\"Oh!Iknow，\"repliedtheAbbe。\"Youwrote\'/Ambitionforlove\'ssake/!\'——Ah!myson，itwasloveindespairthatmademeapriestin1786，attheageoftwo-and-twenty。In1788Iwasinchargeofaparish。Iknowlife——Ihaverefusedthreebishopricsalready；ImeantodieatBesancon。\"
\"Comeandseeher!\"criedSavarus，seizingacandle，andleadingtheAbbeintothehandsomeroomwherehungtheportraitoftheDuchessed\'Argaiolo，whichhelightedup。
\"Sheisoneofthosewomenwhoareborntoreign!\"saidtheVicar-
General，understandinghowgreatanaffectionAlbertshowedhimbythismarkofconfidence。\"Butthereisprideonthatbrow；itisimplacable；shewouldneverforgiveaninsult!ItistheArchangelMichael，theangelofExecution，theinexorableangel——\'Allornothing\'isthemottoofthistypeofangel。Thereissomethingdivinelypitilessinthathead。\"
\"Youhaveguessedwell，\"criedSavarus。\"But，mydearAbbe，formorethantwelveyearsnowshehadreignedovermylife，andIhavenotathoughtforwhichtoblamemyself——\"
\"Ah!ifyoucouldonlysaythesameofGod!\"saidthepriestwithsimplicity。\"Now，totalkofyouraffairs。FortendaysIhavebeenatworkforyou。Ifyouarearealpolitician，thistimeyouwillfollowmyadvice。YouwouldnotbewhereyouarenowifyouwouldhavegonetotheWattevilleswhenIfirsttoldyou。Butyoumustgothereto-morrow；Iwilltakeyouintheevening。TheRouxeyestatesareindanger；thecasemustbedefendedwithinthreedays。Theelectionwillnotbeoverinthreedays。Theywilltakegoodcarenottoappointexaminersthefirstday。Therewillbeseveralvotingdays，andyouwillbeelectedbyballot——\"
\"Howcanthatbe？\"askedSavarus。
\"BywinningtheRouxeylawsuityouwillgaineightyLegitimistvotes；
addthemtothethirtyIcancommand，andyouhaveahundredandten。
Then，astwentyremaintoyouoftheBouchercommittee，youwillhaveahundredandthirtyinall。\"
\"Well，\"saidAlbert，\"wemustgetseventy-fivemore。\"
\"Yes，\"saidthepriest，\"sincealltherestareMinisterial。But，myson，youhavetwohundredvotes，andthePrefecturenomorethanahundredandeighty。\"
\"Ihavetwohundredvotes？\"saidAlbert，standingstupidwithamazement，afterstartingtohisfeetasifshotupbyaspring。
\"YouhavethoseofMonsieurdeChavoncourt，\"saidtheAbbe。
\"How？\"saidAlbert。
\"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt。\"
\"Never!\"
\"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，\"thepriestrepeatedcoldly。
\"Butyousee——sheisinexorable，\"saidAlbert，pointingtoFrancesca。
\"YouwillmarryMademoiselleSidoniedeChavoncourt，\"saidtheAbbecalmlyforthethirdtime。
ThistimeAlbertunderstood。TheVicar-Generalwouldnotbeimplicatedinaschemewhichatlastsmiledonthedespairingpolitician。Awordmorewouldhavecompromisedthepriest\'sdignityandhonor。
\"To-morroweveningattheHoteldeRuptyouwillmeetMadamedeChavoncourtandherseconddaughter。Youcanthankherbeforehandforwhatsheisgoingtodoforyou，andtellherthatyourgratitudeisunbounded，thatyouarehersbodyandsoul，thathenceforthyourfutureisthatofherfamily。Youarequitedisinterested，foryouhavesomuchconfidenceinyourselfthatyouregardthenominationasdeputyasasufficientfortune。
\"YouwillhaveastrugglewithMadamedeChavoncourt；shewillwantyoutopledgeyourword。Allyourfuturelife，myson，liesinthatevening。But，understandclearly，Ihavenothingtodowithit。IamanswerableonlyforLegitimistvoters；IhavesecuredMadamedeWatteville，andthatmeansallthearistocracyofBesancon。AmedeedeSoulasandVauchelles，whowillbothvoteforyou，havewonovertheyoungmen；MadamedeWattevillewillgettheoldones。Astomyelectors，theyareinfallible。\"
