Rememberthatthismonologue，addressedtothePrincessGoritza，wasmentallyutteredwhilehetookapinchofsnuff。
MadameGransonhaddivinedthatthechevalierwastalkingaboutAthanase。Eagertoknowtheresultoftheconversation，shefollowedMademoiselleCormon，whowasnowapproachingtheyoungmanwithmuchdignity。ButatthismomentJacquelinappearedtoannouncethatmademoisellewasserved。Theoldmaidgaveaglanceofappealtothechevalier；butthegallantrecorderofmortgages，whowasbeginningtoseeinthemannersofthatgentlemanthebarrierwhichtheprovincialnoblesweresettingupaboutthistimebetweenthemselvesandthebourgeoisie，madethemostofhischancetocutoutMonsieurdeValois。HewasclosetoMademoiselleCormon，andpromptlyofferedhisarm，whichshefoundherselfcompelledtoaccept。Thechevalierthendarted，outofpolicy，uponMadameGranson。
\"MademoiselleCormon，mydearlady，\"hesaidtoher，walkingslowlyafteralltheotherguests，\"feelstheliveliestinterestinyourdearAthanase；butIfearitwillvanishthroughhisownfault。Heisirreligiousandliberal；heisagitatingthismatterofthetheatre；
hefrequentstheBonapartists；hetakesthesideofthatrector。Suchconductmaymakehimlosehisplaceinthemayor\'soffice。Youknowwithwhatcarethegovernmentisbeginningtoweedoutsuchopinions。
IfyourdearAthanaseloseshisplace，wherecanhefindotheremployment？Iadvisehimnottogethimselfinbadodorwiththeadministration。\"
\"MonsieurleChevalier，\"saidthepoorfrightenedmother，\"howgratefulIamtoyou!Youareright:mysonisthetoolofabadsetofpeople；Ishallenlightenhim。\"
ThechevalierhadlongsincefathomedthenatureofAthanase，andrecognizedinitthatunyieldingelementofrepublicanconvictionstowhichinhisyouthayoungmaniswillingtosacrificeeverything，carriedawaybytheword\"liberty，\"soill-definedandsolittleunderstood，butwhichtopersonsdisdainedbyfateisabannerofrevolt；andtosuch，revoltisvengeance。Athanasewouldcertainlypersistinthatfaith，forhisopinionswerewoveninwithhisartisticsorrows，withhisbittercontemplationofthesocialstate。
Hewasignorantofthefactthatatthirty-sixyearsofage，——theperiodoflifewhenamanhasjudgedmenandsocialinterestsandrelations，——theopinionsforwhichhewasreadytosacrificehisfuturewouldbemodifiedinhim，astheyareinallmenofrealsuperiority。ToremainfaithfultotheLeftsideofAlenconwastogaintheaversionofMademoiselleCormon。There，indeed，thechevaliersawtrue。
Thusweseethatthissociety，sopeacefulinappearance，wasinternallyasagitatedasanydiplomaticcircle，wherecraft，ability，andpassionsgroupthemselvesaroundthegravequestionsofanempire。
Theguestswerenowseatedatthetableladenwiththefirstcourse，whichtheyateasprovincialseat，withoutshameatpossessingagoodappetite，andnotasinParis，whereitseemsasifjawsgnashedundersumptuarylaws，whichmadeittheirbusinesstocontradictthelawsofanatomy。InParispeopleeatwiththeirteeth，andtriflewiththeirpleasure；intheprovincesthingsaredonenaturally，andinterestisperhapsrathertoomuchconcentratedonthegrandanduniversalmeansofexistencetowhichGodhascondemnedhiscreatures。
ItwasattheendofthefirstcoursethatMademoiselleCormonmadethemostcelebratedofher\"speeches\"；itwastalkedaboutforfullytwoyears，andisstilltoldatthegatheringsofthelesserbourgeoisiewheneverthetopicofhermarriagecomesup。
