第2章

consequently，thekindoldgentlemanwasadoredinreturn。Womenhaveaninstinctwhichenablesthemtodivinethemenwholovethem，wholiketobenearthem，andexactnopaymentforgallantries。Inthisrespectwomenhavetheinstinctofdogs，whoinamixedcompanywillgostraighttothemantowhomanimalsaresacred。 ThepoorChevalierdeValoisretainedfromhisformerlifetheneedofbestowinggallantprotection，aqualityoftheseigneursofotherdays。Faithfultothesystemofthe\"petitemaison，\"helikedtoenrichwomen，——theonlybeingswhoknowhowtoreceive，becausetheycanalwaysreturn。Butthepoorchevaliercouldnolongerruinhimselfforamistress。Insteadofthechoicestbonbonswrappedinbank-bills，hegallantlypresentedpaper-bagsfulloftoffee。LetussaytothegloryofAlenconthatthetoffeewasacceptedwithmorejoythanlaDutheevershowedatagiltserviceorafineequipageofferedbytheComted\'Artois。AllthesegrisettesfullyunderstoodthefallenmajestyoftheChevalierdeValois，andtheykepttheirprivatefamiliaritieswithhimaprofoundsecretforhissake。Iftheywerequestionedabouthimincertainhouseswhentheycarriedhomethelinen，theyalwaysspokerespectfullyofthechevalier，andmadehimoutolderthanhereallywas；theytalkedofhimasamostrespectablemonsieur，whoselifewasaflowerofsanctity；butonceintheirownregionstheyperchedonhisshoulderslikesomanyparrots。Helikedtobetoldthesecretswhichwasherwomendiscoverinthebosomofhouseholds，anddayafterdaythesegirlswouldtellhimthecancanswhichweregoingtheroundofAlencon。Hecalledthemhis\"petticoatgazettes，\"his\"talkingfeuilletons。\"NeverdidMonsieurdeSartineshavespiesmoreintelligentandlessexpensive，orminionswhoshowedmorehonorwhiledisplayingtheirrascalityofmind。Soitmaybesaidthatinthemornings，whilebreakfasting，thechevalierusuallyamusedhimselfasmuchasthesaintsinheaven。 Suzannewasoneofhisfavorites，aclever，ambitiousgirl，madeofthestuffofaSophieArnold，andhandsomewithal，asthehandsomestcourtesaninvitedbyTitiantoposeonblackvelvetforamodelofVenus；althoughherface，fineabouttheeyesandforehead，degenerated，lowerdown，intocommonnessofoutline。HerswasaNormanbeauty，fresh，high-colored，redundant，thefleshofRubenscoveringthemusclesoftheFarneseHercules，andnottheslenderarticulationsoftheVenusde\'Medici，Apollo\'sgracefulconsort。 \"Well，mychild，tellmeyourgreatoryourlittleadventure，whateveritis。\" TheparticularpointaboutthechevalierwhichwouldhavemadehimnoticeablefromParistoPekin，wasthegentlepaternityofhismannertogrisettes。Theyremindedhimoftheillustriousoperaticqueensofhisearlydays，whosecelebritywasEuropeanduringagoodthirdoftheeighteenthcentury。Itiscertainthattheoldgentleman，whohadlivedindaysgonebywiththatfemininenationnowasmuchforgottenasmanyothergreatthings，——liketheJesuits，theBuccaneers，theAbbes，andtheFarmers-General，——hadacquiredanirresistiblegood- humor，akindlyease，alaisser-allerdevoidofegotism，theself- effacementofJupiterwithAlcmene，ofthekingintendingtobeduped，whocastshisthunderboltstothedevil，wantshisOlympusfulloffollies，littlesuppers，feminineprofusions——butwithJunooutoftheway，beitunderstood。 