第5章

"Aretheredemonstrationsintheology？"askedtheprofessorofmathematics，naively，plungingheadlongintotheconversation。

"Ithink，monsieur，"repliedTheodose，lookingstraightatFelixPhellion，"thatyoucannotbeseriousinaskingmesuchaquestion。"

"Felix，"saidoldPhellion，comingheavilytotherescueofhisson，andcatchingadistressedlookonthepalefaceofMadameThuillier，——

"Felixseparatesreligionintotwocategories；heconsidersitfromthehumanpointofviewandthedivinepointofview，——traditionandreason。"

"Thatisheresy，monsieur，"repliedTheodose。"Religionisone；itrequires，aboveallthings，faith。"

OldPhellion，nonplussedbythatremark，noddedtohiswife：——

"Itisgettinglate，mydear，"andhepointedtotheclock。

"Oh，MonsieurFelix，"saidCelesteinawhispertothecandidmathematician，"Couldn’tyoube，likePascalandBossuet，learnedandpiousboth？"

ThePhellions，ondeparting，carriedtheCollevilleswiththem。SoonnooneremainedinthesalonbutDutocq，Theodose，andtheThuilliers。

TheflatteryadministeredbyTheodosetoFlavieseemsatthefirstsightcoarselycommonplace，butwemusthereremark，intheinterestsofthishistory，thatthebarristerwaskeepinghimselfascloseaspossibletothesevulgarminds；hewasnavigatingtheirwaters；hespoketheirlanguage。HispainterwasPierreGrassou，andnotJosephBridau；hisbookwas"PaulandVirginia。"ThegreatestlivingpoetforhimwasCasimiredelaVigne；tohiseyesthemissionofartwas，aboveallthings，utility。Parmentier，thediscovererofthepotato，wasgreatertohimthatthirtyRaffaelles；themaninthebluecloakseemedtohimasisterofcharity。ThesewereThuillier’sexpressions，andTheodoserememberedthemall——onoccasion。

"ThatyoungFelixPhellion，"henowremarked，"ispreciselytheacademicalmanofourday；theproductofknowledgewhichsendsGodtotherear。Heavens，whatarewecomingto？ReligionalonecansaveFrance；nothingbutthefearofhellwillpreserveusfromdomesticrobbery，whichisgoingonatallhoursinthebosomoffamilies，andeatingintothesurestfortunes。Allofyouhaveasecretwarfareinyourhomes。"

Afterthisshrewdtirade，whichmadeagreatimpressionuponBrigitte，heretired，followedbyDutocq，afterwishinggoodeveningtothethreeThuilliers。

"Thatyoungmanhasgreatcapacity，"saidThuillier，sententiously。

"Yes，thathehas，"repliedBrigitte，extinguishingthelamps。

"Hehasreligion，"saidMadameThuillier，asshelefttheroom。

"Monsieur，"PhellionwassayingtoCollevilleastheycameabreastoftheEcoledeMines，lookingabouthimtoseethatnoonewasnear，"itisusuallymycustomtosubmitmyinsighttothatofothers，butitisimpossibleformenottothinkthatthatyounglawyerplaysthemasteratourfriendThuillier’s。"

"Myownopinion，"saidColleville，whowaswalkingwithPhellionbehindhiswife，MadamePhellion，andCeleste，"isthathe’saJesuit；

andIdon’tlikeJesuits；thebestofthemarenogood。TomymindaJesuitmeansknavery，andknaveryforknavery’ssake；theydeceiveforthepleasureofdeceiving，and，asthesayingis，tokeeptheirhandin。That’smyopinion，andIdon’tminceit。"

"Iunderstandyou，monsieur，"saidPhellion，whowasarm—in—armwithColleville。

"No，MonsieurPhellion，"remarkedFlavieinashrillvoice，"youdon’tunderstandColleville；butIknowwhathemeans，andIthinkhehadbetterstopsayingit。Suchsubjectsarenottobetalkedofinthestreet，ateleveno’clockatnight，andbeforeayounglady。"

"Youareright，wife，"saidColleville。

WhentheyreachedtheruedesDeux—Eglises，whichPhellionwastotake，theyallstoppedtosaygood—night，andFelixPhellion，whowasbringuptherear，saidtoColleville：——

"Monsieur，yoursonFrancoiscouldentertheEcolePolytechniqueifhewerewell—coached；Iproposetoyoutofithimtopasstheexaminationsthisyear。"

