第12章

HemadesorapidamovementthatFlavie，terrified，roseandmovedaway。

"Oh！mysaint！"hecried，"atthyfeetIfall——amiracle！Godisforme，surely！Aflashoflighthascometome——anidea——suddenly！Oh，thanks，mygoodangel，mygrandSaint—Theodose！thouhastsavedme！"

Flaviecouldnothelpadmiringthatchameleonbeing；onekneeonthefloor，hishandscrossedonhisbreast，andhiseyesraisedtoheaveninreligiousecstasy，herecitedaprayer；hewasaferventCatholic；

hereverentlycrossedhimself。Itwasfine；likethevisionofSaint—

Jerome。

"Adieu！"hesaid，withamelancholylookandamovingtoneofvoice。

"Oh！"criedFlavie，"leavemethishandkerchief。"

Theodoserushedawaylikeonepossessed，sprangintothestreet，anddartedtowardstheThuilliers’，butturned，sawFlavieatherwindow，andmadeheralittlesignoftriumph。

"Whataman！"shethoughttoherself。

"Dear，goodfriend，"hesaidtoThuillier，inacalmandgentle，almostcaressingvoice，"wehavefallenintothehandsofatrociousscoundrels。ButImeantoreadthemalesson。"

"Whathashappened？"askedBrigitte。

"Theywanttwenty—fivethousandfrancs，and，inordertogetthebetterofus，thenotary，orhisaccomplices，havedeterminedtobidintheproperty。Thuillier，putfivethousandfrancsinyourpocketandcomewithme；Iwillsecurethathousetoyou。Iammakingmyselfimplacableenemies！"hecried；"theyareseekingtodestroymemorally。ButallIaskisthatyouwilldisregardtheirinfamouscalumniesandfeelnochangeofhearttome。Afterall，whatisit？IfIsucceed，youwillonlyhavepaidonehundredandtwenty—fivethousandfrancsforthehouseinsteadofonehundredandtwenty。"

"Providedthesamethingdoesn’thappenagain，"saidBrigitte，uneasily，hereyesdilatingundertheeffectofaviolentsuspicion。

"Preferredcreditorshavealonetherighttobidinproperty，andas，inthiscase，thereisbutone，andhehasusedthatright，wearesafe。Theamountofhisclaimisreallyonlytwothousandfrancs，buttherearelawyers，attorneys，andsoforth，topayinsuchmatters，andweshallhavetodropanoteofathousandfrancstomakethecreditorhappy。"

"Go，Thuillier，"saidBrigitte，"getyourhatandgloves，andtakethemoney——fromyouknowwhere。"

"AsIpaidthosefifteenthousandfrancswithoutsuccess，Idon’twishtohaveanymoremoneypassthroughmyhands。Thuilliermustpayithimself，"saidTheodose，whenhefoundhimselfalonewithBrigitte。

"Youhave，however，gainedtwentythousandonthecontractIenabledyoutomakewithGrindot，whothoughthewasservingthenotary，andyouownapieceofpropertywhichinfiveyearswillbeworthnearlyamillion。Itiswhatiscalleda’boulevardcorner。’"

Brigittelisteneduneasily，preciselylikeacatwhichhearsamousewithinthewall。ShelookedTheodosestraightintheeye，and，inspiteofthetruthofhisremarks，doubtspossessedher。

"Whattroublesyou，littleaunt？"

"Oh！Ishallbeinmortalterroruntilthatpropertyissecurelyours。"

"Youwouldbewillingtogivetwentythousandfrancs，wouldn’tyou，"

saidTheodose，"tomakesurethatThuillierwaswhatwecall，inlaw，’ownernotdispossessable’ofthatproperty？Well，then，rememberthatIhavesavedyoutwicethatamount。"

"Wherearewegoing？"askedThuillier，returning。

"ToMaitreGodeschal！Wemustemployhimasourattorney。"

"ButwerefusedhimforCeleste。"

"Well，that’sonereasonforgoingtohim，"repliedTheodose。"Ihavetakenhismeasure；he’samanofhonor，andhe’llthinkitafinethingtodoyouaservice。"

