Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/306

 Savinien is made happy and rich by another, I have just enough to pay my dowry to the convent which I shall enter at once. There should no more be two loves in a woman’s heart than there are two Masters in Heaven. A religious life would have attractions for me.”

“He could not let his mother go alone to Le Rouvre,” said the good priest gently.

“Do not let us talk any more about it, my kind Monsieur Chaperon; I shall write to him to-night to set him free. I am delighted to have to shut up the windows of this parlor.”

And she informed the old man of the anonymous letters whilst telling him that she would not encourage her unknown lover’s advances.

“Ah! it is an anonymous letter which has induced Madame de Portenduère to go to Le Rouvre,” cried the curé, “there is no doubt that you are being persecuted by wicked people.”

“But why? Neither Savinien nor I have done harm to anyone, and we are not injuring anybody’s interests here.”

“Well, little one, we will take advantage of this explosion which has broken up our party, to arrange our poor friend’s library. The books are in a heap; Bongrand and I will put them in order, for we mean to search amongst them. Put your trust in God; but remember also that you have two devoted friends in the kind justice of the peace and myself.”

“That is a great deal,” she said, accompanying