第18章

CHAPTERI

PHELLION，UNDERANEWASPECT

BetweenthefirstandsecondpartsofthishistoryanimmenseeventhadtakenplaceinthelifeofPhellion。

ThereisnoonewhohasnotheardofthemisfortunesoftheOdeon，thatfataltheatrewhich，foryears，ruinedallitsdirectors。Rightorwrong，thequarterinwhichthisdramaticimpossibilitystandsisconvincedthatitsprosperitydependsuponit；sothatmorethanoncethemayorandotherauthoritiesofthearrondissementhave，withacouragethathonorsthem，takenpartinthemostdesperateeffortstogalvanizethecorpse。

Nowtomeddlewiththeatricalmattersisoneoftheeternallyperennialambitionsofthelesserbourgeoisie。Always，therefore，thesuccessivesavioursoftheOdeonfeelthemselvesmagnificentlyrewardediftheyaregiveneversosmallashareintheadministrationofthatenterprise。ItwasatsomecrisisinitsaffairsthatMinard，inhiscapacityasmayorofthe11tharrondissement，hadbeencalledtothechairmanshipofthecommitteeforreadingplays，withthepowertojoinuntohimselfasassistantsacertainnumberofthenotablesoftheLatinquarter，——theselectionbeinglefttohim。

WeshallsoonknowexactlyhownearwastherealizationoflaPeyrade’sprojectsforthepossessionofCeleste’s"dot"；letusmerelysaynowthattheseprojectsinapproachingmaturityhadinevitablybecomenoisedabroad；andasthisconditionofthingspointed，ofcourse，totheexclusionofMinardjuniorandalsoofFelixtheprofessor，theprejudicehithertomanifestedbyMinardpereagainstoldPhellionwastransformedintoanunequivocaldispositiontowardsfriendlycordiality；thereisnothingthatbindsandsootheslikethefeelingofacheckmatesharedincommon。Judgedwithouttheevileyeofpaternalrivalry，PhellionbecametoMinardaRomanofincorruptibleintegrityandamanwhoselittletreatiseshadbeenadoptedbytheUniversity，——inotherwords，amanofsoundandtestedintellect。

Sothatwhenitbecamethedutyofthemayortoselectthemembersofthedramaticcustom—house，ofwhichhewasnowthehead，heimmediatelythoughtofPhellion。Asforthegreatcitizen，hefelt，onthedaywhenapostwasofferedtohiminthataugusttribunal，thatacrownofgoldhadbeenplaceduponhisbrow。

Itwillbewellunderstoodthatitwasnotlightly，norwithouthavingdeeplymeditated，thatamanofPhellion’ssolemnityhadacceptedthehighandsacredmissionwhichwasofferedtohim。Hesaidwithinhimselfthathewascalledupontoexercisethefunctionsofamagistracy，apriestlyoffice。

"Tojudgeofmen，"herepliedtoMinard，whowasmuchsurprisedathishesitation，"isanalarmingtask，buttojudgeofminds！——whocanbelievehimselfequaltosuchamission？"

Oncemorethefamily——thatrockonwhichthefirmestresolutionssplit——hadthreatenedtoinfringeonthedomainofhisconscience。Thethoughtofboxesandticketsofwhichthefuturememberofthecommitteecoulddisposeinfavorofhisownkinhadexcitedinthehouseholdsoeagerafermentthathisfreedomofdecisionseemedforamomentindanger。But，happily，BrutuswasabletodecidehimselfinthesamedirectionalongwhichapositiveuprisingofthewholePhellioniantribeintendedtopushhim。FromtheobservationsofBarniol，hisson—in—law，andalsobyhisownpersonalinspiration，hebecamepersuadedthatbyhisvote，alwaysgiventoworksofirreproachablemorality，andbyhisfirmdeterminationtobarthewaytoallplaysthatmothersoffamiliescouldnottaketheirdaughterstowitness，hewascalledupontorenderthemostsignalservicestomoralsandpublicorder。Phellion，tousehisownexpression，hadthereforebecomeamemberoftheareopaguspresidedoverbyMinard，and——stillspeakingashespoke——hewasissuingfromtheexerciseofhisfunctions，whichwerebothdelicateandinteresting，whentheconversationweareabouttoreporttookplace。Aknowledgeofthisconversationisnecessarytoanunderstandingoftheulterioreventsofthishistory，anditwillalsoservetoputintorelieftheenviousinsightwhichisoneofthemostmarkedtraitsofthebourgeoischaracter。