Godeschal，nowDerville’ssuccessor，hadformerlybeen，formorethantwoyears，head—clerkwithDesroches。Theodose，towhomthatcircumstancewasknown，seemedtohearthenameflungintohisearinthemidstofhisdespairbyaninwardvoice，andheforesawapossibilityofwrenchingfromthehandsofClaparontheweaponwithwhichCerizethadthreatenedhim。Hemust，however，inthefirstinstance，gainanentrancetoDesroches，andgetsomelightontheactualsituationofhisenemies。Godeschal，byreasonoftheintimacystillexistingbetweentheformerclerkandhisoldmaster，couldbehisgo—between。WhentheattorneysofParishavetieslikethosewhichboundGodeschalandDesrochestogether，theyliveintruefraternity，andtheresultisafacilityinarranginganymatterswhichare，asonemaysay，arrangeable。Theyobtainfromoneanother，onthegroundofreciprocity，allpossibleconcessionsbytheapplicationoftheproverb，"Passmetherhubarb，andI’llpassyouthesenna，"whichisputinpracticeinallprofessions，betweenministers，soldiers，judges，businessmen；wherever，inshort，enmityhasnotraisedbarrierstoostrongandhighbetweentheparties。

"Igainaprettygoodfeeoutofthiscompromise，"isareasonthatneedsnoexpressioninwords：itisvisibleinthegesture，thetone，theglance；andasattorneysandsolicitorsmeetconstantlyonthisground，thematter，whateveritis，isarranged。Thecounterpoiseofthisfraternalsystemisfoundinwhatwemaycallprofessionalconscience。Thepublicmustbelievethephysicianwhosays，givingmedicaltestimony，"Thisbodycontainsarsenic"；nothingissupposedtoexceedtheintegrityofthelegislator，theindependenceofthecabinetminister。Inlikemanner，theattorneyofParissaystohisbrotherlawyer，good—humoredly，"Youcan’tobtainthat；myclientisfurious，"andtheotheranswers，"Verygood；Imustdowithoutit。"

Now，laPeyrade，ashrewdman，hadwornhislegalgownaboutthePalaislongenoughtoknowhowthesejudicialmoralsmightbemadetoservehispurpose。

"Sitinthecarriage，"hesaidtoThuillier，whentheyreachedtherueVivienne，whereGodeschalwasnowmasterofthepracticehehadformerlyservedasclerk。"Youneedn’tshowyourselfuntilheundertakestheaffair。"

Itwaseleveno’clockatnight；laPeyradewasnotmistakeninsupposingthatheshouldfindanewlyfledgedmasterofapracticeinhisofficeatthathour。

"TowhatdoIowethisvisit，monsieur？"saidGodeschal，comingforwardtomeetthebarrister。

Foreigners，provincials，andpersonsinhighsocietymaynotbeawarethatbarristersaretoattorneyswhatgeneralsaretomarshals。Thereexistsalineofdemarcation，strictlymaintained，betweentheorderofbarristersandtheguildofattorneysandsolicitorsinParis。

Howevervenerableanattorneymaybe，howevercapableandstronginhisprofession，hemustgotothebarrister。Theattorneyistheadministrator，whomapsouttheplanofthecampaign，collectsthemunitionsofwar，andputstheforceinmotion；thebarristergivesbattle。Itisnotknownwhythelawgivesamantwomentodefendhimanymorethanitisknownwhyanauthorisforcedtohavebothprinterandpublisher。Therulesofthebarforbiditsmemberstodoanyactbelongingtotheguildofattorneys。Itisveryrarethatabarristerputshisfootinanattorney’soffice；thetwoclassesmeetinthelaw—courts。Insociety，thereisnobarrierbetweenthem，andsomebarristers，thoseinlaPeyrade’ssituationparticularly，demeanthemselvesbycallingoccasionallyonattorneys，thougheventhesecasesarerare，andareusuallyexcusedbysomespecialurgency。

"Ihavecomeonimportantbusiness，"repliedlaPeyrade；"itconcerns，especially，aquestionofdelicacywhichyouandIoughttosolvetogether。Thuillierisbelow，inacarriage，andIhavecomeuptoseeyou，notasabarrister，butashisfriend。Youareinapositiontodohimanimmenseservice；andIhavetoldhimthatyouhavetoonobleasoul（asaworthysuccessorofourgreatDervillemusthave）nottoputyourutmostcapacityathisorders。Here’stheaffair。"

