第13章

Mustmychildreninheritthebloodofadeistandhisconvictions？Oh！

God，whatmiseryforawife！No，no，theseideasareintolerable。

Felix！beofmyfaith，forIcannotshareyours。Donotputagulfbetweenus。Ifyoulovedme，youwouldalreadyhaveread’TheImitationofJesusChrist。’"

ThePhellionclass，sonsofthe"Constitutionnel，"dislikethepriestlymind。Felixhadtheimprudencetoreplytothissortofprayerfromthedepthsofanardentheart：——

"Youarerepeating，Celeste，thelessonsyourconfessorteachesyou；

nothing，believeme，ismorefataltohappinessthantheinterferenceofpriestsinahome。"

"Oh！"criedCeleste，woundedtothequick，forlovealoneinspiredher，"youdonotlove！Thevoiceofmyheartisnotinunisonwithyours！Youhavenotunderstoodme，becauseyouhavenotlistenedtome；butIforgiveyou，foryouknownotwhatyousay。"

Shewrappedherselfinsolemnsilence，andFelixwenttothewindowanddrummeduponthepanes，——musicfamiliartothosewhohaveindulgedinpoignantreflections。Felixwas，infact，presentingthefollowingdelicateandcuriousquestionstothePhellionconscience。

"Celesteisarichheiress，and，inyieldingagainstthevoiceofnaturalreligion，toherideas，Ishouldhaveinviewthemakingofwhatiscertainlyanadvantageousmarriage，——aninfamousact。Ioughtnot，asfatherofafamily，toallowthepriesthoodtohaveaninfluenceinmyhome。IfIyieldto—day，Idoaweakact，whichwillbefollowedbymanyothersequallypernicioustotheauthorityofahusbandandfather。Allthisisunworthyofaphilosopher。"

Thenhereturnedtohisbeloved。

"Celeste，Ientreatyouonmyknees，"hesaid，"nottominglethatwhichthelaw，initswisdom，hasseparated。Weliveintwoworlds，——

societyandheaven。Eachhasitsownwayofsalvation；butastosociety，isitnotobeyingGodtoobeythelaws？Christsaid：’RenderuntoCaesarthatwhichisCaesar’s。’Caesaristhebodypolitic。Dear，letusforgetourlittlequarrel。"

"Littlequarrel！"criedtheyoungenthusiast；"IwantyoutohavemywholeheartasIwanttohavethewholeofyours；andyoumakeitintotwoparts！Isnotthatanevil？Youforgetthatmarriageisasacrament。"

"Yourpriesthoodhaveturnedyourhead，"exclaimedthemathematician，impatiently。

"MonsieurPhellion，"saidCeleste，interruptinghimhastily，"enoughofthis！"

ItwasatthispointofthequarrelthatTheodoseconsidereditjudicioustoentertheroom。HefoundCelestepale，andtheyoungprofessorasanxiousasalovershouldbewhohasjustirritatedhismistress。

"Iheardtheword’enough’；thensomethingistoomuch？"hesaid，inquiringly，lookinginturnfromCelestetoFelix。

"Weweretalkingreligion，"repliedFelix，"andIwassayingtomademoisellehowdangerousecclesiasticalinfluenceisinthebosomoffamilies。"

"Thatwasnotthepoint，monsieur，"saidCeleste，sharply；"itwastoknowifhusbandandwifecouldbeofoneheartwhentheoneisanatheistandtheotherCatholic。"

"Cantherebesuchathingasatheists？"criedTheodose，withallthesignsofextremewonderment。"CouldatrueCatholicmarryaProtestant？Thereisnosafetypossibleforamarriedpairunlesstheyhaveperfectconformityinthematterofreligiousopinions。I，whocomefromtheComtat，ofafamilywhichcountsapopeamongitsancestors——forourarmsare：gules，akeyargent，withsupporters，amonkholdingachurch，andapilgrimwithastaff，or，andthemotto，’Iopen，Ishut’——Iam，ofcourse，intenselydogmaticonsuchpoints。

