Oneofthefewdrawing-roomswhere，undertheRestoration，theArchbishopofBesanconwassometimestobeseen，wasthatoftheBaronnedeWatteville，towhomhewasparticularlyattachedonaccountofherreligioussentiments。
Awordastothislady，themostimportantladyofBesancon。
MonsieurdeWatteville，adescendantofthefamousWatteville，themostsuccessfulandillustriousofmurderersandrenegades——hisextraordinaryadventuresaretoomuchapartofhistorytoberelatedhere——thisnineteenthcenturyMonsieurdeWattevillewasasgentleandpeaceableashisancestorofthe/GrandSiecle/hadbeenpassionateandturbulent。Afterlivinginthe/Comte/(LaFrancheComte)likeawood-louseinthecrackofawainscot，hehadmarriedtheheiressofthecelebratedhouseofRupt。MademoiselledeRuptbroughttwentythousandfrancsayearinthefundstoaddtothetenthousandfrancsayearinrealestateoftheBarondeWatteville。TheSwissgentleman\'scoat-of-arms(theWattevillesareSwiss)wasthenborneasanescutcheonofpretenceontheoldshieldoftheRupts。Themarriage，arrangedin1802，wassolemnizedin1815afterthesecondRestoration。WithinthreeyearsofthebirthofadaughterallMadamedeWatteville\'sgrandparentsweredead，andtheirestateswoundup。
MonsieurdeWatteville\'shousewasthensold，andtheysettledintheRuedelaPrefectureinthefineoldmansionoftheRupts，withanimmensegardenstretchingtotheRueduPerron。MadamedeWatteville，devoutasagirl，becameevenmoresoafterhermarriage。SheisoneofthequeensofthesaintlybrotherhoodwhichgivestheuppercirclesofBesanconasolemnairandprudishmannersinharmonywiththecharacterofthetown。
MonsieurleBarondeWatteville，adry，leanmandevoidofintelligence，lookedwornoutwithoutanyoneknowingwhereby，forheenjoyedtheprofoundestignorance；butashiswifewasared-hairedwoman，andofasternnaturethatbecameproverbial(westillsay\"assharpasMadamedeWatteville\")，somewitsofthelegalprofessiondeclaredthathehadbeenwornagainstthatrock——/Rupt/isobviouslyderivedfrom/rupes/。ScientificstudentsofsocialphenomenawillnotfailtohaveobservedthatRosaliewastheonlyoffspringoftheunionbetweentheWattevillesandtheRupts。
MonsieurdeWattevillespenthisexistenceinahandsomeworkshopwithalathe；hewasaturner!Assubsidiarytothispursuit，hetookupafancyformakingcollections。Philosophicaldoctors，devotedtothestudyofmadness，regardthistendencytowardscollectingasafirstdegreeofmentalaberrationwhenitissetonsmallthings。TheBarondeWattevilletreasuredshellsandgeologicalfragmentsoftheneighborhoodofBesancon。Somecontradictoryfolk，especiallywomen，wouldsayofMonsieurdeWatteville，\"Hehasanoblesoul!Heperceivedfromthefirstdaysofhismarriedlifethathewouldneverbehiswife\'smaster，sohethrewhimselfintoamechanicaloccupationandgoodliving。\"
ThehouseoftheRuptswasnotdevoidofacertainmagnificenceworthyofLouisXIV。，andboretracesofthenobilityofthetwofamilieswhohadmingledin1815。Thechandeliersofglasscutintheshapeofleaves，thebrocades，thedamask，thecarpets，thegiltfurniture，wereallinharmonywiththeoldliveriesandtheoldservants。Thoughservedinblackenedfamilyplate，roundalooking-glasstrayfurnishedwithDresdenchina，thefoodwasexquisite。ThewinesselectedbyMonsieurdeWatteville，who，tooccupyhistimeandvaryhisemployments，washisownbutler，enjoyedasortoffamethroughoutthedepartment。MadamedeWatteville\'sfortunewasafineone；whileherhusband\'s，whichconsistedonlyoftheestateofRouxey，worthabouttenthousandfrancsayear，wasnotincreasedbyinheritance。ItisneedlesstoaddthatinconsequenceofMadamedeWatteville\'scloseintimacywiththeArchbishop，thethreeorfourcleverorremarkableAbbesofthediocesewhowerenotaversetogoodfeedingwereverymuchathomeatherhouse。
