albert savarus-第20章

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to　Monsieur　de　Watteville。　〃She　is　nineteen；　and　she　is　fearfully
altered　in　these　last　months。〃

〃I　do　not　know　what　ails　her；〃　said　the　Baron。

〃When　fathers　do　not　know　what　ails　their　daughters；　mothers　can
guess；〃　said　the　Baroness；　〃we　must　get　her　married。〃

〃I　am　quite　willing；〃　said　the　Baron。　〃I　shall　give　her　les　Rouxey　now
that　the　Court　has　settled　our　quarrel　with　the　authorities　of　Riceys
by　fixing　the　boundary　line　at　three　hundred　feet　up　the　side　of　the
Dent　de　Vilard。　I　am　having　a　trench　made　to　collect　all　the　water　and
carry　it　into　the　lake。　The　village　did　not　appeal；　so　the　decision　is
final。〃

〃It　has　never　occurred　to　you；〃　said　Madame　de　Watteville；　〃that　this
decision　cost　me　thirty　thousand　francs　handed　over　to　Chantonnit。
That　peasant　would　take　nothing　else；　he　sold　us　peace。If　you　give
away　les　Rouxey；　you　will　have　nothing　left；〃　said　the　Baroness。

〃I　do　not　need　much；〃　said　the　Baron；　〃I　am　breaking　up。〃

〃You　eat　like　an　ogre！〃

〃Just　so。　But　however　much　I　may　eat；　I　feel　my　legs　get　weaker　and
weaker〃

〃It　is　from　working　the　lathe；〃　said　his　wife。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　he。

〃We　will　marry　Rosalie　to　Monsieur　de　Soulas；　if　you　give　her　les
Rouxey；　keep　the　life　interest。　I　will　give　them　fifteen　thousand
francs　a　year　in　the　funds。　Our　children　can　live　here；　I　do　not　see
that　they　are　much　to　be　pitied。〃

〃No。　I　shall　give　them　les　Rouxey　out　and　out。　Rosalie　is　fond　of　les
Rouxey。〃

〃You　are　a　queer　man　with　your　daughter！　It　does　not　occur　to　you　to
ask　me　if　I　am　fond　of　les　Rouxey。〃

Rosalie；　at　once　sent　for；　was　informed　that　she　was　to　marry　Monsieur
de　Soulas　one　day　early　in　the　month　of　May。

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；　mother；　and　to　you　too；　father；　for
having　thought　of　settling　me；　but　I　do　not　mean　to　marry；　I　am　very
happy　with　you。〃

〃Mere　speeches！〃　said　the　Baroness。　〃You　are　not　in　love　with　Monsieur
de　Soulas；　that　is　all。〃

〃If　you　insist　on　the　plain　truth；　I　will　never　marry　Monsieur　de
Soulas〃

〃Oh！　the　/never/　of　a　girl　of　nineteen！〃　retorted　her　mother；　with　a
bitter　smile。

〃The　/never/　of　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville；〃　said　Rosalie　with　firm
decision。　〃My　father；　I　imagine；　has　no　intention　of　making　me　marry
against　my　wishes？〃

〃No；　indeed　no！〃　said　the　poor　Baron；　looking　affectionately　at　his
daughter。

〃Very　well！〃　said　the　Baroness；　sternly　controlling　the　rage　of　a
bigot　startled　at　finding　herself　unexpectedly　defied；　〃you　yourself；
Monsieur　de　Watteville；　may　take　the　responsibility　of　settling　your
daughter。　Consider　well；　mademoiselle；　for　if　you　do　not　marry　to　my
mind　you　will　get　nothing　out　of　me！〃

The　quarrel　thus　begun　between　Madame　de　Watteville　and　her　husband；
who　took　his　daughter's　part；　went　so　far　that　Rosalie　and　her　father
were　obliged　to　spend　the　summer　at　les　Rouxey；　life　at　the　Hotel　de
Rupt　was　unendurable。　It　thus　became　known　in　Besancon　that
Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　had　positively　refused　the　Comte　de　Soulas。

After　their　marriage　Mariette　and　Jerome　came　to　les　Rouxey　to　succeed
to　Modinier　in　due　time。　The　Baron　restored　and　repaired　the　house　to
suit　his　daughter's　taste。　When　she　heard　that　these　improvements　had
cost　about　sixty　thousand　francs；　and　that　Rosalie　and　her　father　were
building　a　conservatory；　the　Baroness　understood　that　there　was　a
leaven　of　spite　in　her　daughter。　The　Baron　purchased　various　outlying
plots；　and　a　little　estate　worth　thirty　thousand　francs。　Madame　de
Watteville　was　told　that；　away　from　her；　Rosalie　showed　masterly
qualities；　that　she　was　taking　steps　to　improve　the　value　of　les
Rouxey；　that　she　had　treated　herself　to　a　riding　habit　and　rode　about；
her　father；　whom　she　made　very　happy；　who　no　longer　complained　of　his
health；　and　who　was　growing　fat；　accompanied　her　in　her　expeditions。
As　the　Baroness'　name…day　grew　nearher　name　was　Louisethe　Vicar…
General　came　one　day　to　les　Rouxey；　deputed；　no　doubt；　by　Madame　de
Watteville　and　Monsieur　de　Soulas；　to　negotiate　a　peace　between　mother
and　daughter。

