第12章

Theabbediedwhenorthodoxythusexpiredinthediocese。 In1819，thepropertyoftheAbbedeSpondeincreasedMadameduBousquier\'sincomefromrealestatetotwenty-fivethousandfrancswithoutcountingPrebaudetorthehouseintheVal-Noble。AboutthistimeduBousquierreturnedtohiswifethecapitalofhersavingswhichshehadyieldedtohim；andhemadeheruseitinpurchasinglandscontiguoustoPrebaudet，whichmadethatdomainoneofthemostconsiderableinthedepartment，fortheestatesoftheAbbedeSpondealsoadjoinedit。DuBousquierthuspassedforoneoftherichestmenofthedepartment。Thisableman，theconstantcandidateoftheliberals，missingbysevenoreightvotesonlyinalltheelectoralbattlesfoughtundertheRestoration，andwhoostensiblyrepudiatedtheliberalsbytryingtobeelectedasaministerialroyalist(withouteverbeingabletoconquertheaversionoftheadministration)，——thisrancorousrepublican，madwithambition，resolvedtorivaltheroyalismandaristocracyofAlenconatthemomentwhentheyoncemorehadtheupperhand。HestrengthenedhimselfwiththeChurchbythedeceitfulappearanceofawell-feignedpiety: heaccompaniedhiswifetomass；hegavemoneyfortheconventsofthetown；heassistedthecongregationoftheSacre-Coeur；hetooksideswiththeclergyonalloccasionswhentheclergycameintocollisionwiththetown，thedepartment，ortheState。Secretlysupportedbytheliberals，protectedbytheChurch，callinghimselfaconstitutionalroyalist，hekeptbesidethearistocracyofthedepartmentintheonehopeofruiningit，——andhedidruinit。Everonthewatchforthefaultsandblundersofthenobilityandthegovernment，helaidplansforhisvengeanceagainstthe\"chateau-people，\"andespeciallyagainstthed\'Esgrignons，inwhosebosomhewasonedaytothrustapoisoneddagger。 Amongotherbenefitstothetownhegavemoneyliberallytorevivethemanufactureofpointd\'Alencon；herenewedthetradeinlinens，andthetownhadafactory。Inscribinghimselfthusupontheinterestsandheartofthemasses，bydoingwhattheroyalistsdidnotdo，duBousquierdidnotreallyriskafarthing。Backedbyhisfortune，hecouldaffordtowaitresultswhichenterprisingpersonswhoinvolvethemselvesareforcedtoabandontoluckiersuccessors。 DuBousquiernowposedasabanker。ThisminiatureLafittewasapartnerinallnewenterprises，takinggoodsecurity。Heservedhimselfwhileapparentlyservingtheinterestsofthecommunity。Hewastheprimemoverofinsurancecompanies，theprotectorofnewenterprisesforpublicconveyance；hesuggestedpetitionsforaskingtheadministrationforthenecessaryroadsandbridges。Thuswarned，thegovernmentconsideredthisactionanencroachmentofitsownauthority。Astrugglewasbeguninjudiciously，forthegoodofthecommunitycompelledtheauthoritiestoyieldintheend。DuBousquierembitteredtheprovincialnobilityagainstthecourtnobilityandthepeerage；andfinallyhebroughtabouttheshockingadhesionofastrongpartyofconstitutionalroyaliststothewarfaresustainedbythe\"JournaldesDebats，\"andM。deChateaubriandagainstthethrone，——anungratefuloppositionbasedonignobleinterests，whichwasonecauseofthetriumphofthebourgeoisieandjournalismin1830。 ThusduBousquier，incommonwiththeclassherepresented，hadthesatisfactionofbeholdingthefuneralofroyalty。Theoldrepublican，smotheredwithmasses，whoforfifteenyearshadplayedthatcomedytosatisfyhisvendetta，himselfthrewdownwithhisownhandthewhiteflagofthemayoraltytotheapplauseofthemultitude。