhichhewasreadytosacrificehisfuturewouldbemodifiedinhim，astheyareinallmenofrealsuperiority。ToremainfaithfultotheLeftsideofAlenconwastogaintheaversionofMademoiselleCormon。There，indeed，thechevaliersawtrue。
　　Thusweseethatthissociety，sopeacefulinappearance，wasinternallyasagitatedasanydiplomaticcircle，wherecraft，ability，andpassionsgroupthemselvesaroundthegravequestionsofanempire。
　　Theguestswerenowseatedatthetableladenwiththefirstcourse，whichtheyateasprovincialseat，withoutshameatpossessingagoodappetite，andnotasinParis，whereitseemsasifjawsgnashedundersumptuarylaws，whichmadeittheirbusinesstocontradictthelawsofanatomy。InParispeopleeatwiththeirteeth，andtriflewiththeirpleasure；intheprovincesthingsaredonenaturally，andinterestisperhapsrathertoomuchconcentratedonthegrandanduniversalmeansofexistencetowhichGodhascondemnedhiscreatures。
　　ItwasattheendofthefirstcoursethatMademoiselleCormonmadethemostcelebratedofher"speeches"；itwastalkedaboutforfullytwoyears，andisstilltoldatthegatheringsofthelesserbourgeoisiewheneverthetopicofhermarriagecomesup。
　　Theconversation，becominglivelyasthepenultimateentreewasreached，hadturnednaturallyontheaffairofthetheatreandtheconstitutionallyswornrector。Inthefirstfervorofroyalty，duringtheyear1816，thosewholaterwerecalledJesuitswereallfortheexpulsionoftheAbbeFrancoisfromhisparish。DuBousquier，suspectedbyMonsieurdeValoisofsustainingthepriestandbeingatthebottomofthetheatreintrigues，andonwhosebacktheadroitchevalierwouldinanycasehaveputthosesinswithhiscustomarycleverness，wasinthedockwithnolawyertodefendhim。Athanase，theonlyguestloyalenoughtostandbyduBousquier，hadnotthenervetoemithisideasinthepresenceofthosepotentatesofAlencon，whominhishearthethoughtstupid。Nonebutprovincialyouthsnowretainarespectfuldemeanorbeforemenofacertainage，anddareneithertocensurenorcontradictthem。Thetalk，diminishedundertheeffectofcertaindeliciousducksdressedwitholives，wasfallingflat。MademoiselleCormon，feelingthenecessityofmaintainingitagainstherownducks，attemptedtodefendduBousquier，whowasbeingrepresentedasaperniciousfomenterofintrigues，capableofanytrickery。
　　"Asforme，"shesaid，"IthoughtthatMonsieurduBousquiercaredchieflyforchildishthings。"
　　Underexistingcircumstancestheremarkhadenormoussuccess。
　　MademoiselleCormonobtainedagreattriumph；shebroughtthenoseofthePrincessGoritzaflatonthetable。Thechevalier，wholittleexpectedsuchanaptremarkfromhisDulcinea，wassoamazedthathecouldatfirstfindnowordstoexpresshisadmiration；heapplaudednoiselessly，astheydoattheOpera，tappinghisfingerstogethertoimitateapplause。
　　"Sheisadorablywitty，"hesaidtoMadameGranson。"Ialwayssaidthatsomedayshewouldunmaskherbatteries。"
　　"Inprivatesheisalwayscharming，"repliedthewidow。
　　"Inprivate，madame，allwomenhavewit，"returnedthechevalier。
　　TheHomericlaughthusraisedhavingsubsided，MademoiselleCormonaskedthereasonofhersuccess。ThenbegantheFORTEofthegossip。
　　DuBousquierwasdepictedasaspeciesofcelibatePereGigogne，amonster，whoforthelastfifteenyearshadkepttheFoundlingHospitalsupplied。Hisimmoralhabitswereatlastrevealed!theseParisiansaturnaliasweretheresultofthem，etc。，etc。ConductedbytheChevalierdeValois，amostableleaderofanorchestraofthiskind，theopeningoftheCANCANwasmagnificent。
　　"Ireallydon'tknow，"hesaid，"whatshouldhinderaduBousquierfrommarryingaMademoiselleSuzanneWhat's-her-name。WhatIShername，doyouknow？Suzette!ThoughIhavelodgingsatMadameLardot's，Iknowhergirlsonlybysight。IfthisSuzetteisatall，fine，saucygirl，withgrayeyes，aslimwaist，andaprettyfoot，whomIhaveoccasionallyseen，andwhosebehavioralwaysseemedtomeextremelyinsolent，sheisfarsuperiorinmannerstoduBousquier。Besides，thegirlhasthenobilityofbeauty；fromthatpointofviewthemarriagewouldbeapooroneforher；shemightdobetter。YouknowhowtheEmperorJosephhadthecuriositytoseetheduBarryatLuciennes。Heofferedherhisarmtowalkabout，andthepoorthingwassosurprisedatthehonorthatshehesitatedtoacceptit:'Beautyiseveraqueen，'saidtheEmperor。Andhe，youknow，wasanAustrian-German，"
