按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
window the fine expanse of water； from which the light mists rose like
smoke； and were caught in the firs and larches； rolling up and along
the hills till they reached the heights； and she gave a cry of
admiration。
〃They loved by the lakes！ /She/ lives by a lake！ A lake is certainly
full of love！〃 she thought。
A lake fed by snows has opalescent colors and a translucency that
makes it one huge diamond； but when it is shut in like that of les
Rouxey； between two granite masses covered with pines； when silence
broods over it like that of the Savannas or the Steppes； then every
one must exclaim as Rosalie did。
〃We owe that；〃 said her father； 〃to the notorious Watteville。〃
〃On my word；〃 said the girl； 〃he did his best to earn forgiveness。 Let
us go in a boat to the further end； it will give us an appetite for
breakfast。〃
The Baron called two gardener lads who knew how to row； and took with
him his prime minister Modinier。 The lake was about six acres in
breadth； in some places ten or twelve； and four hundred in length。
Rosalie soon found herself at the upper end shut in by the Dent de
Vilard； the Jungfrau of that little Switzerland。
〃Here we are； Monsieur le Baron；〃 said Modinier； signing to the
gardeners to tie up the boat； 〃will you come and look？〃
〃Look at what？〃 asked Rosalie。
〃Oh； nothing！〃 exclaimed the Baron。 〃But you are a sensible girl； we
have some little secrets between us； and I may tell you what ruffles
my mind。 Some difficulties have arisen since 1830 between the village
authorities of Riceys and me； on account of this very Dent de Vilard；
and I want to settle the matter without your mother's knowing anything
about it； for she is stubborn； she is capable of flinging fire and
flames broadcast； particularly if she should hear that the Mayor of
Riceys； a republican； got up this action as a sop to his people。〃
Rosalie had presence of mind enough to disguise her delight； so as to
work more effectually on her father。
〃What action？〃 said she。
〃Mademoiselle； the people of Riceys；〃 said Modinier； 〃have long
enjoyed the right of grazing and cutting fodder on their side of the
Dent de Vilard。 Now Monsieur Chantonnit； the Maire since 1830；
declares that the whole Dent belongs to his district； and maintains
that a hundred years ago； or more； there was a way through our
grounds。 You understand that in that case we should no longer have
them to ourselves。 Then this barbarian would end by saying； what the
old men in the village say； that the ground occupied by the lake was
appropriated by the Abbe de Watteville。 That would be the end of les
Rouxey； what next？〃
〃Indeed； my child； between ourselves； it is the truth；〃 said Monsieur
de Watteville simply。 〃The land is an usurpation； with no title…deed
but lapse of time。 And； therefore； to avoid all worry； I should wish
to come to a friendly understanding as to my border line on this side
of the Dent de Vilard； and I will then raise a wall。〃
〃If you give way to the municipality； it will swallow you up。 You
ought to have threatened Riceys。〃
〃That is just what I told the master last evening；〃 said Modinier。
〃But in confirmation of that view I proposed that he should come to
see whether； on this side of the Dent or on the other； there may not
be； high or low； some traces of an enclosure。〃
For a century the Dent de Vilard had been used by both parties without
coming to extremities； it stood as a sort of party wall between the
communes of Riceys and les Rouxey； yielding little profit。 Indeed； the
object in dispute； being covered with snow for six months in the year；
was of a nature to cool their ardor。 Thus it required all the hot
blast by which the revolution of 1830 inflamed the advocates of the
people； to stir up this matter； by which Monsieur Chantonnit； the
Maire of Riceys； hoped to give a dramatic turn to his career on the
peaceful frontier of Switzerland； and to immortalize his term of
office。 Chantonnit； as his name shows； was a native of Neuchatel。
〃My dear father；〃 said Rosalie； as they got into the boat again； 〃I
agree with Modinier。 If you wish to secure the joint possession of the
Dent de Vilard； you must act with decision； and get a legal opinion
which will protect you against this enterprising Chantonnit。 Why
should you be afraid？ Get the famous lawyer Savaronengage him at
once； lest Chantonnit should place the interests of the village in his
hands。 The man who won the case for the Chapter against the town can
certainly win that of Watteville /versus/ Riceys！ Besides；〃 she added；
