登陆注册
5430100000035

第35章

"She is one of those women who are born to reign!" said the Vicar-General, understanding how great an affection Albert showed him by this mark of confidence. "But there is pride on that brow; it is implacable; she would never forgive an insult! It is the Archangel Michael, the angel of Execution, the inexorable angel--'All or nothing' is the motto of this type of angel. There is something divinely pitiless in that head.""You have guessed well," cried Savarus. "But, my dear Abbe, for more than twelve years now she had reigned over my life, and I have not a thought for which to blame myself--""Ah! if you could only say the same of God!" said the priest with simplicity. "Now, to talk of your affairs. For ten days I have been at work for you. If you are a real politician, this time you will follow my advice. You would not be where you are now if you would have gone to the Wattevilles when I first told you. But you must go there to-morrow; I will take you in the evening. The Rouxey estates are in danger; the case must be defended within three days. The election will not be over in three days. They will take good care not to appoint examiners the first day. There will be several voting days, and you will be elected by ballot--""How can that be?" asked Savarus.

"By winning the Rouxey lawsuit you will gain eighty Legitimist votes;add them to the thirty I can command, and you have a hundred and ten.

Then, as twenty remain to you of the Boucher committee, you will have a hundred and thirty in all.""Well," said Albert, "we must get seventy-five more.""Yes," said the priest, "since all the rest are Ministerial. But, my son, you have two hundred votes, and the Prefecture no more than a hundred and eighty.""I have two hundred votes?" said Albert, standing stupid with amazement, after starting to his feet as if shot up by a spring.

"You have those of Monsieur de Chavoncourt," said the Abbe.

"How?" said Albert.

"You will marry Mademoiselle Sidonie de Chavoncourt.""Never!"

"You will marry Mademoiselle Sidonie de Chavoncourt," the priest repeated coldly.

"But you see--she is inexorable," said Albert, pointing to Francesca.

"You will marry Mademoiselle Sidonie de Chavoncourt," said the Abbe calmly for the third time.

This time Albert understood. The Vicar-General would not be implicated in a scheme which at last smiled on the despairing politician. A word more would have compromised the priest's dignity and honor.

"To-morrow evening at the Hotel de Rupt you will meet Madame de Chavoncourt and her second daughter. You can thank her beforehand for what she is going to do for you, and tell her that your gratitude is unbounded, that you are hers body and soul, that henceforth your future is that of her family. You are quite disinterested, for you have so much confidence in yourself that you regard the nomination as deputy as a sufficient fortune.

"You will have a struggle with Madame de Chavoncourt; she will want you to pledge your word. All your future life, my son, lies in that evening. But, understand clearly, I have nothing to do with it. I am answerable only for Legitimist voters; I have secured Madame de Watteville, and that means all the aristocracy of Besancon. Amedee de Soulas and Vauchelles, who will both vote for you, have won over the young men; Madame de Watteville will get the old ones. As to my electors, they are infallible.""And who on earth has gained over Madame de Chavoncourt?" asked Savarus.

"Ask me no questions," replied the Abbe. "Monsieur de Chavoncourt, who has three daughters to marry, is not capable of increasing his wealth.

Though Vauchelles marries the eldest without anything from her father, because her old aunt is to settle something on her, what is to become of the two others? Sidonie is sixteen, and your ambition is as good as a gold mine. Some one has told Madame de Chavoncourt that she will do better by getting her daughter married than by sending her husband to waste his money in Paris. That some one manages Madame de Chavoncourt, and Madame de Chavoncourt manages her husband.""That is enough, my dear Abbe. I understand. When once I am returned as deputy, I have somebody's fortune to make, and by making it large enough I shall be released from my promise. In me you have a son, a man who will owe his happiness to you. Great heavens! what have I done to deserve so true a friend?""You won a triumph for the Chapter," said the Vicar-General, smiling.

"Now, as to all this, be as secret as the tomb. We are nothing, we have done nothing. If we were known to have meddled in election matters, we should be eaten up alive by the Puritans of the Left--who do worse--and blamed by some of our own party, who want everything.

Madame de Chavoncourt has no suspicion of my share in all this. I have confided in no one but Madame de Watteville, whom we may trust as we trust ourselves.""I will bring the Duchess to you to be blessed!" cried Savarus.

