\"Ah！\"thoughtthepoorwomantoherself，\"Ioughttohavehadagentle，peaceful，learnedmanlikethat。Imighthaveslowlydevelopedinalifeofquietness。Itwasnotthywill，OGod！but，Ipraythee，uniteandblessthesechildren；theyaremadeforoneanother。\"
Andshesatthere，pensive，listeningtotheracketmadebyhersister—in—law——aten—horsepoweratwork——whonow，lendingahandtohertwoservants，clearedthetable，takingeverythingoutofthedining—roomtoaccommodatethedancers，vociferating，likethecaptainofafrigateonhisquarter—deckwhentakinghisshipintoaction：
\"Haveyouplentyofraspberrysyrup？\"\"Runoutandbuysomemoreorgeat！\"\"There’snotenoughglasses。Where’sthe’eaurougie’？Takethosesixbottlesof’vinordinaire’andmakemore。MindthatCoffinet，theporter，doesn’tgetany。\"\"Caroline，mygirl，youaretowaitatthesideboard；you’llhavetongueandhamtosliceincasetheydancetillmorning。Butmind，nowaste！Keepaneyeoneverything。Passmethebroom；putmoreoilinthoselamps；don’tmakeblunders。Arrangetheremainsofthedessertsoastomakeashowonthesideboard；askmysistertocomeandhelpus。I’msureIdon’tknowwhatshe’sthinkingabout，thatdawdle！Heavens，howslowsheis！
Here，takeawaythesechairs，they’llwantalltheroomtheycanget。\"
ThesalonwasfullofBarniols，Collevilles，Phellions，Laudigeois，andmanyotherswhomtheannouncementofadanceattheThuilliers’，spreadaboutintheLuxembourgbetweentwoandfourintheafternoon，thehouratwhichthebourgeoisietakesitswalk，haddrawnthither。
\"Areyouready，Brigitte？\"saidColleville，boltingintothedining—
room；\"itisnineo’clock，andtheyarepackedascloseasherringsinthesalon。Cardot，hiswifeandsonanddaughterandfutureson—in—lawhavejustcome，accompaniedbythatyoungVinet；thewholefaubourgSaintAntoineisdebouching。Can’twemovethepianoinhere？\"
Thenhegavethesignal，bytuninghisclarionet，thejoyoussoundsofwhichweregreetedwithhuzzasfromthesalon。
Itisuselesstodescribeaballofthiskind。Thetoilets，faces，andconversationswereallinkeepingwithonefactwhichwillsurelysufficeeventhedullestimagination；theypassedround，ontarnishedanddiscoloredtrays，commontumblersfilledwithwine，\"eaurougie，\"
and\"eausucree。\"Thetraysonwhichwereglassesoforgeatandglassesofsyrupandwaterappearedonlyatlongintervals。Therewerefivecard—tablesandtwenty—fiveplayers，andeighteendancersofbothsexes。Atoneo’clockinthemorning，allpresent——MadameThuillier，MademoiselleBrigitte，MadamePhellion，evenPhellionhimself——weredraggedintothevivacitiesofacountry—dance，vulgarlycalled\"LaBoulangere，\"inwhichDutocqfiguredwithaveiloverhishead，afterthemanneroftheKabyl。Theservantswhowerewaitingtoescorttheirmastershome，andthoseofthehousehold，wereaudiencetothisperformance；andaftertheinterminabledancehadlastedonewholehouritwasproposedtocarryBrigitteintriumphwhenshegavetheannouncementthatsupperwasserved。Thiscircumstancemadeherseethenecessityofhidingadozenbottlesofoldburgundy。Inshort，thecompanyhadamusedthemselvessowell，thematronsaswellastheyounggirls，thatThuillierfoundoccasiontosay：——
\"Well，well，thismorningwelittlethoughtweshouldhavesuchafeteto—night。\"
\"There’snevermorepleasure，\"saidthenotaryCardot，\"thaninjustsuchimprovisedballs。Don’ttalktomeofpartieswhereeverybodystandsonceremony。\"
Thisopinion，wemayremark，isastandingaxiomamongthebourgeoisie。
\"Well，formypart，\"saidMadameMinard，\"Ipreferthedignifiedoldways。\"
