newsituationsseemtimeworn；thebest-turnedandmosthighlypolishedphraseslimpandsquint；metaphorsandimagesgrinorcontradicteachother；whatsoeverisfalsestrikestheeye。InlikemannerthispoorwomantrembledlestsheshouldseeonthelipsofMonsieurdeTroisvilleasmileofcontemptforthisepiscopalsalon；shedreadedthecoldlookhemightcastoverthatancientdining-room；inshort，shefearedtheframemightinjureandagetheportrait。Supposetheseantiquitiesshouldcastareflectedlightofoldageuponherself？
　　Thisquestionmadeherfleshcreep。Shewouldgladly，atthatmoment，spendhalfhersavingsonrefittingherhouseifsomefairywandcoulddoitinamoment。Whereisthegeneralwhohasnottrembledontheeveofabattle？ThepoorwomanwasnowbetweenherAusterlitzandherWaterloo。
　　"MadamelaVicomtessedeTroisville，"shesaidtoherself；"anoblename!Ourpropertywillgotoagoodfamily，atanyrate。"
　　Shefellapreytoanirritationwhichmadeeveryfibreofhernervesquivertoalltheirpapillae，longsunkinflesh。Herblood，lashedbythisnewhope，wasinmotion。Shefeltthestrengthtoconverse，ifnecessary，withMonsieurdeTroisville。
　　ItisuselesstorelatetheactivitywithwhichJosette，Jacquelin，Mariette，Moreau，andhisagentswentabouttheirfunctions。Itwaslikethebusynessofantsabouttheireggs。
　　Allthatdailycarehadalreadyrenderedneatandcleanwasagaingoneoverandbrushedandrubbedandscrubbed。Thechinaofceremonysawthelight；thedamasklinenmarked"A，B，C"wasdrawnfromdepthswhereitlayunderatripleguardofwrappings，stillfurtherdefendedbyformidablelinesofpins。Aboveall，MademoiselleCormonsacrificedonthealtarofherhopesthreebottlesofthefamousliqueursofMadameAmphoux，themostillustriousofallthedistillersofthetropics，——anameverydeartogourmets。Thankstothedevotionofherlieutenants，mademoisellewassoonreadyfortheconflict。Thedifferentweapons——furniture，cookery，provisions，inshort，allthevariousmunitionsofwar，togetherwithabodyofreserveforces——werereadyalongthewholeline。Jacquelin，Mariette，andJosettereceivedorderstoappearinfulldress。Thegardenwasraked。Theoldmaidregrettedthatshecouldn'tcometoanunderstandingwiththenightingalesnestinginthetrees，inordertoobtaintheirfinesttrilling。
　　Atlast，aboutfouro'clock，attheverymomentwhentheAbbedeSpondereturnedhome，andjustasmademoisellebegantothinkshehadsetthetablewiththebestplateandlinenandpreparedthechoicestdishestonopurpose，theclick-clackofapostilionwasheardintheVal-Noble。
　　"'Tishe!"shesaidtoherself，thesnapofthewhipechoinginherheart。
　　Trueenough；heraldedbyallthisgossip，apost-chaise，inwhichwasasinglegentleman，madesogreatasensationcomingdowntherueSaint-BlaiseandturningintotherueduCoursthatseverallittlegamainsandsomegrownpersonsfollowedit，andstoodingroupsaboutthegateofthehotelCormontoseeitenter。Jacquelin，whoforesawhisownmarriageinthatofhismistress，hadalsoheardtheclick-
