第19章

Oneday，whenthepairwereengagedonthesheetsofthepamphlet，adiscussionaroseupontheword"nepotism，"whichThuillierwishedtoeliminatefromoneoflaPeyrade’ssentences，declaringthatneverhadhemetwithitanywhere；itwaspureneologism——which，totheliterarynotionsofthebourgeoisie，isequivalenttotheideaof1793andtheTerror。

GenerallylaPeyradetooktheridiculousremarksofhisdear，goodfriendprettypatiently；butonthisoccasionhemadehimselfexceedinglyexcited，andsignifiedtoThuillierthathemightterminatehimselfaworktowhichheappliedsuchluminousandintelligentcriticism；afterwhichremarkhedepartedandwasnotseenagainforseveraldays。

AtfirstThuilliersupposedthisoutbreaktobeamerepassingeffectofill—humor；butwhenlaPeyrade’sabsencegrewprolongedhefeltthenecessityoftakingsomeconciliatorystep，andaccordinglyhewenttoseethebarrister，intendingtomakehonorableamendsandsoputanendtohissulkiness。Wishing，however，togivethisadvanceanairwhichallowedanhonestissuetohisownself—love，heenteredlaPeyrade’sroomwithaneasymanner，andsaid，cheerfully：——

"Well，mydearfellow，itturnsoutthatwewerebothright：

’nepotism’meanstheauthoritythatthenephewsofpopestakeinpublicaffairs。Ihavesearchedthedictionaryanditgivesnootherexplanation；but，fromwhatPhelliontellsme，Ifindthatinthepoliticalvocabularythemeaningofthewordhasbeenextendedtocovertheinfluencewhichcorruptministerspermitcertainpersonstoexerciseillegally。Ithink，therefore，thatwemayretaintheexpression，thoughitiscertainlynottakeninthatsensebyNapoleonLandais。"

LaPeyrade，who，inreceivinghisvisitor，hadaffectedtobeextremelybusyinsortinghispapers，contentedhimselfbyshrugginghisshouldersandsayingnothing。

"Well，"saidThuillier，"haveyougotthelastproofs？Weoughttobegettingon。"

"Ifyouhavesentnothingtotheprinting—office，"repliedlaPeyrade，"ofcoursetherearenoproofs。Imyselfhaven’ttouchedthemanuscript。"

"But，mydearTheodose，"saidThuillier，"itisn’tpossiblethatforsuchatrifleyouareaffronted。Idon’tpretendtobeawriter，onlyasmynameisonthebookIhave，Ithink，therighttomyopinionaboutaword。"

"But’Mossie’Phellion，"repliedTheodose，"isawriter；andinasmuchasyouhaveconsultedhim，Idon’tseewhyyoucan’tengagehimtofinishtheworkinwhich，formypart，Ihaveresolvednottoco—operateanylonger。"

"Heavens！whattemper！"criedThuillier；"hereyouarefuriousjustbecauseIseemedtoquestionawordandthenconsultedsomeone。YouknowverywellthatIhavereadpassagestoPhellion，Colleville，Minard，andBarniolasiftheworkweremine，inordertoseetheeffectitwouldproduceuponthepublic；butthat’snoreasonwhyI

shouldbewillingtogivemynametothethingstheyarecapableofwriting。DoyouwishmetogiveyouaproofoftheconfidenceIhaveinyou？MadamelaComtessedeGodollo，towhomIreadafewpageslastnight，toldmethatthepamphletwaslikelytogetmeintotroublewiththeauthorities；butIwouldn’tallowwhatshesaidtohaveanyinfluenceuponme。"

"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"Ithinkthattheoracleofthefamilyseesthematterclearly；andI’venodesiretobringyourheadtothescaffold。"

"Allthatisnonsense，"saidThuillier。"Haveyou，orhaveyounot，anintentiontoleavemeinthelurch？"

"Literaryquestionsmakemorequarrelsamongfriendsthanpoliticalquestions，"repliedTheodose。"Iwishtoputanendtothesediscussionsbetweenus。"

