Iam，afterall，myfather\'sandmother\'sonlychild。Youhavemoretohopeforfrommethanfromanyoneelseintheworld——\"
\"Certainly，mademoiselle，andyoumaycountonusforlifeordeath，\"
exclaimedMariette，rejoicedattheunexpectedturnofaffairs。
\"Inthefirstplace，silenceforsilence，\"saidRosalie。\"IwillnotmarryMonsieurdeSoulas；butonethingIwillhave，andmusthave；myhelpandfavorareyoursononeconditiononly。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"
\"ImustseetheletterswhichMonsieurSavaronsendstothepostbyJerome。\"
\"Butwhatfor？\"saidMarietteinalarm。
\"Oh!merelytoreadthem，andyouyourselfshallpostthemafterwards。
Itwillcausealittledelay；thatisall。\"
Atthismomenttheywentintochurch，andeachofthem，insteadofreadingtheorderofMass，fellintoherowntrainofthought。
\"Dear，dear，howmanysinsarethereinallthat？\"thoughtMariette。
Rosalie，whosesoul，brain，andheartwerecompletelyupsetbyreadingthestory，bythistimeregardeditashistory，writtenforherrival。
Bydintofthinkingofnothingelse，likeachild，sheendedbybelievingthatthe/EasternReview/wasnodoubtforwardedtoAlbert\'slady-love。
\"Oh!\"saidshetoherself，herheadburiedinherhandsintheattitudeofapersonlostinprayer；\"oh!howcanIgetmyfathertolookthroughthelistofpeopletowhomthe/Review/issent？\"
Afterbreakfastshetookaturninthegardenwithherfather，coaxingandcajolinghim，andbroughthimtothekiosk。
\"Doyousuppose，mydearlittlepapa，thatour/Review/iseverreadabroad？\"
\"Itisbutjuststarted——\"
\"Well，Iwillwagerthatitis。\"
\"Itishardlypossible。\"
\"Justgoandfindout，andnotethenamesofanysubscribersoutofFrance。\"
TwohourslaterMonsieurdeWattevillesaidtohisdaughter:
\"Iwasright；thereisnotoneforeignsubscriberasyet。TheyhopetogetsomeatNeufchatel，atBerne，andatGeneva。Onecopy，isinfact，senttoItaly，butitisnotpaidfor——toaMilaneseladyathercountryhouseatBelgirate，onLagoMaggiore。
\"Whatishername？\"
\"TheDuchessed\'Argaiolo。\"
\"Doyouknowher，papa？\"
\"Ihaveheardabouther。ShewasbybirthaPrincessSoderini，aFlorentine，averygreatlady，andquiteasrichasherhusband，whohasoneofthelargestfortunesinLombardy。TheirvillaontheLagoMaggioreisoneofthesightsofItaly。\"
Twodaysafter，MarietteplacedthefollowingletterinMademoiselledeWatteville\'shand:——
AlbertSavarontoLeopoldHannequin。
\"Yes，\'tisso，mydearfriend；IamatBesancon，whileyouthoughtIwastraveling。Iwouldnottellyouanythingtillsuccessshouldbegin，andnowitisdawning。Yes，mydearLeopold，aftersomanyabortiveundertakings，overwhichIhaveshedthebestofmyblood，havewastedsomanyefforts，spentsomuchcourage，Ihavemadeupmymindtodoasyouhavedone——tostartonabeatenpath，onthehighroad，asthelongestbutthesafest。Icanseeyoujumpwithsurpriseinyourlawyer\'schair!