Butinthesedays，thankstoourmodernsystemofeducation，itdoesnotseemtomestrangethatreligionshouldbecalledintoquestion。I

myselfwouldnevermarryaProtestant，hadshemillions，evenifI

lovedherdistractedly。Faithisathingthatcannotbetamperedwith。

’Unafides，unusDominus，’thatismydeviceinlife。"

"Youhearthat！"criedCeleste，triumphantly，lookingatFelixPhellion。

"Iamnotopenlydevout，"continuedlaPeyrade。"Igotomassatsixeverymorning，thatImaynotbeobserved；IfastonFridays；Iam，inshort，asonoftheChurch，andIwouldnotundertakeanyseriousenterprisewithoutprayer，aftertheancientfashionofourancestors；

butnooneisabletonoticemyreligion。AsingularthinghappenedtoourfamilyduringtheRevolutionof1789，whichattachedusmorecloselythanevertoourholymothertheChurch。ApooryoungladyoftheelderbranchofthePeyrades，whoownedthelittleestateoflaPeyrade，——forweourselvesarePeyradesofCanquoelle，butthetwobranchesinheritfromoneanother，——well，thisyoungladymarried，sixyearsbeforetheRevolution，abarristerwho，afterthefashionofthetimes，wasVoltairean，thatistosay，anunbeliever，or，ifyouchoose，adeist。Hetookupalltherevolutionaryideas，andpractisedthecharmingritesthatyouknowofintheworshipofthegoddessReason。HecameintoourpartofthecountryimbuedwiththeideasoftheConvention，andfanaticalaboutthem。Hiswifewasveryhandsome；

hecompelledhertoplaythepartofLiberty；andthepoorunfortunatecreaturewentmad。Shediedinsane！Well，asthingsaregoingnowitlooksasifwemighthaveanother1793。"

Thishistory，inventedonthespot，madesuchanimpressiononCeleste’sfreshandyouthfulimaginationthatsherose，bowedtotheyoungmenandhastenedtoherchamber。

"Ah！monsieur，whydidyoutellherthat？"criedFelix，strucktotheheartbythecoldlooktheyounggirl，affectingprofoundindifference，castuponhim。ShefanciedherselftransformedintoagoddessofReason。

"Whynot？Whatwereyoutalkingabout？"askedTheodose。

"Aboutmyindifferencetoreligion。"

"Thegreatsoreofthiscentury，"repliedTheodose，gravely。

"Iamready，"saidMadameColleville，appearinginatoiletofmuchtaste。"Butwhatisthematterwithmypoordaughter？Sheiscrying！"

"Crying？madame，"exclaimedFelix；"pleasetellherthatIwillstudy’TheImitationofChrist’atonce。"

FelixleftthehousewithTheodoseandFlavie，whosearmthebarristerpressedtoletherknowhewouldexplaininthecarriagetheapparentdementiaoftheyoungprofessor。

Anhourlater，MadameCollevilleandCeleste，CollevilleandTheodosewereenteringtheThuilliers’apartmenttodinethere。TheodoseandFlavietookThuillierintothegarden，wheretheformersaidtohim：——

"Dear，goodfriend！youwillhavethecrosswithinaweek。OurcharmingfriendherewilltellyouaboutourvisittotheComtesseduBruel。"

AndTheodoseleftThuillier，havingcaughtsightofDesrochesintheactofbeingbroughtbyMademoiselleThuillierintothegarden；hewent，drivenbyaterribleandglacialpresentiment，tomeethim。

"Mygoodfriend，"saidDesrochesinhisear，"Ihavecometoseeifyoucanprocureatoncetwenty—fivethousandfrancsplustwothousandsixhundredandeightyforcosts。"

"AreyouactingforCerizet？"askedthebarrister。

"CerizethasputallthepapersintothehandsofLouchard，andyouknowwhatyouhavetoexpectifarrested。IsCerizetwronginthinkingyouhavetwenty—fivethousandfrancsinyourdesk？Hesaysyouofferedthemtohimandhethinksitonlynaturalnottoleavetheminyourhands。"

"Thankyoufortakingthestep，mygoodfriend，"repliedTheodose。"I

havebeenexpectingthisattack。"