Inspiteofhisoldgreendamaskdressing-gownandthebarenessoftheroominwhichhesat，wherethefloorwascoveredwithashabbytapestryinplaceofcarpet，andthewallswerehungwithtavern-paperpresentingtheprofilesofLouisXVI。andmembersofhisfamily，tracedamongthebranchesofaweepingwillowwithothersentimentalitiesinventedbyroyalismduringtheTerror，——inspiteofhisruins，thechevalier，trimminghisbeardbeforeashabbyoldtoilet-table，drapedwithtrumperylace，exhaledanessenceoftheeighteenthcentury。Allthelibertinegracesofhisyouthreappeared； heseemedtohavethewealthofthreehundredthousandfrancsofdebt，whilehisvis-a-viswaitedbeforethedoor。Hewasgrand，——likeBerthierontheretreatfromMoscow，issuingorderstoanarmythatexistednolonger。 \"Monsieurlechevalier，\"repliedSuzanne，drolly，\"seemstomeI needn\'ttellyouanything；you\'veonlytolook。\" AndSuzannepresentedasideviewofherselfwhichgaveasortoflawyer\'scommenttoherwords。Thechevalier，who，youmustknow，wasaslyoldbird，loweredhisrighteyeonthegrisette，stillholdingtherazorathisthroat，andpretendedtounderstand。 \"Well，well，mylittleduck，we\'lltalkaboutthatpresently。Butyouareratherprevious，itseemstome。\" \"Why，Monsieurlechevalier，oughtItowaituntilmymotherbeatsmeandMadameLardotturnsmeoff？IfIdon\'tgetawaysoontoParis，I shallneverbeabletomarryhere，wheremenaresoridiculous。\" \"Itcan\'tbehelped，mydear；societyischanging；womenarejustasmuchvictimstothepresentstateofthingsasthenobilitythemselves。Afterpoliticaloverturncomestheoverturnofmorals。 Alas!beforelongwomanwon\'texist\"(hetookoutthecotton-wooltoarrangehisears):\"she\'llloseeverythingbyrushingintosentiment； she\'llwringhernerves；good-byetoallthegoodlittlepleasuresofourtime，desiredwithoutshame，acceptedwithoutnonsense。\"(Hepolishedupthelittlenegroes\'heads。)\"Womenhadhystericsinthosedaystogettheirends，butnow\"(hebegantolaugh)\"theirvaporsendincharcoal。Inshort，marriage\"(herehepickeduphispincerstoremoveahair)\"willbecomeathingintolerable；whereasitusedtobesogayinmyday!ThereignsofLouisXIV。andLouisXV——rememberthis，mychild——saidfarewelltothefinestmannersandmoralseverknowntotheworld。\" \"But，Monsieurlechevalier，\"saidthegrisette，\"thematternowconcernsthemoralsandhonorofyourpoorlittleSuzanne，andIhopeyouwon\'tabandonher。\" \"Abandonher!\"criedthechevalier，finishinghishair；\"I\'dsoonerabandonmyownname。\" \"Ah!\"exclaimedSuzanne。 \"Now，listentome，youlittlemischief，\"saidthechevalier，sittingdownonahugesofa，formerlycalledaduchesse，whichMadameLardothadbeenatsomepainstofindforhim。 HedrewthemagnificentSuzannebeforehim，holdingherlegsbetweenhisknees。Shelethimdoasheliked，althoughinthestreetshewasoffishenoughtoothermen，refusingtheirfamiliaritiespartlyfromdecorumandpartlyforcontemptfortheircommonness。Shenowstoodaudaciouslyinfrontofthechevalier，who，havingfathomedinhisdaymanyothermysteriesinmindsthatwerefarmorewily，tookinthesituationatasingleglance。Heknewverywellthatnoyounggirlwouldjokeaboutarealdishonor；buthetookgoodcarenottoknockovertheprettyscaffoldingofherlieashetouchedit。 \"Weslanderourselves，\"hesaidwithinimitablecraft；\"weareasvirtuousasthatbeautifulbiblicalgirlwhosenamewebear；wecanalwaysmarryasweplease，butwearethirstyforParis，wherecharmingcreatures——andwearenofool——getrichwithouttrouble。