Thesessionofthecommitteehadbeenextremelystormy。Onthesubjectofatragedyentitled，"TheDeathofHercules，"theclassicpartyandtheromanticparty，whomthemayorhadcarefullybalancedinthecompositionofhiscommittee，hadnearlyapproachedthepointoftearingeachother’shairout。TwicePhellionhadrisentospeak，andhishearerswereastonishedatthequantityofmetaphorsthespeechofamajoroftheNationalGuardcouldcontainwhenhisliteraryconvictionswereimperilled。Astheresultofavote，victoryremainedwiththeopinionsofwhichPhellionwastheeloquentorgan。ItwaswhiledescendingthestairwayofthetheatrewithMinardthatheremarked：——

"Wehavedoneagoodworkthisday。’TheDeathofHercules’remindedmeof’TheDeathofHector，’bythelateLucedeLancival；theworkwehavejustacceptedsparkleswithsublimeverses。"

"Yes，"saidMinard，"theversificationhastaste；therearesomereallyfinelinesinit，andIadmittoyouthatIthinkthissortofliteratureratherabovetheanagramsofMasterColleville。"

"Oh！"repliedMinard，"Colleville’sanagramsaremerewitticisms，whichhavenothingincommonwiththesterneraccentsofMelpomene。"

"Andyet，"saidMinard，"Icanassureyouheattachesthegreatestimportancetothatrubbish，andapropostohisanagrams，as，indeed，aboutmanyotherthings，heisnotalittlepuffedup。SincetheiremigrationtotheMadeleinequarteritseemstomethatnotonlytheSieurColleville，buthiswifeanddaughter，andtheThuilliersandthewholecoteriehaveassumedanairofimportancewhichisratherdifficulttojustify。"

"Nowonder！"saidPhellion；"onemusthaveaprettystrongheadtostandthefumesofopulence。Ourfriendshavebecomesoveryrichbythepurchaseofthatpropertywheretheyhavegonetolivethatweoughttoforgivethemforalittleintoxication；andImustsaythedinnertheygaveusyesterdayforahouse—warmingwasreallyaswellarrangedasitwassucculent。"

"Imyself，"saidMinard，"havegivenafewremarkabledinnerstowhichmeninhighgovernmentpositionshavenotdisdainedtocome，yetIamnotpuffedupwithprideonthataccount；suchasmyfriendshavealwaysknownme，thatIhaveremained。"

"You，Monsieurlemaire，havelongbeenhabituatedtothesplendidexistenceyouhavemadeforyourselfbyyourhighcommercialtalents；

ourfriends，onthecontrary，solatelyembarkedonthesmilingshipofFortune，havenotyetfound，asthevulgarsayingis，theirsea—

legs。"

AndthentocutshortaconversationinwhichPhellionbegantothinkthemayorrather"caustic，"hemadeasifheintendedtotakeleaveofhim。Inordertoreachtheirrespectivehomestheydidnotalwaystakethesameway。

"AreyougoingthroughtheLuxembourg？"askedMinard，notallowingPhelliontogivehimtheslip。

"Ishallcrossit，butIhaveanappointmenttomeetMadamePhellionandthelittleBarniolsattheendofthegrandalley。"

"Then，"saidMinard，"I’llgowithyouandhavethepleasureofmakingmybowtoMadamePhellion；andIshallgetthefreshairatthesametime，for，inspiteofhearingfinethings，one’sheadgetstiredatthebusinesswehavejustbeenabout。"

MinardhadfeltthatPhelliongaveratherreluctantassenttohissharpremarksaboutthenewestablishmentoftheThuilliers，andhedidnotattempttorenewthesubject；butwhenhehadMadamePhellionforalistener，hewasverysurethathisspitewouldfindanecho。

"Well，fairlady，"hebegan，"whatdidyouthinkofyesterday’sdinner？"

