第17章

"Paid！bywhom？"

"Bythegentlemanwhojustwentout。"

"Butthisisoutrageous，"criedCerizet。"Iorderedthedinner，andyouallowsomeoneelsetopayforit！"

"Itwasn’tI，monsieur，"saidthewaiter；"thegentlemanwentandpaidthe’dameducomptoir’；shemusthavethoughtitwasarrangedbetweenyou。Besides，itisnotsouncommonforgentlementohavefriendlydisputesaboutpaying。"

"That’senough，"saidCerizet，dismissingthewaiter。

"Won’tthesegentlementaketheircoffee？——itispaidfor，"saidthemanbeforehelefttheroom。

"Agoodreasonfornottakingit，"repliedCerizet，angrily。"Itisreallyinconceivablethatinahouseofthiskindsuchanegregiousblundershouldbecommitted。Whatdoyouthinkofsuchinsolence？"headded，whenthewaiterhadlefttheroom。

"Bah！"exclaimedDutocq，takinghishat，"itisaschoolboyproceeding；hewantedtoshowhehadmoney；itiseasytoseeheneverhadanybefore。"

"No，no！that’snotit，"saidCerizet；"hemeanttomarktherupture。

’Iwillnotoweyouevenadinner，’iswhathesaystome。"

"But，afterall，"saidDutocq，"thisbanquetwasgiventocelebrateyourenthronementasprincipaltenantofthegrandhouse。Well，hehasfailedtogetyouthelease，andIcanunderstandthathisconsciencewasuneasyatlettingyoupayforadinnerwhich，likethosenotesofmine，werean’obligationwithoutcause。’"

Cerizetmadenoreplytothismaliciousobservation。Theyhadreachedthecounterwherereignedthedamewhohadpermittedtheimproperpayment，and，forthesakeofhisdignity，theusurerthoughtitpropertomakeafuss。Afterwhichthetwomendeparted，andthecopying—clerktookhisemployertoalowcoffee—houseinthePassageduSaumon。ThereCerizetrecoveredhisgood—humor；hewaslikeafishoutofwatersuddenlyreturnedtohisnativeelement；forhehadreachedthatstateofdegradationwhenhefeltillateaseinplacesfrequentedbygoodsociety；anditwaswithasortofsensuouspleasurethathefelthimselfbackinthevulgarplacewheretheywerenoisilyplayingpoolforthebenefitofa"formerconqueroroftheBastille。"

InthisestablishmentCerizetenjoyedthefameofbeingaskilfulbilliard—player，andhewasnowentreatedtotakepartinagamealreadybegun。Intechnicallanguage，he"boughthisball"；thatis，oneoftheplayerssoldhimhisturnandhischances。Dutocqprofitedbythisarrangementtoslipaway，onpretenceofinquiringforasickfriend。

Presently，inhisshirt—sleeves，withapipebetweenhislips，Cerizetmadeoneofthosemasterlystrokeswhichbringdownthehousewithfranticapplause。Ashewaitedamoment，lookingabouthimtriumphantly，hiseyelightedonaterriblekill—joy。Standingamongthespectatorswithhischinonhiscane，duPortailwassteadilywatchinghim。

AtingeofredshoweditselfinCerizet’scheeks。Hehesitatedtobowortorecognizetheoldgentleman，amostunlikelypersontomeetinsuchaplace。Notknowinghowtotaketheunpleasantencounter，hewentonplaying；buthishandbetrayedhisuneasiness，andpresentlyanunluckystrokethrewhimoutofthegame。Whilehewasputtingonhiscoatinatolerablyill—humor，duPortailpassed，almostbrushinghim，onhiswaytothedoor。

"RueMontmartre，atthefartherendofthePassage，"saidtheoldman，inalowtone。

Whentheymet，Cerizethadthebadtastetotrytoexplainthedisreputablepositioninwhichhehadjustbeendetected。

