LIBRARY 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 SANTA BARBARA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Mr. H. H. Kil iani
 
 UCSB LIBRARY
 
 H. DE BALZAC 
 
 THE COMEDIE HUMAINE
 
 CAST OF BALZAC'S HAND.
 
 H. DE BALZAC 
 
 THE 
 
 DEPUTY FOR ARCIS 
 
 PART II 
 AND 
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 JNO. RUDD, B.A., and CLARA BELL 
 
 WITH A PREFACE BY 
 
 GEORGE SAINTSBURY 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 THE GEBBIE PUBLISHING Co., Ltd. 
 1899
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PACK 
 
 PREFACE ix 
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARC IS 
 
 
 
 PART II I 
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES . . . . . . .48
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 CAST OF BALZAC'S HAND ...... Frontispiece. 
 
 Reproduced by kind permission of M. It Vicomti de Spoelitrch 
 de Levenfful. 
 
 "EH, WELL, YES, I LOVE YOU," SAID HE ..... IO$ 
 
 Drawn by D. Murray-Smith. 
 
 IT WERE USELESS TO PAINT A BALL OF THIS KIND . . . 143 
 Drawn by W. Boucher. 
 
 "BUT DOES MADEMOISELLE REALLY SUIT ME?" REPLIED LA 
 
 PEYRADE 
 
 Drawn by J. Ayton Symington. 
 
 "BUT LOOK AT THE DOCTOR," SHE CRIED 4 2 5 
 
 Drawn by F. C. Tilnty.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 "Li DEPUTE: D'ARCIS," like the still less generally known 
 "Les Petits Bourgeois," stands on a rather different footing 
 from the rest of Balzac's work. Both were posthumous, and 
 both, having been left unfinished, were completed by the 
 author's friend, Charles Rabou. Rabou is not much known 
 nowadays as a man of letters ; he must not be confused with 
 the writer Hippolyte Babou, the friend of Baudelaire, the 
 reputed inventor of the title " Fleurs du Mai," and the 
 author of some very acute articles in the great collection of 
 Crepet's " Poetes Francais." But he figures pretty frequently 
 in association of one kind or another with Balzac, and would 
 appear to have been thoroughly imbued with the scheme and 
 spirit of the Com6die. At the same time, it does not appear 
 that even the indefatigable and most competent M. de Loven- 
 joul is perfectly certain where Balzac's labors end and those 
 of Rabou begin. 
 
 It would seem, however (and certainly internal evidence 
 has nothing to say on the other side), that the severance, or 
 rather the junction, must have taken place somewhere about 
 the point where, after the introduction of Maxime de Trailles, 
 the interest suddenly shifts altogether from the folk of Arcis 
 and the conduct of their election to the hitherto unknown 
 Comte de Sallenauve. It would, no doubt, be possible, and 
 even easy, to discover in Balzac's undoubted work for in- 
 stance, in "Le Cure de Village" and "Illusions Perdues" 
 instances of shiftings of interest nearly as abrupt and of 
 changes in the main centre of the story nearly as decided. 
 Nor is it possible, considering the weakness of constructive 
 finish which always marked Balzac, to rule out offhand the 
 substitution, after an unusually lively and business-like begin- 
 
 O M
 
 x PREFACE. 
 
 ning, of the nearly always frigid scheme of letters, topped up 
 with a conclusion in which, with very doubtful art, as many 
 personages of the Comedie, and even direct references to as 
 many of its books as possible, are dragged in. But it is as 
 nearly as possible certain that he would never have left things 
 in such a condition, and I do not even think that he would 
 ever have arranged them in quite the same state, even as an 
 experiment. 
 
 The book belongs to the Champenois or Arcis-sur-Aube 
 series, which is so brilliantly followed by " Une Tenebreuse 
 Affaire." It is curious and worth notice, as showing the con- 
 scientious fashion in which Balzac always set about his mature 
 work, that though his provincial stories are taken from parts 
 of France widely distant from one another, the selection is 
 by no means haphazard, and arranges itself with ease into 
 groups corresponding to certain haunts or sojourns of the 
 author. There is the Loire group, furnished by his youthful 
 remembrances of Tours and Saumur, and by later ones down 
 to the Breton coast. There is the group of which Alencon 
 and the Breton-Norman frontiers are the field, and the scenery 
 of which was furnished by early visits of which we know little, 
 but the fact of the existence of which is of the first impor- 
 tance, as having given birth to the " Chouans," and so to the 
 whole Comedie in a way. There is the Angoumois-Limousin 
 group, for which he informed himself during his frequent 
 visits to the Carraud family. And lastly, there is one of 
 rather wider extent, and not connected with so definite a 
 centre, but including the Morvan, Upper Burgundy, and 
 part of Champagne, which seems to have been commended 
 to him by his stay at Sach6 and other places. This was his 
 latest set of studies, and to this "Le Deput6 d'Arcis" of 
 course belongs. To round off the subject, it is noteworthy 
 that no part of the coast except a little in the north, with the 
 remarkable exceptions of the scenes of "La Recherche de 
 1'Absolu" and one or two others; nothing in the greater part
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 of Brittany and Normandy; nothing in Guienne, Gascony, 
 Langucdoc, Provence, or Dauphine, seems to have attracted 
 him. Yet some of these scenes and with some of them he 
 had meddled in the Days of Ignorance are the most tempt- 
 ing of any in France to the romancer, and his abstention from 
 them is one of the clearest proofs of his resolve to speak only 
 of that he did know. 
 
 The certainly genuine part of the present book is, as cer- 
 tainly, not below anything save his very best work. It be- 
 longs, indeed, to the more minute and " meticulous " part of 
 that work, not to the bolder and more ambitious side. There 
 is no Goriot, no Eugdnie Grandet, not even any Corentin or 
 Vautrin, hardly so much as a Rastignac about it. But the 
 good little people of Arcis-sur-Aube are represented " in their 
 natural," as Balzac's great compatriot would have said, with 
 extraordinary felicity and force. The electoral meeting in 
 Madame Marions' house is certainly one of the best things in 
 the whole Comedie for completeness within its own limits, 
 and none of the personages, official or other, can be said to 
 suffer from that touch of exaggeration which, to some tastes, 
 interferes with the more celebrated and perhaps more generally 
 attractive delineations of Parisian journalism in "Illusions 
 Perdues " and similar books. In fact, in what he wrote of 
 "Le D6put6 d'Arcis," Balzac seems to have had personal 
 knowledge to go upon, without any personal grievances to 
 revenge or any personal crazes to enforce. The latter, it is 
 true, often prompted his sublimest work ; but the former 
 frequently helped to produce his least successful. In "Le 
 Deput6 d'Arcis" he is at the happy mean. It is not neces- 
 sary to give an elaborate bibliography of it ; for, as has been 
 said, only the "Election" part is certainly Balzac's. This 
 appeared in a newspaper, "L'Union Monarchique," for April 
 and May 1847. 
 
 G. S.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE least known of Balzac's works is undoubtedly " Les 
 Petits Bourgeois;" it was not published until 1854, more 
 than three years after his death, being the last, with the ex- 
 ception of a few minor pieces, to reach the public. It is 
 believed that Charles Rabou who finished " Le Depute 
 d'Arcis " completed this. Much of it seems quite foreign 
 to Balzac's style, particularly the often long drawn-out dia- 
 logues ; much of which must be that of another hand. Then 
 the abrupt breaks, though Balzac was not by any means free 
 from this vice, give a further tendency to this opinion. 
 
 It will be noted that, in a sense, he clears the stage of a 
 number of his characters Corentin, Popinot, etal.; the former 
 of whom resigns his baton to his successor, and the latter, one 
 of his pet goody characters, being found decently interred, 
 though honored still. Lousteau, after a long rest, is again 
 shown in his great forte of "turning an honest dollar" in 
 connection with the despised press, in the sale of the "Echo 
 de la Bievre." Cerizet, first met with in " Illusions Perdues," 
 comes more fully on the scene than in any other volume the 
 same villain still. The spy, Dutocq, who was the cause of 
 Rabourdin's downfall in "Les Employes," drops out without 
 his meed of poetical justice. To give Balzac his proper due, 
 it must be said that he seldom controverts the happenings of 
 real life to attain the "married and live-happy-ever-after 
 style" of the usual novel. 
 
 In "Les Petits Bourgeois" several new characters appear, 
 perhaps the three most notable ones being Madame Cardinal, 
 Louis- Jer6me Thuillier (only slightly mentioned in "Les 
 Employes"), and Mademoiselle Marie-Jeanne-Brigitte Thuil- 
 lier ; of the first we would have wished to see more ; the sec- 
 (xii)
 
 PREFACE. xiii 
 
 ond is a careful study of the clerk-beau arrived at middle age ; 
 while the last mentioned is a clean, delightful sketch per- 
 haps a little harsh at times of the old maid who has " made 
 her way." One finds in Brigitte traces of Cousin Bette, with- 
 out her evil mind, and of Mademoiselle Cormon in " Les 
 Rivalites." 
 
 " Les Petits Bourgeois " has little of history to record. As 
 said it was not published until 1854, although Balzac says of 
 it, in March, 1844: "I may tell you that my work called 
 ' Les Petits Bourgeois,' owing to much difficulty of construc- 
 tion, requires a full month of labor ; still it is entirely written." 
 In October, 1846, he says again : " It is to these scruples that 
 the delay which has injured some of my works is due ; for 
 example: 'Les Paysans,' which has been nearly completed for 
 a long time, and 'Les Petits Bourgeois,' which has been in 
 type at the printery for quite eighteen months." 
 
 Now this seems strange in view of the fact that Balzac 
 always needed money. In other of these prefaces it has been 
 shown what ' ' finished ' ' and ' ' completed ' ' often meant. It was 
 this that caused the trouble between himself and the publisher 
 of "LeLys dans la Vallee," his leaving it in an incomplete state 
 after it was " finished." In the case of the present volume, 
 neither the MS. nor proofs were ever seen by anybody. It 
 really first came out in the "Pays," in the Autumn of the 
 year mentioned. 
 
 PUBLISHER'S EDITOR.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 WHEN Vautrin had mentioned Bixiou as the recruiting-ser- 
 geant of his company, this was what he had meant by calling 
 him her ''client." Unless one has never read Moliere's 
 "Avare," he cannot but be aware of Maitre Simon, who ever 
 stands as a screen between the usurer's traffic and the arm of 
 the law. 
 
 Now, Master Bixiou, whose extremely free-and-easy life 
 frequently compelled him to have recourse to his credit, had, 
 through an intermediary, found himself in business relations 
 with Jacqueline Collin j and by his monkey-skill in worming 
 out mysteries, especially such as might interest himself, in 
 spite of the queer disguises in which she involved herself, he 
 had succeeded in getting face to face with his creditor. Then, 
 one day, being quite unable to meet a bill which would fall 
 due on the morrow, he had boldly attacked the ogress, to 
 work the miracle of extracting a renewal on favorable terms. 
 The woman liked a man of spirit, and, like all wild beasts, 
 she had her intervals of ruth. It need hardly be said that 
 Bixiou had done his utmost to propitiate her; he was witty 
 under his reverses, full of dazzling paradoxes and theories of 
 jovial immorality, which so effectually bewildered the money- 
 lender, that not only did she renew the bill, but she had even 
 lent him a further sum ; and this sum, to crown the marvel, 
 he had actually repaid her. 
 
 Hence, between the artist and the "matrimonial agent" 
 there arose a certain friendly feeling. Bixiou, not knowing 
 whom the terrible creature was with whom he rubbed shoulders, 
 flattered himself that it was his cleverness that made her laugh, 
 
 (1)
 
 2 THE: DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 and now and then, when he was at his wits' end, enabled him 
 to soften her to the extent of a few napoleons; he did not 
 know that he was the clog of the raree show in the lion's den; 
 and that this woman, in whose past life there had been 
 incidents a la Brinvilliers, was not incapable of making him 
 pay with his life for his insolent familiarity, to say nothing of 
 the interest on her loans. 
 
 Meanwhile, and pending this fatal termination which was not 
 very probable, Jacqueline Collin did not hesitate to employ 
 this jovial gossip in the ferreting he practiced so successfully; 
 indeed, she not infrequently gave him, without his knowning 
 it, a part to play in the shady imbroglios that were the occupa- 
 tion of her life. 
 
 In the affair of Luigia, the caricaturist was wonderfully 
 useful; through him she could insure publicity for the rumor 
 of Count Halphertius' appearance on the Parisian horizon, 
 his passion for the singer, and the immense sums he was pre- 
 pared to put down in her behalf. 
 
 On the 2ist, at seven o'clock precisely, all the guests, of 
 whom Desroches had given Bixiou the list, and Desroches 
 himself, were assembled in the drawing-room in the Rue de 
 Provence when the negro announced Sir Francis Drake and 
 Count Halphertius, who had insisted on not being named 
 first. 
 
 As he glanced at the assembled circle, Vautrin was an- 
 noyed to perceive that his aunt's habits and instincts had 
 proved stronger than his special and express injunctions, and 
 a sort of turban, green and yellow, would have put him seri- 
 ously out of temper, but that the skill she had shown in carry- 
 ing out all his other wishes won forgiveness for her head-dress. 
 As for Luigia, dressed, as usual, in black, having had the 
 wisdom to refuse the assistance of a hairdresser who had 
 vainly attempted to reduce what he had called the disorder 
 pf her hair, she was supremely beautiful \ and an air of rncl-
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 3 
 
 ancholic gravity stamped on all her person compelled a feeling 
 of respect, which surprised these men, to whom Bixiou had 
 spoken of her as awaiting their verdict. 
 
 The only person who was specially introduced to Vautrin 
 was Dcsroches, whom Bixiou brought up to him with this 
 jovially emphatic formula 
 
 " Maitre Desroches, the most intelligent attorney of modern 
 times." 
 
 As to Sir Francis Drake, if he seemed a shade less scornful 
 than he had intended to be of the influence of journalism as 
 affecting the supply of capital, it was because he happened to 
 be acquainted with Felicien Vernou and Lousteau, two writers 
 for the journalistic press, with whom he shook hands warmly. 
 
 Before dinner was announced, Count Halphertius thought 
 it his part to make a little speech ; and after a few minutes' 
 conversation with Signora Luigia, to whom he had good taste 
 enough not to speak till he had been in the room a short 
 while, he ostensibly addressed Madame de Saint-Esteve, but 
 loud enough to be heard by all who were present. 
 
 " My dear madame," said he to his aunt, " you are really 
 a wonderful woman. The first time I find myself in a Paris 
 drawing-room, and you make me to meet all that is most dis- 
 tinguished in literature, in arts, and in the world of business. 
 I, what am only a northern barbarian, though my country has 
 its famous men Linnaeus, Berzelius, the great Thorvaldsen, 
 Tegner, Franzen, Geier, and our charming novelist, Frederica 
 Bremer I am here astonished and timid, and I do not know 
 how to say to you that I am so extraordinary obliged." 
 
 "Well, through Bernadotte,"* said the lady, whose eru- 
 dition took her so far as that, " France and Sweden clasped 
 hands." 
 
 " It is quite certain," said Vautrin, " that our beloved sov- 
 ereign Charles XIV. " 
 
 * Jean- Baptiste- Jules Bernadotte, a French general raised to the Swed- 
 ish throne, 1812.
 
 4 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 He was interrupted by a butler, who threw open the doors 
 and announced dinner. 
 
 Madame de Saint-Esteve took Vautrin's arm, and whispered 
 as they went 
 
 "Don't you think it all very well done? " 
 
 "Yes," said Jacques Collin, "it is very well gotten up. 
 Nothing is wrong but your diabolical parrot-colored turban, 
 which startled me a good deal." 
 
 "No, no," said Jacqueline, " with my Javanese phiz " (she 
 was born, in fact, in Java) " something Oriental carries it off." 
 
 The dinner was not, on the whole, particularly lively. The 
 Human Comedy has more than once had occasion to include 
 a picture of the cheerful race who were here present in force, 
 under the brilliant light of the triclinium ; but then they had 
 not been muzzled as they were at this banquet. Bixiou, as a 
 message from Madame de Saint-Esteve, had particularly im- 
 pressed on all the guests that they were to say nothing that 
 could distress the chaste ears of the pious Italian. So these 
 men, forced to be cautious, all men of wit and feeling more 
 or less, as a famous critic said, had lost their spirit ; and fall- 
 ing back on the dinner, which was excellent, they murmured 
 in undertones, or reduced the conversation to commonplace 
 remarks. In short, they ate and they drank under protest, so 
 to speak; but they did not really dine. 
 
 Bixiou, to whom such a state of things was quite unendur- 
 able, was bent on making some break in this monotony. The 
 intimacy between a foreign nobleman and their hostess had 
 given him food for thought ; he had also been struck by a 
 certain inefficiency in the Amphitryon ; and he had said to 
 himself that a genuine nobleman would at a smaller cost have 
 succeeded in putting some life into the party. So, in order 
 to feel his way, it occurred to him to test the count by speak- 
 ing of Sweden, and at the beginning of the second course he 
 asked him all across the table 
 
 " Monsieur le Comte, you are too young, I imagine, to
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 5 
 
 have known Gustavus III., whom Scribe and Auber have set 
 in an opera, and who in France has given his glorious name 
 to a galop." 
 
 "I beg your pardon," replied Vautrin, seizing the oppor- 
 tunity thus offered to him; "lam very nearly sixty, which 
 would make me thirteen in 1792, when our beloved sovereign 
 was killed by the assassin Anckastroem ; so I can remember 
 those times." 
 
 Having said this, by the help of a volume called " Carac- 
 teres et Anecdotes de la cour de Suede " (published by Arthus 
 Bertrand in 1808 without the author's name), which he had 
 picked up at a bookstall since his incarnation as a Swede, 
 Vautrin was in a position to defy pitfalls. He improved the 
 occasion ; like a speaker who only waits to be started on a 
 familiar text to display his powers to the best advantage, no 
 sooner was the tap turned on than he flowed with such eru- 
 dition and pertinence on all the great men of his country, 
 gave so many circumstantial details, related so many curious 
 and secret facts, especially with regard to the famous Coup 
 d'Etat, by which Gustavus III. emancipated the crown in 
 1772 ; in short, was so precise and so interesting that, as they 
 rose from table, Emile Blondet said to Bixiou 
 
 " I was like you a foreign count, introduced by this match- 
 monger, at first struck me as suspicious. But not only was 
 the dinner really princely ; this man knows his Swedish Court 
 in a way that is not to be obtained from books. He is un- 
 doubtedly a man of good family ; and if only I had time, I 
 could make a very interesting pamphlet out of all he has told 
 us. But the diva is about to sign her agreement." 
 
 "He is a very cunning fox," said Desroches to Bixiou as 
 they came to the drawing-room. " He must be enormously 
 rich ; he paid the Englishman a hundred thousand crowns 
 down in bank-bills on the spot ; and when I wanted to insert 
 a rather stringent clause in the agreement as to the payment 
 of the lady's salary for Sir Francis Drake has not a reputa-
 
 f> THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 lion for paying 'on the tail,' as Leon de Lora would say 
 our gentleman would allow no written expression of distrust 
 whence I conclude that the fair Italian keeps him at arm's 
 length, and that he is not sorry to have some hold over her 
 through arrears of pay." 
 
 "And your fees," said Bixiou. "Did he happen to men- 
 tion them ? I told old Saint-Esteve that she must not expect 
 a man of your consequence to put himself out of the way for 
 soup and beef that they must be flavored with mint-sauce." 
 
 " Here you are ! " said Dcsroches, taking out of his pocket 
 a gold box, oval in shape, and very handsomely chased. 
 "Just now, while I was reading the indentures, I had laid my 
 snuff-box of Irish horn worth about ten francs perhaps on 
 the table by my side. Our friend interrupted me to ask for a 
 pinch. When I had done reading and wanted it, in the 
 place of my box, which had vanished, I found this gem." 
 
 "Your 'uncle,' " said Bixiou, "would lend you three or 
 four hundred francs on it, which would mean a value of about 
 a thousand." 
 
 "As I protested against such an exchange," Desroches 
 went on, " ' I am the gainer by it,' says he. ' I have a relic 
 of the Napoleon of attorneys.' ' 
 
 " Mighty genteel ! " said Bixiou, " and please God and the 
 old woman I will cultivate his acquaintance. I say, supposing 
 I were to sketch him in an early number of the ' Charivari ' ? " 
 
 " First we must find out whether he has enough French wit 
 in him to be pleased to see himself caricatured." 
 
 At this moment a chord on the piano announced that the 
 Signora Luigia was about to face the enemy. She sang the 
 "Willow Song" with a depth of expression which touched 
 her audience, though the trial was held by an areopagus who 
 was digesting a dinner of no sparing character. 
 
 The song ended, Vernou and Lousteau, going up to Sir 
 Francis Drake, said, with an assumption of indignation as 
 flattering to his skill as to his hopes as a manager
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 7 
 
 " What a mean wretch you must be to have secured such an 
 artist for fifty thousand francs a mere song ! " 
 
 Luigia then sang an air from " Nina," by Paesiello, and in 
 this light and vivacious character revealed a gift of impersona- 
 tion at least equal to her talent as a singer. 
 
 "She startled me!" said the old aunt to Vautrin. "I 
 fancied I saw Peyrade's daughter."* 
 
 What crowned Luigia's success, and recommended her 
 especially to her reporters, was her modesty a sort of igno- 
 rance of her wonderful gifts in the midst of the praises that 
 were showered on her. This little crowd of journalists, 
 accustomed to the extravagant vanity and insolent assumption 
 of the smallest stage queens, could not get over the humility 
 and artlessness of this Empress of Song, who seemed quite 
 surprised at the effect she had produced. 
 
 A few words skillfully whispered at parting to each of these 
 great men, and a card left at their lodgings next day by Count 
 Halphertius, secured for his protege, at any rate for the mo- 
 ment, a chorus of admiration which would echo across the 
 channel, and be almost as good as a brilliant debut at the 
 Italian opera house in Paris. 
 
 Some days before Luigia's journey, the Boulogne boat car- 
 ried another person of this drama to England. 
 
 As soon as he had ascertained where he could find Salle- 
 nauve, to give him the information he thought so urgent, 
 Jacques Bricheteau abandoned the idea of writing him. He 
 thought it simpler and safer to go and see him. 
 
 On reaching London, the traveler was somewhat surprised 
 to learn that Hanwell was one of the most famous lunatic 
 asylums in the three kingdoms. If he had but remembered 
 the apprehensions his friend had felt at the state of Marie- 
 Gaston's brain, he would have guessed the truth ; but he was 
 quite at sea when he was further informed that this asylum, 
 * See "The Harlot's Progress."
 
 S THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 maintained by the taxes, was open only to mad people of the 
 lower classes, and not to paying patients. 
 
 Hanwell is a large building of not unhandsome appearance ; 
 the front, nine hundred and ninety-six feet in length, is 
 broken by three octagonal towers, three stories high one at 
 each end, and one in the middle; the monotony is thus re- 
 lieved, though the melancholy purpose of the building neces- 
 sitated a very moderate use of ornament. 
 
 The asylum is pleasantly situated at the foot of a hill on 
 the borders of Jersey (sic) * and Middlesex. The extensive 
 grounds, gardens, and farms lie between the Uxbridge road, 
 the river Brent, and the Grand Junction canal ; nine hundred 
 patients can be accommodated and treated there. As it is well 
 known that manual labor is one of the most valuable elements 
 of the cure, the house contains workshops for carpentry, smiths' 
 work, painting, glazing, and brushmaking ; cotton is spun, 
 shoes, baskets, strawberry pottles, and straw hats are made, 
 and other light work for women. The finer qualities of work 
 are sold to visitors in a bazaar, and bring in a considerable 
 profit. 
 
 Such patients as are incapable of learning a trade work in 
 the garden and farm, which supply many of the wants of the 
 establishment ; bread and ale are made on the premises ; all 
 the necessary linen is made up and washed by means of a 
 steam engine, which also heats every part of the building. A 
 chapel with a fine organ, a library, and a concert-room the 
 salutary effect of music on the patients being amply proved 
 show that, hand in hand with intelligent care given to physical 
 suffering, the needs of the spiritual and intellectual man are 
 not neglected. 
 
 Finally, as Lord Lewin had told Sallenauve in his letter, 
 the superintendent and director was Dr. Ellis, a distinguished 
 physician to whom we owe a valuable treatise on the develop- 
 
 * This curious mistake seems to have arisen from the proximity of 
 Otterley Park, Lord Jersey's residence.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARC1S. 9 
 
 ment and therapeutics of mental disease. In his treatment of 
 these maladies this learned man does not despise the aid of 
 phrenology. 
 
 On being shown into the doctor's room, the organist asked 
 him whether a Frenchman named Sallenauve were not staying 
 for a time at Hanwell. Here, again, Bricheteau paid the 
 penalty of his neglected and shabby appearance ; without 
 vouchsafing any inquiries or explanations, Dr. Ellis shortly 
 replied that he had never even heard Monsieur de Sallenauve's 
 name. This, after all, was very probable ; so Jacques Briche- 
 teau withdrew, much disappointed; and fancying that Madame 
 de 1'Estorade had misread, or he himself had mistaken, the 
 name of Hanwell, he spent some days in running about the 
 county of Middlesex visiting every spot of which the name 
 ending in ell invited his attention. 
 
 All his inquiries having resulted in nothing, as he rarely 
 allowed his persevering and resourceful spirit to be beaten in 
 anything he undertook, Jacques Bricheteau resolved to make 
 another attempt on Hanwell by letter, thinking, very rightly, 
 that a letter sometimes got in where a man was barred out. 
 In point of fact, on the evening of the day when he posted 
 his letter he received a reply from Sallenauve, inviting him 
 to call at the asylum, where he was promised a most cordial 
 welcome. 
 
 Dr. Ellis' conduct was accounted for when Jacques Briche- 
 teau learned the extent of the disaster that had befallen Marie- 
 Gaston. Discretion is, of course, one of the most indispen- 
 sable virtues in the head of an asylum for the insane ; since 
 every day, by his position, he becomes the depository of 
 secrets which affect the honor of whole families. 
 
 When Bricheteau arrived at the asylum, and was introduced 
 by Sallenauve as his friend, he was heartily welcomed. Dr. 
 Ellis made every apology ; and having on various occasions 
 in the course of his practice found really wonderful benefit 
 derived from music, he said that he regarded the organist's
 
 :0 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 arrival as quite a godsend, since his great musical talent might 
 be of immense use as a means toward effecting the cure of the 
 patient. 
 
 Since leaving Ville-d'Avray, Marie-Gaston's state had un- 
 fortunately become seriously complicated. Until he reached 
 England he had been comparatively cheerful and docile to 
 Lord Lewin's advice ; they might have been supposed to be 
 friends traveling together for pleasure. But when, instead of 
 embarking at once for South America, Lord Lewin, under the 
 pretext of business to transact in the neighborhood of London, 
 proposed to Marie-Gaston to accompany him, the madman 
 began to suspect some snare into which he had been wheedled. 
 He allowed himself, nevertheless, to be driven to Hanwell, 
 represented by Lord Lewin as one of the royal residences ; he 
 had not even resisted when invited to cross the threshold of 
 his prison ; but once in the presence of Dr. Ellis, who had 
 been forewarned by a letter from Lord Lewin, a sort of in- 
 stinct, of which the insane are very capable, seemed to tell 
 the unhappy man that his freedom was in danger. 
 
 "I do not like that man's face," he said aloud to Lord 
 Lewin. " Let us go." 
 
 The doctor had tried to laugh off the remark ; but Marie- 
 Gaston, getting more and more excited, exclaimed : 
 
 " Hold your tongue ! Your laughter is intolerable. You 
 look just like an executioner." 
 
 And it is possible that the deep attention with which mad 
 doctors must study the countenance of a patient, added to the 
 stern fixed gaze by which they are often compelled to control 
 a maniac, may at last give their features an expression of in- 
 quisitorial scrutiny. This, no doubt, has a highly irritating 
 effect on the overstrung nervous sensibilities of the unhappy 
 creatures brought within their ken. 
 
 "You will not deprive me, I hope," said the doctor, "of 
 the pleasure of keeping you and my. friend Lord Lewin to 
 dinner?"
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. ;l 
 
 "I! Dine with you?" cried Marie-Gaston vehemently. 
 " What that you may poison me ! " 
 
 "Well, but poison is just what you want, surely?" said 
 Lord Lewin quickly. "Were you not talking the other day 
 of a dose of prussic acid ? " 
 
 Lord Lewin was not, as might perhaps be supposed, merely 
 rash in making this pointed speech ; he had studied mad per- 
 sons, and he discerned that a deeply hostile aversion for the 
 doctor was seething in Marie-Gaston's mind ; so, being strong 
 and active, he intended to divert on himself the storm that 
 was about to burst. It fell out as he had expected. 
 
 "Vile scoundrel!" cried Marie-Gaston, seizing him by 
 the throat, "you are in collusion with the other, and sell- 
 ing my secrets ! " 
 
 It was with some difficulty, and the help of two warders, 
 that Lord Lewin had shaken off his desperate clutch ; the 
 poor man had developed raving mania. 
 
 The paroxysm, after lasting some days, had yielded to 
 care and treatment ; the patient was now gentle and quiet, 
 and showed some hopeful symptoms; but Sir William Ellis 
 hoped to induce a final crisis, and he was considering the 
 way and means to this end when M. Jacques Bricheteau ar- 
 rived. 
 
 As soon as Sallenauve found himself alone with the organist, 
 he questioned him as to the motives that had prompted him 
 to follow him, and it was not without indignation that he 
 heard of the intrigue which Maxime and the Beauvisages 
 seemed to be plotting against him. His old suspicions re- 
 vived 
 
 "Are you quite certain," he asked, "that the man I but 
 just saw was in fact the Marquis de Sallenauve ? " 
 
 "Mother Marie des Anges and Achille Pigoult," replied 
 Bricheteau, " who warned me of this plot, have no more doubt 
 of the marquis' identity than I have. And in all the gossip 
 which they are trying to work up into a scandal, one thing
 
 12 THE DEPUTY POR ARC1S. 
 
 alone seems to me at all serious, and that is, that by your 
 absence you leave the field free to your enemies." 
 
 "But the Chamber will not condemn me unheard," re- 
 plied the member. " I wrote the president to ask leave of 
 absence; and in the event of its being refused, which is most 
 improbable, I have asked 1'Estorade, who knows my reasons 
 for being here, to answer for me." 
 
 "You also wrote to madame his wife?" 
 
 "I wrote only to his wife," replied Sallenauve. "I an- 
 nounced to her the misfortune that has overtaken our friend, 
 and at the same time begged her to explain to her husband 
 the good offices I requested of him." 
 
 "If that is the case," said Jacques Bricheteau, "do not 
 depend for anything on the 1'Estorades. A rumor of the 
 blow about to be dealt you had no doubt already reached 
 them." 
 
 And after telling him of the reception he had met with, as 
 well as the unkind speeches made by Madame de 1'Estorade, 
 Jacques Bricheteau drew the conclusion that in the impending 
 struggle no help could be hoped for from that quarter. 
 
 "I have some right to be surprised at such a state of 
 things," said Sallenauve, "after Madame de 1'Estorade's 
 pressing assurances of unfailing good-will; however,"' he 
 added with a shrug, " nothing is impossible, and calumny 
 has erenow undermined closer friendships." 
 
 "So now, as you must understand," said the organist, '-'we 
 must set out for Paris without delay; all things considered, 
 your presence here is really far less necessary." 
 
 "On the contrary," replied Sallenauve, "only this morn- 
 ing the doctor was congratulating himself on my having de- 
 cided on coming, saying that at the right moment my inter- 
 vention might be invaluable. In fact. I have not yet been 
 allowed to see Marie-Gaston, reserving my appearance as a 
 surprise at need." 
 
 " The usefulness of your presence," replied Jacques Bridie-
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 13 
 
 teau, " is nevertheless problematical ; while, by remaining 
 here for an indefinite period, you are most certainly imperil- 
 ing your political future, your social position, everything of 
 which the most ardent friendship has no right to demand the 
 sacrifice." 
 
 "We will go and talk it over with the doctor," said Sal- 
 lenauve at length, for he could not fail to see that Jacques 
 Bricheteau's importunity was justified. 
 
 On being asked whether Marie-Gaston's stay in the asylum 
 was liable to be prolonged 
 
 "Yes, I think so," said the doctor; "I have just seen our 
 patient, and the cerebral irritation, which must give way to 
 the material action of medicines before we can attempt to 
 bring any moral influence to bear, seems to me most unfortu- 
 nately on the high way to a fresh outbreak." 
 
 "Still," said Sallenauve anxiously, "you have not lost all 
 hope of a cure?" 
 
 "Far from it ; I believe firmly in a favorable termination. 
 But these dreadful disorders often present frequent alterna- 
 tions of aggravation and improvement ; and I am beginning 
 to foresee that the case will be a longer one than I had at first 
 hoped." 
 
 " I have just been elected a deputy to the Lower Chamber," 
 said Sallenauve, " and the opening of the session demands my 
 return to Paris. It is no less required by urgent private mat- 
 ters which Monsieur Bricheteau came expressly to discuss. So 
 unless I thought that my presence here would be immediately 
 needed " 
 
 "Go," said the doctor, "it may be a very long business. 
 If the patient's condition had not shown a relapse, I had in- 
 tended to arrange some startling scene with your help and 
 that of Monsieur Bricheteau's music, aided too by a young 
 lady, a relation of my wife's, who on various occasions has 
 seconded me very intelligently a little dramatic shock from 
 which I hoped for good results. But, in the first place, my
 
 14 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 young relation is absent, and for the moment nothing can be 
 done but by medical agents. So, for the moment, go ! " 
 
 Sallenauve gratefully pressed the doctor's hand, seeing his 
 eager wish to reassure him. He then took leave of Mrs. Ellis, 
 who promised no less warmly than her husband the devoted 
 care of a mother's watchfulness. As to Lord Lewin, Salle- 
 nauve's character had won his most friendly esteem, and his 
 conduct in the past was a guarantee of all that might be ex- 
 pected of him now and in the future. So Bricheteau had no 
 difficulty about getting off without any further delay. 
 
 They reached London at about five in the afternoon, and 
 would have gone on to Paris the same evening but for a sur- 
 prise which awaited them. Their eyes fell immediately on 
 enormous posters, on a scale which only English " puff" can 
 achieve, announcing at the corner of every street the appear- 
 ance that same evening of SIGNORA LUIGIA at Her Majesty's 
 theatre. The name alone was enough to arrest the travelers' 
 attention ; but the papers to which they had recourse for in- 
 formation supplied them, in the English fashion, with so 
 many circumstantial facts as to the debutante's career, that 
 Sallenauve could not doubt the transformation of his late 
 housekeeper into one of the brightest stars that had risen for 
 a long time above the horizon of England. If he had list- 
 ened to Jacques Bricheteau, he would have been content to 
 hail from afar the triumph of the handsome Italian, and have 
 gone on his way. But having calculated that one evening spent 
 in London would make no serious delay in his arrival, Salle- 
 nauve was bent on judging for himself, by his own eyes and 
 ears, what the enthusiasm was worth which was expressed on 
 all sides for the new prima donna. 
 
 Sallenauve went off at once to the box office, which he 
 found closed, but he was enabled to perceive that the singer's 
 success was immense. Every seat had been sold by two in 
 the afternoon, and he thought himself lucky to secure two 
 Stalls at a private ticket office for the sum of five pounds.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 15 
 
 The London opera-house had never perhaps held a more 
 brilliant assembly ; and it is impossible not to be struck by the 
 capricious vicissitudes of human life, when we reflect that all 
 this concourse of the English aristocracy was brought about 
 originally by the ambition of a man who had been a felon on 
 the hulks to rise, as a member of the police, to a rather better 
 rank in its hierarchy. 
 
 By a no less singular coincidence the piece announced was 
 Paesiello's "Nina, o la Pazza per Amore " (mad for love), 
 from which Luigia had sung an air after the dinner given by 
 Madame de Saint-Esteve. 
 
 When the curtain rose, Sallenauve, having spent nearly a 
 week at Hanwell in the midst of mad people, could all the 
 better appreciate the prodigious gifts as an actress displayed 
 by his former housekeeper in the part of Nina ; and in the 
 face of her heart-rending imitation, he went through a renewal 
 of all the distress of mind he had just gone through while 
 watching the dreadful reality of Marie-Gaston's insanity. 
 
 Bricheteau, in spite of his annoyance at first at Sallenauve's 
 dawdling, as he called it, finally fell under the spell of the 
 singer's power ; and at last, seeing the whole house frantic 
 with enthusiasm, and the stage strewn with bouquets, he said 
 
 "On my word, I can wish you nothing better than a suc- 
 cess in any degree like this on another stage ! " and then he 
 rashly added: "But there are no such triumphs in politics! 
 Art alone is great " 
 
 "And la Luigia is its prophet ! " replied Sallenauve, smil- 
 ing through the tears that admiration had brought to his eyes. 
 
 On coming out of the theatre, Bricheteau looked at his 
 watch; it was a quarter to eleven, and by making great haste 
 there was still time to get on board the packet starting at 
 eleven. But when the organist looked round to urge this on 
 Sallenauve, who was to follow him through the crowd, he no 
 longer saw his man ; the deputy had vanished.
 
 16 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 A quarter of an hour later Luigia's dresser came into a 
 room where her mistress was receiving the compliments of the 
 greatest names in England, introduced to her by Sir Francis 
 Drake. She gave the signora a card. The prima donna as 
 she read it changed color, and whispered a few words to the 
 maid. And she then showed such obvious anxiety to be rid 
 of her throng of admirers, that some budding adorers could 
 not help betraying their surprise. 
 
 As soon as she was alone, she hastily resumed her ordinary 
 dress ; the manager's carriage had soon conveyed her to the 
 hotel where she had been living since her arrival ; and, on 
 entering her sitting-room, she found Sallenauve, who had 
 arrived there before her. 
 
 " You here, monsieur ! " said she. " It is a dream ! " 
 
 "Especially to me," replied Sallenauve, "since I find you 
 in London after having sought you in vain in Paris." 
 
 "You took so much trouble but why?" 
 
 " You left us in so strange a manner, your moods are so 
 hasty, you knew so little of Paris, and so many dangers 
 might await your inexperience, that I feared everything for 
 you." 
 
 " What harm could come to me? " said she. "And I was 
 neither your wife, nor your sister, nor your mistress ; I was 
 only your " 
 
 "I had believed," Sallenauve eagerly put in, "that you 
 were my friend." 
 
 " I was your debtor," said Luigia. " I saw that I was a 
 trouble to you in your new position. Could I do otherwise 
 than relieve you of my presence ? " 
 
 " Pray, who had impressed you with that intolerable con- 
 viction ? Had I said or hinted anything to that effect ? Was 
 it impossible to discuss a plan of life for you without so far 
 offending your susceptibilities? " 
 
 " I feel what I feel," said the Italian. "I myself was 
 conscious that you wished me anywhere rather than in your
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 17 
 
 house. You had afforded me the means of having no fears 
 for the future ; indeed, as you see, it promises to be anything 
 rather than alarming." 
 
 " On the contrary, it promises to be so brilliant that but 
 for the fear of seeming too presuming, I should make so bold 
 as to ask from whose hand, happier than mine, you have ob- 
 tained such prompt and efficient help." 
 
 " A great Swedish nobleman," replied Luigia without hes- 
 itation, "who spends part of an immense fortune in the 
 encouragement of art, procured me this engagement at Her 
 Majesty's; the kind indulgence of the public did the rest." 
 
 " Your talent, you should say. I heard you this evening." 
 
 "And were you pleased with your humble servant?" said 
 the singer, with a coquettish curtsey. 
 
 " Your musical achievements did not surprise me ; I knew 
 your gifts already, and an infallible judge had answered for 
 them ; but your flights of dramatic passion, your acting, at 
 once so strong and so sure of itself that indeed amazed me." 
 
 "I have suffered much," said the Italian, "and grief is a 
 great master." 
 
 " Suffered ! " said Sallenauve ; " in Italy, yes. But since 
 you came to France I like to flatter myself " 
 
 " Everywhere," said Luigia in a broken voice. "I was 
 not born under a happy star." 
 
 "That 'Everywhere' has to me a touch of reproach. It 
 is late, indeed, to be telling me of any wrong I may have 
 done you." 
 
 "You have not done me the smallest wrong. The mischief 
 was there ! " said Luigia, laying her hand on her heart. " I 
 alone was in fault." 
 
 " From some fancy, I dare say, as foolish as your notion 
 that it was a point of honor that you should quit my house? " 
 
 "Oh, I was not dreaming then," said the Italian. "How 
 well I knew what lay at the bottom of your mind ! If it were 
 only in return for all you had done for me, I ought to long 
 2
 
 18 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 for your esteem, and yet I was forbidden even to aspire so 
 high." 
 
 " But, my dear Luigia, there is no word for such ideas. 
 Did I ever fail in consideration and respect? And beside, 
 has not your conduct always been exemplary?" 
 
 "Yes, I have tried never to do anything that could make 
 you think ill of me. But I was Benedetto's widow, all the 
 same." 
 
 " What ! Do you fancy that that disaster, the outcome of 
 just revenge " 
 
 " Nay. It was not the man's death that could lower me in 
 your eyes ; quite the contrary. But I had been the wife of a 
 buffoon, of a police spy, of a wretch always ready to sell me 
 to any buyer " 
 
 "While you were in that position, I felt that you were to 
 be pitied, but scorned? Never ! " 
 
 "Well," said the Italian, "we had lived together, alone, 
 under the same roof, for nearly two years." 
 
 " Certainly ; and to me it had become a delightful habit." 
 
 "Did you think me ugly?" 
 
 "You know I did not, since I took you for the model of 
 my best statue." 
 
 "A fool?" 
 
 "A woman cannot be a fool who puts so much soul into a 
 part." 
 
 " Well then ; it is evident that you despised me ! " 
 
 Sallenauve was utterly amazed at this prompt logic ; he 
 thought himself clever to reply 
 
 " It seems to me that if I had behaved differently, I should 
 have given greater proof of contempt." 
 
 But he had to deal with a woman who in all things in 
 her friendships and aversions, in act as well as in word went 
 straight to the mark. 
 
 She went on as if she were afraid that he had not understood 
 her.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 19 
 
 "At this day, monsieur, I can say everything, for I am 
 talking of the past, and the future is no longer in my hands. 
 Since the day when you were kind to me, ind when by your 
 generous protection I was rescued from an outrageous insult, 
 my heart has been wholly yours." 
 
 Sallenauve, who had never suspected the existence of this 
 feeling, and who, above all, could not conceive of its avowal, 
 made with such artless crudity, did not know what to say. 
 
 "I was well aware," the strange creature went on, "that I 
 should have much to do to raise myself from the base con- 
 dition in which you had seen me at our first meeting. If even 
 at the moment when you consented to take me with you I had 
 seen any signs of gallantry in your behavior, any hint that 
 you might take advantage of the dangerous position in which 
 I had placed myself by my own act, my heart would have 
 shrunk into itself, you would have been but an ordinary man, 
 and to rehabilitate me after Benedetto it was not enough " 
 
 "And so," said Sallenauve, " to love you would have been 
 an insult, and not to love was cruelty. What a woman ! 
 How is it possible to avoid offending you ? " 
 
 " I did not want you to love me when you did not know 
 me," said the singer, " when I had scarcely shaken off the 
 mire, for then it would have been only the love of the eye and 
 of the taste, which it is never wise to trust. But when, after 
 living in your house for two years, you could know by my 
 conduct that I was worthy of your esteem ; when, without ever 
 craving a single pleasure, and devoted to the care of your 
 house, with no relaxation but the study which was to raise me 
 to the dignity of an artist like yourself, I could, merely for 
 the happiness of seeing you create a masterpiece, sacrifice the 
 womanly modesty which on another occasion you had seen 
 me defend with vehemence then you were cruel not to un- 
 derstand ; and your imagination can never, never picture what 
 I have suffered, or how many tears I have shed ! " 
 
 " But, my dear Luigia, you were my guest ; even if I could
 
 20 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 have suspected what you now reveal to me, my duty as a man 
 of honor required me to see nothing, understand nothing, but 
 on the plainest evidence." 
 
 "And was not my perpetual melancholy proof enough? If 
 my heart had been free, should I not have been less reserved 
 and more familiar? No the case is plain enough : you could 
 see nothing; your fancy was fixed elsewhere." 
 
 "Well, and if it were?" 
 
 "It ought not to have been," said the Italian stringently. 
 " That woman was not free ; she had a husband and children ; 
 and, though you chose to make a saint of her, even if I had 
 no advantage over her excepting in youth though that is, of 
 course, quite absurd it seems to me that she was not to com- 
 pare with me." 
 
 Sallenauve could not help smiling. However, he replied 
 quite gravely : 
 
 "You are altogether mistaken as to your rival. Madame 
 de 1'Estorade has never been anything to me but a head to 
 study, and even so, of no interest whatever but for her like- 
 ness to another woman. That woman I knew at Rome before 
 I ever saw you. She had beauty, youth, and a great talent 
 for Art. At this day she is captive in a convent ; so, like you, 
 she has paid tribute to sorrow ; as you see, all your perfec- 
 tions " 
 
 "What ! Three love stories, and all ending in air ! " said 
 Luigia. "You were born under a strange star, indeed ! Of 
 course when I was so misunderstood, it was only because I 
 was under its maleficent influence, and in that case you must 
 be forgiven." 
 
 " Then, since you admit me to mercy, pray allow me to 
 return to my former question. The future, you tell me, is 
 no longer in your hands ; the astounding frankness of your 
 avowal leads me to infer that, to give you such boldness, a 
 very solid barrier must have been raised between you and me. 
 Then what is the power by which, at one leap, you have
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 21 
 
 sprung so high ? Have you, then, made a bargain with the 
 devil?" 
 
 "Perhaps so," said Luigia, laughing. 
 
 " Do not laugh," said Sallenauve. " You chose to face the 
 hell of Paris alone ; it would not at all surprise me to hear 
 that you met with some dangerous acquaintance at starting. 
 I -know the difficulties that the greatest artists have to sur- 
 mount before they can get a hearing. Do you know whom the 
 foreign gentleman is who has leveled every road before you ? " 
 
 " I know that he has put down a fabulous sum to secure my 
 engagement ; that I am to be paid fifty thousand francs ; and 
 that he did not even accompany me to London." 
 
 " Then all this devotion is free, gratis ? " 
 
 " Not at all. My patron has reached the age at which a 
 man no longer loves, but has a great deal of conceit. So his 
 protection is to be widely proclaimed, and I have pledged 
 myself to do nothing, say nothing, that may give the lie to 
 his fictitious happiness. To you alone did I owe the truth ; 
 but I know you to be trustworthy, and I entreat you to keep 
 it absolutely secret." 
 
 "And it does not seem improbable to you that this state 
 of things should last ? But how and where did you make 
 acquaintance with this man whom you think you can for ever 
 feed on air?" 
 
 " Through a Dame de Charite who came to see me while 
 you were away. She had been struck by my voice at Saint- 
 Sulpice during the services of the month of Mary, and she 
 wanted to bribe me away to sing at her parish church, Notre- 
 Dame de Lorette." 
 
 "What was the lady's name?" 
 
 "Madame de Saint-Esteve." 
 
 Though he did not know all the depths of Jacqueline Col- 
 lin's existence, Sallenauve had heard of Madame de Saint- 
 Esteve as a money-lender and go-between ; he had heard 
 Bixiou speak of her.
 
 22 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 "That woman," said he, "has a notoriously bad reputation 
 in Paris. She is an agent of the lowest intrigues." 
 
 "So I suspected," said Luigia, "but what does that matter 
 tome?" 
 
 " If the man she has introduced to you " 
 
 "Were such another as herself?" interrupted the singer. 
 "But that is not likely. The hundred thousand crowns he 
 has placed in the manager's hands have floated the theatre 
 again." 
 
 " He may be rich and yet be scheming against you. The 
 two are not incompatible." 
 
 "He may have schemes against me," said Luigia, "but 
 they will not be carried out. Between them and me / 
 stand." 
 
 " But your reputation ? " 
 
 " That I lost when I left your house. I was generally sup- 
 posed to be your mistress ; you had to give your own explana- 
 tion to your constituency ; and you contradicted the report, 
 but do you imagine that you killed it ? " 
 
 " And my esteem, on which you set such value ? " 
 
 " I no longer need it. You did not love me when I wanted 
 it ; you will not love me when I no longer care." 
 
 " Who can tell ? " said Sallenauve. 
 
 "There are two reasons against it," replied the Italian. 
 " In the first place, it is too late; and in the second, we no 
 longer tread the same road." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 "I am an artist, you have ceased to be one. I am rising, 
 you are going down." 
 
 "You call it going down to rise perhaps to the highest dig- 
 nities of State?" 
 
 " Whether you rise or not," cried Luigia ecstatically, " you 
 will be beneath your past self and the splendid future that lay 
 before you. Indeed, I believe I have deceived you ; I believe 
 if you had still been a sculptor, I should yet for some time
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARC1S. 2 3 
 
 have endured your coldness and disdain ; at any rate, I should 
 have waited till after my first trials in my art, hoping that 
 the halo which lends glory to a woman on the stage might at 
 last, perhaps, have made you aware of my existence there at 
 your side. But from the day of your apostasy, I could no 
 longer persist in my humiliating sacrifice. There is no future 
 in common for us." 
 
 "What!" said Sallenauve, holding out his hand, which 
 Luigia did not take, " are we not even to remain friends ? " 
 
 " A friend a man friend you have already. No, it is all 
 over and done with. We shall hear of each other ; and from 
 afar as we cross in life we shall wave each other a greeting, 
 but nothing more." 
 
 "And this is how all is to end between you and me! " 
 said Sallenauve sadly. 
 
 The singer looked at him for a moment, and tears sparkled 
 in her eyes. 
 
 " Listen," said she, in a sincere and resolute tone, " this 
 much is possible. I have loved you, and after you no man 
 will find a place in the heart you scorned. You will be told 
 that I have lovers : the old man whom I am pledged to own 
 to, and others after him perhaps ; but you will not believe it, 
 remembering the woman that I am. And, who knows? By 
 and by your life may be swept clear of the other affections 
 which barred the way for mine, and the freedom, the eccen- 
 tricity of the avowal I have just made will perhaps remain 
 stamped on your memory then it is not altogether impossible 
 that after such long wandering you may at last want me. If 
 that should happen if, as the result of bitter disappointments, 
 you should be brought back to the belief in Art well, then, 
 if time has not made love a too ridiculous dream for us, re- 
 member this night. 
 
 " Now we must part, for it is late for a ttfe-a-tttc, and it is 
 the semblance of fidelity to my elderly protector that I am 
 pledged to preserve."
 
 24 THE DEPUTY FOR ARC1S. 
 
 So speaking, she took up a candle and vanished into the 
 adjoining room, leaving Sallenauve in a state of mind that 
 may be imagined after the surprises of every kind that this 
 interview had brought him. 
 
 On returning to the hotel whither he had taken his things 
 on arriving from Hanwell, he found Bricheteau waiting for 
 him at the door. 
 
 "Where the devil have you been?" cried the organist, 
 frantic with impatience. " We might have got off by to- 
 night's boat." 
 
 "Well, well," said Sallenauve carelessly, "I shall have a 
 few more hours for playing truant." 
 
 " And meanwhile the enemy is pushing forward the mine ! " 
 
 "What do I care? In that cave called political life must 
 we not be prepared for whatever happens ? ' ' 
 
 "I suspected as much," said Bricheteau. "You have 
 been to see la Luigia ; her success has turned your head, and 
 the statuary is breaking out through the deputy." 
 
 "You yourself an hour since said Art alone is great." 
 
 " But the orator, too, is an artist," said Bricheteau, " and 
 the greatest of all ; for other artists appeal to the intellect 
 and the feelings, he alone addresses the conscience and the 
 will. Beside, this is not the time to look back ; you have a 
 duel to fight with your opponents. Are you a man of honor 
 or a rogue who has stolen a name? That is the question 
 which is perhaps being discussed and answered in your ab- 
 sence in the full light of the Chamber." 
 
 " I am sadly afraid that you have misled me ; I had a 
 jewel in my hands, and have flung it at my feet " 
 
 "That," retorted the organist, "is happily a vapor that 
 will vanish with the night. To-morrow you will remember 
 your promises to your father and the splendid future that lies 
 before you." 
 
 The Chambers were opened ; Sallenauve had not been
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 25 
 
 present at the royal sitting, and his absence had not failed to 
 cause some sensation in the democratic party. At the office 
 of the " National " especially there had been quite a commo- 
 tion. It seemed only natural to expect that, as part owner 
 of the paper and often to be seen at the office before the elec- 
 tions, having indeed contributed to its pages, he should, after 
 being returned, have appeared there to get news when Parlia- 
 ment opened. 
 
 " Now he is elected," said some of the editors, comment- 
 ing on the new deputy's total disappearance, "does my gen- 
 tleman think he is going to play the snob ? It is rather a 
 common trick with our lords and masters in Parliament to 
 pay us very obsequious court as long as they want supporters, 
 and let us severely alone, like their old coats, as soon as they 
 have climbed the tree. But we cannot allow this gentleman 
 to play that game ; there are more ways than one of turning 
 the tables on a man." 
 
 The chief editor, less easily disturbed, had tried to soothe 
 this first ebullition ; but Sallenauve's non-appearance at the 
 opening of the session had, nevertheless, struck him as 
 strange. 
 
 On the following day, when the government officials were 
 to be appointed the presidents and secretaries a business 
 which is not unimportant, because it affords a means of esti- 
 mating the majority, Sallenauve's absence was of more real 
 consequence. In the office to which fate had attached him, 
 the election of the head was carried by the Ministerialists by 
 only one vote ; thus the presence of the Deputy for Arcis 
 would have turned the scale in favor of the Opposition. 
 Hence the expression of strong disapproval in the organs of 
 that party, explaining its defeat by this unforeseen defection, 
 of which they spoke with some acrimonious surprise. They 
 applied no epithets to the absentee's conduct, but they spoke 
 of it as quite " inexplicable." 
 
 Maxime on his part kept a sharp lookout; he was only
 
 26 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 waiting till the official ranks of the Chamber should be filled 
 to lay before the House, in the name of the Romilly peasant- 
 woman, a petition to prosecute. This document had been 
 drawn up by Massol, and under his practiced pen, the facts he 
 had undertaken to set forth had assumed the air of probability 
 which attorneys contrive to give to their statements and de- 
 positions even when furthest from the truth. And now, when 
 Sallenauve's absence was so prolonged as to seem scandalous, 
 he went once more to call on Rastignac; and availing him- 
 self of the ingenious plan of attack suggested by Desroches, 
 he asked the minister if he did not think that the moment 
 had come when he, Rastignac, should abandon the attitude 
 of passive observation which he had hitherto chosen to main- 
 tain. 
 
 Rastignac was, in fact, far more explicit. Sallenauve in a 
 foreign land figured in his mind as a man conscience-stricken, 
 who had lost his balance. He therefore advised Monsieur de 
 Trailles to bring forward the preliminaries of the action that 
 very day, and no longer hesitated to promise his support for 
 the success of a scheme which now looked so hopeful, and 
 from which a very pretty scandal might reasonably be looked 
 for. 
 
 The effects of his underground influence were obvious on 
 the very next day. The order of the day in the Lower 
 Chamber was the verification of the returns. The deputy 
 whose duty it was to report on the election at Arcis-sur-Aube 
 happened to be a trusty Ministerialist, and, acting on the 
 private instructions that had reached him, he took this view 
 of the case : 
 
 The constituents of Arcis had elected their member accord- 
 ing to law. Monsieur de Sallenauve had, in due course, sub- 
 mitted to the examining committee all the documents needed 
 to prove his eligibility, and there was no apparent difficulty 
 in the way of his taking his seat. But reports of a strange 
 character had arisen, even at the time of the election, as to
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 27 
 
 the new deputy's identification, and in further support of 
 those rumors a petition had now been presented to the House 
 to authorize a criminal prosecution. This petition set forth a 
 very serious accusation : Monsieur de Sallenauve was said to 
 have assumed the name he bore without any right, and this 
 assumption being certified on an official document, was in- 
 dictable as a forgery committed for the purpose of false persona- 
 tion. "A circumstance much to be regretted," the speaker 
 went on, "was Monsieur de Sallenauve's absence; instead of 
 appearing to contradict the extraordinary accusation lodged 
 against him, he had remained absent from the sittings of the 
 Chamber ever since the opening of the session, and nobody had 
 seen him. Under these circumstances could his election be 
 officially ratified ? The committee had thought not, and pro- 
 posed that a delay should be granted." 
 
 Daniel d'Arthez, a member of the Legitimist Opposition, 
 whom, as we saw at Arcis, was in favor of Sallenauve's return, 
 at once rose to address the Chamber, and begged to point out 
 how completely out of order such a decision would be. 
 
 " The legality of the election was beyond dispute. No 
 irregularity had been proved. Hence, the Chamber had no 
 alternative ; they must put the question to the vote, and recog- 
 nize the election as regular and valid, since there was nothing 
 to invalidate it. To confuse with that issue the question as 
 to a petition to prosecute would be an abuse of power, be- 
 cause, by hindering any preliminary discussion of that ques- 
 tion, and relieving the indictment of the usual formalities be- 
 fore its acceptance or rejection, it would assume a singular 
 and exceptional character that, namely, of a suspension of 
 the mandate granted to their member by the sovereign power 
 of the electors. And who," added the orator, "can fail to 
 perceive that by giving effect to this petition for authority to 
 prosecute, in any form whatever, we prejudge its justification 
 and importance ; whereas the presumption of innocence, which 
 is the prerogative of every accused person, ought to be es- 
 
 P
 
 23 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 pecially extended to a man whose honesty has never been 
 open to doubt, and who has so lately been honored by the 
 suffrages of his fellow-citizens." 
 
 A prolonged discussion followed, the Ministerial speakers 
 naturally taking the opposite view; then a difficulty arose. 
 The president for the time being, in right of seniority for 
 the Chamber had not yet elected its chief was a weary old 
 man, who, in the complicated functions so suddenly conferred 
 on him by his register of birth, was not always prompt and 
 competent. Sallenauve's application for leave of absence 
 had reached him the day before ; and if it had occurred to 
 him to announce it to the Chamber at the beginning of the 
 sitting as he ought to have done the discussion would 
 probably have been nipped in the bud. But there is luck 
 and ill-luck in parliamentary business; and when the Chamber 
 learned from this letter, at last communicated, t>hat Charles 
 de Sallenauve was abroad, and had no ground to offer for this 
 application for unlimited leave but the vague commonplace of 
 "urgent private affairs," the effect was disastrous. 
 
 "It is self-evident," said all the Ministerialists, like Rastig- 
 nac," he is in England, where every form of failure takes refuge. 
 He is afraid of the inquiry; he knows he will be unmasked." 
 
 This opinion, apart from all the political feeling, was shared 
 by some of the sterner spirits, who could not conceive that a 
 man should not appear to defend himself against so gross an 
 accusation. In short, after a very strong and skillful speech 
 from Vinet the public prosecutor, who had found courage in 
 the absence of the accused, the confirmation of the election 
 was postponed, though by a very small majority; at the same 
 time, a week's leave of absence was voted to the accused 
 member. 
 
 On the day after these proceedings, Maxime wrote as follows 
 to Madame Beauvisage : 
 
 "MADAME: The enemy met with a terrible reverse yester-
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 20 
 
 day ; and in the opinion of my friend Rastignac, a very ex- 
 perienced and intelligent judge of parliamentary feeling, Dor- 
 lange, whatever happens, cannot recover from the blow thus 
 dealt him. If we should fail to procure any positive proof in 
 support of our worthy countrywoman's charge, it is possible 
 that the scoundrel, by sheer audacity, may finally be accepted 
 by the Chamber, if, indeed, he dares show his face in France. 
 But even then, after dragging on a sordid existence utterly 
 unrecognized, he will inevitably ere long be driven to resign ; 
 then M. Beauvisage will be elected beyond doubt, for the 
 constituency, ashamed of having been taken in by an adven- 
 turer, will be only too happy to reinstate themselves by a 
 choice that will do them honor, beside having been their first 
 instinctive selection. 
 
 "This result, madame, will be due to your remarkable 
 sagacity; for, but for the sort of second-sight which enabled 
 you to divine the precious truth hidden under the peasant- 
 woman's story, we should have overlooked that valuable in- 
 strument. I may tell you, madame, even if it should inflate 
 your pride, that neither Rastignac nor Vinet, the public 
 prosecutor, understood the full importance of your discovery ; 
 indeed, I myself, if I had not been so happy as to know you, 
 so as to be able to appreciate the value attaching to any idea 
 of yours, might very probably have shared the indifference of 
 these two statesmen as to the useful weapon you were putting 
 into our hands. But, as the gift came from you, I at once 
 understood its importance; and while pointing out to Ras- 
 tignac the means of utilizing it, I succeeded in making my 
 friend the minister an eager partner in the plot, and, at the 
 same time, a sincere admirer of the skill and perspicacity of 
 which you had given proof. 
 
 " Thus, madame, if I should ever be so happy as to be 
 connected with you by the bond of which we have already 
 spoken, I shall not need to initiate you into political life; yoi 
 have found the path so well unaided.
 
 30 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 "Nothing new can happen within the next week, the length 
 of leave granted to our man. If after that date the absentee 
 does not appear, there is, I think, no doubt that the election 
 will be pronounced null and void ; for yesterday's vote, which 
 you will have read in the papers, is a positive summons to him 
 to appear in his place. You may be sure that between this 
 and his return if he should return I shall not fail to devote 
 myself to fomenting the antagonistic feeling of the Chamber 
 both by the press and by private communications. Rastignac 
 has also issued orders to this end, and it is safe to conclude 
 that the foe will find public opinion strongly prejudiced 
 against him. 
 
 "Allow me, madame, to beg you to remember me to Made- 
 moiselle Cecile, and accept for yourself and Monsieur Beau- 
 visage the expression of my most respectful regard." 
 
 A few words of instructions to the Ministerial press had, in 
 fact, begun to surround the name of Sallenauve with a sort of 
 atmosphere of disrespect and ridicule ; the most insulting 
 innuendoes ascribed to his absence the sense of a retreat from 
 his foes. The effect of these repeated attacks was all the more 
 inevitable because Sallenauve was but feebly defended by the 
 politicians of his own party. 
 
 On the day when his week's leave ended, Sallenauve, not 
 having yet returned, a second-rate Ministerial paper published, 
 under the heading of "Lost, a Deputy!" an insolent and 
 witty article which made a considerable sensation. 
 
 That evening Madame de 1'Estorade called on Madame de 
 Camps, and found fier alone with her husband. She was 
 greatly excited, and exclaimed as she went in 
 
 "Have you read that infamous article?" 
 
 "No," said Madame de Camps. "But my husband has 
 told me about it ; it is really disgraceful that the Ministry 
 should order, or at least encourage, anything so utterly vile 
 and atrocious."
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 3] 
 
 " I am half-crazed by it," said Madame de 1'Estorade, " for 
 it is all our doing." 
 
 " That is carrying conscientious scruples too far," said 
 Madame de Camps. 
 
 " Not at all," said the ironmaster. " I agree with madame. 
 All the venom of this attack would be dispersed by a single 
 step on 1'Estorade's part; and by refusing to take it. if he is 
 not the originator, he is at least the abettor of the scandal." 
 
 "Then you have told him ?" asked the countess re- 
 proachfully. 
 
 "Why, my dear," replied Madame Octave, "though we 
 have our little women's secrets, I could not but explain to 
 my husband what had given rise to the sort of monomania 
 that possesses Monsieur de 1'Estorade. It would have been 
 such a distrust of my second self as would have hurt him 
 deeply; and such explanations as I felt bound to give him 
 have not, I think, made me a faithless depository of any secret 
 that concerns yoa personally." 
 
 "Ah, you are a happy couple! " said Madame de 1'Esto- 
 rade, with a sigh. " However, I am not sorry that Monsieur 
 de Camps should have been admitted to our confidence ; the 
 point is, to find some way out of the difficult position in 
 which I am struggling, and two opinions are better than one." 
 
 "Why, what has happened?" asked Madame de Camp.s. 
 
 " My husband's head is quite turned," replied the countess. 
 " He seems to me to have lost every trace of moral sense. 
 Far from perceiving that he is, as Monsieur de Camps said 
 just now, the abettor of the odious contest now going on, 
 without having as those had who started it the excuse of 
 ignorance, he seems to exult in it. He brought me that de- 
 testable paper with an air of triumph, and I found him quite 
 ready to take offense because I did not agree with him in 
 thinking it most amusing and witty." 
 
 "That letter," said Madame Octave, "was a terrible blow 
 to him ; it hit him body ad soul at once."
 
 32 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 "That I grant," cried the ironmaster. "But deuce take 
 it ! If you are a man, you take a lunatic's words for what 
 they are worth." 
 
 " Still, it is very strange," said his wife, " that Monsieur 
 de Sallenauve does not come back ; for, after all, that Jacques 
 Bricheteau to whom you gave his address must have written 
 him." 
 
 "What is to be done ! " exclaimed the countess. " There 
 has been a fatality over the whole business. To-morrow the 
 question is to be discussed in the Chamber as to whether or 
 not Monsieur de Sallenauve's election is to be ratified ; and 
 if he should not then be in his place, the- Ministry hopes to 
 be able to annul it." 
 
 "But it really is atrocious!" said Monsieur de Camps; 
 " and though my position hardly justifies me in taking such a 
 step, a very little would make me go straight to the president 
 of the Chamber and tell him a few home truths " 
 
 " I would have begged you to do so, I think, even at the 
 risk of my husband's detecting my intervention, but for one 
 consideration it would distress Monsieur de Sallenauve so 
 greatly that his friend's unhappy state should be made 
 public." 
 
 "Certainly," said Madame Octave. "Such a line of de- 
 fense would evidently be contrary to his intentions ; and, after 
 all, he may yet arrive in time. Beside, the decision of the 
 Chamber still remains problematical, while, Monsieur Marie- 
 Gaston's madness once known, he can never get over the 
 blow." 
 
 "And then," added Madame de 1'Estorade, " all the odious 
 part that my husband has taken so far in this dreadful business 
 is as nothing in comparison with a really diabolical idea 
 which he communicated to me just now before dinner." 
 
 " What can that be ? " asked Madame de Camps anxiously. 
 
 " His idea is that to-morrow I am to go with him to the 
 gillery reserved for the peers to hear the question discussed."
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 33 
 
 " Really he is losing his wits ! " said Monsieur de Camps. 
 " It is quite like Diafoirus the younger, who offers his bride- 
 elect the diversion of seeing a dissection " 
 
 Madame de Camps shook her head meaningly at her hus- 
 band, as much as to say: " Do not pour oil on the flames." 
 She merely asked the countess if she had not shown Monsieur 
 de 1'Estorade how monstrous such a singular proceeding would 
 appear. 
 
 "At the very first word I spoke to that effect, he flew into 
 a rage," said Madame de 1'Estorade, "telling me that I was 
 apparently only too glad to perpetuate a belief in our intimacy 
 with this man, since, on an opportunity when I could so natu- 
 rally proclaim our rupture to the public, I so resolutely de- 
 clined it." 
 
 " Well, then, my dear, you must go," said Madame Octave. 
 "Domestic peace before all things. Beside, after all, your 
 presence at the sitting may equally well be regarded as a proof 
 of kindly interest." 
 
 " For fifteen years," said the ironmaster, " you have reigned 
 and ruled at home, and this is a revolution which seriously 
 shifts the focus of power." 
 
 " But, monsieur, I beg you to believe that I should never 
 have made such use of the sovereignty, which indeed I have 
 always tried to conceal." 
 
 " Do I not know it? " replied Monsieur de Camps warmly, 
 as he took Madame de 1'Estorade's hands in his own. "But 
 I agree with my wife this cup must be drained." 
 
 "I shall die of shame as I listen to the infamous charges 
 the Ministerial party will bring ! I shall feel as if they were 
 murdering a man under my own eyes, whom I could save by 
 merely putting my hand out and I cannot do it " 
 
 "Yes, it is so," said Monsieur de Camps. "And a man, 
 too. who has done you signal service ; but would you rather 
 bring hell into your house, and aggravate your husband's un- 
 healthy state ?" 
 3
 
 34 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 "Listen, my dear," said Madame de Camps. " Tell Mon- 
 sieur de 1'Estorade that I also wish to go to this sitting; that 
 it will give less cause for comment if you are seen there with 
 a person who is uninterested and merely curious; and on that 
 point do not give way. Then, at any rate, I shall be there to 
 keep your head straight on your shoulders and preserve you 
 from yourself." 
 
 " I should not have dared to ask it of you," replied Madame 
 de 1'Estoradc, " for one does not like to ask any one to assist 
 in evil-doing ; but since you are so generous as to offer it, I 
 feel I am a degree less wretched. Now, good-night, for my 
 husband must not find me out when he comes in. He was to 
 dine with Monsieur de Rastignac, and no doubt they have 
 plotted great things for to-morrow." 
 
 " Go then ; and in an hour or so I will send you a note, as 
 though I had not seen you, to ask if you have any power to 
 admit me to the Chamber to-morrow, as the meeting promises 
 to be interesting." 
 
 " Oh ! To be brought so low as to plot and contrive " 
 
 said Madame de 1'Estorade, embracing her friend. 
 
 "My dear child," replied Madame de Camps, "it is said 
 that the life of the Christian is a warfare ; but that of a woman 
 married to a certain type of man is a pitched battle. Be 
 patient and take courage." 
 
 And so the friends parted. 
 
 At about two o'clock on the following day Madame de 
 1'Estorade, with her husband and Madame de Camps, took 
 her seat in the peers' gallery ; she looked ill, and returned the 
 bows that greeted her from various parts of the Chamber with 
 cool indifference. Madame de Camps, who had never before 
 found herself in the parliamentary Chamber, made two obser- 
 vations : In the first place, she exclaimed at the slovenly ap- 
 pearance of so many of the honorable members ; and then she 
 was struck by the number of bald heads which, as she looked
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 35 
 
 down on them from the gallery that gave her a bird's-eye 
 view of the assembly, surprised her greatly. 
 
 She then listened while Monsieur de 1'Estorade named the 
 notabilities present ; first of all the bigwigs, who need not be 
 mentioned here, since their names dwell in everybody's mem- 
 ory ; then Canalis the poet, who had, she thought, an Olym- 
 pian air; d'Arthez, whose modest demeanor greatly attracted 
 her ; Vinet, who, as she said, was like a viper in spectacles ; 
 Victorin Hulot, one of the orators of the Left Centre. 
 
 It was written by the finger of fate that Madame de 1'Esto- 
 rade should be spared no form of annoyance. Just as the sit- 
 ting was about to open, the Marquise d'Espard, escorted by 
 Monsieur de Ronquerolles, came into the gallery, and took a 
 seat close to her. Though they met in society, the two women 
 could not endure each other. Madame de 1'Estorade scorned 
 the spirit of intrigue, the total want of principle, and the 
 spiteful, bitter temper which the marquise concealed under 
 the most elegant manners; while Madame d'Espard had even 
 deeper contempt for what she called the " pot-boiling " virtues 
 of the countess. It must be added that Madame de 1'Estorade 
 was two-and-thirty, and of a type of beauty that time had 
 spared ; while Madame d'Espard was forty-four, and, in spite 
 of the arts of the toilet, her looks were altogether passe. 
 
 " Do you often come here? " she said to the countess, after 
 a few indispensable civilities as to the pleasure of meeting her. 
 
 "Never," said Madame de 1'Estorade. 
 
 "I am a constant visitor," said Madame d'Espard. 
 
 Then, with the air of making a discovery 
 
 "To be sure," she added, "you have a special interest in 
 the meeting to-day. Some one you know, I believe, is on his 
 trial." 
 
 "Yes, Monsieur de Sallenauve has visited at my house." 
 
 "It is most distressing," said the marquise, " to see a man 
 who, as Monsieur de Ronquerolles assures me, was quite a hero 
 in his way thus called to account by the police."
 
 36 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 " His chief crime, so far, is his absence," said the countess 
 drily. 
 
 "And he is consumed by ambition, it would seem," Mad- 
 ame d'Espard went on. "Before this attempt to get into 
 Parliament he had matrimonial projects, as you no doubt 
 know, and had tried to marry into the Lanty family a scheme 
 which, so far as the handsome heiress was concerned, ended 
 in her retirement to a convent." 
 
 Madame de 1'Estorade was not astonished to find that this 
 story, which Sallenauve had believed to be a perfect secret, 
 was known to the marquise ; she was one of the best-informed 
 women in Paris. An old Academician had called her draw- 
 ing-room, in mythological parlance, " The Temple of Fame." 
 
 "They are about to begin, I think," said the countess, 
 who, .always expecting to feel Madame d'Espard's claws, was 
 not sorry to close the conversation. 
 
 The president had in fact rung his bell, the members were 
 settling into their places, the curtain was about to rise. 
 
 To give the reader a faithful account of the sitting, we think 
 it will be at once more exact and more convenient to copy 
 the report as printed in one of the papers of the day. 
 
 CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. 
 MONSIEUR COINTET (Vice-President) in the Chair. 
 
 May 23^. 
 
 The President took the chair at two o'clock. 
 On the Ministers' bench were the Keeper of the Seals, the 
 Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Public Works. 
 The report of the last meeting was read and passed. 
 The order of the day was to discuss the validity of the 
 election of the member returned by the borough of Arcis- 
 sur-Aube. 
 
 The President The representative of the Commission of 
 Inquiry will read his report.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 37 
 
 The Reporter Gentlemen, the strange and unsatisfactory 
 position in which Monsieur de Sallenauve has thought proper 
 to place himself has not ended as we had reason to hope. 
 Monsieur de Sallenauve's leave of absence expired yesterday, 
 and he still remains away from the sittings of the Chamber ; 
 nor has any letter from him applying for further extension 
 reached the President's hands. This indifference as to the 
 functions which Monsieur de Sallenauve had sought, it would 
 seem, with unusual eagerness (murmurs from the Left), would 
 under any circumstances be a serious defection ; but when it 
 is coupled with the prosecution now threatened, does it not 
 assume a character highly damaging to his reputation ? (Mur- 
 murs from the Left. Applause from the Centre.) Your Com- 
 missioners, compelled to seek the solution of a question which 
 may be said to be unexampled in parliamentary annals, when 
 considering the steps to be taken, were divided by two oppo- 
 site opinions. The minority, of which I am the sole repre- 
 sentative the Commissioners being but three thought that 
 a plan should be laid before you which I may call radical in 
 its character, and which aims at settling the difficulty by sub- 
 mitting it to its natural judges. Annul M. de Sallenauve's 
 election hie et nunc, and send him back to the constituency 
 which returned him, and of which he is so faithless a repre- 
 sentative: this is the first alternative I have to offer you. 
 (Excitement on the Left.) The majority, on the contrary, 
 pronounced that the electors' vote must be absolutely re- 
 spected, and the shortcomings of a man honored by their 
 confidence must be overlooked to the utmost limits of patience 
 and indulgence. Consequently, the Commission requires me 
 to propose that you should officially extend M. de Sallenauve's 
 leave of absence to a fortnight from this date (murmurs from 
 the Centre. "Hear, hear," from the Left) with the full 
 understanding that if by the end of that time M. de Salle- 
 nauve has given no sign of life, he is to be regarded as simply 
 having resigned his seat without entangling this House in any
 
 38 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 irritating and useless discussion of the matter. (Excitement 
 on all sides.) 
 
 M. le Colonel Franchessini, who, during the reading of the 
 report, had been engaged in earnest conversation with the 
 Minister of Public Works on the Ministers' bench, anxiously 
 begged to be heard. 
 
 The President M. de Canalis wishes to speak. 
 
 M. de Canalis Gentlemen, M. de Sallenauve is one of 
 those bold men who, like me, believe that politics are not a 
 forbidden fruit to any intelligent mind ; but that the stuff of 
 which a statesman is made may be found in a poet or an artist 
 quite as much as in a lawyer, an official, a doctor, or a land- 
 owner. In virtue, then, of our common origin, M. de Salle- 
 nauve has my fullest sympathy, and no one will be surprised 
 to see me mount this tribune to support the recommendation 
 of the Commission. Still, I cannot agree to their final de- 
 cision ; for the idea of our colleague being regarded, by the 
 mere fact of his prolonged absence beyond the limit of leave, 
 as having resigned his seat, is repugnant both to my conscience 
 and my reason. You have heard it remarked that M. de 
 Sallenauve's carelessness as to his duties is all the less excusable 
 because he lies under a serious charge ; but supposing, gentle- 
 men, that this charge were the actuating cause of his absence. 
 (Laughter from the Centre.) Allow me I am not so guile- 
 less as the laughers seem to fancy. It is my good fortune, by 
 nature, that base suggestions do not occur to me ; and that 
 M. de Sallenauve, with the high position he had achieved as 
 an artist, should plot to take his seat in this Chamber by 
 means of a crime, is a theory I refuse to admit. Two foul 
 spiders are ever ready to spin their web about a man with 
 such a stain on his birth Chicanery and Intrigue. But I, 
 far from admitting that he would have fled before the charge 
 brought against him, I say, suppose that at this moment, 
 abroad, he were collecting the evidence for his defense ? 
 ('Hear, hear; well said!" from the Left.) In this belief,
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 39 
 
 a very plausible one, as it seems to me far from being 
 justified in requiring a strict account of his absence, ought 
 we not rather to regard it as a proof of respect for this House, 
 as feeling himself unworthy to take his place in it till he was 
 in a position to defy his accusers ? 
 
 A Voice Ten years' leave of absence, like Telemachus, to 
 look for his father. (General laughter.) 
 
 M. de Canalis I did not expect so romantic an interrup- 
 tion ! But since we are referred to the Odyssey. I may re- 
 mind you that Ulysses, after suffering every outrage, at last 
 drew his bow, very much to the discomfiture of the suitors. 
 (Loud murmurs from the Centre.) I vote for a fortnight's 
 further leave, and a reopening of the question at the end of 
 that time. 
 
 M. le Colonel Franchessini I do not know whether the 
 last speaker intended to intimidate the Chamber ; for my 
 part, such arguments affect me very little, and I am always 
 prepared to return them to those who utter them. (" Order, 
 order," from the Left.) 
 
 M. le President No personalities, colonel. 
 
 M. le Colonel Franchessini At the same time, I am so far 
 of the same opinion as the last speaker that I do not believe 
 that the delinquent has fled from the charge brought against 
 him. Neither that accusation, nor the effect it may have on 
 your minds or on others, nor even the annulling of his elec- 
 tion, has any interest for him at present. Do you wish to 
 know what M. de Sallenauve is doing in England ? Then 
 read the English papers. They have for some days been full 
 of the praises of a prima donna who has just come out at Her 
 Majesty's theatre. (Groans and interruptions.) 
 
 A Voice Such gossip is unworthy of this Chamber. 
 
 M. le Colonel Franchessini Gentlemen, I am more accus- 
 tomed to the blunt speech of camps than to the proprieties 
 of the Chamber ; I am perhaps rash in thinking aloud. The 
 honorable gentleman who spoke last said that he believed that
 
 40 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 M. de Sallenauvc had gone in search of evidence for his de- 
 fense. I say not I believe, but I know, that a wealthy for- 
 eigner has extended his protection to a handsome Italian who 
 was formerly honored by that of our college Phidias. (Fresh 
 interruptions. " Order, order ; this is not to be allowed ! ") 
 A Voice Monsieur le President, will you not silence this 
 speaker ? 
 
 Colonel Franchessini, folding his arms, waited till silence 
 should be restored. 
 
 M. le President I must request the speaker to adhere to 
 the question. 
 
 M. le Colonel Franchessini I have never deviated from it; 
 however, as the Chamber refuses to hear me, I can but say 
 that I vote with the minority. It seems to me a very natural 
 course to send Monsieur de Sallenauve back to his constitu- 
 ency, and so ascertain whether they meant to elect a deputy 
 or a lover. (" Order, order ! " A great commotion ; excite- 
 ment at the highest pitch.) 
 
 M. de Canalis hastily tried to mount the tribune. * 
 M. le President The Minister of Public Works wishes to 
 speak, and as one of the King's Ministry, he has always a 
 right to be heard. 
 
 M. de Rastignac It is no fault of mine, gentlemen, that 
 you have not been saved from this scandal in the Chamber. 
 I tried, out of regard for my old friendship with Colonel Fran- 
 chessini, to persuade him not to speak on so delicate a matter, 
 since his inexperience of parliamentary rule, aggravated by 
 his ready wit and fluency, might betray him into some regret- 
 table extravagance. It was to this effect that I advised him 
 in the course of the short conversation we held at my seat 
 before he addressed the House ; and I myself asked to be 
 heard after him expressly to correct any idea of my collusion 
 
 * It must be remembered that the speaking member of the French 
 Chambers does not address his audience from his seat, but mounts the 
 provided rostrum after being recognized by the president. PUB.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARC IS. 41 
 
 m the indiscretion he has committed in my opinion by de- 
 scending to the confidential details with which he has thought 
 proper to trouble you. However, against my intention, and 
 so to say, against my will, I have mounted the tribune, though 
 no ministerial interest detains me here, may I be allowed to 
 make a few brief remarks? ("Speak, speak!" from the 
 Centre.) 
 
 The Minister of Public Works proceeded to show that the 
 absent deputy's conduct was characterized by marked con- 
 tempt for the Chamber. He had treated it with cavalier in- 
 difference. He had indeed asked leave of absence; but how? 
 By writing from abroad. That is to say, he first took leave, 
 and then asked for it. Had he, as was customary, assigned 
 any reason for the request ? Not at all. He simply an- 
 nounced that he was compelled to be absent on urgent private 
 business, a trumpery pretext which might at any time reduce 
 the assembly by half its members. But. supposing that M. de 
 Sallenauve's business were really urgent, and that it were of a 
 nature which he thought it undesirable to explain in a letter 
 to be made public; why could he not have laid it in confi- 
 dence before the President, or even have requested one of his 
 friends of such standing as would secure credit for his mere 
 word, to answer for the necessity for his absence without any 
 detailed explanation. 
 
 At this moment the Minister was interrupted by a bustle in 
 the passage to the right ; several of the deputies left their 
 places ; others standing on the seats and craning their necks 
 were looking at something. The Minister, after turning to 
 the President, to whom he seemed to appeal for an explana- 
 tion, went down from the tribune and returned to his seat, 
 when he was immediately surrounded by a number of deputies 
 from the Centre, among whom M. Vinet was conspicuous by 
 his gesticulations. Other groups formed in the arena i in fact, 
 the sitting was practically suspended. 
 
 In a few minutes the President rang his bell.
 
 42 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 The ushers Take your seats, gentlemen. 
 
 The members hastily returned to their places. 
 
 M. le President M. de Sallenauve will now speak. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve, who had been talking to M. d'Arthez and 
 M. de Canalis since his arrival had suspended business, went 
 up to the tribune. His manner was modest, but quite free 
 from embarrassment. Everybody was struck by his resem- 
 blance to one of the most fiery of the revolutionary orators. 
 
 A Voice Dan ton minus the smallpox. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve (deep silence) Gentlemen, I am under 
 no illusion as to my personal importance, and do not imagine 
 that I myself am the object of a form of persecution, which 
 would rather seem to be directed against the opinions I have 
 the honor to represent. However that may be, my election 
 seems to have assumed some importance in the eyes of the 
 Ministry. To contest it, a special agent and special press 
 writers were sent to Arcis ; and a humble servant of the Gov- 
 ernment, whose salary, after twenty years of honorable service, 
 had reached the figure of fifteen hundred francs a year, was 
 suddenly dismissed from his post for being guilty of contribu- 
 ting to my success. (Loud murmurs from the Centre.) I 
 can only thank the gentlemen who are interrupting me, for 
 I suppose their noisy disapprobation is meant for this singular 
 dismissal, and not to convey a doubt of the fact, which is 
 beyond all question. (Laughter from the Left.) So far as I 
 am concerned, as I could not be turned out, I have been 
 attacked with another weapon ; judicial calumny combined 
 with my opportune absence 
 
 The Minister of Public Works It was the Ministry evi- 
 dently that procured your extradition to England? 
 
 M. de Sallenauve No, Monsieur le Ministre, I do not ascribe 
 my absence either to your influence or to your suggestions ; it 
 was an act of imperative duty, and the result of no one's bid- 
 ding; but as regards your share in the public accusations brought 
 against me, I shall proceed to lay the facts before this assembly.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 43 
 
 and leave the matter to their judgment. (A stir of interest.) 
 The law which, in order to protect the independence of a 
 member of this Chamber, lays down the rule that a criminal 
 prosecution cannot be instituted against any member without 
 the preliminary authority of the Chamber, has been turned 
 against me, I must say with consummate skill. The indict- 
 ment, if presented to the Attorney-General in Court, would 
 have been at once dismissed, for it stands alone without the 
 support of any kind of proof; and, so far as I know, the 
 Ministry of this nation is not in the habit of prosecuting any- 
 body on the strength of the allegation of the first comer. I 
 cannot, therefore, but admire the remarkable acumen which 
 discerned that, by appealing to this Chamber, the charge 
 would have all the advantages of a political attack, though 
 it had not the elements of the simplest criminal case. 
 (Murmurs.) And then, gentlemen, who is the skillful parlia- 
 mentary campaigner to be credited with this masterly device ? 
 As you know, it is a woman, a peasant, claiming only the 
 humble rank of a hand-worker; whence we must infer that the 
 countrywomen of Champagne can boast of an intellectual 
 superiority of which hitherto you can surely have had no con- 
 ception. (Laughter.) It must, however, be added that 
 before setting out for Paris to state her grievance, my accuser 
 would seem to have had an interview, which may have thrown 
 some light on her mind, with the Mayor of Arcis, my minis- 
 terial opponent for election ; and it is furthermore to be sup- 
 posed that this magistrate had some interest in the prosecution 
 to be instituted, since he thought it his duty to pay the 
 traveling expenses both of the plaintiff and of- the village 
 lawyer who accompanied her. ("Ha-ha!" from the Left.) 
 This remarkably clever woman having come to Paris, on whom 
 does she first call ? Well, on that very gentleman who had 
 been sent to Arcis by the Government as a special agent to 
 insure the success of the ministerial candidate. And who 
 then made it his business to apply for authority to prosecute?
 
 42 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 The ushers Take your seats, gentlemen. 
 
 The members hastily returned to their places. 
 
 M. le President M. de Sallenauve will now speak. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve, who had been talking to M. d'Arthez and 
 M. de Canalis since his arrival had suspended business, went 
 up to the tribune. His manner was modest, but quite free 
 from embarrassment. Everybody was struck by his resem- 
 blance to one of the most fiery of the revolutionary orators. 
 
 A Voice Danton minus the smallpox. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve (deep silence) Gentlemen, I am under 
 no illusion as to my personal importance, and do not imagine 
 that I myself am the object of a form of persecution, which 
 would rather seem to be directed against the opinions I have 
 the honor to represent. However that may be, my election 
 seems to have assumed some importance in the eyes of the 
 Ministry. To contest it, a special agent and special press 
 writers were sent to Arcis ; and a humble servant of the Gov- 
 ernment, whose salary, after twenty years of honorable service, 
 had reached the figure of fifteen hundred francs a year, was 
 suddenly dismissed from his post for being guilty of contribu- 
 ting to my success. (Loud murmurs from the Centre.) I 
 can only thank the gentlemen who are interrupting me, for 
 I suppose their noisy disapprobation is meant for this singular 
 dismissal, and not to convey a doubt of the fact, which is 
 beyond all question. (Laughter from the Left.) So far as I 
 am concerned, as I could not be turned out, I have been 
 attacked with another weapon ; judicial calumny combined 
 with my opportune absence 
 
 The Minister of Public Works It was the Ministry evi- 
 dently that procured your extradition to England ? 
 
 M. de Sallenauve No, Monsieur le Ministre, I do not ascribe 
 my absence either to your influence or to your suggestions ; it 
 was an act of imperative duty, and the result of no one's bid- 
 ding; but as regards your share in the public accusations brought 
 against me, I shall proceed to lay the facts before this assembly,
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 43 
 
 and leave the matter to their judgment. (A stir of interest.) 
 The law which, in order to protect the independence of a 
 member of this Chamber, lays down the rule that a criminal 
 prosecution cannot be instituted against any membe;' without 
 the preliminary authority of the Chamber, has been turned 
 against me, I must say with consummate skill. The indict- 
 ment, if presented to the Attorney-General in Court, would 
 have been at once dismissed, for it stands alone without the 
 support of any kind of proof; and, so far as I know, the 
 Ministry of this nation is not in the habit of prosecuting any- 
 body on the strength of the allegation of the first comer. I 
 cannot, therefore, but admire the remarkable acumen which 
 discerned that, by appealing to this Chamber, the charge 
 would have all the advantages of a political attack, though 
 it had not the elements of the simplest criminal case. 
 (Murmurs.) And then, gentlemen, who is the skillful parlia- 
 mentary campaigner to be credited with this masterly device ? 
 As you know, it is a woman, a peasant, claiming only the 
 humble rank of a hand-worker; whence we must infer that the 
 countrywomen of Champagne can boast of an intellectual 
 superiority of which hitherto you can surely have had no con- 
 ception. (Laughter.) It must, however, be added that 
 before setting out for Paris to state her grievance, my accuser 
 would seem to have had an interview, which may have thrown 
 some light on her mind, with the Mayor of Arcis, my minis- 
 terial opponent for election ; and it is furthermore to be sup- 
 posed that this magistrate had some interest in the prosecution 
 to be instituted, since he thought it his duty to pay the 
 traveling expenses both of the plaintiff and of- the village 
 lawyer who accompanied her. ("Ha-ha!" from the Left.) 
 This remarkably clever woman having come to Paris, on whom 
 does she first call? Well, on that very gentleman who had 
 been sent to Arcis by the Government as a special agent to 
 insure the success of the ministerial candidate. And who 
 then made it his business to apply for authority to prosecute?
 
 46 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 
 
 nauve, I regret the interruptions ; be so good as to go on with 
 your speech. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve To resume briefly : The application for 
 authority to prosecute, of which you have heard, has now, no 
 doubt, lost much of its importance in the eyes of my col- 
 leagues, even of the more hostile. I have here a letter in 
 which the peasant-woman, my relation, withdraws her charge 
 and confirms the statements I have had the honor of laying 
 before you. I might read the letter, but I think it better 
 simply to place it in the President's hands. ("Quite right, 
 quite right!") As regards the illegality of my absence, I 
 returned to Paris this morning ; and by being in my place at 
 the opening of this sitting, I could have been in my seat in 
 Parliament within the strict limits of the time so generously 
 granted me by this Chamber. But, as M. de Canalis sug- 
 gested to you, I was determined not to appear here till the 
 cloud that hung over my character could be cleared off. This 
 task filled up the morning. Now, gentlemen, it is for you to 
 decide whether one of your colleagues is to be sent back to 
 his constituents, for a few hours' delay in coming to claim his 
 seat in this Chamber. After all, whether I am to be regarded 
 as a forger, a desperate lover, or merely as a careless repre- 
 sentative, I am not uneasy as to what their verdict will be ; 
 and after the lapse of a few weeks, the probable result, as I 
 believe, will be that I shall come back again. 
 
 On all sides cries of " Divide." 
 
 On descending from the tribune, M. de Sallenauve was 
 warmly congratulated. 
 
 The President I put it to the vote : Whether or not, the 
 election of M. de Sallenauve, returned as Deputy for Arcis, is 
 or is not valid ? 
 
 Almost every deputy present rose to vote in favor of the 
 admission of the new member ; a few deputies of the Centre 
 abstained from voting on either side. 
 
 M. de Sallenauve was admitted and took the oaths.
 
 THE DEPUTY FOR ARCIS. 47 
 
 M. le President The order of the day includes the first 
 reading of the Address, but the Chairman of the Committee 
 informs me that the draft will not be ready to be laid before 
 this Chamber till to-morrow. Business being done, I pro- 
 nounce the sitting closed. 
 
 The Chamber rose at half-past four. 
 
 NOTE: This Scene of Political Life remained unfinished by the 
 Author. PUBLISHER.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 TRANSLATED BY JNO. RUDD, B.A. 
 
 To Constance- Victoire. 
 
 Here, madame, is one of those works, we know not 
 whence, which falls into an author 's mind and affords 
 him pleasure before he can estimate how it will be 
 welcomed by the public, the supreme judge of our gener- 
 ation. Feeling assured of your compliance at my in- 
 fatuation, to you I dedicate this book : is it not right 
 that it should be yours as in other days tithes belongea 
 to the chiirch, in memory of God who makes all things 
 grow, all ripen, both in the fields and in our intel- 
 lects ? 
 
 Some lumps of clay, left by Moliere at the base of 
 the colossal statue of Tartuffe, have been moulded by a 
 hand more audacious than able ; but, at whatever dis- 
 tance I may be 'neath the greatest of humorists, I 
 shall be satisfied to have utilized these little pieces 
 from before the curtain of his stage to show up the 
 modern hypocrite at work. The reason that most en- 
 couraged me in this difficult undertaking was finding 
 it incompatible with any religious question, since for 
 you, so pious, I must necessarily avoid them, in spite 
 of what a great writer calls the general indifference 
 to religious matters. 
 
 May the double meaning of your names be a 
 prophecy of the book / Be pleased to regard this 
 as a respectful recognition by one who ventures to call 
 himself the most devoted of your servants. 
 
 DE BALZAC. 
 (48)
 
 FART I. 
 
 THE turnstile Saint- Jean, of which a description seemed un- 
 necessary at the time of the commencement of the study en- 
 titled "A Second Home;" this primitive relic of old Paris 
 has no longer an existence but in that story. The erection of 
 the Hotel de Ville, as it stands to-day, has cleared out the 
 whole quarter. 
 
 In 1830 passers-by could still see the turnstile painted on 
 the sign of a wine-dealer, but that house, its last sanctuary, 
 has since been torn down. Alas ! old Paris is vanishing with 
 frightful rapidity. Here and there, in these works, there will 
 remain some typical house of the Middle Ages, like that de- 
 scribed at the opening of the " Cat and Racket," one or two 
 such specimens still exist ; for instance, the house occupied by 
 Judge Popinot, Rue du Fowarre, is an example of old bour- 
 geoisie dwellings. Here, the remains of the Fulbert house ; 
 there, the old basin of the Seine during the reign of Charles 
 IX. Why does not the historian of French society, like a 
 new " Old Mortality," search out these singular records of the 
 past like the old man of Walter Scott's restored the tomb- 
 stones? Certainly, for nearly ten years, the protests of litera- 
 ture were not superfluous ; art is beginning to disguise with its 
 flowers the hideous fronts of the trading marts in Paris, and 
 which one of our writers has merrily compared to commodes, 
 
 It may be remarked that the creation of a municipal com- 
 mission del ornamcnto which supervises, in Milan, the archi- 
 tecture of the street-fronts, and which compels every proprietor 
 to submit his plans thereto, dates from the twelfth century. 
 Now who can have failed to note in that pretty capital the 
 effects of patriotism for their town alike in the middle-class 
 and the nobles, and to admire to the full the character and 
 originality of the buildings ? 
 
 4 (49)
 
 50 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 The startling and hideous speculations which, year after 
 year, squeeze a suite of rooms into the space of a salon, 
 waging war to the death against the gardens, must inevitably 
 influence the manners of Parisians. Before long we shall be 
 compelled to live out of our houses more than in them. The 
 sanctity of private life, the liberty of the home, where can it 
 be found? It means an income of fifty thousand francs. 
 Again, few millionaires even permit themselves the luxury of 
 a little mansion, protected by a courtyard from the street, 
 and sheltered from the prying eyes of the public by the leafy 
 shade of a garden. 
 
 By leveling all fortunes, the Code which regulates the suc- 
 cessions, or legacies, has produced these phalansteries in which 
 to lodge thirty families, bringing in one hundred thousand 
 francs a year. Thus, in fifty years we shall be able to count 
 the houses resembling that occupied, at the time we begin this 
 story, by the Thuillier family ; really a curious house and well 
 deserving of a detailed description, if only done for the pur- 
 pose of comparing the middle-class lives of other days with 
 those of our own time. 
 
 The situation and appearance of the house, the frame to 
 this picture of manners, has the imprint, the aroma, of the 
 lower middle-class, which may attract or repulse the attention 
 according to each one's inclination. 
 
 To commence, the Maison Thuillier did not belong to either 
 M. or Mme., but to Mademoiselle Thuillier, the eldest sister 
 of M. Thuillier. 
 
 This house, purchased in the first six months following the 
 revolution of 1830 by Mile. Jeanne-Brigitte Thuillier, senior, 
 is situated near the middle of the Rue Saint-Dominique- 
 d'Enfer, to the right on entering by the Rue d'Enfer. Thus 
 the house occupied by M. Thuillier has a southern exposure. 
 
 The progressive movement of the Parisian populace toward 
 the higher ground on the right bank of the river Seine, de- 
 serting the left bank, had for a long time prevented the sale
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 51 
 
 of properties in the Latin quarter, so-called, who, for various 
 reasons, which will be deduced from the character and habits 
 of M. Thuillier, determined his sister to purchase a freehold ; 
 this one she was able to buy for the merely nominal price of 
 forty-six thousand francs ; the fixtures and so forth amounted 
 to six thousand additional, or fifty-two thousand francs in all. 
 A detailed description by the proprietor, in the style of an 
 advertisement, and the changes made by M. Thuillier will 
 fully show the way in which some fortunes were made in July, 
 1830, while others lost their all. 
 
 On the street the front was of stucco masonry, weather- 
 beaten and rain-furrowed, and grooved by the plasterer's tool 
 in imitation of blocks of stone. This kind of house-front is so 
 common in Paris, and so ugly, that the town ought to give 
 prizes to owners who are willing to build their new facades of 
 carved stone. This drab wall, pierced by seven windows, was 
 raised three stories, and terminated in a mansard roof covered 
 with tiles. The carriage gate, wide and strong, showed in 
 make and style that that part of the building toward the street 
 had been erected during the Empire, one part of the courtyard 
 utilized having formerly formed part of a very large, older hab- 
 itation, surviving from the time when the Enfer quarter enjoyed 
 more favor. 
 
 On one side was found the janitor's lodge ; on the other the 
 stairs went up the front. Two wings, adjoining the neighbor- 
 ing houses, had formerly served as the stables, coach-house, 
 kitchens, and servants' quarters; but, since 1830, these had 
 been converted into warehouses. 
 
 The right side was rented by a wholesale stationer, called 
 M. Metivier nephew; the left side by a bookseller named 
 Barbet. The offices of each tradesman were over the ware- 
 rooms, the bookseller being on the second and the stationer 
 on the third floor of the house on the street. Metivier nephew, 
 more a commission agent for paper than a merchant ; Barbet, 
 more a bill-broker than a bookseller, had one of these exten-
 
 52 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 sive premises in use for storing job lots of paper bought from 
 necessitous manufacturers; the other of editions of works given 
 as pledges for loans. 
 
 This shark of the booksellers and this pike of the paper 
 trade lived on good terms with each other, and their transac- 
 tions, having none of the bustle or energies of retail trade, 
 brought so few carriages into that habitually quiet courtyard 
 that the janitor was compelled to weed-out the grass now and 
 again from between the paving-stones. MM. Barbet and 
 Metivier, who fill but a minor part in this story, made but 
 few visits to their landlord, and their exactitude in paying 
 their rent caused them to be classed as good tenants ; they 
 were regarded as very honest people in the eyes of the Thuil- 
 lier circle. 
 
 On the third floor on the street side were two suites of 
 rooms, one occupied by M. Dutocq, clerk to a justice of the 
 peace, an old, retired government employe", a frequenter of 
 the Thuilliers' salon ; the other by the hero of this Scene. 
 We must be content for the present, though, to know what 
 rent he paid seven hundred francs and the position he had 
 taken in the heart of the place, three years previous to the 
 curtain rising on this domestic drama. 
 
 The clerk, a bachelor of fifty, occupied, out of the two 
 suites of the three, the larger one ; he had a cook and paid a 
 rent of one thousand francs. Two years after her acquisition, 
 Mademoiselle Thuillier was getting seven thousand francs in 
 rent for one house ; the former owner had furnished it with 
 outside shutters, had restored the interior, ornamenting it with 
 mirrors, without succeeding in either letting or selling it ; and 
 the Thuilliers, very handsomely lodged, as will be seen, had 
 the enjoyment of one of the most beautiful gardens in the 
 quarter, whose trees shaded the deserted little street, the Rue 
 Neuve-Sainte-Catherine. 
 
