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hostilities。 The virtues of the Abbe Francois had conquered prejudice；
except that of the aged Roman Catholic； who exclaimed with Cornelle；
〃Alas！ what virtues do you make me hate！〃
The abbe died when orthodoxy thus expired in the diocese。
In 1819； the property of the Abbe de Sponde increased Madame du
Bousquier's income from real estate to twenty…five thousand francs
without counting Prebaudet or the house in the Val…Noble。 About this
time du Bousquier returned to his wife the capital of her savings
which she had yielded to him； and he made her use it in purchasing
lands contiguous to Prebaudet； which made that domain one of the most
considerable in the department； for the estates of the Abbe de Sponde
also adjoined it。 Du Bousquier thus passed for one of the richest men
of the department。 This able man； the constant candidate of the
liberals； missing by seven or eight votes only in all the electoral
battles fought under the Restoration； and who ostensibly repudiated
the liberals by trying to be elected as a ministerial royalist
（without ever being able to conquer the aversion of the
administration）；this rancorous republican； mad with ambition；
resolved to rival the royalism and aristocracy of Alencon at the
moment when they once more had the upper hand。 He strengthened himself
with the Church by the deceitful appearance of a well…feigned piety：
he accompanied his wife to mass； he gave money for the convents of the
town； he assisted the congregation of the Sacre…Coeur； he took sides
with the clergy on all occasions when the clergy came into collision
with the town； the department； or the State。 Secretly supported by the
liberals； protected by the Church； calling himself a constitutional
royalist； he kept beside the aristocracy of the department in the one
hope of ruining it；and he did ruin it。 Ever on the watch for the
faults and blunders of the nobility and the government； he laid plans
for his vengeance against the 〃chateau…people；〃 and especially against
the d'Esgrignons； in whose bosom he was one day to thrust a poisoned
dagger。
Among other benefits to the town he gave money liberally to revive the
manufacture of point d'Alencon； he renewed the trade in linens； and
the town had a factory。 Inscribing himself thus upon the interests and
heart of the masses； by doing what the royalists did not do； du
Bousquier did not really risk a farthing。 Backed by his fortune； he
could afford to wait results which enterprising persons who involve
themselves are forced to abandon to luckier successors。
Du Bousquier now posed as a banker。 This miniature Lafitte was a
partner in all new enterprises； taking good security。 He served
himself while apparently serving the interests of the community。 He
was the prime mover of insurance companies； the protector of new
enterprises for public conveyance； he suggested petitions for asking
the administration for the necessary roads and bridges。 Thus warned；
the government considered this action an encroachment of its own
authority。 A struggle was begun injudiciously； for the good of the
community compelled the authorities to yield in the end。 Du Bousquier
embittered the provincial nobility against the court nobility and the
peerage； and finally he brought about the shocking adhesion of a
strong party of constitutional royalists to the warfare sustained by
the 〃Journal des Debats；〃 and M。 de Chateaubriand against the throne；
an ungrateful opposition based on ignoble interests； which was one
cause of the triumph of the bourgeoisie and journalism in 1830。
Thus du Bousquier； in common with the class he represented； had the
satisfaction of beholding the funeral of royalty。 The old republican；
smothered with masses； who for fifteen years had played that comedy to
satisfy his vendetta； himself threw down with his own hand the white
flag of the mayoralty to the applause of the multitude。 No man in
France cast upon the new throne raised in August； 1830； a glance of
more intoxicated； joyous vengeance。 The accession of the Younger
Branch was the triumph of the Revolution。 To him the victory of the
tricolor meant the resurrection of Montagne； which this time should
surely bring the nobility down to the dust by means more certain than
that of the guillotine； because less violent。 The peerage without
heredity； the National Guard； which puts on the same camp…bed the
corner grocer and the marquis； the abolition of the entails demanded
by a bourgeois lawyer； the Catholic Church deprived of its supremacy；
and all the other legislative inventions of August； 1830；were to du
Bousquier the wisest possible application of the principles of 1793。
Since 1830 this man has been a receiver…general。 He relied for his
advancement on his relations with the Duc d'Orleans； father of Louis
Philippe； and with Monsieur de Folmon； formerly steward to the
Duchess…dowager of Orleans。 He receives about eighty thousand francs a
year。 In the eyes of the people about him Monsieur du Bousquier is a
man of means；a respectable man； steady in his principles； upright；
and obliging。 Alencon owes to him its connection with the industrial
movement by which Brittany may possibly some day be joined to what is
popularly called modern civilization。 Alencon； which up to 1816 could
boast of only two private carriages； saw； without amazement； in the
course of ten years； coupes； landaus； tilburies； and cabriolets
rolling through her streets。 The burghers and the land…owners； alarmed
at first lest the price of everything should increase； recognized
later that this increase in the style of living had a contrary effect
upon their revenues。 The prophetic remark of du Ronceret； 〃Du
Bousquier is a very strong man；〃 was adopted by the whole country…
side。
But； unhappily for the wife； that saying has a double meaning。 The
husband does not in any way resemble the public politician。 This great
citizen； so liberal to the world about him； so kindly inspired with
love for his native place； is a despot in his own house； and utterly
devoid of conjugal affection。 This man； so profoundly astute；
hypocritical； and sly； this Cromwell of the Val…Noble；behaves in his
home as he behaves to the aristocracy； whom he caresses in hopes to
throttle them。 Like his friend Bernadotte； he wears a velvet glove
upon his iron hand。 His wife has given him no children。 Suzanne's
remark and the chevalier's insinuations were therefore justified。 But
the liberal bourgeoisie； the constitutional…royalist…bourgeoisie； the
country…squires； the magistracy； and the 〃church party〃 laid the blame
on Madame du Bousquier。 〃She was too old；〃 they said； 〃Monsieur du
Bousquier had married her too late。 Besides； it was very lucky for the
poor woman； it was dangerous at her age to bear children！〃 When Madame
du Bousquier confided； weeping； her periodic despair to Mesdames du
Coudrai and du Ronceret； those ladies would reply；
〃But you are crazy； my dear； you don't know what you