\"AnddoesPereAnselme，\"askedCeleste，\"hopetoconverthim？\"
\"Heissureofit，\"repliedthecountess。\"Hisyoungcollaborator，apartfromareligiouseducationwhichhecertainlyneverhad，hasbeenbroughtuptothehighestprinciples；heknows，moreover，thathisconversiontoreligionwouldmakethehappinessofacharminggirlwhomheloves，andwholoveshim。Now，mydear，youwillnotgetanotherwordoutofme，andyoumaythinkwhatyoulike。\"
\"Oh！godmother！\"whisperedCeleste，yieldingtothefreshnessofherfeelings，\"supposeitwerehe！\"
AndthetearsfilledhereyesasshepressedMadameThuillier’shand。
Atthismomenttheservantthrewopenthedoorofthesalon，and，singularcomplication！announcedMonsieurFelixPhellion。
Theyoungprofessorenteredtheroom，bathedinperspiration，hiscravatindisorder，andhimselfoutofbreath。
\"Aprettyhour，\"saidPhellion，sternly，\"topresentyourself。\"
\"Father，\"saidFelix，movingtothesideoftheroomwhereMadameThuillierandCelestewereseated，\"Icouldnotleavebeforetheendofthephenomenon；andthenIcouldn’tfindacarriage，andIhaverunthewholeway。\"
\"Yourearsoughttohaveburnedasyoucame，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"foryouhavebeenforthelasthalf—hourinthemindsoftheseladies，andagreatproblemhasbeenstartedaboutyou。\"
Felixdidnotanswer。HesawBrigitteenteringthesalonfromthedining—roomwhereshehadgonetotelltheman—servantnottobringinmoretrays，andhehurriedtogreether。
Afterlisteningtoafewreproachesfortherarityofhisvisitsandreceivingforgivenessinaverycordial\"Betterlatethannever，\"heturnedtowardshispole，andwasmuchastonishedtohearhimselfaddressedbyMadamedeGodolloasfollows：——
\"Monsieur，\"shesaid，\"IhopeyouwillpardontheindiscretionIhave，intheheatofconversation，committedaboutyou。IhavetoldtheseladieswhereImetyouthismorning。\"
\"Metme？\"saidFelix；\"ifIhadthehonortomeetyou，madame，Ididnotseeyou。\"
AnalmostimperceptiblesmileflickeredonlaPeyrade’slips。
\"YousawmewellenoughtoaskmetokeepsilenceastowhereIhadmetyou；but，atanyrate，Ididnotgobeyondasimplestatement；I
saidyousawPereAnselmesometimes，andhadcertainscientificrelationswithhim；alsothatyoudefendedyourreligiousdoubtstohimasyoudotoCeleste。\"
\"PereAnselme！\"saidFelix，stupidly。
\"Yes，PereAnselme，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"agreatmathematicianwhodoesnotdespairofconvertingyou。MademoiselleCelesteweptforjoy。\"
Felixlookedaroundhimwithabewilderedair。MadamedeGodollofixeduponhimapairofeyesthelanguageofwhichapoodlecouldhaveunderstood。
\"Iwish，\"hesaidfinally，\"IcouldhavegiventhatjoytoMademoiselleCeleste，butIthink，madame，youaremistaken。\"
\"Ah！monsieur，thenImustbemoreprecise，\"saidthecountess，\"andifyourmodestystillinducesyoutohideastepthatcanonlyhonoryou，youcancontradictme；Iwillbearthemortificationofhavingdivulgedasecretwhich，Iacknowledge，youtrustedimplicitlytomydiscretion。\"
MadameThuillierandCelesteweretrulyawholedramatobehold；neverweredoubtandeagerexpectationmoreplainlydepictedonthehumanface。Measuringherwordsdeliberately，MadamedeGodollothuscontinued：——