\"Butdonotsupposethatanythingischangedinmypersonallife，ofwhichyoualoneintheworldknowthesecret，andthatunderthereservations/she/insistson。Ididnottellyou，myfriend；
butIwashorriblywearyofParis。Theoutcomeofthefirstenterprise，onwhichIhadfoundedallmyhopes，andwhichcametoabadendinconsequenceoftheutterrascalityofmytwopartners，whocombinedtocheatandfleeceme——me，thougheverythingwasdonebymyenergy——mademegiveupthepursuitofafortuneafterthelossofthreeyearsofmylife。Oneoftheseyearswasspentinthelawcourts，andperhapsIshouldhavecomeworseoutofthescrapeifIhadnotbeenmadetostudylawwhenI
wastwenty。
\"Imadeupmymindtogointopoliticssolely，totheendthatI
maysomedayfindmynameonalistforpromotiontotheSenateunderthetitleofComteAlbertSavarondeSavarus，andsoreviveinFranceagoodnamenowextinctinBelgium——thoughindeedIamneitherlegitimatenorlegitimized。\"
\"Ah!Iknewit!Heisofnoblebirth!\"exclaimedRosalie，droppingtheletter。
\"YouknowhowconscientiouslyIstudied，howfaithfulandusefulI
wasasanobscurejournalist，andhowexcellentasecretarytothestatesmanwho，onhispart，wastruetomein1829。FlungtothedepthsoncemorebytherevolutionofJulyjustwhenmynamewasbecomingknown，attheverymomentwhen，asMasterofAppeals，I
wasabouttofindmyplaceasanecessarywheelinthepoliticalmachine，Icommittedtheblunderofremainingfaithfultothefallen，andfightingforthem，withoutthem。Oh!whywasIbutthree-and-thirty，andwhydidInotapplytoyoutomakemeeligible？Iconcealedfromyouallmydevotednessandmydangers。
Whatwouldyouhave？Iwasfulloffaith。Weshouldnothaveagreed。
\"Tenmonthsago，whenyousawmesogayandcontented，writingmypoliticalarticles，Iwasindespair；Iforesawmyfate，attheageofthirty-seven，withtwothousandfrancsformywholefortune，withoutthesmallestfame，justhavingfailedinanobleundertaking，thefounding，namely，ofadailypaperansweringonlytoaneedofthefutureinsteadofappealingtothepassionsofthemoment。Ididnotknowwhichwaytoturn，andIfeltmyownvalue!Iwanderedabout，gloomyandhurt，throughthelonelyplacesofParis——Pariswhichhadslippedthroughmyfingers——
thinkingofmycrushedambitions，butnevergivingthemup。Oh，whatfranticlettersIwroteatthattimeto/her/，mysecondconscience，myotherself!SometimesIwouldsaytomyself，\'WhydidIsketchsovastaprogrammeoflife？Whydemandeverything？
Whynotwaitforhappinesswhiledevotingmyselftosomemechanicalemployment。\'
\"IthenlookedaboutmeforsomemodestappointmentbywhichI
mightlive。Iwasabouttogettheeditorshipofapaperunderamanagerwhodidnotknowmuchaboutit，amanofwealthandambition，whenItookfright。\'Would/she/everacceptasherhusbandamanwhohadstoopedsolow？\'Iwondered。
\"Thisreflectionmademetwo-and-twentyagain。But，oh，mydearLeopold，howthesouliswornbytheseperplexities!Whatmustnotthecagedeaglessuffer，andimprisonedlions!——TheysufferwhatNapoleonsuffered，notatSaintHelena，butontheQuayoftheTuileries，onthe10thofAugust，whenhesawLouisXVI。defendinghimselfsobadlywhilehecouldhavequelledtheinsurrection；asheactuallydid，onthesamespot，alittlelater，inVendemiaire。
Well，mylifehasbeenatormentofthatkind，extendingoverfouryears。HowmanyaspeechtotheChamberhaveInotdeliveredinthedesertedalleysoftheBoisdeBoulogne!Thesewastedharangueshaveatanyratesharpenedmytongueandaccustomedmymindtoformulateitsideasinwords。AndwhileIwasundergoingthissecrettorture，youweregettingmarried，youhadpaidforyourbusiness，youweremadelaw-clerktotheMaireofyourdistrict，aftergainingacrossforawoundatSaint-Merri。