Wewanttogoandseeifthegreatcapitalofpleasureshasn\'tsomeyoungChevalierdeValoisinstoreforus，withacarriage，diamonds，anopera-box，andsoforth。Russians，Austrians，Britons，havemillionsonwhichwehaveaneye。Besides，wearepatriotic；wewanttohelpFranceingettingbackhermoneyfromthepocketsofthosegentry。 Hey!hey!mydearlittledevil\'sduck!itisn\'tabadplan。Theworldyouliveinmaycryoutabit，butsuccessjustifiesallthings。Theworstthinginthisworld，mydear，istobewithoutmoney；that\'sourdisease，yoursandmine。Nowinasmuchaswehaveplentyofwit，wethoughtitwouldbeagoodthingtoparadeourdearlittlehonor，ordishonor，tocatchanoldboy；butthatoldboy，mydearheart，knowstheAlphaandOmegaoffemaletricks，——whichmeansthatyoucouldeasierputsaltonasparrow\'stailthantomakemebelieveIhaveanythingtodowithyourlittleaffair。GotoParis，mydear；goatthecostofanoldcelibate，Iwon\'tpreventit；infact，I\'llhelpyou，foranoldbachelor，Suzanne，isthenaturalmoney-boxofayounggirl。Butdon\'tdragmeintothematter。Listen，myqueen，youwhoknowlifeprettywell；youwouldmegreatharmandgivememuchpain，——harm，becauseyouwouldpreventmymarriageinatownwherepeopleclingtomorality；pain，becauseifyouareintrouble(whichIdeny，youslypuss!)Ihaven\'tapennytogetyououtofit。I\'maspoorasachurchmouse；youknowthat，mydear。Ah!ifImarryMademoiselleCormon，ifIamoncemorerich，ofcourseIwouldpreferyoutoCesarine。You\'vealwaysseemedtomeasfineasthegoldtheygildonlead；youweremadetobetheloveofagreatseigneur。Ithinkyousocleverthatthetrickyouaretryingtoplayoffonmedoesn\'tsurprisemeonebit；Iexpectedit。Youareflingingthescabbardafterthesword，andthat\'sdaringforagirl。Ittakesnerveandsuperiorideastodoit，myangel，andthereforeyouhavewonmyrespectfulesteem。\" \"Monsieurlechevalier，Iassureyou，youaremistaken，and——\" Shecolored，anddidnotdaretosaymore。Thechevalier，withasingleglance，hadguessedandfathomedherwholeplan。 \"Yes，yes!Iunderstand:youwantmetobelieveit，\"hesaid。\"Well!I dobelieveit。Buttakemyadvice:gotoMonsieurduBousquier。 Haven\'tyoutakenlinenthereforthelastsixoreightmonths？I\'mnotaskingwhatwentonbetweenyou；butIknowtheman:hehasimmenseconceit；heisanoldbachelor，andveryrich；andheonlyspendsaquarterofacomfortableincome。IfyouareascleverasI suppose，youcangotoParisathisexpense。There，runalong，mylittledoe；goandtwisthimroundyourfinger。Only，mindthis:beassuppleassilk；ateverywordtakeadoubleturnroundhimandmakeaknot。Heisamantofearscandal，andifhehasgivenyouachancetoputhiminthepillory——inshort，understand；threatenhimwiththeladiesoftheMaternityHospital。Besides，he\'sambitious。Amansucceedsthroughhiswife，andyouarehandsomeandcleverenoughtomakethefortuneofahusband。Hey!themischief!youcouldholdyourownagainstallthecourtladies。\" Suzanne，whosemindtookinataflashthechevalier\'slastwords，waseagertorunofftoduBousquier，but，notwishingtodeparttooabruptly，shequestionedthechevalieraboutParis，allthewhilehelpinghimtodress。Thechevalier，however，divinedherdesiretobeoff，andfavoreditbyaskinghertotellCesarinetobringuphischocolate，whichMadameLardotmadeforhimeverymorning。