CHAPTER THIRTY

A Man of Intelligence

The marquis could not reach a decision for more than a month. Finally, he gave a short letter to Mathilde. The letter gave Julien and Mathilde some houses near Languedoc. They were worth a lot of money.

This surprised Julien and made him very happy. Mathilde wanted to have a public wedding, though. One day she was angry, and wrote to her father.

I have waited six weeks out of respect for you, but soon I will go to Father Pirard to be married. I'm afraid people will use this against you, though. If you come, everything will be fine.

So it's time to make a decision, Marquis de la Mole thought. He sometimes imagined that Julien was killed. Other days he imagined Julien as a noble. The marquis could give him a new name, and invent a story about an illegitimate birth. "He's very clever", the marquis thought, "but there's something I don't trust about him". The marquis wrote a letter to his daughter.

I am making him an officer in the army. His new name is Mr Julien Sorel de la Vernaye. He must leave tomorrow for Strassburg.

Mathilde was happy, and wrote back.

Mr de la Vernaye will be very happy, but please don't forget about me. I won't send your letter until you promise we will have a public marriage.

The reply came quickly.

Fear me, girl! I don't know what kind of person this Julien is, and neither do you. Obey me or I'll do nothing!

That night Julien was full of joy. To be an officer in the army had always been his ambition.

(end of section)