AtaceremonialdinnergiveninhonorofIknownotwhosewedding，atthebeginningofSeptember1834，whenthewomenwerestandinginacircleroundthedrawing-roomfire，andthemeningroupsbythewindows，everyoneexclaimedwithpleasureattheentranceofMonsieurl\'AbbedeGrancey，whowasannounced。
\"Well，andthelawsuit？\"theyallcried。
\"Won!\"repliedtheVicar-General。\"TheverdictoftheCourt，fromwhichwehadnohope，youknowwhy——\"
ThiswasanallusiontothemembersoftheFirstCourtofAppealof1830；theLegitimistshadalmostallwithdrawn。
\"Theverdictisinourfavoroneverypoint，andreversesthedecisionoftheLowerCourt。\"
\"Everybodythoughtyouweredonefor。\"
\"Andweshouldhavebeen，butforme。ItoldouradvocatetobeofftoParis，andatthecrucialmomentIwasabletosecureanewpleader，towhomweoweourvictory，awonderfulman——\"
\"AtBesancon？\"saidMonsieurdeWatteville，guilelessly。
\"AtBesancon，\"repliedtheAbbedeGrancey。
\"Ohyes，Savaron，\"saidahandsomeyoungmansittingneartheBaroness，andnameddeSoulas。
\"Hespentfiveorsixnightsoverit；hedevoureddocumentsandbriefs；hehadsevenoreightinterviewsofseveralhourswithme，\"
continuedMonsieurdeGrancey，whohadjustreappearedattheHoteldeRuptforthefirsttimeinthreeweeks。\"Inshort，MonsieurSavaronhasjustcompletelybeatenthecelebratedlawyerwhomouradversarieshadsentforfromParis。Thisyoungmaniswonderful，thebigwigssay。
Thusthechapteristwicevictorious；ithastriumphedinlawandalsoinpolitics，sinceithasvanquishedLiberalisminthepersonoftheCounselofourMunicipality——\'Ouradversaries，\'soouradvocatesaid，\'mustnotexpecttofindreadinessonallsidestoruintheArchbishoprics。\'——ThePresidentwasobligedtoenforcesilence。AllthetownsfolkofBesanconapplauded。ThusthepossessionofthebuildingsoftheoldconventremainswiththeChapteroftheCathedralofBesancon。MonsieurSavaron，however，invitedhisParisianopponenttodinewithhimastheycameoutofcourt。Heaccepted，saying，\'Honortoeveryconqueror，\'andcomplimentedhimonhissuccesswithoutbitterness。\"
\"Andwheredidyouunearththislawyer？\"saidMadamedeWatteville。\"I
neverheardhisnamebefore。\"
\"Why，youcanseehiswindowsfromhence，\"repliedtheVicar-General。
\"MonsieurSavaronlivesintheRueduPerron；thegardenofhishousejoinsontoyours。\"
\"ButheisnotanativeoftheComte，\"saidMonsieurdeWatteville。
\"Solittleisheanativeofanyplace，thatnooneknowswherehecomesfrom，\"saidMadamedeChavoncourt。
\"Butwhoishe？\"askedMadamedeWatteville，takingtheAbbe\'sarmtogointothedining-room。\"Ifheisastranger，bywhatchancehashesettledatBesancon？Itisastrangefancyforabarrister。\"
\"Verystrange!\"echoedAmedeedeSoulas，whosebiographyisherenecessarytotheunderstandingofthistale。