"Itwasveryfine，"repliedMadamePhellion；"asItastedthatsoup’alabisque’Iknewthatsomecaterer，likeChevet，hadsupplantedthecook。Butthewholeaffairwasdull；ithadn’tthegaietyofouroldmeetingsintheLatinquarter。Andthen，didn’titstrikeyou，asitdidme，thatMadameandMademoiselleThuilliernolongerseemedmistressesoftheirownhouse？IreallyfeltasifIweretheguestofMadame——whatIShername？Inevercanrememberit。"

"Torna，ComtessedeGodollo，"saidPhellion，intervening。"Thenameiseuphoniousenoughtoremember。"

"Euphoniousifyoulike，mydear；buttomeitneverseemsanameatall。"

"ItisaMagyar，ortospeakmorecommonly，aHungarianname。Ourownname，ifwewantedtodiscussit，mightbesaidtobealoanfromtheGreeklanguage。"

"Verylikely；atanyratewehavetheadvantageofbeingknown，notonlyinourownquarter，butthroughoutthetuitionworld，wherewehaveearnedanhonorableposition；whilethisHungariancountess，whomakes，astheysay，thegoodandthebadweatherintheThuilliers’

home，wheredoesshecomefrom，I’dliketoknow？Howdidsuchafinelady，——forshehasgoodmannersandaverydistinguishedair，noonedeniesherthat，——howcameshetofallinlovewithBrigitte；who，betweenourselves，keepsasickeningodoroftheporter’slodgeabouther。Formypart，Ithinkthisdevotedfriendisanintriguingcreature，whoscentsmoney，andisschemingforsomefuturegain。"

"Ahca！"saidMinard，"thenyoudon’tknowtheoriginalcauseoftheintimacybetweenMadamelaComtessedeGodolloandtheThuilliers？"

"Sheisatenantintheirhouse；sheoccupiestheentresolbeneaththeirapartment。"

"True，butthere’ssomethingmorethanthatinit。Zelie，mywife，hearditfromJosephine，whowanted，lately，toenterourservice；themattercametonothing，forFrancoise，ourwoman，whothoughtofmarrying，changedhermind。Youmustknow，fairlady，thatitwassolelyMadamedeGodollowhobroughtabouttheemigrationoftheThuilliers，whoseupholsterer，asonemightsay，sheis。"

"What！theirupholsterer？"criedPhellion，——"thatdistinguishedwoman，ofwhomonemaytrulysay，’Incessupatuitdea’；whichinFrenchweveryinadequatelyrenderbytheexpression，’bearingofaqueen’？"

"Excuseme，"saidMinard。"IdidnotmeanthatMadamedeGodolloisactuallyinthefurniturebusiness；but，atthetimewhenMademoiselleThuillierdecided，bylaPeyrade’sadvice，tomanagethenewhouseherself，thatlittlefellow，whohasn’talltheascendancyoverhermindhethinkshehas，couldn’tpersuadehertomovethefamilyintothesplendidapartmentwheretheyreceivedusyesterday。MademoiselleBrigitteobjectedthatsheshouldhavetochangeherhabits，andthatherfriendsandrelationswouldn’tfollowhertosuchadistantquarter——"

"Itisquitecertain，"interruptedMadamePhellion，"thattomakeupone’smindtohireacarriageeverySunday，onewantsaprospectofgreaterpleasurethancanbefoundinthatsalon。Whenonethinksthat，exceptonthedayofthefamousdanceofthecandidacy，theyneveronceopenedthepianointherueSaint—Dominique！"

"Itwouldhavebeen，Iamsure，mostagreeabletothecompanytohaveatalentlikeyoursputinrequisition，"remarkedMinard；"butthosearenotideasthatcouldevercomeintothemindofthatgoodBrigitte。She’dhaveseentwomorecandlestolight。Five—francpiecesarehermusic。So，whenlaPeyradeandThuillierinsistedthatsheshouldmoveintotheapartmentinthePlacedelaMadeleine，shethoughtofnothingbuttheextracostsentailedbytheremoval。Shejudged，rightlyenough，thatbeneaththosegildedceilingsherold’penates’mighthaveasingulareffect。"

"Seehowallthingslinktogether，"remarkedPhellion，"andhow，fromthesummitsofsociety，luxuryinfiltratesitself，soonerorlater，throughthelowerclasses，leadingtotheruinofempires。"

