TheysaythatapagantemplestoodwhereNotreDamenowstands，intheoldRomandays，eighteenortwentycenturiesago——remainsofitarestillpreservedinParis;andthataChristianchurchtookitsplaceaboutA。D。
300;anothertooktheplaceofthatinA。D。500;andthatthefoundationsofthepresentcathedralwerelaidaboutA。D。1100。Thegroundoughttobemeasurablysacredbythistime，onewouldthink。Oneportionofthisnobleoldedificeissuggestiveofthequaintfashionsofancienttimes。
ItwasbuiltbyJeanSans—Peur，DukeofBurgundy，tosethisconscienceatrest——hehadassassinatedtheDukeofOrleans。Alas！Thosegoodoldtimesaregonewhenamurderercouldwipethestainfromhisnameandsoothehistroublestosleepsimplybygettingouthisbricksandmortarandbuildinganadditiontoachurch。
Theportalsofthegreatwesternfrontarebisectedbysquarepillars。
Theytookthecentraloneawayin1852，ontheoccasionofthanksgivingsforthereinstitutionofthepresidentialpower——butprecioussoontheyhadoccasiontoreconsiderthatmotionandputitbackagain！Andtheydid。
Weloiteredthroughthegrandaislesforanhourortwo，staringupattherichstained—glasswindowsembellishedwithblueandyellowandcrimsonsaintsandmartyrs，andtryingtoadmirethenumberlessgreatpicturesinthechapels，andthenwewereadmittedtothesacristyandshownthemagnificentrobeswhichthepopeworewhenhecrownedNapoleonI;awagonloadofsolidgoldandsilverutensilsusedinthegreatpublicprocessionsandceremoniesofthechurch;somenailsofthetruecross，afragmentofthecrossitself，apartofthecrownofthorns。WehadalreadyseenalargepieceofthetruecrossinachurchintheAzores，butnonails。
TheyshoweduslikewisethebloodyrobewhichthatarchbishopofParisworewhoexposedhissacredpersonandbravedthewrathoftheinsurgentsof1848，tomountthebarricadesandholdalofttheolivebranchofpeaceinthehopeofstoppingtheslaughter。Hisnobleeffortcosthimhislife。
Hewasshotdead。Theyshowedusacastofhisfacetakenafterdeath，thebulletthatkilledhim，andthetwovertebraeinwhichitlodged。Thesepeoplehaveasomewhatsingulartasteinthematterofrelics。FergusontoldusthatthesilvercrosswhichthegoodarchbishopworeathisgirdlewasseizedandthrownintotheSeine，whereitlayembeddedinthemudforfifteenyears，andthenanangelappearedtoapriestandtoldhimwheretodiveforit;hediddiveforitandgotit，andnowitisthereonexhibitionatNotreDame，tobeinspectedbyanybodywhofeelsaninterestininanimateobjectsofmiraculousintervention。
NextwewenttovisittheMorgue，thathorriblereceptacleforthedeadwhodiemysteriouslyandleavethemanneroftheirtakingoffadismalsecret。Westoodbeforeagratingandlookedthroughintoaroomwhichwashungallaboutwiththeclothingofdeadmen;coarseblouses，water—soaked;
thedelicategarmentsofwomenandchildren;patricianvestments，hackedandstabbedandstainedwithred;ahatthatwascrushedandbloody。Onaslantingstonelayadrownedman，naked，swollen，purple;claspingthefragmentofabrokenbushwithagripwhichdeathhadsopetrifiedthathumanstrengthcouldnotunlooseit——mutewitnessofthelastdespairingefforttosavethelifethatwasdoomedbeyondallhelp。Astreamofwatertrickledceaselesslyoverthehideousfare。Weknewthatthebodyandtheclothingwerethereforidentificationbyfriends，butstillwewonderedifanybodycouldlovethatrepulsiveobjectorgrieveforitsloss。Wegrewmeditativeandwonderedif，somefortyyearsago，whenthemotherofthatghastlythingwasdandlingituponherknee，andkissingitandpettingitanddisplayingitwithsatisfiedpridetothepassersby，apropheticvisionofthisdreadendingeverflittedthroughherbrain。