第9章

newsituationsseemtimeworn；thebest-turnedandmosthighlypolishedphraseslimpandsquint；metaphorsandimagesgrinorcontradicteachother；whatsoeverisfalsestrikestheeye。InlikemannerthispoorwomantrembledlestsheshouldseeonthelipsofMonsieurdeTroisvilleasmileofcontemptforthisepiscopalsalon；shedreadedthecoldlookhemightcastoverthatancientdining-room；inshort，shefearedtheframemightinjureandagetheportrait。Supposetheseantiquitiesshouldcastareflectedlightofoldageuponherself？ Thisquestionmadeherfleshcreep。Shewouldgladly，atthatmoment，spendhalfhersavingsonrefittingherhouseifsomefairywandcoulddoitinamoment。Whereisthegeneralwhohasnottrembledontheeveofabattle？ThepoorwomanwasnowbetweenherAusterlitzandherWaterloo。 \"MadamelaVicomtessedeTroisville，\"shesaidtoherself；\"anoblename!Ourpropertywillgotoagoodfamily，atanyrate。\" Shefellapreytoanirritationwhichmadeeveryfibreofhernervesquivertoalltheirpapillae，longsunkinflesh。Herblood，lashedbythisnewhope，wasinmotion。Shefeltthestrengthtoconverse，ifnecessary，withMonsieurdeTroisville。 ItisuselesstorelatetheactivitywithwhichJosette，Jacquelin，Mariette，Moreau，andhisagentswentabouttheirfunctions。Itwaslikethebusynessofantsabouttheireggs。 Allthatdailycarehadalreadyrenderedneatandcleanwasagaingoneoverandbrushedandrubbedandscrubbed。Thechinaofceremonysawthelight；thedamasklinenmarked\"A，B，C\"wasdrawnfromdepthswhereitlayunderatripleguardofwrappings，stillfurtherdefendedbyformidablelinesofpins。Aboveall，MademoiselleCormonsacrificedonthealtarofherhopesthreebottlesofthefamousliqueursofMadameAmphoux，themostillustriousofallthedistillersofthetropics，——anameverydeartogourmets。Thankstothedevotionofherlieutenants，mademoisellewassoonreadyfortheconflict。Thedifferentweapons——furniture，cookery，provisions，inshort，allthevariousmunitionsofwar，togetherwithabodyofreserveforces——werereadyalongthewholeline。Jacquelin，Mariette，andJosettereceivedorderstoappearinfulldress。Thegardenwasraked。Theoldmaidregrettedthatshecouldn\'tcometoanunderstandingwiththenightingalesnestinginthetrees，inordertoobtaintheirfinesttrilling。 Atlast，aboutfouro\'clock，attheverymomentwhentheAbbedeSpondereturnedhome，andjustasmademoisellebegantothinkshehadsetthetablewiththebestplateandlinenandpreparedthechoicestdishestonopurpose，theclick-clackofapostilionwasheardintheVal-Noble。 \"\'Tishe!\"shesaidtoherself，thesnapofthewhipechoinginherheart。 Trueenough；heraldedbyallthisgossip，apost-chaise，inwhichwasasinglegentleman，madesogreatasensationcomingdowntherueSaint-BlaiseandturningintotherueduCoursthatseverallittlegamainsandsomegrownpersonsfollowedit，andstoodingroupsaboutthegateofthehotelCormontoseeitenter。Jacquelin，whoforesawhisownmarriageinthatofhismistress，hadalsoheardtheclick- clackintherueSaint-Blaise，andhadopenedwidethegatesintothecourtyard。Thepostilion，afriendofhis，tookprideinmakingafineturn-in，anddrewupsharplybeforetheportico。Theabbecameforwardtogreethisguest，whosecarriagewasemptiedwithaspeedthathighwaymenmightputintotheoperation；thechaiseitselfwasrolledintothecoach-house，thegatesclosed，andinafewmomentsallsignsofMonsieurdeTroisville\'sarrivalhaddisappeared。NeverdidtwochemicalsblendintoeachotherwithgreaterrapiditythanthehotelCormondisplayedinabsorbingtheVicomtedeTroisville。 Mademoiselle，whoseheartwasbeatinglikealizardcaughtbyaherdsman，satheroicallystillonhersofa，besidethefireinthesalon。Josetteopenedthedoor；andtheVicomtedeTroisville，followedbytheAbbedeSponde，presentedhimselftotheeyesofthespinster。 \"Niece，thisisMonsieurleVicomtedeTroisville，thegrandsonofoneofmyoldschoolmates；MonsieurdeTroisville，myniece，MademoiselleCormon。\" \"Ah!thatgooduncle；howwellhedoesit!\"thoughtRose-Marie- Victoire。 TheVicomtedeTroisvillewas，topainthimintwowords，duBousquierennobled。Betweenthetwomentherewaspreciselythedifferencewhichseparatesthevulgarstylefromthenoblestyle。Iftheyhadbothbeenpresent，themostfanaticliberalwouldnothavedeniedtheexistenceofaristocracy。Theviscount\'sstrengthhadallthedistinctionofelegance；hisfigurehadpreserveditsmagnificentdignity。Hehadblueeyes，blackhair，anoliveskin，andlookedtobeaboutforty-sixyearsofage。YoumighthavethoughthimahandsomeSpaniardpreservedintheiceofRussia。Hismanner，carriage，andattitude，alldenotedadiplomatwhohadseenEurope。Hisdresswasthatofawell-bredtraveller。Asheseemedfatigued，theabbeofferedtoshowhimtohisroom，andwasmuchamazedwhenhisniecethrewopenthedooroftheboudoir，transformedintoabedroom。 MademoiselleCormonandherunclethenleftthenoblestrangertoattendtohisownaffairs，aidedbyJacquelin，whobroughtuphisluggage，andwentthemselvestowalkbesidetheriveruntiltheirguesthadmadehistoilet。AlthoughtheAbbedeSpondechancedtobeevenmoreabsent-mindedthanusual，MademoiselleCormonwasnotlesspreoccupied。Theybothwalkedoninsilence。TheoldmaidhadneverbeforemetanymanasseductiveasthisOlympeanviscount。Shemighthavesaidtoherself，astheGermansdo，\"Thisismyideal!\"insteadofwhichshefeltherselfboundfromheadtofoot，andcouldonlysay，\"Here\'smyaffair!\"ThensheflewtoMariettetoknowifthedinnercouldbeputbackawhilewithoutlossofexcellence。 \"Uncle，yourMonsieurdeTroisvilleisveryamiable，\"shesaid，onreturning。 \"Why，niece，hehasn\'tasyetsaidaword。\" \"Butyoucanseeitinhisways，hismanners，hisface。Isheabachelor？\" \"I\'msureIdon\'tknow，\"repliedtheabbe，whowasthinkingofadiscussiononmercy，latelybegunbetweentheAbbeCouturierandhimself。\"MonsieurdeTroisvillewrotemethathewantedtobuyahousehere。Ifhewasmarried，hewouldn\'tcomealoneonsuchanerrand，\"addedtheabbe，carelessly，notconceivingtheideathathisniececouldbethinkingofmarriage。 \"Isherich？\" \"Heisayoungersonoftheyoungerbranch，\"repliedheruncle。\"Hisgrandfathercommandedasquadron，butthefatherofthisyoungmanmadeabadmarriage。\" \"Youngman!\"exclaimedtheoldmaid。\"Itseemstome，uncle，thathemustbeatleastforty-five。\"Shefeltthestrongestdesiretoputtheiryearsonapar。 \"Yes，\"saidtheabbe；\"buttoapoorpriestofseventy，Rose，amanoffortyseemsayouth。\" AllAlenconknewbythistimethatMonsieurdeTroisvillehadarrivedattheCormons。Thetravellersoonrejoinedhishosts，andbegantoadmiretheBrillante，thegarden，andthehouse。 \"Monsieurl\'abbe，\"hesaid，\"mywholeambitionistohaveahouselikethis。\"Theoldmaidfanciedadeclarationlurkedinthatspeech，andsheloweredhereyes。\"Youmustenjoyitverymuch，mademoiselle，\" addedtheviscount。 \"Howcoulditbeotherwise？Ithasbeeninourfamilysince1574，theperiodatwhichoneofourancestors，stewardtotheDucd\'Alencon，acquiredthelandandbuiltthehouse，\"repliedMademoiselleCormon。 \"Itisbuiltonpiles，\"sheadded。 Jacquelinannounceddinner。MonsieurdeTroisvilleofferedhisarmtothehappywoman，whoendeavorednottoleantooheavilyuponit；shefeared，asusual，toseemtomakeadvances。 \"Everythingissoharmonioushere，\"saidtheviscount，asheseatedhimselfattable。 \"Yes，ourtreesarefullofbirds，whichgiveusconcertsfornothing； nooneeverfrightensthem；andthenightingalessingatnight，\"saidMademoiselleCormon。 \"Iwasspeakingoftheinteriorofthehouse，\"remarkedtheviscount，whodidnottroublehimselftoobserveMademoiselleCormon，andthereforedidnotperceivethedulnessofhermind。\"Everythingissoinkeeping，——thetonesofcolor，thefurniture，thegeneralcharacter。\" \"Butitcostsagreatdeal；taxesareenormous，\"respondedtheexcellentwoman。 \"Ah!taxesarehigh，arethey？\"saidtheviscount，preoccupiedwithhisownideas。 \"Idon\'tknow，\"repliedtheabbe。\"Myniecemanagesthepropertyofeachofus。\" \"Taxesarenotofmuchimportancetotherich，\"saidMademoiselleCormon，notwishingtobethoughtmiserly。\"Asforthefurniture，I shallleaveitasitis，andchangenothing，——unlessImarry；andthen，ofcourse，everythingheremustsuitthehusband。\" \"Youhavenobleprinciples，mademoiselle，\"saidtheviscount，smiling。 \"Youwillmakeonehappyman。\" \"Nooneevermadetomesuchaprettyspeech，\"thoughttheoldmaid。 TheviscountcomplimentedMademoiselleCormonontheexcellenceofherserviceandtheadmirablearrangementsofthehouse，remarkingthathehadsupposedtheprovincesbehindtheageinthatrespect；but，onthecontrary，hefoundthem，astheEnglishsay，\"verycomfortable。\" \"Whatcanthatwordmean？\"shethought。\"Oh，whereisthechevaliertoexplainittome？\'Comfortable，\'——thereseemtobeseveralwordsinit。Well，courage!\"shesaidtoherself。\"Ican\'tbeexpectedtoansweraforeignlanguage——But，\"shecontinuedaloud，feelinghertongueuntiedbytheeloquencewhichnearlyallhumancreaturesfindinmomentouscircumstances，\"wehaveaverybrilliantsocietyhere，monsieur。Itassemblesatmyhouse，andyoushalljudgeofitthisevening，forsomeofmyfaithfulfriendshavenodoubtheardofmyreturnandyourarrival。AmongthemistheChevalierdeValois，aseigneuroftheoldcourt，amanofinfinitewitandtaste；thenthereisMonsieurleMarquisd\'EsgrignonandMademoiselleArmande，hissister\"(shebithertonguewithvexation)，——\"awomanremarkableinherway，\"sheadded。\"Sheresolvedtoremainunmarriedinordertoleaveallherfortunetoherbrotherandnephew。\" \"Ah!\"exclaimedtheviscount。\"Yes，thed\'Esgrignons，——Irememberthem。\" \"Alenconisverygay，\"continuedtheoldmaid，nowfairlylaunched。 \"There\'smuchamusement:thereceiver-generalgivesballs；theprefectisanamiableman；andMonseigneurthebishopsometimeshonorsuswithavisit——\" \"Well，then，\"saidtheviscount，smiling，\"Ihavedonewiselytocomeback，likethehare，todieinmyform。\" \"Yes，\"shesaid。\"I，too，attachmyselforIdie。\" Theviscountsmiled。 \"Ah!\"thoughttheoldmaid，\"alliswell；heunderstandsme。\" Theconversationcontinuedongeneralities。Byoneofthosemysteriousunknownandundefinablefaculties，MademoiselleCormonfoundinherbrain，underthepressureofherdesiretobeagreeable，allthephrasesandopinionsoftheChevalierdeValois。Itwaslikeaduelinwhichthedevilhimselfpointedthepistol。Neverwasanyadversarybetteraimedat。Theviscountwasfartoowell-bredtospeakoftheexcellenceofthedinner；buthissilencewaspraise。AshedrankthedeliciouswineswhichJacquelinservedtohimprofusely，heseemedtofeelhewaswithfriends，andtomeetthemwithpleasure；forthetrueconnoisseurdoesnotapplaud，heenjoys。Heinquiredthepriceofland，ofhouses，ofestates；hemadeMademoiselleCormondescribeatlengththeconfluenceoftheSartheandtheBrillante；heexpressedsurprisethatthetownwasplacedsofarfromtheriver，andseemedtobemuchinterestedinthetopographyoftheplace。 Thesilentabbelefthisniecetothrowthediceofconversation；andshetrulyfeltthatshepleasedMonsieurdeTroisville，whosmiledathergracefully，andcommittedhimselfduringthisdinnerfarmorethanhermosteagersuitorshadeverdoneintendays。Imagine，therefore，thelittleattentionswithwhichhewaspetted；youmighthavethoughthimacherishedlover，whosereturnbroughtjoytothehousehold。 