\"Isaidtotheseladies，becauseIknowhowdeepaninteresttheytakeinyoursalvation，andbecauseyouareaccusedofboldlydefyingthecommandmentsofGodbyworkingonSundays，thatIhadmetyouthismorningatthehouseofPereAnselme，amathematicianlikeyourself，withwhomyouwerebusyinsolvingaproblem；Isaidthatyourscientificintercoursewiththatsaintlyandenlightenedmanhadledtootherexplanationsbetweenyou；thatyouhadsubmittedtohimyourreligiousdoubts，andhedidnotdespairofremovingthem。Intheconfirmationyoucangiveofmywordsthereisnothing，Iamsure，towoundyourself—esteem。ThematterwassimplyasurpriseyouintendedforCeleste，andIhavehadthestupiditytodivulgeit。ButwhenshehearsyouadmitthetruthofmywordsyouwillhavegivenhersuchhappinessthatIshallhopetobeforgiven。\"
\"Come，monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"there’snothingabsurdormortifyinginhavingsoughtforlight；you，sohonorableandsotrulyanenemytofalsehood，youcannotdenywhatmadameaffirmswithsuchdecision。\"
\"Well，\"saidFelix，afteramoment’shesitation，\"willyou，MademoiselleCeleste，allowmetosayafewwordstoyouinprivate，withoutwitnesses？\"
Celesterose，afterreceivinganapprovingsignfromMadameThuillier。
Felixtookherhandandledhertotherecessofthenearestwindow。
\"Celeste，\"hesaid，\"Ientreatyou：wait！See，\"headded，pointingtotheconstellationofUrsaMinor，\"beyondthosevisiblestarsafutureliesbeforeus；Iwillplaceyouthere。AsforPereAnselme，Icannotadmitwhathasbeensaid，foritisnottrue。Itisaninventedtale。
Butbepatientwithme；youshallsoonknowall。\"
\"Heismad！\"saidtheyounggirl，intonesofdespair，assheresumedherplacebesideMadameThuillier。
Felixconfirmedthisjudgmentbyrushingfranticallyfromthesalon，withoutperceivingtheemotioninwhichhisfatherandhismotherstartedafterhim。Afterthissuddendeparture，whichstupefiedeverybody，laPeyradeapproachedMadamedeGodolloveryrespectfully，andsaidtoher：——
\"Youmustadmit，madame，thatitisdifficulttodragamanfromthewaterwhenhepersistsinbeingdrowned。\"
\"Ihadnoideauntilthismomentofsuchuttersimplicity，\"repliedthecountess；\"itistoosilly。Ipassovertotheenemy；andwiththatenemyIamreadyanddesiroustohave，wheneverhepleases，afrankandhonestexplanation。\"
CHAPTERIV
HUNGARYVERSUSPROVENCE
ThenextdayTheodosefelthimselfpossessedbytwocuriosities：HowwouldCelestebehaveastotheoptionshehadaccepted？andthisComtesseTornadeGodollo，whatdidshemeanbywhatshehadsaid；andwhatdidshewantwithhim？
Thefirstofthesequestionsseemed，undoubtedly，tohavetherightofway，andyet，bysomesecretinstinct，laPeyradefeltmorekeenlydrawntowardtheconclusionofthesecondproblem。Hedecided，therefore，totakehisfirststepinthatdirection，fullyunderstandingthathecouldnottoocarefullyarmhimselffortheinterviewtowhichthecountesshadinvitedhim。
Themorninghadbeenrainy，andthisgreatcalculatorwas，ofcourse，notignoranthowmuchaspotofmud，tarnishingthebrilliancyofvarnishedboots，couldloweramanintheopinionofsome。Hethereforesenthisporterforacabriolet，andaboutthreeo’clockintheafternoonhedrovefromtherueSaint—Dominiqued’EnfertowardtheelegantlatitudesoftheMadeleine。Itmaywellbebelievedthatcertaincareshadbeenbestoweduponhistoilet，whichoughttopresentahappymediumbetweenthenegligenteaseofamorningcostumeandtheceremoniouscharacterofaneveningsuit。Condemnedbyhisprofessiontoawhitecravat，whichherarelylaidaside，andnotventuringtopresenthimselfinanythingbutadress—coat，hefelthimselfbeingdrawn，ofnecessity，tooneoftheextremeshedesiredtoavoid。Howeverbybuttoninguphiscoatandwearingtaninsteadofstraw—coloredgloves，hemanagedtoUNSOLEMNIZEhimself，andtoavoidthatprovincialairwhichamaninfulldresswalkingthestreetsofPariswhilethesunisabovethehorizonneverfailstoconvey。