"Betweenourselves，"repliedDesroches，"youhavemadeanutterfoolofhim，andheisfurious。Thescampwillstopatnothingtogethisrevengeuponyou——forhe’llloseeverythingifheforcesyoutoflingyourbarrister’sgown，astheysay，tothenettlesandgotoprison。"

"I？"saidTheodose。"I’mgoingtopayhim。Butevenso，therewillstillbefivenotesofmineinhishands，forfivethousandfrancseach；whatdoeshemeantodowiththem？"

"Oh！aftertheaffairofthismorning，Ican’ttellyou；myclientisacrafty，mangycur，andheissuretohavehislittleplans。"

"Lookhere，Desroches，"saidTheodose，takingthehard，unyieldingattorneyroundthewaist，"thosepapersareinyourhands，arenotthey？"

"Willyoupaythem？"

"Yes，inthreehours。"

"Verygood，then。Beatmyofficeatnineo’clock；I’llreceivethemoneyandgiveyouyournotes；BUT，athalf—pastnineo’clock，theywillbeinthesheriff’shands。"

"To—night，then，atnineo’clock，"saidTheodose。

"Nineo’clock，"repeatedDesroches，whoseglancehadtakeninthewholefamily，thenassembledinthegarden。

Celeste，withredeyes，wastalkingtohergodmother；CollevilleandBrigitte，FlavieandThuillierwereonthestepsofthebroadporticoleadingtotheentrance—hall。DesrochesremarkedtoTheodose，whofollowedhimtothedoor：——

"Youcanpayoffthosenotes。"

Atasingleglancetheshrewdattorneyhadcomprehendedthewholeschemeofthebarrister。

CHAPTERXIV

ONEOFCERIZET’SFEMALECLIENTS

Thenextmorning，atdaybreak，Theodosewenttotheofficeofthebankerofthepoor，toseetheeffectproduceduponhisenemybythepunctualpaymentofthenightbefore，andtomakeanotherefforttogetridofhishornet。

HefoundCerizetstandingup，inconferencewithawoman，andhereceivedanimperativesigntokeepatadistanceandnottointerrupttheinterview。Thebarristerwasthereforereducedtoconjecturesastotheimportanceofthiswoman，animportancerevealedbytheeagerlookonthefaceofthelender"bythelittleweek。"Theodosehadapresentiment，thoughaveryvagueone，thattheupshotofthisconferencewouldhavesomeinfluenceonCerizet’sownarrangements，forhesuddenlybeheldonthatcraftycountenancethechangeproducedbyadawninghope。

"But，mydearmammaCardinal——"

"Yes，mygoodmonsieur——"

"Whatisityouwant——？"

"Itmustbedecided——"

Thesebeginnings，ortheseendsofsentencesweretheonlygleamsoflightthattheanimatedconversation，carriedoninthelowesttoneswithliptoearandeartolip，conveyedtothemotionlesswitness，whoseattentionwasfixedonMadameCardinal。

MadameCardinalwasoneofCerizet’searliestclients；shepeddledfish。IfParisiansknowthesecreationspeculiartotheirsoil，foreignershavenosuspicionoftheirexistence；andMereCardinal——

technologicallyspeaking，ofcourse，deservedalltheinterestsheexcitedinTheodose。Somanywomenofherspeciesmaybemetwithinthestreetsthatthepassers—bygivethemnomoreattentionthantheygivetothethreethousandpicturesoftheSalon。ButasshestoodinCerizet’sofficetheCardinalhadallthevalueofanisolatedmasterpiece；shewasacompleteandperfecttypeofherspecies。

Thewomanwasmountedonmuddysabots；butherfeet，carefullywrappedingaiters，werestillfurtherprotectedbystoutandthick—ribbedstockings。Hercottongown，adornedwithaglounceofmud，boretheimprintofthestrapwhichsupportedthefish—basket。Herprincipalgarmentwasashawlofwhatwascalled"rabbit’s—haircashmere，"thetwoendsofwhichwereknottedbehind，aboveherbustle——forwemustneedsemployafashionablewordtoexpresstheeffectproducedbythetransversalpressureofthebasketuponherpetticoats，whichprojectedbelowit，inshapelikeacabbage。Aprintedcottonneckerchief，ofthecoarsestdescription，gavetoviewaredneck，ribbedandlinedlikethesurfaceofapondwherepeoplehaveskated。

