第20章

"Oh！madame！"saidPhellion，bowingwithanairofrespectfuldissent。

"But，"continuedthelady，"theexplanationofmyproceedingisverysimple。IhavestudiedCeleste，andinthatdearandartlesschildI

findamoralweightandvaluewhichwouldmakemegrievetoseehersacrificed。"

"Youareright，madame，"saidMadamePhellion。"Celesteis，indeed，anangelofsweetness。"

"AsformonsieurFelix，Iventuretointerestmyselfbecause，inthefirstplace，heisthesonofsovirtuousafather——"

"Oh，madame！Ientreat——"saidPhellion，bowingagain。

"——andhealsoattractsmebytheawkwardnessoftruelove，whichappearsinallhisactionsandallhiswords。Wematurewomenfindaninexpressiblecharminseeingthetenderpassionunderaformwhichthreatensuswithnodeceptionsandnomisunderstandings。"

"Mysoniscertainlynotbrilliant，"saidMadamePhellion，withafainttoneofsharpness；"heisnotafashionableyoungman。"

"Buthehasthequalitiesthataremostessential，"repliedthecountess，"andameritwhichignoresitself，——athingoftheutmostconsequenceinallintellectualsuperiority——"

"Really，madame，"saidPhellion，"youforceustohearthingsthat——"

"Thatarenotbeyondthetruth，"interruptedthecountess。"AnotherreasonwhichleadsmetotakeadeepinterestinthehappinessoftheseyoungpeopleisthatIamnotsodesirousforthatofMonsieurTheodosedelaPeyrade，whoisfalseandgrasping。Ontheruinoftheirhopesthatmaniscountingtocarryouthisswindlingpurposes。"

"Itisquitecertain，"saidPhellion，"thattherearedarkdepthsinMonsieurdelaPeyradewherelightdoesnotpenetrate。"

"AndasImyselfhadthemisfortunetomarryamanofhisdescription，thethoughtofthewretchednesstowhichCelestewouldbecondemnedbysofatalaconnection，impelsme，inthehopeofsavingher，tothecharitableeffortwhichnow，Itrust，hasceasedtosurpriseyou。"

"Madame，"saidPhellion，"wedonotneedtheconclusiveexplanationsbywhichyouillumineyourconduct；butastothefaultsonourpart，whichhavethwartedyourgenerousefforts，Imustdeclarethatinordertoavoidcommittingtheminfuture，itseemstomenotalittledesirablethatyoushouldplainlyindicatethem。"

"Howlongisit，"askedthecountess，"sinceanyofyourfamilyhavepaidavisittotheThuilliers’？"

"Ifmymemoryservesme，"saidPhellion，"IthinkwewerealltheretheSundayafterthedinnerforthehouse—warming。"

"Fifteenwholedaysofabsence！"exclaimedthecountess；"andyouthinkthatnothingofimportancecouldhappeninfifteendays？"

"No，indeed！didnotthreegloriousdaysinJuly，1830，castdownaperjureddynastyandfoundthenobleorderofthingsunderwhichwenowlive？"

"Youseeityourself！"saidthecountess。"Now，tellme，duringthatevening，fifteendaysago，didnothingserioustakeplacebetweenyoursonandCeleste？"

"Somethingdidoccur，"repliedPhellion，——"averydisagreeableconversationonthesubjectofmyson’sreligiousopinions；itmustbeownedthatourgoodCeleste，whoinallotherrespectshasacharmingnature，isatriflefanaticinthematterofpiety。"

"Iagreetothat，"saidthecountess；"butshewasbroughtupbythemotherwhomyouknow；shewasnevershownthefaceoftruepiety；shesawonlythemimicryofit。RepentantMagdalensoftheMadameCollevillespeciesalwaysassumeanairofwishingtoretiretoadesertwiththeirdeath’s—headandcrossedbones。Theythinktheycan’tgetsalvationatacheaperrate。Butafterall，whatdidCelesteaskofMonsieurFelix？Merelythathewouldread’TheImitationofChrist。’"

"Hehasreadit，madame，"saidPhellion，"andhethinksitabookextremelywellwritten；buthisconvictions——andthatisamisfortune——havenotbeenaffectedbytheperusal。"