NomaninFrancecastuponthenewthroneraisedinAugust，1830，aglanceofmoreintoxicated，joyousvengeance。TheaccessionoftheYoungerBranchwasthetriumphoftheRevolution。TohimthevictoryofthetricolormeanttheresurrectionofMontagne，whichthistimeshouldsurelybringthenobilitydowntothedustbymeansmorecertainthanthatoftheguillotine，becauselessviolent。Thepeeragewithoutheredity；theNationalGuard，whichputsonthesamecamp-bedthecornergrocerandthemarquis；theabolitionoftheentailsdemandedbyabourgeoislawyer；theCatholicChurchdeprivedofitssupremacy； andalltheotherlegislativeinventionsofAugust，1830，——weretoduBousquierthewisestpossibleapplicationoftheprinciplesof1793。 Since1830thismanhasbeenareceiver-general。HereliedforhisadvancementonhisrelationswiththeDucd\'Orleans，fatherofLouisPhilippe，andwithMonsieurdeFolmon，formerlystewardtotheDuchess-dowagerofOrleans。Hereceivesabouteightythousandfrancsayear。IntheeyesofthepeopleabouthimMonsieurduBousquierisamanofmeans，——arespectableman，steadyinhisprinciples，upright，andobliging。AlenconowestohimitsconnectionwiththeindustrialmovementbywhichBrittanymaypossiblysomedaybejoinedtowhatispopularlycalledmoderncivilization。Alencon，whichupto1816couldboastofonlytwoprivatecarriages，saw，withoutamazement，inthecourseoftenyears，coupes，landaus，tilburies，andcabrioletsrollingthroughherstreets。Theburghersandtheland-owners，alarmedatfirstlestthepriceofeverythingshouldincrease，recognizedlaterthatthisincreaseinthestyleoflivinghadacontraryeffectupontheirrevenues。ThepropheticremarkofduRonceret，\"DuBousquierisaverystrongman，\"wasadoptedbythewholecountry- side。 But，unhappilyforthewife，thatsayinghasadoublemeaning。Thehusbanddoesnotinanywayresemblethepublicpolitician。Thisgreatcitizen，soliberaltotheworldabouthim，sokindlyinspiredwithloveforhisnativeplace，isadespotinhisownhouse，andutterlydevoidofconjugalaffection。Thisman，soprofoundlyastute，hypocritical，andsly；thisCromwelloftheVal-Noble，——behavesinhishomeashebehavestothearistocracy，whomhecaressesinhopestothrottlethem。LikehisfriendBernadotte，hewearsavelvetgloveuponhisironhand。Hiswifehasgivenhimnochildren。Suzanne\'sremarkandthechevalier\'sinsinuationswerethereforejustified。Buttheliberalbourgeoisie，theconstitutional-royalist-bourgeoisie，thecountry-squires，themagistracy，andthe\"churchparty\"laidtheblameonMadameduBousquier。\"Shewastooold，\"theysaid；\"MonsieurduBousquierhadmarriedhertoolate。Besides，itwasveryluckyforthepoorwoman；itwasdangerousatheragetobearchildren!\"WhenMadameduBousquierconfided，weeping，herperiodicdespairtoMesdamesduCoudraiandduRonceret，thoseladieswouldreply，—— \"Butyouarecrazy，mydear；youdon\'tknowwhatyouarewishingfor； achildwouldbeyourdeath。\" Manymen，whosehopeswerefastenedonduBousquier\'striumph，sanghispraisestotheirwives，whointurnrepeatedthemtothepoorwifeinsomesuchspeechasthis:—— \"Youareverylucky，dear，tohavemarriedsuchanableman；you\'llescapethemiseryofwomenwhosehusbandsaremenwithoutenergy，incapableofmanagingtheirproperty，orbringinguptheirchildren。\" \"Yourhusbandismakingyouqueenofthedepartment，mylove。He\'llneverleaveyouembarrassed，nothe!Why，heleadsallAlencon。