"Youarebroachingthere，mydearcommander，"saidMinard，"oneofthemostknottyquestionsofpoliticaleconomy。Manygoodmindsthink，onthecontrary，thatluxuryisabsolutelydemandedintheinterestsofcommerce，whichiscertainlythelifeofStates。Inanycase，thisview，whichisn’tyours，appearstohavebeenthatofMadamedeGodollo，for，theytellme，herapartmentisverycoquettishlyfurnished；andtocoaxMademoiselleBrigitteintothesamepathofeleganceshemadeaproposaltoherasfollows：’Afriendofmine，’

shesaid，’aRussianprincessforwhomoneofthefirstupholsterershasjustmadesplendidfurniture，issuddenlyrecalledtoRussiabytheczar，agentlemanwithwhomnoonedarestotrifle。Thepoorwomanisthereforeobligedtoturneverythingsheownshereintomoneyasfastaspossible；andIfeelsureshewouldsellthisfurnitureforreadymoneyataquarterofthepriceitcosther。Allofitisnearlynew，andsomethingshaveneverbeenusedatall。’"

"So，"criedMadamePhellion，"allthatmagnificencedisplayedbeforeoureyeslastnightwasamagnificenteconomicalbargain？"

"Justso，"repliedMinard；"andthethingthatdecidedMademoiselleBrigittetotakethatsplendidchancewasnotsomuchthedesiretorenewhershabbyfurnitureastheideaofdoinganexcellentstrokeofbusiness。Inthatoldmaidthere’salwayssomethingofMadamelaRessourceinMoliere’s’Miser。’"

"Ithink，Monsieurlemaire，thatyouaremistaken，"saidPhellion。

"MadamelaRessourceisacharacterin’Turcaret，’averyimmoralplaybythelateLeSage。"

"Doyouthinkso？"saidMinard。"Well，verylikely。Butwhatiscertainisthat，thoughthebarristeringratiatedhimselfwithBrigitteinhelpinghertobuythehouse，itwasbythiscleverjockeyingaboutthefurniturethattheforeigncountessgotuponthefootingwithBrigittethatyounowsee。Youmayhaveremarked，perhaps，thatastruggleisgoingonbetweenthosetwoinfluences；

whichwemaydesignateasthehouse，anditsfurniture。"

"Yes，certainly，"saidMadamePhellion，withabeamingexpressionthatborewitnesstotheinterestshetookintheconversation，"itdidseemtomethatthegreatladyallowedherselftocontradictthebarrister，anddidit，too，withacertainsharpness。"

"Verymarkedsharpness，"resumedMinard，"andthatintriguingfellowperceivesit。Itstrikesmethatthelady’shostilitymakeshimuneasy。TheThuilliershegotcheaply；for，betweenourselvesyouknow，there’snotmuchinThuillierhimself；buthefeelsnowthathehasmetatoughadversary，andheislookinganxiouslyforaweakspotonwhichtoattackher。"

"Well，that’sjustice，"saidMadamePhellion。"Forsometimepastthatman，whousedtomakehimselfsosmallandhumble，hasbeentakingairsofauthorityinthehousewhicharequiteintolerable；hebehavesopenlyastheson—in—law；andyouknowverywell，inthataffairofThuillier’selectionhejockeyedusall，andmadeusthestepping—

stoneforhismatrimonialambition。"

"Yes；butIcanassureyou，"saidMinard，"thatatthepresenttimehisinfluenceiswaning。Inthefirstplace，hewon’tfindeverydayforhisdear，goodfriend，ashecallshim，afinepropertyworthamilliontobeboughtforabitofbread。"

"Thentheydidgetthathouseverycheap？"saidMadamePhellion，interrogatively。

"Theygotitfornothing，astheresultofadirtyintriguewhichthelawyerDesrochesrelatedtometheotherday。Ifiteverbecameknowntothecouncilofthebar，thatlittlebarristerwouldbebadlycompromised。ThenextthingisthecomingelectiontotheChamber。

