CHAPTERX
HOWBRIGITTEWASWON
Thedayafterthisconferenceatthe\"ChevalRouge，\"laPeyradewenttodinewiththeThuilliers，andonthecommonplacepretextofavisittopay，Thuilliercarriedoffhiswife，leavingTheodosealonewithBrigitte。NeitherThuillier，norhissister，norTheodose，werethedupesofthiscomedy；buttheoldbeauoftheEmpireconsideredthemanoeuvreapieceofdiplomacy。
\"Youngman，donottakeadvantageofmysister’sinnocence；respectit，\"saidThuilliersolemnly，ashedeparted。
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidTheodose，drawinghischairclosertothesofawhereBrigittesatknitting，\"haveyouthoughtofinducingthebusinessmenofthearrondissementtosupportThuillier’sinterests？\"
\"HowcanI？\"sheasked。
\"Why！youareincloserelationswithBarbetandMetivier。\"
\"Ah！youareright！Faith！youarenoblunderer！\"shesaidafterapause。
\"Whenweloveourfriends，weservethem，\"hereplied，sententiously。
TocaptureBrigittewouldbelikecarryingtheredoubtoftheMoskowa，theculminatingstrategicpoint。Butitwasnecessarytopossessthatoldmaidasthedevilwassupposedinthemiddleagestopossessmen，andinawaytomakeanyawakeningimpossibleforher。ForthelastthreedayslaPeyradehadbeenmeasuringhimselfforthetask；hehadcarefullyreconnoitredthegroundtoseealldifficulty。Flattery，thatalmostinfalliblemeansinablehands，wouldcertainlymiscarrywithawomanwhoforyearshadknownshehadnobeauty。Butamanofstrongwillfindsnothingimpregnable；theLamarquescouldneverhavefailedtotakeCapri。Therefore，nothingmustbeomittedfromthememorablescenewhichwasnowtotakeplace；allthingsaboutithadtheirownimportance，——inflectionsofthevoice，pauses，glances，loweredeyes。
\"But，\"rejoinedBrigitte，\"youhavealreadyprovedtousyouraffection。\"
\"Yourbrotherhastoldyou——？\"
\"No，hemerelytoldmethatyouhadsomethingtotellme。\"
\"Yes，mademoiselle，Ihave；foryouarethemanofthefamily。Inreflectingonthismatter，Ifindmanydangersformyself，suchasamanonlyrisksforhisnearestanddearest。Itinvolvesafortune；
thirtytofortythousandfrancsayear，andnottheslightestspeculation——apieceoflandedproperty。ThehopeofhelpingThuilliertowinsuchafortuneenticedmefromthefirst。’Itfascinatesme，’I
saidtohim——for，unlessamanisanabsolutefool，hecan’thelpaskinghimself：’Whyshouldhecaretodousallthisgood？’SoItoldhimfranklythatinworkingforhisinterests，IflatteredmyselfI
wasworkingformyown，asI’llexplaintoyoulater。Ifhewishestobedeputy，twothingsareabsolutelynecessary：tocomplywiththelawastoproperty，andtowinforhisnamesomesortofpubliccelebrity。
IfImyselfpushmydevotiontothepointofhelpinghimtowriteabookonpublicfinanciering——oranythingelse，nomatterwhat——whichwouldgivehimthatcelebrity，Ioughtalsotothinkoftheothermatter，hisproperty——itwouldbeabsurdtoexpectyoutogivehimthishouse——\"
\"Formybrother？Why，I’dputitinhisnameto—morrow，\"criedBrigitte。\"Youdon’tknowme。\"
\"Idon’tknowyouthoroughly，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"butIdoknowthingsaboutyouwhichnowmakemeregretthatIdidnottellyouthewholeaffairfromitsorigin；ImeanfromthemomentwhenIconceivedtheplantowhichThuillierwillowehisnomination。Hewillbehunteddownbyenvyandjealousy，andthetaskofupholdinghimwillbeahardone；wemust，however，getthebetterofhisrivalsandtakethewindoutoftheirsails。\"
\"Butthisaffair，\"saidBrigitte，\"whatarethedifficulties？\"