\"Wedidn’tmeanthatforyou，madame；yoursalonisthechosenhauntofpleasure，\"saidDutocq。
When\"LaBoulangere\"cametoanend，TheodosepulledDutocqfromthesideboardwherehewaspreparingtoeatasliceoftongue，andsaidtohim：——
\"Letusgo；wemustbeatCerizet’sveryearlyinthemorning；weoughtbothofustothinkoverthataffair；itisnotsoeasytomanageasCerizetseemstoimagine。\"
\"Whynot？\"askedDutocq，bringinghissliceoftonguetoeatinthesalon。
\"Don’tyouknowthelaw？\"
\"Iknowenoughofittobeawareofthedangersoftheaffair。Ifthatnotarywantsthehouseandwefilchitfromhim，therearemeansbywhichhecanrecoverit；hecanputhimselfintotheskinofaregisteredcreditor。Bythepresentlegalsystemrelatingtomortgages，whenahouseissoldattherequestofcreditors，ifthepriceobtainedforitatauctionisnotenoughtopayalldebts，theownershavetherighttobiditinandholditforahighersum；nowthenotary，seeinghimselfcaught，maybackoutofthesaleinthatway。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"itneedsattention。\"
\"Verygood，\"repliedDutocq，\"we’llgoandseeCerizet。\"
Thesewords，\"goandseeCerizet，\"wereoverheardbyMinard，whowasfollowingthetwoassociates；buttheyofferednomeaningtohismind。
Thetwomenweresooutsideofhisowncourseandprojectsthatheheardthemwithoutlisteningtothem。
\"Thishasbeenoneofthefinestdaysinourlives，\"saidBrigittetoherbrother，whenshefoundherselfalonewithhiminthedesertedsalon，athalf—pasttwointhemorning。\"Whatadistinction！tobethusselectedbyyourfellow—citizens！\"
\"Don’tbemistakenaboutit，Brigitte；weoweitall，mychild，tooneman。\"
\"Whatman？\"
\"Toourfriend，laPeyrade。\"
CHAPTERIX
THEBANKEROFTHEPOOR
Itwasnotonthenextday，Monday，butonthefollowingday，Tuesday，thatDutocqandTheodosewenttoseeCerizet，theformerhavingcalledlaPeyrade’sattentiontothefactthatCerizetalwaysabsentedhimselfonSundaysandMondays，takingadvantageofthetotalabsenceofclientsonthosedays，whicharedevotedbythepopulacetodebauch。ThehousetowardwhichtheydirectedtheirstepsisoneofthestrikingfeaturesinthefaubourgSaint—Jacques，anditisquiteasimportanttostudyithereasitwastostudythoseofPhellionandThuillier。Itisnotknown（true，nocommissionhasyetbeenappointedtoexaminethisphenomenon），nooneknowswhycertainquartersbecomedegradedandvulgarized，morallyaswellasmaterially；why，forinstance，theancientresidenceofthecourtandthechurch，theLuxembourgandtheLatinquarter，havebecomewhattheyareto—day，inspiteofthepresenceofthefinestpalacesintheworld，inspiteoftheboldcupolaofSainte—Genevieve，thatofMansardontheVal—de—
Grace，andthecharmsoftheJardindesPlantes。Oneasksone’sselfwhytheeleganceoflifehasleftthatregion；whytheVauquerhouses，thePhellionandtheThuillierhousesnowswarmwithtenantsandboarders，onthesiteofsomanynobleandreligiousbuildings，andwhysuchmudanddirtytradesandpovertyshouldhavefastenedonahillypieceofground，insteadofspreadingoutupontheflatlandbeyondtheconfinesoftheancientcity。
