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When Mademoiselle Cormon reached the level of the portico she looked
about her courtyard with an air of satisfaction。
〃Come； come； Mariette； leave that gate alone； I want you。〃
〃There's something in the wind；〃 whispered Jacquelin； as Mariette
passed the carriole。
〃Mariette； what provisions have you in the house？〃 asked Mademoiselle
Cormon； sitting down on the bench in the long antechamber like a
person overcome with fatigue。
〃I haven't anything；〃 replied Mariette； with her hands on her hips。
〃Mademoiselle knows very well that during her absence Monsieur l'abbe
dines out every day。 Yesterday I went to fetch him from Mademoiselle
Armande's。〃
〃Where is he now？〃
〃Monsieur l'abbe？ Why； at church； he won't be in before three
o'clock。〃
〃He thinks of nothing！ he ought to have told you to go to market。
Mariette； go at once； and without wasting money； don't spare it； get
all there is that is good and delicate。 Go to the diligence office and
see if you can send for pates； and I want shrimps from the Brillante。
What o'clock is it？〃
〃A quarter to nine。〃
〃Good heavens！ Mariette； don't stop to chatter。 The person my uncle
expects may arrive at any moment。 If we had to give him breakfast；
where should we be with nothing in the house？〃
Mariette turned back to Penelope in a lather； and looked at Jacquelin
as if she would say； 〃Mademoiselle has put her hand on a husband THIS
time。〃
〃Now； Josette；〃 continued the old maid； 〃let us see where we had
better put Monsieur de Troisville to sleep。〃
With what joy she said the words； 〃Put Monsieur de Troisville〃
（pronounced Treville） 〃to sleep。〃 How many ideas in those few words！
The old maid was bathed in hope。
〃Will you put him in the green chamber？〃
〃The bishop's room？ No； that's too near mine；〃 said Mademoiselle
Cormon。 〃All very well for monseigneur； he's a saintly man。〃
〃Give him your uncle's room。〃
〃Oh； that's so bare； it is actually indecent。〃
〃Well； then； mademoiselle； why not arrange a bed in your boudoir？ It
is easily done； and there's a fire…place。 Moreau can certainly find in
his warerooms a bed to match the hangings。〃
〃You are right； Josette。 Go yourself to Moreau； consult with him what
to do； I authorize you to get what is wanted。 If the bed could be put
up to…night without Monsieur de Troisville observing it （in case
Monsieur de Troisville arrives while Moreau is here）； I should like
it。 If Moreau won't engage to do this； then I must put Monsieur de
Troisville in the green room； although Monsieur de Troisville would be
so very near to me。〃
Josette was departing when her mistress recalled her。
〃Stop！ explain the matter to Jacquelin；〃 she cried； in a loud nervous
tone。 〃Tell HIM to go to Moreau； I must be dressed！ Fancy if Monsieur
de Troisville surprised me as I am now！ and my uncle not here to
receive him！ Oh； uncle； uncle！ Come； Josette； come and dress me at
once。〃
〃But Penelope？〃 said Josette； imprudently。
〃Always Penelope！ Penelope this； Penelope that！ Is Penelope the
mistress of this house？〃
〃But she is all of a lather； and she hasn't had time to eat her oats。〃
〃Then let her starve！〃 cried Mademoiselle Cormon； 〃provided I marry；〃
she thought to herself。
Hearing these words； which seemed to her like homicide； Josette stood
still for a moment； speechless。 Then； at a gesture from her mistress；
she ran headlong down the steps of the portico。
〃The devil is in her； Jacquelin；〃 were the first words she uttered。
Thus all things conspired on this fateful day to produce the great
scenic effect which decided the future life of Mademoiselle Cormon。
The town was already topsy…turvy in mind； as a consequence of the five
extraordinary circumstances which accompanied Mademoiselle Cormon's
return； to wit； the pouring rain； Penelope at a gallop； in a lather；
and blown； the early hour； the parcels half…packed； and the singular
air of the excited old maid。 But when Mariette made an invasion of the
market； and bought all the best things； when Jacquelin went to the
principal upholsterer in Alencon； two doors from the church； in search
of a bed；there was matter for the gravest conjectures。 These
extraordinary events were discussed on all sides； they occupied the
minds of every one； even Mademoiselle Armande herself； with whom was
Monsieur de Valois。 Within two days the town of Alencon had been
agitated by such startling events that certain good women were heard