\"AndwhoonearthhasgainedoverMadamedeChavoncourt？\"askedSavarus。
\"Askmenoquestions，\"repliedtheAbbe。\"MonsieurdeChavoncourt，whohasthreedaughterstomarry，isnotcapableofincreasinghiswealth。
ThoughVauchellesmarriestheeldestwithoutanythingfromherfather，becauseheroldauntistosettlesomethingonher，whatistobecomeofthetwoothers？Sidonieissixteen，andyourambitionisasgoodasagoldmine。SomeonehastoldMadamedeChavoncourtthatshewilldobetterbygettingherdaughtermarriedthanbysendingherhusbandtowastehismoneyinParis。ThatsomeonemanagesMadamedeChavoncourt，andMadamedeChavoncourtmanagesherhusband。\"
\"Thatisenough，mydearAbbe。Iunderstand。WhenonceIamreturnedasdeputy，Ihavesomebody\'sfortunetomake，andbymakingitlargeenoughIshallbereleasedfrommypromise。Inmeyouhaveason，amanwhowillowehishappinesstoyou。Greatheavens!whathaveIdonetodeservesotrueafriend？\"
\"YouwonatriumphfortheChapter，\"saidtheVicar-General，smiling。
\"Now，astoallthis，beassecretasthetomb。Wearenothing，wehavedonenothing。Ifwewereknowntohavemeddledinelectionmatters，weshouldbeeatenupalivebythePuritansoftheLeft——whodoworse——andblamedbysomeofourownparty，whowanteverything。
MadamedeChavoncourthasnosuspicionofmyshareinallthis。IhaveconfidedinnoonebutMadamedeWatteville，whomwemaytrustaswetrustourselves。\"
\"IwillbringtheDuchesstoyoutobeblessed!\"criedSavarus。
Afterseeingouttheoldpriest，Albertwenttobedintheswaddlingclothesofpower。
Nextevening，asmaywellbesupposed，bynineo\'clockMadamelaBaronnedeWatteville\'sroomswerecrowdedbythearistocracyofBesanconinconvocationextraordinary。Theywerediscussingtheexceptionalstepofgoingtothepoll，toobligethedaughteroftheRupts。ItwasknownthattheformerMasterofAppeals，thesecretaryofoneofthemostfaithfulministersundertheElderBranch，wastobepresentedthatevening。MadamedeChavoncourtwastherewithherseconddaughterSidonie，exquisitelydressed，whilehereldersister，secureofherlover，hadnotindulgedinanyoftheartsofthetoilet。Incountrytownstheselittlethingsareremarked。TheAbbedeGrancey\'sfineandcleverheadwastobeseenmovingfromgrouptogroup，listeningtoeverything，seemingtobeapartfromitall，bututteringthoseincisivephraseswhichsumupaquestionanddirecttheissue。
\"IftheElderBranchweretoreturn，\"saidhetoanoldstatesmanofseventy，\"whatpoliticianswouldtheyfind？\"——\"Berryer，aloneonhisbench，doesnotknowwhichwaytoturn；ifhehadsixtyvotes，hewouldoftenscotchthewheelsoftheGovernmentandupsetMinistries!\"——
\"TheDucdeFitz-JamesistobenominatedatToulouse。\"——\"YouwillenableMonsieurdeWattevilletowinhislawsuit。\"——\"IfyouvoteforMonsieurSavarus，theRepublicanswillvotewithyouratherthanwiththeModerates!\"etc。，etc。
Atnineo\'clockAlberthadnotarrived。MadamedeWattevillewasdisposedtoregardsuchdelayasanimpertinence。
\"MydearBaroness，\"saidMadamedeChavoncourt，\"donotletsuchseriousissuesturnonsuchatrifle。Thevarnishonhisbootsisnotdry——oraconsultation，perhaps，detainsMonsieurdeSavarus。\"
RosalieshotasideglanceatMadamedeChavoncourt。
\"SheisverylenienttoMonsieurdeSavarus，\"shewhisperedtohermother。
\"Yousee，\"saidtheBaronesswithasmile，\"thereisaquestionofamarriagebetweenSidonieandMonsieurdeSavarus。\"
MademoiselledeWattevillehastilywenttoawindowlookingoutoverthegarden。