Theangelwhosebeneficenceoncehoveredabovethisquarterbeingdead，usury，onthelowestscale，rushedinandtookhisplace。Totheoldjudge，Popinot，succeededCerizet；andstrangetosay，——afactwhichitiswelltostudy，——theeffectproduced，sociallyspeaking，wasmuchthesame。Popinotloanedmoneywithoutinterest，andwaswillingtolose；Cerizetlostnothing，andcompelledthepoortoworkhardandstayvirtuous。ThepooradoredPopinot，buttheydidnothateCerizet。Here，inthisregion，revolvesthelowestwheelofParisianfinanciering。Atthetop，Nucingen&Co。，theKellers，duTillet，andtheMongenods；alittlelowerdown，thePalmas，Gigonnets，andGobsecks；lowerstill，theSamonons，Chaboisseaus，andBarbets；andlastly（afterthepawn—shops）comesthiskingofusury，whospreadshisnetsatthecornersofthestreetstoentangleallmiseriesandmissnone，——Cerizet，\"moneylenderbythelittleweek。\"
Thefroggedfrock—coatwillhavepreparedyouforthedeninwhichthisconvictedstock—brokercarriedonhispresentbusiness。
Thehousewashumidwithsaltpetre；thewalls，sweatingmoisture，wereenamelledalloverwithlargeslabsofmould。StandingatthecorneroftheruedesPostesandruedesPoules，itpresentedfirstaground—
floor，occupiedpartlybyashopforthesaleofthecommonestkindofwine，paintedacoarsebrightred，decoratedwithcurtainsofredcalico，furnishedwithaleadencounter，andguardedbyformidableironbars。Abovethegateofanodiousalleyhungafrightfullantern，onwhichwerethewords\"Nightlodgingshere。\"Theouterwallswerecoveredwithironcrossbars，showing，apparently，theinsecurityofthebuilding，whichwasownedbythewine—merchant，whoalsoinhabitedtheentresol。ThewidowPoiret（neeMichonneau）keptfurnishedlodgingsonthefirst，second，andthirdfloors，consistingofsingleroomsforworkmenandforthepoorestclassofstudents。
Cerizetoccupiedoneroomontheground—floorandanotherintheentresol，towhichhemountedbyaninteriorstaircase；thisentresollookedoutuponahorriblepavedcourt，fromwhicharosemephiticodors。CerizetpaidfortyfrancsamonthtothewidowPoiretforhisbreakfastanddinner；hethusconciliatedherbybecomingherboarder；
healsomadehimselfacceptabletothewine—merchantbyprocuringhimanimmensesaleofwineandliquorsamonghisclients——profitsrealizedbeforesunrise；thewine—shopbeginningoperationsaboutthreeinthemorninginsummer，andfiveinwinter。
ThehourofthegreatMarket，whichsomanyofhisclients，maleandfemale，attended，wasthedeterminingcauseofCerizet’searlyhours。
TheSieurCadenet，thewine—merchant，inviewofthecustomwhichheowedtotheusurer，hadlethimthetworoomsforthelowpriceofeightyfrancsayear，andhadgivenhimaleasefortwelveyears，whichCerizetalonehadarighttobreak，withoutpayingindemnity，atthreemonths’notice。Cadenetalwayscarriedinabottleofexcellentwineforthedinnerofthisusefultenant；andwhenCerizetwasshortofmoneyhehadonlytosaytohisfriend，\"Cadenet，lendmeafewhundredfrancs，\"——loanswhichhefaithfullyrepaid。
Cadenet，itwassaid，hadproofofthewidowPoirethavingdepositedinCerizet’shandssometwothousandfrancsforinvestment，whichmayexplaintheprogressofthelatter’saffairssincethedaywhenhefirsttookuphisabodeinthequarter，suppliedwithalastnoteofathousandfrancsandDutocq’sprotection。Cadenet，promptedbyacupiditywhichsuccessincreased，hadproposed，earlyintheyear，toputtwentythousandfrancsintothehandsofhisfriendCerizet。ButCerizethadpositivelydeclinedthem，onthegroundthatheranrisksofanaturetobecomeapossiblecauseofdisputewithassociates。
\"Icouldonly，\"hesaidtoCadenet，\"takethematsixpercentinterest，andyoucandobetterthanthatinyourownbusiness。Wewillgointopartnershiplater，ifyoulike，insomeseriousenterprise，somegoodopportunitywhichmayrequire，say，fiftythousandfrancs。Whenyouhavegotthatsumtoinvest，letmeknow，andwe’lltalkaboutit。\"
