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〃But you must certainly admit that if any acquaintance had met you at half…past nine o'clock walking arm…in…arm with Monsieur Dorlange the thing would have seemed to them； to say the least； singular。〃
Pretending to discover what I had known for the last hour； I exclaimed：
〃Is it possible that after sixteen years of married life you do me the honor to be jealous。 Now I see why； in spite of your respect for proprieties； you spoke to Monsieur Dorlange in my presence of that Italian woman whom people think his mistress； that was a nice little perfidy by which you meant to ruin him in my estimation。〃
Thus exposed to the light； my poor husband talked at random for a time； and finally had no resource but to ring for Lucas and lecture him severely。 That ended the explanation。
What do you think of this conjugal proceeding； by which my husband； wishing to do a man some harm in my estimation； gave him the opportunity to appear to the utmost advantage？ Forthere was no mistaking itthe sort of emotion with which Monsieur Dorlange repelled the charge was the cry of a conscience at peace with itself； and which knows itself able to confound a calumny。
XII
DORLANGE TO MARIE…GASTON
Paris； May； 1839。
On my return this evening from the Estorades； on whom I had paid my parting call； I found your letter； my dear friend； in which you announce your coming arrival。 I shall await you to…morrow during the day； but in the evening I must； without further delay； start for Arcis…sur…Aube； where； in the course of the next week my political matters will come to a head。 What particular hold I may have on that town； which； as it appears； I have the ambition to represent； and on what co…operation and assistance I may rely；in a word； /who/ is making my electoral bed；all that I know as little about as I did last year when I was told for the first time that I must enter political life。
A few days ago I received a second letter from my father； postmarked Paris this time； and not Stockholm。 Judging by the style of the document； it would not surprise me if the 〃eminent services〃 rendered in a Northern court by the mysterious author of my days turned out to be those of a Prussian corporal。 It would be impossible to issue orders in a more imperative tone； or to dwell more minutely on trifling particulars。
The note or memorandum was headed thus： /What my son is to do/。
On receipt of these instructions I am to send to its destination the Saint…Ursula； to superintend the packing and boxing of it myself； and to despatch it by the fastest carrier； to Mother Marie…des…Anges； superior of the convent of the Ursulines at Arcis…sur…Aube。
The order went on to say that I was to follow the statue in a few days； so as to arrive at the said Arcis…sur…Aube not later than the 3rd of May。 Even the inn at which I was to put up was dictated。 I would find myself expected at the Hotel de la Poste； so that if I happen to prefer any of the others I must resign that fancy。 I am also enjoined to publish in the newspapers on the day of my departure the fact that I present myself as candidate in the electoral arrondissement of Arcis…sur…Aube； avoiding； however； to make any profession of political faith； which would be both useless and premature。 The document ended with an injunction which； while it humiliated me somewhat； gave me a certain faith in what was happening。 The Mongenod Brothers； and draw for another sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs； which /is to be/ deposited in my name； 〃taking the utmost care；〃 continued my instructions； 〃when transporting this money from Paris to Arcis…sur…Aube that it be not lost or stolen。〃
What do you think of that last clause； dear friend？ That sum /is to be/ deposited； then it is not already there； and suppose it is not there？Besides； what am I to do with it in Arcis？ Am I to stand my election on English principles？ if so； a profession of political faith would certainly be useless and premature。 As to the advice not to lose or allow to be stolen the money in my possession； do you not think that that is making me rather juvenile？ I feel an inclination to suck my thumb and cry for a rattle。 However； I shall let myself go with the current that is bearing me along； and； notwithstanding the news of your coming arrival； after paying a visit to the Brothers Mongenod； I shall valiantly start； imagining the stupefaction of the good people of Arcis on seeing another candidate pop up in their midst like a Jack…in…the…box。
In Paris I have already fired my gun。 The 〃National〃 has announced my candidacy in the warmest terms； and it seems that this evening； in the house of the Minister of the Interior； where Monsieur de l'Estorade was dining； I was discussed at some length。 I ought to add that； according to Monsieur de l'Estorade； the general impression is that I shall certainly fail of election。 The ministry might possibly fear a candidate from the Left centre； but as for the democratic party to which I am supposed to belong； they do not even allow that it exists。 The Left centre candidate has； however； been disposed of by a ministerial envoy of the ablest and most active description； and at this moment； when I set off my small balloon； the election of the Conservative candidate is pretty well assured。
Among the elements of my inevitable defeat； Monsieur de l'Estorade condescended to mention a matter about which； dear friend； I am rather surprised that you have not already lectured me。 It is one of those agreeable calumnies put in circulation in the salon Montcornet by the honored and honorable Monsieur Bixiou。 The scandal concerns a handsome Italian woman whom I brought back from Italy and with whom I am said to be living in a manner not canonical。 Come； tell me； what hindered you from asking me to explain this important matter？ Did you think the charge so shameful that you feared to offend me by alluding to it？ Or have you such confidence in my morality that you felt no need of being strengthened therein？ I did not have time to enter upon the necessary explanations to Monsieur de l'Estorade； neither have I the leisure to write them to you now。 If I speak of the incident it is for the purpose of telling you of an observation I think I have made； into the truth of which I want you to examine after you get here。 It is this：
I have an idea that it would not be agreeable to Monsieur de l'Estorade to see me successful in my electoral campaign。 He never gave much approbation to the plan； in fact he tried to dissuade me； but always from the point of view of my own interests。 But to…day； when he finds that the plan has taken shape； and is actually discussed in the ministerial salon； my gentleman turns bitter； and he seems to feel a malignant pleasure in prophesying my defeat and in producing this charming little infamy under which he expects to bury our friendship。
Why so！ I will tell you： while feeling some gratitude for the service I did him； the worthy man also felt from the height of his social position a superiority over me of which my entrance to the Chamber will now dispossess him； and it is not agreeable to him to renounce that sense of superiority。 After all； what is an artist； even though he may be a man of genius； compared to a peer of France； a personage who puts his hand to the tiller and steers the great political and social system； a man who has access to kings and ministers； and who would have the right if； by impossibility； such audacity should seize upon his mind； of depositing a black ball against the budget。 Well； this privileged being does not like that I； and others like me； should assume the importance and authority of that insolent elective Chamber。
But that is not all。 Hereditary statesmen have a foolish pretension： that of being initiated by long study into a certain science represented as arduous； which they call the science of public affairs and which they （like physicians with medical science） alone have the right to practise。 They are not willing that an underling； a journalist for instance； or lower than that； an artist； a cutter of images； should presume to slip into their domain and speak out beside them。 A poet； an artist； a writer may be endowed with eminent faculties； they will agree