"That’sanoffernottoberefused！Thankyou，myfriend，"saidColleville。"We’llseeaboutit。"

"Good！"saidPhelliontohisson，astheywalkedon。

"Notabadstroke！"saidthemother。

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"askedFelix。

"YouareverycleverlypayingcourttoCeleste’sparents。"

"MayIneverfindthesolutionofmyproblemifIeventhoughtofit！"

criedtheyoungprofessor。"Idiscovered，whentalkingwiththelittleCollevilles，thatFrancoishasastrongturnformathematics，andI

thoughtIoughttoenlightenhisfather。"

"Good，myson！"repeatedPhellion。"Iwouldn’thaveyouotherwise。Myprayersaregranted！Ihaveasonwhosehonor，probity，andprivateandcivicvirtuesareallthatIcouldwish。"

MadameColleville，assoonasCelestehadgonetobed，saidtoherhusband：——

"Colleville，don’tutterthosebluntopinionsaboutpeoplewithoutknowingsomethingaboutthem。WhenyoutalkofJesuitsIknowyoumeanpriests；andIwishyouwoulddomethekindnesstokeepyouropinionsonreligiontoyourselfwhenyouareincompanywithyourdaughter。Wemaysacrificeourownsouls，butnotthesoulsofourchildren。Youdon’twantCelestetobeacreaturewithoutreligion？Andremember，mydear，thatweareatthemercyofothers；wehavefourchildrentoprovidefor；andhowdoyouknowthat，somedayorother，youmaynotneedtheservicesofthisoneorthatone？Thereforedon’tmakeenemies。Youhaven’tanynow，foryouareagood—naturedfellow；and，thankstothatquality，whichamountsinyoutoacharm，wehavegotalongprettywellinlife，sofar。"

"That’senough！"saidColleville，flinginghiscoatonachairandpullingoffhiscravat。"I’mwrong，andyouareright，mybeautifulFlavie。"

"Andonthenextoccasion，mydearoldsheep，"saidtheslycreature，tappingherhusband’scheek，"youmusttrytobepolitetothatyounglawyer；heisaschemerandwehadbetterhavehimonourside。Heisplayingcomedy——well！playcomedywithhim；behisdupeapparently；ifheprovestohavetalent，ifhehasafuturebeforehim，makeafriendofhim。DoyouthinkIwanttoseeyouforeverinthemayor’soffice？"

"Come，wifeColleville，"saidtheformerclarionet，tappinghiskneetoindicatetheplacehewishedhiswifetotake。"Letuswarmourtoesandtalk。——WhenIlookatyouIammorethaneverconvincedthattheyouthofwomenisintheirfigure。"

"Andintheirheart。"

"Well，both，"assentedColleville；"waistslender，heartsolid——"

"No，youoldstupid，deep。"

"Whatisgoodaboutyouisthatyouhavekeptyourfairnesswithoutgrowingfat。Butthefactis，youhavesuchtinybones。Flavie，itisafactthatifIhadlifetoliveoveragainIshouldn’twishforanyotherwifethanyou。"

"YouknowverywellIhavealwayspreferredyoutoOTHERS。Howunluckythatmonseigneurisdead！DoyouknowwhatIcovetforyou？"

"No；what？"

"SomeofficeattheHoteldeVille，——anofficeworthtwelvethousandfrancsayear；cashier，orsomethingofthatkind；eitherthere，oratPoissy，inthemunicipaldepartment；orelseasmanufacturerofmusicalinstruments——"

"Anyoneofthemwouldsuitme。"

"Well，then！ifthatqueerbarristerhaspower，andhecertainlyhasplentyofintrigue，letusmanagehim。I’llsoundhim；leavemetodothething——and，aboveall，don’tthwarthisgameattheThuilliers’。"

TheodosehadlaidafingeronasoresportinFlavieColleville’sheart；andthisrequiresanexplanation，whichmay，perhaps，havethevalueofasyntheticglanceatwomen’slife。

Atfortyyearsofageawoman，aboveall，ifshehastastedthepoisonedappleofpassion，undergoesasolemnshock；sheseestwodeathsbeforeher：thatofthebodyandthatoftheheart。Dividingwomenintotwogreatcategorieswhichrespondtothecommonideas，andcallingthemeithervirtuousorguilty，itisallowabletosaythatafterthatfatalperiodtheybothsufferpangsofterribleintensity。

