albert savarus-第16章

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ought　to　have　threatened　Riceys。〃

〃That　is　just　what　I　told　the　master　last　evening；〃　said　Modinier。
〃But　in　confirmation　of　that　view　I　proposed　that　he　should　come　to
see　whether；　on　this　side　of　the　Dent　or　on　the　other；　there　may　not
be；　high　or　low；　some　traces　of　an　enclosure。〃

For　a　century　the　Dent　de　Vilard　had　been　used　by　both　parties　without
coming　to　extremities；　it　stood　as　a　sort　of　party　wall　between　the
communes　of　Riceys　and　les　Rouxey；　yielding　little　profit。　Indeed；　the
object　in　dispute；　being　covered　with　snow　for　six　months　in　the　year；
was　of　a　nature　to　cool　their　ardor。　Thus　it　required　all　the　hot
blast　by　which　the　revolution　of　1830　inflamed　the　advocates　of　the
people；　to　stir　up　this　matter；　by　which　Monsieur　Chantonnit；　the
Maire　of　Riceys；　hoped　to　give　a　dramatic　turn　to　his　career　on　the
peaceful　frontier　of　Switzerland；　and　to　immortalize　his　term　of
office。　Chantonnit；　as　his　name　shows；　was　a　native　of　Neuchatel。

〃My　dear　father；〃　said　Rosalie；　as　they　got　into　the　boat　again；　〃I
agree　with　Modinier。　If　you　wish　to　secure　the　joint　possession　of　the
Dent　de　Vilard；　you　must　act　with　decision；　and　get　a　legal　opinion
which　will　protect　you　against　this　enterprising　Chantonnit。　Why
should　you　be　afraid？　Get　the　famous　lawyer　Savaronengage　him　at
once；　lest　Chantonnit　should　place　the　interests　of　the　village　in　his
hands。　The　man　who　won　the　case　for　the　Chapter　against　the　town　can
certainly　win　that　of　Watteville　/versus/　Riceys！　Besides；〃　she　added；
〃les　Rouxey　will　some　day　be　minenot　for　a　long　time　yet；　I　trust。
Well；　then　do　not　leave　me　with　a　lawsuit　on　my　hands。　I　like　this
place；　I　shall　often　live　here；　and　add　to　it　as　much　as　possible。　On
those　banks；〃　and　she　pointed　to　the　feet　of　the　two　hills；　〃I　shall
cut　flowerbeds　and　make　the　loveliest　English　gardens。　Let　us　go　to
Besancon　and　bring　back　with　us　the　Abbe　de　Grancey；　Monsieur　Savaron；
and　my　mother；　if　she　cares　to　come。　You　can　then　make　up　your　mind；
but　in　your　place　I　should　have　done　so　already。　Your　name　is
Watteville；　and　you　are　afraid　of　a　fight！　If　you　should　lose　your
casewell；　I　will　never　reproach　you　by　a　word！〃

〃Oh；　if　that　is　the　way　you　take　it；〃　said　the　Baron；　〃I　am　quite
ready；　I　will　see　the　lawyer。〃

〃Besides　a　lawsuit　is　really　great　fun。　It　brings　some　interest　into
life；　with　coming　and　going　and　raging　over　it。　You　will　have　a　great
deal　to　do　before　you　can　get　hold　of　the　judges。We　did　not　see　the
Abbe　de　Grancey　for　three　weeks；　he　was　so　busy！〃

〃But　the　very　existence　of　the　Chapter　was　involved；〃　said　Monsieur　de
Watteville；　〃and　then　the　Archbishop's　pride；　his　conscience；
everything　that　makes　up　the　life　of　the　priesthood；　was　at　stake。
That　Savaron　does　not　know　what　he　did　for　the　Chapter！　He　saved　it！〃

〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　his　daughter　in　his　ear；　〃if　you　secure　Monsieur
de　Savaron；　you　will　gain　your　suit；　won't　you？　Well；　then；　let　me
advise　you。　You　cannot　get　at　Monsieur　Savaron　excepting　through
Monsieur　de　Grancey。　Take　my　word　for　it；　and　let　us　together　talk　to
the　dear　Abbe　without　my　mother's　presence　at　the　interview；　for　I
know　a　way　of　persuading　him　to　bring　the　lawyer　to　us。〃

〃It　will　be　very　difficult　to　avoid　mentioning　it　to　your　mother！〃

〃The　Abbe　de　Grancey　will　settle　that　afterwards。　But　just　make　up
your　mind　to　promise　your　vote　to　Monsieur　Savaron　at　the　next
election；　and　you　will　see！〃

〃Go　to　the　election！　take　the　oath？〃　cried　the　Baron　de　Watteville。

〃What　then！〃　said　she。

〃And　what　will　your　mother　say？〃

〃She　may　even　desire　you　to　do　it；〃　replied　Rosalie；　knowing　as　she
did　from　Albert's　letter　to　Leopold　how　deeply　the　Vicar…General　had
pledged　himself。