\"Mademoiselle，thedifficultiesliewithinmyownconscience。
Assuredly，Icouldnotserveyouinthismatterwithoutfirstconsultingmyconfessor。Fromaworldlypointofview——oh！theaffairisperfectlylegal，andIam——you’llunderstandme？——abarristerinscribedonthepanel，thatis，memberofabarcontrolledbythestrictestrules。Iamthereforeincapableofproposinganenterprisewhichmightgiveoccasionforblame。Inthefirstplace，Imyselfdon’tmakeapennybyit。\"
Brigittewasonthorns；herfacewasflaming；shebrokeherwool，mendedit，brokeitagain，anddidnotknowwhichwaytolook。
\"Onecan’tget，\"shesaid，\"inthesedays，fortythousandfrancsayearfromlandedpropertyunlessitisworthonemillioneighthundredthousand。\"
\"Well，Iwillundertakethatyoushallseeapieceofpropertyandestimateyourselfitsprobablerevenue，whichIcanmakeThuilliertheownerofforfiftythousandfrancsdown。\"
\"Oh！ifyoucanmakeusobtainthat！\"criedBrigitte，workeduptothehighestexcitementbythespurofhernaturalcupidity。\"Goon，mydearMonsieurTheodose，and——\"
Shestoppedshort。
\"Well，mademoiselle？\"
\"Youwill，perhaps，havedoneyourselfaservice。\"
\"Ah！ifThuillierhastoldyoumysecret，Imustleavethishouse。\"
Brigittelookedup。
\"DidhetellyouthatIloveCeleste？\"
\"No，onmywordofhonor！\"criedBrigitte，\"butImyselfwasjustabouttospeakofher。\"
\"Andofferhertome？Oh！mayGodforgiveus！Icanonlywinherofherself，herparents，byafreechoice——No，no，allIaskofyouisyourgood—will，yourprotection。Promiseme，asThuillierhas，inreturnformyservicesyourinfluence，yourfriendship；tellmethatyouwilltreatmeasason。Ifyouwilldothat，Iwillabidebyyourdecisioninthismatter；Icantrustit；Ineednotspeaktomyconfessor。Forthelasttwoyears，eversinceIhaveseenmuchofthisfamily，towhomIwouldfaingivemypowersanddevotemyutmostenergy——for，Ishallsucceed！surelyIshall！——Ihaveobservedthatyourintegrity，yourhonoristhatoftheoldentime，yourjudgmentrighteousandinflexible。Also，youhaveaknowledgeofbusiness；andthesequalitiescombinedareprecioushelpstoaman。Withamother—
in—law，asImaysay，ofyourpowers，Ishouldfindmyhomeliferelievedofacrowdofcaresanddetailsastoproperty，whichhinderaman’sadvanceinapoliticalcareerifheisforcedtoattendtothem。IadmiredyoudeeplyonSundayevening。Ah！youwerefine！Howyoudidmanagematters！Intenminutesthatdining—roomwascleared！
And，withoutgoingoutsideofyourownapartment，youhadeverythingathandfortherefreshments，forthesupper！’There，’Isaidtomyself，asIwatchedyou，’isatrue\"maitresse—femme\"——amasterlywoman！’\"
Brigitte’snostrilsdilated；shebreathedinthewordsoftheyounglawyer。Hegaveheraside—longglancetoenjoyhistriumph；hehadtouchedtherightchordinherbreast。
Atthismomenthewasstanding，buthenowresumedhisseatbesideher，andsaid：——
\"Nowhereisouraffair，dearaunt——foryouwillbeasortofaunt——\"
\"Hush！younaughtyfellow！\"saidBrigitte，\"andgoon。\"
\"I’lltellyouthematterroughly——andremark，ifyouplease，thatI
compromisemyselfintellingittoyou；forthesesecretsareentrustedtomeasalawyer。ThereforeunderstandthatyouandIarebothcommittingacrime，sotospeak，ofleze—confidence！AnotaryofPariswasinpartnershipwithanarchitect；theyboughtlandandbuiltuponit；atthepresentmoment，propertyhascomedownwitharush；
theyfindthemselvesembarrassed——butallthatdoesn’tconcernus。