Ihalffearedthatthemotherorthewifeorabrotherofthedeadmanmightcomewhilewestoodthere，butnothingofthekindoccurred。Menandwomencame，andsomelookedeagerlyinandpressedtheirfacesagainstthebars;othersglancedcarelesslyatthebodyandturnedawaywithadisappointedlook——people，Ithought，wholiveuponstrongexcitementsandwhoattendtheexhibitionsoftheMorgueregularly，justasotherpeoplegotoseetheatricalspectacleseverynight。Whenoneoftheselookedinandpassedon，Icouldnothelpthinking:
\"Nowthisdon\'taffordyouanysatisfaction——apartywithhisheadshotoffiswhatyouneed。\"
OnenightwewenttothecelebratedJardinMabille，butonlystayedalittlewhile。WewantedtoseesomeofthiskindofParislife，however，andthereforethenextnightwewenttoasimilarplaceofentertainmentinagreatgardeninthesuburbofAsnières。Wewenttotherailroaddepottowardevening，andFergusongotticketsforasecond—classcarriage。
SuchaperfectjamofpeopleIhavenotoftenseen——buttherewasnonoise，nodisorder，norowdyism。Someofthewomenandyounggirlsthatenteredthetrainweknewtobeofthedemimonde，butotherswewerenotatallsureabout。
Thegirlsandwomeninourcarriagebehavedthemselvesmodestlyandbecominglyallthewayout，exceptthattheysmoked。WhenwearrivedatthegardeninAsnières，wepaidafrancortwoadmissionandenteredaplacewhichhadflowerbedsinit，andgrassplots，andlong，curvingrowsofornamentalshrubbery，withhereandthereasecludedbowerconvenientforeatingicecreamin。Wemovedalongthesinuousgravelwalks，withthegreatconcourseofgirlsandyoungmen，andsuddenlyadomedandfiligreedwhitetemple，starredoverandoverandoveragainwithbrilliantgasjets，burstuponuslikeafallensun。Nearbywasalarge，handsomehousewithitsamplefrontilluminatedinthesameway，andaboveitsrooffloatedtheStar—SpangledBannerofAmerica。
\"Well！\"Isaid。\"Howisthis？\"Itnearlytookmybreathaway。
FergusonsaidanAmerican——aNewYorker——kepttheplace，andwascarryingonquiteastirringoppositiontotheJardinMabille。
Crowdscomposedofbothsexesandnearlyallageswerefriskingaboutthegardenorsittingintheopenairinfrontoftheflagstaffandthetemple，drinkingwineandcoffeeorsmoking。Thedancinghadnotbegunyet。Fergusonsaidtherewastobeanexhibition。ThefamousBlondinwasgoingtoperformonatightropeinanotherpartofthegarden。Wewentthither。Herethelightwasdim，andthemassesofpeoplewereprettycloselypackedtogether。AndnowImadeamistakewhichanydonkeymightmake，butasensiblemannever。IcommittedanerrorwhichIfindmyselfrepeatingeverydayofmylife。Standingrightbeforeayounglady，Isaid:
\"Dan，justlookatthisgirl，howbeautifulsheis！\"
\"Ithankyoumorefortheevidentsincerityofthecompliment，sir，thanfortheextraordinarypublicityyouhavegiventoit！\"Thisingood，pureEnglish。
Wetookawalk，butmyspiritswerevery，verysadlydampened。Ididnotfeelrightcomfortableforsometimeafterward。Whywillpeoplebesostupidastosupposethemselvestheonlyforeignersamongacrowdoftenthousandpersons？
ButBlondincameoutshortly。Heappearedonastretchedcable，farawayabovetheseaoftossinghatsandhandkerchiefs，andintheglareofthehundredsofrocketsthatwhizzedheavenwardbyhimhelookedlikeaweeinsect。Hebalancedhispoleandwalkedthelengthofhisrope——twoorthreehundredfeet;hecamebackandgotamanandcarriedhimacross;