\" \"ButIwish，\"saidthepoorwife，\"thathegavelesstimetothepublicand——\" \"Youarehardtoplease，mydearMadameduBousquier。Iassureyouthatallthewomenintownenvyyouyourhusband。\" Misjudgedbysociety，whichbeganbyblamingher，thepiouswomanfoundampleopportunityinherhometodisplayhervirtues。Shelivedintears，butsheneverceasedtopresenttoothersaplacidface。TosoChristianasoulacertainthoughtwhichpeckedforeveratherheartwasacrime:\"IlovedtheChevalierdeValois，\"itsaid；\"butI havemarriedduBousquier。\"TheloveofpoorAthanaseGransonalsoroselikeaphantomofremorse，andpursuedhereveninherdreams。 Thedeathofheruncle，whosegriefsatthelastburstforth，madeherlifestillmoresorrowful；forshenowfeltthesufferingherunclemusthaveenduredinwitnessingthechangeofpoliticalandreligiousopinionintheoldhouse。Sorrowoftenfallslikeathunderbolt，asitdidonMadameGranson；butinthisoldmaiditslowlyspreadlikeadropofoil，whichneverleavesthestuffthatslowlyimbibesit。 TheChevalierdeValoiswasthemaliciousmanipulatorwhobroughtaboutthecrowningmisfortuneofMadameduBousquier\'slife。Hisheartwassetonundeceivingherpioussimplicity；forthechevalier，expertinlove，divinedduBousquier，themarriedman，ashehaddivinedduBousquier，thebachelor。Butthewaryrepublicanwasdifficultofattack。Hissalonwas，ofcourse，closedtotheChevalierdeValois，astoallthosewho，intheearlydaysofhismarriage，hadslightedtheCormonmansion。Hewas，moreover，impervioustoridicule；hepossessedavastfortune；hereignedinAlencon；hecaredaslittleforhiswifeasRichardIII。caredforthedeadhorsewhichhadhelpedhimwinabattle。Topleaseherhusband，MadameduBousquierhadbrokenoffrelationswiththed\'Esgrignonhousehold，whereshewentnolonger，exceptthatsometimeswhenherhusbandleftherduringhistripstoParis，shewouldpayabriefvisittoMademoiselleArmande。 Aboutthreeyearsafterhermarriage，atthetimeoftheAbbedeSponde\'sdeath，MademoiselleArmandejoinedMadameduBousquierastheywereleavingSaint-Leonard\'s，wheretheyhadgonetoheararequiemsaidforhim。Thegenerousdemoisellethoughtthatonthisoccasionsheowedhersympathytothenieceintrouble。Theywalkedtogether，talkingofthedeardeceased，untiltheyreachedtheforbiddenhouse，intowhichMademoiselleArmandeenticedMadameduBousquierbythecharmofhermannerandconversation。Thepoordesolatewomanwasgladtotalkofherunclewithonewhomhetrulyloved。Moreover，shewantedtoreceivethecondolencesoftheoldmarquis，whomshehadnotseenfornearlythreeyears。Itwashalf- pastoneo\'clock，andshefoundatthehoteld\'EsgrignontheChevalierdeValois，whohadcometodinner。Ashebowedtoher，hetookherbythehands。 \"Well，dear，virtuous，andbelovedlady，\"hesaid，inatoneofemotion，\"wehavelostoursaintedfriend；weshareyourgrief。Yes，yourlossisaskeenlyfelthereasinyourownhome，——moreso，\"headded，alludingtoduBousquier。 Afterafewmorewordsoffuneraloration，inwhichallpresentspokefromtheheart，thechevaliertookMadameduBousquier\'sarm，and，gallantlyplacingitwithinhisown，presseditadoringlyasheledhertotherecessofawindow。 \"Areyouhappy？\"hesaidinafatherlyvoice。 \"Yes，\"shesaid，droppinghereyes。 Hearingthat\"Yes，\"MadamedeTroisville，thedaughterofthePrincessScherbellof，andtheoldMarquisedeCasterancameupandjoinedthechevalier，togetherwithMademoiselleArmande。