as　captain　of　a　corvette　in　a　coming　promotion　lately　announced　by　the
  minister　of　the　Navy；　received　a　letter　from　one　of　his　friends
  warning　him　that　there　was　some　intention　of　putting　him　on　the
  retired　list。　Greatly　astonished　by　this　information　he　started　for
  Paris　immediately；　and　went　at　once　to　the　minister；　who　seemed　to　be
  amazed　himself；　and　even　laughed　at　the　baron's　fears。　The　next　day；
  however；　in　spite　of　the　minister's　assurance；　Monsieur　de　Listomere
  made　inquiries　in　the　different　offices。　By　an　indiscretion　（often
  practised　by　heads　of　departments　in　favor　of　their　friends）　one　of
  the　secretaries　showed　him　a　document　confirming　the　fatal　news；　which
  was　only　waiting　the　signature　of　the　director；　who　was　ill；　to　be
  submitted　to　the　minister。
  The　Baron　de　Listomere　went　immediately　to　an　uncle　of　his；　a　deputy；
  who　could　see　the　minister　of　the　Navy　at　the　chamber　without　loss　of
  time；　and　begged　him　to　find　out　the　real　intentions　of　his　Excellency
  in　a　matter　which　threatened　the　loss　of　his　whole　future。　He　waited
  in　his　uncle's　carriage　with　the　utmost　anxiety　for　the　end　of　the
  session。　His　uncle　came　out　before　the　Chamber　rose；　and　said　to　him
  at　once　as　they　drove　away：　〃Why　the　devil　have　you　meddled　in　a
  priest's　quarrel？　The　minister　began　by　telling　me　you　had　put
  yourself　at　the　head　of　the　Radicals　in　Tours；　that　your　political
  opinions　were　objectionable；　you　were　not　following　in　the　lines　of
  the　government；with　other　remarks　as　much　involved　as　if　he　were
  addressing　the　Chamber。　On　that　I　said　to　him；　'Nonsense；　let　us　come
  to　the　point。'　The　end　was　that　his　Excellency　told　me　frankly　you
  were　in　bad　odor　with　the　diocese。　In　short；　I　made　a　few　inquiries
  among　my　colleagues；　and　I　find　that　you　have　been　talking　slightingly
  of　a　certan　Abbe　Troubert；　the　vicar…general；　but　a　very　important
  personage　in　the　province；　where　he　represents　the　Jesuits。　I　have
  made　myself　responsible　to　the　minister　for　your　future　conduct。　My
  good　nephew；　if　you　want　to　make　your　way　be　careful　not　to　excite
  ecclesiastical　enmities。　Go　at　once　to　Tours　and　try　to　make　your
  peace　with　that　devil　of　a　vicar…general；　remember　that　such　priests
  are　men　with　whom　we　absolutely　MUST　live　in　harmony。　Good　heavens！
  when　we　are　all　striving　and　working　to　re…establish　religion　it　is
  actually　stupid；　in　a　lieutenant　who　wants　to　be　made　a　captain；　to
  affront　the　priests。　If　you　don't　make　up　matters　with　that　Abbe
  Troubert　you　needn't　count　on　me；　I　shall　abandon　you。　The　minister　of
  ecclesiastical　affairs　told　me　just　now　that　Troubert　was　certain　to
  be　made　bishop　before　long；　if　he　takes　a　dislike　to　our　family　he
  could　hinder　me　from　being　included　in　the　next　batch　of　peers。　Don't
  you　understand？〃
  These　words　explained　to　the　naval　officer　the　nature　of　Troubert's
  secret　occupations；　about　which　Birotteau　often　remarked　in　his　silly
  way：　〃I　can't　think　what　he　does　with　himself；sitting　up　all　night。〃
  The　canon's　position　in　the　midst　of　his　female　senate；　converted　so
  adroitly　into　provincial　detectives；　and　his　personal　capacity；　had
  induced　the　Congregation　of　Jesus　to　select　him　out　of　all　the
  ecclesiastics　in　the　town；　as　the　secret　proconsul　of　Touraine。
  Archbishop；　general；　prefect；　all　men；　great　and　small；　were　under　his
  occult　dominion。　The　Baron　de　Listomere　decided　at　once　on　his　course。
  〃I　shall　take　care；〃　he　said　to　his　uncle；　〃not　to　get　another　round
  shot　below　my　water…line。〃
  Three　days　after　this　diplomatic　conference　between　the　uncle　and
  nephew；　the　latter；　returning　hurriedly　in　a　post…chaise；　informed　his
  aunt；　the　very　night　of　his　arrival；　of　the　dangers　the　family　were
  running　if　they　peristed　in　supporting　that　〃fool　of　a　Birotteau。〃　The
  baron　had　detained　Monsieur　de　Bourbonne　as　the　old　gentleman　was
  taking　his　hat　and　cane　after　the　usual　rubber　of　whist。　The　clear…
  sightedness　of　that　sly　old　fox　seemed　indispensable　for　an
  understanding　of　the　reefs　among　which　the　Listomere　family　suddenly
  found　themselves；　and　perhaps　the　action　of　taking　his　hat　and　cane
  was　only　a　ruse　to　have　it　whispered　in　his　ear：　〃Stay　after　the
  others；　we　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
  The　baron's　sudden　return；　his　apparent　satisfaction；　which　was　quite
  out　of　keeping　with　a　harrassed　look　that　occasionally　crossed　his
  face；　informed　Monsieur　de　Bourbonne　vaguely　that　the　lieutenant　had
  met　with　some　check　in　his　crusade　against　Gamard　and　Troubert。　He