Atteno\'clockAlbertdeSavarushadnotyetappeared。Thestormthatthreatenednowburst。Someofthegentlemensatdowntocards，findingthethingintolerable。TheAbbedeGrancey，whodidnotknowwhattothink，wenttothewindowwhereRosaliewashidden，andexclaimedaloudinhisamazement，\"Hemustbedead!\"
TheVicar-Generalsteppedoutintothegarden，followedbyMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisdaughter，andtheyallthreewentuptothekiosk。
InAlbert\'sroomsallwasdark；notalightwastobeseen。
\"Jerome!\"criedRosalie，seeingtheservantintheyardbelow。TheAbbelookedatherwithastonishment。\"Whereintheworldisyourmaster？\"sheaskedtheman，whocametothefootofthewall。
\"Gone——inapost-chaise，mademoiselle。\"
\"Heisruined!\"exclaimedtheAbbedeGrancey，\"orheishappy!\"
ThejoyoftriumphwasnotsoeffectuallyconcealedonRosalie\'sfacethattheVicar-Generalcouldnotdetectit。Heaffectedtoseenothing。
\"Whatcanthisgirlhavehadtodowiththisbusiness？\"heaskedhimself。
Theyallthreereturnedtothedrawing-room，whereMonsieurdeWattevilleannouncedthestrange，theextraordinary，theprodigiousnewsofthelawyer\'sdeparture，withoutanyreasonassignedforhisevasion。Byhalf-pastelevenonlyfifteenpersonsremained，amongthemMadamedeChavoncourtandtheAbbedeGodenars，anotherVicar-General，amanofaboutforty，whohopedforabishopric，thetwoChavoncourtgirls，andMonsieurdeVauchelles，theAbbedeGrancey，Rosalie，AmedeedeSoulas，andaretiredmagistrate，oneofthemostinfluentialmembersoftheuppercircleofBesancon，whohadbeenveryeagerforAlbert\'selection。TheAbbedeGranceysatdownbytheBaronessinsuchapositionastowatchRosalie，whoseface，usuallypale，woreafeverishflush。
\"WhatcanhavehappenedtoMonsieurdeSavarus？\"saidMadamedeChavoncourt。
AtthismomentaservantinliverybroughtinaletterfortheAbbedeGranceyonasilvertray。
\"Prayreadit，\"saidtheBaroness。
TheVicar-Generalreadtheletter；hesawRosaliesuddenlyturnaswhiteasherkerchief。
\"Sherecognizesthewriting，\"saidhetohimself，afterglancingatthegirloverhisspectacles。Hefoldeduptheletter，andcalmlyputitinhispocketwithoutaword。InthreeminuteshehadmetthreelooksfromRosaliewhichwereenoughtomakehimguesseverything。
\"SheisinlovewithAlbertSavarus!\"thoughttheVicar-General。
Heroseandtookleave。Hewasgoingtowardsthedoorwhen，inthenextroom，hewasovertakenbyRosalie，whosaid:
\"MonsieurdeGrancey，itwasfromAlbert!\"
\"Howdoyouknowthatitwashiswriting，torecognizeitfromsofar？\"
Thegirl\'sreply，caughtasshewasinthetoilsofherimpatienceandrage，seemedtotheAbbesublime。
\"Ilovehim!——Whatisthematter？\"shesaidafterapause。
\"Hegivesuptheelection。\"
Rosalieputherfingertoherlip。
\"Iaskyoutobeassecretasifitwereaconfession，\"saidshebeforereturningtothedrawing-room。\"Ifthereisanendoftheelection，thereisanendofthemarriagewithSidonie。\"
Inthemorning，onherwaytoMass，MademoiselledeWattevilleheardfromMariettesomeofthecircumstanceswhichhadpromptedAlbert\'sdisappearanceatthemostcriticalmomentofhislife。
\"Mademoiselle，anoldgentlemanfromParisarrivedyesterdaymorningattheHotelNational；hecameinhisowncarriagewithfourhorses，andacourierinfront，andaservant。Indeed，Jerome，whosawthecarriagereturning，declareshecouldonlybeaprinceora/milord/。\"
\"Wasthereacoronetonthecarriage？\"askedRosalie。