Ifvirtuous，anddisappointedinthedeepesthopesoftheirnature——

whethertheyhavehadthecouragetosubmit，whethertheyhaveburiedtheirrevoltintheirheartsoratthefootofthealtar——theyneveradmittothemselvesthatallisoverforthemwithouthorror。Thatthoughthassuchstrangeanddiabolicaldepthsthatinitliesthereasonofsomeofthoseapostasieswhichhave，attimes，amazedtheworldandhorrifiedit。Ifguilty，womenofthatagefallintooneofseveraldeliriousconditionswhichoftenturn，alas！tomadness，orendinsuicide，orterminateinsomewithpassiongreaterthanthesituationitself。

Thefollowingisthe"dilemmatic"meaningofthiscrisis。Eithertheyhaveknownhappiness，knownitinavirtuouslife，andareunabletobreatheinanyairbutthatsurchargedwithincense，oractinanybutabalmyatmosphereofflatteryandworship，——ifso，howisitpossibletorenounceit？——or，byaphenomenonlessrarethansingular，theyhavefoundonlywearyingpleasureswhileseekingforthehappinessthatescapedthem——sustainedinthateagerchasebytheirritatingsatisfactionsofvanity，clingingtothegamelikeagamblertohisdoubleorquits；fortothemtheselastdaysofbeautyaretheirlaststakeagainstdespair。

"Youhavebeenloved，butneveradored。"

ThatspeechofTheodose，accompaniedbyalookwhichread，notintoherheart，butintoherlife，wasthekey—notetoherenigma，andFlaviefeltherselfdivined。

Thelawyerhadmerelyrepeatedideaswhichliteraturehasrenderedtrivial；butwhatmatterwherethewhipcomesfrom，orhowitismade，ifittouchesthesensitivespotofahorse’shide？TheemotionwasinFlavie，notinthespeech，justasthenoiseisnotintheavalanche，thoughitproducesit。

Ayoungofficer，twofops，abanker，aclumsyyouth，andColleville，werepoorattemptsathappiness。OnceinherlifeMadameCollevillehaddreamedofit，butneverattainedit。Deathhadhastenedtoputanendtotheonlypassioninwhichshehadfoundacharm。Forthelasttwoyearsshehadlistenedtothevoiceofreligion，whichtoldherthatneithertheChurch，noritsvotaries，shouldtalkofloveorhappiness，butofdutyandresignation；thattheonlyhappinesslayinthesatisfactionoffulfillingpainfulandcostlyduties，therewardsforwhichwerenotinthisworld。Allthesame，however，shewasconsciousofanotherclamoringvoice；but，inasmuchasherreligionwasonlyamaskwhichitsuitedhertowear，andnotaconversion，shedidnotlayitaside，thinkingitaresource。Believingalsothatpiety，falseortrue，wasabecomingmannerinwhichtomeetherfuture，shecontinuedintheChurch，asthoughitwerethecross—roadsofaforest，where，seatedonabench，shereadthesign—posts，andwaitedforsomeluckychance；feelingallthewhilethatnightwascomingon。

ThusithappenedthatherinterestwaskeenlyexcitedwhenTheodoseputhersecretconditionofmindintowords，seemingtopromisehertherealizationofhercastleintheair，alreadybuiltandoverthrownsomesixoreighttimes。

FromthebeginningofthewintershehadnoticedthatTheodosewasexaminingandstudyingher，thoughcautiouslyandsecretly。Morethanonce，shehadputonhergraymoiresilkwithitsblacklace，andherheaddressofMechlinwithafewflowers，inordertoappeartoherbestadvantage；andmenknowverywellwhenatoilethasbeenmadetopleasethem。TheoldbeauoftheEmpire，thathandsomeThuillier，overwhelmedherwithcompliments，assuringhershewasqueenofthesalon，butlaPeyradesaidinfinitelymoretothepurposebyalook。

Flaviehadexpected，SundayafterSunday，adeclaration，sayingtoherselfattimes：——

"HeknowsIamruinedandhaven’tasou。Perhapsheisreallypious。"

Theodosedidnothingrashly；likeawisemusician，hehadmarkedtheplaceinhissymphonywhereheintendedtotaphisdrum。WhenhesawCollevilleattemptingtowarnThuillieragainsthim，hefiredhisbroadside，cleverlypreparedduringthethreeorfourmonthsinwhichhehadbeenstudyingFlavie；henowsucceededwithherashehad，earlierintheday，succeededwithThuillier。