"Anddoyouthinkheshowsmuchclevernessinnotassuringhismistressofsomelittlechangeinhisinflexibleconvictions？"

"Myson，madame，hasneverreceivedfrommetheslightestlessonincleverness；loyalty，uprightness，thosearetheprinciplesIhaveendeavoredtoinculcateinhim。"

"Itseemstome，monsieur，thatthereisnowantofloyaltywhen，indealingwithatroubledmind，weendeavortoavoidwoundingit。ButletusagreethatMonsieurFelixowedittohimselftobethatirondooragainstwhichpoorCeleste’sapplicationsbeatinvain；wasthatareasonforkeepingawayfromherandsulkinginhistentforfifteenwholedays？Aboveall，oughthetohavecappedthesesulksbyaproceedingwhichIcan’tforgive，andwhich——onlyjustmadeknowntous——hasstruckthegirl’sheartwithdespair，andalsowithafeelingofextremeirritation？"

"Mysoncapableofanysuchact！itisquiteimpossible，madame！"

criedPhellion。"Iknownothingofthisproceeding；butIdonothesitatetoaffirmthatyouhavebeenill—informed。"

"Andyet，nothingismorecertain。YoungColleville，whocamehometo—dayforhishalf—holiday，hasjusttoldusthatMonsieurFelix，whohadpreviouslygonewiththeutmostpunctualitytohearhimrecitehasceasedentirelytohaveanythingtodowithhim。Unlessyoursonisill，Idonothesitatetosaythatthisneglectisthegreatestofblunders，inthesituationinwhichhenowstandswiththesisterheoughtnottohavechosenthismomenttoputanendtotheselessons。"

ThePhellionslookedateachotherasifconsultinghowtoreply。

"Myson，"saidMadamePhellion，"isnotexactlyill；butsinceyoumentionafactwhichis，Iacknowledge，verystrangeandquiteoutofkeepingwithhisnatureandhabits，IthinkitrighttotellyouthatfromthedaywhenCelesteseemedtosignifythatallwasatanendbetweenthem，averyextraordinarychangehascomeoverFelix，whichiscausingMonsieurPhellionandmyselfthedeepestanxiety。"

"Yes，madame，"saidPhellion，"theyoungmaniscertainlynotinhisnormalcondition。"

"Butwhatisthematterwithhim？"askedthecountess，anxiously。

"ThenightofthatscenewithCeleste，"repliedPhellion，"afterhisreturnhome，heweptafloodofhottearsonhismother’sbosom，andgaveustounderstandthatthehappinessofhiswholelifewasatanend。"

"Andyet，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"nothingveryserioushappened；butloversalwaysmaketheworstofthings。"

"Nodoubt，"saidMadamePhellion；"butsincethatnightFelixhasnotmadetheslightestallusiontohismisfortune，andthenextdayhewentbacktohisworkwithasortoffrenzy。Doesthatseemnaturaltoyou？"

"Itiscapableofexplanation；workissaidtobeagreatconsoler。"

"Thatismosttrue，"saidPhellion；"butinFelix’swholepersonalitythereissomethingexcited，andyetrepressed，whichisdifficulttodescribe。Youspeaktohim，andhehardlyseemstohearyou；hesitsdowntotableandforgetstoeat，ortakeshisfoodwithanabsent—

mindednesswhichthemedicalfacultyconsidermostinjurioustotheprocessofdigestion；hisduties，hisregularoccupations，wehavetoremindhimof——him，soextremelyregular，sopunctual！Theotherday，whenhewasattheObservatory，wherehenowspendsallhisevenings，onlycominghomeinthesmallhours，Itookituponmyselftoenterhisroomandexaminehispapers。Iwasterrified，madame，atfindingapapercoveredwithalgebraiccalculationswhich，bytheirvastextentappearedtometogobeyondthelimitsofthehumanintellect。"

"Perhaps，"saidthecountess，"heisontheroadtosomegreatdiscovery。"