"But，"saidduPortail，"inordertoseeyouthere，Ihadtobetheremyself。"

"True，"returnedCerizet。"IwasrathersurprisedtoseeaquietinhabitantoftheSaint—Sulpicequarterinsuchaplace。"

"Itmerelyprovestoyou，"saidthelittleoldman，inatonewhichcutshortallexplanation，andallcuriosity，"thatIaminthehabitofgoingprettynearlyeverywhere，andthatmystarleadsmeintothepathofthosepersonswhomIwishtomeet。Iwasthinkingofyouattheverymomentyoucamein。Well，whathaveyoudone？"

"Nothinggood，"repliedCerizet。"Afterplayingmeadevilishtrickwhichdeprivedmeofamagnificentbitofbusiness，ourmanrejectedyouroverturewithscorn。ThereisnohopewhateverinthatclaimofDutocq’s；forlaPeyradeischock—fullofmoney；hewantedtopaythenotesjustnow，andto—morrowmorninghewillcertainlydoso。"

"DoesheregardhismarriagetothisDemoiselleCollevilleasasettledthing？"

"Henotonlyconsidersitsettled，butheistryingnowtomakepeoplebelieveitisalove—match。Herattledoffaperfecttiradetoconvincemethatheisreallyinlove。"

"Verywell，"saidduPortail，wishing，perhaps，toshowthathecould，onoccasion，usetheslangofalowbilliard—room，"’stopthecharge’"

（meaning：Donothingmore）；"Iwillundertaketobringmonsieurtoreason。Butcomeandseemeto—morrow，andtellmeallaboutthefamilyheintendstoenter。Youhavefailedinthisaffair；butdon’tmindthat；Ishallhaveothersforyou。"

Sosaying，hesignedtothedriverofanemptycitadine，whichwaspassing，gotintoit，and，withanodtoCerizet，toldthemantodrivetotherueHonore—Chevalier。

AsCerizetwalkeddowntherueMontmartretoregaintheEstrapadequarter，hepuzzledhisbrainstodivinewhothatlittleoldmanwiththecurtspeech，theimperiousmanner，andatonethatseemedtocastuponallthosewithwhomhespokeaboarding—grapnel，couldbe；aman，too，whocamefromsuchadistancetospendhiseveninginaplacewhere，judgingbyhisclothesalone，hehadnobusinesstobe。

CerizethadreachedtheMarketwithoutfindinganysolutiontothatproblem，whenhewasroughlyshakenoutofitbyaheavyblowintheback。Turninghastily，hefoundhimselfinpresenceofMadameCardinal，anencounterwithwhom，ataspotwhereshecameeverymorningtogetfishtopeddle，wascertainlynotsurprising。

SincethateveninginToupillier’sgarret，theworthywoman，inspiteoftheclemencysopromptlyshowntoher，hadjudgeditimprudenttomakeotherthanveryshortapparitionsinherowndomicile，andforthelasttwodaysshehadbeendrowningamongtheliquor—dealers（called"retailersofcomfort"）thepangsofherdefeat。Withflamingfaceandthickenedvoiceshenowaddressedherlateaccomplice：——

"Well，papa，"shesaid，"whathappenedafterIleftyouwiththatlittleoldfellow？"

"Imadehimunderstandinaveryfewwords，"repliedthebankerofthepoor，"thatitwasallamistakeastome。Inthisaffair，mydearMadameCardinal，youbehavedwithareallyunpardonableheedlessness。

Howcameyoutoaskmyassistanceinobtainingyourinheritancefromyouruncle，whenwithproperinquiryyoumighthaveknowntherewasanaturaldaughter，inwhosefavorhehadlongdeclaredheshouldmakeawill？Thatlittleoldman，whointerruptedyouinyourfoolishattempttoanticipateyourlegacy，wasnootherthantheguardianofthedaughtertowhomeverythingisleft。"