  showed　no　surprise　when　the　baron　revealed　the　secret　power　of　the
  Jesuit　vicar…general。
  〃I　knew　that；〃　he　said。
  〃Then　why；〃　cried　the　baroness；　〃did　you　not　warn　us？〃
  〃Madame；〃　he　said；　sharply；　〃forget　that　I　was　aware　of　the　invisible
  influence　of　that　priest；　and　I　will　forget　that　you　knew　it　equally
  well。　If　we　do　not　keep　this　secret　now　we　shall　be　thought　his
  accomplices；　and　shall　be　more　feared　and　hated　than　we　are。　Do　as　I
  do；　pretend　to　be　duped；　but　look　carefully　where　you　set　your　feet。　I
  did　warn　you　sufficiently；　but　you　would　not　understand　me；　and　I　did
  not　choose　to　compromise　myself。〃
  〃What　must　we　do　now？〃　said　the　baron。
  The　abandonment　of　Birotteau　was　not　even　made　a　question；　it　was　a
  first　condition　tactily　accepted　by　the　three　deliberators。
  〃To　beat　a　retreat　with　the　honors　of　war　has　always　been　the　triumph
  of　the　ablest　generals；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　Bourbonne。　〃Bow　to
  Troubert；　and　if　his　hatred　is　less　strong　than　his　vanity　you　will
  make　him　your　ally；　but　if　you　bow　too　low　he　will　walk　over　you
  rough…shod；　make　believe　that　you　intend　to　leave　the　service；　and
  you'll　escape　him；　Monsieur　le　baron。　Send　away　Birotteau；　madame；　and
  you　will　set　things　right　with　Mademoiselle　Gamard。　Ask　the　Abbe
  Troubert；　when　you　meet　him　at　the　archbishop's；　if　he　can　play　whist。
  He　will　say　yes。　Then　invite　him　to　your　salon；　where　he　wants　to　be
  received；　he'll　be　sure　to　come。　You　are　a　woman；　and　you　can
  certainly　win　a　priest　to　your　interests。　When　the　baron　is　promoted；
  his　uncle　peer　of　France；　and　Troubert　a　bishop；　you　can　make
  Birotteau　a　canon　if　you　choose。　Meantime　yield；but　yield
  gracefully；　all　the　while　with　a　slight　menace。　Your　family　can　give
  Troubert　quite　as　much　support　as　he　can　give　you。　You'll　understand
  each　other　perfectly　on　that　score。　As　for　you；　sailor；　carry　your
  deep…sea　line　about　you。〃
  〃Poor　Birotteau？〃　said　the　baroness。
  〃Oh；　get　rid　of　him　at　once；〃　replied　the　old　man；　as　he　rose　to　take
  leave。　〃If　some　clever　Radical　lays　hold　of　that　empty　head　of　his；　he
  may　cause　you　much　trouble。　After　all；　the　court　would　certainly　give
  a　verdict　in　his　favour；　and　Troubert　must　fear　that。　He　may　forgive
  you　for　beginning　the　struggle；　but　if　they　were　defeated　he　would　be
  implacable。　I　have　said　my　say。〃
  He　snapped　his　snuff…box；　put　on　his　overshoes；　and　departed。
  The　next　day　after　breakfast　the　baroness　took　the　vicar　aside　and
  said　to　him；　not　without　visible　embarrassment：
  〃My　dear　Monsieur　Birotteau；　you　will　think　what　I　am　about　to　ask　of
  you　very　unjust　and　very　inconsistent；　but　it　is　necessary；　both　for
  you　and　for　us；　that　your　lawsuit　with　Mademoiselle　Gamard　be
  withdrawn　by　resigning　your　claims；　and　also　that　you　should　leave　my
  house。〃
  As　he　heard　these　words　the　poor　abbe　turned　pale。
  〃I　am；〃　she　continued；　〃the　innocent　cause　of　your　misfortunes；　and；
  moreover；　if　it　had　not　been　for　my　nephew　you　would　never　have　begun
  this　lawsuit；　which　has　now　turned　to　your　injury　and　to　ours。　But
  listen　to　me。〃
  She　told　him　succinctly　the　immense　ramifications　of　the　affair；　and
  explained　the　serious　nature　of　its　consequences。　Her　own　meditations
  during　the　night　had　told　her　something　of　the　probable　antecedents　of
  Troubert's　life；　she　was　able；　without　misleading　Birotteau；　to　show
  him　the　net　so　ably　woven　round　him　by　revenge；　and　to　make　him　see
  the　power　and　great　capacity　of　his　enemy；　whose　hatred　to　Chapeloud；
  under　whom　he　had　been　forced　to　crouch　for　a　dozen　years；　now　found
  vent　in　seizing　Chapeloud's　property　and　in　persecuting　Chapeloud　in
  the　person　of　his　friend。　The　harmless　Birotteau　clasped　his　hands　as
  if　to　pray；　and　wept　with　distress　at　the　sight　of　human　horrors　that
  his　own　pure　soul　was　incapable　of　suspecting。　As　frightened　as　though
  he　had　suddenly　found　himself　at　the　edge　of　a　precipice；　he　listened；
  with　fixed；　moist　eyes　in　which　there　was　no　expression；　to　the
  revelations　of　his　friend；　who　ended　by　saying：　〃I　know　the　wrong　I　do
  in　abandoning　your　cause；　but；　my　dear　abbe；　family　duties　must　be
  considered　before　those　of　friendship。　Yield；　as　I　do；　to　this　storm；
  and　I　will　prove　to　you　my　gratitude。　I　am　not　talking　of　your　worldly
  interests；　for　those　I　take　charge　of。　You　shall　be　made　free　of　all
  such　anxieties　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　By　means　of　Monsieur　de
  Bourbonne；　who　will　know　how　to　s