\"Youmean，\"saidlaPeyrade，seizingtheballinitsbound，\"thattogetyououtoftheclawsofthatjuryisathirteenthlaborofHercules，imposeduponmetoearnthehandofMademoiselleColleville？
Iexpectedthatdemandswouldmultiplyinproportiontotheproofsofmydevotion。Butthatistheverythingthathaswornmeout，andI
havecomehereto—daytoputanendtothisslavelaborbygivingbacktoyouyourpledges。YoumaydisposeofCeleste’shand；formypart，I
amnolongerasuitorforit。\"
TheunexpectednessandsquarenessofthisdeclarationleftThuillierwithoutwordsorvoice，allthemorebecauseatthismomententeredBrigitte。Thetemperoftheoldmaidhadalsogreatlymoderatedsincethepreviousevening，andhergreetingwasfullofthemostamicablefamiliarity。
\"Ah！sohereyouare，yougoodoldbarrister，\"shesaid。
\"Mademoiselle，yourservant，\"hereplied，gravely。
\"Well，\"shecontinued，payingnoattentiontothestiffnessofhismanner，\"thegovernmenthasgotitselfintoaprettymessbyseizingyourpamphlet。Yououghttoseehowthemorningpaperslashit！Here，\"
sheadded，givingThuillierasmallsheetprintedonsugar—paper，incoarsetype，andalmostillegible，——\"here’sanother，youdidn’tread；
theporterhasjustbroughtitup。Itisapaperfromouroldquarter，’L’EchodelaBievre。’Idon’tknow，gentlemen，ifyou’llbeofmyopinion，butIthinknothingcouldbebetterwritten。Itisdroll，though，howinattentivethesejournalistsare！mostofthemwriteyournamewithouttheH；Ithinkyououghttocomplainofit。\"
Thuilliertookthepaper，andreadthearticleinspiredtothereviewerofthetanner’sorganbystomachgratitude。NeverinherlifehadBrigittepaidtheslightestattentiontoanewspaper，excepttoknowifitwastherightsizeforthepackagesshewrappedupinit；
butnow，suddenly，convertedtoaworshipofthepressbytheardorofhersisterlylove，shestoodbehindThuillierandre—read，overhisshoulder，themorestrikingpassagesofthepageshethoughtsoeloquent，pointingherfingertothem。
\"Yes，\"saidThuillier，foldingupthepaper，\"that’swarm，andveryflatteringtome。Buthere’sanothermatter！Monsieurhascometotellmethatherefusestopleadforme，andrenouncesallclaimtoCeleste’shand。\"
\"Thatistosay，\"saidBrigitte，\"herenouncesherif，afterhavingpleaded，themarriagedoesnottakeplace’subito。’Well，poorfellow，Ithinkthat’sareasonabledemand。Whenhehasdonethatforusthereoughttobenofurtherdelay；andwhetherMademoiselleCelestelikesitornot，shemustaccepthim，because，youknow，there’sanendtoallthings。\"
\"Doyouhearthat，mygoodfellow？\"saidlaPeyrade，seizinguponBrigitte’sspeech。\"WhenIhavepleaded，themarriageistotakeplace。Yoursisterisfranknessitself；she，atleast，doesn’tpractisediplomacy。\"
\"Diplomacy！\"echoedBrigitte。\"I’dliketoseemyselfcreepingundergroundinmatters。IsaythingsasIthinkthem。Theworkmanhasworked，andheoughttohavehispay。\"
\"Dobesilent，\"criedThuillier，stampinghisfoot；\"youdon’tsayawordthatdoesn’tturntheknifeinthewound。\"
\"Theknifeinthewound？\"saidBrigitte，inquiringly。\"Ahca！areyoutwoquarrelling？\"
\"Itoldyou，\"saidThuillier，\"thatlaPeyradehadreturnedourpromises；andthereasonhegivesisthatweareaskinghimanotherserviceforCeleste’shand。Hethinkshehasdoneusenoughwithoutit。\"
\"Hehasdoneussomeservices，nodoubt，\"saidBrigitte；\"butitseemstomethatwehavenotbeenungratefultohim。Besides，itwashewhomadetheblunder，andIthinkitratheroddheshouldnowwishtoleaveusinthelurch。\"