Suzannethenslippedawaytohernewvictim，whosebiographymustherebegiven。 BornofanoldAlenconfamily，duBousquierwasacrossbetweenthebourgeoisandthecountrysquire。Findinghimselfwithoutmeansonthedeathofhisfather，hewent，likeotherruinedprovincials，toParis。 OnthebreakingoutoftheRevolutionhetookpartinpublicaffairs。 Inspiteofrevolutionaryprinciples，whichmadeahobbyofrepublicanhonesty，themanagementofpublicbusinessinthosedayswasbynomeansclean。Apoliticalspy，astock-jobber，acontractor，amanwhoconfiscatedincollusionwiththesyndicofacommunethepropertyofemigresinordertosellthemandbuythemin，aminister，andageneralwereallequallyengagedinpublicbusiness。From1793to1799 duBousquierwascommissaryofprovisionstotheFrencharmies。Helivedinamagnificenthotelandwasoneofthematadorsoffinance，didbusinesswithOuvrard，keptopenhouse，andledthescandalouslifeoftheperiod，——thelifeofaCincinnatus，onsacksofcornharvestedwithouttrouble，stolenrations，\"littlehouses\"fullofmistresses，inwhichweregivensplendidfetestotheDirectorsoftheRepublic。 ThecitizenduBousquierwasoneofBarras\'familiars；hewasonthebestoftermswithFouche，stoodverywellwithBernadotte，andfullyexpectedtobecomeaministerbythrowinghimselfintothepartywhichsecretlycaballedagainstBonaparteuntilMarengo。IfithadnotbeenforKellermann\'schargeandDesaix\'sdeath，duBousquierwouldprobablyhavebecomeaminister。HewasoneofthechiefassistancesofthatsecretgovernmentwhomNapoleon\'slucksendbehindthescenesin1793。(See\"AnHistoricalMystery。\")TheunexpectedvictoryofMarengowasthedefeatofthatpartywhoactuallyhadtheirproclamationsprintedtoreturntotheprinciplesoftheMontagneincasetheFirstConsulsuccumbed。 ConvincedoftheimpossibilityofBonaparte\'striumph，duBousquierstakedthegreaterpartofhispropertyonafallintheFunds，andkepttwocouriersonthefieldofbattle。ThefirststartedforPariswhenMelas\'victorywascertain；thesecond，startingfourhourslater，broughtthenewsofthedefeatoftheAustrians。DuBousquiercursedKellermannandDesaix；hedarednotcurseBonaparte，whomightowehimmillions。Thisalternativeofmillionstobeearnedandpresentruinstaringhimintheface，deprivedthepurveyorofmostofhisfaculties:hebecamenearlyimbecileforseveraldays；themanhadsoabusedhishealthbyexcessesthatwhenthethunderboltfelluponhimhehadnostrengthtoresist。ThepaymentofhisbillsagainsttheExchequergavehimsomehopesforthefuture，but，inspiteofalleffortstoingratiatehimself，Napoleon\'shatredtothecontractorswhohadspeculatedonhisdefeatmadeitselffelt；duBousquierwasleftwithoutasou。Theimmoralityofhisprivatelife，hisintimacywithBarrasandBernadotte，displeasedtheFirstConsulevenmorethanhismanoeuvresattheBourse，andhestruckduBousquier\'snamefromthelistofthegovernmentcontractors。 OutofallhispastopulenceduBousquiersavedonlytwelvehundredfrancsayearfromaninvestmentintheGrandLivre，whichhehadhappenedtoplacetherebypurecaprice，andwhichsavedhimfrompenury。AmanruinedbytheFirstConsulinterestedthetownofAlencon，towhichhenowreturned，whereroyalismwassecretlydominant。