Whilegettingintobed，Theodosesaidtohimself：——

"Thewifeisonmyside；thehusbandcan’tendureme；theyarenowquarrelling；andIshallgetthebetterofit，forshedoeswhatshelikeswiththatman。"

Thelawyerwasmistakeninonething：therewasnodisputewhatever，andCollevillewassleepingpeacefullybesidehisdearlittleFlavie，whileshewassayingtoherself：——

"CertainlyTheodosemustbeasuperiorman。"

Manymen，likelaPeyrade，derivetheirsuperiorityfromtheaudacity，orthedifficulty，ofanenterprise；thestrengththeydisplayincreasestheirmuscularpower，andtheyspenditfreely。Thenwhensuccessiswon，ordefeatismet，thepublicisastonishedtofindhowsmall，exhausted，andpunythosemenreallyare。AftercastingintothemindsofthetwopersonsonwhomCeleste’sfatechieflydepended，aninterestandcuriositythatwerealmostfeverish，Theodosepretendedtobeaverybusyman；forfiveorsixdayshewasoutofthehousefrommorningtillnight，inordernottomeetFlavieuntilthetimewhenherinterestshouldincreasetothepointofoversteppingconventionality，andalsoinordertoforcethehandsomeThuilliertocomeandfetchhim。

ThefollowingSundayhefeltcertainheshouldfindMadameCollevilleatchurch；hewasnotmistaken，fortheycameout，eachofthem，atthesamemoment，andmetatthecorneroftheruedesDeux—Eglises。

Theodoseofferedhisarm，whichFlavieaccepted，leavingherdaughtertowalkinfrontwithherbrotherAnatole。Thisyoungestchild，thenabouttwelveyearsold，beingdestinedfortheseminary，wasnowattheBarniolinstitute，whereheobtainedanelementaryeducation；

Barniol，theson—in—lawofthePhellions，wasnaturallymakingthetuitionfeeslight，withaviewtothehoped—foralliancebetweenFelixandCeleste。

"HaveyoudonemethehonorandfavorofthinkingoverwhatIsaidtoyousobadlytheotherday？"askedthelawyer，inacaressingtone，pressingthelady’sarmtohisheartwithamovementbothsoftandstrong；forheseemedtowishtorestrainhimselfandappearrespectful，inspiteofhisevidenteagerness。"Donotmisunderstandmyintentions，"hecontinued，afterreceivingfromMadameCollevilleoneofthoselookswhichwomentrainedtothemanagementofpassionknowhowtogive，——alookthat，bymereexpression，canconveybothsevererebukeandsecretcommunityofsentiment。"Iloveyouasweloveanoblenaturestrugglingagainstmisfortune；Christiancharityenfoldsboththestrongandtheweak；itstreasurebelongstoboth。

Refined，graceful，elegantasyouare，madetobeanornamentofthehighestsociety，whatmancouldseeyouwithoutfeelinganimmensecompassioninhisheart——buriedhereamongtheseodiousbourgeois，whoknownothingofyou，noteventhearistocraticvalueofasingleoneofyourattitudes，orthoseenchantinginflectionsofyourvoice！Ah！

ifIwereonlyrich！ifIhadpower！yourhusband，whoiscertainlyagoodfellow，shouldbemadereceiver—general，andyouyourselfcouldgethimelecteddeputy。But，alas！poorambitiousman，myfirstdutyistosilencemyambition。Knowingmyselfatthebottomofthebaglikethelastnumberinafamilylottery，Icanonlyofferyoumyarmandnotmyheart。Ihopeallfromagoodmarriage，and，believeme，I

shallmakemywifenotonlyhappy，butIshallmakeheroneofthefirstintheland，receivingfromherthemeansofsuccess。Itissofineaday，willyounottakeaturnintheLuxembourg？"headded，astheyreachedtherued’EnferatthecornerofColleville’shouse，oppositetowhichwasapassageleadingtothegardensbythestairwayofalittlebuilding，thelastremainsofthefamousconventoftheChartreux。

Thesoftyieldingofthearmwithinhisown，indicatedatacitconsenttothisproposal，andasFlaviedeservedthehonorofasortofenthusiasm，hedrewhervehementlyalong，exclaiming：——

"Come！wemayneverhavesogoodamoment——Butsee！"headded，"thereisyourhusbandatthewindowlookingatus；letuswalkslowly。"

