Utterlyscaredbytheupsanddownsofindustry，sherefusedtheBaron’soffersofhelp，andhethoughtshemustbemad。SheconfirmedthisopinionbyquarrelingwithMonsieurRivet，whoboughtthebusinessofPonsBrothers，andwithwhomtheBaronwishedtoplaceherinpartnership；shewouldbenomorethanaworkwoman。ThustheFischerfamilyhadrelapsedintotheprecariousmediocrityfromwhichBaronHulothadraisedit。
ThethreebrothersFischer，whohadbeenruinedbytheabdicationatFontainebleau，indespairjoinedtheirregulartroopsin1815。Theeldest，Lisbeth’sfather，waskilled。Adeline’sfather，sentencedtodeathbycourt-martial，fledtoGermany，anddiedatTrevesin1820。
Johann，theyoungest，cametoParis，apetitionertothequeenofthefamily，whowassaidtodineoffgoldandsilverplate，andnevertobeseenatapartybutwithdiamondsinherhairasbigashazel-nuts，giventoherbytheEmperor。
JohannFischer，thenagedforty-three，obtainedfromBaronHulotacapitaloftenthousandfrancswithwhichtostartasmallbusinessasforage-dealeratVersailles，underthepatronageoftheWarOffice，throughtheinfluenceofthefriendsstillinoffice，ofthelateCommissary-General。
Thesefamilycatastrophes，BaronHulot’sdismissal，andtheknowledgethathewasamerecipherinthatimmensestirofmenandinterestsandthingswhichmakesParisatonceaparadiseandahell，quitequelledLisbethFischer。Shegaveupallideaofrivalryandcomparisonwithhercousinafterfeelinghergreatsuperiority；butenvystilllurkedinherheart，likeaplague-germthatmayhatchanddevastateacityifthefatalbaleofwoolisopenedinwhichitisconcealed。