Theconversation，becominglivelyasthepenultimateentreewasreached，hadturnednaturallyontheaffairofthetheatreandtheconstitutionallyswornrector。Inthefirstfervorofroyalty，duringtheyear1816，thosewholaterwerecalledJesuitswereallfortheexpulsionoftheAbbeFrancoisfromhisparish。DuBousquier，suspectedbyMonsieurdeValoisofsustainingthepriestandbeingatthebottomofthetheatreintrigues，andonwhosebacktheadroitchevalierwouldinanycasehaveputthosesinswithhiscustomarycleverness，wasinthedockwithnolawyertodefendhim。Athanase，theonlyguestloyalenoughtostandbyduBousquier，hadnotthenervetoemithisideasinthepresenceofthosepotentatesofAlencon，whominhishearthethoughtstupid。Nonebutprovincialyouthsnowretainarespectfuldemeanorbeforemenofacertainage，anddareneithertocensurenorcontradictthem。Thetalk，diminishedundertheeffectofcertaindeliciousducksdressedwitholives，wasfallingflat。MademoiselleCormon，feelingthenecessityofmaintainingitagainstherownducks，attemptedtodefendduBousquier，whowasbeingrepresentedasaperniciousfomenterofintrigues，capableofanytrickery。
\"Asforme，\"shesaid，\"IthoughtthatMonsieurduBousquiercaredchieflyforchildishthings。\"
Underexistingcircumstancestheremarkhadenormoussuccess。
MademoiselleCormonobtainedagreattriumph；shebroughtthenoseofthePrincessGoritzaflatonthetable。Thechevalier，wholittleexpectedsuchanaptremarkfromhisDulcinea，wassoamazedthathecouldatfirstfindnowordstoexpresshisadmiration；heapplaudednoiselessly，astheydoattheOpera，tappinghisfingerstogethertoimitateapplause。
\"Sheisadorablywitty，\"hesaidtoMadameGranson。\"Ialwayssaidthatsomedayshewouldunmaskherbatteries。\"
\"Inprivatesheisalwayscharming，\"repliedthewidow。
\"Inprivate，madame，allwomenhavewit，\"returnedthechevalier。
TheHomericlaughthusraisedhavingsubsided，MademoiselleCormonaskedthereasonofhersuccess。ThenbegantheFORTEofthegossip。
DuBousquierwasdepictedasaspeciesofcelibatePereGigogne，amonster，whoforthelastfifteenyearshadkepttheFoundlingHospitalsupplied。Hisimmoralhabitswereatlastrevealed!theseParisiansaturnaliasweretheresultofthem，etc。，etc。ConductedbytheChevalierdeValois，amostableleaderofanorchestraofthiskind，theopeningoftheCANCANwasmagnificent。
\"Ireallydon\'tknow，\"hesaid，\"whatshouldhinderaduBousquierfrommarryingaMademoiselleSuzanneWhat\'s-her-name。WhatIShername，doyouknow？Suzette!ThoughIhavelodgingsatMadameLardot\'s，Iknowhergirlsonlybysight。IfthisSuzetteisatall，fine，saucygirl，withgrayeyes，aslimwaist，andaprettyfoot，whomIhaveoccasionallyseen，andwhosebehavioralwaysseemedtomeextremelyinsolent，sheisfarsuperiorinmannerstoduBousquier。Besides，thegirlhasthenobilityofbeauty；fromthatpointofviewthemarriagewouldbeapooroneforher；shemightdobetter。YouknowhowtheEmperorJosephhadthecuriositytoseetheduBarryatLuciennes。Heofferedherhisarmtowalkabout，andthepoorthingwassosurprisedatthehonorthatshehesitatedtoacceptit:\'Beautyiseveraqueen，\'saidtheEmperor。Andhe，youknow，wasanAustrian-German，\"
addedthechevalier。\"ButIcantellyouthatGermany，whichisthoughthereveryrustic，isalandofnoblechivalryandfinemanners，especiallyinPolandandHungary，where——\"
Herethechevalierstopped，fearingtoslipintosomeallusiontohispersonalhappiness；hetookouthissnuff-box，andconfidedtherestofhisremarkstotheprincess，whohadsmileduponhimforthirty-sixyearsandmore。
\"ThatspeechwasratheradelicateoneforLouisXV。，\"saidduRonceret。
\"Butitwas，Ithink，theEmperorJosephwhomadeit，andnotLouisXV。，\"remarkedMademoiselleCormon，inacorrectingtone。
