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The Vicar of Tours-Part9_Honore de Balzac(1799-1850)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

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least twelve thousand. In short, the appraisal of the whole property

by the expert reached the sum of over thirty-six thousand francs. Now



it was very evident that Birotteau never intended to give Mademoiselle

Gamard such an enormous sum of money for the small amount he might owe



her under the terms of the deed; therefore he had, legallyspeaking,

equitable grounds on which to demand an amendment of the agreement; if



this were denied, Mademoiselle Gamard was plainlyguilty of

intentional fraud. The Radical lawyeraccordingly began the affair by



serving a writ on Mademoiselle Gamard. Though very harsh in language,

this document, strengthened by citations of precedents and supported



by certain clauses in the Code, was a masterpiece of legal argument,

and so evidently just in its condemnation of the old maid that thirty



or forty copies were made and maliciously distributed through the

town.



IV

A few days after this commencement of hostilities between Birotteau



and the old maid, the Baron de Listomere, who expected to be included

as captain of a corvette in a coming promotionlately announced by the



minister of the Navy, received a letter from one of his friends

warning him that there was some intention of putting him on the



retired list. Greatly astonished by this information he started for

Paris immediately, and went at once to the minister, who seemed to be



amazed himself, and even laughed at the baron's fears. The next day,

however, in spite of the minister's assurance, Monsieur de Listomere



made inquiries in the different offices. By an indiscretion (often

practised by heads of departments in favor of their friends) one of



the secretaries showed him a document confirming the fatal news, which

was only waiting the signature of the director, who was ill, to be



submitted to the minister.

The Baron de Listomere went immediately to an uncle of his, a deputy,



who could see the minister of the Navy at the chamber without loss of

time, and begged him to find out the real intentions of his Excellency



in a matter which threatened the loss of his whole future. He waited

in his uncle's carriage with the utmostanxiety for the end of the



session. His uncle came out before the Chamber rose, and said to him

at once as they drove away: "Why the devil have you meddled in a



priest's quarrel? The minister began by telling me you had put

yourself at the head of the Radicals in Tours; that your political



opinions were objectionable; you were not following in the lines of

the government,--with other remarks as much involved as if he were



addressing the Chamber. On that I said to him, 'Nonsense; let us come

to the point.' The end was that his Excellency told me frankly you



were in bad odor with the diocese. In short, I made a few inquiries

among my colleagues, and I find that you have been talking slightingly



of a certan Abbe Troubert, the vicar-general, but a very important

personage in the province, where he represents the Jesuits. I have



made myself responsible to the minister for your future conduct. My

good nephew, if you want to make your way be careful not to excite



ecclesiastical enmities. Go at once to Tours and try to make your

peace with that devil of a vicar-general; remember that such priests



are men with whom we absolutely MUST live in harmony. Good heavens!

when we are all striving and working to re-establish religion it is



actually stupid, in a lieutenant who wants to be made a captain, to

affront the priests. If you don't make up matters with that Abbe



Troubert you needn't count on me; I shall abandon you. The minister of

ecclesiastical affairs told me just now that Troubert was certain to






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