"Ortomadness，"saidMadamePhellion，inalowvoice，andwithaheavysigh。

"Thatisnotprobable，"saidMadamedeGodollo；"withanorganizationsocalmandamindsowellbalanced，herunsbutlittledangerofthatmisfortune。Iknowmyselfofanotherdangerthatthreatenshimto—morrow，andunlesswecantakesomestepsthiseveningtoavertit，Celesteispositivelylosttohim。"

"Howso？"saidthehusbandandwifetogether。

"Perhapsyouarenotaware，"repliedthecountess，"thatThuillierandhissisterhavemadecertainpromisestoMonsieurdelaPeyradeaboutCeleste？"

"Wesuspectedasmuch，"repliedMadamePhellion。

"Thefulfilmentofthesepledgeswaspostponedtoaratherdistantperiod，andsubordinatedtocertainconditions。MonsieurdelaPeyrade，afterenablingthemtobuythehouseneartheMadeleine，pledgedhimselfnotonlytoobtainthecrossforMonsieurThuillier，buttowriteinhisnameapoliticalpamphlet，andassisthiminhiselectiontotheChamberofDeputies。Itsoundsliketheromancesofchivalry，inwhichthehero，beforeobtainingthehandoftheprincess，iscompelledtoexterminateadragon。"

"Madameisverywitty，"saidMadamePhellion，lookingatherhusband，whomadeherasignnottointerrupt。

"Ihavenotimenow，"saidthecountess；"infactitwouldbeuselesstotellyouthemanoeuvresbywhichMonsieurdelaPeyradehascontrivedtohastentheperiodofthismarriage；butitconcernsyoutoknowthat，thankstohisduplicity，CelesteisbeingforcedtochoosebetweenhimandMonsieurFelix；fifteendaysweregivenherinwhichtomakeherchoice；thetimeexpiresto—morrow，and，thankstotheunfortunatestateoffeelingintowhichyourson’sattitudehasthrownher，thereisveryseriousdangerofseeinghersacrificetoherwoundedfeelingsthebettersentimentsofherloveandherinstincts。"

"Butwhatcanbedonetopreventit？"askedPhellion。

"Fight，monsieur；comethiseveninginforcetotheThuilliers’；

induceMonsieurFelixtoaccompanyyou；lecturehimuntilhepromisestobealittlemoreflexibleinhisphilosophicalopinions。Paris，saidHenriIV。，issurelyworthamass。Butlethimavoidallsuchquestions；hecancertainlyfindinhisheartthewordsandtonestomoveawomanwholoveshim；itrequiressolittletosatisfyher！I

shallbetheremyself，andIwillhelphimtomyutmostability；

perhaps，undertheinspirationofthemoment，Imaythinkofsomewaytodoeffectually。Onethingisverycertain：wehavetofightagreatbattleto—night，andifwedonotALLdoourdutyvalorously，laPeyrademaywinit。"

"Mysonisnothere，madame，"saidPhellion，"andIregretit，forperhapsyourgenerousdevotionandurgentwordswouldsucceedinshakingoffhistorpor；but，atanyrate，Iwilllaybeforehimthegravityofthesituation，and，beyondalldoubt，hewillaccompanyusto—nighttotheThuilliers’。"

"Itisneedlesstosay，"addedthecountess，rising，"thatwemustcarefullyavoidtheveryslightestappearanceofcollusion；wemustnotconversetogether；infact，unlessitcanbedoneinsomecasualway，itwouldbebetternottospeak。"

"Ibegyoutorely，madame，uponmyprudence，"repliedPhellion，"andkindlyaccepttheassurance——"

"Ofyourmostdistinguishedsentiments，"interruptedthecountess，laughing。

"No，madame，"repliedPhellion，gravely，"Ireservethatformulafortheconclusionofmyletters；Ibegyoutoaccepttheassuranceofmywarmestandmostunalterablegratitude。"

"Wewilltalkofthatwhenweareoutofdanger，"saidMadamedeGodollo，movingtowardsthedoor；"andifMadamePhellion，thetenderestandmostvirtuousofmothers，willgrantmealittleplaceinheresteem，Ishallcountmyselfmorethanrepaidformytrouble。"

MadamePhellionplungedheadlongintoaresponsivecompliment；andthecountess，inhercarriage，wasatsomedistancefromthehousebeforePhellionhadceasedtoofferherhismostrespectfulsalutations。

