SoLisbethhadtriumphed。Shewasachievingtheobjectofherambition，shewouldseethesuccessofherscheme，andherhatredgratified。Shedelightedintheanticipatedjoyofreigningsupremeoverthefamilywhohadsolonglookeddownuponher。Yes，shewouldpatronizeherpatrons，shewouldbetherescuingangelwhowoulddoleoutalivelihoodtotheruinedfamily；sheaddressedherselfas”MadamelaComtesse”and”MadamelaMarechale，”courtesyinginfrontofaglass。AdelineandHortenseshouldendtheirdaysinstrugglingwithpoverty，whileshe，avisitorattheTuileries，wouldlorditinthefashionableworld。
Aterribledisasteroverthrewtheoldmaidfromthesocialheightswhereshesoproudlyenthronedherself。
Ontheverydaywhenthebannswerefirstpublished，theBaronreceivedasecondmessagefromAfrica。AnotherAlsatianarrived，handedhimaletter，afterassuringhimselfthathespoketoBaronHulot，andaftergivingtheBarontheaddressofhislodgings，bowedhimselfout，leavingthegreatmanstrickenbytheopeninglinesofthisletter：——”DEARNEPHEW，——Youwillreceivethisletter，bymycalculations，onthe7thofAugust。Supposingittakesyouthreedaystosendusthehelpweneed，andthatitisafortnightonthewayhere，thatbringsustothe1stofSeptember。”Ifyoucanactdecisivelywithinthattime，youwillhavesavedthehonorandthelifeofyourssincerely，JohannFischer。”ThisiswhatIamrequiredtodemandbytheclerkyouhavemademyaccomplice；forIamamenable，itwouldseem，tothelaw，attheAssizes，orbeforeacouncilofwar。Ofcourse，youunderstandthatJohannFischerwillneverbebroughttothebarofanytribunal；hewillgoofhisownacttoappearatthatofGod。”Yourclerkseemstomeabadlot，quitecapableofgettingyouintohotwater；butheisascleverasanyrogue。Hesaysthelineforyoutotakeistocalloutlouderthananyone，andtosendoutaninspector，aspecialcommissioner，todiscoverwhoisreallyguilty，rakeupabuses，andmakeafuss，inshort；butifwestirupthestruggle，whowillstandbetweenusandthelaw？”Ifyourcommissionerarrivesherebythe1stofSeptember，andyouhavegivenhimyourorders，sendingbyhimtwohundredthousandfrancstoplaceinourstorehousesthesuppliesweprofesstohavesecuredinremotecountryplaces，weshallbeabsolutelysolventandregardedasblameless。YoucantrustthesoldierwhoisthebearerofthisletterwithadraftinmynameonahouseinAlgiers。Heisatrustworthyfellow，arelationofmine，incapableoftryingtofindoutwhatheisthebearerof。I
havetakenmeasurestoguaranteethefellow’ssafereturn。Ifyoucandonothing，IamreadyandwillingtodieforthemantowhomweoweourAdeline’shappiness！”
TheanguishandrapturesofpassionandthecatastrophewhichhadcheckedhiscareerofprofligacyhadpreventedBaronHulot’severthinkingofpoorJohannFischer，thoughhisfirstletterhadgivenwarningofthedangernowbecomesopressing。TheBaronwentoutofthedining-roominsuchagitationthatheliterallydroppedontoasofainthedrawing-room。Hewasstunned，sunkinthedullnumbnessofaheavyfall。Hestaredatafloweronthecarpet，quiteunconsciousthathestillheldinhishandJohann’sfatalletter。