"Ha！guardian，indeed！afinething，guardian！"criedtheCardinal。

"Totalkofawomanofmyage，justbecauseIwantedtoseeifmyuncleownedanythingatall，totalktoMEofthepolice！It’shateful！it’sDISGUSTING！"

"Come，come！"saidCerizet，"youneedn’tcomplain；yougotoffcheaply。"

"Well，andyou，whobrokethelocksandsaidyouweregoingtotakethediamonds，undercolorofmarryingmydaughter！Justasifshewouldhaveyou，——alegitimatedaughterlikeher！’Never，mother，’saidshe；’neverwillIgivemyhearttoamanwithsuchanose。’"

"Soyou’vefoundher，haveyou？"saidCerizet。

"Notuntillastnight。Shehasleftherblackguardofaplayer，andsheisnow，Iflattermyself，inafineposition，eatingmoney；hashercitadinebythemonth，andismuchrespectedbyabarristerwhowouldmarryheratonce，buthehasgottowaittillhisparentsdie，forthefatherhappenstobemayor，andthegovernmentwouldn’tlikeit。"

"Whatmayor？"

"11tharrondissement，——Minard，powerfullyrich，usedtodoabusinessincocoa。"

"Ah！verygood！verygood！Iknowallabouthim。YousayOlympeislivingwithhisson？"

"Well，nottosaylivingtogether，forthatwouldmaketalk，thoughheonlyseesherwithgoodmotives。Helivesathomewithhisfather，buthehasboughttheirfurniture，andhasputit，andmydaughter，too，intoalodgingintheChauseed’Antin；stylishquarter，isn’tit？"

"Itseemstomeprettywellarranged，"saidCerizet；"andasHeaven，itappears，didn’tdestineusforeachother——"

"No，yes，well，that’showitwas；andIthinkthatgirlisgoingtogivemegreatsatisfaction；andthere’ssomethingIwanttoconsultyouabout。"

"What？"demandedCerizet。

"Well，mydaughterbeinginluck，Idon’tthinkIoughttocontinuetocryfishinthestreets；andnowthatmyunclehasdisinheritedme，I

have，itseemstome，arighttoan’elementaryallowance。’"

"Youaredreaming，mypoorwoman；yourdaughterisaminor；itisyouwhooughttobefeedingher；thelawdoesn’trequirehertogiveyoualiment。"

"Thendoyoumean，"saidMadameCardinal，"thatthosewhohavenothingaretogivetothosewhohavemuch？Afinethingsuchalawasthat！

It’sasbadasguardianswho，fornothingatall，talkaboutcallingthepolice。Yes！I’dliketosee’emcallingthepolicetome！Let’emguillotineme！Itwon’tpreventmysayingthattherichareswindlers；

yes，swindlers！andthepeopleoughttomakeanotherrevolutiontogettheirrights；andTHEN，mylad，you，andmydaughter，andbarristerMinard，andthatlittleoldguardian，you’llallcomedownunderit——"

Perceivingthathisex—mother—in—lawwasreachingstageofexaltationthatwasnotunalarming，Cerizethastenedtogetaway，herepithetspursuinghimformorethanahundredfeet；buthecomfortedhimselfbythinkingthathewouldmakeherpayforthemthenexttimeshecametohisbacktoaskfora"convenience。"

CHAPTERXVIII

SETASAINTTOCATCHASAINT

Asheapproachedhisownabode，Cerizet，whowasnothingsolittleascourageous，feltanemotionoffear。Heperceivedaformambushednearthedoor，which，ashecamenearer，detacheditselfasiftomeethim。

Happily，itwasonlyDutocq。Hecameforhisnotes。Cerizetreturnedtheminsomeill—humor，complainingofthedistrustimpliedinavisitatsuchanhour。Dutocqpaidnoattentiontothissensitiveness，andthenextmorning，veryearly，hepresentedhimselfatlaPeyrade’s。