CerizethadonlysuggestedtheaffairofthehousetoTheodoseaftermakingsurethatamongthethree，MadamePoiret，Cadenet，andhimself，itwasimpossibletoraisethefullsumofonehundredthousandfrancs。
The\"lenderbythelittleweek\"wasthusinperfectsafetyinhisden，wherehecouldeven，ifnecessitycame，appealtothelaw。Oncertainmorningstheremightbeseenasmanyassixtyoreightypersons，menasoftenaswomen，eitherinthewine—shop，orthealley，orsittingonthestaircase，forthedistrustfulCerizetwouldonlyadmitsixpersonsatatimeintohisoffice。Thefirstcomerswerefirstserved，andeachhadtogobyhisnumber，whichthewine—merchant，orhisshop—boy，affixedtothehatsofthemanandthebacksofthewomen。
Sometimestheclientswouldselltoeachother（ashackney—coachmendoonthecabstands），headnumbersfortailnumbers。Oncertaindays，whenthemarketbusinesswaspressing，aheadnumberwasoftensoldforaglassofbrandyandasou。Thenumbers，astheyissuedfromCerizet’soffice，calledupthesucceedingnumbers；andifanydisputesaroseCadenetputastoptothefrayatoncemyremarking：——
\"Ifyougetthepolicehereyouwon’tgainanything；HE’llshutupshop。\"
HEwasCerizet’sname。When，inthecourseoftheday，somehaplesswoman，withoutanatomoffoodinherroom，andseeingherchildrenpalewithhunger，wouldcometoborrowtenortwentysous，shewouldsaytothewine—merchantanxiously：——
\"IsHEthere？\"
Cadenet，ashort，stoutman，dressedinblue，withoutersleevesofblackstuffandawine—merchant’sapron，andalwayswearingacap，seemedanangeltothesemotherswhenherepliedtothem：——
\"HEtoldmethatyouwereanhonestwomanandImightgiveyoufortysous。Youknowwhatyoumustdoaboutit——\"
And，strangetosay，HEwasblessedbythesepoorpeople，evenastheyhadlatelyblessedPopinot。
ButCerizetwascursedonSundaymorningswhenaccountsweresettled；
andtheycursedhimevenmoreonSaturdays，whenitwasnecessarytoworkinordertorepaythesumborrowedwithinterest。But，afterall，hewasProvidence，hewasGodfromTuesdaytoFridayofeveryweek。
Theroomwhichhemadehisoffice，formerlythekitchenofthenextfloor，wasbare；thebeamsoftheceilinghadbeenwhitewashed，butstillboremarksofsmoke。Thewalls，alongwhichhehadputbenches，andthestonefloor，retainedandgaveoutdampness。Thefireplace，wherethecraneremained，waspartlyfilledbyanironstoveinwhichCerizetburnedsea—coalwhentheweatherwassevere。Aplatformabouthalfafoothighandeightfeetsquareextendedfromtheedgeofthefireplace；onitwasfastenedacommontableandanarmchairwitharoundcushioncoveredwithgreenleather。Behindhim，Cerizethadsheathedthewallswithplanks；alsoprotectinghimselfwithalittlewoodenscreen，paintedwhite，fromthedraughtbetweenthewindowanddoor；butthisscreen，madeoftwoleaves，wassoplacedthatthewarmthfromthestovereachedhim。Thewindowhadenormousinsideshuttersofcast—iron，held，whenclosed，byabar。Thedoorcommandedrespectbyanarmorofthesamecharacter。
Atthefartherendofthisroom，inacorner，wasaspiral—staircase，coming，evidently，fromsomepulled—downshop，andboughtintherueChaponbyCadenet，whohadfitteditthroughtheceilingintotheroomintheentresoloccupiedbyCerizet。Inordertopreventallcommunicationwiththeupperfloors，Cerizethadexactedthatthedoorofthatroomwhichopenedonthecommonlandingshouldbewalledup。