hereturnedtothecenteranddancedajig;nextheperformedsomegymnasticandbalancingfeatstooperiloustoaffordapleasantspectacle;andhefinishedbyfasteningtohispersonathousandRomancandies，Catherinewheels，serpentsandrocketsofallmannerofbrilliantcolors，settingthemonfireallatonceandwalkingandwaltzingacrosshisropeagaininablindingblazeofglorythatlitupthegardenandthepeople\'sfaceslikeagreatconflagrationatmidnight。
Thedancehadbegun，andweadjournedtothetemple。Withinitwasadrinkingsaloon，andallarounditwasabroadcircularplatformforthedancers。Ibackedupagainstthewallofthetempleandwaited。Twentysetsformed，themusicstruckup，andthen——Iplacedmyhandsbeforemyfaceforveryshame。ButIlookedthroughmyfingers。Theyweredancingtherenowned\"Cancan。\"Ahandsomegirlinthesetbeforemetrippedforwardlightlytomeettheoppositegentleman，trippedbackagain，graspedherdressesvigorouslyonbothsideswithherhands，raisedthemprettyhigh，dancedanextraordinaryjigthathadmoreactivityandexposureaboutitthananyjigIeversawbefore，andthen，drawingherclothesstillhigher，sheadvancedgailytothecenterandlaunchedaviciouskickfullathervis—à—visthatmustinfalliblyhaveremovedhisnoseifhehadbeensevenfeethigh。Itwasamercyhewasonlysix。
Thatisthecancan。Theideaofitistodanceaswildly，asnoisily，asfuriouslyasyoucan;exposeyourselfasmuchaspossibleifyouareawoman;andkickashighasyoucan，nomatterwhichsexyoubelongto。
Thereisnowordofexaggerationinthis。Anyofthestaid，respectable，agedpeoplewhoweretherethatnightcantestifytothetruthofthatstatement。Therewereagoodmanysuchpeoplepresent。IsupposeFrenchmoralityisnotofthatstraight—laceddescriptionwhichisshockedattrifles。
Imovedasideandtookageneralviewofthecancan。Shouts，laughter，furiousmusic，abewilderingchaosofdartingandinterminglingforms，stormyjerkingandsnatchingofgaydresses，bobbingbeads，flyingarms，lightningflashesofwhite—stockingedcalvesanddaintyslippersintheair，andthenagrandfinalrush，riot，aterrifichubbub，andawildstampede！
Heavens！NothinglikeithasbeenseenonearthsincetremblingTamO\'Shantersawthedevilandthewitchesattheirorgiesthatstormynightin\"Alloway\'sauldhauntedkirk。\"
WevisitedtheLouvre，atatimewhenwehadnosilkpurchasesinview，andlookedatitsmilesofpaintingsbytheoldmasters。Someofthemwerebeautiful，butatthesametimetheycarriedsuchevidencesaboutthemofthecringingspiritofthosegreatmenthatwefoundsmallpleasureinexaminingthem。Theirnauseousadulationofprincelypatronswasmoreprominenttomeandchainedmyattentionmoresurelythanthecharmsofcolorandexpressionwhichareclaimedtobeinthepictures。Gratitudeforkindnessesiswell，butitseemstomethatsomeofthoseartistscarrieditsofarthatitceasedtobegratitudeandbecameworship。Ifthereisaplausibleexcusefortheworshipofmen，thenbyallmeansletusforgiveRubensandhisbrethren。
ButIwilldropthesubject，lestIsaysomethingabouttheoldmastersthatmightaswellbeleftunsaid。
OfcoursewedroveintheBoisdeBoulogne，thatlimitlesspark，withitsforests，itslakes，itscascades，anditsbroadavenues。Therewerethousandsuponthousandsofvehiclesabroad，andthescenewasfulloflifeandgaiety。Therewereverycommonhacks，withfatherandmotherandallthechildreninthem;conspicuouslittleopencarriageswithcelebratedladiesofquestionablereputationinthem;thereweredukesandduchessesabroad，withgorgeousfootmenperchedbehind，andequallygorgeousoutridersperchedoneachofthesixhorses;therewereblueandsilver，andgreenandgold，andpinkandblack，andallsortsanddescriptionsofstunningandstartlingliveriesout，andIalmostyearnedtobeaflunkymyself，forthesakeofthefineclothes。