Thewarydiplomatistwascarefulnottodrivetothehousewherehewasgoing。Hewasunwillingtobeseenfromthecountess’entresolissuingfromahiredcab，andfromthefirstfloorhefearedtobediscoveredstoppingshortonhiswayupatthelowerfloor，——aproceedingwhichcouldnotfailtogiverisetocountlessconjectures。
HethereforeorderedthedrivertopullupatthecorneroftherueRoyale，whence，alongapavementthatwasnownearlydry，hepickedhiswayontiptoetothehouse。Itsochancedthathewasnotseenbyeithertheporterorhiswife；theformerbeingbeadleofthechurchoftheMadeleine，wasabsentataservice，andthewifehadjustgoneuptoshowavacantapartmenttoalodger。Theodosewasthereforeabletoglideunobservedtothedoorofthesanctuaryhedesiredtopenetrate。Asofttouchofhishandtothesilkenbell—ropecausedasoundwhichechoedfromtheinterioroftheapartment。Afewsecondselapsed，andthenanotherandmoreimperiousbelloflessvolumeseemedtohimanotificationtothemaidthatherdelayinopeningthedoorwasdispleasingtohermistress。Amomentlater，awaiting—woman，ofmiddleage，andtoowelltrainedtodresslikea\"soubrette\"ofcomedy，openedthedoortohim。
Thelawyergavehisname，andthewomanusheredhimintoadining—room，severelyluxurious，wheresheaskedhimtowait。Amomentlater，however，shereturned，andadmittedhimintothemostcoquettishandsplendidsalonitwaspossibletoinsertbeneaththelowceilingsofanentresol。Thedivinityoftheplacewasseatedbeforeawriting—tablecoveredwithaVenetiancloth，inwhichgoldglitteredinlittlespotsamongthedazzlingcolorsofthetapestry。
\"Willyouallowme，monsieur，tofinishaletterofsomeimportance？\"
shesaid。
Thebarristerbowedinsignofassent。ThehandsomeHungarianthenconcludedanoteonblueEnglishpaper，whichsheplacedinanenvelope；aftersealingitcarefully，sherangthebell。Themaidappearedimmediatelyandlightedalittlespiritlamp；abovethelampwassuspendedasortoftinycrucible，inwhichwasadropofsealing—
wax；assoonasthishadmelted，themaidpoureditontheenvelope，presentingtohermistressasealwitharmorialbearings。Thisthecountessimprintedonthewaxwithherownbeautifulhands，andthensaid：——
\"Taketheletteratoncetothataddress。\"
Thewomanmadeamovementtotaketheletter，but，eitherfromhasteorinadvertence，thepaperfellfromherhandclosetolaPeyrade’sfeet。Hestoopedhastilytopickitup，andreadthedirectioninvoluntarily。Itborethewords，\"HisExcellencytheMinisterofForeignAffairs\"；thesignificantwords，\"Forhimonly，\"writtenhigherup，seemedtogivethismissiveacharacterofintimacy。
\"Pardon，monsieur，\"saidthecountess，receivingthepaper，whichhehadthegoodtastetoreturntoherownhandsinordertoshowhiseagernesstoserveher。\"Besogood，mademoiselle，astocarrythatinawaynottoloseit，\"sheaddedinadrytonetotheunluckymaid。
Thecountessthenleftherwriting—tableandtookherseatonasofacoveredwithpearl—graysatin。
DuringtheseproceedingslaPeyradehadthesatisfactionofmakinganinventoryofallthechoicethingsbywhichhewassurrounded。
Paintingsbygoodmastersdetachedthemselvesfromwallsofeventone；