\"Now，listen。WhenIwasasmallboyandtorturedcock-chafers，thepoorinsectshadoneformofstrugglewhichusedalmosttoputmeinafever。ItwaswhenIsawthemmakingrepeatedeffortstoflybutwithoutgettingaway，thoughtheycouldspreadtheirwings。Weusedtosay，\'Theyaremarkingtime。\'Nowwasthissympathy？Wasitavisionofmyownfuture？——Oh!tospreadmywingsandyetbeunabletofly!ThathasbeenmypredicamentsincethatfineundertakingbywhichIwasdisgusted，butwhichhasnowmadefourfamiliesrich。
\"Atlast，sevenmonthsago，IdeterminedtomakemyselfanameattheParisBar，seeinghowmanyvacancieshadbeenleftbythepromotionofseverallawyerstoeminentpositions。ButwhenI
rememberedtherivalryIhadseenamongmenofthepress，andhowdifficultitistoachieveanythingofanykindinParis，thearenawheresomanychampionsmeet，Icametoadeterminationpainfultomyself，butcertaininitsresults，andperhapsquickerthananyother。InthecourseofourconversationsyouhadgivenmeapictureofthesocietyofBesancon，oftheimpossibilityforastrangertogetonthere，toproducethesmallesteffect，togetintosociety，ortosucceedinanywaywhatever。ItwastherethatIdeterminedtosetupmyflag，thinking，andrightly，thatI
shouldmeetwithnoopposition，butfindmyselfalonetocanvassfortheelection。ThepeopleoftheComtewillnotmeettheoutsider？Theoutsiderwillmeetthem!Theyrefusetoadmithimtotheirdrawing-rooms，hewillnevergothere!Henevershowshimselfanywhere，noteveninthestreets!Butthereisoneclassthatelectsthedeputies——thecommercialclass。Iamgoingespeciallytostudycommercialquestions，withwhichIamalreadyfamiliar；Iwillgaintheirlawsuits，Iwilleffectcompromises，I
willbethegreatestpleaderinBesancon。ByandbyIwillstarta/Review/，inwhichIwilldefendtheinterestsofthecountry，willcreatethem，orpreservethem，orresuscitatethem。WhenI
shallhavewonasufficientnumberofvotes，mynamewillcomeoutoftheurn。Foralongtimetheunknownbarristerwillbetreatedwithcontempt，butsomecircumstancewillarisetobringhimtothefront——someunpaiddefence，oracasewhichnootherpleaderwillundertake。
\"Well，mydearLeopold，Ipackedupmybooksinelevencases，I
boughtsuchlaw-booksasmightproveuseful，andIsenteverythingoff，furnitureandall，bycarriertoBesancon。Icollectedmydiplomas，andIwenttobidyougood-bye。ThemailcoachdroppedmeatBesancon，where，inthreedays\'time，Ichosealittlesetofroomslookingoutoversomegardens。IsumptuouslyarrangedthemysteriousprivateroomwhereIspendmynightsanddays，andwheretheportraitofmydivinityreigns——ofhertowhommylifeisdedicate，whofillsitwholly，whoisthemainspringofmyefforts，thesecretofmycourage，thecauseofmytalents。Then，assoonasthefurnitureandbookshadcome，Iengagedanintelligentman-servant，andthereIsatforfivemonthslikeahibernatingmarmot。
\"Mynamehad，however，beenenteredonthelistoflawyersinthetown。AtlastIwascalledonedaytodefendanunhappywretchattheAssizes，nodoubtinordertohearmespeakforonce!OneofthemostinfluentialmerchantsofBesanconwasonthejury；hehadadifficulttasktofulfil；Ididmyutmostfortheman，andmysuccesswasabsoluteandcomplete。Myclientwasinnocent；Iverydramaticallysecuredthearrestoftherealcriminals，whohadcomeforwardaswitnesses。Inshort，theCourtandthepublicwereunitedintheiradmiration。Imanagedtosavetheexaminingmagistrate\'spridebypointingouttheimpossibilityofdetectingaplotsoskilfullyplanned。
\"ThenIhadtofightacaseformymerchant，andwonhissuit。TheCathedralChapternextchosemetodefendatremendousactionagainstthetown，whichhadbeengoingonforfouryears；Iwonthat。Thus，afterthreetrials，IhadbecomethemostfamousadvocateofFranche-Comte。
