newsituationsseemtimeworn；thebest-turnedandmosthighlypolishedphraseslimpandsquint；metaphorsandimagesgrinorcontradicteachother；whatsoeverisfalsestrikestheeye。InlikemannerthispoorwomantrembledlestsheshouldseeonthelipsofMonsieurdeTroisvilleasmileofcontemptforthisepiscopalsalon；shedreadedthecoldlookhemightcastoverthatancientdining-room；inshort，shefearedtheframemightinjureandagetheportrait。Supposetheseantiquitiesshouldcastareflectedlightofoldageuponherself？
Thisquestionmadeherfleshcreep。Shewouldgladly，atthatmoment，spendhalfhersavingsonrefittingherhouseifsomefairywandcoulddoitinamoment。Whereisthegeneralwhohasnottrembledontheeveofabattle？ThepoorwomanwasnowbetweenherAusterlitzandherWaterloo。
\"MadamelaVicomtessedeTroisville，\"shesaidtoherself；\"anoblename!Ourpropertywillgotoagoodfamily，atanyrate。\"
Shefellapreytoanirritationwhichmadeeveryfibreofhernervesquivertoalltheirpapillae，longsunkinflesh。Herblood，lashedbythisnewhope，wasinmotion。Shefeltthestrengthtoconverse，ifnecessary，withMonsieurdeTroisville。
ItisuselesstorelatetheactivitywithwhichJosette，Jacquelin，Mariette，Moreau，andhisagentswentabouttheirfunctions。Itwaslikethebusynessofantsabouttheireggs。
Allthatdailycarehadalreadyrenderedneatandcleanwasagaingoneoverandbrushedandrubbedandscrubbed。Thechinaofceremonysawthelight；thedamasklinenmarked\"A，B，C\"wasdrawnfromdepthswhereitlayunderatripleguardofwrappings，stillfurtherdefendedbyformidablelinesofpins。Aboveall，MademoiselleCormonsacrificedonthealtarofherhopesthreebottlesofthefamousliqueursofMadameAmphoux，themostillustriousofallthedistillersofthetropics，——anameverydeartogourmets。Thankstothedevotionofherlieutenants，mademoisellewassoonreadyfortheconflict。Thedifferentweapons——furniture，cookery，provisions，inshort，allthevariousmunitionsofwar，togetherwithabodyofreserveforces——werereadyalongthewholeline。Jacquelin，Mariette，andJosettereceivedorderstoappearinfulldress。Thegardenwasraked。Theoldmaidregrettedthatshecouldn\'tcometoanunderstandingwiththenightingalesnestinginthetrees，inordertoobtaintheirfinesttrilling。
Atlast，aboutfouro\'clock，attheverymomentwhentheAbbedeSpondereturnedhome，andjustasmademoisellebegantothinkshehadsetthetablewiththebestplateandlinenandpreparedthechoicestdishestonopurpose，theclick-clackofapostilionwasheardintheVal-Noble。
\"\'Tishe!\"shesaidtoherself，thesnapofthewhipechoinginherheart。
Trueenough；heraldedbyallthisgossip，apost-chaise，inwhichwasasinglegentleman，madesogreatasensationcomingdowntherueSaint-BlaiseandturningintotherueduCoursthatseverallittlegamainsandsomegrownpersonsfollowedit，andstoodingroupsaboutthegateofthehotelCormontoseeitenter。Jacquelin，whoforesawhisownmarriageinthatofhismistress，hadalsoheardtheclick-
