the deputy of arcis-第48章
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olence； his speech； always calm； elegant； and self…possessed； so impressed the mind of his hearer； that I felt the tide of my anger going down and my sense of security rising。
In fact； his answer /is/ irresistible。 The convent of the Ursuline sistersheavens and earth！ that can't be the rendezvous of makers of false coin； and if the Mother Marie…des…Anges guarantees my father to me； as it appears she has already done to the notary； I should be foolish indeed to persist in my doubts。
〃Very good；〃 I said to Jacques Bricheteau； 〃I will go up and get my hat and walk up and down the bank of the river until you are ready。〃
〃That's right； and be sure you watch the door of the hotel to see that I do not give you the slip as I did once upon a time on the Quai de Bethune。〃
Impossible to be more intelligent than that man； he seems to divine one's thoughts。 I was ashamed of this last doubt of mine； and told him that； on the whole； I would go and finish a letter while awaiting him。 It was this letter； dear friend； which I must now close if I wish it to go by to…day's post。 I will write you soon of my visit to the convent。
XIV
MARIE…GASTON TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
Arcis…sur…Aube； May 6； 1839。
Madame；In any case I should gladly have profited by the request you were so good as to make that I should write to you during my stay in this town； but in granting me this favor you could not really know the full extent of your charity。 Without you； madame； and the consolation of writing to you sometimes； what would become of me under the habitual weight of my sad thoughts in a town which has neither society； nor commerce； nor curiosities； nor environs； and where all intellectual activity spends itself on the making of pickled pork； soap…grease； stockings； and cotton night…caps。 Dorlange； whom I shall not long call by that name （you shall presently know why） is so absorbed in steering his electoral frigate that I scarcely see him。
I told you； madame； that I resolved to come down here and join our mutual friend in consequence of a certain trouble of mind apparent in one of his letters； which informed me of a great revolution taking place in his life。 I am able to…day to be more explicit。 Dorlange at last knows his father。 He is the natural son of the Marquis de Sallenauve； the last living scion of one of the best families in Champagne。 Without explaining the reasons which have hitherto induced him to keep his son's birth secret； the marquis has now recognized him legally。 He has also bought and presented to him an estate formerly belonging to the Sallenauve family。 This estate is situated in Arcis itself； and its possession will assist the project of our friend's election。 That project dates much farther back than we thought； and it did not take its rise in the fancy of Dorlange。
A year ago； the marquis began to prepare for it by sending his son a sum of money for the purchase of real estate in conformity with electoral laws； and it is also for the furtherance of this purpose that he has now made him doubly a landowner。 The real object of all these sacrifices not seeming plain to Charles de Sallenauve； doubts have arisen in his mind； and it was to assist in dispelling them that my friendship for the poor fellow brought me here。
The marquis appears to be as odd and whimsical as he is opulent； for； instead of remaining in Arcis； where his presence and his name would contribute to the success of the election he desires； the very day after legal formalities attending the recognition of his son had been complied with； he departed furtively for foreign countries； where he says he has important interests； without so much as taking leave of his son。 This coldness has poisoned the happiness Charles would otherwise feel in these events； but one must take fathers as they are； for Dorlange and I are living proofs that all cannot have them as they want them。
Another eccentricity of the marquis is the choice he has made； as chief assistant in his son's election； of an old Ursuline nun； with whom he seems to have made a bargain； in which； strange to say； you have unconsciously played a part。 Yes； madame； the Saint…Ursula for which； unknown to yourself； you were posing； will have； to all appearances； a considerable influence on the election of our friend。 The case is this：
For many years Mother Marie…des…Anges； superior of the Ursuline convent at Arcis…sur…Aube； has desired to install in the chapel of her convent an image of its patron saint。 But this abbess； who is a woman of taste and intelligence； would not listen to the idea of one of those stock figures which can be bought ready…made from the venders of church decorations。 On the other hand； she thought it was robbing her poor to spend on this purpose the large sum necessary to procure a work of art。 The nephew of this excellent woman is an organist in Paris to whom the Marquis de Sallenauve； then in emigration； had confided the care of his son。 When it became a question of making Charles a deputy； the marquis naturally thought of Arcis； a place where his family had left so many memories。 The organist also recollected his aunt's desire； he knew how influential she was in that region because of her saintliness； and having in his nature a touch of that intrigue which likes to undertake things difficult and arduous； he went to see her； with the approval of the Marquis de Sallenauve； and let her know that one of the most skilful sculptors in Paris was ready to make her the statue of Saint…Ursula if she； on her side； would promise to secure the artist's election as deputy from the arrondissement of Arcis。
The old nun did not think the undertaking beyond her powers。 She now possesses the object of her pious longings； the statue arrived some days ago； and is already in the chapel of the convent； where she proposes to give it； before long； a solemn inauguration。 It now remains to be seen whether the good nun will perform her part of the contract。
Well； madame； strange to say； after hearing and inquiring into the whole matter I shall not be surprised if this remarkable woman should carry the day。 From the description our friend gives of her； Mother Marie…des…Anges is a small woman； short and thick…set； whose face is prepossessing and agreeable beneath its wrinkles and the mask of saffron…tinted pallor which time and the austerities of a cloister have placed upon it。 Carrying very lightly the weight of her corpulence and also that of her seventy…six years； she is lively； alert； and frisky to a degree that shames the youngest of us。 For fifty years she has governed in a masterly manner her community； which has always been the most regular； the best organized； and also the richest society in the diocese of Troyes。 Admirably fitted for the training of youth； she has long conducted a school for girls； which is famous throughout the department of the Aube and adjacent regions。 Having thus superintended the education of nearly all the daughters of the best houses in the province； it is easy to imagine the influence she has acquired among the aristocracy；an influence she probably intends to use in the electoral struggle she has promised to take part in。
On the other hand； it appears that this really extraordinary woman is the sovereign disposer of the votes of the democratic party in the arrondissement of Arcis。 Until now； the existence of that party in Arcis has been considered problematical； but it is actually； by its nature； active and stirring； and our candidate proposes to present himself under its banner。 Evidently； therefore； the support the good mother has promised will be useful and important。
I am sure you will admire with me theas one might saybicephalous ability of this old nun； who has managed to keep well with the nobility and the secular clergy on the one hand； and on the other to lead with her wand the radical party； their sworn enemy。 Admirable for her charity and her lucid intellect； respected throughout the region as a saint； exposed during the Revolution to a dreadful persecution； which she bore with rare courage； one can easily understand her close relations with the upper and conservative classes； but why she should be equally welcome to democrats and t