Theyallwenttowalkinthegardenuntildinnerwasserved，withoutanyperceptiononthepartofMadameduBousquierthatalittleconspiracywasafoot。\"Wehaveher!nowletusfindoutthesecretofthecase，\"werethewordswrittenintheeyesofallpresent。 \"Tomakeyourhappinesscomplete，\"saidMademoiselleArmande，\"yououghttohavechildren，——afineladlikemynephew——\" TearsseemedtostartinMadameduBousquier\'seyes。 \"Ihavehearditsaidthatyouweretheonetoblameinthematter，andthatyoufearedthedangersofapregnancy，\"saidthechevalier。 \"I!\"shesaidartlessly。\"IwouldbuyachildwithahundredyearsofpurgatoryifIcould。\" Onthequestionthusstartedadiscussionarose，conductedbyMadamedeTroisvilleandtheoldMarquisedeCasteranwithsuchdelicacyandadroitnessthatthepoorvictimrevealed，withoutbeingawareofit，thesecretsofherhouse。MademoiselleArmandehadtakenthechevalier\'sarm，andwalkedawaysoastoleavethethreewomenfreetodiscusswedlock。MadameduBousquierwasthenenlightenedonthevariousdeceptionsofhermarriage；andasshewasstillthesamesimpletonshehadalwaysbeen，sheamusedheradvisersbydelightfulnaivetes。 AlthoughatfirstthedeceptivemarriageofMademoiselleCormonmadealaughthroughoutthetown，whichwassooninitiatedintothestoryofthecase，beforelongMadameduBousquierwontheesteemandsympathyofallthewomen。ThefactthatMademoiselleCormonhadflungherselfheadlongintomarriagewithoutsucceedinginbeingmarried，madeeverybodylaughather；butwhentheylearnedtheexceptionalpositioninwhichthesternnessofherreligiousprinciplesplacedher，alltheworldadmiredher。\"ThatpoorMadameduBousquier\"tooktheplaceof\"ThatgoodMademoiselleCormon。\" ThusthechevaliercontrivedtorenderduBousquierbothridiculousandodiousforatime；butridiculeendsbyweakening；whenallhadsaidtheirsayabouthim，thegossipdiedout。Besides，atfifty-sevenyearsofagethedumbrepublicanseemedtomanypeopletohavearighttoretire。Thisaffair，however，envenomedthehatredwhichduBousquieralreadyboretothehouseofEsgrignontosuchadegreethatitmadehimpitilesswhenthedayofvengeancecame。[See\"TheGalleryofAntiquities。\"]MadameduBousquierreceivedordersneveragaintosetfootintothathouse。Bywayofreprisalsuponthechevalierforthetrickthusplayedhim，duBousquier，whohadjustcreatedthejournalcalledthe\"Courrierdel\'Orne，\"causedthefollowingnoticetobeinsertedinit:—— \"BondstotheamountofonethousandfrancsayearwillbepaidtoanypersonwhocanprovetheexistenceofoneMonsieurdePombretonbefore，during，oraftertheEmigration。\" Althoughhermarriagewasessentiallynegative，MadameduBousquiersawsomeadvantagesinit:wasitnotbettertointerestherselfinthemostremarkablemaninthetownthantolivealone？DuBousquierwaspreferabletoadog，orcat，orthosecanariesthatspinsterslove。Heshowedforhiswifeasentimentmorerealandlessselfishthanthatwhichisfeltbyservants，confessors，andhopefulheirs。 Laterinlifeshecametoconsiderherhusbandastheinstrumentofdivinewrath；forshethensawinnumerablesinsinherformerdesiresformarriage；sheregardedherselfasjustlypunishedforthesorrowshehadbroughtonMadameGranson，andforthehasteneddeathofheruncle。Obedienttothatreligionwhichcommandsustokisstherodwithwhichthepunishmentisinflicted，shepraisedherhusband，andpubliclyapprovedhim。