ursula-第50章
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where he went with his patron for the first time after the deeds were
signed。
Minoret had that morning received a confidential letter from his son
asking him for information as to what was happening in connection with
Ursula； information that he desired to obtain before going to Nemours
with the procureur du roi to place her under shelter from these
atrocities in the convent of the Adoration。 Desire exhorted his
father； in case this persecution should be the work of any of their
friends； to give to whoever it might be warning and good advice； for
even if the law could not punish this crime it would certainly
discover the truth and hold it over the delinquent's head。 Minoret had
now attained a great object。 Owner of the chateau du Rouvre； one of
the finest estates in the Gatinais； he had also a rent…roll of some
forty odd thousand francs a year from the rich domains which
surrounded the park。 He could well afford to snap his fingers at
Goupil。 Besides； he intended to live on the estate； where the sight of
Ursula would no longer trouble him。
〃My boy；〃 he said to Goupil； as they walked along the terrace； 〃let my
young cousin alone； now。〃
〃Pooh！〃 said the clerk； unable to imagine what capricious conduct
meant。
〃Oh！ I'm not ungrateful； you have enabled me to get this fine brick
chateau with the stone copings （which couldn't be built now for two
hundred thousand francs） and those farms and preserves and the park
and gardens and woods； all for two hundred and eighty thousand francs。
No； I'm not ungrateful； I'll give you ten per cent； twenty thousand
francs； for your services； and you can buy a sheriff's practice in
Nemours。 I'll guarantee you a marriage with one of Cremiere's
daughters； the eldest。〃
〃The one who talks piston！〃 cried Goupil。
〃She'll have thirty thousand francs；〃 replied Minoret。 〃Don't you see；
my dear boy； that you are cut out for a sheriff； just as I was to be a
post master？ People should keep to their vocation。〃
〃Very well； then；〃 said Goupil； falling from the pinnacle of his
hopes； 〃here's a stamped cheque； write me an order for twenty thousand
francs； I want the money in hand at once。〃
Minoret had eighteen thousand francs by him at that moment of which
his wife knew nothing。 He thought the best way to get rid of Goupil
was to sign the draft。 The clerk； seeing the flush of seigniorial
fever on the face of the imbecile and colossal Machiavelli； threw him
an 〃au revoir；〃 by way of farewell； accompanied with a glance which
would have made any one but an idiotic parvenu； lost in contemplation
of the magnificent chateau built in the style in vogue under Louis
XIII。； tremble in his shoes。
〃Are you not going to wait for me？〃 he cried； observing that Goupil
was going away on foot。
〃You'll find me on our path； never fear； papa Minoret；〃 replied
Goupil； athirst for vengeance and resolved to know the meaning of the
zigzags of Minoret's strange conduct。
Since the day when the last vile calumny had sullied her life Ursula；
a prey to one of those inexplicable maladies the seat of which is in
the soul； seemed to be rapidly nearing death。 She was deathly pale；
speaking only at rare intervals and then in slow and feeble words；
everything about her； her glance of gentle indifference； even the
expression of her forehead； all revealed the presence of some
consuming thought。 She was thinking how the ideal wreath of chastity；
with which throughout all ages the Peoples crowned their virgins； had
fallen from her brow。 She heard in the void and in the silence the
dishonoring words； the malicious comments； the laughter of the little
town。 The trial was too heavy； her innocence was too delicate to allow
her to survive the murderous blow。 She complained no more； a sorrowful
smile was on her lips； her eyes appealed to heaven； to the Sovereign
of angels； against man's injustice。
When Goupil reached Nemours； Ursula had just been carried down from
her chamber to the ground…floor in the arms of La Bougival and the
doctor。 A great event was about to take place。 When Madame de
Portenduere became really aware that the girl was dying like an
ermine； though less injured in her honor than Clarissa Harlowe； she
resolved to go to her and comfort her。 The sight of her son's anguish；
who during the whole preceding night had seemed beside himself； made
the Breton soul of the old woman yield。 Moreover； it seemed worthy of
her own dignity to revive the courage of a girl so pure； and she saw
in her visit a counterpoise to all the evil done by the little town。
Her opinion； surely more powerful than that of the crowd； ought to
carry with it； she thought； the influence of race。 This step； which
the abbe came to announce； made so great a change in Ursula that the
doctor； who was about to ask for a consultation of Parisian doctors；
recovered hope。 They placed her on her uncle's sofa； and such was the
character of her beauty that she lay there in her mourning garments；
pale from suffering； she was more exquisitely lovely than in the
happiest hours of her life。 When Savinien； with his mother on his arm；
entered the room she colored vividly。
〃Do not rise； my child；〃 said the old lady imperatively； 〃weak and ill
as I am myself； I wished to come and tell you my feelings about what
is happening。 I respect you as the purest； the most religious and
excellent girl in the Gatinais； and I think you worthy to make the
happiness of a gentleman。〃
At first poor Ursula was unable to answer； she took the withered hands
of Savinien's mother and kissed them。
〃Ah； madame；〃 she said in a faltering voice； 〃I should never have had
the boldness to think of rising above my condition if I had not been
encouraged by promises； my only claim was that of an affection without
bounds； but now they have found the means to separate me from him I
love；they have made me unworthy of him。 Never！〃 she cried； with a
ring in her voice which painfully affected those about her； 〃never
will I consent to give to any man a degraded hand； a stained
reputation。 I loved too well；yes； I can admit it in my present
condition；I love a creature almost as I love God； and God〃
〃Hush； my child！ do not calumniate God。 Come； my daughter；〃 said the
old lady； making an effort； 〃do not exaggerate the harm done by an
infamous joke in which no one believes。 I give you my word； you will
live and you shall be happy。〃
〃We shall be happy！〃 cried Savinien； kneeling beside Ursula and
kissing her hand； 〃my mother has called you her daughter。〃
〃Enough； enough；〃 said the doctor feeling his patient's pulse； 〃do not
kill her with joy。〃
At that moment Goupil； who found the street door ajar； opened that of
the little salon； and showed his hideous face blazing with thoughts of
vengeance which had crowded into his mind as he hurried along。
〃Monsieur de Portenduere；〃 he said； in a voice like the hissing of a
viper forced from its hole。
〃What do you want？〃 said Savinien； rising from his knees。
〃I have a word to say to you。〃
Savinien left the room； and Goupil took him into the little courtyard。
〃Swear to me by Ursula's life； by your honor as a gentleman； to do by
me as if I had never told you what I am about to tell。 Do this； and I
will reveal to you the cause of the persecutions directed against
Mademoiselle Mirouet。〃
〃Can I put a stop to them？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Can I avenge them？〃
〃On their author； yeson his tool； no。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃BecauseI am the tool。〃
Savinien turned pale。
〃I have just seen Ursula〃 said Goupil。
〃Ursula？〃 said the lover； looking fixedly at the clerk。
〃Mademoiselle Mirouet；〃 continued Goupil； made respectful by
Savinien's tone； 〃and I would undo with my blood the wrong that has
been done； I repent of it。 If you were to kill me； in a duel or
otherwise； what good would my blood do you？ can you drink it？ At this
moment it w
