Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/313

 bandsmen to play for private persons without his permission. The young nobleman had an interview with the Attorney for the Crown, Ursule’s guardian, and explained to him the seriousness of such scenes for so delicate and frail a young girl, whilst begging him to discover the author of this serenade through all the means at the disposal of the courts. Three days after, in the middle of the night, three violins, a flute, a guitar and a hautboy gave a second serenade. This time, the musicians fled in the direction of Montargis, where there happened to be a company of comedians at that time. A harsh, intoxicated voice had cried between two pieces:

“To the daughter of the bandmaster Mirouët!”

In this way all Nemours learnt the profession of Ursule’s father, the secret so carefully guarded by old Doctor Minoret.

This time Savinien did not go to Montargis. During the day he received an anonymous letter from Paris, in which he had read this horrible prophecy:

“You will not marry Ursule. If you want her to live, make haste to yield her to one who loves her more than you do; for he has turned musician and artist to please her, and would rather see her dead than know her to be your wife.”

At that time the Nemours doctor came three times a day to see Ursule, whom these occult persecutions had placed in peril of death. Feeling herself thrust into a slough by some infernal hand, this sweet young girl maintained a martyr’s attitude;