"But，mydearTheodose，neverhaveIassumedtobealiteraryman。I

thinkIhavesoundcommon—sense，andIsayoutmyideas；youcan’tbeangryatthat；andifyouplaymethistrick，andrefusetocollaborateanylonger，itisbecauseyouhavesomeothergrudgeagainstmethatIknownothingabout。"

"Idon’tseewhyyoucallitatrick。There’snothingeasierforyouthannottowriteapamphlet；you’llsimplybeJeromeThuillier，asbefore。"

"Andyetitwasyouyourselfwhodeclaredthatthispublicationwouldhelpmyelection；besides，Irepeat，Ihavereadpassagestoallourfriends，Ihaveannouncedthematterinthemunicipalcouncil，andiftheworkwerenottoappearIshouldbedishonored；peoplewouldbesuretosaythegovernmenthadboughtmeup。"

"YouhaveonlytosaythatyouarethefriendofPhellion，theincorruptible；thatwillclearyou。YoumightevengiveCelestetohisboobyofason；thatalliancewouldcertainlyprotectyoufromallsuspicion。"

"Theodose，"saidThuillier，"thereissomethinginyourmindthatyoudon’ttellme。Itisnotnaturalthatforasimplequarrelaboutawordyoushouldwishtoloseafriendlikeme。"

"Well，yes，thereis，"repliedlaPeyrade，withtheairofamanwhomakesuphismindtospeakout。"Idon’tlikeingratitude。"

"NorIeither；Idon’tlikeit，"saidThuillier，hotly；"andifyouaccusemeofsobaseanaction，Isummonyoutoexplainyourself。Wemustgetoutofthesehintsandinnuendoes。Whatdoyoucomplainof？

Whathaveyouagainstamanwhomonlyafewdaysagoyoucalledyourfriend？"

"Nothingandeverything，"repliedlaPeyrade。"Youandyoursisteraremuchtooclevertobreakopenlywithamanwho，attheriskofhisreputation，hasputamillioninyourhands。ButIamnotsosimplethatIdon’tknowhowtodetectchanges。Therearepeopleaboutyouwhohavesetthemselves，inanunderhandway，todestroyme；andBrigittehasonlyonethought，andthatis，howtofindadecentwayofnotkeepingherpromises。Menlikemedon’twaittilltheirclaimsareopenlyprotested，andIcertainlydonotintendtoimposemyselfonanyfamily；still，Iwasfar，Iacknowledge，fromexpectingsuchtreatment。"

"Come，come，"saidThuillier，kindly，seeinginthebarrister’seyetheglintofatearofwhichhewascompletelythedupe，"Idon’tknowwhatBrigittemayhavebeendoingtoyou，butonethingisverycertain：Ihaveneverceasedtobeyourmostdevotedfriend。"

"No，"saidlaPeyrade，"sincethatmishapaboutthecrossIamonlygood，asthesayingis，tothrowtothedogs。HowcouldIhavestruggledagainstsecretinfluences？Possiblyitisthatpamphlet，aboutwhichyouhavetalkedagreatdealtoomuch，thathashinderedyourappointment。Theministersaresostupid！Theywouldratherwaitandhavetheirhandforcedbythefameofthepublicationthandothethingwithagoodgraceastherewardofyourservices。Butthesearepoliticalmysterieswhichwouldneverenteryoursister’smind。"

"Thedevil！"criedThuillier。"IthinkI’vegotaprettyobservingeye，andyetIcan’tseetheslightestchangeinBrigittetowardyou。"

"Oh，yes！"saidlaPeyrade，"youreyesightissogoodthatyouhaveneverseenperpetuallybesideherthatMadamedeGodollo，whomshenowthinksshecan’tlivewithout。"

"Ha，ha！"saidThuillier，slyly，"soitisalittlejealousy，isit，inourmind？"

"Jealousy！"retortedlaPeyrade。"Idon’tknowifthat’stherightword，butcertainlyyoursister——whosemindisnothingabovetheordinary，andtowhomIamsurprisedthatamanofyourintellectualsuperiorityallowsasupremacyinyourhouseholdwhichsheusesandabuses——"

"HowcanIhelpit，mydearfellow，"interruptedThuillier，suckinginthecompliment；"sheissoabsolutelydevotedtome。"

