His wife, in spite of his great skill, had died in child-bed leaving
him a daughter whose health was so frail that it seemed as if the
mother had bequeathed to her fruit the germs of death. Beauvouloir
loved his Gabrielle as old men love their only child. His science and
his incessant care had given factitious life to this frail creature,
which he cultivated as a florist cultivates an exotic plant. He had
kept her hidden from all eyes on his estate of Forcalier, where she
was protected against the dangers of the time by the general good-will
felt for a man to whom all owed gratitude, and whose scientific powers
inspired in the ignorant minds of the country-people a superstitious
awe.
By attaching himself to the house of Herouville, Beauvouloir had
increased still further the immunity he enjoyed in the province, and
had thwarted all attempts of his enemies by means of his powerful
influence with the governor. He had taken care, however, in coming to
reside at the castle, not to bring with him the flower he cherished in
secret at Forcalier, a domain more important for its landed value than
for the house then upon it, but with which he expected to obtain for
his daughter an establishment in conformity with his views.
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