\"Yourreasoning，mademoiselle，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"mighthavesomeappearanceofjusticeifIweretheonlybarristerinParis；butasthestreetsareblackwiththem，andas，onlyyesterday，Thuillierhimselfspokeofengagingsomemoreimportantlawyerthanmyself，I
havenottheslightestscrupleinrefusingtodefendhim。Now，astothemarriage，inorderthatitmaynotbemadetheobjectofanotherbrutalandforcibledemanduponme，Ihererenounceitinthemostformalmanner，andnothingnowpreventsMademoiselleCollevillefromacceptingMonsieurFelixPhellionandallhisadvantages。\"
\"Asyouplease，mydearmonsieur，\"saidBrigitte，\"ifthat’syourlastword。WeshallnotbeatalosstofindahusbandforCeleste，——FelixPhellionoranother。Butyoumustpermitmetotellyouthatthereasonyougiveisnotthetrueone。Wecan’tgofasterthanthefiddles。Ifthemarriageweresettledto—day，therearethebannstopublish；youhavesenseenoughtoknowthatMonsieurlemairecan’tmarryyoubeforetheformalitiesarecompliedwith，andbeforethenThuillier’scasewillhavebeentried。\"
\"Yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"andifIlosethecaseitwillbeIwhohavesenthimtoprison，——justasyesterdayitwasIwhobroughtabouttheseizure。\"
\"Asforthat，itseemstomethatifyouhadwrittennothingthepolicewouldhavefoundnothingtobite。\"
\"MydearBrigitte，\"saidThuillier，seeinglaPeyradeshrughisshoulders，\"yourargumentisviciousinthesensethatthewritingwasnotincriminatingonanyside。ItisnotlaPeyrade’sfaultifpersonsofhighstationhaveorganizedapersecutionagainstme。Yourememberthatlittlesubstitute，MonsieurOlivierVinet，whomCardotbroughttooneofourreceptions。Itseemsthatheandhisfatherarefuriousthatwedidn’twanthimforCeleste，andthey’veswornmydestruction。\"
\"Well，whydidwerefusehim，\"saidBrigitte，\"ifitwasn’tforthefineeyesofmonsieurhere？For，afterall，asubstituteinParisisaverysuitablematch。\"
\"Nodoubt，\"saidlaPeyrade，nonchalantly。\"Only，hedidnothappentobringyouamillion。\"
\"Ah！\"criedBrigitte，firingup。\"Ifyouaregoingtotalkanymoreaboutthathouseyouhelpedustobuy，Ishalltellyouplainlythatifyouhadhadthemoneytotrickthenotaryyouneverwouldhavecomeafterus。Youneedn’tthinkIhavebeenaltogetheryourdupe。Youspokejustnowofabargain，butyouproposedthatbargainyourself。
’GivemeCelesteandI’llgetyouthathouse，’——that’swhatyousaidtousinsomanywords。Besideswhich，wehadtopaylargesumsonwhichwenevercounted。\"
\"Come，come，Brigitte，\"saidThuillier，\"youaremakingagreatdealoutofnothing。\"
\"Nothing！nothing！\"exclaimedBrigitte。\"Didwe，ordidwenot，havetopaymuchmorethanweexpected？\"
\"MydearThuillier，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Ithink，withyou，thatthematterisnowsettled，anditcanonlybeembitteredbydiscussingitfurther。MycoursewasdecidedonbeforeIcamehere；allthatIhavenowheardcanonlyconfirmit。IshallnotbethehusbandofCeleste，butyouandIcanremaingoodfriends。\"
Herosetoleavetheroom。
\"Onemoment，monsieur，\"saidBrigitte，barringhisway；\"thereisonematterwhichIdonotconsidersettled；andnowthatwearenolongertohaveinterestsincommon，IshouldnotbesorryifyouwouldbesogoodastotellmewhathasbecomeofasumoftenthousandfrancswhichThuilliergaveyoutobribethoserascallygovernmentofficesinordertogetthecrosswehavenevergot。\"
\"Brigitte！\"criedThuillier，inanguish，\"youhaveadevilofatongue！Yououghttobesilentaboutthat；Itoldittoyouinamomentofill—temper，andyoupromisedmefaithfullynevertoopenyourlipsaboutittoanyone，nomatterwho。\"