AstheLatin—quarterelementinBrigitte’ssalonbecamemorerareandlessassiduous，alivelierParisbegantoinfiltrateit。AmonghiscolleaguesinthemunicipalcouncilandamongtheupperemployeesoftheprefectureoftheSeine，thenewcouncillorhadmadeseveralveryimportantrecruits。Themayor，andthedeputymayorsofthearrondissement，onwhom，afterhisremovaltotheMadeleinequarter，Thuillierhadcalled，hastenedtoreturnthecivility；andthesamethinghappenedwiththesuperiorofficersofthefirstlegion。Thehouseitselfhadproducedacontingent；andseveralofthenewtenantscontributed，bytheirpresence，tochangetheaspectofthedominicalmeetings。AmongthenumberwemustmentionRabourdin[see"Bureaucracy"]，theformerheadofThuillier’sofficeattheministryoffinance。Havinghadthemisfortunetolosehiswife，whosesalon，atanearlierperiod，checkmatedthatofMadameColleville，Rabourdinoccupiedasabachelorthethirdfloor，abovetheapartmentlettoCardot，thenotary。Astheresultofanodiousslighttohisjustclaims，Rabourdinhadvoluntarilyresignedhispublicfunctions。Atthistime，whenheagainmetThuillier，hewasdirectorofoneofthosenumerousprojectedrailways，theconstructionofwhichisalwaysdelayedbyeitherparliamentaryrivalryorparliamentaryindecision。

Letussay，inpassing，thatthemeetingwiththisableadministrator，nowbecomeanimportantpersonageinthefinancialworld，wasanoccasiontotheworthyandhonestPhelliontodisplayoncemorehisnoblecharacter。AtthetimeoftheresignationtowhichRabourdinhadfelthimselfdriven，Phellionalone，ofalltheclerksintheoffice，hadstoodbyhiminhismisfortunes。Beingnowinapositiontobestowagreatnumberofplaces，Rabourdin，onmeetingoncemorehisfaithfulsubordinate，hastenedtoofferhimapositionbotheasyandlucrative。

"Mossieu，"saidPhellion，"yourbenevolencetouchesmeandhonorsme，butmyfranknessowesyouanavowal，whichIbegyounottotakeinillpart：Idonotbelievein’railways，’astheEnglishcallthem。"

"That’sanopiniontowhichyouhaveeveryright，"saidRabourdin，smiling；"but，meanwhile，untilthecontraryisproved，wepaytheemployeesinourofficewell，andIshouldbegladtohaveyouwithmeinthatcapacity。IknowbyexperiencethatyouareamanonwhomI

cancount。"

"Mossieu，"returnedthegreatcitizen，"Ididmydutyatthattime，andnothingmore。Asfortheofferyouhavebeensogoodastomaketome，Icannotacceptit；satisfiedwithmyhumblefortunes，Ifeelneithertheneednorthedesiretore—enteranadministrativecareer；

and，incommonwiththeLatinpoet，Imaysay，’Clauditejamrivos，pueri，satpratabiberunt。’"

Thuselevatedinthecharacterofitshabitues，thesalonThuillierstillneededanewelementoflife。ThankstothehelpofMadamedeGodollo，abornorganizer，whosuccessfullyputtoprofittheformerconnectionofCollevillewiththemusicalworld，afewartistscametomakediversionfrombouillotteandboston。Old—fashionedandvenerable，thosetwogameswereforcedtobeataretreatbeforewhist，theonlymanner，saidtheHungariancountess，inwhichrespectablepeoplecankilltime。