Amongthehousesbuiltbythisillegalpartnership——fornotaries，youknow，aresworntohavenothingtodowithenterprises——isaverygoodonewhich，notbeingfinished，mustbesoldatagreatsacrifice；sogreatthattheynowaskonlyonehundredthousandfrancsforit，althoughthecostofthelandandthebuildingwasatleastfourhundredthousand。Asthewholeinteriorisstillunfinished，thevalueofwhatisstilltodoiseasilyappraised；itwillprobablynotbemorethanfiftythousandfrancs。Now，owingtoitsexcellentposition，thishouse，whenfinished，willcertainlybringinarental，overandabovethetaxes，offortythousandfrancsayear。Itisbuiltoffreestone，thecornersandcopingsofcutgranite；thefacadeiscoveredwithhandsomecarvings，onwhichtheyspentmorethantwentythousandfrancs；thewindowsareplateglasswithanewstyleoffasteningcalled’cremona。’\"
\"Well，whereisthedifficulty？\"
\"Justhere：thenotarywantstoreservetohimselfthisbitofthecakeheisforcedtosurrender；heis，underthenameofafriend，thecreditorwhorequeststhesaleofthepropertybytheassigneeofthebankruptcy。Thecasehasnotbeenbroughtintocourt；forlegalproceedingscostsomuchmoney。Thesaleistobemadebyvoluntaryagreement。Now，thisnotaryhasappliedtooneofmyclientstolendhimhisnameforthispurchase。Myclient，apoordevil，saystome：
’There’safortunetomadeoutofthathousebyfoolingthenotary。’\"
\"Andtheydothatsortofthinginbusiness！\"saidBrigitte，quickly。
\"Ifthatweretheonlydifficulty，\"continuedTheodose，\"itwouldbe，asafriendofminesaidtohispupil，whowascomplainingofthelengthoftimeittooktoproducemasterpiecesinpainting：’Mydearyoungfellow，ifitwerenotso，ourvaletswouldbepaintingpictures。’But，mademoiselle，ifwenowgetthebetterofthisnotary，whocertainlydeservesit，forhehascompromisedanumberofprivatefortunes，yet，asheisaveryshrewdman（thoughanotary），itmightperhapsbeverydifficulttodoitasecondtime，andhere’stherub：
Whenapieceoflandedpropertyisboughtataforcedsale，ifthosewhohavelentmoneyonthatpropertyseethatislikelytobesoldsolowasnottocoverthesumloaneduponit，theyhavetheright，untiltheexpirationofacertaintime，tobiditin；thatis，tooffermoreandkeepthepropertyintheirownhands。Ifthistrickstercan’tbehoodwinkedastothesalebeingabonafideoneuntilthetimewhenhisrighttobuyitexpires，someotherschememustberesortedto。
Now，isthisbusinessstrictlylegal？AmIjustifiedindoingitforthebenefitofafamilyIseektoenter？ThatisthequestionIhavebeenrevolvinginmymindforthelastthreedays。\"
Brigitte，wemustacknowledge，hesitated，andTheodosethenbroughtforwardhislastcard：——
\"Takethenighttothinkofit，\"hesaid，\"to—morrowwewilltalkitover。\"
\"Myyoungfriend，\"saidBrigitte，lookingatthelawyerwithanalmostlovingair，\"thefirstthingtobedoneistoseethehouse。Whereisit？\"
\"NeartheMadeleine。ThatwillbetheheartofParisintenyears。Allthatpropertyhasbeendesirablesince1819；thebankerDuTillet’sfortunewasderivedfrompropertyaboutthere。ThefamousfailureofMaitreRoquin，whichcarriedterrortoallParis，anddidsuchharmtotheconfidencegiventothenotariat，wasalsocausedbyit；theywentintoheavyspeculationsonthatlandtoosoon；theyshouldhavewaiteduntilnow。\"
\"Irememberaboutthat，\"saidBrigitte。
\"Thehousemightbefinishedbytheendoftheyear，\"continuedTheodose，\"andtherentalscouldbeginnextspring。\"
\"Couldwegothereto—morrow？\"
\"Dearaunt，Iamatyourorders。\"