DuBousquier，furiousagainstBonaparte，relatingstoriesagainsthimofhismeanness，ofJosephine\'simproprieties，andalltheotherscandalousanecdotesofthelasttenyears，waswellreceived。 Aboutthistime，whenhewassomewherebetweenfortyandfifty，duBousquier\'sappearancewasthatofabachelorofthirty-six，ofmediumheight，plumpasapurveyor，proudofhisvigorouscalves，withastronglymarkedcountenance，aflattenednose，thenostrilsgarnishedwithhair，blackeyeswiththicklashes，fromwhichdartedshrewdglanceslikethoseofMonsieurdeTalleyrand，thoughsomewhatdulled。 Hestillworerepublicanwhiskersandhishairverylong；hishands，adornedwithbunchesofhaironeachknuckle，showedthepowerofhismuscularsystemintheirprominentblueveins。HehadthechestoftheFarneseHercules，andshouldersfittocarrythestocks。SuchshouldersareseennowadaysonlyatTortoni\'s。ThiswealthofmasculinevigorcountedformuchinduBousquier\'srelationswithothers。Andyetinhim，asinthechevalier，symptomsappearedwhichcontrastedoddlywiththegeneralaspectoftheirpersons。Thelatepurveyorhadnotthevoiceofhismuscles。Wedonotmeanthathisvoicewasamerethread，suchaswesometimeshearissuingfromthemouthofthesewalruses；onthecontrary，itwasastrongvoice，butstifled，anideaofwhichcanbegivenonlybycomparingitwiththenoiseofasawcuttingintosoftandmoistenedwood，——thevoiceofaworn-outspeculator。 InspiteoftheclaimswhichtheenmityoftheFirstConsulgaveMonsieurduBousquiertoentertheroyalistsocietyoftheprovince，hewasnotreceivedinthesevenoreightfamilieswhocomposedthefaubourgSaint-GermainofAlencon，amongwhomtheChevalierdeValoiswaswelcome。Hehadofferedhimselfinmarriage，throughhernotary，toMademoiselleArmande，sisterofthemostdistinguishednobleinthetown；towhichofferhereceivedarefusal。Heconsoledhimselfasbesthecouldinthesocietyofadozenrichfamilies，formermanufacturersoftheoldpointd\'Alencon，ownersofpasturesandcattle，ormerchantsdoingawholesalebusinessinlinen，amongwhom，ashehoped，hemightfindawealthywife。Infact，allhishopesnowconvergedtotheperspectiveofafortunatemarriage。Hewasnotwithoutacertainfinancialability，whichmanypersonsusedtotheirprofit。Likearuinedgamblerwhoadvisesneophytes，hepointedoutenterprisesandspeculations，togetherwiththemeansandchancesofconductingthem。Hewasthoughtagoodadministrator，anditwasoftenaquestionofmakinghimmayorofAlencon；butthememoryofhisunderhandjobberystillclungtohim，andhewasneverreceivedattheprefecture。Allthesucceedinggovernments，eventhatoftheHundredDays，refusedtoappointhimmayorofAlencon，——aplacehecoveted，which，couldhehavehadit，would，hethought，havewonhimthehandofacertainoldmaidonwhomhismatrimonialviewsnowturned。 DuBousquier\'saversiontotheImperialgovernmenthadthrownhimatfirstintotheroyalistcirclesofAlencon，whereheremainedinspiteoftherebuffshereceivedthere；butwhen，afterthefirstreturnoftheBourbons，hewasstillexcludedfromtheprefecture，thatmortificationinspiredhimwithahatredasdeepasitwassecretagainsttheroyalists。Henowreturnedtohisoldopinions，andbecametheleaderoftheliberalpartyinAlencon，theinvisiblemanipulatorofelections，anddidimmenseharmtotheRestorationbytheclevernessofhisunderhandproceedingsandtheperfidyofhisoutwardbehavior。