　　addedthechevalier。"ButIcantellyouthatGermany，whichisthoughthereveryrustic，isalandofnoblechivalryandfinemanners，especiallyinPolandandHungary，where——"
　　Herethechevalierstopped，fearingtoslipintosomeallusiontohispersonalhappiness；hetookouthissnuff-box，andconfidedtherestofhisremarkstotheprincess，whohadsmileduponhimforthirty-sixyearsandmore。
　　"ThatspeechwasratheradelicateoneforLouisXV。，"saidduRonceret。
　　"Butitwas，Ithink，theEmperorJosephwhomadeit，andnotLouisXV。，"remarkedMademoiselleCormon，inacorrectingtone。
　　"Mademoiselle，"saidthechevalier，observingthemaliciousglanceexchangedbetweenthejudge，thenotary，andtherecorder，"MadameduBarrywastheSuzanneofLouisXV。，——acircumstancewellknowntoscampslikeourselves，butunsuitablefortheknowledgeofyoungladies。Yourignoranceprovesyoutobeaflawlessdiamond；historicalcorruptionsdonotenteryourmind。"
　　TheAbbedeSpondelookedgraciouslyattheChevalierdeValois，andnoddedhisheadinsignofhislaudatoryapprobation。
　　"Doesn'tmademoiselleknowhistory？"askedtherecorderofmortgages。
　　"IfyoumixupLouisXV。andthisgirlSuzanne，howamItoknowhistory？"repliedMademoiselleCormon，angelically，gladtoseethatthedishofduckswasemptyatlast，andtheconversationsoreadytorevivethatallpresentlaughedwiththeirmouthsfullatherlastremark。
　　"Poorgirl!"saidtheAbbedeSponde。"Whenagreatmisfortunehappens，charity，whichisdivinelove，andasblindaspaganlove，oughtnottolookintothecausesofit。Niece，youarepresidentoftheMaternitySociety；youmustsuccorthatpoorgirl，whowillnowfinditdifficulttomarry。"
　　"Poorchild!"ejaculatedMademoiselleCormon。
　　"DoyousupposeduBousquierwouldmarryher？"askedthejudge。
　　"Ifheisanhonorablemanheoughttodoso，"saidMadameGranson；
　　"butreally，totellthetruth，mydoghasbettermoralsthanhe——"
　　"Azoris，however，agoodpurveyor，"saidtherecorderofmortgages，withtheairofsayingawittything。
　　AtdessertduBousquierwasstillthetopicofconversation，havinggivenrisetovariouslittlejokeswhichthewinerenderedsparkling。
　　Followingtheexampleoftherecorder，eachguestcappedhisneighbor'sjokewithanother:DuBousquierwasafather，butnotaconfessor；hewasfatherless；hewasfatherLY；hewasnotareverendfather；noryetaconscript-father——
　　"Norcanhebeafoster-father，"saidtheAbbedeSponde，withagravitywhichstoppedthelaughter。
　　"Noranoblefather，"addedthechevalier。
　　TheChurchandthenobilitydescendedthusintothearenaofpuns，without，however，losingtheirdignity。
　　"Hush!"exclaimedtherecorderofmortgages。"IhearthecreakingofduBousquier'sboots。"
　　Itusuallyhappensthatamanisignorantofrumorsthatareafloatabouthim。Awholetownmaybetalkingofhisaffairs；maycalumniateanddecryhim，butifhehasnogoodfriends，hewillknownothingaboutit。NowtheinnocentduBousquierwassuperbinhisignorance。
　　NoonehadtoldhimasyetofSuzanne'srevelations；hethereforeappearedveryjauntyandslightlyconceitedwhenthecompany，leavingthedining-room，returnedtothesalonfortheircoffee；severalotherguestshadmeantimeassembledfortheevening。MademoiselleCormon，fromasenseofshamefacedness，darednotlookattheterribleseducer。SheseizeduponAthanase，andbegantolecturehimwiththequeerestplatitudesaboutroyalistpoliticsandreligiousmorality。
　　Notpossessing，liketheChevalierdeValois，asnuff-boxadornedwithaprincess，bythehelpofwhichhecouldstandthistorrentofsilliness，thepoorpoetlistenedtothewordsofherwhomhelovedwithastupidair，gazing，meanwhile，atherenormousbust，whichhelditselfbeforehiminthatstillreposewhichistheattributeofallgreatmasses。Hisloveproducedinhimasortofintoxicationwhichchangedtheshrillvoiceoftheoldmaidintoasoftmurmur，andherflatremarksintowittyspeeches。Loveisamakeroffalsecoin，continuallychangingcopperpenniesintogold-pieces，andsometimesturningitsrealgoldintocopper。