LikeLouisXVI。，whobeganbyputtinghisownhandtoreformswhichsubsequentlyengulfedhisthrone，Brigittehadencouraged，atfirst，thisdomesticrevolution；theneedofsustainingherpositionsuitablyinthenewquartertowhichshehademigratedhadmadeherdociletoallsuggestionsofcomfortandelegance。Butthedayonwhichoccurredthesceneweareabouttowitness，anapparentlytrivialdetailhadrevealedtoherthedangerofthedeclivityonwhichshestood。Thegreaternumberofthenewguests，recentlyimportedbyThuillier，knewnothingofhissister’ssupremacyinhishome。Onarrival，therefore，theyallaskedThuilliertopresentthemtoMADAME，and，naturally，Thuilliercouldnotsaytothemthathiswifewasafigure—headwhogroanedundertheironhandofaRichelieu，towhomthewholehouseholdbenttheknee。Itwasthereforenotuntilthefirsthomagerenderedtothesovereign"dejure"waspaid，thatthenew—comerswereleduptoBrigitte，andbyreasonofthestiffnesswhichdispleasureatthismisplacementofpowergavetohergreetingtheywerescarcelyencouragedtopayheranyfurtherattentions。Quicktoperceivethisspeciesofoverthrow，QueenElizabethsaidtoherself，withthatprofoundinstinctofdominationwhichwasherrulingpassion：——

"IfIdon’ttakecareIshallsoonbenobodyinthishouse。"

Burrowingintothatidea，shecametothinkthatiftheprojectofmakingacommonhouseholdwithlaPeyrade，thenCeleste’shusband，werecarriedout，thesituationwhichwasbeginningtoalarmherwouldbecomeevenworse。Fromthatmoment，andbysuddenintuition，FelixPhellion，thatgoodyoungman，withhisheadtoofullofmathematicsevertobecomeaformidablerivaltohersovereignty，seemedtoherafarbettermatchthantheenterprisinglawyer，andshewasthefirst，onseeingthePhellionfatherandmotherarrivewithouttheson，toexpressregretathisabsence。Brigitte，however，wasnottheonlyonetofeeltheinjurythatthelucklessprofessorwasdoingtohisprospectsinthuskeepingawayfromherreception。MadameThuillier，withsimplecandor，andCelestewithfeignedreserve，bothmademanifesttheirdispleasure。AsforMadamedeGodollo，who，inspiteofaveryremarkablevoice，usuallyrequiredmuchpressingbeforeshewouldsing（thepianohavingbeenopenedsinceherreignbegan），shenowwentuptoMadamePhellionandaskedhertoaccompanyher，andbetweentwoversesofasongshesaidinherear：——

"Whyisn’tyoursonhere？"

"Heiscoming，"saidMadamePhellion。"Hisfathertalkedtohimverydecidedly；butto—nighttherehappenstobeaconjunctionofIdon’tknowwhatplanets；itisagreatnightattheObservatory，andhedidnotfeelwillingtodispensewith——"

"Itisinconceivablethatamanshouldbesofoolish！"exclaimedMadamedeGodollo；"wasn’ttheologybadenough，thathemustneedsbringinastronomytoo？"

AndhervexationgavetohervoicesovibratingatonethathersongendedinthemidstofwhattheEnglishcallathunderofapplause。LaPeyrade，whofearedherextremely，wasnotoneofthelast，whenshereturnedtoherplace，toapproachher，andexpresshisadmiration；

butshereceivedhiscomplimentswithacoldnesssoneartoincivilitythattheirmutualhostilitywasgreatlyincreased。LaPeyradeturnedawaytoconsolehimselfwithMadameColleville，whohadstilltoomanypretensionstobeautynottobetheenemyofawomanmadetointerceptallhomage。

"Soyoualso，youthinkthatwomansingswell？"shesaid，contemptuously，toTheodose。

"Atanyrate，Ihavebeentotellherso，"repliedlaPeyrade，"becausewithouther，inregardtoBrigitte，there’snosecurity。ButdojustlookatyourCeleste；hereyesneverleavethatdoor，andeverytimeatrayisbroughtin，thoughitisanhouratleastsincethelastguestcame，herfaceexpressesdisappointment。"

Wemustremark，inpassing，thatsincethereignofMadamedeGodollotrayswerepassedroundontheSundayreceptiondays，andthatwithoutscrimping；onthecontrary，theywereladenwithices，cakes，andsyrups，fromTaurade’s，thenthebestconfectioner。

"Don’tharassme！"criedFlavie。"Iknowverywellwhatthatfoolishgirlhasinhermind；andyourmarriagewilltakeplaceonlytoosoon。"