 Situated between the courtyard and the garden, that part 
 of the house which they occupied seemed to have been the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 53 
 
 caprice of some wealthy citizen, in the days of Louis XIV., 
 or that of a president of the Parlement, or some quiet, peace- 
 loving student. This lodge had five windows and was of two 
 stories above the first floor, being prettily capped with a four- 
 gabled roof, ending in a weathercock, pierced by handsome, 
 large chimneys and oval windows. Perhaps this structure 
 was built from the remains of some great mansion ; but, after 
 studying the plans of old Paris, I have been unable to find 
 anything to substantiate this theory ; and, for that matter, the 
 title deeds of Mile. Thuillier mention as proprietor, under 
 Louis XIV., one Petitot, the famous painter of camels, he 
 having it from President Lecamus. It is probable that the 
 president lived here during the erection of his celebrated 
 mansion on the Rue de Thorigny. 
 
 Thus the Robe and Art had alike left their traces. But, 
 then, what a liberal idea of necessity and pleasure had ruled 
 in the arrangements of the interior of this lodge ! To the 
 right, on entering the hall, is a spacious vestibule whence 
 ascends a stairway of stone, with two windows overlooking the 
 garden ; under the stairs is the doorway to the cellar. From 
 the vestibule, which communicates with the dining-room, with 
 windows to the courtyard. This dining-room has a side-door 
 to the kitchens adjoining Barbel's warehouse. At the back 
 of the stairs on the garden side was a fine, large study, with 
 two windows. The first and second stories each formed a 
 separate set of two suites of rooms ; and the servants' quarters 
 were indicated, under the four-gabled roof, by the oval win- 
 dows. A handsome, large stove ornamented the great vesti- 
 bule ; its two glass doors, facing each other, gave ample light. 
 This hall was paved in black and white marble, and had a 
 decorated coffered ceiling, the joists of which had at one time 
 been painted and gilded, but had, since the Empire, un- 
 doubtedly been whitewashed. Facing the stove was a red 
 marble basin. The three doors of the study, of the salon 
 and the dining-room were surmounted with oval panels con-
 
 64 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 taining pictures which cried aloud for much-needed restoration, 
 though the decorations were not without merit. 
 
 The salon, wainscoted in wood, recalled the century of 
 magnificence by its Languedoc marble mantel, in its ceiling 
 with ornamented corners, and by the shape of its windows, 
 in which were preserved the little diamond panes. The 
 dining-room, level with the salon and having double doors 
 between, was floored with marble ; the ceiling of chestnut- 
 wood was unpainted ; but the atrocious modern paper-hang- 
 ings had replaced the tapestry of the olden time. The study, 
 modernized by Thuillier, was now utterly discordant. 
 
 The gold and white panels of the salon were so faded that 
 nothing but red lines could be perceived where the gold had 
 formerly been, and the white was yellow, streaky, and falling 
 off. The Latin words, Olium cum dignitate, had never, to the 
 eyes of a poet, had so excellent a commentary as in this noble 
 dwelling. The iron-work of the balustrade to the stairs was 
 worthy the magistrate and the artist ; but, to discern their 
 traces to-day in the remains of a dignified antiquity, the 
 observing eyes of the artist are necessary. 
 
 The Thuilliers and their predecessors had much dishonored 
 this gem of the higher bourgeoisie by their middle-class habits 
 and lack of taste. Can you imagine walnut-wood chairs with 
 horsehair seats ; a mahogany table with an oilcloth cover ; 
 a crumb-cloth under the table ; lamps of black metal ; a cheap 
 paper with a red border ; execrable black and white engrav- 
 ings on the walls ; and cotton curtains with red borders in this 
 dining-room in which Petitot and his friends had feasted ? 
 
 Can you conceive of the effect of this in the salon where 
 the portraits of M. of Mme. of Mile. Thuillier, by Pierre 
 Grassou, the painter of the middle-classes; of card-tables 
 that had done twenty years' service ; of consoles of the 
 time of the Empire ; a tea-table supported on a huge lyre ; 
 a coarse mahogany suite upholstered in printed velvet on a 
 chocolate ground ; of the mantel, with its clock which
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 55 
 
 represented la Bellone of the Empire ; of candelabra with 
 fluted columns; of curtains of worsted damask and of em- 
 broidered lawn, looped back with stamped brass chains ? A 
 second-hand carpet covered the floor. The handsome vesti- 
 bule was furnished with benches covered with plush, the 
 carved panels being hidden behind wardrobes of divers dates, 
 which had been removed from the various apartments formerly 
 occupied by the Thuilliers. A shelf covered the marble 
 basin and bore a smoky lamp dating from 1815. As a finish- 
 ing touch, fear, that hideous bugbear, had provided double 
 doors both on the garden and the courtyard sides of the 
 house, strongly sheathed in iron, which stood back against the 
 wall by day and at night were securely closed. 
 
 It is an easy matter to explain the deplorable desecration 
 of this monument of private life of the seventeenth century 
 by the same life of the nineteenth century. At the com- 
 mencement of the Consulate, perhaps, some master-builder, 
 having acquired this little mansion, conceived the idea of 
 making some use of the ground facing the street ; he had 
 most likely pulled down a beautiful coach-way gate flanked by 
 little lodges which added importance to this pretty sejour, to 
 use an old French word, and the shrewdness of a Parisian 
 builder implanted its blight on the front of this elegance ; as 
 the newspapers and their printing-presses, the factories and 
 their warerooms, trade and its counting-rooms, have ousted 
 the aristocracy, the old bourgeoisie, finance and the law, 
 wherever they once displayed their splendor. A curious study 
 is that of the title-deeds in Paris ! A mad-house, on the Rue 
 des Batailles, occupies the site where once stood the dwelling 
 of the Chevalier Pierre Bayard du Terrail ; the third estate 
 has built a whole street where once stood the Hotel Necker. 
 Old Paris is going following the kings who are gone. For 
 one chef tfauvre of architecture saved by a Polish princess,* 
 
 * The H6tel Lambert, He Saint-Louis, occupied by the Princess Czar- 
 toriska. [Note in original edition.]
 
 56 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 how many smaller palaces have fallen, like Petitot's dwelling, 
 into the hands of Thuilliers. Here are the reasons which 
 led Mademoiselle Thuillier to become the owner of this house : 
 
 At the fall of the Villele ministry M. Louis-Jerdme Thu- 
 illier, who had then been for twenty-six years a clerk in the 
 Bureau of Finance, became second clerk ; but he had barely 
 had his fill of the joys of authority in that subaltern position, 
 once the smallest of his hopes, when the events of July, 
 1830, compelled him to resign. He very ingeniously calcu- 
 lated that his pension would be honorably and munificently 
 dealt with by the new men, who would be only too well 
 pleased to have the disposal of another place at their com- 
 mand ; and this was well reasoned, for it was at once granted 
 at seventeen hundred francs. 
 
 When the prudent sub-chief first spoke of retiring from the 
 administration, his sister, far more the partner of his life than 
 was his wife, trembled for the employe's future. 
 
 "What would become of Thuillier?" was the question 
 Madame and Mademoiselle Thuillier addressed to each other 
 with equal fears ; they were then living in a small flat on the 
 third floor, Rue d'Argenteuil. 
 
 " Getting his pension into proper shape will occupy him 
 for some time," said Mile. Thuillier; "but I think I will so 
 place my savings as to keep him pretty well occupied. Yes, 
 by giving him an estate to manage it will be almost equal to 
 his being in the service." 
 
 " Oh ! my dear sister, you will save his life ! " cried Mme. 
 Thuillier. 
 
 " Well, I have always foreseen this crisis in Jerome's life ! " 
 replied the old maid, with an air of patronage. 
 
 Mile. Thuillier had too frequently heard her brother re- 
 mark : " Such-a-one is dead ; he only lasted two years after 
 he retired ! " She well remembered hearing Colleville, Thuil- 
 lier's intimate friend, employed in the same office, jesting 
 about the climacteric of bureaucracy, and saying : " We
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 57 
 
 shall some time come to it the same as the rest ! " not to 
 realize the danger threatening her brother. The transition 
 from activity to idleness is, in fact, the critical time for the 
 employe. Those who cannot enter upon some substituted 
 occupation for the one they have left change remarkably : 
 some die ; a great number take to fishing, a distraction very 
 akin to their former labors (sic) in the office ; some others, 
 malicious men, become stock-brokers, lose their savings in the 
 concern, and are glad to finish by taking a situation in the 
 business, after the first bankruptcy and liquidation, which be- 
 comes successful in the hands of more capable ones on the 
 lookout for just such chances ; then the ex-clerk can rub his, 
 now empty, hands and say : " I always knew there was a great 
 future for this business." But most of them keep up a constant 
 struggle against their old habits. 
 
 "Some of them," said Colleville, "are devoured by a 
 spleen "* (he pronounced it "splane ") " peculiar to govern- 
 ment clerks; they die of suppressed circula(f)tion ; afflicted 
 with red-tape worm. The little Poiret could not see a blue- 
 bordered cardboard box without his face changing color ; he 
 turned from yellow to green." 
 
 Mile. Thuillier was looked upon as the good genius of her 
 brother's household ; that she had plenty of force and de- 
 cision her personal story will demonstrate. This relative 
 superiority enabled her to gauge her brother, though she 
 adored him. After seeing the wreck of her hopes founded 
 on her idol, she experienced a feeling of maternity which 
 caused her to overestimate the social qualities of the sub- 
 chief. 
 
 Thuillier and his sister were the children of the head porter 
 to the Minister of Finance. Jerdme had escaped, thanks to 
 his being short-sighted, from every possible form of requisi- 
 tion and conscription. His father's ambition was to make 
 him an employed At the opening of this century there were 
 *Blue devils.
 
 58 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 so many places to fill in the army that it caused many vacan- 
 cies in the offices, thus the removal of inferior clerks gave the 
 burly old Thuillier a chance so see his son take his first de- 
 crees in the hierarchy of bureaucracy. 
 
 The porter died in 1814, at the time when Jerome was to 
 succeed the old sub-chief, but all the fortune he was able to 
 leave him was this hope. Old Thuillier and his wife, who 
 died in 1810, had retired in 1806, with a retiring pension 
 their sole fortune, having expended their earnings in giving 
 Jerome his education and in supporting him and his sister. 
 
 We know the effect of the Restoration on the bureaux. 
 The suppression of forty-one departments caused the dismissal 
 of a horde of clerks, honest men quite prepared to accept 
 offices inferior in grade to those formerly occupied by them. 
 The rights of these men were further impinged upon by the 
 pretensions of exiled families ruined by the Revolution. 
 Squeezed between these two sources, Jerome thought himself 
 more than lucky not to be dismissed on some frivolous pre- 
 text. Till the day when by chance he became second-clerk 
 he had quaked about his retiring pension. 
 
 This short review explains the limited conceptions and lack 
 of general knowledge of M. Thuillier. He had acquired 
 Latin, mathematics, history, and geography, as boys are 
 taught at school ; but he had not risen higher than is known 
 as the second class, his father having profited by the chance 
 of getting him into office, boasting of his son's "splendid 
 hand." So, though little Thuillier wrote the first inscrip- 
 tions in the ledger, he was not up in rhetoric or philosophy. 
 
 A cogwheel in the ministerial machine, he but little culti- 
 vated letters and still less troubled art ; he acquired a super- 
 ficial knowledge of his own line ; and when, on the occasion 
 of his rise, under the Empire, he mixed with the higher class 
 of employes, he caught the superficial manner which concealed 
 the porter's son, but he utterly failed to catch a ready wit. 
 His ignorance caused his silence, and his silence well served
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 59 
 
 him. He was accustomed to render, under the Imperial 
 regime, that passive obedience which is so appreciated by 
 superiors ; and it was to this quality that he afterward owed 
 his promotion to the grade of sub-chief. This routine life 
 gave him a great experience ; his silent manner covered his 
 lack of education. 
 
 Mile. Thuillier, knowing how her brother abhorred reading 
 and his inability to replace the tasks of the office by any 
 business, had wisely resolved to give him the care of her 
 property, the culture of the garden, the little trivialities of 
 middle-class life found in the intrigues of the neighborhood. 
 
 The transplanting of the Thuillier household from the Rue 
 d'Argenteuil to the Rue Saint-Dominique-d'Enfer, the atten- 
 tion necessary to the purchase, the selection of a janitor, the 
 search for good tenants, kept Thuillier fully occupied through 
 1831 and 1832. When this phenomenal transplantation was 
 effected, when the sister saw that Jerome had survived his up- 
 rooting, she found him still other employment, as we shall 
 learn, for she recognized a similar disposition to her own in 
 Thuillier, which it may not be useless to here describe. 
 
 Although only the son of a minister's porter, Thuillier was 
 what is known as a fine man ; above the medium height, 
 slight, of agreeable physiognomy when he wore his spectacles, 
 but ugly, like most persons afflicted with myopia, when he 
 doffed them ; for the habit of looking through glasses had 
 cast a species of mist over his eyeballs. 
 
 Between the age of eighteen and thirty, young Thuillier 
 was a favorite with women in that social sphere that exists in 
 the lower middle-class and ends below the chiefs of the de- 
 partments ; but, as all are aware, under the Empire the wars 
 left Parisian society somewhat bereft by absorbing every man 
 of energy into the fields of battle ; and perhaps, as suggested 
 by a celebrated physician, this is the cause of the decadence 
 of the generation that lived during the middle of the nine- 
 teenth century. 
 
 Q
 
 60 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Thuillier, compelled to shine by accomplishments other 
 than intellectual, learned to waltz and dance so well as to be- 
 come noted for it in the city; he was called "Handsome 
 Thuillier;" he was an expert billiard player; he was clever 
 at cutting out figures ; his friend Colleville had so well in- 
 structed him that he could troll out some fancy ballads in 
 great style. All this resulted in gaining him that spurious 
 success which deceives the young and deludes them as to the 
 future. From 1806 to 1814 Mile. Thuillier believed in her 
 brother as Mile. d'Orleans believed in Louis-Philippe ; she 
 was proud of Jerome, she saw him arrive at the highest post 
 in the office ; thanks to the popularity which at that time gave 
 him the entrance to some salons where he most decidedly 
 would not have been seen only for the circumstances which, 
 under the Empire, made society a perfect medley. 
 
 He acquired a habit of looking at himself in the glass, 
 posing with his hands on his hips to set off his figure, and 
 assuming the deportment of a dancing-master, all of which 
 helped to prolong the lease of his nickname "Handsome 
 Thuillier." 
 
 But the truth in 1806 became mockery in 1826. He still 
 retained some vestiges of the dandy's dress of the Empire, 
 nor were they unbecoming to the dignity of an old second- 
 clerk. He still wore the white cravat with numerous pleats 
 in which his chin was buried, the two ends of which menaced 
 passers-by as they projected to the right and left of a neatly 
 tied knot, in former days fastened by the hands of dainty 
 beauties. He followed the fashions at a respectful distance, 
 but he adapted them to his own style ; he wore his hat far 
 back ; low shoes in summer with fine stockings ; his overcoat 
 was reminiscent of the levites of the Empire ; he would not 
 abandon his pleated shirt-frills and white vests ; he was all 
 the time making play with his thin cane, the style of 1810, 
 and held himself upright. None who saw Thuillier prome- 
 nading the boulevards would have taken him for the son of a
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 61 
 
 man who served the employis' breakfasts in the Bureau of 
 Finance, and who wore the livery of Louis XVI.; he more 
 resembled an imperial diplomat or a sub-prefect. 
 
 Another household transplanted into the same neighborhood 
 was that of which M. Colleville, Thuillier's most intimate 
 friend, was the head. But before painting Pylades it is first 
 indispensable to have done with Orestes, as it is necessary to 
 explain why Thuillier, Handsome Thuillier, found himself 
 without a family, for a family cannot be without children ; 
 and here must be revealed one of those deep mysteries which 
 lie entombed in the arcana of private life, and whose symp- 
 toms arise at times to the surface when the anguish of a hidden 
 sorrow becomes too great to be silently borne, as instance 
 that of Mme. and Mile. Thuillier, for, up to the present, we 
 have only seen, so to speak, the public life of Jerome Thuillier. 
 
 Marie- Jeanne-Brigitte Thuillier, four years older than her 
 brother, had been immolated on her brother's altar ; it was 
 easier to give him a profession than to give the other a mar- 
 riage-portion. Ill-fortune, to certain natures, is a lighthouse 
 illuminating the dark and squalid in social life. Superior to 
 her brother, alike in energy and commonsense, Brigitte pos- 
 sessed a nature which the sledge-hammer of persecution had 
 made dense, compact, and of great resistance, not to mention 
 inflexible. Jealous of her independence, she made up her 
 mind, by some means, to leave behind her the life at the 
 porter's lodge and become the sole arbiter of her fate. 
 
 At fourteen years of age she took up her abode in a garret, 
 some few steps from the Treasury, then in the Rue Vivienne, 
 not far from the Rue de la Vrilliere, where to-day the Bank 
 stands. She bravely started out in an unfamiliar business, 
 privileged, thanks to her father's patrons; and which con- 
 sisted of manufacturing cash-bags for the Bank, the Treasury, 
 and other great banking houses. She had, at the end of three 
 years, two workwomen employed. Placing her savings in the 
 Funds, by 1814 she owned an income of three thousand six
 
 52 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 hundred francs a year, which had been made in fifteen years. 
 She spent but little, dining every day with her father as long 
 as he lived; now, as all know, the Funds during the last con 
 vulsions of the Empire went down to forty-odd francs so this 
 result, apparently exaggerated, is easily explained. 
 
 On the death of the old porter, Brigitte and Jerome, one 
 aged twenty-seven, the other twenty-three, united their desti- 
 nies. The brother and sister had the fullest affection for each 
 other. So when Jerome, then in the time of his success, needed 
 any money, his sister, dressed in coarse woolen cloth, her 
 fingers showing the wear of the thread with which she sewed, 
 always had a few louis to offer him. In Brigitte's eyes Jerome 
 was the most handsome man and more charming than any 
 other in the whole French Empire. 
 
 To keep house for this adored brother, to be initiated into 
 the secrets of Lindoro and Don Juan, to be his servant, his 
 faithful spaniel, was Brigitte's ideal dream ; she immolated 
 herself with ardor to an idol whose egoism she could aggran- 
 dize by her sacrifice. She sold her business to her forelady 
 for fifteen thousand francs, then went and established herself 
 in the Rue d'Argenteuil with Thuillier, making herself the 
 mother, protector, slave, of that "darling of the ladies." 
 
 Brigitte, with the natural prudence of a maid who owed her 
 all to her own discretion and toil, hid the extent of her for- 
 tune from her brother ; she no doubt was afraid of the prodi- 
 galities of such a man of the world, bringing to the common 
 stock but six hundred francs ; this, though, with the eighteen 
 hundred of Jerome's, enabled her to make both ends meet 
 each year. 
 
 From the first day of their partnership, Thuillier listened to 
 his sister as to an oracle; he consulted her in the smallest 
 affairs, concealed no secrets from her, and thus gave her a 
 taste of the fruits of domination which became the besetting 
 sin of her nature. But, really, the sister had been altogether 
 sacrificed to her brother, she had staked her all on his heart,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 6S 
 
 she lived but in him. Brigitte's ascendency over Jerome was 
 singularly confirmed by the marriage she procured for him 
 about 1814. 
 
 Seeing the violent nip of the new-comers, which came with 
 the Restoration, in all the government offices, particularly by 
 the return of the old society which trampled under foot the 
 middle-classes, Brigitte understood, and indeed her brother 
 explained to her, the social crisis that bade fair to extinguish 
 all their hopes. Further success was out of the question for 
 Handsome Thuillier among the nobility who had succeeded in 
 routing the plebeians of the Empire. 
 
 Under these conditions a woman, as zealous as Brigitte 
 was, wished and determined to have her brother marry, quite 
 as much for her own sake as for his, for only she herself could 
 achieve his happiness, Madame Thuillier being merely the in- 
 dispensable accessory for the production of one or two chil- 
 dren. Though Brigitte's intellect did not compare with her 
 will, for all that she had the instinct of despotism ; for though 
 she had received no education, she went straight ahead with 
 the persistency of a nature accustomed to succeed. She had 
 a natural genius for household management, the sense of thrift, 
 and a love of work. She divined that she would never be 
 successful in marrying J6r6me in a higher sphere than their 
 own, where the family would make inquiry as to their style 
 of life, possibly to be alarmed at finding a mistress already 
 established in the dwelling; she searched, therefore, in a 
 grade below their own for the people she might dazzle, and 
 she came across the very party. 
 
 The senior messenger of the Bank, named Lemprun, had 
 an only daughter called Celeste. Mile. Celeste Lemprun 
 would inherit her mother's fortune, the only daughter of a 
 truck-farmer. This property consisted of some acres of land 
 in the environs of Paris which the old man still worked ; then 
 the fortune of old Lemprun, a man who, after being employed 
 in the banks of Th^lusson and Keller, had entered the service
 
 64 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 of the Bank at its foundation, would also be hers. Lemprun, 
 then the head messenger, enjoyed the respect and esteem of 
 the government and the inspectors. 
 
 The Board of Directors, hearing that the marriage of Celeste, 
 to an honorable employ^ in the Bureau of Finance, was 
 arranged, promised a present of six thousand francs ; this gift 
 added to the twelve thousand francs given by old Lemprun, 
 and twelve thousand francs given by Sieur Galard, the truck- 
 farmer at Auteuil, made a dot of thirty thousand francs. Old 
 Galard and M. and Mme. Lemprun were enchanted with this 
 alliance ; the chief messenger knew Brigitte for one of the 
 most worthy and respectable young women in Paris. Brigitte 
 gave lustre by her descriptions of investments in the Funds 
 and informing the Lempruns that she would never marry, and 
 neither the chief messenger nor his wife, people of the Golden 
 Age, allowed themselves to criticise Brigitte. They were 
 especially struck by the high position of Handsome Thuillier, 
 and the marriage had been settled, to use the accustomed 
 formula, to the general satisfaction of all. 
 
 The governor and secretary of the Bank acted as witnesses 
 for the bride, the same as M. de la Billardiere, chief of his 
 department, and M. Rabourdin, chief of the bureau, did for 
 Thuillier. 
 
 Six years after this marriage old Lemprun was the victim of 
 a most audacious robbery, spoken of in the journals of that 
 time, but quite forgotten in the events of 1815. The thieves 
 had completely eluded every search. Lemprun wished to pay 
 for the loss, and, although the Bank charged the amount to 
 profit and loss, the poor old man died of vexation caused by 
 the disaster. He regarded it as a blow at his probity of 
 seventy years' standing. 
 
 Mme. Lemprun abandoned all her inheritance to her 
 daughter, Mme. Thuillier, going to live with her father at 
 Auteuil, where the old man died of an accident in 1817. Afraid 
 of either managing or letting her father's fields, Mme. Lem-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 65 
 
 prun begged Brigitte, at whose capabilities and honesty she was 
 astonished, to realize the estate of old Galard and so arrange 
 things that her daughter should take everything, allowing her 
 fifteen hundred francs a year and leaving her the house at 
 Auteuil. The fields of the old truck-farmer, sold in lots, brought 
 thirty thousand francs, and the two fortunes, added to the 
 dot, amounted in 1818 to ninety thousand francs. 
 
 At the beginning of that year, with the results of opera- 
 tions on 'Change, Thuillier's salary and the dividead on Bank 
 shares, the annual sum passing through Brigitte's uncontrolled 
 hands, amounted to eleven thousand francs. It is necessary 
 to have this financial question understood, not only to dis- 
 sipate objections, but to leave a clear course for the drama. 
 
 From the very first Brigitte broke in the unfortunate Mme. 
 Thuillier by a free use of the spurs and making her feel the 
 curb. This luxury of tyranny was quite useless ; the victim 
 promptly yielded. Celeste had been reckoned up by Brigitte, 
 who found her devoid of pluck and education, accustomed to a 
 sedentary life, a tranquil atmosphere, and of excessively mild 
 nature ; she was pious as the word ; she had expiated by 
 hardest penace each involuntary fault that could cause pain to 
 another. She was quite ignorant of life ; accustomed to be 
 waited upon by her mother, who did her own housework ; 
 compelled to keep in a state of rest by a lymphatic constitu- 
 tion, becoming fatigued at the least exertion. She was just a 
 daughter of the people of Paris, where the children, rarely 
 pretty, are the production of poverty, overwork, of airless 
 homes, without freedom of action, and the lack of every con- 
 venience of life. 
 
 At the time of her wedding Celeste was a little woman, a 
 faded blonde, nauseatingly so ; fat, slow, and of most stupid 
 appearance. Her too-large forehead, prominent, and suggest- 
 ing water on the brain ; and under that dome of a waxy hue 
 a face evidently too small and ending in a point like the snout 
 of a mouse, gave fear to arise that at some time she would 
 5
 
 66 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 lose her mind. Her pale blue eyes and lips, set in a petrified 
 smile, did not disabuse one of this idea. She had, on the 
 solemn day of her wedding, the attitude, air, and manner of 
 one condemned to death, and who hopes it will soon be over. 
 
 " She's a bit soft ! " said Colleville to Thuillier. 
 
 Brigitte was the good knife that should stab this nature, 
 which presented so violent a contrast to her own. She 
 possessed a sort of beauty in her correct, regular features, but 
 it had been massacred by toil which, from infancy, had bound 
 her hard down to uncongenial, rough work, and by the secret 
 privations she had voluntarily undergone to increase her com- 
 petency. Her dappled skin had the hue of steel. Her brown 
 eyes were surrounded with black, or, rather, bruised circles ; 
 her upper lip was ornamented with dark down, looking some- 
 what as it had been smoked ; she had thin lips, and her im- 
 perious forehead had once been crowned with hair that was 
 black, but which was now changing to chinchilla. She was 
 as erect as any handsome woman, and everything about her 
 betrayed a life of toil, suppressed fires, and, as is said of the 
 huzzars, "at the cost of her achievements." 
 
 To Brigitte Celeste was but a fortune to pick up, a mother 
 to mate, one subject more in her empire. She very soon re- 
 proached her for being " flabby " a constant word of hers 
 and this jealous old maid, who would have despaired if she 
 had found a managing sister-in-law, took a savage delight in 
 stinging this feeble creature into activity. Celeste, ashamed 
 of seeing her sister-in-law displaying such vim and energy in 
 her household duties, made an effort to assist her ; she fell ill ; 
 at once Brigitte gave her whole care to Mme. Thuillier, she 
 nursed her like a sister, saying before Jerdme : 
 
 "You are not strong enough; eh, well, do nothing, my 
 pet! " she made the most of the incapacity of Celeste with 
 that display of pity by which the strong, pretending much 
 compassion for the weak, manage to chant their own eulogy. 
 
 When Mme. Thuillier's health was reestablished, Brigitte
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 67 
 
 would say, in such manner that none could help hearing : 
 " Dish-rag, good-for-nothing," and the like. Celeste would 
 weep in her own room, and, when Thuillier surprised her in 
 tears, he excused his sister, saying : 
 
 "She's all right, but she's hot-tempered; she loves you in 
 her way ; she is just the same with me." 
 
 Celeste, remembering the maternal care she had received, 
 pardoned her sister-in-law. Brigitte looked upon her brother 
 as king of the house ; she lauded him to Celeste and treated 
 him as an autocrat, a Ladislas, an infallible pope. Mme. 
 Thuillier, bereft of her father and grandfather, and all but 
 abandoned by her mother, who came on Thursdays to see 
 her, while they visited her on Sundays in the summer, had no 
 one but her husband to love ; first, because he was her hus- 
 band, and also because he remained to her Handsome Thuil- 
 lier. And sometimes he really treated her as though she were 
 his wife ; all these reasons combined caused her to worship 
 him. Now Thuillier dined at home, but went to bed very 
 late ; he went to balls in his own circle alone and precisely the 
 same as though he was a bachelor. Thus the two women were 
 always together. 
 
 Celeste assumed a passive attitude, and, agreeable to Bri- 
 gitte's desire, became a regular slave. The Queen Elizabeth 
 of the household passed from despotism to a sort of pity for this 
 perpetually sacrificed victim. Finally she laid aside her high 
 and mighty airs, her stinging words, her tone of contempt, 
 when she was assured that she had broken her sister into pas- 
 sive slavery. 
 
 The poor creature might have become something in the 
 household that lived upon her money though she was un- 
 aware of the fact all of which she obtained being the crumbs 
 that fell from the table ; she had one chance by which her 
 spirit might have been roused to defend herself, to be some- 
 thing, but, alas ! that chance did not materialize. 
 
 Six years had gone, but Celeste had not borne a child.
 
 68 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 This infecundity, which, month after month, caused her tor- 
 rents of tears, for a long time did but add fuel to Brigitte's 
 flame ; she reproached her for being no good at all, not even 
 to bear children. This old maid, who had promised herself 
 the pleasure of loving her brother's child, was slow in be- 
 coming used to the idea that this sterility was irremediable. 
 
 At the time when this story commences, in 1840, at the 
 age of forty-six, Celeste had stopped crying, for she was 
 mournfully certain that the power of becoming a mother had 
 departed. Time, ample means, the incessant little frictions 
 of daily life, had rubbed off the corners, and that, together 
 with Celeste's lamblike resignation and sweetness, led to a 
 serene, mild fall. Brigitte became as fond of Celeste as she 
 was of her. And the two women were further united by the 
 sole sentiment they had ever known their adoration for the 
 happy and selfish Thuillier. 
 
 This spurious motherhood, quite as absorbing as the real, 
 needs an explanation which brings us to the heart of the 
 drama and is the reason why Mile. Thuillier found plenty of 
 occupation for her brother. 
 
 Thuillier had entered as a supernumerary in the bureau at 
 the same time as Colleville, who has already been spoken of 
 as his intimate friend. Compared to the dull and rigid 
 household of Thuillier's, social nature had formed Colleville's 
 as a perfect contrast, and though it was impossible that this 
 peculiar contrast is far from moral, it needs to be added that 
 before jumping to a conclusion of the drama, unfortunately 
 only too true, it were as well to read the story to the end, 
 otherwise the author cannot be held responsible. 
 
 This Colleville was the only son of a talented musician, 
 formerly the first violin at the opera during Francoeur's and 
 Rebel's time. Colleville and Thuillier were inseparable 
 friends, having no secrets from each other ; their friendship, 
 commenced when they were but fifteen, remained cloudless in 
 the year 1839.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 69 
 
 Colleville, beside being an employe, was what was known 
 as a "Cumulator" in the bureau; he was first clarionet at 
 the Opera-Comique thanks to his father's name now, when 
 a bachelor, he was better off than Thuillier, and often shared 
 with his friend. But, contrary to Thuillier, Colleville married 
 to please himself Mile. Flavie, natural daughter of a cele- 
 brated dancer who pretended that she was a de Bourguier, 
 one of the richest contractors of his day, but who had been 
 ruined in 1800, and who more completely forgot his child, 
 as he cherished doubts as to the faithfulness of this famous 
 comedienne. 
 
 By her appearance and birth Flavie was destined to a 
 grievous fate at the time when Colleville, who had frequent 
 occasion to visit her mother, who had lived luxuriously, fell 
 in love with Flavie and married her. Prince Galathionne, 
 her protector, in September, 1815, when the illustrious dancer 
 was bringing her brilliant career to a close, gave twenty 
 thousand francs as a wedding-present, and her mother added 
 a most elaborate trousseau. The frequenters of her house and 
 her comrades at the opera made her presents of jewelry and 
 plate, so that the Colleville household was much richer in 
 superfluities than cash. Flavie, raised in luxury, at first had 
 a charming suite of rooms which had been furnished by her 
 mother's decorator, and where this young wife held court, 
 airing her taste for the arts, artists, and for a certain elegance. 
 
 Mme. Colleville was at once pretty and piquante, bright, 
 gay, gracious, and an expounder of that name a jolly good 
 fellow. The dancer, now aged forty-three, retired from the 
 stage and went to live in the country, which deprived her 
 daughter of the benefit to be derived from her mother's luxury 
 and extravagance. Mme. Colleville's house was very pleasant, 
 but tremendously expensive. Between 1816 to 1826 she had 
 five children. A musician in the evening, from seven to nine 
 in the morning Colleville kept the books of a merchant. By 
 ten o'clock he was at the bureau. Thus by blowing into a
 
 70 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 wooden pipe in the evening, and writing out accounts in 
 double entry in the morning, he made seven to eight thousand 
 francs per annum. 
 
 Mme. Colleville played the lady of high society ; she re- 
 ceived on Wednesdays ; she gave a musicale each month, and 
 a dinner every fortnight. She only saw Colleville at dinner 
 in the evening ; when he returned toward midnight, she very 
 often had not yet come in. She was at the play, for she often 
 had a box given her, or she would leave word for Colleville to 
 call for her at some house where she was at a dance or a 
 supper. Excellent fare was provided by Mme. Colleville, 
 and the society, somewhat mixed, was excessively amusing; 
 she received famous actresses, painters, men of letters, and 
 some, wealthy men. Mme. Colleville's elegance was on a par 
 with that of Tullia, the operatic premier danseuse, of whom 
 she saw a great deal ; but, though the Collevilles dipped into 
 their capital, often finding it difficult to make both ends meet, 
 at the month's end Flavie was never in debt. 
 
 Colleville was very happy ; he still loved his wife and was 
 always her good friend. Ever welcomed with an affectionate 
 smile and infectious, pretty manner, he yielded to her irresist- 
 ible graces and fascination. The ferocious activity he em- 
 ployed in his three several callings were well suited to his 
 character and temperament. He was a big, burly, good- 
 natured fellow, florid, jovial, lavish, and full of whims. In 
 ten years there had not been a single quarrel in his household. 
 He passed at the bureau as a scatterbrain, the character given 
 all artists, but they were superficial thinkers who mistake the 
 constant haste of a busy man for the bustle of a muddler. 
 
 Thanks to the relations of Mme. Colleville, the theatre and 
 the department bowed to the exigencies of the cumulatist, 
 who, in addition to his other duties, was training a young man 
 earnestly recommended by his wife, a great musician of the 
 future, who often took his place in the orchestra, being prom- 
 ised his succession.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 71 
 
 As a matter of fact, in 1827, this young man became the 
 first clarionet, on Colleville's retirement. 
 
 All the criticism that Flavie aroused was in the words : 
 " She is a little bit of a flirt, this Madame Colleville ! " 
 
 The eldest of the Colleville children, born in 1816, was the 
 living image of the jolly Colleville. In 1818 Mme. Colleville 
 thought the cavalry was everything, even ranking the arts ; she 
 smiled upon a sub-lieutenant of the Saint-Chamans dragoons, 
 the young and wealthy Charles Gondreville, who afterward 
 died in the Spanish campaign ; her second son was already 
 destined for a military career. In 1820 she looked upon the 
 bank as the foster-mother of industry, the backbone of the 
 State, and the great Keller, the famous orator, was her idol ; 
 then she had another son, Francois, who was to go into 
 mercantile pursuits and would never lack the protection of 
 Francois Keller. 
 
 Toward the end of 1820, Thuillier, the intimate friend of 
 M. and Mme. Colleville, and Flavie's admirer, felt the neces- 
 sity of confiding his sorrows to the bosom of that excellent 
 woman, to whom he recounted his conjugal miseries ; for six 
 years he had tried for children, but God had not blessed his 
 efforts; for poor Mme. Thuillier had vainly said novenas ; 
 she had even gone to Notre-Dame de Liesse ! He depicted 
 Celeste in every phase, and the words " Poor Thuillier " fell 
 from Mme. Colleville's lips, who, on her part, was much de- 
 pressed ; just now she had no predominant opinion. She 
 poured her vexation into Thuillier's heart. The great Keller, 
 the hero of the Left, was awfully mean ; she had seen the 
 wrong side of glory, the follies of the bank, the shallowness of 
 the Tribune. The orator never spoke, save in the Chamber, 
 and he had treated her very badly. 
 
 Thuillier was indignant. 
 
 "It's not only brutes that know how to love," said he; 
 " take me ! " 
 
 And Handsome Thuillier was said to be making up to Mme.
 
 72 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Collcville, paying her "attentions," in the words of the Em- 
 pire. 
 
 "Ah ! you are mashed on my wife ! " said Collerille, laugh- 
 ing. "But lookout or she'll shake you like all the others." 
 
 A shrewd speech, allowing Colleville to preserve his mari 
 tal dignity in the bureau. In 1820-21 Thuillier, under his 
 authority as a friend of the family, was able to assist Colle- 
 ville, who had so frequently of old helped him ; during eigh- 
 teen months he had loaned the Collevilles ten thousand francs, 
 never intending to afterward speak of it. In the spring of 
 1821 Madame Colleville was confined with a handsome little 
 girl, to whom M. and Mme. Thuillier acted as godfather and 
 godmother ; she was named Celeste-Louise-Caroline-Brigitte. 
 Mile. Thuillier wished that one of her names should be given 
 to this little angel. The name of Caroline was a compliment 
 to Colleville. 
 
 Old Mamma Lemprun took upon herself the putting out to 
 nurse of the pretty creature, which was kept under her own 
 eyes at Auteuil, where Celeste and her sister-in-law went to 
 see her twice each week. As soon as Mme. Colleville was 
 about again, she said to Thuillier, very frankly and in a 
 serious tone: 
 
 "My dear friend, if we wish to remain good friends, you 
 cannot be more than my friend ; Colleville loves you : well, 
 then, one in the family is quite enough." 
 
 "Explain to me," said Handsome Thuillier to Tullia, the 
 dancer, who had made a call on Mme. Colleville, "why 
 women are so little attached to me. I am not the Apollo 
 Belvidere, but on the other hand neither am I a Vulcan ; I 
 am passable, I am intelligent, I am faithful " 
 
 "Would you have the truth ? " asked Tullia. 
 
 "Yes," said Handsome Thuillier. 
 
 " Well, then, although sometimes we may love an idiot, we 
 can never love a fool." 
 
 These words killed Thuillier; he couldn't get over it; he
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 73 
 
 had a spell of melancholy and accused women of being fantas- 
 tical. 
 
 " Didn't I give you the tip ? " said Colleville ; " I am not 
 Napoleon, dear boy ; I might be sorry if I were ; but I have 
 my Josephine a pearl ! " 
 
 The minister's secretary, des Lupeaulx, who was supposed 
 by Mme. Colleville to have more influence than he really had, 
 of whom she used afterward to say : " He was one of my 
 mistakes," was during a long time the great man of the Colic-- 
 ville salon ; but as he had not the power necessary to have 
 Colleville named for the division of Bois-Levant, Flavie had 
 the good sense to resent his attentions to Mme. Rabourdin, 
 wife of the chief of the bureau, a minx, as she said, to whose 
 home she had never been invited, and whom on two different 
 occasions had had the impertinence to stay away from her 
 musicales. 
 
 Mme. Colleville acutely felt the shock of young Gondre- 
 ville's death ; she was quite inconsolable ; she saw in it, she 
 said, the hand of God. In 1824 she mended her ways, talked 
 economy, gave up her receptions, occupied herself with her 
 children, and became a good mother of her family; and her 
 friends had no knowledge of an attendant favorite ; but she 
 went to church, she reformed her dress, she wore sober colors, 
 she talked of Catholicism and the proprieties, and all this 
 mysticism resulted in the production of a bouncing boy, in 
 1825, whom she named Theodore, that is to say, " the gift of 
 God." 
 
 So, in 1826, the good times of the Congregation, Colleville 
 was appointed sub-chief in Clergeot's division, becoming, in 
 1828, a revenue collector in a Paris arrondissement. He also 
 obtained the cross of the Legion of Honor, which in the end 
 entitled him to the education of his daughter at Saint-Denis. 
 In 1832, by the advice of Mile. Thuillier, he settled near 
 them, where he obtained a clerkship in the mayor's office, 
 paying one thousand crowns.
 
 74 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Charles Colleville had just entered the Naval School. The 
 colleges to which the other young Collevilles went were in 
 the same quarter. The seminary of Saint-Sulpice, where the 
 youngest was to be entered some day, was close by the Lux- 
 embourg. Finally, Thuillier and Colleville should properly 
 end their days together. 
 
 In 1833 the Colleville family, after leading a life first of 
 show and dissipation, then of tranquil retirement, was become 
 reduced to middle-class obscurity, on a total income of five 
 thousand four hundred francs. 
 
 Celeste was now twelve ; she promised to be pretty ; she 
 needed masters ; that would cut down their income by two 
 thousand francs. Her mother felt the need of placing her 
 under the eyes of her godfather and godmother. So she had 
 adopted the proposition, so wisely thought out, of Mile. 
 Thuillier, who, without committing herself, gave Mme. Colle- 
 ville to understand pretty plainly that her brother's, her sister- 
 in-law's, and her own fortune were destined for Celeste. 
 
 The little frolic had seen more of Mile, and Mme. Thuillier 
 than of her mother until she went home, after Mme. Lem- 
 prun's death, in 1829. In 1833 sne ^ more tnan ever under 
 Flavie's management, who tried to do her whole duty by her, 
 and, without being severe, she was very strict with her ; over- 
 doing it, as women do who are tortured by remorse. Flavie, 
 without being a bad mother, was rigid enough with her 
 daughter; she had her properly instructed, and, remembering 
 her own early training, vowed secretly that she would make 
 an honest woman of Celeste and not a light one. She took 
 her to mass, and she had her prepared for her first communion 
 under the direction of a Paris cure, who has since become a 
 bishop. Celeste was the more pious because Mme. Thuillier, 
 her godmother, was a perfect saint, and the child adored her 
 godmother; she felt that she was more genuinely loved by 
 this poor, lonely woman than by her mother. 
 
 Thuillier had not been able to withstand the action of the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 75 
 
 rolling-mill of administrative routine, where the brains are 
 worn thin in proportion as they are flattened out. Used up 
 by fastidious work, beside counting his successes as a lady's 
 man, the ex-sub-chief had lost all his best faculties by the time 
 he had moved to the Rue Saint-Dominique, but his drawn 
 features, which wore a rather arrogant expression, with a 
 mixture of self-satisfaction, which may have been the fatuity 
 of the superior employe, deeply impressed Celeste. She alone 
 adored that sallow face. She knew that she was the joy of 
 the Thuillier household. 
 
 The Collevilles and their children, together with an ex- 
 clerk of La Billardiere's division, Monsieur Phellion, formed 
 the nucleus of Mile. Thuillier's society. Phellion was one of 
 the most respected men in the arrondissement ; he had be- 
 come, too, a major in the National Guard. He had one 
 daughter, formerly an under-teacher in the Lagrave school, 
 now married to a professor in the Rue Saint-Hyacinthe, M. 
 Barniol. 
 
 Phellion's eldest son was a professor of mathematics in a 
 royal college and gave lessons, coached pupils, and devoted 
 himself, as his father expressed it, to pure mathematics. The 
 second son was at the College of Engineers. Phellion had a 
 pension of nine hundred francs, some little interest on his 
 savings during thirty years of thrift, and owned a little house 
 with a garden attached, in which he lived on the Impasse des 
 Feuillantines. (In thirty years he had not once used the old 
 term cul-de-sac, ,*) 
 
 Dutocq, clerk to a justice of the peace, had formerly been 
 employed in the ministry of finance ; he had been sacrificed 
 on one of those necessities of a government which is represen- 
 tative ; he had permitted himself to be made the scapegoat in 
 a scandal occurring in the office of the committee on appro- 
 priations, for which he received a fairly round sum ; this had 
 enabled him to purchase his clerkship. This man, of little 
 * Blind alley or court.
 
 76 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 honor, the spy of the bureau, was not received in the manner 
 he thought his due by the Thuilliers ; but his landlord's cold- 
 ness only made him more persistent in his visits. 
 
 He remained a bachelor, and indulged his vices ; his life 
 was carefully hidden, and he was an adept at flattering his 
 superiors. The justice of the peace had a great esteem for 
 Dutocq. That infamous person made himself tolerated by 
 the Thuilliers by base and gross adulation which never fails 
 in its effects. He knew the bottom of Thuillier's life, his re- 
 lations with Colleville, and more so with madame ; they 
 feared his formidable tongue, and the Thuilliers, without 
 admitting him to their friendship, permitted his visits on 
 sufferance. 
 
 The family that became the flower of the Thuilliers' salon 
 was that of a poor, petty clerk, who had been the object of 
 compassion in the bureau, and who, driven by penury, had 
 left the bureau in 1827 to throw himself into trade with an 
 idea. 
 
 Minard foresaw a fortune in one of those perverse concep- 
 tions which are a disgrace to French commerce, but which, 
 in 1827, had not yet been blown on by publicity. Minard 
 bought some tea and mixed it with dried tea-leaves ; then he 
 practiced changing the constituents of chocolate, altering it 
 so that he could sell it as a bargain. This trade in colonial 
 produce, begun in the Saint-Marcel quarter, set Minard up in 
 trade; he had a factory, and, through his connections, was 
 now able to obtain the raw materials from their source ; thus 
 on ah honorable and large scale he carried out the business he 
 had started in such a shady manner. He became a distiller, 
 enormous quantities of raw imports were handled by him, till 
 he came to pass, in 1835, as the richest trader in the Place 
 Maubert quarter. He bought one of the most beautiful houses 
 on the Rue des Macons-Sorbonne ;* he had been deputy and, 
 in 1839, was named for mayor of his arrondissement and 
 * Now the Rue Champollion.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 77 
 
 judge of the Chamber of Commerce. He kept a carriage, 
 had a country place near Lagny; his wife wore diamonds at 
 the Court balls, and he flaunted the rosette of officer of the 
 Legion of Honor in his button-hole. 
 
 Minard and his wife were always excessively beneficent. 
 Perhaps they wished to restore retail to the poor what they 
 exacted wholesale from the public. Phellion, Colleville, and 
 Thuillier encountered Minard during the elections, which re- 
 sulted in an acquaintance, soon to become intimate, between 
 the Minards, Collevilles, and ThuilHers, because Madame 
 Zelie Minard appeared enchanted to introduce her "young 
 raiss " to Celeste Colleville. The Minards gave a fine ball 
 for Celeste's debut into society, she being then sixteen-and-a- 
 half; her dress befitted her name and seemed prophetic of 
 good for her life. 
 
 Minard's eldest son was a barrister; he had the hope of 
 succeeding some of those advocates who, since 1830, by their 
 political opinions had become estranged from the Court ; he 
 was the genius of the family, and his mother, not less than his 
 father, aspired to see him well married. 
 
 Zelie Minard, formerly an artificial flower-maker, had an 
 ardent passion for moving in the higher social circles, which 
 she thought to penetrate into by the marriage of her son and 
 daughter, while Minard, wiser than she, and, being imbued 
 with the power of the middle-class resulting from the Revolu- 
 tion of July, had his every fibre infiltrated with a desire for 
 wealth. 
 
 He haunted the Thuilliers' salon to learn Celeste's prospects 
 as an heiress. He knew, like Dutocq and Phellion, the scandal 
 occasioned by Thuillier's intimacy with Flavie, and with half 
 an eye he was able to see the idolatry of the Thuilliers for 
 their goddaughter. Dutocq, eager for admission to the Min- 
 ards, fawned on them prodigiously. When Minard, the Roths- 
 child of the arrondissement, first appeared at the Thuilliers, 
 he compared him, almost wittily, to Napoleon, as he now saw
 
 78 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 him burly, fat, and flourishing, whereas, when he last knew 
 him at the bureau, he was lean, pale, and sickly. 
 
 "When you were in La Billardiere's division," said he, 
 " you were like Napoleon before the i8th Brumaire, and I 
 see you now the Napoleon of the Empire." 
 
 Nevertheless Minard treated him coldly and extended no 
 invitation for a visit to his house ; so he made a mortal enemy 
 of the venomous clerk. 
 
 The Phellions had designs on Celeste, it struck them that 
 she was the very thing for their son the professor. So they 
 lined up a phalanx of seven, all fairly faithful to each other ; 
 the Colleville family was equally numerous, so that on occa- 
 sional Sundays there would be as many as thirty persons in 
 the Thuillier salon. Thuillier renewed his acquaintance with 
 the Saillards, the Baudoyers, the Falleixs,* all people of impor- 
 tance in the Place-Royale quarter, and frequently invited to 
 dinner. 
 
 Mme. Colleville, among the women, was the most distin- 
 guished personage of this circle, like as also Minard's son 
 and Professor Phellion were its superior men ; for all the 
 others, without education and ideas, and risen from the lower 
 ranks, were types of the absurd in the lower middle-classes. 
 Although a fortune made in the past seems to possess merit, 
 Minard was but an inflated balloon. He floundered in long- 
 drawn phrases, took obsequiousness for politeness and the 
 form for the spirit, and uttered his commonplaces in such style 
 and mouthings that they were accepted as eloquence. These 
 phrases which say nothing and answer every purpose progress, 
 steam, asphalt, National Guard, order, democratic spirit, 
 power of cooperation, legality, motion and resistance, intimi- 
 dation seemed at each political crisis to have been invented 
 for Minard, who then paraphrased the ideas of his newspaper. 
 Julien Minard, the young barrister, suffered under his father 
 what his father suffered under his wife. In fact, with her for- 
 * See " Les Employes."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 79 
 
 tune, Zelie had assumed pretensions, though she could never 
 learn to speak decent French ; she had become fat, and in 
 her handsome attire looked like a cook who had married her 
 master. 
 
 Phellion, that model of a lower bourgeois, was equally 
 blessed with virtues and absurdities. A subordinate during 
 his bureaucratic life, he highly respected social superiority. 
 In the presence of Minard he was silent. He had admirably 
 resisted, by his own efforts, the critical times of superannuation, 
 and this is how : never had the worthy and excellent man 
 had a chance of indulging his tastes. He loved the city of 
 Paris ; he took intense interest in the improvements and em- 
 bellishments he was the man who would be arrested, for two 
 hours running, by the demolition of a house. 
 
 He could stand surprised, bravely planted on his two feet, 
 nose in air, watching for the fall of a stone which the mason was 
 dislodging with a crowbar from the top of a wall, and did not 
 even quit his place when the stone fell ; when all was over off 
 he would go as happy as an Academician at the damning of a 
 melodrama. Veritable components of the great social comedy, 
 Phellion, Laudigeois, and the like, represent the functions of 
 the antique chorus. They weep when others weep, laugh 
 when expected to laugh, singing in chorus over public catas- 
 trophes and popular rejoicings, triumphant in their own corner 
 over the triumphs of Algiers, Constantine, Lisbon, and Saint- 
 Jean-d'Ulloa; equally deploring the death of Napoleon and 
 the fatal disasters of Saint-Merri and the Rue Transnonnain ; 
 regretting the famous men who are the most unknown of 
 them. 
 
 Still Phellion showed two faces ; if any street fighting oc- 
 curred he stoutly declared himself in the sight of his neigh- 
 bors; he would be in his place on the parade ground of his 
 regiment, the Place Saint-Michel ; he pitied the government, 
 but he did his duty ; he would help suppress a riot, supported 
 the reigning dynasty, and when the political trials followed
 
 80 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 made excuses for the culprits. These " weather-cockish " 
 opinions were harmless and permeated his political views : 
 
 Answerable for all was the Colossus of the North. As 
 for England, she was like the old " Constitutionnel," a double- 
 dealing gossip ; by turns Machiavellian Albion and a model 
 country Machiavellian when she jostled the interests of 
 France or bruised Napoleon ; a model country when the 
 faults of his government were in question. 
 
 This honorable old man was always dignified ; dignity was 
 the keynote of his life. He raised his children with dignity ; 
 in their eyes he was always the father ; he insisted on respect 
 being paid him at home, as he honored power and his supe- 
 riors. He never had a debt. A juryman, his conscience 
 made him sweat blood and water as he followed the pleadings 
 of a trial ; he never laughed, not even should the court laugh, 
 or the judge or public authorities. Always at the service of 
 all, he gave his care, his time, all except his money. Felix 
 Phellion, his son, the professor, was his idol ; he thought 
 him capable of gaining the Academy of Science. Thuillier, 
 between the audacious stupidity of Minard and the candid 
 simplicity of Phellion, was like a neutral element, but there 
 was in him that of each in his melancholy experience. He 
 hid his addled brain by his banalities, like as he covered the 
 yellow skin of his skull under the thin wisps of his gray hair, 
 artfully combed back by the barber. 
 
 "In all other walks of life," said he, speaking of the 
 bureau, "I could surely have had better luck." 
 
 He had seen the good, that which is possible in theory and 
 improbable in practice ; the results contradicted the premises ; 
 he would relate the intrigues, the injustice of the Rabourdin 
 affair. 
 
 " After that, how much is one to believe ? " said he. " Ah ! 
 a queer thing is the administration, and I am very happy in 
 not having a son, so that I cannot see him hustling for a 
 post."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 81 
 
 Colleville, always gay, rotund, good-fellow, joker, and 
 quibbler, inventing his anagrams, always hustling, represented 
 the bourgeois meddler and mocker, the ability without the 
 success, persistent hard work without result, but also the re- 
 signed jollity, narrow intelligence, art wasted (he was an 
 excellent musician), for he only played now to amuse his 
 daughter. 
 
 The women of the Thuillier salon were all for the Jesuits ; 
 the men defended the University ; but the women generally 
 listened. A man of intelligence, if he could have endured 
 the tedium of these soirees, would have laughed as much as at 
 a comedy by Moliere, to hear, after a long discussion, such a 
 speech as this: 
 
 "The Revolution of 1789 could have been averted, eh? 
 Louis XIV. 's borrowing opened the way. Louis XV., an 
 egoist, a man with the spirit of ceremony " (he had said: 
 "If I were Chief of Police I would abolish cabriolets ") "a 
 dissolute king you know all about his dear park ! * con- 
 tributed largely to open the gulf of revolution. M. de 
 Necker, a malevolent Genevese, agitated it. Foreigners have 
 always had it in for France. The Maximum did much harm 
 to the Revolution. By right, Louis XVI. ought not to have 
 been condemned; a jury would have acquitted him. Why 
 was Charles X. overthrown ? Napoleon was a great man and 
 the details which attest his genius are found in anecdotes 
 of him. He took five pinches of snuff a minute, keeping it 
 loose in his vest pocket lined with leather. He checked off 
 all the contractors' accounts, and went to the Rue Saint-Denis 
 to learn the cost of things. Talma was his friend ; Talma 
 taught him all his gestures, and yet he always refused to deco- 
 rate Talma. The Emperor mounted guard one time for a 
 sentry who had fallen asleep and thus saved him from being 
 shot. For these things the soldiers worshiped him. Louis 
 XVIII., although a smart man, showed a lack of justice in 
 * Pare aux cerfs.
 
 82 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 regard to him when he spoke of him as Monsieur de Bona- 
 parte. The fault of the present government is that it allows 
 itself to be led, instead of leading. It places itself too low. 
 It fears men of energy ; it should have torn up the treaties of 
 1815 and demanded the Rhine of Europe. The ministry 
 plays too much with the same men." 
 
 "There, you have displayed enough intelligence now," 
 said Mile. Thuillier, after one of these luminous reflections; 
 "the altar is dressed, corne and play your little game." 
 
 The old maid ended all these discussions, such a bore to the 
 women, by this suggestion. 
 
 If all these anterior facts, all these generalizations had not 
 been given, as the gist of the argument, to provide a fitting 
 set for this Scene, giving a due idea of the spirit of this 
 society, perhaps the drama would be the sufferer. This 
 sketch is faithfully and historically truthful, and shows up a 
 social stratum of some importance in this chronicle of manners, 
 more especially when the political system of the younger 
 branch took it as its fulcrum. 
 
 The winter of the year 1839 was, in some sort, the time 
 when the Thuillier salon attained its greatest splendor. The 
 Minards were seen there nearly every Sunday ; they com- 
 menced by passing an hour there when they were obliged to 
 attend other soirees, and oftener than not Minard would leave 
 his wife there, taking with him his daughter and his eldest son, 
 the barrister. This assiduity of the Minards was caused by a 
 meeting between Messrs. Metivier, Barbet, and Minard, on 
 one evening when these two important tenants had remained 
 later than usual to chat with Mile. Thuillier. Minard was 
 apprised by Barbet that the old demoiselle took of him in the 
 neighborhood of thirty thousand francs in notes each six 
 months ; and that she took a like amount from Metivier, so 
 that she must have in her hands at least one hundred and 
 eighty thousand francs. 
 
 "I loan on books at twelve per cent., taking only the best
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 83 
 
 names. Nothing suits me better," said Barbet, in conclusion. 
 "I say that she must have one hundred and eighty thousand 
 francs, for she cannot give notes for more than ninety days at 
 the Bank." 
 
 "She has, then, an account at the Bank? " said Minard. 
 
 " So I believe," answered Barbet. 
 
 Friendly with a governor of the Bank, Minard learned that 
 Mile. Thuillier had in fact an account there amounting to 
 about two hundred thousand francs, guaranteed by a deposit 
 of forty shares of stock. This security was, he said, unneces- 
 sary ; the Bank had the highest regard for a person so well 
 known as the responsible manager of Celeste Lemprun's 
 affairs, the daughter of an employe who had seen as many 
 years of service as the Bank had been in existence. Mile. 
 Thuillier had not once overdrawn her account in twenty 
 years. She always placed in sixty thousand francs in notes at 
 three months, which came to about one hundred and sixty 
 thousand. The deposited shares represented one hundred and 
 twenty thousand francs, so there was no risk, for the notes 
 were of the full value of sixty thousand francs. "Indeed," 
 said the comptroller, " if she sent us, in the third month, one 
 hundred thousand francs in notes we should not reject a single 
 one. She has a house of her own which is not mortgaged and 
 is worth more than one hundred thousand francs. Beside, all 
 the notes come through Barbet and Metivier, and are thus 
 endorsed with four signatures, including her own." 
 
 "Why does Mademoiselle Thuillier work so hard? " asked 
 Minard of Metivier. "Why, this is the very one for you," 
 he added. 
 
 "Oh! as to me," replied Metivier, "I can do better by 
 marrying one of my cousins ; my Uncle Metivier has promised 
 me his business; he has a hundred thousand francs in the 
 Funds and only two daughters." 
 
 However secret Mile. Thuillier might be, saying nothing of 
 her affairs to any person, not even her brother ; and although
 
 84 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 she amassed in one lump sum her own investments and those 
 of Mme. Thuillier's beside her own, it was almost an impos- 
 sibility that no ray of light should at length pierce through 
 the wooden bushel measure in which she secured her treasure. 
 
 " Celeste will have two hundred thousand francs from us in 
 cold cash," said the old maid, in confidence to Barbet ; " and 
 Madame Thuillier on the signing of her contract will settle 
 her property upon her. As for myself, my will is made. My 
 brother is given a life interest in all, and Celeste will have 
 the reversion. Monsieur Cardot, my notary, is my execu- 
 tor." 
 
 Cardot, the notary, presented a suitor in the person of 
 Maitre Godeschal, attorney-at-law, successor to Derville, a 
 man of thirty-six, very capable, who had paid one hundred 
 thousand francs on his connection, which two hundred thou- 
 sand francs of a dot would clear off. Minard soon cleared 
 him off the deck by informing Mile. Thuillier that Cdleste 
 would have for a sister-in-law the famous Mariette, an opera- 
 dancer. 
 
 "She was one of that sort," said Colleville, alluding to his 
 wife, "and she doesn't intend returning." 
 
 "Monsieur Godeschal is altogether too old for Celeste," 
 said Brigitte. 
 
 "And then," added Mme. Thuillier, timidly, "would it 
 not be better for her to marry some one of her choice and be 
 happy?" 
 
 The poor woman had perceived in F6lix Phellion a true 
 love for Celeste, a love such as a woman, crushed by Brigitte 
 and chilled by Thuillier's indifference, who cared no more 
 for the society of his wife than for that of a servant-girl, might 
 well dream of, bold at heart, shy on the surface, at the same 
 time strong and timid, concentrated before all, and expand- 
 ing to the heavens. At twenty-three, Felix Phellion was a 
 gentle young man, who had been well brought up by his 
 father j one who loved learning for its own sake. He was of
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 85 
 
 medium height, with light, chestnut hair, gray eyes, a much 
 freckled skin, of easy manners, very little given to gesticula- 
 tions, thoughtful, never talking nonsense, never contradicting 
 any one, incapable of a sordid thought or an egoistical calcula- 
 tion. 
 
 "That's the kind of husband I should have liked mine to 
 hare been ! " Mme. Thuillier often told herself. 
 
 About the beginning of 1840, in the month of February, 
 the personages whose silhouettes have here been made, were 
 assembled in the Thuilliers' salon. It was near the end of 
 the month. Barbet and Metivier waited, as they each wanted 
 to borrow thirty thousand francs from Mile. Brigitte. Celeste 
 and Prudence Minard were sitting together. Young Phellion 
 listening to Mme. Thuillier could gaze at Celeste. 
 
 On the other side of the fireplace, enthroned on an easy- 
 chair, was the Queen Elizabeth of the family, dressed as 
 plainly as when she was thirty years old, for prosperity was 
 unable to cause a change in her habits. Her chinchilla hair 
 was surmounted by a gauze bonnet ornamented with Charles 
 X.-Geranium flowers; her Cornith-plum colored stuff gown 
 might have cost as much as fifteen francs ; her embroidered 
 collarette, worth about six francs, hardly hid the deep hollow 
 produced by the two muscles which attach the head to the 
 spine. Monvel, when he played Augustus in his latter days, 
 had no sterner profile than this autocratic knitter of stockings 
 for her brother. In front of the fireplace posed Thuillier, pre- 
 pared to receive any arrivals ; by his side stood a young man 
 whose entree had produced a great effect, when the janitor, 
 who on Sunday donned his best clothes to act the footman, 
 had announced "Monsieur Olivier Vinet." 
 
 He was here as the result of a confidential hint given by 
 Cardot to this young magistrate's father, a famous public 
 prosecutor. Cardot had estimated the present value of the 
 money to be left to Celeste at seven hundred thousand francs 
 at least. Vinet's son had appeared delighted at being given
 
 86 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the privilege of going on Sunday as a guest of the Thuilliers. 
 Large marriage-portions in these days lead to the grossest 
 follies without the least pudency. 
 
 Ten minutes after, another young man, who was chatting 
 with Thuillier before the arrival of Vinet, raised his voice in 
 the heat of a political discussion, making the young lawyer do 
 the same by the force of the debate. The question was the 
 vote by which the Chamber of Deputies overthrew the minis- 
 try of May 1 2th, in refusing the grant demanded for the Due 
 de Nemurs. 
 
 "Most decidedly," said the young man, "I am very far 
 from belonging to the dynastic party, and I am quite as far 
 from approving the elevation of the bourgeoisie into power. 
 The middle-class has no more right now than the aristocracy 
 had then to preeminence in the State. But the French 
 middle-classes set up a new dynasty for themselves, a royalty 
 of their own, and how did they treat it ! When the people 
 allowed Napoleon to raise himself, he created on his side a 
 splendid monumental edifice; he was proud of his grandeur, 
 he nobly gave his blood and his sweat for the purpose of con- 
 solidating the Empire. Between the magnificence of the 
 aristocratic enthronement and the Imperial purple, between 
 the great and the populace, the bourgeoisie are mean and 
 niggardly ; they drag down the powers that be to their own 
 ignoble level, instead of trying to raise themselves. The 
 economies of the candle-ends of the back-shops they practice 
 on their princes ; but what is a virtue in their storehouses is a 
 fault and a crime in high places. I wish for many things that 
 would be good for the people, but I would retrench by cutting 
 off ten millions from the new civil list. Now almost all-pow- 
 erful in France, the bourgeoisie ought to insure the happiness 
 of the people, of splendor without extravagance and grandeur 
 without privilege." 
 
 Olivier Vinet's father was not quite in harmony with the 
 present government he had not yet obtained the robes of
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 87 
 
 keeper of the seals, his great ambition ; so the young judge 
 hardly knew how to answer. 
 
 " You are quite right, monsieur," said Olivier Vinet. 
 "But before beginning the parade, the middle-class owes a 
 duty to France. The luxury of which you speak comes after 
 duty. That which you seem to think as worthy of reproach 
 was a necessity of the moment. The Chamber is far from 
 having a full part in affairs; the ministers work far less for 
 France than for the crown, and the Parliament wishes to see 
 a ministry, like that in England, which has a strength of its 
 own, not a reflected, borrowed power. The day that the 
 ministry acts for itself and represents the power of the execu- 
 tive in the Chamber, the same as the Chamber represents the 
 country, so soon will the Parliament be liberal to the crown. 
 That's the milk in the cocoanut ; I merely give it without 
 saying aught of my personal opinion, since the duties of my 
 office require, in politics, a species of fealty to the crown." 
 
 "Leaving the political question," replied the young man, 
 whose accent indicated a son of Provence, " it cannot be the 
 less true that the bourgeoisie have failed to understand their 
 mission ; we see public prosecutors, first presidents, peers of 
 France riding in 'busses, judges who have to live on their 
 salaries, prefects without private means, ministers in debt; 
 while the middle-class, who have now possession of all these 
 places, ought to do honor to them as before the aristocracy 
 did honor; instead of holding them with the intention of 
 making a fortune, as has been demonstrated in numerous 
 scandalous trials, they should be occupied with a due ex- 
 penditure " 
 
 "Who is this young man?" said Olivier Vinet, hearing 
 him with wonder. "Is he a relative? Cardot should have 
 accompanied me the first time." 
 
 "Who is the little monsieur?" asked Minard of Barbet. 
 " I have seen him here several times." 
 
 "He is a tenant," replied Metivier, dealing the cards.
 
 88 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " A barrister," said Barbet in a low voice ; " he has a small 
 suite on the third-floor front. Oh ! he's no great shakes, and 
 owns nothing." 
 
 "What's his name?" asked Olivier Vinet of M. Thuillier. 
 
 "Thdodose de la Peyrade; he is a barrister," whispered 
 Thuillier. 
 
 All turned around to look at the young man, and Mme. 
 Minard could not refrain saying to Colleville : 
 
 "He's a good-looking young fellow." 
 
 "I have made an anagram of his name," said Celeste's 
 father ; " the letters of Charles-Marie-Theodose de la Peyrade 
 spell out this prophecy : Eh ! Monsieur payer er, de la dot, des 
 oies et le cher Be careful, my dear Madame Minard, to keep 
 from giving him your daughter." 
 
 " They find him nicer looking than my son," said Mme. 
 Phellion to Mme. Colleville; " what do you think? " 
 
 "Oh! as for looks," replied Mme. Colleville, "it would 
 be a toss-up for choice." 
 
 Vinet looked around at the roomful of middle-class people 
 and thought it might be amiss to exalt them ; he made out 
 that it was monstrous to try and save out of the emoluments 
 of an appointment, everything had so increased in cost, and 
 so on. 
 
 "My father," said he, in conclusion, "allows me a thou- 
 sand crowns a year, and, including my salary, I can hardly 
 make both ends meet." 
 
 When the young lawyer ventured on this treacherous ground, 
 the Provencal, who had led up to it, winked at Dutocq, just 
 as he was about taking his place at bouillotte. 
 
 "I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing you in court," 
 said Vinet to M. de la Peyrade. 
 
 " I am the lawyer of the poor ; I only plead before justices 
 of the peace," replied the Provencal. 
 
 When Mile. Thuillier heard the young barrister's remarks 
 as to the necessity of spending one's whole income, she took
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 89 
 
 on a most prim and ceremonious look, of which the Provencal 
 and Dutocq both well knew the significance. Vinet shortly 
 after took his leave, taking with him Minard and Julien. 
 
 " The higher bourgeoisie," said Dutocq to Thuillier, " will 
 conduct themselves just as the aristocracy were formerly wont 
 to do. The nobles wanted girls with money to improve their 
 lands ; our parvenus of to-day want handsome portions to 
 feather their nests." 
 
 " That is what Monsieur Thuillier was saying this morn- 
 ing," replied the Provencal, with careless mendacity. 
 
 "His father," replied Dutocq, "married a demoiselle de 
 Chargebceuf, and he has assumed the ideas of the nobility ; he 
 must have a fortune at whatever cost ; his wife keeps it up in 
 royal fashion." 
 
 "Oh!" said Thuillier, stirred up by the envy of the 
 middle-class against each other, " turn such people out of 
 their places, and down they go to the mud they sprang 
 from ! " 
 
 Mile. Thuillier was so rapidly knitting that it might be said 
 to have been a machine that was driven by steam. 
 
 "Now you can come in the game, Monsieur Dutocq," said 
 Mme. Minard, as she rose. " My feet are cold," she added, 
 going to the fire, which made the gold on her turban scintil- 
 late like fireworks in the light of the candles in the hanging 
 "Aurore," which vainly strove to illuminate the spacious 
 salon. 
 
 "He is but a Saint- John,* this suckling-barrister!" said 
 Mme. Minard, glancing at Mile. Thuillier. 
 
 "A Saint-John, say you?" said the Provencal, "that is 
 exceedingly witty, madame " 
 
 "But madame is witty at all times," said Handsome Thu- 
 illier. 
 
 Mme. Colleville was studying the Provencal at this time, so 
 it affords a good opportunity to describe this singular person 
 * Correggio's " St. John," at the breast.
 
 90 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 who played a great role among the Thuilliers, and who merits 
 the appellation of a great actor. 
 
 There exists in Provence, particularly at the port of Avignon, 
 a race of men with blonde or chestnut hair, of delicate skin 
 and almost weak eyes, whose pupils are rather soft, calm, or 
 languishing, than fiery, ardent, or deep, as those of South- 
 erners mostly are. It may be observed, by the way, that, 
 among Corsicans, a people subject to sudden fits of fury and 
 dangerous angers, one often encounters blondes of apparently 
 passive natures. These fair complexioned men, apt to be 
 stout, dull eyes, green or blue, are the worst species in Prov- 
 ence, and Charles-Marie-Theodose de la Peyrade afforded a 
 splendid type of this race, whose constitution would amply 
 repay examination on the part of medical science and philo- 
 sophical physiology. There is in their make-up a species of 
 bile, of bitter humor, which mounts to their head, rendering 
 them capable of ferocious deeds, done apparently in cold 
 blood. 
 
 Born in the neighborhood of Avignon, the young Pro- 
 venc.al was of medium height, well proportioned, rather stout, 
 clear but dull complexion, not livid, not pale, not florid, 
 but gelatinous, for that face can only be thus described. His 
 eyes, coldly blue, generally wore a deceptive air of melan- 
 choly, which no doubt had for women a great charm. His 
 high forehead did not lack nobleness, his light chestnut hair, 
 thin, with a natural curl at the ends, agreeably finished it. His 
 nose was exactly that of a hunting dog broad, cleft at the 
 tip, inquisitive, intelligent, prying, always alert ; it lacked 
 good-nature, but showed irony and sarcasm ; but this double- 
 faced nature was only to be detected when he was off his 
 guard a thing which rarely happened ; it was only when he 
 was in a fury that he vented the sarcastic wit and satire which 
 poisoned his infernal jesting. 
 
 His mouth was prettily shaped, his lips were red and like a 
 pomegranate, seeming to be the marvelous instrument of a
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 91 
 
 voice of which the medium tones were sweet, Theodose usually 
 spoke in that register, and the higher notes of which vibrated 
 like the sounds of a gong. The falsetto being the voice of his 
 nerves and his rage. His face, denuded of expression by his 
 command, was oval. His manner, which accorded with the 
 calm, priest-like demeanor of his face, was full of reserve and 
 propriety. 
 
 Charm, when it has its source in the heart, leaves a deep 
 impression ; when it is produced artificially, like spurious 
 eloquence, it may enjoy a passing triumph ; it will strive for 
 effect at whatever cost. 
 
 Among all maniacs the heart resembles those boxes with 
 compartments in which sugar-plums are arranged in assorted 
 colors ; suum cuique tribuere is their device, they measure each 
 duty by the dose. Now this youth of seven and twenty was a 
 philanthropist, but only among the very poor, the paupers of 
 the Saint- Jacques and Saint-Marceau quarters ; the decent poor 
 of the middle-class, capable men of genius on their uppers, he 
 would not grant admittance into charity's fold. There are 
 philanthropists who have only pity for the sins of condemned 
 criminals. Certainly vanity is at the root of all philanthropy, 
 but in our Provencal it was calculation, a part to be played, a 
 hypocrisy liberal and democratic, played with such perfection 
 that no actor could have achieved. He acknowledged him- 
 self as having been at one time a fervent disciple of Saint- 
 Simon, but this was an error only to be ascribed to the faults 
 of extreme youth. An ardent Catholic, like all the people of 
 his district, he attended early mass and concealed his piety. 
 He was like all philanthropists in that he was sordidly parsi- 
 monious, he gave nothing to the poor but his time, his coun- 
 sel, his eloquence, and such money as he could pluck from 
 the wealthy. 
 
 To finish this portrait of the Advocate of the Poor, it may 
 not be amiss to relate his debut into the Thuillier family. 
 
 Theodose had come toward the end of the year 1837; he
 
 92 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 had been admitted as an attorney five years previously, and 
 he then went through his term in Paris to become a barrister ; 
 but some unknown circumstances, as to which he retained 
 silence, had prevented him from being duly registered as a 
 barrister in Paris, and so he still remained an attorney. 
 
 He furnished his third floor as befitted his profession, and 
 became an advocate in the Assize Court. The whole of the 
 year 1838 was given up to this change in his situation ; he led 
 a perfectly regular life ; he studied in the morning till time 
 for dinner, sometimes going to the courts to listen to import- 
 ant cases. Having, with difficulty, said Dutocq, made friends 
 with Dutocq, he helped some unfortunates in the faubourg 
 Saint- Jacques, whom he had recommended, by arguing their 
 cases before the tribunal ; out of charity he obtained them the 
 interest of pleaders, who, by the statutes, take each their turn 
 in defending the causes of the impecunious ; and by taking 
 none but absolutely sure cases he gained each one. He thus 
 made a connection with some lawyers, these praiseworthy 
 efforts made him known, and he soon became a registered 
 member of the Paris bar. He became the advocate of the 
 poor before the justices of the peace, and was always the pro- 
 tector of the common people. These services of Theodose's 
 caused his clients to express their gratitude and admiration in 
 the lodges of the janitors, and, in spite of the young advo- 
 cate's injunctions, a good many of these traits were retailed 
 before their masters. Delighted to have so excellent and 
 charitable a man as a tenant, the Thuilliers were wishing to 
 attract him as a frequenter of their salon ; they questioned 
 Dutocq about him. The clerk spoke like an envious man ; 
 while doing the young man justice, he said that his avarice 
 was something remarkable, though that might be caused 
 by his poverty. 
 
 "I have inquired about him. He belongs to the family of 
 la Peyrades, an old family of the county of Avignon ; he came 
 here at the end of 1829 to look up an uncle who possessed, or
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 93 
 
 was so supposed, a considerable fortune ; he finally discovered 
 this relative's residence three days after the death of the old 
 man, and the sale of the effects of the deceased only just suf- 
 ficed to pay his debts. A friend of this useless uncle pressed 
 one hundred louis upon him, and told him to seek his fortune 
 by engaging in the study of the law, and to try for the higher 
 walks of his profession ; this hundred louis defrayed all his 
 expenses for more than three years in Paris, where he fared 
 like an anchorite ; but, as he was unable to find his unknown 
 benefactor, the poor student suffered from the greatest distress 
 in 1833. 
 
 " He then, like all licentiates, turned to politics and litera- 
 ture, barely able to support himself; for his father, the 
 youngest brother of the uncle, who had died in the Rue des 
 Moineaux, has eleven children living with him on a little 
 domain called Canquoelles. At length he got on the staff of 
 a ministerial paper edited by the famous Cerizet. The gov- 
 ernment, after this man left his own party to support them, 
 did not prevent his being ruined by the Republicans. This 
 will account for his being at the present time a mere copying 
 clerk under me. 
 
 "Well, when Celizet was flourishing and who is a right 
 good sort of a fellow, but a little too fond of the women, good 
 cheer and dissipation he befriended Theodose and was very 
 useful to him. In 1834 and 1835, he was again pretty hard 
 up, notwithstanding his talent, for his work on a ministerial 
 newspaper told against him. ' Only for my religious princi- 
 ples,' he said to me at that time, 'I should throw myself into 
 the Seine.' But at last it seems that his uncle's friend heard 
 of his straitened circumstances and again came to his relief; 
 money enough was sent to enable him to receive his diploma, 
 but he never learned the name of his mysterious protector. 
 But he will get on ! He will secure a brilliant position ; he 
 has tenacity, probity, and courage ! He studies he perse 
 veres."
 
 94 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Gradually Maitre le Peyrade attended the Thuilliers more 
 frequently than at first ; he was invited to all their dinners, 
 and if at any time he called to see Thuillier about four o'clock 
 he would join their meal, taking " pot-luck." Mile. Thuillier 
 saying : 
 
 " We are sure then that he has dined well, the poor young 
 man ! " 
 
 A social phenomenon, which must certainly have been ob- 
 served, but which has not hitherto been formulated, or pub- 
 lished, if you will, although it deserves being established, is 
 that of a return to the habits, jests, and manners of their 
 primitive condition of certain people, who from youth to old 
 age have raised themselves above it. So Thuillier had, 
 morally speaking, relapsed into the porter's son ; he would 
 use some of his father's little jokes, and at length permitted 
 to appear on the surface of his life, in his declining years, a 
 little of the mud of his early days. 
 
 About five or six times a month, when the soup was good 
 and thick, he would say, like it was something quite new : 
 
 " This shin soup is better to get than a kick on the shins ! " 
 
 Hearing this joke for the first time, Theodose, who did not 
 know it, lost his gravity and laughed with such heartiness 
 that Thuillier, Handsome Thuillier, felt his vanity immensely 
 tickled, such as it had never been before. This explains why 
 on the same morning of the soiree : 
 
 "You are more witty than you think ! " 
 
 Had received this answer : 
 
 " In any other career, my dear Theodose, I should have 
 traveled far on the good road, but the Emperor's fall broke 
 my neck." 
 
 "There is yet time for you," said the young advocate. 
 "Whence comes it that that mountebank Colleville has the 
 cross?" 
 
 There, Maitre de la Peyrade touched the raw place that 
 Thuillier had hidden from all eyes, even those of his sister,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 95 
 
 who knew nothing of it ; but this young man, interested in 
 studying all the bourgeois' traits, had guessed the secret envy 
 eating up the heart of the ex-sub-chief. 
 
 " If you will so honor me, you with all your experience, 
 by being guided by my counsel," the philanthropist went 
 on, " and more than all will never speak of our compact with 
 any person, not even your excellent sister, at least without my 
 consent, I will undertake to have you decorated with the 
 acclamations of the whole quarter." 
 
 " Oh ! if we could but accomplish this," Thuillier had ex- 
 claimed, " you don't know what I would do for you ! " 
 
 This will explain why Thuillier had so visibly puffed him- 
 self out, when Theodose had been so audacious as to proffer 
 him his opinions. 
 
 In the arts, and perhaps Moliere ranked hypocrisy in the 
 arts by always classing Tartuffe with the comedians, there exists 
 a pitch of perfection above talent to which only genius can 
 attain. There is so little difference between the work of 
 genius and the work of talent that the man of genius only 
 can appraise the distance which separates Raphael from Cor- 
 reggio, Titian from Rubens. Plenty of peasant-women carry 
 their children the same way as the celebrated Madonna of 
 Dresden carries hers. Eh, well, the acme of art, in a man of 
 such strength as Theodose, is to have said of him later : " All 
 the world would have been taken in ! " 
 
 In Colleville Theodose saw the clear, critical insight of an 
 unsuccessful artist. He knew that Colleville did not like 
 him ; Colleville had begun to believe in his anagrams ; none 
 of them had failed as prophecies. As an employ^ he had been 
 mocked at for having rendered Minard's anagram -J' ' amassai 
 une si grands fortune* or I amassed such a large fortune. 
 Minard was then very poor, but after ten years events had 
 justified it. Now Theodose's anagram was unlucky. His 
 wife's, too, made him tremble ; he had never told it to any 
 * Vide " Les Employfc."
 
 96 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 one, for Flavie Minard Colleville gave : La ineille C * * *, 
 nom fletri, vole (Old Madame C., a blighted name, steals). 
 
 After the game was ended, Colleville drew Thuillier aside 
 and said : 
 
 "You allowed him to step a bit too far, this young advo- 
 cate. He was quite too forward in this evening's conversa- 
 tion." 
 
 "Thanks, my friend, a man warned is twice armed!" 
 answered Thuillier, mocking in his sleeve at Colleville. 
 
 "Madame," said he in the ear of the pious Mme. Colle- 
 ville, for he could judge that Colleville was speaking of him 
 to Thuillier, " believe me, that if any one here can appreciate 
 you it is myself. One can only say on seeing you, here is a 
 pearl fallen in the mire, for a woman is only as old as she 
 seems ; many a woman of thirty, not at all to be compared 
 with you, would only be too happy to have your tall, sublime 
 figure and lovely face on which love has set its stamp 
 without ever having filled the void in your heart. You have 
 given yourself to God, I know. I am too religious to wish 
 to be more than your friend ; but you have given yourself to 
 Him for the reason that you have never found a man worthy 
 of you. Certainly you have been loved, but you have never 
 been worshiped. But here comes your husband, who has never 
 been able to provide a position for you in harmony with your 
 deserts ; he hates me because he imagines that I should dare 
 to love you, and thinks to hinder my speaking to you as he 
 suspects that I may be about telling you that I think I have 
 found a sphere for you in which is your high destiny. No, 
 madame," said he, in a louder voice, "it is not the Abbd 
 Gondrin who this year is the Lenten preacher in our humble 
 church of Saint- Jacques du Haut-Pas ; it is Monsieur d'Esti- 
 val, one of my compatriots, who devotes himself to preaching 
 in the benefit of the poorer classes, and you will hear one of 
 the most unctuous preachers that I know, a priest of little 
 attractiveness outwardly, but what a soul ! "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 97 
 
 "Then my desires will be accomplished," said poor Mme. 
 Thuillier; "I never could at all understand our famous 
 preachers. ' ' 
 
 A faint smile was noticed on the lips of Mile. Thuillier and 
 on those of several others. 
 
 "They occupy too much of their discourse in theological 
 demonstrations; this has been my opinion for sometime," 
 said Theodose. " But I never talk religion, and only that 
 Madame dc Colleville " 
 
 "There are, then, demonstrations in theology?" queried, 
 innocently, the professor of mathematics. 
 
 "I cannot think, monsieur," replied Theodose, looking at 
 Felix Phellion, " that you ask that question seriously." 
 
 "Felix," said old Phellion, coming ponderously to the help 
 of his son, as he noted an expression of pain on Mme. Thuil- 
 lier'sface; "Felix divides religion into two categories; he 
 regards it from the human standpoint and from the divine ; 
 tradition and reason." 
 
 " What heresy, monsieur ! " said Theodose. " Religion is 
 one; it places faith before all." 
 
 Old Phellion, nailed with this speech, looked at his wife : 
 
 "It is time, my good friend " 
 
 And he looked at the clock. 
 
 "Oh ! Monsieur Felix," said Celeste, in a whisper to the 
 candid mathematician, " cannot you, like Pascal and Bossuet, 
 be at the same time wise and pious ? " 
 
 The Phellions leaving, the Collevilles soon followed, and 
 none remained but Dutocq, Theodose, and the Thuilliers. 
 
 The flatteries addressed by Th6odose to Flavie were of the 
 commonest character, but it should be remarked in the in- 
 terest of this story that the advocate studied these vulgar 
 spirits; he sailed on their waters, he spoke their language. 
 His painter was Pierre Grassou, not Joseph Bridau ; his novel 
 was " Paul and Virginie." The greatest living poet for him 
 was Casimir Delavigne ; in his eyes the mission of art was its 
 7
 
 98 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 utility. Parmentier, the author of the potato, was to him worth 
 twenty Raphaels; the mdn in the blue blouse appeared to him 
 as "A Sister of Charity." These expressions of Thuillier's 
 he would at times repeat. 
 
 After further eulogizing religion and saying that "Science 
 had pensioned off God," and a few " Bless me's ! " Theodose 
 went away, after bidding good-night to the three Thuilliers, 
 accompanied by Dutocq. 
 
 " That young man is full of strength ? " said the sententious 
 Thuillier. 
 
 "Yes, on my faith," replied Brigitte, putting out the 
 lamps. 
 
 "He is religious," said Mme. Thuillier, being the first 
 to go. 
 
 "Mosieur," said Phellion to Colleville, when they reached 
 the School of Mines, and after he had looked around to see 
 that no one could overhear him ; "I surrender to the superior 
 knowledge of others, yet I cannot but see that this young 
 advocate plays the master just a bit too much at the Thuil- 
 liers." 
 
 "It's my private opinion," said Colleville, who was walk- 
 ing with Phellion behind his wife, Celeste, and Mme. Phellion, 
 " that he is a Jesuit, and I've no use for such the best of 
 them are no good. To me, a Jesuit is craftiness; he cheats 
 with intent ; it is a pleasure for him to deceive, and, as the 
 saying goes, to keep his hand in. That's my opinion, and 
 there are no flies on it." 
 
 " I understand you, mosieur," replied Phellion, who had 
 given his arm to Colleville. 
 
 "No, Monsieur Phellion," remarked Flavie, in a high. 
 head voice, " you don't understand Colleville ; but I well 
 know his meaning, and it would be best for him to say no 
 more." 
 
 "You are quite right, my wife," said Colleville.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 99 
 
 As they bade each other good-night, at the corner of the 
 Rue Deux-^glises, Felix said to Colleville : 
 
 "Monsieur, your son Franc. ois could, by being pushed, 
 enter the Ecole Polytechnique ; I offer to assist him in pass- 
 ing the examination this year." 
 
 "That is too good to refuse ! thank you, my friend," said 
 Colleville; "we will attend to it." 
 
 " Good ! " said Phellion to his son. 
 
 " There is nothing slow about that ! " exclaimed his mother. 
 
 "Why, what is there in it?" asked Felix. 
 
 "That is a clever method of paying court to the parents of 
 Celeste." 
 
 " May I never solve my problems if I ever gave it such a 
 thought," exclaimed the young professor. " I found, by talk- 
 ing to the young Colleville, that Francois had a vocation for 
 mathematics, so I thought it only my duty to so inform his 
 father " 
 
 " Good, my son ! " repeated Phellion. " I would not have 
 you otherwise. My wishes are granted ; in my son I find 
 probity, honor, and every public and private virtue I can 
 desire." 
 
 After Mme. Colleville had gone to bed, she said to her 
 husband : 
 
 " Colleville, don't be so ready to crudely pronounce judg- 
 ment on people unless you know them thoroughly. When 
 you speak of Jesuits I know you are thinking of priests, and to 
 oblige me I must beg you to be more careful in expressing 
 your opinions on religion in the presence of your daughter. 
 We are our own masters in respect to sacrificing our own souls, 
 but not those of our children. Do you wish to see your 
 daughter a creature without religion ? Beside, my ducky, we 
 are at the mercy of the world, we have four children for whom 
 to provide, can you say that at some time or other you may 
 not need the help of this one or that one? Do not make 
 enemies ; you have none ; you are a good fellow, and thanks
 
 100 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 to that quality, which is so charming in you, we have got 
 along in life pretty smoothly thus far " 
 
 "There, that will do!" said Colleville, who had thrown 
 his coat over a chair and was now removing his cravat ; "I 
 was wrong, you were right, my beautiful Flavie." 
 
 "At the first chance, my burly lamb," said the cunning 
 prattler, patting her husband's cheeks, "do the civil to that 
 little advocate ; he is pretty fly ; we need him on our side. 
 He is playing a part, eh ? Well, play the comedy with him ; 
 be his apparent dupe, and, if he is smart, if he has a future, 
 make him your friend. Think you that I want to see you for- 
 ever the mayor of an arrondissement ? " 
 
 "Come, here, wife Colleville," said the smiling ex-clarionet 
 of the Opera-Comique, tapping on his knees as a sign for his 
 wife to perch thereon, "let us toast our tootseys and chat. 
 When I look at you I am more than ever convinced of this 
 truth, that the youth of women is in their figure " 
 
 " And in their hearts 
 
 "In both," answered Colleville; "a light figure and a 
 heavy heart 
 
 "No, big silly deep." 
 
 " What is so nice about you is that you have preserved your 
 fresh complexion without growing fat ! But, there you have 
 small bones. I tell you what, Flavie, if I had to begin life 
 over again I should not wish for any other wife than thee." 
 
 "And you know very well that I always liked you better 
 than the others. How unfortunate that monseigneur is dead ! 
 Do you know what I should like? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 " A job under the city, a place at about twelve thousand 
 francs, something like a cashier's, either in this municipality 
 or at Poissy, or as agent." 
 
 " Either would suit me." 
 
 "Well, then, if that monster of an advocate could do 
 something; he can intrigue, you bet. I'll sound him just
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 101 
 
 leave him to me and more than all else, don't buck against 
 his game at the Thuilliers." 
 
 Theodose had touched the sore spot in Flavie Colleville's 
 heart, and this deserves an explanation which may, perhaps, 
 give a synthetic touch on the lives of women. 
 
 At forty years of age, a woman, particularly if she has 
 tasted the poisoned apple of passion, becomes aware of a 
 solemn dread ; she perceives that two deaths are hers ; the 
 death of the body and the death of the heart. Dividing 
 women into two great categories which answer to the com- 
 mon idea of them, the so-called virtuous and the culpables, it 
 is permissible to say, that all alike, after that terrible time of 
 life, resent the anguish of that acute pain. If virtuous and 
 defrauded in their nature's cravings, be it borne with courage 
 or resignation, whether they have buried their revolt in their 
 hearts or at the foot of the altar, they cannot say, without 
 some feeling of horror, that: "all is over for me." This 
 thought has such strange and infernal depths that we very 
 often find in it the cause of those apostasies which now and 
 again surprise and astonish the world. 
 
 The culpables they are in one of those dizzy positions 
 which frequently, alas, end in death or terminate in passions 
 as tremendous as the situation. Either she has been happy in 
 an atmosphere of incense, moving only in the flowery air of 
 flatteries which is one long caress, so how can she renounce it ? 
 Or, a phenomenon more fantastic than rare, she is spurred to 
 her play like a gambler making a double or quit throw, 
 for, to her, the last days of her beauty are the last things 
 that she risks on the cards of despair. 
 
 "You have been loved, but never worshiped ! " 
 
 These word of Theodose, accompanied by a look which 
 read, not in her heart, but in her life, was the missing word 
 of an -nigma, and Flavie felt herself divined. 
 
 A young officer, two dudes, a banker, a clumsy little young 
 man, and the poor Colleville, this was a grievous outfit.
 
 102 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Once in her life Madame Colleville had dreamed of happiness, 
 but she had never felt it ; then death had hatefully broken off 
 the only passion in which Flavie had found any real charm. 
 For two years she had listened to the voice of religion, which 
 had told her that neither the church nor society speaks of 
 happiness, of love, but of duty and resignation ; that, in the 
 eyes of these two great powers, happiness lies in the satisfac- 
 tion arising from painful or costly duties, and that the reward 
 is not of this world. But she heard a more clamorous voice, 
 so, as her religion was but a necessary mask, not a conversion, 
 and as she dared not remove it, for she looked upon it as a 
 resource for the future, she hung on to the church, the same 
 as a man at the cross-roads in a forest, seated on a bank, 
 reading the guide-posts of the road, but trusting to chance as 
 to what might happen when the night came. 
 
 She knew that Theodose had surreptitiously watched her ; 
 she had dressed at him, wearing at times her dress of gray 
 moire, her black lace, and her headdress of flowers twisted in 
 her mechlin, making the most of herself, and he had known 
 it every man does when a woman dresses for him. 
 
 Flavie had been expecting, Sunday after Sunday, that Theo- 
 dose would make a declaration. She said to herself: 
 
 " He knows I am ruined and he has not a sou ! Perhaps, 
 though, he is really pious ! " 
 
 Theodose had no desire to hurry matters, and, like a com- 
 petent musician, he had marked the place in the symphony 
 where he meant to give the thump on the big drum. As he 
 went to bed he reflected : 
 
 "The wife is on my side; the husband cannot suffer me; 
 just now they are quarreling, and I shall come out on top, for 
 she can do as she wills with her husband." 
 
 The Provencal was mistaken, as there had not been the least 
 dispute, and Colleville slept beside his dear Flavie while she 
 said to herself: 
 
 "The"odose is a superior man."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 103 
 
 The following Sunday he was almost certain to find Mad- 
 ame Colleville at church ; in fact, they came out at the same 
 time, meeting on the Rue des Deux-Eglises. Theodose of- 
 fered Flavie his arm, which she accepted, telling her daughter 
 to walk on in front with her brother Anatole. 
 
 " Have you done me the honor and favor of thinking over 
 what I so clumsily said the other day?" asked the wheedling 
 advocate of the pretty devotee as he pressed her arm to his 
 heart with a movement at once gentle and firm, for he pre- 
 tended to dissemble his feelings and appear respectful against 
 his impulse. " Do not mistake my intentions," he continued, 
 receiving a look from Madame Colleville one of those 
 glances with which women who have tasted and practiced 
 passion can express either severe reproof or a secret commun- 
 ity of sentiment. 
 
 Then he told her how Christian charity embraces the strong 
 equally with the weak, that its treasures are for all. That it 
 was sad to see so refined, elegant, and graceful a woman in 
 such dire surroundings, adding : 
 
 "Oh, if only I were wealthy. Ah, if I had but power, 
 your husband, who is certainly a good devil, should become 
 a receiver-general, and you could make him a deputy. 
 
 " But I am poor and ambitious, my first duty is to crush 
 my ambition. I find myself at the bottom of the bag like the 
 last number in a lottery ; I can only offer my arm where I 
 fain would give my heart. All my hopes rest on a good mar- 
 riage, and, believe me, I should make my wife's lot a happy 
 one ; not only that, but I should raise her to be one of the 
 first in the State if only she finds me the means for my ad- 
 vancement. It is a lovely day, come for a stroll in the 
 Luxembourg?" 
 
 The listless arm held in his own indicated a tacit consent, 
 and, as she deserved the honor of a species of violence, he 
 dragged her more rapidly along, adding : 
 
 " Come along, we shall never have such an excellent oppor-
 
 104 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 tunity. Oh ! " he cried, "your husband sees us; he is at the 
 window; walk more slowly." 
 
 "There is nothing to fear from Monsieur Colleville," said 
 Flavie, smiling. "He leaves me the absolute mistress of my 
 actions." 
 
 "Oh! here is the woman of whom I have dreamed!" 
 exclaimed the Provencal, with that- ecstasy and accent ema- 
 nating only from the souls and spoken by the lips of South- 
 erners. 
 
 "Pardon me, madame," said he, checking himself and re- 
 turning from that lofty sphere to the exiled angel whom he 
 piously regarded. "Excuse me! to return to what I was 
 
 saying Ah ! how can I be otherwise than sensible of 
 
 the sorrows I myself experience when I see the lot of a being 
 to whom life should only bring joy and happiness? Your 
 -sufferings are mine; I am no more in my right place than 
 you are in yours. Ah ! dear Flavie, the first time it was 
 granted me to see you was on the last Sunday in the month 
 of September, 1838. You were lovely; I shall often recall 
 you in that little dress of mousselinc de laine, colored like the 
 tartan of some Scottish clan. On that day I said to myself: 
 'Why is this woman at the home of the Thuillicrs, and 
 why, above all, should she ever have 'had relations with a 
 Thuillier?'" 
 
 " Monsieur ! " said Flavie, startled at the rapid flow which 
 the Provencal gave to the conversation. 
 
 "Oh ! I know all," cried he, with an expressive shrug of 
 the shoulder, "and can explain everything to myself; I do 
 not esteem you the less. There ! these are not the faults of 
 an ugly or humpbacked woman. You have to gather the fruit 
 of your error, and I will help you. Celeste will be very rich 
 and there is where your future prospects must be found ; you 
 cannot have more than one son-in-law, so choose him with 
 care. An ambitious man may become a minister, but you 
 become humiliated ; he would annoy you, and make your
 
 'EH, WELL, YES, I LOVE YOU," SAID HE.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 105 
 
 daughter unhappy ; and, if he loses her fortune, he will cer- 
 tainly never re-make it. Eh, well, yes, I love you," said he; 
 " and I love you with an affection without bounds ; you are 
 above a crowd of petty considerations that bind simpletons. 
 We understand each other " 
 
 Flavie was simply astounded ; nevertheless, she was sensible 
 of the excessive frankness of speech ; she said to herself : 
 " There is no mystery in such talk as this." But she was fain 
 to acknowledge that never before had she been so deeply 
 moved and agitated as by this young man. 
 
 " Monsieur, I don't know by whom you have been misled 
 in regard to my past life, and by what right you " 
 
 "Ah! pardon me, madame," interrupted the Provencal, 
 with a frigidity bordering on scorn ; " I have been dreaming ! 
 I said to myself: ' She is all that ; ' but I was deceived. I now 
 know why you will always remain aloft on the fourth floor in 
 the Rue d'Enfer." 
 
 A gesture of the arm toward the window at which Colleville 
 stood emphasized this retort. 
 
 " I have been frank, I expected reciprocity. Many a day 
 I have gone without bread, madame ; I managed to live, 
 studied, obtained the grade of licentiate in Paris, my whole 
 capital being two thousand francs ; and I came through the 
 barriere d'ltalie with five hundred francs in my pocket, vow- 
 ing, like one of my compatriots, that some day I would be- 
 come the leading man in my country. And the man who has 
 often rifled his breakfast out the restaurateurs' baskets into 
 which his leavings were thrown, and which are emptied out- 
 doors at six o'clock in the morning, when the second-hand 
 eating-houses can find nothing more fit to take that man will 
 not shrink from any available chance. Eh, now ! do you 
 believe me the friend of the people?" said he, smiling; 
 " fame needs a loud voice ; she cannot be heard speaking with 
 half-closed lips ; and without renown, what is the use of talent? 
 Say, now, have I not opened all before you ? Open your heart
 
 106 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 to me. Say to me : ' We are friends,' and we shall all some 
 day be happy." 
 
 "My God! why did I come herewith you? Why did I 
 take your arm ? " cried Flavie. 
 
 "Because it is your destiny ! " replied he. "Eh, my dear 
 and best-loved Flavie," added he, pressing her arm to his 
 heart ; " you did not expect commonplaces from me, did you? 
 We are brother and sister that is all." 
 
 And they turned toward the Rue d'Enfer. 
 
 Flavie experienced a great fear beneath the satisfaction that 
 a woman finds in violent emotions, she wrongly imagined this 
 dread for a new passion beginning ; but she was under a spell 
 and walked along in deep silence. 
 
 "Of what are you thinking?" he asked, when half-way 
 along the path. 
 
 " Of all that you brought me here to say," she replied. 
 
 "But," he answered, "at our age, we skip the prelim- 
 inaries; we are not children, and we both live in a sphere in 
 which we should understand each other. In short, believe 
 me," he added, as they turned into the Rue d'Enfer, "I am 
 wholly yours," and he made a profound salutation. 
 
 "The irons are in the fire ! " said he to himself, as his eye 
 followed his giddy prey. 
 
 On returning to his home, Th6odose found on his landing 
 a person who in this story figures somewhat as a sub-marine, 
 or otherwise like unto a buried church upon which has been 
 erected the front of a palace. 
 
 The sight of this man, who had vainly pulled his door-bell, 
 startled the Provencal, but he did not betray his hidden 
 emotion. This man was Crizet, Dutocq's copying-clerk. 
 
 Cerizet, only eight and thirty, looked like a man of fifty, 
 who has become old by all that ages a man. His bald head 
 offered to view a yellow skull barely covered by a rusty, dis- 
 colored wig; his face, pale, flaccid, irregularly chiseled and 
 harsh, seeming all the more ugly by a much-disfigured nose,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 107 
 
 but not so badly so as to necessitate his wearing a false one ; 
 from the bridge at the forehead to the nostrils it existed as 
 nature had made it, but disease had destroyed its wings 
 toward the end, leaving two holes of fantastic appearance, 
 thickening his pronunciation and impeding his speech. His 
 eyes, formerly fine, but now weakened by every manner of 
 vice and wear, by nights formerly given to work ; they had 
 become trimmed with red and gave a damaged appearance ; 
 his look, when stirred by an expression of malice, had fright- 
 ened both judges and criminals, even those who are afraid of 
 nothing. 
 
 His denuded mouth, apparently only containing a few 
 blackened stumps of teeth, was sinister ; it was frothy with a 
 white saliva which did not, however, moisten his thin, pallid 
 lips. 
 
 Cerizet, a little man, less lean than shrunken, endeavored 
 to correct the misfortunes to his person by his apparel, and, 
 if his dress was not magnificent, it was at least scrupulously 
 clean, which, perhaps, only intensified its wretchedness. 
 Everything about him seemed doubtful his age, his nose, 
 his looks. It was impossible to say whether he was eight and 
 thirty or sixty; whether his faded blue trousers, neatly strapped, 
 would presently be in fashion or dated from the year 1835. 
 His limp boots, carefully blacked, resoled for the third time, 
 had most likely trodden the carpets of ministers' offices. His 
 overcoat, trimmed with heavy braid, drenched by the rains, 
 with oval buttons that indiscreetly displayed their moulds, 
 showed by its cut that it had once been elegant. His collar 
 and satin tie happily hid his lack of linen, but at the back the 
 teeth of the buckle had frayed it, and the satin shone with 
 the friction and grease of his wig. In the days of its youth 
 his vest had not been wanting in smartness, but it was one of 
 those vests which are to be purchased for four francs out of 
 the depths of a ready-made tailor-shop. Each article had 
 been carefully brushed, including the bruised and shining
 
 108 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 stovepipe hat. Everything harmonized and matched the 
 black gloves which hid the hands of this Mephistopheles. 
 