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidthechevalier，observingthemaliciousglanceexchangedbetweenthejudge，thenotary，andtherecorder，\"MadameduBarrywastheSuzanneofLouisXV。，——acircumstancewellknowntoscampslikeourselves，butunsuitablefortheknowledgeofyoungladies。Yourignoranceprovesyoutobeaflawlessdiamond；historicalcorruptionsdonotenteryourmind。\"
TheAbbedeSpondelookedgraciouslyattheChevalierdeValois，andnoddedhisheadinsignofhislaudatoryapprobation。
\"Doesn\'tmademoiselleknowhistory？\"askedtherecorderofmortgages。
\"IfyoumixupLouisXV。andthisgirlSuzanne，howamItoknowhistory？\"repliedMademoiselleCormon，angelically，gladtoseethatthedishofduckswasemptyatlast，andtheconversationsoreadytorevivethatallpresentlaughedwiththeirmouthsfullatherlastremark。
\"Poorgirl!\"saidtheAbbedeSponde。\"Whenagreatmisfortunehappens，charity，whichisdivinelove，andasblindaspaganlove，oughtnottolookintothecausesofit。Niece，youarepresidentoftheMaternitySociety；youmustsuccorthatpoorgirl，whowillnowfinditdifficulttomarry。\"
\"Poorchild!\"ejaculatedMademoiselleCormon。
\"DoyousupposeduBousquierwouldmarryher？\"askedthejudge。
\"Ifheisanhonorablemanheoughttodoso，\"saidMadameGranson；
\"butreally，totellthetruth，mydoghasbettermoralsthanhe——\"
\"Azoris，however，agoodpurveyor，\"saidtherecorderofmortgages，withtheairofsayingawittything。
AtdessertduBousquierwasstillthetopicofconversation，havinggivenrisetovariouslittlejokeswhichthewinerenderedsparkling。
Followingtheexampleoftherecorder，eachguestcappedhisneighbor\'sjokewithanother:DuBousquierwasafather，butnotaconfessor；hewasfatherless；hewasfatherLY；hewasnotareverendfather；noryetaconscript-father——
\"Norcanhebeafoster-father，\"saidtheAbbedeSponde，withagravitywhichstoppedthelaughter。
\"Noranoblefather，\"addedthechevalier。
TheChurchandthenobilitydescendedthusintothearenaofpuns，without，however，losingtheirdignity。
\"Hush!\"exclaimedtherecorderofmortgages。\"IhearthecreakingofduBousquier\'sboots。\"
Itusuallyhappensthatamanisignorantofrumorsthatareafloatabouthim。Awholetownmaybetalkingofhisaffairs；maycalumniateanddecryhim，butifhehasnogoodfriends，hewillknownothingaboutit。NowtheinnocentduBousquierwassuperbinhisignorance。
NoonehadtoldhimasyetofSuzanne\'srevelations；hethereforeappearedveryjauntyandslightlyconceitedwhenthecompany，leavingthedining-room，returnedtothesalonfortheircoffee；severalotherguestshadmeantimeassembledfortheevening。MademoiselleCormon，fromasenseofshamefacedness，darednotlookattheterribleseducer。SheseizeduponAthanase，andbegantolecturehimwiththequeerestplatitudesaboutroyalistpoliticsandreligiousmorality。
Notpossessing，liketheChevalierdeValois，asnuff-boxadornedwithaprincess，bythehelpofwhichhecouldstandthistorrentofsilliness，thepoorpoetlistenedtothewordsofherwhomhelovedwithastupidair，gazing，meanwhile，atherenormousbust，whichhelditselfbeforehiminthatstillreposewhichistheattributeofallgreatmasses。Hisloveproducedinhimasortofintoxicationwhichchangedtheshrillvoiceoftheoldmaidintoasoftmurmur，andherflatremarksintowittyspeeches。Loveisamakeroffalsecoin，continuallychangingcopperpenniesintogold-pieces，andsometimesturningitsrealgoldintocopper。
\"Well，Athanase，willyoupromiseme？\"
Thisfinalsentencestrucktheearoftheabsorbedyoungmanlikeoneofthosenoiseswhichwakeuswithabound。
