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“Theyareallsly，“thoughtZelie，——“everyoneofthem！Theywanttodeceiveus。ThatoldpriestandtheoldjusticeandthatyoungscampSavinienhavegotsomeplanintheirheads。Dreams！nomoredreamsthantherearehairsonthepalmofmyhand。“
Withtwostiff，curtbowsshelefttheroom。
“IknowwhySavinienwenttoFontainebleau，“saidUrsulatotheabbe，tellinghimabouttheduelandbegginghimtousehisinfluencetopreventit。
“DidMadameMinoretofferyouherson’shand？“askedtheabbe。
“Yes。“
“Minorethasnodoubtconfessedhiscrimetoher，“addedthepriest。
MonsieurBongrand，whocameinatthismoment，wastoldofthesteptakenbyZelie，whosehatredtoUrsulawaswellknowntohim。Helookedattheabbeasiftosay:“Comeout，IwanttospeaktoyouofUrsulawithoutherhearingme。“
“SavinienmustbetoldthatyourefusedeightythousandfrancsayearandthedandyofNemours，“hesaidaloud。
“Isit，then，asacrifice？“sheanswered，laughing。“Aretheresacrificeswhenonetrulyloves？Isitanymerittorefusethesonofamanwealldespise？Othersmaymakevirtuesoftheirdislikes，butthatoughtnottobethemoralityofagirlbroughtupbyadeJordy，andtheabbe，andmydeargodfather，“shesaid，lookingupathisportrait。
BongrandtookUrsula’shandandkissedit。
“DoyouknowwhatMadameMinoretcameabout？“saidthejusticeassoonastheywereinthestreet。
“What？“askedthepriest，lookingatBongrandwithanairthatseemedmerelycurious。
“Shehadsomeplanforrestitution。“
“Thenyouthink——“begantheabbe。
“Idon’tthink，Iknow；Ihavethecertainty——andseethere！“
Sosaying，BongrandpointedtoMinoret，whowascomingtowardsthemonhiswayhome。
“WhenIwasalawyerinthecriminalcourts，“continuedBongrand，“I
naturallyhadmanyopportunitiestostudyremorse；butIhaveneverseenanytoequalthatofthisman。Whatgiveshimthatflaccidity，thatpallorofthecheekswheretheskinwasonceastightasadrumandburstingwiththegoodsoundhealthofamanwithoutacare？Whathasputthoseblackcirclesroundhiseyesanddulledtheirrusticvivacity？Didyoueverexpecttoseelinesofcareonthatforehead？
Whowouldhavesupposedthatthebrainofthatcolossuscouldbeexcited？Themanhasfelthisheart！Iamajudgeofremorse，justasyouareajudgeofrepentance，mydearabbe。ThatwhichIhavehithertoobservedhasdevelopedinmenwhowereawaitingpunishment，orenduringittogetquitswiththeworld；theywereeitherresigned，orbreathingvengeance；buthereisremorsewithoutexpiation，remorsepureandsimple，fasteningonitspreyandrendinghim。“
ThejudgestoppedMinoretandsaid:“DoyouknowthatMademoiselleMirouethasrefusedyourson’shand？“
“But，“interposedtheabbe，“donotbeuneasy；shewillpreventtheduel。“