Afterexplaining，whollytohisownadvantage，theswindlingtrickwhichmust，hesaid，bemetwithcautionandability，thebarristerdevelopedhisplanofcampaign。

"Youought，mydearmaitre，togothisveryeveningtoDesroches，explainthewholeplotandpersuadehimtosendto—morrowforhisclient，thisSauvaignou。We’llconfessthefellowbetweenus，andifhewantsanoteforathousandfrancsoverandabovetheamountofhisclaim，we’lllethimhaveit；notcountingthefivehundredforyouandasmuchmoreforDesroches，providedThuillierreceivestherelinquishmentofhisclaimbyteno’clockto—morrowmorning。WhatdoesthisSauvaignouwant？Nothingbutmoney。Well，ahagglerlikethatwon’tresisttheattractionofanextrathousandfrancs，especiallyifheisonlytheinstrumentofacupiditybehindhim。Itisnomattertoushowhefightsitoutwiththosewhoprompthim。

Now，then，doyouthinkyoucangettheThuillierfamilyoutofthis？"

"I’llgoandseeDesrochesatonce，"saidGodeschal。

"NotbeforeThuilliergivesyouapowerofattorneyandfivehundredfrancs。Themoneyshouldbeonthetableinacaselikethis。"

AftertheinterviewwithThuillierwasover，laPeyradetookGodeschalinthecarriagetotherueduBethizy，whereDesrocheslived，explainingthatitwasontheirwaybacktotherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。WhentheystoppedatDesroches’sdoorlaPeyrademadeanappointmentwithGodeschaltomeethimtherethenextmorningatseveno’clock。

LaPeyrade’swholefutureandfortunelayintheoutcomeofthisconference。ItisthereforenotastonishingthathedisregardedthecustomsofthebarandwenttoDesroches’soffice，tostudySauvaignouandtakepartinthestruggle，inspiteofthedangerheraninthusplacinghimselfvisiblybeforetheeyesofoneofthemostdreadedattorneysinParis。

Asheenteredtheofficeandmadehissalutations，hetooknoteofSauvaignou。Themanwas，asthenamehadalreadytoldhim，fromMarseilles，——theforemanofamaster—carpenter，entrustedwiththegivingoutofsub—contracts。Theprofitsofthisworkconsistedofwhathecouldmakebetweenthepricehepaidfortheworkandthatpaidtohimbythemaster—carpenter；thisagreementbeingexclusiveofmaterial，hiscontractbeingonlyforlabor。Themaster—carpenterhadfailed。Sauvaignouhadthereuponappealedtothecourtofcommerceforrecognitionascreditorwithalienontheproperty。Hewasastockylittleman，dressedinagraylinenblouse，withacaponhishead，andwasseatedinanarmchair。Threebanknotes，ofathousandfrancseach，lyingvisiblybeforehimonDesroches’sdesk，informedlaPeyradethatthenegotiationhadalreadytakenplace，andthatthelawyerswereworsted。Godeschal’seyestoldtherest，andtheglancewhichDesrochescastatthe"poorman’sadvocate"wasliketheblowofapick—axeintotheearthofagrave。Stimulatedbyhisdanger，theProvencalbecamemagnificent。Hecoollytookupthebank—notesandfoldedthem，asiftoputtheminhispocket，sayingtoDesroches：——

"Thuillierhaschangedhismind。"

"Verygood；thenweareallagreed，"saidtheterribleattorney。

"Yes；yourclientmustnowhandovertousthefiftythousandfrancswehavespentonfinishingthehouse，accordingtothecontractbetweenThuillierandGrindot。Ididnottellyouthatyesterday，"headded，turningtoGodeschal。

"Doyouhearthat？"saidDesrochestoSauvaignou。"That’sacaseI

shallnottouchwithoutproperguarantees。"

"But，messieurs，"saidSauvaignou，"Ican’tnegotiatethismatteruntilIhaveseentheworthymanwhopaidmefivehundredfrancsonaccountforhavingsignedhimthatbitofaproxy。"

