with instant action which （to use the abbe's own expression）
approached the sublime。 Often； if something had to be fetched； if it
was a question of some little attention which men delight to pay to a
beloved woman； the elder would leave that pleasure to the younger with
a look at Laurence that was proud and tender。 The younger； on the
other hand； put all his own pride into paying such debts。 This rivalry
of noble natures in a feeling which leads men often to the jealous
ferocity of the beasts amazed the old people who were watching it； and
bewildered their ideas。
Such little details often drew tears to the eyes of the countess。 A
single sensation； which is perhaps all…powerful in some rare
organizations； will give an idea of Laurence's emotions； it may be
perceived by recalling the perfect unison of two fine voices （like
those of Malibran and Sontag） in some harmonious /duo/； or the
blending of two instruments touched by the hand of genius； their
melodious tones entering the soul like the passionate sighing of one
heart。 Sometimes； seeing the Marquis de Simeuse buried in an arm…chair
and glancing from time to time with deepest melancholy at his brother
and Laurence who were talking and laughing； the abbe believed him
capable of making the great sacrifice； presently； however； the priest
would see in the young man's eyes the flash of an unconquerable
passion。 Whenever either of the brothers found himself alone with
Laurence he might reasonably suppose himself the one preferred。
〃I fancy then that there is but one of them；〃 explained the countess
to the abbe when he questioned her。 That answer showed the priest her
total want of coquetry。 Laurence did not conceive that she was loved
by two men。
〃But； my dear child；〃 said Madame d'Hauteserre one evening （her own
son silently dying of love for Laurence）； 〃you must choose！〃
〃Oh； let us be happy；〃 she replied； 〃God will save us from ourselves。〃
Adrien d'Hauteserre buried within his breast the jealousy that was
consuming him； he kept the secret of his torture； aware of how little
he could hope。 He tried to be content with the happiness of seeing the
charming woman who during the few months this struggle lasted shone in
all her brilliancy。 In one sense Laurence had become coquettish；
taking that dainty care of her person which women who are loved
delight in。 She followed the fashions； and went more than once to
Paris to deck her beauty with /chiffons/ or some choice novelty。
Desirous of giving her cousins a sense of home and its every
enjoyment； from which they had so long been severed； she made her
chateau； in spite of the remonstrances of her late guardian； the most
completely comfortable house in Champagne。
Robert d'Hauteserre saw nothing of this hidden drama； he never noticed
his brother's love for Laurence。 As to the girl herself； he liked to
tease her about her coquetry；for he confounded that odious defect
with the natural desire to please； he was always mistaken in matters
of feeling； taste； and the higher ethics。 So； whenever this man of the
middle…ages appeared on the scene； Laurence immediately made him；
unknown to himself； the clown of the play； she amused her cousins by
arguing with Robert； and leading him； step by step； into some bog of
ignorance and stupidity。 She excelled in such clever mischief； which；
to be really successful； must leave the victim content with himself。
And yet； though his nature was a coarse one； Robert never； during
those delightful months （the only happy period in the lives of the
three young people） said one virile word which might have brought
matters to a crisis between Laurence and her cousins。 He was struck
with the sincerity of the brothers； he saw how the one could be glad
at the happiness of the other and yet suffer anguish in the depths of
his heart； and he did perceive how a woman might shrink from showing
tenderness to one which would grieve the other。 This perception on
Robert's part was a just one； it explains a situation which； in times
of faith； when the sovereign pontiff had power to intervene and cut
the Gordian knot of such phenomena （allied to the deepest and most
impenetrable mysteries）； would have found its solution。 The Revolution
had deepened the Catholic faith in these young hearts； and religion
now rendered this crisis in their lives the more severe； because
nobility of character is ever heightened by the grandeur of
circumstances。 A sense of this truth kept Monsieur and Madame
d'Hauteserre and the abbe from the slightest fear of any unworthy
result on the part of the brothers or of Laurence。
This private drama； secretly developing within the limits of the
family life where each member watched it silently； ran its course so
rapidly and withal so slowly； it carried with it so many unhoped…for
pleasures； trifling jars； frustrated fancies； hopes reversed； anxious
waitings； delayed explanations and mute avowals that the dwellers at
Cinq…Cygne paid no attention to the public drama of the Emperor's
coronation。 At times these passions made a truce and sought