\"ButIburymylifeinthedeepestmystery，andsohidemyaims。I
haveadoptedhabitswhichpreventmyacceptinganyinvitations。I
amonlytobeconsultedbetweensixandeightinthemorning；Igotobedaftermydinner，andworkatnight。TheVicar-General，amanofparts，andveryinfluential，whoplacedtheChapter\'scaseinmyhandsaftertheyhadlostitinthelowerCourt，ofcourseprofessedtheirgratitude。\'Monsieur，\'saidI，\'Iwillwinyoursuit，butIwantnofee；Iwantmore\'startofalarmontheAbbe\'spart。\'YoumustknowthatIamagreatloserbyputtingmyselfforwardinantagonismtothetown。Icamehereonlytoleavetheplaceasdeputy。Imeantoengageonlyincommercialcases，becausecommercialmenreturnthemembers；theywilldistrustmeifIdefend\"thepriests\"——fortothemyouaresimplypriests。IfIundertakeyourdefence，itisbecauseIwas，in1828，privatesecretarytosuchaMinister\'againastartofsurpriseonthepartofmyAbbe，\'andMasterofAppeals，underthenameofAlbertdeSavarus\'anotherstart。\'Ihaveremainedfaithfultomonarchicalopinions；but，asyouhavenotthemajorityofvotesinBesancon，Imustgainvotesamongthecitizens。SothefeeIaskofyouisthevotesyoumaybeablesecretlytosecureformeattheopportunemoment。Letuseachkeepourowncounsel，andIwilldefend，fornothing，everycasetowhichapriestofthisdiocesemaybeaparty。Notawordaboutmypreviouslife，andwewillbetruetoeachother。\'
\"Whenhecametothankmeafterwards，hegavemeanoteforfivehundredfrancs，andsaidinmyear，\'Thevotesareabargainallthesame。\'——Ihaveinthecourseoffiveinterviewsmadeafriend，Ithink，ofthisVicar-General。
\"NowIamoverwhelmedwithbusiness，andIundertakenocasesbutthosebroughttomebymerchants，sayingthatcommercialquestionsaremyspecialty。Thislineofconductattachesbusinessmentome，andallowsmetomakefriendswithinfluentialpersons。Soallgoeswell。WithinafewmonthsIshallhavefoundahousetopurchaseinBesancon，soastosecureaqualification。Icountonyourlendingmethenecessarycapitalforthisinvestment。IfI
shoulddie，ifIshouldfail，thelosswouldbetoosmalltobeanyconsiderationbetweenyouandme。Youwillgettheinterestoutoftherental，andIshalltakegoodcaretolookoutforsomethingcheap，sothatyoumaylosenothingbythismortgage，whichisindispensable。
\"Oh!mydearLeopold，nogamblerwiththelastremainsofhisfortuneinhispocket，bentonstakingitattheCercledesEtrangersforthelasttimeonenight，whenhemustcomeawayrichorruined，everfeltsuchaperpetualringinginhisears，suchanervousmoistureonhispalms，suchafeveredtumultinhisbrain，suchinwardqualmsinhisbodyasIgothrougheverydaynowthatIamplayingmylastcardinthegameofambition。Alas!mydearandonlyfriend，fornearlytenyearsnowIhavebeenstruggling。
Thisbattlewithmenandthings，inwhichIhaveunceasinglypouredoutmystrengthandenergy，andsoconstantlywornthespringsofdesire，has，sotospeak，underminedmyvitality。Withalltheappearanceofastrongmanofgoodhealth，Ifeelmyselfawreck。Everydaycarrieswithitashredofmyinmostlife。AteveryfresheffortIfeelthatIshouldneverbeabletobeginagain。Ihavenopower，novigorleftbutforhappiness；andifitshouldnevercometocrownmyheadwithroses，the/me/thatisreallymewouldceasetoexist，Ishouldbearuinedthing。I
shouldwishfornothingmoreintheworld。Ishouldwanttoceasefromliving。Youknowthatpowerandfame，thevastmoralempirethatIcrave，isbutsecondary；itistomeonlyameanstohappiness，thepedestalformyidol。
\"Toreachthegoalanddie，liketherunnerofantiquity!Toseefortuneanddeathstandonthethresholdhandinhand!Towinthebelovedwomanjustwhenloveisextinct!Tolosethefacultyofenjoymentafterearningtherighttobehappy!——Ofhowmanymenhasthisbeenthefate!