onapier—tablestoodaverytallJapanesevase；beforethewindowsthejardiniereswerefilledwithliliumrubrum，showingitshandsomereverselycurlingpetalssurmountedbywhiteandredcamelliasandadwarfmagnoliafromChina，withflowersofsulphurwhitewithscarletedges。Inacornerwasastandofarms，ofcuriousshapesandrichconstruction，explained，perhaps，bythelady’sHungariannationality——alwaysthatofthehussar。Afewbronzesandstatuettesofexquisiteselection，chairsrollingsoftlyonPersiancarpets，andaperfectanarchyofstuffsofallkindscompletedthearrangementofthissalon，whichthelawyerhadoncebeforevisitedwithBrigitteandThuillierbeforethecountessmovedintoit。Itwassotransformedthatitseemedtohimunrecognizable。WithalittlemoreknowledgeoftheworldlaPeyradewouldhavebeenlesssurprisedatthemarvellouscaregivenbythecountesstothedecorationoftheroom。Awoman’ssalonisherkingdom，andherabsolutedomain；there，inthefullestsenseoftheword，shereigns，shegoverns；theresheoffersbattle，andnearlyalwayscomesoffvictorious。
Coquettishlylyingbackinacornerofthesofa，herheadcarelesslysupportedbyanarmtheformandwhitenessofwhichcouldbeseennearlytotheelbowthroughthewide，opensleeveofablackvelvetdressing—gown，herCinderellafootinitsdaintyslipperofRussialeatherrestingonacushionoforangesatin，thehandsomeHungarianhadthelookofaportraitbyLaurenceorWinterhalter，plusthenaiveteofthepose。
\"Monsieur，\"shesaid，withtheslightlyforeignaccentwhichlentanaddedcharmtoherwords，\"Icannothelpthinkingitratherdrollthatamanofyourmindandrarepenetrationshouldhavethoughtyouhadanenemyinme。\"
\"But，Madamelacomtesse，\"repliedlaPeyrade，allowinghertoreadinhiseyesanastonishmentmingledwithdistrust，\"alltheappearances，youmustadmit，wereofthatnature。Asuitorinterposestobreakoffamarriagewhichhasbeenofferedtomewitheveryinducement；thisrivaldoesmetheserviceofshowinghimselfsomiraculouslystupidandawkwardthatIcouldeasilyhavesethimaside，whensuddenlyamostunlooked—forandableauxiliarydevotesherselftoprotectinghimontheverygroundwhereheshowshimselfmostvulnerable。\"
\"Youmustadmit，\"saidthecountess，laughing，\"thattheprotegeshowedhimselfamostintelligentman，andthathesecondedmyeffortsvaliantly。\"
\"Hisclumsinesscouldnothavebeen，Ithink，veryunexpectedtoyou，\"
repliedlaPeyrade；\"thereforetheprotectionyouhavedeignedtogivehimisthemorecrueltome。\"
\"Whatamisfortuneitwouldbe，\"saidthecountess，withcharminglyaffectedsatire，\"ifyourmarriagewithMademoiselleCelestewereprevented！Doyoureallycaresomuch，monsieur，forthatlittleschool—girl？\"
Inthatlastword，especiallytheintonationwithwhichitwasuttered，therewasmorethancontempt，therewashatred。ThisexpressiondidnotescapeanobserveroflaPeyrade’sstrength，butnotbeingamantoadvanceveryfaronasingleremarkhemerelyreplied：——
\"Madame，thevulgarexpression，to’settledown，’explainsthissituation，inwhichaman，aftermanystrugglesandbeingatanendofhiseffortsandhisillusions，makesacompromisewiththefuture。
Whenthiscompromisetakestheformofayounggirlwith，Iadmit，morevirtuethanbeauty，butonewhobringstoahusbandthefortunewhichisindispensabletothecomfortofmarriedlife，whatistheresoastonishinginthefactthathisheartyieldstogratitudeandthathewelcomestheprospectofaplacidhappiness？\"
\"Ihavealwaysthought，\"repliedthecountess，\"thatthepowerofaman’sintellectoughttobethemeasureofhisambition；andI
imaginedthatonesowiseastomakehimself，atfirst，thepoorman’slawyer，wouldhaveinhisheartlesshumbleandlesspastoralaspirations。\"
\"Ah！madame，\"returnedlaPeyrade，\"theironhandofnecessitycompelsustostrangeresignations。Thequestionofdailybreadisoneofthosebeforewhichallthingsbendtheknee。Apollowasforcedto’getaliving，’astheshepherdofAdmetus。\"