distraction in the violent enjoyment of hunting； when weariness of
body took from the soul all occasions to wander in the dangerous
meadows of reverie。 Neither Laurence nor her cousins had a thought now
for public affairs； each day brought its palpitating and absorbing
interests for their hearts。
〃Really；〃 said Mademoiselle Goujet one evening； 〃I don't know which of
all the lovers loves the most。〃
Adrien； who happened to be alone in the salon with the four card…
players； raised his eyes and turned pale。 For the last few days his
only hold on life had been the pleasure of seeing Laurence and of
listening to her。
〃I think；〃 said the abbe； 〃that the countess； being a woman； loves
with the greater abandonment to love。〃
Laurence； the twins； and Robert entered the room soon after。 The
newspapers had just arrived。 England； seeing the failure of all
conspiracies attempted within the borders of France； was now arming
all Europe against their common enemy。 The disaster at Trafalgar had
overthrown one of the most amazing plans which human genius ever
conceived； by which； if it had succeeded； the Emperor would have paid
the nation for his election by the ruin of the British power。 The camp
at Boulogne had just been raised。 Napoleon； whose solders were； as
always； inferior in numbers to the enemy； was about to carry the war
into parts of Europe where he had not before waged it。 The whole world
was breathless； awaiting the results of the campaign。
〃He'll surely be defeated this time；〃 said Robert； laying down the
paper。
〃The armies of Austria and of Russia are before him；〃 said Marie…Paul。
〃He has never fought in Germany；〃 added Paul…Marie。
〃Of whom are you speaking？〃 asked Laurence。
〃The Emperor；〃 answered the three gentlemen。
The jealous girl threw a disdainful look at her twin lovers； which
humiliated them while it rejoiced the heart of Adrien； who made a
gesture of admiration and gave her one proud look； which said plainly
that /he/ thought only of her；of Laurence。
〃I told you；〃 said the abbe in a low voice； 〃that love would some day
cause her to forget her animosity。〃
It was the first； last； and only reproach the brothers ever received
from her； but certainly at that moment their love； which could still
be distracted by national events； was inferior to that of Laurence；
which； absorbed her mind so completely that she only knew of the
amazing triumph at Austerlitz by overhearing a discussion between
Monsieur d'Hauteserre and his sons。
Faithful to his ideas of submission； the old man wished both Robert
and Adrien to re…enter the French army and apply for service； they
could； he thought； be reinstated in their rank and soon find an
opening to military honors。 But royalist opinions were now all…
powerful at Cinq…Cygne。 The four young men and Laurence laughed at
their prudent elder； who seemed to foresee a coming evil。 Possibly；
prudence is less virtue than the exercise of some instinct； or /sense/
of the mind （if it is allowable to couple those two words）。 A day will
come； no doubt； when physiologists and philosophers will both admit
that the senses are； in some way； the sheath or vehicle of a keen and
penetrative active power which issues from the mind。
CHAPTER XI
WISE COUNSEL
After peace was concluded between France and Austria； towards the end
of the month of February； 1806； a relative； whose influence had been
employed for the reinstatement of the Simeuse brothers； and who was
destined later to give them signal proofs of family attachment； the
ci…devant Marquis de Chargeboeuf； whose estates extended from the
department of the Seine…et…Marne to that of the Aube； arrived one
morning at Cinq…Cygne in a species of caleche which was then named in
derision a /berlingot/。 When this shabby carriage was driven past the
windows the inhabitants of the chateau； who were at breakfast； were
convulsed with laughter； but when the bald head of the old man was
seen issuing from behind the leather curtain of the vehicle Monsieur
d'Hauteserre told his name； and all present rose instantly to receive
and do honor to the head of the house of Chargeboeuf。
〃We have done wrong to let him come to us；〃 said the Marquis de
Simeuse to his brother and the d'Hauteserres； 〃we ought to have gone
to him and made our acknowledgements。〃
A servant； dressed as a peasant； who drove the horses from a seat on a
level with the body of the carriage； slipped his cartman's whip into a
coarse leather socket； and got down from the box to assist the marquis
from the carriage； but Adrien and the younger de Simeuse prevented
him； unbuttoned the leather apron； and helped the old man out in spite
of his protestations。 This gentleman of the old school chose to
consider his yellow /berlingot/ with its leather curtains a most
convenient and excellent equipage。 The servant； assisted by Gothard；
unharnessed the stout horses with shining flanks； accustomed no doubt
to do as much duty at the plough as in a carriage。
〃In spite of this cold weather！ Why； you are a knight of the olden
time；〃 said Laurence； to her visitor； taking his arm and leading him