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forever； solely and faithfully； without knowing whether our characters
or persons suited each other。 Is there a second…sight in love？ What
answer can I give to that； I who have seen so many unions formed under
celestial auspices only to be ruptured later； giving rise to hatreds
that are well…nigh eternal； to repugnances that are unconquerable。 The
senses sometimes harmonize while ideas are at variance； and some
persons live more by their minds than by their bodies。 The contrary is
also true； often minds agree and persons displease。 These phenomena；
the varying and secret cause of many sorrows； show the wisdom of laws
which give parents supreme power over the marriages of their children；
for a young girl is often duped by one or other of these
hallucinations。 Therefore I do not blame you。 The sensations you feel；
the rush of sensibility which has come from its hidden source upon
your heart and upon your mind； the happiness with which you think of
Savinien； are all natural。 But； my darling child； society demands； as
our good abbe has told us； the sacrifice of many natural inclinations。
The destinies of men and women differ。 I was able to choose Ursula
Mirouet for my wife； I could go to her and say that I loved her； but a
young girl is false to herself if she asks the love of the man she
loves。 A woman has not the right which men have to seek the
accomplishment of her hopes in open day。 Modesty is to herabove all
to you； my Ursula；the insurmountable barrier which protects the
secrets of her heart。 Your hesitation in confiding to me these first
emotions shows me you would suffer cruel torture rather than admit to
Savinien〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 she said。
〃But； my child； you must do more。 You must repress these feelings； you
must forget them。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because； my darling； you must love only the man you marry； and； even
if Monsieur Savinien de Portenduere loved you〃
〃I never thought of it。〃
〃But listen： even if he loved you； even if his mother asked me to give
him your hand； I should not consent to the marriage until I had
subjected him to a long and thorough probation。 His conduct has been
such as to make families distrust him and to put obstacles between
himself and heiresses which cannot be easily overcome。〃
A soft smile came in place of tears on Ursula's sweet face as she
said； 〃Then poverty is good sometimes。〃
The doctor could find no answer to such innocence。
〃What has he done； godfather？〃 she asked。
〃In two years； my treasure； he has incurred one hundred and twenty
thousand francs of debt。 He has had the folly to get himself locked up
in Saint…Pelagie； the debtor's prison； an impropriety which will
always be； in these days； a discredit to him。 A spendthrift who is
willing to plunge his poor mother into poverty and distress might
cause his wife； as your poor father did； to die of despair。〃
〃Don't you think he will do better？〃 she asked。
〃If his mother pays his debts he will be penniless； and I don't know a
worse punishment than to be a nobleman without means。〃
This answer made Ursula thoughtful； she dried her tears； and said：
〃If you can save him； save him； godfather； that service will give you
a right to advise him； you can remonstrate〃
〃Yes；〃 said the doctor； imitating her； 〃and then he can come here； and
the old lady will come here； and we shall see them； and〃
〃I was thinking only of him；〃 said Ursula； blushing。
〃Don't think of him； my child； it would be folly；〃 said the doctor
gravely。 〃Madame de Portenduere； who was a Kergarouet； would never
consent； even if she had to live on three hundred francs a year； to
the marriage of her son； the Vicomte Savinien de Portenduere； with
whom？with Ursula Mirouet； daughter of a bandsman in a regiment；
without money； and whose fatheralas！ I must now tell you allwas
the bastard son of an organist； my father…in…law。〃
〃O godfather！ you are right； we are equal only in the sight of God。 I
will not think of him againexcept in my prayers；〃 she said； amid the
sobs which this painful revelation excited。 〃Give him what you meant
to give mewhat can a poor girl like me want？ah； in prison； he！〃
〃Offer to God your disappointments； and perhaps he will help us。〃
There was silence for some minutes。 When Ursula； who at first did not
dare to look at her godfather； raised her eyes； her heart was deeply