Butintheconfessional，oratnight，whenpraying，sheweptoften，imploringGod\'sforgivenessfortheapostasyofthemanwhothoughtthecontraryofwhatheprofessed，andwhodesiredthedestructionofthearistocracyandtheChurch，——thetworeligionsofthehouseofCormon。 Withallherfeelingsbruisedandimmolatedwithinher，compelledbydutytomakeherhusbandhappy，attachedtohimbyacertainindefinableaffection，born，perhaps，ofhabit，herlifebecameoneperpetualcontradiction。Shehadmarriedamanwhoseconductandopinionsshehated，butwhomshewasboundtocareforwithdutifultenderness。OftenshewalkedwiththeangelswhenduBousquierateherpreservesorthoughtthedinnergood。Shewatchedtoseethathisslightestwishwassatisfied。Ifhetoreoffthecoverofhisnewspaperandleftitonatable，insteadofthrowingitaway，shewouldsay:—— \"Rene，leavethatwhereitis；monsieurdidnotplaceittherewithoutintention。\" IfduBousquierhadajourneytotake，shewasanxiousabouthistrunk，hislinen；shetookthemostminuteprecautionsforhismaterialbenefit。IfhewenttoPrebaudet，sheconsultedthebarometertheeveningbeforetoknowiftheweatherwouldbefine。Shewatchedforhiswillinhiseyes，likeadogwhichhearsandseesitsmasterwhilesleeping。WhenthestoutduBousquier，touchedbythisscrupulouslove，wouldtakeherroundthewaistandkissherforehead，saying，\"Whatagoodwomanyouare!\"tearsofpleasurewouldcomeintotheeyesofthepoorcreature。ItisprobablythatduBousquierfelthimselfobligedtomakecertainconcessionswhichobtainedforhimtherespectofRose-Marie-Victoire；forCatholicvirtuedoesnotrequireadissimulationascompleteasthatofMadameduBousquier。Oftenthegoodsaintsatmutelybyandlistenedtothehatredofmenwhoconcealedthemselvesunderthecloakofconstitutionalroyalists。SheshudderedassheforesawtheruinoftheChurch。Occasionallysheriskedastupidword，anobservationwhichduBousquiercutshortwithaglance。 TheworriesofsuchanexistenceendedbystupefyingMadameduBousquier，whofounditeasierandalsomoredignifiedtoconcentrateherintelligenceonherownthoughtsandresignherselftoleadalifethatwaspurelyanimal。Shethenadoptedthesubmissionofaslave，andregardeditasameritoriousdeedtoacceptthedegradationinwhichherhusbandplacedher。Thefulfilmentofhiswillneveroncecausedhertomurmur。Thetimidsheepwenthenceforthinthewaytheshepherdledher；shegaveherselfuptotheseverestreligiouspractices，andthoughtnomoreofSatanandhisworksandvanities。 ThusshepresentedtotheeyesoftheworldaunionofallChristianvirtues；andduBousquierwascertainlyoneoftheluckiestmeninthekingdomofFranceandofNavarre。 \"Shewillbeasimpletontoherlastbreath，\"saidtheformercollector，who，however，dinedwithhertwiceaweek。 ThishistorywouldbestrangelyincompleteifnomentionweremadeofthecoincidenceoftheChevalierdeValois\'sdeathoccurringatthesametimeasthatofSuzanne\'smother。Thechevalierdiedwiththemonarchy，inAugust，1830。HehadjoinedthecortegeofCharlesX。atNonancourt，andpiouslyescortedittoCherbourgwiththeTroisvilles，Casterans，d\'Esgrignons，Verneuils，etc。Theoldgentlemanhadtakenwithhimfiftythousandfrancs，——thesumtowhichhissavingsthenamounted。Heofferedthemtooneofthefaithfulfriendsofthekingfortransmissiontohismaster，speakingofhisapproachingdeath，anddeclaringthatthemoneycameoriginallyfromthegoodnessoftheking，and，moreover，thatthepropertyofthelastoftheValoisbelongedofrighttothecrown。