\"Thedeuceisinit!\"saidSavarus。\"Iamattachedtoyou，andIcoulddoagreatdealforyou，Father!PerhapswemaycompoundwiththeDevil。WhateverMonsieurdeWatteville\'sbusinessmaybe，byengagingGirardet，andpromptinghim，itwillbepossibletodragtheproceedingsouttilltheelectionsareover。IwillnotundertaketopleadtillthedayafterIamreturned。\"
\"Dothisonething，\"saidtheAbbe。\"CometotheHoteldeRupt:thereisayoungpersonofnineteentherewho，oneofthesedays，willhaveahundredthousandfrancsayear，andyoucanseemtobepayingyourcourttoher——\"
\"Ah!theyoungladyIsometimesseeinthekiosk？\"
\"Yes，MademoiselleRosalie，\"repliedtheAbbedeGrancey。\"Youareambitious。Ifshetakesafancytoyou，youmaybeeverythinganambitiousmancanwish——whoknows？AMinisterperhaps。AmancanalwaysbeaMinisterwhoaddsahundredthousandfrancsayeartoyouramazingtalents。\"
\"Monsieurl\'Abbe，ifMademoiselledeWattevillehadthreetimesherfortune，andadoredmeintothebargain，itwouldbeimpossiblethatI
shouldmarryher——\"
\"Youaremarried？\"exclaimedtheAbbe。
\"NotinchurchnorbeforetheMaire，butmorallyspeaking，\"saidSavarus。
\"Thatisevenworsewhenamancaresaboutitasyouseemtocare，\"
repliedtheAbbe。\"Everythingthatisnotdone，canbeundone。Donotstakeyourfortuneandyourprospectsonawoman\'sliking，anymorethanawisemancountsonadeadman\'sshoesbeforestartingonhisway。\"
\"LetussaynomoreaboutMademoiselledeWatteville，\"saidAlbertgravely，\"andagreeastothefacts。Atyourdesire——forIhavearegardandrespectforyou——IwillappearforMonsieurdeWatteville，butaftertheelections。UntilthenGirardetmustconductthecaseundermyinstructions。ThatisthemostIcando。\"
\"Buttherearequestionsinvolvedwhichcanonlybesettledafterinspectionofthelocalities，\"saidtheVicar-General。
\"Girardetcango，\"saidSavarus。\"Icannotallowmyself，inthefaceofatownIknowsowell，totakeanystepwhichmightcompromisethesupremeintereststhatliebeyondmyelection。\"
TheAbbeleftSavarusaftergivinghimakeenlook，inwhichheseemedtobelaughingattheyoungathlete\'suncompromisingpolitics，whileadmiringhisfirmness。
\"Ah!Iwouldhavedraggedmyfatherintoalawsuit——Iwouldhavedoneanythingtogethimhere!\"criedRosalietoherself，standinginthekioskandlookingatthelawyerinhisroom，thedayafterAlbert\'sinterviewwiththeAbbe，whohadreportedtheresulttoherfather。\"I
wouldhavecommittedanymortalsin，andyouwillnotentertheWattevilles\'drawing-room；Imaynothearyourfinevoice!YoumakeconditionswhenyourhelpisrequiredbytheWattevillesandtheRupts!——Well，Godknows，Imeanttobecontentwiththesesmalljoys；
withseeingyou，hearingyouspeak，goingwithyoutolesRouxey，thatyourpresencemighttomemaketheplacesacred。ThatwasallIasked。
Butnow——nowImeantobeyourwife——Yes，yes；lookat/her/
portrait，at/her/drawing-room，/her/bedroom，atthefoursidesof/her/villa，thepointsofviewfrom/her/gardens。Youexpectherstatue？Iwillmakehermarbleherselftowardsyou!——Afterall，thewomandoesnotlove。Art，science，books，singing，music，haveabsorbedhalfhersensesandherintelligence。Sheisold，too；sheispastthirty；myAlbertwillnotbehappy!\"
\"Whatisthematterthatyoustayhere，Rosalie？\"askedhermother，interruptingherreflections。\"MonsieurdeSoulasisinthedrawing-
room，andheobservedyourattitude，whichcertainlybetraysmorethoughtfulnessthanisdueatyourage。\"
\"Then，isMonsieurdeSoulasafoetothought？\"askedRosalie。
\"Thenyouwerethinking？\"saidMadamedeWatteville。
\"Why，yes，mamma。\"
\"Why，no!youwerenotthinking。Youwerestaringatthatlawyer\'swindowwithanattentionthatisneitherbecoming，nordecent，andwhichMonsieurdeSoulas，ofallmen，oughtnevertohaveobserved。\"
\"Why？\"saidRosalie。
\"Itistime，\"saidtheBaroness，\"thatyoushouldknowwhatourintentionsare。Amedeelikesyou，andyouwillnotbeunhappyasComtessedeSoulas。\"