"YouhavenothingtofearfromMonsieurColleville，"saidFlavie，smiling；"heleavesmemistressofmyownactions。"

"Ah！here，indeed，isthewomanIhavedreamedof，"criedtheProvencal，withthatecstasythatinflamesthesoulonly，andintonesthatissueonlyfromSouthernlips。"Pardonme，madame，"hesaid，recoveringhimself，andreturningfromanupperspheretotheexiledangelwhomhelookedatpiously，——"pardonme，IabandonwhatIwassaying；buthowcanamanhelpfeelingforthesorrowshehasknownhimselfwhenheseesthemthelotofabeingtowhomlifeshouldbringonlyjoyandhappiness？Yoursufferingsaremine；Iamnomoreinmyrightplacethanyouareinyours；thesamemisfortunehasmadeusbrotherandsister。Ah！dearFlavie，thefirstdayitwasgrantedtometoseeyou——thelastSundayinSeptember，1838——youwereverybeautiful；Ishalloftenrecallyoutomemoryinthatprettylittlegownofmousseline—de—laineofthecolorofsomeScottishtartan！ThatdayIsaidtomyself：’WhyisthatwomansooftenattheThuilliers’；

aboveall，whydidsheeverhaveintimaterelationswithThuillierhimself？——’"

"Monsieur！"saidFlavie，alarmedatthesingularcourselaPeyradewasgivingtotheconversation。

"Eh！Iknowall，"hecried，accompanyingthewordswithashrugofhisshoulders。"Iexplainitalltomyownmind，andIdonotrespectyouless。Younowhavetogatherthefruitsofyoursin，andIwillhelpyou。Celestewillbeveryrich，andinthatliesyourownfuture。Youcanhaveonlyoneson—in—law；chosehimwisely。Anambitiousmanmightbecomeaminister，butyouwouldhumbleyourdaughterandmakehermiserable；andifsuchamanlosthisplaceandfortunehecouldneverrecoverit。Yes，Iloveyou，"hecontinued。"Iloveyouwithanunlimitedaffection；youarefarabovethemassofpettyconsiderationsinwhichsillywomenentanglethemselves。Letusunderstandeachother。"

Flaviewasbewildered；shewas，however，awaketotheextremefranknessofsuchlanguage，andshesaidtoherself，"Heisnotasecretmanoeuvrer，certainly。"Moreover，sheadmittedtoherownmindthatnoonehadeversodeeplystirredandexcitedherasthisyoungman。

"Monsieur，"shesaid，"Idonotknowwhocouldhaveputintoyourmindsogreatanerrorastomylife，norbywhatrightyou——"

"Ah！pardonme，madame，"interruptedtheProvencalwithacoolnessthatsmackedofcontempt。"Imusthavedreamedit。Isaidtomyself，’Sheisallthat！’ButIseeIwasjudgingfromtheoutside。Iknownowwhyyouarelivingandwillalwaysliveonafourthfloorintherued’Enfer。"

AndhepointedhisspeechwithanenergeticgesturetowardtheCollevillewindows，whichcouldbeseenthroughthepassagefromthealleyoftheLuxembourg，wheretheywerewalkingalone，inthatimmensetracttroddenbysomanyandvariousyoungambitions。

"Ihavebeenfrank，andIexpectedreciprocity，"resumedTheodose。"I

myselfhavehaddayswithoutfood，madame；Ihavemanagedtolive，pursuemystudies，obtainmydegree，withtwothousandfrancsformysoledependence；andIenteredParisthroughtheBarriered’Italie，withfivehundredfrancsinmypocket，firmlyresolved，likeoneofmycompatriots，tobecome，someday，oneoftheforemostmenofourcountry。Themanwhohasoftenpickedhisfoodfrombasketsofscrapswheretherestaurateursputtheirrefuse，whichareemptiedatsixo’clockeverymorning——thatmanisnotlikelytorecoilbeforeanymeans，——avowable，ofcourse。Well，doyouthinkmethefriendofthepeople？"hesaid，smiling。"Onehastohaveaspeaking—trumpettoreachtheearofFame；shedoesn’tlistenifyouspeakwithyourlips；

andwithoutfameofwhatuseistalent？Thepoorman’sadvocatemeanstobesomedaytheadvocateoftherich。Isthatplainspeaking？Don’tIopenmyinmostbeingtoyou？Thenopenyourhearttome。Saytome，’Letusbefriends，’andthedaywillcomewhenweshallbothbehappy。"