"Iadmittheweakness，but，Irepeat，yoursisterdoesn’tfitintoyourgroove。Well，Isaythatwhenamanofthevaluewhichyouaregoodenoughtorecognizeinme，doesherthehonortoconsultheranddevotehimselftoherasIhavedone，itcanhardlybeagreeabletohimtofindhimselfsupplantedbyawomanwhocomesfromnobodyknowswhere——andallbecauseofafewtrumperychairsandtablesshehashelpedhertobuy！"

"Withwomen，asyouknowverywell，"repliedThuillier，"householdaffairshavethefirstplace。"

"AndBrigitte，whowantsafingerineverything，alsoassumestocarrymatterswithahighhandinaffairsoftheheart。Asyouaresoextraordinarilyclear—sightedyououghttohaveseenthatinBrigitte’smindnothingislesscertainthanmymarriagewithMademoiselleColleville；andyetmylovehasbeensolemnlyauthorizedbyyou。"

"Goodgracious！"criedThuillier，"I’dliketoseeanyoneattempttomeddlewithmyarrangements！"

"Well，withoutspeakingofBrigitte，Icantellyouofanotherperson，"saidTheodose，"whoisdoingthatverything；andthatpersonisMademoiselleCelesteherself。Inspiteoftheirquarrelsaboutreligion，hermindisnonethelessfullofthatlittlePhellion。"

"Butwhydon’tyoutellFlavietoputastoptoit？"

"NooneknowsFlavie，mydearThuillier，betterthanyou。Sheisawomanratherthanamother。Ihavefounditnecessarytodoalittlebitofcourtingtohermyself，and，youunderstand，whilesheiswillingforthismarriageshedoesn’tdesireitverymuch。"

"Well，"saidThuillier，"I’llundertaketospeaktoCelestemyself。Itshallneverbesaidthataslipofagirllaysdownthelawtome。"

"That’sexactlywhatIdon’twantyoutodo，"criedlaPeyrade。"Don’tmeddleinallthis。Outsideofyourrelationstoyoursisteryouhaveanironwill，andIwillneverhaveitsaidthatyouexertedyourauthoritytoputCelesteinmyarms；onthecontrary，Idesirethatthechildmayhavecompletecontroloverherownheart。TheonlythingIrequestisthatsheshalldecidepositivelybetweenFelixPhellionandmyself；becauseIdonotchoosetoremainanylongerinthisdoubtfulposition。Itistrueweagreedthatthemarriageshouldonlytakeplaceafteryoubecameadeputy；butIfeelnowthatitisimpossibletoallowthegreatesteventofmylifetoremainatthemercyofdoubtfulcircumstances。And，besides，suchanarrangement，thoughatfirstagreedupon，seemstomenowtohaveaflavorofabargainwhichisunbecomingtobothofus。IthinkIhadbettermakeyouaconfidence，towhichIamledbytheunpleasantstateofthingsnowbetweenus。Dutocqmayhavetoldyou，beforeyoulefttheapartmentintherueSaint—Dominique，thatanheiresshadbeenofferedtomewhoseimmediatefortuneislargerthanthatwhichMademoiselleCollevillewilleventuallyinherit。Irefused，becauseIhavehadthefollytoletmyheartbewon，andbecauseanalliancewithafamilyashonorableasyoursseemedtomemoredesirable；but，afterall，itisaswelltoletBrigitteknowthatifCelesterefusesme，Iamnotabsolutelyturnedoutintothecold。"

"Icaneasilybelievethat，"saidThuillier；"butasforputtingthewholedecisionintothehandsofthatlittlegirl，especiallyifshehas，asyoutellme，afancyforFelix——"

"Ican’thelpit，"saidthebarrister。"Imust，atanyprice，getoutofthisposition；itisnolongertenable。Youtalkaboutyourpamphlet；Iamnotinafitconditiontofinishit。You，whohavebeenamanofgallantry，youmustknowthedominionthatwomen，fatalcreatures！exerciseoverourwholebeing。"

"Bah！"saidThuillier，conceitedly，"theycaredforme，butIdidnotoftencareforthem；Itookthem，andleftthem，youknow。"