Rosalie，aswhiteasalily，madenoreply，socompletelywasshestupefiedbycontendingfeelings。Andyetinthepresenceofthemanshehadthisinstantbeguntohatevehemently，sheforcedthekindofsmilewhichaballet-dancerputsonforthepublic。Nay，shecouldevenlaugh；shehadthestrengthtoconcealherrage，whichpresentlysubsided，forshewasdeterminedtomakeuseofthisfatsimpletontofurtherherdesigns。
\"MonsieurAmedee，\"saidshe，atthemomentwhenhermotherwaswalkingaheadoftheminthegarden，affectingtoleavetheyoungpeopletogether，\"wereyounotawarethatMonsieurAlbertSavarondeSavarusisaLegitimist？\"
\"ALegitimist？\"
\"Until1830hewasMasterofAppealstotheCouncilofState，attachedtothesupremeMinisterialCouncil，andinfavorwiththeDauphinandDauphiness。Itwouldbeverygoodofyoutosaynothingagainsthim，butitwouldbebetterstillifyouwouldattendtheelectionthisyear，carrytheday，andhinderthatpoorMonsieurdeChavoncourtfromrepresentingthetownofBesancon。\"
\"WhatsuddeninteresthaveyouinthisSavaron？\"
\"MonsieurAlbertSavarondeSavarus，thenaturalsonoftheComtedeSavarus——praykeepthesecretofmyindiscretion——ifheisreturneddeputy，willbeouradvocateinthesuitaboutlesRouxey。LesRouxey，myfathertellsme，willbemyproperty；Iintendtolivethere，itisalovelyplace!Ishouldbebroken-heartedatseeingthatfinepieceofthegreatdeWatteville\'sworkdestroyed。\"
\"Thedevil!\"thoughtAmedee，asheleftthehouse。\"Theheiressisnotsuchafoolashermotherthinksher。\"
MonsieurdeChavoncourtisaRoyalist，ofthefamous221。Hence，fromthedayaftertherevolutionofJuly，healwayspreachedthesalutarydoctrineoftakingtheoathsandresistingthepresentorderofthings，afterthepatternoftheToriesagainsttheWhigsinEngland。
ThisdoctrinewasnotacceptabletotheLegitimists，who，intheirdefeat，hadthewittodivideintheiropinions，andtotrusttotheforceofinertiaandtoProvidence。MonsieurdeChavoncourtwasnotwhollytrustedbyhisownparty，butseemedtotheModeratesthebestmantochoose；theypreferredthetriumphofhishalf-heartedopinionstotheacclamationofaRepublicanwhoshouldcombinethevotesoftheenthusiastsandthepatriots。MonsieurdeChavoncourt，highlyrespectedinBesancon，wastherepresentativeofanoldparliamentaryfamily；hisfortune，ofaboutfifteenthousandfrancsayear，wasnotanoffencetoanybody，especiallyashehadasonandthreedaughters。
Withsuchafamily，fifteenthousandfrancsayearareamerenothing。
Nowwhen，underthesecircumstances，thefatherofthefamilyisabovebribery，itwouldbehardiftheelectorsdidnotesteemhim。Electorswaxenthusiasticovera/beauideal/ofparliamentaryvirtue，justastheaudienceinthepitdoattherepresentationofthegeneroussentimentstheysolittlepractise。
MadamedeChavoncourt，atthistimeawomanofforty，wasoneofthebeautiesofBesancon。WhiletheChamberwassitting，shelivedmeagrelyinoneoftheircountryplacestorecoupherselfbyeconomyforMonsieurdeChavoncourt\'sexpensesinParis。Inthewintershereceivedverycreditablyonceaweek，onTuesdays，understandingherbusinessasmistressofthehouse。YoungChavoncourt，ayouthoftwo-
and-twenty，andanotheryounggentleman，namedMonsieurdeVauchelles，noricherthanAmedeeandhisschool-friend，werehisintimateallies。
TheymadeexcursionstogethertoGranvelle，andsometimeswentoutshooting；theyweresowellknowntobeinseparablethattheywereinvitedtothecountrytogether。
Rosalie，whowasintimatewiththeChavoncourtgirls，knewthatthethreeyoungmenhadnosecretsfromeachother。ShereflectedthatifMonsieurdeSoulasshouldrepeatherwords，itwouldbetohistwocompanions。Now，MonsieurdeVauchelleshadhismatrimonialplans，asAmedeehadhis；hewishedtomarryVictoire，theeldestoftheChavoncourts，onwhomanoldauntwastosettleanestateworthseventhousandfrancsayear，andahundredthousandfrancsinhardcash，whenthecontractwastobesigned。Victoirewasthisaunt\'sgod-