　　clackintherueSaint-Blaise，andhadopenedwidethegatesintothecourtyard。Thepostilion，afriendofhis，tookprideinmakingafineturn-in，anddrewupsharplybeforetheportico。Theabbecameforwardtogreethisguest，whosecarriagewasemptiedwithaspeedthathighwaymenmightputintotheoperation；thechaiseitselfwasrolledintothecoach-house，thegatesclosed，andinafewmomentsallsignsofMonsieurdeTroisville'sarrivalhaddisappeared。NeverdidtwochemicalsblendintoeachotherwithgreaterrapiditythanthehotelCormondisplayedinabsorbingtheVicomtedeTroisville。
　　Mademoiselle，whoseheartwasbeatinglikealizardcaughtbyaherdsman，satheroicallystillonhersofa，besidethefireinthesalon。Josetteopenedthedoor；andtheVicomtedeTroisville，followedbytheAbbedeSponde，presentedhimselftotheeyesofthespinster。
　　"Niece，thisisMonsieurleVicomtedeTroisville，thegrandsonofoneofmyoldschoolmates；MonsieurdeTroisville，myniece，MademoiselleCormon。"
　　"Ah!thatgooduncle；howwellhedoesit!"thoughtRose-Marie-
　　Victoire。
　　TheVicomtedeTroisvillewas，topainthimintwowords，duBousquierennobled。Betweenthetwomentherewaspreciselythedifferencewhichseparatesthevulgarstylefromthenoblestyle。Iftheyhadbothbeenpresent，themostfanaticliberalwouldnothavedeniedtheexistenceofaristocracy。Theviscount'sstrengthhadallthedistinctionofelegance；hisfigurehadpreserveditsmagnificentdignity。Hehadblueeyes，blackhair，anoliveskin，andlookedtobeaboutforty-sixyearsofage。YoumighthavethoughthimahandsomeSpaniardpreservedintheiceofRussia。Hismanner，carriage，andattitude，alldenotedadiplomatwhohadseenEurope。Hisdresswasthatofawell-bredtraveller。Asheseemedfatigued，theabbeofferedtoshowhimtohisroom，andwasmuchamazedwhenhisniecethrewopenthedooroftheboudoir，transformedintoabedroom。
　　MademoiselleCormonandherunclethenleftthenoblestrangertoattendtohisownaffairs，aidedbyJacquelin，whobroughtuphisluggage，andwentthemselvestowalkbesidetheriveruntiltheirguesthadmadehistoilet。AlthoughtheAbbedeSpondechancedtobeevenmoreabsent-mindedthanusual，MademoiselleCormonwasnotlesspreoccupied。Theybothwalkedoninsilence。TheoldmaidhadneverbeforemetanymanasseductiveasthisOlympeanviscount。Shemighthavesaidtoherself，astheGermansdo，"Thisismyideal!"insteadofwhichshefeltherselfboundfromheadtofoot，andcouldonlysay，"Here'smyaffair!"ThensheflewtoMariettetoknowifthedinnercouldbeputbackawhilewithoutlossofexcellence。
　　"Uncle，yourMonsieurdeTroisvilleisveryamiable，"shesaid，onreturning。
　　"Why，niece，hehasn'tasyetsaidaword。"
　　"Butyoucanseeitinhisways，hismanners，hisface。Isheabachelor？"
　　"I'msureIdon'tknow，"repliedtheabbe，whowasthinkingofadiscussiononmercy，latelybegunbetweentheAbbeCouturierandhimself。"MonsieurdeTroisvillewrotemethathewantedtobuyahousehere。Ifhewasmarried，hewouldn'tcomealoneonsuchanerrand，"addedtheabbe，carelessly，notconceivingtheideathathisniececouldbethinkingofmarriage。
　　"Isherich？"
　　"Heisayoungersonoftheyoungerbranch，"repliedheruncle。"Hisgrandfathercommandedasquadron，butthefatherofthisyoungmanmadeabadmarriage。"
　　"Youngman!"exclaimedtheoldmaid。"Itseemstome，uncle，thathemustbeatleastforty-five。"Shefeltthestrongestdesiretoputtheiryearsonapar。
　　"Yes，"saidtheabbe；"buttoapoorpriestofseventy，Rose，amanoffortyseemsayouth。"