moved to see the tears which were rolling down his withered cheeks。
The tears of old men are as terrible as those of children are natural。
〃Oh what is it？〃 cried Ursula； flinging herself at his feet and
kissing his hands。 〃Are you not sure of me？〃
〃I； who longed to gratify all your wishes； it is I who am obliged to
cause the first great sorrow of your life！〃 he said。 〃I suffer as much
as you。 I never wept before； except when I lost my childrenand；
Ursula Yes；〃 he cried suddenly； 〃I will do all you desire！〃
Ursula gave him； through her tears a look that was vivid as lightning。
She smiled。
〃Let us go into the salon； darling；〃 said the doctor。 〃Try to keep the
secret of all this to yourself；〃 he added； leaving her alone for a
moment in his study。
He felt himself so weak before that heavenly smile that he feared he
might say a word of hope and thus mislead her。
CHAPTER X
THE FAMILY OF PORTENDUERE
Madame de Portenduere was at this moment alone with the abbe in her
frigid little salon on the ground floor； having finished the recital
of her troubles to the good priest； her only friend。 She held in her
hand some letters which he had just returned to her after reading
them； these letters had brought her troubles to a climax。 Seated on
her sofa beside a square table covered with the remains of a dessert；
the old lady was looking at the abbe； who sat on the other side of the
table； doubled up in his armchair and stroking his chin with the
gesture common to valets on the stage； mathematicians； and priests；a
sign of profound meditation on a problem that was difficult to solve。
This little salon； lighted by two windows on the street and finished
with a wainscot painted gray； was so damp that the lower panels showed
the geometrical cracks of rotten wood when the paint no longer binds
it。 The red…tiled floor； polished by the old lady's one servant；
required； for comfort's sake； before each seat small round mats of
brown straw； on one of which the abbe was now resting his feet。 The
old damask curtains of light green with green flowers were drawn； and
the outside blinds had been closed。 Two wax candles lighted the table；
leaving the rest of the room in semi…obscurity。 Is it necessary to say
that between the two windows was a fine pastel by Latour representing
the famous Admiral de Portenduere； the rival of the Suffren； Guichen；
Kergarouet and Simeuse naval heroes？ On the paneled wall opposite to
the fireplace were portraits of the Vicomte de Portenduere and of the
mother of the old lady； a Kergarouet…Ploegat。 Savinien's great…uncle
was therefore the Vice…admiral de Kergarouet； and his cousin was the
Comte de Portenduere； grandson of the admiral；both of them very
rich。
The Vice…admiral de Kergarouet lived in Paris and the Comte de
Portenduere at the chateau of that name in Dauphine。 The count
represented the elder branch； and Savinien was the only scion of the
younger。 The count； who was over forty years of age and married to a
rich wife； had three children。 His fortune； increased by various
legacies； amounted； it was said； to sixty thousand francs a year。 As
deputy from Isere he passed his winters in Paris； where he had bought
the hotel de Portenduere with the indemnities he obtained under the
Villele law。 The vice…admiral had recently married his niece by
marriage； for the sole purpose of securing his money to her。
The faults of the young viscount were therefore likely to cost him the
favor of two powerful protectors。 If Savinien had entered the navy；
young and handsome as he was； with a famous name； and backed by the
influence of an admiral and a deputy； he might； at twenty…three years
of age； been a lieutenant； but his mother； unwilling that her only son
should go into either naval or military service； had kept him at
Nemours under the tutelage of one of the Abbe Chaperon's assistants；
hoping that she could keep him near her until her death。 She meant to
marry him to a demoiselle d'Aiglemont with a fortune of twelve
thousand francs a year； to whose hand the name of Portenduere and the
farm at Bordieres enabled him to pretend。 This narrow but judicious
plan； which would have carried the family to a second generation； was
already balked by events。 The d'Aiglemonts were ruined； and one of the
daughters； Helene； had disappeared； and the mystery of her
disappearance was never solved。
The weariness of a life without atmosphere； without prospects； without
action； without other nourishment than the love of