 He was an artist in evil. Becoming the owner of a printing 
 business by acting treacherously to his master, he afterward 
 figured as the publisher of a liberal newspaper ; there he be- 
 came the pet victim of the Royalist ministers after the Resto- 
 ration, being known as the e< unfortunate " Cerizet. In 1830 
 his patriotic renown gained him a sub-prefecture, whence he 
 was ousted after six months ; he raised such a hullabaloo about 
 it, saying he had been condemned unheard, that Casimir 
 Perier's ministry made him the editor of an anti-Republican 
 paper in the pay of the government. Afterward he went into 
 business and was mixed up in one of the most disastrous 
 joint-stock companies that ever called for criminal prosecution ; 
 quite serenely he accepted his severe sentence, blaming the 
 Republicans for it. His term of imprisonment was passed in 
 a lunatic asylum. The government cast him off; they were 
 ashamed of a man with such a disgraceful swindling record, 
 done in combination with a retired banker named Claparon, 
 and which brought him down to a well-deserved reprobation. 
 In the depths of his misery this man dreamed of revenge, 
 and, as he had nothing to lose, he was ready for anything 
 that might encompass it. Dutocq and himself were as one in 
 their habitual depravity. Cerizet was to Dutocq what the 
 greyhound is to the courser. 
 
 Cirizet, who knew all that misfortune can bring, lent 
 money in trifling loans on short time at ruinous interest ; he 
 had commenced as Dutocq's partner, and this old gutter-snipe 
 had become the street-hawker's banker; this push-cart huck- 
 ster's bill-discounter was the gnawing worm of two faubourgs. 
 
 When the advocate of the poor arrived, he let into his 
 apartments Cerizet and Dutocq. All three crossed a small 
 room paved in red encaustic tiles, which by their waxed sur- 
 face reflected the daylight entering through two cotton cur- 
 tains. From it they went into a little sitting-room furnished
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 109 
 
 with red curtains, a mahogany suite, covered with red Utrecht 
 velvet ; on a wall was a bookcase filled with law books. The 
 mantel was ornamented with vulgar gewgaws, a clock with 
 four mahogany columns, and candlesticks under glass-shades. 
 The study, where, in front of a coal-fire, the three friends 
 seated themselves, was that of a sucking-calf of the law ; it was 
 furnished with an office desk, an armchair, little, green silk 
 Curtains at the windows, a green carpet, a set of pigeon-holes, 
 and a couch, over which hung an ivory crucifix mounted in 
 velvet. The bedroom, kitchen, and the rest of the rooms 
 overlooked the courtyard. 
 
 "Well," said Cerizet, "how goes it? Is everything on 
 the go?" 
 
 "Yes," replied The~odose. 
 
 "Confess that I had a bright idea, eh?" cried Dutocq, 
 " when I thought up a scheme to get round that imbecile of 
 aThuillier " 
 
 "Yes, but I'm not behindhand," exclaimed Ce"rizet. "I 
 have come this morning to give you the cord for tying the 
 thumbs of the old maid so as to make her spin like a teetotum. 
 Don't make any mistake ! Mademoiselle Thuillier is everything 
 in this matter ; only get over her and you have captured the 
 town. Talk little, but talk well, like people who know their 
 business. My old associate, Claparon, you know, is an idiot ; 
 he will always remain what he has always been a mere 
 stalking-horse. Just now his name is being used by a notary 
 of Paris in association with some builders, who, builders and 
 notary, are all going to the dogs ! Claparon is the scapegoat, 
 he has not yet been a bankrupt, but every one must have a 
 beginning, and, at this very moment, he is hiding in my den 
 at the Rue des Poules, where he will never be discovered. 
 My Claparon is furious, he hasn't got a sou ; and among the 
 five or six houses which have to be sold, one is a perfect gem of 
 a house, built of squared stone and right near the Madeleine 
 it has a front patterned like a melon and ravishing sculpture
 
 110 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 but, not being finished, it might be given for at most one hun- 
 dred thousand francs ; by spending twenty-five thousand francs 
 on it, the buyer in two years could make ten thousand francs 
 per annum. In helping Mademoiselle Thuillier to secure this, 
 you can gain her esteem, for you can give her to understand 
 that such can be picked up through you every year. Vanity 
 can be worked by flattering its self-conceit ; money-grubbers 
 either by an attack on or replenishing their purses. And as, 
 after all, working for Thuillier is working for ourselves, it is 
 only fair to let her profit by this lucky stroke." 
 
 "And the notary," said Dutocq, "why does he let it 
 slip?" 
 
 " The notary, my poor boy ? It is he who saves us. Being 
 compelled to see his connection in fact ruined, he is reserving 
 this part of the crumbs of his cake. Believing in the honesty 
 of that imbecile Claparon, he has instructed him to find a 
 nominal purchaser ; for he looks equally for prudence and 
 confidence. We just allow him to think that Mademoiselle 
 Thuillier is an honest maiden lady, who gives the use of her 
 name to poor Claparon, and then both Claparon and the 
 notary will be caught. I owe this little turn to my good 
 friend Claparon for letting me in to bear the brunt of the 
 matter in his stock concern, which was smashed by Couture, 
 in whose skin you would hate to find yourselves! " said he, 
 with a flash of infernal hatred in his dull, fishy eyes. " I have 
 said, monseigneurs ! " added he in a rough voice, which 
 passed loud through his nose-holes, and assuming a dramatic 
 pose, for once, at a time of extreme poverty, he had been an 
 actor. 
 
 As he finished the door-bell rang, and la Peyrade went to 
 open the door. 
 
 " Are you altogether sure of him ? " said Cerizet to Dutocq. 
 "I detect a manner about him in short, I have known 
 traitors." 
 
 "He is completely in our hands," said Dutocq; "so I
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. Ill 
 
 haven't given myself the trouble of watching him ; but, be- 
 tween ourselves, I did not think him so smart as he is. We 
 had an idea that we had placed a sorrel horse between the 
 legs of a man who didn't know how to ride, and the lubber 
 is an old jockey ! And there you are ! " 
 
 " He had better lookout ! " said Cerizet, in an undertone. 
 " I can puff him over like a castle of cards. As to you, 
 Daddy Dutocq, you can watch him at work and see him at 
 every moment; just keep him under surveillance. I'll feel 
 his pulse, too; I'll get Claparon to employ him to get rid of 
 us ; then we can judge where we stand." 
 
 " That's a good scheme," said Dutocq ; " your eyes are as 
 good as most folks." 
 
 " We are all in the same boat ; that's all there is to it ! " 
 replied C6rizet. 
 
 When the advocate reappeared Cerizet was examining all in 
 the study. 
 
 " It is Thuillier," said Theodose. " I expected him call- 
 ing. He is in the salon. It won't do for him to see Ceri- 
 zet's overcoat," added he, smiling; " the frogs on it would 
 startle him." 
 
 " Bah ! you rescue the unfortunate, that is your part in the 
 play. Do you need some money?" asked Cerizet, and 
 brought out one hundred francs from his trousers' pocket. 
 " There, see, that looks well ; " and he placed the pile on the 
 mantel-shelf. 
 
 " We shall be able to get out through the bedroom," said 
 Dutocq. 
 
 "Well, then, adieu," said the Provencal, as he opened the 
 door for them leading from the office to the bedroom. 
 " Come in, my dear Monsieur Thuillier," he called out to the 
 dude of the Empire. 
 
 When he saw that he had reached the door of his office, 
 and could no longer see on to the landing, he went to let out 
 his two associates by the other way.
 
 112 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "In six months you should by rights be the husband of 
 Celeste, and doing well. You're a lucky dog ; you haven't 
 found yourself in the police dock twice, as I have the first 
 time in 1825 under a constructive process, or treason, follow- 
 ing a series of articles that I never wrote ; and the second time 
 for appropriating the profits of a concern that didn't pan 
 out ! Now set the pot a-boiling ; by a paper-sack ! Dutocq 
 and myself need that twenty-five thousand francs, each of us, 
 as soon as may be; be of good courage, my friend," added 
 he, proffering his hand to Theodose, and proving him by his 
 
 grip- 
 
 The Provencal gave his right hand and wrung his with 
 
 much unction. 
 
 " My dear boy, you may be well assured that in every posi- 
 tion I attain I shall not forget that from which you rescued 
 me by placing me on horseback here. I am your bait, but 
 you give me the greater portion, and I should be worse than 
 a convict who has become a police-spy if I did not play a 
 square game." 
 
 Cerizet, as soon as the door was closed upon him, peered 
 through the key-hole to try and catch the expression on the 
 other's face, but the lawyer had turned his back and went to 
 join Thuillier, so his suspicious ally could not detect aught. 
 
 Thdodose, though, saw a multiplying chance of success ; he 
 flattered himself that he could get rid of his sordid friends, 
 although all he had he owed to them. 
 
 "Well, my dear Theodose," said Thuillier, "we have 
 been hoping to see you each day since Sunday, but each even- 
 ing has seen our hopes delayed. As this Sunday is our 
 dinner-day, my sister and wife charged me to bid you 
 come " 
 
 " I have had so much business/' said Theodose, " that I 
 have not had two minutes to give to a soul, not even you, 
 whom I count in the number of my friends, and with whom I 
 have particularly wished to speak."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. ' 113 
 
 "How! You seriously think of that you told me?" ex- 
 claimed Thuillier, interrupting Theodose. 
 
 " If you hadn't called to clinch the business, I should not 
 esteem you as I do," said Theodose, smiling. "You have 
 been a sub-chief; therefore you must have more or less ambi- 
 tion, and in you it is legitimate, or the deuce is in it. See, 
 now ! between you and me, when we see a Minard, a gilded 
 blockhead, complimented by the King and doing the swagger- 
 act in the Tuileries ; a Popinot in the track of becoming a 
 minister and you, a man inured into the work of the ad- 
 ministration, a man who has had thirty years' experience, who 
 has seen six governments, left to transplant his balsam seed- 
 lings ! What then ? I am frank, my dear Thuillier, I want 
 to give you a push, because you will pull me after you. 
 
 "Well, then, here is my plan. We have to name a mem- 
 ber of the Municipal Council for this arrondissement, and 
 that man must be you ! and," said he, emphasizing the 
 word " must be you ! Some day you will most assuredly 
 be the deputy from the arrondissement, when we reeled the 
 Chamber it's not far off. The voices which nominate you for 
 the Municipal Council will be there when the time for elect- 
 ing a deputy comes ; you leave it to me." 
 
 "But what means have you?" exclaimed Thuillier. fasci- 
 nated. 
 
 " You shall know ; but leave me alone to manage this long 
 and difficult business ; if you commit any indiscretion on what 
 we have said as to our plans or the arrangements between 
 us, I leave you to yourself, and remain yours truly ! " 
 
 " Oh ! you may count on the absolute dumbness of an old 
 sub-chief; I have had secrets " 
 
 " Good ! but you must keep these secrets from your wife, 
 your sister, and Monsieur and Madame Colleville, when we 
 are with them." 
 
 " I won't let a muscle play in my face," said Thuillier, put- 
 ting it in repose. 
 8
 
 114 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Good ! " replied la Peyrade ; "and I will test you. To 
 be eligible, it is necessary to pay your full taxes, and you 
 don't do this." 
 
 1 ' Your pardon ! for a seat in the Municipal Council I 
 am all right; I pay two francs and eighty-six centimes." 
 
 ''Yes, but for the Chamber the amount is five hundred 
 francs, and there is no time to be lost, for possession is neces- 
 sary for a year." 
 
 "The .devil ! " said Thuillier. " Here in a year's time \ 
 have to be assessed at five hundred francs." 
 
 "By the end of July, if not earlier, you may be paying it; 
 my devotion to you leads me to confide to you the secret of 
 an affair by which you may gain thirty or forty thousand 
 francs a year with a capital of one hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand at the most. But, in your household, it is your sister 
 who for a long time has had the direction of your affairs; 
 with that I have no fault to find ; she has, as I said before, 
 the best judgment in the world ; therefore it will be requisite, 
 as a start, that I conquer her esteem; the affection of Made- 
 moiselle Brigitte may be accomplished by proposing this in- 
 vestment to her, and here is why : if Mademoiselle Thuillier 
 has not faith in my relics, we should get into trouble ; then 
 how are we to suggest to your sister that she should purchase 
 the property in your name? It were better that the idea 
 should come from me. You shall, in the meantime, both be 
 enabled to judge of this business. As to the means I have to 
 push you into the Municipal Council of the Seine, here they 
 are: 
 
 "Phellion has the disposition of one-fourth of the votes 
 in the quarter ; he and Laudigeois have lived there thirty 
 years ; they are looked upon as oracles. I have a friend who 
 controls another fourth, and the cure of Saint- Jacques, who 
 is not without a certain influence due to his virtues, may secure 
 some votes. Dutocq, by his intimacy with his justice of the 
 peace, will do his utmost for me, especially if it is not done
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 115 
 
 for my personal benefit ; finally Colleville, as secretary to the 
 mayor, represents one-fourth of the votes." 
 
 " Why, you are right ; I am elected ! " cried Thuillier. 
 
 "You think so?" said la Peyrade, and his voice had an 
 alarming irony; "well, then, only go to your friend Colle- 
 ville asking him to assist you; you will see what he says. 
 Every success in election matters is not made by the candi- 
 date himself, but by his friends. He must ask for nothing 
 for himself, he must leave himself in the hands of his friends; 
 you must wait to be begged to accept it, seeming to be with- 
 out the ambition." 
 
 "La Peyrade ! " exclaimed Thuillier, rising and taking 
 the hand of the young advocate; ""you are an awfully smart 
 man." 
 
 "Not up to you, but I have my little merits," replied the 
 Provengal, smiling. 
 
 "And if we succeed, how can I recompense you?" asked 
 Thuillier, innocently. 
 
 "Ah! that's it! You will think me impertinent; but 
 bear in mind that there is within me a feeling which must be 
 my excuse ; for it has given me the pluck to try every resource. 
 I am in love, I give you my confidence " 
 
 " But with whom?" said Thuillier. 
 
 " Your darling little Celeste," replied la Peyrade ; "and my 
 love is surety for my devotion to you ; what would I not do 
 for a father-in-law ! It is but selfishness, I do but work for 
 myself " 
 
 " Chut ! " cried Thuillier. 
 
 "Eh, my friend," said la Peyrade, taking Thuillier by the 
 hips, " if I had not had Flavie for me, and if I had not 
 known all, should I speak of it to you ? Only mind this, don't 
 mention a word on this subject to her. Listen to me, I am 
 of the stuff that ministers are made, I do not want to wear 
 Celeste until I have won her. To become a deputy for Paris 
 you must first annul Minard ; wipe him out, you must still
 
 116 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 hold your influence over him ; to this end let them still hope 
 to win Celeste, and we'll trick them all. I don't want her 
 for her fortune, I want her for herself. You see that I have 
 no underhand scheme, while you six months after entering 
 the Council will have the Cross, and as soon as you are 
 elected deputy will be made an officer of the Legion of 
 Honor. Well, then, trust to me; do not think of making 
 me a member of your family until you have the ribbon in your 
 button-hole, on the day following that on which you enter the 
 Chamber ; nevertheless, I can do still more : I can get you 
 forty thousand francs a year." 
 
 " For only one of these three things you could have our 
 Celeste." 
 
 " What a gem ! " said la Peyrade, raising his eyes to heaven. 
 " I am foolish enough to pray God for her every day. She 
 is charming she is very like you, very. Well, well, you 
 need not fear my discretion. My God, it was Dutocq who 
 told me all. Till this evening. By-the-by, don't forget that 
 you never intended Celeste for me. Above all, say nothing 
 to Flavie." 
 
 As Thuillier went out he said to himself: 
 
 " That's a very superior man ! We shall get along together 
 famously, and, my faith, it would be hard to beat him as a 
 match for Celeste;" and so forth. 
 
 The house toward which Theodose soon afterward went his 
 way had been the hoc erai in votis of Phellion during twenty 
 years past ; it was as much the house of Phellion as the 
 braiding, the brandebourgs, were an integral portion of Ceri- 
 zet's overcoat and its indispensable ornament. 
 
 This building, planked up against a great house, of the 
 depth of one room only, some twenty feet, had a species of 
 little wing or lean-to on either side, each having one window. 
 It had for chief charm a garden some thirty fathoms wide, 
 but longer than the frontage by the width of a court from the 
 street, and a row of lime-trees.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 117 
 
 This edifice of rough stone, stuccoed over, three stories 
 high, was yellow-washed, with Venetian blinds above and 
 plain, broad shutters below, painted green. The kitchen oc- 
 cupied the first floor of the wings at the end, by the court- 
 yard ; a stout, strong girl, protected by two great dogs, was 
 the cook and janitor. The front had five windows, beside the 
 two wings which projected about six feet, and was in the 
 " Style Phellion." Above the door he had inserted a marble 
 tablet, on which was inscribed in letters of gold : Aurea me- 
 diocritas. Over a sun-dial he had a tablet on which was traced 
 this sage maxim : Umbra mea vita sic ! 
 
 He had lately restored the window-sills with Languedoc red 
 marble which he had picked up in a stonemason's yard. At 
 the end of the garden was a colored statue which passers-by 
 thought looked like a nurse suckling a baby. This small 
 freehold, which had been long coveted by the Phellions, had 
 cost eighteen thousand francs in 1831. 
 
 Such was the retreat of this great but unknown citizen, who 
 now enjoyed the sweets of repose, after having paid his 
 debt to his country by working in the Bureau of Finance 
 from which he had retired as first-clerk after thirty-six years' 
 service. 
 
 In 1832 he had led his battalion of the National Guard in 
 the attack at Saint-Merri, but his neighbors saw tears in his 
 eyes at the thought of being compelled to fire on the misled 
 Frenchmen. His virtuous hesitancy gained him the esteem 
 of his quarter, but it lost him the decoration of the Legion of 
 Honor. The worthy man only wished this to fill his cup of 
 happiness. He had thought of asking Minard to help him in 
 his secret ambition, but had not as yet been able to screw 
 himself up to this pome. 
 
 When la Peyrade presented himself the family was com- 
 plete, each one being present in their Sunday best and sitting 
 before the fire in the salon a room wainscoted in wood, 
 painted in two tints of gray they all started when the cook
 
 118 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 announced the very man whom they had all been discussing 
 in reference to Celeste, Felix's love carrying him so far as to 
 cause him to go to mass in order to see her. 
 
 "Alas ! the Thuilliers appear to me to be set upon a really 
 dangerous man," said Mme. Phellion ; "he took Madame 
 Colleville on his arm this morning and they went off together 
 to the Luxembourg." 
 
 "He has something peculiarly sinister about him," cried 
 Felix, "has that advocate; if told that he had committed 
 some crime, I should not be at all astonished." 
 
 "You are going too far," said his father ; "he is cousin- 
 german to Tartuffe, that immortal figure cast in bronze by 
 our honest Moliere, for Moliere, my children, had honesty 
 and patriotism for the basis of his genius." 
 
 Thus speaking he perceived Genevieve enter, who said: 
 
 " Here is Monsieur de la Peyrade, who wishes to speak to 
 monsieur." 
 
 "Tome! " cried M. Phellion. "Bid him enter! " added he 
 with that solemnity in little things 'that gave him a ridiculous 
 air, but not so to his family upon whom it always imposed, 
 and all of whom accepted him as their king. 
 
 " To what do we owe the honor of your visit, monsieur ? " 
 said Phellion severely. 
 
 "To your importance in the quarter, my dear Monsieur 
 Phellion, and to public affairs," replied Theodose. 
 
 "Then we will pass through to my study," said Phellion. 
 
 "No, no, my friend," said Mme. Phellion, a little woman, 
 as flat as a flounder, and who still retained on her face the 
 grim severity which is habitual to the professor of music in 
 young ladies' seminaries ; "we will leave you here." 
 
 An upright Erard piano placed between the two windows 
 and fronting the fireplace proclaimed her pretensions to still 
 rank as a virtuoso. 
 
 "Am I so unhappy as to cauSe you to take flight?" said 
 Theodose, pleasantly smiling at the mother and daughter.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 119 
 
 "You have a delightful retreat here," continued he, "and 
 you only need the presence of a pretty daughter-in-law to en- 
 able you to pass the remainder of your days in that aurea 
 mediocritas, the vow of the Latin poet, in the midst of family 
 joys. Your antecedents merit this recompense, after all that 
 you have done, my dear Monsieur Phellion ; you are at once 
 a good citizen and a patriarch " 
 
 "Mosieur," said Phellion, quite embarrassed; " mosieur, 
 I have done my jooty (duty) and that is orl (all)." 
 
 At the word "daughter-in-law," spoken by Theodose, 
 Mme. Barniol, who was as like her mother, Mme. Phellion, 
 as two drops of water resemble each other, looked at Mme. 
 Phellion and Felix in a manner which seemed to say : " Can 
 we be mistaken? " 
 
 The desire to talk about this incident occasioned the four 
 to go out into the garden, for, in March, 1840, the weather 
 was quite fine, at least in Paris. 
 
 " Commandant," said Theodose when alone with the 
 honest burgher, who was flattered at being thus addressed, 
 "I came to speak with you on election matters." 
 
 "Ah! yes, we have to nominate a municipal councilor," 
 said Phellion, interrupting him. 
 
 "And it is in reference to a candidate that I have ventured 
 to trouble your Sunday enjoyment ; but, perhaps, we may not, 
 after all, go beyond the family circle." 
 
 It was impossible that Phellion could be more Phellion at 
 this moment than Theodose was Phellion. 
 
 "I will not allow you to say another word," replied the 
 commandant, profiting by a pause made by Theodose to cut 
 in : " My choice is made." 
 
 "We have, then, the same idea," cried Theodose, " people 
 of good intent meet on a common ground the same as men ot 
 genius." 
 
 " I don't know about that being so this time, it would be 
 phenomenal," answered Phellion. " This arrondissement has
 
 120 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 had as a representative on the Municipal Council the most 
 virtuous of men, who was also a great judge, you know, the 
 late Monsieur Popinot, who died as councilor of State. When 
 it was necessary to replace him, his nephew, who inherits his 
 beneficence, was not then a resident in the quarter, but, since 
 then, he has purchased and now occupies the house that be- 
 longed to his uncle, on the Rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Gene- 
 vieve ; he is doctor at the Polytechnic and also at one of the 
 hospitals ; he is an ornament to our quarter ; by these titles, 
 and to honor in the person of the nephew the memory of the 
 uncle, some residents of the quarter and myself have resolved 
 to carry Dr. Horace Bianchon, member of the Academy of 
 Sciences, as you know, and one of the new glories of the illus- 
 trious school (of medicine) of Paris. A man is not great in 
 our eyes simply because he is celebrated, but the late Coun- 
 cilor Popinot was, in my opinion, nearly a Saint-Vincent de 
 Paul." 
 
 "A doctor is not an administrator," replied Th6odose; 
 " and I have come to ask your vote for a man which in your 
 own interests demands the sacrifice of any predilection, which 
 after all is a matter of indifference to the public." 
 
 "Ah! monsieur! " cried Phellion, rising and posing like 
 Lafon in his "LaGlorieux" attitude, "can you so belittle 
 me as to think that my personal interests can ever influence 
 my political conscience ? On the side of public matters, I am 
 a citizen, nothing more, nothing less." 
 
 Theodose smiled in his sleeve at the thought of the struggle 
 about to pass between the father and the citizen. 
 
 "Don't engage your convictions too earnestly, I entreat 
 you," said la Peyrade ; " for the happiness of your dear Felix 
 is at stake." 
 
 "What do you mean by those words ?" asked Phellion, 
 standing in the middle of the room, in the favorite pose of the 
 famous Odilon Barrot. 
 
 "Why, I have come on behalf of our mutual friend, the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 121 
 
 worthy and excellent Monsieur Thuillier, whose influence over 
 the destinies of the lovely Celeste Colleville are not unknown 
 to you. Your admirable son might make any family proud of 
 his entry into it ; now you cannot better further his marriage 
 with the charming Celeste than by earning the eternal grati- 
 tude of the Thuilliers, which you can do by recommending 
 him to your fellow-citizens for their suffrages. I have devoted 
 myself, monsieur, to the service of the humble, as did the late 
 Councilor Popinot, a sublime man, as you say ; and if my 
 destiny were not in some sense religious, and thus antagonistic 
 to the obligations of marriage, my taste, my further vocation, 
 would be for the service of God by His church. I am not al- 
 ways on the carpet like other philanthropists ; I do not write, 
 I work, for I am a man who has vowed to do all for the good 
 of Christian charity. I have guessed at the ambition of our 
 friend Thuillier, and I wished to contribute to the happiness 
 of two beings, made for each other, by offering you the means 
 of gaining access to the heart, a somewhat cold one, of 
 Thuillier." 
 
 Phellion was dumfounded by this excellent harangue, 
 cleverly spoken ; he was dazed, startled ; but he remained the 
 same Phellion ; he went toward the advocate and extended 
 his right hand, and la Peyrade gave him his. 
 
 Both gave one of those wrings of the hand such as were 
 given, about August, 1830, between a bourgeoisie and a man 
 of the morrow. 
 
 " Mosieur," said the commandant, with feeling, "I judged 
 you wrongly. What you have given me the honor of con- 
 fiding here will here die," pointing to his heart. "Real 
 worth is so rare, that in our weak nature we are apt to be dis- 
 trustful of it when it appears. In me you have a friend, if you 
 will allow me to do myself the honor of taking such title. 
 But, m6sieur, you must learn to know me ; I should sink in 
 my own estimation if I proposed Thuillier. No, my son must 
 never know happiness at the cost of a bad act done by his
 
 122 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 father. I shall not change my vote to another candidate to 
 there find my son's interest. That is virtue, mosieur ! " 
 
 La Peyrade took out his handkerchief, rubbed it into his 
 eye and brought forth a tear, and said, extending his hand to 
 Phellion and turning his head : 
 
 " There, monsieur, is the sublimity of private life and politi- 
 cal life in conflict ! Not for anything would I have missed this 
 spectacle my visit is not wasted. What would you ? in your 
 place I should do the same. You are the noblest work of 
 God an honest man ; a good man, a fellow-citizen of Jean- 
 Jacques ! More of such citizens, then, oh, France, my country, 
 what might you not become ! This is me, monsieur, I crave 
 the honor of being your friend." 
 
 "What's happening?" cried Mme. Phellion, who was 
 looking at the scene through the window. "Your father and 
 that monster of a man are embracing each other ! " 
 
 Phellion and the advocate went out to rejoin the family in 
 the garden. 
 
 " My dear Felix," said the old man, pointing to la Peyrade, 
 who bowed to Mme. Phellion, " be very grateful to this worthy 
 young man ; he will be more helpful than injurious to you." 
 
 For about five minutes the lawyer walked under the leafless 
 lime-trees with Mme. Phellion, and during that time gave 
 them a bit of counsel, which was to bear fruit that evening ; 
 the first happy result being to cause the ladies to admire his 
 talents, candor, and other inappreciable qualities. 
 
 After he had bidden them adieu, Mme. Phellion took her 
 husband's arm to reenter the salon, and said to him : 
 
 " And what, my friend, you, so good a father, made you 
 by an excessive delicacy throw obstacles in the way of so 
 good a marriage for our Felix?" 
 
 "My dear little woman," replied Phellion, "the great men 
 of antiquity, such as Brutus and others, were never fathers 
 when they had to be citizens. The middle-class has, even 
 more than the aristocracy which it is called upon to replace,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 123 
 
 to exercise the hightest virtues. Monsieur de Saint-Hilaire 
 thought not of the loss of his arm when he saw Turenne lay 
 dead before him. Shall I betray sue*- feelings in the bosom 
 of the family where I have taught them ? No. Weep to-day, 
 my dear, to-morrow you will esteem me ! " he added, as he 
 perceived tears in the eyes of his little skinny wife. 
 
 These grandiloquent words were spoken on the threshold 
 of the door over which was written : Aurea mediocritas. 
 
 " I should have added : et digna ! " added Phellion, point- 
 ing upward to the tablet; "but those two words are too 
 eulogistic." 
 
 "But, father," said Marie-Theodore Phellion, the future 
 engineer of roads and bridges, 'when they were again in the 
 salon, " it seems to me that a man does not fail in the matter 
 of honor by changing his determination in regard to an unim- 
 portant matter when it does not concern the public." 
 
 " Unimportant, my son ! " cried Phellion. " Between our- 
 selves, and Felix partakes my convictions, Mosieur Thuillier 
 is without any kind of capacity; he knows nothing. Horace 
 Bianchon is a capable man ; he would get a thousand things 
 done for the arrondissement, and Thuillier not one. Beside, 
 if man does not blame, God will. My conscience is free 
 from blame, and I wish to leave my memory unblemished to 
 you. Therefore nothing can change my opinion." 
 
 "Oh! my good father," cried the little Mme. Barniol, 
 throwing herself on a cushion at the knees of Phellion, " don't 
 mount the high horse ! There are lots of imbeciles and sim- 
 pletons in the Municipal Council, but France goes on just the 
 same. He'll vote the same as others, this brave Thuillier. 
 Remember that Celeste will have five hundred thousand francs 
 perhaps." 
 
 "She might have millions," said Phellion, "yet I would 
 leave them there. I will not propose Thuillier, when my 
 duty to the memory of the great virtues of the best man who 
 ever lived says nominate Horace Bianchon. From high in 
 
 S
 
 124 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the heavens, Popinot contemplates and applauds me," cried 
 Phellion enthusiastically. 
 
 "My father is right," said Felix, arousing from a brown 
 study ; "he deserves our respect and love, like as he has 
 always done in the course of life, unpretending and honored. 
 I love Celeste as much as I love my family, but I do not wish 
 to rise at the cost of my father's honor; and," he added, 
 " the moment the question becomes one of conscience, let no 
 more be said." 
 
 Phellion, his eyes filled with tears, went to his eldest son, 
 took him in his arms, and said : 
 
 " My son, my son ! " in a broken voice. 
 
 "This is all rubbish," said Mme. Phellion, in a whisper to 
 Mme. Barniol ; ".come and help me dress, we must put an end 
 to this ; I know your father, he is an obstinate. To carry out 
 the scheme which that noble and pious young man gave me, 
 Theodore, I shall need your support therefore be ready, my 
 son." 
 
 At this moment Genevieve came in and delivered a letter to 
 M. Phellion. 
 
 " An invitation to dine with the Thuilliers, my wife, myself, 
 and Felix," said he. 
 
 The magnificent and startling idea of the advocate of the 
 poor had caused as much turmoil at the Thuilliers as upset at 
 the Phellions ; and Jerome, without confiding anything to 
 his sister, for he piqued himself on his honor to his Mephis- 
 topheles, had gone to her room and said : 
 
 "Good little woman " (he always caressed her heart with 
 these words), "we shall have some top sawyers to dinner 
 to-day ; I shall invite the Minards, so let us have a good 
 dinner; I have written the Phellions an invitation, it is a 
 little late, but with them it won't matter. As to the Minards, 
 I must throw dust in their eyes ; I need them." 
 
 " Four Minards, three Phellions, four Collevilles, and our- 
 selves that is thirteen."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 125 
 
 "La Peyrade, fourteen; it might be as well to invite 
 Dutocq ; he can give us a push ; I'll go up to him." 
 
 " What are you up to? " cried his sister; " fifteen to din- 
 ner, that means at least forty francs sent dancing ! " 
 
 "Don't regret that, my good little woman ; above all, be 
 as adoring as possible to our young friend la Peyrade. He is 
 a friend he will prove it ! If you love me, care for him like 
 the apple of your eye." 
 
 And he left Brigitte stupefied. 
 
 "Yes, yes, I will wait till he does prove it," said she to 
 herself. " He can't catch me with pretty words, not me ! 
 He is a nice boy, but, before carrying him my heart, I must 
 study him a little more." 
 
 Thuillier invited Dutocq ; then off to Zelie, whom he bam- 
 boozled into coming; then to the Minards. Minard had 
 bought one of those great, sumptuous dwellings which the old 
 religious orders had erected in the vicinity of the Sorbonne. 
 As he ascended the broad, stone stairway, with a balustrade, 
 which showed how well the second order of arts had flourished 
 under Louis XIII., he envied the mayor his hotel and posi- 
 tion. 
 
 In this handsome house, with a garden in the rear and a court- 
 yard in front, lived a retired grocer, a successful cheat. 
 Thuillier's name opened the doors of the salon where, among 
 red velvet and gold, in the midst of the most magnificent 
 Chinese stuffs, a poor woman sat, who at every popular ball 
 crushed the hearts of the princes and princesses at the Chateau. 
 
 " Is she not rightly given the name of ' the Caricature? ' ' 
 said a smiling pseudo-lady of the bed-chamber to a duchess 
 who could not refrain from laughing at the appearance of 
 Zelie tricked out in her diamonds, red as a poppy, squeezed 
 into a spangled dress, and rolling about like one of the 
 barrels of her old store. 
 
 " Can you pardon me, fair lady," said Thuillier, wriggling 
 around and ending by striking an attitude, number two of his
 
 126 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 repertoire of 1807, " for having left on my desk this invita- 
 tion which I really thought had been sent you ? It is for to- 
 day ; perhaps I come too late 
 
 Z6lie examined her husband's face, as he advanced to meet 
 Thuillier, and responded : 
 
 " We had intended going to have a look at the country 
 and dine by chance at a restaurant, but we can readily re- 
 nounce the project, all the more willingly because it seems to 
 me so devilish common to go out of Paris on a Sunday." 
 
 " We can have a little hop to the piano for the youngsters, 
 if there'll be enough of us, and I presume there will be, as I sent 
 word to Phellion, whose wife is intimate with Madame Prou, 
 the successor " 
 
 "The successtress," interrupted M. Minard. 
 
 "Oh, no," replied Thuillier, "it would be successoress, as 
 we say the mayoress, of the demoiselle Lagrave, and who was 
 a Barniol." 
 
 " Is it necessary to dress? " asked Mme. Minard. 
 
 " Oh, well, yes ! " said Thuiller ; " I should get in trouble 
 with my sister. No, no, though, it is only in the family. 
 Under the Empire, madame, we learned to know each other 
 by dancing. In those glorious days, a good dancer was as 
 much as a fine soldier. To-day people are too matter of 
 fact " 
 
 " We w-on't talk politics," said the mayor, smiling. " The 
 King is a great man and very smart. I live in admiration of 
 my times and its institutions which we have given ourselves. 
 The King understands what he is doing when he develops 
 our industries ; it is a hand-to-hand fight with England, and 
 this second peace is doing us more good than all the wars of 
 the Empire." 
 
 "What a deputy Minard would make," said Zelie naively. 
 " Between you and I, he tries to speak when we are alone ; you 
 would help to get him returned, would you not, really, Thuil- 
 lier ?"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 127 
 
 "No talking politics," replied Thuillier. "Come at five 
 o'clock." 
 
 "That little Vinet, is he to be there?" asked Minard. 
 "Without doubt he has an eye on Celeste." 
 
 "Then he may order his crepe," answered Thuillier. 
 "Brigitte would not lend ear to him." 
 
 Zelie and Minard exchanged smiles of satisfaction. 
 
 After inviting the Laudigeois when he left the Minards, he 
 then called on the Collevilles to be sure that Celeste wore a 
 pretty toilette. He found Flavie somewhat pensive, and 
 Thuillier had to overcome her indecision. 
 
 "My old and my ever-young love," said he, putting his 
 arm about her waist, for she was alone in her room, " I can- 
 not have any secrets from you. I have a most important affair 
 on hand. I cannot say more, but I can ask you to be particu- 
 larly gracious to a young man " 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "Young la Peyrade." 
 
 "And why, Charles?" 
 
 " He holds my future in his hands ; then, too, he is a man 
 of genius. Oh ! I know. Between us it is give and take." 
 
 " How ! You want me to play the coquette with him ? " 
 
 "Not too much, my angel," replied Thuillier, with a fatu- 
 ous air. 
 
 And off he went without noticing a species of amazement 
 that had befallen Flavie. 
 
 " That is a power," said she to herself, " that young man. 
 We shall see." 
 
 At half-past four Theodose was at his post ; he had assumed 
 a simple air, part servile, and a soft voice ; and first he went 
 with Thuillier into the garden. 
 
 " My friend, I have not the least doubt of your success, but 
 I must once more impress upon you at all times to keep abso- 
 lute silence. If any one questions you about Celeste give 
 evasive answers, such as you learned so well at the bureau."
 
 128 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "All right!" answered Thuillier. "But is it a cer- 
 tainty?" 
 
 "You will see the dessert I have prepared. Be modest, 
 above all. Here are the Minards, leave me to lime them." 
 
 After saluting them, la Peyrade kept close by M. the Mayor, 
 and at an opportune moment he took him aside and said to 
 him : 
 
 "Monsieur the Mayor, a man of your political importance 
 does not face the ennui of dining here without having some end 
 in view ; I do not for a moment ask your motives, I have no 
 right so to do ; it is not my part here below to interfere in 
 the business of this world's powers ; but pardon my boldness 
 and deign to listen to the counsel that I can give you. If I 
 am able to do you a service to-day, you are in a position to 
 render me two to-morrow, so if you listen to me a moment it 
 is in my own interest. Our friend Thuillier is in despair at 
 being a nobody, and he is intending to become something, a 
 personage in the arrondissement." 
 
 "Ah ! " said Minard. 
 
 " Oh ! nothing much ; he wants the nomination as a mem- 
 ber of the Municipal Council. I know that Phellion, divining 
 an equal advantage from doing him a service, intends to pro- 
 pose our poor friend as a candidate. Well, perhaps you might 
 find it necessary to your project to be forehanded with him. 
 The nomination of Thuillier will not only be favorable to 
 you I should think it would also be agreeable ; he will do 
 well in the council ; there are worse than he there. And 
 then if he is indebted to you for his advancement he will see 
 through your eyes ; he will regard you as the shining light of 
 the town " 
 
 "My dear sir, I thank you," said Minard; "you have 
 rendered me a service which I shall never forget, and that 
 proves to me " 
 
 "That I don't care for the Phellions," replied la Peyrade, 
 profiting by the mayor's hesitation, fearing that he might
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 129 
 
 bring forth some speech disdainful of the advocate. "I hate 
 people who trade on their honesty and make cash of their 
 noble sentiments." 
 
 "You thoroughly understand them," said Minard ; " they 
 are sycophants. That man, all his life, for the past ten years, 
 is explained by that scrap of red ribbon," added the mayor, 
 showing his own button-hole. 
 
 "Lookout, though," said the lawyer, "his son loves 
 Celeste and is in the citadel." 
 
 "Yes, but my son has twelve thousand livres of income 
 himself " 
 
 "Oh! " said the advocate, with a shrug, " Mademoiselle 
 Brigitte said the other day that she wanted at least that from 
 suitors for Celeste. And, after all, before six months are 
 over, you will see that Thuillier will have a freehold bring- 
 ing in forty thousand francs a year." 
 
 "The deuce! I never doubted it," replied the mayor. 
 " Well, he shall be a member of the council." 
 
 " In any case, don't mention me in the matter," said the 
 advocate of the poor, who pressed forward to greet Mme. 
 Phellion, who had just arrived. " Well, my fair lady, have 
 you succeeded?" 
 
 "I waited until four o'clock, but the worthy and excellent 
 man would not listen at all ; he is too much occupied to 
 accept such a charge, and Monsieur Phellion has a letter in 
 which Dr. Bianchon thanks him for his good intentions, and 
 says that, for himself, his candidate is Monsieur Thuillier. 
 He is using his influence in his favor and prays my husband to 
 do the same." 
 
 "And what says your excellent spouse ? " 
 
 "'I have done my duty,' he replied. 'I have been no 
 traitor to my conscience, and henceforth I am wholly for 
 Thuillier."' 
 
 "Well, that's all fixed then," said la Peyrade. "Forget 
 my visit, the whole credit of the idea is your own." 
 9
 
 130 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Then turning to Mme. Colleville, with a most respectful 
 attitude, he said : 
 
 "Madame, be so good as to introduce me to our good 
 Papa Colleville ; I propose a little surprise for Thuillier, and 
 he must be in the secret." 
 
 As la Peyrade played his part for Thuillier's benefit, Mme. 
 Colleville was hearing such remarks as made her ears tingle ; 
 it was a mystery to her. 
 
 "I wish I knew what Messrs. Colleville and la Peyrade are 
 saying that they laugh so much?" said Mme. Thuillier, 
 simply, looking out through the window. 
 
 " They are speaking just such rubbish as all men talk be- 
 tween themselves," answered Mile. Thuillier, who frequently 
 attacked the men by a kind of instinct natural in old maids. 
 
 " He is incapable of such a thing," said Phellion, gravely ; 
 " for Mosieur de la Peyrade is one of the most virtuous 
 young people whom I have met. I put him on a par with 
 Felix; nay, I wish that my son had a little of Mosieur 
 Theodose's pretty piety." 
 
 "He is, in fact, a man of merit, who will get on," ob- 
 served Minard. " As for me, my best wishes I won't say 
 my protection are his." 
 
 "He spends more in lamp-oil than bread," said Dutocq; 
 "that I know." 
 
 " His mother, if she still survives, must be proud of him," 
 said Mme. Phellion, sententiously. 
 
 " You may confide to him your secrets and your fortune," 
 said Thuillier ; "in these days that is not such a small thing 
 to say of the best of men." 
 
 " It is Colleville who is making him laugh," cried Dutocq.. 
 
 Just then Colleville and la Peyrade were at the bottom of 
 the garden, the best friends in the world. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Brigitte, "soup and the King must not 
 be kept waiting; hand in the ladies." 
 
 This pleasant jest, inherited from the janitor's lodge,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 131 
 
 ushered the whole party, with the exception of the dreadful 
 Cerizet, into the dining-room. Every principal character in 
 this drama was seated around the board. 
 
 The characteristics of the middle-class cook in 1840 is 
 necessary to a picture of its manners ; good housekeepers 
 may learn a lesson therefrom. A woman does not for twenty 
 years occupy herself in making cash-bags without looking up 
 some means of filling a few. Now Brigitte had this peculi- 
 arity, with the thrift necessary for laying the foundation of a 
 fortune she combined that of dispensing sufficient for necessi- 
 ties. Her relative extravagance, when it had to do with her 
 brother or Celeste, was the antitype of miserliness. As a 
 fact, she often commisserated herself for not being avaricious. 
 
 The soup offered was bouillon, extremely pale ; for, even on 
 an occasion such as this, she had enjoined the cook to make 
 plenty of it ; then, as the beef had to serve the family on the 
 morrow and the day after, the less of its juices it furnished 
 to the bouillon, the more substantial it would be. The beef, 
 underdone, was always removed at a little speech of Brigitte's, 
 said by her as Thuillier essayed to carve : 
 
 " I guess it's rather tough; never mind, Thuillier, no one 
 will care to eat of it, we have other things." 
 
 The bouillon was, in fact, flanked by four dishes standing 
 on hot copper double plates off which the silver-plating was 
 worn. At this dinner, called the candidature, the first course 
 was composed of two ducks aux olives, having opposite a 
 large pie aux quenelles and an eel with tartar sauce, with a 
 fricandeau on endive. The second course had for its centre- 
 piece a fine roast goose stuffed with chestnuts, a corn-salad 
 ornamented with slices of red beet, opposite a dish of cup- 
 custards, and a tureen of sweet turnips looked down upon a 
 bowl of macaroni. This dinner, well suited to be that of a 
 janitor's wedding festivities, would be produced, for, at the 
 most, twenty francs ; the relics would keep the house for two 
 days, and Brigitte would say :
 
 132 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Dame; when one receives, the cash goes ! It's frightful/' 
 
 The table was lighted by two hideous silver-plated candle- 
 sticks with four branches, in which twinkled that economical 
 candle called the Aurore. The linen was resplendently white, 
 and the old thread-pattern plate was a paternal heritage, the 
 fruit of a purchase made during the Revolution by old Thuil- 
 lier, and had served in the quasi restaurant he had kept in 
 his lodge, but which was suppressed in 1816 in all the offices. 
 Thus the fare harmonized with the dining-room, with the 
 house, and with the Thuilliers, whose fate it was not to rise 
 above their own style. The Minards, the Collevilles, and la 
 Peyrade exchanged a few smiles, which communicated a sati- 
 rical, but not expressed thought. They alone knew of any 
 superior luxury, and the Minards said plainly enough that 
 they had some afterthoughts in accepting such a dinner. La 
 Peyrade, who sat beside Flavie, whispered her : 
 
 "You see they need some one who can teach them how to 
 live; you are eating what is commonly called cag-mag, an 
 old friend of mine. But these Minards ; what horrible cupid- 
 ity ! Your daughter would be lost to you. These parvenus 
 have the vices of the great nobles of other days, without their 
 elegance. Their son, who has twelve thousand francs income, 
 can well find a family in the Potash set without dragging their 
 rake here on speculation. It is a pleasure to play upon such 
 people like as if they were a bass or a clarionet." 
 
 Flavie listened with a smile ; she did not remove her foot 
 when Theodose lightly pressed it with his boot. 
 
 As the dishes of the second course were being removed, 
 Minard, afraid that Phellion would forestall him, said to 
 Thuillier, very gravely : 
 
 " My dear Thuillier, if I accepted your dinner it was be- 
 cause I had an important communication to make to you, one 
 which honors you so much that I choose to have as witnesses 
 all your guests." 
 
 Thuillier became pale.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 133 
 
 "You obtained for me the Cross? " cried he, as he got a 
 look from Theodose, and to prove that he was not without 
 finesse. 
 
 "You will have that some day," replied the mayor ; " but 
 this is more than that. The Cross is a favor due to the good 
 opinion of a minister, whereas this is now the question, so 
 to say, of an election due to the sentiments of your fellow- 
 citizens. In a word, a great number of the electors of your 
 arrondissement have cast their eyes upon you, and wish to 
 honor you with their confidence by charging you with their 
 representation of this arrondissement in the Municipal Council 
 of Paris, which, as all the world knows, is the council general 
 of the Seine." 
 
 " Bravo ! " said Dutocq. 
 
 Phellion rose. 
 
 "Monsieur the Mayor has anticipated me," said he, in a 
 voice broken with emotion ; " but it is so flattering for our 
 friend to be the object of interest on the part of all good 
 citizens, and to obtain the public vote from all parts of the 
 capital, that I must not complain of being the second in line; 
 beside I bow to the power of authority ! " (And he bowed 
 respectfully to Minard.) "Yes, Mosieur Thuillier, many 
 electors think of giving you their votes in that portion of the 
 arrondissement where I have my humble Penates ; and you 
 have the particular advantage of being designated by an illus- 
 trious man (Sensation), by a man whom we designed to honor 
 for the sake of one of the most .distinguished inhabitants of 
 the arrondissement, who was, I might say, for twenty years 
 its father. I allude to the late Monsieur Popinot. But his 
 nephew, Doctor Bianchon, one of our glories, has, owing to 
 his pressing duties, declined to serve us. He thanked us for 
 the compliment paid, but indicated for our suffrages the can- 
 didate of Monsieur the Mayor, as being, in his opinion, the 
 more capable from the position he formerly occupied." 
 
 And Phellion sat down amid an acclamative murmur.
 
 134 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Thuillier, you may count on your old friend," said Colle- 
 ville. 
 
 At this moment the guests were all touched by the sight 
 presented by old Brigitte and Mine. Thuillier. Brigitte, pale 
 as if about to faint, let the slow tears run unheeded down her 
 cheeks, tears of deepest joy ; and Mme. Thuillier sat as though 
 struck by a thunderbolt, her eyes fixed. All at once the old 
 maid sprang into the kitchen, crying to Josephine the cook : 
 
 " Come into the cellar, my girl ; we must get out the wine 
 from behind the fagots." 
 
 "My friends," said Thuillier, in a choking voice, "this is 
 the grandest day in my life, happier than that of my election, 
 should I permit myself to ask the suffrages of my fellow-citi- 
 zens " (Certainly, of course!), "for I feel myself much run 
 down with thirty years of public service, and you may surely 
 believe that a man of honor has need to consult his strength 
 before he assumes the functions of an (zdile." 
 
 " I expected nothing less of you, Monsieur Thuillier," cried 
 Phellion. " Pardon me, this is the first time in my life that 
 I ever interrupted any one, and one who was formerly my 
 superior, too; but under the circumstances " 
 
 "Accept, accept," cried Zelie. " In the name of the little 
 man ! we need such men as you for governor." 
 
 " Resign yourself, my chief," said Dutocq ; " and long live 
 our future councilor But we have nothing to drink " 
 
 "Well, all is said," replied Minard, "you are our candi- 
 date, eh?" 
 
 "You think too much of me," said Thuillier. 
 
 " That's all right," cried Colleville; " a man who for thirty 
 years has worked in the galleys of the Bureau of Finance 
 should be a treasure to the town." 
 
 "You are much too modest," said young Minard; "your 
 capacity is not unknown to us ; it is remembered even at the 
 bureau." 
 
 "As you all insist "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 135 
 
 "The King will be well pleased with our choice, I can tell 
 you that," said Minard, interrupting Thuillier in a pompous 
 manner. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said la Peyrade, "will you permit a recent 
 inhabitant of the Saint-Jacques faubourg to make a little re- 
 mark, which may not be unimportant ? 
 
 "The influence of the mayor of an adjoining arrondisse- 
 ment, immense in ours, where he has left such an excellent 
 memory that of Monsieur Phellion, the oracle yes, I repeat 
 it, the oracle" noticing a negative gesture of Phellion's 
 "of his battalion; the influence of Monsieur Colleville, pow- 
 erful by his frank urbanity ; that of Monsieur the Clerk of the 
 Peace, no less valuable ; and my own humble efforts, all are 
 pledges of success, but they are not' success itself. To obtain 
 triumph let us here and now pledge ourselves to keep a pro- 
 found silence as to our intentions. Otherwise, we should 
 excite, not willing or desiring it, envy and the like passions, 
 which would erect obstacles in our path necessary to be over- 
 come. Some would see good in our efforts, others evil : it is 
 not for me to judge between such in the presence of minds 
 before whose superiority I bow; I content myself by pointing 
 out the dangers our friend must encounter. The writ for 
 election may not take effect for another month. From now 
 until then imagine the intrigues ! Do not offer, I entreat you, 
 our friend Thuillier to the blows of his opponents ; let us not 
 deliver him over to public discussion, that modern harpy, the 
 trumpet of calumny and envy, the pretext of inimical feelings 
 calculated to belittle all that is great, that dishonors all that 
 is sacred, and befouls the respectable. Rather let us do as the 
 third party is doing in the Chamber vote and say nothing ! " 
 
 Envy had turned Minard's son green and yellow, 
 
 "Perfectly true and well said," cried Minard. 
 
 "Unanimously carried," said Colleville. 
 
 "Whoso desires the end adopts the means/' said Phellion, 
 emphatically.
 
 136 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 At this moment appeared Mile. ThuiUier, followed by two 
 domestics ; stuck in her belt was the key of the cellar, and 
 three bottles of champagne, two of old hermitage, and one of 
 Malaga wine were placed upon the table ; but she herself car- 
 ried a little bottle with respectful care, much like a fairy 
 Carabosse, which she placed before herself. In the midst 
 of the hilarity caused by this abundance of choice cheer, a 
 fruit of her gratitude, poured out by the old maid in the 
 delirium of her joy, there arrived numerous dishes of dessert : 
 a heaped-up dish of raisins, figs, almonds, and nuts;* pyra- 
 mids of oranges; confections, candied fruits brought from the 
 depths of her closets, and which, but for the circumstances, 
 would have never figured on the table-cloth. 
 
 " Celeste, they will bring you a bottle of brandy that my 
 father got in 1802 ; make an orange salad ! " cried she to her 
 sister-in-law. "Monsieur Phellion, open the champagne; 
 this bottle is for you three ! Monsieur Dutocq, take this one ! 
 Monsieur Colleville, you can make the corks pop ! " 
 
 The two maids distributed champagne glasses, claret glasses, 
 and liqueur glasses, for Josephine carried in three more bottles 
 of Bordeaux. 
 
 "The year of the comet," cried Thuillier. " Gentlemen, 
 you have caused my sister to lose her head." 
 
 "And this evening punch and cakes," she said. " I have 
 sent out to the drug-store to buy some tea. My God ! if 
 only I had known that this dinner had to do with an elec- 
 tion," exclaimed she to her sister-in-law, " I would have served 
 the turkey." 
 
 A general laugh greeted this speech. 
 
 " Oh ! we have a goose," said Minard's son, smiling. 
 
 "It's an ill wind that blows no one good,"f exclaimed 
 Mme. Thuillier, as she saw marrons glaces and meringues 
 handed round. 
 
 * Quatrc-mendiants "the four beggars ; " a popular French dessert. 
 \ Lts charrcttts y vcrsent the carts are unloading.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 137 
 
 Mile. Thuillier had a face of fire ; she was a superb sight ; 
 never had a sister's love assumed such a frenzied expression. 
 
 "To those who know her it is quite touching," remarked 
 Mme. Colleville. 
 
 The glasses were filled, whereupon la Peyrade said : 
 
 "Let us drink to something sublime ! " 
 
 All looked up in astonishment. 
 
 "To Mademoiselle Brigitte." 
 
 All arose and with one voice cried: "Vive Mademoiselle 
 
 After a toast by Phellion to M. Minard and his wife, Thuil- 
 lier proposed : 
 
 " The King and the royal family ; I add nothing, the toast 
 says all." 
 
 "To the election of my brother," said Mile. Thuillier. 
 
 La Peyrade was the next on his feet. 
 
 " To the ladies, that bewitching sex to whom we owe our 
 happiness, not to mention our mothers, sisters, and wives." 
 
 After the hilarity caused by this toast, Colleville, already 
 gay, exclaimed : 
 
 "Wretch ! you have stolen my speech." 
 
 After some conversation and a few unimportant toasts, 
 Celeste Colleville said, timidly: 
 
 " Mamma, will you allow me to give a toast ? " 
 
 The poor girl had seen the puzzled face of her godmother ; 
 she, the mistress of the house, had the expression of a dog 
 which is in doubt which master to obey ; she consulted each 
 countenance and was oblivious of herself, but the joy on a 
 face so unaccustomed to its visits had the effect of a pale 
 wintry sun behind a mist, which grudgingly shone through 
 the flabby, faded features. Her ill-dressed hair and dingy 
 attire combined with her woeful look of joy stimulated the 
 affection of the young Celeste, who, alone in the world, knew 
 the value of that woman's heart ; suffering from all, yet con- 
 soling herself in God and this child alone.
 
 138 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Let the dear child give her little toast," said la Peyrade 
 to Mme. Colleville. 
 
 "Go on, my daughter," said Colleville; "we have the 
 hermitage yet to drink, and it's hoary with age." 
 
 "To my good godmother!" said the girl, inclining her 
 glass respectfully before Mme. Thuillier and holding it toward 
 her. 
 
 The poor woman, quite scared, looked through a veil of 
 tears, alternately, at her sister and her husband ; but her 
 position in the family was so well understood, and the homage 
 paid by innocence to weakness had such a lovely side to it, 
 that the emotion was general ; every man rose and bowed to 
 Mme. Thuillier. 
 
 " Ah ! Celeste, I wish I had a kingdom to lay at your 
 feet ! " said Felix Phellion. 
 
 " Now, it's my turn," said Colleville, posing like an athlete. 
 "Listen to me. To friendship! Empty your glasses; refill 
 your glasses. Good. To the fine arts ! the flower of social 
 life. Empty your glasses; refill your glasses. To another 
 such festival the day after the election ! " 
 
 "What is in that little bottle?" asked Dutocq of Mile. 
 ThuUlier. 
 
 "This," said she, " is one of my three bottles of Madame 
 Amphoux liqueur; the second is for Celeste's wedding, and 
 the last for the christening of her first child." 
 
 The dinner ended with a toast by Thuillier, suggested to 
 him by Theodose, when the Malaga sparkled in the glasses 
 like so many rubies. 
 
 "Colleville, gentlemen, drank to friendship ; for myself, I 
 drink, in this generous wine, to my friends." 
 
 Cheers greeted this speech ; but Dutocq remarked aside to 
 Theodose : 
 
 "It is murder to pour such Malaga down such a class of 
 throats." 
 
 "Ah! if we could only imitate this, my dear," said Mi-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 139 
 
 nard's wife to her spouse, after tasting it; "what fortunes 
 we could make." 
 
 "Yes," answered Minard, "but ours is made." 
 
 "Don't you think, sister, that we had better take coffee in 
 the salon?" said Brigitte to her sister. 
 
 Mme. Thuillier obediently assumed the air of mistress of 
 the house and arose. 
 
 "Ah ! you are a great wizard," said Flavie Colleville tc la 
 Peyrade, as she took his arm. 
 
 "And yet I only care to bewitch you," replied he. 
 
 "Madame Phellion will play the piano," cried Colleville. 
 "We must all dance to-night the bottles, Brigitte's tvventy- 
 sous-pieces, and our little girls. I'll go and fetch my clar- 
 ionet." He handed his empty coffee-cup to his wife, and 
 smiled to see her such a good friend of la Peyrade's. 
 
 "What have you done and said to my husband?" asked 
 Flavie of the seducer. 
 
 "Well, since you tell me all your secrets," said he, letting 
 himself out in a spirit of gayety, always Provencal and always 
 apparently so charming, so natural, so unaffected, " I won't 
 conceal from you a pain that I have in my heart." He led 
 her to a window and said, smiling : 
 
 " Colleville, poor man, has seen in me the artist crushed 
 by all these bourgeois ; silent before them because I was mis- 
 understood, misjudged, repelled ; but he felt the heat of the 
 sacred fire which was devouring me. Yes, I am," said he in 
 a tone of intense conviction, " an artist in words after the 
 manner of Berryer ; I could make juries weep by weeping 
 myself, for I am as nervous as a woman. Then your husband, 
 who looks upon the middle-classes with horror, made game of 
 them with me; we began by laughing, but eventually became 
 serious, and he found me as strong as himself. I told him of 
 the scheme to make something of Thuillier ; I showed him all 
 the good he could do himself by becoming a political mani- 
 kin, if only, said I, to be called a de Colleville, and to put
 
 140 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 your charming wife in the position I should like to see her, as 
 the wife of a receiver-general, whence you could become a 
 deputy. Good reasons disguised in a jest have the knack of 
 penetrating deeper into some minds than if soberly stated ; so 
 Colleville and I became the best friends in the world. Don't 
 you remember at table he said : ' Wretch, you have stolen my 
 speech.' By the end of the evening we shall be theeing and 
 thouing. I shall before long invite him to a jolly party, such 
 as always allures artists who have become broken to domestic 
 rule, and get him to kick over the traces. It will make us as 
 solid friends as he and Thuillier are, or more so, for I have 
 told him that Thuillier will be bursting with jealousy when he 
 sees his rosette. Colleville will adopt me ; so that I may visit 
 at your house by his invitation. But what wouldn't you make 
 me do? Lick lepers, swallow live toads, seduce Brigitte 
 yes, I would impale my heart on that picket-fence, if I needed 
 her for a crutch to drag me to your knees ! " 
 
 "You are, I must own, a most extraordinary man." 
 
 "Oh, no; my smallest as well as my greatest efforts are 
 but the reflection of the flame which you have kindled ; I 
 intend to become your son-in-law, so that we may never part. 
 My wife, oh, my God ! she could be no more than a machine 
 to bear children ; but the supreme being, the divinity, will 
 be you," he whispered in her ear. 
 
 "You are Satan ! " said she, with a sort of terror. 
 
 " No, I am something of a poet, like all the people of my 
 country. Come, be my Josephine. I'll come and see you 
 to-morrow at two o'clock ; I long to see the pearl in its shell." 
 
 He slipped cleverly away after these words, not giving her 
 a chance to reply. 
 
 Flavie, who in all her life had not been made love to in the 
 language of romance, sat still, but happy ; her heart palpitated ; 
 she told herself it was difficult to resist such influence. Theo- 
 dose was admirably dressed and the only person present who 
 had the deportment of a gentleman ; in fact, he was the only
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 141 
 
 one with any style or air among the now rapidly arriving 
 guests. 
 
 Madame Prou, nee Barniol, came with two school-girls aged 
 seventeen, confided to her motherly care by families residing 
 in Martinique. M. Prou, a professor of rhetoric in a school 
 managed by priests, was of the Phellion model, but instead of 
 expanding on the surface in phrases and demonstrations, and 
 posing as an example, he was dry and sententious. He en- 
 joyed much influence in that part of the quarter bounded by 
 the boulevard of Mont-Parnasse, the Luxembourg, and the 
 Rue de Sevres. Phellion at once button-holed him on behalf 
 of Thuillier. 
 
 Felix, still under the deep emotion imparted by Celeste's 
 generous act and the cry that sprang from the girl's heart, 
 though no one but Mme. Thuillier still bore it in mind, be- 
 came inspired by one of those ingenious impulses which form 
 the artlessness of true love; but he was not to the "manor 
 born;" mathematics had made him rather absent-minded. 
 He stationed himself by Mme. Thuillier, imagining that C6- 
 leste would be thither attracted. This ruse was admirably 
 successful. 
 
 "Who but must love Celeste?" said Felix to Mme. 
 Thuillieur. 
 
 "Poor little dear, no one in the world loves me but her," 
 replied the poor slave, restraining her tears. 
 
 " Oh ! madame, we both love you," said this candid Ma- 
 thieu Laensberg, smiling. 
 
 "What are you talking about?" asked Celeste of her 
 godmother. 
 
 " My child," replied the pious victim, drawing her god- 
 child down to her and kissing her on the forehead, " he said 
 you both loved me." 
 
 " Do not be angry at my presumption, mademoiselle," said 
 the future candidate for the Academy of Sciences ; " but allow 
 me the honor of realizing it. It is my nature injustice re-
 
 142 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 volts me deeply. Yes, the Saviour of the world was right in 
 promising the future to the meek heart, to the sacrificed lamb. 
 But innocence is the sole consolation of the martyr. Happy 
 the man whom you will choose." 
 
 " Dear godmother, with what eyes does Monsieur Felix see 
 me?" 
 
 " He properly appreciates you, my little angel; I shall pray 
 God for both of you." 
 
 Noticing her daughter glowing with happiness, exhaling 
 rapture through every pore of her face, beautiful in the love- 
 liness of the first roses of an indirect declaration, Flavie felt 
 a pang of jealousy in her heart ; she went to Celeste and whis- 
 pered to her : 
 
 "You are not behaving at all nicely, my daughter, every- 
 body is observing you ; you will compromise yourself by talk- 
 ing so long with Monsieur Felix without knowing whether it 
 has our approval." 
 
 " But, mamma, my godmother is here." 
 
 "Ah! pardon me, dear friend," said Mme. Colleville, "I 
 did not see you." 
 
 " Like all the rest of the world." 
 
 This retort stung Mme. Colleville, who took it as a barbed 
 arrow. She glanced haughtily at Felix, and said to Celeste : 
 "Sit there, my daughter," seating herself beside Mme. Thuil- 
 lier and pointing to a chair at her side. 
 
 Madame Thuillier sat pensively listening to the noise of a 
 witch's Sabbath made by her sister-in-law, a real horse at hard 
 work, lending her hand to help the two servants clear the 
 table, take everything out of the dining-room, to make room 
 for the dancers, vociferating like the captain of a frigate on 
 his quarter-deck while preparing for an attack : " Have you 
 any currant syrup? Run out and buy some orgeat!" or, 
 " There's not enough glasses ! and too little eau rougie ! 
 (wine and water) ; take those six bottles of vin ordinaire and 
 make more. Keep an eye on Coffinet, the porter, that he
 
 IT WERE USELESS TO PAINT A BALL OF THIS KIND.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 143 
 
 doesn't get at anything ! Caroline, my girl, wait at the side- 
 board ; you shall have a slice of ham if they keep it up till 
 the morning hours. But no waste, mind you. Keep an eye 
 on everything. Pass the broom here, and do you put more oil 
 in the lamps ; don't have any accidents. Arrange the remains 
 of the dessert, so as to make a show on the buffet ! Why 
 doesn't my sister come and give us a lift ? I can't think what 
 she's about a dawdle, her ! My God ! how slow she is ! 
 Here, take away these chairs ; they need all the room they 
 can get ! " 
 
 The announcement of a dance at the Thuilliers had got 
 noised about in the Luxembourg. As a consequence the salon 
 was full of Barniols, Collevilles, Phellions, Laudigeois, and 
 the like. 
 
 "And you, Brigitte, are you ready? " said Colleville, rush- 
 ing into the dining-room; "it is nine o'clock. They are 
 packed as close as herrings in the salon ; the whole faubourg 
 Saint-Antoine is rushing in. Can't we move the piano in 
 here?" 
 
 It were useless to paint a ball of this kind. The toilettes, 
 faces, conversations, were all in keeping with one detail which 
 will surely suffice the least lively imagination ; they were all 
 of one character and color. They passed round, on tarnished 
 shabby trays, common glasses filled with wine, eau rougie, and 
 eau sucrtc. At longer intervals appeared the trays bearing 
 orgeat and syrups. There were five card-tables for twenty-five 
 players and eighteen dancing couples. At one o'clock in the 
 morning Mme. Thuillier, Mile. Brigitte, Mme. Phellion and 
 her husband were dragged into a vulgar country dance known 
 as la Boulang'erc, in which Dutocq figured with a veil over his 
 head, and looking like a Kabyl.* When this interminable 
 round had lasted for a full hour, and Brigitte announced 
 supper, they wished to carry her in triumph ; but she per- 
 ceived the necessity of hiding a dozen bottles of old Bur* 
 * Berber, native of Barbary.
 
 144 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 gundy wine. Everybody was so well pleased, matrons as well 
 as maids, that Thuillier was able to say : 
 
 " Well, this morning, we little thought we should have such 
 fun to-night." 
 
 "One never has so much pleasure," said Cardot, "than at 
 this sort of impromptu dance. Don't talk to me of parties 
 at which each one is on his ceremony ! " 
 
 This opinion is an axiom among the middle-classes. 
 
 "Ah, bah ! " said Madame Minard, "for me I love my 
 papa's way. I love those of my mamma." 
 
 " We did not mean that remark for you, madame ; at your 
 home pleasure elects to reign," said Dutocq. 
 
 The Boulangerc finished, Theodose drew Dutocq from the 
 buffet, where he was preparing to eat a slice of tongue, and 
 said: 
 
 " Let's be off, for to-morrow we must see Cerizet ; we need 
 to think over that affair ; it is not quite so easily managed as 
 Cerizet seems to think." 
 
 "And why?" asked Dutocq, eating his tongue sandwich 
 as he went toward the salon. 
 
 " But you know the laws?" 
 
 " I know enough to be aware of the dangers of the busi- 
 ness. If the notary wants the house and we filch it from 
 him, he has ways and means by which to recover it ; he can 
 put himself in the skin of a recorded creditor. By the 
 present state of the law of mortgage, when a house is sold at 
 the behest of creditors, and if the amount realized is not suffi- 
 cient to pay all creditors, they have the right to bid it in ; 
 and the notary, once caught, will be twice shy." 
 
 "This has been one of the greatest days in our life," said 
 Brigitte to her brother, when, at half-past two o'clock in the 
 morning, they were alone in the deserted salon. "What an 
 honor to be chosen by your fellow-citizens." 
 
 "You don't tumble to one fact, though, Brigitte; we owe 
 all this, my child, to one man "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 145 
 
 "To whom?" 
 
 " Our friend la Peyrade." 
 
 It was not on the next day, Monday, but the next but one, 
 Tuesday, that Dutocq and Thodose called on Cerizet, it 
 having been called to the latter's attention the fact that on 
 Sundays and Mondays he took advantage of a total lack of 
 business, these days being devoted to dissipation by the com- 
 mon people. The house to which their steps were bent is a 
 striking feature of the faubourg Saint-Jacques. It has never 
 been known, and no commission has inquired into, why or 
 for what reason or cause certain quarters of Paris sink into 
 vice and vulgarity, morally as well as physically ; how the old 
 centres of the Court and the church, the Luxembourg and the 
 Latin quarter, have become what they are to-day, in spite of 
 the finest palaces in the world, in spite of the soaring dome of 
 Sainte-Genevieve, that of Mansard's on the Val-de-Gra*ce, and 
 the charms of the Jardin des Plantes. One asks himself why 
 the elegance of life has shaken the dust of that quarter from 
 off its feet the Phellion and Thuillier houses swarm here, 
 and boarding-houses displace the formerly so numerous noble 
 and religious edifices ; and why mud and dirty forms of trade 
 and poverty have fastened on this hill, instead of spreading 
 out upon the plain beyond the old and noble city. Once 
 dead, the angel whose beneficent sway had blessed this quarter, 
 the lowest form of usury rushed in. To the Councilor Popi- 
 not succeeded a Cerizet ; and, stranger still, a good matter 
 for study, the effects produced, socially speaking, were little 
 different. Popinot loaned without interest, and was willing 
 to lose ; Cdrizet lost nothing, and compelled the unfortunates 
 to work hard and learn wisdom. The poor adored Popinot, 
 but they did not hate Cerizet. Here is the lowest round of 
 Parisian finance. At the top the firm of Nucingen, the Kel- 
 lers, the du Tillets, the Mongenods; a little further down, 
 the Palmas, the Gigonnets, the Gobsecks ; still lower, the 
 10
 
 146 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Samanou, the Chaboisseaus, the Barbels ; then, ending, after 
 the pawnshops, that king of usurers, who spreads his nets at 
 the corners of the streets to entangle all the various forms of 
 misery and miss none that sharp spider, Cerizet. 
 
 This house, blotched with nitre, the walls of which oozed a 
 fetid humidity, was enameled all over with huge slabs of mold. 
 Standing at the corner of the Rue des Postes and the Rue des 
 Poules, it showed a first-floor partly occupied by a vendor of 
 the commonest kind of wine, a bright-red bottle painted as a 
 sign ; the windows decorated with red calico curtains: furnished 
 with a leaden counter and armed with formidable bars. 
 
 Above the door of an odious court hung a frightful lantern, 
 on which was painted " Night Lodgings Here." The outer 
 walls displayed iron cross-clamps, apparently to show the 
 insecurity of the building of which the wine merchant was the 
 owner, and who occupied the entresol in addition to the store. 
 Madame the Widow Poiret (nee Michonneau) kept the fur- 
 nished rooms, which composed the second, third, and fourth 
 floors, arranged in chambers for the use of laborers and the 
 poorest class of students. 
 
 Cerizet occupied one room on the first floor and one in the 
 entresol, to which he ascended by an interior stairway ; this 
 upper room looked out upon a horrible courtyard, from which 
 arose mephitic odors. Cdrizet gave forty francs for his 
 breakfast and dinner ; he thus conciliated the hostess of this 
 boarding-house ; he made himself acceptable to the wine- 
 dealer, too, by procuring him an enormous trade in his wines 
 and spirits, profits realized before the sun was up. The 
 counting-rooms of the Sieur Cadenet were opened even before 
 those of Cerizet, who began his operations on Tuesday, by 
 three o'clock in the morning in summer and five in winter. 
 
 The opening of the Great Market, which so many of his male 
 and female clients attended, determined Cerizet's early hours 
 for his frightful transactions. Cadenet, in consideration of the 
 custom of Cerizet's clients, had rented to him the two rooms
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 147 
 
 for eighty francs a year, giving him a lease for twelve years, and 
 which Cerizet alone had the right to break, without paying 
 indemnity, at three months' notice. Every day Cadenet 
 brought up a bottle of excellent wine for the dinner of this 
 precious tenant; and when Cerizet was "short," he had only 
 to say : "Cadenet, my good fellow, let me have a hundred 
 crowns." But he always faithfully repaid them. Cadenet 
 was said to have proof that the Widow Poiret had put in 
 Cerizet's hands some two thousand francs for investment ; this 
 may explain his rapid increase in business. 
 
 The " lender by the little week " was perfectly safe in his 
 den, where he could have, if needed, strong assistance. For 
 on certain mornings there would be not less than sixty to 
 eighty people, men and women, either in the wine-dealer's, 
 in the court, sitting on the stairs, or in his office, for the 
 distrustful Cerizet would only admit six persons at once. The 
 first comers were the first served, and, as each one was only 
 admitted according to his number, the wine-dealer or his head- 
 helper chalked it on the men's hats and on the backs of the 
 women. 
 
 They would sell, like cabmen in a line, one number high 
 up for one lower down, with something to boot. On certain 
 days when business was pressing in the Market, a head number 
 would fetch as much as a glass of brandy and a sou. The 
 numbers as they went out of Cerizet's office bawled out the 
 succeeding numbers, and, if any dispute arose, it was soon 
 quieted by Cadenet saying : 
 
 "When you succeed in getting the police here, will you 
 get your advances? He would shut up shop." 
 
 Cerizet's name was He. When, in the course of the day, 
 an unfortunate, despairing woman, without an atom of bread 
 in the house, seeing her children pale with hunger, would 
 come to borrow ten or twenty sous : 
 
 " Is He here ? " she would anxiously ask the wine-dealer or 
 his head-helper.
 
 148 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Cadenet, who seemed like an angel to these poor mothers, 
 would reply : 
 
 " He told me you were an honest woman and that I might 
 give you forty sous. You know what you must do." And, 
 a strange thing, He was blessed, even as had been Popinot 
 before him. 
 
 But they cursed Cerizet on Sunday morning, when accounts 
 were straightened up ; they cursed him still more on Saturday, 
 when it became necessary to work in order to pay the sum 
 borrowed, with interest. Still he was Providence, he was God, 
 from Tuesday to Friday, every week. 
 
 His office was formerly the kitchen of the next story ; the 
 floor was bare, smoke still discolored the once whitewashed 
 walls and ceiling, and the stone floor retained and exhaled 
 moisture. The window was furnished with inside shutters 
 of iron and enormously thick, and fastened with an iron-bar. 
 The door commanded respect by a similar armor. 
 
 At the end of the room, in an angle, was a spiral stair 
 brought from some demolished store and bought by Cadenet 
 on the Rue Chapon, who had fitted it into the entresol. To 
 prevent all communication with the second floor, Cerizet had 
 stipulated that the door opening on to the landing should 
 be walled up. The place had thus became a fortress. He 
 shaved himself before a glass on the mantel. He owned two 
 pairs of muslin sheets and six cotton shirts; the rest of his 
 attire being of equal elegance. Once or twice Cadenet had 
 seen Cerizet dressed as a fashionable dandy ; so it must be 
 that he kept hidden away in the bottom drawer of his 
 bureau a complete disguise in which he could go to the opera, 
 or see society and yet not be recognized, for, only for his 
 voice, Cadenet would have asked him: " What can I do for 
 you?" 
 
 Cerizet, Cadenet and his two helpers lived in the bosom of 
 frightful misery, but preserved the calmness of undertakers 
 in the midst of the heirs of the deceased, of old sergeants of the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 149 
 
 Guard among heaps of the dead ; they no more shuddered 
 when they heard the cries of the famishing or of despair than do 
 surgeons groan when they hear their patients in the hospitals ; 
 they said, as the soldiers and the nurses said : " Have pa- 
 tience, a little courge ! Be brave ! No use to kill yourself ! 
 One can get used to anything; have a little reason ! " 
 
 Although Cerizet took the precaution of hiding the money 
 necessary for his morning's operations in the double seat of 
 the chair on which he sat, never taking out more than one 
 hundred francs at a time, and always between the exit of one 
 batch of clients and the entry of another keeping his door 
 locked and not opening it until the cash was in his pocket 
 as a matter of fact, he need have feared nothing from the 
 numerous despairs which found their way to this rendezvous 
 of money. Undoubtedly there are many different ways of 
 being honest and virtuous, and the " Monograph of Virtue "* 
 has no other basis than this social axiom. Cerizet depended on 
 the honor of his clients ; he never made a mistake, nor did 
 his poor borrowers; it was the reciprocity of capital and 
 desires. Many times Cerizet, who was born one of the 
 people, had corrected one week the unseen error of a previous 
 week, to the benefit of some poor devil who had not dis- 
 covered it. He went by the name of dog, but he was an 
 honest dog ; his word in the midst of that city of sorrows was 
 sacred. A woman died who owed thirty francs. 
 
 " There are my profits," said he to the assemblage, " and 
 you howl at me ! Nevertheless I shall not trouble the kids ; 
 in fact, Cadenet has taken them bread and piquette'' (wine- 
 lees or paltry wine). 
 
 Since that, a smart business stroke, it was said of him in 
 the faubourgs : 
 
 " He's not such a bad sort." 
 
 * The Monographie de la vertu; a work in the same vein as the Phys* 
 iologie du marriage, on which the author has been working since 1833, 
 when it was first announced. AUTHOR'S NOTE.
 
 160 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 The 'Moan by the little week," as heard from Cerizet's 
 customers, is not, taking all things into account, so cruel a 
 system as the pawnbroker's. Cerizet gave ten francs on 
 Tuesday on condition that he received twelve on Sunday 
 morning. In five weeks he doubled his capital, but he had 
 frequent compositions. His kindness consisted in accepting, 
 from time to time, eleven francs and fifty centimes, and the 
 rest stood over. When he loaned fifty francs for sixty to a 
 little huckster, or a hundred francs for one hundred and 
 twenty to a vendor of peat, he ran some risk. 
 
 When they arrived at the Rue des Poules by way of the 
 Rue des Postes, Theodose and Dutocq saw a great crowd of 
 men and women, and, by the light from the lamps in the 
 wine-dealer's windows, they were horrified at seeing that mass 
 of red faces, seamed, grimy, and haggard ; dejected by suf- 
 fering, withered, distorted, bloated with wine, emaciated with 
 spirits ; some resigned, some threatening, some jeering, some 
 sarcastic, and others stupefied, all clad in the miserable rags 
 which no caricaturist can surpass in his most extravagant 
 phantasies. 
 
 " I shall be recognized," said Theodose. "We were fool- 
 ish to come here in the midst of his business." 
 
 " Then let us all meet at the Cheval Rouge, on the Tour- 
 nelle quay," replied Dutocq. " It won't matter about them 
 seeing me." 
 
 Dutocq went alone into the midst of that congress of beg- 
 gars, and he heard his own name from mouth to mouth, for it 
 was almost impossible that some jail-bird should be met who 
 was not familiar with his justice-court, just as sure as Theodose 
 would have encountered some client. 
 
 In these quarters the justice of the peace is the supreme 
 tribunal ; all legal authority is centred in his court, especially 
 since legislation has made his decisions final in all cases in- 
 volving not more than one hundred and forty francs. A 
 passage was made for the clerk, who was not feared less than
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 151 
 
 the Judge himself. He saw women on the stairs, a horrible 
 display like flowers ranged on stages, amongst them were 
 some young, pale, and suffering. The diversity of colors in 
 fichus, bonnets, dresses, and aprons rendered the comparison 
 more exact, perhaps, than it should be. Dutocq was nearly 
 asphyxiated when he opened the door of the room in which 
 already sixty persons had left their odors. 
 
 "Your number! the number!" shouted a host of voices. 
 
 "Hold your jaw! " cried a hoarse voice from the street, 
 " that's the judge's pen ! " 
 
 " It can't be done like that, Daddy Lantimeche," Cerizet 
 was saying to a tall, old man, who appeared to be abouf 
 seventy, standing in front of him, a red woolen cap in his 
 hand, showing a bald head, and a breast covered with white 
 hairs visible through his shabby blouse. " Tell me what you 
 want a hundred francs for? even to get back one hundred 
 and twenty it can't be let loose like a dog in a church." 
 
 The five other customers present, among whom were two 
 women nursing infants, one suckling her baby, the other one 
 knitting, burst out laughing. 
 
 When he saw Dutocq, Cerizet rose respectfully and went 
 hastily to meet him. 
 
 "You can have time to think about it; for, see you, I'm 
 not satisfied a hundred francs demanded by a blacksmith's 
 helper." 
 
 " But it's to start an invention," cried the old workman. 
 
 "An invention and a hundred francs, you don't know the 
 laws; it takes two thousand francs," said Dutocq. "You 
 must get a patent, you need backers." 
 
 "That's the truth," said Cerizet, who reckoned on such 
 chances ; " go now, daddy, and come again to-morrow morn- 
 ing at six o'clock; we can't talk invention before others." 
 
 Cerizet listened to Dutocq, whose first words were : 
 
 " If all goes right, half profits." 
 
 " Why did you get up as early as this to say that to me ? "
 
 152 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 asked the distrustful Cerizet, much annoyed at the mention 
 of half profits. " You could have seen me at the office." 
 
 And he looked askance at Dutocq, who, while telling him 
 how matters stood, speaking of Claparon and the necessity 
 of pushing Theodose's affair as rapidly as possible, seemed 
 confused. 
 
 "You could have seen me at the office," replied Cerizet, 
 as he conducted Dutocq to the door. 
 
 "There's one," said he, resuming his seat, "who seems to 
 me to have blown out the lantern so that I may not see clearly. 
 Well, I'll give up that job as copyist. Ah ! your turn, my 
 little mother!" he exclaimed. "You invent children! 
 That's amusing, too. It's a good enough game, and they all 
 do it." 
 
 It is useless to recount the conversation which took place 
 between the three associates, the more so as they alluded to 
 the arrangements to be the basis of certain confidences be- 
 tween Theodose and Mile. Thuillier ; but it is essential to 
 say that la Peyrade's craftiness seemed to dismay Cerizet and 
 Dutocq. Now, the banker of the poor, finding his antagonists 
 such strong players, resolved to make sure of his own stake 
 at the first chance. To win the game by cheating expert 
 gamblers is an inspiration to the votaries of the green-cloth. 
 From this came the terrible blow that la Peyrade was destined 
 to receive. 
 
 He had his hands filled in following the twinings of Dutocq 
 and Cerizet ; they were both experts in humbug. An immo- 
 bile face like Talleyrand's would have made them break at 
 once with the Provencal, it was necessary to make a show of 
 confidence and of playing above-board, which is certainly the 
 acme of art. To delude the pit is an every-day triumph, but 
 to take in Mile. Mars, Frederick Lemaitre, Potier, Talma, 
 and Monrose is the height of acting. 
 
 The day after this conference la Peyrade dined with the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 153 
 
 Thuilliers, and on the pretext of paying a visit carried off his 
 wife, leaving Theodose with Brigitte. Neither Theodose, nor 
 Thuillier, nor his sister were duped by this comedy ; but the 
 old buck of the Empire gave it the name of diplomacy. 
 
 " Young man, do not take advantage of my sister's inno- 
 cence, respect it," said Thuillier as he departed. 
 
 To get the upper hand of Brigitte would be in this long 
 struggle like carrying the great redoubt of the Moskowa. 
 But it was necessary to possess that old maid as the devil was 
 said to possess man in the Middle Ages, and to prevent any 
 possible awakening by her. He had studied and measured 
 the ground for the past three days. Flattery, that almost in- 
 fallible means in adroit hands, would not be listened to by a 
 woman who for a very long time had known that she was with- 
 out beauty. But to a man of powerful will nothing is impreg- 
 nable ; the Lamarques could never have failed to carry Caprea. 
 
 "You have shown your affection for us," said Brigitte, 
 when they were alone. 
 
 " Your brother has told you ? " 
 
 " No; he merely said you wished to speak with me." 
 
 "Yes, mademoiselle, for you are the man of the family, 
 but in reflecting over this matter I find a number of dangers, 
 such as a man risks only for those who are near and dear to 
 him. A whole fortune is involved, thirty to forty thousand 
 francs a year, and not in the least speculative a freehold. 
 The need of giving a fortune to Thuillier fascinated me from 
 the first. I told him frankly that in working for his interests 
 I advanced my own, as I will later also explain to you. If 
 he wishes to be a deputy, two things are absolutely necessary : 
 to comply with the law as to assessment, then to win some 
 kind of celebrity for his name. If I push my devotion to the 
 extent of assisting him in writing a book on some political 
 question no matter what so as to get him that celebrity, I 
 must needs think of his property also ; it would be absurd of 
 you to give him this house."
 
 154 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " What! for my brother? Why, I'd put it in his name to- 
 morrow," exclaimed Brigitte; "you don't know me." 
 
 "I do not entirely know you," said la Peyrade, "but I 
 know enough to cause me to regret that I did not acquaint 
 you with the whole business since its origin." 
 
 "But this business," said Brigitte, "of what nature are the 
 obstacles?" 
 
 " Mademoiselle, the difficulty is existent in my conscience 
 I certainly could not help you in this matter without first 
 consulting my confessor. To the world, oh, the affair is per- 
 fectly legal, and I am you understand me an authorized 
 barrister, a member of the bar controlled by most rigid rules ; 
 I am incapable of suggesting an enterprise which might give 
 rise to blame. My excuse, first, is that I don't accept a single 
 Hard out of it." 
 
 Brigitte was on a gridiron, her face was aflame ; she broke 
 her wool, knotted it together again, and did not know how to 
 contain herself. 
 
 "One can't do that," said she; "in this day a rental of 
 forty thousand francs means a property costing one million 
 eight hundred thousand francs." 
 
 " Well, you shall see the property and estimate its probable 
 revenue, of which I can make Thuillier the owner for fifty 
 thousand francs." 
 
 "Well, then, you only get us that!" exclaimed Brigitte, 
 wound up to the highest pitch by the key of her avarice. " Go 
 on, my dear Monsieur Theodose " 
 
 She stopped short. 
 
 "Well, mademoiselle." 
 
 "You will perhaps have labored to your own advan- 
 tage." 
 
 "Ah! if Thuillier has told you my secret, I leave your 
 house." 
 
 Brigitte looked up. 
 
 " Has he told you that I love Celeste? "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 155 
 
 "No; as I'm an honest woman!" exclaimed Brigitte; 
 "but I myself was just about to speak of her." 
 
 " And to offer her to me? Oh ! no, may God forgive us; 
 I want her only of her free choice. No, no, all I ask of you 
 is your good-will and favor. Promise me that, treat me as a 
 son ; should you do this I will abide by your decision in this 
 matter; I will not consult my confessor. You can help me 
 in so many ways, you could attend to the details of our for- 
 tune, so that I need not neglect anything that would tend to 
 my political career. I admired you on Sunday evening. 
 How you made things fly ; I guess the dining-room was cleared 
 out in ten minutes. Without leaving your home, all was at 
 hand for the refreshments and supper. ' There,' said I to 
 myself, ' is a mistress-woman.' ' 
 
 Brigitte's nostrils dilated, she breathed in the words of 
 the young lawyer. He looked askance at her to enjoy his 
 triumph ; he had twanged the chord responsive. 
 
 "Now here is where we stand, my dear aunt, for you are 
 an aunt in some sort " 
 
 " Hush you, naughty fellow ! " said Brigitte, " and go on." 
 
 "Well, the matter crudely is this: remark that I com- 
 promise myself by telling you these secrets, for they are con- 
 fided to me as an attorney. We are both, therefore, as it 
 were, committing a crime lese-cabinet or legal high treason. 
 A notary of Paris (although the law does not permit specula- 
 tion by notaries) was in copartnership with an architect ; 
 they bought land and built upon it ; just now they are embar- 
 rassed the bottom dropped out of things. Among these 
 houses is an excellent one not quite finished ; this must con- 
 sequently be sold at a great loss, so that the price asked is only 
 one hundred thousand francs, although the land and building 
 cost at the least four hundred thousand. The interior to 
 complete will run up to fifty thousand more. Now, by its 
 location, this house, when completed, will bring in at least 
 forty thousand francs, exclusive of taxes." 
 
 T
 
 156 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Well, and of what does the difficulty consist?" 
 
 "Just this: the notary wants to save this piece of cake 
 from the wreck he must abandon ; under the name of a friend 
 he is the creditor who petitions for the sale of the property by 
 the assignee of the bankruptcy. It has not gone into court, 
 the costs would count up so rapidly; the sale is by voluntary 
 agreement. This notary's friend is a client of mine; my 
 client is a poor devil who says to me : ' There's a fortune to 
 be made out of that house by tricking the notary.' " 
 
 "That's fair in trade," said Brigitte quickly. 
 
 "If this were the only obstacle," answered Theodose, "it 
 would be as a friend of mine said to a pupil of his who com- 
 plained of the difficulties encountered in producing a master- 
 piece of painting : f My dear boy, were it not so footmen would 
 paint.' But, mademoiselle, if we get the better of this notary 
 for he deserves it, he has compromised many private for- 
 tunes it might be hard to do it at a second turn. When one 
 purchases real estate, that is at a low price at forced sale, the 
 mortagees have the right, until the expiration of a certain 
 fixed time, to buy it in ; that is to offer a larger sum and keep 
 the property. If this trickster can't be tricked as to the sale 
 being a genuine one and hindered from raising the price until 
 the time limit expires, well, then, some other scheme must be 
 worked. But is this business legal ? Shall a man undertake 
 such for the benefit of a family he seeks to enter? That is a 
 question my mind has been revolving for the past three days." 
 
 It must be admitted that this made Brigitte pause ; Theo- 
 dose put forth the last resource : 
 
 " Take to-night for reflection ; to-morrow we will talk it 
 over." 
 
 "Listen, my boy," said Brigitte, looking almost lovingly 
 at the lawyer ; " the first thing is to sec the house. Where 
 is it ? " 
 
 " Near the Madeleine. In ten years that will be the heart 
 of Paris. And, you know, land has been in request there
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 157 
 
 since 1819; du Tillet the banker made his fortune there. 
 Birotteau, the perfumer, Roguin, the notary, were ruined by 
 speculating there too wildly." 
 
 " Can we go there to-morrow? " 
 
 "Dear aunt, I am at your command." 
 
 " Mercy me ! don't call me that before folk. As to this 
 business," she went on, "one must see the house before de- 
 ciding." 
 
 "It has six stories; nine windows in front, a fine court- 
 yard, four stores and stands on a corner. Oh ! that notary 
 is smart. But events may occur that will depreciate the 
 Funds, one hundred and twenty-two, it is a fabulous price ; I 
 should hurry to sell your own and Madame Thuillier's and 
 purchase this fine piece of property for Thuillier; and you 
 could recover the fortune of that poor, pious creature by the 
 savings from the rental." 
 
 Brigitte licked her lips ; she saw how she might keep her 
 own fortune intact, and enrich her brother by making this 
 use of Mme. Thuillier's fortune. 
 
 " My brother is right," said she to Theodose, " you are a 
 remarkable man, you will go far " 
 
 "And he will march before me," replied Theodose, with 
 an artlessness that captivated the old maid. 
 
 "Till to-morrow, then, toward noon, when we will view the 
 house," said Brigitte, holding out her hand for Thdodose to 
 shake ; but he pressed upon it a kiss, respectful and tender. 
 
 "Adieu, my boy," said she, as she reached the door; "it 
 is God himself who has placed him in our house," she added 
 to herself. 
 
 Five days later, in the month of April, the ordinance was 
 issued for the nomination of a member of the Municipal 
 Council; it was inserted in the "Moniteur" and placarded 
 all about Paris. Brigitte was in a charming humor ; she had 
 verified the statements of Theodose ; the property had been 
 inspected by old Chaffaroux, a wealthy ex-contractor, an
 
 158 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 uncle of the Comtesse du Bruel, formerly Tullia the dancer, 
 at one time a crony of Flavie Colleville's, who had been 
 privately requested to do this office for Brigitte. Poor Grin- 
 dot, the architect who was interested with the notary in this 
 speculation, thought he was being employed in the interests 
 of the contractor; the old fellow thought he was acting in 
 the interest of his niece, Flavie, and he passed it as in his 
 opinion only thirty thousand francs would be necessary to 
 thoroughly finish the property. Thus in one week la Peyrade 
 became Brigitte's god ; she proved to him that fortune should 
 be seized when it presented itself. 
 
 "Beside, if there is any sin in the affair," said she, as they 
 stood in the middle of the garden, " you can confess it." 
 
 "There, my friend," said Thuillier, "what, the devil! 
 a man owes himself to his relations." 
 
 "I have decided to do it," said la Peyrade. "Only, my 
 good friend, and you too, my little aunt, keep absolute 
 secrecy regarding me in this matter; and do not pay heed to 
 the calumnies which the men I nip will serve out against me. 
 I shall become, see you, a vagabond, ambitious, a swindler, a 
 Jesuit can you hear such unmoved ? " 
 
 "Be easy," said Brigitte.,, 
 
 From that day forward Thuillier was " my good friend." 
 Good friend was the name given him by Theodose, with a vari- 
 ety of inflections of voice fitted to the occasion. My " little 
 aunt," a name which vastly flattered Brigitte, was only used 
 by him in the privacy of the family circle. The activity of 
 the Thuillier workers was extreme. Great and small put their 
 hands to the plough. On April 3oth, Thuillier was elected 
 by an immense majority and was proclaimed member of the 
 Council-general of the department of the Seine. On May 
 ist he went to the Tuileries with the municipal body to con- 
 gratulate the King on his fdte day. He returned radiant. 
 He had trod the path of Minard.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 159 
 
 Ten days later a yellow placard announced the sale of the 
 house after due publication ; the price of upset being seventy- 
 five thousand francs ; the final adjudication to be made on 
 July ist. On this matter Claparon and Cerizet had an argu- 
 ment by which the latter pledged fifteen thousand francs to 
 Claparon, if he kept the notary deceived until the expiration 
 of the time needed to withdraw the property. This money was 
 to go through la Peyrade's hands, being furnished by Mile. 
 Thuillier. The young notary, one of those who run after 
 fortune instead of leisurely following it, saw another future 
 ahead ; he was trying to so manage his present affairs as to be 
 at liberty to lay hands thereon. He had an interview with 
 Claparon at midnight at which he offered him ten thousand 
 france to secure him, this amount only to be paid on receipt 
 of a counter-deed from the nominal purchaser of the property. 
 He felt sure of his man, for he knew that Claparon needed this 
 amount to extricate himself from his liabilities. 
 
 Then Cerizet offered twelve thousand francs to Claparon 
 and at once demanded fifteen thousand from la Peyrade, in- 
 tending to put the balance in his own pocket. All these scenes 
 between the four men were seasoned with pretty words about 
 sentiment and honesty, on the honor that men owed to each 
 other in business transactions. Meanwhile Theodose was 
 assisting the new councilor in writing his masterly work; he 
 became absolutely necessary to him ; he was each day more 
 convinced that Theodose's marriage to Celeste was a ne- 
 cessity. Now Theodose made an admirable " friend of the 
 family;" he disarmed jealousy by his manner of effacing 
 himself; he was more like a new piece of furniture than any- 
 thing else ; this allayed all the suspicion of the Mindards and 
 Phellions, who fondly thought he had been found too light in 
 the balance by both Brigitte and Thuillier. 
 
 " He thinks that perhaps my sister may put him in her 
 will," said Thuillier to Minard, one day; "he doesn't know 
 her, though."
 
 160 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 This speech, prompted by Theodose, calmed Minard's dis- 
 trust. It gave him what he wanted more than all, the con- 
 tempt of his antagonists. For four months in succession his 
 face maintained the torpid expression of a snake which has 
 swallowed and is digesting its prey. 
 
 "And you," said he to Flavic, the evening before the 
 purchase of the house, "don't you pity me? A man like 
 me, creeping like a cat, having to choke down every retort, 
 chewing my gall, submitting to your rebuffs." 
 
 "My friend, my child," said Flavie, who still remained 
 undecided about him. 
 
 All this time Felix Phellion was instructing young Colle- 
 ville. Flavie was for ever making for him either a purse, a 
 pair of slippers, a cigar case, and so on for the happy young 
 man. Old Phellion rubbed his hands as he realized how 
 things were ; he already saw Celeste wedded to his fane, his 
 noble Felix. 
 
 As stated, the final sale was fixed for the end of July. 
 Theodose, therefore, advised Mile. Thuillier to be prepared 
 with the necessary cash ; accordingly, she sold out her own 
 and sister-in-law's Funds. The catastrophe of the treaty of 
 the four powers, an insult to France, but now a matter of his- 
 tory, is necessary to be retold that the reader may thus 
 understand that Funds declined from July to the end of 
 August ; this was caused by the prospect of war, a fear 
 which M. Thiers did too much to promote; they fell twenty 
 francs and Three-per-cents went down to sixty. This also had 
 an evil influence on real estate in Paris, which rapidly de- 
 clined. All this caused Theodose to be regarded as a 
 prophet. Thus, when the purchase was completed, Thuil- 
 lier's importance was magnified tenfold. Meanwhile, Th6o- 
 dose, assured of his supremacy, put on a rather less servile 
 manner. Brigitte and Thuillier said to him once : 
 
 " Nothing can take from you our esteem ; in this house you 
 are in your own home ; the opinion of Minard and Phellion,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES, 161 
 
 which you seem to fear, is not of more value to us than a line 
 by Victor Hugo. Let them talk ; hold your head up ! " 
 
 She saw her brother secure of his forty thousand francs per 
 annum, exclusive of his pension ; she had reinvested Mme. 
 Thuillier's fortune in Three-per-cents at sixty, which brought 
 her in twelve thousand francs. Her own balance was also 
 thus invested and was of the annual value of ten thousand 
 francs ; for the future she would only invest in the Funds ; she 
 had now, herself, a total income of eighteen thousand francs, 
 beside the house in which they lived and which she valued at 
 eight thousand. 
 
 " We are worth quite as much as the Minards," she said. 
 
 "Don't be too ready to sing victory," said Theodose; 
 " the right of exemption does not expire for a week yet. I 
 have attended to your affairs, but my own are in an awful 
 mess." 
 
 "My dear boy, you have friends ! " cried Brigitte; "and 
 if you ever need twenty-five louis, you can find them here." 
 
 Theodose at this speech exchanged a smile of meaning 
 with Thuillier, who hastened to take him off, saying to him : 
 
 "Excuse my poor sister ; she sees the world through the 
 mouth of a bottle. But if you want twenty-five thousand 
 francs, I will lend them to you out of my first rents," he 
 added. 
 
 "Thuillier, I have a rope around my neck," cried Theo- 
 dose. " Ever since I have been a lawyer I have had to give 
 acceptances. But mum, not a word," added Theodose, 
 frightened himself at having let the cat out of the bag. 
 "I'm in the clutches of scoundrels, but I hope to best them." 
 
 In telling this secret Theodose had a double purpose : first, 
 to test Thuillier, next to avert a terrible blow, liable at any 
 day to be dealt him in the secret, sinister struggle in which 
 he was engaged. This was it : 
 
 In the midst of the deep poverty through which he had 
 passed, none but Cerizet had gone to see him in the garret 
 11
 
 162 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 where, in cold weather, he had lain in bed for lack of clothes. 
 He had but one shirt left. For three days he lived on one 
 loaf of bread, carefully cut into measured pieces, and asking 
 himself: "What next?" Just then his former protector 
 appeared, just pardoned out of prison. Of the projects 
 which these two men then formed before the fire of kindling- 
 wood, one wrapped in his landlady's bed-quilt, the other in 
 his infamy, it is needless to recapitulate. The following day, 
 Cerizet, who had talked with Dutocq, returned, bringing 
 with him a pair of trousers, a vest, coat, hat, and boots, all 
 purchased in the Temple ; then carried him off to dinner. 
 The Provencal ate at Pinson's, Rue de 1'Ancienne Comedie, 
 half of a dinner costing forty-seven francs. At dessert, be- 
 tween two glasses of wine, Cerizet said to his friend : 
 
 " Will you sign acceptances for me for fifty thousand francs, 
 giving yourself the title of barrister? " 
 
 "You couldn't raise five thousand francs on them," re- 
 plied Theodose. 
 
 "That doesn't concern you; you'll pay all right; this is 
 our business, or monsieur's who has just regaled us. It is 
 an affair in which you risk nothing, but by which you will 
 obtain the title of barrister, a good clientage, and the hand of 
 a girl in marriage of the age of an old dog, and who is worth 
 not less than twenty to thirty thousand francs a year. Neither 
 Dutocq nor myself can marry her ; we must rig you up, give 
 you the air of an honorable man, feed and lodge you, and fix 
 you up generally. Therefore, we shall need our guarantee. 
 I don't say this for myself, but for monsieur, who will have 
 the use of my name. We equip you as a pirate that does the 
 white slave trade, eh ! If we don't capture that dot, well, 
 we'll try some other little scheme. Between ourselves we 
 needn't handle things with tongs that's sure. We'll give 
 you instructions later. Here's the stamps." 
 
 " Waiter, a pen and the ink ! " cried Theodose. 
 
 " That's your sort of man," said Dutocq.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 163 
 
 "Sign 'Theodose de la Peyrade,' and add 'Barrister, 
 Rue Saint-Dominique-d'Enfer,' under the words: 'Accepted 
 for ten thousand francs.' We'll date the notes and sue you, 
 of course secretly, so as to be able to capture and imprison 
 your body. The privateer-owner must have some security 
 when the captain and brig are at sea." 
 