"Yes，butI，withmySouthernnature，lovepassionately；andCelestehasotherattractionsbesidesfortune。Broughtupinyourhousehold，underyourowneye，youhavemadeheradorable。Only，Imustsay，youhaveshowngreatweaknessinlettingthatyoungfellow，whodoesnotsuitherinanyrespect，getsuchholduponherfancy。"

"Youarequiteright；butthethingbeganinachildishfriendship；

sheandFelixplayedtogether。Youcamemuchlater；anditisaproofofthegreatesteeminwhichweholdyou，thatwhenyoumadeyourofferwerenouncedourearlierprojects。"

"YOUdid，yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"andwithsomeliterarymanias——

which，afterall，arefrequentlyfullofsenseandwit——youhaveaheartofgold；withyoufriendshipisasurething，andyouknowwhatyoumean。ButBrigitteisanothermatter；you’llsee，whenyouproposetohertohastenthemarriage，whataresistanceshewillmake。"

"Idon’tagreewithyou。IthinkthatBrigittehasalwayswantedyouandstillwantsyouforson—in—law——ifImaysoexpressmyself。Butwhethershedoesornot，IbegyoutobelievethatinallimportantmattersIknowhowtohavemywillobeyed。Only，letuscomenowtoadistinctunderstandingofwhatyouwish；thenwecanstartwiththerightfootforemost，andyou’llseethatallwillgowell。"

"Iwish，"repliedlaPeyrade，"toputthelasttouchestoyourpamphlet；for，aboveallthings，Ithinkofyou。"

"Certainly，"saidThuillier，"weoughtnottosinkinport。"

"Well，inconsequenceofthefeelingthatIamoppressed，stultifiedbytheprospectofamarriagestillsodoubtful，Iamcertainthatnotapageofmanuscriptcouldbegotoutofmeinanyform，untilthequestionissettled。"

"Verygood，"saidThuillier；"thenhowdoyoupresentthatquestion？"

"Naturally，ifCeleste’sdecisionbeagainstme，Ishouldwishanimmediatesolution。IfIamcondemnedtomakeamarriageofconvenienceIoughttolosenotimeintakingtheopportunityI

mentionedtoyou。"

"Sobeit；butwhattimedoyouintendtoallowus？"

"Ishouldthinkthatinfifteendaysagirlmightbeabletomakeuphermind。"

"Undoubtedly，"repliedThuillier；"butitisveryrepugnanttometoletCelestedecidewithoutappeal。"

"Formypart，Iwilltakethatrisk；inanycase，Ishallberidofuncertainty；andthatisreallymyfirstobject。Betweenourselves，I

amnotriskingasmuchasyouthink。ItwilltakemorethanfifteendaysforasonofPhellion，inotherwords，obstinacyincarnateinsilliness，tohavedonewithphilosophicalhesitations；anditisverycertainthatCelestewillnotaccepthimforahusbandunlesshegiveshersomeproofsofconversion。"

"That’sprobable。ButsupposeCelestetriestodawdle；supposesherefusestoacceptthealternative？"

"That’syouraffair，"saidtheProvencal。"Idon’tknowhowyouregardthefamilyinParis；Ionlyknowthatinmypartofthecountryitisanunheard—ofthingthatagirlshouldhavesuchliberty。Ifyou，yoursister（supposingsheplaysfairinthematter），andthefatherandmothercan’tsucceedinmakingagirlwhomyoudoweragreetososimpleathingastomakeaperfectlyfreechoicebetweentwosuitors，thengood—byetoyou！You’llhavetowriteuponyourgate—postthatCelesteisqueenandsovereignofthehouse。"

"Well，wehaven’tgottothatpointyet，"saidThuillier，withacapableair。

"Asforyou，myoldfellow，"resumedlaPeyrade，"ImustpostponeourbusinessuntilafterCeleste’sdecision。Bethatinmyfavorornot，I

willthengotowork，andinthreedaysthepamphletcanbefinished。"

"Now，"saidThuillier，"Iknowwhatyouhavehadonyourmind。I’lltalkaboutitwithBrigitte。"

