Humblecountrypleasureswillenliventhemonotonyofmyfuture。Itshallbemyambitiontoenlargetheoasisroundmyhouse，andtogiveitthelordlyshadeoffinetrees。Myturf，thoughProvencal，shallbealwaysgreen。Ishallcarrymyparkupthehillsideandplantonthehighestpointsomeprettykiosque，whence，perhaps，myeyesmaycatchtheshimmeroftheMediterranean。Orangeandlemontrees，andallchoicestthingsthatgrow，shallembellishmyretreat；andtherewillIbeamotheramongmychildren。ThepoetryofNature，whichnothingcandestroy，shallhedgeusround；andstandingloyallyatthepostofduty，weneedfearnodanger。Myreligiousfeelingsaresharedbymyfather-in-lawandbytheChevalier。
　　Ah!darling，mylifeunrollsitselfbeforemyeyeslikeoneofthegreathighwaysofFrance，levelandeasy，shadedwithevergreentrees。
　　ThiscenturywillnotseeanotherBonaparte；andmychildren，ifI
　　haveany，willnotberentfromme。Theywillbeminetotrainandmakemenof——thejoyofmylife。Ifyoualsoaretruetoyourdestiny，youwhooughttofindyourmateamongstthegreatonesoftheearth，thechildrenofyourReneewillnotlackazealousprotectress。
　　Farewell，then，formeatleast，totheromancesandthrillingadventuresinwhichweusedourselvestoplaythepartofheroine。Thewholestoryofmylifeliesbeforemenow；itsgreatcriseswillbetheteethingandnutritionoftheyoungMastersdel’Estorade，andthemischieftheydotomyshrubsandme。Toembroidertheircaps，tobelovedandadmiredbyasicklymanatthemouthoftheGemenosvalley——
　　therearemypleasures。PerhapssomedaythecountrydamemaygoandspendawinterinMarseilles；butdangerdoesnothauntthepurlieusofanarrowprovincialstage。Therewillbenothingtofear，notevenanadmirationsuchascouldonlymakeawomanproud。Weshalltakeagreatdealofinterestinthesilkwormsforwhosebenefitourmulberry-leaveswillbesold!WeshallknowthestrangevicissitudesoflifeinProvence，andthestormsthatmayattackevenapeacefulhousehold。Quarrelswillbeimpossible，forM。del’Estoradehasformallyannouncedthathewillleavethereinsinhiswife’shands；
　　andasIshalldonothingtoremindhimofthiswiseresolve，itislikelyhemaypersevereinit。
　　You，mydearLouise，willsupplytheromanceofmylife。Soyoumustnarratetomeinfullallyouradventures，describeyourballsandparties，tellmewhatyouwear，whatflowerscrownyourlovelygoldenlocks，andwhatarethewordsandmannersofthemenyoumeet。Yourotherselfwillbealwaysthere——listening，dancing，feelingherfinger-tipspressed——withyou。IfonlyIcouldhavesomefuninParisnowandthen，whileyouplayedthehouse-motheratLaCrampade!suchisthenameofourgrange。PoorM。del’Estorade，whofanciesheismarryingonewoman!Willhefindouttherearetwo？
　　Iamwritingnonsensenow，andashenceforthIcanonlybefoolishbyproxy，Ihadbetterstop。Onekiss，then，oneachcheek——mylipsarestillvirginal，hehasonlydaredtotakemyhand。Oh!ourdeferenceandproprietyarequitedisquieting，Iassureyou。There，Iamoffagain……Good-bye，dear。
　　/P。S。/——Ihavejustopenedyourthirdletter。Mydear，Ihaveaboutonethousandlivrestodisposeof；spendthemformeonprettythings，suchaswecan’tfindhere，norevenatMarseilles。Whilespeedingonyourownbusiness，giveathoughttotherecluseofLaCrampade。
　　RememberthatonneithersidehavetheheadsofthefamilyanypeopleoftasteinParistomaketheirpurchases。Ishallreplytoyourletterlater。
　　Theaddressofthisletter，mybrother，willshowyouthattheheadofyourhouseisoutofreachofdanger。IfthemassacreofourancestorsintheCourtofLionsmadeSpaniardsandChristiansofusagainstourwill，itleftusalegacyofArabcunning；anditmaybethatIowemysafetytothebloodoftheAbencerragesstillflowinginmyveins。
　　FearmadeFerdinand’sactingsogood，thatValdezactuallybelievedinhisprotestations。ButformethepoorAdmiralwouldhavebeendonefor。Nothing，itseems，willteachtheLiberalswhatakingis。ThisparticularBourbonhasbeenlongknowntome；andthemoreHisMajestyassuredmeofhisprotection，thestrongergrewmysuspicions。AtrueSpaniardhasnoneedtorepeatapromise。Aflowofwordsisasuresignofduplicity。
　　ValdeztookshiponanEnglishvessel。Formyself，nosoonerdidIseethecauseofmybelovedSpainwreckedinAndalusia，thanIwrotetothestewardofmySardinianestatetomakearrangementsformyescape。
　　Somehardycoralfishersweredespatchedtowaitformeatapointonthecoast；andwhenFerdinandurgedtheFrenchtosecuremyperson，I