 On the morrow the clerk of the judge served la Peyrade 
 for Cerizet, secretly. The Tribunal of Commerce has hun- 
 dreds of such cases every term. The strict rules of the Asso- 
 ciation of Barristers would cause the disbarring of a member 
 liable to be committed to Clichy. Thus Cerizet and Dutocq 
 had their measures taken to secure twenty-five thousand francs 
 each out of Celeste's dot. Now, when Theodose signed the 
 notes he only saw his living assured, but when he saw the 
 horizon growing clearer, as he rose step by step to a higher 
 position on the social ladder, then he wished to be rid of his 
 two associates. Now, in asking twenty-five thousand francs 
 of Thuillier he hoped to settle his notes to Cerizet on a fifty 
 per cent, basis. 
 
 Up to the present neither of the three men had kicked or 
 groaned. Each knew his own strength and recognized his 
 danger. Equals in distrust, in watchfulness, and in apparent 
 confidence; equals also in stolid silence and gloomy looks 
 when mutual suspicion arose to the surface, betrayed by the 
 play of their features or words. For two months past Theo- 
 dose had gradually acquired the strength of a detached for- 
 tress. But Dutocq and Cerizet had under their skiff a mass 
 of powder, the torch already alight ; but the wind might blow 
 out the match or the devil flood the mine. 
 
 A reaction of envy was gathering like an avalanche in 
 Cerizet. Dutocq saw himself at the mercy of his copyist, 
 who had become enriched. Theodose would have liked to 
 burn his partners, if only he could be assured that their papers 
 would be consumed with them. Theodose lived three lives in 
 hell as he thought of how the cards might turn, then of his,
 
 164 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 own game, and then of the future. His speech to Thuillier 
 was the cry of despair; he had thrown his sounding-lead into 
 the waters of the old bourgeois and had found there no more 
 than twenty-five thousand francs. 
 
 "And," said he to himself, "perhaps nothing, one month 
 hence." 
 
 He now hated the Thuilliers with a profound hatred. But 
 he held Thuillier by the harpoon stuck into the man's vanity 
 that of the projected work, "Taxation and Redemption;" 
 he intended rearranging the ideas of "The Globe" in its 
 Saint-Simonism, and coloring them with his fervid Southern 
 diction. 
 
 The evening before the right of redemption of equity ex- 
 pired Claparon and Cerizet proceeded thus : Cerizet, to whom 
 the other had given the password and the address of the 
 notary's retreat, went out to him, and said : 
 
 " One of my friends, Claparon, whom you know, has asked 
 me to call upon you ; he expects you to-morrow evening, you 
 know where ; he has the paper you expect from him ; he will 
 exchange it with you for the ten thousand francs, but I must 
 be present, for of that amount five thousand belongs to me ; 
 I give you notice, monsieur, that a blank remains for the 
 name." 
 
 " I shall be there," said the notary. 
 
 The poor devil waited the whole night with what agony one 
 may imagine, for his safety or inevitable ruin were in the 
 balance. But at sunrise, instead of Claparon, he saw an officer 
 of the Tribunal of Commerce, who produced a judgment 
 against him in due form, requiring him to accompany him to 
 Clichy. 
 
 Cerizet had bargained with a creditor to deliver the un- 
 lucky notary up for one-half the amount of the debt. Out of 
 the ten thousand he had reserved for Claparon he was com- 
 pelled to disgorge six thousand to obtain his liberty. 
 
 Cerizet then went to the notary and said :
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 165 
 
 " Claparon is a scoundrel, monsieur ; he received five thou- 
 sand francs from the alleged purchaser of your house, which 
 makes him the owner. Threaten him with disclosing his 
 retreat to his creditors and to have him adjudged a fraudu- 
 lent bankrupt, then he'll turn over half of it to you." 
 
 In his rage the notary wrote Claparon an abusive letter ; 
 he, in despair, feared arrest, and Cerizet promised to obtain 
 a passport for him. 
 
 "You have played me many a trick, Claparon," said Ceri- 
 zet; " but listen to me, then you can judge me. All I possess 
 is one thousand crowns I'll give you that. Go to America, 
 and trade and make your fortune th?re, the same as I am 
 trying to make mine here." 
 
 That very evening Claparon, cleverly disguised by Cerizet, 
 left by the diligence for Havre. Thus Cerizet remained 
 master of the fifteen thousand francs demanded by Claparon, 
 and awaited The"odose with tranquillity. He had another 
 string to his bow. 
 
 " The limit of the equity is passed," said Theodose, going 
 himself to find Dutocq to get him to bring Cerizet to his 
 office. 
 
 "You won't be able to settle this transaction anywhere but 
 .in Cerizet's place, since Claparon is in it," replied Dutocq. 
 
 Theodose went between seven and eight o'clock to this 
 banker of the poor, whom the clerk had notified. They 
 promenaded the miserable kitchen like two beasts in a cage, 
 playing the scene thus : 
 
 " Have you brought the fifteen thousand francs ? " 
 
 " No, but I have them home." 
 
 "Why, then, have not you them in your pocket?" 
 
 " I'll explain why," replied the advocate, who, between the 
 Rue Saint-Dominique and the Estrapade, had laid out his 
 course of action. 
 
 The Provencal, writhing on the gridiron to which his part- 
 ners had bound him, had a bright idea which flashed up from
 
 166 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the bosom of the hot coals. Peril at times has gleams of 
 light. 
 
 " Good ! " said Cerizet, " now the farce begins." 
 
 This was a sinister word and seemed to be forced through 
 the nose with horrible accent. 
 
 " You have placed me in a most splendid position, and I 
 shall never forget it, my friend," said Theodose, with emotion. 
 
 "Ah ! that's it, eh ! " said Cerizet. 
 
 " Listen to me ; you don't know my intentions." 
 
 "So? truly ! " replied the loaner by the little week. 
 
 "No." 
 
 " You don't intend to put up those fifteen thousand francs." 
 
 Theodose looked fixedly at Cerizet and shrugged his shoul- 
 ders. These two things caused the latter to keep silence. 
 
 " Would you, in my position, knowing yourself within 
 range of a cannon loaded with grape-shot, live thus without 
 making an effort to end it ? Listen to me*. You are in a 
 dangerous trade ; some time you will be glad of good, solid 
 protection in the courts of Paris. I, if I continue in my 
 present course, shall become deputy attorney-general, maybe 
 attorney-general, in three years' time. To-day I offer you a 
 devoted friendship which will be of service to you. Here are 
 my conditions." 
 
 "Conditions?" cried Cerizet. 
 
 " In ten minutes I will bring you twenty-five thousand 
 francs for all the claims you hold against me." 
 
 "And Dutocq? And Claparon?" exclaimed Cerizet. 
 
 "Leave them in the lurch," said Theodose, in his friend's 
 ear. 
 
 "How sweet!" replied Cerizet. "And you play this 
 little three-card-monte, finding that you hold fifteen thousand 
 francs that don't belong to you." 
 
 " But I add ten thousand to them. See here, you and I 
 know each other." 
 
 " If you have power enough to get ten thousand francs out
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 167 
 
 of your bourgeois," said Cerizet, eagerly, " you can quite as 
 easily ask fifteen. For thirty, I'm your man. Frankness for 
 frankness." 
 
 "You ask the impossible," exclaimed Theodose. "At 
 this moment, if you had Claparon to deal with, your fifteen 
 thousand francs would be lost, for the house is Thuillier's 
 now." 
 
 " I'll see what Claparon has to say," replied Cerizet, pre- 
 tending to go and consult Claparon, mounting upstairs to the 
 chamber whence he had just gone, bag and baggage, in a 
 hack. 
 
 The five minutes during which Theodose heard what he 
 believed to be the murmur of two voices was positive torture 
 to him, for his whole life was the stake. Cerizet came down, 
 a smile upon his lips, his eyes brilliant with an infernal 
 malice, dancing with glee, he was a Lucifer in his gayety. 
 
 "I know nothing," said he, shrugging his shoulders; 
 " but Claparon, he knows it all. He used to work hand in 
 glove with some top-notch bankers. When I told him what 
 you wanted he laughed and said: 'I don't doubt it.' To- 
 morrow you will have to bring me those twenty-five thousand 
 francs you offered me ; and no less beside to redeem your 
 acceptances, my boy." 
 
 "And why ? " asked Theodose, who felt as if his backbone 
 were liquefying ; as though melted by the discharge of some 
 interior electric shock. 
 
 " The house is ours." 
 
 "And how?" 
 
 " Claparon has formally bid it in under the name of a 
 dealer, the first one to take proceedings against him, a little 
 toad named Sauvaignou. Desroches, the attorney, has the 
 matter in hand, and to-morrow morning you'll receive due 
 notification. This business will compel me, Claparon, and 
 Dutocq to raise the wind. What would become of me with- 
 gut Claparon ? So I must forgive him. I forgive him ; you
 
 168 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 may not believe it, my dear friend, but we actually embraced 
 each other. Change your terms." 
 
 The last words were appalling, especially in the comment 
 offered by the face of Cerizet, who was amusing himself by 
 playing a scene from " Legataire," in the midst of which he 
 studied attentively the Provencal's character. 
 
 " Oh ! Cerizet, and I wished you so well ! " 
 
 "See you, my dear," replied Cerizet, " between us this is 
 needed," and he struck his heart, " of which you haven't the 
 least bit. When you imagined you had us then came the 
 squeeze. I saved you from vermin and the horrors of starva- 
 tion. You'll die like an idiot. We put you on the way to 
 fortune, we put you inside a pretty society-skin, by which 
 you could have grasped a fortune and after all that ! Well, 
 now I know you; we tramp under arms." 
 
 "Then it is war," said Theodose. 
 
 " You fired first," said Cerizet. 
 
 " But if you demolish me then farewell to all your hopes ; 
 and if you are not able to down me, you have an enemy in 
 me." 
 
 "Exactly what I said to Dutocq yesterday," answered 
 Cerizet, coolly. "But how can it be helped. We chose 
 between the two circumstances govern cases. I'm a pretty 
 good fellow," he went on after a pause, "to-morrow bring 
 me your twenty-five thousand francs and Thuillier shall retain 
 
 the house. We'll help you at both ends, but you must pay 
 
 Now after what has passed that's not so much amiss, eh ? " 
 
 "Say to-morrow at noon," said the Provencal, "for there 
 are a number of irons to heat." 
 
 "I'll endeavor my best with Claparon, but he's a pretty 
 tough fellow when he's in a hurry." 
 
 "Oh, well! to-morrow then," said Thdodose, in the tone 
 of a man decided on his course. 
 
 "Good-morning, friend," said Cerizet in such a horrible 
 nasal tone that degraded the most beautiful word in the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 169 
 
 language. "There goes a sucker." said he to himself, look- 
 ing after Thdodose passing down the street like a man in a 
 daze. 
 
 As he left the idea came to him to go to Flavie and tell her 
 everything. Southern natures are thus strong up to a cer- 
 tain point of passion, then a collapse. He entered. Flavie 
 was alone in her chamber ; she saw Theodose and thought he 
 had come to violate or kill her. 
 
 "What is the matter?" she cried. 
 
 "I I Do you love me, Flavie?" said he. 
 
 " Oh ! can you doubt it ? " 
 
 "But absolutely love me even if I were a criminal?" 
 
 "Has he then killed somebody?" said she to herself; 
 answering him with a nod of assent. 
 
 Theodose, happy at even grasping this branch of willow, 
 burst into a passion of sobs, torrents of tears ran down his 
 cheeks. Flavie went out and said to her maid : " I am not 
 at home to any one ; " then she closed all doors and returned 
 to Theodose. 
 
 " I have but you in the world," cried he, seizing Flavie's 
 hands and kissing them with a sort of fury. "If you only 
 remain true to me as the body is to the soul then," he 
 added, recovering himself with infinite grace, " I should have 
 the courage." 
 
 He rose and pap ed the room. 
 
 "Yes, I can struggle; I will recover my strength, like 
 Antseus, from a fall ; with my own hands will I strangle the 
 serpents that entwine me, that give me serpent-kisses, that 
 slaver my cheeks, that suck my blood, my honor. Oh ! that 
 poverty ! Far better have died than lived for this. A coffin 
 is a softer bed in comparison than my present life. For 
 eighteen months I have been fed on bourgeois ; and after that 
 horrid feast, when all is propitious of attaining an honest, 
 fortunate life and a great future, when I was about seating 
 myself at the banquet of society, the executioner taps me on
 
 170 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the shoulder : ' Pay thy tithes to the devil, or die ! ' And I, 
 shall I not trample them underfoot ! and I, shall I not ram my 
 arm down their throats to their very entrails ! Ah ! yes, I 
 will, I will. See you, Flavie, my eyes are dry. And pres- 
 ently I shall laugh ; I feel my power. Oh ! say to me that 
 you love me say it once again. At this moment it sounds 
 like the word ' Pardon ' to the condemned? " 
 
 "You are terrible, my friend," said Flavie. "Oh! you 
 bruise me." 
 
 She knew nothing of the meaning of this, but she fell on 
 the couch half-dead, so agitated was she by this scene ; and 
 then Theodose flung himself on his knees before her. 
 
 " Pardon me ! forgive me," he said. 
 
 "But what does it all mean ! " she asked. 
 
 "They wish to ruin me. Oh! promise me Celeste; you 
 shall see in what a glorious life I will make you a sharer. If 
 you hesitate well, that will mean you shall be mine ; I will 
 have you ! " 
 
 He started up with such vehemence that Flavie, terrified, 
 rose and walked away. 
 
 "Oh ! my angel ! at your feet, there what a miracle. For 
 certainly God is for me. Thanks, my good angel; great 
 Theodosius ! you have saved me." 
 
 Flavie admired that chameleon being; he was a fervent 
 Catholic ; he reverently crossed himself; it was as fine as the 
 communion of Saint-Jerome. 
 
 "Adieu," he said, in a melancholy voice; then rushed 
 away ; but in the street he turned and saw her at the window, 
 he made a sign of triumph. 
 
 "What a man ! " said she. 
 
 " My good friend," said ThSodose, in a gentle, calm voice, 
 almost coaxing, to Thuillier, after reaching home, "we have 
 fallen into the hands of atrocious scoundrels ; but I intend 
 giving them a little lesson." 
 
 " What is wrong? " said Brigitte.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 171 
 
 " Well, they want twenty-five thousand francs, and so, to 
 get the better of us, have arranged to bid in the property. 
 Put five thousand francs in your pocket and come with me ; 
 I'll assure you that house. I am making implacable enemies 
 for myself," he exclaimed-; " they seek to destroy me morally. 
 Should you despise their calumnies and feel no change toward 
 me, I shall be content. And what is this, after all ? If 
 I succeed, you have paid for the house one hundred and 
 twenty-five thousand francs instead of paying one hundred 
 and twenty." 
 
 "Will it happen again?" demanded Brigitte, uneasily, 
 whose eyes dilated with a horrible suspicion. 
 
 " None but preferred creditors have the right of redemption, 
 and as in this case there is but one that has used this right, we 
 can take it quietly. His debt is but two thousand francs ; but 
 of course there are the costs of the lawyers in affairs like this 
 which must be paid, and it wouldn't be amiss to give a per- 
 quisite of a thousand francs to the creditor." 
 
 " Go, Thuillier," said Brigitte ; " take your hat and gloves, 
 and get the cash you know where." 
 
 "As I let that fifteen thousand francs go without result, I 
 don't wish any more money to pass through my hands. Thuil- 
 lier can pay it himself," said Theodose, when he found him- 
 self alone with Brigitte. "You have made twenty thousand 
 francs by the bargain I made with Grindot ; he thought he 
 was assisting the notary, and you own a property which in five 
 years will be worth nearly a million. It is at a corner of the 
 boulevard." 
 
 Brigitte was uneasy, and listened exactly like a cat that 
 smells mice under the floor. She looked very earnestly, and 
 half doubtfully, at Theodose. 
 
 "What is it, little aunt?" 
 
 " Oh ! I shall be in deadly fear until we are the real owners," 
 she replied. 
 
 "Where are we going?" asked Thuillier.
 
 172 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "To Maitre Godeschal, whom we must employ as our 
 attorney." 
 
 "But we refused Celeste to him," exclaimed the old maid. 
 
 "The more reason for employing him," said Theodose. 
 
 Godeschal was Derville's successor, whose head-clerk he 
 had been for more than ten years. There was the utmost 
 intimacy between them, and ties like these in Paris form a 
 true fraternity. They give and take, in all possible conces- 
 sions, on the strength of the old proverbs: "Pass me the 
 rhubarb, I'll pass the senna," or, "One good turn deserves 
 another;" which is put in practice, in every profession, be- 
 tween ministers, officers, lawyers, merchants, everywhere, in 
 fact, where enmity has not raised too strong barriers between 
 the parties. 
 
 Now la Peyrade, a smart man, had not trailed his robe 
 about the Palace so long without being aware how best these 
 judicial amenities would serve his ends. It was eleven o'clock 
 at night, but la Peyrade was not wrong in thinking that a 
 newly fledged attorney would be found in his office, even 
 late as it was. 
 
 "To what do I owe this visit, Monsieur 1'Avocat?" said 
 Godeschal, meeting la Peyrade. 
 
 Foreigners, provincials, men of the world, perhaps, are not 
 aware that barristers (avocats) are to attorneys what generals 
 are to marshals; a strict line of demarkation divides them. 
 However venerable may be the attorney, however competent, 
 he must go the barrister. The attorney is the one who lays 
 out the campaign, who collects the munitions of war, and sets 
 everything on the move ; the barrister gives battle. It is not 
 explained why the law gives the client two men instead of 
 one, any more than it is known why the author needs both a 
 printer and publisher. The Association of Barristers forbids 
 its members to perform any act pertaining to that of the 
 attorney. It very rarely happens that a barrister sets foot in 
 an attorney's office, they meet in the Palace of Justice; but ;
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 173 
 
 in society, these barriers are thrown down, and sometimes 
 barristers, in a position similar to that of la Peyrade, demean 
 themselves by calling upon an attorney ; but such occurrences 
 are rare, and special urgency is urged as an excuse. 
 
 "Eh, man Dieu," said la Peyrade, "it is a grave affair, 
 and between us we must settle a very delicate piece of busi- 
 ness. Thuillier is below in a carriage, and I come, not in my 
 capacity as a barrister, but as a friend of Thuillier's. You are 
 in a position in which you can be of immense service to him, 
 and I told him that you were of too noble a soul (for you are 
 a worthy successor of the great Derville) not to place at his 
 direction your utmost capacity. This is the business." 
 
 After explaining wholly to his own advantage the trick 
 which must, he said, be balked by ability, and lawyers meet 
 more clients that lie than those who speak the truth, the bar- 
 rister developed his plan of campaign. 
 
 "You ought, rny dear maitre, to go this very night to see 
 Desroches, explain the whole plot, persuade him to send for 
 this client of his to-morrow, this Sauvaignou ; we between us 
 three will properly confess him ; if he wants a perquisite of 
 say a thousand francs we'll stand that, in addition to five 
 hundred each for yourself and Desroches, only provided that 
 Thuillier obtains from Sauvaignou a letter renouncing his bid 
 before ten o'clock to-morrow. This Sauvaignou, what does 
 he want ? His money ! Well, then, such a peddler as that 
 wouldn't resist the appeal of a thousand-franc bill, so especially 
 if he is but the agent of a cupidity backing him. The fight 
 between him and the others is no matter of concern to us. 
 Come, do your best to get the Thuillier family out of this." 
 
 "I'll go at once and see Desroches," said Godeschal. 
 
 " No ; not before Thuillier gives you a power of attorney 
 and five thousand francs. Money talks in such a case as this." 
 
 La Peyrade's whole future and fortune lay in the outcome ; 
 for he had arranged to meet Godeschal at Desroches' office on 
 the morrow at seven o'clock. It is not astonishing, therefore,
 
 174 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 that he disregarded the traditions of the bar and went thither 
 to study Sauvaignou and to take part in the struggle. 
 
 As he entered and made his salutations he examined Sau- 
 vaignou. He was, as his name indicated, from Marseilles, 
 and was foreman to a master-carpenter, or rather a kind of 
 clerk of the works, standing between the master-carpenter and 
 the workmen. The profit of the work consisted in what he 
 could make out of the price paid him by the boss-carpenter 
 and the labor he employed ; he received no profit out of the 
 materials used. The master-carpenter had failed. Sauvaig- 
 nou at once appealed to the Tribunal of Commerce and had a 
 lien placed on the property. He was a little, squat man, who 
 wore a gray linen blouse, cap on head, and sat in an armchair 
 in the office. Three bills of a thousand francs each laying 
 before him, on Desroches' desk, showed la Peyrade that the 
 engagement was over, and the attorneys worsted. Godeschal's 
 eyes told the rest, and the glance which Desroches, the most 
 feared of every attorney in Paris, cast on the "poor man's 
 advocate " was like the blow of a pick in a grave. Stimulated 
 by danger the Provencal was magnificent ; he laid his hand on 
 the three bills of one thousand each, and folded them as if 
 about to put them into his pocket. 
 
 " Thuillier won't make the deal," said he to Desroches. 
 
 "Well, then, we are all agreed," replied the terrible 
 attorney. 
 
 "Yes; your client must now hand over to us fifty thousand 
 francs expended by us in furnishing the property, under the 
 contract between Thuillier and Grindot. I did not inform 
 you of that yesterday," said he, turning to Godeschal. 
 
 "You hear that?" said Desroches to Sauvaignou. "I 
 shall not touch this case without being guaranteed." 
 
 "But, gentlemen," said the tradesman, "I cannot deal 
 with this matter until I have seen the worthy man who gave 
 me five hundred francs on account for having signed a power 
 pf attorney to him."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 175 
 
 "Are you from Marseilles?" said la Peyrade to him, in 
 Sauvaignou's own patois. 
 
 "Yes, monsieur." 
 
 "Well, poor devil, you, don't you see they wish to ruin 
 you? Don't you know what to do? Pocket those three 
 thousand francs, and, when the other fellow turns up, take 
 out your rule and give him a pounding ; tell him that he is a 
 scoundrel, that he wants you to do his dirty work, that instead 
 of doing this you revoke your power of attorney, and that, 
 further, you will return him the five hundred francs the first 
 week in which there are three Thursdays. Then be off to 
 Marseilles with that three thousand five hundred francs and 
 your savings. If anything goes wrong, let me know through 
 these gentlemen ; I'll get you out of the scrape, for not only 
 am I a good Provencal, but also one of the leading barristers 
 in Paris and the friend of the poor." 
 
 When the workman found a compatriot supporting his own 
 wishes, also learning that he was really a barrister and able to 
 do as promised, he signed the relinquishment, but stipulated 
 for three thousand five hundred francs ; this with the cross 
 receipts settled the whole matter. 
 
 "You must at once acquaint your man with what is done 
 and let him know that the proxy is revoked," said Desroches 
 to Sauvaignou, as he sent the latter out through his back office. 
 
 "There is something behind all this," said Desroches to 
 Godeschal after Theodose had gone. 
 
 "The Thuilliers get a magnificent freehold for next to 
 nothing, that's all," Godeschal replied. 
 
 " La Peyrade and Cerizet seem to me like two divers fight- 
 ing under the sea. What am I to tell Cerizet, who placed 
 the affair in my hands?" asked Desroches as the barrister 
 returned. 
 
 "Say that Sauvaignou forced your hand," said la Peyrade, 
 
 "And you fear nothing ! " said Desroches pointedly. 
 
 "What, me? I have only given Cerizet a lesson."
 
 176 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "To-morrow I shall learn the whole," said Desroches to 
 Godeschal ; " no one blabs like a beaten man." 
 
 At eleven o'clock la Peyrade was in the court of the justice 
 of the peace ; he saw Cerizet come in, pale with rage, his 
 eyes full of venom ; he said in his ear, in a calm, firm voice : 
 
 " My friend, I also am a pretty good sort of fellow myself; 
 I still hold these twenty-five thousand francs in bank-bills at 
 your disposal ; they are yours in exchange for my acceptances." 
 
 Cerizet gazed at the advocate of the poor, but was quite 
 unable to make any answer ; he was green ; his bile had 
 struck in. 
 
 " I am now incontestably a property owner," cried Thuillier 
 when he returned from his notary, Jacquinot, the son-in-law 
 and successor of Cardot. " No human power can now dis- 
 possess me ; so they say ! " 
 
 "Ah!" said Brigitte, "what an awful fright our dear 
 Theodose gave me." 
 
 " Halloo ! my best friend ; but what do you suppose Car- 
 dot said? he asked me who had put me in the way of this 
 stroke, and said that I ought to give him at least ten thou- 
 sand francs as a present. As a fact, I do owe all to him." 
 
 " But he is the same as our own boy," said Brigitte. 
 
 " Poor fellow, I'll do him the justice of saying that he does 
 not ask for anything." 
 
 "Well, my good friend," said la Payrade, who returned at 
 three o'clock from the justice of the peace, " here you are, 
 Mister Richman." 
 
 "And through you, my dear Theodose." 
 
 " And you, little aunt, have you come to life again ? Ah ! 
 you were not so much afraid as I was. I put your interests 
 before my own. Tenez ! I couldn't breathe freely till eleven 
 o'clock ; still I am sure now of having two mortal enemies at 
 my heels in the persons of the two whom I tricked for you. 
 As I came home I wondered what had possessed me by your in- 
 fluence to make me commit this sort of crime ! Whether the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 177 
 
 honor of being one of your family and becoming your son 
 will ever efface from my conscience the stain I have put upon 
 it." 
 
 "Bah ! you can confess it," said Thuillier, the freethinker. 
 
 " Now," said Theodose to Brigitte, "you may pay in security 
 the price of the house, eighty thousand francs, and thirty thou- 
 sand to Grindot, in all, with the costs you have paid, one hun- 
 dred and twenty thousand francs ; the last twenty thousand 
 make it in all one hundred and forty thousand. If you lease the 
 whole to one tenant, ask for the last year's rent in advance, 
 and reserve for me and my wife all the floor above the entre- 
 sol. You can then even get forty thousand francs a year for 
 twelve years. Then, if at any time you wish to move nearer 
 the Chamber and desire to quit this quarter, you can stay with 
 me ; there are stables and coach-house, and so forth, pertain- 
 ing to it. Meanwhile, Thuillier, I am going to get you the 
 cross of the Legion of Honor." 
 
 Hearing this last promise, Brigitte cried : 
 
 "My faith ! my boy, you've done our business so well that 
 I shall leave you that of leasing the house." 
 
 "Don't abdicate, good aunt," said Theodose; "and God 
 preserve me from taking one step without you. You are the 
 good genius of the family. You will have forty thousand 
 francs in hand inside of two months. And, beside all, that 
 won't prevent Thuillier from handling his ten thousand in 
 rent per quarter." 
 
 After having thrown this hope at the old maid, who was 
 jubilant, he took Thuillier into the garden and said, without 
 beating about the bush : 
 
 " My good friend, find some means to get me ten thousand 
 francs from your sister; but don't let her know they are for 
 me ; tell her they are needed for the formalities of getting the 
 Cross ; that you know just who will get the cash." 
 
 "That's all right," said Thuillier; "I can repay her when 
 I get my rents." 
 12
 
 178 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Thdodose now hurried off to Mme. Colleville, to whom he 
 cried as he entered : 
 
 " I have conquered ; we shall have secured for Celeste a 
 property worth a million francs, a life interest in which will 
 be given in her marriage-contract by Thuillier ; but keep my 
 secret, or your daughter will be in demand by the peers of 
 France. Now dress yourself and let us call upon the Com- 
 tesse du Bruel, she can get Thuillier the cross. While you 
 are getting under arms I'll do a little courting of Celeste; 
 you and I can talk in the carriage." 
 
 Now he had noticed that Felix and Celeste were alone in 
 the salon ; for her mother had full faith in Celeste. The 
 couple were discussing religion. Felix, like most geometri- 
 cians, chemists, mathematicians, and great naturalists, had 
 subjected religion to reason ; he saw in it a problem as insolu- 
 ble as the squaring of the circle. In petto a deist, he still 
 professed the religion of the majority of the French, without 
 attaching more importance to it than to the new laws 
 of July. There must needs be a God in heaven, the same as 
 there must be a bust of the King in the mayor's office. The 
 young girl professed a horror for atheism, and her confessor 
 had told her that a deist was cousin-german to an atheist. 
 
 "Have you thought, Felix, of the promise you made me," 
 asked Celeste, when Mme. Colleville had left them. 
 
 " No, my dear Celeste," replied Felix. 
 
 " Oh ! to break a promise," cried she, dolefully. 
 
 "It would have been profanation," said Felix. "I love 
 you so much, and with a tenderness which makes me so weak 
 against your requests, that I promised something against my 
 conscience. Conscience, Celeste, is our treasure, our strength, 
 our mainstay. How could you desire me to go to church and 
 kneel before a priest in whom I can only see a man. You 
 would despise me if I obeyed you." 
 
 "So, my dear Felix, you will not go to church?" said 
 Celeste, casting a tearful look at the man she loved. "If I
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 179 
 
 were your wife, you would leave me to go alone, eh ? You do 
 not love me as I love you for until this moment I have had 
 in my heart a feeling for an atheist against the command of 
 God?" 
 
 " An atheist ! " cried Felix. " Oh ! no. Listen, Celeste j 
 I know of a certainty that there is a God ; I believe that, but 
 I have a much higher opinion of Him than your priests have ; 
 I have no desire to bring Him down to my level, I try to raise 
 myself to Him. I hearken to the voice He has planted within 
 me, a voice which honest men call conscience, and I try to 
 not betray that divine ray as it reaches me. I will never in- 
 jure any person ; I will not do aught to break the command- 
 ments of universal morality, which formed those of Confu- 
 cius, Moses, Pythagoras, Socrates, as well as of Jesus Christ. 
 I remain before God ; my acts shall be my prayers ; I will 
 never lie, my word is sacred ; and I will do nothing vile or 
 evil. These are the precepts of my virtuous father, these I 
 wish to leave to my children. What can you ask more than 
 this?" 
 
 This profession of faith caused Celeste to sadly shake her 
 head. 
 
 "Read attentively," said she, " 'The Imitation of Christ.' 
 Strive to be* converted to the holy church, Catholic, Apostolic, 
 and Roman, then you will learn how absurd your words are. 
 Listen, Felix, marriage, says the church, is not the affair of a 
 day, the satisfaction of desire ; it is made for all eternity. 
 What ! shall we be united by day and night, shall we be one 
 flesh, one spirit, and yet speak two languages, have two 
 faiths in our hearts, two religions ; a cause of perpetual dis- 
 sension ? Could I address myself in peace to God when He 
 always had His right arm bared against you ? Your deistic 
 blood, your convictions, might animate my children. Oh, 
 my God ! how wretched for a wife. Do not place a gulf 
 between us. If you loved me, you would already have read 
 the 'Imitation of Christ.' "
 
 180 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 The Phellions, children of the " Constitutionnel," have 
 no love for priests. Felix had the imprudence to reply to 
 this species of supplication from the depths of an ardent soul : 
 
 " You are repeating, Celeste, the lesson taught by your con- 
 fessor, and nothing can be more fatal to happiness, I think, 
 than the interference of priests in one's household." 
 
 "Oh ! " cried Celeste, "you do not love me; " for she 
 was pierced to the quick, being inspired of love. 
 
 She enveloped herself in noble silence ; Felix went to the 
 window and thrummed upon the panes ; a music familiar 
 to those who have indulged in poignant reflections. The 
 Phellion conscience argued thus : 
 
 " Celeste is a rich heiress, and, by yielding, contrary to 
 the voice of natural religion, to her ideas, it would be done 
 for the purpose of making an advantageous marriage: an in- 
 famous act. I ought not, as a father of a family, to allow a 
 priest to have any influence in my home ; if I submit to-day I 
 do a weak act, which will lead to many such, pernicious to 
 the authority of a father and husband. All this is beneath 
 the dignity of a philosopher." 
 
 Then he returned to his beloved. 
 
 " Celeste," he said, " on my knees I beg you not to confound 
 things. Each has his own way of salvation ; as to society, it 
 is not obeying God to obey its laws. Christ said : ' Render 
 unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's.' Caesar is the 
 body politic. Forget this little quarrel, dear." 
 
 "Little quarrel ! " cried the young enthusiast. "I wish 
 for you to have my whole heart as I would have all yours ; 
 but you would divide it into two parts. Is not that awful ? 
 You forget that marriage is a sacrament." 
 
 "Your priests have turned your brain," cried the mathe- 
 matician, impatiently. 
 
 "Monsieur Phellion," said Celeste, hastily interrupting 
 him, " that's enough of this subject." 
 
 It was at this point of the controversy that Th6odose, who
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 181 
 
 had not disdained to listen outside the door, deemed it judi- 
 cious to make his entry. He found Celeste pale and the 
 young professor uneasy as a lover should be who has just 
 vexed his mistress. 
 
 " I heard the word 'enough,' has there been too much?" 
 asked he, looking by turns at Celeste and Felix. 
 
 "We were talking religion," replied Felix. " I was tell- 
 ing mademoiselle how evil the influence of clerics must be in 
 a family." 
 
 "That was not the point at all, monsieur," said Celeste, 
 sharply; "but that I wanted to know if husband and wife 
 could be of one heart when one was an atheist and the other 
 a Catholic." 
 
 " Is it possible that there are atheists?" exclaimed Theo- 
 dose, showing signs of deep amazement. " Is it that a Catholic 
 could possibly marry a protestant ? But it is impossible that 
 safety can be found for a married couple unless there is per- 
 fect agreement in their religious opinions. I am, of a truth, 
 from the Comtat, of a family which counts a pope among its 
 ancestors ; for our arms are : gules with a key argent, our 
 supporters, a monk holding a church and a pilgrim bearing a 
 staff, the motto being : 'fouvre etjeferme,' or, 1 open and I 
 shut. I am, I may say, fiercely dogmatic on the subject. But 
 to-day, thanks to our system of modern education, it is not 
 in the least strange that religion should be called in question. 
 But, as I tell myself, I would never marry a protestant even 
 if she possessed millions ; nor even if I had lost my reason 
 for love of her. Faith is outside discussion. Una fides, unus 
 Dominus one faith, one Lord that is my living motto." 
 
 "You hear ! " cried Celeste, looking at Felix. 
 
 "I am not too devout," la Peyrade continued. " I go to 
 mass every morning at six o'clock, that I may not be ob- 
 served ; I fast on Fridays ; I am, in short, a son of the 
 church ; I would not commence any undertaking without 
 prayer, after the ancient custom of my ancestors ; but I do
 
 182 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 not obtrude my religion on people. In the Revolution of 
 1789 an incident occurred that bound us more firmly than 
 ever to our holy mother, the church. A poor young lady of 
 the elder branch of la Peyrades, who owned the little estate 
 of la Peyrade (for we are the Peyrades of Canquoelle, but 
 both branches inter-inherit), well, this demoiselle married, 
 six years before the Revolution, a barrister, who after the 
 fashion of the times was a Voltairean, that is, an unbeliever, 
 or, if you like, a deist. He took up all the revolutionary 
 ideas, practicing the pleasing rites of which you have heard, 
 in the worship of the goddess of Reason. He came to our 
 part of the country soaked in the fanaticism of the Convention. 
 His wife was very handsome ; he compelled her to play the 
 r6le of Liberty ; the poor unfortunate went mad she died 
 insane. Ah, well, as things seem to be going, we may yet see 
 another 1793." 
 
 This romance, forged on the spot, made such an impres- 
 sion on the young, fresh imagination of Celeste that she rose, 
 curtsied low to the two young men, and retired to her cham- 
 ber. 
 
 "Ah, monsieur, why did you tell her that?" exclaimed 
 Felix, stricken to the heart by the cold look of indifference 
 cast upon him by Celeste. 
 
 " I am ready," said Mme. Colleville, appearing in a tasteful 
 toilet. " But what ails my poor daughter? She is crying ! " 
 
 "Crying, madame ! " cried Felix. "Tell her, madame, 
 that I will at once begin to study the ' Imitation of Christ.' ' 
 
 An hour later Mme. Colleville, Celeste, Colleville, and 
 Theodose were entering the Thuilliers' home to dine with 
 them. Theodose and Flavie took Thuillier into the garden, 
 where Theodose said : 
 
 " My good friend, you will have the Cross within a week. 
 Listen, this dear friend will tell you all about our visit to the 
 Comtesse du Bruel." 
 
 Th6odose left them, having caught sight of Desroches ap
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 183 
 
 preaching, convoyed by Brigitte ; a chilling, dread presenti- 
 ment bade him go to meet the attorney. 
 
 "My dear maitre," whispered Desroches to Theodose, "I 
 am here to see if you can at once furnish twenty-five thousand 
 francs, plus two thousand six hundred and eighty francs, sixty 
 centimes, for costs." 
 
 "Are you Cerizet's attorney?" 
 
 " He has placed all the acceptances into Louchard's hands ; 
 you know what you must expect after arrest. Is Cerizet 
 wrong in believing that you have twenty-five thousand francs 
 in your desk? You offered them to him; he finds it only 
 natural that they should not make their home with you." 
 
 "I am greatly obliged for the course you have taken, my 
 dear maitre," said Theodose; "I expected this attack." 
 
 "Between ourselves," replied Desroches, "you jollied him 
 finely. The rascal will stop at nothing to be revenged upon 
 you, for he will lose all if you are willing to cast off your 
 robe, throw it to the sharks, and go to prison." 
 
 "Me?" exclaimed Theodose. "I shall pay him. But 
 even then he will still retain five acceptances of mine, each of 
 which is for five thousand francs : what does he mean to do 
 with them?" 
 
 " Oh ! after the affair of this morning, it is impossible to 
 guess ; but my client is a crafty, mangy dog, and has, without 
 a doubt, his little schemes." 
 
 "See, now, Desroches," said Theodose, taking the hard, 
 lean lawyer by the waist ; " have you not got the notes? " 
 
 "Will you pay them?" 
 
 "Yes; in three hours." 
 
 "Good; then be at my place at nine o'clock; I'll receive 
 the cash and give you the acceptances ; but, mind, at half-past 
 nine they pass to Louchard." 
 
 "All right, this evening at nine o'clock," said Theodose. 
 
 "At nine," said Desroches, embracing the whole company 
 in a comprehensive glance.
 
 184 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 At daybreak the following morning, Theodose went to the 
 banker of the poor to see what effect his prompt payment had 
 had upon his enemy, and to make one more effort to rid him- 
 self of his horse-fly. 
 
 He found Cerizet in colloquy with a woman ; he was im- 
 peratively requested to keep at a distance and not to interrupt 
 the interview. Theodose had a presentiment, though a vague 
 one, that the result of this conference would in some wise 
 affect Cerizet's arrangements as to himself, for he saw on his 
 face the change that comes of hope. 
 
 "But, my dear Mamma Cardinal " 
 
 "Yes, my worthy sir " 
 
 "What do you want? " 
 
 "It must be decided " 
 
 These beginnings and ends of sentences were the only 
 gleams of light on the animated conversation. 
 
 Mme. Cardinal was one of Cerizet's first customers; she 
 was a fish-hawker. As she stood in Cerizet's office she had 
 all the value of an isolated masterpiece of her kind ; she was a 
 perfect type of her species. 
 
 She was mounted on muddy sabots peasants' wooden shoes 
 but her feet, beside being well inclosed in gaiters, were 
 further protected by good, thick woolen stockings. Her 
 print dress, enriched with flounces of mud, bore the imprint 
 of the strap which supported the huckster's basket, cutting 
 across the back to below the waist. Her principal garment 
 was a shawl of rabbit-skin cashmere, so-called, the two ends 
 of which were knotted behind above her bustle for only this 
 fashionable word will properly describe the cabbage-like effect 
 produced by the pressure of the basket upon her form. A 
 coarse neckerchief served as a fichu, which revealed a red 
 throat covered with wrinkles, like the surface of the ice on 
 the Villette pond after skating. Her coiffure was a yellow 
 bandanna twisted into the shape of a picturesque turban. 
 
 Short and stout, a skin rich in color, Mother Cardinal took
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 185 
 
 her morning nip of brandy. She had once been handsome. 
 The Market had reproached her, in their vigorous figure of 
 speech, of having earned more than one day's wages at night. 
 Her voice, to be brought down to the pitch of ordinary con- 
 versation, had to be stifled by her as is done in a sick-room ; 
 but then it came out thick and muffled from a throat so used 
 to shouting the names of each fish in its season in a tone to 
 reach the deepest recess of the highest garrets. Her nose, 
 a la Roxelane, her well-shaped mouth, her blue eyes, all that 
 had at one time made up her beauty, was now buried in folds 
 of vigorous fat which plainly told of an open-air life and 
 occupation. The stomach and bust could have been recom- 
 mended as being of an amplitude worthy of Rubens' pencil. 
 
 "And do you wish to see me lying on straw?" said she to 
 C6rizet. "What do I care for the Toupilliers? Ain't I a 
 Toupillier myself? Where do you wish me to fish for those 
 Toupilliers?" 
 
 This savage outburst was silenced by Cerizet with a pro- 
 longed " hush ! " always obeyed by every conspirator. 
 
 "Well, go and see what you can do about it and then 
 come back to me," said Cerizet, pushing her toward the door 
 and whispering in her ear. 
 
 "Well, my dear friend," said Theodose to Cerizet, "so 
 you have got your money?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Cerizet; "we have measured our claws, 
 they are equally sharp, long, and strong. What follows? " 
 
 "Am I to tell Dutocq that you have received twenty-five 
 thousand francs? 
 
 "Oh! my dear friend, not one word, if you love me," 
 exclaimed Cerizet. 
 
 " Listen," said Theodose. " I must know once for all what 
 it is you want. I have firmly made up my mind not to stay 
 for another twenty-four hours on the gridiron to which you 
 have bound me. You may cheat Dutocq all you like, I don't 
 care about that, but I intend to know where I stand. It is a
 
 186 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 fortune that I have paid you, twenty-five thousand francs, for 
 you must have made ten thousand by your traffic ; it ought to 
 give you a start as an honest man." 
 
 " Here are my conditions, take them or leave them, they 
 are not subject to discussion. You will get for me the lease 
 of Thuillier's house for eighteen years, then I hand you out 
 one of the five acceptances canceled. You won't afterward 
 find me in your way; as to Dutocq, you'll have to settle with 
 him for the remaining four. You beat me ; Dutocq is not 
 smart enough to buck against you." 
 
 "Agreed, if you will give forty-eight thousand francs a 
 year for the rent of the house, the last in advance, and begin 
 the tenancy in October." 
 
 "Yes, but I shall only give forty-three thousand francs in 
 cash, your acceptance will make the balance, the forty-eight. 
 I have had a good look at the house, I've examined it; it's 
 just the thing I want." 
 
 "One last condition," said Theodose, "you'll lend me a 
 hand against Dutocq?" 
 
 "No," replied Cerizet ; "you have done him brown 
 enough now, without having me to help you baste him : you 
 can roast him dry. But be reasonable. The poor man 
 knows not which way to turn to pay the last fifteen thousand 
 francs due on his position ; you should remember that you can 
 get all your acceptances back for fifteen thousand francs." 
 
 " Well, give me two weeks to get the lease." 
 
 " Not one day past Monday next. On Tuesday your 
 acceptance for five thousand francs will be in Louchard's 
 hands, unless you pay me on Monday or get Thuillier to grant 
 me the lease." 
 
 "Well, Monday be it, " said Theodose, as he shook hands, 
 each say ing: "So long." 
 
 For ten years Cornet had seen a number of people getting 
 rich by the business of sub-letting property. The principal 
 tenant is, in Paris, to the owner of houses what farmers are to
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 187 
 
 country landowners. All Paris has seen how a famous tailor 
 built at his own cost a sumptuous structure on the site of the 
 celebrated Frascati, paying as principal tenant fifty thousand 
 francs as rent for the building, which in nineteen years was to 
 become the property of the landowner. Notwithstanding the 
 cost of construction, about seven hundred thousand francs, 
 those nineteen years' profits in the end proved enormous. 
 
 Ce>izet had seen the possibilities of the house which 
 Thuillier had "stolen" (in his idea); he therefore arranged 
 to sell his banking business to Cadenet and the Widow Poiret 
 for ten thousand francs, he had amassed thirty thousand, and 
 the two would enable him to pay the last year's rent usually 
 demanded by Paris house-owners on a long lease, as a guar- 
 antee. He fell asleep dreaming of becoming a bourgeois, a 
 Minard, a Thuillier. But, lo, he had a waking of which he 
 had not dreamt. He found Fortune standing before him, 
 pouring out riches from a gilded horn, in the person of 
 Madame Cardinal. 
 
 Now Mme. Cardinal, widow of a porter in the Market, had 
 an only daughter whose beauty Cerizet had often heard tell 
 of by her mother's cronies. Olympe Cardinal was about 
 thirteen when, in 1837, Cerizet began to "bank" in the 
 quarter; and with a view to infamous libertinism, he had paid 
 much attention to the mother, whom he had rescued from 
 abject poverty, hoping to make Olympe his mistress ; but in 
 1838 the daughter left her mother and had undoubtedly 
 "made her own life," to use the term given by the Parisian 
 populace to the destruction of the most precious gifts of 
 nature and youth. 
 
 Searching for a girl in Paris is like looking for a minnow in 
 the Seine ; it is all chance if it comes to net. The chance 
 came. Mother Cardinal, who was standing treat to a chum, 
 visited the Bobino Theatre, where she recognized in the lead- 
 ing lady her own daughter, and who for three years had been 
 under the domination of the first comedian. The mother at 
 
 U
 
 188 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 first was flattered to see her daughter in a lovely gauze be- 
 spangled attire, her hair dressed like that of a duchess, wear- 
 ing clocked stockings, satin shoes, and applauded when she 
 appeared ; but she ended by howling from her seat : 
 
 " You shall hear from me again, murderess of your mother ! 
 I'll soon know whether measly play-actors have any right to 
 come and debauch girls of sixteen ! " 
 
 She waited at the stage-door to intercept her daughter, but 
 she had wisely dropped down from the stage and gone out 
 with the audience. 
 
 The next day Mme. Cardinal intended consulting Cerizet, 
 as he was in the office of a justice of the peace, but before 
 arriving at his den on the Rue des Poules she met a porter 
 who lived in the same house as an old uncle of hers, one 
 Toupillier, who told her that the old man had barely two 
 days to call his own, being in the last extremity. 
 
 "Well, can I help that? " asked the Widow Cardinal. 
 
 "We count on you, dear Madame Cardinal; you won't 
 forget the good advice we can give you. Here's the thing: 
 For the last month or so your poor uncle, who has been 
 unable to get around, trusted us to collect his rent for his 
 house on Rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth, and the arrears of 
 dividends due on a Treasury bond for eighteen hundred 
 francs ' ' 
 
 And now the eyes of the Widow Cardinal became staring 
 instead of wandering. 
 
 "Yes, my dear," continued the noble Perrache, a little 
 humpbacked porter ; "and being as how you are the only one 
 who ever thinks on him, why we thought as you sometimes 
 came to see him and brought him a bit of fish at times, why, 
 as how he might make you his heir like." 
 
 "You might well think, you old leather-thumper," replied 
 Mother Cardinal to the porter, who had been a shoemaker. 
 Then she hurried off at her top-rate of speed to the wretched 
 garret in which her uncle lived. "What?" said she, "my
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 189 
 
 Uncle Toupillier rich ! The good beggar of the church of 
 Saint-Sulpice." 
 
 "Ah!" the porter responded, "but he fed well. Every 
 night when he went to bed he took with him his best friend 
 a bottle of Roussillon wine. My wife has tasted it, but he 
 told us it was cheap stuff, six-sous wine." 
 
 " Don't you let drop one word of all this, my good fellow," 
 said the widow. "I'll remember you if anything comes 
 of it." 
 
 This Toupillier, an old drum-major in the Guards, had 
 gone into the service of the church two years before 1789 by 
 becoming the swiss (or sexton) of Saint-Sulpice. The Revo- 
 lution deprived him of that post, and he fell into abject 
 poverty. He then took up the profession of model, for he 
 enjoyed a fine physique. 
 
 When worship was again allowed, he resumed his staff; but in 
 1816 he was dismissed, as much on account of his immorality as 
 for his political opinions ; he passed as a Bonapartist. Never- 
 theless, as a sort of pension, he was allowed to stand by the 
 door and distribute the holy water. Later on an unfortunate 
 business, which will presently be related, caused him to lose 
 his holy sprinkler; but, still finding means to hang about the 
 sanctuary, he was finally suffered at the door of the church as 
 a licensed beggar. At this time, being seventy-two years old, 
 he made himself ninety-six, going into business as a cen- 
 tenarian. 
 
 In the whole of Paris it was impossible to find a beard and 
 hair such as Toupillier's. He walked bent nearly double; in 
 one trembling hand he carried a cane a hand that looked as 
 if covered with the lichen that grows on granite ; in the other 
 he held out the classic hat, greasy, broad-brimmed, and bat- 
 tered, into which there tumbled an abundance of alms. His 
 legs, swathed in rags and bandages, dragged along a pair of 
 wretched overshoes of coarse-matting, hiding excellent com- 
 fortable inner soles of cork. He smeared his face with certain
 
 190 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 ingredients, which gave it an appearance of some late severe 
 illness, and he played the senility of centenarism most ad- 
 mirably. He had become a hundred in 1830, although in 
 reality but eighty years old. He was chief of the beggars, 
 the high muck-a-muck ; and all others who came to beg under 
 the porches of the church, safe from the persecutions of the 
 police by the protection of the sexton and holy-water sprinkler 
 and the parish church, had to pay him a kind of tithing. 
 
 When an heir, a bridegroom, or a godfather said, as he 
 came out of church : " Here, this is for all of you, don't 
 bother any of my party," Toupillier, named by the sexton, 
 his successor, to receive these alms, pocketed three-quarters 
 and gave one-quarter only to his acolytes, and their tribute 
 was one sou per day. Money and wine were his two last 
 passions ; but he regulated the second one, giving himself up 
 to the first, not, however, neglecting his personal comfort. 
 He drank only in the evening, after dinner, when the church 
 was closed ; he slept every night for twenty years in the arms 
 of drunkenness his last mistress. The beadle and sprinkler, 
 with whom he most likely had an understanding, would say 
 of him : 
 
 " He is a poor man of the church ; he used to know the 
 Cure Languet, who built Saint-Sulpice ; he was sexton here 
 for twenty years ; before and after the Revolution ; he is now 
 a hundred years old." 
 
 This best of advertisements lined his hat so as none others 
 were equal to it. He bought his house in 1826, and in 1830 
 invested in the Funds. From the two sources he must have 
 made something like six thousand francs per annum, and most 
 likely he put some out in Cerizet's manner, for the cost of his 
 house was forty thousand francs, and he had forty-eight thou- 
 sand in the Funds. His niece was as much deceived by the 
 old man as was the public ; she believed him to be a most 
 miserable pauper, and, when she had any fish getting " high," 
 she would carry some to the poor man.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 191 
 
 After making an inspection of the sick man, Mother Car- 
 dinal hurried off to consult Cerizet, for she knew she was too 
 ignorant to be able, successfully, to get the property unaided. 
 The banker of the poor, like the other scavengers, had at last 
 found diamonds in the slime he had been raking over, always 
 looking to pick up such a chance. This, then, was the secret 
 of his gentle dealing with the man whom he had promised 
 to ruin. He was not the man to shrink from a crime should 
 necessity arise, so especially when others might do that and 
 reap the benefits. 
 
 "My Benjamin," said the huckster, rushing into Cerizet's 
 office, with a face inflamed as much by cupidity as haste, " my 
 uncle sleeps on more than one hundred thousand francs in 
 gold; and I'm sure that the Perraches, under pretense of car- 
 ing for him, have an eye on the blunt." 
 
 "Shared up among forty heirs," said Cerizet, "it won't 
 make much of a fortune for each. Listen here, Mother Car- 
 dinal, I'll marry your daughter ; give her your uncle's gold 
 and I'll leave to you the Funds and the house for life." 
 
 " Shall we run no risk? " 
 
 "None at all." 
 
 " Done ! " said Madame Widow Cardinal, clasping hands 
 with her future son-in-law. "Six thousand francs a year oh ! 
 the jolly life !" 
 
 "And a son-in-law like me, beside," added the amiable 
 Cerizet. 
 
 "Now," resumed he, after they had embraced each other, 
 " I must look over the ground. Do not leave there ; tell the 
 porter you expect a doctor. I shall be the doctor ; when I 
 come you mustn't know me." 
 
 "You're no fool, you old rogue," said la Cardinal, giving 
 him a punch in the stomach by way of farewell. 
 
 An hour after, Cerizet, dressed in black, disguised in a 
 rusty wig and an artistically made-up face, arrived in the 
 Rue Honore-Chevalier, in a coach. He asked the porter for
 
 192 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Toupillier's address. He was taken up the back stairs of the 
 house, leading to the wretched garret occupied by the beggar. 
 
 _ 
 The house in which Toupillier lived is one of those which 
 
 have been compelled to lose one-half by being cut through in 
 widening the street, for the Rue Honore-Chevalier is one of 
 the straitest in the Saint-Sulpice quarter. The owner, for- 
 bidden by law to repair it, was compelled to rent out the 
 wretched building as it was. The coach-way to the courtyard 
 was made in a circular form, this shape being indispensable in 
 a street so narrow that two carriages could not pass. 
 
 Ce'rizet laid hands on the rope that served as a hand-rail to 
 a kind of ladder that ascended to the room where the alleged 
 centenarian lay dying ; in this chamber was being played the 
 odious spectacle of pretended poverty. 
 
 In Paris all that is done with an end in view is done to 
 perfection. The would-be poor are as clever in such lines as 
 the stofekeepers in dressing their show windows, or as the 
 sham wealthy are in obtaining credit. 
 
 The floor had never been swept ; the bricks had disappeared 
 under a litter of filth, dust, dried mud, and every kind of 
 rubbish thrown down by Toupillier. A poor cast-iron stove, 
 with a pipe bricked into a crumbling fire-place, was the best 
 appearing thing in the lair. In a recess was a bed with a 
 head-pole from which hung a curtain of green serge, eaten 
 into lace by moths. The nearly useless window had a dense 
 coat of greese on its panes, which dispensed with the necessity 
 for a curtain. The whitewashed walls were fuliginously tinted 
 with the smoke of wood and peat burned in the stove. On 
 the mantel stood a broken water pitcher, two bottles, and a 
 cracked plate. A miserable, worm-eaten bureau held his 
 linen and decent clothes ; the other furniture consisted of a 
 night-table of the commonest kind, another table worth about 
 forty sous, and two kitchen chairs, with the straw seats about 
 gone. The very picturesque costume of the centenarian beggar
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 193 
 
 hung from a nail, and below it, on the floor, the shapeless 
 coarse hempen gaiters which served him as shoes, and, with 
 his prodigious staff and his hat, formed a sort of panoply of 
 poverty. 
 
 When Cerizet entered the old man did not move, even on 
 hearing the groaning of the heavy door, armed with iron- 
 lining and furnished with bolts to secure his domicile. 
 
 "Is he conscious?" said Cerizet, before whom Mme. Car- 
 dinal started back, for she did not recognize him until he 
 spoke. 
 
 "Very nearly," said Mme. Cardinal. 
 
 "Come out on the stairs, for we don't want him to hear 
 us. This is what we must do," whispered he to his future 
 mother-in-law. " He is weak, but he isn't so very sick-look- 
 ing; we shall have about eight days before us. I'll find a 
 doctor that will suit us, do you catch on ? I'll return later 
 with six poppy-heads. In the state he is, you see, a good 
 strong tea of poppy will send him off to sleep. I'll send you 
 in a cot-bed, under the pretense of your sleeping here. Then 
 we'll move him from one bed to the other; thus when we've 
 counted the money hidden in his mattress we can easily carry 
 it off. But we ought to know what sort of tenants there are 
 in the barrack. The doctor will say that he has some days 
 to live and that he should make his will." 
 
 "My son! " 
 
 "But we must learn about the occupants; for if Perrache 
 gives the alarm so many lodgers, so many spies." 
 
 "Bah! I know all that already," replied Mme. Cardinal. 
 " Du Portail, the little old man who rents the second floor, 
 has charge of a mad girl whom I heard called Lydie this 
 morning by an old woman named Katt. The old man has 
 only one servant, a valet, another old man named Bruno, who 
 does everything but cook." 
 
 " Well, we must study the matter," said he, in the tone of 
 a man whose plans are not yet decided upon. "I'll go to 
 13
 
 194 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the mayor's office, get Olympe's register of birth, and have 
 the banns published. Next Saturday but one, the wedding." 
 
 " How he goes it, this old rascal ! " said Mother Cardinal, 
 giving a frisky push with her shoulder to her son-in-law. 
 
 As he went downstairs Cerizet looked in the rooms used as 
 workshops and counted the workers. Then he departed, 
 turning over in his mind the numerous difficulties that might 
 arise to prevent the carrying off of the gold hidden under the 
 dying man. 
 
 "Lift it all at night, eh?" said he to himself; "why 
 those parties are always on the watch ; and in the day one 
 would be seen by twenty people. It's hard to carry twenty- 
 five thousand francs in gold on one's self." 
 
 Society has two forms of perfection : the first is a stage of 
 civilization in which morality, being equally infused, does not 
 permit of crime even in thought ; the Jesuits have reached 
 this point, which was presented in the early church ; the 
 second is the state of another civilization in which the 
 mutual supervision of its citizens renders crime an impossi- 
 bility. The end which modern society has placed in view is 
 the latter, namely, that a crime shall offer such difficulties 
 that a man must be really without reason to attempt it. To 
 live at ease crime must have a sanction like that granted by 
 the Bourse, or like that given to Cerizet by his clients, who 
 never grumbled, and who would, indeed, be troubled in 
 mind if their flayer had not been found in his kitchen on 
 Tuesdays. 
 
 "Well, my dear sir," said the porter's wife, as Cerizet 
 went past the lodge ; '' how is that friend of God, the poor 
 man?" 
 
 "I am not the doctor," Cerizet made answer, who now 
 decidedly renounced the part; "I am Madame Cardinal's 
 man of business; I have advised her to have a cot-bed 
 brought in, so she may be here day and night, though shq 
 may have to engage a regular nurse."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 195 
 
 "I could give her good service," said Mme. Perrache ; 
 "I nurse women in confinement." 
 
 "Well, we'll see," said Cerizet. "I'll arrange all that. 
 Who is your second-floor tenant ? " 
 
 " Monsieur du Portail. He has lodged there thirty year. 
 He is a man with a good income, a very respectable man. 
 You know, bondholders, who live on the Funds. For more 
 than eleven years he has been trying to restore the reason 
 of a daughter of one of his friends, Mademoiselle Lydie de 
 la Peyrade. She gets the best of advice, I tell you ; why, 
 only this morning there were two celebrated physicians what 
 had a consultation. But up to now nothing has cured her ; 
 they have to watch her pretty close, too, I tell you ; for at 
 times she gets up in the night." 
 
 " Mademoiselle Lydie de la Peyrade ! " exclaimed Cerizet. 
 " You are quite sure that is her name ? " 
 
 " Madame Katt, her nurse, who does the little cooking for 
 the household, has told me a thousand times, though, as a 
 general thing, neither Monsieur Bruno, the valet, nor Madame 
 Katt chatter much. We have been porters here for twenty 
 years and haven't yet found anything out about Monsieur du 
 Portail. Beside that he owns the house alongside. You can 
 see the door, there. Well, you see, he can go out that way 
 and receive his company and us know nothing about it." 
 
 " Then you didn't see the gentleman who is talking to him 
 in the garden go by this way ? " 
 
 " Not much ! Certainly not ! " 
 
 Now as Cerizet was coming down the rickety ladder he 
 had seen the second-floor, tenant in conversation with the 
 Comte Martial de la Roche-Hugon, an important member of 
 the government. 
 
 " Ah ! " said Cerizet, as he got into the coach, " this is the 
 daughter of Th^odose's uncle. Du Portail may be the bene- 
 factor who one time sent two thousand five hundred francs to 
 my rascal, I might send an anonymous letter to the little
 
 196 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 old fellow telling him of the danger that Monsieur 1'Avocat 
 is in owing to those twenty-five thousand francs' worth of 
 acceptances." 
 
 An hour later a complete cot-bed had arrived for Mme. 
 Cardinal, to whom the inquisitive porter's wife offered her ser- 
 vices to bring her something to eat. 
 
 " Do you want to see the cure? " asked Mme. Cardinal of 
 the old man ; she had noticed that the arrival of the bed had 
 roused him from his somnolence. 
 
 " I want some wine," he replied. 
 
 " How do you find yourself now, Father Toupillier ? " asked 
 Mme. Perrache, coaxingly. 
 
 "I tell you I want some wine," repeated the old fellow 
 with a scarcely looked-for insistent energy. 
 
 "We must first know if it is good for you, Unky Bunky," 
 said she, caressingly. "Wait till the doctor gives his idea." 
 
 " Doctor ! I won't have one," cried Toupillier. "What 
 are you doing here, anyhow? I don't want anybody." 
 
 " My good uncle, I just came to know if you could fancy a 
 bit of something tasty ; I have a nice fresh flounder : eh ! a 
 ieenty flounder served with a dash of lemon-juice ? " 
 
 "It's fine, is your fish," answered Toupillier; "it is real 
 stinking ; the last you brought me, six weeks ago, is still in 
 the closet; you can take it away with you." 
 
 "Gracious me, how ungrateful sick people are," said la 
 Cardinal, speaking low to Lady Perrache. 
 
 " Leave me alone, I want nobody here ; I only want some 
 wine; leave me in peace," said Toupillier, angrily. 
 
 " Don't get vexed, little uncle ; we'll find you some wine." 
 
 " The wine at six Rue des Canettes," cried the beggar. 
 
 "Yes," said Mother Cardinal ; "but let me count up my 
 coppers. I want to get the best he has in the cellar. You 
 see, an uncle is a kind of second father ; we ought to do what's 
 right by him." 
 
 While speaking she sat down, her legs wide apart, on one
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 197 
 
 of the two dilapidated chairs, then turned out on her apron 
 all the contents of her pockets: a knife, her snuff-box, two 
 pawn-tickets, some crusts of bread, and a handful of coppers, 
 from which she extracted a few silver-pieces. Then spying 
 behind the night-table a dirty bottle which might hold about 
 two litres : 
 
 "Wasn't it Rue des Canettes that he said?" she asked the 
 portress. 
 
 " Corner of Rue Guisarde," was the reply. " Mister Le- 
 grelu, a big, fat man, with fine whiskers and a bald head." 
 Then, dropping her voice, " his six-at wine is the best Rous- 
 sillon. It will be quite sufficient to let him know that you 
 come from his customer, the beggar of Saint-Sulpice." 
 
 "I don't need telling twice," said la Cardinal; she opened 
 the door and made a false start, for she returned and said : 
 " What does he burn in the stove, in case I need to heat any- 
 thing for him ? I must get in some food and fuel ; I hope 
 nobody will see what I bring." 
 
 "I'll lend you a rush-basket," said the ever-officious por- 
 tress. 
 
 "Thanks! I'll buy a market-basket," answered the fish- 
 hawker, who was more anxious as to what she could carry 
 away than what she might bring. "I guess there's an Au- 
 vergnat somewhere about here who sells wood and charcoal ? " 
 
 "At the corner of the Rue Ferou you'll easily find the 
 place ; a fine establishment, where the logs are painted on an 
 awning like so many bottles ; they look like faces that want to 
 talk to you." 
 
 She had hesitated, had Mme. Cardinal, about leaving the 
 portress alone with the sick man. She now acted a part of 
 deep hypocrisy : 
 
 " Madame Perrache," said she, " you won't leave him, the 
 dear man, not till I return? " 
 
 Cerizet was yet undecided on the course to adopt ; when 
 alone, he saw the difficulties of playing doctor, with a nurse,
 
 198 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 notary, and others complicating matters. It might be a long 
 and troublesome affair to bring the old beggar to making a 
 will ; it was true that, unless a will was made, the income in 
 the Funds and the house in Rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth 
 would go to the heirs-at-law, Mme. Cardinal only getting her 
 share. He therefore resolved on the simplest manoeuvre the 
 poppy-heads. He was on his way back with this simple nar- 
 cotic when he encountered Mme. Cardinal, basket on arm, 
 who had already secured the desired panacea. 
 
 "So ! " said the usurer, " this is how you guard your post?" 
 
 "I had to go out to fetch him some wine," replied la 
 Cardinal. " He howled like one broiling on a gridiron that 
 he wanted to be left in peace, and that he be given his booze. 
 The man's idea is that Roussillon is the one thing needed for 
 his cure ; I'll give him a bellyful ; when he's boozy, perhaps 
 he'll be quieter." 
 
 "Quite right," said Cerizet, pompously. "It is bad 
 policy to contradict a sick person ; but this wine can be im- 
 proved by medicating it with these " lifting one of the lids 
 of the basket, he here slipped in the poppy-heads "it will 
 enable the poor man to get a nap for five or six hours ; this 
 evening I'll call upon you ; I don't fancy there'll be much to 
 prevent us examining the value of the heritage." 
 
 " I twig ! " said Mme. Cardinal, with a wink. 
 
 When Mme. Cardinal reached her uncle's garret she relieved 
 Mme. Perrache, giving her adieu at the door, as she received 
 a quantity of wood already sawed. Into an earthen pot of the 
 right size to fit the hole in the stoves of the poor in which 
 they put their soup-kettles into this she threw the poppy- 
 heads, and poured over it about two-thirds of the wine she 
 had brought ; then she lighted the fire under the pot so as to 
 get the decoction as soon as possible. 
 
 The crackling of the wood and the warmth spreading about 
 the room brought Toupillier out of his stupor. Seeing the 
 stove lighted
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 199 
 
 "A fire here ! " cried he ; "do you want to burn the house 
 down?" 
 
 " Why, Unky Bunky," replied la Cardinal, " this is wood 
 that I bought myself, to warm your wine. The doctor doesn't 
 wish you to drink it cold." 
 
 "Where is it, that wine?" asked Toupillier, who was 
 calmed by the thought that the fire was not burning at his 
 expense. 
 
 "It must boil first," said his nurse ; " the doctor insisted 
 on that. Still, if you'll keep quiet I'll give you a little, just 
 to wet your whistle ; but don't say anything about it." 
 
 " I won't have a doctor come here ; they are scoundrels 
 who put men out of the world. Come, give me that wine." 
 
 When she passed it to him he grasped it with his bony, 
 eager fingers, gulped it down at a breath, and 
 
 " What a little drop, and watered beside," he said. 
 
 "Ah, now! don't say that Unky Bunky; I fetched it my- 
 self from old Legrelu's. But when the rest has simmered a 
 bit you can have it all, the doctor says." 
 
 At the end of fifteen minutes she brought him a cup filled 
 to the brim with the mixture. The avidity with which he 
 drank it did not permit him to notice the taste of the wine, 
 but as he swallowed the last drops the bitter, nauseating taste 
 betrayed itself; he flung the cup on the bed and cried out 
 that she had poisoned him. 
 
 "Get out! there is your poison," replied the huckster, 
 pouring the few drops that remained into her own mouth, 
 declaring that if the wine did not taste as usual it was because 
 his mouth had a " bad taste." 
 
 Before the dispute was ended the narcotic began to take 
 effect ; in an hour he was sound asleep. 
 
 She had an idea that it would be as well to avoid the vigi- 
 lance of the Perraches, if they wished to transport the treasure, 
 so she amiably called in the portress, after throwing out the 
 poppy-heads, and said to her :
 
 200 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Take a taste of his wine. You would have thought when 
 you listened to his talk that he was ready for a barrel, 
 wouldn't you? Well, a cupful satisfied him." 
 
 " Here's to you ! " said the portress, clinking glasses with 
 la Cardinal, who was careful to fill her glass with the natural 
 wine. 
 
 A less distinguished connoisseur than the beggar, Mme. 
 Perrache found nothing amiss in the insidious liquid, for 
 when she drank it had become cold ; she declared that it was 
 quite velvety and wished her husband could have had some. 
 After a long gossip the two separated. Mme. Cardinal ate 
 some food and then indulged in a siesta which lasted until 
 dark. 
 
 She had barely taken a glance at Toupillier when a cautious 
 knock was heard on the door, and Cerizet entered. 
 
 " Well ? " said he, as he came in. 
 
 "Well, he's taken the dose. He's been for these four 
 hours as dead as Jesus. He was dreaming and talking of dia- 
 monds, just now." 
 
 " These beggars pile up everything when they get miserly," 
 said Cerizet. 
 
 " By-the-by, little father, what was your idea in telling 
 Mme. Perrache that you are my man of business and not a 
 doctor? It was arranged this morning that you were to 
 come as a doctor " 
 
 " I saw that the woman was going to propose a consulta- 
 tion, so I got out of it like that." 
 
 " Did they notice you come in, those porters ? " 
 
 " It seemed to me that the woman was asleep in her chair," 
 replied Cerizet. 
 
 " She should be sound," said la Cardinal, with a signifi- 
 cant shrug. 
 
 " What ! Really ? " asked Cerizet. 
 
 "Part/eu/" said the fish-hawker. "Enough for one is 
 enough for two ; I gave her the rest of the dose."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 201 
 
 "As to her husband," said Cerizet, " he is there, for as he 
 drew his thread he made me a gracious sign of recognition, 
 which I could well have dispensed with, as I passed." 
 
 " Leave it till night has fallen; then we'll have a little 
 game that will bother him." 
 
 In fact, a quarter of an hour after, with a nerve that aston- 
 ished the usurer, she carried through a farce of seeing a 
 "monsieur" out, who begged her to not take such trouble. 
 Making a manner of seeing the pretended doctor as far as the 
 gate on the street, half-way across the courtyard she pre- 
 tended that the wind had blown out her light, and, under the 
 pretext of relighting it, she extinguished Perrache's light as 
 well. All this play, accompanied with much gesticulations 
 and loquacious vociferations, was so cleverly done, that the 
 porter before any judge would not have hesitated to make 
 oath that the doctor, whom he had ushered in that evening, 
 had come down from the beggar's room and left the house 
 between nine and ten. 
 
 When she returned to the room she acted on Beranger's 
 hint and hung up her old shawl at the window, as though to 
 screen Lisette's amours. In the Luxembourg life's stir is 
 over early. , Before ten all was quiet, inside the house as well 
 as out. If it did not take long to find the treasure la Cardinal 
 could have the front gate left open, so that in case of having 
 to fetch medicine she could get handily to the drug-store. 
 Then if the porters acted as porters mostly do, when in their 
 first slumber, pull the cord of the latch without getting out of 
 bed, Cerizet could get out at the same time, and they could 
 thus carry off at least a portion of the cash and place it 
 securely away. 
 
 Toupillier, under the brawny hands of the fish-hawker, was 
 soon transferred to the other bed, and the mattress was eagerly 
 searched. At first they found nothing, and the fish-hawker, 
 being pressed to explain how that morning she was sure of 
 her uncle sleeping on one hundred thousand francs in gold,
 
 202 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 was obliged to confess that her conversation with Perrache 
 and her brilliant imagination were the basis of her pretended 
 certainty. Cerizet was furious. After all this time cherishing 
 the idea and hope of a fortune, and making up his mind to 
 embark on dangerous and compromising undertakings, in the 
 end to find himself face to face with emptiness ! The disap- 
 pointment was so cruel that, only that he dreaded an en- 
 counter with so muscular a future mother-in-law, he would 
 have been carried to extreme rage. 
 
 At the least he could vent his choler in words. Rudely 
 assailed, la Cardinal would only keep saying that all was not 
 yet lost, and, with the faith that removes mountains, con- 
 tinued to tumble the bed over from top to bottom. 
 
 So that she might have nothing to reproach herself with, la 
 Cardinal, notwithstanding Cerizet's objections, who thought 
 it ridiculous, insisted on removing the sacking of the bedstead 
 bottom ; certainly the vainless search had whetted her facul- 
 ties, for when she lifted the wood frame she heard the sound 
 of some small object, which had become detached, as it fell 
 on the floor. 
 
 Ascribing to this detail a possibly undue importance, the 
 eager explorer soon got a light and after some time found a 
 small polished steel barrel among the filth, of which the use 
 to her was an inexplicable mystery. 
 
 " That's a key ! " exclaimed Cerizet, who at once changing 
 from indifference let his imagination off at a gallop. 
 
 "Ah, ah! you see?" said la Cardinal, triumphantly; 
 "but what can it open?" added she, after reflection; "a 
 doll's trunk?" 
 
 "That's not all," answered Cerizet. "This is a modern 
 invention and very strong locks may be opened with this 
 little instrument." 
 
 At the same time he made a rapid survey, embracing all the 
 furniture in the chamber, went to the bureau, drew out the 
 drawers, looked into the stove, under the table; but not a
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 203 
 
 thing could he see of a single lock which this little key would 
 fit. 
 
 Mme. Cardinal struck a bright idea. 
 
 " Stay," said she ; " I noticed that as he lay on his bed the 
 old thief never ceased to keep his eye on the wall opposite 
 him." 
 
 "A closet concealed in the wall? anyway that's not im- 
 possible," said Cerizet, taking up the candle. 
 
 After he had carefully examined the door in the alcove 
 whicii faced the head of the bed, he found nothing but heavy 
 hangings of cobwebs and dust. He then tried the sense of 
 touch, which is occasionally keener, and sounded and felt the 
 wall all over. At the spot where Toupillier had ever kept his 
 eyes he found a circumscribed space which was certainly hollow ; 
 and it was wood. He rolled his handkerchief into a ball and 
 rubbed the spot hard, and under the layer of dirt thus cleaned 
 he found a little oak board closely adjusted in the wall ; on 
 one end of this board was a little round hole, this was the 
 keyhole that the key fitted. 
 
 While Cerizet unlocked the door, which he -did without 
 difficulty, la Cardinal, who held up the candle, became pale 
 and gasping ; but, cruel disappointment, the closet was opened 
 and nothing was to be seen but an empty space. Leaving 
 the fury to fulminate her despairing exclamations and to 
 salute her uncle's soul with every conceivable abusive epithet 
 of which she could think, Cerizet kept calm and quiet. 
 
 After putting his arm in the opening and around the bottom 
 of it, he cried : 
 
 " Here is an iron box ! " 
 
 Then he snatched the candle out of the bottle in which it 
 was stuck and moved it around the iron cover he had found. 
 
 "It has no keyhole," said he; "it must have a secret 
 lock." 
 
 After feeling about it for some time he said : 
 
 "Ah! I have it." Under the pressure of his fingers the
 
 204 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 lid sprang open. During this time Mme. Cardinal's life 
 seemed to be suspended. The iron side had arisen, and, 
 among a mass of gold thrown loosely into a deep recess, lay 
 a red morocco case, which from its size and general appear- 
 ance promised magnificent booty. 
 
 "I take the diamonds for the dot" said Cerizet, when he 
 saw the splendid jewels it contained. " You, my mother, 
 would not know how to dispose of them ; I'll leave the gold for 
 your share. As to the Funds and the house, they are not 
 worth the trouble of getting the worthy man to make 
 another will." 
 
 "Just a minute, my boy!" replied la Cardinal, who 
 found this division rather too summary; " we will first count 
 the cash." 
 
 " Hush ! " said Cerizet, stopping in a listening attitude. 
 
 "Why?" asked la Cardinal. 
 
 Cerizet made her a sign to remain silent, and listened with 
 more attention. 
 
 "I hear the sound of steps on the stairs," said he soon 
 after ; then he hastily restored the jewel-case in the closet and 
 vainly tried to lower the panel. 
 
 " Indeed, yes, somebody is coming. Ah, bah ! it is only 
 the mad girl, I suppose; she does walk in the night." 
 
 If it was the insane girl she had a key to the room, for it 
 was inserted in the lock ; la Cardinal was too late in trying 
 to bolt the door, so blew out the light to give less chances of 
 discovery by the darkness. Useless precaution ! the spoil- 
 sport carried a candle in his hand. 
 
 When she saw that the intruder in their business was a little 
 old man of puny appearance, Mme. Cardinal, her eyes flam- 
 ing, sprang before him, like a lioness seeking to protect her 
 cubs from the hunter. 
 
 "Calm yourself, my good lady," said the old man, 
 banteringly, " the police are sent for, they will be here in a 
 moment."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 20-5 
 
 The word " police " broke, as the common saying is, Mme. 
 Cardinal's legs. 
 
 "But, monsieur, the police!" said she; "we are not 
 robbers." 
 
 "Just the same, were I in your place, I shouldn't wait for 
 them," said the little old man; " they make unfortunate mis- 
 takes at times." 
 
 " Can I get, then? " said the fish -hawker, incredulously. 
 
 "Yes, when you return to me anything that may by acci- 
 dent have gotten into your pockets." 
 
 " Oh ! my good sir, I have nothing in my hands, nothing 
 in my pockets; I wouldn't harm anybody in the world ; I am 
 only here to look after this poor cherub, my uncle ; search me 
 if you want to." 
 
 " That will do ; now get out," said the old man. 
 
 The fish-hawker needed no second telling, but rapidly 
 scuttled down the stair. C6rizet seemed about to take the 
 same way. 
 
 "You, monsieur, that is another matter," said the old man ; 
 " you and I can have a little chat together ; but if you prove 
 tractable, things may be satisfactorily arranged." 
 
 It may be that the effects of the narcotic had ceased, for 
 Toupillier now opened his eyes and looked about him with the 
 manner of a man who wonders where he is ; then, seeing his 
 closet open, he cried out : " Thieves ! thieves ! " 
 
 "No, Toupillier," said the little old man ; " you have not 
 been robbed; I arrived in time; nothing has been touched." 
 
 "And you, why don't you arrest that villain?" said the 
 beggar, pointing to Cerizet. 
 
 "Monsieur is not a thief," replied the old man ; " on the 
 contrary, he came up with me to give me his help." Then, 
 turning to Cerizet, he said : "I think, my friend, that we had 
 better postpone our interview until the morrow. At ten 
 o'clock come to the next house and inquire for Monsieur 
 du Portail."
 
 206 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Cirizet, finding that he was not to be treated more rigor- 
 ously than Mme. Cardinal, gave his promise and slipped 
 away; more especially as the little monsieur had recognized 
 him as the "brave Cerizet." 
 
 The next day Cerizet did not fail to appear at the rendez- 
 vous, as directed. He was ushered into the study of Du 
 Portail, whom he found writing. Without rising, he made a 
 sign that his guest be seated and went on with his letter. 
 When it was finished he rang for Bruno, his valet, and, 
 giving him the letter, he said : 
 
 " For Monsieur the Justice of the Peace of the arrondisse- 
 ment." 
 
 Then he carefullly wiped the steel pen that he had used, 
 symmetrically replaced all the articles that he had moved on 
 his desk, and it was only when these little matters had been 
 duly attended to that he turned to Cerizet and said : 
 
 "You know that we have lost poor Monsieur Toupillier in 
 the night?" 
 
 "Truly, no," said C6rizet, putting on the best look of 
 sympathy he could assume. ' ; This is my first tidings of 
 it." 
 
 " You at least might have expected it ; when one gives a 
 dying man a big bowl of hot wine, narcotized beside, for, 
 after drinking but a little glass, Perrache's wife lay in a leth- 
 argy the whole night through, it becomes quite evident that 
 this catastrophe had been arranged for and hastened." 
 
 " I am ignorant, monsieur," said Cerizet with dignity, 
 " of what Madame Cardinal may have given her uncle. 
 Doubtless I committed an indiscretion in helping that woman 
 to preserve her inheritance to which she gave me assurances 
 that she had a legal right ; but I am incapable of attempting 
 the life of that old man ; such a thought never entered my 
 mind." 
 
 "Was it you that wrote me this letter?" said du Portail, 
 brusquely, offering a paper to Cerizet.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 207 
 
 "A letter?" replied he, with the hesitation of a man who 
 wonders whether to lie or speak the truth. 
 
 " I have a mania for autographs ; I am positive this is 
 yours, for I have one of them when the Opposition elevated 
 you to the glorious state of martyr. The letter you hold in 
 your hand tells me of the monetary straits of young la 
 Peyrade." 
 
 "Well," said the man of the Rue des Poules, "as I knew 
 that you had in your care a demoiselle de la Peyrade, I 
 guessed that you were Theodose's unknown protector. Now, 
 having a sincere affection for that poor boy, it was in his in- 
 terests that I made so bold " 
 
 "You were right," interrupted du Portail. " I am pleased 
 to encounter a friend of his. It was this that saved you last 
 night. But what about those twenty-five thousand francs' 
 worth of acceptances ? Is he leading a dissipated life ? " 
 
 "On the contrary," replied Cdrizet, "he's a puritan. 
 He is just on the point of making a wealthy marriage." 
 
 " Ah ! he is to be married ; to whom, pray ? " 
 
 Then C6rizet proceeded to inform him of the circumstances 
 of Celeste Thuillier. When he had concluded du Portail 
 said: 
 
 " But you wrote me that those acceptances were in favor of 
 Monsieur Dutocq. Is it a kind of matrimonial brokerage?" 
 
 "Something of the sort," said Cerizet. "You know, 
 monsieur, that such transactions are common enough in Paris ; 
 the clergy doesn't disdain putting their finger in them." 
 
 " Well, even if the marriage is a settled thing, I must get 
 you, my dear sir, to put an end to it ; I have other views for 
 Thdodose another match to propose to him." 
 
 "Excuse me," replied Cerizet; "should this marriage be 
 broken off, it would be impossible for him to meet those ac- 
 ceptances. ' ' 
 
 " Monsieur Dutocq's debt," replied du Portail, " you shall 
 yourself pay off. Should not Theodose prove amenable to
 
 208 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 my projects, those acceptances in our hands might compel 
 him to do so ; you could sue him in your name ; I will pay 
 the notes and your costs in suing Theodose." 
 
 "That's fair, I must say, monsieur/' said Cerizet. " Per- 
 haps you may afford me some light on why you do me the 
 honor of confiding this matter to my hands." 
 
 "You mentioned a minute ago the cousin of la Peyrade, 
 Mademoiselle Lydie de la Peyrade. That young lady, no 
 longer in her first youth, for she is nearly thirty, is the natural 
 daughter of la Beaumesnil, of the Theatre-Frangais, and de la 
 Peyrade, commissary-general of police under the Empire, the 
 uncle of your friend. At his death, which occurred suddenly, 
 I, his best friend, took upon myself the care of his daughter 
 whom he passionately loved." 
 
 "You have faithfully performed that duty," said Cerizet, 
 anxious to let the other know that he was acquainted with 
 some details of his inner life. 
 
 " Yes," answered du Portail, " the poor child was so cruelly 
 tried by the death of her father that her mind became some- 
 what affected. But fortunately a change has occurred for the 
 better ; yesterday Doctor Bianchon and two other eminent 
 physicians in consultation declared that marriage and a first 
 child would infallibly restore her. You can well see that the 
 remedy is too easy and too pleasant not to be given a trial." 
 
 " Then," said Cerizet, " it is to his cousin that you propose 
 to marry Theodose." 
 
 "You have said it," replied du Portail. "You must not 
 suppose, though, that by accepting this marriage he is dis- 
 playing a gratuitous devotion. Lydie is agreeable in her per- 
 son, is talented, has a charming nature, and can bring high 
 favor to bear in her husband's behalf. She has also a pretty 
 fortune, and my property will be wholly secured to her in the 
 contract; and, added to this, she has inherited an important 
 accession the past night." 
 
 "How!" said Cerizet; "has that old Toupillier ?"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 209 
 
 " By a holograph will, which I have here, the beggar con- 
 stitutes her his universal legatee ; you see it was our property 
 you and Madame Cardinal were trying to pillage. Beside, 
 the will only makes a restitution." 
 
 "A restitution ! " exclaimed Cerizet. 
 
 "A restitution," repeated du Portail, "and nothing is 
 easier to establish. You remember the theft of diamonds 
 from one of our dramatic celebrities some ten years ago? " 
 
 "Yes, certainly; the actress who lost them was the famous 
 Mademoiselle Beaumesnil." 
 
 "Precisely, the mother of Lydie de la Peyrade." 
 
 " So that the wretched Toupillier But no, I remem- 
 ber, the thief was convicted. He was known as Charles 
 Crochard. He was said to be, under the rose, the natural 
 son of a great personage, the Comte de Granville." 
 
 " Well," said du Portail, " it happened thus : The robbery, 
 you remember, was committed in a mansion on the Rue du 
 Tournon, occupied by Mademoiselle Beaumesnil. Charles 
 Crochard, a handsome fellow, had the run of her house." 
 
 "Yes, yes," said Cdrizet, "I recall her embarrassment 
 when she gave her testimony ; and also how she lost her voice 
 when asked her age." 
 
 "The robbery," continued du Portail, "was audaciously 
 committed in the daytime ; no sooner had Crochard got the 
 casket than he went to the church of St. Sulpice, where he 
 had arranged to meet an accomplice. He was to receive the 
 diamonds from his hands, and, having a passport already pro- 
 vided, he was to at once start for foreign parts. It chanced 
 that the expected one was detained for some time and was 
 late in arriving at the church. Charles Crochard found him- 
 self face to face with a celebrated detective who knew him 
 perfectly well, as the young rogue had had several encounters 
 with the police already. The absence of his friend, the 
 rencounter with the detective, and a rapid movement made 
 by the latter troubled his mind ; he thought he was being 
 14
 
 210 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 watched. He lost his head under this idea, and wished him- 
 self well rid of his prize. At this moment he caught sight of 
 Toupillier, then the holy-water distributer. ' My dear fel- 
 low,' said he, assuring himself that no one could hear him, 
 ' will you oblige me by taking care of this little parcel ? It 
 is a box of lace. I am about calling on a countess to collect 
 a bill ; if she saw this she would want it on credit ; that I don't 
 want to do. But,' added he, ' on no account touch the paper 
 wrapper, for there is nothing so difficult as to rewrap it in the 
 old creases.' ' 
 
 " The dummy ! " exclaimed Cerizet, na'ively ; " why, it was 
 a recommendation for thu man to open it." 
 
 "You are a practiced moralist," said du Portail. " One 
 hour after, Crochard, finding nothing happened to him, pre- 
 sented himself at the church to recover his deposit. Toupil- 
 lier was no longer in the place. You can figure to yourself 
 how, on the next day, at first mass, Charles Crochard ap- 
 proached the holy- water distributer, who had returned to the 
 performance of his duty ; but night, as they say, brings coun- 
 sel ; the dear man, with bold effrontery, declared that nothing 
 had been left with him, and he did not know what he was 
 talking about." 
 
 "And not the least good to argue about it," said Cdrizet, 
 who was not far from sympathizing in so bold a play, " for 
 that would have meant exposure." 
 
 " No doubt the robbery was already noised around," du 
 Portail went on, " and Toupillier, a smart fellow, had rightly 
 calculated that the thief by accusing him would discover him- 
 self. In the trial Charles Crochard never spoke one word of 
 his misadventure, and, condemned to ten years, six of which 
 he passed on the hulks, during his incarceration he did not 
 open his lips about the treachery. In that interval Madame 
 Beaumesnil died, leaving her daughter some small remains of 
 a great fortune ; she mentioned the diamonds, and expressly 
 stated that they became hers, ' if they were ever recovered.' "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 211 
 
 "Ah ! " said Cdrizet, " that made it bad for Toupillier, for 
 having a man of your mettle to deal with " 
 
 "All thoughts of Charles Crochard were first turned to 
 vengeance on his release ; he denounced Toupillier as the 
 receiver of the casket. Taken under hand by Justice, he 
 defended himself most good-humoredly, singularly so, and 
 proved that no suspicion attached to him, and the case was 
 dismissed. But this affair cost Toupillier his position ; he 
 obtained, not without difficulty; the right of begging in the 
 porch of St. Sulpice. As for myself, I was satisfied of his 
 guilt, and, without being suspected, I had the closest watch 
 kept upon him ; in order to unmask him, I did one of the 
 smartest tricks in my life. I became the tenant of the room 
 adjoining his on the Rue Coeur- Volant ; I drilled a hole 
 through the party-wall, and one evening saw him take out the 
 casket from a cleverly contrived hiding-place, open it, and 
 gaze upon the contents and fondle them. The man loved 
 them for themselves alone ; he had no thought of converting 
 them into money." 
 
 "I understand," said Cerizet, "a mania of the same kind 
 as Monsieur Cardillac, the jeweler, which has just been drama- 
 tized." 
 
 "The same," returned du Portail ; " the wretch was in love 
 with them, so that when I entered his room and told him I 
 knew all, he asked me not to dispossess him of them while he 
 lived, and at his death his whole hoard of gold, his cash in 
 the Funds, and his house should become the heritage of Made- 
 moiselle de la Peyrade. 
 
 " Well, my dear sir, I was not mistaken in trusting him. 
 I exacted that he should occupy a room in the same house as 
 myself; I assisted in building that hiding-place of his, the 
 secret of which you so ingeniously discovered ; but, in your 
 ignorance, you did not discover that when you touched the 
 secret spring you also rang a bell in my chamber which 
 warned me of any attempt to steal our hoard."
 
 212 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Poor Madame Cardinal," cried Cerizet, with pleasantry, 
 "she counted her chickens too soon." 
 
 " Now, on account of the interest I feel in the nephew of 
 my late friend, this marriage seems to me most desirable," 
 said du Portail. " Theodose may object, owing to his cousin's 
 mental state. You have turned up on my way ; you are smart 
 and crafty, so I put this matrimonial negotiation in your 
 charge. You may speak to him of a pretty girl with a good 
 fortune, with one slight drawback, but mention no names." 
 
 "Your confidence honors me," replied Cerizet; "I will 
 justify it to the best of my ability." 
 
 "Get those acceptances from Dutocq; we shall not haggle 
 over a few thousand francs, but when the affair is arranged 
 Dutocq must give us his assistance. After what you have told 
 me of the other marriage, you can scarcely waste any time," 
 concluded du Portail. 
 
 "Two days hence I have an appointment with The'odose," 
 said Cerizet. 
 
 " So be it," said du Portail ; " that is not delaying much. 
 Now, remember, monsieur, if you succeed you have a man 
 who may assist you, instead of bringing you to account." 
 
 Then the pair separated. 
 
 The same as the Tourniquet Saint-Jean, the Rocher de Can- 
 cale, whence this scene is changed to, is to-day but a memory. 
 A wine-dealer who uses a pewter-topped counter has replaced 
 that Temple of Taste, that sanctuary of European fame, which 
 had seen the passing of gastronomy under the Empire and 
 the Restoration. 
 
 The evening of the day arranged upon for a meeting la 
 Peyrade had received this simple word from Cerizet : 
 
 " To-morrow, lease or no lease, at the Rocher, at six 
 thirty." Dutocq received his invitation by word of mouth; 
 but his time was "quarter past six, sharp." It was evident 
 that Cirizet wanted that fifteen minutes with him before the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 213 
 
 arrival of la Peyrade. That fifteen minutes the usurer in- 
 tended to employ in jockeying Dutocq in the purchase of the 
 acceptances ; he thought a sudden proposition to purchase 
 would be accepted more readily than if time were given for 
 thinking. Moreover, let it be said that Cerizet was bound to 
 try and scrape something out of his dear friend ; it was an 
 instinct, his nature. He had the same horror of a straight 
 line as the amateurs in English gardens have of a straight 
 path. 
 
 At a quarter after six Dutocq punctually made his appear- 
 ance, for a dinner at the Rocher de Cancale was something 
 of an event. 
 
 "It is funny," said he, " that we again meet; the three 
 emperors, except that our present tryst is preferable to our 
 former one." 
 
 "My faith!" replied Cerizet, "I don't quite know that 
 the results justify the change, for, frankly, where are the 
 profits of our triumvirate ? " 
 
 "Well, but it was a bargain," said Dutocq, "with a long 
 term attached. It can't be claimed that la Peyrade has lost 
 much time, pardon the pun, in becoming installed at the 
 T(Ji)uilerics. The rascal has gone ahead pretty fast." 
 
 " Not so fast but that his marriage is anything but a settled 
 matter," said Celizet. 
 
 "Not settled; why?" 
 
 " Yes, I am charged to propose to him another wife. I am 
 not so sure that he will be allowed to choose." 
 
 " But what, the devil ! my dear, lending your hand to help 
 on another marriage when you know we have the first hypoth- 
 ecated !". 
 
 " My friend, one cannot always control circumstances. I 
 saw that the other was gone overhead ; I look now to guide 
 our feet to pastures new." 
 
 "They can't fool me : la Peyrade signed the acceptance? 
 and he must pay them/'
 
 214 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " The question is, will he pay them ? You are not a mer- 
 chant, neither is Theodose ; suppose he disputes the accept- 
 ances ; he might deny their validity. The tribunal might 
 annul them as having been given without consideration re- 
 ceived. Now you, as clerk to a justice, might find that the 
 chancellor could have a little case with you ; as for myself, 
 I've seen to my interests. I choose to save myself by a sac- 
 rifice." 
 
 " What kind of a sacrifice? " 
 
 " Parbleu, I have sold my share," said Cdrizet. 
 
 " Who was the buyer? " 
 
 " Who, think you, would step into my shoes but those 
 urging on this other marriage?" 
 
 " Doubtless, then, my share would be of use also ? " 
 
 " Well, you see, I could not offer them until I had seen 
 you." 
 
 "On what terms?" 
 
 "I let them have my acceptances for fifteen thousand 
 francs." 
 
 " Oh ! then your game is to make a commission out of 
 mine to makeup your loss if you've had one beside, it may 
 be but a scheme between you and la Peyrade," said Dutocq. 
 
 "At least, my dear, you don't mince your words; you 
 have an infamous thought and state it with charming aban- 
 don." 
 
 "Well, I withdraw the insinuation, as you say that you are 
 going to make the offer to Theodose in my presence." 
 
 "See here, my poor friend, how I reasoned ; I said to my- 
 self : ' This good Dutocq is being pressed for the last pay- 
 ment on his office ; he will find enough to pay it off at one 
 stroke ; events have shown that uncertainties exist about the 
 compromising of la Peyrade ; here's cash down, on the nail; ' 
 the bargain ain't so bad, either." 
 
 " All the same, it's a loss of two-fifths." 
 
 "You just spoke of commissions; you only help me over
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 215 
 
 this other matter and I don't fear but what I can obtain you 
 a round twenty thousand francs." 
 
 " Then you think this new proposal may not be acceptable 
 to la Peyrade ? Why should he object ? Is it then some 
 heiress from whom the rascal has already had something ! " 
 
 "All that I can say is that trouble is expected in conclud- 
 ing it." 
 
 At this moment the door opened and the other guest 
 arrived. " You may serve dinner," said Cerizet to the at- 
 tendant; " we expect no one else." 
 
 They could see that Th6odose had begun to take his flight 
 toward higher social spheres; elegance had become his con- 
 stant ambition. He had made an evening toilet, dress suit 
 and patent-leather shoes, while the other two received him in 
 loose coats and muddy boots. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said he, "I think I am somewhat late, but 
 that devil of a Thuillier, with the pamphlet I am concocting 
 for him, .is one of the most intolerable of human beings. I 
 was so unfortunate as to arrange to revise the proofs with him; 
 at each paragraph we had a fight: 'What I don't under- 
 stand,' he kept saying, 'the public can't understand, either. 
 I'm not a man of letters, but I am a practical man ; ' and it 
 was the same battle over every sentence. I thought this 
 seance would never come to an end." 
 
 " What would you, my dear? " said Dutocq ; "when a man 
 wants to get there he must have some courage ; once the mar- 
 riage is made you can hold up your head." 
 
 "Oh ! yes," said la Peyrade, "I'll raise it; for since you 
 have given me this bread of bitterness, I've become heartily 
 tired of it." 
 
 " Cerizet," said Dutocq, " has to-day some more succulent 
 food to place before you." 
 
 For the time being nothing more was said, they had to do 
 justice to the goodly cheer ordered for them by Cerizet in 
 honor of the first tenant. It was not until dessert was served
 
 216 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 that Cerizet decided to ask la Peyrade what resolution had 
 been come to in reference to the lease. 
 
 "Nothing, my dear," replied la Peyrade. 
 
 "How, nothing ? I left you time enough to decide in." 
 
 " And, in fact, something is decided ; there will be no first 
 tenant, Mademoiselle Brigitte will herself sub-let the house." 
 
 "That's a different story," said Ce"rizet, with a lordly air. 
 " After your promise to me, I avow that I did not expect such 
 a result as this." 
 
 " What could I do, my dear ? I made my promise subject to 
 contingencies ; I wasn't able to give another turn to the busi- 
 ness. In her quality as master-woman and sample of per- 
 petual motion, Mademoiselle Thuillier has reflected that she 
 might as well undertake the task of managing the property 
 and pocketing the profits herself that you intended making. 
 I put in all I could about the annoyances, inconveniences, and 
 so forth, but ' Bah ! rubbish ! ' she replied ; ' it will stir my 
 blood and be good for my health.' " 
 
 "But this is pitiable," said Cerizet; "the poor old maid 
 doesn't know what it means to get tenants from top to bot- 
 tom." 
 
 "I used all those arguments," replied la Peyrade, "but 
 only to strengthen her resolution. There you are, my dear 
 democrats, you fomented the revolution of '89 ; you thought 
 it an excellent speculation to dethrone the nobles by the 
 bourgeoisie; it ends in yourselves being elbowed out. It 
 seems like a paradox, but you've found out now that the 
 country -jay can't be forced down and kept under like the 
 noble. The aristocracy had a care for its dignity; it pro- 
 hibited itself a host of petty details, even of learning to 
 write; it found itself dependent on a host of plebeian servitors 
 to whom it confided three-fourths of the actions of their lives. 
 But to-day utilitarian theories rule : ' We are never so well 
 served as by ourselves.' 'It's not disgraceful to know one's 
 own business ; ' and a thousand other middle-class proverbs,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 217 
 
 which have done away with the need of intermediaries. Why 
 should not Brigitte Thuillier have the pretensions to manage 
 her house, when dukes and peers of France go personally to 
 the Bourse, when the same persons sign their own leases, and 
 read them first, and discuss every point with the notary at 
 his own place, one whom they formerly accounted as a scriv- 
 ener?" 
 
 "What you are preaching," said Cerizet, carelessly, "is 
 mighty clever ; but it seems to prove, also, that you are not 
 on such a footing of intimacy with Mile. Thuillier as you 
 would have us believe. I begin to think that the marriage 
 is far from being so settled a matter as Dutocq and myself 
 fancied." 
 
 " Without doubt," replied la Peyrade, "there are yet some 
 careful touches to be given to our sketch before it is finished, 
 but I think it nears completion." 
 
 "For my part I am of the contrary opinion, you have lost 
 ground, and the reason is simple ; you have done an immense 
 service to these people, and they will never forgive you for 
 it." 
 
 "Well, wait and see," said la Peyrade; " I hold them by 
 more than one string." 
 
 " No, you are wrong. If I were you I shouldn't feel quite 
 so sure of treading on solid ground ; if something else turned 
 up that presented a good chance " 
 
 "What ! because I couldn't get you the lease to eat, must 
 I throw the handle after the axe ? " 
 
 "I repeat to you," said Cerizet, "that I'm not looking at 
 it from the side of my own interests ; but as you have doubt- 
 less and truly tried your level best to promote them, I think 
 that the way in which you have been pushed aside is a dis- 
 quieting symptom." 
 
 "Ah! fa/" said la Peyrade, "what are you getting at? 
 Is it that you have something to propose to me ? What's it 
 to cost?"
 
 218 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "My dear fellow," replied Cerizet, ignoring this imper- 
 tinence, "yourself shall judge of the value of finding a young 
 woman, well brought up, adorned with beauty and talent, a 
 dot equivalent to or no less than Celeste's, in her own right, 
 plus one hundred thousand francs in diamonds (as Mile. 
 Georges says on her posters in the provinces), beside political 
 influence for her husband's benefit." 
 
 "And this treasure you have in your hand?" asked la 
 Peyrade, with an incredulous air. 
 
 " Better than that, I am authorized to make you the offer ; 
 I may even say that I am charged so to do." 
 
 " My friend, either you are mocking me, unless, as I sup- 
 pose, this phoenix has some prohibitory defect." 
 
 "I acknowledge," said Cerizet, " that there exists one slight 
 defect, but not on the score of family, for she has none." 
 
 "Ah ! " said la Peyrade, "of course, a natural child what 
 beside?" 
 
 "Beside? Well, she is not so young as to wear the hood 
 of St. Catherine ; she is, say, about twenty-nine ; but an 
 elderly girl can be imagined into a young widow nothing 
 easier." 
 
 "And is that all the venom?" 
 "Yes, all that is irreparable." 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? A case of rhinoplasty ? " 
 This so pertinent a word, as addressed to Cerizet, was given 
 with an aggressive air ; this manner, indeed, had been notice- 
 able throughout the dinner, even in the conversation of the 
 barrister. But it was not to the purpose of the negotiator 
 to resent it. 
 
 "No," he responded; "we have as good a nose as feet 
 and waist; but we might perhaps have a touch of hysteria." 
 "Very good ! " said la Peyrade, "and as from hysteria to 
 
 insanity there is but a step " 
 
 "Well, yes," eagerly interrupted CSrizet; "sorrows have 
 left our brain slightly deranged, but the doctors, after a care-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 219 
 
 ful diagnosis, say that after bearing a first child not the least 
 ttace of this trouble will remain." 
 