　　"Well，Athanase，willyoupromiseme？"
　　Thisfinalsentencestrucktheearoftheabsorbedyoungmanlikeoneofthosenoiseswhichwakeuswithabound。
　　"What，mademoiselle？"
　　MademoiselleCormonrosehastily，andlookedatduBousquier，whoatthatmomentresembledthestoutgodofFablewhichtheRepublicstampeduponhercoins。ShewalkeduptoMadameGranson，andsaidinherear:——
　　"Mydearfriend，yousonisanidiot。Thatlyceumhasruinedhim，"sheadded，rememberingtheinsistencewithwhichthechevalierhadspokenoftheevilsofeducationinsuchschools。
　　Whatacatastrophe!Unknowntohimself，thelucklessAthanasehadhadanoccasiontoflinganemberofhisownfireuponthepileofbrushgatheredintheheartoftheoldmaid。Hadhelistenedtoher，hemighthavemadeher，thenandthere，perceivehispassion；for，intheagitatedstateofMademoiselleCormon'smind，asinglewordwouldhavesufficed。Butthatstupidabsorptioninhisownsentiments，whichcharacterizesyoungandtruelove，hadruinedhim，asachildfulloflifesometimeskillsitselfoutofignorance。
　　"WhathaveyoubeensayingtoMademoiselleCormon？"demandedhismother。
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Nothing；well，Icanexplainthat，"shethoughttoherself，puttingofftillthenextdayallfurtherreflectiononthematter，andattachingbutlittleimportancetoMademoiselleCormon'swords；forshefullybelievedthatduBousquierwasforeverlostintheoldmaid'sesteemaftertherevelationofthatevening。
　　Soonthefourtableswerefilledwiththeirsixteenplayers。Fourpersonswereplayingpiquet，——anexpensivegame，atwhichthemostmoneywaslost。MonsieurChoisnel，theprocureur-du-roi，andtwoladieswentintotheboudoirforagameatbackgammon。Theglasslustreswerelighted；andthentheflowerofMademoiselleCormon'scompanygatheredbeforethefireplace，onsofas，andaroundthetables，andeachcouplesaidtoherastheyarrived，——
　　"Soyouaregoingto-morrowtoPrebaudet？"
　　"Yes，Ireallymust，"shereplied。
　　Onthisoccasionthemistressofthehouseappearedpreoccupied。
　　MadameGransonwasthefirsttoperceivethequiteunnaturalstateoftheoldmaid'smind，——MademoiselleCormonwasthinking!
　　"Whatareyouthinkingof，cousin？"shesaidatlast，findingherseatedintheboudoir。
　　"Iamthinking，"shereplied，"ofthatpoorgirl。AsthepresidentoftheMaternitySociety，Iwillgiveyoufiftyfrancsforher。"
　　"Fiftyfrancs!"criedMadameGranson。"Butyouhavenevergivenasmuchasthat。"
　　"But，mydearcousin，itissonaturaltohavechildren。"
　　ThatimmoralspeechcomingfromtheheartoftheoldmaidstaggeredthetreasureroftheMaternitySociety。DuBousquierhadevidentlyadvancedintheestimationofMademoiselleCormon。
　　"Uponmyword，"saidMadameGranson，"duBousquierisnotonlyamonster，heisavillain。Whenamanhasdoneawronglikethat，heoughttopaytheindemnity。Isn'tithisplaceratherthanourstolookafterthegirl？——who，totellyouthetruth，seemstomeratherquestionable；thereareplentyofbettermeninAlenconthanthatcynicduBousquier。Agirlmustbedepraved，indeed，togoafterhim。"
　　"Cynic!YoursonteachesyoutotalkLatin，mydear，whichiswhollyincomprehensible。CertainlyIdon'twishtoexcuseMonsieurduBousquier；butprayexplaintomewhyawomanisdepravedbecausesheprefersonemantoanother。"
　　"Mydearcousin，supposeyoumarriedmysonAthanase；nothingcouldbemorenatural。Heisyoungandhandsome，fullofpromise，andhewillbethegloryofAlencon；andyeteverybodywillexclaimagainstyou:
　　eviltongueswillsayallsortsofthings；jealouswomenwillaccuseyouofdepravity，——butwhatwillthatmatter？youwillbeloved，andlovedtruly。IfAthanaseseemedtoyouanidiot，mydear，itisthathehastoomanyideas；extremesmeet。Helivesthelifeofagirloffifteen；hehasneverwallowedintheimpuritiesofParis，nothe!