Four　days　after；　the　Abbe　de　Grancey　called　very　early　one　morning　on
Albert　de　Savarus；　having　announced　his　visit　the　day　before。　The　old
priest　had　come　to　win　over　the　great　lawyer　to　the　house　of　the
Wattevilles；　a　proceeding　which　shows　how　much　tact　and　subtlety
Rosalie　must　have　employed　in　an　underhand　way。

〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Monsieur　le　Vicaire…General？〃　asked　Savarus。

The　Abbe；　who　told　his　story　with　admirable　frankness；　was　coldly
heard　by　Albert。

〃Monsieur　l'Abbe；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　out　of　the　question　that　I　should
defend　the　interests　of　the　Wattevilles；　and　you　shall　understand　why。
My　part　in　this　town　is　to　remain　perfectly　neutral。　I　will　display　no
colors；　I　must　remain　a　mystery　till　the　eve　of　my　election。　Now；　to
plead　for　the　Wattevilles　would　mean　nothing　in　Paris；　but　here！
Here；　where　everything　is　discussed；　I　should　be　supposed　by　every　one
to　be　an　ally　of　your　Faubourg　Saint…Germain。〃

〃What！　do　you　suppose　that　you　can　remain　unknown　on　the　day　of　the
election；　when　the　candidates　must　oppose　each　other？　It　must　then
become　known　that　your　name　is　Savaron　de　Savarus；　that　you　have　held
the　appointment　of　Master　of　Appeals；　that　you　are　a　man　of　the
Restoration！〃

〃On　the　day　of　the　election；〃　said　Savarus；　〃I　will　be　all　I　am
expected　to　be；　and　I　intend　to　speak　at　the　preliminary　meetings。〃

〃If　you　have　the　support　of　Monsieur　de　Watteville　and　his　party；　you
will　get　a　hundred　votes　in　a　mass；　and　far　more　to　be　trusted　than
those　on　which　you　rely。　It　is　always　possible　to　produce　division　of
interests；　convictions　are　inseparable。〃

〃The　deuce　is　in　it！〃　said　Savarus。　〃I　am　attached　to　you；　and　I　could
do　a　great　deal　for　you；　Father！　Perhaps　we　may　compound　with　the
Devil。　Whatever　Monsieur　de　Watteville's　business　may　be；　by　engaging
Girardet；　and　prompting　him；　it　will　be　possible　to　drag　the
proceedings　out　till　the　elections　are　over。　I　will　not　undertake　to
plead　till　the　day　after　I　am　returned。〃

〃Do　this　one　thing；〃　said　the　Abbe。　〃Come　to　the　Hotel　de　Rupt：　there
is　a　young　person　of　nineteen　there　who；　one　of　these　days；　will　have
a　hundred　thousand　francs　a　year；　and　you　can　seem　to　be　paying　your
court　to　her〃

〃Ah！　the　young　lady　I　sometimes　see　in　the　kiosk？〃

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle　Rosalie；〃　replied　the　Abbe　de　Grancey。　〃You　are
ambitious。　If　she　takes　a　fancy　to　you；　you　may　be　everything　an
ambitious　man　can　wishwho　knows？　A　Minister　perhaps。　A　man　can
always　be　a　Minister　who　adds　a　hundred　thousand　francs　a　year　to　your
amazing　talents。〃

〃Monsieur　l'Abbe；　if　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　had　three　times　her
fortune；　and　adored　me　into　the　bargain；　it　would　be　impossible　that　I
should　marry　her〃

〃You　are　married？〃　exclaimed　the　Abbe。

〃Not　in　church　nor　before　the　Maire；　but　morally　speaking；〃　said
Savarus。

〃That　is　even　worse　when　a　man　cares　about　it　as　you　seem　to　care；〃
replied　the　Abbe。　〃Everything　that　is　not　done；　can　be　undone。　Do　not
stake　your　fortune　and　your　prospects　on　a　woman's　liking；　any　more
than　a　wise　man　counts　on　a　dead　man's　shoes　before　starting　on　his
way。〃

〃Let　us　say　no　more　about　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville；〃　said　Albert
gravely；　〃and　agree　as　to　the　facts。　At　your　desirefor　I　have　a
regard　and　respect　for　youI　will　appear　for　Monsieur　de　Watteville；
but　after　the　elections。　Until　then　Girardet　must　conduct　the　case
under　my　instructions。　That　is　the　most　I　can　do。〃

〃But　there　are　questions　involved　which　can　only　be　settled　after
inspection　of　the　localities；〃　said　the　Vicar…General。

〃Girardet　can　go；〃　said　Savarus。　〃I　cannot　allow　myself；　in　the　face
of　a　town　I　know　so　well；　to　take　any　step　which　might　compromise　the
supreme　interests　that　lie　beyond　my　election。〃

