albert savarus-第21章

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his　assumption　of　calm。　I　understand　now　that　old　Prince　Soderini；　the
father　of　the　Duchess　d'Argaiolo；　came　here　to　take　back　his
daughter's　letters　and　portraits。　This　was　the　thunderbolt　that　fell
on　Albert's　head；　and　he　went　off；　no　doubt；　to　try　to　justify
himself。　But　how　is　it　that　in　fourteen　months　he　has　given　us　no　news
of　himself？〃

〃Oh！　if　I　marry　him；　he　will　be　so　happy！〃

〃Happy？He　does　not　love　you。　Besides；　you　have　no　great　fortune　to
give　him。　Your　mother　detests　you；　you　made　her　a　fierce　reply　which
rankles；　and　which　will　be　your　ruin。　When　she　told　you　yesterday　that
obedience　was　the　only　way　to　repair　your　errors；　and　reminded　you　of
the　need　for　marrying；　mentioning　Amedee'If　you　are　so　fond　of　him；
marry　him　yourself；　mother！'Did　you；　or　did　you　not；　fling　these
words　in　her　teeth？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Rosalie。

〃Well；　I　know　her；〃　Monsieur　de　Grancey　went　on。　〃In　a　few　months　she
will　be　Comtesse　de　Soulas！　She　will　be　sure　to　have　children；　she
will　give　Monsieur　de　Soulas　forty　thousand　francs　a　year；　she　will
benefit　him　in　other　ways；　and　reduce　your　share　of　her　fortune　as
much　as　possible。　You　will　be　poor　as　long　as　she　lives；　and　she　is
but　eight…and…thirty！　Your　whole　estate　will　be　the　land　of　les
Rouxey；　and　the　small　share　left　to　you　after　your　father's　legal
debts　are　settled；　if；　indeed；　your　mother　should　consent　to　forego
her　claims　on　les　Rouxey。　From　the　point　of　view　of　material
advantages；　you　have　done　badly　for　yourself；　from　the　point　of　view
of　feeling；　I　imagine　you　have　wrecked　your　life。　Instead　of　going　to
your　mother〃　Rosalie　shook　her　head　fiercely。

〃To　your　mother；〃　the　priest　went　on；　〃and　to　religion；　where　you
would；　at　the　first　impulse　of　your　heart；　have　found　enlightenment；
counsel；　and　guidance；　you　chose　to　act　in　your　own　way；　knowing
nothing　of　life；　and　listening　only　to　passion！〃

These　words　of　wisdom　terrified　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville。

〃And　what　ought　I　to　do　now？〃　she　asked　after　a　pause。

〃To　repair　your　wrong…doing；　you　must　ascertain　its　extent；〃　said　the
Abbe。

〃Well；　I　will　write　to　the　only　man　who　can　know　anything　of　Albert's
fate；　Monsieur　Leopold　Hannequin；　a　notary　in　Paris；　his　friend　since
childhood。〃

〃Write　no　more；　unless　to　do　honor　to　truth；〃　said　the　Vicar…General。
〃Place　the　real　and　the　false　letters　in　my　hands；　confess　everything
in　detail　as　though　I　were　the　keeper　of　your　conscience；　asking　me
how　you　may　expiate　your　sins；　and　doing　as　I　bid　you。　I　shall　see
for；　above　all　things；　restore　this　unfortunate　man　to　his　innocence
in　the　eyes　of　the　woman　he　had　made　his　divinity　on　earth。　Though　he
has　lost　his　happiness；　Albert　must　still　hope　for　justification。〃

Rosalie　promised　to　obey　the　Abbe；　hoping　that　the　steps　he　might　take
would　perhaps　end　in　bringing　Albert　back　to　her。

Not　long　after　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville's　confession　a　clerk　came　to
Besancon　from　Monsieur　Leopold　Hannequin；　armed　with　a　power　of
attorney　from　Albert；　he　called　first　on　Monsieur　Girardet；　begging
his　assistance　in　selling　the　house　belonging　to　Monsieur　Savaron。　The
attorney　undertook　to　do　this　out　of　friendship　for　Albert。　The　clerk
from　Paris　sold　the　furniture；　and　with　the　proceeds　could　repay　some
money　owed　by　Savaron　to　Girardet；　who　on　the　occasion　of　his
inexplicable　departure　had　lent　him　five　thousand　francs　while
undertaking　to　collect　his　assets。　When　Girardet　asked　what　had　become
of　the　handsome　and　noble　pleader；　to　whom　he　had　been　so　much
attached；　the　clerk　replied　that　no　one　knew　but　his　master；　and　that
the　notary　had　seemed　greatly　distressed　by　the　contents　of　the　last
letter　he　had　received　from　Monsieur　Albert　de　Savarus。

On　hearing　this；　the　Vicar…General　wrote　to　Leopold。　This　was　the
worthy　notary's　reply：