"That’sasadconclusion，"saidlaPeyrade；"but，unhappily，soitis。"

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"

"Iwouldrather，asyoucaneasilyimagine，hearyousayofyourselfthatthethingshallbedone；butoldhabitscan’tbebrokenup。"

"Ahca！doyouthinkI’mamanwithoutanywill，anyinitiativeofmyown？"

"No！butI’dliketobehiddeninacornerandhearhowyouwillopenthesubjectwithyoursister。"

"Parbleu！Ishallopenitfrankly。IWILL，veryfirmlysaid，shallmeeteveryoneofherobjections。"

"Ah，mypoorfellow！"saidlaPeyrade，clappinghimontheshoulder，"fromChrysaledownhowoftenhaveweseenbravewarriorsloweringtheirpenantsbeforethewillsofwomenaccustomedtomasterthem！"

"We’llseeaboutTHAT，"repliedThuillier，makingatheatricalexit。

Theeagerdesiretopublishhispamphlet，andthecleverdoubtthrownuponthestrengthofhiswillhadmadehimfurious，——anactualtiger；

andhewentawayresolved，incaseofopposition，toreducehishousehold，asthesayingis，byfireandsword。

WhenhereachedhomeThuillierinstantlylaidthequestionbeforeBrigitte。She，withhercrudegoodsenseandegotism，pointedouttohimthatbythushasteningtheperiodformerlyagreeduponforthemarriage，theycommittedtheblunderofdisarmingthemselves；theycouldnotbesurethatwhentheelectiontookplacelaPeyradewouldputthesamezealintopreparingforit。Itmightbe，"saidtheoldmaid，"justasithasbeenaboutthecross。"

"There’sthisdifference，"saidThuillier；"thecrossdoesn’tdependdirectlyuponlaPeyrade，whereastheinfluenceheexertsinthe12tharrondissementhecanemployashewill。"

"Andsupposehewilled，afterwehavefeatheredhisnest，"saidBrigitte，"toworkhisinfluenceforhisownelection？Heisveryambitious，youknow。"

Thisdangerdidnotfailtostrikethemindofthefuturelegislator，whothought，however，thathemightfeelsomesecurityinthehonorandmoralityoflaPeyrade。

"Aman’shonorcan’tbeverydelicate，"returnedBrigitte，"whenhetriestogetoutofabargain；andthisfashionofdanglingabitofsugarbeforeusaboutgettingyourpamphletfinished，doesn’tpleasemeatall。Can’tyougetPhelliontohelpyou，anddowithoutTheodose？Or，Idaresay，MadamedeGodollo，whoknowseverybodyinpolitics，couldfindyouajournalist——theysaythereareplentyofthemoutatelbows；acoupleofhundredfrancswoulddothething。"

"Butthesecretwouldgetintothepapers，"saidThuillier。"No，I

mustabsolutelyhaveTheodose；heknowsthat，andhemakestheseconditions。Afterall，wedidpromisehimCeleste，anditisonlyfulfillingthepromiseayearearlier——whatamIsaying？——afewmonths，afewweeks，possibly；forthekingmaydissolvetheChamberbeforeanyoneexpectsit。"

"ButsupposeCelestewon’thavehim？"objectedBrigitte。

"Celeste！Celeste，indeed！"ejaculatedThuillier；"sheMUSThavewhomsoeverwechoose。WeoughttohavethoughtofthatwhenwemadetheengagementwithlaPeyrade；ourwordispassednow，youknow。

Besides，ifthechildisallowedtochoosebetweenlaPeyradeandPhellion——"

"Soyoureallythink，"saidthescepticaloldmaid，"thatifCelestedecidesforPhellionyoucanstillcountonlaPeyrade’sdevotion？"

"WhatelsecanIdo？Thosearehisconditions。Besides，thefellowhascalculatedthewholething；heknowsverywellthatFelixwillneverbringhimselfintwoweekstopleaseCelestebygoingtoconfession，andunlesshedoes，thatlittlemonkeywillneveraccepthimforahusband。LaPeyrade’sgameisveryclever。"