ButpresentlytheEmperorcamealongandheoutshonethemall。Hewasprecededbyabodyguardofgentlemenonhorsebackinshowyuniforms，hiscarriagehorses（thereappearedtobesomewhereintheremoteneighborhoodofathousandofthem）werebestriddenbygallant—lookingfellows，alsoinstylishuniforms，andafterthecarriagefollowedanotherdetachmentofbodyguards。Everybodygotoutoftheway;everybodybowedtotheEmperorandhisfriendtheSultan;andtheywentbyonaswingingtrotanddisappeared。
IwillnotdescribetheBoisdeBoulogne。Icannotdoit。Itissimplyabeautiful，cultivated，endless，wonderfulwilderness。Itisanenchantingplace。ItisinParisnow，onemaysay，butacrumblingoldcrossinoneportionofitremindsonethatitwasnotalwaysso。Thecrossmarksthespotwhereacelebratedtroubadourwaswaylaidandmurderedinthefourteenthcentury。ItwasinthisparkthatthatfellowwithanunpronounceablenamemadetheattemptupontheRussianczar\'slifelastspringwithapistol。
Thebulletstruckatree。Fergusonshowedustheplace。NowinAmericathatinterestingtreewouldbechoppeddownorforgottenwithinthenextfiveyears，butitwillbetreasuredhere。Theguideswillpointitouttovisitorsforthenexteighthundredyears，andwhenitdecaysandfallsdowntheywillputupanotherthereandgoonwiththesameoldstoryjustthesame。
Chapter15
OneofourpleasantestvisitswastoPèrelaChaise，thenationalburyinggroundofFrance，thehonoredrestingplaceofsomeofhergreatestandbestchildren，thelasthomeofscoresofillustriousmenandwomenwhowereborntonotitles，butachievedfamebytheirownenergyandtheirowngenius。Itisasolemncityofwindingstreetsandofminiaturemarbletemplesandmansionsofthedeadgleamingwhitefromoutawildernessoffoliageandfreshflowers。Noteverycityissowellpeopledasthisorhassoampleanareawithinitswalls。Fewpalacesexistinanycitythataresoexquisiteindesign，sorichinart，socostlyinmaterial，sograceful，sobeautiful。
WehadstoodintheancientchurchofSt。Denis，wherethemarbleeffigiesofthirtygenerationsofkingsandqueenslaystretchedatlengthuponthetombs，andthesensationsinvokedwerestartlingandnovel;thecuriousarmor，theobsoletecostumes，theplacidfaces，thehandsplacedpalmtopalmineloquentsupplication——itwasavisionofgrayantiquity。Itseemedcuriousenoughtobestandingfacetoface，asitwere，witholdDagobertI，andClovisandCharlemagne，thosevague，colossalheroes，thoseshadows，thosemythsofathousandyearsago！Itouchedtheirdust—coveredfaceswithmyfinger，butDagobertwasdeaderthanthesixteencenturiesthathavepassedoverhim，ClovissleptwellafterhislaborforChrist，andoldCharlemagnewentondreamingofhispaladins，ofbloodyRoncesvalles，andgavenoheedtome。
ThegreatnamesofPèrelaChaiseimpressone，too，butdifferently。
Therethesuggestionbroughtconstantlytohismindisthatthisplaceissacredtoanoblerroyalty——theroyaltyofheartandbrain。Everyfacultyofmind，everynobletraitofhumannature，everyhighoccupationwhichmenengagein，seemsrepresentedbyafamousname。Theeffectisacuriousmedley。DavoustandMassena，whowroughtinmanyabattletragedy，arehere，andsoalsoisRachel，ofequalrenowninmimictragedyonthestage。
