\"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。\"