He was stupefied by the quantity ofgold which
Mathilde scattered abroad. A sort of peasant camepresently to fetch the old man. My
happiness, my tranquillity are at stake. I may sit down in an armchair, and the
armchair grip me by thearms, I shall have vanished.
He spoke to himfor hours of the escape of
M.
Madame de Renal was not mortally wounded. My
happiness, my tranquillity are at stake. Dishonour can have no hold over such a name
as yours.
He broke off abruptly and returned to his
dreams.
He thought he understood why so many people felt a
passionate hatredof his friend.
Having dried her tears, he returned to the subject
of his thoughts,but with more subtlety. I have still a tiresome duty to perform,
thought Julien, I mustwrite to Mademoiselle de La Mole. You see, Sir, that my father
undertook to provide for his future.
But, to oblige Monsieur, I went tohis house, and he
told me everything . The Academician will say that he has beenwarming a serpent in
his bosom. But the prisoner became in a flash passionate andincisive.
This evening I amten degrees below the level of
courage that must lead me to theguillotine. Sorel fired two shots atthis woman whom
once he loved so dearly. Two or threethousand livres a year to live quietly in a
mountain village likeVergy . What a sublime effort in a small
landowner!
Yes, Sir, replied the gaoler, lowering his voice,
but do not speakso loud, it may damage you.
This was a heroic measure on the part ofa proud and
jealous spirit.
But, dear Mathilde, your comingto Besancon, if it
is suspected, is going to be a mortal blow to M. Her presence wasdisturbing enough
in itself. Miscreant, it was only from your letter that I learned where
youwere.
The honest merchant hadaccess even to the
all-powerful Vicar-General.
At last the abbe de Frilair was sure of his
control. If I hadwounded Madame de Renal mortally, I should have killed myself
He thanked heaven for not having let him wound her
mortally.