DuBousquier，likeallthosewholivebytheirheadsonly，carriedonhishatredswiththequiettranquillityofarivulet，feebleapparently，butinexhaustible。Hishatredwasthatofanegro，sopeacefulthatitdeceivedtheenemy。Hisvengeance，broodedoverforfifteenyears，wasasyetsatisfiedbynovictory，noteventhatofJuly，1830。 ItwasnotwithoutsomeprivateintentionthattheChevalierdeValoishadturnedSuzanne\'sdesignsuponMonsieurduBousquier。Theliberalandtheroyalisthadmutuallydivinedeachotherinspiteofthewidedissimulationwithwhichtheyhidtheircommonhopefromtherestofthetown。Thetwooldbachelorsweresecretlyrivals。EachhadformedaplantomarrytheDemoiselleCormon，whomMonsieurdeValoishadmentionedtoSuzanne。Both，ensconcedintheirideaandwearingthearmorofapparentindifference，awaitedthemomentwhensomeluckychancemightdelivertheoldmaidovertothem。Thus，ifthetwooldbachelorshadnotbeenkeptasunderbythetwopoliticalsystemsofwhichtheyeachofferedalivingexpression，theirprivaterivalrywouldstillhavemadethemenemies。Epochsputtheirmarkonmen。 Thesetwoindividualsprovedthetruthofthataxiombytheopposinghistorictintsthatwerevisibleintheirfaces，intheirconversation，intheirideas，andintheirclothes。One，abrupt，energetic，withloud，brusquemanners，curt，rudespeech，darkintone，inhair，inlook，terribleapparently，inrealityasimpotentasaninsurrection，representedtherepublicadmirably。Theother，gentleandpolished，elegantandnice，attaininghisendsbytheslowandinfalliblemeansofdiplomacy，faithfultogoodtaste，wastheexpressimageoftheoldcourtierregime。 Thetwoenemiesmetnearlyeveryeveningonthesameground。Thewarwascourteousandbenignonthesideofthechevalier；butduBousquiershowedlessceremonyonhis，thoughstillpreservingtheoutwardappearancesdemandedbysociety，forhedidnotwishtobedrivenfromtheplace。Theythemselvesfullyunderstoodeachother； butinspiteoftheshrewdobservationwhichprovincialsbestowonthepettyinterestsoftheirownlittlecentre，nooneinthetownsuspectedtherivalryofthesetwomen。MonsieurleChevalierdeValoisoccupiedavantage-ground:hehadneveraskedforthehandofMademoiselleCormon；whereasduBousquier，whoenteredthelistssoonafterhisrejectionbythemostdistinguishedfamilyintheplace，hadbeenrefused。ButthechevalierbelievedthathisrivalhadstillsuchstrongchancesofsuccessthathedealthimthiscoupdeJarnacwithablade(namely，Suzanne)thatwasfinelytemperedforthepurpose。Thechevalierhadcasthisplummet-lineintothewatersofduBousquier； and，asweshallseebythesequel，hewasnotmistakeninanyofhisconjectures。 SuzannetrippedwithalightfootfromtherueduCours，bytheruedelaPortedeSeezandtherueduBercail，totherueduCygne，where，aboutfiveyearsearlier，duBousquierhadboughtalittlehousebuiltofgrayJurastone，whichissomethingbetweenBretonslateandNormangranite。Thereheestablishedhimselfmorecomfortablythananyhouseholderintown；forhehadmanagedtopreservecertainfurnitureanddecorationsfromthedaysofhissplendor。Butprovincialmannersandmoralsobscured，littlebylittle，theraysofthisfallenSardanapalus；thesevestigesofhisformerluxurynowproducedtheeffectofaglasschandelierinabarn。Harmony，thatbondofallwork，humanordivine，waslackingingreatthingsaswellasinlittleones。