clackintherueSaint-Blaise，andhadopenedwidethegatesintothecourtyard。Thepostilion，afriendofhis，tookprideinmakingafineturn-in，anddrewupsharplybeforetheportico。Theabbecameforwardtogreethisguest，whosecarriagewasemptiedwithaspeedthathighwaymenmightputintotheoperation；thechaiseitselfwasrolledintothecoach-house，thegatesclosed，andinafewmomentsallsignsofMonsieurdeTroisville\'sarrivalhaddisappeared。NeverdidtwochemicalsblendintoeachotherwithgreaterrapiditythanthehotelCormondisplayedinabsorbingtheVicomtedeTroisville。
Mademoiselle，whoseheartwasbeatinglikealizardcaughtbyaherdsman，satheroicallystillonhersofa，besidethefireinthesalon。Josetteopenedthedoor；andtheVicomtedeTroisville，followedbytheAbbedeSponde，presentedhimselftotheeyesofthespinster。
\"Niece，thisisMonsieurleVicomtedeTroisville，thegrandsonofoneofmyoldschoolmates；MonsieurdeTroisville，myniece，MademoiselleCormon。\"
\"Ah!thatgooduncle；howwellhedoesit!\"thoughtRose-Marie-
Victoire。
TheVicomtedeTroisvillewas，topainthimintwowords，duBousquierennobled。Betweenthetwomentherewaspreciselythedifferencewhichseparatesthevulgarstylefromthenoblestyle。Iftheyhadbothbeenpresent，themostfanaticliberalwouldnothavedeniedtheexistenceofaristocracy。Theviscount\'sstrengthhadallthedistinctionofelegance；hisfigurehadpreserveditsmagnificentdignity。Hehadblueeyes，blackhair，anoliveskin，andlookedtobeaboutforty-sixyearsofage。YoumighthavethoughthimahandsomeSpaniardpreservedintheiceofRussia。Hismanner，carriage，andattitude，alldenotedadiplomatwhohadseenEurope。Hisdresswasthatofawell-bredtraveller。Asheseemedfatigued，theabbeofferedtoshowhimtohisroom，andwasmuchamazedwhenhisniecethrewopenthedooroftheboudoir，transformedintoabedroom。
MademoiselleCormonandherunclethenleftthenoblestrangertoattendtohisownaffairs，aidedbyJacquelin，whobroughtuphisluggage，andwentthemselvestowalkbesidetheriveruntiltheirguesthadmadehistoilet。AlthoughtheAbbedeSpondechancedtobeevenmoreabsent-mindedthanusual，MademoiselleCormonwasnotlesspreoccupied。Theybothwalkedoninsilence。TheoldmaidhadneverbeforemetanymanasseductiveasthisOlympeanviscount。Shemighthavesaidtoherself，astheGermansdo，\"Thisismyideal!\"insteadofwhichshefeltherselfboundfromheadtofoot，andcouldonlysay，\"Here\'smyaffair!\"ThensheflewtoMariettetoknowifthedinnercouldbeputbackawhilewithoutlossofexcellence。
\"Uncle，yourMonsieurdeTroisvilleisveryamiable，\"shesaid，onreturning。
\"Why，niece，hehasn\'tasyetsaidaword。\"
\"Butyoucanseeitinhisways，hismanners，hisface。Isheabachelor？\"
\"I\'msureIdon\'tknow，\"repliedtheabbe，whowasthinkingofadiscussiononmercy，latelybegunbetweentheAbbeCouturierandhimself。\"MonsieurdeTroisvillewrotemethathewantedtobuyahousehere。Ifhewasmarried，hewouldn\'tcomealoneonsuchanerrand，\"addedtheabbe，carelessly，notconceivingtheideathathisniececouldbethinkingofmarriage。
\"Isherich？\"
\"Heisayoungersonoftheyoungerbranch，\"repliedheruncle。\"Hisgrandfathercommandedasquadron，butthefatherofthisyoungmanmadeabadmarriage。\"
\"Youngman!\"exclaimedtheoldmaid。\"Itseemstome，uncle，thathemustbeatleastforty-five。\"Shefeltthestrongestdesiretoputtheiryearsonapar。
\"Yes，\"saidtheabbe；\"buttoapoorpriestofseventy，Rose，amanoffortyseemsayouth。\"