"AreyoufromMarseilles？"saidlaPeyrade，inpatois。

"Oh！ifhetackleshimwithpatoisthefellowisbeaten，"saidGodeschaltoDesrochesinalowtone。

"Yes，monsieur，"repliedtheMarseillais。

"Well，youpoordevil，"continuedTheodose，"don’tyouseethattheywanttoruinyou？ShallItellyouwhatyououghttodo？Pocketthesethreethousandfrancs，andwhenyourworthymancomesafteryou，takeyourruleandhithimarapovertheknuckles；tellhimhe’sarascalwhowantsyoutodohisdirtywork，andinsteadofthatyourevokeyourproxyandwillpayhimhisfivehundredfrancsintheweekwiththreeThursdays。ThenbeoffwithyoutoMarseilleswiththesethreethousandfrancsandyoursavingsinyourpocket。Ifanythinghappenstoyouthere，letmeknowthroughthesegentlemen，andI’llgetyououtofthescrape；for，don’tyousee？I’mnotonlyaProvencal，butI’malsooneoftheleadinglawyersinParis，andthefriendofthepoor。"

WhentheworkmanfoundacompatriotsanctioninginatoneofauthoritythereasonsbywhichhecouldbetrayCerizet，hecapitulated，asking，however，forthreethousandfivehundredfrancs。Thatdemandhavingbeengrantedheremarked：——

"Itisnonetoomuchforarapovertheknuckles；hemightputmeinprisonforassault。"

"Well，youneedn’tstrikeunlessheinsultsyou，"repliedlaPeyrade，"andthat’sself—defence。"

WhenDesrocheshadassuredhimthatlaPeyradewasreallyabarristeringoodstanding，Sauvaignousignedtherelinquishment，whichcontainedareceiptfortheamount，principalandinterest，ofhisclaim，madeinduplicatebetweenhimselfandThuillier，andwitnessedbythetwoattorneys；sothatthepaperwasafinalsettlementofthewholematter。

"We’llleavetheremainingfifteenhundredbetweenyou，"whisperedlaPeyradetoDesrochesandGodeschal，"onconditionthatyougivemetherelinquishment，whichIwillhaveThuillieracceptandsignbeforehisnotary，Cardot。Poorman！heneverclosedhiseyesallnight！"

"Verywell，"repliedDesroches。"Youmaycongratulateyourself，"headded，makingSauvaignousignthepaper，"thatyou’veearnedthatmoneyprettyeasily。"

"Itisreallymine，isn’tit，monsieur？"saidtheMarseillais，alreadyuneasy。

"Yes，andlegally，too，"repliedDesroches，"onlyyoumustletyourmanknowthismorningthatyouhaverevokedyourproxyunderdateofyesterday。Gooutthroughmyclerk’soffice，here，thisway。"

Desrochestoldhishead—clerkwhatthemanwastodo，andhesentapupil—clerkwithhimtoseethatasheriff’sofficercarriedthenoticetoCerizetbeforeteno’clock。

"Ithankyou，Desroches，"saidlaPeyrade，pressingtheattorney’shand；"youthinkofeverything；Ishallneverforgetthisservice。"

"Don’tdepositthedeedwithCardottillaftertwelveo’clock，"

returnedDesroches。

"Hay！comrade，"criedthebarrister，inProvencal，followingSauvaignouintothenextroom，"takeyourMargottowalkaboutBelleville，andbesureyoudon’tgohome。"

"Ihear，"saidSauvaignou。"I’moffto—morrow；adieu！"

"Adieu，"returnedlaPeyrade，withaProvencalcry。

"Thereissomethingbehindallthis，"saidDesrochesinanundertonetoGodeschal，aslaPeyradefollowedSauvaignouintotheclerk’soffice。

"TheThuilliersgetasplendidpieceofpropertyfornexttonothing，"

repliedGodeschal；"that’sall。"

"LaPeyradeandCerizetlooktomeliketwodiverswhoarefightingunderwater，"repliedDesroches。"WhatamItosaytoCerizet，whoputthematterintomyhands？"headded，asthebarristerreturnedtothem。