Herheadwascoveredinayellowsilkfoulard，twinedinamannerthatwasratherpicturesque。Shortandstout，andruddyofskin，MereCardinalprobablydrankherlittledropofbrandyinthemorning。Shehadoncebeenhandsome。TheHallehadformerlyreproachedher，intheboldnessofitsfigurativespeech，fordoing"adoubleday’s—workinthetwenty—four。"Hervoice，inordertoreduceitselftothediapasonofordinaryconversation，wasobligedtostifleitssoundasothervoicesdoinasick—room；butatsuchtimesitcamethickandmuffled，fromathroataccustomedtosendtothefarthestrecessesofthehighestgarretthenamesofthefishintheirseason。Hernose，alaRoxelane，herwell—cutlips，herblueeyes，andallthatformerlymadeupherbeauty，wasnowburiedinfoldsofvigorousfleshwhichtoldofthehabitsandoccupationsofanoutdoorlife。ThestomachandbosomweredistinguishedforanamplitudeworthyofRubens。

"Doyouwanttomakemelieinthestraw？"shesaidtoCerizet。"WhatdoIcarefortheToupilliers？Ain’tIaToupilliermyself？Whatdoyouwanttodowiththem，thoseToupilliers？"

ThissavageoutburstwashastilyrepressedbyCerizet，whoutteredaprolonged"Hush—sh！"suchasallconspiratorsobey。

"Well，goandfindoutallyoucanaboutit，andcomebacktome，"

saidCerizet，pushingthewomantowardthedoor，andwhispering，ashedidso，afewwordsinherear。

"Well，mydearfriend，"saidTheodosetoCerizet，"youhavegotyourmoney？"

"Yes，"returnedCerizet"wehavemeasuredourclaws，theyarethesamelength，thesamestrength，andthesamesharpness。Whatnext？"

"AmItotellDutocqthatyoureceived，lastnight，twenty—fivethousandfrancs？"

"Oh！mydearfriend，notaword，ifyouloveme！"criedCerizet。

"Listen，"saidTheodose。"Imustknow，onceforall，whatyouwant。I

ampositivelydeterminednottoremaintwenty—fourhourslongeronthegridironwhereyouhavegotme。CheatDutocqifyouwill；Iamutterlyindifferenttothat；butIintendthatyouandIshallcometoanunderstanding。ItisafortunethatIhavepaidyou，twenty—fivethousandfrancs，andyoumusthaveearnedtenthousandmoreinyourbusiness；itisenoughtomakeyouanhonestman。Cerizet，ifyouwillleavemeinpeace，ifyouwon’tpreventmymarriagewithMademoiselleColleville，Ishallcertainlybeking’sattorney—general，orsomethingofthatkindinParis。Youcan’tdobetterthanmakesureofaninfluenceinthatsphere。"

"Herearemyconditions；andtheywon’tallowofdiscussion；youcantakethemorleavethem。YouwillobtainformetheleaseofThuillier’snewhouseforeighteenyears，andI’llhandyoubackoneofyourfivenotescancelled，andyoushallnotfindmeanylongerinyourway。ButyouwillhavetosettlewithDutocqfortheremainingfournotes。YougotthebetterofME，andIknowDutocqhasn’ttheforcetostandagainstyou。"

"I’llagreetothat，providedyou’llpayarentofforty—eightthousandfrancsforthehouse，thelastyearinadvance，andbegintheleaseinOctober。"

"Yes；butIshallnotgiveforthelastyear’srentmorethanforty—

threethousandfrancs；yournotewillpaytheremainder。Ihaveseenthehouse，andexaminedit。Itsuitsmeverywell。"

"Onelastcondition，"saidTheodose；"you’llhelpmeagainstDutocq？"

"No，"saidCerizet，"you’llcookhimbrownyourself；hedoesn’tneedanybastingfromme；he’llgiveouthisgravyfastenough。Butyououghttobereasonable。Thepoorfellowcan’tpayoffthelastfifteenthousandfrancsdueonhispractice，andyoushouldreflectthatfifteenthousandfrancswouldcertainlybuybackyournotes。"