Thestairs，upwhicheverybodymountedwithoutwipingtheirfeet，wereneverpolished；thewalls，paintedbysomewretchedartisanoftheneighborhood，wereaterrortotheeye；thestonemantel-piece，ill-carved，\"swore\"withthehandsomeclock，whichwasfurtherdegradedbythecompanyofcontemptiblecandlesticks。LiketheperiodwhichduBousquierhimselfrepresented，thehousewasajumbleofdirtandmagnificence。Beingconsideredamanofleisure，duBousquierledthesameparasitelifeasthechevalier；andhewhodoesnotspendhisincomeisalwaysrich。HisonlyservantwasasortofJocrisse，aladoftheneighborhood，ratheraninny，trainedslowlyandwithdifficultytoduBousquier\'srequirements。Hismasterhadtaughthim，ashemightanorang-outang，torubthefloors，dustthefurniture，blackhisboots，brushhiscoats，andbringalanterntoguidehimhomeatnightiftheweatherwerecloudy，andclogsifitrained。Likemanyotherhumanbeings，thisladhadn\'tstuffenoughinhimformorethanonevice；hewasaglutton。Often，whenduBousquierwenttoagranddinner，hewouldtakeRenetowaitattable；onsuchoccasionshemadehimtakeoffhisbluecottonjacket，withitsbigpocketshangingroundhiships，andalwaysbulgingwithhandkerchiefs，clasp-knives，fruits，orahandfulofnuts，andforcedhimtoputonaregulationcoat。Renewouldthenstuffhisfillwiththeotherservants。Thisduty，whichduBousquierhadturnedintoareward，wonhimthemostabsolutediscretionfromtheBretonservant。 \"Youhere，mademoiselle!\"saidRenetoSuzannewhensheentered； \"\'t\'isn\'tyourday。Wehaven\'tanylinenforthewash，tellMadameLardot。\" \"Oldstupid!\"saidSuzanne，laughing。 Theprettygirlwentupstairs，leavingRenetofinishhisporringerofbuckwheatinboiledmilk。DuBousquier，stillinbed，wasrevolvinginhismindhisplansoffortune；forambitionwasallthatwaslefttohim，astoothermenwhohavesuckeddrytheorangeofpleasure。 Ambitionandplayareinexhaustible；inawell-organizedmanthepassionswhichproceedfromthebrainwillalwayssurvivethepassionsoftheheart。 \"HereamI，\"saidSuzanne，sittingdownonthebedandjanglingthecurtain-ringsbackalongtherodwithdespoticvehemence。 \"Quesaco，mycharmer？\"saidtheoldbachelor，sittingupinbed。 \"Monsieur，\"saidSuzanne，gravely，\"youmustbeastonishedtoseemehereatthishour；butIfindmyselfinaconditionwhichobligesmenottocareforwhatpeoplemaysayaboutit。\" \"Whatdoesallthatmean？\"saidduBousquier，crossinghisarms。 \"Don\'tyouunderstandme？\"saidSuzanne。\"Iknow，\"shecontinued，makingaprettylittleface，\"howridiculousitisinapoorgirltocomeandnagatamanforwhathethinksamerenothing。Butifyoureallyknewme，monsieur，ifyouknewallthatIamcapableofforamanwhowouldattachhimselftomeasmuchasI\'mattachedtoyou，youwouldneverrepenthavingmarriedme。Ofcourseitisn\'there，inAlencon，thatIshouldbeofservicetoyou；butifwewenttoParis，youwouldseewhereIcouldleadamanwithyourmindandyourcapacities；andjustatthistimetoo，whentheyareremakingthegovernmentfromtoptotoe。So——betweenourselves，beitsaid——ISwhathashappenedamisfortune？Isn\'titratherapieceofluck，whichwillpayyouwell？Whoandwhatareyouworkingfornow？\" \"Formyself，ofcourse!\"criedduBousquier，brutally。 \"Monster!you\'llneverbeafather!\"saidSuzanne，givingatoneofpropheticmaledictiontothewords。