　　AllAlenconknewbythistimethatMonsieurdeTroisvillehadarrivedattheCormons。Thetravellersoonrejoinedhishosts，andbegantoadmiretheBrillante，thegarden，andthehouse。
　　"Monsieurl'abbe，"hesaid，"mywholeambitionistohaveahouselikethis。"Theoldmaidfanciedadeclarationlurkedinthatspeech，andsheloweredhereyes。"Youmustenjoyitverymuch，mademoiselle，"
　　addedtheviscount。
　　"Howcoulditbeotherwise？Ithasbeeninourfamilysince1574，theperiodatwhichoneofourancestors，stewardtotheDucd'Alencon，acquiredthelandandbuiltthehouse，"repliedMademoiselleCormon。
　　"Itisbuiltonpiles，"sheadded。
　　Jacquelinannounceddinner。MonsieurdeTroisvilleofferedhisarmtothehappywoman，whoendeavorednottoleantooheavilyuponit；shefeared，asusual，toseemtomakeadvances。
　　"Everythingissoharmonioushere，"saidtheviscount，asheseatedhimselfattable。
　　"Yes，ourtreesarefullofbirds，whichgiveusconcertsfornothing；
　　nooneeverfrightensthem；andthenightingalessingatnight，"saidMademoiselleCormon。
　　"Iwasspeakingoftheinteriorofthehouse，"remarkedtheviscount，whodidnottroublehimselftoobserveMademoiselleCormon，andthereforedidnotperceivethedulnessofhermind。"Everythingissoinkeeping，——thetonesofcolor，thefurniture，thegeneralcharacter。"
　　"Butitcostsagreatdeal；taxesareenormous，"respondedtheexcellentwoman。
　　"Ah!taxesarehigh，arethey？"saidtheviscount，preoccupiedwithhisownideas。
　　"Idon'tknow，"repliedtheabbe。"Myniecemanagesthepropertyofeachofus。"
　　"Taxesarenotofmuchimportancetotherich，"saidMademoiselleCormon，notwishingtobethoughtmiserly。"Asforthefurniture，I
　　shallleaveitasitis，andchangenothing，——unlessImarry；andthen，ofcourse，everythingheremustsuitthehusband。"
　　"Youhavenobleprinciples，mademoiselle，"saidtheviscount，smiling。
　　"Youwillmakeonehappyman。"
　　"Nooneevermadetomesuchaprettyspeech，"thoughttheoldmaid。
　　TheviscountcomplimentedMademoiselleCormonontheexcellenceofherserviceandtheadmirablearrangementsofthehouse，remarkingthathehadsupposedtheprovincesbehindtheageinthatrespect；but，onthecontrary，hefoundthem，astheEnglishsay，"verycomfortable。"
　　"Whatcanthatwordmean？"shethought。"Oh，whereisthechevaliertoexplainittome？'Comfortable，'——thereseemtobeseveralwordsinit。Well，courage!"shesaidtoherself。"Ican'tbeexpectedtoansweraforeignlanguage——But，"shecontinuedaloud，feelinghertongueuntiedbytheeloquencewhichnearlyallhumancreaturesfindinmomentouscircumstances，"wehaveaverybrilliantsocietyhere，monsieur。Itassemblesatmyhouse，andyoushalljudgeofitthisevening，forsomeofmyfaithfulfriendshavenodoubtheardofmyreturnandyourarrival。AmongthemistheChevalierdeValois，aseigneuroftheoldcourt，amanofinfinitewitandtaste；thenthereisMonsieurleMarquisd'EsgrignonandMademoiselleArmande，hissister"shebithertonguewithvexation，——"awomanremarkableinherway，"sheadded。"Sheresolvedtoremainunmarriedinordertoleaveallherfortunetoherbrotherandnephew。"
　　"Ah!"exclaimedtheviscount。"Yes，thed'Esgrignons，——Irememberthem。"