〃That　little　Rosalie　has　a　head　on　her　shoulders；〃　said　the　folk　of
Besancon。

After　handsomely　paying　up　the　ninety　thousand　francs　spent　on　les
Rouxey；　the　Baroness　allowed　her　husband　a　thousand　francs　a　month　to
live　on；　she　would　not　put　herself　in　the　wrong。　The　father　and
daughter　were　perfectly　willing　to　return　to　Besancon　for　the　15th　of
August；　and　to　remain　there　till　the　end　of　the　month。

When；　after　dinner；　the　Vicar…General　took　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville
apart；　to　open　the　question　of　the　marriage；　by　explaining　to　her　that
it　was　vain　to　think　any　more　of　Albert；　of　whom　they　had　had　no　news
for　a　year　past；　he　was　stopped　at　once　by　a　sign　from　Rosalie。　The
strange　girl　took　Monsieur　de　Grancey　by　the　arm；　and　led　him　to　a
seat　under　a　clump　of　rhododendrons；　whence　there　was　a　view　of　the
lake。

〃Listen；　dear　Abbe；〃　said　she。　〃You　whom　I　love　as　much　as　my　father；
for　you　had　an　affection　for　my　Albert；　I　must　at　last　confess　that　I
committed　crimes　to　become　his　wife；　and　he　must　be　my　husband。Here；
read　this。〃

She　held　out　to　him　a　number　of　the　/Gazette/　which　she　had　in　her
apron　pocket；　pointing　out　the　following　paragraph　under　the　date　of
Florence；　May　25th：

　　〃The　wedding　of　Monsieur　le　Duc　de　Rhetore；　eldest　son　of　the　Duc
　　de　Chaulieu；　the　former　Ambassador；　to　Madame　la　Duchesse
　　d'Argaiolo；　/nee/　Princess　Soderini；　was　solemnized　with　great
　　splendor。　Numerous　entertainments　given　in　honor　of　the　marriage
　　are　making　Florence　gay。　The　Duchess'　fortune　is　one　of　the　finest
　　in　Italy；　for　the　late　Duke　left　her　everything。

〃The　woman　he　loved　is　married；〃　said　she。　〃I　divided　them。〃

〃You？　How？〃　asked　the　Abbe。

Rosalie　was　about　to　reply；　when　she　was　interrupted　by　a　loud　cry
from　two　of　the　gardeners；　following　on　the　sound　of　a　body　falling
into　the　water；　she　started；　and　ran　off　screaming；　〃Oh！　father！〃The
Baron　had　disappeared。

In　trying　to　reach　a　piece　of　granite　on　which　he　fancied　he　saw　the
impression　of　a　shell；　a　circumstance　which　would　have　contradicted
some　system　of　geology；　Monsieur　de　Watteville　had　gone　down　the
slope；　lost　his　balance；　and　slipped　into　the　lake；　which；　of　course；
was　deepest　close　under　the　roadway。　The　men　had　the　greatest
difficulty　in　enabling　the　Baron　to　catch　hold　of　a　pole　pushed　down
at　the　place　where　the　water　was　bubbling；　but　at　last　they　pulled　him
out；　covered　with　mud；　in　which　he　had　sunk；　he　was　getting　deeper　and
deeper　in；　by　dint　of　struggling。　Monsieur　de　Watteville　had　dined
heavily；　digestion　was　in　progress；　and　was　thus　checked。

When　he　had　been　undressed；　washed；　and　put　to　bed；　he　was　in　such
evident　danger　that　two　servants　at　once　set　out　on　horseback：　one　to
ride　to　Besancon；　and　the　other　to　fetch　the　nearest　doctor　and
surgeon。　When　Madame　de　Watteville　arrived；　eight　hours　later；　with
the　first　medical　aid　from　Besancon；　they　found　Monsieur　de　Watteville
past　all　hope；　in　spite　of　the　intelligent　treatment　of　the　Rouxey
doctor。　The　fright　had　produced　serious　effusion　on　the　brain；　and　the
shock　to　the　digestion　was　helping　to　kill　the　poor　man。

