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ist； even though he may be a man of genius； compared to a peer of France； a personage who puts his hand to the tiller and steers the great political and social system； a man who has access to kings and ministers； and who would have the right if； by impossibility； such audacity should seize upon his mind； of depositing a black ball against the budget。 Well； this privileged being does not like that I； and others like me； should assume the importance and authority of that insolent elective Chamber。
But that is not all。 Hereditary statesmen have a foolish pretension： that of being initiated by long study into a certain science represented as arduous； which they call the science of public affairs and which they （like physicians with medical science） alone have the right to practise。 They are not willing that an underling； a journalist for instance； or lower than that； an artist； a cutter of images； should presume to slip into their domain and speak out beside them。 A poet； an artist； a writer may be endowed with eminent faculties； they will agree to that； the profession of such men presupposes it； but statesmen they cannot be。 Chateaubriand himself； though better placed than the rest of us to make himself a niche in the Governmental Olympus； was turned out of doors one morning by a concise little note； signed Joseph de Villele； dismissing him； as was proper； to Rene； Atala； and other futilities。
I know that time and that tall posthumous daughter of ours whom we call Posterity will some day do good justice and plead the right thing in the right place。 Towards the end of 2039； the world； if it deigns to last till then； will know what Canalis； Joseph Bridau； Daniel d'Arthez； Stidmann； and Leon de Lora were in 1839； whereas an infinitely small number of persons will know that during the same period Monsieur le Comte de l'Estorade was peer of France； and president of the Cour des comptes； Monsieur le Comte de Rastignac minister of Public Works； and his brother…in…law； Monsieur le Baron Martial de la Roche…Hugon was a diplomat and Councillor of State employed on more or less extraordinary services。
But while awaiting this tardy classification and distant reform； I think it well to let our great governing class know from time to time that unless their names are Richelieu or Colbert they are liable to competition and are forced to accept it。 So； with this aggravating intention I begin to take pleasure in my enterprise； and if I am elected； I shall； unless you assure me that I have mistaken de l'Estorade's meaning； find occasion to let him and others of his kind know that one can； if so disposed； climb over the walls of their little parks and strut as their equals。
But how is it； my dear friend； that I rattle on about myself and say no word about the sad emotions which must attend your return to France？ How can you bear them？ And instead of endeavoring to lay them aside； I fear you are willingly nursing them and taking a melancholy pleasure in their revival。 Dear friend； I say to you of these great sorrows what I said just now of our governing classwe should consider them from the point of view of time and space； by the action of which they become after a while imperceptible。
Do me a favor！ On arriving in Paris without having a house prepared to receive you； it would be very friendlyyou would seem like the man of old timesif you would take up your quarters with me； instead of going to Ville d'Avray； which； indeed； I think dangerous and even bad for you。 Stay with me； and you can thus judge of my handsome housekeeper； and you will see how much she has been calumniated and misunderstood。 You will also be near to the l'Estorades in whom I expect you to find consolations； and besides； this act would be a charming expiation for all the involuntary wrongs you have done me。 At any rate； I have given my orders； and your room is ready for you。
P。S。 You have not yet arrived； dear friend； and I must close this letter； which will be given to you by my housekeeper when you come by my house； for I am certain that your first visit will be to me。
I went this morning to the Mongenods'； the two hundred and fifty thousand francs were there； but with the accompaniment of a most extraordinary circumstance； the money was in the name of the Comte de Sallenauve； otherwise Dorlange； sculptor； 42 rue de l'Ouest。 In spite of an appellation which has never been mine； the money was mine； and was paid to me without the slightest hesitation。 I had enough presence of mind not to seem stupefied by my new name and title before the cashier； but I saw Monsieur Mongenod the elder in private； a man who enjoys the highest reputation at the Bank； and to him I expressed my astonishment； asking for whatever explanations he was able to give me。 He could give none； the money came to him through a Dutch banker； his correspondent at Rotterdam； and he knew nothing beyond that。 /Ah ca/！ what does it all mean？ Am I to be a noble？ Has the moment come for my father to acknowledge me？ I start in a state of agitation and of anxiety which you can well understand。 Until I hear from you； I shall address my letters to you here。 If you decide not to stay in my house； let me know your address at once。 Say nothing of what I have now told you to the l'Estorades； let it remain secret between us。
XIII
DORLANGE TO MARIE…GASTON
Arcis…sur…Aube； May 3； 1839。
Dear friend；Last evening； before Maitre Achille Pigoult； notary of this place； the burial of Charles Dorlange took place；that individual issuing to the world； like a butterfly from a grub； under the name and estate of Charles de Sallenauve； son of Francois…Henri… Pantaleon Dumirail； Marquis de Sallenauve。 Here follows the tale of certain facts which preceded this brilliant transformation。
Leaving Paris on the evening of May 1st； I arrived at Arcis； according to my father's directions； on the following day。 You can believe my surprise when I saw in the street where the diligence stopped the elusive Jacques Bricheteau； whom I had not seen since our singular meeting on the Ile Saint…Louis。 This time I beheld him； instead of behaving like the dog of Jean de Nivelle； come towards me with a smile upon his lips； holding out his hand and saying：
〃At last； my dear monsieur； we are almost at the end of all our mysteries； and soon； I hope； you will see that you have no cause to complain of me。 Have you brought the money？〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃neither lost nor stolen。〃 And I drew from my pocket a wallet containing the two hundred and fifty thousand francs in bank notes。
〃Very good！〃 said Jacques Bricheteau。 〃Now let us go to the Hotel de la Poste； no doubt you know who awaits you there。〃
〃No； indeed I do not；〃 I replied。
〃You must have remarked the name and title under which that money was paid to you？〃
〃Certainly； that strange circumstance struck me forcibly； and has； I must own； stirred my imagination。〃
〃Well； we shall now completely lift the veil； one corner of which we were careful to raise at first； so that you might not come too abruptly to the great and fortunate event that is now before you。〃
〃Am I to see my father？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Jacques Bricheteau； 〃your father is awaiting you； but I must warn