\"ThesheepfoldofAdmetus，\"saidMadamedeGodollo，\"wasatleastaroyalfold；Idon’tthinkApollowouldhaveresignedhimselftobetheshepherdofa——bourgeois。\"
Thehesitationthatprecededthatlastwordseemedtoconveyinplaceofitapropername；andlaPeyradeunderstoodthatMadamedeGodollo，outofpureclemency，hadsuppressedthatofThuillier，hadturnedherremarkuponthespeciesandnottheindividual。
\"Iagree，madame，thatyourdistinctionisajustone，\"hereplied，\"butinthiscaseApollohasnochoice。\"
\"Idon’tlikepersonswhochargetoomuch，\"saidthecountess，\"butstilllessdoIlikethosewhoselltheirmerchandisebelowthemarketprice；Ialwayssuspectsuchpersonsoftryingtodupemebysomecleverandcomplicatedtrick。Youknowverywell，monsieur，yourownvalue，andyourhypocriticalhumilitydispleasesmeimmensely。Itprovestomethatmykindlyovertureshavenotproducedevenabeginningofconfidencebetweenus。\"
\"Iassureyou，madame，thatuptothepresenttimelifehasneverjustifiedthebeliefinanydazzlingsuperiorityinme。\"
\"Well，really，\"saidtheHungarian，\"perhapsIoughttobelieveinthehumilityofamanwhoiswillingtoacceptthepitiablefinaleofhislifewhichIthrewmyselfintothebreachtoprevent。\"
\"JustasI，perhaps，\"saidlaPeyrade，withatouchofsarcasm，\"oughttobelieveintherealityofakindnesswhich，inordertosaveme，hashandledmesoroughly。\"
Thecountesscastareproachfullookuponhervisitor；herfingerscrumpledtheribbonsofhergown；sheloweredhereyes，andgaveasigh，sonearlyimperceptible，soslight，thatitmighthavepassedforanaccidentinthemostregularbreathing。
\"Youarerancorous，\"shesaid，\"andyoujudgepeoplebyoneaspectonly。Afterall，\"sheadded，asifonreflection，\"youareperhapsrightinremindingmethatIhavetakenthelongestwayroundbymeddling，ratherridiculously，inintereststhatdonotconcernme。Goon，mydearmonsieur，inthepathofthisgloriousmarriagewhichoffersyousomanycombinedinducements；only，letmehopethatyoumaynotrepentacoursewithwhichIshallnolongerinterfere。\"
TheProvencalhadnotbeenspoiltbyanexperienceof\"bonnesfortunes。\"Thepovertyagainstwhichhehadstruggledsolongneverleadstoaffairsofgallantry，andsincehehadthrownoffitsharshrestraint，hismindbeingwhollygivenuptotheanxiousworkofcreatinghisfuture，thethingsofthehearthadenteredbutslightlyintohislife；unlesswemustexceptthecomedyhehadplayedonFlavie。Wecanthereforeimaginetheperplexityofthisnoviceinthematterofadventureswhenhesawhimselfplacedbetweenthedangeroflosingwhatseemedtobeadelightfulopportunity，andthefearoffindingaserpentamidthebeautifulflowersthatwereofferedtohisgrasp。Toomarkedareserve，toolukewarmaneagerness，mightwoundtheself—loveofthatbeautifulforeigner，andquenchthespringfromwhichheseemedinvitedtodraw。Ontheotherhand，supposethatappearanceofinterestwereonlyasnare？Supposethiskindness（ill—
explained，asitseemedtohim），ofwhichhewassosuddenlytheobject，hadnootherpurposethantoenticehimintoastepwhichmightbeusedtocompromisehimwiththeThuilliers？Whatablowtohisreputationforshrewdness，andwhataroletoplay！——thatofthedoglettinggothemeatfortheshadow！
WeknowthatlaPeyradewastrainedintheschoolofTartuffe，andthefranknesswithwhichthatgreatmasterdeclarestoElmirethatwithoutreceivingafewofthefavorstowhichheaspiredhecouldnottrustinhertenderadvances，seemedtothebarristerasuitablemethodtoapplytothepresentcase，adding，however，atriflemoresoftnesstotheform。
