Before the year was out political intrigues were not less lively than the matrimonial schemes of the Rogron salon.  While the selfish interests hidden in these hearts were struggling in deadly combat the events which resulted from them had a fatal celebrity.  Everybody knows that the Villele ministry was overthrown by the elections of 1826.  Vinet, the Liberal candidate at Provins, who had borrowed money of his notary to buy a domain which made him eligible for election, came very near defeating Monsieur Tiphaine, who saved his election by only two votes.  The headquarters of the Liberals was the Rogron salon; among the habitues were the notary Cournant and his wife, and Doctor Neraud, whose youth was said to have been stormy, but who now took a serious view of life; he gave himself up to study and was, according to all Liberals, a far more capable man than Monsieur Martener, the aristocratic physician.  As for the Rogrons, they no more understood their present triumph than they had formerly understood their ostracism.

The beautiful Bathilde, to whom Vinet had explained Pierrette as an enemy, was extremely disdainful to the girl.  It seemed as though everybody’s selfish schemes demanded the humiliation of that poor victim.  Madame Vinet could do nothing for her, ground as she herself was beneath those implacable self-interests which the lawyer’s wife had come at last to see and comprehend.  Her husband’s imperious will had alone taken her to the Rogron’s house, where she had suffered much at the harsh treatment of the pretty little creature, who would often press up against her as if divining her secret thoughts, sometimes asking the poor lady to show her a stitch in knitting or to teach her a bit of embroidery.  The child proved in return that if she were treated gently she would understand what was taught her, and succeed in what she tried to do quite marvellously.  But Madame Vinet was soon no longer necessary to her husband’s plans, and after the arrival of Madame and Mademoiselle de Chargeboeuf she ceased to visit the Rogrons.

Sylvie, who now indulged in the idea of marrying, began to consider Pierrette as an obstacle.  The girl was nearly fourteen; the pallid whiteness of her skin, a symptom of illness entirely overlooked by the ignorant old maid, made her exquisitely lovely.  Sylvie took it into her head to balance the cost which Pierrette had been to them by making a servant of her.  All the habitues of the house to whom she spoke of the matter advised that she should send away Adele.  Why shouldn’t Pierrette take care of the house and cook?  If there was too much work at any time Mademoiselle Rogron could easily employ the colonel’s woman-of-all-work, an excellent cook and a most respectable person.  Pierrette ought to learn how to cook, and rub floors, and sweep, said the lawyer; every girl should be taught to keep house properly and go to market and know the price of things.  The poor little soul, whose self-devotion was equal to her generosity, offered herself willingly, pleased to think that she could earn the bitter bread which she ate in that house.  Adele was sent away, and Pierrette thus lost the only person who might have protected her.