Theplacehadthusbecomeafortress。Thebedroomabovehadacheapcarpetboughtfortwentyfrancs，anironbedstead，abureau，threechairs，andanironsafe，madebyagoodworkman，whichCerizethadboughtatabargain。Heshavedbeforeaglassonthechimney—piece；heownedtwopairsofcottonsheetsandsixcottonshirts；therestofhisvisiblewardrobewasofthesamecharacter。CadenethadonceseenCerizetdressedlikeadandyoftheperiod；hemust，therefore，havekepthidden，insomedrawerofhisbureau，acompletedisguisewithwhichhecouldgototheopera，seetheworld，andnotberecognized，for，haditnotbeenthatCadenetheardhisvoice，hewouldcertainlyhaveaskedhimwhohewas。
Whatpleasedtheclientsofthismanmostwashisjovialityandhisrepartees；hetalkedtheirlanguage。Cadenet，histwoshop—men，andCerizet，livinginthemidstofdreadfulmisery，behavedwiththecalmnessofundertakersinpresenceofafflictedheirs，ofoldsergeantsoftheGuardamongheapsofdead。Theynomoreshudderedonhearingcriesofhungeranddespairthansurgeonsshudderatthecriesoftheirpatientsinhospital；theysaid，asthesoldiersandthedresserssaid，theperfunctorywords，\"Havepatience！alittlecourage！What’sthegoodofgrieving？Supposeyoukillyourself，whatthen？Onegetsaccustomedtoeverything；bereasonable！\"
ThoughCerizettooktheprecautiontohidethemoneynecessaryforhismorningoperationsinthehollowseatofthechairinwhichhesat，takingoutnomorethanahundredfrancsatatime，whichheputinthepocketsofhistrousers，neverdippingintothefundsofthechairexceptbetweentheentranceoftwobatchesofclients（keepinghisdoorlockedandnotopeningittillallwassafelystowedinhispockets），hehadreallynothingtofearfromthevariousdespairswhichfoundtheirwayfromallsidestothisrendezvousofmisery。
Certainly，therearemanydifferentwaysofbeinghonestandvirtuous；
andthe\"MonographofVirtue\"hasnootherbasisthanthissocialaxiom。[*]Amanisfalsetohisconscience；hefails，apparently，indelicacy；heforfeitsthatbloomofhonorwhich，thoughlost，doesnot，asyet，meangeneraldisrepute；atlast，however，hefailsdecidedlyinhonor；ifhefallsintothehandsofthecorrectionalpolice，heisnot，asyet，guiltyofcrimebeforethecourtofassizes；butafterheisbrandedwithinfamybytheverdictofajuryhemaystillbehonoredatthegalleysforthespeciesofhonorandintegritypractisedbycriminalsamongthemselves，whichconsistsinnotbetrayingeachother，insharingbootyloyally，andinrunningalldangers。Well，thislastformofhonor——whichisperhapsacalculation，anecessity，thepracticeofwhichofferscertainopportunitiesforgrandeurtotheguiltymanandthepossibilityofareturntogood——reignedabsolutelybetweenCerizetandhisclients。
NeverdidCerizetmakeanerror，norhispoorpeopleeither；neithersideeverdeniedwhatwasdue，eithercapitalorinterests。ManyatimeCerizet，whowasbornamongthepeople，correctedfromoneweektoanothersomeaccidentalerror，tothebenefitofapoormanwhohadneverdiscoveredit。HewascalledaJew，butanhonestone，andhiswordinthatcityofsorrowswassacred。Awomandied，causingalosstohimofthirtyfrancs：
[*]Abookonwhichtheauthorhasbeenatworksince1833，theyearinwhichitwasfirstannounced。——Author’snote。
\"Seemyprofits！theretheygo！\"hesaidtohisassemblage，\"andyouhowluponme！YouknowI’llnevertroublethebrats；infact，Cadenethasalreadytakenthembreadandheel—taps。\"
Afterthatitwassaidofhiminbothfaubourgs：——
\"Heisnotabadfellow！\"
The\"loanbythelittleweek，\"asinterpretedbyCerizet，isnot，consideringallthings，socruelathingasthepawn—shop。CerizetloanedtenfrancsTuesdayonconditionofreceivingtwelvefrancsSundaymorning。Infiveweekshedoubledhiscapital；buthehadtomakemanycompromises。Hiskindnessconsistedinaccepting，fromtimetotime，elevenfrancsandfiftycentimes；sometimesthewholeinterestwasstillowing。Whenhegavefiftyfrancsforsixtytoafruit—stallman，orahundredfrancsforonehundredandtwentytoasellerofpeat—fuel，herangreatrisks。