\"What，mademoiselle？\"
MademoiselleCormonrosehastily，andlookedatduBousquier，whoatthatmomentresembledthestoutgodofFablewhichtheRepublicstampeduponhercoins。ShewalkeduptoMadameGranson，andsaidinherear:——
\"Mydearfriend，yousonisanidiot。Thatlyceumhasruinedhim，\"sheadded，rememberingtheinsistencewithwhichthechevalierhadspokenoftheevilsofeducationinsuchschools。
Whatacatastrophe!Unknowntohimself，thelucklessAthanasehadhadanoccasiontoflinganemberofhisownfireuponthepileofbrushgatheredintheheartoftheoldmaid。Hadhelistenedtoher，hemighthavemadeher，thenandthere，perceivehispassion；for，intheagitatedstateofMademoiselleCormon\'smind，asinglewordwouldhavesufficed。Butthatstupidabsorptioninhisownsentiments，whichcharacterizesyoungandtruelove，hadruinedhim，asachildfulloflifesometimeskillsitselfoutofignorance。
\"WhathaveyoubeensayingtoMademoiselleCormon？\"demandedhismother。
\"Nothing。\"
\"Nothing；well，Icanexplainthat，\"shethoughttoherself，puttingofftillthenextdayallfurtherreflectiononthematter，andattachingbutlittleimportancetoMademoiselleCormon\'swords；forshefullybelievedthatduBousquierwasforeverlostintheoldmaid\'sesteemaftertherevelationofthatevening。
Soonthefourtableswerefilledwiththeirsixteenplayers。Fourpersonswereplayingpiquet，——anexpensivegame，atwhichthemostmoneywaslost。MonsieurChoisnel，theprocureur-du-roi，andtwoladieswentintotheboudoirforagameatbackgammon。Theglasslustreswerelighted；andthentheflowerofMademoiselleCormon\'scompanygatheredbeforethefireplace，onsofas，andaroundthetables，andeachcouplesaidtoherastheyarrived，——
\"Soyouaregoingto-morrowtoPrebaudet？\"
\"Yes，Ireallymust，\"shereplied。
Onthisoccasionthemistressofthehouseappearedpreoccupied。
MadameGransonwasthefirsttoperceivethequiteunnaturalstateoftheoldmaid\'smind，——MademoiselleCormonwasthinking!
\"Whatareyouthinkingof，cousin？\"shesaidatlast，findingherseatedintheboudoir。
\"Iamthinking，\"shereplied，\"ofthatpoorgirl。AsthepresidentoftheMaternitySociety，Iwillgiveyoufiftyfrancsforher。\"
\"Fiftyfrancs!\"criedMadameGranson。\"Butyouhavenevergivenasmuchasthat。\"
\"But，mydearcousin，itissonaturaltohavechildren。\"
ThatimmoralspeechcomingfromtheheartoftheoldmaidstaggeredthetreasureroftheMaternitySociety。DuBousquierhadevidentlyadvancedintheestimationofMademoiselleCormon。
\"Uponmyword，\"saidMadameGranson，\"duBousquierisnotonlyamonster，heisavillain。Whenamanhasdoneawronglikethat，heoughttopaytheindemnity。Isn\'tithisplaceratherthanourstolookafterthegirl？——who，totellyouthetruth，seemstomeratherquestionable；thereareplentyofbettermeninAlenconthanthatcynicduBousquier。Agirlmustbedepraved，indeed，togoafterhim。\"
\"Cynic!YoursonteachesyoutotalkLatin，mydear，whichiswhollyincomprehensible。CertainlyIdon\'twishtoexcuseMonsieurduBousquier；butprayexplaintomewhyawomanisdepravedbecausesheprefersonemantoanother。\"
\"Mydearcousin，supposeyoumarriedmysonAthanase；nothingcouldbemorenatural。Heisyoungandhandsome，fullofpromise，andhewillbethegloryofAlencon；andyeteverybodywillexclaimagainstyou:
eviltongueswillsayallsortsofthings；jealouswomenwillaccuseyouofdepravity，——butwhatwillthatmatter？youwillbeloved，andlovedtruly。IfAthanaseseemedtoyouanidiot，mydear，itisthathehastoomanyideas；extremesmeet。Helivesthelifeofagirloffifteen；hehasneverwallowedintheimpuritiesofParis，nothe!