InallagesFranceandEnglandhavecarriedonanexchangeoftrifles，whichisallthemoreconstantbecauseitevadesthetyrannyoftheCustom-house。ThefashionthatiscalledEnglishinParisiscalledFrenchinLondon，andthisisreciprocal。Thehostilityofthetwonationsissuspendedontwopoints——theusesofwordsandthefashionsofdress。/GodSavetheKing/，thenationalairofEngland，isatunewrittenbyLullifortheChorusofEstherorofAthalie。Hoops，introducedatParisbyanEnglishwoman，wereinventedinLondon，itisknownwhy，byaFrenchwoman，thenotoriousDuchessofPortsmouth。TheywereatfirstsojeeredatthatthefirstEnglishwomanwhoappearedinthemattheTuileriesnarrowlyescapedbeingcrushedbythecrowd；buttheywereadopted。ThisfashiontyrannizedovertheladiesofEuropeforhalfacentury。Atthepeaceof1815，forayear，thelongwaistsoftheEnglishwereastandingjest；allPariswenttoseePothierandBrunetin/LesAnglaisespourrire/；butin1816and1817thebeltoftheFrenchwoman，whichin1814cutheracrossthebosom，graduallydescendedtillitreachedthehips。
WithintenyearsEnglandhasmadetwolittlegiftstoourlanguage。
The/Incroyable/，the/Merveilleux/，the/Elegant/，thethreesuccessesofthe/petit-maitre/ofdiscreditableetymology，havemadewayforthe\"dandy\"andthe\"lion。\"The/lion/isnottheparentofthe/lionne/。The/lionne/isduetothefamoussongbyAlfreddeMusset:
AvezvouvudansBarcelone……
C\'estmamaitresseetmalionne。
Therehasbeenafusion——or，ifyoupreferit，aconfusion——ofthetwowordsandtheleadingideas。WhenanabsurditycanamuseParis，whichdevoursasmanymasterpiecesasabsurdities，theprovincescanhardlybedeprivedofthem。So，assoonasthe/lion/paradedPariswithhismane，hisbeardandmoustaches，hiswaistcoatsandhiseyeglass，maintainedinitsplace，withoutthehelpofhishands，bythecontractionofhischeek，andeye-socket，thechieftownsofsomedepartmentshadtheirsub-lions，whoprotestedbythesmartnessoftheirtrouser-strapsagainsttheuntidinessoftheirfellow-townsmen。
Thus，in1834，Besanconcouldboastofa/lion/，inthepersonofMonsieurAmedee-SylvaindeSoulas，speltSouleyasatthetimeoftheSpanishoccupation。AmedeedeSoulasisperhapstheonlymaninBesancondescendedfromaSpanishfamily。SpainsentmentomanageherbusinessintheComte，butveryfewSpaniardssettledthere。TheSoulasremainedinconsequenceoftheirconnectionwithCardinalGranvelle。YoungMonsieurdeSoulaswasalwaystalkingofleavingBesancon，adulltown，church-going，andnotliterary，amilitarycentreandgarrisontown，ofwhichthemannersandcustomsandphysiognomyareworthdescribing。Thisopinionallowedofhislodging，likeamanuncertainofthefuture，inthreeveryscantilyfurnishedroomsattheendoftheRueNeuve，justwhereitopensintotheRuedelaPrefecture。
YoungMonsieurdeSoulascouldnotpossiblylivewithoutatiger。Thistigerwasthesonofoneofhisfarmers，asmallservantagedfourteen，thick-set，andnamedBabylas。Theliondressedhistigerverysmartly——ashorttunic-coatofiron-graycloth，beltedwithpatentleather，brightblueplushbreeches，aredwaistcoat，polishedleathertop-boots，ashinyhatwithblacklacing，andbrassbuttonswiththearmsofSoulas。Amedeegavethisboywhitecottonglovesandhiswashing，andthirty-sixfrancsamonthtokeephimself——asumthatseemedenormoustothegrisettesofBesancon:fourhundredandtwentyfrancsayeartoachildoffifteen，withoutcountingextras!Theextrasconsistedinthepriceforwhichhecouldsellhisturnedclothes，apresentwhenSoulasexchangedoneofhishorses，andtheperquisiteofthemanure。Thetwohorses，treatedwithsordideconomy，cost，onewithanother，eighthundredfrancsayear。HisbillsforarticlesreceivedfromParis，suchasperfumery，cravats，jewelry，patentblacking，andclothes，rantoanothertwelvehundredfrancs。