 " I willingly admit that Messieurs the Doctors are absolutely 
 infallible," replied the barrister; "but, in spite of your dis- 
 couragements, you must excuse me if I still continue to ad- 
 dress Mademoiselle Colleville. It is perhaps ridiculous to 
 avow this, but the fact is that I am gradually falling in love 
 with that little girl. It is not that she is very beautiful, or 
 that the glamour of her dot has enamored me, but in that child 
 is an innocent mind joined to sound sense ; and, what to my 
 mind is of more consequence, she possesses a sincere and solid 
 piety." 
 
 "Yes," said Cerizet, who, having been on the stage, may 
 well have remembered Moliere's: "Your hymen shall be 
 soaked in sweetness and joy." 
 
 This allusion to Tartuffe was keenly felt by la Peyrade, who 
 hotly retorted : 
 
 " The contact of innocence will disinfect me of the vile 
 company I have kept for so long a time." 
 
 "And you will pay your acceptances, which I urge you to 
 do without delay," said Cerizet. " Dutocq here was just say- 
 ing that he would like to see the color of your money." 
 
 "Me? oh, not at all," said Dutocq; "I think, on the 
 contrary, our friend is perfectly right in his delay." 
 
 "Well, for myself," said la Peyrade, "I am quite of 
 C6rizet's opinion ; I hold that the less the debt is due, and 
 therefore the more insecure, the sooner should one free him- 
 self by paying it." 
 
 "But, my dear la Peyrade," said Dutocq, "you speak so 
 bitterly." 
 
 Drawing from his pocket a portfolio, la Peyrade said : 
 
 "Have you the acceptances with you, Dutocq?" 
 
 "Faith, no, dear fellow," said the clerk; "I don't carry 
 them around, beside they are in Cerizet's hands." 
 
 "Well," said the barrister, as he arose, "whenever you 
 
 V
 
 220 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 bring them to my office, the cash is ready. Cerizet can 
 prove that." 
 
 "What! are you leaving us without waiting for coffee?" 
 said the usurer, much amazed. 
 
 " Yes ; at eight o'clock I have an arbitration case. Beside, 
 all has been said; you haven't got the lease, but you have 
 gotten your twenty-five thousand francs, and Dutocq can have 
 his whenever he likes to present his acceptances at my office ; 
 I don't see anything that should prevent me going about my 
 own affairs, therefore I give you a cordial good-day." 
 
 " Dear me ! " said Cerizet, as la Peyrade went out, " this 
 means a rupture." 
 
 "And carefully prepared at that," remarked Dutocq. 
 "With what an air he produced his portfolio ! " 
 
 "But where the devil did he get his money?" asked the 
 usurer. 
 
 "No doubt," replied the clerk, ironically, "whence he got 
 that with which he paid off in full your acceptances on which 
 you made such a sacrifice." 
 
 " Well, I was instructed to buy up your acceptances ; you 
 will recollect that I had risen to twenty thousand when he 
 came in." 
 
 " All right, when we leave here we'll go to your house for 
 those notes ; I mean to give him the chance to pay me while 
 his humor is hot." 
 
 " Quite correct ; for I can tell you right here that there 
 will very soon be an upset in his life." 
 
 "Then you were really serious about that crazy marrying 
 him. I must say that I should have adopted the same 
 course ; Ninas and Ophelias are very interesting on the stage, 
 but in our households " 
 
 "In the households, when they bring a dot, we become 
 their guardian," replied the sententious Cerizet. " Really 
 we get a fortune and not a wife." 
 
 "Let's have our coffee elsewhere," said C6rizet; "I want
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 221 
 
 to get out of this room, I can't breathe in it." He rang for 
 the garc.on ; " the bill ? " said he. 
 
 "But, m'sieur, it is paid." 
 
 "Paid! and by whom?" 
 
 "By the gentleman who just left. Shall I bring in the 
 coffee it is paid for, before he left ? ' ' 
 
 "An excellent reason for refusing it," answered Cerizet 
 angrily. "It is really inconceivable that in a house like this 
 such a blunder should be allowed. What do you think of 
 such impertinence? " he bitterly added, when the waiter had 
 gone. 
 
 " Pshaw ! it's only a schoolboy's move to show that he has 
 money in his pocket ; it is something new to him." 
 
 " No, no, that's not it at all," said Cerizet; " it was his 
 way of emphasizing the rupture. ' I will not even owe a 
 dinner to you ' is what he says." 
 
 Dutocq was the guide to a low caf in the Passage du 
 Saumon, where Cerizet soon recovered his good humor; like 
 a fish who had been out of water returned to his native ele- 
 ment, so Cerizet had become so degraded that he felt ill at 
 ease in good society resorts. In this vulgar place a game of 
 pool was being played. Now Cerizet enjoyed the reputation 
 of being a skillful player in the establishment, and he was en- 
 treated to take a cue. In the parlance of the place he 
 "bought a ball ;" that is, one of the players sold him his turn 
 and score. 
 
 Soon after, in his shirt -sleeves, a pipe between his teeth, he 
 made a masterly stroke which evoked tumults of applause. 
 He looked triumphantly around, graciously receiving the ad- 
 miration of the gods, when his eyes alighted on a terrible kill- 
 joy. Standing amongst the spectators, looking over his hand 
 resting on his cane, du Portail was watching him. Cerizet 
 reddened, lost his presence of mind, made a few bad strokes, 
 and was soon out of the game. As he was gloomily donning 
 his coat du Portail brushed by him :
 
 222 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Rue Montmartre, at the end of the court," said he in a 
 low voice. 
 
 When they met Cerizet was so dumb as to try and explain 
 why he was found in such disreputable company. 
 
 "But," said du Portail, " to see you there I had also to be 
 there myself." 
 
 "That is true," replied the usurer; " I was astonished to 
 find a quiet inhabitant of the St. Sulpice quarter there." 
 
 ''That proves to you," retorted the other, in a tone which 
 effectually cut off curious questioning, " that I am in the 
 habit of going everywhere, and my lucky star usually leads 
 me to those whom I wish to meet. Well, what have you 
 done?" 
 
 Cdrizet explained all that had occurred, and that there was 
 no chance of Dutocq's acceptances being secured. 
 
 "Then does he regard his marriage with the demoiselle 
 Colleville as a settled thing?" 
 
 "Not only that, but he pretended that it is a love-match. 
 He tried to persuade me of that by a long, tiresome tirade." 
 
 "Well, now cease your charge; you have failed in this, 
 but I have other uses for you." 
 
 As he spoke he hailed a passing hack, nodded to Cerizet, 
 got in and told the man to drive to the Rue Honor6-Chevalier. 
 
 As he walked down the Rue Montmartre, to regain the 
 Estrapade quarter, Cerizet puzzled his brain in guessing what 
 that little old man, with curt speech, imperious manners, and 
 a tone that seemed to cast a spell as strong as a grappling- 
 iron over a person, could be ; why, too, should a man like 
 him come such a distance to spend his evening, especially in 
 such a place where he must assuredly be out of his element ? 
 He had just reached the Market when he was rudely aroused 
 from his meditation by a rough shake and a punch in his 
 back. He turned hastily around, and found himself face to 
 face with Mme. Cardinal. For the past two days she had 
 been taking "drops of consolation" over her defeat in the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 223 
 
 numerous liquor-dealers' taverns of the quarter. With thick- 
 ened speech and face aflame : 
 
 "Well, papa," said she to Cerizet, "how did you come on 
 with the little old man ? " 
 
 "I gave him my word," replied the usurer, " that so far as 
 I was concerned it was all a mistake. You, my poor Madame 
 Cardinal, behaved in this affair with much heedlessness ; why 
 should you ask me to assist you in getting your uncle's in- 
 heritance when it has for a long time been manifest that he 
 had a natural daughter to whom he had left all. That little 
 old man is her guardian." 
 
 " Ah ! talk to me of guardian," said la Cardinal, " a nobby 
 guardian. To talk as he did to a woman of my age, only be- 
 cause she wanted to find out if her uncle had anything to 
 leave. And then to talk to me, me ! of the police ! It's 
 horrible, it's degustating ! " 
 
 " Come ! " said Cerizet, "you got off very well, Mammy 
 Cardinal." 
 
 "Well, and you, you who broke the locks and said you 
 would accept the diamonds under pretense of marrying my 
 daughter. As if she wanted you, my daughter, my legitimate 
 daughter, like she is. 'Never, my mother,' said she to me; 
 'I will never give my heart to a man with half a nose, like 
 his.' " 
 
 " So you've found her, then ? " 
 
 " Only last evening ; she has left her drunken actor, and is 
 now, I flatter myself, in a splendid position ; she can eat 
 money, has a coach hired by the month, and is much esteemed 
 by a barrister who would marry her off the reel, but he has to 
 wait for the death of his parents ; for his father happens to be 
 mayor, and the government would be against it." 
 
 "My worthy woman," said Cerizet, "what the devil are 
 you gabbling about ? ' It happens that his father is his 
 
 mother* '" 
 
 * Pare: que U ptre se trouve tire maire : mire mother ; maire mayor.
 
 224 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "What stuff! Mayor of his arrondissement, the eleventh, 
 Monsieur Minard, a retired cocoa-dealer, enormously rich." 
 
 " Oh ! very good, I know him. And you say that Olympe 
 is living with his son ? " 
 
 "Well, that is to say, not living together, for that makes 
 talk, that he visits her with a good motive ; he lives at home 
 with his father, but he has bought their furniture and him and 
 my daughter has took a lodgings, where it and my daughter 
 is housed, on the Chauss6e-d'Antin : stylish quarter, ain't 
 it?" 
 
 "It seems nicely arranged," said C6rizet. 
 
 "Yes; and there's something I want to consult you 
 about." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "It's this: my daughter's in luck, I ought not to go on 
 crying fish up and down the streets; and then I find myself 
 disinherited by my uncle ; it seems to me, therefore, that I've 
 a right to a elementary allowance." 
 
 "You dream, my poor woman. Your daughter is a minor ; 
 it's you should be feeding her ; she ought not to provide the 
 alimentaries. " 
 
 "Then," said Mme. Cardinal, vexed and disagreeable, 
 " that means that us who have nothing must give to those who 
 have plenty. That's a proper sort of a law ; it's as bad as your 
 guardians who prate about sending for the police. Well, yes, 
 I'd like to see 'em send the police ! Let them guillotine me ! 
 It won't stop me saying that the rich are all swindlers ; it's 
 about time the people made another revolution for their right- 
 ful rights, my boy. You, my daughter, the barrister Minard, 
 and that little old guardian, see you, you would all be done 
 away with." 
 
 Seeing that his ex-mother-in-law had worked herself up to a 
 becoming degree of exaltation that was far from assuring, 
 Cerizet abruptly left her, but even then she sent her epithets 
 after him for a hundred feet or more ; but he promised him-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 225 
 
 self the pleasure of getting even with her the next time she 
 came to the bank in the Rue des Poules to ask for an " easy 
 let down." 
 
 As he neared his house, Cerizet, who was anything but 
 brave, felt an emotion of fear ; he noticed a figure ambushed 
 by his door ; as he approached nearer it detatched itself to 
 come and meet him ; happily it was none other than Dutocq. 
 He had come for his acceptances. Cerizet returned them, 
 with some ill-humor ; he complained of the distrust implied 
 by a visit for such a purpose at that hour. Dutocq paid no 
 attention to his touchy susceptibilities, but the next morning 
 presented them to la Peyrade, who paid him as he had prom- 
 ised. Dutocq made a few sentimental remarks when he had 
 gotten the cash, but he was answered by a marked coolness. 
 
 As he conducted his creditor to the door he found himself 
 face to face with a woman dressed as a servant, who was just 
 about to ring the bell. She seemed to be known to Dutocq, 
 for he said : 
 
 " Ah ! little mother ; so you feel the necessity of consulting 
 a barrister ? You are right ; at the family council some serious 
 charges were brought against you." 
 
 " Thank God ! I have no fear of any one ; I can walk with 
 my head erect," answered the woman. 
 
 " Well, be careful, my dear lady, for I tell you that when 
 you get before the judge who is to inquire into the matter, 
 you'll be finely pulled to pieces. The relatives are furious 
 against you; they can't get the idea out of their heads that 
 you have become very rich." 
 
 Here Theodose requested his client to enter. 
 
 This is what had taken place the day before. 
 
 It will be remembered that la Peyrade was in the habit of 
 
 attending the first mass in his parish church. For some time 
 
 he had found himself the object of particular attention on the 
 
 part of the woman who had just entered his house, and who, 
 
 15
 
 226 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 as the saying goes, like Dorine in " Tartuffe," had taken care 
 to attend regularly at ' his exact hour ; " these singular pro- 
 ceedings had embarrassed him considerably. 
 
 An affair of the heart ? This explanation scarcely com- 
 ported with the saintly maturity of a person who, wearing 
 the plain cap, known in the quarter as a janseniste, the nur- 
 like covering for the hair that distinguished the female vota- 
 ries of that sect. On the morning of the day of the dinner, 
 la Peyrade went to the woman and asked if there was any- 
 thing he could do for her. 
 
 " Monsieur," she replied in a mystical voice, " is I believe 
 the celebrated Monsieur de la Peyrade, the advocate of the 
 poor?" 
 
 " I am la Peyrade ; and I have at times been able to be of 
 service to the poor of this quarter." 
 
 " If you would listen to and grant me a consultation, mon- 
 sieur." 
 
 "This is not a fitting place," replied la Peyrade, "fora 
 conference. I live near here, Rue Saint-Dominique d'Enfer ; 
 if you will take the trouble to come to my office " 
 
 "It will not trouble monsieur?" 
 
 " Not the least in the world ; my business is to attend my 
 clients." 
 
 "At what hour, for I would not disturb monsieur?" 
 
 " Whenever you please ; I shall be home all the morning ? " 
 
 "Then I will hear another mass and take the communion ; 
 I am too agitated just now. I will be at monsieur's house at 
 eight o'clock, if that hour won't be inconvenient." 
 
 At the hour named, not one minute before or past, the 
 pious woman rang the bell, but the barrister had some diffi- 
 culty in getting her to be seated and to state her case. Then 
 that delaying little cough, so often used in like cases, seized 
 her ; but at last she touched the object of her visit. 
 
 " This is it," said she, " whether monsieur would be so 
 kind, as to let me know if it was true that a very charitable
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 227 
 
 man had given a fund as a reward to servants who have faith- 
 fully served their masters?" 
 
 " There is this to say," replied la Peyrade, " that Monsieur 
 de Montyon founded a prize of virtue which, in fact, has 
 often been awarded to zealous and exemplary servants ; but 
 good conduct only is not enough, there must be some act of 
 high devotion and a truly Christian abnegation." 
 
 "Religion," replied the pious woman, "enjoins humility, 
 and so I cannot praise myself; but for twenty years I have 
 been in the service of an old man, dull in the extreme, a 
 savant, who has eaten up all his substance by inventing 
 things, and whom I have been obliged to feed and clothe ; so 
 some people think I am not unworthy of obtaining the 
 prize." 
 
 " That is, in fact, the conditions under which the Academy 
 chooses its candidates," replied la Peyrade. " What is your 
 master's name ? " 
 
 " Father Picot ; they all call him that in our quarter. He 
 takes no care for his dignity ; he is occupied with his own 
 ideas ; I wear myself out getting him tasty food, but if one 
 asks him what he had for dinner he cannot remember." 
 
 " Is your master a mathematician ? " 
 
 "Yes, monsieur ; they have been his bane." 
 
 " Well," said la Peyrade, " let me have the testimony prov- 
 ing your devotion to this old man, and I will prepare a peti- 
 tion to the Academy and have it presented." 
 
 " Monsieur is very good," said the pious woman; "if he 
 would allow me to speak of a little difficulty " 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " They tell me, monsieur, that the prize can only be won 
 by a very poor person." 
 
 " Not exactly so ; still, the Academy does in effect try to 
 choose people in straitened circumstances and who have made 
 sacrifices beyond their means." 
 
 " Sacrifices } J flatter myself that I have made them j all
 
 228 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 my little heritage from my parents has gone in keeping him, 
 and, beside, for fifteen years I have not had a sou of wages, 
 which, at three hundred francs a year and compound interest, 
 would make a right pretty sum, as monsieur will allow." 
 
 At the words compound interest, which was evidence of a 
 certain degree of cultured financial experience, la Peyrade 
 looked upon this Antigone with attention. 
 
 "In short," said he, " this difficulty of yours 
 
 "Monsieur," the pious one replied, "will not deem it 
 strange that a very rich uncle of mine has died in England 
 and left me twenty-five thousand francs; one, too, that had 
 done nothing for his family before? " 
 
 "Assuredly there is nothing in that but what is right and 
 properly legal," said the barrister. 
 
 "But, monsieur, having this might lose me the prize; be- 
 side, it is in the greatest danger from my master." 
 
 "How is that?" asked la Peyrade, curiously. 
 
 " Eh ! monsieur, if he only got wind of that money, it 
 would go at one mouthful ; his invention of perpetual motion 
 and the like have already ruined both him and me." 
 
 "Then you would have the knowledge withheld from the 
 Academy and master, both?" 
 
 " How clever monsieur is; he fully understands at once," 
 said the religious woman, smiling. 
 
 "And what do you want to do with the money?" asked 
 the barrister. "You want to get it out of your hands?" 
 
 " For fear that the master might swoop down upon it, 
 certainly. How well monsieur understands; now, if it was 
 at interest, I could get him a few delicacies now and again ; 
 that's why I should like it to bear interest." 
 
 "And as high as possible, eh ? " said the barrister. 
 
 "Dame, yes, five or six per cent." 
 
 "Then it was about both these things that you wished to 
 consult me? " 
 
 " Monsieur is so kind, so charitable, so encouraging."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 229 
 
 "After a few inquiries the petition can easily be drawn ; but 
 to invest with security and secrecy, both, is rather more diffi- 
 cult." 
 
 "Ah ! if I only dared," said she. 
 
 "What?" said la Peyrade. 
 
 " Monsieur understands me." 
 
 " Me ? not the least idea in the world." 
 
 " I have prayed well this hour past that monsieur might 
 take charge of this money ; I should be sure of its safety and 
 of nothing being said about it." 
 
 La Peyrade received at this moment the fruit of his farce of 
 devotion to the necessitous class. The chorus of porters in 
 the quarter had carried his praises to this domestic. He 
 thought of Dutocq, and firmly believed that this woman had 
 been wafted to him by Providence. He resolved to play a 
 deep game. 
 
 "My dear lady," said he to his pious client, " I am in no 
 need of money ; and I am not rich enough to pay you interest 
 on twenty-five thousand francs without investing it. All I 
 could do would be to put it in the hands of the notary Dupuis 
 in my name, a pious man whom you may see every Sunday on 
 the wardens' bench in our parish church. Notaries, you 
 know, give no receipt, therefore I cannot give you one. I 
 can but leave a note among my papers, which will be found 
 at my death, showing the transaction. You see, it is a confi- 
 dential business ; it is only done to oblige a pious and devoted 
 person who possesses charitable sentiments." 
 
 "If monsieur can find no other way " 
 
 " That is the only one that seems possible," said la Peyrade. 
 " However, I don't know but what I can get you six per cent., 
 and I will see that it is paid promptly. But on the least in- 
 discretion on your part the money will be at once returned to 
 you." 
 
 " Oh ! monsieur, think you that I am a woman who would 
 talk about what she should keep silent?"
 
 230 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "My blessing! my dear lady, we must provide against 
 everything in such a business. Take time to think it over. 
 Come again in a day or two, I may evolve another plan ; I 
 confess this does not please me over-well ; I may think of 
 other difficulties that have escaped my notice." 
 
 This adroit menace thrown in clinched the business. 
 
 " I have reflected," said piety ; " with a man so religious as 
 yourself, monsieur, I cannot see any risk." 
 
 And, taking from under her chemisette a little pocket-book, 
 she drew out twenty-five bank-bills. Her manner of counting 
 them, the dexterity she showed, was to la Peyrade a revelation. 
 The woman was well accustomed to handling cash, and a 
 singular idea struck him : 
 
 "Suppose that I am receiving stolen No," said he; 
 
 " in order to draw up your petition I must make a few in- 
 quiries, so in the ordinary course of things I will wait on you 
 presently. At what hour are you alone? " 
 
 " On the stroke of four, monsieur goes for a promenade to 
 the Luxembourg." 
 
 "And where do you live? " 
 
 "No. 9 Rue du Val-du-Grace." 
 
 "Well, then, four o'clock; if, as I believe is likely, I find 
 all is right, then I can take your money." 
 
 "Oh ! monsieur is prudent," said she, thinking the matter 
 settled. "This money, thank God, I have not stolen, and 
 monsieur can so inform himself about me in the quarter." 
 
 "That is just what I shall be compelled to do," said la 
 Peyrade, who did not quite like, under the exterior of sim- 
 plicity, that lively intelligence which penetrated his every 
 thought. 
 
 "As monsieur pleases," said the pious one ; " you are doing 
 me too great a service to complain of your precautions." 
 
 And, after an unctuous salutation, she went out, carrying 
 her money with her. 
 
 "The devil!" thought la Peyrade, "that woman is as
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 231 
 
 strong as myself; she swallows an affront with a gratified air 
 and without the shadow of a grimace." 
 
 The information he gathered in the quarter was contradic- 
 tory; some gave his client the name of saint, others presented 
 her as a very cunning, artful woman ; but, summing all up, 
 there was nothing that inculpated her morality or such as 
 would deter la Peyrade from accepting the good fortune that 
 she offered him. 
 
 At four o'clock he found her of the same mind. The cash 
 in his pocket, he went to the Rocher de Cancale, and perhaps 
 it was the day's excitement that had caused him to assume the 
 petulant manner he had with his two associates. In fact, the 
 money had rather turned his brain ; he had rid himself of 
 Cerizet without even consulting Brigitte. Thus through the 
 whole day la Peyrade had not shown himself the man so com- 
 pletely infallible as we had credited him with being. It is 
 perhaps more difficult to keep one's head level in good than 
 in evil fortune. 
 
 The Farnesse Hercules, calm in repose, shows more fully 
 the plenitude of muscular force than the other Hercules in 
 violent agitation and represented in the excitement of their 
 labors.
 
 PART II. 
 
 Between the two parts of this story an important event had 
 taken place in the life of Phellion. 
 
 There is no one but has heard of the Odeon's ill-luck, that 
 fatal theatre which had for years spelt the ruin of its directors. 
 Rightly or wrongly the quarter in which stands this dramatic 
 impossibility is absolutely convinced that its prosperity in a 
 high degree depends upon it ; more than once the mayor and 
 notables of the arrondissement have tried every desperate 
 effort to galvanize the corpse, with a courage equal to their 
 honor. 
 
 Now to have a finger in the pie theatrical is one of the 
 eternal, ever-living ambitions of the middle-class. Thus the 
 successive saviours of the Odeon feel themselves amply re- 
 warded when they are given a share, be it ever so small, in 
 the administration of the concern. It was at such a combina- 
 tion of circumstances that Minard, in his quality as mayor of 
 the eleventh arrondissement, had been called to preside over 
 the committee on reading plays, with power to select as assess- 
 ors a certain number of notables of the Latin quarter the 
 choice being left to him. 
 
 Now as both the Minards and Phellions had seen the 
 advance made by la Peyrade in the securing of Celeste's dot, 
 they each felt a loss of that prejudice which had formerly ani- 
 mated them ; there is nothing binds and soothes men so much 
 as a feeling of checkmate felt in common. Thus when the 
 mayor had to bring to head the question of the composition 
 of his dramatic customs-house, he gave immediate thought to 
 Phellion. 
 
 One can well understand that so high and sacred a mission 
 (232)
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 233 
 
 was not lightly undertaken by a man of Phellion's solemnity ; 
 to himself he said that he was called upon to exercise magis- 
 tracy, priesthood. 
 
 "To judge men," he had replied to Minard, who was 
 astonished at his hesitation, "is an alarming task; but to 
 judge of intellects who can believe himself equal to such a 
 mission ?" 
 
 Phellion, to use his own term, had become a member of the 
 Areopagus presided over by Minard, and he had just come 
 home from the exercise of his functions both "delicate and 
 interesting," quoting himself again, when the conversation we 
 are about to repeat took place. 
 
 The session of the committee had been particularly stormy. 
 On discussing a tragedy, having for title " The Death of 
 Hercules," those classically imbued and the others tinctured 
 with romance, carefully balanced by the mayor in forming the 
 committee, had nearly come to the hair-pulling stage. Twice 
 had Phellion asked to put in a word, and every one was as- 
 tounded at the flood of metaphors with which the speech of a 
 major of the National Guard could flow when his literary con- 
 victions were assailed. The result of the vote was a victory 
 for the opinions of which Phellion was the eloquent mouth- 
 piece. 
 
 As they descended the stairs together Phellion remarked to 
 Minard: "'The Death of Hercules' reminded me of Luce 
 de Lancival's ' Death of Hector; ' it is full of sublimity." 
 
 "Yes," said Minard, "it is in good taste. It is far better 
 literature than Colleville's anagrams." 
 
 "Oh!" said Phellion, "they are mere witticisms; they 
 have nothing in common with the severe accents of Mel- 
 pomene." 
 
 "And yet," replied Minard, "I can affirm that he attaches 
 much importance to that stuff. But it seems to me that not 
 only Colleville, but his wife, daughter, the Thuilliers, and the 
 rest of the whole coterie have assumed airs of importance,
 
 234 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 hardly justified by their having moved into the Madeleine 
 quarter." 
 
 " What would you ? " said Phellion ; " it requires a strong 
 head to stand the fumes of opulence. Our friends have grown 
 very rich by the purchase of that house ; we must excuse a 
 little intoxication ; yesterday they gave us a good house- 
 warming dinner, well spread and succulent." 
 
 "I also," said Minard, "have, I flatter myself, given a few 
 remarkable dinners at which men high in the government 
 have not disdained to attend, but I am not unduly puffed 
 up." 
 
 "You, Monsieur le Maire, you have for a long time enjoyed 
 a handsome mode of life in your high commercial capacity ; 
 our friends have but just made their fortunes ; they have hardly 
 got their sea-legs yet." 
 
 "Are you going through the Luxembourg ? " asked Minard. 
 
 " I shall go that way, but not to stay. I have to meet 
 Madame Phellion at the end of the broad walk ; she will 
 await me there with the Barniol children." 
 
 "Well," said Minard, " I shall have the pleasure of salut- 
 ing Madame Phellion." 
 
 Minard quite realized that Phellion had not voluntarily fol- 
 lowed him in his caustic remarks on the Thuilliers, so he did 
 not offer to renew the subject, but he felt sure that Mme. 
 Phellion would reecho his animadversions. 
 
 "Well, fair lady," said he, "and what did you think of 
 the dinner yesterday?" 
 
 "It was well put up," replied Mme. Phellion, "and the 
 potage a la bisque?*- 1 could tell, showed the hand of a master, 
 like Chevet, who must have replaced their own cook. But 
 there seemed a lack of gayety ; there was none of the cordial- 
 ity that marks our little reunions in the Latin quarter. Be- 
 side, one could hardly fail to see that Madame and Mile. 
 Thuillier did not seem at home. I felt like I was dining with 
 * A rich soup.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 235 
 
 Madame what's her name? I cannot keep myself in 
 
 mind of it." 
 
 "Torna, Comtesse de Godollo," said Phellion, interrupt- 
 ing. "Still the name is most euphonistic. " 
 
 "Euphonistic as you wish, my friend; but for me, I can't 
 think it's a name at all." 
 
 " It is a Magyar, or, vulgarly speaking, a Hungarian name. 
 Our name, for instance, may be said to be borrowed from the 
 Greek." 
 
 " That is possible, but we have the advantage of being well- 
 known, not only in our own quarter, but in the whole world 
 of education, where our parvenus have conquered an honor- 
 able position ; not like that Hungarian countess who makes 
 rain and sunshine in the Thuilliers' house. Whence came she? 
 How comes it that having all the manners of a great lady, 
 with such a distinguished air, she should fall into the arms of 
 Brigitte, who, between us, tastes of the sod, and is so the por- 
 ter's daughter as to nauseate one ? " 
 
 "Dear me," said Minard, "don't you know how the inti- 
 macy began between the Comtesse de Godollo and the 
 ThuiLiers?" 
 
 "That she is a tenant of theirs, she occupies the entresol." 
 
 " True, but there's more than that in it. Zelie, my wife, 
 had it from Josephine, who was quitting their service for ours, 
 but did not, as our own Francoise, change her mind about 
 getting married. You must know, fair lady, that it was 
 Madame de Godollo who caused the migration of the Thu- 
 illiers ; she was, one might say, their upholsterer." 
 
 "How, their upholsterer!" cried Phellion, "that stylish 
 woman of whom one might truly say : Incessa patuil dea, 
 which, in French, is so imperfectly expressed by saying : 'the 
 bearing of a queen.' ' 
 
 " Permit me," said Minard ; " I don't mean she was actu- 
 ally theii upholsterer, but when Mademoiselle Thuillier de- 
 cided by la Peyrade's advice to manage the house herself,
 
 236 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 he could not persuade her to move into that sumptuous apart- 
 ment where they received us yesterday." 
 
 "Five-franc pieces form her jingling music; so when la 
 Peyrade and Thuillier urged her removal she only thought of 
 the cost it would entail." 
 
 "There you have the universal link," exclaimed Phellion ; 
 "you see, from the summit of society, luxury sooner or later 
 infiltrates itself through the lower classes and involves em- 
 pires in ruin." 
 
 " That is a knotty point in political economy," said 
 Minard. " But to go on : Madame de Godollo told her that 
 a friend of hers, a Russian princess, had a fine suite of furni- 
 ture, most of it entirely new. She had been recalled to Russia 
 by the Czar, a gentleman whom it is no joke to cross ; so 
 the poor woman had no recourse but to sell at the best 
 obtainable price. This idea of doing a good stroke of busi- 
 ness and a chance of refurnishing decided the matter. In 
 that old maid, you see, there is always more or less of Madame 
 la Ressource, in ' The Miser.' ' 
 
 "I think, Monsieur the Mayor, that you are in error," said 
 Phellion ; "la Ressource is a character in 'Turcaret,' a very 
 immoral play by the late Le Sage." 
 
 " Well, be that as it may, this caused the foreign countess 
 to get on a good footing with Brigitte. You may have ob- 
 served also the signs of a coming struggle between the two 
 influences, the personal and the real estate?" 
 
 "Why, yes," said Mme. Phellion, with a beaming expres- 
 sion, evincing her interest. " It did appear that the grand 
 lady allowed herself to contradict the barrister, and with an 
 amount of asperity, too." 
 
 "Well, his interest is waning in the house," said Minard. 
 " He cannot get a freehold every day for his ' good friend,' as 
 he calls him, for a crumb of bread." 
 
 " How did they get it so cheap ? " asked Mme. Phellion. 
 
 " Oh ! by a dirty intrigue. Desroches, the attorney, told
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 237 
 
 me all about it. Now our Thuillier finds a tit-bit in the 
 Chamber. Eating gives appetite, but he cannot dupe us 
 this time like he did before. That is why they turn to 
 the Comtesse de Godollo, whom it seems has high connec- 
 tions in political circles. There is this further : Instead of 
 being a parasite, like the Provencal, this foreigner has a 
 fortune of her own which she uses beneficently. She it 
 was who gave the two dresses of Brigitte's and Madame 
 Thuillier's ; she came herself to arrange the toilettes of our 
 amphitryonesses, which accounts for them not being found in 
 their usual dowdy fashion." 
 
 "I do not accept for my friends," said Phellion, "the 
 derogatory remarks you make about them. There may be a 
 lack of experience, and the noble lady may have given of her 
 knowledge to them ; but " 
 
 " Well, but, my dear commander, what about the idea of 
 giving Celeste to la Peyrade ; is not that something beyond a 
 mere want of experience ? It is at the same time stupidity 
 and immorality ; for, really, the scandalous flirtation of that 
 barrister with Madame Colleville " 
 
 " Monsieur le Maire," interrupted Phellion, with redoubled 
 solemnity, " the law-giver, Solon, decreed no punishment for 
 parricide, declaring it an impossible crime. I think the same 
 may be said of the gross misconduct to which you allude. 
 That Madame Colleville granting favors to Monsieur la Pey- 
 rade and the while intending to give him her daughter is 
 no, monsieur, no ! it is beyond imagination. Questioned on 
 this subject before the Tribunal, Madame Colleville, like 
 Marie-Antoinette, might respond : ' I appeal to all mothers.' ' 
 
 "Nevertheless, my friend, allow me to remind you that 
 Madame Colleville is abominably profligate and has given 
 very sure proof of it." 
 
 " That's enough, my dear," said Phellion. "The dinner 
 hour calls us ; I fancy we have allowed our conversation to 
 drift toward the miry banks of slander."
 
 238 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 And each party, after mutual salutations, went their way. 
 
 It was impossible that la Peyrade should not be aware that 
 a change was taking place in the Thuillier household. His 
 influence was fast waning before that of the stranger; but the 
 countess did not limit herself to a simple struggle for influence; 
 she made no pretense of being otherwise than utterly opposed 
 to his suit for Celeste's hand ; more, she gave her approval to 
 the love of Felix Phellion. 
 
 La Peyrade was perhaps more distressed at this because he 
 had brought this undermining force into the heart of the 
 citadel. 
 
 His first mistake was the sterile satisfaction of refusing the 
 lease to Cerizet. If it had not been that Brigitte had taken 
 the matter into her own hands, by his advice, it was unlikely 
 that she would have become known to Madame de Godollo. 
 
 Another blunder was in persuading the Thuilliers to leave 
 the Latin quarter. Just then Theodose looked upon his mar- 
 riage as a settled thing ; he therefore supported the views of 
 the Hungarian in the sale of the furniture and in having her 
 installed as a tenant ; he felt that he thus sent the Thuilliers 
 before him to make ready his bed in the splendid suite he in- 
 tended sharing with them. 
 
 The Collevilles had followed their friends into the house in 
 the Madeleine, where the rear entresol had been conceded to 
 them at a price conformable to their means. But Colleville 
 found that it lacked light and air, and, obliged to go daily from 
 the Madeleine boulevard to the St. Jacques' faubourg, where his 
 office was situated, he railed against the arrangement of which 
 he was the victim, and at times rated la Peyrade as a tyrant. 
 On the other hand, Mme. Colleville, under the pretense of 
 being a resident in such an aristocratic quarter, had rushed 
 into a frightful orgy of new bonnets, mantles, and dresses, 
 which necessitated the presentation of a pile of bills and caused 
 frequent stormy scenes in the household. 
 
 But all this was as nothing when weighed with another
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 239 
 
 cause for his diminished influence. He had promised Thuil- 
 lier that the Cross should be his, after a little delay and the 
 expenditure of ten thousand francs. Two months had elapsed 
 since then, and yet no sign was there of that glorious bauble. 
 To be sure, la Peyrade had mentioned an unforeseen and 
 unaccountable obstacle which had paralyzed every effort of 
 the Comtesse du Bruel ; but Thuillier was sick of being paid 
 in explanations, and on some days when his disappointment 
 was particularly acute, he would often, like Chicaneau in 
 " Les Plaideurs," be within an ace of saying: "Then give 
 me back my cash ! ' ' 
 
 La Peyrade felt that he had reached a point at which he 
 must strike a blow in order to restore his rapidly evaporating 
 influence. It was just that nagging, haggling, proof-revising 
 that afforded the barrister a chance to use a scheme both bold 
 and deep. 
 
 One day, when they were at work on the last pages of the 
 pamphlet, a discussion arose over the word "nepotism," 
 which Thuillier would have eliminated from one of the sen- 
 tences written by la Peyrade, declaring that he had never met 
 with it, and that, properly, it was "neologism," which, in 
 the literary ideas of the bourgeoisie, is about equivalent to the 
 notion of '93 and the Reign of Terror. 
 
 Generally, la Peyrade took the ridiculous notions of his 
 "dear friend" in good part; but this day he became highly 
 excited ; he signified that Thuillier might finish the work him- 
 self, as he was able to criticise so intelligently, and for some 
 days he was not seen again. 
 
 Thuillier at first laid it to a mere passing effect of ill-humor, 
 but la Peyrade's prolonged absence made him feel the neces- 
 sity of seeking him and making reconciliation. He therefore 
 visited the Provencal's room, and, with an off-hand manner, 
 said: 
 
 "Well, my dear fellow, I find we were both right ; nepotism 
 means the authority that the nephews of popes take in affairs.
 
 240 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 political. I have searched the dictionary, and I find no other 
 explanation ; but, from what Phellion says, it appears that in 
 the vocabulary of politics the word has been extended to 
 cover the influence which corrupt ministers allow certain per- 
 sons to illegally exercise ; I think, therefore, that we can let 
 the term stand ; at the same time, it is not so used by Napo- 
 leon Landais." 
 
 La Peyrade, who, while receiving his visitor, had pretended 
 to be exceedingly busy in arranging his papers, contented 
 himself with shrugging his shoulders, but made no answer. 
 
 "Well," went on Thuillier, "have you looked over the 
 proofs of the last two sheets? For we ought to be getting 
 along." 
 
 "If you have sent nothing to the printers," replied la Pey- 
 rade, "we are not very like to have proofs; for my own part, 
 I have not touched the manuscript." 
 
 "But, my dear Theodose," said Thuillier, "it cannot be 
 possible that you are vexed about such a trifle. I don't pre- 
 tend to be a writer ; all the same, as I sign the thing, it seems 
 I might have my opinion about a word." 
 
 "But Mdsien Phellion," replied the barrister, " is a writer; 
 and, as you have consulted him, I don't see why you shouldn't 
 engage him to finish the work ; as for myself, I promise you I 
 won't cooperate any more." 
 
 "Dieuf what a temper!" exclaimed Brigitte's brother; 
 " here you are mad as a hornet just because I doubt an ex- 
 pression and took another opinion. Shall I give you an idea 
 of the confidence I have in you? The Comtesse de Godollo, 
 to whom last evening I read a few pages, told me that the 
 pamphlet was apt to cause me trouble with the public prose- 
 cutor ; can you for a moment think anything like that would 
 stop me?" 
 
 "Well," said la Peyrade, ironically, "I think that the 
 oracle of your house sees the thing clearly ; I have no desire 
 to bring your head to the scaffold."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 241 
 
 " That's all bosh. Do you or do you not intend to leave 
 me in the lurch?" 
 
 " Literary questions," replied the barrister, " breed quarrels 
 among the best of friends ; I wish to put an end to such dis- 
 cussions between us." 
 
 "Theodose," said Thuillier, " you have something on your 
 mind that you don't tell me; it is unnatural that for a simple 
 tiff about a word you should wish to lose a friend as influential 
 as myself." 
 
 "Well, yes," said la Peyrade, with an air of decision, "I 
 don't like ingratitude." 
 
 " Nor I any more than you ; I don't like it," said Thuillier 
 with some heat, " and if you think of accusing me of aught so 
 base and vile, I summon you to explain ; we come out of equiv- 
 ocations : Of what do you complain ? What reproach can 
 you have against one whom only the other day you called 
 your friend?" 
 
 "Nothing and everything," said la Peyrade; "your sister 
 and yourself are too clever to openly make a rupture with a 
 man, who, at the risk of his reputation, has put a million in 
 your hands ; but, all the same, I am not so simple but that I 
 can detect a change. There are people about who set them- 
 selves to undermine me; and Brigitte has but one thought, 
 and that is how to find a reasonable pretext of not keeping 
 her promises." 
 
 "Come, come," said Thuillier, seeing a tear in the bar- 
 rister's eye, by the glitter of whicti he was completely duped, 
 " I don't know what Brigitte may have done, but one thing 
 is quite certain, that I have never ceased to be your most de- 
 voted friend." 
 
 " Well, you always see Madame Godollo alongside Brigitte ; 
 she seems now that she cannot live without her." 
 
 "Oh, ho! it is perhaps a little jealousy on our mind!" 
 said Thuillier slyly. 
 
 "Jealousy!" answered la Peyrade. "I don't know 
 16
 
 242 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 whether that's the proper word ; but anyhow your sister, who 
 is not at all above the ordinary, and whom I am astonished 
 that a man of your intellectual superiority should allow to 
 assume a supremacy which she uses and abuses " 
 
 " How can I help it, dear fellow?" interrupted Thuillier, 
 sucking in the compliment; "she is so entirely devoted to 
 me." 
 
 " I acknowledge the weakness," replied la Peyrade ; " but, 
 I repeat it, your sister cannot step in your track. What I say 
 is that when a man of the value which you claim to recognize 
 in me does her the honor of advising her, and who devotes 
 himself to her as I have done, it cannot be agreeable to see 
 himself supplanted by a woman come from who knows where, 
 and all on account of some trumpery curtains and a few old 
 chairs she has helped her to purchase." 
 
 "With women, as you well know, household affairs come 
 before all else," replied Thuillier. 
 
 " Another thing I can tell you, Brigitte, who has a finger in 
 everything, has an equal pretension to use a high hand in our 
 love affairs ; you, being so remarkably clear-sighted, must have 
 seen that to Brigitte nothing is less certain than my marriage 
 with Mademoiselle Colleville ; now, my love has been solemnly 
 authorized by you." 
 
 "By the rood ! " said Thuillier, "I should like to see any 
 one dare to interfere with my arrangements." 
 
 " There is some one else though outside of Brigitte, Celeste 
 herself; in spite of the bickerings about religion, her mind is 
 not the less filled with that little Phellion." 
 
 "But why not have Flavie put a stop to it?" 
 
 " Flavie, my dear! no one knows as much of her as you. 
 She is a woman rather than a mother ; I have found it neces- 
 sary to do a little courting in that quarter myself; and you 
 understand that, though she may will the marriage, she would 
 not urge it very much." 
 
 "Well," said Thuillier, "leave that matter to me; I'll
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 243 
 
 speak to Cdleste; I won't have a chit of a girl laying down 
 the law for me." 
 
 "That's just what I don't wish you to do," exclaimed la 
 Peyrade; "don't interfere in this at all. Outside of your 
 relations with your sister you have an iron will ; it shall never 
 be said that I took advantage of your authority over Celeste 
 to have her placed in my arms ; on the contrary, I wish her to 
 have full control in the disposition of her heart ; only I think 
 that she should be required to definitely decide between my- 
 self and Monsieur Felix, for I don't want to remain in this 
 equivocal position. Beside all, although we agreed that this 
 marriage should not take place until you were a deputy, yet I 
 feel that makes too much of a bargain and sale of this business, 
 and, more, I cannot allow my life's greatest event to be at the 
 mercy of doubtful circumstances. Dutocq may have informed 
 you that an heiress has been offered me who has a larger for- 
 tune than Mademoiselle Colleville. I refused that because I 
 foolishly let my heart be won, and because an alliance with a 
 family as honorable as your own seemed the more to be de- 
 sired; but, after all, it might be as well to let Brigitte under- 
 stand that, in case Celeste should refuse me, I shall not be 
 pushed into the street." 
 
 "I can easily believe that," said Thuillier; "but as for 
 putting all the decision of this affair at the mercy of that girl's 
 head, and if, as you say, she has a fancy for that Felix " 
 
 " That may be," said the barrister; "but I cannot remain 
 any longer in my present position. You talk about your 
 pamphlet, I am in no fit condition to finish it ; you are a 
 ladies' man and can understand the domination that those 
 creatures fatally exercise over our minds." 
 
 "Pshaw ! " said Thuillier, conceitedly, " they took to me. 
 but I didn't often care for them; I just took them and left 
 them." 
 
 "Yes, but I, with my Southern nature, am passionate; and 
 then Celeste has other attractions beside fortune. Brought up by
 
 244 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 yourself, under your own eyes, you have made her an adorable 
 child ; only it was a great weakness to allow that boy, who is 
 not in any degree suited to her, to install himself in her 
 fancy." 
 
 "You are right ten times over ; but it was first a childish 
 fancy. Felix and she played together ; you came much later, 
 and it proves our high regard for you that when you presented 
 yourself we renounced our former projects." 
 
 "You, yes," said la Peyrade. "With a head filled with 
 literary manias, which are marked with bright wit and full of 
 intelligence, you have a heart of gold ; but Brigitte is another 
 matter ; your friendship is a surety, and you know what you 
 mean." 
 
 "Well, I think that Brigitte has always wanted you and 
 would like you for a son-in-law, if I may so speak. But in 
 any case I intend to be obeyed." 
 
 " I think I will finish your pamphlet, for, before all else, I 
 think of you." 
 
 "Certainly," said Thuillier, "we ought not to sink in 
 port." 
 
 " It seems to me that a girl should be able to make up her 
 mind in fifteen days." 
 
 "Without a doubt," replied Thuillier; "but I have the 
 greatest repugnance in allowing Celeste to decide without 
 appeal." 
 
 " I'll take the chances ; but, between you and I, it is not 
 shooting at a venture; it is not in fifteen days that a son of 
 Phellion, who is, one may say, obstinacy incarnate in silliness, 
 will make an end of his philosophical hesitations, and certainly 
 Celeste will never accept him for her husband until he gives 
 her proof of his conversion." 
 
 " That is probable. But if Celeste dawdles over the matter, 
 suppose she won't accept the alternative? " 
 
 "You will have to look after that," said the Provencal. 
 " I don't know how you rqanage families in Paris, but in our
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 245 
 
 country of Avignon it would be without parallel that a young 
 woman should be given such liberty. If all of you cannot 
 prevail on a girl to exercise her own free choice between two 
 suitors well, the sooner you write over the door of the house 
 that Celeste is queen and sovereign the better." 
 
 "We've not come to that yet," said Thuillier, with a firm 
 manner. "I'll open it frankly with Brigitte, and / will not 
 have any objections." 
 
 "Ah ! my poor fellow," said la Peyrade, clapping him on 
 the shoulder, "since Chrysale, in ' Femmes Savantes,' who 
 has not continually seen many brave warriors who have 
 struck their flags before the powerful will of women used to 
 domineer." 
 
 " We'll see about that," said Thuillier, making a theatrical 
 exit. 
 
 When he returned home Thuillier at once put the question 
 before Brigitte. She, with her native wit, good sense, and 
 egotism, pointed out that by thus hurrying on the previous 
 arrangements for the marriage they were disarming them- 
 selves ; they could not say when the election would be held, 
 nor that when it occurred whether the barrister would be as 
 energetic for success. "It might be," said the old maid, 
 "the same as the Cross." 
 
 "There's a difference," replied Thuillier; "the Cross did 
 not depend directly on la Peyrade, but his influence in the 
 arrondissement he employs as he wills." 
 
 "And if he wills," retorted Brigitte, "after we have 
 feathered his nest, to work on his own account? he's very 
 ambitious." 
 
 This danger did not fail to strike the future candidate, who 
 nevertheless thought he might depend upon the honor of la 
 Peyrade. 
 
 "It is not a particularly delicate honor," replied Brigitte, 
 "when a man tries to get out of a bargain he made, and his 
 idea of dangling a lump of sugar before us about getting
 
 246 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 'your' pamphlet finished doesn't please me at all. Couldn't 
 Phellion help you ? Or, I think, Madame de Godollo, who 
 is well known in political circles, could hire you a journalist ; 
 there are plenty of such on their uppers ; you could get the 
 whole thing done for a twenty-crown piece." 
 
 "No, I must have The"odose, otherwise the secret might get 
 into the papers. Beside, after all, we promised him Celeste, 
 it is only fulfilling the promise a little earlier ; the King, of 
 course, may dissolve the Chamber at any moment." 
 
 " But if Celeste won't have him ? " objected Brigitte. 
 
 " Celeste ! Celeste ! " ejaculated Thuillier ; " she can't have 
 whom she wills, but whom we choose." 
 
 "So you really believe," said the skeptical Mile. Thuillier, 
 " that should Celeste decide in favor of Felix, you can still 
 count on la Peyrade's devotion?" 
 
 " What else can I do? Those are his conditions. Beside, 
 he has made calculations of the whole business, he knows that 
 Felix will not so soon decide to bring Celeste a certificate of 
 confession, and if he does not do this that little witch will not 
 accept him for her husband. La Peyrade plays a clever 
 game. ' ' 
 
 "Too clever," said Brigitte; "I won't interfere; settle it 
 as you please ; all this scheming is not to my taste." 
 
 Thuillier saw Mme. Colleville, and intimated to her that 
 Celeste must be informed of the projects about her. 
 
 When informed that she must choose between Felix and la 
 Peyrade, the na'fve child was only struck by the advantage 
 of one side of the attractions offered ; she thought she did 
 herself a favor by consenting to an arrangement which made 
 herself the mistress of disposing of her person and to bestow 
 her heart as she wished. But la Peyrade had not miscalcu- 
 lated when he reckoned that the religious intolerance on one 
 part and on the other side the philosophical inflexibility of 
 Phellion would create an invincible obstacle to their coming 
 together.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 247 
 
 The evening of the same day when Flavie had been in- 
 structed to communicate to Celeste the sovereign will of the 
 Thuilliers, the Phellions came to pass their evening with 
 Brigitte, and a sharp engagement took place between the 
 young people. Celeste did not need telling by her mother, 
 for she had too much delicacy of feeling, that she must not 
 allow herself to mention to Felix the conditional approval of 
 his suit. Theological arguments occupied the time they were 
 together, and Phellion junior was in the encounter more than 
 usually unlucky and blundering. He would concede nothing ; 
 he took on an air of airy and ironical importance and ended 
 by fairly putting Celeste beside herself; she made a definite 
 rupture with him and forbade him appearing in her presence 
 for the future. 
 
 It was just a case for lovers of experience, which the young 
 savant was not, to turn up the very next day, for hearts never 
 approach so near to an understanding as when they have de- 
 clared the necessity for an eternal separation. But this law is 
 not logarithms, and Felix Phellion, incapable of guessing it, 
 believed himself seriously and very positively proscribed ; to 
 that extent indeed that during the fifteen days given to the 
 young girl for her decision, and although he was expected by 
 Celeste day by day and minute by minute, who thought no 
 more of la Peyrade than if he was entirely out of the question, 
 this deplorable boy had not the most distant thought of break- 
 ing the ban. 
 
 Luckily for this benighted lover a beneficent fairy was watch- 
 ing over him, snd the day before the one on which Celeste 
 must declare her choice, this came to pass. It was Sunday, 
 the day on which the Thuilliers still affected their periodical 
 receptions. 
 
 Convinced that the leakage, vulgarly known as the "basket 
 dance," was the ruin of the fortunes of the best establishments, 
 Mme. Phellion was in the habit of going in person to purchase 
 from her tradespeople. From time immemorial in the Phel-
 
 248 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 lion household, Sunday was the day of \hzpot-au-feuj* and the 
 wife of that great citizen, in an intentionally dowdy costume, 
 such as good housewives bundle themselves up in when they 
 go marketing, was returning from the butcher's, followed by 
 her cook, who carried in her basket a fine cut of rump of beef. 
 Twice had she rung her door-bell, and threatening was the 
 storm brewing for the servant-boy, who was placing his mis- 
 tress in a position less tolerable than that of Louis XIV., who 
 only " nearly " waited, by not opening her door. Just as she 
 gave the bell a third feverish, excited pull, you can judge of 
 her confusion when she perceived a coupe draw up, and de- 
 scending therefrom a lady whom she recognized, at this un- 
 timely hour, as the elegant Comtesse Torna de Godollo, the 
 Hungarian. 
 
 Becoming a scarlet-purple, the unhappy bourgeoise com- 
 pletely lost her head, she floundered in excuses, each more 
 awkward than the last, when Phellion, attired in a dressing- 
 gown and Greek cap, came out of his study to learn what the 
 matter was. After a speech, the pomposity of which made 
 ample amends for the neglige of his costume, the great citizen, 
 with that serenity which never deserted him, gallantly offered 
 his hand to the stranger, and after having installed her in the 
 salon : 
 
 " Perhaps, without indiscretion, I might ask Madame la 
 Comtesse," said he, " to what I am indebted for the advan- 
 tages, so unhoped for, of this visit?" 
 
 "I desired," replied the Hungarian, "to have a talk with 
 Madame Phellion on a subject of vital interest to her; I have 
 taken the liberty of calling upon her, although so little known 
 to madame." 
 
 Before Phellion could reply Mme. Phellion appeared ; a cap 
 with ribbons had replaced the market-hat and a large shawl 
 concealed the other things lacking in the matutinal toilet. On 
 
 * A popular French dish of stewed beef: the same name is given to the 
 stock-pot.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 249 
 
 the entrance of his wife the great citizen made as though he 
 would retire. 
 
 " Monsieur Phellion," said the countess, " you are not out of 
 place in our conference ; on the contrary, your excellent judg- 
 ment may be of the utmost benefit in clearing up a question 
 not less interesting to your wife than to your dignified self; I 
 allude to the marriage of monsieur, your son." 
 
 " The marriage of my son ! " said Mme. Phellion, with an 
 air of astonishment; "but I am not aware that anything of 
 the kind is on the tapis at present." 
 
 " The marriage of Monsieur Felix with Celeste is, I think, 
 your desire," replied the countess ; " one of your projects? " 
 
 "We have never, madame," said Phellion, "taken any 
 special steps toward that object." 
 
 "I know that full well," replied the Hungarian ; "on the 
 contrary, each one of your family seems to study how to 
 nullify my efforts ; but one thing is clear, that is, the young 
 people love each other, and in spite of your reserve, and to 
 prevent the unhappiness they will experience if they do not 
 marry, it is to prevent that catastrophe that I came here this 
 morning." 
 
 "We cannot, madame," said Phellion, "fail to be pro- 
 foundly touched by your interest in " 
 
 "But the explanation is very simple," interrupted the 
 countess, with animation. " Celeste is a dear, innocent child, 
 and I detect a moral value in her that makes me regret to see 
 her sacrificed." 
 
 " It is true," said Mme. Phellion, " that Celeste is an angel 
 of sweetness." 
 
 " While, as for Monsieur Felix, I dare to interest myself in 
 him because, first, he is the worthy son of the most virtuous 
 of fathers " 
 
 "Madame, I beg " said Phellion with a graceful 
 
 obeisance. 
 
 "And further by the awkwardness of his true love, which
 
 250 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 is apparent in his every act and word. We more mature 
 women can find an inexpressible charm in watching the passion 
 under a form which does not menace us with deceptions and 
 misunderstandings. ' ' 
 
 "In fact, my son, is not brilliant/' said Mme. Phellion, 
 with a suspicion of tartness in her tone; " he is not a young 
 man of fashion." 
 
 "But he has the more essential qualities," replied the 
 countess ; " a merit which ignores itself, which in every intel- 
 lectual superiority " 
 
 "In truth, madame," said Phellion, "you compel us to 
 hear things " 
 
 "That are not beyond the truth," interrupted the countess. 
 " I have another reason: lam not particularly desirous that 
 la Peyrade should be made happy, he is false and avaricious. 
 On the ruin of their hopes this man counts on building his 
 swindling schemes." 
 
 " It is certain," said Phellion, "that Monsieur de la Pey- 
 rade has dark depths which the light has never penetrated. 
 You have told us of where we are remiss, it appears to me 
 that you should plainly indicate what you would have us do 
 for the future." 
 
 "Well, it is fifteen days of absence from the Thuilliers 
 of the whole of your family; do you imagine that nothing 
 of importance could occur in that time?" said- the Hun- 
 garian. 
 
 "Of a truth, those three glorious days were enough, in 
 1830, to throw down a perjured dynasty and lay the founda- 
 tion of the order of things under which we are now gov- 
 erned." 
 
 "You see it yourself," said the countess. "And on that 
 last evening did nothing occur between Celeste and monsieur, 
 your son? " 
 
 "Truly," replied Phellion, "a disagreeable conversation 
 on the subject of religion ; it must be allowed that our good
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 251 
 
 Ccfeste, who in every other respect has a most lovely nature, 
 is a little fanatical in the matter of piety." 
 
 " I agree with you," said the countess ; " but she was raised 
 by the mother whom you know ; she has never been shown 
 the face of sincere piety ; she has only seen its mask ; repent- 
 ant Magdalens of Madame Colleville's kind always wear an 
 air of wishing to retire into the desert in company with a 
 death's head and cross-bones. They think that's the best 
 market at which to get religion. After all, now, what was it 
 that Celeste asked of Monsieur Felix ? Only that he would 
 read 'The Imitation of Christ.' " 
 
 " He has done that, madame," replied Phellion ; " he finds 
 it a well-written book, but his convictions that's the mis- 
 fortune have not in the least changed by its perusal." 
 
 "Do you think it shows much cleverness not to let his 
 mistress see some little change in the inflexibility of his 
 convictions? " 
 
 " My son, madame, has never received from me the least 
 lesson in smartness ; loyalty and the right, these are the prin- 
 ciples I have inculcated." 
 
 "Allowing all that need he, think you, have capped his 
 proceedings by a long sulk, which has struck the girl's heart 
 with despair and, also, a deep feeling of irritation." 
 
 "My son is incapable of acting thus. I know nothing of 
 what you allude to," said Phellion. 
 
 " Nothing is more true, though. Young Colleville, home 
 for his half-holiday, has just told us that since last Sunday but 
 one Monsieur Felix, who had always gone with the utmost 
 punctuality to teach him, has not been near him. Unless 
 your son is ill, this is a grievous blunder." 
 
 The Phellions, husband and wife, stared at each other as if 
 consulting how to reply. 
 
 "My son," said Mme. Phellion, "is not exactly ill ; but, 
 as you have seen fit to reveal this to us, a thing very strange and 
 not at all like himself, we see, since Celeste told him that all 
 
 W
 
 252 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 was over between her and Felix, that a most extraordinary 
 change has passed over him ; Monsieur Phellion and myself 
 are very uneasy about it." 
 
 "And yet," said Mme. de Godollo, "nothing but what is 
 natural happened ; lovers always make the worst of every- 
 thing." 
 
 "But he is terribly excited," said Phellion. "You speak 
 to him and he seems not to hear you ; he sits at table and 
 forgets to eat ; or else he takes his food so absent-mindedly as 
 to be, so say the medical profession, most injurious to the 
 digestive process; his duties, his regular occupations, we have 
 to remind him of, he so extremely regular, so punctual. The 
 other day while he was at the Conservatory, where he now 
 passes all his evenings, only returning home in the small 
 hours, I went into his room and looked into his papers ; ma- 
 dame, I was absolutely alarmed on seeing a paper covered 
 with algebraic calculations which, by their extent, seemed to 
 me to pass far beyond the limits of the human intellect." 
 
 "Perhaps," said the countess, "he is on the eve of the dis- 
 covery of a mighty problem." 
 
 "Or else on the road to lunacy," said Mine. Phellion. 
 
 "A mind equable and calm as is his need not be afraid 
 of that," said the countess. "But a greater danger threatens 
 his understanding. Unless we stop it this evening by a master- 
 stroke, Celeste is lost to him forever." 
 
 "How is that ?" said the Phellions, with one voice. 
 
 "Perhaps you are ignorant of the fact that Thuillier and 
 his sister had entered into an express engagement with la 
 Peyrade that he should marry Celeste," said the countess. 
 
 " We at least had our misgivings," said Phellion. 
 
 "It would be useless to tell you of the manoeuvres la Pey- 
 rade has practiced to hasten this marriage, but it concerns 
 you to know that, thanks to his duplicity, Celeste was forced 
 to decide in fifteen days between him and Monsieur Felix ; 
 that time expires to-morrow, and, owing to the unfortunate
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 233 
 
 turn taken through your son's attitude, there is imminent 
 danger of her sacrificing her wounded feelings on the altar 
 of her love and instincts." 
 
 "But what can be done to hinder this, madame?" asked 
 Phellion. 
 
 " Fight, monsieur ; come this evening in full force to the 
 Thuilliers; induce your son to come; lecture him until he 
 becomes rather more flexible in his philosophical opinions. 
 'Paris,' said Henry IV., ' is worth a mass;' but tell him to 
 avoid such questions ; any man who loves a woman can find 
 enough to talk about to move a woman ; so little satisfies her. 
 I will help where I can. One thing is sure, we have to fight 
 a big battle ; if we do not each one strive our utmost, la Pey- 
 rade will gain the victory." 
 
 " My son is not here, madame," said Phellion. " I wish 
 he had been, you might have aroused him from his torpor." 
 
 " It is unnecessary to say," added the countess, as she rose, 
 " that we must be careful not to give any appearance of col- 
 lusion ; it would be better, in fact, not to be seen speaking 
 together." 
 
 "I can assure you, madame, of my prudence," replied 
 Phellion, "and you will please to accept the assurance " 
 
 "Of your most distinguished sentiments," interrupted the 
 countess, laughing. 
 
 " No, madame," gravely responded Phellion, " I reserve 
 that formula for the conclusion of my letters ; but you will 
 please accept the most unutterable gratitude of myself." 
 
 "We will speak of that when we are beyond all danger," 
 said Mme. de Godollo, going toward the door, " and if Mad- 
 ame Phellion, the tenderest of mothers, will grant me a little 
 place in her regards, I shall be fully repaid." 
 
 Mme. Phellion launched into an endless sea of compliments. 
 The countess in her carriage was some distance away before 
 Phellion had ceased offering his most respectful salutations. 
 
 By degrees the salon of Brigitte became more select and
 
 254 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 less insidious, a livelier Parisian element began to infiltrate 
 therein. The new councilor had made a number of recruits 
 from among his associates in the council ; the Latin quarter 
 element became less. The mayor of his arrondissement 
 and several deputy mayors had called upon him after the 
 removal to the Madeleine quarter. Thuillier had hastened to 
 return the civility ; he had also the same experience with a 
 number of the superior officers of the First Legion. Among 
 others came Rabourdin, the former head of Thuillier's bureau, 
 who had lost his wife ; Rabourdin occupied as a bachelor the 
 third floor of their house over the entresol. He was now a 
 director in one of the numerous railroads, ever projected but 
 always delayed by the indecision of the Chamber or rival 
 claims; but he had now become one of the most important 
 personages in the world of finance. At the time of his resig- 
 nation, under deplorable circumstances, of his position in the 
 bureaux, Phellion was the only one in his office who had stood 
 by him. Being now in a position to reward his friends, Ra- 
 bourdin, meeting once more his faithful subordinate, at once 
 made him an offer of an easy, lucrative position. 
 
 " Mosieur," replied Phellion, " your kindness both touches 
 and honors me, but my frankness owes you a confession which 
 I trust you will not take amiss. I have no belief in these iron 
 roads, or ' railroads,' as the English call them." 
 
 "You have a perfect right to have your own opinion," said 
 Rabourdin, smiling, "but in the interim, until the contrary 
 appears, we pay our servants very satisfactorily, and I should 
 be pleased to have you with me. I know by experience that 
 you are fully reliable." 
 
 "Mosieur," replied the great citizen, " I did my duty and 
 nothing more. As for the offer you have been so good as to 
 make me, I cannot accept it. Satisfied with my humble lot, 
 I feel neither the need nor the desire to again embark on an 
 administrative career, and, with the Latin poet, I may say: 
 " ' Clauditc jam rivos, pueri, sat prata bibcrunt.' "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 255 
 
 Thus elevated in the social scale, the Thuillier salon still 
 needed another element of vitality, and, to speak as Madelon 
 in the " Precieuses ridicules," this " frightful lack of amuse- 
 ment," signified by Mme. Phellion, required remedying. 
 Thanks to the attention of Mme. de Godollo, the great or- 
 ganizer, who happily profited by the former relations of Colle- 
 ville with the musical world, a few artists came to make a 
 diversion from bouillotte and boston. Out of fashion and old, 
 these two games had to beat a retreat before whist, the only 
 manner, said the Hungarian countess, by which respectable 
 people can kill time. 
 
 Like Louis XVI.,* who began by putting his hand to re- 
 forms which should subsequently engulf his throne, Brigitte 
 at first encouraged this interior revolution. But the day on 
 which occurred the scene we are about to relate, an apparently 
 trivial detail had revealed to her the danger of the slope upon 
 which she was standing. The greater number of the new 
 guests introduced by Thuillier were unaware of the supremacy 
 of his sister in the household ; upon arrival they naturally 
 asked Thuillier to present them to " madame; " of course it 
 was impossible that he could inform them that his wife was 
 but a dummy queen who groaned under the iron hand of a 
 Richelieu, the sole authority. Therefore it was not until after 
 this presentation that they were led up to Brigitte, but the 
 stiffness she manifested in her displeasure did not encourage 
 them in paying her further attentions. Quick to realize this 
 transfer of power : 
 
 "If I don't look out," said this Queen Elizabeth to herself, 
 with that profound instinct of despotism which was her ruling 
 passion, " I shall soon be a nobody here." 
 
 Pondering over this idea, she saw that the audacious la 
 
 Peyrade would not scotch this decline of prestige; a further 
 
 intuition whispered her that Felix Phellion, absorbed in his 
 
 mathematical abstractions, would be a more suitable match 
 
 * His want of decision led to the revolution of 1792.
 
 256 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 than the enterprising barrister. She was the first to regret 
 that the Phellions had come without their son. Despite Mme. 
 de Godollo's advances, this terrible lover had taken as guide 
 the last line of Millevoye's famous elegy: Et son amantc ne 
 vint pas the beloved came not. 
 
 As for Mme. de Godollo, who possessed a remarkably fine 
 voice, she went up to ask Mme. Phellion to accompany her 
 on the piano, to whom she whispered in her ear, between two 
 verses of a fashionable ballad : 
 
 "Well, and monsieur, your son ? " 
 
 "He is corning," replied Mme. Phellion; "his father 
 spoke most emphatically to him ; but it seems that to-night 
 there is a conjunction of some planets ; it is a grand occasion 
 for the gentlemen of the Observatory ; he did not feel as 
 though he could dispense 
 
 " This is simply inconceivable, that he could be so foolish," 
 said the countess ; " was it not enough that he brought his 
 theology here that he should now blunderingly drag in his 
 astronomy." 
 
 Her song was finished, as the English say, amid thunders 
 of applause. La Peyrade, who dreaded her excessively, was 
 among the first to congratulate her, but she received his com- 
 pliments most coldly, and he turned away to find consolation 
 with Mme. Colleville. Flavie had too many pretensions to 
 beauty not to feel an enmity toward a woman who in a manner 
 intercepted her due homage. 
 
 "And you also mean to say that that woman sings well?" 
 asked Mme. Colleville of the barrister. 
 
 " At least I had to tell her so," replied la Peyrade, "be- 
 cause there's no security of Brigitte without her. But look at 
 Celeste; every time a tray is brought in she turns to the 
 door." 
 
 " Don't worry me ! " said Flavie ; " I know what that fool- 
 ish girl has in her mind ; your marriage will take place only 
 too soon."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 257 
 
 "But is it for my own sake?" said la Peyrade; "it is 
 necessary for the future of the whole of us. Corne, there are 
 tears in your eyes. I shall leave you ; you are unreasonable. 
 The devil ! as that old prude Phellion says, if you want the 
 end you need the means." 
 
 And he went toward a group in the centre ; Mrne. Colle- 
 ville followed, and under the strong feeling of jealousy she 
 had just displayed she became a savage mother. 
 
 " Celeste," said she, " why don't you sing? A number of 
 gentlemen wish to hear you." 
 
 " Oh, mamma ! " said Celeste, " how can I, with my poor 
 thread of a voice, sing after madame. Beside, you know that 
 I have a cold." 
 
 " That means that you intend to be disagreeable ; people 
 sing as they can, every voice has its own merits." 
 
 "My dear love," said Colleville, who had just lost twenty 
 francs at a card-table, and found the nerve in his vexations to 
 oppose his wife, "to say one sings as he can is a bourgeois 
 maxim ; people sing with a voice if they have one, but not 
 after hearing an operatic voice like that of Madame la Com- 
 tesse's ; for my part, I am perfectly willing to let Celeste off 
 warbling a sentimental ditty." 
 
 "It's a grand idea to spend so much money on expensive 
 masters," said Flavie, as she left the group, "and then get 
 nothing in return." 
 
 "So," said Colleville, resuming the conversation in which 
 he had been interrupted by the invasion of Mme. Colleville, 
 " Felix no longer inhabits the earth ; he passes his time among 
 the stars?" 
 
 "My dear old colleague," said Phellion, "I am as much 
 annoyed as yourself with my son for neglecting the oldest 
 friends of his family ; and, though the contemplation of the 
 great luminous bodies suspended in space by the hand of the 
 Creator present, in my opinion, more interest to me than your 
 overwrought brain seems to imagine, yet I think that Felix 
 17
 
 258 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 shows a lack of propriety by not coming here to-night, espe- 
 cially as he gave me his promise." 
 
 "Science," said la Peyrade, "is a fine thing, but, unfortu- 
 nately, it has the drawback of making bears and maniacs." 
 
 "Without counting," said Celeste, "the undermining of 
 all religion." 
 
 " In that, my child, you are mistaken," said the countess. 
 " Pascal, himself a shining example of the falsity of your view, 
 says, if I am not mistaken, that a little science leads us 
 away from religion but a great deal draws us back to it." 
 
 " Bring back a savant to the practice of religion, madame," 
 said la Peyrade, " it seems to me a difficult task ; these gentle- 
 men put their studies before everything else ; tell a geome- 
 trician or geologist, for example, that the church imperatively 
 insists on the sanctification of Sunday and a suspension of every 
 kind of work, and they shrug their shoulders, although God 
 himself did not disdain to rest." 
 
 " Therefore by not coming here this evening," said Celeste, 
 innocently, " he not only commits a breach of good manners, 
 but also sins." 
 
 "But tell me, my handsome," replied Mme. de Godollo, 
 " do you think that our assembling here to sing ballads and 
 eat ices and speak evil of others, as is the practice in draw- 
 ing-rooms, is more pleasing to God than seeing a scientific 
 man in his observatory engaged in studying the magnificent 
 secrets of the creation ? " 
 
 "There's a time for all things," said Celeste, "and, as 
 Monsieur la Peyrade says, ' God did not disdain to rest.' " 
 
 "But, my dear love," said Mme. de Godollo, "God has 
 the time so to do ; He is eternal." 
 
 "That," said la Peyrade, "is one of the wittiest impieties 
 ever issued. Those kind of arguments serve the turn of folk 
 of the world. They interpret and explain away the com- 
 mands of God, they interpret, take, choose among them as 
 they will ; the free-thinker subjects them to his sovereign re-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 259 
 
 vision, and free-thinking is but a short distance from free- 
 conduct." 
 
 During this tirade Mme. de Godollo was watching the 
 clock ; it now marked eleven. The salon began to empty. 
 Only one table was going on, the players being Minard, 
 Thuillier, and two new acquaintances. All tended to show 
 that the hope of seeing the tardy lover was evidently lost. 
 
 "Monsieur," said the countess to la Peyrade, "do you 
 think the gentlemen of the Rue des Postes have the honor of 
 being good Catholics ? " 
 
 "Without a doubt," answered the barrister; "religion has 
 no more earnest supporters." 
 
 "Well, this morning," continued the countess, "I had the 
 honor of being received by Father Anselme. He is considered 
 the model of every Christian virtue, yet this good father is a 
 very learned mathematician." 
 
 "I did not say, madame, that the two qualities were in- 
 compatible." 
 
 " But you did say that a good Christian would do no man- 
 ner of work on Sunday ; thus Father Anselme must be a mis- 
 creant ; for at the moment I gained access to his room I found 
 him standing in front of a blackboard, a piece of chalk in his 
 hand, busy with a difficult problem, for the board was covered 
 with algebraic characters, and, further, he didn't seem to 
 realize that he might create a scandal, for with him was a 
 person whom I am not at liberty to name, but it was a young 
 scientist of great promise, who shared his profane occupa- 
 tion." 
 
 Celeste and Mme. Thuillier as they looked at each other 
 saw a gleam of hope in each other's eyes. 
 
 "Then you know a number of young savants?" asked 
 Ce'leste; "this one and Monsieur Felix make two." 
 
 "As for me," said la Peyrade, ironically, "I shouldn't be 
 in the least surprised if Father Anselme's collaborator was 
 precisely that Felix Phellion ; Voltaire always kept up close
 
 260 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 relations with the Jesuits who brought him up, only he did 
 not discuss religion with them." 
 
 "Well, my young savant he does discuss it with his vener- 
 able confrere in the sciences ; he explains his doubts to him, 
 and, in fact, this was the commencement of their scientific 
 friendship." 
 
 "And Father Anselme," asked Celeste, "does he hope to 
 convert this young man ? " 
 
 "He is sure of so doing," replied the countess. "His 
 young collaborator, apart from religious education, which he 
 never received, is a man of most excellent parts and the 
 highest principles ; moreover, he well knows that his conver- 
 sion would give happiness to a charming young girl whom he 
 loves and who loves him in return. Now, my dear child, you 
 won't get another word out of me; you can fancy what you 
 please." 
 
 " Oh ! my godmother," said Celeste, yielding to the inno- 
 cence of her impressions, "if it were he ! " 
 
 At this moment the servant opened the door of the salon 
 and, singular coincidence, announced: "Monsieur Felix 
 Phellion." 
 
 The young professor entered, bathed in perspiration, his 
 cravat askew, and himself out of breath. 
 
 "A pretty time, this," said Phellion, with severity, "to 
 present yourself." 
 
 "My father," said Felix, moving to where Mme. Thuillier 
 and Celeste were seated, "I was unable to leave before the 
 close of the phenomenon ; I could find no coach and have run 
 all the way." 
 
 "Your ears must have burned on the road," said la Pey- 
 rade, sneeringly, " for you have occupied the thoughts of 
 these ladies up to now ; you have been the subject of a 
 great problem to them." 
 
 Felix did not answer ; he went to greet Brigitte, who had 
 just entered from the dining-room. After she had reproached
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 261 
 
 him for the rarity of his visits and receiving her pardon in a 
 "Better late than never," he turned to his pole and was as- 
 tonished to hear Madame de Godollo say to him : 
 
 "Monsieur, you must pardon my indiscretion done in the 
 heat of conversation about you ; I have told them where I met 
 you this morning." 
 
 "Where have I had the honor of meeting you?" said 
 Felix; "but, madame, I did not see you." 
 
 A faint smile lighted up la Peyrade's lips. 
 
 "You saw me sufficiently well to ask my confidence as to 
 where I found you ; but at least I did not go further than to say 
 that I had seen you with Father Anselme sometimes, and that 
 you had some scientific relations with each other ; and also 
 that you defended your doubts against his arguments the 
 same as you do with Celeste." 
 
 "Father Anselme ! " said the stupid Phellion. 
 
 "Yes, without doubt," said la Peyrade, "a great mathe- 
 matician who does not despair of converting you ; Made- 
 moiselle Celeste has shed tears of joy." 
 
 Felix looked around with an air of bewilderment. Ma- 
 dame de Godollo looked at him with eyes the language of 
 which a poodle would have understood. 
 
 " I wish," said he, finally, " that I could have done a thing 
 so agreeable to Mademoiselle Celeste, but I am afraid, ma- 
 dame, that you labor under an error." 
 
 "Listen to me, monsieur, it seems that I must needs be 
 more precise ; and if your timidity prompts you to continue 
 denying a step that can only honor you, then you may con- 
 tradict me ; I must bear the annoyance of having divulged a 
 secret which I had promised you faithfully to keep." 
 
 Measuring each word, she said : 
 
 "I have told these ladies, because I know how they wish 
 your salvation, and because you were accused of audaciously 
 defying God's commandments by working on Sunday, that I 
 had met you this morning at Father Anselme's house, a scien-
 
 262 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 tist like yourself, with whom you were engaged in solving a 
 problem; I said that this had led up to -other explanations 
 between you, and that he did not despair of refuting your 
 arguments. In confirming my words, there can be nothing 
 to wound your self-esteem. It was only intended as a sur- 
 prise for Celeste, but I was so stupid as to divulge it." 
 
 "Come, monsieur," said la Peyrade, "there's nothing 
 ridiculous in searching for the light ; you, so honorable, such 
 a foe to untruth, can scarcely deny what madame so reso- 
 lutely affirms." 
 
 " Well," said Felix, after a slight pause, "will you, Made- 
 moiselle Celeste, permit me to say a few words to you in 
 private, without witnesses?" 
 
 Celeste, after an approving nod from Mme. Thuillier, rose, 
 and Felix took her hand and led her to a window recess. 
 
 "Celeste," he said, "I beg you to wait a little longer. 
 See," he added, pointing to the constellation of the chariot,* 
 " beyond those visible stars, there lies a future for us. As 
 regards what has been said about Father Ansel me, I cannot 
 admit it, for it is not true. It is a pleasing story ; but 
 patience, you shall hear things 
 
 Celeste left him, and he remained gazing at the stars. 
 
 " He is mad," said the young girl in accents of despair, as 
 she resumed her seat by Mme. Thuillier. 
 
 Felix confirmed this prognostication by rushing out of the 
 room without perceiving the emotion with which his father 
 followed him. 
 
 Shortly after this exit, which had stupefied everybody, la 
 Peyrade approached Mme. de Godollo and respectfully said : 
 
 " You must admit, madame, that it is very difficult to draw 
 a man out of the water when he is intent on drowning " 
 
 "I had no idea," replied the countess, " of such unpar- 
 alleled simplicity ; it is too silly for anything. I shall go 
 over to the enemy, and with that enemy I am, when he 
 * Urs?. Major.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 263 
 
 pleases, ready to go into a full and frank explanation in my 
 own rooms." 
 
 The next day Theodose felt himself possessed by two 
 curiosities : How Celeste would behave in the option pre- 
 sented for her acceptance ? Then this Comtesse Torna de 
 Godollo, what did she mean by what she had said ; and what 
 did she want of him? 
 
 He sent his porter for a hack and about three o'clock 
 drove from the Rue Saint-Dominique-d'Enfer toward the 
 fashionable neighborhood of the Madeleine. His toilet was 
 naturally the subject of some thought, and presented a com- 
 promise between the negligent ease of morning attire and the 
 ceremonious style of evening dress. Necessitated by his pro- 
 fession to wear a white cravat, which he rarely laid aside, and 
 not being well-disposed to dispense with a dress-coat, he felt 
 drawn to one of the extremes he was desirous of avoiding. 
 But by buttoning his coat and wearing tan instead of lemon- 
 colored kids he managed to " unsolemnize " himself, and 
 thus avoided the provincial and poor-relation aspect which a 
 man in full dress always conveys to the mind when seen on 
 the streets of Paris. 
 
 Arrived he rang the bell, and after some little delay was 
 ushered into a severely luxurious dining-room, where he was 
 requested to wait. A minute later the attendant returned and 
 he was admitted into a most coquettish and splendid salon. 
 The divinity of the place sat before a table covered with 
 Venetian cloth, in which gold thread sparkled among the 
 rich embroidery. As la Peyrade went in the countess bowed 
 without rising. 
 
 "Will monsieur allow me to seal a letter of some im- 
 portance ? " said the comtesse. 
 
 The barrister made a bow of assent ; the handsome foreigner 
 then took from a tortoise-shell inlaid desk a sheet of blue-tint 
 English paper which she placed in an envelope ; after she had 
 written the address, she rose and rang the bell. The maid
 
 264 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 appeared and lighted a small spirit lamp ; over the lamp was 
 hung a silver-gilt crucible-shaped vessel, in which was a scrap 
 of scented sealing-wax ; as soon as the flame had melted this 
 the maid poured it on the envelope and handed her mistress 
 an armorial seal. This she impressed with her own fair hands 
 on the wax, and said : " Take it at once to that address." 
 
 As the woman made a movement to take the letter she 
 inadvertently let it fall, near to la Peyrade's feet, who made a 
 quick movement to pick it up and read thereon: " M. the 
 Minister of Foreign Affairs," added below being: "For him 
 only." 
 
 " Thanks, monsieur," said the countess, for he had the good 
 sense to return it to her. "Be so good, mademoiselle, as 
 not to lose it," she added severely to the maid. 
 
 The countess then left the table and took her seat on a 
 lounge covered with pearl gray satin. You may say that you 
 cannot know all a woman's perfections unless you have seen 
 her in the prismatic atmosphere of her own drawing-room ; 
 but guard against pretending to judge and know her if you 
 have never seen her anywhere else. 
 
 "Monsieur," said she, with a smile and a slightly foreign 
 accent which gave an added charm to her words, " I cannot 
 help thinking what a queer thing it is that a man of your 
 spirit and rare penetration should have an idea that you had 
 an enemy in me." 
 
 "But, Madame la Comtesse," replied la Peyrade, allowing 
 her to read in his eyes the astonishment he felt, not unmingled 
 with distrust, " you will admit that every appearance was of 
 that nature. A rival crops up when I was already justified in 
 considering my marriage fully settled ; he becomes absolutely 
 stupid and awkward so that I could easily have set him aside, 
 when suddenly a most unlooked-for auxiliary rushes in and 
 assists him on his most vulnerable point." 
 
 " What a great misfortune it would be," replied the 
 foreigner with charming audacity, " if your marriage with
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 865 
 
 mademoiselle were prevented. Do you really care so very 
 much for that schoolgirl ? " 
 
 In that last word there was not more of contempt than 
 hatred. This did not escape an observer of la Peyrade's 
 keeness. But he only went on to say : 
 
 " Madame, the vulgar expression ' to settle down ' sums up 
 the situation, where, after a long-drawn fight, a man reaches 
 the end of his illusions, and when he would fain compromise 
 with his future. Now, when this end is presented in the form 
 of a young girl with more virtue than beauty, I won't deny, 
 but one who brings to her husband the fortune so indispensable 
 to the welfare of conjugal companionship, why it should ex- 
 cite astonishment that his heart is filled with gratitude and 
 that he should eagerly welcome the prospect of peaceful 
 happiness ? " 
 
 "I had always imagined," replied the countess, "that a 
 man's intelligence and power should be the measure of his 
 ambition ; one, I should think, so wise as to make himself the 
 poor man's advocate would have less modesty and fewer pas- 
 toral aspirations." 
 
 "Ah! madame," said la Peyrade, "the iron hand of 
 necessity makes one resign himself, it forces stranger things 
 upon us than that ; the question of daily bread is one before 
 which everybody debases himself. Apollo, was he not com- 
 pelled to 'make a living' by tending Admetus' sheep?" 
 
 " Admetus' sheep-fold," objected Mine, de Godollo, "was 
 at least a sheep-fold of royalty ; but certainly Apollo would 
 never have submitted to become the shepherd of a bour- 
 geois." 
 
 The pause which preceded the last word of the handsome 
 foreigner seemed to convey the meaning of a proper name 
 instead of the one used. 
 
 "I believe, madame, that your distinction is not less true 
 than subtle," answered la Peyrade; "but Apollo has no 
 choice."
 
 266 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "I don't like people who charge too much," said the 
 countess, "neither do I like those who sell their goods below 
 the market price, I am always afraid lest they should make me 
 the victim of some knavish trick. You well know your own 
 value, monsieur, and your hypocritical humility annoys me 
 immensely; it shows me that my kindly overtures have not 
 even produced the beginning of confidence between us." 
 
 "I assure you, madame, that up to now my life has not 
 given me any reason to think myself possessed of dazzling 
 superiority." 
 
 "Well," said the Hungarian, "perhaps I ought to admit 
 the modesty of the man who will accept the pitiable finale of 
 his life which I have intended to do my best to prevent." 
 
 "So, perhaps, as I myself," replied la Peyrade, "might 
 believe in that benevolence which in order to rescue me has 
 treated me so roughly." 
 
 The countess threw a reproachful glance at her guest ; her 
 hands toyed with the ribbons of her dress ; she cast down her 
 eyes and allowed a sigh to escape her, so faint as to be scarcely 
 perceptible, so slight in fact that it might have passed as her 
 regular breathing. 
 
 "You are rancorous," said she, "and judge people by 
 yourself. After all," she added, as if in reflection, " you may 
 possibly be right in reminding me that I have gone a long and 
 roundabout way in meddling in interests that are none of my 
 concern. Go on, dear monsieur, and prosper in this so glo- 
 rious marriage which offers you such a combination of in- 
 ducements ; only let me hope that you may never repent your 
 course, which I will no longer try to postpone." 
 
 The Provencal had not been spoilt by women. The poverty 
 against which he had been so long struggling never leads to 
 affairs of gallantry, and, since he had thrown off its worst 
 clutches, his mind had been given up to the anxious work of 
 providing for his future ; with the exception of the farce played 
 with Mme. Colleville, he had never had an affair of the heart
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 967 
 
 during his whole life. We can thus understand the perplexity 
 of this novice. Like all overbusy men when they are goaded 
 by the demon of lust, he was content to accept the ignoble 
 love that any night can be bought at corner crossings, and 
 that is easily reconciled with the exterior of devotion. 
 
 Suppose this kindness, but poorly explained as it seemed to 
 him, of which he had so suddenly become the object was but 
 a bait to entice him toward a snare which might be used to 
 .compromise him with the Thuilliers, what a blow at his sup- 
 posed shrewdness, what a part to play ; that of the dog drop- 
 ping the meat to grasp the shadow. 
 
 We know that la Peyrade was something after the school of 
 Tartuffe, and the frankness which that master declares to 
 Elmire that unless a few of the promised favors are granted 
 he could no longer trust her tender advances, seemed almost 
 adapted to the occasion, though there was more softness in its 
 form. 
 
 " Madame la Comtesse," said he, " you have made of me a 
 man who is much to be pitied ; I was marching gayly to this 
 marriage, and you take from me all my faith ; and yet, what 
 if I break it off, what can I, with that great capacity you 
 credit me with, do with the liberty thus acquired ?" 
 
 "La Bruyere has said, if I am not mistaken, that nothing 
 so refreshes the blood as to avoid committing a folly." 
 
 " I grant that ; but that is a negative benefit ; I am of an 
 age and in such a position as to desire more serious results. 
 The interest you show in me cannot, I imagine, end at leaving 
 a blank page. I love mademoiselle with a love, not, it is 
 true, with an imperative, dominating passion, but still I do 
 love her, her hand is promised to me, and before renoun- 
 cing " 
 
 "So," said the countess, briskly, "in a given case you 
 would not object to a rupture? And," added she, in a calmer 
 tone, " you might be ready to break it off; that is, in case a 
 more suitable marriage were to offer?"
 
 268 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "At the very least, madame, I should want to definitely 
 foresee this." 
 
 This determination to be on the safe side appeared to annoy 
 the countess. 
 
 "Faith, monsieur," said she, "is only a virtue when it 
 accepts without seeing. You doubt yourself, another form of 
 stupidity. I am not happy in my proteges.'' 
 
 "But, madame, it cannot be very indiscreet to ask for 
 the least intimation of what your benevolence has designed 
 forme?" 
 
 "Very indiscreet," replied the Hungarian, coldly, "for it 
 shows me that you only offer me a confidence on conditions. 
 Say no more. You have gone far with Mademoiselle Colle- 
 ville ; you say she suits you in many things, marry her ; one 
 more attack, you won't again find me in your way." 
 
 " But does mademoiselle really suit me ?" replied la Pey- 
 rade ; " that is exactly where you have raised my doubts. 
 Don't you think you are cruel in casting me first in one 
 direction and then in another without offering anything to 
 support me?" 
 
 "Ah ! you want my opinion; well, there is one fact: C6- 
 leste does not love you." 
 
 " I think myself," said la Peyrade, " that I am on the way 
 to a marriage of convenience." 
 
 "And she cannot love you," continued Mme. de Godollo, 
 with animation, " for she cannot understand you. The man 
 who should be her husband is that blonde young man, as shy 
 and pale-faced as herself; the contact of these two natures 
 without life and heat will result in that lukewarm duet which 
 in the opinion of the world in which she was born constitutes 
 the ne plus ultra of conjugal felicity. Enriched bourgeois, 
 parvenus, there's the roof under which you intend resting after 
 your hard labors and long trials. And don't you know that 
 twenty times a day they will make it manifest to you that your 
 share in the partnership is very light against their money?
 
 BUT DOES MADEMOISELLE REALLY SUIT ME?" 
 REPLIED LA PEYRADE.
 
 THE MTDDLE CLASSES. 869 
 
 The artist, the man of imagination, who tumbles into the 
 middle-class atmosphere, shall I tell you to what I compare 
 him ? To Daniel cast into the den of lions, less the miracle 
 of the Scriptures." 
 
 "Ah, madame ! " exclaimed la Peyrade, " how eloquently 
 you present the thoughts that have been mine so often. But 
 I felt lashed to the cruel necessity of gaining a position." 
 
 " Necessity, position ! " interrupted the countess, again 
 elevating the temperature of her words, " words without 
 meaning ! They have no sound to men of ability, though 
 they bar fools as though they were formidable obstacles. 
 Necessity, does that exist for noble natures who know how to 
 will ? A Gascon minister said these words, which should be 
 graven over every door of all careers : ' All things come to 
 him who knows how to wait.' Are you ignorant that mar- 
 riage to men of superior stamp is either a chain which rivets 
 them to the most vulgar of existences, or a wing that bears 
 them to the highest summits of the social world ? The wife 
 you need, monsieur, and she would not be long lacking in 
 your career if you had not with such incredible haste offered 
 yourself to the first fortune which turned up. The one you 
 should have chosen is a woman capable of understanding you, 
 able to read you ; one who would be a collaborator, an in- 
 telligent confidant, not a mere incarnation of pot-au-feu ; who 
 to-day is your secretary, but to-morrow may be the true wife 
 of a deputy or an ambassador ; in short, one who could offer 
 you her heart for a mainspring, her salon for a stage, her 
 friends for a ladder, and who in return for all you gave of 
 ardor and strength would ask no more than to sit near your 
 throne in the glare of the prosperity and glory that she fore- 
 saw would be your lot." 
 
 Intoxicated by her own words the Hungarian was magnifi- 
 cent, her eyes sparkled, her notrils dilated ; the perspective 
 her vivid eloquence had unfurled she appeared to see, to 
 touch with her hands. For a moment la Peyrade was daz-
 
 270 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 zled with this kind of sunrise which burst suddenly upon his 
 life. 
 
 All the same, he was an eminently prudent man, who had 
 made it a rule to never lend anything except on the soundest 
 security ; he was impelled to still weigh the situation. 
 
 " Madame la Comtesse," said he, " you just now reproached 
 me with speaking like a bourgeois, and I, in turn, fear that 
 you talk like a goddess. I admire you, I listen to you, but I 
 am not convinced. These devotions, these sublime abnega- 
 tions, are perhaps met with in heaven ; but on our earth who 
 may boast that he has seen them?" 
 
 " You are mistaken, monsieur," said the countess, solemnly, 
 " such cases are rare, but neither impossible nor incredible ; 
 the fault is only in not having the skill to find and the hand 
 to grasp them when offered to you." 
 
 So saying she majestically rose. 
 
 La Peyrade comprehended that he had ended by displeas- 
 ing her ; he felt that she dismissed him ; he rose in his turn, 
 bowed respectfully, and begged to be allowed to call again. 
 
 " Monsieur," replied Mme. de Godollo, " among we Hun- 
 garians, a primitive people and almost savages, when a door 
 is open, both leaves are opened ; but when it is closed, it is 
 double-locked." 
 
 This dignified and ambiguous response was accompanied 
 by an inclination of the head. Bewildered, confounded by 
 this behavior, which was so new to him, which bore little 
 resemblance to that of Flavie, Brigitte, and Mme. Minard, 
 he went away asking himself if he had played his game 
 aright. 
 
 On leaving Mme. de Godollo, la Peyrade felt that he must 
 have time to think. What could he see beneath the conver- 
 sation, a springe or a rich wife offered to him ? Under such 
 a doubt, to press Celeste for an immediate answer was neither 
 wise nor prudent. Consequently, in lieu of going to the 
 Thuilliers he went home and wrote the following note :
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 271 
 
 MY DEAR THUILLIER : 
 
 I daresay you will not think it strange that I have not presented myself 
 at your house to-day ; partly because I dread the sentence and because I 
 do not care to be taken for an impatient, ill-bred creditor. A few days, 
 more or less, will matter little under the circumstances, and yet Mile. 
 Colleville may find them desirable as giving her entire freedom of choice. 
 I shall not call, therefore, until you write me. I am now calmer, and I 
 have added a few more pages to our manuscript; it needs but little more 
 to be ready for the printer. Ever yours, 
 
 THEODOSE DE LA PEYRADE. 
 
 Two hours later a servant dressed in what was evidently the 
 first transition toward a livery, the "male" servant spoken 
 of by Minard, which as yet the Thuilliers did not wish to 
 risk, brought la Peyrade this answer : 
 
 Come this evening without fail ; we will talk the whole affair over with 
 Brigitte. 
 
 Your most affectionately devoted, 
 
 JERSME THUILLIER. 
 
 "Good," said la Peyrade, "there is a hitch somewhere; 
 I shall have time to turn myself around." 
 
 When he arrived, and after talking of the weather and so 
 forth, as people do who have met to discuss a delicate subject 
 about which they are not sure of coming to an understanding, 
 the matter was brought up by Brigitte, who had sent out her 
 brother to take his walk on the boulevards, telling him to 
 leave her to manage the business. 
 
 " My dear boy," said Brigitte, " it was a gentlemanly thing 
 of you not to come here to-day like a 'grab-all,' to put your 
 pistol to our throats, for we are not, as it happens, quite ready 
 to answer you. I really think," she added, "that Celeste 
 needs a little more time." 
 
 " So," said la Peyrade, quickly, " she has not then decided 
 in favor of Monsieur Felix Phellion? " 
 
 "Rogue!" replied the old maid, "you fixed, tfiat last
 
 272 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 night ; but you know, also, that she inclines a little to that 
 side." 
 
 "Well, how does Celeste take the matter? Has she re- 
 fused me ? " 
 
 ''It is much worse than that. She accepts you, saying 
 that she had given her word ; but it is easy to see that she 
 looks upon herself as a victim. If I were in your place, I 
 should not consider my success either assuring or flattering." 
 
 In any other state of mind, la Peyrade would have answered 
 that he accepted the sacrifice and would make it his business 
 to win her heart, which, for the moment, had been given so 
 reluctantly ; but delay better suited his end. 
 
 " What is your advice? " he asked Brigitte. 
 ; "For the first thing," said Brigitte, " I would .finish the 
 pamphlet of Thuillier's, he is going crazy for it, and leave 
 me to work your interests," replied Brigitte. 
 
 "But if I am not in friendly hands? for, little aunt, I could 
 not help seeing that you have changed somewhat in your 
 feelings toward me." 
 
 " I am changed toward you ! and in what do you see me 
 changed, you dreamer?" 
 
 "Oh! in little things," said la Peyrade; "but it is sure 
 that since the introduction here of this Countess Torna " 
 
 " My poor boy, the Hungarian has been of much service to 
 me, I must acknowledge that ; but is that any reason why I 
 should be false to you, you who have done us much greater 
 services?" 
 
 "Still," said the crafty la Peyrade, "you know that she 
 has spoken much that is bad about me?" 
 
 "That's the simplest matter, whatever she may have said; 
 those fine ladies expect the whole world to adore them, and 
 she knows that your head is full of Celeste ; but all she has 
 said about you runs off me like water off oilcloth." 
 
 "So, little aunt," asked la Peyrade, "I am to count on 
 you?"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 273 
 
 "Yes j if you don't torment me and allow me to manage 
 matters." 
 
 "Well, tell me, then, what you intend doing," said la 
 Peyrade, with an air of jolly good-humor. 
 
 "First, I shall forbid Felix the house." 
 
 " Is that possible? " said the barrister, " or is it the least bit 
 civil?" 
 
 "Very possible, and I shall make Phellion himself tell him. 
 As he makes a hobby-horse of his principles, he'll see that if 
 his son won't do what is necessary to win the hand of Celeste, 
 that he ought to deprive us of his presence." 
 
 "And afterward?" said la Peyrade. 
 
 "Afterward I shall signify to Celeste that as she was allowed 
 the liberty of choosing a husband from one or the other, and, 
 as she did not choose Felix, she must put up with you, who 
 are such a pious fellow, such as she wants. You be easy ; I'll 
 make the best of you, especially your generosity in not press- 
 ing your attentions when you might have profited thereby. 
 But that will take quite a week, and if Thuillier's pamphlet 
 is not finished by then, I don't know but what we shall be 
 obliged to send him to Charenton." 
 
 " In two days the pamphlet can be ready ; but are we quite 
 sure, little aunt, that you are playing a square game? The 
 saying is that mountains cannot meet, but men do ; and, cer- 
 tainly, when the time for election comes, I can do Thuillier 
 good or bad service. The other day, do you know, I had a 
 terrible fright. I had about me a letter in which he spoke of the 
 pamphlet as being written by me. I thought for a moment 
 that I had lost that letter at the Luxembourg. If I had, what 
 a scandal there would have been in the quarter." 
 
 " Is there any one who would care to play tricks on such a 
 sly fellow as you?" said the old maid, quite understanding 
 the covert threat implied. "But, really," added she, "why 
 should you find fault with us ? Is it not yourself that is be- 
 hindhand with your promises ? That Cross which was to be 
 18
 
 274 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 given within a week, that pamphlet that should have been out 
 long ago?" 
 
 "The pamphlet and the Cross will each bring the other," 
 replied la Peyrade, rising. " Tell Thuillier to come and see 
 me to-morrow evening. I think by then we can correct the 
 last sheet. But don't lend an ear to the machinations of 
 Madame de Godollo ; I have an idea that she designs to make 
 herself the entire mistress of this house ; she wants to alienate 
 all your friends, and in the meantime to appropriate Thuil- 
 lier." 
 
 "In fact," said the old maid, whom the infernal barrister 
 had touched in a tender spot, the love of authority, " I must 
 see into this ; she is a little coquette, that little madame." 
 
 Four days later the printer, the stitcher, and the hot-presser 
 had done their work ; Thuillier, in the evening, could give 
 himself the inexpressible honor of commencing a walk on the 
 boulevards, which he continued through the passages of the 
 Palais-Royal, pausing before every bookstore window to steal 
 a glance at a yellow poster, shining in black letters, with the 
 famous title : 
 
 DE L'IMPOT ET DE A.MORTISSEMENT. 
 
 PAR J. THUILLIER, 
 Membre du conscil general de la Seine. 
 
 Having managed to persuade himself that the care he had 
 given to the proof-reading and revising had the merit of 
 making the work his own, his paternal heart, like that of the 
 Maitre Corbeau, could not hold itself for joy. It should be 
 added that he had but little opinion of those booksellers who 
 did not announce this latest new work for sale, destined, as he 
 fondly believed, to be a European event. Without really being 
 able to see how he could punish them for their indifference, 
 he nevertheless made a list of these recalcitrant persons, and
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 275 
 
 wished them all possible evils, as though it were a personal 
 affront. 
 
 The next day he spent in the delightful occupation of ad- 
 dressing a number of presentations, wrapping up fifty sample 
 copies to which the inscription: "From the author," com- 
 municated an inestimable prize. 
 
 But the third day of the sale brought his happiness a check. 
 He had chosen for his publisher a young man, who, rushing 
 his business at a break -neck pace, had lately established him- 
 self in the Passages des Panoramas, where he paid a ruinous 
 rent. A nephew of Barbet, the publisher, whom Brigitte had 
 for a tenant in her old house ; he flinched at nothing, and 
 when his uncle recommended him to Thuillier, he was as- 
 sured that unless he was restricted in the advertising that he 
 would sell the first edition and print another within a week. 
 
 Now Thuillier had spent about fifteen hundred francs for 
 advertising; such as sending a profusion of copies to the 
 journals, and, after three days had gone by, only SEVEN copies 
 had been sold, and three of these on credit. It might be pre- 
 sumed that the young publisher would have lost some of his 
 assurance with this ; but, to the contrary, this Guzman of the 
 book-trade said : 
 
 "I am delighted at what has happened. If we had sold a 
 hundred copies I should be very uneasy as to the fifteen hun- 
 dred we have printed ; I call this hanging fire, whereas this 
 paltry sale goes to prove that the edition will go off with a 
 bang." 
 
 "Then you don't think that the sale is hopeless?" said 
 Thuillier. 
 
 " On the contrary, I take a most favorable view of this. As 
 soon as the 'Debats,' the Constitutionnel,' the 'Siecle,' and 
 the ' Press ' have reviewed it, especially if it gets ' hammered ' 
 by the 'Debats,' which is ministerial, it will go." 
 
 "You rattle that off right easily," replied Thuillier, "but 
 how shall we get hold of the gentlemen of the press ? "
 
 276 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Leave that to me," said Barbet, "I am on the best of 
 terms with the chief editors ; they say the devil is in me and 
 that I remind them of Ladvocat in his best days." 
 
 " Then, my dear boy, you ought to have seen to this be- 
 fore." 
 
 "Ah ! but permit me, Papa Thuillier, there's only one way 
 of ' seeing ' a newspaper-man ; as you grumbled about the 
 fifteen hundred francs, I didn't want to suggest another ex- 
 pense to you." 
 
 " Expense for what ? " 
 
 "When you were nominated for the Council," replied the 
 book-seller, " where was your election planned ? " 
 
 "Parbleuf in my home," answered Thuillier. 
 
