"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。