"TellhimthatSauvaignouforcedyourhand，"repliedlaPeyrade。

"Andyoufearnothing？"saidDesroches，inasuddenmanner。

"I？ohno！IwanttogiveCerizetalesson。"

"To—morrow，Ishallknowthetruth，"saidDesroches，inalowtone，toGodeschal；"noonechatterslikeabeatenman。"

LaPeyradedeparted，carryingwithhimthedeedofrelinquishment。Ateleveno’clockhewasinthecourtroomofthejustice—of—peace，perfectlycalm，andfirm。WhenhesawCerizetcomein，palewithrage，hiseyesfullofvenom，hesaidinhisear：——

"Mydearfriend，I’maprettygoodfellowmyself，andIholdthattwenty—fivethousandfrancsingoodbank—billsatyourdisposal，wheneveryouwillreturntomethosenotesofminewhichyouhold。"

Cerizetlookedattheadvocateofthepoor，withoutbeingabletosayonewordinreply；hewasgreen；thebilehadstruckin。

CHAPTERXIII

THEPERVERSITYOFDOVES

"Iamanon—dispossessableproperty—owner！"criedThuillier，cominghomeaftervisitinghisnotary。"Nohumanpowercangetthathouseawayfromme。Cardotsaysso。"

Thebourgeoisiethinkmuchmoreofwhattheirnotarytellsthemthanofwhattheirattorneysays。Thenotaryisnearertothemthananyotherministerialofficer。TheParisianbourgeoisneverpaysavisittohisattorneywithoutasenseoffear；whereashemountsthestairswithever—renewedpleasuretoseehisnotary；headmiresthatofficial’svirtueandhissoundgoodsense。

"Cardot，whoislookingforanapartmentforoneofhisclients，wantstoknowaboutoursecondfloor，"continuedThuillier。"IfIchoosehe’llintroducetomeonSundayatenantwhoisreadytosignaleaseforeighteenyearsatfortythousandfrancsandtaxes！Whatdoyousaytothat，Brigitte？"

"Betterwait，"shereplied。"Ah！thatdearTheodose，whatafrighthegaveme！"

"Hey！mydearestgirl，ImusttellyouthatwhenCardotaskedwhoputmeinthewayofthisaffairhesaidIowedhimapresentofatleasttenthousandfrancs。Thefactis，Ioweitalltohim。"

"Butheisthesonofthehouse，"respondedBrigitte。

"Poorlad！I’lldohimthejusticetosaythatheasksfornothing。"

"Well，dear，goodfriend，"saidlaPeyrade，cominginaboutthreeo’clock，"hereyouare，richissime！"

"Andthroughyou，Theodose。"

"Andyou，littleaunt，haveyoucometolifeagain？Ah！youwerenothalfasfrightenedasIwas。Iputyourinterestsbeforemyown；I

haven’tbreathedfreelytillthismorningateleveno’clock；andyetI

amsurenowofhavingtwomortalenemiesatmyheelsinthetwomenI

havetrickedforyoursake。AsIwalkedhome，justnow，Iaskedmyselfwhatcouldbeyourinfluenceovermetomakemecommitsuchacrime，andwhetherthehappinessofbelongingtoyourfamilyandbecomingyoursoncouldevereffacethestainIhaveputuponmyconscience。"

"Bah！youcanconfessit，"saidThuillier，thefree—thinker。

"Andnow，"saidTheodosetoBrigitte，"youcanpay，inallsecurity，thecostofthehouse，——eightythousandfrancs，andthirtythousandtoGrindot；inall，withwhatyouhavepaidincosts，onehundredandtwentythousand；andthislasttwentythousandaddedmakeonehundredandfortythousand。Ifyouletthehouseoutrighttoasingletenantaskhimforthelastyear’srentinadvance，andreserveformywifeandmethewholeofthefirstfloorabovetheentresol。Makethoseconditionsandyou’llstillgetyourfortythousandfrancsayear。IfyoushouldwanttoleavethisquartersoastobenearertheChamber，youcanalwaystakeupyourabodewithusonthatvastfirstfloor，whichhasstablesandcoach—housebelongingtoit；infact，everythingthatisneedfulforasplendidlife。Andnow，Thuillier，IamgoingtogetthecrossoftheLegionofhonorforyou。"