\"ButtheresurelyisamomentwhenTantalusrebels，crosseshisarms，anddefieshell，throwinguphispartoftheeternaldupe。
ThatiswhatIshallcometoifanythingshouldthwartmyplan；
if，afterstoopingtothedustofprovinciallife，prowlinglikeastarvingtigerroundthesetradesmen，theseelectors，tosecuretheirvotes；if，afterwranglinginthesesqualidcases，andgivingthemmytime——thetimeImighthavespentonLagoMaggiore，seeingthewatersshesees，baskinginhergaze，hearinghervoice——if，afterall，IfailedtoscalethetribuneandconquertheglorythatshouldsurroundthenamethatistosucceedtothatofArgaiolo!Nay，morethanthis，Leopold；therearedayswhenIfeelaheadylanguor；deepdisgustsurgesupfromthedepthsofmysoul，especiallywhen，abandonedtolongday-dreams，Ihavelostmyselfinanticipationofthejoysofblissfullove!Mayitnotbethatourdesirehasonlyacertainmodicumofpower，andthatitperishes，perhaps，ofatoolavisheffusionofitsessence？For，afterall，atthispresent，mylifeisfair，illuminatedbyfaith，work，andlove。
\"Farewell，myfriend；Isendlovetoyourchildren，andbegyoutoremembermetoyourexcellentwife——Yours，\"ALBERT。\"
Rosaliereadthislettertwicethrough，anditsgeneralpurportwasstampedonherheart。ShesuddenlysawthewholeofAlbert\'spreviousexistence，forherquickintelligencethrewlightonallthedetails，andenabledhertotakeitallin。Byaddingthisinformationtothelittlenovelpublishedinthe/Review/，shenowfullyunderstoodAlbert。Ofcourse，sheexaggeratedthegreatness，remarkableasitwas，ofthisloftysoulandpotentwill，andherloveforAlbertthenceforthbecameapassion，itsviolenceenhancedbyallthestrengthofheryouth，thewearinessofhersolitude，andtheunspentenergyofhercharacter。Loveisinayounggirltheeffectofanaturallaw；butwhenhercravingforaffectioniscenteredinanexceptionalman，itismingledwiththeenthusiasmwhichoverflowsinayouthfulheart。ThusMademoiselledeWattevillehadinafewdaysreachedamorbidandverydangerousstageofenamoredinfatuation。TheBaronesswasmuchpleasedwithherdaughter，who，beingunderthespellofherabsorbingthoughts，neverresistedherwill，seemedtobedevotedtofeminineoccupations，andrealizedhermother\'sidealofadociledaughter。
ThelawyerwasnowengagedinCourttwoorthreetimesaweek。Thoughhewasoverwhelmedwithbusiness，hefoundtimetoattendthetrials，callonthelitigiousmerchants，andconductthe/Review/；keepinguphispersonalmystery，fromtheconvictionthatthemorecovertandhiddenwashisinfluence，themorerealitwouldbe。Butheneglectednomeansofsuccess，readingupthelistofelectorsofBesancon，andfindingouttheirinterests，theircharacters，theirvariousfriendshipsandantipathies。DideveraCardinalhopingtobemadePopegivehimselfmoretrouble？
OneeveningMariette，oncomingtodressRosalieforaneveningparty，handedtoher，notwithoutmanygroansoverthistreachery，aletterofwhichtheaddressmadeMademoiselledeWattevilleshiverandreddenandturnpaleagainasshereadtheaddress:
ToMadamelaDuchessed\'ArgaioloneePrincesseSoderini
AtBelgirate，LagoMaggiore，Italy。
