ne.

"To me," said the soldier, "it appears exceedingly simple. I was thought
to be dead, and here I am! Give me back my wife and my fortune; give me
the rank of General, to which I have a right, for I was made Colonel of
the Imperial Guard the day before the battle of Eylau."

"Things are not done so in the legal world," said Derville. "Listen to
me. You are Colonel Chabert, I am glad to think it; but it has to be
proved judicially to persons whose interest it will be to deny it.
Hence, your papers will be disputed. That contention will give rise to
ten or twelve preliminary inquiries. Every question will be sent under
contradiction up to the supreme court, and give rise to so many costly
suits, which will hang on for a long time, however eagerly I may push
them. Your opponents will demand an inquiry, which we cannot refuse, and
which may necessitate the sending of a commission of investigation to
Prussia. But even if we hope for the best; supposing that justice should
at once recognize you as Colonel Chabert--can we know how the questions
will be settled that will arise out of the very innocent bigamy
committed by the Comtesse Ferraud?

"In your case, the point of law is unknown to the Code, and can only be
decided as a point in equity, as a jury decides in the delicate cases
presented by the social eccentricities of some criminal prosecutions.
Now, you had no children by your marriage; M. le Comte Ferraud has two.
The judges might pronounce against the marriage where the family ties
are weakest, to the confirmation of that where they are stronger, since
it was contracted in perfect good faith. Would you be in a very becoming
moral position if you insisted, at your age, and in your present
circumstances, in resuming your rights over a woman who no longer loves
you? You will have both your wife and her husband against you, two
important persons who might influence the Bench. Thus, there are many
elements which would prolong the case; you will have time to grow old in
the bitterest regrets."

"And my fortune?"

"Do you suppose you had a fine fortune?"

"Had I not thirty thousand francs a year?"

"My dear Colonel, in 1799 you made a will before your marriage, leaving
one-quarter of your property to hospitals."

"That is true."

"Well, when you were reported dead, it was necessary to make a
valuation, and have a sale, to give this quarter away. Your wife was not
particular about honesty as to the poor. The valu