period that elapses between the issuing of the writs for convening the
electoral bodies； and the day fixed for their meetings； is an interval
during which ordinary vitality is suspended。 Rosalie fully understood
how much latitude Albert's absorbed state would leave her during these
three months。 By promising Marietteas she afterwards confessedto
take both her and Jerome into her service； she induced the maid to
bring her all the letters Albert might sent to Italy； and those
addressed to him from that country。 And all the time she was pondering
these machinations； the extraordinary girl was working slippers for
her father with the most innocent air in the world。 She even made a
greater display than ever of candor and simplicity； quite
understanding how valuable that candor and innocence would be to her
ends。
〃My daughter grows quite charming！〃 said Madame de Watteville。
Two months before the election a meeting was held at the house of
Monsieur Boucher senior； composed of the contractor who expected to
get the work for the aqueduct for the Arcier waters； of Monsieur
Boucher's father…in…law； of Monsieur Granet； the influential man to
whom Savarus had done a service； and who was to nominate him as a
candidate； of Girardet the lawyer； of the printer of the /Eastern
Review/； and of the President of the Chamber of Commerce。 In fact； the
assembly consisted of twenty…seven persons in all； men who in the
provinces are regarded as bigwigs。 Each man represented on an average
six votes； but in estimating their values they said ten； for men
always begin by exaggerating their own influence。 Among these twenty…
seven was one who was wholly devoted to the Prefet； one false brother
who secretly looked for some favor from the Ministry； either for
himself or for some one belonging to him。
At this preliminary meeting； it was agreed that Savaron the lawyer
should be named as candidate； a motion received with such enthusiasm
as no one looked for from Besancon。 Albert； waiting at home for Alfred
Boucher to fetch him； was chatting with the Abbe de Grancey； who was
interested in this absorbing ambition。 Albert had appreciated the
priest's vast political capacities； and the priest； touched by the
young man's entreaties； had been willing to become his guide and
adviser in this culminating struggle。 The Chapter did not love
Monsieur de Chavoncourt； for it was his wife's brother…in…law； as
President of the Tribunal； who had lost the famous suit for them in
the lower Court。
〃You are betrayed； my dear fellow；〃 said the shrewd and worthy Abbe；
in that gentle； calm voice which old priests acquire。
〃Betrayed！〃 cried the lover； struck to the heart。
〃By whom I know not at all；〃 the priest replied。 〃But at the
Prefecture your plans are known； and your hand read like a book。 At
this moment I have no advice to give you。 Such affairs need
consideration。 As for this evening； take the bull by the horns；
anticipate the blow。 Tell them all your previous life； and thus you
will mitigate the effect of the discovery on the good folks of
Besancon。〃
〃Oh； I was prepared for it；〃 said Albert in a broken voice。
〃You would not benefit by my advice； you had the opportunity of making
an impression at the Hotel de Rupt； you do not know the advantage you
would have gained〃
〃What？〃
〃The unanimous support of the Royalists； an immediate readiness to go
to the electionin short； above a hundred votes。 Adding to these
what； among ourselves； we call the ecclesiastical vote； though you
were not yet nominated； you were master of the votes by ballot。 Under
such circumstances； a man may temporize； may make his way〃
Alfred Boucher when he came in； full of enthusiasm； to announce the
decision of the preliminary meeting； found the Vicar…General and the
lawyer cold； calm； and grave。
〃Good…night； Monsieur l'Abbe；〃 said Albert。 〃We will talk of your
business at greater length when the elections are over。〃
And he took Alfred's arm； after pressing Monsieur de Grancey's hand
with meaning。 The priest looked at the ambitious man； whose face at
that moment wore the lofty expression which a general may have when he
hears the first gun fired for a battle。 He raised his eyes to heaven；
and left the room； saying to himself； 〃What a priest he would make！〃
Eloquence is not at the Bar。 The pleader rarely puts forth the real
powers of his soul； if he did； he would die of it in a few years。
Eloquence is； nowadays； rarely in the pulpit； but it is found on
certain occasions in the Chamber of Deputies； when an ambitious man
stakes all to win all； or； stung by a myriad darts； at a given moment
bursts into speech。 But it is still more certainly found in some
privileged beings； at the inevitable hour when their claims must
either triumph or be wrecked； and when they are forced to speak。 Thus
at this meeting； Albert Savarus； feeling the necessity of winning
himself some supporters； displayed all the faculties of his soul and
the resources of his intellect。 He entered the room well； without
awkwardness or arrogance； without weakness； without cowardice； quite