Mademoiselleforesawthemomentwhentheviscountwantedbread；shewatchedhiseverylook；whenheturnedhisheadsheadroitlyputuponhisplateaportionofsomedishheseemedtolike；hadhebeenagourmand，shewouldalmosthavekilledhim；butwhatadelightfulspecimenoftheattentionsshewouldshowtoahusband!Shedidnotcommitthefollyofdepreciatingherself；onthecontrary，sheseteverysailbravely，ranupallherflags，assumedthebearingofthequeenofAlencon，andboastedofherexcellentpreserves。Infact，shefishedforcomplimentsinspeakingofherself，forshesawthatshepleasedtheviscount；thetruthbeingthathereagerdesirehadsotransformedherthatshebecamealmostawoman。 Atdessertsheheard，notwithoutemotionsofdelight，certainsoundsintheantechamberandsalonwhichdenotedthearrivalofherusualguests。ShecalledtheattentionofheruncleandMonsieurdeTroisvilleto thispromptattendanceasaproofoftheaffectionthatwasfeltforher；whereasitwasreallytheresultofthepoignantcuriositywhichhadseizeduponthetown。Impatienttoshowherselfinallherglory，MademoiselleCormontoldJacquelintoservecoffeeandliqueursinthesalon，wherehepresentlysetout，inviewofthewholecompany，amagnificentliqueur-standofDresdenchinawhichsawthelightonlytwiceayear。Thiscircumstancewastakennoteofbythecompany，standingreadytogossipoverthemeresttrifle:—— \"Thedeuce!\"mutteredduBousquier。\"ActuallyMadameAmphoux\'sliqueurs，whichtheyonlyserveatthefourchurchfestivals!\" \"Undoubtedlythemarriagewasarrangedayearagobyletter，\"saidthechief-justiceduRonceret。\"ThepostmastertellsmehisofficehasreceivedletterspostmarkedOdessaformorethanayear。\" MadameGransontrembled。TheChevalierdeValois，thoughhehaddinedwiththeappetiteoffourmen，turnedpaleeventotheleftsectionofhisface。Feelingthathewasabouttobetrayhimself，hesaidhastily，—— \"Don\'tyouthinkitisverycoldto-day？Iamalmostfrozen。\" \"TheneighborhoodofRussia，perhaps，\"saidduBousquier。 Thechevalierlookedathimasiftosay，\"Wellplayed!\" MademoiselleCormonappearedsoradiant，sotriumphant，thatthecompanythoughtherhandsome。Thisextraordinarybrilliancywasnottheeffectofsentimentonly。Sinceearlymorningherbloodhadbeenwhirlingtempestuouslywithinher，andhernerveswereagitatedbythepresentimentofsomegreatcrisis。Itrequiredallthesecircumstancescombinedtomakehersounlikeherself。Withwhatjoydidshenowmakehersolemnpresentationoftheviscounttothechevalier，thechevaliertotheviscount，andallAlencontoMonsieurdeTroisville，andMonsieurdeTroisvilletoallAlencon! Byanaccidentwhollyexplainable，theviscountandchevalier，aristocratsbynature，cameinstantlyintounison；theyrecognizedeachotheratonceasmenbelongingtothesamesphere。Accordingly，theybegantoconversetogether，standingbeforethefireplace。A circleformedaroundthem；andtheirconversation，thoughutteredinalowvoice，waslistenedtoinreligioussilence。Togivetheeffectofthissceneitisnecessarytodramatizeit，andtopictureMademoiselleCormonoccupiedinpouringoutthecoffeeofherimaginarysuitor，withherbacktothefireplace。 MonsieurdeValois。\"Monsieurlevicomtehascome，Iamtold，tosettleinAlencon？\" MonsieurdeTroisville。\"Yes，monsieur，Iamlookingforahouse。\" [MademoiselleCormon，cupinhand，turnsround。]\"Itmustbealargehouse\"[MademoiselleCormonoffershimthecup]\"tolodgemywholefamily。\"[Theeyesoftheoldmaidaretroubled。] MonsieurdeValois。\"Areyoumarried？\" MonsieurdeTroisville。\"Yes，forthelastsixteenyears，toadaughterofthePrincessScherbellof。\" MademoiselleCormonfainted；duBousquier，whosawherstagger，sprangforwardandreceivedherinhisarms；someoneopenedthedoorandallowedhimtopassoutwithhisenormousburden。