Addtothisthegroom，ortiger，thehorses，averysuperiorstyleofdress，andsixhundredfrancsayearforrent，andyouwillseeagrandtotalofthreethousandfrancs。
Now，MonsieurdeSoulas\'fatherhadlefthimonlyfourthousandfrancsayear，theincomefromsomecottagefarmswhichlentpainfuluncertaintytotherents。Thelionhadhardlythreefrancsadayleftforfood，amusements，andgambling。Heveryoftendinedout，andbreakfastedwithremarkablefrugality。Whenhewaspositivelyobligedtodineathisowncost，hesenthistigertofetchacoupleofdishesfromacookshop，neverspendingmorethantwenty-fivesous。
YoungMonsieurdeSoulaswassupposedtobeaspendthrift，recklesslyextravagant，whereasthepoormanmadethetwoendsmeetintheyearwithakeennessandskillwhichwouldhavedonehonortoathriftyhousewife。AtBesanconinthosedaysnooneknewhowgreatataxonaman\'scapitalweresixfrancsspentinpolishtospreadonhisbootsorshoes，yellowglovesatfiftysousapair，cleanedinthedeepestsecrecytomakethemthreetimesrenewed，cravatscostingtenfrancs，andlastingthreemonths，fourwaistcoatsattwenty-fivefrancs，andtrousersfittingclosetotheboots。Howcouldhedootherwise，sinceweseewomeninParisbestowingtheirspecialattentiononsimpletonswhovisitthem，andcutoutthemostremarkablemenbymeansofthesefrivolousadvantages，whichamancanbuyforfifteenlouis，andgethishaircurledandafinelinenshirtintothebargain？
Ifthisunhappyyouthshouldseemtoyoutohavebecomea/lion/onverycheapterms，youmustknowthatAmedeedeSoulashadbeenthreetimestoSwitzerland，bycoachandinshortstages，twicetoParis，andoncefromParistoEngland。Hepassedasawell-informedtraveler，andcouldsay，\"InEngland，whereIwent……\"Thedowagersofthetownwouldsaytohim，\"You，whohavebeeninEngland……\"HehadbeenasfarasLombardy，andseentheshoresoftheItalianlakes。Hereadnewbooks。Finally，whenhewascleaninghisgloves，thetigerBabylasrepliedtocallers，\"Monsieurisverybusy。\"AnattempthadbeenmadetowithdrawMonsieurAmedeedeSoulasfromcirculationbypronouncinghim\"Amanofadvancedideas。\"Amedeehadthegiftofutteringwiththegravityofanativethecommonplacesthatwereinfashion，whichgavehimthecreditofbeingoneofthemostenlightenedofthenobility。Hispersonwasgarnishedwithfashionabletrinkets，andhisheadfurnishedwithideashall-markedbythepress。
In1834Amedeewasayoungmanoffive-and-twenty，ofmediumheight，dark，withaveryprominentthorax，well-madeshoulders，ratherplumplegs，feetalreadyfat，whitedimpledhands，abeardunderhischin，moustachesworthyofthegarrison，agood-natured，fat，rubicundface，aflatnose，andbrownexpressionlesseyes；nothingSpanishabouthim。
Hewasprogressingrapidlyinthedirectionofobesity，whichwouldbefataltohispretensions。Hisnailswerewellkept，hisbeardtrimmed，thesmallestdetailsofhisdressattendedtowithEnglishprecision。
HenceAmedeedeSoulaswaslookeduponasthefinestmaninBesancon。
Ahairdresserwhowaiteduponhimatafixedhour——anotherluxury，costingsixtyfrancsayear——heldhimupasthesovereignauthorityinmattersoffashionandelegance。