〃les Rouxey will some day be minenot for a long time yet； I trust。
Well； then do not leave me with a lawsuit on my hands。 I like this
place； I shall often live here； and add to it as much as possible。 On
those banks；〃 and she pointed to the feet of the two hills； 〃I shall
cut flowerbeds and make the loveliest English gardens。 Let us go to
Besancon and bring back with us the Abbe de Grancey； Monsieur Savaron；
and my mother； if she cares to come。 You can then make up your mind；
but in your place I should have done so already。 Your name is
Watteville； and you are afraid of a fight！ If you should lose your
casewell； I will never reproach you by a word！〃
〃Oh； if that is the way you take it；〃 said the Baron； 〃I am quite
ready； I will see the lawyer。〃
〃Besides a lawsuit is really great fun。 It brings some interest into
life； with coming and going and raging over it。 You will have a great
deal to do before you can get hold of the judges。We did not see the
Abbe de Grancey for three weeks； he was so busy！〃
〃But the very existence of the Chapter was involved；〃 said Monsieur de
Watteville； 〃and then the Archbishop's pride； his conscience；
everything that makes up the life of the priesthood； was at stake。
That Savaron does not know what he did for the Chapter！ He saved it！〃
〃Listen to me；〃 said his daughter in his ear； 〃if you secure Monsieur
de Savaron； you will gain your suit； won't you？ Well； then； let me
advise you。 You cannot get at Monsieur Savaron excepting through
Monsieur de Grancey。 Take my word for it； and let us together talk to
the dear Abbe without my mother's presence at the interview； for I
know a way of persuading him to bring the lawyer to us。〃
〃It will be very difficult to avoid mentioning it to your mother！〃
〃The Abbe de Grancey will settle that afterwards。 But just make up
your mind to promise your vote to Monsieur Savaron at the next
election； and you will see！〃
〃Go to the election！ take the oath？〃 cried the Baron de Watteville。
〃What then！〃 said she。
〃And what will your mother say？〃
〃She may even desire you to do it；〃 replied Rosalie； knowing as she
did from Albert's letter to Leopold how deeply the Vicar…General had
pledged himself。
Four days after； the Abbe de Grancey called very early one morning on
Albert de Savarus； having announced his visit the day before。 The old
priest had come to win over the great lawyer to the house of the
Wattevilles； a proceeding which shows how much tact and subtlety
Rosalie must have employed in an underhand way。
〃What can I do for you； Monsieur le Vicaire…General？〃 asked Savarus。
The Abbe； who told his story with admirable frankness； was coldly
heard by Albert。
〃Monsieur l'Abbe；〃 said he； 〃it is out of the question that I should
defend the interests of the Wattevilles； and you shall understand why。
My part in this town is to remain perfectly neutral。 I will display no
colors； I must remain a mystery till the eve of my election。 Now； to
plead for the Wattevilles would mean nothing in Paris； but here！
Here； where everything is discussed； I should be supposed by every one
to be an ally of your Faubourg Saint…Germain。〃
〃What！ do you suppose that you can remain unknown on the day of the
election； when the candidates must oppose each other？ It must then
become known that your name is Savaron de Savarus； that you have held
the appointment of Master of Appeals； that you are a man of the
Restoration！〃
〃On the day of the election；〃 said Savarus； 〃I will be all I am
expected to be； and I intend to speak at the preliminary meetings。〃
〃If you have the support of Monsieur de Watteville and his party； you
will get a hundred votes in a mass； and far more to be trusted than
those on which you rely。 It is always possible to produce division of
interests； convictions are inseparable。〃
〃The deuce is in it！〃 said Savarus。 〃I am attached to you； and I could
do a great deal for you； Father！ Perhaps we may compound with the
Devil。 Whatever Monsieur de Watteville's business may be； by engaging
Girardet； and prompting him； it will be possible to drag the
proceedings out till the elections are over。 I will not undertake to
plead till the day after I am returned。〃
〃Do this one thing；〃 said the Abbe。 〃Come to the Hotel de Rupt： there
is a young person of nineteen there who； one of these days； will have
a hundred thousand francs a year； and you can seem to be paying your
court to her〃
〃Ah！ the young lady I sometimes see in the kiosk？〃
〃Yes； Mademoiselle Rosalie；〃 replied the Abbe de Grancey。 〃You are
ambitious。 If she takes a fancy to you； you may be everything an
ambitious man can wi