　　"Alenconisverygay，"continuedtheoldmaid，nowfairlylaunched。
　　"There'smuchamusement:thereceiver-generalgivesballs；theprefectisanamiableman；andMonseigneurthebishopsometimeshonorsuswithavisit——"
　　"Well，then，"saidtheviscount，smiling，"Ihavedonewiselytocomeback，likethehare，todieinmyform。"
　　"Yes，"shesaid。"I，too，attachmyselforIdie。"
　　Theviscountsmiled。
　　"Ah!"thoughttheoldmaid，"alliswell；heunderstandsme。"
　　Theconversationcontinuedongeneralities。Byoneofthosemysteriousunknownandundefinablefaculties，MademoiselleCormonfoundinherbrain，underthepressureofherdesiretobeagreeable，allthephrasesandopinionsoftheChevalierdeValois。Itwaslikeaduelinwhichthedevilhimselfpointedthepistol。Neverwasanyadversarybetteraimedat。Theviscountwasfartoowell-bredtospeakoftheexcellenceofthedinner；buthissilencewaspraise。AshedrankthedeliciouswineswhichJacquelinservedtohimprofusely，heseemedtofeelhewaswithfriends，andtomeetthemwithpleasure；forthetrueconnoisseurdoesnotapplaud，heenjoys。Heinquiredthepriceofland，ofhouses，ofestates；hemadeMademoiselleCormondescribeatlengththeconfluenceoftheSartheandtheBrillante；heexpressedsurprisethatthetownwasplacedsofarfromtheriver，andseemedtobemuchinterestedinthetopographyoftheplace。
　　Thesilentabbelefthisniecetothrowthediceofconversation；andshetrulyfeltthatshepleasedMonsieurdeTroisville，whosmiledathergracefully，andcommittedhimselfduringthisdinnerfarmorethanhermosteagersuitorshadeverdoneintendays。Imagine，therefore，thelittleattentionswithwhichhewaspetted；youmighthavethoughthimacherishedlover，whosereturnbroughtjoytothehousehold。
　　Mademoiselleforesawthemomentwhentheviscountwantedbread；shewatchedhiseverylook；whenheturnedhisheadsheadroitlyputuponhisplateaportionofsomedishheseemedtolike；hadhebeenagourmand，shewouldalmosthavekilledhim；butwhatadelightfulspecimenoftheattentionsshewouldshowtoahusband!Shedidnotcommitthefollyofdepreciatingherself；onthecontrary，sheseteverysailbravely，ranupallherflags，assumedthebearingofthequeenofAlencon，andboastedofherexcellentpreserves。Infact，shefishedforcomplimentsinspeakingofherself，forshesawthatshepleasedtheviscount；thetruthbeingthathereagerdesirehadsotransformedherthatshebecamealmostawoman。
　　Atdessertsheheard，notwithoutemotionsofdelight，certainsoundsintheantechamberandsalonwhichdenotedthearrivalofherusualguests。ShecalledtheattentionofheruncleandMonsieurdeTroisvilleto
　　thispromptattendanceasaproofoftheaffectionthatwasfeltforher；whereasitwasreallytheresultofthepoignantcuriositywhichhadseizeduponthetown。Impatienttoshowherselfinallherglory，MademoiselleCormontoldJacquelintoservecoffeeandliqueursinthesalon，wherehepresentlysetout，inviewofthewholecompany，amagnificentliqueur-standofDresdenchinawhichsawthelightonlytwiceayear。Thiscircumstancewastakennoteofbythecompany，standingreadytogossipoverthemeresttrifle:——
　　"Thedeuce!"mutteredduBousquier。"ActuallyMadameAmphoux'sliqueurs，whichtheyonlyserveatthefourchurchfestivals!"