TheAbbéSicardsleepshere——thefirstgreatteacherofthedeafanddumb——amanwhoseheartwentouttoeveryunfortunate，andwhoselifewasgiventokindlyofficesintheirservice;andnotfaroff，inreposeandpeaceatlast，liesMarshalNey，whosestormyspiritknewnomusiclikethebuglecalltoarms。Themanwhooriginatedpublicgas—lighting，andthatotherbenefactorwhointroducedthecultivationofthepotatoandthusblessedmillionsofhisstarvingcountrymen，liewiththePrinceofMasserano，andwithexiledqueensandprincesofFurtherIndia。Gay—Lussacthechemist，Laplacetheastronomer，Larreythesurgeon，DeSezetheadvocate，arehere，andwiththemareTalma，Bellini，Rubini;deBalzac，Beaumarchais，Beranger;MolièreandLaFontaine，andscoresofothermenwhosenamesandwhoseworthylaborsareasfamiliarintheremotebyplacesofcivilizationasarethehistoricdeedsofthekingsandprincesthatsleepinthemarblevaultsofSt。Denis。
ButamongthethousandsandthousandsoftombsinPèrelaChaise，thereisonethatnoman，nowoman，noyouthofeithersex，everpassesbywithoutstoppingtoexamine。Everyvisitorhasasortofindistinctideaofthehistoryofitsdeadandcomprehendsthathomageisduethere，butnotoneintwentythousandclearlyremembersthestoryofthattombanditsromanticoccupants。ThisisthegraveofAbelardandHéloïseagravewhichhasbeenmorerevered，morewidelyknown，morewrittenandsungaboutandweptover，forsevenhundredyears，thananyotherinChristendomsaveonlythatoftheSaviour。Allvisitorslingerpensivelyaboutit;
allyoungpeoplecaptureandcarryawaykeepsakesandmementosofit;allParisianyouthsandmaidenswhoaredisappointedinlovecometheretobailoutwhentheyarefulloftears;yea，manystrickenloversmakepilgrimagestothisshrinefromdistantprovincestoweepandwailand\"grit\"theirteethovertheirheavysorrows，andtopurchasethesympathiesofthechastenedspiritsofthattombwithofferingsofimmortellesandbuddingflowers。
Gowhenyouwill，youfindsomebodysnufflingoverthattomb。Gowhenyouwill，youfinditfurnishedwiththosebouquetsandimmortelles。Gowhenyouwill，youfindagraveltrainfromMarseillesarrivingtosupplythedeficienciescausedbymemento—cabbagingvandalswhoseaffectionshavemiscarried。
YetwhoreallyknowsthestoryofAbelardandHéloïse？Preciousfewpeople。Thenamesareperfectlyfamiliartoeverybody，andthatisaboutall。WithinfinitepainsIhaveacquiredaknowledgeofthathistory，andIproposetonarrateithere，partlyforthehonestinformationofthepublicandpartlytoshowthatpublicthattheyhavebeenwastingagooddealofmarketablesentimentveryunnecessarily。STORYOFABELARDHéloïsewasbornsevenhundredandsixty—sixyearsago。Shemayhavehadparents。Thereisnotelling。ShelivedwithheruncleFulbert，acanonofthecathedralofParis。Idonotknowwhatacanonofacathedralis，butthatiswhathewas。Hewasnothingmorethanasortofamountainhowitzer，likely，becausetheyhadnoheavyartilleryinthosedays。Sufficeit，then，thatHéloïselivedwithherunclethehowitzerandwashappy。ShespentthemostofherchildhoodintheconventofArgenteuil——neverheardofArgenteuilbefore，butsupposetherewasreallysuchaplace。
Shethenreturnedtoheruncle，theoldgun，orsonofagun，asthecasemaybe，andhetaughthertowriteandspeakLatin，whichwasthelanguageofliteratureandpolitesocietyatthatperiod。
Justatthistime，PierreAbelard，whohadalreadymadehimselfwidelyfamousasarhetorician，cametofoundaschoolofrhetoricinParis。Theoriginalityofhisprinciples，hiseloquence，andhisgreatphysicalstrengthandbeautycreatedaprofoundsensation。HesawHéloïse，andwascaptivatedbyherbloomingyouth，herbeauty，andhercharmingdisposition。
Hewrotetoher;sheanswered。Hewroteagain;sheansweredagain。Hewasnowinlove。Helongedtoknowher——tospeaktoherfacetoface。
