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good nephew； if you want to make your way be careful not to excite
ecclesiastical enmities。 Go at once to Tours and try to make your
peace with that devil of a vicar…general； remember that such priests
are men with whom we absolutely MUST live in harmony。 Good heavens！
when we are all striving and working to re…establish religion it is
actually stupid； in a lieutenant who wants to be made a captain； to
affront the priests。 If you don't make up matters with that Abbe
Troubert you needn't count on me； I shall abandon you。 The minister of
ecclesiastical affairs told me just now that Troubert was certain to
be made bishop before long； if he takes a dislike to our family he
could hinder me from being included in the next batch of peers。 Don't
you understand？〃
These words explained to the naval officer the nature of Troubert's
secret occupations； about which Birotteau often remarked in his silly
way： 〃I can't think what he does with himself；sitting up all night。〃
The canon's position in the midst of his female senate； converted so
adroitly into provincial detectives； and his personal capacity； had
induced the Congregation of Jesus to select him out of all the
ecclesiastics in the town； as the secret proconsul of Touraine。
Archbishop； general； prefect； all men； great and small； were under his
occult dominion。 The Baron de Listomere decided at once on his course。
〃I shall take care；〃 he said to his uncle； 〃not to get another round
shot below my water…line。〃
Three days after this diplomatic conference between the uncle and
nephew； the latter； returning hurriedly in a post…chaise； informed his
aunt； the very night of his arrival； of the dangers the family were
running if they peristed in supporting that 〃fool of a Birotteau。〃 The
baron had detained Monsieur de Bourbonne as the old gentleman was
taking his hat and cane after the usual rubber of whist。 The clear…
sightedness of that sly old fox seemed indispensable for an
understanding of the reefs among which the Listomere family suddenly
found themselves； and perhaps the action of taking his hat and cane
was only a ruse to have it whispered in his ear： 〃Stay after the
others； we want to talk to you。〃
The baron's sudden return； his apparent satisfaction； which was quite
out of keeping with a harrassed look that occasionally crossed his
face； informed Monsieur de Bourbonne vaguely that the lieutenant had
met with some check in his crusade against Gamard and Troubert。 He
showed no surprise when the baron revealed the secret power of the
Jesuit vicar…general。
〃I knew that；〃 he said。
〃Then why；〃 cried the baroness； 〃did you not warn us？〃
〃Madame；〃 he said； sharply； 〃forget that I was aware of the invisible
influence of that priest； and I will forget that you knew it equally
well。 If we do not keep this secret now we shall be thought his
accomplices； and shall be more feared and hated than we are。 Do as I
do； pretend to be duped； but look carefully where you set your feet。 I
did warn you sufficiently； but you would not understand me； and I did
not choose to compromise myself。〃
〃What must we do now？〃 said the baron。
The abandonment of Birotteau was not even made a question； it was a
first condition tactily accepted by the three deliberators。
〃To beat a retreat with the honors of war has always been the triumph
of the ablest generals；〃 replied Monsieur de Bourbonne。 〃Bow to
Troubert； and if his hatred is less strong than his vanity you will
make him your ally； but if you bow too low he will walk over you
rough…shod； make believe that you intend to leave the service； and
you'll escape him； Monsieur le baron。 Send away Birotteau； madame； and
you will set things right with Mademoiselle Gamard。 Ask the Abbe
Troubert； when you meet him at the archbishop's； if he can play whist。
He will say yes。 Then invite him to your salon； where he wants to be
received； he'll be sure to come。 You are a woman； and you can
certainly win a priest to your interests。 When the baron is promoted；
his uncle peer of France； and Troubert a bishop； you can make
Birotteau a canon if you choose。 Meantime yield；but yield
gracefully； all the while with a slight menace。 Your family can give
Troubert quite as much support as he can give you。 You'll understand
each other perfectly on that score。 As for you； sailor； carry your
deep…sea line about you。〃
〃Poor Birotteau？〃 said the baroness。
〃Oh； get rid of him at once；〃 replied the old man； as he rose to take
leave。 〃If some clever Radical lays hold of that empty head of his； he
may cause you much trouble。 After all； the court would certainly give
a verdict in his favour； and Troubert must fear that。 He may forgive
you for beginning the struggle； but if they were defeated he would be
implacable。 I have said my say。〃
He snapped his snuff…box； put on his overshoes； and departed。
The next day after breakfast the baroness took the vicar aside and
said to him； not without visible embarrassment：
〃My dear Monsieur Birotteau； you will think what I am about to ask of
you very unjust and very inconsistent； but it is necessary； both for
you and for us； that your lawsuit with Mademoiselle Gamard be
withdrawn by resigning your claims； and also that you should leave my
house。〃
As he heard these words the poor abbe turned pale。
〃I am；〃 she continued； 〃the innocent cause of your misfortunes； and；
moreover； if it had not been for my nephew you would never have begun
this lawsuit； which has now turned to your injury and to ours。 But
listen to me。〃
She told him succinctly the immense ramifications of the affair； and
explained the serious nature of its consequences。 Her own meditations
during the night had told her something of the probable antecedents of
Troubert's life； she was able； without misleading Birotteau； to show
him the net so ably woven round him by revenge； and to make him see
the power and great capacity of his enemy； whose hatred to Chapeloud；
under whom he had been forced to crouch for a dozen years； now found
vent in seizing Chapeloud's property and in persecuting Chapeloud in
the person of his friend。 The harmless Birotteau clasped his hands as
if to pray； and wept with distress at the sight of human horrors that
his own pure soul was incapable of suspecting。 As frightened as though
he had suddenly found himself at the edge of a precipice； he listened；
with fixed； moist eyes in which there was no expression； to the
revelations of his friend； who ended by saying： 〃I know the wrong I do
in abandoning your cause； but； my dear abbe； family duties must be
considered before those of friendship。 Yield； as I do； to this storm；
and I will prove to you my gratitude。 I am not talking of your worldly
interests； for those I take charge of。 You shall be made free of all
such anxieties for the rest of your life。 By means of Monsieur de
Bourbonne； who will know how to save appearances； I shall arrange
matters