AllAlenconknewbythistimethatMonsieurdeTroisvillehadarrivedattheCormons。Thetravellersoonrejoinedhishosts，andbegantoadmiretheBrillante，thegarden，andthehouse。
\"Monsieurl\'abbe，\"hesaid，\"mywholeambitionistohaveahouselikethis。\"Theoldmaidfanciedadeclarationlurkedinthatspeech，andsheloweredhereyes。\"Youmustenjoyitverymuch，mademoiselle，\"
addedtheviscount。
\"Howcoulditbeotherwise？Ithasbeeninourfamilysince1574，theperiodatwhichoneofourancestors，stewardtotheDucd\'Alencon，acquiredthelandandbuiltthehouse，\"repliedMademoiselleCormon。
\"Itisbuiltonpiles，\"sheadded。
Jacquelinannounceddinner。MonsieurdeTroisvilleofferedhisarmtothehappywoman，whoendeavorednottoleantooheavilyuponit；shefeared，asusual，toseemtomakeadvances。
\"Everythingissoharmonioushere，\"saidtheviscount，asheseatedhimselfattable。
\"Yes，ourtreesarefullofbirds，whichgiveusconcertsfornothing；
nooneeverfrightensthem；andthenightingalessingatnight，\"saidMademoiselleCormon。
\"Iwasspeakingoftheinteriorofthehouse，\"remarkedtheviscount，whodidnottroublehimselftoobserveMademoiselleCormon，andthereforedidnotperceivethedulnessofhermind。\"Everythingissoinkeeping，——thetonesofcolor，thefurniture，thegeneralcharacter。\"
\"Butitcostsagreatdeal；taxesareenormous，\"respondedtheexcellentwoman。
\"Ah!taxesarehigh，arethey？\"saidtheviscount，preoccupiedwithhisownideas。
\"Idon\'tknow，\"repliedtheabbe。\"Myniecemanagesthepropertyofeachofus。\"
\"Taxesarenotofmuchimportancetotherich，\"saidMademoiselleCormon，notwishingtobethoughtmiserly。\"Asforthefurniture，I
shallleaveitasitis，andchangenothing，——unlessImarry；andthen，ofcourse，everythingheremustsuitthehusband。\"
\"Youhavenobleprinciples，mademoiselle，\"saidtheviscount，smiling。
\"Youwillmakeonehappyman。\"
\"Nooneevermadetomesuchaprettyspeech，\"thoughttheoldmaid。
TheviscountcomplimentedMademoiselleCormonontheexcellenceofherserviceandtheadmirablearrangementsofthehouse，remarkingthathehadsupposedtheprovincesbehindtheageinthatrespect；but，onthecontrary，hefoundthem，astheEnglishsay，\"verycomfortable。\"
\"Whatcanthatwordmean？\"shethought。\"Oh，whereisthechevaliertoexplainittome？\'Comfortable，\'——thereseemtobeseveralwordsinit。Well，courage!\"shesaidtoherself。\"Ican\'tbeexpectedtoansweraforeignlanguage——But，\"shecontinuedaloud，feelinghertongueuntiedbytheeloquencewhichnearlyallhumancreaturesfindinmomentouscircumstances，\"wehaveaverybrilliantsocietyhere，monsieur。Itassemblesatmyhouse，andyoushalljudgeofitthisevening，forsomeofmyfaithfulfriendshavenodoubtheardofmyreturnandyourarrival。AmongthemistheChevalierdeValois，aseigneuroftheoldcourt，amanofinfinitewitandtaste；thenthereisMonsieurleMarquisd\'EsgrignonandMademoiselleArmande，hissister\"shebithertonguewithvexation，——\"awomanremarkableinherway，\"sheadded。\"Sheresolvedtoremainunmarriedinordertoleaveallherfortunetoherbrotherandnephew。\"
\"Ah!\"exclaimedtheviscount。\"Yes，thed\'Esgrignons，——Irememberthem。\"
\"Alenconisverygay，\"continuedtheoldmaid，nowfairlylaunched。