 "At your home, without doubt, but at a dinner followed 
 by a ball and the ball followed by a supper. Well, my dear 
 master, there are not two ways to do this business ; Boileau 
 says: 
 
 " ' We govern our times the best with our dinners, 
 
 It's by dining alone that we keep check on our sinners.' " 
 
 " But that costs money ; journalists are all a lot of gour- 
 mands." 
 
 " Pshaw ! twenty francs per head, without the wine. Given, 
 say, ten of them, with a hundred crowns you could do it 
 fine." 
 
 "How you talk, young man," said Thuillier. 
 
 "Dame, everybody knows that it costs to get a nomination, 
 and you will thus prepare for it." 
 
 "But how shall I invite these gentlemen ? Must I go and 
 invite them myself?" 
 
 " Not at all ; you have sent them your pamphlet, now you 
 beg them to meet you at Philippe's or VeTour's ; they'll catch 
 on all right." 
 
 "Ten guests," said Thuillier, entering, into the idea, "I 
 did not know there were so many important journalists ?"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 277 
 
 "Quite true," replied the publisher, "but we must have 
 the curs, for they bark the loudest. The breakfast is sure to 
 be well talked about ; they will think you have been picking 
 and choosing, and each one left out would become your 
 enemy." 
 
 "If I were sure that this expense would have the desired 
 effect," said Thuillier, with indecision. 
 
 " If I were sure is very pretty," said Barbet, with impor- 
 tance; "but, my dear master, this is money placed on mort- 
 gage ; with that I can guarantee you selling the fifteen hun- 
 dred copies. That at forty sous, and allowing the discounts, 
 makes three thousand francs. You see that covers your costs 
 and extras more than covers them." 
 
 "So ! I'll talk it over with la Peyrade," said Thuillier as 
 he went out. 
 
 "As you will, dear master, but decide quickly, for nothing 
 gets mildewed so soon as a book ; write hot, serve hot, sell it 
 hot ; that's the rule of three for authors, publishers, and the 
 public ; outside of that everything falls flat, and is no good to 
 touch." 
 
 When la Peyrade was consulted he did not really think so 
 much of the plan ; but now he had begun to feel the bitterest 
 animosity against Thuillier, so he was quite delighted to see 
 this new tax levied on his self-conceit, inexperience, and 
 pomposity. 
 
 Now Thuillier's mania for posing as a statesman decided 
 him on following Barbet's advice. He called upon him there- 
 fore for the list of guests. Barbet gayly produced his little 
 catalogue. Fifteen instead of the original number were down, 
 without counting himself or la Peyrade, whom Thuillier felt he 
 should need in encountering a crowd of men with whom he 
 had reason to think he would be out of place. When Thuillier 
 had cast his eyes over the paper : 
 
 " Ah, there ! my dear boy," said he to the publisher, " you 
 have given me the names of journals that I never even heard
 
 278 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 tell of. What is this ' Moralisateur,' that 'Lanterne,' the 
 ' Diogene,' or the ' Pelican,' and that ' Echo de la Bievre ? ' ' 
 
 "You do well," replied Barbet, "to fall foul of ' Echo de 
 la Bievre,' a paper printed in the twelfth arrondissement and 
 read by all the rich tanners in the quarter." 
 
 "Well, pass that, then ; but the ' Pelican?' " 
 
 " The ' Pelican ? ' why that journal is on every dentist's 
 waiting-room table ; dentists make more puffs than all the rest 
 of the world ; how many teeth do you suppose are daily drawn 
 in Paris?" 
 
 "Oh! bosh," said Thuillier. 
 
 Finally the list was finished at fourteen guests and the meet- 
 ing appointed at Vefour's, the one most extensively patron- 
 ized by the bourgeoisie and provincials. Barbet arrived 
 even before Thuiilier, wearing a cravat so enormous as to 
 itself become a feature among those satirical guests. The 
 publisher had taken it upon himself to change sundry of the 
 dishes : instead of having the champagne served in the 
 bourgeois fashion with the dessert, he ordered it placed on 
 the table at the commencement of the repast, properly iced, 
 together with a few dishes of shrimps, of which the amphi- 
 tryon had not thought. 
 
 Thuillier, who gave a verbal approval to these changes, was 
 followed by la Peyrade ; then a long pause before any others 
 appeared. Breakfast was ordered for eleven, but at a quarter 
 before twelve not a guest had come. Barbet, never at a loss, 
 made the crushing remark that breakfasts at a restaurant were 
 like funerals, when eleven meant twelve. As a fact, just before 
 that hour two goat-bearded gentlemen arrived, exhaling a 
 strong odor of the smoking-room. Thuillier effusively 
 thanked them for the " honor " they were about to do him ; 
 and then came another long period of waiting. At one, five 
 only of the invited guests had arrived. They took their 
 places at table ; a few polite speeches reached Thuillier's ears 
 as to the "immense" interest the publication of his pamphlet
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 279 
 
 had excited, but this failed to blind him to the fact of a dis- 
 mal failure. Only for the vivacity of the publisher, who had 
 seized the reins dropped by his patron, gloomy as Hippolytus 
 on the way to Mycenae, nothing could have equaled the de- 
 pression and the icy coldness of this meeting. 
 
 After the removal of the oysters the champagne and 
 Chablis had begun to give a slight rise to the temperature 
 when a youngster in a cap rushed into the banqueting-room 
 and gave Thuillier a most unexpected and crushing blow. 
 
 "Boss," said the new-comer to Barbet he was a clerk in 
 the bookseller's store " we are done for ! The police have 
 raided us ; a commissary and two men have come to seize 
 monsieur's pamphlet; they left this paper with me for you." 
 
 " See what this says, Monsieur the Barrister," said Barbet 
 as he handed the paper to la Peyrade. At this stroke his 
 habitual assurance paled somewhat. 
 
 " A summons to shortly appear before the Assize Court," 
 said la Peyrade, after reading the sheriff's scrawl. 
 
 Becoming as pale as death : 
 
 " Then didn't you fill all the necessary formalities ? " asked 
 Thuillier in a choking voice. 
 
 "Oh! This is not a question of formalities," replied la 
 Peyrade, " it is seized as illegal printed matter, which excites 
 hatred and contempt for the government. You will find at 
 home, my poor Thuillier, a similar compliment awaiting 
 you. ' ' 
 
 "But this must be treason, then ! " said Thuillier, who had 
 completely lost his head. 
 
 "Dame! my dear boy, you must know what you put in the 
 pamphlet ; for my part, I didn't see anything bad enough to 
 whip a cat for." 
 
 "There's a misunderstanding somewhere," said Barbet, 
 recovering a little courage. " It will be all explained, the result 
 will be a fine cause for complaints to be made, is not that so, 
 gentlemen?"
 
 280 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Waiter, a pen and ink," exclaimed one of the journalists 
 thus appealed to. 
 
 "You'll have time enough to write your article," said one 
 of his colleagues; ''what has a bomb in common with this 
 filet saute?" 
 
 This was a parody on a famous speech of Louis XII., of 
 Sweden, whom a cannon-ball interrupted while he was dic- 
 tating to his secretary. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Thuillier, rising, " you will excuse me; 
 if, as Monsieur Barbet thinks, it is all a mistake, it ought to be 
 explained immediately : I shall at once, with your permission, 
 go to the court. La Peyrade," added he, significantly, "you 
 will not refuse, I think, to accompany me. And you, my 
 dear publisher, had better come with us." 
 
 " My faith, no ! " said Barbet ; " when I breakfast I break- 
 fast ; if the police have blundered, so much the worse for 
 them." 
 
 "But suppose the action is a serious one ? " exclaimed Thu- 
 illier, greatly agitated. 
 
 "Well, all I should say, which is perfectly true, that I had 
 not read a single line of your pamphlet. There is only one 
 annoying feature about it those damned juries hate beards, so 
 if I am to appear in court I must cut mine off." 
 
 " Come, my dear amphitryon, sit down again," said the 
 editor-in-chief of the "Echo de la Bievre," "we'll stand by 
 you ; I have already written an article which will stir up all 
 the peat-hawkers, and that is a power, that honorable cor- 
 poration." 
 
 "No, gentlemen," said Thuillier, "no, a man like me 
 cannot rest a single half-hour under such an accusation. Con- 
 tinue without us; I hope soon to return to you. La Peyrade, 
 are you coming? " 
 
 When Thuillier left the office of the court he could no longer 
 indulge illusions. He was under a most serious charge, and the 
 severe manner in which he had been received made him under-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 281 
 
 stand that when the trial came on he would be treated without 
 leniency. Then he turned, as is the manner with accomplices 
 when things turn out wrongly, upon la Peyrade in the bitterest 
 vituperations : He had paid no attention to what he was 
 writing ; he had given full rein to his stupid ideas on Saint- 
 Simonism ; he didn't care about the consequences ; he wouldn't 
 have to pay the fine or go to prison ! Then, when la Pey- 
 rade said the case did not seem serious to him, and that he 
 looked for an acquittal, Thuillier burst furiously upon him : 
 
 "Certainly! all is very simple," replied Thuillier, "mon- 
 sieur sees nothing in it ; all you can see is a chance for a showy 
 defense ; but I shan't put my honor and fortune in the hands 
 of one of your ilk. I shall take some great barrister, if the 
 case comes to trial. I've had about enough of your collabo- 
 ration." 
 
 Under the injustice of these reproaches la Peyrade felt his 
 anger rising. He did not wish to come to an open rupture, 
 so he left him, saying that he forgave him, as he was naturally 
 so excited. He would wait upon him in the evening, when 
 he would probably be calmer. 
 
 Accordingly, about four o'clock, the Provencal called at 
 the house in the Place de la Madeleine. Thuillier was quieter, 
 but consternation, frightful despair, had taken its place. As 
 for Brigitte, she had no mercy in her speech ; her bitter, viru- 
 lent abuse was quite out of proportion to the fault. La Pey- 
 rade felt that all was lost for him in the Thuillier household, 
 they seemed to hail with joy the chance for throwing him 
 over. On an ironical illusion by Brigitte to the manner in 
 which he had decorated his friends, he rose and took his leave, 
 without their making an effort to retain him. 
 
 After walking the streets for a little while his indignation 
 calmed down to thoughts of Madame de Godollo. To have 
 paid her another visit immediately would have been anything 
 but skillful, but a sufficient time had now elapsed to prove that 
 he was the master of himself. So he turned his steps back to
 
 282 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the Boulevard de la Madeleine, and, without asking if the 
 countess was at home, he passed the lodge as if he was return- 
 ing to the Thuilliers, and rung the bell of the entresol. 
 
 As before, he was asked to wait while the maid notified her 
 mistress ; but this time it was in a little library. He waited 
 long and wondered at the meaning of the delay ; but finally 
 the maid reappeared : 
 
 "Madame la Comtesse," said she, "is engaged on a busi- 
 ness matter. Would monsieur be so kind as to wait? He 
 might amuse himself with some of the books, as she would 
 possibly be detained for some time." 
 
 He did not open any of the rosewood cases, for he saw on 
 a claw-footed table a medley of books. But as he opened 
 the volumes, one after another, he fancied that a Tantalus' 
 feast was before him ; one book was in English, another 
 German, the next Russian, and one he found with crabbed 
 Turkish characters. Was this a polyglot joke that she had 
 arranged for him ? 
 
 One volume at length arrested his attention. The binding, 
 he noticed, unlike those of the other books, was not so rich 
 as pretty. It lay by itself on a corner of the table. It was 
 open, the back upward, and the edges of the leaves rested on 
 the green tablecloth like a tent. La Peyrade took it up, when 
 it proved to be a volume of the illustrated edition of Scribe's 
 works. The engraving displayed was taken from a scene 
 at the Gymnase, entitled "The Hatred of a Woman." 
 Few but know the story and the conclusion of the drama. 
 The principal personage is a young widow who desperately 
 pursues a young man. One speech is: "There are some 
 women who would spit on the dish to cause disgust and pre- 
 vent others eating of it." Hatred pursues the unhappy 
 one everywhere. Her deviltries make him to nearly lose 
 his reputation and do prevent his making a wealthy mar- 
 riage; but it ends by her giving him more than she had 
 deprived him of, and she makes him her husband.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 283 
 
 If it was chance that had placed this volume in its isolated 
 position, it was opened at the precise spot which seemed 
 pertinent to what had passed between himself and the countess 
 chance is at at times adroit and clever. As he thought over 
 this enigma the sound of an opening door reached his ear, 
 and he detected the rather drawling voice of the countess, 
 who was accompanying some one to the door. 
 
 " I may say then," said the voice of a man, " that you 
 promise the ambassadress that you will honor the ball with 
 your presence this evening? " 
 
 "Yes, commander, if my somewhat mitigated headache 
 will permit." 
 
 " Au revoir, then, my most adorable lady," said the voice 
 of her interlocutor. Then the door closed and silence again 
 reigned. 
 
 The title of commander somewhat reassured la Peyrade, 
 for it is not in common used to young fops. He was curious 
 enough to know whom this person might be that had so 
 long occupied the time of the countess. As he did not 
 hear any one approaching the library he went softly toward 
 the window and carefully opened the curtain, prepared to 
 drop it immediately if any sound was heard. An elegant 
 coupe, standing in waiting, was drawn up to the door. A 
 footman in dashing livery opened the door, and a little, 
 dandified old man, with a brisk, jaunty movement, stepped 
 into the carriage, being rapidly driven away. La Peyrade 
 had opportunity to notice that his breast was covered with 
 decorations. This, taken in connection with his powdered 
 hair, gave evidence of a diplomatic personage. 
 
 La Peyrade had returned to his book so as to be discovered 
 reading, when the maid appeared and invited him to follow 
 her. He replaced the volume not in the place in which he 
 had found it and an instant later was in the presence of the 
 countess. Beside her on the couch lay a gilt-edged letter in 
 that free, large writing that betrays an official communication. 
 
 X
 
 284 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 In her hand was a crystal bottle with a gold stopper, from 
 which she inhaled the odor of English toilet vinegar, which 
 permeated the room. 
 
 "You are not well, madame?" asked la Peyrade, with 
 anxiety. 
 
 " Oh ! it is nothing," said the foreigner, " but a headache ; 
 I am subject to them. But you, monsieur, where have you 
 been ? I despaired of seeing you again. Have you some 
 important news to make known to me ? The date of your 
 marriage to Mademoiselle Colleville must be sufficiently neai 
 that you may now state it." 
 
 This opening slightly disconcerted la Peyrade. 
 
 " But, madame," he replied almost sharply, " it seems to 
 me that you know everything that transpires in the Thuilliers' 
 household, you must therefore well know that the event of 
 which you speak is not even a probability." 
 
 " No, I give you my word, I know nothing. I have strictly- 
 made up my mind to take no further interest in the affair. 
 Madame Brigitte speaks of everything but Celeste's marriage." 
 
 " Well, madame, your judgment as to my marriage was 
 certainly correct." 
 
 " What ? " said the countess, eagerly. " Has the seizure of 
 the pamphlet happening after Thuillier's failure to obtain the 
 Cross led to a rupture ? ' ' 
 
 " No," said la Peyrade, " my influence in the Thuilliei 
 establishment rests on a solid foundation. The services I 
 have rendered mademoiselle and her brother quite outweigh 
 these two checks, which happily are not irreparable." 
 
 "You think so ?" interrupted the countess, incredulously. 
 
 "Certainly," replied la Peyrade. "When Madame du 
 Bruel seriously means to get the red ribbon she can do it in 
 spite of all the obstacles that may be placed in her way." 
 
 The countess received this assurance with a smile, and 
 shook her head. 
 
 "You must surely forget that it is unusual to decorate a
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 285 
 
 man who is under a summons of the court. It betokens a 
 strong feeling against Thuillier, and perhaps against yourself, 
 too ; for you are the real culprit. The law, in this case, does 
 not appear to have acted independently." 
 
 La Peyrade looked at the countess. 
 
 "I must confess," replied he, after that rapid glance, 
 " that I have vainly tried to find a single phrase in the whole 
 work that would give cause for its seizure." 
 
 " But it seems to me that the King's people must have a 
 vivid imagination to find anything seditious in the work," 
 said the countess. "And this proves the strength of the under- 
 ground power which thwarts your every intention in favor of 
 that excellent Monsieur Thuillier." 
 
 " Is it that you know our secret enemies ? " said la Peyrade. 
 
 "Perhaps," said the countess, smiling again. 
 
 "May I dare to venture a suspicion?" asked la Peyrade, 
 considerably agitated. 
 
 " Speak," replied Mme. de Godollo ; " I won't blame you 
 if you guess aright." 
 
 "Well, madame, our enemies, Thuillier's and mine, are 
 a woman." 
 
 "Even so," said the countess. "Know you how many 
 lines of handwriting Richelieu needed before hanging a man?" 
 
 "Four," answered la Peyrade. 
 
 "You can then satisfy yourself that a pamphlet of two hun- 
 dred pages can easily furnish a well a, say, intriguing woman 
 with ground enough for prosecution." 
 
 "I cease my struggle," said la Peyrade. Then, assuming 
 an air of contrition : 
 
 " My God ! madame," added he, "you must, indeed, hate 
 me." 
 
 "Not to the extent that you imagine," replied the coun- 
 tess ; " but, after all, suppose that I did ? " 
 
 "Ah, madame," said la Peyrade, "I should then be the 
 happiest of unfortunates ; for this hate would be to me a
 
 286 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 thousand times more precious than your indifference. But 
 you hate me not. Why should you show to me that blessed 
 feminine sentiment which is described by Scribe with such 
 intelligence and delicacy?" 
 
 Mme. de Godollo made no immediate reply ; she cast down 
 her eyes and her deep breathing gave a tremulous tone to her 
 voice : 
 
 "The hate of a woman !" she replied, "can a man of 
 your stoicism be able to perceive it ? " 
 
 " Oh ! yes, madame," answered la Peyrade, " I do perceive 
 it, but not to rebel against it ; on the contrary, I bless the 
 harshness that deigns to injure me. My beautiful enemy now 
 known and confessed, I shall not despair of touching her 
 heart, for I will never again tread a path that is not hers ; 
 never will I march under any banner that she has not made 
 her own. In everything I will be her auxiliary, her slave; if 
 she repulses me with her darling foot, punishes me with her 
 white hand, I will endure it with pleasure. For all this sub- 
 mission and obedience I will crave but one favor that I may 
 kiss the print of the foot that spurns me, of bathing with tears 
 the hand that is raised to strike me." 
 
 During this long outcry of a transported and distracted 
 heart, which the joy of triumph had wrung from the impres- 
 sible nature of the Proven gal, he had glided from his chair, 
 and at the end found himself on one knee before the countess 
 in the conventional attitude of the stage, but which is far 
 more common in real life than most people think. 
 
 "Rise, monsieur," said the countess, "and please answer 
 me." 
 
 Then, giving him a questioning gaze beneath the lovely, 
 frowning eyebrows : 
 
 "Have you carefully weighed," said she, " the meaning of 
 what you have just said ? Have you gauged the pledge, and 
 plumbed its depths? Your hand on your heart and con- 
 science, are you the man to redeem this promise ; are you not
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 287 
 
 one of the falsely humble and perfidious men who only affect 
 to embrace our knees to make us the more easily lose our bal- 
 ance, both of will and reason ? " 
 
 "I ! " exclaimed la Peyrade; "never can a reaction occur 
 against the fascinations which enthralled me at our first inter- 
 view. I have said aloud to-day what my heart has long held ; 
 I have -struggled against your allurements ; it has ended in 
 giving me a firm, deliberate will, understanding itself, and 
 refusing to be cast down by your severity." 
 
 "Severity, that is possible," said the countess, "but you 
 ought also to think of the kindness ; we foreign women do 
 not understand the levity with which your Frenchwomen 
 enter upon the most solemn engagement. With us yes is a 
 sacred bond ; our word is our act. We do nothing by halves. 
 Our family arms seem pertinent to the circumstances : ALL OR 
 
 NOTHING." 
 
 "That is the understanding I have of my pledge," replied 
 the barrister; "my first step on leaving you will be to go and 
 put an end to that ignoble past which I once placed in the 
 balance against my present intoxicating future." 
 
 "No," said the countess, "do it calmly and with due 
 thought. I shouldn't like to see you lose your head and going 
 about smashing window-panes. The Thuilliers are not such 
 bad folk at the bottom ; they humiliated you without knowing 
 it ; their world is not yours. Is that their fault? Untie the 
 knot, don't break it. Your conversion to my belief is of very 
 recent date. What man can be sure what his heart will say 
 to-morrow? " 
 
 "I, madame, am that man. We men of the South do not 
 love in the French fashion." 
 
 "But I thought," said the Hungarian, with a charming 
 smile, " that our discussion was on hatred." 
 
 "Ah ! madame, that word hurts me ; the rather tell me that 
 you love me." 
 
 " My friend," replied the countess, accenting the word,
 
 288 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " one of our moralists says : ' There are those who say : this is 
 or this is not ; such need lake no oath ; ' do me the honor of 
 counting me among such people." As she spoke she held 
 out her hand with a graceful gesture. La Peyrade, quite be- 
 side himself, rapturously kissed it, and they bade each other 
 adieu. 
 
 On the stairs La Peyrade stopped to exhale, one might say, 
 the happiness with which his heart was too full. When oppo- 
 site the Thuillier door he cried : 
 
 "At last I have fame, fortune, happiness; more than all, I 
 can give myself the pleasure of revenge. After Dutocq and 
 C6rizet I will crush you, vile bourgeoise brood?" and he 
 shook his fist at the innocent double-door. 
 
 The next day, the tempest heaving in his breast, la Peyrade 
 went to see Thuillier in the most hostile mood. How amazed 
 he became when, as soon as Thuillier saw him, he threw him- 
 self into his arms. 
 
 "My friend," said the ex-sub-chief, "my political fortune 
 is made, every paper without exception speaks this morning 
 of the pamphlet being seized ; you should see how the Oppo- 
 sition sheets peg into the government." 
 
 "Yes, but you have an enemy who is working against you; 
 the same hand that prevented your getting the Cross is the 
 one that seized your pamphlet ; you are being assassinated by 
 premeditation." 
 
 " Then if this dangerous enemy is known to you, why don't 
 you unmask him to me ? " said Thuillier. 
 
 " I don't know, but I have suspicions," replied la Peyrade; 
 " this is what you get by playing such a deep game." 
 
 "How! a deep game?" said the simple Thuillier, who 
 well knew he had nothing of the kind with which to reproach 
 himself. 
 
 "Certainly," replied the barrister. "You have used 
 Celeste as a kind of decoy-duck in your salon ; the whole 
 world has not the magnanimity of Monsieur Godeschal, who
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 289 
 
 so generously forgave you and managed that business of the 
 house." 
 
 "Explain yourself," said Thuillier, "I can't yet compre- 
 hend." 
 
 "Nothing is easier. Without counting me, how many pre- 
 tenders have you had to Celeste's hand ? Godeschal, Minard 
 junior, young Phellion, Olivier Vinet, all men who have been 
 told to walk their chalks like as I have been." 
 
 " Olivier Vinet, the substitute," exclaimed Thuillier, struck 
 with a new light; " that's the one, of course, that caused this 
 blow. His father, they say, has a very long arm. But it can- 
 not be said that we made him walk his chalk, to use your ex- 
 pression, which seems unseemly to me ; for no offer was made 
 by him or Minard or Phellion. Godeschal is the only one 
 who took the risk of a direct refusal, and this was done before 
 he had even dipped his beak in the water." 
 
 "Quite true," said la Peyrade, looking for a new ground 
 of quarrel; "sly men always brag of having fooled men of 
 their word and decisive people." 
 
 "Now what are you aiming at by those insinuations? 
 Didn't you properly settle everything with Brigitte the other 
 day ? It's a nice time to bother me about your love affairs 
 while the sword of justice hangs over my head." 
 
 " Oh ! that's it," said la Peyrade, ironically ; " I knew how 
 it would be when your pamphlet came out the old cry of 
 not getting out of me all that you expected ! " 
 
 " Well, I did think that our friendship was too true and 
 devoted for you to fling sarcasms at me when I only looked 
 for your services." 
 
 " What services? " asked la Peyrade. " Did you not say 
 yesterday that you would not accept my assistance under any 
 circumstances ? You said when I offered to defend you that 
 you would employ a great barrister." 
 
 "Yes, in the first shock of surprise ; I was foolish, naturally, 
 but after reflection I see that you could better defend me than 
 19
 
 290 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 others, as you know thoroughly what you have written with 
 your own pen. You should forgive that momentary irritation. 
 You are caustic as well as cruel." 
 
 "Well, I refuse to do anything of the kind. Things have 
 changed since yesterday. I see to-day that you had better get 
 some big-wig of the law, because Vinet's antagonism is taking 
 on such proportions that I should be afraid to tackle the re- 
 sponsibilities." 
 
 "I understand," said Thuillier, sarcastically; "monsieur 
 has an eye on the magistracy and does not want to quarrel 
 with one who is slated for keeper of the seals. Quite prudent, 
 quite; still I don't think it will help on your marriage." 
 
 "That is to say," said la Peyrade, catching the ball on its 
 rebound, " that to get you out of the clutches of the jury is 
 the thirteenth labor of Hercules that you would impose upon 
 me to gain the hand of Mademoiselle Colleville. I fully ex- 
 pected that the exigencies would multiply in proportion to 
 my devotion. But just that same thing has worn me out ; 
 to-day I have come to put an end to this exploitation of my- 
 self. You may dispose of Celeste's hand as you are disposed ; 
 so far as I am concerned I am no longer a suitor." 
 
 This abrupt and unexpected declaration left Thuillier speech- 
 less, the more so as that moment Brigitte entered. Her ani- 
 mosity had declined; she greeted him with amicable famil- 
 iarity : 
 
 " Ah ! there you are," said she to la Peyrade, " good wheat 
 of a barrister ! " 
 
 "Mademoiselle, I salute you," gravely responded the Pro- 
 vencal. 
 
 "Well," she went on, not paying any attention to la Pey- 
 rade's ceremonious manner, " the government has done it by 
 seizing your pamphlet. You should just see how the morning 
 papers go for it. Here," she added, passing to Thuillier a 
 small sheet printed on sugar-paper, in coarse type and scarcely 
 legible, " this is one that you've not yet seen ; this is the journal
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 291 
 
 of our old quarter, the ' Echo de la Bievre.' It's wrote splen- 
 did ; it's queer though how careless these journalists are ; 
 most of them write your name without the h you ought to 
 complain about it." 
 
 Never before had Brigitte troubled about the papers except 
 to see whether they might be of a proper size in which to 
 wrap a package ; but now, under the influence of sisterly 
 affection, she pointed out to Thuillier the especially bright 
 spots. 
 
 "Yes," said Thuillier, refolding the paper, "that's pretty 
 warm, beside being very flattering to me. But there is 
 another very important matter: monsieur, here present, has 
 come to inform me that he is no longer a claimant for 
 Celeste's hand." 
 
 " That is he means," said Brigitte, " that he won't take on 
 the case unless he is married out of hand as soon as it is over. 
 Well, it seems only reasonable, poor man. When he has 
 done that there should not be any further delay ; she must 
 accept him; everything has an end." 
 
 "You hear, my dear sir," said la Peyrade, seizing upon 
 Brigitte's commentary; "when I have pleaded, the wedding 
 comes. Your sister is frankness itself; she is not the least 
 diplomatic." 
 
 "Diplomatic!" exclaimed Brigitte. "I'd like to see 
 myself grubbing under a business ; I say as I think ; the 
 workman has done his work, now he should be paid in full." 
 
 "Be quiet, do," said Thuillier; "I say that la Peyrade 
 returns us our pledges ; he claims that we are asking another 
 service off him for Celeste's hand ; he thinks he has done 
 quite enough as it is." 
 
 "He has done us some service, undoubtedly," replied 
 Brigitte; "we are not ungrateful to him. All the same, it 
 was he that caused you the trouble. It seems only fair that 
 he should get you out of it." 
 
 '* There might be some sense of justice in your remarks,"
 
 292 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 answered la Peyrade, " if I were the only barrister in Paris ; 
 but, unhappily, the streets are black over with them. Now, 
 as to the marriage, as I don't intend being made the object 
 of any further brutal bargaining, I am here to renounce it in 
 the most formal manner, and nothing now prevents Celeste 
 accepting Monsieur Phellion with all his numerous advan- 
 tages." 
 
 "At your pleasure, my dear monsieur," replied Brigitte, 
 " if that is your last word. We shall be at no loss in finding 
 a husband for Celeste. But the reason you give is not the 
 real one. We can't dance faster than the fiddlers go, the 
 banns have to be published ; you have sense enough to know 
 that no wedding can take place till all formalities have been 
 complied with, and long before then Thuillier's trial will be 
 over." 
 
 " Yes," said la Peyrade, "and if I lose the case it will be 
 me who has sent him to prison, the same as yesterday I 
 caused the seizure." 
 
 " Well, it does seem to me that if you hadn't wrote some- 
 thing there would be nothing to bite at by the police." 
 
 "My dear Brigitte," interposed Thuillier, who had noted 
 la Peyrade shrug his shoulders, " it is not la Peyrade's fault if 
 persons high in station are conspiring against us. That little 
 Vinet who came to one of our receptions, you remember him 
 well, his father is furious because we didn't want him for 
 Celeste." 
 
 "Well, what other reason than monsieur's fine eyes had 
 we for refusing?" said Brigitte. "After all, a substitute is 
 a very desirable catch." 
 
 "Undoubtedly," said la Peyrade, nonchalantly; "only 
 you see he didn't bring you a million ! " 
 
 " Ah ! " said Brigitte, flaming up, " if you are going to 
 talk again about the house you got us to buy, I don't mind 
 telling you pretty plainly that if you had had the money 
 yourself you wouldn't have told us about it. You would have
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 293 
 
 tricked the notary for yourself. Beside, we've had to pay a 
 lot more than you said it would cost." 
 
 " Come, now," said Thuillier, "don't speak of trifles." 
 
 " Trifles ! trifles ! " repeated Brigitte. " Did we pay more 
 than we expected, or didn't we?" 
 
 " My dear Thuillier," said la Peyrade, " discussion is use- 
 less ; my mind is made up ; I shall not be Celeste's husband, 
 but we may be good friends; " and he rose to leave. 
 
 "One moment, monsieur," said Brigitte, barring his 
 way ; " there is one matter yet unsettled, if we are not to 
 have anything conjointly again, perhaps you will be so good as 
 to inform me what became of that ten thousand francs given 
 you by Thuillier to bribe those scoundrels of government 
 officials to get the Cross we never got." 
 
 "Brigitte," cried Thuillier with anguish, "you have the 
 tongue of hell ; you learned that from me once when I was 
 in a bad humor, you promised you would never mention it 
 again." 
 
 "No; but," replied the implacable Brigitte, "when 
 people part they should settle up pay their debts. Ten 
 thousand francs, a real Cross is dear enough at that price ; but 
 for a Cross that has wilted away, monsieur will admit the 
 price is rather steep." 
 
 " Monsieur," said la Peyrade, ignoring Brigitte, and pale 
 with rage, "I am not prepared to instantly return you the 
 amount which has been so insolently demanded. But should 
 you be pleased to grant me some little delay and accept my 
 note, why " 
 
 "To the devil with a note," said Thuillier, " you owe me 
 nothing ; in fact, by what Cardot said, we are indebted to you ; 
 he said we ought to have given you not less than ten thou- 
 sand francs." 
 
 "Cardot! Cardot!" said Brigitte, "he is very generous 
 with other people's money. We were giving monsieur 
 Celeste, that's better than ten thousand francs."
 
 294 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 La Peyrade was too fine a comedian to allow such an affair 
 as this pass without changing it to a scenic finale. With tears 
 in his voice, which presently rolled down his cheek: 
 
 "Mademoiselle," said he, "when I had the honor of 
 being received by you, I was poor ; you saw rne accept every 
 indignity with forbearance, for you knew what poverty must 
 undergo. To-day when I release you of anxiety, by giving 
 you the chance of attaining the husband you wish for 
 Celeste for if you were honest you would acknowledge that 
 you had that thought -we might still remain friends. Thank 
 heaven, I have in my heart some religious sentiment; the 
 gospel to me is not a dead letter, so, pray understand me, / 
 forgive you. It is not to Thuillier, who would refuse to accept 
 them, that I shall offer the ten thousand francs, which you 
 believe me to have appropriated to my own use, but to you. 
 If at that time you feel how unjust your suspicions were and 
 should scruple to keep the money, you can hand it over to the 
 Bureau of Benevolence " 
 
 " To the Bureau of Benevolence ! " cried Brigitte, interrupt- 
 ing him; "thanks, not much. What! for them crowd of 
 junketing do-nothings to have that distributed amongst them ; 
 folk who would eat off the head of the good God! I've 
 been poor myself, my boy ; I made bags for people to put 
 money in before I'd any of my own ; now that I've got some 
 I mean to keep it ; so, whenever you're ready to cash up, well, 
 I'll receive that ten thousand francs and keep it, too. If you 
 didn't know better than to try and put salt on a cock- 
 sparrow's tail, why so much the worse for you." 
 
 La Peyrade saw that he had missed his aim and had not in 
 the slightest degree impressed Brigitte's granite; he cast a 
 disdainful look at her and went out majestically. Arriv- 
 ing at his own home the barrister completed his emanci- 
 pation by writing to Mme. Colleville that, the marriage with 
 Cdleste being broken off, he thought that propriety required 
 his abstaining from visiting her house for the future.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 295 
 
 The next day Colleville, on the way to his office, called on 
 la Peyrade and asked what " stupidity " he had written Flavie, 
 whom he had left plunged in the direst despair from it. The 
 barrister with the utmost gravity reproduced a copy for the 
 husband ; it was certainly not a love letter that had been sent 
 to his wife. 
 
 "And so that is what you call being a friend?" said 
 Colleville, who for a long time had familiarly thoud the 
 Provencal. "You don't marry us but is that any reason 
 for breaking with the girl's parents? It is as though we were 
 responsible for Thuillier's and your quarrel. Is this the 
 regard that you profess for us? My wife, has she not always 
 treated you kindly?" 
 
 " I have never been received but with the utmost kindness 
 and the greatest consideration by Madame Colleville," replied 
 la Peyrade. 
 
 " And so for this you would let her die of grief? Never 
 since yesterday has she laid down her handkerchief; I tell 
 you she will be really ill." 
 
 "Well, I must frankly tell you," said la Peyrade, "that 
 my visits have excited comment ; it is my plain duty to put 
 a stop to this calumny." 
 
 "What !" exclaimed the husband, "a man of your intel- 
 ligence taking notice of such puerile twaddle. Why she has 
 been talked about for five and twenty years has my wife, and 
 only because she happens to be better looking thaji a Madame 
 Thuillier or Brigitte. I must be a greater scoundrel than you, 
 for this tittle-tattle has not caused a quarter of an hour's un- 
 easiness in our household." 
 
 " I admire your strength of mind, but it is rash to go 
 against public opinion." 
 
 "What next!" said Colleville; "I trample it underfoot, 
 this public opinion, the prostitute ! It is Minard who has 
 done this gossiping, all because his fat cook of a wife has 
 never attracted the attention of any decent man. He had
 
 296 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 better look after his son, who is ruining himself with an elderly 
 actress at the Bobino." 
 
 "Well, my dear friend," said la Peyrade, "try and bring 
 back Flavie to her senses." 
 
 "To the good speech," said Colleville, vigorously shaking 
 the hand of the barrister ; " you call her Flavie as of old ; I 
 have recovered my friend." 
 
 "Certainly," replied k Peyrade, serenely, "friends are 
 always friends." 
 
 "Yes, friends are friends," repeated Colleville; "friend- 
 ship is a present from the gods, and consoles us for all the 
 crosses of life. I understand, then, that you will call upon 
 my wife and replace our household's sorrow with joy and 
 serenity." 
 
 La Peyrade made a vague promise and wondered whether 
 the husband a type more plentiful than supposed was an 
 actor or genuine. 
 
 At the time when la Peyrade was about laying the freedom 
 he had recovered at the feet of the countess, he received a per- 
 fumed note on which he recognized the famous seal : ALL OR 
 NOTHING, which was to govern the relations between them. 
 
 " Dear Monsieur," said Mme. de Godollo, "I have heard of 
 your determination, thanks ! But now I must arrange to take 
 my own; I cannot, you must see, continue to reside in a 
 sphere so far from that of ours, one, too, in which we have 
 nothing in common. To make this arrangement so as to 
 avoid explanations for the reason why the entresol welcomes 
 the voluntary exile from the first floor, I shall need to-day and 
 to-morrow for mvself. Therefore, do not call to see me until 
 the following day. By that time I shall have executed Bri- 
 gitte, as they say on the Bourse, and have much to tell you. 
 
 "Tua Tota, 
 " Comtesse de Godollo."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 297 
 
 That " wholly thine " in Latin seemed charming to la Pey- 
 rade; it did not astonish him, for he knew that the Latin 
 tongue with the Hungarians was almost a second national 
 language. 
 
 In the interval of waiting he was agitated with an ardent 
 passion, which was but increased by his enforced absence. He 
 ran lightly up the stairs and put out his hand to ring the bell, 
 but the silken cord was missing; he thought that illness might 
 have caused this, so that all noise should be silenced ; but then 
 he noticed that the soft carpet on the landing had been re- 
 moved and. the portieres taken down. He had to resign him- 
 self to take the same means employed when visiting a milliner's 
 apprentice to make known his presence he rapped with his 
 knuckles. The hollow sound revealed the void within ; it was 
 intonuere caverna. Convinced at length of a total removal, 
 he thought it had most probably been caused by some insolence 
 of the old maid. But what an idea to place him in the ridic- 
 ulous position called by the vulgar by the picturesque appella- 
 tion of "meeting the wooden face." Being determined to 
 fully satisfy himself, before going, he made a furious assault 
 upon the door. 
 
 " Whose that hammering at the door as if he wanted to pull 
 down the house?" shouted the janitor up the stairway. 
 
 "Madame de Godollo does she not still reside here?" 
 asked la Peyrade. 
 
 " Certainly she doesn't live here now since she's left. Had 
 monsieur told me he was seeking her, I would have spared 
 him the trouble of battering down the door." 
 
 " I knew she was about leaving this suite," said la Peyrade, 
 " but was ignorant that she had already done so." 
 
 "I think it must have been done in a hurry," said the 
 janitor, " since she went off early this morning with post- 
 horses. ' ' 
 
 " Post-horses ! " repeated la Peyrade, stupefied ; " then has 
 she quit Paris?"
 
 203 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Well, people don't usually go post from one quarter of 
 Paris to another," said the porter. 
 
 " Did she say where she was going ? " 
 
 "What a funny idea, monsieur; do such folk give any ac- 
 count of themselves to the like of us?" 
 
 " Did she leave no messages? " 
 
 "Nothing, monsieur; except that any letters which might 
 arrive would be called for by the little commander." 
 
 La Peyrade went away with despair in his heart. After some 
 reflection he muttered to himself: 
 
 " These female diplomats are often charged with important 
 secret missions, where discretion is a necessity and the utmost 
 rapidity of motion required." 
 
 Here a sudden revulsion of feeling came over him : 
 
 "But suppose she is but an adventuress, one of those em- 
 ployed by foreign governments as secret agents? Suppose 
 that the story of the Russian princess, more or less likely, 
 being obliged to sell her furniture to Brigitte is also that of 
 this Hungarian lady? But yet," added he, as his brain made 
 a third revolution, " her education, manners, speech, every- 
 thing, proclaim her a woman of the highest position ; then, 
 beside, if she were but a bird of passage, why try to win me 
 over?" 
 
 La Peyrade might have continued his pleading, for and 
 against, for a much longer time, if he had not felt himself 
 suddenly seized by the shoulders by a strong arm, while a 
 voice he well knew cried : 
 
 " My dear barrister, lookout ! a frightful danger menaces 
 you ; you are running into it headlong." 
 
 La Peyrade turned round to find himself in Phellion's arms. 
 A house was being torn down and Phellion, with his spoken- 
 of fondness for the like, stood, watch in hand, looking at the 
 workmen and calculating how long a time would elapse before 
 a great wall would topple over. 
 
 "You there, are you deaf and blind?" ran the speech
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 299 
 
 of the man employed to warn the passers-by, in a tone that 
 may be imagined. 
 
 " Thanks, my dear monsieur," said la Peyrade, " I should 
 have been erased 'like an idiot only for you." And he pressed 
 Phellion's hand. 
 
 " My reward," replied he, " is in the satisfaction of know- 
 ing that you are saved from imminent danger. I may add 
 that the gratification is increased by a certain pride, for I 
 was not mistaken to a moment in the time I had reckoned upon 
 for the instant when the centre of gravity of that formidable 
 mass would be displaced. But of what were you thinking ? 
 Perhaps of the plea you would make in the Thuillier case. 
 You have a noble cause to defend, monsieur. Between you 
 and I," added the great citizen in a low voice, " I think it a 
 mean action on the part of the government." 
 
 " I am of the same opinion," said la Peyrade, " but I am 
 not charged with the defense." 
 
 "Poor man," said Phellion ; "I called to see him when 
 the blow fell. (I am on my way to see him now.) I saw 
 only Brigitte, who was conversing with Madame de Godollo ; 
 that is a woman who possesses strong political views. It 
 appears that she predicted that the seizure would occur." 
 
 " Did you know that the countess had left Paris ?" said la 
 Peyrade. 
 
 "Ah! she has gone," said Phellion. "Well, monsieur, I 
 must tell you that though there was little sympathy between 
 you and her, yet I look upon her departure as a misfortune ; 
 she leaves a serious void in the salon of our friends ; I say 
 this because I think it, I am not used to at all disguise my feel- 
 ings." 
 
 "Yes," said la Peyrade, "she is a most distinguished 
 woman ; I think, in spite of her predilections against me, that 
 we should have come eventually to some kind of an under- 
 standing of each other; but this morning she hastily left by 
 post."
 
 300 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Post!" exclaimed Phellion. "I don't know whether 
 monsieur agrees with me, but I think traveling post is most 
 agreeable. It is certain that Louis XL, to whom we owe this 
 institution, had a very happy thought ; although in other 
 matters his sanguinary and despotic rule was not, to my way 
 of thinking, quite devoid of reproach. Only once in my life 
 have I so traveled, but I may truly say that I found it far 
 superior, in spite of the relative increase of speed, to the mad 
 rush of the iron roads or ' railways," as the English call them, 
 and where speed is acquired at the cost of safety and the 
 taxpayer. ' ' 
 
 La Peyrade paid but small attention to Phellion's phrase- 
 ology. "Whither has she gone ?" This was the one ques- 
 tion round which all his thoughts hovered. But the great 
 citizen continued : 
 
 " It was at the time of Madame Phellion's last confinement. 
 She was at Perche with her mother, when I learned that serious 
 complications had ensued, together with milk-fever. A wound 
 in the pocket is never fatal, as they say, so, overwhelmed with 
 terror at the danger threatening my wife, I at once proceeded 
 to the coach-office to obtain a seat in the coach ; all were 
 taken, and had been for a week in advance. My mind was at 
 once made up. I went to the Rue Pigalle, and, by paying 
 gold do\vn on the spot, I obtained a chaise and two horses ; 
 but unfortunately I had neglected the formality of a passport, 
 without which, by the decrees of the consulate 01 17 Nivose 
 of the year XII., they are not allowed to deliver horses to a 
 traveler " 
 
 The last words were a flash of light to la Peyrade ; without 
 the finish of the posting Odyssey, he started off at once to the 
 Rue Pigalle. Arrived at the establishment of the royal post, 
 la Peyrade wondered of whom he might best inquire. He 
 explained to the porter that he wished to send a letter to a 
 lady of his acquaintance ; that this lady had neglected to 
 leave her address, and he thought he might possibly learn it
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 301 
 
 by means of the passport which must have been presented in 
 order to obtain horses. 
 
 " This lady traveler, had she a maid with her ? This one 
 I picked up near the Madeleine," said a postillion who sat in 
 a corner of the room. 
 
 " Exactly," said la Peyrade, advancing eagerly to the man 
 of providence, and slipping a crown of a hundred sous into 
 his hand. 
 
 "She's a rum sort of a traveler," said the post-boy; "she 
 told me to take her to the Bois du Boulogne, there she made 
 me drive around for an hour ; then we came back to the bar- 
 rier de 1'Etoile, where she gave me a good tip and got into 
 a hack, telling me to take the chaise to the man she had hired 
 it from on the Cour des Coches, Faubourg St. Honore." 
 
 "The name of the man ? " demanded la Peyrade. 
 
 "Sieur Simonin," replied the postillion. 
 
 Armed with this information, la Peyrade took his course, 
 and in a quarter of an hour was questioning the livery-stable 
 keeper; that individual could only say that the chaise had 
 been hired for half a day without horses, and that it had been 
 returned at noon by a postillion of the royal post. 
 
 "Never mind," said la Peyrade, "I am certain that she 
 has not left Paris, and is not avoiding me; most likely she 
 uses this pretended journey to utterly break with the Thuil- 
 liers. Fool that I am, a letter assuredly awaits me at my 
 home to inform me of all." 
 
 Worn out with hunger and fatigue, he took a hack to his 
 home, but there he had to wait for the porter, Coffinet, who 
 since Brigitte's departure had been remiss in his duties. La 
 Peyrade had rushed at once to the lodge, but the porter and 
 his wife were both absent, she about the house, he in a wine- 
 shop, where between two drinks he defended the right of people 
 to own property, as against the opinion held by a republican 
 who was speaking disrespectfully the other way. 
 
 It was over twenty minutes before this worthy janitor re-
 
 302 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 membered that he had certain "property" confided to him 
 and returned to his functions. One can figure to himself the 
 deluge of reproaches with which la Peyrade saluted him. He 
 made some kind of an excuse, and handed a letter to him which 
 bore the Paris postmark. Rather with his heart than his eyes 
 the Provencal recognized the writing ; the arms and the motto, 
 when he turned the missive over, confirmed the hope and put 
 an end to the crudest emotion he had ever experienced. 
 
 To read this letter before the janitor were profanation ; by 
 a delicacy of feeling which all lovers will understand, he did 
 himself the pleasure of deferring his happiness ; he would not 
 even break the seal of that so precious missive until, safe be- 
 hind his own closed door, he could revel to his heart's con- 
 tent in the ravishments it promised. 
 
 Flying up the stair, two steps at a time, the amorous Pro- 
 venc.al had the childishness to turn the key in the door ; then, 
 installed before his desk, he, with pious dexterity, broke the 
 seal ; it seemed as if his heart would break his ribs. 
 
 "Dear monsieur," was written, "I disappear forever, for 
 my role is played out. I give you tny thanks for having ren- 
 dered it pleasant and easy. By embroiling you with the 
 Thuilliers and Collevilles, who are now fully informed as to 
 your sentiments about them, and having taken great care to 
 expatiate to extravagant lengths, in a manner most mortifying 
 to their bourgeois self-conceit, on the real cause of your sud- 
 den and ruthless rupture with them, I am most happy to say 
 that I have rendered a most signal service to you. The girl 
 does not love you, and you only love the beautiful eyes of her 
 dot. So I have saved the pair of you from a hell. In ex- 
 change for the one to whom you aspired, another is destined 
 for you ; she is richer, more beautiful than Mile. Colleville, 
 and, speaking for myself, in conclusion, much freer than 
 " Your very unworthy servant, 
 
 * ' Wife TORNA, COMTESSE DE GODOLLO,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 303 
 
 " P. S. For further information, apply without delay to M. 
 du Portail, gentleman, Rue Honore-Chevalier, near the Rue 
 Cassette, quarter of Saint-Sulpice, who is expecting you." 
 
 When he had finished this screed, the advocate of the poor 
 put his head in his hands ; he saw nothing, heard nothing, 
 thought nothing ; he was annihilated. 
 
 Several days were necessary to la Peyrade before he could 
 recover the shock. The blow, in fact, was a terrible one; 
 coming out of that golden dream in which he had seen a 
 perspective of the future in such a radiant atmosphere, he 
 found himself the victim of a hoax which wounded him most 
 severely in his self-conceit and all his pretensions to cunning 
 and cleverness ; broken with the Thuilliers irrevocably ; loaded 
 with a debt of twenty-five thousand francs, of course not im- 
 mediately due; and also engaged by his dignity to pay Brigitte 
 another ten thousand francs ; to complete all, he felt that he 
 was not radically cured of his passionate feelings for the femi- 
 nine author of this great disaster and the instrument of his 
 ruin. We might go further and say that he never ceased to 
 long for her. That desire to find her he dubbed curiosity, 
 ardor for vengeance, and, as a consequence, he evolved the 
 ingenious deductions : 
 
 " Cerizet spoke to me of a rich heiress ; the countess in her 
 letter intimates that the whole intrigue in which she entangled 
 me was to lead to a wealthy marriage ; rich marriages are not 
 so plentifully thrown at a man's head that two such should 
 come my way in a few weeks ; therefore, the match offered 
 me by Cerizet and that proposed by the countess must be the 
 same crazy girl they are so strangely bent on making me 
 marry; therefore, Cerizet, being in the plot, must know the 
 countess; therefore, I shall get upon the Hungarian's track 
 through him. In any case I shall get some information about 
 this strange choice that has befallen me; evidently these peo- 
 ple, whoever they may be, who can use such well-dressed pup-
 
 304 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 pets, must occupy positions of considerable importance. I'll 
 go, therefore, and see Cerizet." 
 
 And he went to see Cerizet. 
 
 Since the dinner at the Rocher de Cancale, the two old 
 cronies had not met. Once or twice, at the Thuilliers, la 
 Peyrade had asked Dutocq, who now seldom went there on 
 account of its distance, what had become of his copying- 
 clerk. 
 
 " He never mentions you," was the answer. 
 
 It might well be supposed, therefore, that resentment reigned 
 in the breast of the vindictive usurer, the manet alta mente re- 
 postum. Such a consideration as this could not detain la 
 Peyrade. He was not about to ask for anything ; he was 
 using the pretext of renewing the affair about which Cerizet 
 had spoken ; Cerizet never had any part in things that were 
 not of material interest to himself; the chances were then 
 that he would be received with enthusiasm. He called upon 
 him at the justice of the peace office ; he did not pause in the 
 waiting-room but pushed through to the office adjoining that 
 of Dutocq. There he found C6rizet seated at a blackened 
 wooden desk, at which another clerk, then absent, occupied 
 the opposite place. 
 
 Seeing the entrance of the barrister, Cerizet cast a savage 
 look at him, without moving or ceasing from his work of copy- 
 ing a judgment. 
 
 "Halloo!" said he, "you, Sieur la Peyrade. Well, you 
 made a pretty mess for your friend Thuillier with your pam- 
 phlet ! " 
 
 "How are you?" asked la Peyrade, in a tone at once 
 resolute and amicable. 
 
 "I," replied Cerizet, "as you see, am still rowing my gal- 
 ley ; and, to follow out the nautical metaphor, may I ask what 
 wind has blown you here ; perhaps it chances to be the wind 
 of adversity?" 
 
 La Peyrade did not answer this, but took a chair which he
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 305 
 
 placed alongside his questioner, after which he gravely 
 said : 
 
 " My dear, we must have a few words with each other." 
 
 "It appears," said the venomous Cerizet, " the Thuilliers 
 have become furiously chilly since the pamphlet was seized." 
 
 "They are ungrateful people ; I have broken with them," 
 said la Peyrade. 
 
 "Rupture or dismissal," replied Cerizet, "their door is 
 none the less closed against you ; from what Dutocq tells me, 
 Brigette doesn'. spare you. You see, rny friend, what comes 
 of trying to run things alone ; there is no one to help smooth 
 off the angles. If you had got the lease for me, I should have 
 been introduced to the Thuilliers; Dutocq would not have 
 deserted you, and we should have steered you safely into 
 port." 
 
 "And if I don't want to arrive into port ? " replied la Pey- 
 rade. "I tell you I've done with the Thuilliers; it was I 
 broke with them first ; I told them to keep out of ray sun- 
 shine ; and if Dutocq told you anything different, you may 
 tell him from me that he lies : is that straight enough ? It 
 seems to me that I speak plainly." 
 
 "Oh, just so, my dear, if you are so marl at all these Thuil- 
 lieritses, why that was the reason you should have planted me 
 among them, then you would have seen me revenge you and 
 show 'em up." 
 
 "You have reason on your side," said la Peyrade; "I 
 should have been glad to sicke you at their legs ; but I had 
 nothing to do with the matter of the lease." 
 
 "Doubtless," said CeYizet, "it was your conscience that 
 caused you to tell Brigette that the twelve thousand francs 
 were as good in her pocket as in mine." 
 
 " It seems that Dutocq," said the barrister, " still continues 
 on his honorable course of spy, which he practiced in the 
 Bureau of Finance. Like others who follow that dirty pro- 
 fession, he makes his reports more amusing than truthful." 
 20
 
 806 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Be careful," said Cerizet, " you are speaking of my patron 
 in his own lair." 
 
 " Some time ago you spoke to me of a girl whom I could 
 marry rich, matured, and suffering the least in the world 
 with hysteria, as you euphemistically phrased it." 
 
 "So, there! I've been waiting for this," exclaimed the 
 usurer; " but you've been full slow in getting here." 
 
 " In offering me this heiress, what had you in your mind ? " 
 
 " Par bleu / to assist you in making a good strike ; you only 
 had to stoop to conquer. I was charged to make a formal 
 proposal to you; and, as there wasn't any brokerage in it for 
 me, I relied wholly on your generosity," said Cerizet. 
 
 "You are not the only one that made me that offer; a 
 woman made the same, eh ? " 
 
 "A woman?" replied Cerizet, in so natural a tone, cer- 
 tainly of surprise. " Not that I'm aware of." 
 
 "Yes, a foreigner, young and handsome, whom you must 
 have met in the family of the future bride, and who seems to 
 be entirely devoted to them." 
 
 "Never," said Cerizet, "has there been the trace of a 
 woman in the negotiations ; I have every reason to think that 
 I alone had the charge of it." 
 
 "What," said la Peyrade, fixing Cerizet with his eye ; "do 
 you mean to tell me that you never heard of the Comtesse 
 TornadeGodollo?" 
 
 " Never in all the days of my life ; it's the first time I ever 
 heard the name pronounced." 
 
 " Then it must have been another match," said la Peyrade; 
 " this was a young person much richer than Mademoiselle 
 Colleville." 
 
 "And matured? And hysterical?" asked Cerizet. 
 
 "No; the proposal was not embellished with those acces- 
 sories ; there is one other detail may give you the clue ; Ma- 
 dame de Godollo desired me, if I wished more information, 
 to see a Monsieur du Portail, gentleman."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 307 
 
 "Rue Honori-Chevalier ? " said Cerizet, quickly. 
 
 "Exactly." 
 
 " Then it is the same marriage offered from two different 
 sides ; the only strange thing about it is that I should not 
 have been informed of my collaborator." 
 
 At this moment the door of the office was cautiously opened ; 
 a woman's head was seen and a voice, immediately recognized 
 by la Peyrade, said, addressing the clerk : 
 
 "Ah ! your pardon ; monsieur is busy. May I be allowed 
 to say a word to you when you are alone ? " 
 
 Cerizet, whose eye was as quick as his pen, noticed this: 
 La Peyrade sat so that the visitor could not see him, but he 
 no sooner heard the honeyed drawl than he hurriedly turned 
 his head to hide his features. Instead, then, of dismissing 
 her roughly, the usual treatment accorded intruders by this 
 least pleasant of copying-clerks : 
 
 " Come in, come in, Madame Lambert," the modest visitor 
 heard. "You would have to wait so long a time." 
 
 "Ah! Monsieur the Advocate of the Poor," cried his 
 creditor. " How pleased I am to meet monsieur. I have 
 been several times to your house to see if you had attended to 
 my little matter." 
 
 " Truly," said la Peyrade, " for some time I have had many 
 occupations that have kept me from my office ; but all is in 
 order and the petition, properly prepared, has been sent to 
 the secretary." 
 
 "How good monsieur is," said the pious woman, clasping 
 her hands. 
 
 "Tiensf you and Madame Lambert have business to- 
 gether ! " said Cerizet; "you never told me that. Are you 
 old Picot's counsel ? " 
 
 " Unfortunately, no," said the devotee ; " my master won't 
 take advice from any one; he is such a stupid, willful man. 
 But, my worthy sir, is it true that another family council is to 
 meet?"
 
 308 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Certainly," replied Cerizet, "and not later than to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " But why is this, monsieur, when the judges of the court 
 have decided that the family have no rights ? " 
 
 "Well, yes," answered the copying-clerk, "the judge of 
 the lower court, followed by that of the court of appeals, re- 
 jected the application of the relations, the same as their appli- 
 cation for a commission in lunacy. But now they are taking 
 it up from another point of view and wish to have a trustee 
 for the estate appointed. It strikes me, my dear Madame 
 Lambert, that old Picot will be leashed up. There are some 
 very grave allegations advanced ; to pinch a little is all right, 
 but to grab the lot is a bit too much." 
 
 "Does monsieur believe? " said the pious woman, 
 
 raising her hands and lifting her shoulders. 
 
 "Ill believe nothing," said Cerizet ; <: I'm not the judge 
 in the case. But the relatives say that you have made away 
 with considerable sums of money, beside making investments 
 into which they mean to inquire." 
 
 " My God ! " said she, " they can look ; I have not a bond, 
 a share, or a note, not the least thing of value in my pos- 
 session." 
 
 "Ah ! " said Cerizet, with a sidelong glance at la Peyrade, 
 
 "you have obliging friends who hold well, it has nothing 
 
 to do with me; each must manage for himself; what was it 
 that you particularly wished to see me about ? " 
 
 " I wished for you to speak for us to the justice of the 
 peace ; the vicar of St. Jacques will give us a good recom- 
 mendation. It is hard that the poor man," she added, weep- 
 ing, " should be tormented so. They will be the death of 
 him." 
 
 " Well, as I told you before, the judge is against you. It's 
 my opinion that you make yourself out to be much poorer 
 than you are; if my friend, la Peyrade, was not bound by 
 the obligations of his profession "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. S09 
 
 " I," interrupted la Peyrade, quickly, " I know nothing of 
 madame's business. She called on me to draw up a memo- 
 rial for her that has nothing in common with justice or 
 finance." 
 
 "Ah! that's so," said Cdrizet, "she came about the peti- 
 tion on the day when Dutocq met her the day, you know, 
 before the famous dinner at the Rocher de Cancale, when you 
 played the Roman." 
 
 Then, as if he attached no significance to this reminiscence : 
 "Well, my worthy Madame Lambert," said he, "I'll get 
 my patron to speak to the justice, but I give you warning that 
 he is not on your side." 
 
 Mme. Lambert made her exit with numerous curtseys and 
 protestations of gratitude. 
 
 " Well," said la Peyrade, when they were alone, " what 
 about this du Portail ?" 
 
 "Just this: he is a little old man as clear as amber," re- 
 plied Cerizet, " and who, it seems to me, has the devil's own 
 credit. Go and see him. It costs nothing, as they say." 
 
 As he finished speaking Dutocq came in, accompanied by 
 his assistant clerk. 
 
 "Halloo!" said he, seeing la Peyrade and Cerizet to- 
 gether, " see the reconstituted trinity ; but the object of the 
 alliance, the casus ftzderis, is gone down the stream. What 
 have you done, my dear la Peyrade, to that good Brigitte? 
 She hates you with a mortal hatred." 
 "And Thuillier' ? " asked the barrister. 
 It was the scene in Moliere upside down ; TartufFe asking 
 for news of Orgon. 
 
 " Thuillier in the beginning was not so hostile ; but it 
 appears that the business of the seizure is not so bad after all. 
 As he needs you less he swims the more in the wake of his 
 sister. If it is decided that there is no case against him, you 
 will be only fit for hanging, in his opinion." 
 
 "I am well out of that mess," said la Peyrade, " and when
 
 310 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 I get caught again in such another festival Farewell, 
 
 my dears," he added. 
 
 When la Peyrade got into the courtyard, he was accosted 
 by Mme. Lambert, who was awaiting him. 
 
 " Monsieur," said she, with unction, " I hope you do not 
 doubt that I came by my money from my uncle in England ; 
 and that monsieur does not believe the horrible things 
 Monsieur Cerizet said before you?" 
 
 "That's all very well," said la Peyrade, "but you must 
 understand that, with all the yarns circulated by your master's 
 relatives, there is little chance of your getting the prize for 
 virtue." 
 
 "If it be the will of God that I should not obtain it " 
 
 "You must see, too, how important it is to keep your secret 
 to yourself as to the service I rendered you. On the first in- 
 discretion the cash will be returned." 
 
 "Oh ! monsieur may rest easy about that." 
 
 "Well, then, farewell, my dear," said la Peyrade, in a 
 patronizing voice. 
 
 Brigitte had so strong an instinct of despotism that it was 
 not only without regret but with secret joy that she saw the 
 disappearance of Mme. de Godollo. That woman was in a 
 crushing manner her superior ; this added much to the good 
 ordering of the house, but made her feel ill at ease. Bri- 
 gitte felt when she had gone like those kings who for a long 
 time had been dominated by capable ministers, and who re- 
 joice when death steps in to remove the tyrant whose services 
 and rival influences he has had to endure. 
 
 Thuillier felt much the same about it ; but la Peyrade was a 
 different thing, he felt the lack of his assistance. The coun- 
 cilor was called upon to draw up an official report. After 
 having written such a pamphlet, it was impossible he should 
 decline the task. But it was in vain that he shut himself up 
 in his study, gorged himself with black coffee, mended his 
 pens times without number, to write: "A Report to the Gen-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 311 
 
 tlemen, the Members of the Municipal Council of the City of 
 Paris," time after time. Then, after starting off on another 
 sheet: " Gentlemen," he would rush madly from the room, 
 complaining of the terrible racket which had stopped his 
 ideas, when some one had opened a closet door or moved a 
 chair. This did not advance the business, nor even begin it. 
 
 But here Rabourdin came to the rescue. He wished some 
 little alterations in his rooms. This Thuillier willingly al- 
 lowed, and spoke to him of the difficulty of his task. Ra- 
 bourdin, with his constant practice in official matters, gave an 
 explanation, but when he had concluded he perceived plainly 
 that Thuillier did not understand. He then informed him 
 that he had an old report on a similar subject, and lent him 
 the manuscript, from which he extracted more than enough 
 for a capable, if inept, report. This report when read at the 
 council was a great success, and Thuillier came home beaming 
 with the compliments lavished upon him. Up to his death 
 he spoke of " that report I had the honor of laying before the 
 Municipal Council of the Seine." La Peyrade had sunk in 
 his estimation he could do without him. 
 
 A parliamentary crisis was impending ; advantage was taken 
 of this by the ministry to relax the stringent laws against the 
 press and to extend clemency to political suspects, with the 
 idea of disarming opposition. Thuillier was included in this 
 hypocritical amnesty. 
 
 Then Dutocq's prophesy was realized. With this load 
 taken off his back, Thuillier insolently swaggered over the 
 dismissal of the case, and, with Brigitte chanting in chorus, 
 spoke of la Peyrade as a sneak whom he had fed, who owed 
 him considerable sums, and who had behaved with the worst 
 ingratitude. Orgon was in full revolt, and, like Dorine, was 
 ready to cry : 
 
 "A pauper who came without wearing shoes, 
 In old, draggled clothes that no beggar would choose."
 
 312 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Dutocq faithfully reported all this to Cerizet, but he had 
 no opportunity of retailing them to la Peyrade, for they had 
 not met since the interview in the justice's office. La Pey- 
 rade found it out himself. It happened in this wise: 
 
 Constantly pursued by thoughts of the handsome Hunga- 
 rian and not waiting to know what Cerizet could learn, he 
 scoured Paris in every direction. He might have been taken 
 for the most indifferent of strollers. He was to be seen in 
 the most crowded places; his heart ever telling him that 
 sooner or later he would encounter the object of his ardent 
 search. 
 
 One evening, it was about the middle of October, the 
 fall, as often happens in Paris, was magnificent, and out- 
 doors was as bustling as at midsummer. On the Boulevard 
 des Italiens, once known as the Boulevard de Gaud, as he 
 wandered past the long line of chairs in front of the Cafe de 
 Paris, where, in the midst of some women of the Chausee d* 
 Antin, accompanied by their husbands and children, may be 
 seen in the evening an espalier of beautiful night flowers 
 waiting only the gloved hand to pluck them, la Peyrade was 
 struck to the heart ; in the distance he fancied he saw his 
 adored countess. 
 
 She was alone, in a splendid toilette which seemed rather 
 out of place, taken in connection with her isolation ; before 
 her, mounted on a chair, trembled a white lap-dog which she 
 caressed with her hands. After assuring himself that he was 
 not mistaken la Peyrade was about to dart upon that so celes- 
 tial vision, when he was forestalled by a lion of the most dis- 
 tinguished type ; without throwing aside his cigar, without 
 even putting his hand to his hat, this handsome young man 
 entered into conversation with his ideal. When she saw the 
 Provencal, pale and disposed to address her, the siren doubt- 
 less became alarmed, for she rose and took the arm of the 
 man who was talking to her. 
 
 " Is your carriage here, Emile?" said she. " This is the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 313 
 
 evening for the closing of the Mabile. I should like to 
 
 go." 
 
 As thrown in the teeth of the unhappy barrister, the name 
 of this disreputable place instead of causing a wound was a 
 real charity, for it saved him from a silly action, that of 
 addressing on the arm of her cavalier the unworthy creature 
 of whom a few moments earlier he had thought of with a 
 treasure of tenderness. 
 
 " She is not worthy an insult," he said to himself. 
 
 But as lovers are a people not easily driven to raise a siege 
 when they have begun it, the Provencal was not as yet con- 
 vinced that he had got to the bottom of the affair. Not far 
 away sat another woman near the place whence the Hunga- 
 rian had gone ; but this one, ripe in years, feathers on her 
 bonnet, showed beneath the folds of a colored shawl the sad 
 relics of departed splendor. Her aspect was not imposing ; 
 it was the contrary. La Peyrade seated himself near and 
 addressed her: 
 
 " Do you know, madame," he asked, without ceremony, 
 " who the woman is that went away leaning on the arm of a 
 gentleman ?" 
 
 "Certainly, monsieur, I know all the ladies who come 
 here." 
 
 "And her name is?" 
 
 " Madame Komorn." 
 
 " Is she as impregnable as the fortress by that name? " 
 
 " Is it that monsieur has an idea of making her acquaint- 
 ance?" 
 
 " I don't know," said the Provencal, "but she is a woman 
 who makes people think of her." 
 
 "And who is a very dangerous woman, monsieur," replied 
 the matron, " a dreadful spendthrift, but one who makes little 
 return in favors for what may be done for her. I am able to 
 speak as to that ; when she arrived here from Berlin, six 
 months ago, she was warmly introduced to me."
 
 314 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Ah ! " exclaimed la Peyrade. 
 
 " Yes, at that time, in the neighborhood of the Ville 
 d'Avray a pretty little place with a park, covert, and fish- 
 lakes and being dull there and all alone, and had not the 
 fortune necessary to lead the life of a castle, a number of 
 gentlemen and ladies suggested that I should organize parties 
 on the line of picnics. ' Madame Louchard,' says they " 
 
 "Madame Louchard!" repeated la Peyrade. "Are you 
 then any relation to Monsieur Louchard of the commercial 
 police?" 
 
 " His wife, monsieur, but with a legal separation. He's a 
 terror of a man who wants me to go back to him ; but I, 
 though willing to forgive most things, I can't stand a lack of 
 respect. Why, one day he raised his hand to strike me ' 
 
 "In fact," said la Peyrade, interrupting her to call up 
 the subject again, " you arranged these picnics and Madame 
 de Godo I mean Madame Komorn ?" 
 
 " Was one of the first in my home. She there picked up 
 with an Italian, a fine man, rich, and a political refugee, but 
 high and mighty. You can quite understand that it did not 
 suit my purpose that intrigues should be carried on in my 
 house ; still the man was so much in love, and so unhappy 
 because he couldn't get Madame Komorn to care for him, 
 that it ended in my being interested in his love affairs. It 
 brought lots of grist to madame's mill, for she managed to get 
 heaps of money out of that Italian. Well, would you credit 
 it? being just then in need of a little help, when I asked her 
 to advance me a little cash, she absolutely refused and left my 
 house, taking her lover along with her. He can't be very 
 thankful for the connection though, poor man." 
 
 "Why, what came of him?" asked la Peyrade. 
 
 " Why it happened that this serpent knew every European 
 language she is smart to her finger ends, but more intriguing 
 than smart so being, as it seemed, employed by the police in 
 some capacity, she turned over to the government a lot of
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 315 
 
 correspondence which the Italian had inadvertently left laying 
 around, so he was expelled France." 
 
 "And after the departure of the Italian, this Madame 
 Komorn ? " 
 
 "Had a number of adventures and broke up some fine 
 fortunes ; I thought she had left Paris. For two months past 
 she has not been seen. I believed she had totally disappeared, 
 but the other day she turned up again more brilliant than 
 ever. My advice to monsieur would be to leave her alone ; 
 but monsieur is a Southerner, he has the passion of the South- 
 erners, perhaps what I have said may only serve to fire you 
 up. However, she's a very fascinating creature oh ! very 
 fascinating. Although we parted bad friends she came up to 
 me and asked my address and said that she would call upon 
 me sometime." 
 
 "Well, madame, I'll think about it," said la Peyrade, ris- 
 ing and making a bow to his informant. 
 
 It was a cold salutation, and his abrupt departure indicated 
 that the man was not serious in his attentions. 
 
 The investment of the Thuilliers, prepared with such care 
 by la Peyrade, at the price of such sacrifice of pride, was en- 
 tirely useless. Flavie well avenged for the odious farce he 
 had played with her, his position worse than when he was 
 rescued by Cerizet and Dutocq, his heart filled with venge- 
 ful projects against the woman who had so easily beaten him 
 out like a stupid sheep, th<? memory of what he had been 
 subject to in his self-abasement these were the thoughts and 
 emotions of his sleepless night, except the few moments 
 shaken by hideous dreams. 
 
 On the next day la Peyrade was a prey to fever, the symp- 
 toms became most alarming, the physician took every means 
 to forfend brain fever ; bleeding, cupping, ice on the head 
 this was the agreeable finale to his dream of love. But it must 
 be said he arose cured, mentally as well as physically ; he 
 retained no other sentiment than cold contempt for the 
 
 Y
 
 316 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 treacherous Hungarian, a sentiment that did not even rise to 
 a desire for vengeance. 
 
 Once more on his feet he reckoned with his future ; he 
 asked himself whether he should attempt the reconquest of 
 the Thuilliers, or whether he should fall back upon the 
 crazy girl who had riches where the others had brains. Great 
 commotions of the soul are like storms that purify the atmos- 
 phere ; they induce good counsel and generous resolve. The 
 bar was open to him ; that was a broad path which was able 
 to lead him to the acme of his ambition. Like Figaro, who 
 showed more science and ability in order to live, than states- 
 men had shown in a thousand years in the government of 
 Spain, he, in order to establish himself in the Thuillier 
 household, to marry the daughter of a clarionet and a flirt, 
 had expended more art, more wit, more dishonesty than 
 would have made him successful in an honorable career. 
 
 "Enough," said he, "of such acquaintances as Dutocq 
 and Cerizet ; enough of the nauseating atmosphere breathed 
 by the Minards, Phellions, Collevilles et al. Living in Paris," 
 added he, "I'll shake off this provincial life, a thousand 
 times more ridiculous and paltry than the provincialism of the 
 country; that with all its narrowness has its individuality and 
 customs, a sui generis dignity ; they are frankly what they 
 profess themselves, the antipodes of the Parisian ; this other 
 is only a parody." 
 
 With this determination la Peyrade called upon two or 
 three attorneys who had offered to introduce him to the courts 
 by giving him a few minor cases to plead. He accepted ; he 
 was no longer the advocate of the poor, but a recognized 
 pleader. 
 
 He had become comparatively successful when one morning 
 he received a letter from the president of the association of 
 barristers asking him to call upon him, as he had somewhat of 
 importance to speak of. At once la Peyrade thought of the 
 Madeleine house transaction this must have come to the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. S17 
 
 knowledge of the Board of Discipline. It might be that du 
 Portail had been told the whole story by Cerizet. It was 
 plain that this man would stop at nothing, as witness his em- 
 ployment of the Hungarian. Was it that this virulent man 
 whom he had never seen, seeing that he was becoming success- 
 ful in his career, had determined to blight it by informing 
 upon him ? The barrister remained in cruel suspense for the 
 hour when he might learn the truth. While he ruminated over 
 his breakfast, Mme. Coffinet, who had the honor of being his 
 housekeeper, entered to say that a Monsieur Etienne Lousteau 
 wished to see him. 
 
 "Show him into my office," said he to the portress. 
 
 A moment later he met his visitor, whom he seemed to have 
 a faint recollection of having seen before. 
 
 " Monsieur," said la Peyrade's guest, "I had the honor of 
 once breakfasting with you at M. Vefour's; I was invited 
 to that meeting, which was afterward somewhat troubled, by 
 Monsieur Thuillier, your friend." 
 
 "Ah! very good," said the barrister, pushing a chair 
 toward him, "you are attached to the staff of some news- 
 paper?" 
 
 " Editor-in-chief of the ' Echo de la Bievre ; ' it is on that 
 matter I wish to speak to you. You know what has happened ? ' ' 
 
 "No," said la Peyrade. 
 
 " What, are you ignorant that the ministry met a frightful 
 reverse yesterday. But instead of resigning they are going 
 to throw themselves upon the country; so the Chamber is 
 dissolved." 
 
 " I did not know that ; I've not read the morning papers." 
 
 "All aspirants for a nomination as deputy are now in the 
 field ; I believe that Monsieur Thuillier intends to offer him- 
 self for the twelfth arrondissement." 
 
 " I believe such is his thought." 
 
 "Well, I am willing, monsieur, to place at his disposal an 
 organ of which I think you will not fail to estimate the value,
 
 318 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 The ' Echo dc la Bievre,' a trade paper, can have a decisir* 
 influence in that quarter on the election." 
 
 "And are you seriously disposed," asked the barrister, " to 
 make that journal support Thuillier's candidature?" 
 
 'Better than that," replied Lousteau, "I am here to pro- 
 pose to Monsieur Thuillier that he purchase the organ ; should 
 he become the owner he could use it as he wished." 
 
 "But in the first place," answered la Peyrade, " what is 
 the present condition of the enterprise? Being a trade 
 journal, as you just called it, I have seen it but seldom ; it 
 would be unknown to me only for the remarkable article you 
 were so kind as to devote to Thuillier's defense when the 
 pamphlet was seized." 
 
 Lousteau bowed his thanks, and replied : 
 
 " The position of the paper is excellent; we can sell on 
 easy terms, for we were about giving up its publication." 
 
 "That is strange with a journal that is prosperous," said 
 the barrister. 
 
 " Nothing more natural, on the contrary," replied Lousteau ; 
 " the founders having gained the ends for which it was estab- 
 lished, the ' Echo de la Bievere ' has thus become an effect 
 without a cause." 
 
 "I should have thought, however," said la Peyrade, in- 
 sistingly, "that a journal would be a lever that depended for 
 its force on the number of its subscribers." 
 
 " Not for such as have a definite aim," replied Lousteau, 
 dogmatically. " In such a case subscribers are an embarrass- 
 ment, for you have to cater to and amuse them ; and, during 
 this time, the real object must be neglected. A paper which 
 has but a circumscribed orbit should be like the stroke of that 
 pendulum which, always striking steadily on one spot, fires at 
 the right moment the cannon at the Palais-Royal." 
 
 "Well, what price do you put upon this publication, which 
 may not even pay its expenses and is devoted to an utterly 
 different purpose ? "
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 319 
 
 "Before answering, I beg to ask you another question: 
 Have you any intention of buying? " 
 
 " That depends upon circumstances," said the barrister ; " I 
 should naturally have to first present the matter to Thuillier, 
 whom, I may remark, knows absolutely less than nothing of a 
 newspaper and its workings. So that if you ask an alarming 
 price I can inform you here and now that it would be useless 
 for me to mention it to him ; he certainly would not touch 
 it." 
 
 " No,'' replied Lousteau, " I told you we should be reason- 
 able ; these gentlemen have given me a free hand ; only I 
 wish to remark that we have several propositions and I crave 
 an early answer. The proposition is made to Monsieur 
 Thuillier to pay him a particular courtesy. When may I hope 
 for your reply?" 
 
 "To-morrow, most likely," answered la Peyrade, bowing 
 out his visitor. 
 
 By the manner in which the Provencal had received the 
 proposition to become the intermediary with Thuillier, the 
 reader will see that a sudden change had taken place in his 
 ideas. Evidently his "good friend" would have to come 
 back to him; Thuillier's eager desire to be elected would 
 hand him over tied hand and foot. Was not this the right 
 moment to renew the affair of his marriage with Celeste? 
 Moreover, if he received, as he dreaded, one of these cen- 
 sures which would ruin his future at the bar, it was the 
 Thuilliers, the ones who profited by the cause of his fall, that 
 his instinct claimed should afford him an asylum. Thinking 
 thus, la Peyrade went to see the president of the barristers' 
 association. 
 
 It was just as he had guessed ; in a clear and very circum- 
 stantial report the matter of the buying of the house had 
 been laid before the notice of his peers ; the highest digni- 
 tary of the order admitted that an anonymous communication 
 must always be regarded with distrust, but that he was ready
 
 320 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 to hear any explanations he might wish to make. La Peyrade 
 dare not intrench himself in an absolute denial; the hand 
 which had delivered the blow, as he thought, was far too deter- 
 mined and adroit to not hold the proof as well. But while 
 admitting the facts in general, he gave them a pleasing color. 
 He saw that he had not succeeded, when the president said : 
 
 " As soon as the next vacation is ended I shall send a re- 
 port to the Council of our order of the charges made and the 
 explanations you have given. The Council only can pro- 
 nounce on a matter of such importance." 
 
 Thus dismissed, la Peyrade felt that his future at the bar 
 was imperiled, but at least he had a respite. He put on his 
 gown and went to the fifth court, where he had to plead a 
 case. As he left the court, carrying a bundle of papers tied 
 up with a strip of cotton webbing, and carried by the fore- 
 arm being pressed against the chest, la Peyrade paced the 
 Salle des Pas Perdues, with that worried look which distin- 
 guishes the overworked barrister ; he perspired and mopped 
 his brow as he walked, when, in the distance he saw Thuillier, 
 who had just caught sight of him in that vast hall. 
 
 He was not surprised at meeting him. On leaving home 
 he had informed Mme. Coffinet that he was going to the 
 Palais and should be there until three o'clock, and she might 
 send any person there who came to ask for him. 
 
 He had no wish to make his accosting by Thuillier a too 
 easy matter, so he turned abruptly and took his way to one of 
 the benches, as if he had changed his purpose, and there 
 seated himself, taking a paper from the bundle and seemingly 
 absorbed in its contents. During this time he watched Thu- 
 illier out of the corner of his eye ; so Thuillier, thinking he 
 was engaged on some serious matter, doubted whether to 
 address him. After some backings and fillings the municipal 
 councilor made up his mind and sailed straight before the 
 wind, heading for the spot for which during the past fifteen 
 minutes he had been steering.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 821 
 
 "Halloo! Theodose," he exclaimed. "Then do you 
 often come to the Palais now? " 
 
 "Well, to me it seems that barristers in the Palais are like 
 Turks in Constantinople, where a friend of mine assures me 
 that plenty are to be seen. It is I that should be astonished 
 at seeing you here." 
 
 "Not at all," replied Thuillier, carelessly; "I'm here 
 about that cursed pamphlet. Is there ever any end to your 
 Justice? I was summoned here this morning, but I don't 
 regret it, as I have had the pleasure of meeting you." 
 
 " The same by myself," said la Peyrade. "I am enchanted 
 to see you, but I must leave you. I have an appointment. 
 You, too, have to go on the floor." 
 
 " I've been," said Thuillier. 
 
 ''Your intimate enemy is in that court, Olivier Vinet. 
 Did you speak to him?" asked la Peyrade. 
 
 "No, I didn't see him," and he named another judge. 
 
 " Tiens ! that's queer," said the barrister. "He's held 
 court there since morning ; he has just given a decision in a 
 case I pleaded." 
 
 Thuillier colored, and, making the best of his blunder : 
 
 " By the Virgin," said he, "I cannot tell one of you gen- 
 tlemen of the robe from the other." 
 
 La Peyrade shrugged his shoulders, and said to himself 
 aloud : 
 
 "Always the same man ! Cunning, wriggling, never going 
 straightforward." 
 
 "Of whom do you speak?" asked Thuillier, rather non- 
 plussed. 
 
 " Why of you, my dear ; do you take me for an idiot ? As 
 if I and everybody else did not know that your pamphlet affair 
 tumbled overhead two weeks ago. Why then should you be 
 summoned on the floor ? " 
 
 " Well, it was something about fees it's all Greek to me," 
 said Thuillier. 
 21
 
 322 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " And they choose the precise day that the ' Moniteur ' tells 
 of the resignation of the ministry, that made you think of the 
 twelfth arrondissement, eh?" 
 
 "And why not?" answered Thuillier, "what has paying 
 my fees to do with my candidacy?" 
 
 "I'll tell you why," said la Peyrade, drily. " The court 
 is essentially amiable and complaisant. ' Tt'ens,' it said to 
 itself, * here is the good Thuillier a candidate for the lower 
 Chamber ; how hampered he is with the attitude his ex- 
 friend la Peyrade has assumed ; he wishes now that he hadn't 
 quarreled with him ; let us summons him for the fees he 
 doesn't owe; that will bring him to the Palais where la Pey- 
 rade comes daily, thus he can meet him by chance, and avoid 
 taking a step which would bruise his self-love.' " 
 
 "Well, that's just where you are wrong," replied Thuillier, 
 breaking the ice ; "I used so little cunning, as you call it, as 
 to go to your house, and your porter told me you were here." 
 
 "Ah ! that's better," said la Peyrade. " I can get along 
 with folk who play straight. Have you come to talk about 
 your election ? I've already begun to work on it." 
 
 "Truly?" said Thuillier. "How?" 
 
 "Here," said la Peyrade, feeling under his robe for a 
 pocket and bringing forth a paper, "read this; it's what I 
 scribbled while the barrister on the other side was arguing." 
 
 The paper read thus : 
 
 ESTIMATE FOR A PAPER, QUARTO SIZE, AT THIRTY FRANCS 
 A YEAR. 
 
 Calculating the edition at five thousand, the costs per 
 month are : 
 
 Francs. 
 
 Paper, five reams at 12 fr 1860 
 
 Composition 240x3 
 
 Printing 45 
 
 Editor 250 
 
 One clerk 100 
 
 Amount carried forward 5060
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 323 
 
 Francs. 
 
 Amount brought forward 5060 
 
 Managing editor, also cashier 200 
 
 Delivery clerk 100 
 
 Folders I2O 
 
 Office boy 80 
 
 Wrappers and office expenses 150 
 
 Rent loo 
 
 License stamps and postage 75 
 
 Editing and reporting 1 800 
 
 Total per month I5 110 
 
 " " annum 181,320 
 
 " Do you want to start a paper ? " asked Thuillier in dismay. 
 
 "I," said la Peyrade, "I want nothing at all; it is you 
 that ask to be made a deputy." 
 
 "Undoubtedly; but consider, my dear fellow, one hun- 
 dred and eighty-one thousand three hundred and twenty 
 francs to plank down. Have I fortune large enough to meet 
 the demand?" 
 
 "Yes," said la Peyrade, "seeing the end you have in 
 view. In England they make far greater sacrifice to get a 
 seat in Parliament, but some of the cost could be altogether 
 cut off. You don't need a manager you are an old account- 
 ant, I am an old journalist, we can well manage that rent 
 we needn't reckon; your old room, still vacant, in the Rue 
 Saint-Dominique would make a fine office." 
 
 " But does a newspaper seem to you to be essential ? " 
 
 " So much so that unless we have that power in our hands 
 I won't have anything to do with the election. You do not 
 live in the quarter any more, your election could be balked 
 by one word the one the English call absenteeism. This 
 makes a hard game of it." 
 
 "I admit that," said Thuillier, "but the paper needs a 
 name, and " 
 
 "You don't suppose that I intend we should start a new
 
 324 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 paper, not much. Here is one ready made, the ' Echo de la 
 Bievre,' a treasure for a man standing in the twelfth arron- 
 dissement. Only say the word and I place it in your hands." 
 
 "How?" asked Thuillier. 
 
 " Parbleu ! by buying it ; it can be had for a song." 
 
 "See there, now," said Thuillier, "you never counted in 
 the cost of purchase." 
 
 "That's nothing," said la Peyrade, with a shrug of his 
 shoulders; " there are other difficulties to solve." 
 
 "Other difficulties ! " echoed Thuillier. 
 
 "Why, do you for one moment imagine," exclaimed la 
 Peyrade, " that, after all that has taken place between us, I 
 should boldly go in for your election without knowing ex- 
 actly what I am to get for my services ? " 
 
 "But," said Thuillier, somewhat astonished, "I thought 
 friendship was a full exchange for services." 
 
 " Certainly ; but when the exchange always consists in one 
 side giving all and the other side nothing, friendship is in- 
 clined to grow stale. It asks for a rather more equitable 
 settlement." 
 
 " But, my dear fellow, what then can I offer that you have 
 not refused ? " 
 
 " I refused because the offer was not frankly and heartily 
 made, beside being seasoned with Mademoiselle Brigitte's 
 special brand of vinegar ; any self-respecting man would have 
 played the same part that I did. You cannot give a thing 
 and keep it is an axiom in law, but you persisted in trying so 
 to do." 
 
 " I think you were unreasonable, but I have always treated 
 you in good faith. What guarantees do you want? " 
 
 " I ask that it shall be Celeste's husband that manages 
 your election, and not Theodose de la Peyrade." 
 
 "Well, hurry as we might," said Thuillier, "as Brigitte 
 said, it would take fifteen days, and just think two weeks 
 wasted out of the eight we have before us."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 325 
 
 " The banns can be published the day after to-morrow, for 
 the first time in the mayor's office ; then, though the banns 
 is not a step from which there is no retreat, it is at least a 
 pledge before the public and a stride in the right direction ; 
 then your notary can draw the contract immediately. In 
 addition, if you buy the paper, that will be another reason 
 why you wouldn't go back on me, for the gun will be too 
 heavy for you to handle for me to be afraid of your trying to 
 fire it alone." 
 
 " Very good, my dear," said Thuillier. "Look properly 
 after my interests. If the paper is all right, we'll buy it." 
 
 " Then I, on my part, will do everything for you as if it 
 were for myself, which, by-the-by, is not altogether an 
 hypothesis ; I have even now received suggestions touching 
 my own candidacy ; if I were vindictive " 
 
 '' Certainly," said Thuillier, with humility, "you would 
 make a better deputy than I. But you, it seems to me, are 
 not of legal age." 
 
 "There is a much better reason than that you are my 
 friend ; I find you again what you had been before. As for 
 the election, I would rather hear : 'He makes deputies, but 
 will not be made one.' Now I must leave you to keep my 
 appointment ; come to my office to-morrow and see me." 
 
 Who that has ever been a newspaper-man will ever be one : 
 that horoscope is as sure as that of drunkards. 
 
 Whoever has tasted of that feverish occupation and relative 
 idleness and independence ; whoever has exercised that sover- 
 eignty which criticises intellect, art, genius, glory, virtue, 
 absurdity, and even truth itself; whoever has ascended the 
 tribune erected by his own hands, fulfilled for only one short 
 hour the functions of that censorship to which he is self- 
 appointed, that proxy of the public's opinion, looks upon 
 himself when retired to private life as royalty did at Cher- 
 bourg in lonely exile ; the moment a chance offers he 
 thrusts forth a hand eager to again clutch the crown.
 
 326 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 For the reason that la Peyrade had once been a journalist, 
 when Lousteau placed within his grasp the weapon known as 
 the "lcho de la Bievre," all his instincts as a newspaper- 
 man were revived, notwithstanding the inferior quality of the 
 blade. The paper had failed ; la Peyrade was sure he could 
 revivify it. The barrister threatened with being disbarred 
 had at once a certain situation ; he could hold it as a de- 
 tached fort and compel his enemies to reckon with him. The 
 Thuilliers would be bound to him by ties of self-interest, for 
 their capital would be involved in the business ; therefore, he 
 need not fear their caprices or ingratitude. The cost of 
 the purchase was absolutely low ; a bank-bill for five hundred 
 francs, for which Etienne Lousteau never satisfactorily ac- 
 counted to the shareholders, put Thuillier in full ownership 
 of the title, property, furniture, and good-will of the paper, 
 which they at once proceeded to reorganize. 
 
 During the operation of this regeneration Crizet one morn- 
 ing called upon du Portail, with whom more than ever la Pey- 
 rade was determined to hold no communication. 
 
 "Well," said the little old man, " what effect had the news 
 we gave the president of the association on our man ?" 
 
 "Phew!" said Cerizet, whose frequent intercourse with 
 du Portail had made him more familiar ; "there's no more 
 any question of that now ; the eel has slipped away again ; 
 neither gentleness nor violence has any effect on that devil of 
 a man ; he has quarreled with the association, but is thicker 
 than ever with the Thuilliers. 'Necessity,' says Figaro, 'an- 
 nihilates distance.' Thuillier needs him for his candidature 
 in the St. James' quarter, so they kissed and made friends." 
 
 " Doubtless the marriage is arranged for an early date?" 
 asked du Portail. 
 
 "Quite so," said Cerizet; "and then there's another ma- 
 chine to work ; that crazy fellow has induced Thuillier to buy 
 a newspaper; he'll let them in for forty thousand francs. 
 When Thuillier once gets fairly involved he'll want to get
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 327 
 
 his money back, so I expect to see them stick together for the 
 rest of their lives." 
 
 "What paper is it?" asked du Portail, indifferently. 
 
 "A cabbage leaf called the 'Echo de la Bievre,' a jour- 
 nal," said Cerizet, scornfully, "that an old journalist set up 
 by the help of a lot of tanners in the Mouffetard quarter 
 the location of that trade." 
 
 "Well, for a local service it is not such a bad venture," 
 said du Portail. "La Peyrade is talented, active, and has a 
 bright intellect ; he may make the ' Echo ' resound. Under 
 what banner does Messire Thuillier present himself?" 
 
 " Thuillier ! " replied the banker of the poor ; " he has no 
 more opinion than an oyster. Until he published his pam- 
 phlet he was like all the rest of those bourgeois, a conserva- 
 tive; but since its seizure he has gone over to the Opposition. 
 Self-interest for these people is the mainspring of their con- 
 victions." 
 
 "Pcste!" said du Portail; " this combination of our bar- 
 rister may rise to the importance of becoming a political 
 danger from my view, which is conservative and govern- 
 mental. I believe," said he, after a reflective pause, "that 
 you worked on a newspaper once upon a time ; you, ' Cerizet 
 the Brave.'" 
 
 "Yes, and finely la Peyrade and I got paid for it," replied 
 the usurer. 
 
 "Well," said du Portail, "why don't you go into jour- 
 nalism again ?" 
 
 Ce'rizet regarded du Portail with dumb amazement. 
 
 "Ah fd/" said he at last. "Are you the devil, monsieur 
 the gentleman, that nothing remains hidden from you?" 
 
 "Yes," said du Portail, " I know a few things. But what 
 is arranged between you and la Peyrade? " 
 
 " Just this ; he remembered my experience in the business, 
 and, not knowing whom else to employ, offered me the man- 
 agement of the paper."
 
 328 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "I did not know that, but I thought it very likely," said 
 du Portail. " Did you accept ? " 
 
 " Conditionally. I asked time for reflection. I wkhed to 
 know what you thought of the offer." 
 
 "Parbteu ! I think that out of evil good may come, es- 
 pecially when it cannot be avoided. I had rather see you in- 
 side than outside that concern." 
 
 "Very good, but to get in there's this difficulty: La Pey- 
 rade is well aware that I have debts; he won't help me with 
 the security for thirty-three thousand francs which must be 
 posted in my name. I haven't got that amount, and if I had 
 I should not care for it to be known and thus expose myself to 
 my creditors. " 
 
 "You have still a good part of that twenty-five thousand 
 francs left that la Peyrade paid you not more than two months 
 ago; is it not so? " 
 
 " Just two thousand two hundred francs and fifty centimes," 
 replied Cerizet; "I cast it up last night. The remainder 
 went to pay off pressing debts." 
 
 "But if you have paid your debts you can't have cred- 
 itors." 
 
 "Yes, those I paid I don't owe; but those I didn't pay I 
 still owe," said Cerizet. 
 
 "You don't mean to tell me that you owed more than 
 twenty-five thousand francs?" said du Portail, incredu- 
 lously. 
 
 "Would a man go into bankruptcy for less?" asked he, 
 as though stating an axiom. 
 
 "I see I've got to stand the money myself," said du Por- 
 tail, with some anger; "but the question is: whether your 
 presence in the job is worth to me the interest represented by 
 three hundred and thirty thousand three hundred and thirty- 
 three francs and thirty-three centimes?" 
 
 "JDamef" said Cerizet; "if I were only installed there I 
 would very soon have la Peyrade and Thuillier at loggerheads.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 329 
 
 In the business of running a newspaper there are constant dis- 
 agreements arising ; now by taking the side of the ninny 
 against the clever man you increase the conceit of the one and 
 wound that of the other that it soon becomes impossible for 
 them to work together. Beside, if, as you just now intimated, 
 a shove now and again in the direction of political danger 
 would assist " 
 
 "There's some truth in that," said du Portail; "la 
 Peyrade's defeat is the aim." 
 
 " I've another gun to fire which would help to demolish 
 him in the Thuilliers' estimation." 
 
 "Speak out then and let me know what it is," said du 
 Portail, irritably ; " you beat about the bush the same as if I 
 were a man that could be finessed." 
 
 "You remember," said Cerizet, "that some time ago we 
 wondered where la Peyrade obtained the twenty-five thousand 
 francs with which he paid Dutocq off?" 
 
 "Ha!" said the gentleman, eagerly; "have you dis- 
 covered the origin of that very improbable sum in the hands 
 of the barrister?" 
 
 "Here it is," said Cerizet. 
 
 Then he related the whole details of Mme. Lambert's affair, 
 but he acknowledged that all the sharp cross-questions of 
 Dutocq and himself had failed to elicit a confession from her; 
 but that both were convinced by her manner of the correct- 
 ness of their suspicions. 
 
 Du Portail took the address of Mme. Lambert and told 
 Ce'rizet to come and see him again on the morrow, adding : 
 
 "Accept la Peyrade's offer, but ask for a delay of twenty- 
 four hours in which to obtain your security; if I find it to 
 my interest I will furnish it if not, you can get out of it by 
 breaking your promise; you can't be sent to the court of 
 assize for that." 
 
 Independently of an inexplicable kind of fascination that 
 he exercised over his agent, du Portail never missed an
 
 330 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 occasion to remind him of the very shady commencement of 
 their intercourse. 
 
 The next day, when Crizet was again with the gentle- 
 man : 
 
 "You guessed rightly," said du Portail ; "compelled to 
 hide the existence of her booty, the woman, Lambert, who 
 desired to draw some interest out of it, formed the idea of 
 placing it in la Peyrade's hands ; his devotional exterior may 
 have suggested this to her ; she most probably gave him the 
 money without taking any receipt. In what kind of money 
 was Dutocq paid?" 
 
 "In nineteen bills of one thousand francs each, and twelve 
 of five hundred francs." 
 
 "That's it, exactly," said du Portail; "there is no longer 
 room for doubt. Now how do you intend to use this infor- 
 mation to bear upon Thuillier? " 
 
 "I shall tell him that la Peyrade borrows enormous secret 
 loans ; that he means to gnaw the profits of the newspaper to 
 the bone ; that the position of a man before the public must 
 be compromised when it is known what manner of person his 
 right hand is," said Cerizet. 
 
 "That's all right," said du Portail, "but Thuillier has not 
 as yet learned who prompted that seizure of his pamphlet, 
 has he?" 
 
 "Yes, he has," replied Cerizet; "la Peyrade was telling 
 me yesterday, when he was explaining Thuillier's simplicity, 
 that he gave him a silly humbugging, informing him that the 
 seizure was instigated by Olivier Vinet's father, because that 
 young man had once aspired to Mademoiselle Colleville's 
 hand and been refused." 
 
 "Better and better," said du Portail; "well, to-morrow 
 he shall receive a sharp note from Monsieur Vinet denying in 
 full any such abuse of power this will do as a basis for your 
 Other versions." 
 
 "Yes?" asked Cerizet, inquisitively.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 331 
 
 "Another explanation must be given," continued du 
 Portail ; "you can assure Thuillier that he is the victim of the 
 machinations of the police. You know that that is all the 
 police are good for machinations?" 
 
 " Perfectly," said the usurer; " I have sworn to that twenty 
 times when I worked on a Republican newspaper and " 
 
 "When you were the 'brave Cerizet,'" interrupted du 
 Portail. "But for the present machination here it is: The 
 government was much annoyed to see Thuillier elected to the 
 Council without ministerial influence ; it did not care to see 
 an independent and patriotic citizen, who showed he could 
 do without its aid ; it further learned that this distinguished 
 citizen was writing a pamphlet on finance, always a delicate 
 subject, so what then did this corrupt government do, why it 
 suborned a man in whom it was thought Thuillier had every 
 confidence and for the sum of twenty-five thousand francs a 
 mere bagatelle to the police this treacherous friend agreed to 
 insert a few dangerous phrases which should expose it to 
 seizure and cause the arrest of its author. Then clinch it by 
 telling him that the very next day la Peyrade, whom Thuillier 
 knows had not a sou, paid Dutocq that said amount of twenty- 
 five thousand francs." 
 
 " The devil !" said Ce~rizet. " That's a good trick. All 
 Thuillier's species believe anything that's said about the 
 police." 
 
 " Well, he did you out of the lease and you are aiming at 
 his happiness, so you need have no compunctions about what 
 you do in this matter," said du Portail. 
 
 " It is a fact," said the wily usurer," that such an event 
 will absolve me. Yes, I'll do as you wish ; I follow the 
 road you have pointed out. Still there's another thing : I 
 cannot in my first appearance step up and make my revela- 
 tion ; that will need some time, but the security must be paid 
 at once." 
 
 "Listen, Monsieur Cerizet," said du Portail; "if the
 
 332 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 marriage of la Peyrade with my ward takes place it is my 
 intention to reward your services with thirty thousand francs; 
 now that amount on one side and twenty-five thousand on the 
 other, you will get in all fifty-five thousand francs out of your 
 friend la Pcyrade's matrimonial combinations. Now if you 
 risk your own money you will be eager to do the best for my 
 cause ; if on the contrary my money is at stake, you won't be 
 nearly so ingenious in your dealings ; if you are successful 
 you will gain about a hundred per cent. That's my last word, 
 I don't enter into any argument." 
 
 Cerizet had no time to make any, for at this moment the 
 door of the office opened and a fair, slender woman, whose 
 features showed angelic sweetness, came hastily into the 
 room. 
 
 On her arm, wrapped in long, beautiful clothes, lay the 
 form of an infant. 
 
 "There," said she, "that wicked Katt ; she told me that 
 you were not the doctor ; I knew better ; yes, I saw you come 
 in. Well, doctor," she went on, addressing Cerizet, "I am 
 not at all satisfied with the baby's condition ; she is pale, she 
 has grown so thin. I think it must be her teeth." 
 
 Du Portail made a sign to Cerizet to take up the role so sud- 
 denly thrust upon him, and which in some sense reminded 
 him of the part he had assigned himself in connection with 
 Mme. Cardinal. 
 
 "Evidently," replied he, "it is the teeth ; children always 
 grow pallid at such times ; but there's nothing, madame, that 
 need make you anxious." 
 
 "You really think so, doctor," answered the crazed girl 
 whom the reader, without a doubt, will guess to be Lydie, du 
 Portail's ward " but see her poor arms, look how thin they 
 have become, they have dwindled to nothing." 
 
 Then taking out the pins that held the outer wrappings, she 
 showed Cdrizct a bundle of rags which, to her poor intellect, 
 represented a sweet red and white baby.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 333 
 
 "But no, no," said Cerizet; "she is a little thin, perhaps, 
 but the flesh is clear and firm and color excellent." 
 
 " Poor darling ! " said Lydie, kissing her dream lovingly. 
 "What had I better give her, doctor? She won't take pap 
 and soup disgusts her." 
 
 " Does she like sweet things? " 
 
 "Oh! immensely," said the crazy girl, brightening up, 
 " she loves them ; is chocolate good for her ? " 
 
 "Certainly," said Cerizet, "but without vanilla; vanilla 
 is heating." 
 
 "Then I'll get health chocolate," said Lydie, with all the 
 intonations of a mother who listens to the assurances of the 
 doctor as to the voice of a god. " Uncle," said she, address- 
 ing du Portail, "ring for Bruno and tell him to fetch some 
 pounds from Marquis." 
 