\"Idonotknow，\"saidMariette。\"JustastwowasstrikinghecametocallonMonsieurSavarus，andsentinhiscard；andwhenhesawit，JeromesaysMonsieurturnedaspaleasasheet，andsaidhewastobeshownin。Ashehimselflockedthedoor，itisimpossibletotellwhattheoldgentlemanandthelawyersaidtoeachother；buttheyweretogetheraboveanhour，andthentheoldgentleman，withthelawyer，calleduphisservant。Jeromesawtheservantgooutagainwithanimmensepackage，fourfeetlong，whichlookedlikeagreatpaintingoncanvas。Theoldgentlemanhadinhishandalargeparcelofpapers。
MonsieurSavaronwaspalerthandeath，andhe，soproud，sodignified，wasinastatetobepitied。ButhetreatedtheoldgentlemansorespectfullythathecouldnothavebeenpolitertotheKinghimself。
JeromeandMonsieurAlbertSavaronescortedthegentlemantohiscarriage，whichwasstandingwiththehorsesin。Thecourierstartedonthestrokeofthree。
\"MonsieurSavaronwentstraighttothePrefecture，andfromthattoMonsieurGentillet，whosoldhimtheoldtravelingcarriagethatusedtobelongtoMadamedeSaint-Vierbeforeshedied；thenheorderedposthorsesforsixo\'clock。Hewenthometopack；nodoubthewrotealotofletters；finally，hesettledeverythingwithMonsieurGirardet，whowenttohimandstayedtillseven。JeromecarriedanotetoMonsieurBoucher，withwhomhismasterwastohavedined；andthen，athalf-pastseven，thelawyersetout，leavingJeromewiththreemonths\'
wages，andtellinghimtofindanotherplace。
\"HelefthiskeyswithMonsieurGirardet，whomhetookhome，andathishouse，Jeromesays，hetookaplateofsoup，forathalf-pastsevenMonsieurGirardethadnotyetdined。WhenMonsieurSavarongotintothecarriagehelookedlikedeath。Jerome，who，ofcourse，sawhismasteroff，heardhimtellthepostilion\'TheGenevaRoad!\'\"
\"DidJeromeaskthenameofthestrangerattheHotelNational？\"
\"Astheoldgentlemandidnotmeantostay，hewasnotaskedforit。
Theservant，byhisordersnodoubt，pretendednottospeakFrench。\"
\"AndtheletterwhichcamesolatetoAbbedeGrancey？\"saidRosalie。
\"ItwasMonsieurGirardet，nodoubt，whooughttohavedeliveredit；
butJeromesaysthatpoorMonsieurGirardet，whowasmuchattachedtolawyerSavaron，wasasmuchupsetashewas。Sohewhocamesomysteriously，asMademoiselleGalardsays，isgoneawayjustasmysteriously。\"
Afterhearingthisnarrative，MademoiselledeWattevillefellintoabroodingandabsentmood，whicheverybodycouldsee。ItisuselesstosayanythingofthecommotionthataroseinBesancononthedisappearanceofMonsieurSavaron。ItwasunderstoodthatthePrefecthadobligedhimwiththegreatestreadinessbygivinghimatonceapassportacrossthefrontier，forhewasthusquitofhisonlyopponent。NextdayMonsieurdeChavoncourtwascarriedtothetopbyamajorityofahundredandfortyvotes。
\"Jackisgonebythewayhecame，\"saidanelectoronhearingofAlbertSavaron\'sflight。
ThiseventlentweighttotheprevailingprejudiceatBesanconagainststrangers；indeed，twoyearspreviouslytheyhadreceivedconfirmationfromtheaffairoftheRepublicannewspaper。TendayslaterAlbertdeSavaruswasneverspokenofagain。Onlythreepersons——Girardettheattorney，theVicar-General，andRosalie——wereseriouslyaffectedbyhisdisappearance。Girardetknewthatthewhite-hairedstrangerwasPrinceSoderini，forhehadseenhiscard，andhetoldtheVicar-
General；butRosalie，betterinformedthaneitherofthem，hadknownforthreemonthspastthattheDucd\'Argaiolowasdead。
InthemonthofApril1836noonehadhadanynewsfromorofAlbertdeSavarus。JeromeandMarietteweretobemarried，buttheBaronessconfidentiallydesiredhermaidtowaittillherdaughterwasmarried，sayingthatthetwoweddingsmighttakeplaceatthesametime。