Thefieryrepublican，instructedbyJosette，foundstrengthtocarrytheoldmaidtoherbedroom，wherehelaidheroutonthebed。Josette，armedwithscissors，cutthecorset，whichwasterriblytight。DuBousquierflungwateronMademoiselleCormon\'sfaceandbosom，which，releasedfromthecorset，overflowedliketheLoireinflood。Thepoorwomanopenedhereyes，sawduBousquier，andgaveacryofmodestyatthesightofhim。DuBousquierretiredatonce，leavingsixwomen，attheheadofwhomwasMadameGranson，radiantwithjoy，totakecareoftheinvalid。 WhathadtheChevalierdeValoisbeenaboutallthistime？Faithfultohissystem，hehadcoveredtheretreat。 \"ThatpoorMademoiselleCormon，\"hesaidtoMonsieurdeTroisville，gazingattheassembly，whoselaughterwasrepressedbyhiscoolaristocraticglances，\"herbloodishorriblyoutoforder；shewouldn\'tbebledbeforegoingtoPrebaudet(herestate)，——andseetheresult!\" \"Shecamebackthismorningintherain，\"saidtheAbbedeSponde，\"andshemayhavetakencold。Itwon\'tbeanything；itisonlyalittleupsetsheissubjectto。\" \"Shetoldmeyesterdayshehadnothadoneforthreemonths，addingthatshewasafraiditwouldplayheratrickatlast，\"saidthechevalier。 \"Ha!soyouaremarried？\"saidJacquelintohimselfashelookedatMonsieurdeTroisville，whowasquietlysippinghiscoffee。 Thefaithfulservantespousedhismistress\'sdisappointment；hedivinedit，andhepromptlycarriedawaytheliqueursofMadameAmphoux，whichwereofferedtoabachelor，andnottothehusbandofaRussianwoman。 Allthesedetailswerenoticedandlaughedat。TheAbbedeSpondeknewtheobjectofMonsieurdeTroisville\'sjourney；but，absent-mindedasusual，heforgotit，notsupposingthathisniececouldhavetheslightestinterestinMonsieurdeTroisville\'smarriage。Asfortheviscount，preoccupiedwiththeobjectofhisjourney，and，likemanyhusbands，noteagertotalkabouthiswife，hehadhadnooccasiontosayhewasmarried；besides，hewouldnaturallysupposethatMademoiselleCormonknewit。 DuBousquierreappeared，andwasquestionedfuriously。Oneofthesixwomencamedownsoonafter，andannouncedthatMademoiselleCormonwasmuchbetter，andthatthedoctorhadcome。Sheintendedtostayinbed，asitwasnecessarytobleedher。Thesalonwasnowfull。 MademoiselleCormon\'sabsenceallowedtheladiespresenttodiscussthetragi-comicscene——embellished，extended，historified，embroidered，wreathed，colored，andadorned——whichhadjusttakenplace，andwhich，onthemorrow，wasdestinedtooccupyallAlencon。 \"ThatgoodMonsieurduBousquier!howwellhecarriedyou!\"saidJosettetohermistress。\"Hewasreallypaleatthesightofyou；helovesyoustill。\" Thatspeechservedasclosuretothissolemnandterribleevening。 ThroughoutthemorningofthenextdayeverycircumstanceofthelatecomedywasknowninthehouseholdofAlencon，and——letussayittotheshameofthattown，——theycausedinextinguishablelaughter。ButonthatdayMademoiselleCormon(muchbenefitedbythebleeding)wouldhaveseemedsublimeeventotheboldestscoffers，hadtheywitnessedthenobledignity，thesplendidChristianresignationwhichinfluencedherasshegaveherarmtoherinvoluntarydeceivertogointobreakfast。Crueljesters!whycouldyounothaveseenherasshesaidtotheviscount，—— \"MadamedeTroisvillewillhavedifficultyinfindingasuitablehouse；domethefavor，monsieur，ofacceptingtheuseofmineduringthetimeyouareinsearchofyours。\" \"But，mademoiselle，Ihavetwosonsandtwodaughters；weshouldgreatlyinconvenienceyou。\" \"Praydonotrefuseme，\"shesaidearnestly。 \"ImadeyouthesameofferintheanswerIwrotetoyourletter，\"saidtheabbe；\"butyoudidnotreceiveit。\" \"What，uncle!thenyouknew——\" Thepoorwomanstopped。Josettesighed。Neithertheviscountnortheabbeobservedanythingamiss。