LaPeyradepaid，ashehadpromised，onthenail，andtoafewsentinelremarksutteredbyDutocqassoonasthemoneywasinhispocket，heansweredwithmarkedcoldness。Hiswholeexternalappearanceandbehaviorwasthatofaslavewhohasbursthischainandhaspromisedhimselfnottomakeagospeluseofhisliberty。

Asheconductedhisvisitortothedoor，thelattercamefacetofacewithawomaninservant’sdress，whowasjustabouttoringthebell。

Thiswomanwas，apparently，knowntoDutocq，forhesaidtoher：——

"Haha！littlewoman；sowefeelthenecessityofconsultingabarrister？Youareright；atthefamilycouncilveryseriousmatterswerebroughtupagainstyou。"

"ThankGod，Ifearnoone。Icanwalkwithmyheadup，"saidthepersonthusaddressed。

"Somuchthebetterforyou，"repliedtheclerkofthejustice—of—

peace；"butyouwillprobablybesummonedbeforethejudgewhoexaminestheaffair。Atanyrate，youareingoodhandshere；andmyfriendlaPeyradewilladviseyouforthebest。"

"Monsieurismistaken，"saidthewoman；"itisnotforwhathethinksthatIhavecometoconsultalawyer。"

"Well，becarefulwhatyousayanddo，mydearwoman，forIwarnyouyouaregoingtobefinelypickedtopieces。Therelationsarefuriousagainstyou，andyoucan’tgettheideaoutoftheirheadsthatyouhavegotagreatdealofmoney。"

Whilespeakingthus，DutocqkepthiseyeonTheodose，whoborethelookuneasily，andrequestedhisclienttoenter。

HerefollowsascenewhichhadtakenplacethepreviousafternoonbetweenthiswomanandlaPeyrade。

LaPeyrade，wemayremember，wasinthehabitofgoingtoearlymassathisparishchurch。Forsomelittletimehehadfelthimselftheobjectofasingularattentionwhichhecouldnotexplainonthepartofthewomanwhomwehavejustseenenteringhisoffice，whodailyattendedthechurchat，asDorinesays，his"specialhour。"Coulditbeforlove？Thatexplanationwasscarcelycompatiblewiththematurityandthesaintly，beatificairofthisperson，who，beneathaplaincap，called"alaJanseniste，"bywhichferventfemalesoulsofthatsectwererecognized，affected，likeanun，tohideherhair。Ontheotherhand，therestofherclothingwasofaneatnessthatwasalmostdainty，andthegoldcrossatherthroat，suspendedbyablackvelvetribbon，excludedtheideaofhumbleandhesitatingmendicity。

ThemorningofthedayonwhichthedinnerattheRocherdeCancalewastotakeplace，laPeyrade，wearyofaperformancewhichhadendedbypreoccupyinghismind，wentuptothewomanandaskedherpointblankifshehadanyrequesttomakeofhim。

"Monsieur，"sheanswered，inatoneofsolemnity，"is，Ithink，thecelebratedMonsieurdelaPeyrade，theadvocateofthepoor？"

"IamlaPeyrade；andIhavehad，itistrue，anopportunitytorenderservicestotheindigentpersonsofthisquarter。"

"Wouldit，then，beaskingtoomuchofmonsieur’sgoodnessthatheshouldsuffermetoconsulthim？"

"Thisplace，"repliedlaPeyrade，"isnotwellchosenforsuchconsultation。Whatyouhavetosaytomeseemsimportant，tojudgebythelengthoftimeyouhavebeenhesitatingtospeaktome。Ilivenearhere，rueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer，andifyouwilltakethetroubletocometomyoffice——"

"Itwillnotannoymonsieur？"

"Notintheleast；mybusinessistohearclients。"

"Atwhathour——lestIdisturbmonsieur——？"

"Whenyouchoose；Ishallbeathomeallthemorning。"

"ThenIwillhearanothermass，atwhichIcantakethecommunion。I

didnotdaretodosoatthismass，forthethoughtofspeakingtomonsieursodistractedmymind。Iwillbeatmonsieur’shousebyeighto’clock，whenIhaveendedmymeditation，ifthathourdoesnotinconveniencehim。"

