第9章

"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。"