　　〃To　Monsieur　l'Abbe　de　Grancey；
　　　　Vicar…General　of　the　Diocese　of　Besancon。


〃PARIS。

　　〃Alas；　monsieur；　it　is　in　nobody's　power　to　restore　Albert　to　the
　　life　of　the　world；　he　has　renounced　it。　He　is　a　novice　in　the
　　monastery　of　the　Grand　Chartreuse　near　Grenoble。　You　know；　better
　　than　I　who　have　but　just　learned　it；　that　on　the　threshold　of　that
　　cloister　everything　dies。　Albert；　foreseeing　that　I　should　go　to
　　him；　placed　the　General　of　the　Order　between　my　utmost　efforts　and
　　himself。　I　know　his　noble　soul　well　enough　to　be　sure　that　he　is
　　the　victim　of　some　odious　plot　unknown　to　us；　but　everything　is　at
　　an　end。　The　Duchesse　d'Argaiolo；　now　Duchesse　de　Rhetore；　seems　to
　　me　to　have　carried　severity　to　an　extreme。　At　Belgirate；　which　she
　　had　left　when　Albert　flew　thither；　she　had　left　instructions
　　leading　him　to　believe　that　she　was　living　in　London。　From　London
　　Albert　went　in　search　of　her　to　Naples；　and　from　Naples　to　Rome；
　　where　she　was　now　engaged　to　the　Duc　de　Rhetore。　When　Albert
　　succeeded　in　seeing　Madame　d'Argaiolo；　at　Florence；　it　was　at　the
　　ceremony　of　her　marriage。

　　〃Our　poor　friend　swooned　in　the　church；　and　even　when　he　was　in
　　danger　of　death　he　could　never　obtain　any　explanation　from　this
　　woman；　who　must　have　had　I　know　not　what　in　her　heart。　For　seven
　　months　Albert　had　traveled　in　pursuit　of　a　cruel　creature　who
　　thought　it　sport　to　escape　him；　he　knew　not　where　or　how　to　catch
　　her。

　　〃I　saw　him　on　his　way　through　Paris；　and　if　you　had　seen　him；　as　I
　　did；　you　would　have　felt　that　not　a　word　might　be　spoken　about　the
　　Duchess；　at　the　risk　of　bringing　on　an　attack　which　might　have
　　wrecked　his　reason。　If　he　had　known　what　his　crime　was；　he　might
　　have　found　means　to　justify　himself；　but　being　falsely　accused　of
　　being　married！what　could　he　do？　Albert　is　dead；　quite　dead　to
　　the　world。　He　longed　for　rest；　let　us　hope　that　the　deep　silence
　　and　prayer　into　which　he　has　thrown　himself　may　give　him　happiness
　　in　another　guise。　You；　monsieur；　who　have　known　him；　must　greatly
　　pity　him；　and　pity　his　friends　also。

〃Yours；　etc。〃


As　soon　as　he　received　this　letter　the　good　Vicar…General　wrote　to　the
General　of　the　Carthusian　order；　and　this　was　the　letter　he　received
from　Albert　Savarus：

　　〃Brother　Albert　to　Monsieur　l'Abbe　de　Grancey；
　　　　Vicar…General　of　the　Diocese　of　Besancon。


〃LA　GRANDE　CHARTREUSE。

　　〃I　recognized　your　tender　soul；　dear　and　well…beloved　Vicar…
　　General；　and　your　still　youthful　heart；　in　all　that　the　reverend
　　Father　General　of　our　Order　has　just　told　me。　You　have　understood
　　the　only　wish　that　lurks　in　the　depths　of　my　heart　so　far　as　the
　　things　of　the　world　are　concernedto　get　justice　done　to　my
　　feelings　by　her　who　has　treated　me　so　badly！　But　before　leaving　me
　　at　liberty　to　avail　myself　of　your　offer；　the　General　wanted　to
　　know　that　my　vocation　was　sincere；　he　was　so　kind　as　to　tell　me
　　his　idea；　on　finding　that　I　was　determined　to　preserve　absolute
　　silence　on　this　point。　If　I　had　yielded　to　the　temptation　to
　　rehabilitate　the　man　of　the　world；　the　friar　would　have　been
　　rejected　by　this　monastery。　Grace　has　certainly　done　her　work；
　　but；　though　short；　the　struggle　was　not　the　less　keen　or　the　less
　　painful。　Is　not　this　enough　to　show　you　that　I　could　never　return
　　to　the　world？