"No；butthereisnonecessityforallthisceremony，"repliedlaPeyrade，withsomeimpatience。

Perhapsalittleprofessionaljealousyinspiredhisill—humor，foritwasevidentthathehadtodowithanantagonistwhowascapableofgivinghimpoints。

Atthehourappointed，notaminutebeforenoraminuteafter，thepiouswomanrangthebell，andthebarristerhaving，notwithoutsomedifficulty，inducedhertositdown，herequestedhertostatehercase。Shewasthenseizedwiththatdelayinglittlecoughwithwhichweobtainarespitewhenbroughtfacetofacewithadifficultsubject。Atlast，however，shecompelledherselftoapproachtheobjectofhervisit。

"Itistoaskmonsieur，"shesaid，"ifhewouldbesoverygoodastoinformmewhetheritistruethatacharitablegentleman，nowdeceased，hasbequeathedafundtorewarddomesticservantswhoarefaithfultotheirmasters。"

"Yes，"repliedlaPeyrade；"thatistosay，MonsieurdeMontyonfounded’prizesforvirtue，’whicharefrequentlygiventozealousandexemplarydomesticservants。Butordinarygoodconductisnotsufficient；theremustbesomeactoractsofgreatdevotion，andtrulyChristianself—abnegation。"

"Religionenjoinshumilityuponus，"repliedthepiouswoman，"andthereforeIdarenotpraisemyself；butinasmuchasforthelasttwentyyearsIhavelivedintheserviceofanoldmanofthedullestdescription，asavant，whohaswastedhissubstanceoninventions，sothatImyselfhavehadtofeedandclothehim，personshavethoughtthatIamnotaltogetherundeservingofthatprize。"

"ItiscertainlyundersuchconditionsthattheAcademyselectsitscandidates，"saidlaPeyrade。"Whatisyourmaster’sname？"

"PerePicot；heisnevercalledotherwiseinourquarter；sometimeshegoesoutintothestreetsasifdressedforthecarnival，andallthelittlechildrencrowdabouthim，callingout：’Howd’yedo，PerePicot！Good—morning，PerePicot！’Butthat’showitis；hetakesnocareofhisdignity；hegoesaboutfullofhisownideas；andthoughI

killmyselftryingtogivehimappetizingfood，ifyouaskhimwhathehashadforhisdinnerhecan’ttellyou。Yethe’samanfullofability，andhehastaughtgoodpupils。PerhapsmonsieurknowsyoungPhellion，aprofessorintheCollegeofSaint—Louis；hewasoneofhisscholars，andhecomestoseehimveryoften。"

"Then，"saidlaPeyrade，"yourmasterisamathematician？"

"Yes，monsieur；mathematicshavebeenhisbane；theyhaveflunghimintoasetofideaswhichdon’tseemtohaveanycommon—senseinthemeversincehehasbeenemployedattheObservatory，nearhere。"

"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"youmustbringtestimonyprovingyourlongdevotiontothisoldman，andIwillthendrawupamemorialtotheAcademyandtakethenecessarystepstopresentit。"

"Howgoodmonsieuris！"saidthepiouswoman，claspingherhands；"andifhewouldalsoletmetellhimofalittledifficulty——"

"Whatisit？"

"Theytellme，monsieur，thattogetthisprizepersonsmustbereallyverypoor。"

"Notexactly；still，theAcademydoesendeavortochoosewhosewhoareinstraitenedcircumstances，andwhohavemadesacrificestooheavyfortheirmeans。"

"Sacrifices！IthinkImayindeedsayIhavemadesacrifices，forthelittlepropertyIinheritedfrommyparentshasallbeenspentinkeepingtheoldman，andforfifteenyearsIhavehadnowages，which，atthreehundredfrancsayearandcompoundinterest，amountnowtoaprettylittlesum；asmonsieur，Iamsure，willagree。"

