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〃But；〃 she argued； 〃if I must renounce him must I also cease to feel
an interest in him？ I can love him and not marry at all。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the doctor； 〃there is so much reason in your
unreasonableness that I am sorry I brought you。〃
Three days later the worthy man had all the receipts signed； and the
legal papers ready for Savinien's release。 The payings； including the
notaries' fees； amounted to eighty thousand francs。 The doctor went
himself to see Savinien released on Saturday at two o'clock。 The young
viscount； already informed of what had happened by his mother； thanked
his liberator with sincere warmth of heart。
〃You must return at once to see your mother；〃 the old doctor said to
him。
Savinien answered in a sort of confusion that he had contracted
certain debts of honor while in prison； and related the visit of his
friends。
〃I suspected there was some personal debt；〃 cried the doctor； smiling。
〃Your mother borrowed a hundred thousand francs of me； but I have paid
out only eighty thousand。 Here is the rest； be careful how you spend
it； monsieur； consider what you have left of it as your stake on the
green cloth of fortune。〃
During the last eight days Savinien had made many reflections on the
present conditions of life。 Competition in everything necessitated
hard work on the part of whoever sought a fortune。 Illegal methods and
underhand dealing demanded more talent than open efforts in face of
day。 Success in society； far from giving a man position； wasted his
time and required an immense deal of money。 The name of Portenduere；
which his mother considered all…powerful； had no power at all in
Paris。 His cousin the deputy； Comte de Portenduere； cut a very poor
figure in the Elective Chamber in presence of the peerage and the
court； and had none too much credit personally。 Admiral Kergarouet
existed only as the husband of his wife。 Savinien admitted to himself
that he had seen orators； men from the middle classes； or lesser
noblemen； become influential personages。 Money was the pivot； the sole
means； the only mechanism of a society which Louis XVIII。 had tried to
create in the likeness of that of England。
On his way from the Rue de la Clef to the Rue Croix des Petits…Champs
the young gentleman divulged the upshot of these meditations （which
were certainly in keeping with de Marsay's advice） to the old doctor。
〃I ought；〃 he said； 〃to go into oblivion for three or four years and
seek a career。 Perhaps I could make myself a name by writing a book on
statesmanship or morals； or a treatise on some of the great questions
of the day。 While I am looking out for a marriage with some young lady
who could make me eligible to the Chamber； I will work hard in silence
and in obscurity。〃
Studying the young fellow's face with a keen eye； the doctor saw the
serious purpose of a wounded man who was anxious to vindicate himself。
He therefore cordially approved of the scheme。
〃My friend；〃 he said； 〃if you strip off the skin of the old nobility
（which is no longer worn these days） I will undertake； after you have
lived for three or four years in a steady and industrious manner； to
find you a superior young girl； beautiful； amiable； pious； and
possessing from seven to eight hundred thousand francs； who will make
you happy and of whom you will have every reason to be proud；one
whose only nobility is that of the heart！〃
〃Ah； doctor！〃 cried the young man； 〃there is no longer a nobility in
these days；nothing but an aristocracy。〃
〃Go and pay your debts of honor and come back here。 I shall engage the
coupe of the diligence； for my niece is with me；〃 said the old man。
That evening； at six o'clock； the three travelers started from the Rue
Dauphine。 Ursula had put on a veil and did not say a word。 Savinien；
who once； in a moment of superficial gallantry； had sent her that kiss
which invaded and conquered her soul like a love…poem； had completely
forgotten the young girl in the hell of his Parisian debts； moreover；
his hopeless love for Emilie de Kergarouet hindered him from bestowing
a thought on a few glances exchanged with a little country girl。 He
did not recognize her when the doctor handed her into the coach and
then sat down beside her to separate her from the young viscount。
〃I have some bills to give you；〃 said the doctor to the young man。 〃I
have brought all your papers and documents。〃
〃I came very near not getting off；〃 said Savinien； 〃for I had to order
linen and clothes； the Philistines took all； I return like a true
prodigal。〃
However interesting were the subjects of conversation between the
young man and the old one； and however witty and clever were certain
remarks of the viscount； the young girl continued silent till after
dusk； her green veil lowered； and her hands crossed on her shawl。
〃Mademoiselle does not seem to have enjoyed Paris very much；〃 said
Savinien at last； somewhat piqued。
〃I am glad to return to Nemours；〃 she answered in a trembling voice
raising her veil。
Notwithstanding the dim light Savinien then recognized her by the
heavy braids of her hair and the brilliancy of her blue eyes。
〃I； too； leave Paris to bury myself in Nemours without regret now that
I meet my charming neighbour again；〃 he said； 〃I hope； Monsieur le
docteur that you will receive me in your house； I love music； and I
remember to have listened to Mademoiselle Ursula's piano。〃
〃I do not know；〃 replied the doctor gravely； 〃whether your mother
would approve of your visits to an old man whose duty it is to care
for this dear child with all the solicitude of a mother。〃
This reserved answer made Savinien reflect； and he then remembered the
kisses so thoughtlessly wafted。 Night came； the heat was great。
Savinien and the doctor went to sleep first。 Ursula； whose head was
full of projects； did not succumb till midnight。 She had taken off her
straw…bonnet； and her head； covered with a little embroidered cap；
dropped upon her uncle's shoulder。 When they reached Bouron at dawn；
Savinien awoke。 He then saw Ursula in the slight disarray naturally
caused by the jolting of the vehicle； her cap was rumpled and half
off； the hair； unbound； had fallen each side of her face； which glowed
from the heat of the night； in this situation； dreadful for women to
whom dress is a necessary auxiliary； youth and beauty triumphed。 The
sleep of innocence is always lovely。 The half…opened lips showed the
pretty teeth； the shawl； unfastened； gave to view； beneath the folds
of her muslin gown and without offence to her modesty； the
gracefulness of her figure。 The purity of the virgin spirit shone on
the sleeping countenance all the more plainly because no other
expression was there to interfere with it。 Old Minoret； who presently
woke up； placed his child's head in the corner of the carriage that
she might be more at ease； and she let him do it unconsciously； so
deep was her sleep after