"Tooclever，"saidBrigitte。"Well，settlethematterasyouchoose；I

shallnotmeddle；allthismanoeuvringisnottomytaste。"

ThuillierwenttoseeMadameColleville，andintimatedtoherthatshemustinformCelesteofthedesignsuponher。

CelestehadneverbeenofficiallyauthorizedtoindulgehersentimentforFelixPhellion。Flavie，onthecontrary，hadonceexpresslyforbiddenhertoencouragethehopesoftheyoungprofessor；butas，onthepartofMadameThuillier，hergodmotherandherconfidant，sheknewshewassustainedinherinclination，shehadletherselfgentlyfollowitwithoutthinkingveryseriouslyoftheobstaclesherchoicemightencounter。When，therefore，shewasorderedtochooseatoncebetweenFelixandlaPeyrade，thesimple—heartedgirlwasatfirstonlystruckbytheadvantagesofonehalfofthealternative，andshefanciedshedidherselfagreatservicebyagreeingtoanarrangementwhichmadeherthemistressofherownchoiceandallowedhertobestowitasherheartdesired。

ButlaPeyradewasnotmistakeninhiscalculationwhenhereckonedthatthereligiousintoleranceoftheyounggirlononeside，andthephilosophicalinflexibilityofPhellion’ssonontheother，wouldcreateaninvincibleobstacletotheircomingtogether。

CHAPTERIII

GOODBLOODCANNOTLIE

TheeveningofthedayonwhichFlaviehadcommunicatedtoCelestethesovereignordersofThuillier，thePhellionscalledtospendtheeveningwithBrigitte，andaverysharpengagementtookplacebetweenthetwoyoungpeople。MademoiselleCollevilledidnotneedtobetoldbyhermotherthatitwouldbeextremelyunbecomingifsheallowedFelixtoknowoftheconditionalapprovalthatwasgrantedtotheirsentiments。Celestehadtoomuchdelicacy，andtoomuchrealreligiousfeelingtowishtoobtaintheconversionofthemanshelovedonanyothergroundthanthatofhisconviction。Theireveningwasthereforepassedintheologicaldebate；butloveissostrangeaProteus，andtakessomanyandsuchvariousforms，thatthoughitappearedonthisoccasioninablackgownandamobcap，itwasnotatallasungracefulanddispleasingasmighthavebeenimagined。ButPhellionjuniorwasinthisencounter，thesolemnityofwhichhelittleknew，unluckyandblunderingtothelastdegree。Notonlydidheconcedenothing，buthetookatoneofairyandironicaldiscussion，andendedbyputtingpoorCelestesobesideherselfthatshefinallydeclaredanopenruptureandforbadehimtoappearinherpresenceagain。

Itwasjustthecaseforalovermoreexperiencedthantheyoungsavanttoreappeartheverynextday，foryoungheartsareneversoneartounderstandingeachotheraswhentheyhavejustdeclaredthenecessityofeternalseparation。Butthislawisnotoneoflogarithms，andFelixPhellion，beingincapableofguessingit，thoughthimselfpositivelyandfinallybanished；somuchso，thatduringthefifteendaysgrantedtothepoorgirltodeliberate（assaystheCodeinthematterofbeneficiarybequests），althoughhewasexpecteddaybyday，andfromminutetominutebyCeleste，whogavenomorethoughttolaPeyradethanifhehadnothingtodowiththequestion，thedeplorablystupidyouthdidnothavethemostdistantideaofbreakinghisban。

Luckilyforthishopelesslover，abeneficentfairywaswatchingoverhim，andtheeveningbeforethedayonwhichtheyounggirlwastomakeherdecisionthefollowingaffairtookplace。

ItwasSunday，thedayonwhichtheThuilliersstillkeptuptheirweeklyreceptions。

MadamePhellion，convincedthatthehousekeepingleakage，vulgarlycalled"thebasketdance，"wastheruinofthebest—regulatedhouseholds，wasinthehabitofgoinginpersontohertradespeople。