HisschoolwasnearFulbert\'shouse。HeaskedFulberttoallowhimtocall。Thegoodoldswivelsawherearareopportunity:hisniece，whomhesomuchloved，wouldabsorbknowledgefromthisman，anditwouldnotcosthimacent。SuchwasFulbert——penurious。
Fulbert\'sfirstnameisnotmentionedbyanyauthor，whichisunfortunate。
However，GeorgeW。Fulbertwillanswerforhimaswellasanyother。Wewilllethimgoatthat。HeaskedAbelardtoteachher。
Abelardwasgladenoughoftheopportunity。Hecameoftenandstayedlong。Aletterofhisshowsinitsveryfirstsentencethathecameunderthatfriendlyrooflikeacold—heartedvillainashewas，withthedeliberateintentionofdebauchingaconfiding，innocentgirl。Thisistheletter:IcannotceasetobeastonishedatthesimplicityofFulbert;
Iwasasmuchsurprisedasifhehadplacedalambinthepowerofahungrywolf。HéloïseandI，underpretextofstudy，gaveourselvesupwhollytolove，andthesolitudethatloveseeksourstudiesprocuredforus。Bookswereopenbeforeus，butwespokeofteneroflovethanphilosophy，andkissescamemorereadilyfromourlipsthanwords。Andso，exultingoveranhonorableconfidencewhichtohisdegradedinstinctwasaludicrous\"simplicity，\"thisunmanlyAbelardseducedthenieceofthemanwhoseguesthewas。Parisfounditout。Fulbertwastoldofit——toldoften——butrefusedtobelieveit。Hecouldnotcomprehendhowamancouldbesodepravedastousethesacredprotectionandsecurityofhospitalityasameansforthecommissionofsuchacrimeasthat。ButwhenheheardtherowdiesinthestreetssingingthelovesongsofAbelardtoHéloïse，thecasewastooplain——lovesongscomenotproperlywithintheteachingsofrhetoricandphilosophy。
HedroveAbelardfromhishouse。AbelardreturnedsecretlyandcarriedHé1oïseawaytoPalais，inBrittany，hisnativecountry。Here，shortlyafterward，sheboreason，who，fromhisrarebeauty，wassurnamedAstrolabe——WilliamG。Thegirl\'sflightenragedFulbert，andhelongedforvengeance，butfearedtostrikelestretaliationvisitHéloïse——forhestilllovedhertenderly。AtlengthAbelardofferedtomarryHéloïse——butonashamefulcondition:thatthemarriageshouldbekeptsecretfromtheworld，totheendthat（whilehergoodnameremainedawreck，asbefore）
hispriestlyreputationmightbekeptuntarnished。Itwaslikethatmiscreant。
Fulbertsawhisopportunityandconsented。Hewouldseethepartiesmarriedandthenviolatetheconfidenceofthemanwhohadtaughthimthattrick;
hewoulddivulgethesecretandsoremovesomewhatoftheobloquythatattachedtohisniece\'sfame。Buttheniecesuspectedhisscheme。Sherefusedthemarriageatfirst;shesaidFulbertwouldbetraythesecrettosaveher，andbesides，shedidnotwishtodragdownaloverwhowassogifted，sohonoredbytheworld，andwhohadsuchasplendidcareerbeforehim。Itwasnoble，self—sacrificinglove，andcharacteristicofthepure—souledHéloïse，butitwasnotgoodsense。
Butshewasoverruled，andtheprivatemarriagetookplace。NowforFulbert！Theheartsowoundedshouldbehealedatlast;theproudspiritsotorturedshouldfindrestagain;thehumbledheadshouldbelifteduponcemore。Heproclaimedthemarriageinthehighplacesofthecityandrejoicedthatdishonorhaddepartedfromhishouse。Butlo！Abelarddeniedthemarriage！Héloïsedeniedit！Thepeople，knowingtheformercircumstances，mighthavebelievedFulberthadonlyAbelarddeniedit，butwhenthepersonchieflyinterested——thegirlherself——deniedit，theylaughed，despairingFulberttoscorn。