The　Abbe　left　Savarus　after　giving　him　a　keen　look；　in　which　he　seemed
to　be　laughing　at　the　young　athlete's　uncompromising　politics；　while
admiring　his　firmness。

〃Ah！　I　would　have　dragged　my　father　into　a　lawsuitI　would　have　done
anything　to　get　him　here！〃　cried　Rosalie　to　herself；　standing　in　the
kiosk　and　looking　at　the　lawyer　in　his　room；　the　day　after　Albert's
interview　with　the　Abbe；　who　had　reported　the　result　to　her　father。　〃I
would　have　committed　any　mortal　sin；　and　you　will　not　enter　the
Wattevilles'　drawing…room；　I　may　not　hear　your　fine　voice！　You　make
conditions　when　your　help　is　required　by　the　Wattevilles　and　the
Rupts！Well；　God　knows；　I　meant　to　be　content　with　these　small　joys；
with　seeing　you；　hearing　you　speak；　going　with　you　to　les　Rouxey；　that
your　presence　might　to　me　make　the　place　sacred。　That　was　all　I　asked。
But　nownow　I　mean　to　be　your　wife。Yes；　yes；　look　at　/her/
portrait；　at　/her/　drawing…room；　/her/　bedroom；　at　the　four　sides　of
/her/　villa；　the　points　of　view　from　/her/　gardens。　You　expect　her
statue？　I　will　make　her　marble　herself　towards　you！After　all；　the
woman　does　not　love。　Art；　science；　books；　singing；　music；　have
absorbed　half　her　senses　and　her　intelligence。　She　is　old；　too；　she　is
past　thirty；　my　Albert　will　not　be　happy！〃

〃What　is　the　matter　that　you　stay　here；　Rosalie？〃　asked　her　mother；
interrupting　her　reflections。　〃Monsieur　de　Soulas　is　in　the　drawing…
room；　and　he　observed　your　attitude；　which　certainly　betrays　more
thoughtfulness　than　is　due　at　your　age。〃

〃Then；　is　Monsieur　de　Soulas　a　foe　to　thought？〃　asked　Rosalie。

〃Then　you　were　thinking？〃　said　Madame　de　Watteville。

〃Why；　yes；　mamma。〃

〃Why；　no！　you　were　not　thinking。　You　were　staring　at　that　lawyer's
window　with　an　attention　that　is　neither　becoming；　nor　decent；　and
which　Monsieur　de　Soulas；　of　all　men；　ought　never　to　have　observed。〃

〃Why？〃　said　Rosalie。

〃It　is　time；〃　said　the　Baroness；　〃that　you　should　know　what　our
intentions　are。　Amedee　likes　you；　and　you　will　not　be　unhappy　as
Comtesse　de　Soulas。〃

Rosalie；　as　white　as　a　lily；　made　no　reply；　so　completely　was　she
stupefied　by　contending　feelings。　And　yet　in　the　presence　of　the　man
she　had　this　instant　begun　to　hate　vehemently；　she　forced　the　kind　of
smile　which　a　ballet…dancer　puts　on　for　the　public。　Nay；　she　could
even　laugh；　she　had　the　strength　to　conceal　her　rage；　which　presently
subsided；　for　she　was　determined　to　make　use　of　this　fat　simpleton　to
further　her　designs。

〃Monsieur　Amedee；〃　said　she；　at　the　moment　when　her　mother　was　walking
ahead　of　them　in　the　garden；　affecting　to　leave　the　young　people
together；　〃were　you　not　aware　that　Monsieur　Albert　Savaron　de　Savarus
is　a　Legitimist？〃

〃A　Legitimist？〃

〃Until　1830　he　was　Master　of　Appeals　to　the　Council　of　State；　attached
to　the　supreme　Ministerial　Council；　and　in　favor　with　the　Dauphin　and
Dauphiness。　It　would　be　very　good　of　you　to　say　nothing　against　him；
but　it　would　be　better　still　if　you　would　attend　the　election　this
year；　carry　the　day；　and　hinder　that　poor　Monsieur　de　Chavoncourt　from
representing　the　town　of　Besancon。〃

〃What　sudden　interest　have　you　in　this　Savaron？〃

〃Monsieur　Albert　Savaron　de　Savarus；　the　natural　son　of　the　Comte　de
Savaruspray　keep　the　secret　of　my　indiscretionif　he　is　returned
deputy；　will　be　our　advocate　in　the　suit　about　les　Rouxey。　Les　Rouxey；
my　father　tells　me；　will　be　my　property；　I　intend　to　live　there；　it　is
a　lovely　place！　I　should　be　broken…hearted　at　seeing　that　fine　piece
of　the　great　de　Watteville's　work　destroyed。〃

〃The　devil！〃　thought　Amedee；　as　he　left　the　house。　〃The　heiress　is　not
such　a　fool　as　her　mother　thinks　her。〃

Monsieur　de　Chavoncourt　is　a　Royalist；　o