albert savarus-第1章

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Albert　Savarus

by　Honore　de　Balzac

Translated　by　Ellen　Marriage





DEDICATION

To　Madame　Emile　Girardin。




ALBERT　SAVARUS




One　of　the　few　drawing…rooms　where；　under　the　Restoration；　the
Archbishop　of　Besancon　was　sometimes　to　be　seen；　was　that　of　the
Baronne　de　Watteville；　to　whom　he　was　particularly　attached　on　account
of　her　religious　sentiments。

A　word　as　to　this　lady；　the　most　important　lady　of　Besancon。

Monsieur　de　Watteville；　a　descendant　of　the　famous　Watteville；　the
most　successful　and　illustrious　of　murderers　and　renegadeshis
extraordinary　adventures　are　too　much　a　part　of　history　to　be　related
herethis　nineteenth　century　Monsieur　de　Watteville　was　as　gentle　and
peaceable　as　his　ancestor　of　the　/Grand　Siecle/　had　been　passionate
and　turbulent。　After　living　in　the　/Comte/　（La　Franche　Comte）　like　a
wood…louse　in　the　crack　of　a　wainscot；　he　had　married　the　heiress　of
the　celebrated　house　of　Rupt。　Mademoiselle　de　Rupt　brought　twenty
thousand　francs　a　year　in　the　funds　to　add　to　the　ten　thousand　francs
a　year　in　real　estate　of　the　Baron　de　Watteville。　The　Swiss
gentleman's　coat…of…arms　（the　Wattevilles　are　Swiss）　was　then　borne　as
an　escutcheon　of　pretence　on　the　old　shield　of　the　Rupts。　The
marriage；　arranged　in　1802；　was　solemnized　in　1815　after　the　second
Restoration。　Within　three　years　of　the　birth　of　a　daughter　all　Madame
de　Watteville's　grandparents　were　dead；　and　their　estates　wound　up。
Monsieur　de　Watteville's　house　was　then　sold；　and　they　settled　in　the
Rue　de　la　Prefecture　in　the　fine　old　mansion　of　the　Rupts；　with　an
immense　garden　stretching　to　the　Rue　du　Perron。　Madame　de　Watteville；
devout　as　a　girl；　became　even　more　so　after　her　marriage。　She　is　one
of　the　queens　of　the　saintly　brotherhood　which　gives　the　upper　circles
of　Besancon　a　solemn　air　and　prudish　manners　in　harmony　with　the
character　of　the　town。

Monsieur　le　Baron　de　Watteville；　a　dry；　lean　man　devoid　of
intelligence；　looked　worn　out　without　any　one　knowing　whereby；　for　he
enjoyed　the　profoundest　ignorance；　but　as　his　wife　was　a　red…haired
woman；　and　of　a　stern　nature　that　became　proverbial　（we　still　say　〃as
sharp　as　Madame　de　Watteville〃）；　some　wits　of　the　legal　profession
declared　that　he　had　been　worn　against　that　rock/Rupt/　is　obviously
derived　from　/rupes/。　Scientific　students　of　social　phenomena　will　not
fail　to　have　observed　that　Rosalie　was　the　only　offspring　of　the　union
between　the　Wattevilles　and　the　Rupts。

Monsieur　de　Watteville　spent　his　existence　in　a　handsome　workshop　with
a　lathe；　he　was　a　turner！　As　subsidiary　to　this　pursuit；　he　took　up　a
fancy　for　making　collections。　Philosophical　doctors；　devoted　to　the
study　of　madness；　regard　this　tendency　towards　collecting　as　a　first
degree　of　mental　aberration　when　it　is　set　on　small　things。　The　Baron
de　Watteville　treasured　shells　and　geological　fragments　of　the
neighborhood　of　Besancon。　Some　contradictory　folk；　especially　women；
would　say　of　Monsieur　de　Watteville；　〃He　has　a　noble　soul！　He
perceived　from　the　first　days　of　his　married　life　that　he　would　never
be　his　wife's　master；　so　he　threw　himself　into　a　mechanical　occupation
and　good　living。〃

The　house　of　the　Rupts　was　not　devoid　of　a　certain　magnificence　worthy
of　Louis　XIV。；　and　bore　traces　of　the　nobility　of　the　two　families　who
had　mingled　in　1815。　The　chandeliers　of　glass　cut　in　the　shape　of
leaves；　the　brocades；　the　damask；　the　carpets；　the　gilt　furniture；
were　all　in　harmony　with　the　old　liveries　and　the　old　servants。　Though
served　in　blackened　family　plate；　round　a　looking…glass　tray　furnished
with　Dresden　china；　the　food　was　exquisite。　The　wines　selected　by
Monsieur　de　Watteville；　who；　to　occupy　his　time　and　vary　his
employments；　was　his　own　butler；　enjoyed　a　sort　of　fame　throughout　the
department。　Madame　de　Watteville's　fortune　was　a　fine　one；　while　her
husband's；　which　consisted　only　of　the　estate　of　Rouxey；　worth　about
ten　thousand　francs　a　year；　was　not　increased　by　inheritance。　It　is
needless　to　add　that　in　consequence　of　Madame　de　Watteville's　close
intimacy　with　the　Archbishop；　the　three　or　four　clever　or　remarkable
Abbes　of　the　diocese　who　were　not　averse　to　good　feeding　were　very
much　at　home　at　her　house。

