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Albert Savarus
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Ellen Marriage
DEDICATION
To Madame Emile Girardin。
ALBERT SAVARUS
One of the few drawing…rooms where； under the Restoration； the
Archbishop of Besancon was sometimes to be seen； was that of the
Baronne de Watteville； to whom he was particularly attached on account
of her religious sentiments。
A word as to this lady； the most important lady of Besancon。
Monsieur de Watteville； a descendant of the famous Watteville； the
most successful and illustrious of murderers and renegadeshis
extraordinary adventures are too much a part of history to be related
herethis nineteenth century Monsieur de Watteville was as gentle and
peaceable as his ancestor of the /Grand Siecle/ had been passionate
and turbulent。 After living in the /Comte/ （La Franche Comte） like a
wood…louse in the crack of a wainscot； he had married the heiress of
the celebrated house of Rupt。 Mademoiselle de Rupt brought twenty
thousand francs a year in the funds to add to the ten thousand francs
a year in real estate of the Baron de Watteville。 The Swiss
gentleman's coat…of…arms （the Wattevilles are Swiss） was then borne as
an escutcheon of pretence on the old shield of the Rupts。 The
marriage； arranged in 1802； was solemnized in 1815 after the second
Restoration。 Within three years of the birth of a daughter all Madame
de Watteville's grandparents were dead； and their estates wound up。
Monsieur de Watteville's house was then sold； and they settled in the
Rue de la Prefecture in the fine old mansion of the Rupts； with an
immense garden stretching to the Rue du Perron。 Madame de Watteville；
devout as a girl； became even more so after her marriage。 She is one
of the queens of the saintly brotherhood which gives the upper circles
of Besancon a solemn air and prudish manners in harmony with the
character of the town。
Monsieur le Baron de Watteville； a dry； lean man devoid of
intelligence； looked worn out without any one knowing whereby； for he
enjoyed the profoundest ignorance； but as his wife was a red…haired
woman； and of a stern nature that became proverbial （we still say 〃as
sharp as Madame de Watteville〃）； some wits of the legal profession
declared that he had been worn against that rock/Rupt/ is obviously
derived from /rupes/。 Scientific students of social phenomena will not
fail to have observed that Rosalie was the only offspring of the union
between the Wattevilles and the Rupts。
Monsieur de Watteville spent his existence in a handsome workshop with
a lathe； he was a turner！ As subsidiary to this pursuit； he took up a
fancy for making collections。 Philosophical doctors； devoted to the
study of madness； regard this tendency towards collecting as a first
degree of mental aberration when it is set on small things。 The Baron
de Watteville treasured shells and geological fragments of the
neighborhood of Besancon。 Some contradictory folk； especially women；
would say of Monsieur de Watteville； 〃He has a noble soul！ He
perceived from the first days of his married life that he would never
be his wife's master； so he threw himself into a mechanical occupation
and good living。〃
The house of the Rupts was not devoid of a certain magnificence worthy
of Louis XIV。； and bore traces of the nobility of the two families who
had mingled in 1815。 The chandeliers of glass cut in the shape of
leaves； the brocades； the damask； the carpets； the gilt furniture；
were all in harmony with the old liveries and the old servants。 Though
served in blackened family plate； round a looking…glass tray furnished
with Dresden china； the food was exquisite。 The wines selected by
Monsieur de Watteville； who； to occupy his time and vary his
employments； was his own butler； enjoyed a sort of fame throughout the
department。 Madame de Watteville's fortune was a fine one； while her
husband's； which consisted only of the estate of Rouxey； worth about
ten thousand francs a year； was not increased by inheritance。 It is
needless to add that in consequence of Madame de Watteville's close
intimacy with the Archbishop； the three or four clever or remarkable
Abbes of the diocese who were not averse to good feeding were very
much at home at her house。
At a ceremonial dinner given in honor of I know not whose wedding； at
the beginning of September 1834； when the women were standing in a
circle round the drawing…room fire； and the men in groups by the
windows； every one exclaimed with pleasure at the entrance of Monsieur
l'Abbe de Grancey； who was announced。
〃Well； and the lawsuit？〃 they all cried。
〃Won！〃 replied the Vicar…General。 〃The verdict of the Court； from
which we had no hope； you know why〃
This was an allusion to the members of the First Court of Appeal of
1830； the Legitimists had almost all withdrawn。
〃The verdict is in our favor on every point； and reverses the decision
of the Lower Court。〃
〃Everybody thought you were done for。〃
〃And we should have been； but for me。 I told our advocate to be off to
Paris； and at the crucial moment I was able to secure a new pleader；
to whom we owe our victory； a wonderful man〃
〃At Besancon？〃 said Monsieur de Watteville； guilelessly。
〃At Besancon；〃 replied the Abbe de Grancey。
〃Oh yes； Savaron；〃 said a handsome young man sitting near the
Baroness； and named de Soulas。
〃He spent five or six nights over it； he devoured documents and
briefs； he had seven or eight interviews of several hours with me；〃
continued Monsieur de Grancey； who had just reappeared at the Hotel de
Rupt for the first time in three weeks。 〃In short； Monsieur Savaron
has just completely beaten the celebrated lawyer whom our adversaries
had sent for from Paris。 This young man is wonderful； the bigwigs say。
Thus the chapter is twice victorious； it has triumphed in law and also
in politics； since it has vanquished Liberalism in the person of the
Counsel of our Municipality。'Our adversaries；' so our advocate said；
'must not expect to find readiness on all sides to ruin the
Archbishoprics。'The President was obliged to enforce silence。 All
the townsfolk of Besancon applauded。 Thus the possession of the
buildings of the old convent remains with the Chapter of the Cathedral
of Besancon。 Monsieur Savaron； however； invited his Parisian opponent
to dine with him as they came out of court。 He accepted； saying；
'Honor to every conqueror；' and complimented him on his success
without bitterness。〃
〃And where did you unearth this lawyer？〃 said Madame de Watteville。 〃I
never heard his name before。〃
〃Why； you can see his windows from hence；〃 replied the Vicar…General。
〃Monsieur Savaron lives in the Rue du Perron； the garden of his house
joins on to yours。〃
〃But he is not a native of the Comte；〃 said Monsieur de Watteville。
〃So little is he a native of any place； that no one knows where he
comes from；〃 said Madame de Chavoncourt。
〃But who is he？〃 asked Madame de Watteville； taking the Abbe's arm to
go into the dining…room。 〃If he is a stranger； by what chance has he
settled at Besancon？ It is a strange fancy for a barrister。〃
〃Very strange！〃 echoed Amedee de Soulas； whose biography is here