\"Ahca！\"shecried，\"don’tcallmethatbeforepeople。Astothisaffair，\"shecontinued，\"Ican’thaveanyopinionuntilIhaveseenthehouse。\"
\"Ithassixstoreys；ninewindowsonthefront；afinecourtyard，fourshops，anditstandsonacorner。Ah！thatnotaryknowswhatheisaboutinwishingtoholdontosuchpiecesofproperty！Butletpoliticaleventsinterfere，anddowngotheFunds！IfIwereyou，I
shouldselloutallthatyouandMadameThuillierhaveontheGrandLivreandbuythisfinepieceofrealestateforThuillier，andI’drecoverthefortuneofthatpoor，piouscreaturebysavingsfromitsproceeds。CantheFundsgohigherthantheyareto—day？Onehundredandtwenty—two！itisfabulous；Ishouldmakehastetosell。\"
Brigittelickedherlips；sheperceivedthemeansofkeepingherownpropertyintact，andofenrichingherbrotherbythisuseofMadameThuillier’sfortune。
\"Mybrotherisright，\"shesaidtoTheodose；\"youcertainlyarearareman；you’llgetonintheworld。\"
\"Andhe’llwalkbeforeme，\"respondedTheodosewithanaivetethattouchedtheoldmaid。
\"Youwillliveinthefamily，\"shesaid。
\"Theremaybeobstaclestothat，\"heremarked。\"MadameThuillierisveryqueerattimes；shedoesn’tlikeme。\"
\"Ha！I’llsettlethat，\"criedBrigitte。\"Doyouattendtothataffairandcarryitthroughifitisfeasible，andleaveyourinterestsinmyhands。\"
\"Thuillier，memberofthemunicipalcouncil，ownerofanestatewitharentaloffortythousandfrancsayear，withthecrossoftheLegionofhonorandtheauthorofapoliticalwork，grave，serious，important，willbedeputyattheforthcominggeneralelection。But，betweenourselves，littleaunt，onecouldn’tdevoteone’sselfsoutterlyexceptforafather—in—law。\"
\"Youareright。\"
\"ThoughIhavenofortuneIshallhavedoubledyours；andifthisaffairgoesthroughdiscreetly，otherswillturnup。\"
\"UntilIhaveseenthehouse，\"saidMademoiselleThuillieragain，\"I
candecideonnothing。\"
\"Wellthen，sendforacarriageto—morrowandletusgothere。Iwillgetaticketearlyinthemorningtoviewthepremises。\"
\"To—morrow，then，aboutmid—day，\"respondedBrigitte，holdingoutherhandtoTheodosethathemightshakeit，butinsteadofthathelaiduponitthemostrespectfulandthemosttenderkissthatBrigittehadeverinherlifereceived。
\"Adieu，mychild，\"shesaid，ashereachedthedoor。
Sherangthebellhurriedlyandwhentheservantcame：——
\"Josephine，\"shecried，\"goatoncetoMadameColleville，andaskhertocomeoverandspeaktome。\"
FifteenminuteslaterFlavieenteredthesalon，whereBrigittewaswalkingupanddown，inastateofextremeagitation。
\"Mydear，\"shecriedonseeingFlavie，\"youcandomeagreatservice，whichconcernsourdearCeleste。YouknowTullia，don’tyou？——adanseuseattheopera；mybrotherwasalwaysdinningherintomyearsatonetime。\"
\"Yes，Iknowher；butsheisnolongeradanseuse；sheisMadamelaComtesseduBruel。HerhusbandispeerofFrance！\"
\"Doesshestilllikeyou？\"
\"Weneverseeeachothernow。\"
\"Well，IknowthatChaffaroux，therichcontractor，isheruncle，\"
saidBrigitte。\"Heisoldandwealthy。Goandseeyourformerfriend，andgethertogiveyoualineofintroductiontohim，sayinghewoulddoheraneminentfavorifhewouldgiveapieceoffriendlyadvicetothebearerofthenote，andthenyouandIwilltakeittohimto—morrowaboutoneo’clock。ButtellTulliashemustrequestheruncletokeepsecretaboutit。Go，mydear。Celeste，ourdearchild，willbeamillionaire！Ican’tsaymore；butshe’llhave，fromme，ahusbandwhowillputheronapinnacle。\"
