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I told you； madame； that I resolved to come down here and join our mutual friend in consequence of a certain trouble of mind apparent in one of his letters； which informed me of a great revolution taking place in his life。 I am able to…day to be more explicit。 Dorlange at last knows his father。 He is the natural son of the Marquis de Sallenauve； the last living scion of one of the best families in Champagne。 Without explaining the reasons which have hitherto induced him to keep his son's birth secret； the marquis has now recognized him legally。 He has also bought and presented to him an estate formerly belonging to the Sallenauve family。 This estate is situated in Arcis itself； and its possession will assist the project of our friend's election。 That project dates much farther back than we thought； and it did not take its rise in the fancy of Dorlange。
A year ago； the marquis began to prepare for it by sending his son a sum of money for the purchase of real estate in conformity with electoral laws； and it is also for the furtherance of this purpose that he has now made him doubly a landowner。 The real object of all these sacrifices not seeming plain to Charles de Sallenauve； doubts have arisen in his mind； and it was to assist in dispelling them that my friendship for the poor fellow brought me here。
The marquis appears to be as odd and whimsical as he is opulent； for； instead of remaining in Arcis； where his presence and his name would contribute to the success of the election he desires； the very day after legal formalities attending the recognition of his son had been complied with； he departed furtively for foreign countries； where he says he has important interests； without so much as taking leave of his son。 This coldness has poisoned the happiness Charles would otherwise feel in these events； but one must take fathers as they are； for Dorlange and I are living proofs that all cannot have them as they want them。
Another eccentricity of the marquis is the choice he has made； as chief assistant in his son's election； of an old Ursuline nun； with whom he seems to have made a bargain； in which； strange to say； you have unconsciously played a part。 Yes； madame； the Saint…Ursula for which； unknown to yourself； you were posing； will have； to all appearances； a considerable influence on the election of our friend。 The case is this：
For many years Mother Marie…des…Anges； superior of the Ursuline convent at Arcis…sur…Aube； has desired to install in the chapel of her convent an image of its patron saint。 But this abbess； who is a woman of taste and intelligence； would not listen to the idea of one of those stock figures which can be bought ready…made from the venders of church decorations。 On the other hand； she thought it was robbing her poor to spend on this purpose the large sum necessary to procure a work of art。 The nephew of this excellent woman is an organist in Paris to whom the Marquis de Sallenauve； then in emigration； had confided the care of his son。 When it became a question of making Charles a deputy； the marquis naturally thought of Arcis； a place where his family had left so many memories。 The organist also recollected his aunt's desire； he knew how influential she was in that region because of her saintliness； and having in his nature a touch of that intrigue which likes to undertake things difficult and arduous； he went to see her； with the approval of the Marquis de Sallenauve； and let her know that one of the most skilful sculptors in Paris was ready to make her the statue of Saint…Ursula if she； on her side； would promise to secure the artist's election as deputy from the arrondissement of Arcis。
The old nun did not think the undertaking beyond her powers。 She now possesses the object of her pious longings； the statue arrived some days ago； and is already in the chapel of the convent； where she proposes to give it； before long； a solemn inauguration。 It now remains to be seen whether the good nun will perform her part of the contract。
Well； madame； strange to say； after hearing and inquiring into the whole matter I shall not be surprised if this remarkable woman should carry the day。 From the description our friend gives of her； Mother Marie…des…Anges is a small woman； short and thick…set； whose face is prepossessing and agreeable beneath its wrinkles and the mask of saffron…tinted pallor which time and the austerities of a cloister have placed upon it。 Carrying very lightly the weight of her corpulence and also that of her seventy…six years； she is lively； alert； and frisky to a degree that shames the youngest of us。 For fifty years she has governed in a masterly manner her community； which has always been the most regular； the best organized； and also the richest society in the diocese of Troyes。 Admirably fitted for the training of youth； she has long conducted a school for girls； which is famous throughout the department of the Aube and adjacent regions。 Having thus superintended the education of nearly all the daughters of the best houses in the province； it is easy to imagine the influence she has acquired among the aristocracy；an influence she probably intends to use in the electoral struggle she has promised to take part in。
On the other hand； it appears that this really extraordinary woman is the sovereign disposer of the votes of the democratic party in the arrondissement of Arcis。 Until now； the existence of that party in Arcis has been considered problematical； but it is actually； by its nature； active and stirring； and our candidate proposes to present himself under its banner。 Evidently； therefore； the support the good mother has promised will be useful and important。
I am sure you will admire with me theas one might saybicephalous ability of this old nun； who has managed to keep well with the nobility and the secular clergy on the one hand； and on the other to lead with her wand the radical party； their sworn enemy。 Admirable for her charity and her lucid intellect； respected throughout the region as a saint； exposed during the Revolution to a dreadful persecution； which she bore with rare courage； one can easily understand her close relations with the upper and conservative classes； but why she should be equally welcome to democrats and to the subverters of order would seem； at first； to pass all belief。
The power which she undoubtedly wields over the revolutionary party took its rise； madame； in a struggle which they formerly had together。 In 1793 that amiable party were bent on cutting her throat。 Driven from her convent； and convicted of harboring a 〃refractory〃 priest； she was incarcerated； arraigned before the Revolutionary tribunal； and condemned to death。 The matter was reported to Danton； a native of Arcis； and then a member of the National Convention。 Danton had known Mother Marie…des…Anges； he thought her the most virtuous and enlightened woman he had ever met。 Hearing of her condemnation； he was furiously angry； and wrote； as they said in those days； a high…horse letter to the Revolutionary tribunal； and； with an authority no human being in Arcis would have dared to contest； he ordered a reprieve。
The same day he mounted the tribune； and after speaking in general terms of the 〃bloody boobies〃 who by their foolish fury compromised the future of the Revolution； he told who and what Mother Marie…des… Anges really was； he dwelt on her marvellous aptitude for the training of youth； and he presented a scheme in which she was placed at the head of a 〃grand national gynaecium；〃 the organization of which was to be made the subject of another decree。 Robespierre； who would have thought the intellect of an Ursuline nun only a more imperative reason for bringing her under the revolutionary axe； was absent that day from the session； and the motion was voted with enthusiasm。 The head of Mother Marie…des…Anges being indispensably necessary to the carrying out of this decree of the sovereign people； she kept it on her shoulders； and the headsman put aside his machine。
Though the other decree； organising the Grand National Gynaecium； was lost sight of in the many other duties that devolved upon the Convention； the excellent nun carried it out after her fashion。 Instead of something grand and Greek and national； she started in Arcis a secular girl's…school； and as soon as a little quiet was restored to the minds of the community； pupils flocked in from all quarters。 Under the Empire Mother Marie…des…Anges was able to reconstitute her Ursuline sisterhood； and the first act of her restored authority was a recognition of gratitude。 She decreed that on every year on the 5th of April； the anniversary of Danton's death； a service should be held in the chapel of the convent for the repose of his soul。 To those who objected to this edict she answered： 〃Do you know many for whom it is more necessary to implore God's mercy？〃
Under the Restoration； the celebration of this service became a sort of scandal； but Mother Marie…des…Anges would never hear of suppressing it； and the great veneration which has always surrounded her obliged these cavillers to hold their tongues。 This courageous obstinacy had its reward； under the government of July。 To…day Mother Marie…des… Anges is high in court