　　wasalreadyinmybaronyofMacumer，amidstbrigandswhodefyalllawandallavengers。
　　ThelastHispano-MoorishfamilyofGranadahasfoundoncemoretheshelterofanAfricandesert，andevenaSaracenhorse，inanestatewhichcomestoitfromSaracens。Howtheeyesofthesebrigands——whobutyesterdayhaddreadedmyauthority——sparkledwithsavagejoyandpridewhentheyfoundtheywereprotectingagainsttheKingofSpain’svendettatheDucdeSoria，theirmasterandaHenarez——thefirstwhohadcometovisitthemsincethetimewhentheislandbelongedtotheMoors。MorethanascoreofrifleswerereadytopointatFerdinandofBourbon，sonofaracewhichwasstillunknownwhentheAbencerragesarrivedasconquerorsonthebanksoftheLoire。
　　Myideahadbeentoliveontheincomeofthesehugeestates，which，unfortunately，wehavesogreatlyneglected；butmystaythereconvincedmethatthiswasimpossible，andthatQueverdo’sreportswereonlytoocorrect。Thepoormanhadtwenty-twolivesatmydisposal，andnotasingle/real/；prairiesoftwentythousandacres，andnotahouse；virginforests，andnotastickoffurniture!A
　　millionpiastresandaresidentmasterforhalfacenturywouldbenecessarytomakethesemagnificentlandspay。Imustseetothis。
　　Theconqueredhavetimeduringtheirflighttopondertheirowncaseandthatoftheirvanquishedparty。Atthespectacleofmynoblecountry，acorpseformonkstopreyon，myeyesfilledwithtears；I
　　readinitthepresageofSpain’sgloomyfuture。
　　AtMarseillesIheardofRiego’send。Painfullydiditcomehometomethatmylifealsowouldhenceforthbeamartyrdom，butamartyrdomprotractedandunnoticed。Isexistenceworthythename，whenamancannolongerdieforhiscountryorliveforawoman？Tolove，toconquer，thistwofoldformofthesamethought，isthelawgravenonoursabres，emblazonedonthevaultedroofsofourpalaces，ceaselesslywhisperedbythewater，whichrisesandfallsinourmarblefountains。Butinvaindoesitnervemyheart；thesabreisbroken，thepalaceinashes，thelivingspringsuckedupbythebarrensand。
　　Here，then，ismylastwillandtestament。
　　DonFernand，youwillunderstandnowwhyIputacheckuponyourardorandorderedyoutoremainfaithfultothe/reynetto/。Asyourbrotherandfriend，Iimploreyoutoobeyme；asyourmaster，Icommand。YouwillgototheKingandwillaskfromhimthegrantofmydignitiesandproperty，myofficeandtitles。Hewillperhapshesitate，andmaytreatyoutosomeregalscowls；butyoumusttellhimthatyouarelovedbyMarieHeredia，andthatMariecanmarrynonebutaDucdeSoria。ThiswillmaketheKingradiant。ItistheimmensefortuneoftheHerediafamilywhichalonehasstoodbetweenhimandtheaccomplishmentofmyruin。Yourproposalwillseemtohim，therefore，todeprivemeofalastresource，andhewillgladlyhandovertoyoumyspoils。
　　YouwillthenmarryMarie。Thesecretofthemutualloveagainstwhichyoufoughtwasnosecrettome，andIhavepreparedtheoldCounttoseeyoutakemyplace。MarieandIweremerelydoingwhatwasexpectedofusinourpositionandcarryingoutthewishesofourfathers；
　　everythingelseisinyourfavor。Youarebeautifulasachildoflove，andarepossessedofMarie’sheart。Iamanill-favoredSpanishgrandee，forwhomshefeelsanaversiontowhichshewillnotconfess。
　　SomeslightreluctancetheremaybeonthepartofthenobleSpanishgirlonaccountofmymisfortunes，butthisyouwillsoonovercome。
　　DucdeSoria，yourpredecessorwouldneithercostyouaregretnorrobyouofamaravedi。Mymother’sdiamonds，whichwillsufficetomakemeindependent，Iwillkeep，becausethegapcausedbytheminthefamilyestatecanbefilledbyMarie’sjewels。Youcansendthem，therefore，bymynurse，oldUrraca，theonlyoneofmyservantswhomIwishtoretain。Noonecanpreparemychocolateasshedoes。
　　Duringourbriefrevolution，mylifeofunremittingtoilwasreducedtothebarestnecessaries，andthesemysalarywassufficienttoprovide。Youwillthereforefindtheincomeofthelasttwoyearsinthehandsofyoursteward。Thissumismine；butaDucdeSoriacannotmarrywithoutalargeexpenditureofmoney，thereforewewilldivideit。Youwillnotrefusethiswedding-presentfromyourbrigandbrother。Besides，Imeantohaveitso。
　　ThebaronyofMacumer，notbeingSpanishterritory，remainstome。
　　ThusIhavestillacountryandaname，shouldIwishtotakeupapositionintheworldagain。
　　ThankHeaven，thisfinishesourbusiness，andthehouseofSoriaissaved!
