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often a mere brute； but the marriage is made。 Watch the Chevalier de
Valois： study him； copy his manners； see with what ease he presents
himself； he never puts on a stiff air； as you do。 Talk a little more；
one would really think you didn't know anything；you； who know Hebrew
by heart。〃
Athanase listened to his mother with a surprised but submissive air；
then he rose； took his cap； and went off to the mayor's office； saying
to himself； 〃Can my mother suspect my secret？〃
He passed through the rue du Val…Noble； where Mademoiselle Cormon
lived；a little pleasure which he gave himself every morning；
thinking； as usual； a variety of fanciful things：
〃How little she knows that a young man is passing before her house who
loves her well； who would be faithful to her； who would never cause
her any grief； who would leave her the entire management of her
fortune without interference。 Good God！ what fatality！ here； side by
side； in the same town； are two persons in our mutual condition； and
yet nothing can bring them together。 Suppose I were to speak to her
this evening？〃
During this time Suzanne had returned to her mother's house thinking
of Athanase； and； like many other women who have longed to help an
adored man beyond the limit of human powers； she felt herself capable
of making her body a stepping…stone on which he could rise to attain
his throne。
It is now necessary to enter the house of this old maid toward whom so
many interests are converging； where the actors in this scene； with
the exception of Suzanne； were all to meet this very evening。 As for
Suzanne； that handsome individual bold enough to burn her ships like
Alexander at her start in life； and to begin the battle by a
falsehood； she disappears from the stage； having introduced upon it a
violent element of interest。 Her utmost wishes were gratified。 She
quitted her native town a few days later； well supplied with money and
good clothes； among which was a fine dress of green reps and a
charming green bonnet lined with pink； the gift of Monsieur de Valois；
a present which she preferred to all the rest； even the money。 If
the chevalier had gone to Paris in the days of her future brilliancy；
she would certainly have left every one for him。 Like the chaste
Susannah of the Bible； whom the Elders hardly saw； she established
herself joyously and full of hope in Paris； while all Alencon was
deploring her misfortunes； for which the ladies of two Societies
（Charity and Maternity） manifested the liveliest sympathy。 Though
Suzanne is a fair specimen of those handsome Norman women whom a
learned physician reckons as comprising one third of her fallen class
whom our monstrous Paris absorbs； it must be stated that she remained
in the upper and more decent regions of gallantry。 At an epoch when；
as Monsieur de Valois said； Woman no longer existed； she was simply
〃Madame du Val…Noble〃； in other days she would have rivalled the
Rhodopes； the Imperias； the Ninons of the past。 One of the most
distinguished writers of the Restoration has taken her under his
protection； perhaps he may marry her。 He is a journalist； and
consequently above public opinion； inasmuch as he manufactures it
afresh every year or two。
CHAPTER III
MADEMOISELLE CORMON
In nearly all the second…class prefectures of France there exists one
salon which is the meeting…ground of those considerable and well…
considered persons of the community who are； nevertheless； NOT the
cream of the best society。 The master and mistress of such an
establishment are counted among the leading persons of the town； they
are received wherever it may please them to visit； no fete is given；
no formal or diplomatic dinner takes place； to which they are not
invited。 But the chateau people； heads of families possessing great
estates； in short； the highest personages in the department； do not go
to their houses； social intercourse between them is carried on by
cards from one to the other； and a dinner or soiree accepted and
returned。
This salon； in which the lesser nobility； the clergy； and the
magistracy meet together； exerts a great influence。 The judgment and
mind of the region reside in that solid； unostentatious society； where
each man knows the resources of his neighbor； where complete
indifference is shown to luxury and dress；pleasures which are
thought childish in comparison to that of obtaining ten or twelve
acres of pasture land；a purchase coveted for years； which has
probably given rise to endless diplomatic combinations。 Immovable in
its prejudices； good or evil； this social circle follows a beaten
track； looking neither before it nor behind it。 It accepts nothing
from Paris without long examination and trial； it rejects cashmeres as
it does investments on the Grand…Livre； it scoffs at fashions and
novelties； reads nothing； prefers ignorance； whether of science；
literature； or industrial inventions。 It insists on the removal of a
prefect when that official does not suit it； and if the administration
resists； it isolates him； after the manner of bees who wall up a snail
in wax when it gets into their hive。
In this society gossip is often turned into solemn verdicts。 Young
women are seldom seen there； when they come it is to seek approbation
of their conduct；a consecration of their self…importance。 This
supremacy granted to one house is apt to wound the sensibilities of
other natives of the region； who console themselves by adding up the
cost it involves； and by which they profit。 If it so happens that
there is no fortune large enough to keep open house in this way； the
big…wigs of the place choose a place of meeting； as they did at
Alencon； in the house of some inoffensive person； whose settled life
and character and position offers no umbrage to the vanities or the
interests of any one。
For some years the upper classes of Alencon had met in this way at the
house of an old maid； whose fortune was； unknown to herself； the aim
and object of Madame Granson； her second cousin； and of the two old
bachelors whose secret hopes in that direction we have just unveiled。
This lady lived with her maternal uncle； a former grand…vicar of the
bishopric of Seez； once her guardian； and whose heir she was。 The
family of which Rose…Marie…Victoire Cormon was the present
representative had been in earlier days among the most considerable in
the province。 Though belonging to the middle classes； she consorted
with the nobility； among whom she was more or less allied； her family
having furnished； in past years； stewards to the Duc d'Alencon； many
magistrates to the long robe； and various bishops to the clergy。
Monsieur de Sponde； the maternal grandfather of Mademoiselle Cormon；
was elected by the Nobility to the States…General； and Monsieur
Cormon； her father； by the Tiers…Etat； though neither accepted the
mission。 For the last hundred years the daughters of the family had
married nobles belonging