　　"Undoubtedlythemarriagewasarrangedayearagobyletter，"saidthechief-justiceduRonceret。"ThepostmastertellsmehisofficehasreceivedletterspostmarkedOdessaformorethanayear。"
　　MadameGransontrembled。TheChevalierdeValois，thoughhehaddinedwiththeappetiteoffourmen，turnedpaleeventotheleftsectionofhisface。Feelingthathewasabouttobetrayhimself，hesaidhastily，——
　　"Don'tyouthinkitisverycoldto-day？Iamalmostfrozen。"
　　"TheneighborhoodofRussia，perhaps，"saidduBousquier。
　　Thechevalierlookedathimasiftosay，"Wellplayed!"
　　MademoiselleCormonappearedsoradiant，sotriumphant，thatthecompanythoughtherhandsome。Thisextraordinarybrilliancywasnottheeffectofsentimentonly。Sinceearlymorningherbloodhadbeenwhirlingtempestuouslywithinher，andhernerveswereagitatedbythepresentimentofsomegreatcrisis。Itrequiredallthesecircumstancescombinedtomakehersounlikeherself。Withwhatjoydidshenowmakehersolemnpresentationoftheviscounttothechevalier，thechevaliertotheviscount，andallAlencontoMonsieurdeTroisville，andMonsieurdeTroisvilletoallAlencon!
　　Byanaccidentwhollyexplainable，theviscountandchevalier，aristocratsbynature，cameinstantlyintounison；theyrecognizedeachotheratonceasmenbelongingtothesamesphere。Accordingly，theybegantoconversetogether，standingbeforethefireplace。A
　　circleformedaroundthem；andtheirconversation，thoughutteredinalowvoice，waslistenedtoinreligioussilence。Togivetheeffectofthissceneitisnecessarytodramatizeit，andtopictureMademoiselleCormonoccupiedinpouringoutthecoffeeofherimaginarysuitor，withherbacktothefireplace。
　　MonsieurdeValois。"Monsieurlevicomtehascome，Iamtold，tosettleinAlencon？"
　　MonsieurdeTroisville。"Yes，monsieur，Iamlookingforahouse。"
　　[MademoiselleCormon，cupinhand，turnsround。]"Itmustbealargehouse"[MademoiselleCormonoffershimthecup]"tolodgemywholefamily。"[Theeyesoftheoldmaidaretroubled。]
　　MonsieurdeValois。"Areyoumarried？"
　　MonsieurdeTroisville。"Yes，forthelastsixteenyears，toadaughterofthePrincessScherbellof。"
　　MademoiselleCormonfainted；duBousquier，whosawherstagger，sprangforwardandreceivedherinhisarms；someoneopenedthedoorandallowedhimtopassoutwithhisenormousburden。Thefieryrepublican，instructedbyJosette，foundstrengthtocarrytheoldmaidtoherbedroom，wherehelaidheroutonthebed。Josette，armedwithscissors，cutthecorset，whichwasterriblytight。DuBousquierflungwateronMademoiselleCormon'sfaceandbosom，which，releasedfromthecorset，overflowedliketheLoireinflood。Thepoorwomanopenedhereyes，sawduBousquier，andgaveacryofmodestyatthesightofhim。DuBousquierretiredatonce，leavingsixwomen，attheheadofwhomwasMadameGranson，radiantwithjoy，totakecareoftheinvalid。
　　WhathadtheChevalierdeValoisbeenaboutallthistime？Faithfultohissystem，hehadcoveredtheretreat。
　　"ThatpoorMademoiselleCormon，"hesaidtoMonsieurdeTroisville，gazingattheassembly，whoselaughterwasrepressedbyhiscoolaristocraticglances，"herbloodishorriblyoutoforder；shewouldn'tbebledbeforegoingtoPrebaudetherestate，——andseetheresult!"