　　AttheverymomentwhenIdropintosimpleBarondeMacumer，theFrenchcannonannouncethearrivaloftheDucd’Angouleme。YouwillunderstandwhyIbreakoff……
　　October。
　　WhenIarrivedhereIhadnottendoubloonsinmypocket。Hewouldindeedbeapoorsortofleaderwho，inthemidstofcalamitieshehasnotbeenabletoavert，hasfoundmeanstofeatherhisownnest。ForthevanquishedMoorthereremainsahorseandthedesert；fortheChristianfoiledofhishopes，thecloisterandafewgoldpieces。
　　Butmypresentresignationismereweariness。Iamnotyetsonearthemonasteryastohaveabandonedallthoughtsoflife。Ozalgahadgivenmeseverallettersofintroductiontomeetallemergencies，amongsttheseonetoabookseller，whotakeswithourfellow-countrymentheplacewhichGalignaniholdswiththeEnglishinParis。Thismanhasfoundeightpupilsformeatthreefrancsalesson。Igotomypupilseveryalternateday，sothatIhavefourlessonsadayandearntwelvefrancs，whichismorethanIrequire。WhenUrracacomesIshallmakesomeSpanishexilehappybypassingontohimmyconnection。
　　IlodgeintheRueHillerin-Bertinwithapoorwidow，whotakesboarders。Myroomfacessouthandlooksoutonalittlegarden。Itisperfectlyquiet；Ihavegreentreestolookupon，andspendthesumofonepiastreaday。Iamamazedattheamountofcalm，purepleasurewhichIenjoyinthislife，afterthefashionofDionysiusatCorinth。
　　Fromsunriseuntilteno’clockIsmokeandtakemychocolate，sittingatmywindowandcontemplatingtwoSpanishplants，abroomwhichrisesoutofaclumpofjessamine——goldonawhiteground，colorswhichmustsendathrillthroughanyscionoftheMoors。Atteno’clockIstartformylessons，whichlasttillfour，whenIreturnfordinner。
　　AfterwardsIreadandsmoketillIgotobed。
　　Icanputupforalongtimewithalifelikethis，compoundedofworkandmeditation，ofsolitudeandsociety。Behappy，therefore，Fernand；
　　myabdicationhasbroughtnoafterthoughts；IhavenoregretslikeCharlesV。，nolongingtotrythegameagainlikeNapoleon。FivedaysandnightshavepassedsinceIwrotemywill；tomymindtheymighthavebeenfivecenturies。Honor，titles，wealth，areformeasthoughtheyhadneverexisted。
　　Nowthattheconventionalbarrierofrespectwhichhedgedmeroundhasfallen，Icanopenmyhearttoyou，dearboy。Thoughcasedinthearmorofgravity，thisheartisfulloftendernessanddevotion，whichhavefoundnoobject，andwhichnowomanhasdivined，notevenshewho，fromhercradle，hasbeenmydestinedbride。Inthisliesthesecretofmypoliticalenthusiasm。Spainhastakentheplaceofamistressandreceivedthehomageofmyheart。AndnowSpain，too，isgone!Beggaredofall，Icangazeupontheruinofwhatoncewasmeandspeculateoverthemysteriesofmybeing。
　　Whydidlifeanimatethiscarcass，andwhenwillitdepart？Whyhasthatrace，pre-eminentinchivalry，breathedallitsprimitivevirtues——itstropicallove，itsfierypoetry——intothisitslastoffshoot，iftheseedwasnevertoburstitsruggedshell，ifnostemwastospringforth，noradiantflowerscatteraloftitsEasternperfumes？OfwhatcrimehaveIbeenguiltybeforemybirththatIcaninspirenolove？
　　DidfatefrommyveryinfancydecreethatIshouldbestranded，auselesshulk，onsomebarrenshore!Ifindinmysoultheimageofthedesertswheremyfathersranged，illuminedbyascorchingsunwhichshrivelsupalllife。Proudremnantofafallenrace，vainforce，loveruntowaste，anoldmanintheprimeofyouth，herebetterthanelsewhereshallIawaitthelastgraceofdeath。Alas!underthismurkyskynosparkwillkindletheseashesagaintoflame。ThusmylastwordsmaybethoseofChrist，/MyGod，Thouhastforsakenme!/
　　Cryofagonyandterror，tothecoreofwhichnomortalhasventuredyettopenetrate!