\"ItistimethatRosalieshouldbemarried，\"saidtheBaronessonedaytoMonsieurdeWatteville。\"Sheisnineteen，andsheisfearfullyalteredintheselastmonths。\"
\"Idonotknowwhatailsher，\"saidtheBaron。
\"Whenfathersdonotknowwhatailstheirdaughters，motherscanguess，\"saidtheBaroness；\"wemustgethermarried。\"
\"Iamquitewilling，\"saidtheBaron。\"IshallgiveherlesRouxeynowthattheCourthassettledourquarrelwiththeauthoritiesofRiceysbyfixingtheboundarylineatthreehundredfeetupthesideoftheDentdeVilard。Iamhavingatrenchmadetocollectallthewaterandcarryitintothelake。Thevillagedidnotappeal，sothedecisionisfinal。\"
\"Ithasneveroccurredtoyou，\"saidMadamedeWatteville，\"thatthisdecisioncostmethirtythousandfrancshandedovertoChantonnit。
Thatpeasantwouldtakenothingelse；hesolduspeace——IfyougiveawaylesRouxey，youwillhavenothingleft，\"saidtheBaroness。
\"Idonotneedmuch，\"saidtheBaron；\"Iambreakingup。\"
\"Youeatlikeanogre!\"
\"Justso。ButhowevermuchImayeat，Ifeelmylegsgetweakerandweaker——\"
\"Itisfromworkingthelathe，\"saidhiswife。
\"Idonotknow，\"saidhe。
\"WewillmarryRosalietoMonsieurdeSoulas；ifyougiveherlesRouxey，keepthelifeinterest。Iwillgivethemfifteenthousandfrancsayearinthefunds。Ourchildrencanlivehere；Idonotseethattheyaremuchtobepitied。\"
\"No。IshallgivethemlesRouxeyoutandout。RosalieisfondoflesRouxey。\"
\"Youareaqueermanwithyourdaughter!ItdoesnotoccurtoyoutoaskmeifIamfondoflesRouxey。\"
Rosalie，atoncesentfor，wasinformedthatshewastomarryMonsieurdeSoulasonedayearlyinthemonthofMay。
\"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，mother，andtoyoutoo，father，forhavingthoughtofsettlingme；butIdonotmeantomarry；Iamveryhappywithyou。\"
\"Merespeeches!\"saidtheBaroness。\"YouarenotinlovewithMonsieurdeSoulas，thatisall。\"
\"Ifyouinsistontheplaintruth，IwillnevermarryMonsieurdeSoulas——\"
\"Oh!the/never/ofagirlofnineteen!\"retortedhermother，withabittersmile。
\"The/never/ofMademoiselledeWatteville，\"saidRosaliewithfirmdecision。\"Myfather，Iimagine，hasnointentionofmakingmemarryagainstmywishes？\"
\"No，indeedno!\"saidthepoorBaron，lookingaffectionatelyathisdaughter。
\"Verywell!\"saidtheBaroness，sternlycontrollingtherageofabigotstartledatfindingherselfunexpectedlydefied，\"youyourself，MonsieurdeWatteville，maytaketheresponsibilityofsettlingyourdaughter。Considerwell，mademoiselle，forifyoudonotmarrytomymindyouwillgetnothingoutofme!\"
ThequarrelthusbegunbetweenMadamedeWattevilleandherhusband，whotookhisdaughter\'spart，wentsofarthatRosalieandherfatherwereobligedtospendthesummeratlesRouxey；lifeattheHoteldeRuptwasunendurable。ItthusbecameknowninBesanconthatMademoiselledeWattevillehadpositivelyrefusedtheComtedeSoulas。
AftertheirmarriageMarietteandJeromecametolesRouxeytosucceedtoModinierinduetime。TheBaronrestoredandrepairedthehousetosuithisdaughter\'staste。Whensheheardthattheseimprovementshadcostaboutsixtythousandfrancs，andthatRosalieandherfatherwerebuildingaconservatory，theBaronessunderstoodthattherewasaleavenofspiteinherdaughter。TheBaronpurchasedvariousoutlyingplots，andalittleestateworththirtythousandfrancs。MadamedeWattevillewastoldthat，awayfromher，Rosalieshowedmasterlyqualities，thatshewastakingstepstoimprovethevalueoflesRouxey，thatshehadtreatedherselftoaridinghabitandrodeabout；