Amedeesleptlate，dressedandwentouttowardsnoon，togotooneofhisfarmsandpractisepistol-shooting。HeattachedasmuchimportancetothisexerciseasLordByrondidinhislaterdays。Then，atthreeo\'clockhecamehome，admiredonhorsebackbythegrisettesandtheladieswhohappenedtobeattheirwindows。Afteranaffectationofstudyorbusiness，whichseemedtoengagehimtillfour，hedressedtodineout，spenttheeveninginthedrawing-roomsofthearistocracyofBesanconplayingwhist，andwenthometobedateleven。Nolifecouldbemoreaboveboard，moreprudent，ormoreirreproachable，forhepunctuallyattendedtheservicesatchurchonSundaysandholydays。
Toenableyoutounderstandhowexceptionalissuchalife，itisnecessarytodevoteafewwordstoanaccountofBesancon。Notowneverofferedmoredeafanddumbresistancetoprogress。AtBesancontheofficials，theemployes，themilitary，inshort，everyoneengagedingoverningit，sentthitherfromParistofillapostofanykind，areallspokenofbytheexpressivegeneralnameof/theColony/。Thecolonyisneutralground，theonlygroundwhere，asinchurch，theupperrankandthetownsfolkoftheplacecanmeet。Here，firedbyaword，alook，orgesture，arestartedthosefeudsbetweenhouseandhouse，betweenawomanofrankandacitizen\'swife，whichenduretilldeath，andwidentheimpassablegulfwhichpartsthetwoclassesofsociety。WiththeexceptionoftheClermont-Mont-Saint-Jean，theBeauffremont，thedeScey，andtheGramontfamilies，withafewotherswhocomeonlytostayontheirestatesintheComte，thearistocracyofBesancondatesnofurtherbackthanacoupleofcenturies，thetimeoftheconquestbyLouisXIV。Thislittleworldisessentiallyofthe/parlement/，andarrogant，stiff，solemn，uncompromising，haughtybeyondallcomparison，evenwiththeCourtofVienna，forinthisthenobilityofBesanconwouldputtheViennesedrawing-roomstoshame。AstoVictorHugo，Nodier，Fourier，thegloriesofthetown，theyarenevermentioned，noonethinksaboutthem。Themarriagesinthesefamiliesarearrangedinthecradle，sorigidlyarethegreatestthingssettledaswellasthesmallest。Nostranger，nointruder，everfindshiswayintooneofthesehouses，andtoobtainanintroductionforthecolonelsorofficersoftitlebelongingtothefirstfamiliesinFrancewhenquarteredthere，requireseffortsofdiplomacywhichPrinceTalleyrandwouldgladlyhavemasteredtouseatacongress。
In1834AmedeewastheonlymaninBesanconwhoworetrouser-straps；
thiswillaccountfortheyoungman\'sbeingregardedasalion。AndalittleanecdotewillenableyoutounderstandthecityofBesancon。
Sometimebeforetheopeningofthisstory，theneedaroseattheprefectureforbringinganeditorfromParisfortheofficialnewspaper，toenableittoholditsownagainstthelittle/Gazette/，droppedatBesanconbythegreat/Gazette/，andthe/Patriot/，whichfriskedinthehandsoftheRepublicans。Parissentthemayoungman，knowingnothingaboutlaFrancheComte，whobeganbywritingthemaleadingarticleoftheschoolofthe/Charivari/。Thechiefofthemoderateparty，amemberofthemunicipalcouncil，sentforthejournalistandsaidtohim，\"Youmustunderstand，monsieur，thatweareserious，morethanserious——tiresome；weresentbeingamused，andarefuriousathavingbeenmadetolaugh。BeashardofdigestionasthetoughestdisquisitionsintheRevuedesDeuxMondes，andyouwillhardlyreachthelevelofBesancon。\"