 "Bruno has just gone out," he replied, "but there is no 
 hurry ; later in the day will do." 
 
 " See now," said Cerizet, " she has gone to sleep," for he 
 was anxious, hardened as he was, to put an end to this painful 
 scene. 
 
 "True," said Lydie, as she replaced the bandages; "I'll 
 put her to bed. Farewell, doctor ; if you doctors knew what 
 good you can do a poor anxious mother, you would come 
 more frequently. Oh ! she is crying." 
 
 "She is so sleepy," said Cerizet; "she'll be much better 
 in her cradle." 
 
 " Yes, and I'll play her that sonato that my dear papa used 
 to like the one from Beethoven ; it is very charming. Fare- 
 well, doctor," and she threw him a kiss from the threshold 
 of the door. 
 
 Cerizet was quite overcome. 
 
 "You see," said du Portail, " she is an angel, always the 
 same, never the least ill-temper, nor a cross word ; sometimes 
 sad, but ever with a motherly solicitude. This it is that first 
 gave the doctors an idea that if the reality replaced the hallu-
 
 334 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 cination, she might recover her reason. Well, this is the girl 
 that ass of a la Peyrade refused, with the accompaniment of a 
 handsome dot. But it has got to come to pass or I perjure my 
 name. Listen ! " he added, as the tones of a piano were heard ; 
 "hark! what talent ! A mad woman ! why there are a hun- 
 dred thousand sane women who are not to be compared to 
 her except on the surface." 
 
 When the sound of the playing ceased, Cerizet heard a 
 woman's voice which was not that of Lydie. 
 
 " Is he in his office, the dear commander?" said a voice 
 with a foreign accent. 
 
 " Yes, madame ; but enter the salon, monsieur is not alone ; 
 I will inform him you are here." 
 
 And this last was the voice of Katt, the old Dutch house- 
 keeper. 
 
 "Here this way out," said du Portail to Cerizet with 
 sharpness. And he opened a hidden door which led through 
 a dark passage and on to the stairs. 
 
 The salutatory article by which new editors of every news- 
 paper lay their "profession of faith" before the public is 
 always a laborious and difficult case of child-birth. In this 
 case it was necessary that Thuillier's candidature should be 
 hinted at at least. The terms of this manifesto, after la Pey- 
 rade had drawn a rough draft of it, had resulted in a long 
 discussion. This debate took place before Cerizet, who had 
 accepted the management but postponed the payment of the 
 security through the days of grace allowed in all changes of 
 proprietorship, such as is allowed to the new officials. 
 
 The discussion was assisted by the facile master-knave who 
 had constituted himself Thuillier's flatterer from the start ; it 
 more than once grew stormy, then bitter, but as the deed of 
 partnership left all decision as to the editing to la Peyrade, he 
 finally closed the matter by sending the manifesto to the 
 printer exactly as he had first written it. 
 
 Thuillier was furious at what he called an abuse of power,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 335 
 
 and on the following day, finding himself alone with Cerizet, 
 he hastened to pour his woes and grievances into the bosom 
 of his faithful manager ; this gave a natural chance to in- 
 sinuate the calumnious revelations already plotted with the 
 man in the Rue Honore-Chevalier. 
 
 This insinuation was presented with such art, with such skill 
 and moderation, that it would have duped a much shrewder 
 soul than Thuillier's. Cerizet appeared alarmed at having 
 been entrapped into the betrayal of a secret, wrung from him 
 by the ardor of his zeal and a sympathy which had been 
 commanded by " the lofty mind and character which from 
 the first had struck him about Monsieur Thuillier." The 
 latter reassured the traitor that ha should never be brought 
 into the inquiry, which must of necessity follow such an 
 alarming statement ; he would say that other parties had in- 
 formed him ; if necessary he would throw suspicion upon 
 Dutocq. 
 
 The scene had taken place at the newspaper office. Since 
 he had concluded the purchase Thuillier came to the office 
 two hours before it was necessary ; he spent his day there and 
 wore everybody out with his ardent activity. Now, being 
 filled with this terrible revelation, he could not keep it to 
 himself, he wished to unburden himself to some one. He 
 sent for a hack and half an hour after had confided the whole 
 story to his Egeria. 
 
 Brigitte from the first had vehemently opposed any further 
 relations with la Peyrade, not even for the purpose of Thu- 
 illier's election would she make up with him. In the first 
 place she had treated him badly, a good reason for disliking 
 him; then she feared that if he married Celeste she would 
 lose much of her authority, for her second-sight showed her 
 some of the depths of his nature. So up to the present she 
 had met her brother with fierce opposition in all matters relat- 
 ing to the newspaper : 
 
 " Ruin yourself, my dear," said she to Thuillier, " you are
 
 336 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 your own master and can do as you like ; what comes in by 
 the flute goes out by the drum." 
 
 When, therefore, her brother related his confidences she 
 did not reproach him, but gave a crow of triumph in honor 
 of her own perceptions. 
 
 "So much the better," she exclaimed; "it is as well to 
 know at last that he is a spy. I always thought so, a mean 
 sneak. Throw him out of doors without any explanation. 
 We don't need him, we can run the paper without him. That 
 Monsieur Cerizet, who, from what you say, is after all a right 
 good fellow, can easily find us somebody in his place." 
 
 " How fast you go," said Thuillier. " La Peyrade, my 
 dear, has only been accused, he must be granted a hearing ; 
 beside a deed binds us." 
 
 "Oh! very well," said Brigitte, " I see the whole thing; 
 you'll let that man twist you round his finger ; a deed with a 
 spy; as if deeds would stand with such fellows." 
 
 "Come, come, be calm, my dear Brigitte," replied Thu- 
 illier, " we must not act too hastily ; if a justification, clear, 
 categorical, and convincing, is not forthcoming, I shall break 
 with him ; I'll prove that I am not a plucked chicken. C6ri- 
 zet himself is not certain; they are only his deductions; 
 why I came to you was to see what you thought about de- 
 manding an explanation." 
 
 " Certainly, and if you don't get to the bottom of this 
 affair I'll cast you off as my brother." 
 
 "That is sufficient," said Thuillier, solemnly; "you will 
 find that we have one mind in such matters." 
 
 Thuillier found la Peyrade at his post as editor-in-chief; 
 but during the last quarter of an hour he had found himself 
 in a position of much embarrassment, caused by his high- 
 handed assumption of being the sole selector of articles and 
 contributors. Phellion pressed by his family, and as a con- 
 sequence of being on the reading committee of the Oddon, 
 had come to offer himself as dramatic critic.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 337 
 
 " My dear, sir," said he, addressing la Peyrade, after hav- 
 ing asked Thuillier as to his health, " I was a good student 
 of the theatre in my youth ; the play and its scenery have 
 during my life had an especial attraction for me ; the white 
 hairs which now crown my brow do not seem any obstacle 
 to me giving you some very profitable and interesting studies 
 from my experience. As a member of the reading committee 
 of the Odeon, I am also familiar with the modern drama ; 
 and, being sure of your discretion, I may confidentially in- 
 form you that among my papers it would not be impossible 
 for me to find a certain tragedy entitled ' Sapor,' which in 
 my younger days gave me some celebrity when read in draw- 
 ing-rooms." 
 
 "Well," said la Peyrade, trying to gild the inevitable 
 refusal, " why not try and have it placed on the stage ? We 
 might be able to assist you on that line." 
 
 "Certainly," said Thuillier, " the director of any theatre, 
 to whom we should introduce " 
 
 " No," replied Phellion. " In the first place, as a member 
 of the reading committee of the Odeon, having to sit in 
 judgment on others, it would ill become me to enter the 
 arena myself. I am an old athlete ; my part is now to judge 
 of the blows I can no longer deliver. In this sense criticism 
 is within my sphere, the more so as I have some quite new 
 ideas on the correct manner in which theatrical articles should 
 be done. Castigat ridendo mores, by my humble lights, ought 
 to be the great law, I might even say, the only law of the 
 stage. Therefore I should show myself merciless in dealing 
 with works of pure imagination in which morality plays no 
 part, and which the ever-unerring discretion of the mothers of 
 families " 
 
 " Pardon me," said la Peyrade, " for interrupting you, but 
 before allowing you to take the trouble to develop your 
 poetical theories, I ought to inform you that our arrangements 
 for the dramatic criticisms are already completed." 
 22
 
 338 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Ah! that is different," said Phellion, "an honest man 
 must keep his word." 
 
 "Yes," said Thuillier, "we have our dramatic critic, it 
 was far beyond our hopes that you would offer your valuable 
 collaboration." 
 
 "Well," said Phellion, grown somewhat cunning for 
 there is something in the newspaper atmosphere that flies to 
 the head, especially a middle-class head " as you think that 
 my pen might be susceptible of giving you good service, a 
 series of detached articles, perhaps, on divers subjects, which 
 I should venture to entitle -'varieties,' might be of an inter- 
 esting nature." 
 
 "Yes," said la Peyrade, with a maliciousness that was 
 entirely lost upon Phellion, " thoughts, something in the 
 style of Rochefoucauld or de la Bruydre, these might do 
 what say you, Thuillier ? " 
 
 He intended leaving the matter of refusals, as far as possi- 
 ble, with the proprietor. 
 
 "But I should imagine," said Thuillier, "that detached 
 thoughts would be rather wanting in connection." 
 
 "Obviously," replied Phellion, "when I say detached 
 thoughts I imply the idea of a great range of subjects over 
 which an author allows his pen to stray without presenting 
 them as a whole." 
 
 " Of course you would sign every communication ? " queried 
 la Peyrade. 
 
 "Oh, no! messieurs," replied Phellion, dismayed. "I 
 could not under any circumstances place myself on exhibition 
 in that manner." 
 
 "Your modesty, which I fully comprehend and approve," 
 said la Peyrade, " settles the matter. Thoughts are individ- 
 uals, they require personifying by a name. Of this you your- 
 self must be well aware. ' Sundry Thoughts, by M. Three- 
 Stars,' means nothing to the public." 
 
 Seeing that Phellion was about returning to the charge,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 339 
 
 Thuillier, who was in a hurry to get his hands in la Peyrade's 
 hair, cut him off rather curtly : 
 
 "My dear Phellion," said he, "I ask your excuses for 
 being compelled to say that I cannot longer be able to enjoy 
 your conversation, but la Peyrade and myself have to consult 
 on a matter of much importance ; in a newspaper office the 
 time flies devilishly fast. If you wish, we will postpone the 
 matter till a later day. Madame Phellion and Felix are well, 
 I trust?" 
 
 " Perfectly," replied the great citizen, rising and not seem- 
 ing to resent his dismissal. "When does the first number 
 come out ? " he added. "It is eagerly awaited in the arron- 
 dissement." 
 
 "To-morrow, I think," said Thuillier, conducting him to 
 the door, " our profession of faith will make its appearance. 
 You will have a copy sent you, my dear friend ; come and see 
 us again and bring that manuscript ; la Peyrade's point of 
 view is not absolute here." 
 
 This balm shed on the wound, and Phellion gone, Thuil- 
 lier rang for the office boy. 
 
 "You would recognize that gentleman again who just went 
 out?" said the own brother of Brigitte. 
 
 "Yes, m'sieu ; anybody would remember that funny ball of 
 a head ; and, beside, it's M'sieu Phellion ; I've opened the 
 door for him hundreds of times." 
 
 " Well, whenever he comes here again, neither I nor Mon- 
 sieur la Peyrade are ever in. Don't you forget the prescrip- 
 tion; now leave us." 
 
 "The devil!" said la Peyrade, when they were alone, 
 " how you manage bores. But lookout ; sometimes electors 
 may be among the number; you were right in promising 
 Phellion a copy of the paper; he possesses influence in the 
 quarter. ' ' 
 
 " Well, he's gone. Now be seated ; I have something very 
 serious to say to you," said Thuillier.
 
 340 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Do you know, my dear fellow," answered la Peyrade, 
 laughing, " that journalism is making you preternaturally sol- 
 emn ? ' Be seated, Cinna ' Caesar Augustus would have said 
 it no differently. " 
 
 " Cinnas are, unfortunately, more numerous than people 
 think," said Thuillier. 
 
 He still felt Brigitte's prod and he intended being cuttingly 
 ironical ; the top still rotated under the lashing it had received 
 from the old maid's whip. The Provencal was seated and yet 
 Thuillier did not commence ; he went to the door, which 
 stood ajar, intending to close it, but he first called to the 
 office boy : 
 
 " Not in to anybody," he cried. " Now, my dear fellow," 
 added he, addressing la Peyrade, "we can talk. My dear," 
 said Thuillier, starting with sarcasm for he had heard that 
 this was a good way to nonplus an adversary " I have learned 
 something that will please you : I now know why the pam- 
 phlet was seized." 
 
 And he looked fixedly at la Peyrade. 
 
 "Parbleu !" said the latter in a natural tone of voice, " it 
 was seized because they wanted to seize it. They sought and 
 found, as you may always expect them to find the things they 
 desire, known by the King's adherents as 'subversive doc- 
 trines.' " 
 
 " No, you are wrong," replied Thuillier ; " the seizure was 
 arranged for, concocted, and planned beforehand." 
 
 " Between whom ? " asked la Peyrade. 
 
 "Between those who desired the death of the pamphlet 
 and the miscreants who pledged themselves to betray it," 
 said Thuillier. 
 
 "In any case those who bought," said la Peyrade, "got 
 but a poor bargain ; for, persecuted though it was, I don't see 
 that it made much noise." 
 
 "But what about the vendors?" said the more than ever 
 ironical Thuillier.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 341 
 
 "Those who sold were the smartest, undoubtedly," said la 
 Peyrade. 
 
 " Oh ! I know you have a great esteem for smartness ; but 
 permit me to inform you that the police, whose hand is ap- 
 parent in all this, is not apt to throw its money away." 
 
 And he stared anew at la Peyrade. 
 
 "So," replied the barrister, without blinking, "you have 
 discovered that the police plotted in advance to smother your 
 pamphlet ? " 
 
 "Yes, my dear friend, and I know for a fact to whom the 
 money was paid and the precise amount that honorable person 
 received." 
 
 "The person," said la Peyrade; "I might guess the per- 
 son, but as to the amount that is beyond me." 
 
 "Well, lean tell you that: twenty-five thousand francs," 
 said Thuillier, emphasizing each word ; " that was the sum 
 paid to Judas." 
 
 "Allow me, my dear, twenty-five thousand francs is a lot 
 of money. I won't deny that you are a most important man ; 
 nevertheless, you are not such a bugbear to the government as 
 to cause them to make such a sacrifice. Twenty-five thousand 
 francs is as much as they would give for the suppression of 
 some celebrated pamphlet against the administration of the 
 civil list; but our lucubration on finance was not bad like 
 that, and such a sum taken from the secret service fund merely 
 to plague you seems to me fabulously great." 
 
 "Apparently," replied Thuillier, with bitterness, "the 
 honest intermediary may have exaggerated my value; one 
 thing is certain, this monsieur had a debt of twenty-five thou- 
 sand francs which was a great worry to him ; and a short time 
 before the seizure this same monsieur all at once found means 
 to pay; unless you can tell me whence he obtained that 
 money, I don't believe it is very hard to draw the infer- 
 ence." 
 
 In his turn la Peyrade gazed fixedly at Thuillier.
 
 342 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Monsieur Thuillier," said he, raising his voice, "let us 
 get out of generalities and enigmas ; this person will you do 
 me the favor to name him ? " 
 
 "Well, NO," said Thuillier, striking the table; "I shall 
 not name him because of the sentiments of affection which at 
 one time united us ; but you have understood me, Monsieur 
 de la Peyrade." 
 
 " It is a fact, I should have understood," said the Provencal, 
 in a voice broken with emotion, "that in introducing a ser- 
 pent here it would not be long before I should be soiled by 
 its venom. Poor fool, you ! don't you see that this is one of 
 C6rizet's calumnies, of which you have made yourself the 
 echo." 
 
 " Cirizet has nothing whatever to do with it ; on the con- 
 trary, he has nothing but good to say of you ; how was it that 
 you, not having a sou the night before (and I have cause to 
 know this), that you were able to pay Dutocq the round sum 
 of twenty-five thousand francs the next day, paid in bills of 
 a known denomination ? " 
 
 La Peyrade reflected a moment. 
 
 "No," said he, " Dutocq did not tell you; he is not the 
 man who dare tackle me unless it would be of great benefit to 
 him. The infamous calumniator is Cerizet, from whose hands 
 I wrung your house on the Madeleine Cerizet whom, in my 
 kindness, I sought on his own dunghill to place him in an hon- 
 orable position ; that is the wretch to whom a benefit is only 
 an encouragement to further treachery. Tiens ! if I should 
 tell you what manner of man that is, I should fill your heart 
 with loathing ; in the sphere of infamy he has discovered new 
 worlds " 
 
 Thuillier this time made an apt reply. 
 
 "I know nothing about C6rizet except through you," said 
 he; "you it was who offered him the management, giving 
 every assurance that he was reliable ; but, by making him 
 blacker than the devil, and even allowing that this communi-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 343 
 
 cation comes from him, I don't see, my boy, that it makes you 
 any the whiter." 
 
 "I was, without doubt, to blame in bringing him, but he 
 understands the newspaper business ; I thought he had re- 
 formed, that he was a man of straw, but I find him as he ever 
 was, a man of mud." 
 
 "That's all well and good," said Thuillier, "but the 
 twenty-five thousand francs which came so opportunely into 
 your hands, whence came they? That is what you fail to 
 explain." 
 
 "But use a bit of commonsense," replied la Peyrade; "a 
 man in my position in the pay of the police, and yet so poor 
 that I could not throw in the face of that harpy, your sister, 
 the ten thousand francs she so insolently demanded of me." 
 
 " To end it all," said Thuillier, " if the origin of the money 
 is honest, as I am most anxious to believe, what prevents you 
 telling me who gave it to you? " 
 
 "That I cannot do," replied the barrister, " the source of 
 that cash is a professional secret." 
 
 " See now, you told me yourself that the rules of your order 
 prevented your entering into business of any description." 
 
 " It would be strange, if I had done something not quite 
 in the regular course, that you should reproach me after doing 
 what I did for you in the matter of the house." 
 
 " My poor friend, you are trying to put the hounds off the 
 scent, but you can't put me off the track; I am the master of 
 my confidence and esteem, and, if I pay you the amount stip- 
 ulated in the deed, I take the paper into my own hands." 
 
 "So you mean to turn me out! " exclaimed la Peyrade. 
 " The money you have put into this business, your chances 
 of election, all sacrificed on one calumny brought by a C6r- 
 izet." 
 
 "In the first place," answered Thuillier, "a new editor-in- 
 chief can soon be found to replace you, my dear ; they said 
 long ago that no man is indispensable. As to the election, I
 
 344 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 would sooner not win it than owe it to the help of one 
 who ' ' 
 
 "Go ahead ! " said la Peyrade, seeing that Thuillier hesi- 
 tated, " or, no, rather be silent, for in less than an hour you 
 will blush at your suspicions and ask my pardon on your 
 knees." 
 
 The Provencal saw that without a confession he would have 
 the newly recovered future cut from beneath his feet. He re- 
 sumed his speech with great gravity. 
 
 "You will remember, my friend," said he, "that you were 
 absolutely without pity, and that by subjecting me to a kind 
 of moral torture you compelled me to reveal a secret which is 
 not my own." 
 
 "Go on, all the same," replied Thuillier, "I'll take the 
 whole responsibility ; make me see the light in all this dark- 
 ness, and I will be the first to recognize that I was wrong." 
 
 "Well," said la Peyrade, "those twenty-five thousand 
 francs are the savings of a domestic who came with them to 
 me asking me to pay her interest on them." 
 
 "A domestic who has saved twenty-five thousand francs ! 
 Strike me ! it seems to me she must have lived in a bully 
 house." 
 
 " On the contrary, she is the housekeeper of an old, infirm 
 savant ; it was for this reason of the discrepancy that you 
 suggest that she wished to put the cash in my hands as a kind 
 of fiduciary agent." 
 
 "By my faith, my friend," said Thuillier, in a flippant 
 voice, " you said we needed a romancist, but with your talent 
 we can rest quite easy. Here's imagination ! " 
 
 "How's that?" said la Peyrade, angrily; "you don't 
 believe me? '* 
 
 "No, I don't believe you; twenty-five thousand francs of 
 savings made in the service of an old professor ; why, that's 
 about as credible as that captain of the White Lady buying 
 a castle out of his pay."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 345 
 
 "But if I prove the truth of my explanation if I let you 
 put your finger in the wound?" 
 
 "In that case, like Saint-Thomas, I shall lower my flag 
 before the evidence ; but you must permit me to wait until 
 you give that proof." 
 
 Thuillier thought himself superb. 
 
 "I would have given two louis," said he to himself, "if 
 Brigitte were only here to see how I did it." 
 
 "Come then," said la Peyrade, "suppose that without 
 going outside this office, and by means of a note which shall 
 pass before your eyes, I bring before you the person from 
 whom I received the money ; if she confirms my statement, 
 shall you believe then?" 
 
 This proposition and the assurance with which it was made 
 staggered Thuillier. 
 
 " Then, of course," replied he, changing his tune. "But 
 this must be done before the seance is over, eh? " 
 
 " Without going out from here, I said ; it seems to me that 
 is clear enough." 
 
 " And who will carry your note when you have written it ? " 
 asked Thuillier. He thought he displayed much acumen by 
 looking after each detail. 
 
 " Who will carry it ? " said la Peyrade. " Parbleu ! your 
 office boy; you can send him yourself." 
 
 "Write it then," said Thuillier, determined to push him 
 to the wall. 
 
 La Peyrade took a sheet of paper with the letter-head and 
 wrote, reading aloud, as follows : 
 
 Mme. Lambert is requested to corce immediately on urgent business to 
 the office of the " Echo de la Bievre," Rue Saint-Dominique-d'Enfer, 
 whither the bearer will conduct her. She is impatiently awaited by her 
 devoted servant, 
 
 DE LA PEYRADI. 
 
 "Well, will that suit?" said the barrister, passing it to 
 Thuillier.
 
 346 THE MI DDT. E CLASSES. 
 
 " Perfectly," said he, at the same time taking the precaution 
 to fold the paper and to seal it himself. " Now add the 
 address," he added. 
 
 Thuillier rang for Coffinet. 
 
 "You will go," said he, "to that address with this note, 
 and the person will return with you." 
 
 When they were alone, la Peyrade took up a paper and 
 appeared to be absorbed in its contents. 
 
 Thuillier by this time was somewhat uneasy. 
 
 " I ought not to have carried the matter so far," said he to 
 himself; " I should have torn up the note." Then trying to 
 show that he reinstated la Peyrade in the position from which 
 he had threatened to dismiss him : 
 
 " Oh," said he, "I have just come from the printer; the 
 new type has arrived ; we can, I guess, make our appearance 
 to-morrow." 
 
 La Peyrade made no reply, but got up and read his paper 
 nearer the window. 
 
 " He is vexed," said Thuillier to himself; "well, if he is 
 innocent, he is like to be ; but why, after all, should he have 
 brought such a man as Cerizet here? " 
 
 La Peyrade returned to the table, took up some paper and 
 with feverish rapidity wrote like a man who is violently agi- 
 tated, making the pen fairly fly across the paper. 
 
 Thuillier from the corner of his eye tried hard to see what 
 la Peyrade was writing ; he noticed it was arranged in num- 
 bered paragraphs: 
 
 " Halloo ! " said he, " are you drafting a new law? " 
 
 "Yes," answered la Peyrade coldly, "the law of the 
 vanquished." 
 
 Soon after the boy opened the door and introduced Mme. 
 Lambert, who arrived looking rather afraid and minus much 
 of her unctuous suavity. 
 
 " You are Madame Lambert? " asked Thuillier, in the tone 
 of a magistrate.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 347 
 
 "Yes, monsieur," replied the pious woman, in an anxious 
 voice. 
 
 Requesting her to be seated and noticing that the office 
 boy remained as if expecting further orders : 
 
 "That will do," said Thuillier, " go; and admit no one." 
 
 The gravity and lordly tone of Thuillier deeply impressed 
 Mme. Lambert ; moreover, the scene took place in a news- 
 paper office, and we all know that, particularly in the eyes of 
 the pious, everything that has to do with the press savors of 
 the infernal and diabolical. 
 
 "Well, my dear fellow," said Thuillier to the barrister, 
 " it seems to me that nothing hinders your explaining to 
 madame why you have sent for her." 
 
 "We wish to ask you, madame," said la Peyrade ex 
 abrupto, "if it is not true that about two and a half months 
 ago you placed in my hands, subject to interest, the sum of 
 twenty-five thousand francs?" 
 
 Madame Lambert could not restrain a start, though she felt 
 the eyes of both were fixed upon her. 
 
 " Our Lord above ! " she exclaimed, " and where should I 
 get such a sum as that ? " 
 
 La Peyrade showed no sign of the uneasiness he might have 
 been supposed to experience. 
 
 As for Jerome Thuillier, who now glanced at him with 
 commiseration : 
 
 "You see, my dear fellow " said he. 
 
 "So," went on the Provencal, "you are quite certain, 
 madame, that you did not place in my hands the sum of 
 twenty-five thousand francs ; you declare it ? You would 
 swear to this?" 
 
 "Why, monsieur, is it at all likely that twenty-five thou- 
 sand francs would knock at the door of such a poor woman 
 as myself? Even the little I had has gone to help the house- 
 keeping of that poor, dear gentleman whose servant I have 
 been for twenty years."
 
 348 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "This," said the pompous Thuillier, "seems unan- 
 swerable. ' ' 
 
 La Peyrade showed no sign of annoyance ; on the contrary, 
 he seemed to have an air of playing into the hand of 
 Thuillier : 
 
 "You hear, my dear," said he to him, "and if necessary 
 I shall call upon you to so testify, that madame here never 
 had twenty-five thousand francs ; consequently she could not 
 have given that amonnt to me ; and as the notary Dupuis, 
 with whom I fancied I had placed them, left Paris this morn- 
 ing for Brussels, carrying with him all his clients' money, I 
 have a clear account with madame, and the flight of the notary 
 Dupuis ' ' 
 
 "The notary Dupuis has absconded!" cried Mme. Lam- 
 bert, carried away by this dreadful news out of her usual 
 dulcet tones and Christian resignation; "the wretch, the 
 villain, when only this morning he took the communion at 
 St. Jacques du Haut-Pas." 
 
 "That was doubtless to pray for a safe journey," replied 
 la Peyrade. 
 
 "Monsieur can talk lightly enough about it," continued 
 Mme. Lambert, " but that brigand has carried off all my 
 savings; but I gave them to monsieur, and monsieur, of 
 course, is responsible for them ; he is the only one I know in 
 the matter." 
 
 " Jfet'n/" said la Peyrade to Thuillier, pointing to Mme. 
 Lambert, whose demeanor had something of a she-wolf who 
 has had her whelps ravished from her; "is that nature? tell 
 me, have we gotten up this comedy? " 
 
 "lam speechless," replied Thuillier, "at the audacity of 
 that Cerizet ; struck dumb by my own stupidity, I can but 
 surrender at discretion." 
 
 "Madame," said la Peyrade gaylv, "will please excuse 
 me for alarming her, it was an absolute necessity. The 
 notary Dupuis remains a pious gentleman, and incapable of
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 340 
 
 injuring his clients. Your secret is as safe with him as me, 
 so far as this gentleman is concerned." 
 
 "Very good, monsieur," said Mme. Lambert, "then you 
 have nothing more to say to me? " 
 
 "No, my dear madame, except to beg your pardon for the 
 slight fright we caused you." 
 
 But as Mme. Lambert went out she intimated that she would 
 need the money very soon as she had "heard of a little 
 property she meant to purchase." She was reassured by la 
 Peyrade, who explained that she could get it any time by 
 giving notice, and she then bade him adieu. 
 
 "You see, my dear," said Theodose, when he and Thuil- 
 lier were alone, " into what a scrape your sick imagination 
 has brought me. The debt was dormant, you have awakened 
 it. Now she will press for it." 
 
 "I am desolate, my dear friend, for my silly credulity; 
 but don't be uneasy about that matter, we can arrange all that, 
 even if I have to go your security or make an advance on the 
 wedding dot." 
 
 "For the rest, my excellent friend," said la Peyrade, " we 
 will begin by taking stock of our mutual relationship ; I have 
 no appetite for being haled up every morning and interrogated 
 as to my conduct ; just now while we awaited that woman I 
 drew up a little memorandum which we will talk over and 
 sign, by your leave, before we issue the first number." 
 
 "But our deed of partnership," said Thuillier, "seems to 
 me a chart " 
 
 "That by a paltry forfeit of five thousand francs, as by 
 clause 14," interrupted Theodose, "you can, when you wish, 
 put me in the soup. Thanks ! we will have something rather 
 more definite." 
 
 At this moment entered Cerizet bubbling over with vain- 
 glory. 
 
 "My masters," said he, "I have brought the capital and 
 in an hour the security can be perfected."
 
 350 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 But seeing that the news was received with marked frigidity: 
 
 "Well," said he, "what's up now?" 
 
 "It is this," said Thuillier, " that I refuse to associate with 
 double-faced men and calumniators; we have use for neither 
 you nor your money, and I beg you to no longer honor these 
 premises with your company." 
 
 "Dear, oh me!" said Cerizet, "so Daddy Thuillier has 
 allowed himself to be caught again." 
 
 "Go away," said Thuillier, "we have no use for you." 
 
 "My boy," said Cerizet to la Peyrade, "it seems that 
 you've twisted the good bourgeois round your finger again. 
 Well, he's not the inventor of the printing press ; and as for 
 you, we have seen the kind of work you can turn out. Well, 
 it doesn't matter, but all the same you were wrong in not call- 
 ing upon du Portail, I shall tell him " 
 
 " Will you go away, monsieur? " cried Thuillier, threaten- 
 ingly. 
 
 "After all, my dear sir," continued the usurer, " it was not 
 I that looked you up. I was doing well enough before you 
 sent for me, and I shall do quite as well after. Only you try 
 and avoid paying that twenty-five thousand francs out of your 
 own pocket, for that's hanging to your nose I know all about 
 it." 
 
 As he said this Cerizet replaced his pocket-book containing 
 the cash in his breast-pocket, and, after smoothing his hat on 
 his coat sleeve, went out. 
 
 Thuillier had been led by listening to Cerizet into a most 
 disastrous campaign. Become the humble servant of de la 
 Peyrade, he was compelled to bow to his conditions : five 
 hundred francs a month for the barrister's services on the 
 paper; his editorship of the journal to be paid for at the rate 
 of fifty francs per column an enormous sum, taking into ac- 
 count the small size of the sheet ; a pledge to issue the paper 
 for at least six months, this under a forfeit of fifteen thousand 
 francs ; the most absolute omnipotence as editor-in-chief, being
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 351 
 
 free to insert, alter, or reject any article without being com- 
 pelled to explain his reasons therefor ; these were the stipula- 
 tions signed in duplicate by both parties in "good faith." 
 
 But, in virtue of another private agreement, Thuillier gave 
 security for the payment of the sum of twenty-five thousand 
 francs for which la Peyrade was accountable to the pious one, 
 "the said Maitre la Peyrade," binding himself, in case the 
 repayment was required before his marriage with Mile. Colle- 
 ville could take place, to acknowledge the said sum as being 
 an advance on account of the dot. In this ingenious manner, 
 the crafty Provencal got around the law which provides 
 against such forestalling of the consideration mentioned in 
 the marriage-contract. 
 
 Matters being thus arranged and everything being accepted 
 by the candidate who, if he lost la Peyrade, could see no 
 chance of his election, Thuillier had a happy thought. He 
 went to the Cirque-Olympique, where he remembered in the 
 box-office a former employe of his in his bureau a man 
 named Fleury, to whom he proposed the post as manager. 
 An old soldier, a good shot and capital swordsman, Fleury 
 would be properly respected in a newspaper office. Not less 
 clever in the art of " leading his creditors a dance," he was 
 the first clerk in the Bureau of Finance to hit on the ingenious 
 idea of inventing spurious suits against his salary, thus pre- 
 venting the collection of any legal attachments that might be 
 taken. He took the same proceedings to preserve from his 
 creditors the three thousand three hundred and thirty-three 
 francs thirty-three centimes, which were required by the law 
 to be deposited in his name. The working staff being thus 
 constituted, the first number was launched. 
 
 Thuillier now recommenced his explorations about Paris as 
 we previously saw on the publication of his pamphlet. Walk- 
 ing into a reading-room or cafe, he asked for the " Echo de la 
 Bievre," and when, as was unfortunately too often the case, 
 he was told they did not know of such a paper :
 
 352 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "This is incredible ! " he would exclaim, " that a place 
 with any pretensions to respect does not take such a popular 
 paper." 
 
 Then he would depart in disdain, without seeing that in 
 many places where this drummer's dodge was quite under- 
 stood they were laughing under his nose. 
 
 The evening of the day of the salutatory article, Brigitte, 
 although it was not Sunday, had her salon thronged. Recon- 
 ciled with la Peyrade, the old maid went so far as to say that 
 his leading editorial was a "hit." The remainder of the 
 company said the public was enchanted with the first number. 
 The public ! everybody knows what that is ; the man who 
 has launched a few lines in print upon a trusting world has 
 his public in five or six intimates, who, from a desire to 
 avoid a quarrel with the author, make some favorable com- 
 ment upon his lucubrations. 
 
 "As for myself," said Colleville, " I can say that it is the 
 first political editorial that did not send me to sleep." 
 
 " It is certain," said Phellion, " that the editorial appears 
 to me to be stamped with vigor combined with an attic style 
 which we may search in vain for in the columns of the ordi- 
 nary public prints." 
 
 The next day Thuillier was early at the office, to be the 
 first to meet the formidable fire of the ministerial press. 
 After looking through every paper he found that not one of 
 them had even mentioned the "Echo de la Bievre," no 
 more than if it did not exist. When la Peyrade arrived he 
 found his unhappy friend in despair. 
 
 "That is nothing to be surprised at," said la Peyrade, 
 tranquilly. " I let you enjoy yourself yesterday in the hope 
 of a hot encounter with the press; but I well knew that it was 
 most unlikely that any mention of us would appear in the 
 morning papers. Is not every paper, brought out with any 
 brilliancy, bound to be met with a conspiracy of silence?" 
 
 " A conspiracy of silence ! " echoed Thuillier, admiringly.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 353 
 
 He did not understand what this meant, but the words had 
 a grand sound and appealed to the imagination. Then la 
 Peyrade explained that by agreement no new journal was men- 
 tioned by the others lest it might serve to advertise the bant- 
 ling. The explanation was not so good as the phrase. The 
 middle-class is ever thus ; words are coins which pass without 
 question. For a word he becomes exalted or abased, will in- 
 sult or applaud. With a word he can be brought to make a 
 revolution and overthrow the government he has chosen. 
 
 But the journal was a means to an end. In a few days a 
 letter from several electors appeared thanking the " Echo " 
 for its firm stand and their delegate in the Council for look- 
 ing after the welfare of his district. " This attitude," said 
 the letter, "had brought down upon him the persecution of 
 the government, which, towed in the wake of foreign powers, 
 had sacrificed Poland and sold itself to England. The arron- 
 dissement needed such a man to represent it in the Chamber " 
 and so on. 
 
 This trial balloon had the happiest effect ; the ten or twelve 
 names thus pressed to the front were those who (supposedly) 
 represented the will of the electors and were called ei the voice 
 of the quarter." Thus from the start Thuillier's candidature 
 had made such a sprint on the way that Minard hesitated 
 about putting his own claims in rivalry. 
 
 Brigitte was delighted with the course of events ; she now 
 urged that it was high time the marriage was arranged. A 
 thorough explanation took place between the Provencal and 
 the old maid. She told him of her apprehensions as t his 
 taking the lead in the household, and further said that unless 
 they could agree it were better that he should have his own 
 home, adding: "We should not be the less friends for 
 that." 
 
 La Peyrade replied by telling her that nothing was further 
 from his thoughts, nothing in the world could induce him to 
 consent to such an arrangement ; he should feel the greatest 
 23
 
 354 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 security if only Brigitte would continue to exercise equally 
 good management when he became one of the family, as she 
 had done in the past. In short, he so completely reassured 
 her that she urged upon him that immediate steps be taken 
 for the publication of the banns and the signing of the mar- 
 riage-contract. She, herself, was to mention the subject to 
 Celeste. 
 
 "My dear child," said she one morning, "I think you 
 have given up all thoughts of becoming Felix Phellion's wife. 
 In the first place, he is more an atheist than ever, and, on the 
 the other, you must have noticed yourself that his mind is 
 unhinged. At Madame Minard's you have seen that Madame 
 Marmus, who married a professor, an officer of the Legion of 
 Honor and a member of the Institute. There could be no 
 more unhappy woman ; her husband has taken her to live at 
 the rear of the Luxembourg, near the Rue Notre-Dame des 
 Champs, in the Rue Duguay-Trouin, a small street that is 
 neither paved nor lighted. When he goes out he does not 
 know which way he is walking ; he finds himself in the Champ 
 de Mars when he meant going to the faubourg Poissonniere ; 
 he is incapable of even giving his address to a hack-driver ; 
 and he is so absent-minded that he doesn't know whether or 
 not he has had his dinner. You can imagine what kind of a 
 time a wife must have with a man who has always 'got his nose 
 in a glass and snuffing at stars." 
 
 "But Felix," said Celeste, " is not as absent-minded as all 
 that." 
 
 "Of course not; he's much younger; but by the time he 
 gets that age both his absence of mind and his atheism will 
 increase ; we are all of one accord that he is not a suitable 
 husband for you: your mother, your father, Thuillier, and 
 myself everybody that has any commonsense we have de- 
 cided, therefore, that you shall take la Peyrade, who will put 
 your godfather in the Chamber, and will make his own way 
 beside. We shall give you a much larger dot than we intended
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 355 
 
 giving any other husband. So it must be considered as settled. 
 The banns will be published and a week from to-day the con- 
 tract will be signed. We shall give a big dinner and your 
 trousseau and corbcille will be shown. Now don't be a baby, 
 but accept it nicely." 
 
 "But, Aunt Brigitte," began Celeste, timidly. 
 
 "There's no 'but ' about it, nor 'ifs' either," replied the 
 old maid, imperiously. " It's all laid out and will be carried 
 through unless, mademoiselle, you think you know more than 
 your relatives." 
 
 "I will do as you wish, my aunt," answered Celeste, who 
 felt as though a cloud had burst above her head ; she knew 
 only too well that she had not the strength to struggle against 
 the iron will that had just pronounced her doom. She went 
 and sought her godmother, but Mme. Thuillier advised resig- 
 nation and patience ; the poor child saw there was not even a 
 passive resistance to be looked for in that quarter ; her sacri- 
 fice was virtually accomplished. 
 
 The dinner was ordered from Chabot and Potel, not from 
 Chevet ; for by doing thus Brigitte set her initiative and proved 
 her emancipation from Mme. de Godollo. When the time 
 came to take their places at table three guests were missing 
 two Minards, father and son, and the notary Dupuis. The 
 latter had written saying that it was impossible to be at the 
 dinner, but that he would arrive with the contract at nine 
 o'clock. Julian Minard, said his mother, was suffering with a 
 sore-throat ; Minard senior's absence was unexplained by Mme. 
 Minard, but she begged them not to wait for him as he would 
 assuredly come later. Brigitte on this ordered the soup to be 
 kept hot for him, for among the middle-class code of manners 
 a dinner without soup is not a dinner at all. 
 
 The meal was anything but cheerful, the fare was better, 
 but the life and animation which had graced the famous nomi- 
 nation banquet was sadly missing. The absence of three of 
 the guests jnay have been one cause ; then Flavie was very
 
 356 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 glum, she had had an interview with la Peyrade at her own 
 house which had ended in tears ; Celeste, even had she been 
 happy in her choice, could not well, as a matter of propriety, 
 have shown too much joy on her countenance ; she made no 
 attempt to brighten a sorrowful face, and dared not look at her 
 godmother, whose appearance looked, so to speak, like one 
 long bleat. The poor girl, seeing this, feared to exchange a 
 look with her, lest she might bring tears to her eyes. Thuil- 
 lier had now become of such importance that he was stiff 
 and pompous ; while Brigitte seemed uneasy, awkward, and 
 constrained. 
 
 Colleville tried a few of his facetious remarks to raise the 
 temperature of the assembly, but the coarse flavor of his 
 artist-jests, in the atmosphere in which they were produced, 
 had an effect like a loud laugh in a sick chamber ; a mute 
 hint from Thuillier, la Peyrade, and his wife that he should 
 behave himself effectually squelched his turbulence. 
 
 Singularly the person who succeeded, aided by Rabourdin, in 
 warming the air was the gravest person of the party. The 
 Abbe Gondrin, a man of cultivated and refined mind. He 
 was the former vicar of St. Jacques de Haut-Pas, whose learn- 
 ing and gift of preaching had been the cause of the arch- 
 bishop removing him from that poor quarter to that of the 
 Madeleine. Since Mme. Thuillier and Celeste had again 
 become his parishioners, the young abbe paid them occasional 
 visits. Thuillier had explained to him the merits of the 
 choice of la Peyrade and had culumniated the religious views 
 of Felix Phellion, and had easily got him to contribute by 
 his persuasive words to the resignation of the victim. He 
 had just succeeded in getting off the frost when Minard came 
 in. 
 
 After excusing himself on the ground of his official duties, 
 he exchanged a significant look with his wife, which seemed 
 to give an appearance that he had been detained by some 
 private matter. La Peyrade and Thuillier caught this wink;
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 357 
 
 they had received an order for a box for the celebrated fairy 
 burlesque of " Love's Telegraph," in which Olympe Cardinal 
 was to make her debut, and they were not altogether con- 
 vinced of Julian Minard's indisposition ; they therefore also 
 exchanged significant glances, and wondered if the young 
 gentleman's pot of roses had been discovered and whether the 
 task of the elder one had not been that of learning the truth. 
 
 Being accustomed to pick up the thread of conversation 
 wherever he found it, he tried to hide under a perfect free- 
 dom of spirit his parental anxieties : 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Minard, as soon as he had swallowed a 
 few mouthfuls, " have you heard the great news?" 
 
 " What is that ? " asked several voices at once. 
 
 "The Academy of Sciences has received to-day the par- 
 ticulars of an extraordinary discovery ; the heavens have an- 
 other star." 
 
 " TiensJ" said Colleville; "well, that will do to replace 
 that one which Beranger thought had gone from its place, 
 when, to the tune of 'Octavia,' he grieved over Chateaubri- 
 and's departure : ' Chateaubriand, why fly your land ? ' : 
 
 This quotation, which he sang, exasperated Flavie, and, if it 
 had been the custom for wives to sit next their husbands at 
 table, the old first clarionet of the Opera-Comique would not 
 have got off with a mere " Colleville," which called him to 
 order from the distance. 
 
 "What will give this meeting which I have the honor of 
 addressing," said Minard, "a special interest in the great 
 astronomical event is that the author lives in the twelfth 
 arrondissement, which a number of you still inhabit or did 
 inhabit for a long period of time. Indeed, everything con- 
 nected with this great scientific fact is most remarkable. The 
 Academy, on reading the communication which announced it, 
 was so convinced of its existence, that a deputation was 
 appointed to visit the domicile of this modern Galileo and 
 compliment him on behalf of the whole body ; and yet this
 
 358 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 star is not visible either to the eye even through the telescope ', 
 it is by the force of reasoning and calculation that its exist- 
 ence and the place it occupies are proved beyond all doubt. 
 ' There must be an unknown star in that spot. I cannot see 
 it, but I am sure of it.' That is what this savant said to the 
 Academy, which he at once convinced by his deductions. And 
 do you know, gentlemen, whom this Christopher Columbus is 
 of the new celestial world ? An old, purblind man, who has 
 difficulty in seeing his way across the street." 
 
 "That is admirable! marvelous!" cried several guests, 
 with one accord. 
 
 " What is the name of this savant?" asked several voices. 
 
 " Monsieur Picot, or, if you prefer, 'old ' Picot, for that is 
 the name everybody gives him in the Rue du Val-de-Grace, 
 where he lives ; he is simply an old professor of mathematics, 
 who, for the rest, has turned out some first-class pupils by- 
 the-by, Felix Phellion, whom we all know, he studied under 
 him, it was he who, on the part of his old master, read the 
 memorial to the Academy." 
 
 At the name of Felix, and remembering the promise to lift 
 her to the sky, which when he said it seemed to savor of 
 lunacy, Celeste looked at Mme. Thuillier, whose face had 
 grown quite animated, and seemed to say to her: 
 
 "Courage, my child, all is not lost." 
 
 "My dear fellow," said Thuillier to la Peyrade, "Felix is 
 coming here this evening, you try and corner him and obtain 
 the communication ; it would be a lucky scoop for our ' Echo ' 
 if we only could get it out first." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Minard, volunteering a reply, " it would just 
 be to the taste of a curious public, for it has made an im- 
 mense sensation. The deputation, not finding Monsieur Picot 
 at home, returned to the office of the minister of public in- 
 struction ; at once the minister hastened off to the Tuileries, 
 and the 'message,' which was issued early this evening, an- 
 nounces that Monsieur Picot is nominated a chevalier of the
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 359 
 
 Legion of Honor and is granted a pension of eighteen hun- 
 dred francs from the fund for the encouragement of the sci- 
 ences and letters." 
 
 "There," said Thuillier, " is a Cross well bestowed." 
 
 " I rather think," said la Peyrade, " that the worthy Mon- 
 sieur Picot is not being well cared for; for just at this time 
 his family, after failing to get a commission in lunacy, are 
 trying to have trustees appointed. They claim that he is 
 being robbed by a servant who lives with him. Parbleu ! 
 Thuiliier, you know her ; it is that woman who came the other 
 day to the office, and who had been led to think that Dupuis, 
 the notary, had gone off with some funds of hers." 
 
 "Yes, yes, very well," said Thuillier, significantly; "yes, 
 you are right, I do know her." 
 
 "It's queer," said Brigitte, improving the occasion to em- 
 phasize the argument she had had with Celeste about Mar- 
 mus', the mathematician, absence of mind, "that all these 
 savants, outside their learning, are good for nothing, and 
 that, when they are at home, they have to be cared for like 
 children." 
 
 "That proves," said the Abbe Gondrin, " how greatly they 
 are absorbed in their studies ; but at the same time they pos- 
 sess an artlessness of nature which is most touching." 
 
 " When they are not as perverse as donkeys," replied Bri- 
 gitte, testily. "As forme, Monsieur 1'Abbe, I can tell you 
 that, if ever I thought of marrying, a professor would not suit 
 me. In the first place, what do they work at, these savants? 
 At stupidities the most part of their time ; for here you are 
 all admiring the discovery of a star, and what good will that 
 do any of us ? For my part, I think we have plenty of stars 
 already." 
 
 "Bravo! " Brigitte, said Colleville, again forgetting him- 
 self; " you are truth itself, my girl, and, like you, I think the 
 man who can only discover a new dish would deserve better 
 of mankind."
 
 360 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Colleville," said Flavie, "I must say that your remarks 
 are in the worst possible taste." 
 
 "My dear demoiselle," said the Abbe Gondrin, addressing 
 Brigitte, -''you might be right if man consisted of matter 
 only, and if there were not bound to our body a soul having 
 instincts and cravings that need to be satisfied. Now I think 
 this sense of the infinite which dwells within us, and which 
 each in his own way endeavors to satisfy, is wonderfully 
 helped by the searchings of astronomy, that from time to time 
 reveals to us new worlds which the hand of the Creator has 
 strewn through space. The infinite within you finds another 
 outlet ; this passion for the welfare of those about you, this 
 warm affection, so ardent, so devoted, which you feel for your 
 brother, are at once the manifestations of the aspirations which 
 have nothing of the material in them, which in seeking their 
 end and object will never ask : ' What good is all this? What 
 is the use of that ? ' Again, I must assure you that the stars 
 are not without their uses, as you would seem to suppose; 
 without these, navigators would be seriously impeded in their 
 steering across the seas ; they would be puzzled how to bring 
 from distant lands the vanilla which has served to flavor this 
 delicious cream that I am now eating. So, as observed by 
 Monsieur Colleville, there is much affinity between a dish and 
 a star; we should decry no person, be it an astronomer or a 
 housekeeper." 
 
 The abbe was interrupted by a noise of loud altercation in 
 the antechamber. 
 
 " I tell you I will go in," shouted a voice. 
 
 "No, monsieur, you shall not go in," replied the "male" 
 domestic. "They are at table, I tell you; no one should 
 force his way into a private house." 
 
 Thuillier turned pale ; since the seizure of the pamphlet, he 
 fancied all improvised visits betokened the advent of the 
 police. 
 
 Among the various social dogmas laid down by Mme. de
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 361 
 
 Godollo for Brigitte's guidance, the one that had needed the 
 oftenest repeating was never, as mistress of the house, to rise 
 from the table unless it was intended as the signal for retir- 
 ing ; but present circumstances seemed to give amnesty to the 
 injunction. 
 
 "I'll go and see what it all means," she said to Thuillier, 
 quickly, as she noted his uneasiness. "What is it?" she 
 asked the servant, when she reached the scene of the conflict. 
 
 " Here is a gentleman who is determined to come in ; he 
 says no one dines at eight o'clock." 
 
 "But who are you, monsieur?" said Brigitte to an old 
 man, strangely attired, and whose eyes were protected by a 
 green shade. 
 
 "Madame, I am neither a beggar nor a vagabond," re- 
 plied the old man in a sonorous voice. " I am professor of 
 mathematics,, by name Picot." 
 
 " Rue du Val-de-Gra-ce ? " asked Brigitte. 
 
 "Yes, madame, No. 9, next door to the fruit store." 
 
 " Come in, monsieur, come in, we are only too happy to 
 receive you," cried Thuillier, who, hearing the name, had 
 hurried out to meet the savant. 
 
 "He arrived like the 'Great Bear,' " said Colleville, de- 
 ranging a proverb in Leon de Lora's style. 
 
 "Hein! scallawag," said the savant, turning to where the 
 servant had been standing when he entered, but who had re- 
 tired when he saw everything was amicably settled. 
 
 Pere Picot was a tall, spare man, with a severe, angular face, 
 which, in spite of the softening effect of a blonde wig with 
 heavy curls, and the pacific green shade we previously spoke 
 of, had a truculent and surly cast, and which hard study had 
 ornamented with a surface of sickly pallor. He had given 
 proof of his snappish, quarrelsome mind before entering the 
 dining-room, where every one rose to receive him. 
 
 His costume consisted of an over-large frock-coat, some- 
 thing between an overcoat and a dressing-gown ; under this
 
 362 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 was a big vest of iron-gray cloth, fastened from the throat to 
 the pit of the stomach with a double row of buttons, huzzar 
 style, and looking like a breast-plate. His trousers, though 
 October was near its close, were of black thin serge, and gave 
 testimony to long wear by dull-looking patches breaking the 
 shining surface caused by wear, and a rough darn covered one 
 knee. But, by daylight, his most striking feature was a pair 
 of Patagonian feet, imprisoned in beaver cloth slippers, which, 
 being moulded upon the mountainous excrescences of gigantic 
 bunions, made one involuntarily think of a dromedary or an 
 advanced case of elephantiasis. 
 
 When he was installed on the chair eagerly placed for him, 
 and the company had resumed their seats at the table, amid 
 the silence born of curiosity : 
 
 " Where is he," cried the old man, in a voice of thunder, 
 " the villain, the scoundrel ? Bring him forth, let me hear 
 his voice." 
 
 "To whom do you refer, my dear sir?" asked Thuillier, 
 in a conciliatory voice, in which was a slight tone of patron- 
 age. 
 
 "A scallawag whom I could not find at his residence, mon- 
 sieur, and they informed me that he was at this house. I 
 am, I believe, in the home of Monsieur Thuillier, member of 
 Council, Place de la Madeleine, first floor above the en- 
 tresol?" 
 
 " Precisely, monsieur," replied Thuillier, "and allow me to 
 add, monsieur, that we are all your respectful sympathizers." 
 
 " And you will permit me, I hope," said Minard, " as the 
 mayor of the adjoining arrondissement to that in which you 
 reside, to congratulate myself in being present in the com- 
 pany of Monsieur Picot, the one who is without a doubt the 
 discoverer of a star, and by this has immortalized his name." 
 
 "Yes, monsieur," replied the professor, raising once more 
 the stentorian diapason of his voice, " I am Picot (Ndpomu- 
 cene), the one you speak of, but I have discovered no star.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 363 
 
 I am not such a faddist, my eyes are very weak ; that insolent 
 rascal is making me ridiculous with that hoax. I don't find 
 him here > he is in hiding, the coward, and dare not sniffle a 
 word before my face." 
 
 "Who is this person you are so annoyed with?" was 
 asked the old man by a number of voices. 
 
 "An unnatural pupil," replied the old mathematician; "a. 
 good-for-nothing a man of parts, though his name is Felix 
 Phellion." 
 
 This name was heard with amazement, as may be imagined. 
 Finding the situation so funny, Colleville and la Peyrade 
 shouted with laughter. 
 
 "You laugh, wretch," cried the irate old man rising from 
 his seat; "just come and laugh within the length of my 
 arm." 
 
 And he brandished an enormous, heavy stick with a China 
 knob, which he used as a guiding cane, thereby nearly knock- 
 ing over a heavy candelabrum on the table on to Mme. 
 Minard's head. 
 
 "You are mistaken, monsieur," said Brigitte, seizing his 
 arm in the nick of time, " Monsieur Felix Phellion is not 
 here. He will most likely be here at our reception, some- 
 what later, but he has not yet arrived." 
 
 "They don't begin very early, your soirees" said the old 
 man, " it is past eight o'clock. However, as Monsieur Felix 
 will come later, you will permit me to wait for him. You 
 were eating dinner, I think; pray don't allow me to disturb 
 you." 
 
 And he quietly sat down. 
 
 "May I offer you anything?" asked Brigitte; "a glass 
 of champagne and a biscuit ? " 
 
 "As you are so kind, madame," replied the old man, 
 " one never refuses champagne, and I can always eat between 
 meals; you dine very late, though." 
 
 A place was found for him at the table between Colleville
 
 364 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 and Mme. Minard ; the musician filled the glass of his new 
 neighbor, before whom was placed a dish of little cakes. 
 
 " Monsieur," said la Peyrade, in a wheedling voice, " you 
 must have seen how surprised we were to hear you complain 
 of Monsieur Felix Phellion, a so gentle young man, so in- 
 offensive. What has he really done that your indignation is 
 so great ? ' ' 
 
 His mouth full of pastry, which he was consuming at a rate 
 which caused Brigitte much agitation, the professor signed 
 that he would give an answer presently. Then, mistaking 
 his glass and gulping down the contents of Colleville's : 
 
 "What has that insolent done?" he replied. "The mis- 
 erable thing and not for the first time, either. He knows 
 that I cannot suffer stars, and with good cause. In 1807, 
 being attached to the Bureau of Longitudes, I took part in a 
 scientific expedition that was sent to Spain under the direction 
 of my friend and colleague, Jean-Baptiste Biot, to determine 
 the arc of the meridian from Barcelona to the Belearic Isles. 
 I was just observing a star, perhaps the very star my rogue of 
 a pupil has discovered, when suddenly, war in the meantime 
 having broken out between France and Spain, the peasants, 
 seeing me perched with a telescope at the top of Mont Galazzo, 
 figured it out that I was signaling to the enemy. An infuri- 
 ated rabble smashed my instruments and talked of stringing 
 me up ; I was go gone up only that the captain of a ship 
 took me prisoner and thrust me into the citadel of Belver, 
 where I spent three years in dire captivity. Since that time, 
 as you may well believe, I have let the whole celestial system 
 alone; though I was, without being aware of the fact, the 
 first to observe the famous comet of 1811 ; but I should have 
 been careful to have said nothing about it only that Monsieur 
 Flauguergues was so foolish as to publish it. Like mil my 
 pupils, Phellion knows my declared aversion to the stars, and 
 he knew right well that the best trick that he could play upon 
 me would be to saddle one on my back. So that deputation
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 3G5 
 
 that went through the farce of coming to compliment me was 
 more than lucky in not finding me at home, for, if they had, the 
 respected gentlemen the academicians, and all the Academy 
 included, would have passed a bad quarter of an hour." 
 
 Everybody found the greatest pleasure in this singular mono- 
 mania of the old mathematician. Only la Peyrade was be- 
 ginning to understand the part played by Felix, and he was 
 vexed that he had insisted on the explanation. 
 
 "Still, Monsieur Picot," said Minard, "if Felix Phellion 
 is only culpable by crediting you with this discovery, it seems 
 to me that his indiscretion has been compensated to some ex- 
 tent ; the cross of the Legion of Honor, a pension, and the 
 glory that will accrue to your name." 
 
 "The Cross and the pension I take," said the old man, 
 emptying his glass, which to the great horror of Brigitte he 
 replaced upon the table with such force as to break the stem- 
 "For twenty years the government has owed me them, not 
 for discovering stars, either (things that I have always scorned), 
 but for my celebrated treatise on 'Differential Logarithms,' 
 which Kepler thought proper to term monologarithms, a 
 sequel to Napier's tables; for my 'Postulatum' of Euclid, 
 which I was the first to solve ; but, above all, for my theory 
 of 'Perpetual Motion,' four volumes, octavo, with plates: 
 Paris, 1825. You can thus see, monsieur, that to give me 
 glory is to pour water into the river. I had so little need of 
 Monsieur Phellion to make me a position in the scientific 
 world, that a long time ago I turned him out of my house in 
 disgrace." 
 
 " Then this is not the first star that he has thrust upon you 
 for a joke?" asked Colleville, flippantly. 
 
 "He did worse than that," cried the old man; "he has 
 tarnished my fame. My theory of 'Perpetual Motion,' the 
 printing of which cost me my all, when it ought to have been 
 printed at the Royal Printery, was enough to have made my 
 fortune and render me immortal. Well, that wretch of a
 
 366 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Felix hindered it all. From time to time, pretending that he 
 knew my publisher : ' Father Picot,' he would say (the young 
 sycophant), ' here are five hundred francs, or fifteen crowns, 
 or, as it was one time, two thousand francs, which the pub- 
 lisher gave me for you, for your book is selling finely.' This 
 went on for years, and my publisher, who was in the con- 
 spiracy, would say to me when I went to his place : ' Oh ! yes, 
 it is not doing so badly, it fairly bubbles, we shall soon get 
 through the first edition.' I didn't suspect anything, and of 
 course pocketed the money; I thought to myself: 'My book 
 is to their taste, the idea will make its way ; from day to day I 
 may expect that some capitalist will come forward and propose 
 to apply my system to ' " 
 
 "The 'Absorption of Liquids?'" asked Colleville, who 
 had been constantly engaged in filling the old lunatic's glass. 
 
 " No, monsieur, my theory of ' Perpetual Motion,' 4 vols. 
 in 410, with plates: Paris, 1825. But, bah! days passed 
 along and nobody ever came ; so, thinking my publisher was 
 not energetic enough, I tried to arrange for a second edition 
 with another publisher. This it was, monsieur, that allowed 
 me to discover the whole plot, and I turned the serpent out 
 of doors. In six years there had been only nine copies sold ; 
 kept lulled in false security, I had done nothing to push my 
 book, which had been left to take care of itself; thus was I 
 the victim of jealousy and the blackest malice, and was un- 
 justly despoiled of the value of my labors." 
 
 "But," said Minard, who had constituted himself the 
 mouthpiece of the company, " may we not regard this as an 
 act equally delicate and ingenious to " 
 
 " To give me alms, is that what you mean? " interrupted 
 the old man with a roar that made Mile. Minard jump in her 
 chair; "to humiliate me, dishonor me me, his old tutor; is 
 it that I need the succor of charity ? Has Picot I, Nepo- 
 mucene to whom his wife brought a dowry of one hundred 
 thousand francs, ever held his hand out to anybody? But
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 867 
 
 nowadays nothing is respected ; old fellows, as they call us, 
 our religion, our good faith is taken advantage of, so that the 
 younger generation may say to the public : ' These old do- 
 tards, can't you see plainly that they are good for nothing? 
 it needs us, the modern men, us, Young France, to step in 
 and bring them up by hand.' You, hobbledehoy, you try to 
 feed me ! But these old dotards have more knowledge in 
 their little ringer than you have in your whole brain ; you will 
 never be worth as much as us, miserable little intriguers as 
 you are. As for that matter, I can wait for my revenge ; that 
 young Phellion is bound to come to a bad end ; that which he 
 did to-day, reading before the full board at the Academy a 
 statement in my name, was nothing less than forgery, and the 
 law punishes forgery with the galleys." 
 
 "Quite true," said Colleville, "the forgery of a public 
 star."* 
 
 Brigitte trembled for her glassware, and her nerves tingled 
 at the slaughter of cakes and pastry, so she gave the signal to 
 return to the salon, where a number of guests had already as- 
 sembled. Colleville politely offered his arm to the professor. 
 
 "No, monsieur," said he, "permit me to stay here. I am 
 not dressed for a soiree, and, beside, a strong light injures my 
 eyes. Then, I have no fancy to make an exhibition of my- 
 self; it will be best that the explanation between myself and 
 my pupil should take place between ' four eyes,' as the saying 
 goes." 
 
 No one insisted ; the old man, all unconsciously, had un- 
 crowned himself in the opinion of the guests. But the thrifty 
 housewife, before leaving him, removed everything of a fragile 
 nature from within his reach ; then, by way of a slight recom- 
 pense: 
 
 " Will you take coffee ? " she asked. 
 
 "I'll take it, madame," replied old Picot, "and some, 
 cognac, too." 
 
 * It is impossible to produce- the pun in English.
 
 368 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Bless my life! he takes everything," said Brigitte to the 
 "male " domestic. 
 
 When Brigitte reentered the salon she found the Abbe 
 Gondrin the centre of a great circle ; as she approached she 
 heard him say : 
 
 "I thank heaven for having granted me such happiness. 
 Never have I felt such an emotion as that aroused by the 
 scene in which we have just participated ; even the somewhat 
 burlesque form of the confidence, certainly very artless, for it 
 was wholly involuntary, but adds to the glory of the astound- 
 ing generosity revealed to us. Placed by my sacred calling 
 in the way of learning of many charities, often also either the 
 witness or intermediary of kindly actions, I think that never 
 in my life before have I met with a so touching or more inge- 
 nious devotion. Keeping the left hand in ignorance of the 
 doings of the right is a great step in Christianity ; but to go 
 so far as to rob one's self of one's own fame to benefit another 
 under such singular circumstances, with every risk of being 
 told he liedj is the gospel applied in its highest precepts ; it is 
 being more than a sister of charity, it is worthy the apostle of 
 benevolence. I would that I knew this noble young man, 
 that I might shake him by the hand." 
 
 Her arm passed through that of her godmother, Celeste was 
 standing near the priest. Her ear heard every word, and as 
 he talked of and analyzed Felix's generous conduct, she 
 clung more closely to Mme. Thuillier's arm, saying in a low 
 voice : 
 
 " You hear, godmother, you hear! " 
 
 To crush the inevitable effect which this eulogy would have 
 on Celeste: 
 
 "Unfortunately, Monsieur 1'AbbeV' said Thuillier, "this 
 young man on whom you have made such a ' grand oration ' 
 is not unknown to you. I have had before now occasion to 
 speak of him to you, regretting that we had found it impos- 
 sible to carry out certain plans we had arranged in connection
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 369 
 
 with him ; I allude to the very compromising attitude he 
 affects in his religious opinions." 
 
 "Oh! is that the young man?" said the abbe; "you 
 surprise me greatly ; I must say that I should not have formed 
 such an idea." 
 
 "You will see him presently, Monsieur 1'Abbe," said la 
 Peyrade, " and if you question him on certain points you will 
 have no difficulty in discovering the ravages that the pride of 
 science can exercise in the most happily tempered souls." 
 
 " I am afraid I shall not see him," said the abbe, "as my 
 black robe would be out of place in the midst of the fashion- 
 able splendor that will soon fill this drawing-room. But' you, 
 Monsieur la Peyrade, are a man of sincere religious convic- 
 tions, and as you doubtless feel an interest in that young man's 
 welfare, as I do myself, I just say to you in parting : Do not 
 be uneasy about him ; soon or late such souls always come 
 back to us, and, if the return of these prodigals may be long 
 delayed, I should not despair of seeing them going to God, 
 or that His infinite mercy would fail them." 
 
 As he spoke the abbe looked around for his hat, intending 
 to slip quietly away; just as he thought it possible to be done 
 unnoticed, he was accosted by Minard : 
 
 "Monsieur," said the Mayor of the Eleventh, "permit me 
 to press your hand and thank you for the felicitous words of 
 tolerance that have fallen from your lips. Oh ! if all priests 
 were like you, religion would soon be victorious. I am in 
 domestic trouble and have to decide on a line of conduct 
 about which I should be glad of your advice." 
 
 " Whenever you please, monsieur," replied the abbe ; " Rue 
 de la Madeleine, No. 8, in rear of the Cite Berryer ; after six 
 o'clock mass, I am generally in the whole morning." 
 
 As soon as the abb6 had gone, taking Mme. Minard aside : 
 
 " Well, it is true," said Minard, " and the anonymous letter 
 does not misinform us. Monsieur Julian is keeping an actress 
 from Bobino's ; it was to be present at her debut at the Folies- 
 24
 
 370 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Dramatiques that he made a pretense of his throat being sore. 
 The porter's wife is on bad terms with the creature's mother, 
 an old fish-hawker, and for a hundred sous crown-piece she 
 gave me the full account. This evening I shall have a serious 
 explanation with monsieur, my son." 
 
 "My friend," said Mme. Minard, theatrically, "I implore 
 you, be not violent." 
 
 " Lookout," said Minard ; " everybody can see us. I have 
 just asked the Abbe Gondrin to give us the benefit of his ad- 
 vice ; we may scout the priests when all goes well, but when 
 trouble comes " 
 
 " But, my friend, you take the matter too seriously ; he is 
 but young." 
 
 "Yes," said Minard, "but there are things that cannot be 
 overlooked. The son of a family in the hands of women like 
 her ; it .is disreputable ; it is the ruin of his family. You don't 
 know, Zelie, what this dangerous class of actresses are Phryne, 
 Lais, all. They say that our money earned in trade is but 
 stolen ; that it is gained by adulteration and trickery ; they 
 empty our pockets, as they claim, to make us disgorge they 
 mean to, and do, use every means to effect our ruin." 
 
 All at once a terrific uproar put a stopper on this conjugal 
 aside. Into the dining-room rushed Brigitte, whence came 
 the sound of falling furniture and crashing glass ; there she 
 found Colleville engaged in rearranging his cravat and assur- 
 ing himself that his coat, crumpled and dragged out of shape, 
 had not one or more rents in it. 
 
 " What's the matter ? " asked Brigitte. 
 
 "Why this old fool," said Colleville, "is gone crazy. I 
 came here to take my coffee in his company, and, at a little 
 joke I made, he flew into so violent a passion that he seized 
 me by the collar, dragged me over two or three chairs and a 
 tray of glasses, because Josephine was not able to get out of 
 his way in time." 
 
 "It's all because you've been teasing him," said Brigitte,
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 371 
 
 crossly; "you would have done better to have stayed in the 
 salon instead of coming in here to play your jokes, as you call 
 it, eh ? You always think that you are in the orchestra of the 
 Opera-Comique. ' ' 
 
 With this sharp speech, Brigitte, resolute woman that she 
 was, felt that she must get rid of this ferocious old man who 
 threatened her household with fire and blood. She approached 
 old Picot, who was tranquilly amusing himself by burning 
 brandy in his saucer. 
 
 " Monsieur," she cried at the top of her voice, as if she was 
 speaking to a deaf person (she evidently thought a blind one 
 needed the same treatment) ; " I am here to tell you some- 
 thing which you will not like. Monsieur and Madame Phel- 
 lion are now here and inform us that Monsieur Felix, their 
 son, is not coming. He has a sore-throat." 
 
 "Which he got by reading that paper," cried the old pro- 
 fessor, joyfully. "Well, that is justice. Madame, where do 
 you purchase your brandy ? " 
 
 "From my grocer, of course," said Brigitte, taken aback 
 at the question. 
 
 "Well, madame, I think you ought to know that in a house 
 where one can get such excellent champagne, which reminds 
 me of that we used to quaff at de Fontane's table, grand- 
 master of the University, it is shameful to keep such brandy. 
 With the same frankness I put into everything, I tell you 
 plainly that it is only fit to wash your horse's feet in ; if I had 
 not the chance to burn it " 
 
 "He must be the devil in person," said Brigitte; "not a 
 word to excuse himself about all that glass, and now jaws 
 about my brandy! Monsieur," said she, in the same raised 
 diapason, "Monsieur Felix is not coming; I think your 
 family will be anxious at your long absence, eh?" 
 
 " Family, madame ; I have no family, as they want to make 
 me out to be a lunatic ; however, I have a housekeeper, Ma- 
 dame Lambert ; I think she will be surprised at my being so
 
 372 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 long away. I think I had better go ; but I must confess that 
 I am not sure I can find my way in this strange quarter." 
 
 "Then take a hack." 
 
 "A hack to go, a hack to come; this would.be an excel- 
 lent chance for my relatives to say I am a spendthrift," said 
 the testy old fellow. 
 
 "I have an important message to send into your quarter," 
 said Brigitte, who found it was necessary to bear the cost ; 
 "my porter is about taking a hack there if you would care 
 to take advantage of that " 
 
 "I take it, madame," said the old professor, rising; "if it 
 comes to the worst you can testify for me that I was too nig- 
 gardly to pay for hack hire." 
 
 "Henri," said Brigitte to her domestic, " take monsieur 
 down to the janitor and tell him to do the errand I told him 
 about ; also to take monsieur to his own door and be careful 
 of him." 
 
 "Be careful ! be careful ! " said the old man, refusing the 
 arm of the servant ; " what do you take me for, madame, a 
 trunk or a piece of cracked china? " 
 
 Seeing that she had got her man fairly to the door, Brigitte 
 gave her mind free vent : 
 
 "What I said, monsieur, is for your own good, and permit 
 me to remark that you are not of the most agreeable disposi- 
 tion." 
 
 "Be careful ! " repeated the old man ; " but you, perhaps, 
 don't know, madame, that it is words like that that brings a 
 commission in lunacy? However, I won't be too rude in 
 return for your hospitality, the more so that I have been able 
 to put Monsieur Felix, who has purposely missed me, in his 
 right place." 
 
 "Get out, you old brute; get out," said Brigitte, shutting 
 the door behind him. 
 
 The restraint she had placed upon herself compelled her to 
 drink a whole glass of water before returning to the salon ;
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 373 
 
 this obstreperous guest had given her "quite a turn," by her 
 own expression. 
 
 The next morning Minard was shown into Phellion's study. 
 The great citizen and his son Felix were absorbed in an inter- 
 esting conversation. 
 
 "My dear Felix," said the Mayor of the Eleventh, shak- 
 ing hands heartily with the young professor, "it is you that 
 brings me here this morning ; I come to offer you my con- 
 gratulations." 
 
 " What has happened, then ? " asked Phellion ; "the Thuil- 
 liers, have they at last " 
 
 " It has nothing to do with the Thuilliers," interrupted the 
 mayor. "But," he added, looking at Felix, "you don't 
 mean to tell me that that sly-boots has kept the matter even 
 from you ? ' ' 
 
 " I do not think," said the great citizen, " that my son has 
 ever hidden aught from me." 
 
 "So, then, the sublime astronomical discovery which he 
 has communicated to the Academy of Sciences, you know all 
 about?" 
 
 "Your kindly feeling for me, Monsieur le Maire," said 
 Felix, quickly, " has misled you ; I was but the reader, not the 
 author, of the paper." 
 
 "Oh! be quiet!" said Minard, "the reader only! all is 
 known." 
 
 "But see," said Felix, offering Minard the " Constitu- 
 tionnel," "here's the newspaper, which announces the dis- 
 coverer to be Monsieur Picot ; not only so, but it mentions 
 the rewards, without the loss of a moment, that have been 
 bestowed upon him by the government." 
 
 " Felix is right," said Phellion, " that is a faithful journal ; 
 I think the government has acted in this with commendable 
 promptitude." 
 
 " But, my dear commander, I repeat that the secret is
 
 874 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 blown ; your son is shown to be a most admirable fellow. 
 Placing to the account of his old professor his own discovery 
 so as to obtain for him the favors of the authorities, I cer- 
 tainly do not know of any finer trait in all antiquity." 
 
 "Felix," said Phellion, testifying some emotion, "the 
 immense labor to which you have devoted yourself so persist- 
 ently, those never-ceasing visits to the Observatory " 
 
 "But, my father, Monsieur Minard has been misinformed." 
 
 "Misinformed! " repeated Minard, "when the whole busi- 
 ness was made known by Monsieur Picot himself." 
 
 At this statement, made in such a way as to preclude all 
 doubt, the truth began to dawn upon Phellion. 
 
 "Felix, my son," he cried, rising to embrace his son. 
 
 But he was compelled to sit down again ; his legs refused 
 to support him, he became pale, and his nature, usually so im- 
 passible, seemed ready to give way under this sudden happy 
 shock. 
 
 "Mon Dieu ! " said Felix, alarmed, "he is ill; ring for 
 help, I beg you, Monsieur Minard." 
 
 He rushed to the old man, rapidly loosened his cravat and 
 collar, and slapped his hands. But this faintness was only 
 temporary, he was soon himself again ; Phellion pressed his 
 son to his breast and there held him for some time ; then, in 
 a voice broken with emotion : 
 
 "Felix, my noble son," said he, "so large of heart, so 
 great in mind." 
 
 The bell had meanwhile been given a resounding peal by 
 the magisterial hand ; the whole household was on its feet. 
 
 "It is nothing, nothing," said Phellion, dismissing the 
 servants, who had rushed in. But at the same moment he 
 caught sight of his wife, who had entered with the others, 
 and resumed his habitual pomposity : 
 
 "Madame Phellion," said he, pointing to F61ix, "how 
 many years is it since you brought that young man into the 
 world?"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 375 
 
 Mme. Phellion, bewildered by the question, hesitated for a 
 moment before replying : 
 
 "Twenty-five years next January." 
 
 "Have you not thought," continued Phellion, "up to 
 now that God has amply gratified your maternal longings by 
 making this child of your womb an honest man, a dutiful 
 son, and one gifted as a mathematician, the science of 
 sciences ? " 
 
 "Undoubtedly," said Mme. Phellion, understanding less 
 and less at what her husband was driving. 
 
 " Well," went on Phellion, " you owe heaven an additional 
 meed of thanks for granting that you should become mother 
 of a genius ; those toils, which so lately we condemned and 
 from which we feared the loss of our boy's reason, formed 
 the rough and steep path by which men attain fame." 
 
 "Ah fd/" said Mme. Phellion, "don't you think it would 
 be as well if you would explain yourself? " 
 
 "Monsieur, your son," said Minard, being more cautious 
 this time in administering the happiness he was about to 
 bestow, and fearing another new fainting-fit of joy, " has just 
 made an important astronomical discovery." 
 
 "Truly?" said Mme. Phellion, going up to Felix and 
 taking him by both hands quite lovingly. 
 
 "When I say important," continued Minard, " I only try 
 to spare your maternal emotions ; it is a great, a bewildering 
 discovery, as I said. He is but twenty-five, yet his name is 
 already immortal." 
 
 "And this is the man," said Mme. Phellion, effusively 
 embracing her son F6lix, " to whom that la Peyrade is pre- 
 ferred ! " 
 
 "They do not prefer him, madame," said Mjnard, "for 
 the Thuilliers are not the dupe of that intriguer ; but he has 
 become necessary to them. Thuillier thinks that by his 
 means he can become a deputy. The election is not yet 
 won ; they are sacrificing Celeste in gaining it."
 
 376 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " But that is atrocious," said Mme. Phellion, " to consider 
 ambition before a child's happiness." 
 
 "Ah!" said Minard, "Celeste is not their child; she is 
 their adopted daughter." 
 
 "Yes, on Brigitte's side," said Mme. Phellion; "but on 
 the side of Handsome Thuillier " 
 
 " My dear," said Phellion, " no recriminations ; the good 
 God has sent us much comfort. Beside, that marriage, about 
 which I regret to see Felix does not behave with his custom- 
 ary philosophy, may still not take place." 
 
 Felix shook his head incredulously. 
 
 "Yes," said Minard, observing this, "the commander is 
 right. Last evening, when the contract was to be signed, 
 a hitch occurred. You were not present, by-the-by ; your 
 absence was remarked." 
 
 "We were invited," said Phellion, "but at the last mo- 
 ment we felt that we should be placed in an equivocal posi- 
 tion, and then Felix was overcome with excitement and fatigue 
 which is now apparent as having been caused by his essay 
 read before the Academy. It would have been bad form to 
 go without him, so we absented ourselves." 
 
 The vicinage of the man whom he had come to pronounce 
 immortal did not prevent Minard, when the chance was thus 
 presented, of rolling under his tongue that most tender morsel 
 of the middle-classes gossip. 
 
 "Figure to yourself," said he, "the most extraordinary 
 things that occurred at the Thuilliers last night, one succeed- 
 ing the other." Then he started off with the funny episoda 
 of old Picot's visit, following this by the warm approval 
 given to Felix by the Abbe Gondrin and the desire expressed 
 by the young preacher of meeting him. 
 
 " I'll call on him," said Felix; " do you know where he 
 resides?" 
 
 "Rue de la Madeleine, No. 8," replied Minard; " I have 
 just this minute left him. I saw him on a most delicate mat-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 377 
 
 ter, and his advice was shrewd and charitable. But that was 
 not the great event of the evening. Every one was present to 
 hear the contract read ; they waited in expectation of the 
 notary for a full hour, but he never came." 
 
 "Then the contract was not signed," said Felix eagerly. 
 
 "Nor even read, my friend. All at once some one came 
 in to say that the notary had started for Brussels." 
 
 "Undoubtedly on more urgent business," said Phellion, 
 innocently. 
 
 "Much more urgent," replied Minard, "a little bank- 
 ruptcy of five hundred thousand francs, which the gentleman 
 skipped." 
 
 " But whom is this public officer," demanded Phellion, 
 "so recreant to his trust, as, in this scandalous manner, to 
 forego the sacred duties of his calling ? " 
 
 " Think now ! your neighbor, on the Rue St. Jacques, 
 the notary Dupius." 
 
 "What ! " said Mme. Phellion, "so pious a man as he? 
 Why he is the parish churchwarden." 
 
 "Ah! madame," said Minard, "it is just those very peo- 
 ple who go it ; he is not the only one." 
 
 " Tell us all about it," said Mme. Phellion, with animation. 
 
 "Well, it seems," Minard went on, "that this canting 
 swindler had the savings of a number of servants placed in his 
 hands, and that Monsieur la Peyrade you see they are all in 
 a clique, these pious folk was charged with the duty of 
 recruiting clients for him among that class." 
 
 "I always said he was no good, that Provencal, " said 
 Mme. Phellion. 
 
 "Just recently," replied the mayor, "he had placed with 
 Dupuis the savings of an old housekeeper, herself one of the 
 pious, amounting to quite a nice little sum ; my faith ! it was 
 worth a care twenty-five thousand francs, if you please ; this 
 housekeeper, named Madame Lambert " 
 
 " Madame Lambert," interrupted Felix, in his turn j "but
 
 378 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 that is M. Picot's housekeeper scrimpy-cap, a pale, thin 
 face, shows no hair, always speaks with lowered eyes? " 
 
 "That's the very woman, a true picture of a hypocrite," 
 said Minard. 
 
 "Twenty-five thousand francs of savings!" said Felix; 
 "I am no longer astonished that poor old Picot is always 
 pinched." 
 
 " So that some one had to meddle with the sale of his 
 books," said Minard, slyly. "Well, however that may be, 
 you can imagine that she was in a dreadful state when she 
 heard of the notary's flight. First, she went to la Peyrade's 
 lodgings out, but dining at the Thuilliers ; to the Thuilliers 
 then, arriving there at ten o'clock, when all the gaping com- 
 pany sat wondering what next to do, neither Brigitte nor 
 Thuillier having sense enough to redeem such an awkward 
 position ; I can tell you we all missed the finesse of Madame 
 de Godollo and the talent of Madame Phellion " 
 
 "You are too polite, Monsieur le Maire," said Mme. Phel- 
 lion, primly. 
 
 " Well, as I said, there she was in the vestibule and asking 
 for la Peyrade, of course being greatly excited." 
 
 "Quite naturally," said Phellion, "he was the interme- 
 diary, the woman had the right to question him." 
 
 "You should just have seen the Tartuffe," continued 
 Minard. " He had scarcely left the room when he returned 
 with the news. As everybody was anxious to be going, there 
 was a general stampede. Then what does our man do ? He 
 goes back to Madame Lambert, who never ceased crying she 
 was ruined ! she was lost ! which, of course, may have been 
 true, but might also merely have been a scene carefully ar- 
 ranged between them before all the guests in the ante- 
 chamber. 'Reassure yourself, my worthy woman,' said the 
 editor-in-chief of the ' Echo de la Bievre,' ' the investment was 
 made at your own request ; consequently, I owe you nothing ; 
 but it is sufficient that as the money passed through my hands
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 379 
 
 my conscience tells me that I am responsible ; if the assignees 
 of the notary do not realize enough, I will pay you in 
 full.' " 
 
 "Yes, just what I should have done and said," put in Phel- 
 lion. " Such upright conduct cannot be termed Jesuitism." 
 
 "You! why, certainly you would have acted the same, so 
 should I," said Minard; " but we should not have performed 
 it. to the sound of a brass band, but have paid it quietly, like 
 gentlemen. But this election manipulator, with what can he 
 pay? Out of the dot!" 
 
 At this moment entered the little servant-boy, who handed 
 a letter to Phellion junior recognizing it as from M. Picot, 
 and written by Mme. Lambert. Obtaining permission to 
 peruse it, and informing them whom it was from, he passed it 
 to his father : 
 
 " You may read it aloud, if you wish," said he. 
 
 "He rakes your hair nicely, I guess," said Minard. "I 
 never saw anything so comical as his fury last night." 
 
 Phellion took the letter and in a pompous voice and man- 
 ner : 
 
 " My dear F61ix," began the great citizen, " I have just received your 
 note; it arrived in the nick of time, for they tell me that I was in a rage 
 with you. You say that in being culpable in abusing my confidence (about 
 which I proposed giving you a good whigging), in order to give a knock- 
 out blow to my family by showing that a man who was capable of making 
 the elaborate calculations necessary for this discovery you have made was 
 not by any means the man to be accounted a lunatic, and to have his af- 
 fairs controlled by others. This argument pleases me, it is such an excel- 
 lent answer to the infamous proceedings taken against me by my relations ; 
 I must commend you for thinking of it. But you sold that idea pretty 
 dear when you placed it in juxtaposition with a star, making me, me ! its 
 philosopher and friend. It is not at my age and when I have solved the 
 great problem of ' perpetual motion ' that a man should trouble himself 
 about such trumpery rubbish ; all right for such gabies and sucking-scien- 
 tists as yourself; that is just what I said to the Minister of Instruction this 
 morning, by whom I must acknowledge I was received with great urban- 
 ity. I asked him whether, as he had made a mistake and sent them to 
 
 2 A
 
 380 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 the wrong address, he had perhaps better take back his Cross and his pen- 
 sion, though I certainly deserved them for other things. 
 
 " ' The government,' answered the minister, ' is not in the habit of mak- 
 ing mistakes; what it does, it always does well; it never annuls an ordi- 
 nance given under the hand of his majesty ; your excellent work has well 
 merited the two favors granted by the King ; it is an old debt, I am only 
 too pleased to pay it off in his name.' 
 
 " ' But Felix ? ' I said ; ' for after all, for a young man, it was not such a 
 bad discovery.' 
 
 " ' Monsieur Felix Phellion,' the minister replied, ' will to-day receive 
 his appointment as chevalier of the Legion of Honor; the King will sign 
 the order this morning ; it happens, too, that just now there is a vacancy 
 in the Academy of Sciences, and if you are not a candidate ' 
 
 "' I in the Academy ! ' I interrupted, with the frankness of speech you 
 know so well, 'I execrate all the academies; they are wet blankets, as- 
 semblies of slothfulness, stores with fine signs and nothing to sell.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said the minister, smiling, ' I think at the forthcoming election 
 M. Felix Phellion has every chance of being elected, the influence of the 
 government will be at his back, which I account a potent factor.' 
 
 " There, my poor boy, this is all that I have been able to do to-day to re- 
 ward you for your good intentions and to prove that I no longer bear malice. 
 I think my relations will pull a rather long face. Come and talk it over 
 with me as soon as possible, say about four o'clock for I don't dine after 
 bedtime, as I saw a lot of folk doing last night in a house where I took 
 occasion to speak of your talent in a manner much to your advantage. 
 Mme. Lambert, who can handle a pan better than a pen, will distinguish 
 herself, although it is Friday, and you know she never lets me off on a 
 fast day; but she promises me a dinner for an archbishop, with a half- 
 bottle of champagne, which if required can be doubled, to redden the 
 ribbon. Your old professor and friend, 
 
 " PlCOT, 
 " Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. 
 
 " P. S. Is it possible to obtain from your worthy mother a little flask 
 of that excellent old cognac that you once gave me ? Not a drop is left, 
 and yesterday I was compelled to drink some that wasn't good enough to 
 wash a horse's feet in ; I did not hesitate to so inform the charming Hebe 
 who served me." 
 
 " Certainly, yes, he shall have some," said Mme. Phellion; 
 " and not a flask only, but a Hire"
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 381 
 
 "And I," said Minard, "who pique myself on mine, will 
 also send him a few bottles ; but pray don't let him know 
 from whom it came be my sponsor for there is no saying 
 how he would take it." 
 
 "Wife," said Phellion, "bring me a white cravat and a 
 black coat. Monsieur the Mayor will excuse me, if I leave 
 him." 
 
 " I must be going myself," said Minard, " for I have a little 
 affair on with monsieur, my son, who has not discovered a 
 star." 
 
 Phellion, not saying whither he was going, though anxiously 
 questioned by his wife, sent for a hack, and half-an-hour after 
 found himself in the presence of Brigitte, who was superin- 
 tending the careful putting away of the china, glass, and silver 
 used the previous night. 
 
 "Well, Papa Phellion," said the old maid, they had pro- 
 ceeded into the salon, "you gave us the slip yesterday; you 
 had a keener nose than the others. Do you know the trick 
 the notary played us? " 
 
 " I know all," said Phellion, " and the unexpected check you 
 have received in the execution of your projects is what I shall 
 take as my text for the important conversation which I wish to 
 have with you. At times it seems as though Providence took 
 pleasure in counteracting our best-devised plans ; sometimes 
 it seems also to intimate that we tend too much to the right 
 or left, and the obstacles it raises in our path are apparently 
 meant to give us a pause that we may reflect upon our way.*' 
 
 "Providence! Providence!" said the strong-minded Bri- 
 gitte, "it seems to me has something else to do than look 
 after us." 
 
 " That is one opinion," replied Phellion, " but I have often 
 seen its decrees in the little as in the great things of life ; and 
 certainly if it had permitted the fulfillment of your arrange- 
 ments with M. de la Peyrade to have been begun as intended, 
 you would not have seen me here."
 
 382 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Then," said Brigitte, "you think that the notary having 
 defaulted, the marriage will not take place, eh ? But for lack 
 of a monk the abbey did not close." 
 
 "My dear lady," said the great citizen, "you will do me 
 the justice to acknowledge that neither my wife nor myself 
 have attempted at any time to influence your decision ; we 
 have allowed the young people to love each other without 
 troubling ourselves as to where such attachment might lead 
 and " 
 
 "To upsetting their minds," interrupted Brigitte; "that 
 is just what love does, and that is why I deprived myself of 
 it." 
 
 "What you remark is indeed true as regards my unhappy 
 son," replied Phellion; "for, notwithstanding the lofty occu- 
 pations by which he has tried to distract his thoughts, he is so 
 overcome this morning, despite the glorious success he has 
 attained, that he is talking of circumnavigating the globe 
 an undertaking which would mean his absence from home for 
 three years, if, indeed he escaped the dangers of a voyage so 
 prolonged." 
 
 " Well," said Brigitte, " it is not such a bad idea ; he would 
 return consoled, especially if he discovered two or three or 
 more stars." 
 
 "His present discovery satisfies us," replied Phellion, with 
 double his usual solemnity. "It is under the auspices of that 
 triumph which has raised his name so high in the world of 
 science that I have the assurance to say to you point-blank : 
 I come, mademoiselle, to ask you, on behalf of my son, Felix 
 Phellion, who loves and is beloved, for the hand of Made- 
 moiselle Celeste Colleville." 
 
 "But, my little father," replied Brigitte, "you are too 
 late ; remember that we are diametrically engaged to la Pey- 
 rade." 
 
 " It is never too late to do well, they say ; yesterday, in my 
 idea, would have been too soon to have presented myself.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 383 
 
 My son, having no compensation to offer for the disparity in 
 fortune, could not then have said : ' If Celeste by your 
 generosity has a dot which mine is far from equaling, I have 
 the honor of being a member of the royal order of the Legion 
 of Honor, and shall soon, to all appearance, be a member of 
 the Academy of Sciences, one of the five branches of the 
 Institute.' " 
 
 "Certainly," said Brigitte, "Felix is becoming a very 
 pretty match, but our word is passed to la Peyrade ; his name 
 has been put up with Celeste's at the mayor's office, and 
 only for an extraordinary accident the contract would have 
 been signed ; he is engaged in Thuillier's election, which he 
 has put in good shape ; we have capital invested with him in 
 this newspaper business ; it would be impossible for us to go 
 back on our promise even if we so desired." 
 
 "So," said Phellion, "in one of those rare occasions in 
 which reason and inclination point the same way, you think 
 you must be only guided by the question of interest? Ce- 
 leste, we all know, has no inclination for la Peyrade. Brought 
 up with Felix " 
 
 " Brought up with Felix ! " interrupted Brigitte, " she was 
 given a certain length of time to choose between Monsieur de 
 la Peyrade and monsieur, your son, that's how we coerce her, 
 and she would have nothing to say to Monsieur Felix, whose 
 atheism is well known." 
 
 " You are mistaken, mademoiselle, my son is not an atheist ; 
 for Voltaire himself doubted if there could be atheists ; no 
 later than yesterday, in this very house, an ecclesiastic, as 
 celebrated for his talent as for his virtue, after making an 
 eulogistic speech in favor of my son, expressed the desire of 
 becoming known to him." 
 
 "Parbleu ! to convert him," said Brigitte ; " but as for this 
 business of the marriage, I am sorry to tell you that the mus- 
 tard is mixed too late for the dinner ; never will Thuilliergive 
 up his la Peyrade."
 
 884 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " Mademoiselle," said Phellion, rising, "I feel no humili- 
 ation in having taken this useless step ; I do not even request 
 you to keep it secret, for I shall be the first to talk of it to all 
 our acquaintances and friends." 
 
 "Talk away, my good man, to whoever you wish," said 
 Brigitte, bitterly. "Just because your son has discovered a 
 star, if, indeed, he did really discover it, and not that old 
 man whom the government has decorated, do you think that 
 he can marry one of the daughters of the King of the 
 French?" 
 
 " Enough," said Phellion, " we will say no more ; without 
 wishing to depreciate the Thuilliers, I might reply that the 
 Orleans family seems to me the more distinguished of the 
 two. But I do not wish to introduce ascerbity into our con- 
 versation, and, therefore, begging you to receive the assurance 
 of my humble respects, I will retire." 
 
 This said he made a majestic exit, leaving Brigitte under 
 the sting of his comparison, discharged after the manner of the 
 Parthian' s* arrow in extremis, and she in a rage all the more 
 savage because the evening before Mme. Thuillier, after the 
 guests had gone, had had the incredible audacity to say some- 
 thing in favor of Felix. It is needless to say that the helot 
 was brutally snubbed and told to mind her own business. But 
 this attempt at showing a will of her own on the part of her 
 sister-in-law had already put the old maid in a vile humor, 
 and Phellion, speaking on the same subject, had further exas- 
 perated her. 
 
 Josephine the cook and the "male" domestic received 
 the full force of the after-clap resulting from this scene. Bri- 
 gitte found that in her absence everything had been wrongly 
 done, so "turning to" herself, at the risk of her neck, she 
 clambered on a chair to reach the topmost shelves of the 
 closet in which she kept her choicest china under lock and 
 key. 
 
 * Fighting only on horseback, they were noted archers.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 385 
 
 This day, which for Brigitte had opened so badly, was to 
 turn out one of the busiest and stormiest of all this story. 
 
 As an exact historian we must go back and begin the day at 
 six o'clock in the morning, when we see Mme. Thuillier 
 on her way to the Madeleine to hear the mass which 'he 
 Abbe Gondrin celebrated at that hour, and afterward to ap- 
 proach that holy table, a viaticum which pious souls never 
 fail to fortify themselves with when it is in their minds to 
 accomplish some great resolution. 
 
 At eight o'clock, as we have learned, Minard had called 
 upon the young vicar by virtue of his appointment. The 
 Abbe Gondrin gently blamed him for training his son to a 
 profession which, while it seems to lead to a life of hard work 
 and study, really tempts a youth to every folly : barristers 
 without briefs and doctors without patients, when impecu- 
 nious, are the nursery grounds of revolution and mischief; so, 
 when they are rich, they ape the youthful aristocracy, which, 
 bereft of all its privileges but the dolcc far niente, devotes the 
 leisure of an idle and useless life to training horses for the 
 course or women for the stage. 
 
 In this particular instance the strong proceedings contem- 
 plated by the Mayor of the Eleventh were purely chimerical. 
 There is no longer a Saint-Lazare for the accommodation of 
 wild youth, and Manon Lescauts are no longer kidnapped to 
 America. The abbe suggested that the father should suffer 
 some pecuniary sacrifice ; the siren should be paid off and 
 married out of the way ; thus would morality triumph in two 
 ways. As the girl had a mother, the better plan would be for 
 Minard to send for and treat with her. 
 
 About mid-day the Abbe Gondrin had a visit paid him by 
 Mme. Thuillier and Celeste. The poor child wanted some 
 further explanation of the words by which the priest, in 
 Brigitte's salon, had vouched for Felix Phellion's salvation. 
 It seemed strange to this young theologian that without 
 25
 
 386 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 practicing religion a soul could be admitted to mercy by 
 Divine justice, for surely the anathema is explicit: " Out of 
 the church there is no salvation." 
 
 "My dear child," said the Abbe Gondrin, "you must 
 learn to better understand those words which seem so inexor- 
 able. It is spoken more to the glorification of those who 
 have the happiness to dwell within the pale of our holy mother 
 the church than a malediction on those who are so unfortunate 
 as to be separated from it. God sees the depths of all hearts 
 and knows His elect ; and so great is the treasure of His 
 loving-kindness that it has been given to none to limit its 
 generosity and abundance. Who shall dare to say to God, 
 the Omnipotent : ' Thus far Thou shalt be generous and 
 munificent.' Jesus Christ forgave the woman taken in 
 adultery ; on the cross He promised paradise to the repentant 
 thief; these show us that His wisdom and mercy and not man's 
 judgments shall be supreme. He who thinks himself a 
 Christian may in the eyes of God be but an idolater ; another 
 who may be thought to be a pagan may, by his feelings and 
 actions, and unknown to himself, be a Christian. Our holy 
 religion has this that is divine about it all generosity, all 
 grandeur, all heroism, are but the practice of its precepts. 
 As I said yesterday to Monsieur de la Peyrade, pure souls 
 must always be won over in the end ; we have but to give 
 them time ; it is most important to give them due credit, a 
 confidence which returns great dividends ; beside all, charity 
 commends it." 
 
 "Oh! my God!" cried Celeste, "to see this too late; 
 I who could have chosen between Felix and la Peyrade, and 
 dared not follow the dictates of my heart. Oh ! monsieur, 
 could you not speak to my mother? She always listens to 
 your words." 
 
 "That is impossible, my child," replied the vicar; "if I 
 had the direction of the conscience of Madame Colleville 
 I might perhaps say a word, but we are too often accused of
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 387 
 
 imprudently intermeddling in family affairs. Believe me, 
 my intervention would be more like to do harm than good. 
 It is for yourself and those who love you," he added, glancing 
 at Mme. Thuillier, " to see if the already so advanced arrange- 
 ments could not be changed in the direction of your wishes." 
 
 It was written that the poor child was to drink to the dregs 
 the cup of her own intolerance ; as the abbe finished speaking 
 his housekeeper came in to ask if he would receive M. Felix 
 Phellion. Thus, like the charter of 1830, Mme. de Godollo's 
 officious mendacity had become a truth. 
 
 "Pass out this way," said the vicar hastily, showing out his 
 two penitents by a private passage. 
 
 Life has such strange encounters that it does at times happen 
 that the same form of proceeding must be used by a courtesan 
 as a man of God. 
 
 " Monsieur 1'Abbe," said Felix, " I have heard of the very 
 kind manner in which you spoke of me yesterday in Monsieur 
 Thuillier's salon ; I should have hastened to call upon you to 
 express my thanks even if another interest had not brought 
 me hither." 
 
 The Abbe Gondrin hastily passed over the compliments, 
 being anxious to learn in what manner his services might be 
 useful. 
 
 " With thoughts which I believe to be charitable," said the 
 young professor, " you were spoken to yesterday about the 
 state of my soul. Those who read it so fluently are able to 
 know far more about my inner being ; for during the past few 
 days I have experienced strange, inexplicable feelings. I 
 have never denied God; but face to face with that infinitude 
 in which he has permitted my mind to follow the traces of 
 His work, I seem to have gathered a less vague sense of Him, 
 and one more immediate ; this has led me to ask whether an 
 honest, upright life is the only homage His omnipotence 
 expects of me. And yet there are numberless objections 
 which arise in my mind against the worship of which you are
 
 388 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 a minister, and, while sensible of the beauty of the exterior 
 form, in many of its precepts and practices I find myself 
 deterred by my reason. I may pay dearly, perhaps the hap- 
 piness of my whole life, for the indifference and delay which I 
 have shown in seeking the solution of my doubts. It is now 
 that I have decided to search them to the bottom. None 
 better than yourself, Monsieur 1'Abbe, can solve my doubts. 
 It is a cruelly afflicted soul that appeals to you. Is this not 
 a good preparation for receiving the seed of your word ? By 
 what studies can I pursue the search for light?" 
 
 The abbe protested his joy which, notwithstanding his in- 
 sufficiency, he would endeavor to reply to the scruples ad- 
 vanced by the young professor. After inviting him to often 
 call upon him, and begging Felix to accept him as his friend, 
 he asked him to read as a first step the "Thoughts" of 
 Pascal. A natural affinity in their talent for geometry might 
 be found to exist between them. 
 
 While this scene was passing, another one of sharp and 
 bitter discord, that chronic malady of middle-class house- 
 holds, where the pettiness of mind and deep passion leaves an 
 open door by which it enters, was raging in the Thuillier 
 house. 
 
 Mounted on her chair, her hair in disarray, her hands and 
 face disfigured by dust and dirt, Brigitte, feather-duster in 
 hand, was cleaning the shelves of the closet in which she was 
 replacing her library of plates, dishes, and sauce-boats, when 
 Flavie came in. 
 
 "Brigitte," said she, "when you have finished what you 
 are about you had better come and see us, or else I will send 
 Celeste to you, it seems to me she intends giving us some of 
 her nonsense." 
 
 " In what way ? " asked Brigitte, going on with her dusting. 
 
 "Yes, I think she and Madame Thuillier went this morn- 
 ing to see the Abbe Gondrin, for she has given me a fine 
 setting-to about Felix Phellion, talking of him as if he were a
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 389 
 
 god ; you can easily understand that to refuse la Peyrade is 
 but another step." 
 
 "Those cursed skull-caps," said Brigitte, "they are all the 
 time meddling in something. I didn't want to invite him, 
 but you would insist." 
 
 "But it was only proper." 
 
 "What do I care for what is proper?" replied the old 
 maid. " He is a maker of long speeches, who puts his foot 
 into it. Send Celeste to me. I'll fix her " 
 
 At this instant the servant announced the arrival of the 
 head-clerk of the notary, chosen in default of Dupuis, to draw 
 up the contract. Not giving a thought to her disordered 
 appearance, Brigitte ordered him to be shown in. However, 
 she had _ the decency to come down from her perch to talk to 
 him. 
 
 "Monsieur Thuillier," said the clerk, " came to our office 
 this morning and explained the clauses of the contract he is 
 so good as to intrust to us. But before writing out the stipu- 
 lations of the marriage, we usually obtain from the month of 
 each donor a direct expression of their intentions. Monsieur 
 informed us that he intended giving the bride, at his death, 
 the reversion of the house he inhabits, which, I presume, is 
 this one." 
 
 "Yes," said Brigitte. "As for me, I give three thousand 
 francs per year in the Three-per-cents, capital and interest ; 
 but the bride is married under the dotal system." 
 