"Well；givemetwoweekstogetyourlease——"

"No，notadaylaterthanMondaynext！TuesdayyournoteswillbeinLouchard’shands；unlessyoupaythemMonday，orThuilliersignsthelease。"

"Well，Monday，sobeit！"saidTheodose；"arewefriends？"

"WeshallbeMonday，"respondedCerizet。

"Well，then，Mondayyou’llpayformydinner，"saidTheodose，laughing。

"Yes，attheRocherdeCancale，ifIhavethelease。Dutocqshallbethere——we’llallbethere——ah！itislongsinceI’vehadagoodlaugh。"

TheodoseandCerizetshookhands，saying，reciprocally：——

"We’llmeetsoon。"

Cerizethadnotcalmeddownsosuddenlywithoutreasons。Inthefirstplace，asDesrochesoncesaid，"Biledoesnotfacilitatebusiness，"

andtheusurerhadtoowellseenthejusticeofthatremarknottocoollyresolvetogetsomethingoutofhisposition，andtosqueezethejugularveinofthecraftyProvencaluntilhestrangledhim。

"Itisafairrevenge，"Desrochessaidtohim；"mindyouextractitsquintessence。Youholdthatfellow。"

FortenyearspastCerizethadseenmengrowingrichbypractisingthetradeofprincipaltenant。Theprincipaltenantis，inParis，totheownersofhouseswhatfarmersaretocountrylandlords。AllParishasseenoneofitsgreattailors，buildingathisowncost，onthefamoussiteofFrascati，oneofthemostsumptuousofhouses，andpaying，asprincipaltenant，fiftythousandfrancsayearforthegroundrentofthehouse，which，attheendofnineteenyears’lease，wastobecomethepropertyoftheowneroftheland。Inspiteofthecostsofconstruction，whichweresomethinglikesevenhundredthousandfrancs，theprofitsofthosenineteenyearsproved，intheend，verylarge。

Cerizet，alwaysonthewatchforbusiness，hadexaminedthechancesforgainofferedbythesituationofthehousewhichThuillierhadSTOLEN，——ashesaidtoDesroches，——andhehadseenthepossibilityoflettingitforsixtythousandattheendofsixyears。Therewerefourshops，twooneachside，foritstoodonaboulevardcorner。Cerizetexpected，therefore，togetcleartenthousandayearforadozenyears，allowingforeventualitiesandsundriesattendantonrenewalofleases。Hethereforeproposedtohimselftosellhismoney—lendingbusinesstothewidowPoiretandCadenetfortenthousandfrancs；healreadypossessedthirtythousand；andthetwotogetherwouldenablehimtopaythelastyear’srentinadvance，whichhouse—ownersinParisusuallydemandasaguaranteefromaprincipaltenantonalonglease。Cerizethadspentahappynight；hefellasleepinagloriousdream；hesawhimselfinafairwaytodoanhonestbusiness，andtobecomeabourgeoislikeThuillier，likeMinard，andsomanyothers。

Buthehadawakingofwhichhedidnotdream。HefoundFortunestandingbeforehim，andemptyinghergildedhornsofplentyathisfeetinthepersonofMadameCardinal。Hehadalwayshadalikingforthewoman，andhadpromisedherforayearpastthenecessarysumtobuyadonkeyandalittlecart，sothatshecouldcarryonherbusinessonalargescale，andgofromParistothesuburbs。MadameCardinal，widowofaporterinthecorn—market，hadanonlydaughter，whosebeautyCerizethadheardoffromsomeofthemother’scronies。

OlympeCardinalwasaboutthirteenyearsofageatthetime，1837，whenCerizetbeganhissystemofloansinthequarter；andwithaviewtoaninfamouslibertinism，hehadpaidgreatattentiontothemother，whomherescuedfromuttermisery，hopingtomakeOlympehismistress。

Butsuddenly，in1838，thegirllefthermother，and"madeherlife，"

touseanexpressionbywhichthelowerclassesinParisdescribetheabuseofthemostpreciousgiftsofnatureandyouth。

