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This calculation did Savarus all the more mischief； because the wives
of some of the merchants had already made it。 The parties interested
in the matter of the bridge and that of the water from Arcier could
not hold out against a talking…to from a clever Ministerialist； who
proved to them that their safety lay at the Prefecture； and not in the
hands of an ambitious man。 Each day was a check for Savarus； though
each day the battle was led by him and fought by his lieutenantsa
battle of words； speeches； and proceedings。 He dared not go to the
Vicar…General； and the Vicar…General never showed himself。 Albert rose
and went to bed in a fever； his brain on fire。
At last the day dawned of the first struggle； practically the show of
hands； the votes are counted； the candidates estimate their chances；
and clever men can prophesy their failure or success。 It is a decent
hustings； without the mob； but formidable； agitation； though it is not
allowed any physical display； as it is in England； is not the less
profound。 The English fight these battles with their fists； the French
with hard words。 Our neighbors have a scrimmage； the French try their
fate by cold combinations calmly worked out。 This particular political
business is carried out in opposition to the character of the two
nations。
The Radical party named their candidate； Monsieur de Chavoncourt came
forward； then Albert appeared； and was accused by the Chavoncourt
committee and the Radicals of being an uncompromising man of the
Right； a second Berryer。 The Ministry had their candidate； a stalking…
horse； useful only to receive the purely Ministerial votes。 The votes；
thus divided； gave no result。 The Republican candidate had twenty； the
Ministry got fifty； Albert had seventy； Monsieur de Chavoncourt
obtained sixty…seven。 But the Prefet's party had perfidiously made
thirty of its most devoted adherents vote for Albert； so as to deceive
the enemy。 The votes for Monsieur de Chavoncourt； added to the eighty
votesthe real numberat the disposal of the Prefecture； would carry
the election； if only the Prefet could succeed in gaining over a few
of the Radicals。 A hundred and sixty votes were not recorded： those of
Monsieur de Grancey's following and the Legitimists。
The show of hands at an election； like a dress rehearsal at a theatre；
is the most deceptive thing in the world。 Albert Savarus came home；
putting a brave face on the matter； but half dead。 He had had the wit；
the genius； or the good luck to gain； within the last fortnight； two
staunch supportersGirardet's father…in…law and a very shrewd old
merchant to whom Monsieur de Grancey had sent him。 These two worthy
men； his self…appointed spies； affected to be Albert's most ardent
opponents in the hostile camp。 Towards the end of the show of hands
they informed Savarus； through the medium of Monsieur Boucher； that
thirty voters； unknown； were working against him in his party； playing
the same trick that they were playing for his benefit on the other
side。
A criminal marching to execution could not suffer as Albert suffered
as he went home from the hall where his fate was at stake。 The
despairing lover could endure no companionship。 He walked through the
streets alone； between eleven o'clock and midnight。 At one in the
morning； Albert； to whom sleep had been unknown for the past three
days； was sitting in his library in a deep armchair； his face as pale
as if he were dying； his hands hanging limp； in a forlorn attitude
worthy of the Magdalen。 Tears hung on his long lashes； tears that dim
the eyes； but do not fall； fierce thought drinks them up； the fire of
the soul consumes them。 Alone； he might weep。 And then； under the
kiosk； he saw a white figure； which reminded him of Francesca。
〃And for three months I have had no letter from her！ What has become
of her？ I have not written for two months； but I warned her。 Is she
ill？ Oh； my love！ My life！ Will you ever know what I have gone
through？ What a wretched constitution is mine！ Have I an aneurism？〃 he
asked himself； feeling his heart beat so violently that its pulses
seemed audible in the silence like little grains of sand dropping on a
big drum。
At this moment three distinct taps sounded on his door； Albert
hastened to open it； and almost fainted with joy at seeing the Vicar…
General's cheerful and triumphant mien。 Without a word； he threw his
arms round the Abbe de Grancey； held him fast； and clasped him
closely； letting his head fall on the old man's shoulder。 He was a
child again； he cried as he had cried on hearing that Francesca
Soderini was a married woman。 He betrayed his weakness to no one but
to this priest； on whose face shone the light of hope。 The priest had
been sublime； and as shrewd as he was sublime。
〃Forgive me； dear Abbe； but you come at one of those moments when the
man vanishes； for you are not to think me vulgarly ambitious。〃
〃Oh！ I know；〃 replied the Abbe。 〃You wrote '/Ambition for love's
sake/！'Ah！ my son； it was love in despair that made me a priest in
1786； at the age of two…and…twenty。 In 1788 I was in charge of a
parish。 I know life。I have refused three bishoprics already； I mean
to die at Besancon。〃
〃Come and see her！〃 cried Savarus； seizing a candle； and leading the
Abbe into the handsome room where hung the portrait of the Duchesse
d'Argaiolo； which he lighted up。
〃She is one of those women who are born to reign！〃 said the Vicar…
General； understanding how great an affection Albert showed him by
this mark of confidence。 〃But there is pride on that brow； it is
implacable； she would never forgive an insult！ It is the Archangel
Michael； the angel of Execution； the inexorable angel'All or
nothing' is the motto of this type of angel。 There is something
divinely pitiless in that head。〃
〃You have guessed well；〃 cried Savarus。 〃But； my dear Abbe； for more
than twelve years now she had reigned over my life； and I have not a
thought for which to blame myself〃
〃Ah！ if you could only say the same of God！〃 said the priest with
simplicity。 〃Now； to talk of your affairs。 For ten days I have been at
work for you。 If you are a real politician； this time you will follow
my advice。 You would not be where you are now if you would have gone
to the Wattevilles when I first told you。 But you must go there
to…morrow； I will take you in the evening。 The Rouxey estates are in
danger； the case must be defended within three days。 The election will
not be over in three days。 They will take good care not to appoint
examiners the first day。 There will be several voting days； and you
will be elected by ballot〃
〃How can that be？〃 asked Savarus。
〃By winning the Rouxey lawsuit you will gain eighty Legitimist votes；
add them to the thirty I can command； and you have a hundred and ten。
Then； as twenty remain to you of the Boucher committee； you will have
a hundred and thirty in all。〃
〃Well；〃 said Albert； 〃we must get seventy…five more。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the priest； 〃since all the rest are Ministerial。 But； my
son； you have two hundred votes； and the Prefecture no more than a
hundred and eighty。〃
〃I have two hundred votes？〃 said Albert； standing stupid with