dreville； out of some money； had heard of the virtues and the inexhaustible kindness of Mother Marie…des…Angesin short； she regarded her； after Danton； as the most interesting object of the place； and deeply regretted that she dared not ask to be admitted to her presence。
An hour later the following note was left at the Hotel de la Poste：
Mademoiselle；I am told that you desire to see me； but that you do not know how to accomplish it。 Nothing is easier。 Ring the door…bell of my quiet house； ask to see me； and do not be alarmed at my black robe and aged face。 I am not one of those who force their advice upon pretty young women who do not ask for it； and who may become in time greater saints than I。 That is the whole mystery of obtaining an interview with Mother Marie…des…Anges； who salutes you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ。 ＇Picture of small cross。＇
An invitation so graciously given was not to be resisted； and Mademoiselle Antonia； after putting on the soberest costume she could get together； went to the convent。
I wish I could give you the details of that interview； which must have been curious； but no one was present； and nothing was known except what the lost sheep； who returned in tears； told of it。 When the journalist tried to joke her on this conversion； Mademoiselle Antonia turned upon him。
〃Hold your tongue；〃 she said； 〃you never in your life wrote a sentence like what she said to me。〃
〃What did she say to you？〃
〃'Go； my child；' said that old woman； 'the ways of God are beautiful； and little known； there is often more of a saint in a Magdalen than in a nun。'〃
The journalist laughed； but scenting danger he said；
〃When are you going again to Gondreville to see that Keller？ If he doesn't pay the money soon； I'll hit him a blow in some article； in spite of all Maxime may say。〃
〃I don't play dirty tricks myself；〃 replied Antonia； with dignity。
〃Don't you？ Do you mean you are not going to present that note again？〃
〃Not now；〃 replied the admirer and probably the echo of Mother Marie… des…Anges； but using her own language； 〃I don't blackmail a family in affliction。 I should remember it on my death…bed； and doubt God's mercy。〃
〃Why don't you make yourself an Ursuline； now that we are here？〃
〃Ha； if I only had the courage！ I might be happier if I did。 But； in any case； I am not going to Gondreville； Mother Marie…des…Anges has undertaken to arrange that matter for me。〃
〃Foolish girl！ Have you given her that note？〃
〃I wanted to tear it up； but she prevented me； and told me to give it to her and she would arrange it honestly for my interests。〃
〃Very fine！ You were a creditor； and now you are a beggar。〃
〃No； for I have given the money in alms。 I told madame to keep it for her poor。〃
〃Oh！ if you add the vice of patronizing convents to your other vice of fishing in rivers； you will be a pleasant girl to frequent。〃
〃You won't frequent me much longer； for I go to…night； and leave you to your dirty work。〃
〃Bless me！ so you retire to the Carmelites？〃
〃The Carmelites！〃 replied Antonia； wittily； 〃no； my old fellow； we don't retire to the Carmelites unless we leave a king。〃
Such women； even the most ignorant； all know the story of La Valliere； whom they would assuredly have made their patroness if Sister Louise… of…the…Sacred…Mercy had been canonized。
I don't know how Mother Marie…des…Anges managed it； but early this morning the carriage of the old Comte de Gondreville stopped before the gate of the convent； and when the count again entered it he was driven to the office of his friend Grevin； and later in the day the latter said to several friends that certainly his son…in…law was too much of a fool； he had compromised himself with that Parisian woman； and would undoubtedly lose his election。
I am told that the rectors of the two parishes in Arcis have each received a thousand crowns for their poor from Mother Marie…des…Anges； who informed them that it came from a benefactor who did not wish his name known。 Sallenauve is furious because our partisans are going about saying that the money came from him。 But when you are running before the wind you can't mathematically measure each sail； and you sometimes get more of a breeze than you really want。
Monsieur Maxime de Trailles makes no sign； but there is every reason to suppose that this failure of his candidate； which he must see is now inevitable； will bury both him and his marriage。 But； at any rate； he is a clever fellow； who will manage to get his revenge。