At　a　ceremonial　dinner　given　in　honor　of　I　know　not　whose　wedding；　at
the　beginning　of　September　1834；　when　the　women　were　standing　in　a
circle　round　the　drawing…room　fire；　and　the　men　in　groups　by　the
windows；　every　one　exclaimed　with　pleasure　at　the　entrance　of　Monsieur
l'Abbe　de　Grancey；　who　was　announced。

〃Well；　and　the　lawsuit？〃　they　all　cried。

〃Won！〃　replied　the　Vicar…General。　〃The　verdict　of　the　Court；　from
which　we　had　no　hope；　you　know　why〃

This　was　an　allusion　to　the　members　of　the　First　Court　of　Appeal　of
1830；　the　Legitimists　had　almost　all　withdrawn。

〃The　verdict　is　in　our　favor　on　every　point；　and　reverses　the　decision
of　the　Lower　Court。〃

〃Everybody　thought　you　were　done　for。〃

〃And　we　should　have　been；　but　for　me。　I　told　our　advocate　to　be　off　to
Paris；　and　at　the　crucial　moment　I　was　able　to　secure　a　new　pleader；
to　whom　we　owe　our　victory；　a　wonderful　man〃

〃At　Besancon？〃　said　Monsieur　de　Watteville；　guilelessly。

〃At　Besancon；〃　replied　the　Abbe　de　Grancey。

〃Oh　yes；　Savaron；〃　said　a　handsome　young　man　sitting　near　the
Baroness；　and　named　de　Soulas。

〃He　spent　five　or　six　nights　over　it；　he　devoured　documents　and
briefs；　he　had　seven　or　eight　interviews　of　several　hours　with　me；〃
continued　Monsieur　de　Grancey；　who　had　just　reappeared　at　the　Hotel　de
Rupt　for　the　first　time　in　three　weeks。　〃In　short；　Monsieur　Savaron
has　just　completely　beaten　the　celebrated　lawyer　whom　our　adversaries
had　sent　for　from　Paris。　This　young　man　is　wonderful；　the　bigwigs　say。
Thus　the　chapter　is　twice　victorious；　it　has　triumphed　in　law　and　also
in　politics；　since　it　has　vanquished　Liberalism　in　the　person　of　the
Counsel　of　our　Municipality。'Our　adversaries；'　so　our　advocate　said；
'must　not　expect　to　find　readiness　on　all　sides　to　ruin　the
Archbishoprics。'The　President　was　obliged　to　enforce　silence。　All
the　townsfolk　of　Besancon　applauded。　Thus　the　possession　of　the
buildings　of　the　old　convent　remains　with　the　Chapter　of　the　Cathedral
of　Besancon。　Monsieur　Savaron；　however；　invited　his　Parisian　opponent
to　dine　with　him　as　they　came　out　of　court。　He　accepted；　saying；
'Honor　to　every　conqueror；'　and　complimented　him　on　his　success
without　bitterness。〃

〃And　where　did　you　unearth　this　lawyer？〃　said　Madame　de　Watteville。　〃I
never　heard　his　name　before。〃

〃Why；　you　can　see　his　windows　from　hence；〃　replied　the　Vicar…General。
〃Monsieur　Savaron　lives　in　the　Rue　du　Perron；　the　garden　of　his　house
joins　on　to　yours。〃

〃But　he　is　not　a　native　of　the　Comte；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Watteville。

〃So　little　is　he　a　native　of　any　place；　that　no　one　knows　where　he
comes　from；〃　said　Madame　de　Chavoncourt。

〃But　who　is　he？〃　asked　Madame　de　Watteville；　taking　the　Abbe's　arm　to
go　into　the　dining…room。　〃If　he　is　a　stranger；　by　what　chance　has　he
settled　at　Besancon？　It　is　a　strange　fancy　for　a　barrister。〃

〃Very　strange！〃　echoed　Amedee　de　Soulas；　whose　biography　is　here
necessary　to　the　understanding　of　this　tale。