　　Well，changetheterms，asmypoorhusbandusedtosay；itisthesamethingwithduBousquierinconnectionwithSuzanne。YOUwouldbecalumniated；butinthecaseofduBousquier，thechargewouldbetrue。Don'tyouunderstandme？"
　　"NomorethanifyouweretalkingGreek，"repliedMademoiselleCormon，whoopenedhereyeswide，andstrainedalltheforcesofherintellect。
　　"Well，cousin，ifImustdotallthei's，itisimpossibleforSuzannetoloveduBousquier。Andiftheheartcountsfornothinginthisaffair——"
　　"But，cousin，whatdopeoplelovewithifnottheirhearts？"
　　HereMadameGransonsaidtoherself，asthechevalierhadpreviouslythought:"Mypoorcousinisaltogethertooinnocent；suchstupiditypassesallbounds!——Dearchild，"shecontinuedaloud，"itseemstomethatchildrenarenotconceivedbythespiritonly。"
　　"Why，yes，mydear；theHolyVirginherself——"
　　"But，mylove，duBousquierisn'ttheHolyGhost!"
　　"True，"saidtheoldmaid；"heisaman!——amanwhosepersonalappearancemakeshimdangerousenoughforhisfriendstoadvisehimtomarry。"
　　"Youcouldyourselfbringaboutthatresult，cousin。"
　　"Howso？"saidtheoldmaid，withthemeeknessofChristiancharity。
　　"Bynotreceivinghiminyourhouseuntilhemarries。Youoweittogoodmoralsandtoreligiontomanifestundersuchcircumstancesanexemplarydispleasure。"
　　"OnmyreturnfromPrebaudetwewilltalkfurtherofthis，mydearMadameGranson。IwillconsultmyuncleandtheAbbeCouturier，"saidMademoiselleCormon，returningtothesalon，wheretheanimationwasnowatitsheight。
　　Thelights，thegroupofwomenintheirbestclothes，thesolemntone，thedignifiedairoftheassembly，madeMademoiselleCormonnotalittleproudofhercompany。TomanypersonsnothingbettercouldbeseeninParisinthehighestsociety。
　　AtthismomentduBousquier，whowasplayingwhistwiththechevalierandtwooldladies，——MadameduCoudraiandMadameduRonceret，——wastheobjectofdeepbutsilentcuriosity。Afewyoungwomenarrived，who，underpretextofwatchingthegame，gazedfixedlyathiminsosingularamanner，thoughslyly，thattheoldbachelorbegantothinkthattheremustbesomedeficiencyinhistoilet。
　　"Canmyfalsefrontbecrooked？"heaskedhimself，seizedbyoneofthoseanxietieswhichbesetoldbachelors。
　　Hetookadvantageofalosttrick，whichendedaseventhrubber，toriseandleavethetable。
　　"Ican'ttouchacardwithoutlosing，"hesaid。"Iamdecidedlytoounlucky。"
　　"Butyouareluckyinotherways，"saidthechevalier，givinghimaslylook。
　　Thatspeechnaturallymadetheroundsofthesalon，whereeveryoneexclaimedontheexquisitetasteofthechevalier，thePrincedeTalleyrandoftheprovince。
　　"There'snoonelikeMonsieurdeValoisforsuchwit。"
　　DuBousquierwenttolookathimselfinalittleoblongmirror，placedabovethe"Deserter，"buthesawnothingstrangeinhisappearance。
　　Afterinnumerablerepetitionsofthesametext，variedinallkeys，thedepartureofthecompanytookplaceaboutteno'clock，throughthelongantechamber，MademoiselleCormonconductingcertainofherfavoritegueststotheportico。Therethegroupsparted；somefollowedtheBretagneroadtowardsthechateau；theotherswentinthedirectionoftheriverSarthe。Thenbegantheusualconversation，whichfortwentyyearshadechoedatthathourthroughthisparticularstreetofAlencon。Itwasinvariably:——
　　"MademoiselleCormonlookedverywellto-night。"
　　"MademoiselleCormon？why，Ithoughtherratherstrange。"
　　"Howthatpoorabbefails!Didyounoticethatheslept？Hedoesnotknowwhatcardsheholds；heisgettingveryabsent-minded。"
　　"Weshallsoonhavethegriefoflosinghim。"
　　"Whatafinenight!Itwillbeafinedayto-morrow。"