\"Madamelacomtesse，\"hesaid，\"youhaveturnedmeintoamanwhoismuchtobepitied。Iwascheerfullyadvancingtothismarriage，andyoutakeallfaithinitawayfromme。SupposeIbreakitoff，whatusecanI——withthatgreatcapacityyouseeinme——makeofthelibertyIthusrecover？\"
\"LaBruyere，ifIamnotmistaken，saidthatnothingfreshensthebloodsomuchastoavoidcommittingafolly。\"
\"Thatmaybe；butitis，youmustadmit，anegativebenefit；andIamofanageandinapositiontodesiremoreseriousresults。Theinterestthatyoudeigntoshowtomecannot，Ithink，stopshortattheideaofmerelyputtinganendtomypresentprospects。IloveMademoiselleCollevillewithalove，itistrue，whichhasnothingimperativeaboutit；butIcertainlyloveher，herhandispromisedtome，andbeforerenouncingit——\"
\"So，\"saidthecountess，hastily，\"inagivencaseyouwouldnotbeaversetoarupture？And，\"sheadded，inamoredecidedtone，\"therewouldbesomechanceofmakingyouseethatintakingyourfirstopportunityyoucutyourselfofffromabetterfuture，inwhichamoresuitablemarriagemaypresentitself？\"
\"But，atleast，madame，Imustbeenabledtoforeseeitdefinitely。\"
Thispersistenceindemandingpledgesseemedtoirritatethecountess。
\"Faith，\"shesaid，\"isonlyavirtuewhenitbelieveswithoutseeing。
Youdoubtyourself，andthatisanotherformofstupidity。Iamnothappy，itseems，inmyselectionofthoseIdesiretobenefit。\"
\"But，madame，itcannotbeindiscreettoasktoknowinsomeremotewayatleast，whatfutureyourkindgood—willhasimaginedforme。\"
\"Itisveryindiscreet，\"repliedthecountess，coldly，\"anditshowsplainlythatyouoffermeonlyaconditionalconfidence。Letussaynomore。YouarecertainlyfaradvancedwithMademoiselleColleville；shesuitsyou，yousay，inmanyways；thereforemarryher。Isayagain，youwillnolongerfindmeinyourway。\"
\"ButdoesMademoiselleCollevillereallysuitme？\"resumedlaPeyrade；
\"thatistheverypointonwhichyouhavelatelyraisedmydoubts。Doyounotthinkthereissomethingcruelincastingmefirstinonedirectionandthenintheotherwithoutaffordingmeanygroundtogoupon？\"
\"Ah！\"saidthecountess，inatoneofimpatience，\"youwantmyopiniononthepremises！Well，monsieur，thereisoneveryconclusivefacttowhichIcanbringproof：Celestedoesnotloveyou。\"
\"SoIhavethought，\"saidlaPeyrade，humbly。\"IfeltthatIwasmakingamarriageofmereconvenience。\"
\"Andshecannotloveyou，because，\"continuedMadamedeGodollo，withanimation，\"shecannotcomprehendyou。Herproperhusbandisthatblondlittleman，insipidasherself；fromtheunionofthosetwonatureswithoutlifeorheatwillresultinthatlukewarmexistencewhich，intheopinionoftheworldwhereshewasbornandwhereshehaslived，istheneplusultraofconjugalfelicity。Trytomakethatlittlesimpletonunderstandthatwhenshehadachancetouniteherselfwithtruetalentsheoughttohavefelthighlyhonored！But，aboveall，trytomakehermiserable，odiousfamilyandsurroundingsunderstandit！Enrichedbourgeois，parvenus！there’stheroofbeneathwhichyouthinktorestfromyourcruellaborandyourmanytrials！
Anddoyoubelievethatyouwillnotbemadetofeel，twentytimesaday，thatyourshareinthepartnershipisdistressinglylightinthescaleagainsttheirmoney？Ononeside，theIliad，theCid，DerFreyschutz，andthefrescosoftheVatican；ontheother，threehundredthousandfrancsingood，ringingcoin！Tellmewhichsidetheywilltrustandadmire！Theartist，themanofimaginationwhofallsintothebourgeoisatmosphere——shallItellyoutowhatIcomparehim？