daughterandfavoriteniece。Consequently，youngChavoncourtandhisfriendVauchelleswouldbesuretowarnMonsieurdeChavoncourtofthedangerhewasinfromAlbert\'scandidature。
ButthisdidnotsatisfyRosalie。ShesentthePrefetofthedepartmentaletterwrittenwithherlefthand，signed\"/AfriendtoLouisPhilippe/，\"inwhichsheinformedhimofthesecretintentionsofMonsieurAlbertdeSavarus，pointingouttheserioussupportaRoyalistoratormightgivetoBerryer，andrevealingtohimthedeeplyartfulcoursepursuedbythelawyerduringhistwoyears\'residenceatBesancon。ThePrefetwasacapableman，apersonalenemyoftheRoyalistparty，devotedbyconvictiontotheGovernmentofJuly——inshort，oneofthosemenofwhom，intheRuedeGrenelle，theMinisteroftheInteriorcouldsay，\"WehaveacapitalPrefetatBesancon。\"——
ThePrefetreadtheletter，and，inobediencetoitsinstructions，heburntit。
RosalieaimedatpreventingAlbert\'selection，soastokeephimfiveyearslongeratBesancon。
Atthattimeanelectionwasafightbetweenparties，andinordertowin，theMinistrychoseitsgroundbychoosingthemomentwhenitwouldgivebattle。Theelectionswerethereforenottotakeplaceforthreemonthsyet。Whenaman\'swholelifedependsonanelection，theperiodthatelapsesbetweentheissuingofthewritsforconveningtheelectoralbodies，andthedayfixedfortheirmeetings，isanintervalduringwhichordinaryvitalityissuspended。RosaliefullyunderstoodhowmuchlatitudeAlbert\'sabsorbedstatewouldleaveherduringthesethreemonths。BypromisingMariette——assheafterwardsconfessed——totakebothherandJeromeintoherservice，sheinducedthemaidtobringherallthelettersAlbertmightsenttoItaly，andthoseaddressedtohimfromthatcountry。Andallthetimeshewasponderingthesemachinations，theextraordinarygirlwasworkingslippersforherfatherwiththemostinnocentairintheworld。Sheevenmadeagreaterdisplaythaneverofcandorandsimplicity，quiteunderstandinghowvaluablethatcandorandinnocencewouldbetoherends。
\"Mydaughtergrowsquitecharming!\"saidMadamedeWatteville。
TwomonthsbeforetheelectionameetingwasheldatthehouseofMonsieurBouchersenior，composedofthecontractorwhoexpectedtogettheworkfortheaqueductfortheArcierwaters；ofMonsieurBoucher\'sfather-in-law；ofMonsieurGranet，theinfluentialmantowhomSavarushaddoneaservice，andwhowastonominatehimasacandidate；ofGirardetthelawyer；oftheprinterofthe/EasternReview/；andofthePresidentoftheChamberofCommerce。Infact，theassemblyconsistedoftwenty-sevenpersonsinall，menwhointheprovincesareregardedasbigwigs。Eachmanrepresentedonanaveragesixvotes，butinestimatingtheirvaluestheysaidten，formenalwaysbeginbyexaggeratingtheirowninfluence。Amongthesetwenty-
sevenwasonewhowaswhollydevotedtothePrefet，onefalsebrotherwhosecretlylookedforsomefavorfromtheMinistry，eitherforhimselforforsomeonebelongingtohim。
Atthispreliminarymeeting，itwasagreedthatSavaronthelawyershouldbenamedascandidate，amotionreceivedwithsuchenthusiasmasnoonelookedforfromBesancon。Albert，waitingathomeforAlfredBouchertofetchhim，waschattingwiththeAbbedeGrancey，whowasinterestedinthisabsorbingambition。Alberthadappreciatedthepriest\'svastpoliticalcapacities；andthepriest，touchedbytheyoungman\'sentreaties，hadbeenwillingtobecomehisguideandadviserinthisculminatingstruggle。TheChapterdidnotloveMonsieurdeChavoncourt，foritwashiswife\'sbrother-in-law，asPresidentoftheTribunal，whohadlostthefamoussuitfortheminthelowerCourt。
\"Youarebetrayed，mydearfellow，\"saidtheshrewdandworthyAbbe，inthatgentle，calmvoicewhicholdpriestsacquire。
\"Betrayed!\"criedthelover，strucktotheheart。