AfterbreakfasttheAbbedeSpondecarriedoffhisguest，asagreeduponthepreviousevening，toshowhimthevarioushousesinAlenconwhichcouldbebought，andthelotsoflandsonwhichhemightbuild。 Leftaloneinthesalon，MademoiselleCormonsaidtoJosette，withadeeplydistressedair，\"Mychild，Iamnowthetalkofthewholetown。\" \"Well，then，mademoiselle，youshouldmarry。\" \"ButIamnotpreparedtomakeachoice。\" \"Bah!ifIwereinyourplace，IshouldtakeMonsieurduBousquier。\" \"Josette，MonsieurdeValoissaysheissorepublican。\" \"Theydon\'tknowwhattheysay，yourgentlemen:sometimestheydeclarethatherobbedtherepublic；hecouldn\'tloveitifhedidthat，\"saidJosette，departing。 \"Thatgirlhasanamazingamountofsense，\"thoughtMademoiselleCormon，whoremainedalone，apreytoherperplexities。 Shesawplainlythatapromptmarriagewastheonlywaytosilencethetown。Thislastcheckmate，soevidentlymortifying，wasofanaturetodriveherintosomeextremeaction；forpersonsdeficientinmindfinddifficultyingettingoutofanypath，eithergoodorevil，intowhichtheyhaveentered。 EachofthetwooldbachelorshadfullyunderstoodthesituationinwhichMademoiselleCormonwasabouttofindherself；consequently，eachresolvedtocallinthecourseofthatmorningtoaskafterherhealth，andtakeoccasion，inbachelorlanguage，to\"presshispoint。\" MonsieurdeValoisconsideredthatsuchanoccasiondemandedapainstakingtoilet；hethereforetookabathandgroomedhimselfwithextraordinarycare。ForthefirstandlasttimeCesarineobservedhimputtingonwithincredibleartasuspicionofrouge。DuBousquier，ontheotherhand，thatcoarserepublican，spurredbyabriskwill，paidnoattentiontohisdress，andarrivedthefirst。 Suchlittlethingsdecidethefortunesofmen，astheydoofempires。 Kellerman\'schargeatMarengo，Blucher\'sarrivalatWaterloo，LouisXIV。\'sdisdainforPrinceEugene，therectorofDenain，——allthesegreatcausesoffortuneorcatastrophehistoryhasrecorded；butnooneeverprofitsbythemtoavoidthesmallneglectsoftheirownlife。Consequently，observewhathappens:theDuchessedeLangeais(see\"HistoryoftheThirteen\")makesherselfanunforthelackoftenminutes\'patience；JudgePopinot(see\"CommissioninLunacy\")putsofftillthemorrowthedutyofexaminingtheMarquisd\'Espard； CharlesGrandet(see\"EugenieGrandet\")goestoParisfromBordeauxinsteadofreturningbyNantes；andsucheventsarecalledchanceorfatality!AtouchofrougecarefullyapplieddestroyedthehopesoftheChevalierdeValois；couldthatnoblemanperishinanyotherway？ HehadlivedbytheGraces，andhewasdoomedtodiebytheirhand。 WhilethechevalierwasgivingthislasttouchtohistoilettheroughduBousquierwasenteringthesalonofthedesolateoldmaid。ThisentranceproducedathoughtinMademoiselleCormon\'smindwhichwasfavorabletotherepublican，althoughinallotherrespectstheChevalierdeValoisheldtheadvantages。 \"Godwillsit!\"shesaidpiously，onseeingduBousquier。 \"Mademoiselle，youwillnot，Itrust，thinkmyeagernessimportunate。 IcouldnottrusttomystupidRenetobringnewsofyourcondition，andthereforeIhavecomemyself。\" \"Iamperfectlyrecovered，\"shereplied，inatoneofemotion。\"I thankyou，MonsieurduBousquier，\"sheadded，afteraslightpause，andinasignificanttoneofvoice，\"forthetroubleyouhavetaken，andforthatwhichIgaveyouyesterday——\" Sherememberedhavingbeeninhisarms，andthatagainseemedtoheranorderfromheaven。Shehadbeenseenforthefirsttimebyamanwithherlacescut，hertreasuresviolentlyburstingfromtheircasket。 \"Icarriedyouwithsuchjoythatyouseemedtomelight。\" HereMademoiselleCormonlookedatduBousquierasshehadneveryetlookedatanymanintheworld。Thusencouraged，thepurveyorcastupontheoldmaidaglancewhichreachedherheart。