In　all　ages　France　and　England　have　carried　on　an　exchange　of　trifles；
which　is　all　the　more　constant　because　it　evades　the　tyranny　of　the
Custom…house。　The　fashion　that　is　called　English　in　Paris　is　called
French　in　London；　and　this　is　reciprocal。　The　hostility　of　the　two
nations　is　suspended　on　two　pointsthe　uses　of　words　and　the　fashions
of　dress。　/God　Save　the　King/；　the　national　air　of　England；　is　a　tune
written　by　Lulli　for　the　Chorus　of　Esther　or　of　Athalie。　Hoops；
introduced　at　Paris　by　an　Englishwoman；　were　invented　in　London；　it　is
known　why；　by　a　Frenchwoman；　the　notorious　Duchess　of　Portsmouth。　They
were　at　first　so　jeered　at　that　the　first　Englishwoman　who　appeared　in
them　at　the　Tuileries　narrowly　escaped　being　crushed　by　the　crowd；　but
they　were　adopted。　This　fashion　tyrannized　over　the　ladies　of　Europe
for　half　a　century。　At　the　peace　of　1815；　for　a　year；　the　long　waists
of　the　English　were　a　standing　jest；　all　Paris　went　to　see　Pothier　and
Brunet　in　/Les　Anglaises　pour　rire/；　but　in　1816　and　1817　the　belt　of
the　Frenchwoman；　which　in　1814　cut　her　across　the　bosom；　gradually
descended　till　it　reached　the　hips。

Within　ten　years　England　has　made　two　little　gifts　to　our　language。
The　/Incroyable/；　the　/Merveilleux/；　the　/Elegant/；　the　three
successes　of　the　/petit…maitre/　of　discreditable　etymology；　have　made
way　for　the　〃dandy〃　and　the　〃lion。〃　The　/lion/　is　not　the　parent　of
the　/lionne/。　The　/lionne/　is　due　to　the　famous　song　by　Alfred　de
Musset：

　　Avez　vou　vu　dans　Barcelone
　　。　　　。　　　。　　　。　　　。　　　。
　　C'est　ma　maitresse　et　ma　lionne。

There　has　been　a　fusionor；　if　you　prefer　it；　a　confusionof　the　two
words　and　the　leading　ideas。　When　an　absurdity　can　amuse　Paris；　which
devours　as　many　masterpieces　as　absurdities；　the　provinces　can　hardly
be　deprived　of　them。　So；　as　soon　as　the　/lion/　paraded　Paris　with　his
mane；　his　beard　and　moustaches；　his　waistcoats　and　his　eyeglass；
maintained　in　its　place；　without　the　help　of　his　hands；　by　the
contraction　of　his　cheek；　and　eye…socket；　the　chief　towns　of　some
departments　had　their　sub…lions；　who　protested　by　the　smartness　of
their　trouser…straps　against　the　untidiness　of　their　fellow…townsmen。

Thus；　in　1834；　Besancon　could　boast　of　a　/lion/；　in　the　person　of
Monsieur　Amedee…Sylvain　de　Soulas；　spelt　Souleyas　at　the　time　of　the
Spanish　occupation。　Amedee　de　Soulas　is　perhaps　the　only　man　in
Besancon　descended　from　a　Spanish　family。　Spain　sent　men　to　manage　her
business　in　the　Comte；　but　very　few　Spaniards　settled　there。　The
Soulas　remained　in　consequence　of　their　connection　with　Cardinal
Granvelle。　Young　Monsieur　de　Soulas　was　always　talking　of　leaving
Besancon；　a　dull　town；　church…going；　and　not　literary；　a　military
centre　and　garrison　town；　of　which　the　manners　and　customs　and
physiognomy　are　worth　describing。　This　opinion　allowed　of　his　lodging；
like　a　man　uncertain　of　the　future；　in　three　very　scantily　furnished
rooms　at　the　end　of　the　Rue　Neuve；　just　where　it　opens　into　the　Rue　de
la　Prefecture。

Young　Monsieur　de　Soulas　could　not　possibly　live　without　a　tiger。　This
tiger　was　the　son　of　one　of　his　farmers；　a　small　servant　aged
fourteen；　thick…set；　and　named　Babylas。　The　lion　dressed　his　tiger
very　smartlya　short　tunic…coat　of　iron…gray　cloth；　belted　with
patent　leather；　bright　blue　plush　breeches；　a　red　waistcoat；　polished
leather　top…boots；　a　shiny　hat　with　black　lacing；　and　brass　buttons
with　the　arms　of　Soulas。　Amedee　gave　this　boy　white　cotton　gloves　and
his　washing；　and　thirty…six　francs　a　month　to　keep　himselfa　sum　that
seemed　enormous　to　the　grisettes　of　Besancon：　four　hundred　and　twenty
francs　a　year　to　a　child　of　fifteen；　without　counting　extras！　The
extras　consisted　in　the　price　for　which　he　could　sell　his　turned
clothes；　a　present　when　Soulas　exchanged　one　of　his　horses；　and　the
perquisite　of　the　manure。　The　two　horses；　treated　with　sordid　economy；
cost；　one　with　another；　eight　hundred　francs　a　year。　His　bills　for
articles　received　fro