FromtimeimmemorialinthePhellionestablishment，Sundaywasthedayofthe"pot—au—feu，"andthewifeofthegreatcitizen，inthatintentionallydowdycostumeinwhichgoodhousekeepersbundlethemselveswhentheygotomarket，wasprosaicallyreturningfromavisittothebutcher，followedbyhercookandthebasket，inwhichlayamagnificentcutoftheloinofbeef。Twicehadsherungherowndoorbell，andterriblewasthestormgatheringontheheadofthefoot—boy，whobyhisslownessinopeningthedoorwasputtinghismistressinasituationlesstolerablethanthatofLouisXIV。，whohadonlyALMOSTwaited。InherfeverishimpatienceMadamePhellionhadjustgiventhebellathirdandferociousreverberation，when，judgeofherconfusion，alittlecoupedrewupwithmuchclatteratthedoorofherhouse，andaladydescended，whomsherecognized，atthisuntimelyhour，astheelegantComtesseTornadeGodollo！

Turningapurplishscarlet，theunfortunatebourgeoiselostherhead，and，flounderinginexcuses，shewasabouttocomplicatethepositionbysomesignalpieceofawkwardness，when，happilyforher，Phellion，attractedbythenoiseofthebell，andattiredinadressing—gownandGreekcap，cameoutofhisstudytoinquirewhatwasthematter。Afteraspeech，thepompouscharmofwhichdidmuchtocompensateforhisdishabille，thegreatcitizen，withtheserenitythatneverabandonedhim，offeredhishandverygallantlytothelady，andhavinginstalledherinthesalon，said：——

"MayI，withoutindiscretion，askMadamelacomtessewhathasprocuredforustheunhoped—foradvantageofthisvisit？"

"Ihavecome，"saidthelady，"totalkwithMadamePhelliononamatterwhichmustdeeplyinteresther。Ihavenootherwayofmeetingherwithoutwitnesses；andtherefore，thoughIamhardlyknowntoMadamePhellion，Ihavetakenthelibertytocalluponherhere。"

"Madame，yourvisitisagreathonortothispoordwelling。ButwhereisMadamePhellion？"addedtheworthyman，impatiently，goingtowardsthedoor。

"No，Ibegofyou，don’tdisturbher，"saidthecountess；"Ihaveheedlesslycomeatamomentwhensheisbusywithhouseholdcares。

Brigittehasbeenmyeducatorinsuchmatters，andIknowtherespectweoughttopaytogoodhousekeepers。Besides，Ihavethepleasureofyourpresence，whichIscarcelyexpected。"

BeforePhellioncouldreplytotheseobligingwords，MadamePhellionappeared。Acapwithribbonshadtakentheplaceofthemarketbonnet，andalargeshawlcoveredtheotherinsufficienciesofthemorningtoilet。Whenhiswifearrived，thegreatcitizenmadeasthoughhewoulddiscreetlyretire。

"MonsieurPhellion，"saidthecountess，"youarenotonetoomanyintheconferenceIdesirewithmadame；onthecontrary，yourexcellentjudgmentwillbemostusefulinthrowinglightuponamatterasinterestingtoyouastoyourwife。Ialludetothemarriageofyourson。"

"Themarriageofmyson！"criedMadamePhellion，withalookofastonishment；"butIamnotawarethatanythingofthekindisatpresentinprospect。"

"ThemarriageofMonsieurFelixwithMademoiselleCelesteis，Ithink，oneofyourstrongestdesires——"

"Butwehavenever，"saidPhellion，"takenanyovertstepsforthatobject。"

"Iknowthatonlytoowell，"repliedthecountess；"onthecontrary，everyoneinyourfamilyseemstostudyhowtodefeatmyeffortsinthatdirection。However，onethingisclearinspiteofthereserve，and，youmustallowmetosayso，theclumsinessinwhichtheaffairhasbeenmanaged，andthatisthattheyoungpeopleloveeachother，andtheywillbothbeunhappyiftheydonotmarry。Now，topreventthiscatastropheistheobjectwithwhichIhavecomeherethismorning。"

"Wecannot，madame，beotherwisethandeeplysensibleoftheinterestyouaresogoodastoshowinthehappinessofourson，"saidPhellion；"but，intruth，thisinterest——"

"Issomethingsoinexplicable，"interruptedthecountess，"thatyoufeeladistrustofit？"