 "That is so," said the clerk, consulting his notes. "Now 
 there is Madame Celeste Thuillier, wife of Louis-Jerome 
 Thuillier, who gives six thousand in the Three-per-cents, with 
 six thousand more at her death." 
 
 "That," said Brigitte, " is as safe as if the notary had seen 
 her ; however, if it is usual for you to see them, my sister-in- 
 law is here; they will conduct you to her." 
 
 And the old maid told the servant to take the clerk to Mme. 
 Thuillier. A moment later the clerk returned, saying there
 
 390 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 was evidently some misunderstanding, for Mme. Thuillier 
 said she had no intention of making any settlement whatever 
 in the contract. 
 
 "Here's a pretty go," said Brigitte ; "come with me, 
 monsieur." 
 
 And like a cyclone she rushed into Mme. Thuillier's cham- 
 ber. She was pale and trembling. 
 
 " What is this you have told monsieur, that you give noth- 
 ing toward Celeste's dot?" 
 
 "Yes," said the slave, declaring insurrection, but in a 
 skaking voice ; " my intention is to do nothing." 
 
 "Your intentions!" said Brigitte, scarlet with rage; 
 " that's something new." 
 
 " They are my intentions," said the mutineer. 
 
 "At least you will give your reason why?" 
 
 "The marriage does not suit me." 
 
 "Ah ! since when?" 
 
 "It is useless that monsieur should listen to our discus- 
 sion," said Mme. Thuillier, "it will not appear in the con- 
 tract." 
 
 "You do well to be ashamed of yourself," said Brigitte, 
 " for you don't appear in a very favorable light Mon- 
 sieur," said she, turning to the clerk, "it is easier to mark 
 out things in a contract than to add them, eh? " 
 
 The clerk nodded in the affirmative. 
 
 " Then draw it up as originally told ; later, if madame still 
 persists, you can strike it out." 
 
 The clerk bowed and left the room. When the two sisters- 
 in-law were alone : 
 
 "So you've lost your head, have you?" asked Brigitte. 
 " What freak is this you have taken ? " 
 
 "It is a not a freak ; it is a solid idea." 
 
 "For which we have to thank your Abbe Gondrin ; you 
 dare not deny that you went with Celeste to see him?" said 
 Brigitte.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 391 
 
 "Yes, Celeste and I did call this morning upon our con- 
 fessor, but I did not open my mouth about what I intended." 
 
 " So, then, it sprouted out of your empty head? " 
 
 " I told you yesterday that a more suitable marriage could 
 be arranged for Celeste than this; I don't see that I should 
 despoil myself in favor of a marriage that I do not approve." 
 
 " That you approve ! Upon my word, we must begin and 
 ask madame's advice." 
 
 " I know well enough that I have been a nobody in the 
 house," said Mme. Thuillier. "But I don't care for myself; 
 I do, though, care for the happiness of a child, which I look 
 upon as if she were my own " 
 
 " You were never smart enough to have one," cried Brigitte; 
 'for certainly Thuillier " 
 
 "Sister," said Mme. Thuillier, with dignity, "I took the 
 communion this morning; those are things that I cannot 
 listen to." 
 
 "There's just our good sacrament-eaters," cried Brigitte, 
 "acting the holy hypocrite and bringing trouble into the 
 household. And you think it will end here, do you ? Thuil- 
 lier will be here soon ; he'll shake you up 
 
 By calling on the marital authority, Brigitte made confes- 
 sion of her weakness before the unexpected resistance made 
 to her inveterate tyranny. Mme. Thuillier became calmer as 
 Brigitte waxed more wroth; she could return nothing but 
 insolence : 
 
 "A drawl," she shrieked, "a lazy, good-for-nothing, in- 
 capable of even picking up her handkerchief this wants to be 
 mistress of the house ! " 
 
 " That I don't wish to be, but I will be mistress of my own 
 property, and I shall keep it to use as I think best." 
 
 "Good dog, there ! " said Brigitte, ironically, "her prop- 
 erty?" 
 
 "Mine, yes, that which I had from my father and my 
 mother, which I brought as my dot to Monsieur Thuillier."
 
 392 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "And who was it then that turned it over this money, and 
 made it bring in twelve thousand francs a year?" 
 
 "I have asked account of nothing," replied Mme. Thuil- 
 lier, gently; "if it had been lost in the uses you made of it 
 you would not have heard a word of complaint from me, as it 
 has prospered it is only fair I should reap the benefit. I do 
 not reserve it for myself." 
 
 " That's how it may happen if you give yourself such airs; 
 it is not so sure that you and I will long pass in and out by the 
 same door." 
 
 "You think, perhaps, that Monsieur Thuillier will cast me 
 off? He must have cause, thank God, before he can do that. 
 I have been a wife without reproach." 
 
 "Viper! hypocrite! heartless!" cried Brigitte, at the end 
 of her arguments. 
 
 "My sister," said Mme. Thuillier, "you are in my apart- 
 ments." 
 
 "Get out then, dish-rag," yelled the old maid, in a parox- 
 ysm of fury. "If I didn't restrain myself " 
 
 And she made a gesture of insulting menace. 
 
 Mme. Thuillier rose to leave the room. 
 
 "No, you don't," cried Brigitte, pushing her down again, 
 " and until Thuillier returns and decides what is to be done 
 with you, I shall leave you locked up where you are." 
 
 When Brigitte, her face aflame, returned to Mme. Colle- 
 ville, she found her brother, whose early return she had pre- 
 dicted. He was radiant. 
 
 " My dear," said he, not noticing the state she was in, " all 
 goes well ; the conspiracy of silence is at an end ; two papers, 
 the 'National' and a Carlist journal, have this morning re- 
 produced two of our articles, and there's a little attack in a 
 ministerial paper." 
 
 "All is not going well here, though," replied Brigitte, "and 
 if things continue as they are I shall leave the barracks." 
 
 " What has upset you? " asked Thuillier.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 393 
 
 f: Your insolent wife, who has made quite a scene; it has 
 caused me to tremble all over." 
 
 "Celeste made a scene!" said Thuillier ; " then it's the 
 first time in her life." 
 
 " Everything has a beginning, and if you don't bring her to 
 order " 
 
 " But what is it all about this scene? " 
 
 "About Madame Thuillier not agreeing that la Peyrade 
 should have her goddaughter ; she says she will give nothing 
 in the contract." 
 
 "Come, compose yourself," said Thuillier, whom the ad- 
 mission of the " Echo " into the field polemic had made into 
 another Pangloss; " I'll soon settle all this." 
 
 "You," said Brigitte to Flavie, "had better return home 
 and tell Celeste not to see me; I don't like conspiracies, and 
 I might box her ears. You can tell her that if she doesn't 
 want to see her dot reduced to less than a bank messenger can 
 carry in his eye which is as much as you are able to give her 
 that she " 
 
 "But, my dear Brigitte," interrupted Flavie, turning res- 
 tive under such impertinence, " you may dispense with re- 
 minding us of our poverty ; for after all we have never asked 
 you for anything and we pay our rent punctually, and beside 
 all Monsieur Felix Phellion would gladly take Celeste even if 
 she had no more dot than a bank messenger could carry in a 
 
 Mr-* 1 
 
 And she did not forget to accent this word as she pro- 
 nounced it. 
 
 "Oh ! so you are going to meddle, too," cried Brigitte; 
 " eh, well, go and get your Felix. I know very well, my 
 little mother, that this marriage doesn't suit you; it is dis- 
 agreeable to be nothing more than mother-in-law to your son- 
 in-law." 
 
 At this moment Thuillier returned ; his beatific air was 
 flown.
 
 394 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "My dear Brigitte," said he, " you have a most excellent 
 heart, but at times you seem apt to be violent " 
 
 "The deuce!" cried the old maid; "I am tackled on 
 that side, too." 
 
 "But, my dear friend, to raise your hand against your 
 sister." 
 
 " I lift my hand against that ninny ? That's a good 'un." 
 
 "And then," continued Thuillier, "a woman of Celeste's 
 age cannot be made a prisoner." 
 
 " Your wife ; have I put her in prison ? " 
 
 " You can't dispute my word, for I found the door double- 
 locked." 
 
 "Parbleu! that's because in my anger at the infamous 
 things she vomited at me that I turned the key without 
 thinking." 
 
 "Come, come," said Thuillier; "these are not proper 
 things for people of our class to do." 
 
 " Oh ! after twenty years of devotion to be treated like the 
 scum of the earth," replied Brigitte. 
 
 And rushing to the door, which she violently slammed after 
 her, she went away. 
 
 Thuillier stayed behind with Flavie and commenced to ex- 
 patiate to her on the great political and literary good luck of 
 the morning when he was again interrupted, this time by 
 Josephine, the cook : 
 
 " Monsieur," said she, "will you tell me where I can find 
 the key of the great chest ? " 
 
 "What for?" asked Thuillier. 
 
 "For mademoiselle, who told me to take it to her room." 
 
 "What is she going to do with it?" 
 
 " Mademoiselle is doubtless going a journey ; she is getting 
 her linen out of the drawers, and all her dresses are on the 
 bed." 
 
 "I don't know anything about it," said Thuillier; "go 
 and tell her it is lost."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 395 
 
 "Oh ! yes," said Josephine, "I should like to see myself 
 doing that." 
 
 Just then the door-bell rang. 
 
 "That is la Peyrade, I guess," said Thuillier in a tone of 
 satisfaction. In fact, the Provencal was admitted. 
 
 "Faith, my friend," said Thuillier, "you come just in the 
 nick of time, for the house, all on your account, is turned up- 
 side down ; it needs your silvery tongue to restore it to peace 
 and propriety." 
 
 Then he told the barrister the cause of the declaration of 
 this civil war. 
 
 Addressing Mme. Colleville : 
 
 "Under the circumstances," said Thodose, "I may, I 
 think, without impropriety be allowed a few moments' inter- 
 view with Mademoiselle Colleville." 
 
 Here the Provencal showed his usual acumen ; he grasped 
 the idea at once, that the key to the situation was Mademoi- 
 selle Celeste by her means alone could pacification be ac- 
 complished. 
 
 "I will send for her and leave you alone together," said 
 Flavie. 
 
 "My dear Thuillier," said la Peyrade, "you must, without 
 being harsh, let Celeste understand that she must give her 
 consent without further delay. After that leave her to me : 
 I will do the rest." 
 
 When Celeste came in to her godfather : 
 
 "My child," said Thuillier, "your mother has told us 
 things that have astonished us ; can it really be true that, 
 with the contract all but signed, you have not yet decided to 
 accept the marriage arranged for you?" 
 
 "My godfather," replied Celeste, rather surprised at the 
 abrupt interrogation, "it seems to me that I never said this 
 to my mamma." 
 
 " Did you not just now speak of Monsieur Felix Phellion hi 
 terms of extravagant praise ? "
 
 396 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " I spoke of Monsieur Phellion as every one else is speak- 
 ing of him." 
 
 " Come, now," said Thuillier, authoritatively, " let us have 
 no more equivocation ; do you yes or no refuse to marry 
 Monsieur de la Peyrade ? " 
 
 "My good friend," said the Provencal, intervening, "your 
 way of putting the case is too crude and rough, and, with me 
 present, it seems altogether out of place. I should like, if 
 mademoiselle will permit me, I am sure Madame Colleville 
 will not object ; there can be nothing in my request for an 
 interview to alarm her maternal prudence." 
 
 "So be it," said Mine. Colleville; "you account yourself 
 very smart, but if you let that child get the better of you, so 
 much the worse for yourself. Come, Thuillier, it seems we 
 are in the way here." 
 
 As soon as the two designed for each other were left alone : 
 
 "Mademoiselle," said la Peyrade, placing a chair for Ce- 
 leste and taking one himself, " you will admit, I think, that I 
 have not pestered you with my attentions. I have known 
 both the impulse of your heart and the repugnance of your 
 conscience ; I hoped that after a time I should have made an 
 agreeable refuge for those two currents of sentiments, but we 
 have now reached a point where I think it is not impertinent 
 or indiscreet to beg you to let me know upon what course you 
 have decided." 
 
 " Monsieur," said Celeste, "as you speak so frankly and 
 kindly to me, I will tell you, what you already know, that, 
 brought up as I was with Monsieur Flix Phellion, knowing 
 him longer by far than I have known you, the idea of mar- 
 riage was less repugnant in regard to him than it would be to 
 others." 
 
 "At one time," remarked Thodose, " you were allowed a 
 choice " 
 
 " True, but at that time religious difficulties beset the 
 way."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 397 
 
 "And to-day those difficulties have disappeared ? " 
 
 " Nearly," answered Celeste. "I am in the habit of sub- 
 ordinating my opinion to that of others who are wiser than 
 myself, monsieur, and yesterday you heard the manner in 
 which the Abbe Gondrin spoke of Monsieur Phellion. And 
 this morning he went to see him." 
 
 " Oh ! " said la Peyrade, with a touch of irony, " it seems 
 he must certainly have seen Father Anselme, then ? But, 
 admitting that he has become all you wish on the religious 
 side, have you reflected on the great event which has just taken 
 place in his life ? ' ' 
 
 " Most certainly, but that is not a reason for thinking less 
 of him." 
 
 " No, but it is a reason why he should think more of him- 
 self. His present modesty, and the humility, once the chief 
 charm of his character, may be replaced by great assumption, 
 He has discovered one world, mademoiselle ; will he not strive 
 to discover two? Your rival will be the whole firmament." 
 
 "You plead your cause most intelligently," said Celeste, 
 smiling, " so that I can fancy you the barrister fully as trouble- 
 some as a husband as would be M. Phellion the astron- 
 omer." 
 
 " Mademoiselle," said la Peyrade, " let us speak seriously, 
 I am confident of your extreme delicacy. But do you know 
 what is happening to M. Felix Phellion ? He has not lost 
 anything by his devotion to his old master; his pious fraud is 
 known to all, the discovery has been granted as his, and Mon- 
 sieur Minard says that he is to be made chevalier of the Le- 
 gion of Honor and a member of the Academy of Sciences. 
 Now, if I were a woman, I own that I should be distressed if, 
 at the very time I had decided to take a man into favor, such 
 an avalanche of good things should fall upon him ; I should 
 dread lest the world should say I adored the rising sun." 
 
 " Oh ! monsieur." said Celeste, quickly, " you cannot be- 
 lieve me capable of such baseness."
 
 398 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 " I, no," said the Provencal ; " I should affirm precisely the 
 contrary ; but the world is rash and unjust and perverse in its 
 judgments." 
 
 He saw that he had caused inquietude and a sense of dis- 
 may in the young girl, who made no reply. 
 
 " Now," continued la Peyrade, " to speak of a much worse 
 aspect of your situation, one which is not merely personal, a 
 question, one may say, between you and yourself: are you 
 aware that at this moment you are the cause in this very house 
 of terrible and most regrettable scenes? " 
 
 "I, monsieur?" said Celeste, with surprise not unmingled 
 with dread. 
 
 "Yes; concerning your godmother; by the extreme af- 
 fection that she bears you she seems to have become an en- 
 tirely different woman ; for the first time in her life she shows 
 a will of her own. She declares that she will not make her 
 proposed liberal gift to you ; I need not inform you, of course, 
 whom the person is that this rigor is directed against." 
 
 "But, monsieur, I assure you that this idea of my god- 
 mother's was quite unknown to me." 
 
 " I know that," said la Peyrade ; " it would also be a matter 
 of minor importance but for the fact that Brigitte takes your 
 godmother's attitude as an insult to herself. Painful expla- 
 nations have taken place. Thuillier, between the hammer and 
 the anvil, could do nothing ; indeed, he further imbittered 
 matters, till now Mademoiselle Brigitte is packing up to leave 
 the house." 
 
 " Monsieur ! what is this you are saying ? " exclaimed Ce- 
 leste, horrified. " I cannot be the cause of such terrible 
 harm." 
 
 " You did not intend to be, but the harm is done; I pray 
 heaven it may not be irremediable." 
 
 " But what can I do, my God ? " said Celeste, wringing her 
 hands. 
 
 " I should reply, unhesitatingly, sacrifice yourself, if it were
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 399 
 
 not that in the present circumstances I should have to play 
 the ignoble part of victimizes " 
 
 "Monsieur," said Celeste, "you do not interpret me 
 aright ; I have certainly had a preference, but I never con- 
 sidered myself a victim; whatever may be necessary to restore 
 peace to this house I will most willingly do." 
 
 " That for me," said la Peyrade, with much humility, 
 "would be more than I dare ask for myself; but for all our 
 sakes I must say that something further is needed. It is 
 necessary thLt Madame Thuillier should hear this from your 
 own lips. She will never, after what has occurred, take the 
 word of another. Let it seem that you accede to my suit 
 with eagerness of course assumed, but sufficiently so for her 
 to fully believe it." 
 
 "So be it," said Celeste. "I shall know how to seem 
 smiling and happy. My godmother, monsieur, has been to 
 me a mother ; and for such a mother what would I not un- 
 dergo?" 
 
 The position was so pathetic, and Celeste had so artlessly 
 betrayed the depth and, at the same time, her determination 
 to make the sacrifice, that, if la Peyrade had possessed any 
 heart at all, he must have loathed his part ; but to him Celeste 
 was but a rung, and, provided the ladder can hold and raise 
 you, who would bother to ask whether it cared or not ? 
 Therefore it was decided that Celeste should go to her god- 
 mother and prove to her that it was all a mistake to suppose 
 she had expressed objection to la Peyrade. Then la Peyrade 
 was to take upon himself the task of making peace between 
 the two sisters-in-law ; and it may be supposed that he was 
 not wanting in words to promise the innocent girl a life in 
 the future, when, by his unfailing respect, affection, and devo- 
 tion, he would spare her every regret for the necessity under 
 which she had accepted him. 
 
 When Celeste went to her godmother she found it but a 
 slight task to convince her. The tension of will necessary
 
 400 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 for her late rebellion was almost superhuman, for she was 
 acting against her every instinct. She was thus an easy dupe 
 to the comedy played for la Peyrade's benefit in Celeste's 
 tender heart. The tempest calmed on this side, la Peyrade 
 had no difficulty in showing Brigitte that she had gone rather 
 too far in her attempt at suppressing the revolt against her 
 authority. That authority being no longer disputed, Brigitte 
 was no longer incensed against her sister-in-law whom she 
 had been on the point of slapping, so the quarrel was settled 
 with a few pleasant words and a kiss, poor Celeste paying the 
 war indemnity. 
 
 After dinner, which was only a family meal, the notary 
 having the contract in hand made a call with a " fair copy; " 
 he came to submit it before having it engrossed. This atten- 
 tion was not surprising in a man just entering into business 
 relations with so important a person as a municipal councilor, 
 whom it was to his interest firmly to hook as a regular client. 
 La Peyrade was too shrewd to object to any of the clauses in 
 the contract as it was read. A few of Brigitte's changes 
 gave the new notary a high opinion of the business capacity 
 of the old maid, and showed la Peyrade that more precautions 
 were inserted against him than were altogether in good taste ; 
 but he raised no difficulties, he knew the meshes of no con- 
 tract could be so closely drawn that a determined and smart 
 man could not in some way edge through them. The appoint- 
 ment was made for the contract to be signed at two o'clock 
 next day, at the notary's office. 
 
 During the rest of the evening, taking advantage of Celeste's 
 promise to seem smiling and happy, la Peyrade played, as it 
 were, the poor child, forcing her to respond to him in a 
 manner far from the real feeling of her heart, now wholly 
 filled by Felix. Flavie, seeing the Provencal putting forth 
 all his fascinations, remembered how, not so long ago, he 
 had used the same seductive manner to entangle her. "The 
 monster!" he said in a '. hissing mutter; but she was forced
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 401 
 
 to mask the torture beneath a smiling face. La Peyrade was 
 approved of all, but he was to be shown a hero in a past 
 service he had done the house of Thuillier. 
 
 Minard was announced. 
 
 " My dear friends," said he, as he came in, " I have come 
 to make a little revelation to you which will cause much 
 surprise. It will, I think, be a lesson to all of us when the 
 question of receiving foreigners in our houses comes to the 
 fore." 
 
 "How is that? " said Brigitte, inquisitively. 
 
 " That Hungarian woman with whom you were so delighted, 
 that Madame Torna, Comtesse de Godollo " 
 
 "Well?" said the old maid. 
 
 " Well," Minard went on, " she is no better than she should 
 be; for two months you petted in your house one of the most 
 impudent of kept women." 
 
 "Who crammed you with that yarn?" said Brigitte, not 
 willing to admit that she had been made a dupe of. 
 
 "It is no yarn," replied the mayor; "I know the facts 
 myself de visu." 
 
 " Humph ! then you associate with kept women, eh?" said 
 Brigitte, assuming the offensive. "A nice state of affairs, and 
 suppose Zelie knew? " 
 
 "It is not he," said Thuillier, knowingly, " who keeps such 
 company, but monsieur his son ; we have heard about it." 
 
 "Well, yes," said Minard, quite provoked at the manner 
 ' in which his communication had been received ; " and since 
 that impudent rascal has had the impudence to introduce his 
 trumpery actress to you so that she might be written up in 
 your paltry sheet for I know about this I cannot conceal it. 
 It was in her company that I met your friend, Madame de 
 Godollo. It seems to me I speak plainly enough." 
 
 " Perhaps it may be plain enough to you," replied Brigitte, 
 " but unless you are one of those worthy men, fathers whom 
 their sons introduce to their mistresses, I should like to know 
 26
 
 402 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 how you, you, found yourself in company of Monsieur Julian's 
 'fair?'" 
 
 "Ah! you play yourself," said Minard, in a fury; "do 
 you suppose that I am the man to lend a hand to my son's 
 profligacy?" 
 
 "I suppose nothing," retorted Brigitte; "you said: 'I 
 found myself in her company 
 
 "I said nothing of the kind," interrupted Minard; "I 
 did say that I had seen Madame de Godollo, whose real name 
 is Komorn, and is no more a countess than you or Madame 
 Colleville are, in the company of an unworthy creature with 
 whom my son wastes his money and time. Now, perhaps you 
 would like me to explain the how and why of the meeting." 
 
 " Why, yes," said Brigitte, incredulously ; "the explanation 
 does not seem unnecessary." 
 
 "To show the manner in which I shut my eyes on my son's 
 misconduct, when I was warned by an anonymous letter tell- 
 ing of his debaucheries, I took steps to have the evidence of 
 my own eyes ; for I know how far an anonymous letter is to 
 be relied on." 
 
 "By-the-by," said Brigitte, in a parenthesis, and turning 
 to la Peyrade, " it's funny we have had none about you." 
 
 "If you don't care to listen," said Minard, nettled at 
 being interrupted, " it is useless to ask for particulars." 
 
 "That's so," replied Brigitte, "we are listening. You 
 wished to see with your own eyes ' ' 
 
 "Yes," said Minard, "and on the day of your dinner, 
 when I came in so late, I had been to the Folies-Dramatiques, 
 the scene of Julian's dissipations, where this creature was to 
 make her debut. I wanted to see if that young scoundrel was 
 really there ; it is funny how these actresses will cause such a 
 lunatic to make excuses you know he said he was too ill to 
 come here." 
 
 "Was he there?" said Brigitte, showing little sympathy 
 for the woes of M. the Mayor.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 403 
 
 " Yes, but not in the audience ; he was on the stage talking 
 to a fireman ; he was so far forward as to interrupt the view of 
 some one in the theatre, who shouted : ' Turn out that cocoa- 
 nut.' Judge how my paternal heart must have rejoiced on 
 hearing this agreeable admonition." 
 
 "It is because you have spoiled him, your dear Julian." 
 
 "Spoiled him, far from that; I should have handled him 
 without gloves only for having taken the advice of the Abbe 
 Gondrin, who counseled tolerance." 
 
 "Just as if priests understood anything? " saic* Brigitte, in 
 great disdain. 
 
 "Well, anyway, it was by his advice that I was successful 
 in arranging with the creature's mother. I further told her 
 that I should cut off the supplies. She said a good round 
 sum was just the thing, as there was a copying clerk in the 
 twelfth arrondissement who had his eye on Olympe, and 
 would take her at once." 
 
 "This copying clerk," said la Peyrade, "did she mention 
 his name?" 
 
 " I think not," said Minard ; " at any rate, if she did I have 
 forgotten it ; I settled everything in a moment with the mother, 
 who seems to me a pretty good sort of woman." 
 
 "But in all this I see no Madame de Godollo," said 
 Brigitte. 
 
 " Hold yourself in patience," said Minard. " ' The only 
 thing I fear,' said the mother of the actress, ' is the bad 
 advice which may be given by a Polish woman, one named 
 Madame Cramone, who has my girl by the hair and does as 
 she likes with ; perhaps if you saw her and hinted at some 
 little perquisite for herself, she might help to play our game. 
 Shall I call her? I won't name no names, I'll just tell her: 
 " Here's a gentleman as wants to see you." ' The lady was 
 brought in ; you can imagine how astounded I was when I 
 found myself face to face with your Madame Godollo, who 
 ran off, laughing, as soon as she saw me."
 
 404 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "And you are sure of it being her ? " asked Brigitte. " If 
 you only saw her " 
 
 The wily Provencal was not the man to let such an occasion 
 as this slip, beside retaliating on the Hungarian's practical 
 joke. 
 
 "Monsieur le Maire is not mistaken," said he with 
 authority. 
 
 "Oh, so you know her too," said Mile. Thuillier, "and 
 you allowed vermin like this to consort with us?" 
 
 "On the contrary," said la Peyrade, " it was I who with- 
 out any fuss or scandal, and without informing any person, 
 rid your house of her company. You remember how suddenly 
 the woman went away ; it was I, who, having discovered what 
 she was, gave her two days in which to clear out, threatening 
 unless she did so to discover the whole truth to you." 
 
 "My dear fellow," said Thuillier, seizing the hand of the 
 barrister, "you acted with great prudence and determination. 
 This is but another obligation you have placed us under." 
 
 "You see, mademoiselle," said la Peyrade, addressing 
 Celeste, "the strange protectress a friend of yours had." 
 
 "Thank God! " replied Mme. Thuillier, "Felix Phellion 
 is above all such vile things." 
 
 "Oh ! there, Papa Minard," said Brigitte, "we'll all keep 
 mum as to this. Our mouths shall be kept locked about Mon- 
 sieur Julian's escapades. You will take a cup of tea? " 
 
 "Willingly," replied Minard. 
 
 "Celeste," said the old maid, "ring for Henri and have 
 him put the large kettle on the fire." 
 
 The next day Brigitte, to quote Thuillier, got on the 
 "rampage" early in the morning, although the visit to the 
 notary was not to be made until two in the afternoon. She 
 prevented Thuillier going to the office ; she worried Josephine 
 the cook about hurrying on the breakfast, and, notwithstand- 
 ing the results of the previous day, with difficulty restrained 
 herself from nagging at Mme. Thuillier. Then she went in to
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 405 
 
 the Collevilles and made the same disturbance ; Flavie was 
 too elegant ; Celeste was not wearing the hat and dress in 
 which she wished her to appear ; Colleville, who could not be 
 detained from his office, must go in his dress suit and had to 
 set his watch by hers that he might have no excuse for being 
 tardy. The most amusing thing of it all was that Brigitte, 
 looking so much after the others, was very nearly late herself. 
 . At half-past one la Peyrade, Thuillier, Colleville, Mme. 
 Thuillier, and Celeste were assembled in the salon. Flavie 
 joined them soon after, fastening her bracelets as she came to 
 disarm any squabbling ; she was relieved to find that she was 
 ready before Brigitte. As for her, already furious at finding 
 herself late, she found another cause for vexation. The 
 event seemed to require the wearing of a corset, a refinement 
 in which she seldom indulged. Now, the unhappy maid, who 
 was at that time engaged in lacing her, tried to discover just 
 how tight she wanted them drawn ; she alone knew the storms 
 and terrors of a corset-day. 
 
 "I had rather," said the girl, "lace the obelisk; I believe 
 it would turn out a better shape ; I know, at any rate, it 
 couldn't use its mouth as much." 
 
 While those in the salon were laughing and talking, under 
 their breaths, at the flagrant breach of punctuality in which 
 Queen Elizabeth was caught, the porter came in and gave a 
 sealed package to Thuillier, addressed to " M. Thuillier, pro- 
 prietor of the ' Echo de la Bievre ' Urgent." 
 
 Opening the envelope he found it contained a copy of a 
 ministerial paper which had hitherto shown itself discourteous 
 and hostile, refusing to "exchange," a thing usually made 
 willingly between all newspapers. 
 
 Puzzled at this being sent to his house instead of the office 
 of the " Echo," he hastily unfolded the sheet and read with an 
 emotion that may be imagined the following article, recom- 
 mended to his especial notice by a circle in red ink :
 
 406 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 An obscure organ was about expiring in its darkness, when a person of 
 recent ambition bethought himself of galvanizing it. His object was to 
 make it a stepping-stone to climb from his municipal functions to the 
 envied one of a deputy. By good fortune this intrigue has floated to the 
 surface. The electors will certainly not be caught by such a cunning 
 manner of advancing one's own interests; when the proper time arrives, 
 if ridicule has not already uone justice by routing this absurd candidate, 
 we shall ourselves prove to the nincompoop that for a man to attain to the 
 honor of representing the country, something more is required than 
 having the money with which to buy a paper and to hire a whitewasher to 
 put the horrid jargon of his articles and pamphlets into decent French. 
 We confine ourselves to-day to this brief notice, but our readers may rely 
 on us keeping them fully posted as to the progress of this electoral farce, 
 if such be the case that the thing is courageously continued. 
 
 Thuillier twice read this declaration of war, which left him 
 anything but calm and impassive; then, taking la Peyrade 
 aside : 
 
 " See this," said he ; " it looks serious." 
 
 "Well?" said he. 
 
 " How well ? " asked Thuillier. 
 
 "Yes, what is there particularly serious in this?" 
 
 " What is there that is serious ? Why, the article is injurious 
 to me." 
 
 "You cannot doubt/' said la Peyrade, "that some virtuous 
 C6rizet is doing it in a spirit of revenge by throwing this 
 fire-cracker between your legs." 
 
 " Cdrizet or anybody else who wrote this diatribe is an in- 
 solent fellow," said Thuillier, getting excited, " and the matter 
 shall not rest here." 
 
 "As for me," said la Peyrade, "I should make no re- 
 joinder. You are not named, though the attack is aimed at 
 you ; we should let the enemy more openly declare himself, 
 then when we discover him rap his knuckles." 
 
 " Not at all," said Thuillier ; "it is impossible that I should 
 rest under such an insult." 
 
 "The devil ! " said the barrister; "what a thin skin you
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 407 
 
 have. You must bear in mind, my dear boy, that you are a 
 journalist, and a candidate ; you must harden yourself to the 
 like of this." 
 
 " I, my friend ; I make it a principle of mine that I allow 
 no one to tread on my toes. They announce, beside, that 
 they will keep it up. So I am going to cut off these imperti- 
 nences." 
 
 "Well," said la Peyrade, "in journalism, as in being a 
 candidate, a hot temper has its benefits ; it makes a man re- 
 spected; it stops attacks " 
 
 "Certainly" said Thuillier, " printipiis obsta. Not to-day, 
 for we haven't the time, but to-morrow, I shall lay this article 
 before the court." 
 
 " The court ! " exclaimed the Provencal ; " go to law about 
 such a matter as this ? But there is no case ; neither you nor 
 the paper is named ; beside, a lawsuit is a pitiable business ; 
 you'll look like a boy who has been fighting and got licked 
 running to complain to his mammy or his schoolmaster. Now, 
 if you said that you would allow Fleury to be put into the 
 question, I could understand it, though even then it would 
 be difficult to do, for this is so entirely personal, it would 
 seem." 
 
 "Pshaw ! " said Thuillier, "do you imagine, for example, 
 that I am going to commit myself with a Cerizet or any other 
 newspaper knocker-out ? I pique myself, my dear, on possess- 
 ing civic courage which does not give in to prejudice ; and 
 which, instead of taking the law into its own hands, has re- 
 course to that means of defense provided by law. Beside, the 
 new law against dueling may be enforced ; I have no desire 
 to spend one or two years in prison." 
 
 "We can discuss all this later," said la Peyrade; "here is 
 your sister ; she would think all was lost if it reached her 
 ears." 
 
 Seeing Brigitte come in, Colleville shouted : " Standing 
 room only," and sang the refrain of "la Parisienne."
 
 408 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "God's sake! Colleville, how vulgar you are," said tnc 
 tardy one, hastening to throw a stone into the other's garden 
 before one could be thrown into hers. 
 
 "Well, are we all ready ? " she added, arranging her cloak 
 before the glass. " What time is it ? It won't do to be there 
 before time like country people." 
 
 " One fifty," said Colleville ; " I go by the Tuileries." 
 
 "We are just right, then," said Brigitte ; "it will take 
 about that much time to get to the Rue Caumartin. Jos6- 
 phine," she cried, going to the door of the drawing-room, 
 " we dine at six ; therefore, be sure to put the turkey to roast 
 at the right time, and just don't let it burn, like the last one. 
 Gracious! what's that?" and with a hasty movement she 
 closed the door she had been holding open. " What a nui- 
 sance ! I hope Henri will have sense enough to say we are 
 out." 
 
 Not at all ; Henri came in to say that an aged gentleman, 
 wearing decorations, very genteel, had asked to be received 
 on urgent business. 
 
 "Why didn't you say we were out, Mister Orator? " 
 
 "I should have done so, if mademoiselle had not opened 
 the door of the salon so that the gentleman could see all the 
 family assembled." 
 
 " Of course ; you're never in the wrong, are you ? " 
 
 " What answer shall I make him ? " asked the servant. 
 
 "Say," replied Thuillier, "that we are exceedingly sorry 
 that we are unable to receive monsieur, but that we are ex- 
 pected at the notary's to sign a marriage-contract, and that if 
 he will return in two hours " 
 
 "I have already told him all that," said Henri, "but he 
 says the matter is more important to yourself than him." 
 
 "Then show him into my study," said Thuillier; and, 
 opening a door from the salon, he went in first to receive his 
 guest. 
 
 Instantly Brigitte's eye was at the keyhole :
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 409 
 
 " What an imbecile that Thuillier is ; he has given him a 
 seat at the farther end of the room so it is impossible that I 
 can hear what they are saying." 
 
 La Peyrade covered an inward agitation by an outward air 
 of indifference; he approached the three ladies and greeted 
 Cdleste most graciously, who responded with the smiling, 
 happy satisfaction that her part consisted in. As for Colle- 
 ville, he was composing an anagram on these six words : le 
 journal I '" Echo de la Bievrc" and had arrived at the follow- 
 ing combination of letters, little reassuring, as far as it went, 
 to the future of that paper: O d' Echo, jarni ! la bevue 
 
 reel ; but a final E was lacking to complete O but the 
 
 Echo's a blunder: this, of course, was an imperfect finish. 
 
 "He takes a lot of snuff," said the peeping Brigitte, her 
 eye glued to the keyhole ; "his gold snuff-box is larger than 
 Minard's; I never saw one so large; perhaps, though," said 
 she, as a running comment, " it's only silver-gilt. He's doing 
 the talking and Thuillier sits listening like a dunderhead. 
 Pretty soon I shall go in and tell them they can't keep ladies 
 waiting like this." 
 
 Just as she had put her hand on the lock she heard Thuil- 
 lier raise his voice, and that made her take another squint 
 through the keyhole. 
 
 " He's standing up; he's evidently going away," said she, 
 with satisfaction. 
 
 A moment later she saw she was mistaken, for the little old 
 man had only left his chair to amble up and down the room 
 to continue the conversation with greater freedom. 
 
 " By my faith ! I'm going in," said she, " to tell Thaillier 
 we are going without him ; he can follow us." 
 
 So saying the old maid gave two imperious sharp raps on 
 the door, and then resolutely entered the study. 
 
 La Peyrade, goaded by anxiety, had the bad taste to look 
 through the keyhole ; he thought he recognized the " com- 
 mander" who had waited upon Mme. de Godollo. Then he
 
 410 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 saw Thuillier addressing his sister with gestures of authority 
 very unlike his usual style of deference and submission. 
 
 " Thuillier finds some interest in that creature's talk," said 
 Brigitte, reentering the salon. " He told us to wait until he 
 is through, ordering me very bluntly to leave them. Really 
 it seems to me that since he has begun to make newspapers 
 that I don't know him ; one would think he led the world with 
 a wand." 
 
 " I am afraid he is being entangled by some adventurer," 
 said la Peyrade. " That old man I think I saw with Madame 
 Komorn on the day I told her to clear out ; he must belong to 
 the same crowd." 
 
 "Why, you ought to have told me this! " said Brigitte; 
 4< I should mighty soon have asked after the countess, and let 
 him know what we think of his Hungarian." 
 
 Soon Thuillier entered the room, his face clouded with care, 
 his manner exceedingly grave. 
 
 " My dear la Peyrade," said he, " you did not inform me 
 that another proposal of marriage had been seriously con- 
 sidered by you? " 
 
 " Indeed I did ; I told you that I had been offered a very 
 wealthy heiress, but that my heart was here ; I did not choose 
 to go further into the matter, and so nothing came of it." 
 
 " My friend, the conversation I have just had has been 
 most instructive to me ; when you know what I know, with many 
 other things personal to yourself, of which I shall inform you 
 privately, I believe you will enter into my ideas. One thing 
 is positive, we shall not go to the notary's to-day. Were I in 
 your place I should at once go and see Monsieur du Portail." 
 
 "Again that name ! it pursues me like remorse," cried la 
 Peyrade. 
 
 " But, my poor boy," said Brigitte to Thuillier, " you have 
 been bamboozled by a rascal ; this man belongs to the Godollo 
 clique. ' ' 
 
 "Madame de Godollo," replied Thuillier, "is not at all
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 411 
 
 what you suppose her to be ; the best thing this house can do is 
 never to say anything about her, good or evil. As to la Pey- 
 rade, as this is not the first invitation he has received, I cannot 
 for the life of me see why he hesitates to go and see Monsieur 
 du Portail." 
 
 " The deuce is in it if that old fellow has not completely 
 fooled you," said Brigitte. 
 
 "I tell you this, that that old man is all that his exterior 
 shows. He has seven crosses, he drives a handsome equipage, 
 and he has told me things that have absolutely astounded 
 me." 
 
 "Well, perhaps he's a fortune-teller, like Madame Fon- 
 taine." 
 
 "Well, if he is not a magician, he has a very long arm," 
 said Thuillier, " and no good can be had by neglecting his 
 advice. Why, he only caught one glance at you, Brigitte, 
 and he said you were a master-woman and born to com- 
 mand." 
 
 " The fact is," replied Brigitte, licking her chops after this 
 compliment like a cat lapping cream, " he has a well-bred air, 
 this little old man. Listen to me, my dear boy," added she, 
 turning to and addressing la Peyrade, " when such a bigwig 
 wants to see you, why go and see him them's my advice. 
 Go and see this du Portail. I don't see that it would commit 
 you to anything." 
 
 "Most certainly," said Colleville ; "were I but you I 
 would pay thirty calls on du Portail, or all the Port^/r,* or 
 Porters, or Port^/j, or Poriwines on earth, if I should only 
 be asked." 
 
 The scene was beginning to be very like that in the "Bar- 
 bier de Seville," when everybody tells Basil to go to bed, till 
 he feels in quite a fever. La Peyrade took up his hat in a 
 huff and went whither his destiny called him : Quo sua fata 
 
 vocabant. 
 
 * A pun impossible to translate. 
 
 2 B
 
 412 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 On arriving at the Rue Honore-Chevalier, la Peyrade felt 
 a doubt ; the dilapidated appearance of the house where he 
 was to call made him think he had mistaken the number. 
 How could a person of M. du Portail's importance live in 
 such a place ! But when he introduced himself, the deport- 
 ment of Bruno, the old valet, the appearance of the furniture 
 and the other appurtenances made him think he had come 
 aright. His surprise was great when he found himself in the 
 presence of the commander, so-called by Mme. de Godollo, 
 the very man whom he had so recently seen at Thuillier's. 
 
 "At last," said du Portail, rising and drawing forward a 
 chair, "we meet my recalcitrant gentleman; your ear has 
 taken some pulling, though." 
 
 "May I know, monsieur," said la Peyrade, haughtily, and 
 not taking the seat offered him, "what interest you can pos- 
 sibly have in meddling in my affairs? I do not know you, 
 but I may add that the place in which I once happened to see 
 you did not create an absolutely unconquerable desire to make 
 your acquaintance." 
 
 " Where did you see me ? " asked du Portail. 
 
 " In the lodging of a kind of street-walker, who went by 
 the name of Madame la Comtesse de Godollo." 
 
 " Where monsieur himself was presumably calling, with a 
 less disinterested reason than my own," said the little old 
 man. 
 
 "I am not here," said Theodose, "to bandy wit. I have 
 the right, monsieur, to demand an explanation of your pro- 
 ceedings in reference to myself. Do not, I beg you, delay 
 them with a facetiousness that I shall be far from appreci- 
 ating." 
 
 "Then, my dear fellow," said du Portail, "do sit down; 
 I am not in the humor to dislocate my neck by talking to such 
 a great height as you are at." 
 
 This was a reasonable intimation, and was given in such a 
 manner as to convey the fact that lordly airs would not alarm
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 413 
 
 the old gentleman. La Peyrade, as offensively as might be, 
 therefore deferred to his host's wishes. 
 
 "Monsieur Cerizet," said du Portail, "a. man of exceed- 
 ingly high position in the world, and who has the honor to 
 be one of your friends " 
 
 " I no longer see the man," said la Peyrade, tartly, under- 
 standing the old man's malicious insinuation. 
 
 "But the time has been," replied du Portail, "when you 
 did occasionally see him, as, for example, when you paid for 
 his dinner at the Rocher de Cancale I was about to say that 
 I requested the virtuous Monsieur Cerizet to sound you as to 
 a marriage " 
 
 "Which I refused," interrupted Th6odose, "and which I 
 still refuse, with more energy than ever." 
 
 " Precisely," replied the gentleman, " that is the question ; 
 it is to talk of that business that I have waited so long a time 
 to meet you. I think, too, that you will accept it." 
 
 "But this crazy girl that you are flinging at my head," 
 said la Peyrade, "who is she? She is not your daughter, 
 nor a relative, I suppose, for in such a case you would show 
 more decency in chasing a husband for her." 
 
 "This girl," said du Portail, "is the daughter of one of 
 my friends ; she lost her father some ten years ago, since which 
 time she has been living with me ; I have given her every care 
 demanded by her sad condition. Her fortune, to which I 
 have greatly added, in addition to my own which I intend 
 leaving her, will make her a very wealthy heiress. I know 
 that you have no aversion to handsome dots, for you have 
 sought for them in even the lowest ranks, in the Thuilliers' 
 house, for instance ; or, to use your own words, in that of a 
 street-walker whom you hardly knew ; I could therefore figure 
 on your being willing to accept at my hands a very rich young 
 woman, especially as her infirmity is pronounced curable by 
 the best physicians ; whereas you can never cure Monsieur 
 and Mademoiselle Thuillier the one of being a fool, the
 
 414 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 other of being a termagant any more than you could cure 
 Madame Komorn of being extremely giddy and of an easy 
 virtue." 
 
 "It might suit my convenience," replied la Peyrade, "to 
 marry the goddaughter of a fool and vixen if I choose her 
 myself, or I might become the husband of a coquette, if the 
 passion so seized me ; but the Queen of Sheba, if imposed 
 upon me, neither you, monsieur, nor the most able or power- 
 ful man living could force me to accept." 
 
 " So for that very reason I address myself to your good 
 sense and intelligence ; but in order to speak to people we 
 have to come face to face with them. Just let us see what 
 your position is. Don't get angry if, like a surgeon who 
 wishes to save his patient, I place my hands mercilessly on 
 the wounds of a life up to now so laborious and tempest- 
 tossed. The first point to make is that the Celeste Colleville 
 affair is ended for you." 
 
 " Why so ? " asked la Peyrade. 
 
 " Because I have just seen Thuillier and terrified him with 
 a picture of all the disasters he has already incurred, and those 
 he will further incur if he persists in the thought of giving 
 you his goddaughter in marriage. He knows that it was I 
 who annulled Madame du Bruel's kindness in the matter of 
 the Cross ; that it was I who had his pamphlet seized ; that I 
 sent that Hungarian into his house to play you all so neatly ; 
 that it has been my care to see that the ministerial journals 
 have commenced a fire which will grow fiercer with each suc- 
 ceeding day not to mention other machinery which will be 
 set in motion to oppose his candidacy. So you see, my dear 
 sir, not only will you lose the credit of being the great help 
 of his election, but that you are actually the stumbling-block 
 to Thuillier's ambition. This is enough to prove to you that 
 the side by which you imposed yourself upon that family, 
 who never liked you at the bottom, is now quite reduced and 
 dismantled."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 415 
 
 " But you that flatter yourself that you have done all this," 
 said la Peyrade, " who are you ? " 
 
 " I won't reply that you are very inquisitive, for I intend 
 later to answer your question ; but with your permission, for 
 the present at least, we will continue your life's autopsy 
 now a dead life, but to which I propose to give a glorious 
 resurrection. You are twenty-eight ; you have barely started 
 on the career in which I forbid you taking another step. 
 Some few days hence the Barristers' Association will meet and 
 will censure you, more or less severely, for the manner in 
 which you placed that property in the Thuilliers' possession. 
 Have no illusions. Censure I mention only your least peril 
 for a lawyer is not like a hack-driver whom the disapproval 
 of the court does not prevent his driving his coach ; if you 
 are but mildly censured, you might as well have your name 
 stricken off the roll." 
 
 " And it is to your benevolence, doubtless, that I shall owe 
 this precious result," said la Peyrade. 
 
 "I am proud to believe so," answered du Portail ; " for in 
 order to tow you back into port it was necessary to cut away 
 your rigging ; unless this had been done, you would always 
 have been trying to navigate under your own sails among the 
 shoals of the middle-classes." 
 
 Seeing that he had to play against a strong hand, the adroit 
 Provencal took a more respectful manner : 
 
 " Permit me to await further explanations before making 
 my acknowledgments," said he. 
 
 " Here you stand then," said du Portail. " Twenty-eight, 
 without a sou, without a profession, with antecedents that are 
 well very mediocre ; with associates like Dutocq and the 
 ' brave ! Cerizet ; ' owing Mademoiselle Thuillier ten thousand 
 francs, which your pretty conscience urges you to pay (even 
 if your still prettier vanity did not insist) ; to Madame Lam- 
 bert twenty-five thousand francs more, which you of course 
 will be only too glad to replace in her hands ; and as an end-
 
 416 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 all, this marriage, your last hope, your plank of safety, has 
 just been rendered an impossibility. Between ourselves, if I 
 make any reasonable proposition, do you not think you had 
 better place yourself at my disposal ? " 
 
 "I cannot form any resolution until your designs are more 
 fully explained," said la Peyrade. 
 
 "At my instigation you were spoken to in reference to a 
 marriage," said du Portail ; "that marriage is, at least in my 
 idea, closely connected with a past existence by which a kind 
 of hereditary duty devolves upon you. That uncle of yours 
 in Paris, to whom you applied in 1829, whom in your family 
 was thought to be a millionaire, what was he? He died sud- 
 denly, almost a pauper; he did not leave enough money with 
 which to bury him ; this was his end." 
 
 "Then you knew him?" 
 
 " He was my oldest, my best friend," replied du Portail. 
 
 "But," said la Peyrade, eagerly, "a sum of one hundred 
 louis, which in my first days in Paris came to me from an 
 unknown source " 
 
 " Was sent by me," replied the gentleman ; " unfortunately 
 at that time I was overwhelmed with a rush of business, so I 
 could not follow your fortunes closely ; this will explain why 
 I left you on the straw in a garret, to ripen, like medlars, to 
 that maturity of poverty which brought you into the meshes 
 of a Dutocq and a Cerizet." 
 
 "I am not the less grateful, monsieur; if I had known or 
 by any means discovered my benefactor, I should have 
 hastened " 
 
 "A truce to compliments," said du Portail. "Your uncle 
 was an agent of that occult power which forms the theme of 
 so many absurd fables and is the object of such silly preju- 
 dices."' 
 
 " I cannot grasp your meaning, may I beg you to be more 
 explicit." 
 
 " If your uncle were living to-day," said du Portail, "and
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 417 
 
 should say : * You seek fortune and influence, you wish to rise 
 above the multitude, you wish to play your part in the events 
 of the epoch, you want to employ an active mind, resourceful, 
 with a trend to intrigue ; in short, an opportunity to exert in 
 a higher, more elegant sphere that strength of will and sub- 
 tlety now utterly wasted in grappling with that most barren, 
 hide-bound animal on earth a bourgeois. Well, nephew 
 mine, lower your head, creep in after me through that little 
 door which I will open to you ; it gives entrance to a great 
 house, of not much repute, but far above its reputation. 
 Statesmen, kings even, will give you their most inmost 
 thoughts; none of the joys that money and the highest power 
 can bestow upon a man will be lacking to you.' ' 
 
 "But, monsieur, while not understanding you, I might 
 remark that my uncle died so poor that, as you inform me, he 
 was buried at the expense of public charity." 
 
 " Yes ; he was a man of rare talent, but he had a weak side ; 
 he was eager for pleasure, a spendthrift, without a thought for 
 the future ; he wanted to taste those joys intended for the 
 common order of men, but which in great vocations are snares 
 and impediments the joys of family life. He had a 
 daughter, whom .he madly loved ; through her his terrible 
 business prepared the awful catastrope which ended his 
 life." 
 
 " And this you think is an encouragement for me to tread 
 the path in which he would have bidden me follow him?" 
 
 " But if I should offer to guide you? " said du Portail. 
 
 "You, monsieur! " said la Peyrade, in amazement. 
 
 " Yes, I, who was first your uncle's pupil and afterward his 
 protector and providence ; I, whose influence for a half-cen- 
 tury has had a daily increase ; I, to whom all governments, 
 falling over each other like houses of cards, come to ask for 
 safety and for the power with which to build their future ; I, 
 who am the manager of a great theatre of marionettes, which 
 includes in its cast Columbines of the style of Madame de 
 27
 
 418 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 Godollo ; I, who to-morrow, if it became necessary to the 
 success of one of my burlesques or dramas, might present 
 myself before your eyes the wearer of the grand cordon of the 
 Legion of Honor, the Golden Fleece, or the Garter. Would 
 you know why neither you nor I will die by poison ? Why 
 it is that I, happier than my contemporary kings, can transmit 
 my sceptre to whom I choose ? It is because I, like you, my 
 young friend, in spite of your Southern complexion, have 
 been cool and calculating, never tempted to waste my time 
 trifling on the threshold ; because my ardor, when circum- 
 stances compelled me to use it, never lay deeper than the sur- 
 face. It is more than likely that you have heard of me ; well, 
 for your benefit I will open a window in my darkness ; look 
 closely upon me, observe me well ; I have not a cloven hoof 
 nor a tail at the base of my spine ; on the contrary, I seem to 
 be the most inoffensive of gentlemen in the St. Sulpice quar- 
 ter ; in that quarter where I have enjoyed for five-and-twenty 
 years, I may say, the esteem of all ; I am known as du Por- 
 tail, but to you, by your permission, I shall call myself 
 CORENTIN." 
 
 " Corentin ! " exclaimed la Peyrade, with dismay and as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 "Yes, monsieur, and as you must see, by revealing my 
 secret to you I lay my hand upon you and you are enlisted. 
 Corentin, ' the greatest man in the police of modern times,' 
 as the author of an article in the ' Biographies of Living 
 Men ' has said of me though I ought, to do him justice, to 
 remark that he doesn't know the least thing about my life." 
 
 " Monsieur, I can assure you that I shall keep your secret ; 
 but as to the police; to be in your employ " 
 
 "That makes you uneasy," said Corentin. "But why? 
 Are you afraid to encounter the terrible prejudice that it 
 brands on the brow?" 
 
 "It is certainly a necessary institution," said la Peyrade ; 
 *'J don't know that it is ajways calumniated. If it is an.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 419 
 
 honorable business, why do those who pursue it conceal them- 
 selves?" 
 
 "Because all that threatens society," replied Corentin, 
 " and which the mission of the police is to suppress, is plotted 
 and arranged in the shadow. Do thieves and conspirators 
 wear on their hats : ' I am Guillot, the shepherd of this flock; ' 
 or ought we when we go to search for them to be preceded by 
 a clanging bell to let them know we are coming like as the 
 health-officer does on his rounds every morning to see that 
 the janitors sweep in front of each door?" 
 
 "Monsieur," said la Peyrade, "when a sentiment is uni- 
 versal it ceases to be a prejudice, it becomes an opinion ; this 
 same opinion should be a law to every man who desires his 
 own esteem and that of others." 
 
 "And when you despoiled that bankrupt notary," exclaimed 
 Corentin, " you stripped a corpse to enrich the Thuilliers to 
 your own advantage ; this, I suppose, you will pretend was in 
 keeping with your esteem, but did it hold that of the barris- 
 ters ? Now, I have done naught of which I need feel ashamed. 
 My care of the daughter of my old friend, Peyrade, has not 
 been a path strewn with roses. As I feel the years advance, 
 I offer you my position, to fit you to take my place, a bride 
 with two heaping bags of money " 
 
 "What!" cried la Peyrade, "is that girl my uncle's 
 daughter?" 
 
 " Yes ; the girl I wish you to marry is the daughter of 
 your Uncle Peyrade,* for he democratized his name, or, if you 
 like it better, she was the daughter of Father Canquoelle, a 
 name taken from the estate on which your father starves with 
 eleven children. You turn your nose up at the police, but, 
 as the common folk have it, you owe the best of your nose to 
 the police. Your uncle was born in the purple ; the King, 
 Louis XVIII., delighted in his conversation. The question 
 now before us is that of succeeding me me, Corentin. Do 
 * See "The Harlot's Progress."
 
 420 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 you think you can escape this by any foolish considerations of 
 a bourgeois vanity ? " 
 
 Corentin arose ; he saw that la Peyrade was smiling, showing 
 that at heart he was not so opposed to the proposal as his 
 words would imply. 
 
 " The police ! " said Corentin, pacing the room as he spoke, 
 " it might be said of the police, as Basile said of calumny to 
 Bartholo : ' The police, monsieur, you know not what you 
 despise.' And in fact," he went on, after a pause, "who are 
 they that despise it? Idiots, who know no better than to in- 
 sult the power which protects them. Suppress the police, you 
 destroy civilization. Do the police ask the respect of these 
 people ? It seeks but to impress them with one sentiment 
 fear that great lever which moves mankind ; an impure race, 
 whose horrible instincts God, hell, the executioner, and the 
 gendarme can scarcely restrain." 
 
 Stopping in front of la Peyrade, looking at him with a 
 disdainful smile : 
 
 "And you are one of those simpletons," continued the 
 panegyrist, "who see in the police nothing but a horde of 
 spies and informers ? And you have never suspected the states- 
 men, the diplomatists, the Richelieus it has produced? But 
 Mercury, monsieur, Mercury, the most intellectual of pagan 
 gods, what then was he but the police incarnate ? It is true 
 that he was also the god of thieves. We are better than he, 
 for so far we have not doubled the parts." 
 
 "And yet," said la Peyrade, "Vautrin, the famous chief of 
 the detective police " 
 
 "Eh! yes, in the lower grades," replied Corentin, re- 
 suming his march, "there is always some mud ; still, don't 
 make any mistake, Vautrin is a genius, but his passions, like 
 those of your uncle, dragged him astray. But mounting 
 higher (for the gist of the whole question, to wit, the finding 
 of the rung of the ladder on which a man must perch) is the 
 whole thing: The prefect of police, a minister, honored, re-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 spected, flattered is he a spy? Well, I, monsieur, I am the 
 prefect of the occult police of diplomacy of the highest 
 statesmanship ; and you hesitate to mount the throne which I, 
 Charles V., in my old age think of abdicating? To appear 
 small and yet do great things ; to live in a comfortable den like 
 this, and command the light ; to have ever at your hand an in- 
 visible army always ready, always devoted, always submissive ; 
 to know the other side of everything ; never to be the dupe of 
 any wire-puller, for you hold all the wires yourself ; to peer 
 through every partition ; to penetrate all secrets ; search all 
 hearts, all consciences; these are the things you fear! And 
 yet you were not afraid to wallow in the foul, dark bog of a 
 Thuillier's household ; you, a thoroughbred, allowed yourself 
 to be harnessed to a hack, to the ignoble career of an election 
 agent, and of a paper run by a rich bourgeois." 
 
 " One must do what first turns up," replied la Peyrade. 
 
 " It is most remarkable," Corentin went on, taking up 
 again his former line of thought, " the language has done us 
 more justice than opinion, for it made the word ' police ' 
 the synonym of civilization and the antipodes of savage life 
 when it wrote : /' Etat policed I can assure you that we care 
 little for the prejudice that tries to injure us; none can under- 
 stand men as we know them ; to know them is to scorn their 
 contempt, as we have contempt for their esteem." 
 
 " There is certainly much of truth in what you have advanced 
 with so much warmth," said la Peyrade. 
 
 " Much truth ! " replied Corentin, going back to his chair, 
 " say rather it is all true, and nothing but the truth ; but 
 enough for to-day, monsieur. To be my successor in these 
 functions and to marry your cousin with a dot that will not be 
 less than five hundred thousand francs, that is my offer. I do 
 not ask you for an answer now. I should have no confidence 
 in a decision not seriously reflected upon. To-morrow I 
 
 * From the Greek iro^treia policy : hence policy of State. [TRANS- 
 LATOR.]
 
 422 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 shall be here all the morning ; I shall hope that my conviction 
 may have convinced you." 
 
 Dismissing his visitor with a curt little bow, he added: "I 
 do not say adieu, but au revoir, Monsieur de la Peyrade." 
 
 Fatality seemed lavish in the offer of inducements for him 
 to succumb. Mme. Lambert, now become an importunate 
 creditor, had at length been promised repayment the day after 
 to-morrow, this being the 3ist of October; November ad was 
 the day on which the courts would reopen. To the summons 
 to give an account of his transactions before his peers, he re- 
 plied that he did not recognize the right of the Board to ques- 
 tion him on his private affairs. This was some kind of an 
 answer, certainly. It meant most inevitably that his name 
 would be stricken from the rolls, but seemed in a measure to 
 have an air of dignity and saved his self-love. 
 
 Finally he wrote Thuillier, in which he informed him that 
 his visit to du Portail had resulted in his being obliged to 
 make another marriage. All this was curtly said, without the 
 slightest expression of regret for the marriage he renounced. 
 A postscript read : "We shall be obliged to meet and discuss 
 my position on the newspaper," hinting that he might also 
 withdraw from that, too. He was careful to make a copy of 
 this letter, so, when later in Corentin's study he was asked as 
 to his night's reflections, he simply presented for all answer 
 the matrimonial renunciation he had written out. 
 
 "That is good," said Corentin, "but your position on the 
 paper you had better retain for a little while ; that fool's can- 
 didacy ruffles the government, we must in some manner trip 
 up the heels of this municipal councilor; as editor-in-chief, 
 you may turn a trick on him ; I really don't think you would 
 kick much at the ordeal." 
 
 " Certainly not," said la Peyrade; "the remembrance of 
 the humiliations to which he has so long exposed me will 
 give a keen relish to the lash I should apply to that middle- 
 class brood."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 423 
 
 "Be cautious," said Corentin, "you are but young, you 
 must guard against vengeful feelings. In our austere profes- 
 sion we love nothing, hate nothing. Now let us speak of 
 your cousin, whom I should imagine you have some curiosity 
 to know." 
 
 La Peyrade was not obliged to pretend eagerness ; the feel- 
 ing was genuine. 
 
 " Lydie de la Peyrade," said Corentin, "is nearly thirty, 
 but her innocence, joined to a gentle form of mania, has kept 
 her apart from all those passions, ideas, and impressions which 
 rise up in life, and has embalmed her, as one might say, in a 
 kind of perpetual youth. She always carries in her arms a 
 bundle of linen which she nurses and fondles as a sick baby. 
 She thinks that all other men than myself and Bruno are 
 doctors; she consults them about her child, and listens to 
 them as to oracles. A crisis which occurred some little time 
 ago has convinced Horace Bianchon, that prince of science, 
 that, if the reality were substituted for this long illusion of 
 motherhood, her reason would be soon completely restored. 
 Is it not a worthy task to bring back light to a soul that is 
 barely clouded? Does it not strike you that the bond of 
 relationship between you makes it more than ever your part 
 to be the means of effecting that cure ? Now I will take you 
 to Lydie's presence ; remember to play the role of doctor ; 
 for the refusal to enter into her notion is the only thing that 
 upsets her serenity." 
 
 After passing through several rooms, Corentin was on the 
 point of taking la Peyrade into the one usually occupied by 
 Lydie, when they were arrested by the sound of two or three 
 chords struck by the hand of a master on the piano. 
 
 "What is that?" asked la Peyrade. 
 
 " That is Lydie," said Corentin, with what might be termed 
 a sort of paternal pride; "she is an admirable musician ; she 
 was an excellent composer, but lately has not written anything, 
 though she improvises, and in a manner that moves me to the
 
 424 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 soul the soul of Corentin," added the little old man, smiling 
 at the thought. 
 
 La Peyrade was amazed as he listened ; his impressionable 
 nature was deeply stirred by this inspiration and science. 
 
 To a very quick scherzo the player added the first notes of 
 an adagio. After a few measures of a ritornella in arpeggio, a 
 vibrant voice was heard which seemed to stir the Provencal to 
 the depths of his being. 
 
 "How the music moves you!" said Corentin. "You 
 most undoubtedly were made for each other." 
 " Oh, my God ! the same air ! the same voice ! " 
 " Have you, do you mean, ever met Lydie before?" asked 
 the great master of the police. 
 
 "I don't know. I I think not," answered la Peyrade, 
 in a stammering manner ; " and yet in any case it must have 
 
 been long ago But that air ! That voice ! It seems to 
 
 me " 
 
 " Enter," said Corentin, suddenly pushing open the door 
 and pulling the young man after him into the room. 
 
 Lydie, sitting with her back to the door, and prevented by 
 the sound of the piano from hearing them, did not notice 
 their entrance. La Peyrade advanced a step. No sooner 
 had he seen the face of the crazy girl than : 
 
 " It is she ! " he cried, wildly clasping his hands over his 
 head. 
 
 "Silence," cried Corentin. 
 
 But Lydie had heard Theodose's exclamation, and turning 
 round she fixed her attention on Corentin. 
 
 " How naughty and troublesome you are to come and 
 bother me," said she. " I don't like being listened to. Oh ! 
 you have brought the doctor ; that's right, I was going to send 
 for him." 
 
 Then she arose and ran for what she called her child in a 
 corner of .the room. So she went toward la Peyrade, carry- 
 ing her precious bundle in one hand, arranging its little cap
 
 'BUT LOOK AT THE DOCTOR," SHE CRIED.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 425 
 
 with the other, but as she neared him, pale, trembling, with 
 a glassy eye, Thodose now fully recognized Mile, de la 
 Peyrade. He retired in evident terror, not pausing until a 
 chair behind him stopped his progress ; losing his equilibrium, 
 he fell into it. 
 
 So strong a man as Corentin, knowing as he did every 
 incident in the tragedy by which Lydie had lost her reason, 
 had already guessed the truth. 
 
 "Look, doctor," said Lydie, presenting the bundle, "does 
 she not grow thinner and thinner ? " 
 
 La Peyrade was unable to reply. He buried his face in his 
 handkerchief; his breath came so fast that he was incapable 
 of uttering a word. 
 
 Then in a gesture of feverish impatience, to which her mental 
 state predisposed her : 
 
 "But look at the doctor," she cried, pulling his arm vio- 
 lently and thus compelling him to show his features. " My 
 God ! " said she, when she saw the face of the Provencal. 
 
 And, dropping the bundle of linen, she started back ; her 
 eyes grew haggard ; she passed her clammy hands through 
 her hair and over her forehead, and seemed to be making a 
 frantic effort to revive some dormant memory to her mind. 
 Then like a frightened filly who comes to smell an object that 
 has alarmed it, she slowly neared the Provencal, stooping to 
 look into his face, which he kept lowered, and amid a pro- 
 found silence examined him for a few seconds. Suddenly 
 a terrible cry escaped her throat, she sought refuge in the 
 arms of Corentin, and, pressing against him with all her 
 strength : 
 
 "Save me! Save me!" she shrieked. "It is he; the 
 wretch, the villain ! That is he who did it all ! " 
 
 And with her finger extended she seemed to nail the miser- 
 able object of her aversion to the spot. 
 
 After this explosion she grew limp, and Corentin laid her 
 on the couch, insensible.
 
 426 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Do not stay here, monsieur," said Corentin. "Go into 
 my study ; I will join you presently." 
 
 Shortly after, when he had summoned help and sent for 
 Dr. Bianchon, Corentin rejoined la Peyrade. 
 
 "You see," said he, with solemnity, "that while following 
 up this marriage with a sort of passionate zeal, I was doiiig 
 the will of God." 
 
 " Monsieur," said la Peyrade, with compunction, " I should, 
 indeed, confess to you " 
 
 "It is useless," interrupted Corentin, "you can tell me 
 nothing I do not already know ; on the contrary, there is 
 much I can tell you. Old Peyrade, your uncle, in trying to 
 earn a dot for his idolized daughter, entered into a dangerous 
 private enterprise ; a thing I would advise you to always 
 avoid. He encountered Vautrin on his way. Your uncle, 
 clever as he was, could not cope with that man, who rejected 
 no aid to success neither murder, poison, nor rape. To 
 paralyze your uncle's efforts, Lydie was enticed to a seem- 
 ingly respectable house ; there she was kept concealed for ten 
 days. She was told this was done at her father's wish, so, 
 not being alarmed, she spent her time well, you remember 
 how she can sing." 
 
 "Oh!" ejaculated la Peyrade, covering his face with his 
 hands. 
 
 "Held as a hostage," continued Corentin, "the unfortu- 
 nate young girl, in case her father did not do as was required 
 of him within ten days, was reserved for a most horrible fate. 
 A narcotic and a man were to play the executioner with the 
 daughter of Sejanus " 
 
 "Monsieur, monsieur; have mercy," groaned la Peyrade. 
 
 "I told you yesterday that you might have more on your 
 conscience than that house of the Thuilliers' ; but you were 
 young then. Without experience, bringing with you the 
 brutality of your country, you had that frenzied Southern blood, 
 which on occasion flings itself blindly on. Then your relation-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 427 
 
 ship was known to those who were plotting the ruin of this 
 new Clarissa Harlowe ; fortunately Providence has permitted, 
 in this appalling history, that there is nothing irreparable in 
 it. The same poison, as it may be employed, gives death or 
 health." 
 
 "But, monsieur, shall I not always be an object of horror 
 to her?" 
 
 "The doctor, monsieur," said Katt, opening the door. 
 
 " How is Mademoiselle Lydie ? " asked la Peyrade, eagerly. 
 
 "Quite calm," answered Katt; "and just now when we 
 persuaded her to go to bed though she did not want to go, 
 saying she was not ill I took her the bundle of rags : ' What 
 do you suppose I want with that, my poor Katt ? ' said she 
 with a puzzled air; 'if you want me to play with a doll, get 
 me one that is made with more care and turned out in better 
 shape than that one.' " 
 
 "You see," said Gorentin to the Provencal, "you have be- 
 come the lance of Achiles." 
 
 Then he left the room to receive Dr. Bianchon. Soon 
 after the door opened and Cerizet was ushered in. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! I knew it," cried the copying clerk. " I knew 
 you would see du Portail in the end. And the marriage 
 how is it coming on ? " 
 
 "It is of yours we expect news," said la Peyrade. 
 
 " The deuce ! then you have heard of it ? My faith ! yes, 
 my dear. All things must have an end, after a long voyage 
 on storm-swept seas. You know the bride, do you?" 
 
 "Yes, a young actress, Olympe Cardinal, a protege of the 
 Minards, who are to give her thirty thousand francs for set- 
 ting her up." 
 
 "And that," said C6rizet, "added to thirty thousand 
 promised by du Portail and the twenty-five I got out of your 
 marriage which didn't come to pass, makes up a total capital 
 of eighty-five thousand francs ; with that and a pretty wife a 
 man must be forsaken of heaven if he cannot succeed in a few
 
 428 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 speculations. But du Portail sent me to see if we could not 
 arrange some scheme to prevent Thuillier's election. Can 
 you suggest any scheme? " 
 
 "No;" replied la Peyrade, "and I don't feel any way 
 imaginative either." 
 
 "Well, here is how the thing stands: the government is 
 afraid that Thuillier might get elected ; Minard, afraid of his 
 popularity, mopes in a corner and takes no steps. Pompous 
 idiots like Thuillier are embarrassing when in the Opposi- 
 tion ; they are pitchers without handles, you cannot tell how 
 to hold them." 
 
 " You seem well informed as to the government's inten- 
 tions," said la Peyrade, cnrious to learn how far he had been 
 admitted to Corentin's confidence. 
 
 " Oh, no, indeed ; I only tell you what Monsieur du Por- 
 tail instructed me." 
 
 "So!" said la Peyrade, lowering his voice ; "who is this 
 du Portail ? You appear to have been intimate with him for 
 some time. A man so penetrative as yourself should have 
 gauged the depths of this person who, between you and I, 
 seems to partake somewhat of the mysterious order." 
 
 "My friend," said Cerizet, "is a deuced strongman. He's 
 a downy old boy and has had, I fancy, some post in the ad- 
 ministration ; I think he may have been employed in some 
 department suppressed with the Empire." 
 
 "Yes? " said la Peyrade. 
 
 " There, I guess," said Cerizet, " is where he made his roll, 
 and, being an ingenious kind of a fellow, and having a natural 
 daughter to marry, he has concocted this philanthropic yarn 
 of her being the daughter of an old friend named Peyrade ; 
 your name being the same suggested, I suppose, the idea of 
 fastening upon you." 
 
 "That may be so," replied la Peyrade, "but explain his 
 connection with the government and his interest in the elec- 
 tions."
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 429 
 
 "That's easy. Du Portail is a man who loves money, and 
 likes to finger it ; he has done some little service to Rastignac, 
 that great manipulator of elections, a compatriot of his ; in 
 return he gives the other hints in his stock-gambling on the 
 Bourse." 
 
 "Did he give you all this confidential information?" 
 asked la Peyrade. 
 
 " What do you take me for ? " replied Cerizet ; " with this 
 worthy man, who has already promised me thirty thousand 
 francs, as you see, I play the simpleton, but I make Bruno 
 talk ; you may ally yourself to this family without fear ; why, 
 my dear boy, this du Portail is enormously wealthy ; he can 
 get you made a sub-prefect, from whence to a prefecture and 
 a fortune it is but a step." 
 
 " Thanks," said la Peyrade. " But how came you to know 
 him?" 
 
 "Oh! that is quite a history; by my intervention he was 
 able to recover a lot of diamonds that had been stolen." 
 
 At this moment Corentin appeared : 
 
 "All is going well," said he to la Peyrade. "There are 
 signs of returning reason. Bianchon would like to talk to 
 you, so Monsieur Cerizet will excuse us until this evening." 
 
 On the day following Thuillier was discussing with Bri- 
 gittte Theodose's letter renouncing Celeste's hand, particu- 
 larly dwelling on the postscript which intimated that la Peyrade 
 might not continue as editor of the " Echo de la Bievre." At 
 this moment Henri, his servant, came in to ask if he would 
 receive M. Cerizet. 
 
 Thuillier' s first impulse was to deny himself. Then, think- 
 ing better of it, he reflected that Cerizet might prove a re- 
 source if he were left in the lurch. Cerizet presented him- 
 self without the least embarrassment. 
 
 "Well, my dear sir," said he to Thuillier, "you are begin- 
 ning, I suppose, to get posted as to the Sieur la Peyrade ? " 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " asked the old beau.
 
 430 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Well, I should think a man who for a long time has been 
 intriguing to marry your goddaughter abruptly breaks off the 
 marriage, as he will sometime also do about the contract he 
 made you sign about his editorship, cannot be the object of 
 the blind confidence you formerly reposed in him." 
 
 "So," said Thuillier, quickly, " you know something then 
 of his intentions to leave the paper? " 
 
 " No," said the banker of the poor, " we are not now on 
 such terms as that I should be given his confidence. I draw 
 my inference from what I know of his character." 
 
 " You have had some former dealings with him then?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed," replied Cerizet. "That business of your 
 house ; I started the hare in that. He was to put me in com- 
 munication with you and make me the first lessee ; but the 
 unfortunate event of the bidding-in gave him the opportunity 
 to swindle me and to keep all the profits himself." 
 
 " Profits ! " exclaimed Thuillier. " I can't see that he got 
 anything out of that beyond the marriage that he refused." 
 
 "What!" said the usurer, "ten thousand francs for the 
 Cross which you never received ; the twenty-five thousand due 
 Madame Lambert, which you went surety for, which, like a 
 good boy, you are apt to have to pay." 
 
 "What's this I hear ! " cried Brigitte, bounding out of her 
 chair; "twenty-five thousand francs you stand security for?" 
 
 "Yes, mademoiselle," replied Cerizet, "behind the sum 
 that woman was said to have lent him there was some mys- 
 tery, but la Peyrade was smart enough not only to whitewash 
 himself before your brother, but also to get him to 
 secure " 
 
 "But," interrupted Thuillier, "if you have not seen him, 
 how did you learn that I had become his surety?" 
 
 "From the servant herself, monsieur, who tells the whole 
 story now she is sure of being paid." 
 
 " Monsieur Cerizet," said Thuillier, holding himself on his 
 reserve, <' a.s I once told la Peyrade, no m.a.n is indispensable;
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 431 
 
 now, if the editorship of my paper becomes vacant, I can 
 readily find persons eager to proffer their services to me." 
 
 " Is it for my benefit you speak like that? "asked Cerizet. 
 "You make a bad mistake if it is, for I have no desire to offer 
 mine. For a long time I have been disgusted with journalism. 
 I let la Peyrade jolly me into it, why I don't know, but I 
 have now abjured it for ever. I came to see you about another 
 thing." 
 
 "Ah ! " said Thuillier. 
 
 "Yes," replied Cerizet; "remembering the handsome 
 manner in which you acted in the business of this house, in 
 which you do me the honor of receiving me, it occurred to 
 me that I could not do better than to call your attention to a 
 similar case I have in hand. It is a purely business transac- 
 tion and I expect to make my profit on it. Now, as the sub- 
 letting of this house must be a terrible humbug to made- 
 moiselle, for I notice that all the stores still remain unlet, it 
 would suit me to become the principal tenant I think that 
 might be calculated as part of the profits." 
 
 "But this affair? " said Brigitte, " that is the first thing to 
 know." 
 
 "It is exactly," said Cerizet, " the contrary to that trans- 
 action you had with la Peyrade. You got this house for next 
 to nothing, but were worried by a higher bidder. Now, this 
 is a farm, in Beauce, which has just been sold for a crumb of 
 bread, as they say ; it has been placed in my hands to resell 
 at a small advance ; you could get it at a fabulously low 
 price." 
 
 Then Cerizet set forth the details which had more fascina- 
 tion for Brigitte than it would be like to have for the reader. 
 The statement was precise and interested Thuillier in spite of 
 himself; it was a good speculation. 
 
 "Only," said Brigitte, "we must see the farm." 
 
 "Nothing is easier," said Cerizet. "I want to see it my- 
 self, and intended making an excursion there to-day. If you
 
 432 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 say so, I'll take you down, calling at your door for you this 
 afternoon with a chaise ; we shall be there early to-morrow 
 morning, examine the farm, have breakfast, and return in 
 time for dinner." 
 
 "A post-chaise," said Brigitte, "is very lordly. The dili- 
 gence seems to me " 
 
 "They are too uncertain," said Cerizet. "But you need 
 not think of the expense, for I shall have to go, and otherwise 
 it would be alone ; I am only too happy to offer you two seats 
 in my carriage." 
 
 To the avaricous little gains often determine great events ; 
 after a little resistance, pro forma, Brigitte accepted, and that 
 day the three set out on the road to Chartres, Cerizet advising 
 Thuillier not to send word to la Peyrade lest he might play 
 "some dirty trick" on him. 
 
 The next evening by five o'clock the trio had returned ; 
 and the brother and sister, who kept their opinions to them- 
 selves in Crizet's presence, were both of one mind, that the 
 purchase was a good thing, and this idea of becoming the 
 mistress of rural property seemed to Brigitte the final conse- 
 cration of opulence. 
 
 " Minard," said she, "has nothing but his town-house and 
 invested capital, whereas we shall not only have those but a 
 country place beside. One can't be really rich without 
 that." 
 
 Thuillier was not sufficiently charmed by this dream to for- 
 get the paper and his candidacy. He no sooner got back 
 than he asked for the " Echo " issued that morning. 
 
 "It has not yet been delivered," replied the servant. 
 
 "That's a pretty delivery," said Thuillier peevishly, "when 
 even the owner cannot get served." 
 
 Although it was late and he was tired, he ordered a hack 
 and drove to the office of the " Echo." There a new disap- 
 pointment awaited him ; the new issue was made up and all 
 the employes had left, even la Peyrade. Coffinet was not at
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 433 
 
 his post as office boy, he had "gone of a arrand," said his 
 wife, and had taken the key of the closet in which the remain- 
 ing copies of the paper were locked up. It was impossible to 
 get a copy of the journal which the unhappy proprietor had 
 come so far to procure. 
 
 To paint Thuillier's indignation is impossible. He marched 
 about the room, talking aloud to himself, as people often do 
 under great excitement. 
 
 "I'll turn them all out!" he cried. We are compelled 
 to omit his further objurgations. 
 
 While he fulminated his anathema there was a knock at the 
 door. 
 
 "Come in," thundered Thuillier, in a voice of wrath and 
 frantic impatience. 
 
 Minard appeared, who precipitated himself into his arms. 
 
 " My good, my excellent friend," began the Mayor of the 
 Eleventh, his embrace ending in an earnest handshaking. 
 
 " Why? what is it ? " said Thuillier, understanding nothing 
 of this vehement demonstration. 
 
 "Ah! my dear friend," continued Minard, "such an ad- 
 mirable proceeding, one may say really chivalrous, most dis- 
 interested ! The effect throughout the arrondissement is enor- 
 mous." 
 
 "But what ? again I ask," exclaimed Thuillier, impatiently. 
 
 "The article, the new departure," said Minard, "all so 
 noble, so elevated." 
 
 "But what article? What departure?" said the owner of 
 the "Echo," beside himself with irritation. 
 
 " The article of this morning," said Minard. 
 
 " The article of this morning ? " 
 
 " Come, you didn't write it while you slept, or are you 
 like Monsieur Jourdain writing prose, heroical without know- 
 ing it?" 
 
 "I ! I have. written no article," cried Thuillier. " I have 
 been absent from Paris since yesterday. I don't even know 
 28
 
 434 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 what is in the paper this morning, and there is no office boy 
 here to give me a copy." 
 
 "I have one," said Minard, pulling the much-desired 
 number from his pocket. " If the editorial is not yours, you 
 must have inspired it, and, in any case, the deed is done." 
 
 Thuillier had snatched the sheet that Minard held out to 
 him, and devoured, rather than read, the following : 
 
 For a long time the owner of this regenerated journal submitted, with- 
 out complaint or reply, to the cowardly insinuations with which a venal 
 press insults all citizens who, strong in their convictions, refuse to pass 
 under the Caudine Forks of power. So during this long time, a man, 
 who has given proof of his devotion and abnegation in the important 
 functions of an eedile of Paris, has endured the imputation of being nothing 
 but an ambitious intriguer. M. Jerome Thuillier, strong in his dignity, 
 has suffered these coarse attacks to pass with his scorn, but, encouraged by 
 this contemptuous silence, the stipendiaries of the press have dared to state 
 that this journal, an outcome of intense conviction and disinterested patriot- 
 ism, was but the stepping-stone of a man, the speculation of a seeker after 
 an election. M. Jerome Thuillier, in his high dignity, has held himself 
 immovable before these shameless imputations because truth and justice 
 are patient, and he wished to crush the reptile with a blow. The day of 
 execution has arrived. 
 
 "A devil of a la Peyrade ! " said Thuillier, stopping short 
 at that phrase. " How he hits it off." 
 " It is magnificent," said Minard. 
 Reading aloud, Thuillier went on : 
 
 All the world, enemies and friends, can testify that M. Jer6me Thuillier 
 has done nothing to seek a candidacy which was spontaneously offered 
 him. 
 
 "That's evident," said Thuillier, interrupting himself. 
 Then he continued : 
 
 But seeing his sentiments have been so shamefully misrepresented, his 
 intentions so foully travestied, M. Thuillier owes it to himself, and, above
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 435 
 
 nil, to the great national party in which he is but the humblest soldier, to 
 give an example which shall confound the vile sycophants of power. 
 
 "Truly, la Peyrade gives me full credit," said Thuillier, 
 pausing again in his reading. "I see now why he didn't 
 send me the paper ; he wanted to enjoy my surprise : ' Con- 
 found the vile sycophants of power,' " repeated he, after roll- 
 ing it in. his mind : 
 
 M. Thuillier was so far from founding a paper in opposition to the 
 
 dynasty to support and promote his election, that at the very time when 
 
 his election seems to be assured, and most disheartening for his rivals, 
 
 he here publicly declares, and in the most formal, absolute, and irrevocable 
 
 terms, that he RENOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY. 
 
 "What ? How ? " cried Thuillier, thinking he had misread 
 or misunderstood. 
 
 " Go on," said the Mayor of the Eleventh. 
 
 And as Thuillier, with a bewildered manner, seemed indis- 
 posed to continue his reading, Minard took the paper in his 
 hands and read, in his stead : 
 
 He withdraws from the contest and requests the electors to transfer to 
 M. Minard, mayor of the eleventh arrondissement, and his friend and col- 
 league in his municipal functions, all the votes they seemed disposed to 
 honor him with. 
 
 "But this is infamous!" cried Thuillier, recovering his 
 speech, "you have bought that Jesuit, la Peyrade." 
 
 "So," said Minard, stupefied by Thuillier' s attitude, "the 
 article was not arranged between you?" 
 
 "The wretch has profited by my absence to slip it in the 
 paper; this explains why he prevented a copy reaching me." 
 
 "My dear fellow," said Minard, "what you are saying 
 will seem incredible to the public." 
 
 " But I tell you it is treason, a beastly trick. Renounce 
 my candidature why should I renounce it? "
 
 436 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "You will fully understand, rny friend," said Minard, 
 "that if this is an abuse of confidence, I am made desolate; 
 but I have issued my electoral circular, and, by my faith ! 
 luck to the lucky." 
 
 "Leave me," said Thuillier, pointing to the door, "you 
 have paid for this hoax." 
 
 "Monsieur Thuillier," said Minard, in a threatening tone, 
 " I would advise you not to repeat those words unless you 
 intend giving me your reason." 
 
 Happily for the "civic courage" of Thuillier he was re- 
 relieved from a reply by Coffinet, who opened the door of the 
 editorial sanctum, announcing : 
 
 "The gentlemen electors of the twelfth arrondissement." 
 
 This consisted of a deputation of six, an apothecary being 
 the president, who, addressing Thuillier, said they had read 
 the article of that morning and wished to clearly understand 
 what it meant. He was told that a candidate does not belong 
 to himself, but to the electors who have supported him. 
 "But," he finished up, casting his eye on Minard, "the 
 presence in these precincts of the candidate for whom you 
 have gone out of your way to recommend to us, indicates a 
 connivance between you." 
 
 "No, gentlemen, no," said Thuillier, "I have not re- 
 nounced my candidacy ; that editorial was written unknown 
 to me and without my consent. To-morrow the denial will 
 appear in the same paper ; you will learn, too, that the infa- 
 mous wretch who betrayed me has been dismissed the edi- 
 torship." 
 
 "Then," said the orator, "you are still a candidate and 
 will support the Opposition ? " 
 
 "Yes, gentlemen, to the death," said Thuillier. 
 
 "Good ! Very good ! " cried the deputation. 
 
 Then, after a cordial handshake all round, Thuillier con- 
 ducted them to the outer door. 
 
 He had barely reentered the room when :
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 437 
 
 "Gentlemen the electors of the eleventh arrondissement," 
 said Coffinet, opening the door. 
 
 This time the arrondissement consisted of seven persons. 
 A dry-goods man was the president, his little speech ran : 
 
 "Monsieur, it is with a sincere admiration that we were 
 apprised this morning that the great art of public virtue, which 
 has greatly touched us all, is not lost. You have proved, by 
 thus retiring, a disinterestedness far from the ordinary, and 
 the esteem of your fellow-citizens " 
 
 "Permit me," said Thuillier, interrupting him, "I cannot 
 allow you to continue ; the article upon which you congratu- 
 late me was inserted by mistake." 
 
 "What ! " said the dry-goods man, " do you mean to say 
 that you don't retire from the contest ? It will be a great 
 pity if you lose this chance to place yourself in the eyes of 
 your fellow-citizens by the side of Washington and other 
 famous men of antiquity." 
 
 "I will to-morrow make all clear to you," said Thuillier. 
 " I trust when you know the whole truth I shall not suffer in 
 your esteem." 
 
 "This seems a funny sort of a game," shouted an elector. 
 
 "Yes," growled another, "it seems like they were making 
 fools of us." 
 
 Whereupon the deputation retired. 
 
 It is hardly probable that Thuillier would have gone further 
 with them than the office door, but if he had so intended it 
 was prevented by the entrance of la Peyrade. 
 
 " I have just come from your house, my dear fellow," said 
 the Provencal, "they told me I should find you here." 
 
 "And you came, doubtless, to explain to me the strange 
 editorial you allowed yourself to insert in my name?" 
 
 "Exactly," said la Peyrade. "The man of whom you- 
 know, and whose far-reaching influence you have already felt, 
 confided in me yesterday, to the interest both of yourself and 
 the government, and I saw it was inevitable that you would
 
 438 THE MTDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 be defeated. I therefore arranged a dignified and honorable 
 retreat for you." 
 
 "Very good, monsieur," said Thuillier, "but you will 
 understand that from the present you are no longer the editor 
 of this paper." 
 
 " That is what I came to tell you." 
 
 "And doubtless also to settle up the little account we have 
 together." 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Minard, "I see you have business to 
 attend, I make you my bow." 
 
 Minard gone : 
 
 "Here are ten thousand francs," said la Peyrade, "which 
 I beg you to hand to Mademoiselle Brigitte ; here, also, is the 
 bond by which you secured to Madame Lambert the payment 
 of twenty-five thousand francs, to which is attached her re- 
 ceipt in full." 
 
 "Quite right, monsieur," said Thuillier. 
 
 La Peyrade bowed and went out. 
 
 "Serpent ! " said Thuillier, watching him out. 
 
 " Cerizet struck the right word," said la Peyrade, " he is a 
 pompous idiot." 
 
 The blow struck at Thuillier's candidacy was mortal, but 
 Minard did not profit thereby. While they disputed for the 
 suffrages of the electors, a "castle-man," an aide-de-camp of 
 the King, arrived on the scene, his hands full of tobacco 
 licenses and other the like electioneering small change, and, 
 like the third thief, he stole in between the two candidates who 
 were busy eating each other. It goes without saying that 
 Brigitte did not get her farm at Beauce; this was only a 
 mirage, by the help of which Thuillier was enticed from 
 Paris to enable la Peyrade to deliver his knock-out blow. A 
 service rendered the government, and which was at the same 
 time a full revenge for the humiliations the Provencal had 
 suffered. 
 
 Thuillier had some general suspicions as to Cerizet's com-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 439 
 
 plicity, but that gentleman justified himself, and, by engineer- 
 ing the sale of the " Echo de la Bievre," which had become a 
 nightmare to its unfortunate proprietor, he made himself as 
 white as snow. Bought out by Corentin, the poor sheet of 
 the Opposition became a "canard" sold on Sundays in the 
 taverns after being concocted in the den of the police. 
 
 About a month after the scene in which la Peyrade had 
 been shown that through a crime in the past his future was 
 irrevocably settled, he had married his victim, who now had 
 long intervals of lucidity, though the full return of her reason 
 could not be counted upon until the time and conditions pre- 
 viously indicated by the physicians had become fulfilled. One 
 morning Corentin was closeted with his successor. Taking part 
 in his labors, and serving his apprenticeship for the delicate 
 and arduous duties of his office, Thodose did not bring that 
 acumen and spirit into the work that Corentin desired. He 
 saw that his pupil had cherished a feeling of degradation ; 
 time would heal the wound, but the callus was as yet un- 
 formed. 
 
 Opening a number of sealed envelopes containing his agents' 
 reports, most of which were contemptuously pitched into the 
 waste-paper basket, to be afterward burnt, the great man gave 
 particular attention to one he came across ; as he read it he 
 slightly smiled once or twice, and when he had finished : 
 
 " Here," said he to la Peyrade, passing the manuscript 
 over, " this will interest you ; it shows that our profession, 
 which at present seems to you unpleasantly tragic, does at 
 times dabble in comedy, in addition. Read it aloud, it will 
 amuse us." 
 
 Before la Peyrade had commenced to read : 
 
 "I ought to let you know," added Corentin, "that this 
 report is from a man named Henri, whom Madame Komorn 
 placed in service with the Thuilliers." 
 
 "So," said la Peyrade, " you have servants to your hand; 
 is that one of your methods? "
 
 440 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Sometimes," replied Corentin, "to know all, all means 
 must be utilized ; but, on this subject, many lies are spoken 
 about us. It is not true that the police make a regular system 
 of this. But I wanted an eye and ear in the Thuillier house- 
 hold, so I let the Godollo loose upon it ; she in turn installed 
 one of our men there, quite an intelligent fellow, as you will 
 learn. But suppose another servant came and said he was 
 willing to sell me the secrets of his master, I should have him 
 arrested and let a warning be sent to the family to distrust the 
 other servants." 
 
 Monsieur the Chief of the Secret Police, I did not stay long with the 
 little baron ; he is a man wholly absorbed in frivolous pleasures ; there 
 was nothing to gather worthy of a report. I have another situation 
 though where I have seen a number of things which have a bearing on 
 the mission intrusted to me by Mme. de Godollo ; I take the liberty of 
 acquainting you with them. The household in which I am now in ser- 
 vice is that of an old professor, M. Picot, who lives on a first floor, Place 
 de la Madeleine, in the suite and house lately occupied by my former mas- 
 ters, the Thuilliers. 
 
 "What!" cried la Peyrade, interrupting himself, "Old 
 Picot, that ruined old lunatic, occupying such splendid apart- 
 ments?" 
 
 " Go on, go on ! " cried Corentin ; " life is full of stranger 
 things than that ; you will find the explanation lower ; our 
 correspondents it's one of their defects are too fond of 
 drawing facts in detail; they are always over careful in dot- 
 ting their i's." 
 
 The man Henri went on : 
 
 The Thuilliers, some time ago, left here to return to their Latin quarter. 
 Mile. Brigitte never really liked our sphere ; her total lack of education 
 made her uncomfortable. Because I spoke correctly she dubbed me " the 
 orator," and her porter she disliked, because, being sexton at the Made- 
 leine church, he has some manners ; she even complained of the market- 
 people in the market at the rear of the church, and said they gave them-
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 441 
 
 selves " capable " airs, only for that they are not so coarse-tongued as 
 those of the Halle, and laughed when she tried to beat down their prices. 
 She has let her house now to an ugly man with only half a nose, one 
 Cerizet, who pays a rent of fifty-five thousand francs. This leaseholder 
 seems to know his road about; he has just married an actress at a minor 
 theatre and was about to occupy this floor, using it also as offices for a 
 company issuing policies for marriage-portions, when M. Picot, arriving 
 from England with his wife, a very wealthy Englishwoman, saw the suite 
 of rooms and offered so large a rental that M. Cerizet felt constrained to 
 accept it. It was then that being introduced by M. Pascal, the janitor, I 
 took service with M. Picot. 
 
 "M. Picot, married to a very rich Englishwoman," said la 
 
 Peyrade, again interrupting himself; " it is inconceivable !" 
 
 " Read on," said Corentin ; " you will comprehend later." 
 
 The fortune of my new master is quite a history, and Mme. de Godollo 
 was mixed up with the marriage of a pupil of his a M. Felix Phellion, 
 the inventor of a star who in despair at not being able to marry that 
 demoiselle whom they wanted to give to M. la Peyrade, of whom Mme. 
 de Godollo made such an ass 
 
 "Scoundrel!" said the Provencal, in a parenthesis; "is 
 that how he speaks of me ? He doesn't know yet with whom 
 he has to deal." 
 
 Corentin laughed heartily and told his pupil to go ahead. 
 
 and who in despair at not being allowed to marry her had gone off to 
 England, whence he was to set off on a journey round the world ; just a 
 lover's notion. Hearing of this departure, M. Picot, his old professor, 
 went after him to prevent this nonsense, which was not a difficult matter. 
 The English are naturally very jealous about discoveries, and when they 
 saw M. Phellion about to embark with their own professors they asked 
 him if he had an order from the Admiralty ; not being provided with this, 
 they laughed in his face and would not permit him on board at all ; they 
 feared he would prove more learned than they. 
 
 "He seems to think a great deal of the entente cordiale, 
 your M. Henri," said la Peyrade, jokingly.
 
 442 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Yes," replied Corentin, "you will be struck in there- 
 ports of our agents with this general and continued spirit of 
 calumniation. But what can be done ! we cannot expect 
 angels to take up the trade of spies." 
 
 Left upon the shore, Telemachus and Mentor thought best to return to 
 France ; they were about doing so when M. Picot received a letter such 
 as none but an Englishwoman could have written. It said that the writer 
 had read his theory of " Perpetual Motion," and had also heard of the 
 wonderful discovery of a star ; she regarded him as a genius next only to 
 Newton; if the hand of her who addressed him, joined to eighty thousand 
 pounds, or two million francs, suited his convenience, she was at his dis- 
 posal. M. Picot liked the offer; he met the English lady, a woman of 
 forty at the least, with a red nose, long teeth, and spectacles. He had in- 
 tended offering her his pupil, but he saw that this was out of the question, 
 so he told her that he was old, half-blind, had not discovered the star, and 
 did not possess a sou. She replied that Milton was not a young man and 
 was stone-blind ; as for the star, she did not care much about that ; that 
 the author of " Perpetual Motion " was, and had been for ten years past, 
 the man of her dreams ; and she again offered herself with a dot of eighty 
 thousand pounds sterling ; beside, he only had a cataract on his eyes; she 
 was the daughter of a noted oculist and knew this. M. Picot made 
 answer that if his sight were restored and she would consent to live in 
 Paris, for he hated England, he would permit himself to be married. The 
 operation was successfully performed, and, at the end of three weeks, the 
 newly wedded couple arrived in the capital. All these details I learned 
 from madame's maid with whom I am on intimate terms. 
 
 "You see, conceited puppy ! " said Corentin laughing. 
 
 But the remainder of what I have to inform M. the Chief are facts of 
 which I speak de visu. When the Picots were comfortably installed they 
 gave invitations to a dinner to all the guests, and a few others, who had 
 attended a dinner at which M. Picot had had a funny encounter with 
 Mile. Thuillier. The whole company were on hand at the time named, 
 but M. Picot did not appear. The guests were received by Madame, who 
 does not speak French and could only say : " My husband will soon be 
 here;" at last M. Picot arrived, and they were stupefied on seeing, instead 
 of a shabby, blind old man, a handsome, hale, young old man, carrying 
 his years jauntily, like M. Ferville, of the Gymnase, and saying:
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 443 
 
 " I beg your pardon, ladies, for not being here when you arrived, but I 
 was at the Academy of Sciences, awaiting the result of an election that 
 of Monsieur Felix Fhellion, who was unanimously elected less three 
 votes." 
 
 The news seemed to be well received by the company. 
 
 " I must also ask your pardon, ladies, for my rather peculiar behavior 
 in this very place, a few weeks ago. My excuses are my late infirmity, 
 the annoyances of a law-suit, and an old housekeeper who robbed and 
 plagued me in a thousand ways and of whom I have the happiness of 
 being now delivered. To-day you see me rejuvenated, married to an 
 amiable spouse, and with only one cloud to obscure my happiness that 
 of my young friend who has been crowned by the Academy ; all here are 
 more or less guilty toward him ; I, for my ingratitude, when he turned 
 over to me the benefits of his discovery and the reward of his immortal 
 labors; that young lady I see there with tears in her eyes, for having 
 foolishly accused him of atheism ; that other stern-looking one, for replying 
 with harshness to his proposals made by his worthy father, whose white 
 hairs she should rather have honored ; M. Thuillier, for having sacrificed 
 him to ambition ; M. Colleville, for not having done his part as a father, 
 and choosing the most worthy man; M. Minard, for giving in to his 
 jealousy and trying to foist his son in his place. There are but two 
 present who have done him common justice Madame Thuillier and M. 
 the Abb6 Gondrin. I shall now ask that man of God whether we may 
 not almost doubt Divine justice, when we see this generous young man, 
 the victim of all of us, tossed at the mercy of the waves and tempest, 
 to which for three long years he is consigned before he returns ? " 
 
 "Providence is mighty, monsieur," said the abb; " God will protect 
 M. Felix Phellion in the midst of peril ; in three years let us have the firm 
 hope that he will be safely restored to us." 
 
 " But three years," said M. Picot. " Will it still be time ? Mile. Colle- 
 ville, will she wait for him ? " 
 
 " Yes, I swear it," cried the young girl, carried away by an uncontrol- 
 lable impulse. 
 
 " And you, Mile. Thuillier," continued Picot, " and you, Mme. Colle- 
 ville, will you allow this ? " 
 
 "Yes, yes," cried everybody; for M. Picot's voice, full and sonorous, 
 had tears in it. 
 
 "It is time, then," said M. Picot, "to grant an amnesty to Providence." 
 Then rushing to the door where my ear was glued to the keyhole by 
 George ! he nearly caught me : 
 
 2 C
 
 444 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 
 
 "Announce," said he to me, "M. Felix Phellion and family." 
 
 Thereupon a door opened and five or six persons came out, who were 
 led by M. Picot into the salon. 
 
 At the sight of her lover Mile. Colleville fell in a faint, but the spell 
 was soon over, and, seeing M. F61ix at her feet, she threw herself, weep- 
 ing, into Mme. Thuillier's arms, crying: 
 
 " Godmother, you always told me to hope." 
 
 Mile. Thuillier, who, as I have always thought, despite her harsh nature 
 and lack of education, is a very remarkable woman, had a happy inspi- 
 ration : 
 
 "One moment," she said, for they were just starting for the dining- 
 room. " Monsieur Phellion," she said, going up to him, " monsieur and 
 old friend, I ask for the hand of M. Felix Phellion for our adopted daugh- 
 ter, Mile. Colleville." 
 
 " Bravo, bravo ! " cried all in chorus. 
 
 " My God ! " said M. Felix Phellion, tearfully, " what have I done to 
 deserve so great a happiness ! " 
 
 "You have been an honest man and a Christian without knowing it," 
 replied the Abbe Gondrin. 
 
 Here la Peyrade flung down the letter. 
 
 "Well! you haven't finished it?" said Corentin, picking 
 it up. "But there's not much more; M. Henri just informs 
 me that he was 'moved' him! no, wait," added Corentin, 
 "here's another detail of some importance: " 
 
 The Englishwoman made it known during dinner that, having no heirs, 
 her fortune after the deaths of herself and husband, will go to Felix, who, 
 as a consequence, will become enormously wealthy. 
 
 La Peyrade had risen and was striding rapidly about the 
 room. 
 
 "Well, what's the matter?" asked Corentin. 
 
 "Nothing," answered the Provencal. 
 
 "Yes, there is," replied the detective; "I think you are a 
 little jealous of that young man's good fortune. My dear fel- 
 low, allow me to suggest to you that if you wished such a con- 
 clusion for yourself, you should have acted as he has done.
 
 THE MIDDLE CLASSES. 445 
 
 When I sent you one hundred louis to study law, I did not 
 then intend you as my successor ; I expected you to labor at 
 the oars of your own galley, to have the courage for obscure 
 and hard toil ; your day must have come. But you choose to 
 violate Fate." 
 
 " Monsieur ! " said la Peyrade. 
 
 " I mean, hastened it cutting the hay while yet green. 
 You took a fling at journalism ; you made acquaintances of 
 Cerizet and Dutocq ; and, frankly, I think you very fortunate 
 in reaching the port in which you have now found a refuge. 
 Beside, you are not of a nature sufficiently simple-hearted to 
 enjoy such bliss as is reserved for Felix Phellion and 
 
 " These middle-classes," said la Peyrade, quickly ; " I know 
 them now, to my cost. They have great absurdities, great 
 vices even ; but they have their virtues, or, at the least, very 
 estimable qualities ; in them lies the vital force of our corrupt 
 society." 
 
 "Your society!" said Corentin, smiling; "you speak as 
 if you were still in the ranks. You are struck off the roll, my 
 dear, and you must learn to be more content with your lot; 
 governments pass ; societies perish or dwindle ; but we we 
 dominate all things; and the Police is eternal."
 
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