　　"Shecamebackthismorningintherain，"saidtheAbbedeSponde，"andshemayhavetakencold。Itwon'tbeanything；itisonlyalittleupsetsheissubjectto。"
　　"Shetoldmeyesterdayshehadnothadoneforthreemonths，addingthatshewasafraiditwouldplayheratrickatlast，"saidthechevalier。
　　"Ha!soyouaremarried？"saidJacquelintohimselfashelookedatMonsieurdeTroisville，whowasquietlysippinghiscoffee。
　　Thefaithfulservantespousedhismistress'sdisappointment；hedivinedit，andhepromptlycarriedawaytheliqueursofMadameAmphoux，whichwereofferedtoabachelor，andnottothehusbandofaRussianwoman。
　　Allthesedetailswerenoticedandlaughedat。TheAbbedeSpondeknewtheobjectofMonsieurdeTroisville'sjourney；but，absent-mindedasusual，heforgotit，notsupposingthathisniececouldhavetheslightestinterestinMonsieurdeTroisville'smarriage。Asfortheviscount，preoccupiedwiththeobjectofhisjourney，and，likemanyhusbands，noteagertotalkabouthiswife，hehadhadnooccasiontosayhewasmarried；besides，hewouldnaturallysupposethatMademoiselleCormonknewit。
　　DuBousquierreappeared，andwasquestionedfuriously。Oneofthesixwomencamedownsoonafter，andannouncedthatMademoiselleCormonwasmuchbetter，andthatthedoctorhadcome。Sheintendedtostayinbed，asitwasnecessarytobleedher。Thesalonwasnowfull。
　　MademoiselleCormon'sabsenceallowedtheladiespresenttodiscussthetragi-comicscene——embellished，extended，historified，embroidered，wreathed，colored，andadorned——whichhadjusttakenplace，andwhich，onthemorrow，wasdestinedtooccupyallAlencon。
　　"ThatgoodMonsieurduBousquier!howwellhecarriedyou!"saidJosettetohermistress。"Hewasreallypaleatthesightofyou；helovesyoustill。"
　　Thatspeechservedasclosuretothissolemnandterribleevening。
　　ThroughoutthemorningofthenextdayeverycircumstanceofthelatecomedywasknowninthehouseholdofAlencon，and——letussayittotheshameofthattown，——theycausedinextinguishablelaughter。ButonthatdayMademoiselleCormonmuchbenefitedbythebleedingwouldhaveseemedsublimeeventotheboldestscoffers，hadtheywitnessedthenobledignity，thesplendidChristianresignationwhichinfluencedherasshegaveherarmtoherinvoluntarydeceivertogointobreakfast。Crueljesters!whycouldyounothaveseenherasshesaidtotheviscount，——
　　"MadamedeTroisvillewillhavedifficultyinfindingasuitablehouse；domethefavor，monsieur，ofacceptingtheuseofmineduringthetimeyouareinsearchofyours。"
　　"But，mademoiselle，Ihavetwosonsandtwodaughters；weshouldgreatlyinconvenienceyou。"
　　"Praydonotrefuseme，"shesaidearnestly。
　　"ImadeyouthesameofferintheanswerIwrotetoyourletter，"saidtheabbe；"butyoudidnotreceiveit。"
　　"What，uncle!thenyouknew——"
　　Thepoorwomanstopped。Josettesighed。Neithertheviscountnortheabbeobservedanythingamiss。AfterbreakfasttheAbbedeSpondecarriedoffhisguest，asagreeduponthepreviousevening，toshowhimthevarioushousesinAlenconwhichcouldbebought，andthelotsoflandsonwhichhemightbuild。
　　Leftaloneinthesalon，MademoiselleCormonsaidtoJosette，withadeeplydistressedair，"Mychild，Iamnowthetalkofthewholetown。"
　　"Well，then，mademoiselle，youshouldmarry。"
　　"ButIamnotpreparedtomakeachoice。"
　　"Bah!ifIwereinyourplace，IshouldtakeMonsieurduBousquier。"