\"There\'smuchamusement:thereceiver-generalgivesballs；theprefectisanamiableman；andMonseigneurthebishopsometimeshonorsuswithavisit——\"
\"Well，then，\"saidtheviscount，smiling，\"Ihavedonewiselytocomeback，likethehare，todieinmyform。\"
\"Yes，\"shesaid。\"I，too，attachmyselforIdie。\"
Theviscountsmiled。
\"Ah!\"thoughttheoldmaid，\"alliswell；heunderstandsme。\"
Theconversationcontinuedongeneralities。Byoneofthosemysteriousunknownandundefinablefaculties，MademoiselleCormonfoundinherbrain，underthepressureofherdesiretobeagreeable，allthephrasesandopinionsoftheChevalierdeValois。Itwaslikeaduelinwhichthedevilhimselfpointedthepistol。Neverwasanyadversarybetteraimedat。Theviscountwasfartoowell-bredtospeakoftheexcellenceofthedinner；buthissilencewaspraise。AshedrankthedeliciouswineswhichJacquelinservedtohimprofusely，heseemedtofeelhewaswithfriends，andtomeetthemwithpleasure；forthetrueconnoisseurdoesnotapplaud，heenjoys。Heinquiredthepriceofland，ofhouses，ofestates；hemadeMademoiselleCormondescribeatlengththeconfluenceoftheSartheandtheBrillante；heexpressedsurprisethatthetownwasplacedsofarfromtheriver，andseemedtobemuchinterestedinthetopographyoftheplace。
Thesilentabbelefthisniecetothrowthediceofconversation；andshetrulyfeltthatshepleasedMonsieurdeTroisville，whosmiledathergracefully，andcommittedhimselfduringthisdinnerfarmorethanhermosteagersuitorshadeverdoneintendays。Imagine，therefore，thelittleattentionswithwhichhewaspetted；youmighthavethoughthimacherishedlover，whosereturnbroughtjoytothehousehold。
Mademoiselleforesawthemomentwhentheviscountwantedbread；shewatchedhiseverylook；whenheturnedhisheadsheadroitlyputuponhisplateaportionofsomedishheseemedtolike；hadhebeenagourmand，shewouldalmosthavekilledhim；butwhatadelightfulspecimenoftheattentionsshewouldshowtoahusband!Shedidnotcommitthefollyofdepreciatingherself；onthecontrary，sheseteverysailbravely，ranupallherflags，assumedthebearingofthequeenofAlencon，andboastedofherexcellentpreserves。Infact，shefishedforcomplimentsinspeakingofherself，forshesawthatshepleasedtheviscount；thetruthbeingthathereagerdesirehadsotransformedherthatshebecamealmostawoman。
Atdessertsheheard，notwithoutemotionsofdelight，certainsoundsintheantechamberandsalonwhichdenotedthearrivalofherusualguests。ShecalledtheattentionofheruncleandMonsieurdeTroisvilleto
thispromptattendanceasaproofoftheaffectionthatwasfeltforher；whereasitwasreallytheresultofthepoignantcuriositywhichhadseizeduponthetown。Impatienttoshowherselfinallherglory，MademoiselleCormontoldJacquelintoservecoffeeandliqueursinthesalon，wherehepresentlysetout，inviewofthewholecompany，amagnificentliqueur-standofDresdenchinawhichsawthelightonlytwiceayear。Thiscircumstancewastakennoteofbythecompany，standingreadytogossipoverthemeresttrifle:——
\"Thedeuce!\"mutteredduBousquier。\"ActuallyMadameAmphoux\'sliqueurs，whichtheyonlyserveatthefourchurchfestivals!\"
\"Undoubtedlythemarriagewasarrangedayearagobyletter，\"saidthechief-justiceduRonceret。\"ThepostmastertellsmehisofficehasreceivedletterspostmarkedOdessaformorethanayear。\"