This　death；　which　would　never　have　happened；　said　Madame　de
Watteville；　if　her　husband　had　stayed　at　Besancon；　was　ascribed　by　her
to　her　daughter's　obstinacy。　She　took　an　aversion　for　Rosalie；
abandoning　herself　to　grief　and　regrets　that　were　evidently
exaggerated。　She　spoke　of　the　Baron　as　〃her　dear　lamb！〃

The　last　of　the　Wattevilles　was　buried　on　an　island　in　the　lake　at　les
Rouxey；　where　the　Baroness　had　a　little　Gothic　monument　erected　of
white　marble；　like　that　called　the　tomb　of　Heloise　at　Pere…Lachaise。

A　month　after　this　catastrophe　the　mother　and　daughter　had　settled　in
the　Hotel　de　Rupt；　where　they　lived　in　savage　silence。　Rosalie　was
suffering　from　real　sorrow；　which　had　no　visible　outlet；　she　accused
herself　of　her　father's　death；　and　she　feared　another　disaster；　much
greater　in　her　eyes；　and　very　certainly　her　own　work；　neither　Girardet
the　attorney　nor　the　Abbe　de　Grancey　could　obtain　any　information
concerning　Albert。　This　silence　was　appalling。　In　a　paroxysm　of
repentance　she　felt　that　she　must　confess　to　the　Vicar…General　the
horrible　machinations　by　which　she　had　separated　Francesca　and　Albert。
They　had　been　simple；　but　formidable。　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　had
intercepted　Albert's　letters　to　the　Duchess　as　well　as　that　in　which
Francesca　announced　her　husband's　illness；　warning　her　lover　that　she
could　write　to　him　no　more　during　the　time　while　she　was　devoted；　as
was　her　duty；　to　the　care　of　the　dying　man。　Thus；　while　Albert　was
wholly　occupied　with　election　matters；　the　Duchess　had　written　him
only　two　letters；　one　in　which　she　told　him　that　the　Duc　d'Argaiolo
was　in　danger；　and　one　announcing　her　widowhoodtwo　noble　and
beautiful　letters　which　Rosalie　kept　back。

After　several　nights'　labor　she　succeeded　in　imitating　Albert's
writing　very　perfectly。　She　had　substituted　three　letters　of　her　own
writing　for　three　of　Albert's；　and　the　rough　copies　which　she　showed
to　the　old　priest　made　him　shudderthe　genius　of　evil　was　revealed　in
them　to　such　perfection。　Rosalie；　writing　in　Albert's　name；　had
prepared　the　Duchess　for　a　change　in　the　Frenchman's　feelings；　falsely
representing　him　as　faithless；　and　she　had　answered　the　news　of　the
Duc　d'Argaiolo's　death　by　announcing　the　marriage　ere　long　of　Albert
and　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville。　The　two　letters；　intended　to　cross　on
the　road；　had；　in　fact；　done　so。　The　infernal　cleverness　with　which
the　letters　were　written　so　much　astonished　the　Vicar…General　that　he
read　them　a　second　time。　Francesca；　stabbed　to　the　heart　by　a　girl　who
wanted　to　kill　love　in　her　rival；　had　answered　the　last　in　these　four
words：　〃You　are　free。　Farewell。〃

〃Purely　moral　crimes；　which　give　no　hold　to　human　justice；　are　the
most　atrocious　and　detestable；〃　said　the　Abbe　severely。　〃God　often
punishes　them　on　earth；　herein　lies　the　reason　of　the　terrible
catastrophes　which　to　us　seem　inexplicable。　Of　all　secret　crimes
buried　in　the　mystery　of　private　life；　the　most　disgraceful　is　that　of
breaking　the　seal　of　a　letter；　or　of　reading　it　surreptitiously。　Every
one；　whoever　it　may　be；　and　urged　by　whatever　reason；　who　is　guilty　of
such　an　act　has　stained　his　honor　beyond　retrieving。

〃Do　you　not　feel　all　that　is　touching；　that　is　heavenly　in　the　story
of　the　youthful　page；　falsely　accused；　and　carrying　the　letter
containing　the　order　for　his　execution；　who　sets　out　without　a　thought
of　ill；　and　whom　Providence　protects　and　savesmiraculously；　we　say！
But　do　you　know　wherein　the　miracle　lies？　Virtue　has　a　glory　as　potent
as　that　of　innocent　childhood。

〃I　say　these　things　not　meaning　to　admonish　you；〃　said　the　old　priest；
with　deep　grief。　〃I；　alas！　am　not　your　spiritual　director；　you　are　not
kneeling　at　the　feet　of　God；　I　am　your　friend；　appalled　by　dread　of
what　your　punishment　may　be。　What　has　become　of　that　unhappy　Albert？
Has　he；　perhaps；　killed　himself？　There　was　tremendous　passion　under
his　assumption　of　calm。　I　understand　now　that　old　Prince　Soderini；　the
father　of　the　Duchess　d'Argaiolo；　came　here　to　t