TolookforagirlinParisistolookforasmeltintheSeine；

nothingbutchancecanthrowherintothenet。Thechancecame。MereCardinal，whotoentertainaneighborhadtakenhertotheBobinotheatre，recognizedintheleadingladyherowndaughter，whomthefirstcomedianhadheldunderhiscontrolforthreeyears。Themother，gratifiedatfirstatbeholdingherdaughterinafinegownofgoldbrocade，herhairdressedlikethatofaduchess，andwearingopen—

workedstockings，satinshoes，andreceivingtheplauditsoftheaudience，endedbyscreamingoutfromherseatinthegallery：——

"Youshallsoonhearofme，murdererofyourownmother！I’llknowwhethermiserablestrolling—playershavetherighttocomeanddebauchyounggirlsofsixteen！"

Shewaitedatthestage—doortocaptureherdaughter，butthefirstcomedianandtheleadingladyhadnodoubtjumpedacrossthefootlightsandleftthetheatrewiththeaudience，insteadofissuingbythestage—door，whereMadameCardinalandhercrony，MereMahoudeau，madeaninfernalrumpus，whichtwomunicipalguardswerecalledupontopacify。Thoseaugustpersonages，beforewhomthetwowomenloweredthediapasonoftheirvoices，calledthemother’sattentiontothefactthatthegirlwasoflegitimatetheatricalage，andthatinsteadofscreamingatthedoorafterthedirector，shecouldsummonhimbeforethejustice—of—peace，orthepolice—court，whichevershepleased。

ThenextdayMadameCardinalintendedtoconsultCerizet，inviewofthefactthathewasaclerkintheofficeofthejustice—of—peace；

but，beforereachinghislairintheruedesPoules，shewasmetbytheporterofahouseinwhichanuncleofhers，acertainToupillier，wasliving，whotoldherthattheoldmanhadn’tprobablytwodaystolive，beingtheninthelastextremity。

"Well，howdoyouexpectmetohelpit？"repliedthewidowCardinal。

"Wecountonyou，mydearMadameCardinal；weknowyouwon’tforgetthegoodadvicewe’llgiveyou。Here’sthething。Lately，yourpooruncle，notbeingabletostirround，hastrustedmetogoandcollecttherentsofhishouse，rueNotre—DamedeNazareth，andthearrearsofhisdividendsattheTreasury，whichcometoeighteenhundredfrancs。"

BythistimethewidowCardinal’seyeswerebecomingfixedinsteadofwandering。

"Yes，mydear，"continuedPerrache，ahump—backedlittleconcierge；

"and，seeingthatyouaretheonlypersonwhoeverthinksabouthim，andthatyoucomeandseehimsometimes，andbringhimfish，perhapshemaymakeabequestinyourfavor。Mywife，whohasbeennursinghimforthelastfewdayssincehehasbeensoill，spoketohimofyou，buthewouldn’thaveyoutoldabouthisillness。Butnow，don’tyousee，itishightimeyoushouldshowyourselfthere。Itisprettynightwomonthssincehehasbeenabletoattendtobusiness。"

"Youmaywellthink，youoldthief，"repliedMadameCardinal，hurryingattopspeedtowardtherueHonore—Chevalier，whereherunclelivedinawretchedgarret，"thatthehairwouldgrowonmyhandbeforeIcouldeverimaginethat。What！myuncleToupillierrich！theoldpauperofthechurchofSaint—Sulpice！"

"Ah！"returnedtheporter，"buthefedwell。Hewenttobedeverynightwithhisbestfriend，abigbottleofRoussillon。Mywifehastastedit，thoughhetoldusitwascommonstuff。Thewine—merchantintheruedesCanettessuppliesittohim。"

"Don’tsayawordaboutallthis，"saidthewidow，whenshepartedfromthemanwhohadgivenhertheinformation。"I’lltakecareandrememberyou——ifanythingcomesofit。"