\"Doyouwantmetotellyouthefirstlettersofhisname？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"T。P。，——TheodosedelaPeyrade。Youareright。That’samanwhomay，ifsupportedbyawomanlikeyou，becomeaminister。\"
\"ItisGodhimselfwhohasplacedhiminourhouse！\"criedtheoldmaid。
AtthismomentMonsieurandMadameThuillierreturnedhome。
Fivedayslater，inthemonthofApril，theordinancewhichconvokedtheelectorstoappointamemberofthemunicipalcouncilonthe20thofthesamemonthwasinsertedinthe\"Moniteur，\"andplacardedaboutParis。Forseveralweekstheministry，calledthatofMarch1st，hadbeeninpower。Brigittewasinacharminghumor。ShehadbeenconvincedofthetruthofalllaPeyrade’sassertions。Thehouse，visitedfromgarrettocellarbyoldChaffaroux，wasadmittedbyhimtobeanadmirableconstruction；poorGrindot，thearchitect，whowasinterestedwiththenotaryandClaparonintheaffair，thoughttheoldmanwasemployedintheinterestsofthecontractor；theoldfellowhimselfthoughthewasactingintheinterestsofhisniece，andhegaveitashisopinionthatthirtythousandfrancswouldfinishthehouse。Thus，inthecourseofoneweeklaPeyradebecameBrigitte’sgod；andsheprovedtohimbythemostnaivelynefariousargumentsthatfortuneshouldbeseizedwhenitoffereditself。
\"Well，ifthereISanysininthebusiness，\"shesaidtohiminthemiddleofthegarden，\"youcanconfessit。\"
\"Thedevil！\"criedThuillier，\"amanoweshimselftohisrelatives，andyouareoneofusnow。\"
\"ThenIdecidetodoit，\"repliedlaPeyrade，inavoiceofemotion；
\"butonconditionsthatImustnowdistinctlystate。Iwillnot，inmarryingCeleste，beaccusedofgreedandmercenarymotives。Ifyoulayremorseuponme，atleastyoumustconsentthatIshallremainasIamforthepresent。DonotsettleuponCeleste，myoldThuillier，thefuturepossessionofthepropertyIamabouttoobtainforyou——\"
\"Youareright。\"
\"Don’trobyourself；andletmydearlittleaunthereactinthesamewayinrelationtothemarriagecontract。PuttheremainderofthecapitalinMadameThuillier’sname，ontheGrandLivre，andshecandowhatshelikeswithit。Weshallalllivetogetherasonefamily，andI’llundertaketomakemyownfortune，nowthatIamfreefromanxietyaboutthefuture。\"
\"Thatsuitsme，\"saidThuillier；\"that’sthetalkofanhonestman。\"
\"Letmekissyouontheforehead，myson，\"saidtheoldmaid；\"but，inasmuchasCelestecannotbeallowedtogowithouta’dot，’weshallgivehersixtythousandfrancs。\"
\"Forherdress，\"saidlaPeyrade。
\"Weareallthreepersonsofhonor，\"criedThuillier。\"Itisnowsettled，isn’tit？Youaretomanagethepurchaseofthehouse；wearetowritetogether，youandI，mypoliticalwork；andyou’llbestiryourselftogetmethedecoration？\"
\"Youwillhavethatassoonasyouaremadeamunicipalcouncilloronthe1stofMay。Only，mygoodfriend，Imustbegyou，andyou，too，dearaunt，tokeepthemostprofoundsecrecyaboutmeinthisaffair；
anddonotlistentothecalumnieswhichallthemenIamabouttotrickwillspreadaboutme。Ishallbecome，you’llsee，avagabond，aswindler，adangerousman，aJesuit，anambitiousfortune—hunter。Canyouhearthoseaccusationsagainstmewithcomposure？\"
\"Fearnothing，\"repliedBrigitte。
CHAPTERXI
THEREIGNOFTHEODOSE