OnreachingtheruedesPoulesthroughtheruedesPostes，TheodoseandDutocqsawagreatassemblageofmenandwomen，andbythelightwhichthewine—merchant’slittleoil—lampscastuponthesegroups，theywerehorrifiedatbeholdingthatmassofred，seamed，haggardfaces；solemnwithsuffering，withered，distorted，swollenwithwine，pallidfromliquor；somethreatening，othersresigned，somesarcasticorjeering，othersbesotted；allrisingfromthemidstofthoseterriblerags，whichnodesignercansurpassinhismostextravagantcaricatures。
\"Ishallberecognized，\"saidTheodose，pullingDutocqaway；\"wehavedoneafoolishthingtocomehereatthishourandtakehiminthemidstofhisbusiness。\"
\"AllthemorethatClaparonmaybesleepinginhislair，theinteriorofwhichweknownothingabout。Yes，therearedangersforyou，butnoneforme；Ishallbethoughttohavebusinesswithmycopying—
clerk，andI’llgoandtellhimtocomeanddinewithus；thisiscourtday，sowecan’thavehimtobreakfast。I’lltellhimtomeetusatthe’Chaumiere’inoneofthegardendining—rooms。\"
\"Bad；anybodycouldlistentoustherewithoutbeingseen，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Ipreferthe’PetitRocherdeCancale’；wecangointoaprivateroomandspeaklow。\"
\"ButsupposeyouareseenwithCerizet？\"
\"Well，then，let’sgotothe’ChevalRouge，’quaidelaTournelle。\"
\"That’sbest；seveno’clock；nobodywillbetherethen。\"
Dutocqadvancedaloneintothemidstofthatcongressofbeggars，andheheardhisownnamerepeatedfrommouthtomouth，forhecouldhardlyfailtoencounteramongthemsomejail—birdfamiliarwiththejudge’soffice，justasTheodosewascertaintohavemetaclient。
Inthesequartersthejustice—of—peaceisthesupremeauthority；alllegalcontestsstopshortathisoffice，especiallysincethelawwaspassedgivingtothosejudgessovereignpowerinallcasesoflitigationinvolvingnotoveronehundredandfortyfrancs。Awaywasmadeforthejudge’sclerk，whowasnotlessfearedthanthejudgehimself。Hesawwomenseatedonthestaircase；ahorribledisplayofpallorandsufferingofmanykinds。Dutocqwasalmostasphyxiatedwhenheopenedthedooroftheroominwhichalreadysixtypersonshadlefttheirodors。
\"Yournumber？yournumber？\"criedseveralvoices。
\"Holdyourjaw！\"criedagruffvoicefromthestreet，\"that’sthepenofthejudge。\"
Profoundsilencefollowed。Dutocqfoundhiscopyingclerkclothedinajacketofyellowleatherlikethatoftheglovesofthegendarmerie，beneathwhichheworeanignoblewaistcoatofknittedwool。Thereadermustimaginetheman’sdiseasedheadissuingfromthisspeciesofscabbardandcoveredwithamiserableMadrashandkerchief，which，leavingtoviewtheforeheadandneck，gavetothathead，bythegleamofatallowcandleoftwelvetothepound，itsnaturallyhideousandthreateningcharacter。
\"Itcan’tbedonethatway，papaLantimeche，\"Cerizetwassayingtoatalloldman，seemingtobeaboutseventyyearsofage，whowasstandingbeforehimwitharedwoollencapinhishand，exhibitingabaldhead，andabreastcoveredwithwhitehairsvisiblethroughhismiserablelinenjacket。\"Tellmeexactlywhatyouwanttoundertake。
Onehundredfrancs，evenonconditionofgettingbackonehundredandtwenty，can’tbeletloosethatway，likeadoginachurch——\"
Thefiveotherapplicants，amongwhomweretwowomen，bothwithinfants，oneknitting，theothersucklingherchild，burstoutlaughing。