"ButyouknowitisnotformyselfImakeit，"saidlaPeyrade；"itisanecessityforthefutureofallofus。Come，come，therearetearsinyoureyes！Ishallleaveyou；youarenotreasonable。Thedevil！asthatPrudhommeofaPhellionsays，’Whosowantstheendwantsthemeans。’"

AndhewenttowardthegroupcomposedofCeleste，MadameThuillier，MadamedeGodollo，Colleville，andPhellion。MadameCollevillefollowedhim；and，undertheinfluenceofthefeelingofjealousyshehadjustshown，shebecameasavagemother。

"Celeste，"shesaid，"whydon’tyousing？Thesegentlemenwishtohearyou。"

"Oh，mamma！"criedthegirl，"howcanIsingafterMadamedeGodollo，withmypoorthreadofavoice？Besides，youknowIhaveacold。"

"Thatistosaythat，asusual，youmakeyourselfpretentiousanddisagreeable；peoplesingastheycansing；allvoiceshavetheirownmerits。"

"Mydear，"saidColleville，who，havingjustlosttwentyfrancsatthecard—tables，foundcourageinhisill—humortoopposehiswife，"thatsaying，’Peoplesingastheycansing’isabourgeoismaxim。Peoplesingwithavoice，iftheyhaveone；buttheydon’tsingafterhearingsuchamagnificentoperavoiceasthatofMadamelacomtesse。Formypart，IreadilyexcuseCelestefornotwarblingtousoneofhersentimentallittleditties。"

"Thenitiswellworthwhile，"saidFlavie，leavingthegroup，"tospendsomuchmoneyonexpensivemasterswhoaregoodfornothing。"

"So，"saidColleville，resumingtheconversationwhichtheinvasionofFlaviehadinterrupted，"Felixnolongerinhabitsthisearth；helivesamongthestars？"

"Mydearandformercolleague，"saidPhellion，"Iam，asyouare，annoyedwithmysonforneglecting，ashedoes，theoldestfriendsofhisfamily；andthoughthecontemplationofthosegreatluminousbodiessuspendedinspacebythehandoftheCreatorpresents，inmyopinion，higherinterestthanitappearstohavetoyourmoreeagerbrain，IthinkthatFelix，bynotcominghereto—night，ashepromisedmehewould，showsawantofpropriety，aboutwhich，IcanassureyouIshallspeakmymind。"

"Science，"saidlaPeyrade，"isafinething，butithas，unfortunately，theattributeofmakingbearsandmonomaniacs。"

"Nottomention，"saidCeleste，"thatitdestroysallreligioussentiments。"

"Youaremistakenthere，mydearchild，"saidMadamedeGodollo。

"Pascal，whowashimselfagreatexampleofthefalsenessofyourpointofview，says，ifIamnotmistaken，thatalittlesciencedrawsusfromreligion，butagreatdealdrawsusbacktoit。"

"Andyet，madame，"saidCeleste，"everyoneadmitsthatMonsieurFelixisreallyverylearned；whenhehelpedmybrotherwithhisstudiesnothingcouldbe，soFrancoistoldme，clearerormorecomprehensiblethanhisexplanations；andyousee，yourself，heisnotthemorereligiousforthat。"

"Itellyou，mydearchild，thatMonsieurFelixisnotirreligious，andwithalittlegentlenessandpatiencenothingwouldbeeasierthantobringhimback。"

"Bringbackasavanttothedutiesofreligion！"exclaimedlaPeyrade。

"Really，madame，thatseemstomeverydifficult。Thesegentlemenputtheobjectoftheirstudiesbeforeeverythingelse。Tellageometricianorageologist，forexample，thattheChurchdemands，imperatively，thesanctificationoftheSabbathbythesuspensionofallspeciesofwork，andtheywillshrugtheirshoulders，thoughGodHimselfdidnotdisdaintorestfromHislabors。"

"Sothatinnotcomingherethisevening，"saidCeleste，naively，"MonsieurFelixcommitsnotonlyafaultagainstgoodmanners，butasin。"

"But，mydearest，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"doyouthinkthatourmeetingherethiseveningtosingballadsandeaticesandsayevilofourneighbor——whichisthecustomaryhabitofsalons——ismorepleasingtoGodthantoseeamanofscienceinhisobservatorybusiedinstudyingthemagnificentsecretsofHiscreation？"