ThepoorcanonofthecathedralofPariswasspikedagain。Thelasthopeofrepairingthewrongthathadbeendonehishousewasgone。Whatnext？Humannaturesuggestedrevenge。Hecompassedit。Thehistoriansays:Ruffians，hiredbyFulbert，felluponAbelardbynight，andinflicteduponhimaterribleandnamelessmutilation。Iamseekingthelastrestingplaceofthose\"ruffians。\"WhenIfinditIshallshedsometearsonit，andstackupsomebouquetsandimmortelles，andcartawayfromitsomegravelwherebytorememberthathowsoeverblottedbycrimetheirlivesmayhavebeen，theseruffiansdidonejustdeed，atanyrate，albeititwasnotwarrantedbythestrictletterofthelaw。
Héloïseenteredaconventandgavegood—byetotheworldanditspleasuresforalltime。FortwelveyearssheneverheardofAbelard——neverevenheardhisnamementioned。ShehadbecomeprioressofArgenteuilandledalifeofcompleteseclusion。Shehappenedonedaytoseealetterwrittenbyhim，inwhichhenarratedhisownhistory。Shecriedoveritandwrotehim。Heanswered，addressingherashis\"sisterinChrist。\"Theycontinuedtocorrespond，sheintheunweighedlanguageofunwaveringaffection，heinthechillyphraseologyofthepolishedrhetorician。Shepouredoutherheartinpassionate，disjointedsentences;herepliedwithfinishedessays，divideddeliberatelyintoheadsandsubheads，premisesandargument。
Sheshowereduponhimthetenderestepithetsthatlovecoulddevise，headdressedherfromtheNorthPoIeofhisfrozenheartasthe\"SpouseofChrist\"！Theabandonedvillain！
Onaccountofhertooeasygovernmentofhernuns，somedisreputableirregularitieswerediscoveredamongthem，andtheAbbotofSt。Denisbrokeupherestablishment。AbelardwastheofficialheadofthemonasteryofSt。GildasdeRuysatthattime，andwhenheheardofherhomelessconditionasentimentofpitywasarousedinhisbreast（itisawondertheunfamiliaremotiondidnotblowhisheadoff），andheplacedherandhertroopinthelittleoratoryoftheParaclete，areligiousestablishmentwhichhehadfounded。Shehadmanyprivationsandsufferingstoundergoatfirst，butherworthandhergentledispositionwoninfluentialfriendsforher，andshebuiltupawealthyandflourishingnunnery。Shebecameagreatfavoritewiththeheadsofthechurch，andalsothepeople，thoughsheseldomappearedinpublic。Sherapidlyadvancedinesteem，ingoodreport，andinusefulness，andAbelardasrapidlylostground。ThePopesohonoredherthathemadehertheheadofherorder。Abelard，amanofsplendidtalents，andrankingasthefirstdebaterofhistime，becametimid，irresolute，anddistrustfulofhispowers。Heonlyneededagreatmisfortunetotopplehimfromthehighpositionheheldintheworldofintellectualexcellence，anditcame。UrgedbykingsandprincestomeetthesubtleSt。Bernardindebateandcrushhim，hestoodupinthepresenceofaroyalandillustriousassemblage，andwhenhisantagonisthadfinishedhelookedabouthimandstammeredacommencement;buthiscouragefailedhim，thecunningofhistonguewasgone;withhisspeechunspoken，hetrembledandsatdown，adisgracedandvanquishedchampion。
Hediedanobody，andwasburiedatCluny，A。D。1144。TheyremovedhisbodytotheParacleteafterward，andwhenHéloïsedied，twentyyearslater，theyburiedherwithhim，inaccordancewithherlastwish。
Hediedattheripeageof64，andsheat63。Afterthebodieshadremainedentombedthreehundredyears，theywereremovedoncemore。Theywereremovedagainin1800，andfinally，seventeenyearsafterward，theyweretakenupandtransferredtoPérelaChaise，wheretheywillremaininpeaceandquietuntilitcomestimeforthemtogetupandmoveagain。
Historyissilentconcerningthelastactsofthemountainhowitzer。
Lettheworldsaywhatitwillabouthim，I，atleast，shallalwaysrespectthememoryandsorrowfortheabusedtrustandthebrokenheartandthetroubledspiritoftheoldsmoothbore。Restandreposebehis！