Atthewords"compoundinterest，"whichevidencedacertainamountoffinancialculture，laPeyradelookedatthisAntigonewithincreasedattention。

"Inshort，"hesaid，"yourdifficultyis——"

"Monsieurwillnotthinkitstrange，"repliedthesaintlyperson，"thataveryrichuncledyinginEngland，whohadneverdoneanythingforhisfamilyinhislifetime，shouldhaveleftmetwenty—fivethousandfrancs。"

"Certainly，"saidthebarrister，"there’snothinginthatbutwhatisperfectlynaturalandproper。"

"But，monsieur，Ihavebeentoldthatthepossessionofthismoneywillpreventthejudgesfromconsideringmyclaimstotheprize。"

"Possibly；becauseseeingyouinpossessionofalittlecompetence，thesacrificeswhichyouapparentlyintendtocontinueinfavorofyourmasterwillbelessmeritorious。"

"Ishallneverabandonhim，poor，dearman，inspiteofhisfaults，thoughIknowthatthispoorlittlelegacywhichHeavenhasgivenmeisinthegreatestdangerfromhim。"

"Howso？"askedlaPeyrade，withsomecuriosity。

"Eh！monsieur，lethimonlygetwindofthatmoney，andhe’dsnapitupatamouthful；itwouldallgointohisinventionsofperpetualmotionandothermachinesofvariouskindswhichhavealreadyruinedhim，andme，too。"

"Then，"saidlaPeyrade，"yourdesireisthatthislegacyshouldremaincompletelyunknown，notonlytoyourmasterbuttothejudgesoftheAcademy？"

"Howclevermonsieuris，andhowwellheunderstandsthings！"shereplied，smiling。

"Andalso，"continuedthebarrister，"youdon’twanttokeepthatmoneyopenlyinyourpossession？"

"Forfearmymastershouldfinditoutandgetitawayfromme？

Exactly。Besides，asmonsieurwillunderstand，Ishouldn’tbesorry，inordertosupplythepoordearmanwithextracomforts，thatthesumshouldbearinterest。"

"Andthehighestpossibleinterest，"saidthebarrister。

"Oh！asforthat，monsieur，fiveorsixpercent。"

"Verygood；thenitisnotonlyaboutthememorialtotheAcademyfortheprizeofvirtue，butalsoaboutaninvestmentofyourlegacythatyouhavesolongbeendesirousofconsultingme？"

"Monsieurissokind，socharitable，soencouraging！"

"Thememorial，afterIhavemadeafewinquiries，willbeeasyenough；

butaninvestment，offeringgoodsecurity，thesecretofwhichyoudesiretokeep，ismuchlessreadilyobtained。"

"Ah！ifIdaredto——"saidthepiouswoman，humbly。

"What？"askedlaPeyrade。

"Monsieurunderstandsme？"

"I？nottheleastintheworld。"

"AndyetIprayedearnestlyjustnowthatmonsieurmightbewillingtokeepthismoneyforme。Ishouldfeelsuchconfidenceifitwereinhishands；Iknowhewouldreturnittome，andneverspeakofit。"

LaPeyradegathered，atthisinstant，thefruitofhiscomedyoflegaldevotiontothenecessitousclasses。Thechoirofporterschantinghispraisestotheskiescouldalonehaveinspiredthisservant—womanwiththeboundlessconfidenceofwhichhefoundhimselftheobject。HisthoughtsrevertedinstantlytoDutocqandhisnotes，andhewasnotfarfromthinkingthatthiswomanhadbeensenttohimbyProvidence。

Butthemorehewasinclinedtoprofitbythischancetowinhisindependence，themorehefeltthenecessityofseemingtoyieldonlytoherimportunity；consequentlyhisobjectionsweremany。