What a curious man； madame； this organist is！ His name is that of one of our greatest physicians；though they are not related to each other；Bricheteau。 No one ever showed more activity； more presence of mind； more devotion； more intelligence； and there are not two men in all Europe who can play the organ as he does。 You say you do not want Nais to be a mere piano /strummer/； then I advise you to let this Bricheteau teach her。 He is a man who would show her what music really is； he will not give himself airs； for I assure you he is as modest as he is gifted。 To Sallenauve he is like a little terrier； as watchful； as faithful； and I may add as ugly；if so good and frank a countenance as his can ever be thought anything but handsome！
XVII
MARIE…GASTON TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
Arcis…sur…Aube； May 16； 1839。
Madame；Last evening the preparatory meeting took place；a ridiculous ceremony； very annoying to the candidates； which cannot； however； be avoided。
Perhaps it is natural that before pledging themselves to a man who is to represent them for four or five years； voters should want to question him； and discover； if possible； what he really is。 Is he a man of intelligence？ Does he really sustain the ideas put forth about him？ Will he be cordial and affable to the various interests which may claim his support？ Is he firm in character？ Can he defend his ideas if he has any？ In a word； will the constituency be worthily； faithfully； and honestly represented？ That is the serious and respectable aspect of this institution； which； not being a part of the law； must； in order to be so firmly fixed in our customs； have a sound reason for its existence。
But every medal has its reverse； as may be seen in these meetings of candidates with electors puffed up by their own self…importance； eager to exercise for a moment the sovereignty they are about to delegate to their deputy； and selling it as dearly as they can to him。 Considering the impertinence of certain questions addressed to a candidate； it would really seem as if the latter were a serf over whom each elector had rights of life and death。 Not a corner of his private life where the unhappy man is safe from prying curiosity。 All things are possible in the line of preposterous questioning； for instance： Why does the candidate prefer the wine of Champagne to the wine of Bordeaux？ At Bordeaux； where wine is a religion； this preference implies an idea of non…patriotism and may seriously affect the election。 Many voters go to these meetings solely to enjoy the embarrassment of the candidates。 Holding them as it were in the pillory； they play with them like a child with a beetle； an old judge with the criminal he examines； or a young surgeon at an autopsy。
Others have not such elevated tastes； they come merely to enjoy the racket； the confusion of tongues which is certain to take place on such occasions。 Some see their opportunity to exhibit a choice talent； for （as they say in the reports of the Chamber） when 〃the tumult is at its height；〃 a cock is heard to crow or a dog to howl as if his paw were trodden upon；noises that are imitated with marvellous accuracy。 But truly； are not fools and stupid beings a majority in the world； and ought they not to have their representative？
The meeting took place in a large dance…hall； the loft for the orchestra forming a sort of private box to which non…voters were admitted； I among the number。 Some ladies had already taken the front seats； Madame Marion； aunt of Simon Giguet； the Left centre candidate； Madame and Mademoiselle Mollot； wife and daughter of the clerk of the court； and some others whose names and position I did not catch。 Madame and Mademoiselle Beauvisage shone conspicuously； like Brutus and Cassius； by their absence。
Before the candidacy of Monsieur Beauvisage was brought forward on the ministerial side after the death of Charles Keller； that of Monsieur Simon Giguet was thought to be certain of success。 Now； in consequence of that of our friend Sallenauve； who has in turn distanced Beauvisage； Giguet has fallen a step lower still。 His father； a former colonel of the Empire； is greatly respected throughout this region。 As an expression of regret for not electing his son （according to all probabilities）； the electors made him； by acclamation； chairman of the meeting。
The first candidate who was called upon to speak was Simon Giguet； he made a long…winded address； full of commonplaces。 Few questions were asked him which deserve a place in the present report。 The audience felt that the tug of war was elsewhere。
Monsieur Beauvisage was then summoned； whereupon Maitre Achille Pigoult the notary rose； and asked leave to make a s