Well，changetheterms，asmypoorhusbandusedtosay；itisthesamethingwithduBousquierinconnectionwithSuzanne。YOUwouldbecalumniated；butinthecaseofduBousquier，thechargewouldbetrue。Don\'tyouunderstandme？\"
\"NomorethanifyouweretalkingGreek，\"repliedMademoiselleCormon，whoopenedhereyeswide，andstrainedalltheforcesofherintellect。
\"Well，cousin，ifImustdotallthei\'s，itisimpossibleforSuzannetoloveduBousquier。Andiftheheartcountsfornothinginthisaffair——\"
\"But，cousin，whatdopeoplelovewithifnottheirhearts？\"
HereMadameGransonsaidtoherself，asthechevalierhadpreviouslythought:\"Mypoorcousinisaltogethertooinnocent；suchstupiditypassesallbounds!——Dearchild，\"shecontinuedaloud，\"itseemstomethatchildrenarenotconceivedbythespiritonly。\"
\"Why，yes，mydear；theHolyVirginherself——\"
\"But，mylove，duBousquierisn\'ttheHolyGhost!\"
\"True，\"saidtheoldmaid；\"heisaman!——amanwhosepersonalappearancemakeshimdangerousenoughforhisfriendstoadvisehimtomarry。\"
\"Youcouldyourselfbringaboutthatresult，cousin。\"
\"Howso？\"saidtheoldmaid，withthemeeknessofChristiancharity。
\"Bynotreceivinghiminyourhouseuntilhemarries。Youoweittogoodmoralsandtoreligiontomanifestundersuchcircumstancesanexemplarydispleasure。\"
\"OnmyreturnfromPrebaudetwewilltalkfurtherofthis，mydearMadameGranson。IwillconsultmyuncleandtheAbbeCouturier，\"saidMademoiselleCormon，returningtothesalon，wheretheanimationwasnowatitsheight。
Thelights，thegroupofwomenintheirbestclothes，thesolemntone，thedignifiedairoftheassembly，madeMademoiselleCormonnotalittleproudofhercompany。TomanypersonsnothingbettercouldbeseeninParisinthehighestsociety。
AtthismomentduBousquier，whowasplayingwhistwiththechevalierandtwooldladies，——MadameduCoudraiandMadameduRonceret，——wastheobjectofdeepbutsilentcuriosity。Afewyoungwomenarrived，who，underpretextofwatchingthegame，gazedfixedlyathiminsosingularamanner，thoughslyly，thattheoldbachelorbegantothinkthattheremustbesomedeficiencyinhistoilet。
\"Canmyfalsefrontbecrooked？\"heaskedhimself，seizedbyoneofthoseanxietieswhichbesetoldbachelors。
Hetookadvantageofalosttrick，whichendedaseventhrubber，toriseandleavethetable。
\"Ican\'ttouchacardwithoutlosing，\"hesaid。\"Iamdecidedlytoounlucky。\"
\"Butyouareluckyinotherways，\"saidthechevalier，givinghimaslylook。
Thatspeechnaturallymadetheroundsofthesalon，whereeveryoneexclaimedontheexquisitetasteofthechevalier，thePrincedeTalleyrandoftheprovince。
\"There\'snoonelikeMonsieurdeValoisforsuchwit。\"
DuBousquierwenttolookathimselfinalittleoblongmirror，placedabovethe\"Deserter，\"buthesawnothingstrangeinhisappearance。
Afterinnumerablerepetitionsofthesametext，variedinallkeys，thedepartureofthecompanytookplaceaboutteno\'clock，throughthelongantechamber，MademoiselleCormonconductingcertainofherfavoritegueststotheportico。Therethegroupsparted；somefollowedtheBretagneroadtowardsthechateau；theotherswentinthedirectionoftheriverSarthe。Thenbegantheusualconversation，whichfortwentyyearshadechoedatthathourthroughthisparticularstreetofAlencon。Itwasinvariably:——
\"MademoiselleCormonlookedverywellto-night。\"
\"MademoiselleCormon？why，Ithoughtherratherstrange。\"
\"Howthatpoorabbefails!Didyounoticethatheslept？Hedoesnotknowwhatcardsheholds；heisgettingveryabsent-minded。\"
\"Weshallsoonhavethegriefoflosinghim。\"
\"Whatafinenight!Itwillbeafinedayto-morrow。\"