"Goodheavens！whydidIevercomehere？WhydidIevertakeyourarm？"criedFlavie。

"Becauseitisinyourdestiny，"hereplied。"Ah！mydear，belovedFlavie，"headded，againpressingherarmuponhisheart，"didyouexpecttohearthevulgaritiesoflovefromme？Wearebrotherandsister；thatisall。"

Andheledhertowardsthepassagetoreturntotherued’Enfer。

Flaviefeltasortofterrorinthedepthsofthecontentmentwhichallwomenfindinviolentemotions；andshetookthatterrorforthesortoffearwhichanewpassionalwaysexcites；butforallthat，shefeltshewasfascinated，andshewalkedalonginabsolutesilence。

"Whatareyouthinkingof？"askedTheodose，whentheyreachedthemiddleofthepassage。

"Ofwhatyouhavejustsaidtome，"sheanswered。

"Atourage，"hesaid，"itisbesttosuppresspreliminaries；wearenotchildren；webothbelongtoasphereinwhichweshouldunderstandeachother。Rememberthis，"headded，astheyreachedtherued’Enfer。

——"Iamwhollyyours。"

Sosaying，hebowedlowtoher。

"Theiron’sinthefirenow！"hethoughttohimselfashewatchedhisgiddypreyonherwayhome。

CHAPTERVI

AKEYNOTE

WhenTheodosereachedhomehefound，waitingforhimonthelanding，apersonagewhois，asitwere，thesubmarinecurrentofthishistory；

hewillbefoundwithinitlikesomeburiedchurchonwhichhasrisenthefacadeofapalace。Thesightofthisman，who，aftervainlyringingatlaPeyrade’sdoor，wasnowtryingthatofDutocq，madetheProvencalbarristertremble——butsecretly，withinhimself，notbetrayingexternallyhisinwardemotion。ThismanwasCerizet，whomDutocqhadmentionedtoThuillierashiscopying—clerk。

Cerizetwasonlythirty—eightyearsold，buthelookedamanoffifty，soagedhadhebecomefromcauseswhichageallmen。Hishairlessheadhadayellowskull，ill—coveredbyarusty，discoloredwig；themaskofhisface，pale，flabby，andunnaturallyrough，seemedthemorehorriblebecausethenosewaseatenaway，thoughnotsufficientlytoadmitofitsbeingreplacedbyafalseone。Fromthespringofthisnoseattheforehead，downtothenostrils，itremainedasnaturehadmadeit；butdisease，aftergnawingawaythesidesneartheextremities，hadlefttwoholesoffantasticshape，whichvitiatedpronunciationandhamperedspeech。Theeyes，originallyhandsome，butweakenedbymiseryofallkindsandbysleeplessnights，wereredaroundtheedges，anddeeplysunken；theglanceofthoseeyes，whenthesoulsentintothemanexpressionofmalignancy，wouldhavefrightenedbothjudgesandcriminals，oranyotherswhomnothingusuallyaffrights。

Themouth，toothlessexceptforafewblackfangs，wasthreatening；

thesalivamadeafoamwithinit，whichdidnot，however，passthepalethinlips。Cerizet，ashortman，lesssparethanshrunken，endeavoredtoremedythedefectsofhispersonbyhisclothes，andalthoughhisgarmentswerenotthoseofopulence，hekepttheminaconditionofneatnesswhichmayevenhaveincreasedhisforlornappearance。Everythingabouthimseemeddubious；hisage，hisnose，hisglanceinspireddoubt。Itwasimpossibletoknowifhewerethirty—eightorsixty；ifhisfadedbluetrousers，whichfittedhimwell，wereofacomingorapastfashion。Hisboots，wornattheheels，butscrupulouslyblacked，resoledforthethirdtime，andverychoice，originally，mayhavetroddenintheirdayaministerialcarpet。Thefrockcoat，soakedbymanyadown—pour，withitsbrandebourgs，thefrogsofwhichwereindiscreetenoughtoshowtheirskeletons，testifiedbyitscuttodepartedelegance。Thesatinstock—

cravatfortunatelyconcealedtheshirt，butthetongueofthebucklebehindtheneckhadfrayedthesatin，whichwasre—satined，thatis，re—polished，byaspeciesofoildistilledfromthewig。Inthedaysofitsyouththewaistcoatwasnot，ofcourse，withoutfreshness，butitwasoneofthosewaistcoats，boughtforfourfrancs，whichcomefromthehooksoftheready—madeclothingdealer。Allthesethingswerecarefullybrushed，andsowastheshinyandmisshapenhat。Theyharmonizedwitheachother，eventotheblackgloveswhichcoveredthehandsofthissubalternMephistopheles，whosewholeanteriorlifemaybesummedupinasinglephrase：——