"There’satimeforallthings，"saidCeleste；"and，asMonsieurdelaPeyradesays，GodHimselfdidnotdisdaintorest。"

"But，mylove，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"Godhastimetodoso；Heiseternal。"

"That，"saidlaPeyrade，"isoneofthewittiestimpietieseveruttered；thosearethereasonsthattheworld’speopleputforth。TheyinterpretandexplainawaythecommandsofGod，eventhosethataremostexplicitandimperative；theytakethem，leavethem，orchooseamongthem；thefree—thinkersubjectsthemtohislordlyrevision，andfromfree—thinkingthedistanceisshorttofreeactions。"

DuringthisharangueofthebarristerMadamedeGodollohadlookedattheclock；itthensaidhalf—pasteleven。Thesalonbegantoempty。

Onlyonecard—tablewasstillgoingon，Minard，Thuillier，andtwoofthenewacquaintancesbeingtheplayers。Phellionhadjustquittedthegroupwithwhichhehadsofarbeensitting，tojoinhiswife，whowastalkingwithBrigitteinacorner；bythevehemenceofhispantomimicactionitwaseasytoseethathewasfilledwithsomevirtuousindignation。Everythingseemedtoshowthatallhopeofseeingthearrivalofthetardyloverwasdecidedlyover。

"Monsieur，"saidthecountesstolaPeyrade，"doyouconsiderthegentlemenattachedtoSaint—JacquesduHautPasintheruedesPostesgoodCatholics？"

"Undoubtedly，"repliedthebarrister，"religionhasnomoreloyalsupporters。"

"Thismorning，"continuedthecountess，"IhadthehappinesstobereceivedbyPereAnselme。HeisthoughtthemodelofallChristianvirtues，andyetthegoodfatherisaverylearnedmathematician。"

"Ihavenotsaid，madame，thatthetwoqualitieswereabsolutelyincompatible。"

"ButyoudidsaythatatrueChristiancouldnotattendtoanyspeciesofworkonSunday。Ifso，PereAnselmemustbeanunbeliever；forwhenIwasadmittedtohisroomIfoundhimstandingbeforeablackboardwithabitofchalkinhishand，busywithaproblemwhichwas，nodoubt，knotty，fortheboardwasthree—partscoveredwithalgebraicsigns；andImustaddthathedidnotseemtocareforthescandalthisoughttocause，forhehadwithhimanindividualwhomIamnotallowedtoname，ayoungermanofscience，ofgreatpromise，whowassharinghisprofaneoccupation。"

CelesteandMadameThuillierlookedateachother，andbothsawagleamofhopeintheother’seyes。

"Whycan’tyoutellusthenameofthatyoungmanofscience？"MadameThuillierventuredtosay，forsheneverputanydiplomacyintotheexpressionofherthoughts。

"Becausehehasnot，likePereAnselme，thesaintlinesswhichwouldabsolvehimintheeyesofmonsieurhereforthisflagrantviolationoftheSabbath。Besides，"addedMadamedeGodollo，inasignificantmanner，"heaskedmenottomentionthatIhadmethimthere。"

"Thenyouknowagoodmanyscientificyoungmen？"saidCeleste，interrogatively；"thisoneandMonsieurFelix——thatmakestwo。"

"Mydearlove，"saidthecountess，"youareaninquisitivelittlegirl，andyouwillnotmakemesaywhatIdonotchoosetosay，especiallyafteraconfidencethatPereAnselmemadetome；forifI

did，yourimaginationwouldatoncesetoffatagallop。"

Thegallophadalreadystarted，andeverywordthecountesssaidonlyaddedtotheanxiouseagernessoftheyounggirl。

"Asforme，"saidlaPeyrade，sarcastically，"Ishouldn’tbeatallsurprisedifPereAnselme’syoungcollaboratorwasthatveryFelixPhellion。VoltairealwayskeptverycloserelationswiththeJesuitswhobroughthimup；buthenevertalkedreligionwiththem。"

"Well，myyoungsavantdoestalkofittohisvenerablebrotherinscience；hesubmitshisdoubtstohim；infact，thatwasthebeginningoftheirscientificintimacy。"