\"BywhomIknownotatall，\"thepriestreplied。\"ButatthePrefectureyourplansareknown，andyourhandreadlikeabook。AtthismomentIhavenoadvicetogiveyou。Suchaffairsneedconsideration。Asforthisevening，takethebullbythehorns，anticipatetheblow。Tellthemallyourpreviouslife，andthusyouwillmitigatetheeffectofthediscoveryonthegoodfolksofBesancon。\"
\"Oh，Iwaspreparedforit，\"saidAlbertinabrokenvoice。
\"Youwouldnotbenefitbymyadvice；youhadtheopportunityofmakinganimpressionattheHoteldeRupt；youdonotknowtheadvantageyouwouldhavegained——\"
\"What？\"
\"TheunanimoussupportoftheRoyalists，animmediatereadinesstogototheelection——inshort，aboveahundredvotes。Addingtothesewhat，amongourselves，wecalltheecclesiasticalvote，thoughyouwerenotyetnominated，youweremasterofthevotesbyballot。Undersuchcircumstances，amanmaytemporize，maymakehisway——\"
AlfredBoucherwhenhecamein，fullofenthusiasm，toannouncethedecisionofthepreliminarymeeting，foundtheVicar-Generalandthelawyercold，calm，andgrave。
\"Good-night，Monsieurl\'Abbe，\"saidAlbert。\"Wewilltalkofyourbusinessatgreaterlengthwhentheelectionsareover。\"
AndhetookAlfred\'sarm，afterpressingMonsieurdeGrancey\'shandwithmeaning。Thepriestlookedattheambitiousman，whosefaceatthatmomentworetheloftyexpressionwhichageneralmayhavewhenhehearsthefirstgunfiredforabattle。Heraisedhiseyestoheaven，andlefttheroom，sayingtohimself，\"Whatapriesthewouldmake!\"
EloquenceisnotattheBar。Thepleaderrarelyputsforththerealpowersofhissoul；ifhedid，hewoulddieofitinafewyears。
Eloquenceis，nowadays，rarelyinthepulpit；butitisfoundoncertainoccasionsintheChamberofDeputies，whenanambitiousmanstakesalltowinall，or，stungbyamyriaddarts，atagivenmomentburstsintospeech。Butitisstillmorecertainlyfoundinsomeprivilegedbeings，attheinevitablehourwhentheirclaimsmusteithertriumphorbewrecked，andwhentheyareforcedtospeak。Thusatthismeeting，AlbertSavarus，feelingthenecessityofwinninghimselfsomesupporters，displayedallthefacultiesofhissoulandtheresourcesofhisintellect。Heenteredtheroomwell，withoutawkwardnessorarrogance，withoutweakness，withoutcowardice，quitegravely，andwasnotdismayedatfindinghimselfamongtwentyorthirtymen。Thenewsofthemeetingandofitsdeterminationhadalreadybroughtafewdocilesheeptofollowthebell。
BeforelisteningtoMonsieurBoucher，whowasabouttodelugehimwithaspeechannouncingthedecisionoftheBoucherCommittee，Albertbeggedforsilence，and，asheshookhandswithMonsieurBoucher，triedtowarnhim，byasign，ofanunexpecteddanger。
\"Myyoungfriend，AlfredBoucher，hasjustannouncedtomethehonoryouhavedoneme。Butbeforethatdecisionisirrevocable，\"saidthelawyer，\"IthinkthatIoughttoexplaintoyouwhoandwhatyourcandidateis，soastoleaveyoufreetotakebackyourwordifmydeclarationshoulddisturbyourconscience!\"
Thisexordiumwasfollowedbyprofoundsilence。Someofthementhoughtitshowedanobleimpulse。
Albertgaveasketchofhispreviouscareer，tellingthemhisrealname，hisactionundertheRestoration，andrevealinghimselfasanewmansincehisarrivalatBesancon，whilepledginghimselfforthefuture。Thisaddressheldhishearersbreathless，itwassaid。Thesemen，allwithdifferentinterests，werespellboundbythebrillianteloquencethatflowedatboilingheatfromtheheartandsoulofthisambitiousspirit。Admirationsilencedreflection。Onlyonethingwasclear——thethingwhichAlbertwishedtogetintotheirheads:
Wasitnotfarbetterforthetowntohaveoneofthosemenwhoareborntogovernsocietyatlargethanamerevoting-machine？A
statesmancarriespowerwithhim。Acommonplacedeputy，howeverincorruptible，isbutaconscience。WhatagloryforProvencetohavefoundaMirabeau，toreturntheonlystatesmansince1830thattherevolutionofJulyhadproduced!