ToDanielcastintothelion’sden，lessthemiracleofHolyWrit。\"
Thisinvectiveagainstthebourgeoisiewasutteredinatoneofheatedconvictionwhichcouldscarcelyfailtobecommunicated。
\"Ah！madame，\"criedlaPeyrade，\"howeloquentlyyousaythingswhichagainandagainhaveenteredmytroubledandanxiousmind！ButIhavefeltmyselflashedtothatmostcruelfate，thenecessityofgainingaposition——\"
\"Necessity！position！\"interruptedthecountess，againraisingthetemperatureofherspeech，——\"wordsvoidofmeaning！whichhavenotevensoundtoablemen，thoughtheydrivebackfoolsasthoughtheywereformidablebarriers。Necessity！doesthatexistfornoblenatures，forthosewhoknowhowtowill？AGasconministerutteredasayingwhichoughttobeengravedonthedoorsofallcareers：’Allthingscometohimwhoknowshowtowait。’Areyouignorantthatmarriage，tomenofahighstamp，iseitherachainwhichbindsthemtothelowestvulgaritiesofexistence，orawingonwhichtorisetothehighestsummitsofthesocialworld？Thewifeyouneed，monsieur，——andshewouldnotbelongwantingtoyourcareerifyouhadnot，withsuchincrediblehaste，acceptedthefirst’dot’thatwasofferedyou，——thewifeyoushouldhavechosenisawomancapableofunderstandingyou，abletodivineyourintellect；onewhocouldbetoyouafellow—worker，anintellectualconfidant，andnotamereembodimentofthe’pot—au—feu’；awomancapableofbeingnowyoursecretary，butsoonthewifeofadeputy，aminister，anambassador；
one，inshort，whocouldofferyouherheartasamainspring，hersalonforastage，herconnectionsforaladder，andwho，inreturnforallshewouldgiveyouofardorandstrength，asksonlytoshinebesideyourthroneintheraysofthegloryshepredictsforyou！\"
Intoxicated，asitwere，withtheflowofherownwords，thecountesswasreallymagnificent；hereyessparkled，hernostrilsdilated；theprospecthervivideloquencethusunrolledsheseemedtosee，andtouchwithherquiveringfingers。Foramoment，laPeyradewasdazzledbythissunrisewhichsuddenlyburstuponhislife。
However，ashewasamanmosteminentlyprudent，whohadmadeithisruleoflifenevertolendexceptonsoundandsolventsecurity，hewasstillimpelledtoweighthesituation。
\"Madamelacomtesse，\"hesaid，\"youreproachedmejustnowforspeakinglikeabourgeois，andI，inreturn，amafraidthatyouaretalkinglikeagoddess。Iadmireyou，Ilistentoyou，butIamnotconvinced。Suchdevotions，suchsublimeabnegationsmaybemetwithinheaven，butinthislowworldwhocanhopetobetheobjectofthem？\"
\"Youaremistaken，monsieur，\"repliedthecountess，withsolemnity；
\"suchdevotionsarerare，buttheyareneitherimpossiblenorincredible；only，itisnecessarytohavethehearttofindthem，and，aboveall，thehandtotakethemwhentheyareofferedtoyou。\"
Sosaying，thecountessrosemajestically。
LaPeyradesawthathehadendedbydispleasingher，andhefeltthatshedismissedhim。Herosehimself，bowedrespectfully，andaskedtobereceivedagain。
\"Monsieur，\"saidMadamedeGodollo，\"weHungarians，primitivepeopleandalmostsavagesthatweare，haveasayingthatwhenourdoorisopenbothsidesofitareopenedwide；whenwecloseititisdouble—
lockedandbolted。\"
Thatdignifiedandambiguousspeechwasaccompaniedbyaslightinclinationofthehead。Bewildered，confoundedbythisbehavior，tohimsonew，whichborebutlittleresemblancetothatofFlavie，Brigitte，andMadameMinard，laPeyradeleftthehouse，askinghimselfagainandagainwhetherhehadplayedhisgameproperly。