Eatinggivesappetite，astheysay，andourgoodThuillierishungry；

buthebeginstoperceivethatMonsieurdelaPeyrade，whenitbecomesaquestionofgettinghimthatmouthful，hasn’thisformeropportunitytomakedupesofus。ThatiswhythefamilyisturningmoreandmoretoMadamedeGodollo，whoseemstohavesomeveryhighacquaintancesinthepoliticalworld。Besidesallthis，infact，withoutdwellingontheelectionbusiness，whichisstilladistantmatter，thisHungariancountessisbecoming，everyday，moreandmoreanecessitytoBrigitte；foritmustbeownedthatwithoutthehelpofthegreatlady，thepoorsoulwouldlookinthemidstofhergildedsalonlikearaggedgowninabride’strousseau。"

"Oh，Monsieurlemaire，youarecruel，"saidMadamePhellion，affectingcompunction。

"No，butsay，"returnedMinard，"withyourhandonyourconscience，whetherBrigitte，whetherMadameThuilliercouldpresideinsuchasalon？No，itistheHungariancountesswhodoesitall。Shefurnishedtherooms；sheselectedthemaledomestic，whoseexcellenttrainingandintelligenceyoumusthaveobserved；itwasshewhoarrangedthemenuofthatdinner；inshort，sheistheprovidenceoftheparvenucolony，which，withoutherintervention，wouldhavemadethewholequarterlaughatit。And——nowthisisaverynoticeablething——insteadofbeingaparasitelikelaPeyrade，thisHungarianlady，whoseemstohaveafortuneofherown，provestobenotonlydisinterested，butgenerous。ThetwogownsthatyousawBrigitteandMadameThuillierwearlastnightwereapresentfromher，anditwasbecauseshecameherselftosuperintendthetoiletofourtwo’amphitryonesses’thatyouweresosurprisedlastnightnottofindthemriggedintheirusualdowdyfashion。"

"Butwhatcanbethemotive，"askedMadamePhellion，"ofthismaternalanddevotedguardianship？"

"Mydearwife，"saidPhellion，solemnly，"themotivesofhumanactionsarenotalways，thankGod！selfishnessandtheconsiderationofvileinterests。Thereareheartsinthisworldthatfindpleasureindoinggoodforitsownsake。Thisladymayhaveseeninourgoodfriendsasetofpeopleabouttoenterblindlyintoaspheretheyknewnothingabout，andhavingencouragedtheirfirststepsbythepurchaseofthisfurniture，shemay，likeanurseattachedtohernursling，findpleasureingivingthemthemilkofhersocialknowledgeandhercounsels。"

"Heseemstokeepalooffromourstrictures，thedearhusband！"criedMinard；"butjustseehowhegoesbeyondthem！"

"I！"saidPhellion；"itisneithermyintentionnormyhabittodoso。"

"AllthesameitwouldbedifficulttosaymoreneatlythattheThuilliersaregeese，andthatMadamedeGodolloisbringingthemupbyhand。"

"Idonotacceptforthesefriendsofours，"saidPhellion，"acharacterizationsoderogatorytotheirrepute。Imeanttosaythattheywerelacking，perhaps，inthatformofexperience，andthatthisnobleladyhasplacedattheirserviceherknowledgeoftheworldanditsusages。Iprotestagainstanyinterpretationofmylanguagewhichgoesbeyondmythoughtthuslimited。"

"Well，anyhow，youwillagree，mydearcommander，thatintheideaofgivingCelestetothislaPeyrade，thereissomethingmorethanwantofexperience；thereis，itmustbesaid，blunderingfollyandimmorality；forreallythegoingsonofthatbarristerwithMadameColleville——"

"Monsieurlemaire，"interruptedPhellion，withredoubledsolemnity，"Solon，thelaw—giver，decreednopunishmentforparricide，declaringittobeanimpossiblecrime。Ithinkthesamethingmaybesaidoftheoffencetowhichyouseemtomakeallusion。MadameCollevillegrantingfavorstoMonsieurdelaPeyrade，andallthewhileintendingtogivehimherdaughter？No，monsieur，no！thatpassesimagination。

Questionedonthissubject，likeMarieAntoinette，byahumantribunal，MadameCollevillewouldanswerwiththequeen，’Iappealtoallmothers。’"

