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insurmountable； she could think of nothing but patience as being able
to vanquish them。 Like du Bousquier； like the Chevalier de Valois； she
had a policy of her own； she was on the watch for circumstances；
awaiting the propitious moment for a move with the shrewdness of
maternal instinct。 Madame Granson had no fears at all as to the
chevalier； but she did suppose that du Bousquier； although refused；
retained certain hopes。 As an able and underhand enemy to the latter；
she did him much secret harm in the interests of her son； from whom；
by the bye； she carefully concealed all such proceedings。
After this explanation it is easy to understand the importance which
Suzanne's lie； confided to Madame Granson； was about to acquire。 What
a weapon put into the hands of this charitable lady； the treasurer of
the Maternity Society！ How she would gently and demurely spread the
news while collecting assistance for the chaste Suzanne！
At the present moment Athanase； leaning pensively on his elbow at the
breakfast table； was twirling his spoon in his empty cup and
contemplating with a preoccupied eye the poor room with its red brick
floor； its straw chairs； its painted wooden buffet； its pink and white
curtains chequered like a backgammon board； which communicated with
the kitchen through a glass door。 As his back was to the chimney which
his mother faced； and as the chimney was opposite to the door； his
pallid face； strongly lighted from the window； framed in beautiful
black hair； the eyes gleaming with despair and fiery with morning
thoughts； was the first object which met the eyes of the incoming
Suzanne。 The grisette； who belonged to a class which certainly has the
instinct of misery and the sufferings of the heart； suddenly felt that
electric spark； darting from Heaven knows where； which can never be
explained； which some strong minds deny； but the sympathetic stroke of
which has been felt by many men and many women。 It is at once a light
which lightens the darkness of the future； a presentiment of the
sacred joys of a shared love； the certainty of mutual comprehension。
Above all； it is like the touch of a firm and able hand on the
keyboard of the senses。 The eyes are fascinated by an irresistible
attraction； the heart is stirred； the melodies of happiness echo in
the soul and in the ears； a voice cries out； 〃It is he！〃 Often
reflection casts a douche of cold water on this boiling emotion； and
all is over。
In a moment； as rapid as the flash of the lightning； Suzanne received
the broadside of this emotion in her heart。 The flame of a real love
burned up the evil weeds fostered by a libertine and dissipated life。
She saw how much she was losing of decency and value by accusing
herself falsely。 What had seemed to her a joke the night before became
to her eyes a serious charge against herself。 She recoiled at her own
success。 But the impossibility of any result； the poverty of the young
man； a vague hope of enriching herself； of going to Paris； and
returning with full hands to say； 〃I love you！ here are the means of
happiness！〃 or mere fate； if you will have it so； dried up the next
moment this beneficent dew。
The ambitious grisette asked with a timid air for a moment's interview
with Madame Granson； who took her at once into her bedchamber。 When
Suzanne came out she looked again at Athanase； he was still in the
same position； and the tears came into her eyes。 As for Madame
Granson； she was radiant with joy。 At last she had a weapon； and a
terrible one； against du Bousquier； she could now deal him a mortal
blow。 She had of course promised the poor seduced girl the support of
all charitable ladies and that of the members of the Maternity Society
in particular； she foresaw a dozen visits which would occupy her whole
day； and brew up a frightful storm on the head of the guilty du
Bousquier。 The Chevalier de Valois； while foreseeing the turn the
affair would take； had really no idea of the scandal which would
result from his own action。
〃My dear child；〃 said Madame Granson to her son； 〃we are to dine； you
know； with Mademoiselle Cormon； do take a little pains with your
appearance。 You are wrong to neglect your dress as you do。 Put on that
handsome frilled shirt and your green coat of Elbeuf cloth。 I have my
reasons；〃 she added slyly。 〃Besides； Mademoiselle Cormon is going to
Prebaudet； and many persons will doubtless call to bid her good…bye。
When a young man is marriageable he ought to take every means to make
himself agreeable。 If girls would only tell the truth； heavens！ my
dear boy； you'd be astonished at what makes them fall in love。 Often
it suffices for a man to ride past them at the head of a company of
artillery； or show himself at a ball in tight clothes。 Sometimes a
mere turn of the head； a melancholy attitude； makes them suppose a
man's whole life； they'll invent a romance to match the herowho is
often a mere brute； but the marriage is made。 Watch the Chevalier de
Valois： study him； copy his manners； see with what ease he presents
himself； he never puts on a stiff air； as you do。 Talk a little more；
one would really think you didn't know anything；you； who know Hebrew
by heart。〃
Athanase listened to his mother with a surprised but submissive air；
then he rose； took his cap； and went off to the mayor's office； saying
to himself； 〃Can my mother suspect my secret？〃
He passed through the rue du Val…Noble； where Mademoiselle Cormon
lived；a little pleasure which he gave himself every morning；
thinking； as usual； a variety of fanciful things：
〃How little she knows that a young man is passing before her house who
loves her well； who would be faithful to her； who would never cause
her any grief； who would leave her the entire management of her
fortune without interference。 Good God！ what fatality！ here； side by
side； in the same town； are two persons in our mutual condition； and
yet nothing can bring them together。 Suppose I were to speak to her
this evening？〃
During this time Suzanne had returned to her mother's house thinking
of Athanase； and； like many other women who have longed to help an
adored man beyond the limit of human powers； she felt herself capable
of making her body a stepping…stone on which he could rise to attain
his throne。
It is now necessary to enter the house of this old maid toward whom so
many interests are converging； where the actors in this scene； with
the exception of Suzanne； were all to meet this very evening。 As for
Suzanne； that handsome individual bold enough to burn her ships like
Alexander at her start in life； and to begin the battle by a
falsehood； she disappears from the stage； having introduced upon it a
violent element of interest。 Her utmost wishes were gratified。 She
quitted her native town a few days later； well supplied with money and
good clothes； among which was a fine dress of green reps and a
charming green bonnet lined with pink； the gift of Monsieur de Valois；
a present which she preferred to all the rest； even the money。 If
the chevalier had gone to Paris in the days of her future brilliancy；
she would certainly have left every one for him。 Like the chaste
Susannah of the Bible； whom the Elders hardly saw； she established
herself joyously and full of hope in Paris； while all Alencon was
deploring her misfortunes； for which the ladies of two Societies
（Charity and Maternity） manifested the liveliest sympathy。 Though
Suzanne is a fair specimen of those handsome Norman women whom a
learned physician reckons as comprising one third of her fallen class
whom our monstrous Paris absorbs； it must be stated that she remained
in the upper and more decent regions of gallantry。 At an epoch when；
as Monsieur de Valois said； Woman no longer existed； she was simply
〃Madame du Val…Noble〃； in other days she would have rivalled the
Rhodopes； the Imperias； the Ninons of the past。 One of the most
distinguished writers of the Restoration has taken her under his
protection； perhaps he may marry her。 He is a journalist； and
consequently above public opinion； inasmuch as he manufactures it
afresh every year or two。
CHAPTER III
MADEMOISELLE CORMON
In nearly all the second…class prefectures of France there exists one
salon which is the meeting…ground of those considerable and well…
considered persons of the community who are； nevertheless； NOT the
cream of the best society。 The master and mistress of such an
establishment are counted among the leading persons of the town； they
are received wherever it may please them to visit； no fete is given；
no formal or diplomatic dinner takes place； to which they are not
invited。 But the chateau people； heads of families possessing great
estates； in short； the highest personages in the department； do not go
to their houses； social intercourse between them is carried on by
cards from one to the other； and a dinner or soiree accept