\"SoIdid；but，\"repliedtheimplacableBrigitte，\"weareparting。
Whenpeopleparttheysettleup；theypaytheirdebts。Tenthousandfrancs！Formypart，Ithoughtthecrossitselfdearatthat；butforacrossthathasmeltedaway，monsieurhimselfwillallowthepriceistoohigh。\"
\"Come，laPeyrade，myfriend，don’tlistentoher，\"saidThuillier，goinguptothebarrister，whowaspalewithanger。\"Theaffectionshehasformeblindsher；Iknowverywellwhatgovernmentofficesare，andIshouldn’tbesurprisedifyouhadhadtopayoutmoneyofyourown。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Iam，unfortunately，notinapositiontoreturntoyou，instantly，thatmoney，anaccountingforwhichissoinsolentlydemanded。Grantmeashortdelay；andhavethegoodnesstoacceptmynote，whichIamreadytosign，ifthatwillgiveyoupatience。\"
\"Tothedevilwithyournote！\"criedThuillier；\"youowemenothing；
onthecontrary，itiswewhooweyou；forCardottoldmeIoughttogiveyouatleasttenthousandfrancsforenablingustobuythismagnificentproperty。\"
\"Cardot！Cardot！\"saidBrigitte；\"heisverygenerouswithotherpeople’smoney。WeweregivingmonsieurCeleste，andthat’sagooddealmorethantenthousandfrancs。\"
LaPeyradewastoogreatacomediannottoturnthehumiliationhehadjustenduredintoascenefinale。Withtearsinhisvoice，whichpresentlyfellfromhiseyes，heturnedtoBrigitte。
\"Mademoiselle，\"hesaid，\"whenIhadthehonortobereceivedbyyouI
waspoor；youlongsawmesufferingandillatease，knowing，alas！
toowell，theindignitiesthatpovertymustbear。FromthedaythatI
wasabletogiveyouafortunewhichIneverthoughtofformyselfI
havefelt，itistrue，moreassurance；andyourownkindnessencouragedmetoriseoutofmytimidityanddepression。To—day，whenI，byfrankandloyalconduct，releaseyoufromanxiety，——for，ifyouchosetobehonest，youwouldacknowledgethatyouhavebeenthinkingofanotherhusbandforCeleste，——wemightstillremainfriends，eventhoughIrenounceamarriagewhichmydelicacyforbidsmetopursue。
Butyouhavenotchosentorestrainyourselfwiththelimitsofsocialpoliteness，ofwhichyouhaveamodelbesideyouinMadamedeGodollo，who，Iampersuaded，althoughsheisnotatallfriendlytome，wouldneverhaveapprovedofyourodiousbehavior。ThankHeaven！Ihaveinmyheartsomereligioussentimentatleast；theGospelisnottomeameredead—letter，and——understandmewell，mademoiselle——IFORGIVE
YOU。ItisnottoThuillier，whowouldrefusethem，buttoyouthatI
shall，beforelong，paythetenthousandfrancswhichyouinsinuateI
haveappliedtomyownpurposes。If，bythetimetheyarereturnedtoyou，youfeelregretforyourunjustsuspicions，andareunwillingtoacceptthemoney，IrequestthatyouwillturnitovertothebureauofBenevolencetothepoor——\"
\"TothebureauofBenevolence！\"criedBrigitte，interruptinghim。\"No，Ithankyou！theideaofallthatmoneybeingdistributedamongacrowdofdo—nothingsanddevotes，who’llspenditinjunketing！I’vebeenpoortoo，mylad；ImadebagsforthemoneyofotherslongbeforeIhadanymoneyofmyown；Ihavesomenow，andItakecareofit。So，wheneveryouwill，Iamreadytoreceivethattenthousandfrancsandkeepit。Ifyoudidn’tknowhowtodowhatyouundertooktodo，andspentthatmoneyintryingtoputsaltonasparrow’stail，somuchtheworseforyou。\"
Seeingthathehadmissedhiseffect，andhadmadenottheslightestimpressiononBrigitte’sgranite，laPeyradecastadisdainfullookuponherandlefttheroommajestically。AshedidsohenoticedamovementmadebyThuilliertofollowhim，andalsotheimperiousgestureofBrigitte，alwaysqueenandmistress，whichnailedherbrothertohischair。