SuchisthestoryofAbelardandHéloïse。SuchisthehistorythatLamartinehasshedsuchcataractsoftearsover。Butthatmannevercouldcomewithintheinfluenceofasubjectintheleastpatheticwithoutoverflowinghisbanks。Heoughttobedammed——orleveed，Ishouldmoreproperlysay。Suchisthehistory——notasitisusuallytold，butasitiswhenstrippedofthenauseoussentimentalitythatwouldenshrineforourlovingworshipadastardlyseducerlikePierreAbelard。Ihavenotawordtosayagainstthemisused，faithfulgirl，andwouldnotwithholdfromhergraveasingleoneofthosesimpletributeswhichblightedyouthsandmaidensoffertohermemory，butIamsorryenoughthatIhavenottimeandopportunitytowritefourorfivevolumesofmyopinionofherfriendthefounderoftheParachute，ortheParaclete，orwhateveritwas。
ThetonsofsentimentIhavewastedonthatunprincipledhumbuginmyignorance！Ishallthrottledownmyemotionshereafter，aboutthissortofpeople，untilIhavereadthemupandknowwhethertheyareentitledtoanytearfulattentionsornot。IwishIhadmyimmortellesbacknow，andthatbunchofradishes。
InParisweoftensawinshopwindowsthesign\"EnglishSpokenHere，\"justasoneseesinthewindowsathomethesign\"Icionparlefrançaise。\"Wealwaysinvadedtheseplacesatonce——andinvariablyreceivedtheinformation，framedinfaultlessFrench，thattheclerkwhodidtheEnglishfortheestablishmenthadjustgonetodinnerandwouldbebackinanhour。
Wouldmonsieurbuysomething？Wewonderedwhythosepartieshappenedtotaketheirdinnersatsucherraticandextraordinaryhours，forwenevercalledatatimewhenanexemplaryChristianwouldbeintheleastlikelytobeabroadonsuchanerrand。Thetruthwas，itwasabasefraud——asnaretotraptheunwary——chafftocatchfledglingswith。TheyhadnoEnglish—murderingclerk。Theytrustedtothesigntoinveigleforeignersintotheirlairs，andtrustedtotheirownblandishmentstokeepthemtheretilltheyboughtsomething。
WeferretedoutanotherFrenchimpositionsfrequentsigntothiseffect:
\"ALLMANNEROFAMERICANDRINKSARTISTICALLYPREPAREDHERE。\"WeprocuredtheservicesofagentlemanexperiencedinthenomenclatureoftheAmericanbar，andmovedupontheworksofoneoftheseimpostors。Abowing，apronedFrenchmanskippedforwardandsaid:
\"Quevoulezlesmessieurs？\"Idonotknowwhat\"Quevoulezlesmessieurs？\"means，butsuchwashisremark。
Ourgeneralsaid，\"Wewilltakeawhiskeystraight。\"
[AstarefromtheFrenchman。]
\"Well，ifyoudon\'tknowwhatthatis，giveusachampagnecocktail。\"
[Astareandashrug。]
\"Well，then，giveusasherrycobbler。\"
TheFrenchmanwascheckmated。ThiswasallGreektohim。
\"Giveusabrandysmash！\"
TheFrenchmanbegantobackaway，suspiciousoftheominousvigorofthelastorder——begantobackaway，shrugginghisshouldersandspreadinghishandsapologetically。
Thegeneralfollowedhimupandgainedacompletevictory。TheuneducatedforeignercouldnotevenfurnishaSantaCruzPunch，anEye—Opener，aStoneFence，oranEarthquake。Itwasplainthathewasawickedimpostor。
AnacquaintanceofminesaidtheotherdaythathewasdoubtlesstheonlyAmericanvisitortotheExpositionwhohadhadthehighhonorofbeingescortedbytheEmperor\'sbodyguard。IsaidwithunobtrusivefranknessthatIwasastonishedthatsuchalong—legged，lantern—jawed，unprepossessing—lookingspecterasheshouldbesingledoutforadistinctionlikethat，andaskedhowitcameabout。HesaidhehadattendedagreatmilitaryreviewintheChampdeMarssometimeago，andwhilethemultitudeabouthimwasgrowingthickerandthickereverymomentheobservedanopenspaceinsidetherailing。