MadameGransontrembled。TheChevalierdeValois，thoughhehaddinedwiththeappetiteoffourmen，turnedpaleeventotheleftsectionofhisface。Feelingthathewasabouttobetrayhimself，hesaidhastily，——
\"Don\'tyouthinkitisverycoldto-day？Iamalmostfrozen。\"
\"TheneighborhoodofRussia，perhaps，\"saidduBousquier。
Thechevalierlookedathimasiftosay，\"Wellplayed!\"
MademoiselleCormonappearedsoradiant，sotriumphant，thatthecompanythoughtherhandsome。Thisextraordinarybrilliancywasnottheeffectofsentimentonly。Sinceearlymorningherbloodhadbeenwhirlingtempestuouslywithinher，andhernerveswereagitatedbythepresentimentofsomegreatcrisis。Itrequiredallthesecircumstancescombinedtomakehersounlikeherself。Withwhatjoydidshenowmakehersolemnpresentationoftheviscounttothechevalier，thechevaliertotheviscount，andallAlencontoMonsieurdeTroisville，andMonsieurdeTroisvilletoallAlencon!
Byanaccidentwhollyexplainable，theviscountandchevalier，aristocratsbynature，cameinstantlyintounison；theyrecognizedeachotheratonceasmenbelongingtothesamesphere。Accordingly，theybegantoconversetogether，standingbeforethefireplace。A
circleformedaroundthem；andtheirconversation，thoughutteredinalowvoice，waslistenedtoinreligioussilence。Togivetheeffectofthissceneitisnecessarytodramatizeit，andtopictureMademoiselleCormonoccupiedinpouringoutthecoffeeofherimaginarysuitor，withherbacktothefireplace。
MonsieurdeValois。\"Monsieurlevicomtehascome，Iamtold，tosettleinAlencon？\"
MonsieurdeTroisville。\"Yes，monsieur，Iamlookingforahouse。\"
[MademoiselleCormon，cupinhand，turnsround。]\"Itmustbealargehouse\"[MademoiselleCormonoffershimthecup]\"tolodgemywholefamily。\"[Theeyesoftheoldmaidaretroubled。]
MonsieurdeValois。\"Areyoumarried？\"
MonsieurdeTroisville。\"Yes，forthelastsixteenyears，toadaughterofthePrincessScherbellof。\"
MademoiselleCormonfainted；duBousquier，whosawherstagger，sprangforwardandreceivedherinhisarms；someoneopenedthedoorandallowedhimtopassoutwithhisenormousburden。Thefieryrepublican，instructedbyJosette，foundstrengthtocarrytheoldmaidtoherbedroom，wherehelaidheroutonthebed。Josette，armedwithscissors，cutthecorset，whichwasterriblytight。DuBousquierflungwateronMademoiselleCormon\'sfaceandbosom，which，releasedfromthecorset，overflowedliketheLoireinflood。Thepoorwomanopenedhereyes，sawduBousquier，andgaveacryofmodestyatthesightofhim。DuBousquierretiredatonce，leavingsixwomen，attheheadofwhomwasMadameGranson，radiantwithjoy，totakecareoftheinvalid。
WhathadtheChevalierdeValoisbeenaboutallthistime？Faithfultohissystem，hehadcoveredtheretreat。
\"ThatpoorMademoiselleCormon，\"hesaidtoMonsieurdeTroisville，gazingattheassembly，whoselaughterwasrepressedbyhiscoolaristocraticglances，\"herbloodishorriblyoutoforder；shewouldn\'tbebledbeforegoingtoPrebaudetherestate，——andseetheresult!\"
\"Shecamebackthismorningintherain，\"saidtheAbbedeSponde，\"andshemayhavetakencold。Itwon\'tbeanything；itisonlyalittleupsetsheissubjectto。\"
