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reflecting。 Meanwhile Mademoiselle Salomon de Villenoix was announced。
She came from Tours in the hope of being useful to the poor abbe； and
the news she brought completely changed the aspect of the affair。 As
she entered； every one except Monsieur de Bourbonne was urging
Birotteau to hold his own against Troubert and Gamard； under the
auspices of the aristocractic society of the place； which would
certainly stand by him。
〃The vicar…general； to whom the appointments to office are entrusted；
is very ill；〃 said Mademoiselle Salomon； 〃and the archbishop has
delegated his powers to the Abbe Troubert provisionally。 The canonry
will； of course； depend wholly upon him。 Now last evening； at
Mademoiselle de la Blottiere's the Abbe Poirel talked about the
annoyances which the Abbe Birotteau had inflicted on Mademoiselle
Gamard； as though he were trying to cast all the blame on our good
abbe。 'The Abbe Birotteau；' he said； 'is a man to whom the Abbe
Chapeloud was absolutely necessary； and since the death of that
venerable man； he has shown'and then came suggestions； calumnies！
you understand？〃
〃Troubert will be made vicar…general；〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne；
sententiously。
〃Come！〃 cried Madame de Listomere； turning to Birotteau； 〃which do you
prefer； to be made a canon； or continue to live with Mademoiselle
Gamard？〃
〃To be a canon！〃 cried the whole company。
〃Well； then；〃 resumed Madame de Listomere； 〃you must let the Abbe
Troubert and Mademoiselle Gamard have things their own way。 By sending
Caron here they mean to let you know indirectly that if you consent to
leave the house you shall be made canon；one good turn deserves
another。〃
Every one present applauded Madame de Listomere's sagacity； except her
nephew the Baron de Listomere； who remarked in a comic tone to
Monsieur de Bourbonne； 〃I would like to have seen a fight between the
Gamard and the Birotteau。〃
But； unhappily for the vicar； forces were not equal between these
persons of the best society and the old maid supported by the Abbe
Troubert。 The time soon came when the struggle developed openly； went
on increasing； and finally assumed immense proportions。 By the advice
of Madame de Listomere and most of her friends； who were now eagerly
enlisted in a matter which threw such excitement into their vapid
provincial lives； a servant was sent to bring back Monsieur Caron。 The
lawyer returned with surprising celerity； which alarmed no one but
Monsieur de Bourbonne。
〃Let us postpone all decision until we are better informed；〃 was the
advice of that Fabius in a dressing…gown； whose prudent reflections
revealed to him the meaning of these moves on the Tourainean chess…
board。 He tried to enlighten Birotteau on the dangers of his position；
but the wisdom of the old 〃sly…boots〃 did not serve the passions of
the moment； and he obtained but little attention。
The conference between the lawyer and Birotteau was short。 The vicar
came back quite terrified。
〃He wants me to sign a paper stating my relinquishment of domicile。〃
〃That's formidable language！〃 said the naval lieutenant。
〃What does it mean？〃 asked Madame de Listomere。
〃Merely that the abbe must declare in writing his intention of leaving
Mademoiselle Gamard's house；〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne； taking a
pinch of snuff。
〃Is that all？〃 said Madame de Listomere。 〃Then sign it at once；〃 she
added； turning to Birotteau。 〃If you positively decide to leave her
house； there can be no harm in declaring that such is your will。〃
Birotteau's will！
〃That is true；〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne； closing his snuff…box with
a gesture the significance of which it is impossible to render； for it
was a language in itself。 〃But writing is always dangerous；〃 he added；
putting his snuff…box on the mantelpiece with an air and manner that
alarmed the vicar。
Birotteau was so bewildered by the upsetting of all his ideas； by the
rapidity of events which found him defenceless； by the ease with which
his friends were settling the most cherished matters of his solitary
life； that he remained silent and motionless as if moonstruck；
thinking of nothing； though listening and striving to understand the
meaning of the rapid sentences the assembled company addressed to him。
He took the paper Monsieur Caron had given him and read it； as if he
were giving his mind to the lawyer's document； but the act was merely
mechanical。 He signed the paper； by which he declared that he left
Mademoiselle Gamard's house of his own wish and will； and that he had
been fed and lodged while there according to the terms originally
agreed upon。 When the vicar had signed the document； Monsieur Caron
took it and asked where his client was to send the things left by the
abbe in her house and belonging to him。 Birotteau replied that they
could be sent to Madame de Listomere's；that lady making him a sign
that she would receive him； never doubting that he would soon be a
canon。 Monsieur de Bourbonne asked to see the paper； the deed of
relinquishment； which the abbe had just signed。 Monsieur Caron gave it
to him。
〃How is this？〃 he said to the vicar after reading it。 〃It appears that
written documents already exist between you and Mademoiselle Gamard。
Where are they？ and what do they stipulate？〃
〃The deed is in my library；〃 replied Birotteau。
〃Do you know the tenor of it？〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne to the
lawyer。
〃No； monsieur；〃 said Caron； stretching out his hand to regain the
fatal document。
〃Ha！〃 thought the old man； 〃you know； my good friend； what that deed
contains； but you are not paid to tell us；〃 and he returned the paper
to the lawyer。
〃Where can I put my things？〃 cried Birotteau； 〃my books； my beautiful
book…shelves； and pictures； my red furniture； and all my treasures？〃
The helpless despair of the poor man thus torn up as it were by the
roots was so artless； it showed so plainly the purity of his ways and
his ignorance of the things of life； that Madame de Listomere and
Mademoiselle de Salomon talked to him and consoled him in the tone
which mothers take when they promise a plaything to their children。
〃Don't fret about such trifles；〃 they said。 〃We will find you some
place less cold and dismal than Mademoiselle Gamard's gloomy house。 If
we can't find anything you like； one or other of us will take you to
live with us。 Come； let's play a game of backgammon。 To…morrow you can
go and see the Abbe Troubert and ask him to push your claims to the
canonry； and you'll see how cordially he will receive you。〃
Feeble folk are as easily reassured as they are frightened。 So the
poor abbe； dazzled at the prospect of living with Madame de Listomere；
forgot the destruction； now completed； of the happiness he had so long
desired； and so delightfully enjoyed。 But at night before going to
sleep； the distress of a man to whom the fuss of moving and the
breaking up of all his habi