Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/301



The next day, the post shed the poison of two anonymous letters into two hearts; one was to Madame de Portenduère, the other to Ursule. This is the one received by the old lady:

“You love your son, you want to establish him as befits the name he bears, and you encourage his fancy for a penniless and ambitious young girl, by receiving at your house one Ursule, daughter of a military bandsman; whilst you could marry him to Mademoiselle du Rouvre, whose two uncles, Messieurs le Marquis de Ronquerolles and the Chevalier du Rouvre, each possessing thirty thousand francs a year, intend to settle it upon their niece in her marriage contract so as to avoid leaving their fortune to that old fool, Monsieur du Rouvre, who squanders everything. Madame de Sérizy, Clementine du Rouvre’s aunt, who has just lost her only son in the Algerian campaign, will doubtless also adopt her niece. Some one who wishes you well believes that Savinien would be accepted.”

This is the letter written to Ursule:

“In Nemours there is a young man who worships you, who cannot see you working at your windows without an emotion which proves to him that his love is for life. This young man is gifted with a will of iron and a perseverance that nothing discourages; so receive his love favorably, for he has none but the purest intentions, and humbly asks for your hand in the desire of making you happy. His fortune, though already suitable, is nothing compared to that which he will give you when you are his wife. One day you will be received at