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〃But there surely is a moment when Tantalus rebels； crosses his
arms； and defies hell； throwing up his part of the eternal dupe。
That is what I shall come to if anything should thwart my plan；
if； after stooping to the dust of provincial life； prowling like a
starving tiger round these tradesmen； these electors； to secure
their votes； if； after wrangling in these squalid cases； and
giving them my timethe time I might have spent on Lago Maggiore；
seeing the waters she sees； basking in her gaze； hearing her voice
if； after all； I failed to scale the tribune and conquer the
glory that should surround the name that is to succeed to that of
Argaiolo！ Nay； more than this； Leopold； there are days when I feel
a heady languor； deep disgust surges up from the depths of my
soul； especially when； abandoned to long day…dreams； I have lost
myself in anticipation of the joys of blissful love！ May it not be
that our desire has only a certain modicum of power； and that it
perishes； perhaps； of a too lavish effusion of its essence？ For；
after all； at this present； my life is fair； illuminated by faith；
work； and love。
〃Farewell； my friend； I send love to your children； and beg you to
remember me to your excellent wife。Yours；
〃ALBERT。〃
Rosalie read this letter twice through； and its general purport was
stamped on her heart。 She suddenly saw the whole of Albert's previous
existence； for her quick intelligence threw light on all the details；
and enabled her to take it all in。 By adding this information to the
little novel published in the /Review/； she now fully understood
Albert。 Of course； she exaggerated the greatness； remarkable as it
was； of this lofty soul and potent will； and her love for Albert
thenceforth became a passion； its violence enhanced by all the
strength of her youth； the weariness of her solitude； and the unspent
energy of her character。 Love is in a young girl the effect of a
natural law； but when her craving for affection is centered in an
exceptional man； it is mingled with the enthusiasm which overflows in
a youthful heart。 Thus Mademoiselle de Watteville had in a few days
reached a morbid and very dangerous stage of enamored infatuation。 The
Baroness was much pleased with her daughter； who； being under the
spell of her absorbing thoughts； never resisted her will； seemed to be
devoted to feminine occupations； and realized her mother's ideal of a
docile daughter。
The lawyer was now engaged in Court two or three times a week。 Though
he was overwhelmed with business； he found time to attend the trials；
call on the litigious merchants； and conduct the /Review/； keeping up
his personal mystery； from the conviction that the more covert and
hidden was his influence； the more real it would be。 But he neglected
no means of success； reading up the list of electors of Besancon； and
finding out their interests； their characters； their various
friendships and antipathies。 Did ever a Cardinal hoping to be made
Pope give himself more trouble？
One evening Mariette； on coming to dress Rosalie for an evening party；
handed to her； not without many groans over this treachery； a letter
of which the address made Mademoiselle de Watteville shiver and redden
and turn pale again as she read the address：
To Madame la Duchesse d'Argaiolo
（nee Princesse Soderini）
At Belgirate；
Lago Maggiore； Italy。
In her eyes this direction blazed as the words /Mene/； /Tekel/；
/Upharsin/； did in the eyes of Belshazzar。 After concealing the
letter； Rosalie went downstairs to accompany her mother to Madame de
Chavoncourt's； and as long as the endless evening lasted； she was
tormented by remorse and scruples。 She had already felt shame at
having violated the secrecy of Albert's letter to Leopold； she had
several times asked herself whether； if he knew of her crime； infamous
inasmuch as it necessarily goes unpunished； the high…minded Albert
could esteem her。 Her conscience answered an uncompromising 〃No。〃
She had expiated her sin by self…imposed penances； she fasted； she
mortified herself by remaining on her knees； her arms outstretched for
hours； and repeating prayers all the time。 She had compelled Mariette
to similar sets of repentance； her passion was mingled with genuine
asceticism； and was all the more dangerous。
〃Shall I read that letter； shall I not？〃 she asked herself； while
listening to the Chavoncourt girls。 One was sixteen； the other
seventeen and a half。 Rosalie looked upon her two friends as mere
children because they were not secretly in love。〃If I read it；〃 she
finally decided； after hesitating for an hour between Yes and No； 〃it
shall； at any rate； be the last。 Since I have gone so far as to see
what he wrote to his friend； why should I not know what he says to
/her/？ If it is a horrible crime； is it not a proof of love？ Oh；
Albert！ am I not your wife？〃
When Rosalie was in bed she opened the letter； dated from day to day；
so as to give the Duchess a faithful picture of Albert's life and
feelings。
〃25th。
〃My dear Soul； all is well。 To my other conquests I have just
added an invaluable one： I have done a service to one of the most
influential men who work the elections。 Like the critics； who make
other men's reputations but can never make their own； he makes
deputies though he never can become one。 The worthy man wanted to
show his gratitude without loosening his purse…strings by saying
to me； 'Would you care to sit in the Chamber？ I can get you
returned as deputy。'
〃 'If I ever make up my mind to enter on a political career；'
replied I hypocritically； 'it would be to devote myself to the
Comte； which I love； and where I am appreciated。'
〃 'Well；' he said； 'we will persuade you； and through you we shall
have weight in the Chamber； for you will distinguish yourself
there。'
〃And so； my beloved angel； say what you will； my perseverance will
be rewarded。 Ere long I shall； from the high place of the French
Tribune； come before my country； before Europe。 My name will be
flung to you by the hundred voices of the French press。
〃Yes； as you tell me； I was old when I came to Besancon； and
Besancon has aged me more； but； like Sixtus V。； I shall be young
again the day after my election。 I shall enter on my true life； my
own sphere。 Shall we not then stand in the same line？ Count
Savaron de Savarus； Ambassador I know not where； may surely marry
a Princess Soderini； the widow of the Duc d'Argaiolo！ Triumph
restores the youth of men who have been preserved by incessant
struggles。 Oh； my Life！ with what gladness did I fly from my
library to my private room； to tell your portrait of this progress
before writing to you！ Yes； the votes I can command； those of the
Vicar…General； of the persons I can oblige； and of this client；
make my election already sure。
〃26th。
〃We have entered on the twelfth year since that blest evening
when； by a look； the beautiful Duchess sealed the promises made by
the exile Francesca。 You； dear； are thirty…two； I am thirty…five；
the dear Duke is seventy…seventhat is to say； ten y