Hearingthislastpromise，Brigittecriedoutinherenthusiasm：——

"Faith！mydearboy，you’vedoneourbusinesssowellthatI’llleaveyoutomanagethatoflettingthehouse。"

"Don’tabdicate，dearaunt，"repliedTheodose。"Godkeepmefromevertakingastepwithoutyou！Youarethegoodgeniusofthisfamily；I

thinkonlyofthedaywhenThuillierwilltakehisseatintheChamber。Ifyouletthehouseyouwillcomeintopossessionofyourfortythousandfrancsforthelastyearoftheleaseintwomonthsfromnow；andthatwillnotpreventThuillierfromdrawinghisquarterlytenthousandoftherental。"

Aftercastingthishopeintothemindoftheoldmaid，whowasjubilant，TheodosedrewThuillierintothegardenandsaidtohim，withoutbeatingroundthebush：——

"Dear，goodfriend，findmeanstogettenthousandfrancsfromyoursister，andbesurenottolethersuspectthatyoupaythemtome；

tellherthatsumisrequiredinthegovernmentofficetofacilitateyourappointmentaschevalieroftheLegionofhonor；tellher，too，thatyouknowthepersonsamongwhomthatsumshouldbedistributed。"

"That’sagoodidea，"saidThuillier；"besides，I’llpayitbacktoherwhenIgetmyrents。"

"Havethemoneyreadythisevening，dearfriend。NowIamgoingoutonbusinessaboutyourcross；to—morrowweshallknowsomethingdefinitelyaboutit。"

"Whatamanyouare！"criedThuillier。

"Theministryofthe1stofMarchisgoingtofall，andwemustgetitoutofthembeforehand，"saidTheodose，shrewdly。

HenowhurriedtoMadameColleville，cryingoutasheenteredherroom：——

"I’veconquered！WeshallhaveapieceoflandedpropertyforCelesteworthamillion，alife—interestinwhichwillbegiventoherbyhermarriage—contract；butkeepthesecret，oryourdaughterwillbehunteddownbypeersofFrance。Besides，thissettlementwillonlybemadeinmyfavor。Nowdressyourself，andletusgoandcallonMadameduBruel；shecangetthecrossforThuillier。WhileyouaregettingunderarmsI’lldoalittlecourtingtoCeleste；youandIcantalkaswedrivealong。"

LaPeyradehadseen，ashepassedthedoorofthesalon，CelesteandFelixPhellionincloseconversation。Flaviehadsuchconfidenceinherdaughterthatshedidnotfeartoleavethemtogether。Nowthatthegreatsuccessofthemorningwassecured，TheodosefeltthenecessityofbeginninghiscourtshipofCeleste。Itwashightime，hethought，tobringaboutaquarrelbetweenthelovers。Hedidnot，therefore，hesitatetoapplyhiseartothedoorofthesalonbeforeenteringit，inordertodiscoverwhatlettersofthealphabetoflovetheywerespelling；hewaseveninvitedtocommitthisdomestictreacherybysoundsfromwithin，whichseemedtosaythattheyweredisputing。Love，accordingtooneofourpoets，isaprivilegewhichtwopersonsmutuallytakeadvantageoftocauseeachother，reciprocally，agreatdealofsorrowaboutnothingatall。

WhenCelesteknewthatFelixwaselectedbyherhearttobethecompanionofherlife，shefeltadesire，notsomuchtostudyhimastouniteherselfcloselywithhimbythatcommunionofsoulswhichisthebasisofallaffections，andleads，inyouthfulminds，toinvoluntaryexamination。ThedisputetowhichTheodosewasnowtolistentookitsriseinadisagreementwhichhadsprungupwithinthelastfewdaysbetweenthemathematicianandCeleste。Theyounggirl’spietywasreal；shebelongedtotheflockofthetrulyfaithful，andtoher，Catholicism，temperedbythatmysticismwhichattractsyoungsouls，wasaninwardpoem，alifewithinherlife。Fromthispointyounggirlsareapttodevelopintoeitherextremelyhigh—mindedwomenorsaints。But，duringthisbeautifulperiodoftheiryouththeyhaveintheirheart，intheirideas，asortofabsolutism：beforetheireyesistheimageofperfection，andallmustbecelestial，angelic，ordivinetosatisfythem。Outsideoftheirideal，nothingofgoodcanexist；allisstainedandsoiled。Thisideacausestherejectionofmanyadiamondwithaflawbygirlswho，aswomen，fallinlovewithpaste。