"Nevertheless，myfriend，"saidMadamePhellion，"allowmetoremindyouthatMadameCollevilleisexcessivelylight—minded，andhasgiven，aswealknow，prettygoodproofsofit。"

"Enough，mydear，"saidPhellion。"Thedinnerhoursummonsus；Ithinkthat，littlebylittle，wehaveallowedthisconversationtodrifttowardthemirysloughofbackbiting。"

"Youarefullofillusions，mydearcommander，"saidMinard，takingPhellionbythehandandshakingit；"buttheyarehonorableillusions，andIenvythem。Madame，Ihavethehonor——"addedthemayor，witharespectfulbowtoMadamePhellion。

Andeachpartytookitsway。

CHAPTERII

THEPROVENCAL’SPRESENTPOSITION

Theinformationacquiredbythemayorofthe11tharrondissementwasbynomeansincorrect。IntheThuilliersalon，sincetheemigrationtotheMadeleinequarter，mightbeseendaily，betweenthetartBrigitteandtheplaintiveMadameThuillier，thegracefulandattractivefigureofawomanwhoconveyedtothissalonanappearanceofthemostunexpectedelegance。Itwasquitetruethatthroughthegoodofficesofthislady，whohadbecomehertenantinthenewhouse，Brigittehadmadeaspeculationinfurniturenotlessadvantageousinitsway，butmoreavowable，thantheveryshadypurchaseofthehouseitself。Forsixthousandfrancsinreadymoneyshehadobtainedfurniturelatelyfromworkshopsrepresentingavalueofatleastthirtythousand。

Itwasstillfurthertruethatinconsequenceofaservicewhichwentdeepintoherheart，Brigittewasshowingtothebeautifulforeigncountesstherespectfuldeferencewhichthebourgeoisie，inspiteofitssulkyjealousy，ismuchlessindisposedtogivetotitlesofnobilityandhighpositionsinthesocialhierarchythanpeoplethink。

AsthisHungariancountesswasawomanofgreattactandaccomplishedtraining，intakingthedirectionwhichshehadthoughtitwisetoassumeovertheaffairsofherproteges，shehadbeencarefultoguardherinfluencefromallappearanceofmeddlesomeandimperiousdictation。Onthecontrary，sheflatteredBrigitte’sclaimtobeamodelhousekeeper；inherownhouseholdexpensessheaffectedtoaskthespinster’sadvice；sothatbyreservingtoherselfthedepartmentofluxuriousexpenses，shehadmoretheairofgivinginformationthanofexercisingsupervision。

LaPeyradecouldnotdisguisefromhimselfthatachangewastakingplace。Hisinfluencewasevidentlywaningbeforethatofthisstranger；buttheantagonismofthecountesswasnotconfinedtoasimplestruggleforinfluence。ShemadenosecretofbeingopposedtohissuitforCeleste；shegaveherunequivocalapprovaltotheloveofFelixPhellion，theprofessor。Minard，bywhomthisfactwasnotunobserved，tookverygoodcare，inthemidstofhisotherinformation，nottomentionittothosewhomitmostconcerned。

LaPeyradewasallthemoreanxiousatbeingthusunderminedbyahostilitythecauseofwhichwasinexplicabletohim，becauseheknewhehadhimselftoblameforbringingthisdisquietingadversaryintotheveryheartofhiscitadel。HisfirstmistakewasinyieldingtothebarrenpleasureofdisappointingCerizetintheleaseofthehouse。IfBrigittebyhisadviceandurginghadnottakentheadministrationofthepropertyintoherownhandstherewaseveryprobabilitythatshewouldneverhavemadetheacquaintanceofMadamedeGodollo。AnotherimprudencehadbeentourgetheThuillierstoleavetheiroldhomeintheLatinquarter。

Atthisperiod，whenhispowerandcredithadreachedtheirapogee，Theodoseconsideredhismarriageasettledthing；andhenowfeltanalmostchildishhastetospringintothesphereofelegancewhichseemedhenceforthtobehisfuture。Hehadthereforefurtheredtheinducementsofthecountess，feelingthathethussenttheThuilliersbeforehimtomakehisbedinthesplendidapartmentheintendedtosharewiththem。Bythusremovingthemfromtheiroldhomehesawanotheradvantage，——thatofwithdrawingCelestefromdailyintercoursewitharivalwhoseemedtohimdangerous。Deprivedoftheadvantageofpropinquity，Felixwouldbeforcedtomakehisvisitsfartherapart；

andthereforetherewouldbegreaterfacilitiestoruinhiminthegirl’sheart，wherehewasinstalledonconditionofgivingreligioussatisfaction，——arequirementtowhichheshowedhimselfrefractory。