ItisnotknownwhetherthefervorofhiszealconqueredthereluctanceoftheBourbon，whoabandonedhisfinekingdomofFrancewithoutcarryingawaywithhimafarthing，andwhooughttohavebeentouchedbythedevotionofthechevalier。Itiscertain，however，thatCesarine，theresiduarylegateoftheoldman，receivedfromhisestateonlysixhundredfrancsayear。ThechevalierreturnedtoAlencon，cruellyweakenedbygriefandbyfatigue；hediedontheverydaywhenCharlesX。arrivedonaforeignshore。 MadameduVal-Nobleandherprotector，whowasjustthenafraidofthevengeanceoftheliberalparty，weregladofapretexttoremainincognitointhevillagewhereSuzanne\'smotherdied。Atthesaleofthechevalier\'seffects，whichtookplaceatthattime，Suzanne，anxioustoobtainasouvenirofherfirstandlastfriend，pushedupthepriceofthefamoussnuff-box，whichwasfinallyknockeddowntoherforathousandfrancs。TheportraitofthePrincessGoritzawasaloneworththatsum。Twoyearslater，ayoungdandy，whowasmakingacollectionofthefinesnuff-boxesofthelastcentury，obtainedfromMadameduVal-Noblethechevalier\'streasure。Thecharmingconfidantofmanyaloveandthepleasureofanoldageisnowonexhibitioninaspeciesofprivatemuseum。Ifthedeadcouldknowwhathappensafterthem，thechevalier\'sheadwouldsurelyblushuponitsleftcheek。 Ifthishistoryhasnoothereffectthantoinspirethepossessorsofpreciousrelicswithholyfear，andinducethemtomakecodicilstosecurethesetouchingsouvenirsofjoysthatarenomorebybequeathingthemtolovinghands，itwillhavedoneanimmenseservicetothechivalrousandromanticportionofthecommunity；butitdoes，intruth，containafarhighermoral。Doesitnotshowthenecessityforanewspeciesofeducation？Doesitnotinvoke，fromtheenlightenedsolicitudeoftheministersofPublicInstruction，thecreationofchairsofanthropology，——ascienceinwhichGermanyoutstripsus？Modernmythsareevenlessunderstoodthanancientones，harriedaswearewithmyths。Mythsarepressingusfromeverypoint； theyservealltheories，theyexplainallquestions。 Theyare，accordingtohumanideas，thetorchesofhistory；theywouldsaveempiresfromrevolutionifonlytheprofessorsofhistorywouldforcetheexplanationstheygiveintothemindoftheprovincialmasses。IfMademoiselleCormonhadbeenareaderorastudent，andiftherehadexistedinthedepartmentoftheOrneaprofessorofanthropology，orevenhadshereadAriosto，thefrightfuldisastersofherconjugallifewouldneverhaveoccurred。ShewouldprobablyhaveknownwhytheItalianpoetmakesAngelicapreferMedoro，whowasablondChevalierdeValois，toOrlando，whosemarewasdead，andwhoknewnobetterthantoflyintoapassion。IsnotMedorothemythicformforallcourtiersoffeminineroyalty，andOrlandothemythofdisorderly，furious，andimpotentrevolutions，whichdestroybutcannotproduce？ Wepublish，butwithoutassuminganyresponsibilityforit，thisopinionofapupilofMonsieurBallanche。 Noinformationhasreachedusastothefateofthenegroes\'headsindiamonds。YoumayseeMadameduVal-NobleeveryeveningattheOpera。 ThankstotheeducationgivenherbytheChevalierdeValois，shehasalmosttheairofawell-bredwoman。 MadameduBousquierstilllives；isnotthatasmuchastosayshestillsuffers？Afterreachingtheageofsixty——theperiodatwhichwomenallowthemselvestomakeconfessions——shesaidconfidentiallytoMadameduCoudrai，thatshehadneverbeenabletoenduretheideaofdyinganoldmaid。