gravely； and was not dismayed at finding himself among twenty or
thirty men。 The news of the meeting and of its determination had
already brought a few docile sheep to follow the bell。
Before listening to Monsieur Boucher； who was about to deluge him with
a speech announcing the decision of the Boucher Committee； Albert
begged for silence； and； as he shook hands with Monsieur Boucher；
tried to warn him； by a sign； of an unexpected danger。
〃My young friend； Alfred Boucher； has just announced to me the honor
you have done me。 But before that decision is irrevocable；〃 said the
lawyer； 〃I think that I ought to explain to you who and what your
candidate is； so as to leave you free to take back your word if my
declaration should disturb your conscience！〃
This exordium was followed by profound silence。 Some of the men
thought it showed a noble impulse。
Albert gave a sketch of his previous career； telling them his real
name； his action under the Restoration； and revealing himself as a new
man since his arrival at Besancon； while pledging himself for the
future。 This address held his hearers breathless； it was said。 These
men； all with different interests； were spellbound by the brilliant
eloquence that flowed at boiling heat from the heart and soul of this
ambitious spirit。 Admiration silenced reflection。 Only one thing was
clearthe thing which Albert wished to get into their heads：
Was it not far better for the town to have one of those men who are
born to govern society at large than a mere voting…machine？ A
statesman carries power with him。 A commonplace deputy； however
incorruptible； is but a conscience。 What a glory for Provence to have
found a Mirabeau； to return the only statesman since 1830 that the
revolution of July had produced！
Under the pressure of this eloquence； all the audience believed it
great enough to become a splendid political instrument in the hands of
their representative。 They all saw in Albert Savaron； Savarus the
great Minister。 And； reading the secret calculations of his
constituents； the clever candidate gave them to understand that they
would be the first to enjoy the right of profiting by his influence。
This confession of faith； this ambitious programme； this retrospect of
his life and character was； according to the only man present who was
capable of judging of Savarus （he has since become one of the leading
men of Besancon）； a masterpiece of skill and of feeling； of fervor；
interest； and fascination。 This whirlwind carried away the electors。
Never had any man had such a triumph。 But； unfortunately； speech； a
weapon only for close warfare； has only an immediate effect。
Reflection kills the word when the word ceases to overpower
reflection。 If the votes had then been taken； Albert's name would
undoubtedly have come out of the ballot…box。 At the moment； he was
conqueror。 But he must conquer every day for two months。
Albert went home quivering。 The townsfolk had applauded him； and he
had achieved the great point of silencing beforehand the malignant
talk to which his early career might give rise。 The commercial
interest of Besancon had nominated the lawyer； Albert Savaron de
Savarus； as its candidate。
Alfred Boucher's enthusiasm； at first infectious； presently became
blundering。
The Prefet； alarmed by this success； set to work to count the
Ministerial votes； and contrived to have a secret interview with
Monsieur de Chavoncourt； so as to effect a coalition in their common
interests。 Every day； without Albert's being able to discover how； the
voters in the Boucher committee diminished in number。
Nothing could resist the slow grinding of the Prefecture。 Three of
four clever men would say to Albert's clients； 〃Will the deputy defend
you and win your lawsuits？ Will he give you advice； draw up your
contracts； arrange your compromises？He will be your slave for five
years longer； if； instead of returning him to the Chamber； you only
hold out the hope of his going there five years hence。〃
This calculation did Savarus all the more mischief； because the wives
of some of the merchants had already made it。 The parties interested
in the matter of the bridge and that of the water from Arcier could
not hold out against a talking…to from a clever Ministerialist； who
proved to them that their safety lay at the Prefecture； and not in the
hands of an ambitious man。 Each day was a check for Savarus； though
each day the battle was led by him and fought by his lieutenantsa
battle of words； speeches； and proceedings。 He dared not go to the
Vicar…General； and the Vicar…General never showed himself。 Albert rose
and went to bed in a fever； his brain on fire。
At last the day dawned of the first struggle； practically the show of
hands； the votes are counted； the candidates estimate their chances；
and clever men can prophesy their failure or success。 It is a decent
hustings； without the mob； but formidable； agitation； though it is not
allowed any physical display； as it is in England； is not the less
profound。 The English fight these battles with their fists； the French
with hard wo