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Virginie die before youth is over； can we think of Paul and Virginie
estranged？ Let us know that； to the honor of Lucien and Eve； the grave
injury done was not the source of the pain； it was entirely a matter
of feeling upon either side； for the poet in fault； as for the sister
who was in no way to blame。 Things had reached the point when the
slightest misunderstanding； or little quarrel； or a fresh
disappointment in Lucien would end in final estrangement。 Money
difficulties may be arranged； but feelings are inexorable。
Next day Lucien received a copy of the local paper。 He turned pale
with pleasure when he saw his name at the head of one of the first
〃leaders〃 in that highly respectable sheet； which like the provincial
academies that Voltaire compared to a well…bred miss； was never talked
about。
〃Let Franche…Comte boast of giving the light to Victor Hugo； to
Charles Nodier； and Cuvier；〃 ran the article； 〃Brittany of
producing a Chateaubriand and a Lammenais； Normandy of Casimir
Delavigne； and Touraine of the author of Eloa； Angoumois that gave
birth； in the days of Louis XIII。； to our illustrious fellow…
countryman Guez； better known under the name of Balzac； our
Angoumois need no longer envy Limousin her Dupuytren； nor
Auvergne； the country of Montlosier； nor Bordeaux； birthplace of
so many great men； for we too have our poet！The writer of the
beautiful sonnets entitled the Marguerites unites his poet's fame
to the distinction of a prose writer； for to him we also owe the
magnificent romance of The Archer of Charles IX。 Some day our
nephews will be proud to be the fellow…townsmen of Lucien Chardon；
a rival of Petrarch！！！〃
（The country newspapers of those days were sown with notes of
admiration； as reports of English election speeches are studded with
〃cheers〃 in brackets。）
〃In spite of his brilliant success in Paris； our young poet has
not forgotten the Hotel de Bargeton； the cradle of his triumphs；
nor the fact that the wife of M。 le Comte du Chatelet； our
Prefect； encouraged his early footsteps in the pathway of the
Muses。 He has come back among us once more！ All L'Houmeau was
thrown into excitement yesterday by the appearance of our Lucien
de Rubempre。 The news of his return produced a profound sensation
throughout the town。 Angouleme certainly will not allow L'Houmeau
to be beforehand in doing honor to the poet who in journalism and
literature has so gloriously represented our town in Paris。 Lucien
de Rubempre； a religious and Royalist poet； has braved the fury of
parties； he has come home； it is said； for repose after the
fatigue of a struggle which would try the strength of an even
greater intellectual athlete than a poet and a dreamer。
〃There is some talk of restoring our great poet to the title of
the illustrious house of de Rubempre； of which his mother； Madame
Chardon； is the last survivor； and it is added that Mme。 la
Comtesse du Chatelet was the first to think of this eminently
politic idea。 The revival of an ancient and almost extinct family
by young talent and newly won fame is another proof that the
immortal author of the Charter still cherishes the desire
expressed by the words 'Union and oblivion。'
〃Our poet is staying with his sister； Mme。 Sechard。〃
Under the heading 〃Angouleme〃 followed some items of news：
〃Our Prefect； M。 le Comte du Chatelet； Gentleman in Ordinary to
His Majesty； has just been appointed Extraordinary Councillor of
State。
〃All the authorities called yesterday on M。 le Prefet。
〃Mme。 la Comtesse du Chatelet will receive on Thursdays。
〃The Mayor of Escarbas； M。 de Negrepelisse； the representative of
the younger branch of the d'Espard family； and father of Mme。 du
Chatelet； recently raised to the rank of a Count and Peer of
France and a Commander of the Royal Order of St。 Louis； has been
nominated for the presidency of the electoral college of Angouleme
at the forthcoming elections。〃
〃There！〃 said Lucien； taking the paper to his sister。 Eve read the
article with attention； and returned with the sheet with a thoughtful
air。
〃What do you say to that？〃 asked he； surprised at a reserve that
seemed so like indifference。
〃The Cointets are proprietors of that paper； dear；〃 she said； 〃they
put in exactly what they please； and it is not at all likely that the
prefecture or the palace have forced their hands。 Can you imagine that
your old rival the prefect would be generous enough to sing your
praises？ Have you forgotten that the Cointets are suing us under
Metivier's name？ and that they are trying to turn David's discovery to
their own advantage？ I do not know the source of this paragraph； but
it makes me uneasy。 You used to rouse nothing but envious feeling and
hatred here； a prophet has no honor in his own country； and they
slandered you； and now in a moment it is all changed〃
〃You do not know the vanity of country towns；〃 said Lucien。 〃A whole
little town in the south turned out not so long ago to welcome a young
man that had won the first prize in some competition； they looked on
him as a budding great man。〃
〃Listen； dear Lucien； I do not want to preach to you； I will say
everything in a very few wordsyou must suspect every little thing
here。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Lucien； but he was surprised at his sister's
lack of enthusiasm。 He himself was full of delight to find his
humiliating and shame…stricken return to Angouleme changed into a
triumph in this way。
〃You have no belief in the little fame that has cost so dear！〃 he said
again after a long silence。 Something like a storm had been gathering
in his heart during the past hour。 For all answer Eve gave him a look；
and Lucien felt ashamed of his accusation。
Dinner was scarcely over when a messenger came from the prefecture
with a note addressed to M。 Chardon。 That note appeared to decide the
day for the poet's vanity； the world contending against the family for
him had won。
〃M。 le Comte Sixte du Chatelet and Mme。 la Comtesse du Chatelet
request the honor of M。 Lucien Chardon's company at dinner on the
fifteenth of September。 R。 S。 V。 P。〃
Enclosed with the invitation there was a card
LE COMTE SIXTE DU CHATELET；
Gentleman of the Bedchamber； Prefect of the Charente；
Councillor of State。
〃You are in favor；〃 said old Sechard； 〃they are talking about you in
the town as if you were somebody！ Angouleme and L'Houmeau are
disputing as to which shall twist wreaths for you。〃
〃Eve； dear；〃 Lucien whispered to his sister； 〃I am exactly in the same
condition as I was before in L'Houmeau when Mme。 de Bargeton sent me
the first invitationI have not a dress suit for the prefect's
dinner…party。〃
〃Do you really mean to accept the invitation？〃 Eve asked in alarm； and
a dispute sprang up between the brother and sister。 Eve's provincial
good sense told her that if you appear in society； it must be with a
smiling face and faultless costume。 〃What will come of the prefect's
dinner？〃 she wondered。 〃What has Lucien to do with the great people of
Angouleme？ Are they p