CHAPTERVIII
AtthemomentwhenlaPeyradewaspreparingtolayatthefeetofthecountessthelibertyhehadrecoveredinsobrutalamanner，hereceivedaperfumednote，whichmadehisheartbeat，foronthesealwasthatmomentous\"AllorNothing\"whichshehadgivenhimastheruleoftherelationnowtobeinauguratedbetweenthem。Thecontentsofthenotewereasfollows：——
DearMonsieur，——Ihaveheardofthestepyouhavetaken；thankyou！ButImustnowpreparetotakemyown。Icannot，asyoumaywellthink，continuetoliveinthishouse，andamongthesepeoplewhoaresolittleofourownclassandwithwhomwehavenothingincommon。Toarrangethistransaction，andtoavoidexplanationsofthefactthattheentresolwelcomesthevoluntaryexilefromthefirst—floor，Ineedto—dayandto—morrowtomyself。Donotthereforecometoseemeuntilthedayafter。BythattimeIshallhaveexecutedBrigitte，astheysayattheBourse，andhavemuchtotellyou。
Tuatota，TornadeGodollo。
That\"Whollythine\"inLatinseemedcharmingtolaPeyrade，whowasnot，however，astonished，forLatinisasecondnationallanguagetotheHungarians。Thetwodays’waitingtowhichhewasthuscondemnedonlyfannedtheflameoftheardentpassionwhichpossessedhim，andonthethirddaywhenreachedthehousebytheMadeleinehislovehadrisentoadegreeofincandescenceofwhichonlyafewdaysearlierhewouldscarcelyhavesupposedhimselfcapable。
Thistimetheporter’swifeperceivedhim；buthewasnowquiteindifferentastowhetherornottheobjectofhisvisitshouldbeknown。Theicewasbroken，hishappinesswassoontobeofficial，andhewasmoredisposedtocryitaloudinthestreetsthantomakeamysteryofit。
Runninglightlyupthestairs，hepreparedtoringthebell，when，onputtingouthishandtoreachthesilkenbell—cordheperceivedthatthebell—cordhaddisappeared。LaPeyrade’sfirstthoughtwasthatoneofthoseseriousillnesseswhichmakeallnoisesintolerabletoapatientwouldexplainitsabsence；butwiththethoughtcameotherobservationsthatweakenedit，andwhich，moreover，werenotinthemselvescomforting。
Fromthevestibuletothecountess’sdoorastaircarpet，heldateachstepbyabrassrod，madeasoftascenttothefeetofvisitors；this，too，hadbeenremoved。Ascreen—doorcoveredwithgreenvelvetandstuddedwithbrassnailshadhithertoprotectedtheentrancetotheapartment；ofthatnosign，excepttheinjurytothewalldonebytheworkmenintakingitaway。Foramomentthebarristerthought，inhisagitation，thathemusthavemistakenthefloor，but，castinghiseyeoverthebalusterhesawthathehadnotpassedtheentresol。MadamedeGodollomust，therefore，beintheactofmovingaway。
Hethenresignedhimselftomakeknownhispresenceatthegreatlady’sdoorashewouldhavedoneatthatofagrisette。Herappedwithhisknuckles，butahollowsonorityrevealingthevoid，\"intonuerecavernae，\"echoedbeyondthedoorwhichhevainlyappealedtowithhisfist。Healsoperceivedfrombeneaththatdoorarayofvividlight，thesuresignofanuninhabitedapartmentwherecurtainsandcarpetsandfurniturenolongerdimthelightordeadensound。
Compelledtobelieveinatotalremoval，laPeyradenowsupposedthatintherupturewithBrigitte，mentionedasprobablebyMadamedeGodollo，somebrutalinsolenceoftheoldmaidhadnecessitatedthisabruptdeparture。Butwhyhadhenotbeentoldofit？Andwhatanidea，toexposehimtothisridiculousmeetingwithwhatthecommonpeoplecall，intheirpicturesquelanguage，\"thewoodenface\"！
Beforeleavingthedoorfinally，andasifsomedoubtstillremainedinhismind，laPeyrademadealastandmostthunderingassaultuponit。