Underthepressureofthiseloquence，alltheaudiencebelieveditgreatenoughtobecomeasplendidpoliticalinstrumentinthehandsoftheirrepresentative。TheyallsawinAlbertSavaron，SavarusthegreatMinister。And，readingthesecretcalculationsofhisconstituents，theclevercandidategavethemtounderstandthattheywouldbethefirsttoenjoytherightofprofitingbyhisinfluence。
Thisconfessionoffaith，thisambitiousprogramme，thisretrospectofhislifeandcharacterwas，accordingtotheonlymanpresentwhowascapableofjudgingofSavarus(hehassincebecomeoneoftheleadingmenofBesancon)，amasterpieceofskillandoffeeling，offervor，interest，andfascination。Thiswhirlwindcarriedawaytheelectors。
Neverhadanymanhadsuchatriumph。But，unfortunately，speech，aweapononlyforclosewarfare，hasonlyanimmediateeffect。
Reflectionkillsthewordwhenthewordceasestooverpowerreflection。Ifthevoteshadthenbeentaken，Albert\'snamewouldundoubtedlyhavecomeoutoftheballot-box。Atthemoment，hewasconqueror。Buthemustconquereverydayfortwomonths。
Albertwenthomequivering。Thetownsfolkhadapplaudedhim，andhehadachievedthegreatpointofsilencingbeforehandthemalignanttalktowhichhisearlycareermightgiverise。ThecommercialinterestofBesanconhadnominatedthelawyer，AlbertSavarondeSavarus，asitscandidate。
AlfredBoucher\'senthusiasm，atfirstinfectious，presentlybecameblundering。
ThePrefet，alarmedbythissuccess，settoworktocounttheMinisterialvotes，andcontrivedtohaveasecretinterviewwithMonsieurdeChavoncourt，soastoeffectacoalitionintheircommoninterests。Everyday，withoutAlbert\'sbeingabletodiscoverhow，thevotersintheBouchercommitteediminishedinnumber。
NothingcouldresisttheslowgrindingofthePrefecture。ThreeoffourclevermenwouldsaytoAlbert\'sclients，\"Willthedeputydefendyouandwinyourlawsuits？Willhegiveyouadvice，drawupyourcontracts，arrangeyourcompromises？——Hewillbeyourslaveforfiveyearslonger，if，insteadofreturninghimtotheChamber，youonlyholdoutthehopeofhisgoingtherefiveyearshence。\"
ThiscalculationdidSavarusallthemoremischief，becausethewivesofsomeofthemerchantshadalreadymadeit。ThepartiesinterestedinthematterofthebridgeandthatofthewaterfromArciercouldnotholdoutagainstatalking-tofromacleverMinisterialist，whoprovedtothemthattheirsafetylayatthePrefecture，andnotinthehandsofanambitiousman。EachdaywasacheckforSavarus，thougheachdaythebattlewasledbyhimandfoughtbyhislieutenants——abattleofwords，speeches，andproceedings。HedarednotgototheVicar-General，andtheVicar-Generalnevershowedhimself。Albertroseandwenttobedinafever，hisbrainonfire。
Atlastthedaydawnedofthefirststruggle，practicallytheshowofhands；thevotesarecounted，thecandidatesestimatetheirchances，andclevermencanprophesytheirfailureorsuccess。Itisadecenthustings，withoutthemob，butformidable；agitation，thoughitisnotallowedanyphysicaldisplay，asitisinEngland，isnotthelessprofound。TheEnglishfightthesebattleswiththeirfists，theFrenchwithhardwords。Ourneighborshaveascrimmage，theFrenchtrytheirfatebycoldcombinationscalmlyworkedout。Thisparticularpoliticalbusinessiscarriedoutinoppositiontothecharacterofthetwonations。
