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Christian spirit。〃 He ended by assuring the vicar that 〃if he stayed a
few years longer in Mademoiselle Gamard's house he would learn to
understand her better and acknowledge the real value of her excellent
nature。〃
Birotteau left the room confounded。 In the direful necessity of
consulting no one； he now judged Mademoiselle Gamard as he would
himself； and the poor man fancied that if he left her house for a few
days he might extinguish； for want of fuel； the dislike the old maid
felt for him。 He accordingly resolved to spend； as he formerly did； a
week or so at a country…house where Madame de Listomere passed her
autumns； a season when the sky is usually pure and tender in Touraine。
Poor man！ in so doing he did the thing that was most desired by his
terrible enemy； whose plans could only have been brought to nought by
the resistant patience of a monk。 But the vicar； unable to divine
them； not understanding even his own affairs； was doomed to fall； like
a lamb； at the butcher's first blow。
Madame de Listomere's country…place； situated on the embankment which
lies between Tours and the heights of Saint…Georges； with a southern
exposure and surrounded by rocks； combined the charms of the country
with the pleasures of the town。 It took but ten minutes from the
bridge of Tours to reach the house； which was called the 〃Alouette；〃
a great advantage in a region where no one will put himself out for
anything whatsoever； not even to seek a pleasure。
The Abbe Birotteau had been about ten days at the Alouette； when； one
morning while he was breakfasting； the porter came to say that
Monsieur Caron desired to speak with him。 Monsieur Caron was
Mademoiselle Gamard's laywer； and had charge of her affairs。
Birotteau； not remembering this； and unable to think of any matter of
litigation between himself and others； left the table to see the
lawyer in a stage of great agitation。 He found him modestly seated on
the balustrade of a terrace。
〃Your intention of ceasing to reside in Mademoiselle Gamard's house
being made evident〃 began the man of business。
〃Eh！ monsieur；〃 cried the Abbe Birotteau； interrupting him； 〃I have
not the slightest intention of leaving it。〃
〃Nevertheless； monsieur；〃 replied the lawyer； 〃you must have had some
agreement in the matter with Mademoiselle； for she has sent me to ask
how long you intend to remain in the country。 The event of a long
absence was not foreseen in the agreement； and may lead to a contest。
Now； Mademoiselle Gamard understanding that your board〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Birotteau； amazed； and again interrupting the lawyer；
〃I did not suppose it necessary to employ； as it were； legal means
to〃
〃Mademoiselle Gamard； who is anxious to avoid all dispute；〃 said
Monsieur Caron； 〃has sent me to come to an understanding with you。〃
〃Well； if you will have the goodness to return to…morrow；〃 said the
abbe； 〃I shall then have taken advice in the matter。〃
The quill…driver withdrew。 The poor vicar； frightened at the
persistence with which Mademoiselle Gamard pursued him； returned to
the dining…room with his face so convulsed that everybody cried out
when they saw him： 〃What IS the matter； Monsieur Birotteau？〃
The abbe； in despair； sat down without a word； so crushed was he by
the vague presence of approaching disaster。 But after breakfast； when
his friends gathered round him before a comfortable fire； Birotteau
naively related the history of his troubles。 His hearers； who were
beginning to weary of the monotony of a country…house； were keenly
interested in a plot so thoroughly in keeping with the life of the
provinces。 They all took sides with the abbe against the old maid。
〃Don't you see； my dear friend；〃 said Madame de Listomere； 〃that the
Abbe Troubert wants your apartment？〃
Here the historian ought to sketch this lady； but it occurs to him
that even those who are ignorant of Sterne's system of 〃cognomology；〃
cannot pronounce the three words 〃Madame de Listomere〃 without
picturing her to themselves as noble and dignified； softening the
sternness of rigid devotion by the gracious elegance and the courteous
manners of the old monarchical regime； kind； but a little stiff；
slightly nasal in voice； allowing herself the perusal of 〃La Nouvelle
Heloise〃； and still wearing her own hair。
〃The Abbe Birotteau must not yield to that old vixen；〃 cried Monsieur
de Listomere； a lieutenant in the navy who was spending a furlough
with his aunt。 〃If the vicar has pluck and will follow my suggestions
he will soon recover his tranquillity。〃
All present began to analyze the conduct of Mademoiselle Gamard with
the keen perceptions which characterize provincials； to whom no one
can deny the talent of knowing how to lay bare the most secret motives
of human actions。
〃You don't see the whole thing yet；〃 said an old landowner who knew
the region well。 〃There is something serious behind all this which I
can't yet make out。 The Abbe Troubert is too deep to be fathomed at
once。 Our dear Birotteau is at the beginning of his troubles。 Besides；
would he be left in peace and comfort even if he did give up his
lodging to Troubert？ I doubt it。 If Caron came here to tell you that
you intended to leave Mademoiselle Gamard；〃 he added； turning to the
bewildered priest； 〃no doubt Mademoiselle Gamard's intention is to
turn you out。 Therefore you will have to go； whether you like it or
not。 Her sort of people play a sure game； they risk nothing。〃
This old gentleman； Monsieur de Bourbonne； could sum up and estimate
provincial ideas as correctly as Voltaire summarized the spirit of his
times。 He was thin and tall； and chose to exhibit in the matter of
clothes the quiet indifference of a landowner whose territorial value
is quoted in the department。 His face； tanned by the Touraine sun； was
less intellectual than shrewd。 Accustomed to weigh his words and
measure his actions； he concealed a profound vigilance behind a
misleading appearance of simplicity。 A very slight observation of him
sufficed to show that； like a Norman peasant； he invariably held the
upper hand in business matters。 He was an authority on wine…making；
the leading science of Touraine。 He had managed to extend the meadow
lands of his domain by taking in a part of the alluvial soil of the
Loire without getting into difficulties with the State。 This clever
proceeding gave him the reputation of a man of talent。 If Monsieur de
Bourbonne's conversation pleased you and you were to ask who he was of
a Tourainean； 〃Ho！ a sly old fox！〃 would be the answer of those who
were envious of himand they were many。 In Touraine； as in many of
the provinces； jealousy is the root of language。
Monsieur de Bourbonne's remark occasioned a momentary silence； during
which the persons who composed the little party seemed to be
reflecting。 Meanwhile Mademoiselle Salomon de Villenoix was announced。
She came from Tours in the hope of being usefu