Inhereyesthisdirectionblazedasthewords/Mene/，/Tekel/，/Upharsin/，didintheeyesofBelshazzar。Afterconcealingtheletter，RosaliewentdownstairstoaccompanyhermothertoMadamedeChavoncourt\'s；andaslongastheendlesseveninglasted，shewastormentedbyremorseandscruples。ShehadalreadyfeltshameathavingviolatedthesecrecyofAlbert\'slettertoLeopold；shehadseveraltimesaskedherselfwhether，ifheknewofhercrime，infamousinasmuchasitnecessarilygoesunpunished，thehigh-mindedAlbertcouldesteemher。Herconscienceansweredanuncompromising\"No。\"
Shehadexpiatedhersinbyself-imposedpenances；shefasted，shemortifiedherselfbyremainingonherknees，herarmsoutstretchedforhours，andrepeatingprayersallthetime。ShehadcompelledMariettetosimilarsetsofrepentance；herpassionwasmingledwithgenuineasceticism，andwasallthemoredangerous。
\"ShallIreadthatletter，shallInot？\"sheaskedherself，whilelisteningtotheChavoncourtgirls。Onewassixteen，theotherseventeenandahalf。Rosalielookeduponhertwofriendsasmerechildrenbecausetheywerenotsecretlyinlove——\"IfIreadit，\"shefinallydecided，afterhesitatingforanhourbetweenYesandNo，\"itshall，atanyrate，bethelast。SinceIhavegonesofarastoseewhathewrotetohisfriend，whyshouldInotknowwhathesaysto/her/？Ifitisahorriblecrime，isitnotaproofoflove？Oh，Albert!amInotyourwife？\"
WhenRosaliewasinbedsheopenedtheletter，datedfromdaytoday，soastogivetheDuchessafaithfulpictureofAlbert\'slifeandfeelings。
\"25th。
\"MydearSoul，alliswell。TomyotherconquestsIhavejustaddedaninvaluableone:Ihavedoneaservicetooneofthemostinfluentialmenwhoworktheelections。Likethecritics，whomakeothermen\'sreputationsbutcannevermaketheirown，hemakesdeputiesthoughhenevercanbecomeone。Theworthymanwantedtoshowhisgratitudewithoutlooseninghispurse-stringsbysayingtome，\'WouldyoucaretositintheChamber？Icangetyoureturnedasdeputy。\'
\"\'IfIevermakeupmymindtoenteronapoliticalcareer，\'
repliedIhypocritically，\'itwouldbetodevotemyselftotheComte，whichIlove，andwhereIamappreciated。\'
\"\'Well，\'hesaid，\'wewillpersuadeyou，andthroughyouweshallhaveweightintheChamber，foryouwilldistinguishyourselfthere。\'
\"Andso，mybelovedangel，saywhatyouwill，myperseverancewillberewarded。ErelongIshall，fromthehighplaceoftheFrenchTribune，comebeforemycountry，beforeEurope。MynamewillbeflungtoyoubythehundredvoicesoftheFrenchpress。
\"Yes，asyoutellme，IwasoldwhenIcametoBesancon，andBesanconhasagedmemore；but，likeSixtusV。，Ishallbeyoungagainthedayaftermyelection。Ishallenteronmytruelife，myownsphere。Shallwenotthenstandinthesameline？CountSavarondeSavarus，AmbassadorIknownotwhere，maysurelymarryaPrincessSoderini，thewidowoftheDucd\'Argaiolo!Triumphrestorestheyouthofmenwhohavebeenpreservedbyincessantstruggles。Oh，myLife!withwhatgladnessdidIflyfrommylibrarytomyprivateroom，totellyourportraitofthisprogressbeforewritingtoyou!Yes，thevotesIcancommand，thoseoftheVicar-General，ofthepersonsIcanoblige，andofthisclient，makemyelectionalreadysure。
\"26th。
\"Wehaveenteredonthetwelfthyearsincethatblesteveningwhen，byalook，thebeautifulDuchesssealedthepromisesmadebytheexileFrancesca。You，dear，arethirty-two，Iamthirty-five；
thedearDukeisseventy-seven——thatistosay，tenyearsmorethanyoursandmineputtogether，andhestillkeepswell!Mypatienceisalmostasgreatasmylove，andindeedIneedafewyearsyettorisetothelevelofyourname。Asyousee，Iamingoodspiritsto-day，Icanlaugh；thatistheeffectofhope。