Moreover，hehadnogreatbeliefinthecharacterofhisclient，anddidnotcare，asthecommonsayingis，touncoverSaintPetertocoverSaintPaul；inotherwords，tosubstituteforacreditorwho，afterall，washisaccomplice，awomanwhomightatanytimebecomeexactingandinsistinrepaymentinsomepublicmannerthatwouldinjurehisreputation。Hedecided，therefore，toplaythegamewithahighhand。

"Mygoodwoman，"hesaid，"Iamnotinwantofmoney，andIamnotrichenoughtopayinterestontwenty—fivethousandfrancsforwhichI

havenouse。AllthatIcandoforyouistoplacethatsum，inmyname，withthenotaryDupuis。Heisareligiousman；youcanseehimeverySundayinthewarden’spewinourchurch。Notaries，youknow，nevergivereceipts，thereforeIcouldnotgiveyouonemyself；Icanonlypromisetoleaveamongmypapers，incaseofdeath，amemorandumwhichwillsecuretherestitutionofthemoneyintoyourhands。Theaffair，yousee，isoneofblindconfidence，andIamveryunwillingtomakeit。IfIdoso，itisonlytoobligeapersonwhosepietyandthecharitableusesheintendstomakeoftheproceedsofherlittlefortuneentitlehertomygood—will。"

"Ifmonsieurthinksthatthemattercannotbeotherwisearranged——"

"Thisappearstometheonlypossibleway，"saidlaPeyrade。"Ishallhopetogetyousixpercentinterest，andyoumayrelythatitwillbepaidwiththeutmostregularity。Butremember，sixmonths，orevenayear，mayelapsebeforethenotarywillbeinapositiontorepaythismoney，becausenotariesinvestsuchtrustfundschieflyinmortgageswhichrequireacertaintimetomature。Now，whenyouhaveobtainedtheprizeforvirtue，which，accordingtoallappearance，I

canreadilydoforyou，therewillbenoreasontohideyourlittlepropertyanylonger，——areasonwhichIfullyunderstand；butyouwillnotbeabletowithdrawitfromthenotary’shandsimmediately；andincaseofanydifficultyarising，Ishouldbeforcedtoexplainthesituation，themannerinwhichyouhaveconcealedyourprosperityfromyourmaster，towhomyouhavebeensupposedtobewhollydevoted。

This，asyouwillsee，wouldputyouinthepositionoffalselyprofessingvirtue，andwoulddogreatharmtoyourreputationforpiety。"

"Oh！monsieur，"saidthesaintlywoman，"canitbethatanyonewouldthinkmeapersonwhodidnotspeakthetruth？"

"Blessyou！mygoodcreature，inbusinessitisnecessarytoforeseeeverything。Moneyembroilsthebestfriends，andleadstoactionstheyneverforesaw。Thereforereflect；youcancomeandseemeagaininafewdays。Itispossiblethatbetweennowandthenyouwillfindsomebetterinvestment；andImyself，whoamdoingatthismomentathingI

don’taltogetherlike，mayhavefoundotherdifficultieswhichIdonotnowexpect。"

Thisthreat，adroitlythrownoutasanafterthought，wasintendedtoimmediatelyclinchthematter。

"Ihavereflectedcarefully，"saidthepiouswoman，"andIfeelsurethatinthehandsofsoreligiousamanasmonsieurIrunnorisks。"

Takingfromherbosomalittlepocket—book，shepulledouttwenty—fivebanknotes。TherapidmannerinwhichshecountedthemwasarevelationtolaPeyrade。Thewomanwasevidentlyaccustomedtohandlemoney，andasingularideadartedthroughhismind。

"Canitbethatsheismakingmeareceiverofstolenproperty？No，"

hesaidaloud，"inordertodrawupthememorialfortheAcademy，I

must，asItoldyou，makeafewinquiries；andthatwillgivemeoccasiontocalluponyou。AtwhathourcanIseeyoualone？"

"Atfouro’clock，whenmonsieurgoestotakehiswalkintheLuxembourg。"