\"Shetoldmeyesterdayshehadnothadoneforthreemonths，addingthatshewasafraiditwouldplayheratrickatlast，\"saidthechevalier。
\"Ha!soyouaremarried？\"saidJacquelintohimselfashelookedatMonsieurdeTroisville，whowasquietlysippinghiscoffee。
Thefaithfulservantespousedhismistress\'sdisappointment；hedivinedit，andhepromptlycarriedawaytheliqueursofMadameAmphoux，whichwereofferedtoabachelor，andnottothehusbandofaRussianwoman。
Allthesedetailswerenoticedandlaughedat。TheAbbedeSpondeknewtheobjectofMonsieurdeTroisville\'sjourney；but，absent-mindedasusual，heforgotit，notsupposingthathisniececouldhavetheslightestinterestinMonsieurdeTroisville\'smarriage。Asfortheviscount，preoccupiedwiththeobjectofhisjourney，and，likemanyhusbands，noteagertotalkabouthiswife，hehadhadnooccasiontosayhewasmarried；besides，hewouldnaturallysupposethatMademoiselleCormonknewit。
DuBousquierreappeared，andwasquestionedfuriously。Oneofthesixwomencamedownsoonafter，andannouncedthatMademoiselleCormonwasmuchbetter，andthatthedoctorhadcome。Sheintendedtostayinbed，asitwasnecessarytobleedher。Thesalonwasnowfull。
MademoiselleCormon\'sabsenceallowedtheladiespresenttodiscussthetragi-comicscene——embellished，extended，historified，embroidered，wreathed，colored，andadorned——whichhadjusttakenplace，andwhich，onthemorrow，wasdestinedtooccupyallAlencon。
\"ThatgoodMonsieurduBousquier!howwellhecarriedyou!\"saidJosettetohermistress。\"Hewasreallypaleatthesightofyou；helovesyoustill。\"
Thatspeechservedasclosuretothissolemnandterribleevening。
ThroughoutthemorningofthenextdayeverycircumstanceofthelatecomedywasknowninthehouseholdofAlencon，and——letussayittotheshameofthattown，——theycausedinextinguishablelaughter。ButonthatdayMademoiselleCormonmuchbenefitedbythebleedingwouldhaveseemedsublimeeventotheboldestscoffers，hadtheywitnessedthenobledignity，thesplendidChristianresignationwhichinfluencedherasshegaveherarmtoherinvoluntarydeceivertogointobreakfast。Crueljesters!whycouldyounothaveseenherasshesaidtotheviscount，——
\"MadamedeTroisvillewillhavedifficultyinfindingasuitablehouse；domethefavor，monsieur，ofacceptingtheuseofmineduringthetimeyouareinsearchofyours。\"
\"But，mademoiselle，Ihavetwosonsandtwodaughters；weshouldgreatlyinconvenienceyou。\"
\"Praydonotrefuseme，\"shesaidearnestly。
\"ImadeyouthesameofferintheanswerIwrotetoyourletter，\"saidtheabbe；\"butyoudidnotreceiveit。\"
\"What，uncle!thenyouknew——\"
Thepoorwomanstopped。Josettesighed。Neithertheviscountnortheabbeobservedanythingamiss。AfterbreakfasttheAbbedeSpondecarriedoffhisguest，asagreeduponthepreviousevening，toshowhimthevarioushousesinAlenconwhichcouldbebought，andthelotsoflandsonwhichhemightbuild。
Leftaloneinthesalon，MademoiselleCormonsaidtoJosette，withadeeplydistressedair，\"Mychild，Iamnowthetalkofthewholetown。\"
\"Well，then，mademoiselle，youshouldmarry。\"
\"ButIamnotpreparedtomakeachoice。\"
\"Bah!ifIwereinyourplace，IshouldtakeMonsieurduBousquier。\"
\"Josette，MonsieurdeValoissaysheissorepublican。\"
