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or whether the court Amedee was paying to the girl through her mother
had not overstepped its due limits。 Being a friend of the family；
neither mother nor daughter； confessed to him。 Rosalie； a little too
much harried； morally； about young de Soulas； could not abide him； to
use a homely phrase； and when he spoke to her； trying to take her
heart by surprise； she received him but coldly。 This aversion；
discerned only by her mother's eyes； was a constant subject of
admonition。
〃Rosalie； I cannot imagine why you affect such coldness towards
Amedee。 Is it because he is a friend of the family； and because we
like himyour father and I？〃
〃Well； mamma；〃 replied the poor child one day； 〃if I made him welcome；
should I not be still more in the wrong？〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 cried Madame de Watteville。 〃What is the
meaning of such words？ Your mother is unjust； no doubt； and according
to you； would be so in any case！ Never let such an answer pass your
lips again to your mother〃 and so forth。
This quarrel lasted three hours and three…quarters。 Rosalie noted the
time。 Her mother； pale with fury； sent her to her room； where Rosalie
pondered on the meaning of this scene without discovering it； so
guileless was she。 Thus young Monsieur de Soulas； who was supposed by
every one to be very near the end he was aiming at； all neckcloths
set； and by dint of pots of patent blackingan end which required so
much waxing of his moustaches； so many smart waistcoats； wore out so
many horseshoes and staysfor he wore a leather vest； the stays of
the /lion/Amedee； I say； was further away than any chance comer；
although he had on his side the worthy and noble Abbe de Grancey。
〃Madame；〃 said Monsieur de Soulas； addressing the Baroness； while
waiting till his soup was cool enough to swallow； and affecting to
give a romantic turn to his narrative； 〃one fine morning the mail…
coach dropped at the Hotel National a gentleman from Paris； who； after
seeking apartments； made up his mind in favor of the first floor in
Mademoiselle Galard's house； Rue du Perron。 Then the stranger went
straight to the Mairie； and had himself registered as a resident with
all political qualifications。 Finally； he had his name entered on the
list of the barristers to the Court； showing his title in due form；
and he left his card on all his new colleagues； the Ministerial
officials； the Councillors of the Court； and the members of the bench；
with the name； 'ALBERT SAVARON。' 〃
〃The name of Savaron is famous；〃 said Mademoiselle de Watteville； who
was strong in heraldic information。 〃The Savarons of Savarus are one
of the oldest； noblest； and richest families in Belgium。〃
〃He is a Frenchman； and no man's son；〃 replied Amedee de Soulas。 〃If
he wishes to bear the arms of the Savarons of Savarus； he must add a
bar…sinister。 There is no one left of the Brabant family but a
Mademoiselle de Savarus； a rich heiress； and unmarried。〃
〃The bar…sinister is； of course； the badge of a bastard； but the
bastard of a Comte de Savarus is noble；〃 answered Rosalie。
〃Enough； that will do； mademoiselle！〃 said the Baroness。
〃You insisted on her learning heraldry；〃 said Monsieur de Watteville；
〃and she knows it very well。〃
〃Go on； I beg； Monsieur de Soulas。〃
〃You may suppose that in a town where everything is classified； known；
pigeon…holed； ticketed； and numbered； as in Besancon； Albert Savaron
was received without hesitation by the lawyers of the town。 They were
satisfied to say； 'Here is a man who does not know his Besancon。 Who
the devil can have sent him here？ What can he hope to do？ Sending his
card to the Judges instead of calling in person！ What a blunder！' And
so； three days after； Savaron had ceased to exist。 He took as his
servant old Monsieur Galard's manGalard being deadJerome； who can
cook a little。 Albert Savaron was all the more completely forgotten；
because no one had seen him or met him anywhere。〃
〃Then； does he not go to mass？〃 asked Madame de Chavoncourt。
〃He goes on Sundays to Saint…Pierre； but to the early service at eight
in the morning。 He rises every night between one and two in the
morning； works till eight； has his breakfast； and then goes on
working。 He walks in his garden； going round fifty； or perhaps sixty
times； then he goes in； dines； and goes to bed between six and seven。〃
〃How did you learn all that？〃 Madame de Chavoncourt asked Monsieur de
Soulas。
〃In the first place； madame； I live in the Rue Neuve； at the corner of
the Rue du Perron； I look out on the house where this mysterious
personage lodges； then； of course； there are communications between my
tiger and Jerome。〃
〃And you gossip with Babylas？〃
〃What would you have me do out riding？〃
〃Welland how was it that you engaged a stranger for your defence？〃
asked the Baroness； thus placing the conversation in the hands of the
Vicar…General。
〃The President of the Court played this pleader a trick by appointing
him to defend at the Assizes a half…witted peasant accused of forgery。
But Monsieur Savaron procured the poor man's acquittal by proving his
innocence and showing that he had been a tool in the hands of the real
culprits。 Not only did his line of defence succeed； but it led to the
arrest of two of the witnesses； who were proved guilty and condemned。
His speech struck the Court and the jury。 One of these； a merchant；
placed a difficult case next day in the hands of Monsieur Savaron； and
he won it。 In the position in which we found ourselves； Monsieur
Berryer finding it impossible to come to Besancon； Monsieur de
Garcenault advised him to employ this Monsieur Albert Savaron；
foretelling our success。 As soon as I saw him and heard him； I felt
faith in him； and I was not wrong。〃
〃Is he then so extraordinary？〃 asked Madame de Chavoncourt。
〃Certainly； madame；〃 replied the Vicar…General。
〃Well； tell us about it；〃 said Madame de Watteville。
〃The first time I saw him；〃 said the Abbe de Grancey； 〃he received me
in his outer room next the ante…roomold Galard's drawing…roomwhich
he has had painted like old oak； and which I found entirely lined with
law…books； arranged on shelves also painted as old oak。 The painting
and the books are the sole decoration of the room； for the furniture
consists of an old writing table of carved wood； six old armchairs
covered with tapestry； window curtains of gray stuff bordered with
green； and a green carpet over the floor。 The ante…room stove heats
this library as well。 As I waited there I did not picture my advocate
as a young man。 But this singular setting is in perfect harmony with
his person； for Monsieur Savaron came out in a black merino dressing…
gown tied with a red cord； red slippers； a red flannel waistcoat； and
a red smoking…cap。〃
〃The devil's colors！〃 exclaimed Madame de Watteville。
〃Yes；〃 said the Abbe； 〃but a magnificent head。 Black hair already
streaked with a little gray； hair like that of Saint Peter and Saint
Paul in pictures； with thick shining curls； hair as stiff as horse…
hair； a round white throat like a woman's； a splendid forehead；
furrowed by the strong median line which great schemes； great
thoughts； deep meditatio