　　〃Hence　my　forgiveness；　which　you　ask　for　the　author　of　so　much
　　woe；　is　entire　and　without　a　thought　of　vindictiveness。　I　will
　　pray　to　God　to　forgive　that　young　lady　as　I　forgive　her；　and　as　I
　　shall　beseech　Him　to　give　Madame　de　Rhetore　a　life　of　happiness。
　　Ah！　whether　it　be　death；　or　the　obstinate　hand　of　a　young　girl
　　madly　bent　on　being　loved；　or　one　of　the　blows　ascribed　to　chance；
　　must　we　not　all　obey　God？　Sorrow　in　some　souls　makes　a　vast　void
　　through　which　the　Divine　Voice　rings。　I　learned　too　late　the
　　bearings　of　this　life　on　that　which　awaits　us；　all　in　me　is　worn
　　out；　I　could　not　serve　in　the　ranks　of　the　Church　Militant；　and　I
　　lay　the　remains　of　an　almost　extinct　life　at　the　foot　of　the
　　altar。

　　〃This　is　the　last　time　I　shall　ever　write。　You　alone；　who　loved
　　me；　and　whom　I　loved　so　well；　could　make　me　break　the　law　of
　　oblivion　I　imposed　on　myself　when　I　entered　these　headquarters　of
　　Saint　Bruno；　but　you　are　always　especially　named　in　the　prayers　of

〃BROTHER　ALBERT。

　　〃November　1836。〃


〃Everything　is　for　the　best　perhaps；〃　thought　the　Abbe　de　Grancey。

When　he　showed　this　letter　to　Rosalie；　who；　with　a　pious　impulse；
kissed　the　lines　which　contained　her　forgiveness；　he　said　to　her：

〃Well；　now　that　he　is　lost　to　you；　will　you　not　be　reconciled　to　your
mother　and　marry　the　Comte　de　Soulas？〃

〃Only　if　Albert　should　order　it；〃　said　she。

〃But　you　see　it　is　impossible　to　consult　him。　The　General　of　the　Order
would　not　allow　it。〃

〃If　I　were　to　go　to　see　him？〃

〃No　Carthusian　sees　any　visitor。　Besides；　no　woman　but　the　Queen　of
France　may　enter　a　Carthusian　monastery；〃　said　the　Abbe。　〃So　you　have
no　longer　any　excuse　for　not　marrying　young　Monsieur　de　Soulas。〃

〃I　do　not　wish　to　destroy　my　mother's　happiness；〃　retorted　Rosalie。

〃Satan！〃　exclaimed　the　Vicar…General。

Towards　the　end　of　that　winter　the　worthy　Abbe　de　Grancey　died。　This
good　friend　no　longer　stood　between　Madame　de　Watteville　and　her
daughter；　to　soften　the　impact　of　those　two　iron　wills。

The　event　he　had　foretold　took　place。　In　the　month　of　August　1837
Madame　de　Watteville　was　married　to　Monsieur　de　Soulas　in　Paris；
whither　she　went　by　Rosalie's　advice；　the　girl　making　a　show　of
kindness　and　sweetness　to　her　mother。　Madame　de　Watteville　believed　in
this　affection　on　the　part　of　her　daughter；　who　simply　desired　to　go
to　Paris　to　give　herself　the　luxury　of　a　bitter　revenge；　she　thought
of　nothing　but　avenging　Savarus　by　torturing　her　rival。

Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　had　been　declared　legally　of　age；　she　was；
in　fact；　not　far　from　one…and…twenty。　Her　mother；　to　settle　with　her
finally；　had　resigned　her　claims　on　les　Rouxey；　and　the　daughter　had
signed　a　release　for　all　the　inheritance　of　the　Baron　de　Watteville。
Rosalie　encouraged　her　mother　to　marry　the　Comte　de　Soulas　and　settle
all　her　own　fortune　on　him。

〃Let　us　each　be　perfectly　free；〃　she　said。

Madame　de　Soulas；　who　had　been　uneasy　as　to　her　daughter's　intentions；
was　touched　by　this　liberality；　and　made　her　a　present　of　six　thousand
francs　a　year　in　the　funds　as　conscience　money。　As　the　Comtesse　de
Soulas　had　an　income　of　forty…eight　thousand　francs　from　her　own
lands；　and　was　quite　incapable　of　alienating　them　in　order　to　diminish
Rosalie's　share；　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　was　still　a　fortune　to
marry；　of　eighteen　hundred　thousand　francs；　les　Rouxey；　with　the
Baron's　additions；　and　certain　improvements；　might　yield　twenty
thousand　francs　a　year；　besides　the　value　of　the　house；　rents；　and
preserves。　So　Rosalie　and　her　mother；　who　soon　adopted　the　Paris　style
and　fashions；　easily　obtained　introductions　to　the　best　society。　The
golden　keyeighteen　hundred　thousand　francs　embroidered　on
Mademoiselle　de　Watteville's　stomacher；　did　more　for　the　Comtesse　de
Soulas　than　her　pretensions　/a　la/　de　Rupt；　her　inappropriate　pride；
or　even　her　rather　distant　great　connections。

In　the　month　of　February　1838　Rosalie；　who　was　eagerly　courted　by　many
young　men；　achieved　the