　　"Josette，MonsieurdeValoissaysheissorepublican。"
　　"Theydon'tknowwhattheysay，yourgentlemen:sometimestheydeclarethatherobbedtherepublic；hecouldn'tloveitifhedidthat，"saidJosette，departing。
　　"Thatgirlhasanamazingamountofsense，"thoughtMademoiselleCormon，whoremainedalone，apreytoherperplexities。
　　Shesawplainlythatapromptmarriagewastheonlywaytosilencethetown。Thislastcheckmate，soevidentlymortifying，wasofanaturetodriveherintosomeextremeaction；forpersonsdeficientinmindfinddifficultyingettingoutofanypath，eithergoodorevil，intowhichtheyhaveentered。
　　EachofthetwooldbachelorshadfullyunderstoodthesituationinwhichMademoiselleCormonwasabouttofindherself；consequently，eachresolvedtocallinthecourseofthatmorningtoaskafterherhealth，andtakeoccasion，inbachelorlanguage，to"presshispoint。"
　　MonsieurdeValoisconsideredthatsuchanoccasiondemandedapainstakingtoilet；hethereforetookabathandgroomedhimselfwithextraordinarycare。ForthefirstandlasttimeCesarineobservedhimputtingonwithincredibleartasuspicionofrouge。DuBousquier，ontheotherhand，thatcoarserepublican，spurredbyabriskwill，paidnoattentiontohisdress，andarrivedthefirst。
　　Suchlittlethingsdecidethefortunesofmen，astheydoofempires。
　　Kellerman'schargeatMarengo，Blucher'sarrivalatWaterloo，LouisXIV。'sdisdainforPrinceEugene，therectorofDenain，——allthesegreatcausesoffortuneorcatastrophehistoryhasrecorded；butnooneeverprofitsbythemtoavoidthesmallneglectsoftheirownlife。Consequently，observewhathappens:theDuchessedeLangeaissee"HistoryoftheThirteen"makesherselfanunforthelackoftenminutes'patience；JudgePopinotsee"CommissioninLunacy"putsofftillthemorrowthedutyofexaminingtheMarquisd'Espard；
　　CharlesGrandetsee"EugenieGrandet"goestoParisfromBordeauxinsteadofreturningbyNantes；andsucheventsarecalledchanceorfatality!AtouchofrougecarefullyapplieddestroyedthehopesoftheChevalierdeValois；couldthatnoblemanperishinanyotherway？
　　HehadlivedbytheGraces，andhewasdoomedtodiebytheirhand。
　　WhilethechevalierwasgivingthislasttouchtohistoilettheroughduBousquierwasenteringthesalonofthedesolateoldmaid。ThisentranceproducedathoughtinMademoiselleCormon'smindwhichwasfavorabletotherepublican，althoughinallotherrespectstheChevalierdeValoisheldtheadvantages。
　　"Godwillsit!"shesaidpiously，onseeingduBousquier。
　　"Mademoiselle，youwillnot，Itrust，thinkmyeagernessimportunate。
　　IcouldnottrusttomystupidRenetobringnewsofyourcondition，andthereforeIhavecomemyself。"
　　"Iamperfectlyrecovered，"shereplied，inatoneofemotion。"I
　　thankyou，MonsieurduBousquier，"sheadded，afteraslightpause，andinasignificanttoneofvoice，"forthetroubleyouhavetaken，andforthatwhichIgaveyouyesterday——"
　　Sherememberedhavingbeeninhisarms，andthatagainseemedtoheranorderfromheaven。Shehadbeenseenforthefirsttimebyamanwithherlacescut，hertreasuresviolentlyburstingfromtheircasket。
　　"Icarriedyouwithsuchjoythatyouseemedtomelight。"
　　HereMademoiselleCormonlookedatduBousquierasshehadneveryetlookedatanymanintheworld。Thusencouraged，thepurveyorcastupontheoldmaidaglancewhichreachedherheart。