Theeditortookthehint，andthenceforthspokethemostincomprehensiblephilosophicallingo。Hissuccesswascomplete。
IfyoungMonsieurdeSoulasdidnotfallintheesteemofBesanconsociety，itwasoutofpurevanityonitspart；thearistocracywerehappytoaffectamodernair，andtobeabletoshowanyParisiansofrankwhovisitedtheComteayoungmanwhoboresomelikenesstothem。
Allthishiddenlabor，allthisdustthrowninpeople\'seyes，thisdisplayoffollyandlatentprudence，hadanobject，orthe/lion/ofBesanconwouldhavebeennosonofthesoil。Amedeewantedtoachieveagoodmarriagebyprovingsomedaythathisfarmswerenotmortgaged，andthathehadsomesavings。Hewantedtobethetalkofthetown，tobethefinestandbest-dressedmanthere，inordertowinfirsttheattention，andthenthehand，ofMademoiselleRosaliedeWatteville。
In1830，atthetimewhenyoungMonsieurdeSoulaswassettingupinbusinessasadandy，Rosaliewasbutfourteen。Hence，in1834，MademoiselledeWattevillehadreachedtheagewhenyoungpersonsareeasilystruckbythepeculiaritieswhichattractedtheattentionofthetowntoAmedee。Therearesomany/lions/whobecome/lions/outofself-interestandspeculation。TheWattevilles，whofortwelveyearshadbeendrawinganincomeoffiftythousandfrancsayear，didnotspendmorethanfour-and-twentythousandfrancsayear，whilereceivingalltheuppercircleofBesanconeveryMondayandFriday。OnMondaytheygaveadinner，onFridayaneveningparty。Thus，intwelveyears，whatasummusthaveaccumulatedfromtwenty-sixthousandfrancsayear，savedandinvestedwiththejudgmentthatdistinguishesthoseoldfamilies!ItwasverygenerallysupposedthatMadamedeWatteville，thinkingshehadlandenough，hadplacedhersavingsinthethreepercents，in1830。Rosalie\'sdowrywouldtherefore，asthebestinformedopined，amounttoabouttwentythousandfrancsayear。
SoforthelastfiveyearsAmedeehadworkedlikeamoletogetintothehighestfavorofthesevereBaroness，whilelayinghimselfouttoflatterMademoiselledeWatteville\'sconceit。
MadamedeWattevillewasinthesecretofthedevicesbywhichAmedeesucceededinkeepinguphisrankinBesancon，andesteemedhimhighlyforit。Soulashadplacedhimselfunderherwingwhenshewasthirty，andatthattimehaddaredtoadmireherandmakeherhisidol；hehadgotsofarastobeallowed——healoneintheworld——topourouttoheralltheunseemlygossipwhichalmostallveryprecisewomenlovetohear，beingauthorizedbytheirsuperiorvirtuetolookintothegulfwithoutfalling，andintothedevil\'ssnareswithoutbeingcaught。Doyouunderstandwhytheliondidnotallowhimselftheverysmallestintrigue？Helivedapubliclife，inthestreetsotospeak，onpurposetoplaythepartofaloversacrificedtodutybytheBaroness，andtofeasthermindwiththesinsshehadforbiddentohersenses。Amanwhoissoprivilegedastobeallowedtopourlightstoriesintotheearofabigotisinhereyesacharmingman。Ifthisexemplaryyouthhadbetterknownthehumanheart，hemightwithoutriskhaveallowedhimselfsomeflirtationsamongthegrisettesofBesanconwholookeduptohimasaking；hisaffairsmightperhapshavebeenallthemorehopefulwiththestrictandprudishBaroness。
ToRosalieourCatoaffectedprodigality；heprofessedalifeofelegance，showingherinperspectivethesplendidpartplayedbyawomanoffashioninParis，whitherhemeanttogoasDepute。