按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
across the river； their old wooden galleries； their mouldering window…
frames； their little gardens where clothes were drying； the cabinet…
maker's shop；in short； the many details of a small community to
which the vicinity of a river； a weeping willow； flowers； rose…bushes；
added a certain grace； making the scene quite worthy of a landscape
painter。
The chevalier studied all faces； for he knew that his firebrand had
been very successfully introduced into the chief houses of the place。
But no one as yet referred openly to the great news of Suzanne and du
Bousquier。 Provincials possess in the highest degree the art of
distilling gossip； the right moment for openly discussing this strange
affair had not arrived； it was first necessary that all present should
put themselves on record。 So the whispers went round from ear to
ear：
〃You have heard？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Du Bousquier？〃
〃And that handsome Suzanne。〃
〃Does Mademoiselle Cormon know of it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Ha！〃
This was the PIANO of the scandal； the RINFORZANDO would break forth
as soon as the first course had been removed。 Suddenly Monsieur de
Valois's eyes lighted on Madame Granson； arrayed in her green hat with
bunches of auriculas； and beaming with evident joy。 Was it merely the
joy of opening the concert？ Though such a piece of news was like a
gold mine to work in the monotonous lives of these personages； the
observant and distrustful chevalier thought he recognized in the
worthy woman a far more extended sentiment； namely； the joy caused by
the triumph of self…interest。 Instantly he turned to examine Athanase；
and detected him in the significant silence of deep meditation。
Presently； a look cast by the young man on Mademoiselle Cormon carried
to the soul of the chevalier a sudden gleam。 That momentary flash of
lightning enabled him to read the past。
〃Ha！ the devil！〃 he said to himself； 〃what a checkmate I'm exposed
to！〃
Monsieur de Valois now approached Mademoiselle Cormon； and offered his
arm。 The old maid's feeling to the chevalier was that of respectful
consideration； and certainly his name； together with the position he
occupied among the aristocratic constellations of the department made
him the most brilliant ornament of her salon。 In her inmost mind
Mademoiselle Cormon had wished for the last dozen years to become
Madame de Valois。 That name was like the branch of a tree； to which
the ideas which SWARMED in her mind about rank； nobility； and the
external qualities of a husband had fastened。 But； though the
Chevalier de Valois was the man chosen by her heart； and mind； and
ambition； that elderly ruin； combed and curled like a little Saint…
John in a procession； alarmed Mademoiselle Cormon。 She saw the
gentleman in him； but she could not see a husband。 The indifference
which the chevalier affected as to marriage； above all； the apparent
purity of his morals in a house which abounded in grisettes； did
singular harm in her mind to Monsieur de Valois against his
expectations。 The worthy man； who showed such judgment in the matter
of his annuity； was at fault here。 Without being herself aware of it；
the thoughts of Mademoiselle Cormon on the too virtuous chevalier
might be translated thus：
〃What a pity that he isn't a trifle dissipated！〃
Observers of the human heart have remarked the leaning of pious women
toward scamps； some have expressed surprise at this taste； considering
it opposed to Christian virtue。 But； in the first place； what nobler
destiny can you offer to a virtuous woman than to purify； like
charcoal； the muddy waters of vice？ How is it some observers fail to
see that these noble creatures； obliged by the sternness of their own
principles never to infringe on conjugal fidelity； must naturally
desire a husband of wider practical experience than their own？ The
scamps of social life are great men in love。 Thus the poor woman
groaned in spirit at finding her chosen vessel parted into two pieces。
God alone could solder together a Chevalier de Valois and a du
Bousquier。
In order to explain the importance of the few words which the
chevalier and Mademoiselle Cormon are about to say to each other； it
is necessary to reveal two serious matters which agitated the town；
and about which opinions were divided； besides； du Bousquier was
mysteriously connected with them。
One concerns the rector of Alencon； who had formerly taken the
constitutional oath； and who was now conquering the repugnance of the
Catholics by a display of the highest virtues。 He was Cheverus on a
small scale； and became in time so fully appreciated that when he died
the whole town mourned him。 Mademoiselle Cormon and the Abbe de Sponde
belonged to that 〃little Church；〃 sublime in its orthodoxy； which was
to the court of Rome what the Ultras were to be to Louis XVIII。 The
abbe； more especially； refused to recognize a Church which had
compromised with the constitutionals。 The rector was therefore not
received in the Cormon household； whose sympathies were all given to
the curate of Saint…Leonard； the aristocratic parish of Alencon。 Du
Bousquier； that fanatic liberal now concealed under the skin of a
royalist； knowing how necessary rallying points are to all discontents
（which are really at the bottom of all oppositions）； had drawn the
sympathies of the middle classes around the rector。 So much for the
first case； the second was this：
Under the secret inspiration of du Bousquier the idea of building a
theatre had dawned on Alencon。 The henchmen of the purveyor did not
know their Mohammed； and they thought they were ardent in carrying out
their own conception。 Athanase Granson was one of the warmest
partisans for the theatre； and of late he had urged at the mayor's
office a cause which all the other young clerks had eagerly adopted。
The chevalier； as we have said； offered his arm to the old maid for a
turn on the terrace。 She accepted it； not without thanking him by a
happy look for this attention； to which the chevalier replied by
motioning toward Athanase with a meaning eye。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he began； 〃you have so much sense and judgment in
social proprieties； and also； you are connected with that young man by
certain ties〃
〃Distant ones；〃 she said； interrupting him。
〃Ought you not；〃 he continued； 〃to use the influence you have over his
mother and over himself by saving him from perdition？ He is not very
religious； as you know； indeed he approves of the rector； but that is
not all； there is something far more serious； isn't he throwing
himself headlong into an opposition without considering what influence
his present conduct may exert upon his future？ He is working for the
construction of a theatre。 In this affair he is simply the dupe of
that disguised republican du Bousquier〃
〃Good gracious！ Monsieur de Valois；〃 she replied； 〃his mother is
always telling me he has so much mind； and yet he can't say two wor