WhenCerizetsawDutocq，heroserespectfullyandwentratherhastilytomeethim，addingtohisclient：——
\"Taketimetoreflect；for，don’tyousee？itmakesmedoubtfultohavesuchasumasthat，onehundredfrancs！askedforbyanoldjourneymanlocksmith！\"
\"ButItellyouitconcernsaninvention，\"criedtheoldworkman。
\"Aninventionandonehundredfrancs！\"saidDutocq。\"Youdon’tknowthelaws；youmusttakeoutapatent，andthatcoststwothousandfrancs，andyouwantinfluence。\"
\"Allthatistrue，\"saidCerizet，who，however，reckonedagooddealonsuchchances。\"Cometo—morrowmorning，papaLantimeche，atsixo’clock，andwe’lltalkitover；youcan’ttalkinventionsinpublic。\"
CerizetthenturnedtoDutocqwhosefirstwordswere：——
\"Ifthethingturnsoutwell，halfprofits！\"
\"Whydidyougetupatthistimeinthemorningtocomehereandsaythattome？\"demandedthedistrustfulCerizet，alreadydispleasedwiththementionof\"halfprofits。\"\"Youcouldhaveseenmeasusualattheoffice。\"
AndhelookedaskanceatDutocq；thelatter，whiletellinghimhiserrandandspeakingofClaparonandthenecessityofpushingforwardintheTheodoseaffair，seemedconfused。
\"Allthesameyoucouldhaveseenmethismorningattheoffice，\"
repeatedCerizet，conductinghisvisitortothedoor。
\"There’saman，\"thoughthe，ashereturnedtohisseat，\"whoseemstometohavebreathedonhislanternsothatImaynotseeclear。Well，well，I’llgiveupthatplaceofcopyingclerk。Ha！yourturn，littlemother！\"hecried；\"youinventchildren！That’samusingenough，thoughthetrickiswellknown。\"
Itisallthemoreuselesstorelatetheconversationwhichtookplacebetweenthethreeconfederatesatthe\"ChevalRouge，\"becausethearrangementsthereconcludedwerethebasisofcertainconfidencesmade，asweshallsee，byTheodosetoMademoiselleThuillier；butitisnecessarytoremarkthattheclevernessdisplayedbylaPeyradeseemedalmostalarmingtoCerizetandDutocq。Afterthisconference，thebankerofthepoor，findinghimselfincompanywithsuchpowerfulplayers，haditinmindtomakesureofhisownstakeatthefirstchance。Towinthegameatanypriceovertheheadsoftheablestgamblers，bycheatingifnecessary，istheinspirationofaspecialsortofvanitypeculiartofriendsofthegreencloth。HencecametheterribleblowwhichlaPeyradewasabouttoreceive。
Heknewhistwoassociateswell；andtherefore，inspiteoftheperpetualactivityofhisintellectualforces，inspiteoftheperpetualwatchfulnesshispersonalityoftenfacesrequired，nothingfatiguedhimasmuchastheparthehadtoplaywithhistwoaccomplices。Dutocqwasagreatknave，andCerizethadoncebeenacomicactor；theywerebothexpertsinhumbug。AmotionlessfacelikeTalleyrand’swouldhavemadethenbreakatoncewiththeProvencal，whowasnowintheirclutches；itwasnecessary，therefore，thatheshouldmakeashowofeaseandconfidenceandofplayingaboveboard——
theveryheightofartinsuchaffairs。Todeludethepitisanevery—
daytriumph，buttodeceiveMademoiselleMars，FredericLemaitre，Potier，Talma，Monrose，istheacmeofart。
Thisconferenceatthe\"ChevalRouge\"hadthereforetheresultofgivingtolaPeyrade，whowasfullyassagaciousasCerizet，asecretfear，which，duringthelatterperiodofthisdaringgame，sofiredhisbloodandheatedhisbrainthattherecamemomentswhenhefellintothemorbidconditionofthegambler，whofollowswithhiseyetherolloftheballonwhichhehasstakedhislastpenny。Thesensesthenhavealucidityintheiractionandthemindtakesarange，whichhumanknowledgehasnomeansofmeasuring。