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the attorney nor the Abbe de Grancey could obtain any information
concerning Albert。 This silence was appalling。 In a paroxysm of
repentance she felt that she must confess to the Vicar…General the
horrible machinations by which she had separated Francesca and Albert。
They had been simple； but formidable。 Mademoiselle de Watteville had
intercepted Albert's letters to the Duchess as well as that in which
Francesca announced her husband's illness； warning her lover that she
could write to him no more during the time while she was devoted； as
was her duty； to the care of the dying man。 Thus； while Albert was
wholly occupied with election matters； the Duchess had written him
only two letters； one in which she told him that the Duc d'Argaiolo
was in danger； and one announcing her widowhoodtwo noble and
beautiful letters which Rosalie kept back。
After several nights' labor she succeeded in imitating Albert's
writing very perfectly。 She had substituted three letters of her own
writing for three of Albert's； and the rough copies which she showed
to the old priest made him shudderthe genius of evil was revealed in
them to such perfection。 Rosalie； writing in Albert's name； had
prepared the Duchess for a change in the Frenchman's feelings； falsely
representing him as faithless； and she had answered the news of the
Duc d'Argaiolo's death by announcing the marriage ere long of Albert
and Mademoiselle de Watteville。 The two letters； intended to cross on
the road； had； in fact； done so。 The infernal cleverness with which
the letters were written so much astonished the Vicar…General that he
read them a second time。 Francesca； stabbed to the heart by a girl who
wanted to kill love in her rival； had answered the last in these four
words： 〃You are free。 Farewell。〃
〃Purely moral crimes； which give no hold to human justice； are the
most atrocious and detestable；〃 said the Abbe severely。 〃God often
punishes them on earth； herein lies the reason of the terrible
catastrophes which to us seem inexplicable。 Of all secret crimes
buried in the mystery of private life； the most disgraceful is that of
breaking the seal of a letter； or of reading it surreptitiously。 Every
one； whoever it may be； and urged by whatever reason； who is guilty of
such an act has stained his honor beyond retrieving。
〃Do you not feel all that is touching； that is heavenly in the story
of the youthful page； falsely accused； and carrying the letter
containing the order for his execution； who sets out without a thought
of ill； and whom Providence protects and savesmiraculously； we say！
But do you know wherein the miracle lies？ Virtue has a glory as potent
as that of innocent childhood。
〃I say these things not meaning to admonish you；〃 said the old priest；
with deep grief。 〃I； alas！ am not your spiritual director； you are not
kneeling at the feet of God； I am your friend； appalled by dread of
what your punishment may be。 What has become of that unhappy Albert？
Has he； perhaps； killed himself？ There was tremendous passion under
his assumption of calm。 I understand now that old Prince Soderini； the
father of the Duchess d'Argaiolo； came here to take back his
daughter's letters and portraits。 This was the thunderbolt that fell
on Albert's head； and he went off； no doubt； to try to justify
himself。 But how is it that in fourteen months he has given us no news
of himself？〃
〃Oh！ if I marry him； he will be so happy！〃
〃Happy？He does not love you。 Besides； you have no great fortune to
give him。 Your mother detests you； you made her a fierce reply which
rankles； and which will be your ruin。 When she told you yesterday that
obedience was the only way to repair your errors； and reminded you of
the need for marrying； mentioning Amedee'If you are so fond of him；
marry him yourself； mother！'Did you； or did you not； fling these
words in her teeth？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Rosalie。
〃Well； I know her；〃 Monsieur de Grancey went on。 〃In a few months she
will be Comtesse de Soulas！ She will be sure to have children； she
will give Monsieur de Soulas forty thousand francs a year； she will
benefit him in other ways； and reduce your share of her fortune as
much as possible。 You will be poor as long as she lives； and she is
but eight…and…thirty！ Your whole estate will be the land of les
Rouxey； and the small share left to you after your father's legal
debts are settled； if； indeed； your mother should consent to forego
her claims on les Rouxey。 From the point of view of material
advantages； you have done badly for yourself； from the point of view
of feeling； I imagine you have wrecked your life。 Instead of going to
your mother〃 Rosalie shook her head fiercely。
〃To your mother；〃 the priest went on； 〃and to religion； where you
would； at the first impulse of your heart； have found enlightenment；
counsel； and guidance； you chose to act in your own way； knowing
nothing of life； and listening only to passion！〃
These words of wisdom terrified Mademoiselle de Watteville。
〃And what ought I to do now？〃 she asked after a pause。
〃To repair your wrong…doing； you must ascertain its extent；〃 said the
Abbe。
〃Well； I will write to the only man who can know anything of Albert's
fate； Monsieur Leopold Hannequin； a notary in Paris； his friend since
childhood。〃
〃Write no more； unless to do honor to truth；〃 said the Vicar…General。
〃Place the real and the false letters in my hands； confess everything
in detail as though I were the keeper of your conscience； asking me
how you may expiate your sins； and doing as I bid you。 I shall see
for； above all things； restore this unfortunate man to his innocence
in the eyes of the woman he had made his divinity on earth。 Though he
has lost his happiness； Albert must still hope for justification。〃
Rosalie promised to obey the Abbe； hoping that the steps he might take
would perhaps end in bringing Albert back to her。
Not long after Mademoiselle de Watteville's confession a clerk came to
Besancon from Monsieur Leopold Hannequin； armed with a power of
attorney from Albert； he called first on Monsieur Girardet； begging
his assistance in selling the house belonging to Monsieur Savaron。 The
attorney undertook to do this out of friendship for Albert。 The clerk
from Paris sold the furniture； and with the proceeds could repay some
money owed by Savaron to Girardet； who on the occasion of his
inexplicable departure had lent him five thousand francs while
undertaking to collect his assets。 When Girardet asked what had become
of the handsome and noble pleader； to whom he had been so much
attached； the clerk replied that no one knew but his master； and that
the notary had seemed greatly distressed by the contents of the last
letter he had received from Monsieur Albert de Savarus。
On hearing this； the Vicar…General wrote to Leopold。 This was the
worthy notary's reply：
〃To Monsieur l'Abbe de Grancey；
Vicar…General of the Diocese of Besancon。
〃PARIS。
〃Alas； monsieur； it is in nobody's power to restore Albert to the
life of the world； he has renounced it。 He is a novice in the
monastery of the Grand Chartreuse near Grenoble。 You know； better
than I who have but