Now，CelestehadseeninFelix，notirreligion，butindifferencetomattersofreligion。Likemostgeometricians，chemists，mathematicians，andgreatnaturalists，hehadsubjectedreligiontoreason；herecognizedaprobleminitasinsolubleasthesquaringofthecircle。Deist"inpetto，"helivedinthereligionofmostFrenchmen，notattachingmoreimportancetoitthanhedidtothenewlawspromulgatedinJuly。ItwasnecessarytohaveaGodinheaven，justastheysetupabustofthekingatthemayor’soffice。FelixPhellion，aworthysonofhisfather，hadneverdrawntheslightestveiloverhisopinionsorhisconscience；heallowedCelestetoreadintothemwiththecandorandtheinattentionofastudentofproblems。Theyounggirl，onherside，professedahorrorforatheism，andherconscienceassuredherthatadeistwascousin—germaintoanatheist。

"Haveyouthought，Felix，ofdoingwhatyoupromisedme？"askedCeleste，assoonasMadameCollevillehadleftthemalone。

"No，mydearCeleste，"repliedFelix。

"Oh！tohavebrokenhisword！"shecried，softly。

"Buttohavekeptitwouldhavebeenaprofanation，"saidFelix。"I

loveyousodeeply，withatendernesssolittleproofagainstyourwishes，thatIpromisedathingcontrarytomyconscience。Conscience，Celeste，isourtreasure，ourstrength，ourmainstay。Howcanyouaskmetogointoachurchandkneelatthefeetofapriest，inwhomI

canseeonlyaman？YouwoulddespisemeifIobeyedyou。"

"Andso，mydearFelix，yourefusetogotochurch，"saidCeleste，castingatearfulglanceatthemansheloved。"IfIwereyourwifeyouwouldletmegoalone？YoudonotlovemeasIloveyou！for，alas！IhaveafeelinginmyheartforanatheistcontrarytothatwhichGodcommands。"

"Anatheist！"criedFelix。"Oh，no！Listentome，Celeste。ThereiscertainlyaGod；Ibelieveinthat；butIhavehigherideasofHimthanthoseofyourpriests；IdonotwishtobringHimdowntomylevel；IwanttorisetoHim。IlistentothevoiceHehasputwithinme，——avoicewhichhonestmencallconscience，andIstrivenottodarkenthatdivinerayasitcomestome。Forinstance，Iwillneverharmothers；Iwilldonothingagainstthecommandmentsofuniversalmorality，whichwasthatofConfucius，Moses，Pythagoras，Socrates，aswellasofJesusChrist。IwillstandinthepresenceofGod；myactionsshallbemyprayers；Iwillneverbefalseinwordordeed；

neverwillIdoabaseorshamefulthing。ThosearethepreceptsI

havelearnedfrommyvirtuousfather，andwhichIdesiretobequeathtomychildren。AllthegoodthatIcandoIshalltrytoaccomplish，evenifIhavetosufferforit。Whatcanyouaskmoreofamanthanthat？"

ThisprofessionofthePhellionfaithcausedCelestetosadlyshakeherhead。

"Readattentively，"shereplied，"’TheImitationofJesusChrist。’

StrivetoconvertyourselftotheholyCatholic，apostolic，andRomanChurch，andyouwillseehowemptyyourwordsare。Hearme，Felix；

marriageisnot，theChurchsays，theaffairofaday，themeresatisfactionofourowndesires；itismadeforeternity。What！shallwebeuniteddayandnight，shallweformoneflesh，oneword，andyethavetwolanguages，twofaithsinourheart，andacauseofperpetualdissension？Wouldyoucondemnmetoweeptearsoverthestateofyoursoul，——tearsthatImusteverconcealfromyou？CouldIaddressmyselfinpeacetoGodwhenIseehisarmstretchedoutinwrathagainstyou？