\"Theydon\'tknowwhattheysay，yourgentlemen:sometimestheydeclarethatherobbedtherepublic；hecouldn\'tloveitifhedidthat，\"saidJosette，departing。
\"Thatgirlhasanamazingamountofsense，\"thoughtMademoiselleCormon，whoremainedalone，apreytoherperplexities。
Shesawplainlythatapromptmarriagewastheonlywaytosilencethetown。Thislastcheckmate，soevidentlymortifying，wasofanaturetodriveherintosomeextremeaction；forpersonsdeficientinmindfinddifficultyingettingoutofanypath，eithergoodorevil，intowhichtheyhaveentered。
EachofthetwooldbachelorshadfullyunderstoodthesituationinwhichMademoiselleCormonwasabouttofindherself；consequently，eachresolvedtocallinthecourseofthatmorningtoaskafterherhealth，andtakeoccasion，inbachelorlanguage，to\"presshispoint。\"
MonsieurdeValoisconsideredthatsuchanoccasiondemandedapainstakingtoilet；hethereforetookabathandgroomedhimselfwithextraordinarycare。ForthefirstandlasttimeCesarineobservedhimputtingonwithincredibleartasuspicionofrouge。DuBousquier，ontheotherhand，thatcoarserepublican，spurredbyabriskwill，paidnoattentiontohisdress，andarrivedthefirst。
Suchlittlethingsdecidethefortunesofmen，astheydoofempires。
Kellerman\'schargeatMarengo，Blucher\'sarrivalatWaterloo，LouisXIV。\'sdisdainforPrinceEugene，therectorofDenain，——allthesegreatcausesoffortuneorcatastrophehistoryhasrecorded；butnooneeverprofitsbythemtoavoidthesmallneglectsoftheirownlife。Consequently，observewhathappens:theDuchessedeLangeaissee\"HistoryoftheThirteen\"makesherselfanunforthelackoftenminutes\'patience；JudgePopinotsee\"CommissioninLunacy\"putsofftillthemorrowthedutyofexaminingtheMarquisd\'Espard；
CharlesGrandetsee\"EugenieGrandet\"goestoParisfromBordeauxinsteadofreturningbyNantes；andsucheventsarecalledchanceorfatality!AtouchofrougecarefullyapplieddestroyedthehopesoftheChevalierdeValois；couldthatnoblemanperishinanyotherway？
HehadlivedbytheGraces，andhewasdoomedtodiebytheirhand。
WhilethechevalierwasgivingthislasttouchtohistoilettheroughduBousquierwasenteringthesalonofthedesolateoldmaid。ThisentranceproducedathoughtinMademoiselleCormon\'smindwhichwasfavorabletotherepublican，althoughinallotherrespectstheChevalierdeValoisheldtheadvantages。
\"Godwillsit!\"shesaidpiously，onseeingduBousquier。
\"Mademoiselle，youwillnot，Itrust，thinkmyeagernessimportunate。
IcouldnottrusttomystupidRenetobringnewsofyourcondition，andthereforeIhavecomemyself。\"
\"Iamperfectlyrecovered，\"shereplied，inatoneofemotion。\"I
thankyou，MonsieurduBousquier，\"sheadded，afteraslightpause，andinasignificanttoneofvoice，\"forthetroubleyouhavetaken，andforthatwhichIgaveyouyesterday——\"
Sherememberedhavingbeeninhisarms，andthatagainseemedtoheranorderfromheaven。Shehadbeenseenforthefirsttimebyamanwithherlacescut，hertreasuresviolentlyburstingfromtheircasket。
\"Icarriedyouwithsuchjoythatyouseemedtomelight。\"
HereMademoiselleCormonlookedatduBousquierasshehadneveryetlookedatanymanintheworld。Thusencouraged，thepurveyorcastupontheoldmaidaglancewhichreachedherheart。