to remark that the world was coming to an end。 This last news；
however； resolved itself into a single question； 〃What is happening at
the Cormons？〃
The Abbe de Sponde； adroitly questioned when he left Saint…Leonard's
to take his daily walk with the Abbe Couturier； replied with his usual
kindliness that he expected the Vicomte de Troisville； a nobleman in
the service of Russia during the Emigration； who was returning to
Alencon to settle there。 From two to five o'clock a species of labial
telegraphy went on throughout the town； and all the inhabitants
learned that Mademoiselle Cormon had at last found a husband by
letter； and was about to marry the Vicomte de Troisville。 Some said；
〃Moreau has sold them a bed。〃 The bed was six feet wide in that
quarter； it was four feet wide at Madame Granson's； in the rue du
Bercail； but it was reduced to a simple couch at Monsieur du
Ronceret's； where du Bousquier was dining。 The lesser bourgeoisie
declared that the cost was eleven hundred francs。 But generally it was
thought that； as to this； rumor was counting the chickens before they
were hatched。 In other quarters it was said that Mariette had made
such a raid on the market that the price of carp had risen。 At the end
of the rue Saint…Blaise； Penelope had dropped dead。 This decease was
doubted in the house of the receiver…general； but at the Prefecture it
was authenticated that the poor beast had expired as she turned into
the courtyard of the hotel Cormon； with such velocity had the old maid
flown to meet her husband。 The harness…maker； who lived at the corner
of the rue de Seez； was bold enough to call at the house and ask if
anything had happened to Mademoiselle Cormon's carriage； in order to
discover whether Penelope was really dead。 From the end of the rue
Saint…Blaise to the end of the rue du Bercail； it was then made known
that； thanks to Jacquelin's devotion； Penelope； that silent victim of
her mistress's impetuosity； still lived； though she seemed to be
suffering。
Along the road to Brittany the Vicomte de Troisville was stated to be
a younger son without a penny； for the estates in Perche belonged to
the Marquis de Troisville； peer of France； who had children； the
marriage would be； therefore； an enormous piece of luck for a poor
emigre。 The aristocracy along that road approved of the marriage；
Mademoiselle Cormon could not do better with her money。 But among the
Bourgeoisie； the Vicomte de Troisville was a Russian general who had
fought against France； and was now returning with a great fortune made
at the court of Saint…Petersburg； he was a FOREIGNER； one of those
ALLIES so hated by the liberals； the Abbe de Sponde had slyly
negotiated this marriage。 All the persons who had a right to call upon
Mademoiselle Cormon determined to do so that very evening。
During this transurban excitement； which made that of Suzanne almost a
forgotten affair； Mademoiselle was not less agitated； she was filled
with a variety of novel emotions。 Looking about her salon； dining…
room； and boudoir； cruel apprehensions took possession of her。 A
species of demon showed her with a sneer her old…fashioned luxury。 The
handsome things she had admired from her youth up she suddenly
suspected of age and absurdity。 In short； she felt that fear which
takes possession of nearly all authors when they read over a work they
have hitherto thought proof against every exacting or blase critic：
new situations seem timeworn； the best…turned and most highly polished
phrases limp and squint； metaphors and images grin or contradict each
other； whatsoever is false strikes the eye。 In like manner this poor
woman trembled lest she should see on the lips of Monsieur de
Troisville a smile of contempt for this episcopal salon； she dreaded
the cold look he might cast over that ancient dining…room； in short；
she feared the frame might injure and age the portrait。 Suppose these
antiquities should cast a reflected light of old age upon herself？
This question made her flesh creep。 She would gladly； at that moment；
spend half her savings on refitting her house if some fairy wand could
do it in a moment。 Where is the general who has not trembled on the
eve of a battle？ The poor woman was now between her Austerlitz and her
Waterloo。
〃Madame la Vicomtesse de Troisville；〃 she said to herself； 〃a noble
name！ Our property will go to a good family； at any rate。〃
She fell a p