After seeing out the old priest, Albert went to bed in the swaddling clothes of power.

Next evening, as may well be supposed, by nine o'clock Madame la Baronne de Watteville's rooms were crowded by the aristocracy of Besancon in convocation extraordinary. They were discussing the exceptional step of going to the poll, to oblige the daughter of the Rupts. It was known that the former Master of Appeals, the secretary of one of the most faithful ministers under the Elder Branch, was to be presented that evening. Madame de Chavoncourt was there with her second daughter Sidonie, exquisitely dressed, while her elder sister, secure of her lover, had not indulged in any of the arts of the toilet. In country towns these little things are remarked. The Abbe de Grancey's fine and clever head was to be seen moving from group to group, listening to everything, seeming to be apart from it all, but uttering those incisive phrases which sum up a question and direct the issue.

同类推荐
  • 苍虬阁诗续集

    苍虬阁诗续集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毗尼日用录

    毗尼日用录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天皇至道太清玉册

    天皇至道太清玉册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 质孔说

    质孔说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道德真经集义

    道德真经集义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • boss侦探

    boss侦探

    他成熟稳重,酷爱看书、学习、研究金融,擅长破获各种疑难案件,是常人眼中的学霸;她性感妖娆,喜欢抽烟、喝酒、跳钢管舞,擅长对付各种男人,一副标准小三样;他是国内顶尖商业帝国云天集团继承人;她是神秘组织首席杀手;两个本不该有任何交集的人,却共同经历了一桩桩匪夷所思的连续杀人事...
  • 淮安文学史

    淮安文学史

    淮安文学,犹如大海中那粼粼的波光,在太阳的照耀下,不断发出动人的光芒。从有文字可考的绵延达一千五百年的古徐国开始——是淮安的前身——那饱含着仁义的民歌,那承前启后的辞赋,那人品坚贞的诗词,那三足鼎立如巅峰的小说,等等,让淮安文学在中国文学史上有了一块令人骄傲的丰碑。
  • 农家喜事

    农家喜事

    【新书《穿越我又又又被套路了》欢迎阅读】当包子爹遇上彪悍娘,当极品亲戚一打遇上穿越伪萝莉一枚!鸡飞狗跳、各种想象不到,好戏上场!
  • 大齐悍卒

    大齐悍卒

    陈华是一个倒霉的穿越者,因为他一穿越就是乱世,因为他穿越的时候亲眼目睹身体主人的父母被人砍死。陈华又是一个幸运的穿越者,平行空间的四国乱战死了几百万人,他没死。教蒙童、驱北狄、打皇子、弃公主,他做的一切的一切,都是为了活着。
  • 都市传说之武神

    都市传说之武神

    超级佣兵身怀古武绝技重回都市,虽想优哉游哉休闲度日,怎奈各种麻烦接踵而至。
  • Biographical Study of A. W. Kinglake

    Biographical Study of A. W. Kinglake

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 落魂赋

    落魂赋

    转世投胎的陆辰,阴差阳错,被冥河老祖误投往异世世界,这里有魂修武修,唯独没有仙修。带着前世的记忆,用华夏修仙大法,借助神兽的助力,战魂武,闯仙界,闹神界,统御一方却不爱权势,冷酷杀戮却侠胆柔情!博杀四方,打一个惊天动地,做一个逍遥神尊!
  • 懦懦与霍先生

    懦懦与霍先生

    懦懦跑过了一整条街,在街的尽头,是一座很普通的建筑,但却带着一个巨大的喷水池和高高的台阶。她走到最后一个台阶上,看到霍煦伸出手对她说:“欢迎回来,懦懦。”
  • 佛说斋经

    佛说斋经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生女配不做白月光

    重生女配不做白月光

    某一天,孙女问席陆泽:“爷爷,听说你年轻的时候是奶奶的痴汉!”席陆泽撇撇嘴,骄傲的说:“你们奶奶才是我的迷妹!”席嘉木:“爸,那当年是谁把妈妈高中证件照给偷偷抠下来?是谁给妈妈买水喝还事先偷偷喝一口?是谁在我小时候和我说,男子汉不许缠着妈妈,结果你自己天天缠着她!”