and I have gained, personally, the pleasure of your
acquaintance. I hear you have a great talent for whist. You will forgive
a woman for curiosity," she said, smiling. "If you will come and play at
my house sometimes you cannot doubt your welcome."

Troubert stroked his chin. ("Caught! Bourbonne was right!" thought she;
"he has his quantum of vanity!")

It was true. The vicar-general was feeling the delightful sensation
which Mirabeau was unable to subdue when in the days of his power he
found gates opening to his carriage which were barred to him in earlier
days.

"Madame," he replied, "my avocations prevent my going much into society;
but for you, what will not a man do?" ("The old maid is going to die;
I'll get a footing at the Listomere's, and serve them if they serve me,"
thought he. "It is better to have them for friends than enemies.")

Madame de Listomere went home, hoping that the archbishop would complete
the work of peace so auspiciously begun. But Birotteau was fated to gain
nothing by his relinquishment. Mademoiselle Gamard died the next day.
No one felt surprised when her will was opened to find that she had
left everything to the Abbe Troubert. Her fortune was appraised at three
hundred thousand francs. The vicar-general sent to Madame de Listomere
two notes of invitation for the services and for the funeral procession
of his friend; one for herself and one for her nephew.

"We must go," she said.

"It can't be helped," said Monsieur de Bourbonne. "It is a test to
which Troubert puts you. Baron, you must go to the cemetery," he added,
turning to the lieutenant, who, unluckily for him, had not left Tours.

The services took place, and were performed with unusual ecclesiastical
magnificence. Only one person wept, and that was Birotteau, who,
kneeling in a side chapel and seen by none, believed himself guilty of
the death and prayed sincerely for the soul of the deceased, bitterly
deploring that he was not able to obtain her forgiveness before she
died.

The Abbe Troubert followed the body of his friend to the grave; at
the verge of which he delivered a discourse in which, thanks to his
eloquence, the narrow life the old maid had lived was enlarged to
monumental proportions. Those present took particular note of the
following words in the peroration:--

"This life of days devoted to God and to His religion, a life adorned
with noble actions silently performed, and with modest and hidden
virtues,