FromthatdayforthThuillierbecameadear，goodfriend。\"Mydear，goodfriend，\"wasthenamegiventohimbyTheodose，withvoiceinflectionsofvarietiesoftendernesswhichastonishedFlavie。But\"littleaunt，\"anamethatflatteredBrigittedeeply，wasonlygiveninfamilysecrecy，andoccasionallybeforeFlavie。TheactivityofTheodoseandDutocq，Cerizet，Barbet，Metivier，Minard，Phellion，Colleville，andothersoftheThuilliercirclewasextreme。Greatandsmall，theyallputtheirhandstothework。Cadenetprocuredthirtyvotesinhissection。Onthe30thofAprilThuillierwasproclaimedmemberoftheCouncil—generalofthedepartmentoftheSeinebyanimposingmajority；infact，heonlyneededsixtymorevotestomakehiselectionunanimous。May1stThuillierjoinedthemunicipalbodyandwenttotheTuileriestocongratulatetheKingonhisfete—day，andreturnedhomeradiant。HehadgonewhereMinardwent！
Tendayslaterayellowposterannouncedthesaleofthehouse，afterduepublication；thepricenamedbeingseventy—fivethousandfrancs；
thefinalpurchasetotakeplaceaboutthelastofJuly。OnthispointCerizetandClaparonhadanagreementbywhichCerizetpledgedthesumoffifteenthousandfrancs（inwordsonly，beitunderstood）toClaparonincasethelattercoulddeceivethenotaryandkeephimquietuntilthetimeexpiredduringwhichhemightwithdrawthepropertybybiddingitin。MademoiselleThuillier，notifiedbyTheodose，agreedentirelytothissecretclause，understandingperfectlythenecessityofpayingtheculpritsguiltyofthetreachery。ThemoneywastopassthroughlaPeyrade’shands。Claparonmethisaccomplice，thenotary，onthePlacedel’Observatoirebymidnight。Thisyoungman，thesuccessorofLeopoldHannequin，wasoneofthosewhorunafterfortuneinsteadoffollowingitleisurely。Henowsawanotherfuturebeforehim，andhemanagedhispresentaffairsinordertobefreetotakeholdofit。Inthismidnightinterview，heofferedClaparontenthousandfrancstosecurehimselfinthisdirtybusiness，——asumwhichwasonlytobepaidonreceipt，throughClaparon，ofacounter—deedfromthenominalpurchaseroftheproperty。Thenotarywasawarethatthatsumwasall—importanttoClaparontoextricatehimfrompresentdifficulties，andhefeltsecureofhim。
\"Whobutyou，inallParis，wouldgivemesuchafeeforsuchanaffair？\"Claparonsaidtohim，withafalseshowofnaivete。\"Youcansleepinpeace；myostensiblepurchaserisoneofthosemenofhonorwhoaretoostupidtohaveideasofyourkind；heisaretiredgovernmentemployee；givehimthemoneytomakethepurchaseandhe’llsignthecounter—deedatonce。\"
WhenthenotaryhadmadeClaparonclearlyunderstandthathecouldnotgetmorethanthetenthousandfrancsfromhim，Cerizetofferedthelattertwelvethousanddown，andaskedTheodoseforfifteenthousand，intendingtokeepthebalanceforhimself。Allthesescenesbetweenthefourmenwereseasonedwiththefinestspeechesaboutfeelings，integrity，andthehonorthatmenowedtooneanotherindoingbusiness。Whilethesesubmarineperformancesweregoingon，apparentlyintheinterestsofThuillier，towhomTheodoserelatedthemwiththedeepestmanifestationsofdisgustatbeingimplicatedtherein，thepairweremeditatingthegreatpoliticalworkwhich\"mydeargoodfriend\"wastopublish。Thusthenewmunicipalcouncillornaturallyacquiredaconvictionthathecouldneverdoorbeanythingwithoutthehelpofthismanofgenius；whosemindsoamazedhim，andwhoseabilitywasnowsoimportanttohim，thateverydayhebecamemoreandmoreconvincedofthenecessityofmarryinghimtoCeleste，andoftakingtheyoungcoupletolivewithhim。Infact，afterMaythe1st，Theodosehadalreadydinedfourtimesaweekwith\"mydear，goodfriend。\"