Toupillier，formerdrum—majorintheFrenchGuards，hadbeenforthetwoyearspreceding1789intheserviceoftheChurchasbeadleofSaint—Sulpice。TheRevolutiondeprivedhimofthatpost，andhethendroppeddownintoastateofabjectmisery。Hewasevenobligedtotaketotheprofessionofmodel，forheENJOYED，astheysay，afinephysique。Whenpublicworshipwasrestored，hetookuphisbeadle’sstaffoncemore；butin1816hewasdismissed，asmuchonaccountofhisimmoralityasforhispoliticalopinions。Nevertheless，hewasallowedtostayaboutthedoorofthechurchanddistributetheholywater。Later，anunfortunateaffair，whichweshallpresentlymention，madehimloseeventhatposition；but，stillfindingmeanstokeeptothesanctuary，heobtainedpermissiontobeallowedasapauperintheporch。Atthisperiodoflife，beingthenseventy—twoyearsofage，hemadehimselfninety—six，andbegantheprofessionofcentenarian。

InallParisitwasimpossibletofindanothersuchbeardandheadofhairasToupillier’s。Ashewalkedheappearedbentdouble；heheldastickinhisshakinghand，——ahandthatwascoveredwithlichen，likeagraniterock，andwiththeotherheheldouttheclassichatwithabroadbrim，filthyandbattered，intowhich，however，therefellabundantalms。Hislegswereswathedinragsandbandages，andhisfeetshuffledalonginmiserableovershoesofwovenmat—weed，insideofwhichhehadfastenedexcellentcorksoles。Hewashedhisfacewithcertaincompounds，whichgaveitanappearanceofformsofillness，andheplayedthesenilityofacentenariantothelife。Hereckonedhimselfahundredyearsoldin1830，atwhichtimehisactualagewaseighty；hewastheheadofthepaupersofSaint—Sulpice，themasteroftheplace，andallthosewhocametobegunderthearcadesofthechurch，safefromthepersecutionsofthepoliceandbeneaththeprotectionofthebeadleandthegiverofholywater，wereforcedtopayhimasortoftithe。

Whenanewheir，abridegroom，orsomegodfatherleftthechurch，saying，"Here，thisisforallofyou；don’ttormentanyofmyparty，"

Toupillier，appointedbythebeadletoreceivethesealms，pocketedthree—fourths，anddistributedonlytheremainingquarteramonghishenchmen，whosetributeamountedtoasouaday。Moneyandwinewerehislasttwopassions；butheregulatedthelatterandgavehimselfuptotheformer，withneglectinghispersonalcomfort。Hedrankatnightonly，afterhisdinner，andfortwentyyearshesleptinthearmsofdrunkenness，hislastmistress。

Intheearlymorninghewasathispostwithallhisfaculties。Fromthenuntilhisdinner，whichhetookatPereLathuile’s（madefamousbyCharlet），hegnawedcrustsofbreadbywayofnourishment；andhegnawedthemartistically，withanairofresignationwhichearnedhimabundantalms。Thebeadleandthegiverofholywater，withwhomhemayhavehadsomeprivateunderstanding，wouldsayofhim：——

"Heisoneoftheworthypoorofthechurch；heusedtoknowtherectorLanguet，whobuiltSaint—Sulpice；hewasfortwentyyearsbeadleofthechurchbeforetheRevolution，andheisnowoverahundredyearsold。"

Thislittlebiography，wellknowntoallthepiousattendantsofthechurch，was，ofcourse，thebestofhisadvertisements，andnohatwassowelllinedashis。Heboughthishousein1826，andbegantoinvesthismoneyintheFundsin1830。Fromthevalueofthetwoinvestmentshemusthavemadesomethinglikesixthousandfrancsayear，andprobablyturnedthemoverbyusury，afterCerizet’sownfashion；forthesumhepaidforthehousewasfortythousandfrancs，whilehisinvestmentin1830wasforty—eightthousandmore。Hisniece，deceivedbytheoldmanasmuchashedeceivedthefunctionariesandthepioussoulsofthechurch，believedhimthemostmiserableofpaupers，andwhenshehadanyfishthatwerespoilingshesometimestookthemtotheagedbeggar。

Consequently，shenowfeltitherrighttogetwhatshecouldinreturnforherpityandherliberalitytoanunclewhowaslikelytohaveacrowdofcollateralheirs；sheherselfbeingthethirdandlastToupillierdaughter。Shehadfourbrothers，andherfather，aporterwithahand—cart，hadtoldher，inherchildhood，ofthreeauntsandfouruncles，whoallledanexistenceofthebasersort。