Butinalltheseplansandschemesvariousdrawbacksconfrontedhim。

ToenlargethehorizonoftheThuillierswasforlaPeyradetorunthechanceofcreatingcompetitionfortheconfidenceandadmirationofwhichhehadbeentillthentheexclusiveobject。Inthesortofprovinciallifetheyhadhithertolived，Brigitteandhisdear，goodfriendplacedhim，forwantofcomparison，ataheightfromwhichthejuxtapositionofothersuperioritiesandelegancesmustbringhimdown。So，then，apartfromtheblowscovertlydealthimbyMadamedeGodollo，theideaofthetranspontineemigrationhadprovedtobe，onthewhole，abadone。

TheCollevilleshadfollowedtheirfriendstheThuilliers，tothenewhouseneartheMadeleine，whereanentresolatthebackhadbeenconcededtothematapriceconformabletotheirbudget。ButCollevilledeclareditlackedlightandair，andbeingobligedtogodailyfromtheboulevardoftheMadeleinetothefaubourgSaint—

Jacques，wherehisofficewas，hefumedagainstthearrangementofwhichhewasthevictim，andfeltattimesthatlaPeyradewasatyrant。MadameColleville，ontheotherhand，hadflungherselfintoanalarmingorgyofbonnets，mantles，andnewgowns，requiringthepresentationofamassofbills，whichlednotinfrequentlytoscenesinthehouseholdwhichweremoreorlessstormy。AsforCeleste，shehadundoubtedlyfeweropportunitiestoseeyoungPhellion，butshehadalsofewerchancestorushintoreligiouscontroversy；andabsence，whichisdangeroustononebutinferiorattachments，madeherthinkmoretenderlyandlesstheologicallyofthemanofherdreams。

ButallthesefalsecalculationsofTheodosewereasnothinginthebalancewithanothercauseforhisdiminishinginfluencewhichwasnowtoweighheavilyonhissituation。

HehadassuredThuillierthat，afterashortdelayandthepaymentoftenthousandfrancs，towhichhisdear，goodfriendsubmittedwithtolerablegrace，thecrossoftheLegionofhonorwouldarrivetorealizethesecretdesireofallhislife。Twomonthshadnowpassedwithoutasignofthatgloriousrattle；andtheformersub—director，whowouldhavefeltsuchjoyinparadinghisredribbonontheboulevardoftheMadeleine，ofwhichhewasnowoneofthemostassiduouspromenaders，hadnothingtoadornhisbuttonholebuttheflowersoftheearth，theprivilegeofeverybody，——ofwhichhewasfarlessproudthanBeranger。

LaPeyradehad，tobesure，mentionedanunforeseenandinexplicabledifficultybywhichalltheeffortsoftheComtesseduBruelhadbeenparalyzed；butThuillierdidnottakecomfortintheexplanation；andoncertaindays，whenthedisappointmentbecameacute，hewasverynearsayingwithChicaneauinLesPlaideurs，"Returnmymoney。"

However，nooutbreakhappened，forlaPeyradeheldhiminleashbythefamouspamphleton"TaxationandtheSliding—Scale"；theconclusionofwhichhadbeensuspendedduringtheexcitementofthemoving；forduringthatagitatingperiodThuillierhadbeenunabletogivepropercaretothecorrectionofproofs，aboutwhich，wemayremember，hehadreservedtherightofpunctiliousexamination。LaPeyradehadnowreachedapointwhenhewasforcedtoseethat，inordertorestorehisinfluence，whichwasdailyevaporating，hemuststrikesomegrandblow；anditwaspreciselythisnaggingandvexatiousfancyabouttheproofsthatthebarristerdecidedtotakeasthestarting—pointofascheme，bothdeepandadventurous，whichcameintohismind。