ThiswastheperiodwhenTheodosereignedwithoutadissentingvoiceinthebosomofthathousehold，andallthefriendsofthefamilyapprovedofhim——forthefollowingreason：ThePhellions，hearinghispraisessungbyBrigitteandThuillier，fearedtodispleasethetwopowersandchorussedtheirwords，evenwhensuchperpetuallaudationseemedtothemexaggerated。ThesamemaybesaidoftheMinards。
MoreoverlaPeyrade’sbehavior，as\"friendofthefamily\"wasperfect。
Hedisarmeddistrustbythemannerinwhichheeffacedhimself；hewastherelikeanewpieceoffurniture；andhecontrivedtomakeboththePhellionsandMinardsbelievethatBrigitteandThuillierhadweighedhim，andfoundhimtoolightinthescalestobeanythingmoreinthefamilythanayoungmanwhoseserviceswereusefultothem。
\"Hemaythink，\"saidThuillieronedaytoMinard，\"thatmysisterwillputhiminherwill；hedoesn’tknowher。\"
Thisspeech，inspiredbyTheodosehimself，calmedtheuneasinessofMinard\"pere。\"
\"Heisdevotedtous，\"saidBrigittetoMadamePhellion；\"buthecertainlyowesusagreatdealofgratitude。Wehavegivenhimhislodgingrent—free，andhedineswithusalmosteveryday。\"
Thisspeechoftheoldmaid，alsoinstigatedbyTheodose，wentfromeartoearamongthefamilieswhofrequentedtheThuilliersalon，anddissipatedallfears。TheyoungmancalledattentiontotheremarksofThuillierandhissisterwiththeservilityofaparasite；whenheplayedwhisthejustifiedtheblundersofhisdear，goodfriend，andhekeptuponhiscountenanceasmile，fixedandbenign，likethatofMadameThuillier，readytobestowuponallthebourgeoissillinessesofthebrotherandsister。
Heobtained，whathewantedaboveall，thecontemptofhistrueantagonists；andheuseditasacloaktohidehisrealpower。Forfourconsecutivemonthshisfaceworeatorpidexpression，likethatofasnakeasitgulpsanddigestsitsprey。ButattimeshewouldrushintothegardenwithCollevilleorFlavie，tolaughandlayoffhismask，andresthimself；orgetfreshstrengthbygivingwaybeforehisfuturemother—in—lawtofitsofnervouspassionwhicheitherterrifiedordeeplytouchedher。
\"Don’tyoupityme？\"hecriedtohertheeveningbeforethepreparatorysaleofthehouse，whenThuillierwastomakethepurchaseatseventy—fivethousandfrancs。\"Thinkofamanlikeme，forcedtocreeplikeacat，tochokedowneverypointedword，toswallowmyowngall，andsubmittoyourrebuffs！\"
\"Myfriend！mychild！\"Flaviereplied，undecidedinmindhowtotakehim。
ThesewordsareathermometerwhichwillshowthetemperatureatwhichthisclevermanipulatormaintainedhisintriguewithFlavie。Hekeptherfloatingbetweenherheartandhermoralsense，betweenreligioussentimentsandthismysteriouspassion。
DuringthistimeFelixPhellionwasgiving，withadevotionandconstancyworthyofallpraise，regularlessonstoyoungColleville。
Hespentmuchofhistimeupontheselessons，feelingthathewasthusworkingforhisfuturefamily。Toacknowledgethisservice，hewasinvited，byadviceofTheodosetoFlavie，todineattheCollevilles’
everyThursday，wherelaPeyradealwaysmethim。Flaviewasusuallymakingeitherapurseorslippersoracigar—caseforthehappyyoungman，whowouldsay，deprecatingly：——
\"Iamonlytoowellrewarded，madame，bythehappinessIfeelinbeingusefultoyou。\"
\"Wearenotrich，monsieur，\"repliedColleville，\"but，Godblessme！
wearenotungrateful。\"
OldPhellionwouldrubhishandsashelistenedtohisson’saccountoftheseevenings，beholdinghisdearandnobleFelixalreadyweddedtoCeleste。
ButCeleste，themoreshelovedFelix，themoregraveandseriousshebecamewithhim；partlybecausehermothersharplylecturedher，sayingtoheroneevening：——