TheRadicalpartynamedtheircandidate；MonsieurdeChavoncourtcameforward；thenAlbertappeared，andwasaccusedbytheChavoncourtcommitteeandtheRadicalsofbeinganuncompromisingmanoftheRight，asecondBerryer。TheMinistryhadtheircandidate，astalking-
horse，usefulonlytoreceivethepurelyMinisterialvotes。Thevotes，thusdivided，gavenoresult。TheRepublicancandidatehadtwenty，theMinistrygotfifty，Alberthadseventy，MonsieurdeChavoncourtobtainedsixty-seven。ButthePrefet\'spartyhadperfidiouslymadethirtyofitsmostdevotedadherentsvoteforAlbert，soastodeceivetheenemy。ThevotesforMonsieurdeChavoncourt，addedtotheeightyvotes——therealnumber——atthedisposalofthePrefecture，wouldcarrytheelection，ifonlythePrefetcouldsucceedingainingoverafewoftheRadicals。Ahundredandsixtyvoteswerenotrecorded:thoseofMonsieurdeGrancey\'sfollowingandtheLegitimists。
Theshowofhandsatanelection，likeadressrehearsalatatheatre，isthemostdeceptivethingintheworld。AlbertSavaruscamehome，puttingabravefaceonthematter，buthalfdead。Hehadhadthewit，thegenius，orthegoodlucktogain，withinthelastfortnight，twostaunchsupporters——Girardet\'sfather-in-lawandaveryshrewdoldmerchanttowhomMonsieurdeGranceyhadsenthim。Thesetwoworthymen，hisself-appointedspies，affectedtobeAlbert\'smostardentopponentsinthehostilecamp。TowardstheendoftheshowofhandstheyinformedSavarus，throughthemediumofMonsieurBoucher，thatthirtyvoters，unknown，wereworkingagainsthiminhisparty，playingthesametrickthattheywereplayingforhisbenefitontheotherside。
AcriminalmarchingtoexecutioncouldnotsufferasAlbertsufferedashewenthomefromthehallwherehisfatewasatstake。Thedespairinglovercouldendurenocompanionship。Hewalkedthroughthestreetsalone，betweeneleveno\'clockandmidnight。Atoneinthemorning，Albert，towhomsleephadbeenunknownforthepastthreedays，wassittinginhislibraryinadeeparmchair，hisfaceaspaleasifheweredying，hishandshanginglimp，inaforlornattitudeworthyoftheMagdalen。Tearshungonhislonglashes，tearsthatdimtheeyes，butdonotfall；fiercethoughtdrinksthemup，thefireofthesoulconsumesthem。Alone，hemightweep。Andthen，underthekiosk，hesawawhitefigure，whichremindedhimofFrancesca。
\"AndforthreemonthsIhavehadnoletterfromher!Whathasbecomeofher？Ihavenotwrittenfortwomonths，butIwarnedher。Issheill？Oh，mylove!Mylife!WillyoueverknowwhatIhavegonethrough？Whatawretchedconstitutionismine!HaveIananeurism？\"heaskedhimself，feelinghisheartbeatsoviolentlythatitspulsesseemedaudibleinthesilencelikelittlegrainsofsanddroppingonabigdrum。
Atthismomentthreedistincttapssoundedonhisdoor；Alberthastenedtoopenit，andalmostfaintedwithjoyatseeingtheVicar-
General\'scheerfulandtriumphantmien。Withoutaword，hethrewhisarmsroundtheAbbedeGrancey，heldhimfast，andclaspedhimclosely，lettinghisheadfallontheoldman\'sshoulder。Hewasachildagain；hecriedashehadcriedonhearingthatFrancescaSoderiniwasamarriedwoman。Hebetrayedhisweaknesstonoonebuttothispriest，onwhosefaceshonethelightofhope。Thepriesthadbeensublime，andasshrewdashewassublime。
\"Forgiveme，dearAbbe，butyoucomeatoneofthosemomentswhenthemanvanishes，foryouarenottothinkmevulgarlyambitious。\"