"Andwheredoyoulive？"

"RueduVal—de—Grace，No。9。"

"Verygood；atfouro’clock；andif，asIdoubtnot，theresultofmyinquiryisfavorable，Iwilltakeyourmoneythen。Otherwise，iftherearenotgoodgroundsforyourapplicationfortheprizeofvirtuetherewillbenoreasonwhyyoushouldmakeamysteryofyourlegacy。

YoucouldtheninvestitinsomemorenormalmannerthanthatIhavesuggestedtoyou。"

"Oh！howcautiousmonsieuris！"shesaid，withevidentdisappointment，havingthoughttheaffairsettled。"Thismoney，Godbethanked！Ihavenotstolen，andmonsieurcanmakewhatinquirieshelikesaboutmeinthequarter。"

"ItisquiteindispensablethatIshoulddoso，"saidlaPeyrade，dryly，forhedidnotatalllike，underthismaskofsimplicity，thequickintelligencethatpenetratedhisthoughts。"Withoutbeingathief，awomanmayverywellnotbeaSisterofCharity；there’sawidemarginbetweenthetwoextremes。"

"Asmonsieurchooses，"shereplied；"heisdoingmesogreataservicethatIoughttolethimtakeallprecautions。"

Then，withapiouslyhumblebow，shewentaway，takinghermoneywithher。

"Thedevil！"thoughtlaPeyrade；"thatwomanisstrongerthanI；sheswallowsinsultswithgratitudeandwithoutthesignofagrimace！I

haveneveryetbeenabletomastermyselflikethat。"

Hebegannowtofearthathehadbeentootimid，andtothinkthathiswould—becreditormightchangehermindbeforehecouldpayherthevisithehadpromised。Buttheharmwasdone，and，althoughconsumedwithanxietylesthehadlostararechance，hewouldhavecutoffalegsoonerthanyieldtohisimpulsetogotoheroneminutebeforethehourhehadfixed。Theinformationheobtainedaboutherinthequarterwasrathercontradictory。Somesaidhisclientwasasaint；

otherwisedeclaredhertobeaslycreature；but，onthewhole，nothingwassaidagainsthermoralitythatdeterredlaPeyradefromtakingthepieceofluckshehadofferedhim。

Whenhemetheratfouro’clockhefoundherinthesamemind。

WiththemoneyinhispockethewenttodinewithCerizetandDutocqattheRocherdeCancale；anditistothevariousemotionshehadpassedthroughduringthedaythatwemustattributethesharpandill—consideredmannerinwhichheconductedhisrupturewithhistwoassociates。Thisbehaviorwasneitherthatofhisnaturaldispositionnorofhisacquiredtemperament；butthemoneythatwasburninginhispocketshadslightlyintoxicatedhim；itsverytouchhadconveyedtohimanexcitementandanimpatienceforemancipationofwhichhewasnotwhollymaster。HeflungCerizetoverinthematteroftheleasewithoutsomuchasconsultingBrigitte；andyet，hehadnothadthefullcourageofhisduplicity；forhehadlaidtothechargeoftheoldwomanarefusalwhichwasmerelytheactofhisownwill，promptedbybitterrecollectionsofhisfruitlessstruggleswiththemanwhohadsolongoppressedhim。

Inshort，duringthewholeday，laPeyradehadnotshownhimselftheableandinfalliblemanthatwehavehithertoseenhim。Oncebefore，whenhecarriedthefifteenthousandfrancsentrustedtohimbyThuillier，hehadbeenledbyCerizetintoaninsurrectionaryproceedingwhichnecessitatedtheaffairofSauvaignou。Perhaps，onthewhole，itismoredifficulttobestrongundergoodthanunderevilfortune。TheFarneseHercules，calmandinstillrepose，expressesmoreenergeticallytheplenitudeofmuscularpowerthanaviolentandagitatedHerculesrepresentedintheover—excitedenergyofhislabors。