Hewasanartistinevil，withwhom，fromthefirst，evilhadsucceeded；amanmisledbytheseearlysuccessestocontinuetheplottingofinfamousdeedswithinthelinesofstrictlegality。

Becomingtheheadofaprinting—officebybetrayinghismaster[see"LostIllusions"]，hehadafterwardsbeencondemnedtoimprisonmentaseditorofaliberalnewspaper。Intheprovinces，undertheRestoration，hebecamethebetenoireofthegovernment，andwascalled"thatunfortunateCerizet"bysome，aspeoplespokeof"theunfortunateChauvet"and"theheroicMercier。"Heowedtothisreputationofpersecutedpatriotismaplaceassub—prefectin1830。

Sixmonthslaterhewasdismissed；butheinsistedthathewasjudgedwithoutbeingheard；andhemadesomuchtalkaboutitthat，undertheministryofCasimirPerier，hebecametheeditorofananti—republicannewspaperinthepayofthegovernment。Heleftthatpositiontogointobusiness，onephaseofwhichwasthemostnefariousstock—companythateverfellintothehandsofthecorrectionalpolice。Cerizetproudlyacceptedtheseveresentencehereceived；declaringittobearevengefulplotonthepartoftherepublicans，who，hesaid，wouldneverforgivehimforthehardblowshehaddealttheminhisjournal。

Hespentthetimeofhisimprisonmentinahospital。Thegovernmentbythistimewereashamedofamanwhosealmostinfamoushabitsandshamefulbusinesstransactions，carriedonincompanywithaformerbanker，namedClaparon，ledhimatlastintowell—deservedpubliccontempt。

Cerizet，thusfallen，stepbystep，tothelowestrungofthesocialladder，hadrecoursetopityinordertoobtaintheplaceofcopyingclerkinDutocq’soffice。Inthedepthsofhiswretchednessthemanstilldreamedofrevenge，and，ashehadnothingtolose，heemployedallmeanstothatend。Dutocqandhimselfwereboundtogetherindepravity。CerizetwastoDutocqwhatthehoundisthehuntsman。

Knowinghimselfthenecessitiesofpovertyandwretchedness，hesetupthatbusinessofgutterusurycalled，inpopularparlance，"theloanbythelittleweek。"HebeganthisatfirstbyhelpofDutocq，whosharedtheprofits；but，atthepresentmomentthismanofmanylegalcrimes，nowthebankeroffishwives，themoney—lenderofcostermongers，wasthegnawingrodentofthewholefaubourg。

"Well，"saidCerizetasDutocqopenedhisdoor，"Theodosehasjustcomein；letusgotohisroom。"

Theadvocateofthepoorwasfaintoallowthetwomentopassbeforehim。

Allthreecrossedalittleroom，thetiledfloorofwhich，coveredwithacoatingofredencaustic，shoneinthelight；thenceintoalittlesalonwithcrimsoncurtainsandmahoganyfurniture，coveredwithredUtrechtvelvet；thewalloppositethewindowbeingoccupiedbybook—shelvescontainingalegallibrary。Thechimney—piecewascoveredwithvulgarornaments，aclockwithfourcolumnsinmahogany，andcandelabraunderglassshades。Thestudy，wherethethreemenseatedthemselvesbeforeasoft—coalfire，wasthestudyofalawyerjustbeginningtopractise。Thefurnitureconsistedofadesk，anarmchair，littlecurtainsofgreensilkatthewindows，agreencarpet，shelvesforlawyer’sboxes，andacouch，abovewhichhunganivoryChristonavelvetbackground。Thebedroom，kitchen，andrestoftheapartmentlookedoutuponthecourtyard。

"Well，"saidCerizet，"howarethingsgoing？Arewegettingon？"

"Yes，"repliedTheodose。

"Youmustadmit，"criedDutocq，"thatmyideawasafamousone，inlayingholdofthatimbecileofaThuillier？"