\"Who’sknockinglikethat，asifthey’dbringthehousedown？\"saidtheporter，attractedbythenoisetothefootofthestaircase。
\"Doesn’tMadamedeGodollostilllivehere？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Ofcourseshedoesn’tliveherenow；shehasmovedaway。IfmonsieurhadtoldmehewasgoingtoherapartmentIwouldhavesparedhimthetroubleofbatteringdownthedoor。\"
\"Iknewthatshewasgoingtoleavetheapartment，\"saidlaPeyrade，notwishingtoseemignorantoftheprojectofdeparture，\"butIhadnoideashewasgoingsosoon。\"
\"Isupposeitwassomethingsudden，\"saidtheporter，\"forshewentoffearlythismorningwithpost—horses。\"
\"Post—horses！\"echoedlaPeyrade，stupefied。\"ThenshehasleftParis？\"
\"That’stobesupposed，\"saidtheporter；\"peopledon’tusuallytakepost—horsesandapostiliontochangefromonequarterofParistoanother。\"
\"Andshedidnottellyouwhereshewasgoing？\"
\"Ah！monsieur，whatanidea！Dopeopleaccounttousportersforwhattheydo？\"
\"No，butherletters——thosethatcomeafterherdeparture？\"
\"Herletters？IamorderedtodeliverthemtoMonsieurlecommandeur，thelittleoldgentlemenwhocametoseehersooften；monsieurmusthavemethim。\"
\"Yes，yes，certainly，\"saidlaPeyrade，keepinghispresenceofmindinthemidstofthesuccessiveshockswhichcameuponhim，——\"thepoweredlittlemanwhowashereeveryday。\"
\"Icouldn’tsayeveryday；buthecameoften。Well，Iamtoldtogivethecountess’sletterstohim。\"
\"Andforotherpersonsofheracquaintance，\"saidlaPeyrade，carelessly，\"didsheleavenomessage？\"
\"None，monsieur。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"good—morning。\"Andheturnedtogoout。
\"ButIthink，\"saidtheporter，\"thatMademoiselleThuillierknowsmoreaboutitthanIdo。Won’tmonsieurgoup？Sheisathome；andsoisMonsieurThuillier。\"
\"No，nevermind，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"IonlycametotellMadamedeGodolloaboutacommissionsheaskedmetoexecute；Ihaven’ttimetostopnow。\"
\"Well，asItoldyou，sheleftwithpost—horsesthismorning。Twohoursearliermonsieurmightstillhavefoundher；butnow，withpost—
horses，shemustbythistimehavegoneagooddistance。\"
LaPeyradedeparted，withasenseofdespairinhisheart。Addedtotheanxietycausedbythishastydeparture，jealousyenteredhissoul，andinthisagonizingmomentofdisappointmentthemostdistressingexplanationscrowdedonhismind。
Then，afterfurtherreflection，hesaidtohimself：——
\"Thesecleverdiplomaticwomenareoftensentonsecretmissionswhichrequirethemostabsolutesilence，andextremerapidityofmovement。\"
Buthereasuddenrevulsionofthoughtovercamehim：——
\"Supposeshewereoneofthoseintriguingadventurerswhomforeigngovernmentsemployasagents？Supposethetale，moreorlessprobable，ofthatRussianprincessforcedtosellherfurnituretoBrigittewerealsothatofthisHungariancountess？Andyet，\"hecontinued，ashisbrainmadeathirdevolutioninthisfrightfulanarchyofideasandfeelings，\"hereducation，hermanners，herlanguage，allbespokeawomanofthebestposition。Besides，ifshewereonlyabirdofpassage，whyhavegivenherselfsomuchtroubletowinmeover？\"
LaPeyrademighthavecontinuedtopleadthusforandagainstforalongtimehadhenotbeensuddenlygraspedroundtheshouldersbyastrongarmandaddressedinawell—knownvoice。
\"Takecare！mydearbarrister；afrightfuldangerthreatensyou；youarerunningrightintoit。\"
LaPeyrade，thusarrested，lookedroundandfoundhimselfinthearmsofPhellion。
ThescenetookplaceinfrontofahousewhichwasbeingpulleddownatthecorneroftheruesDuphotandSaint—Honore。Postedonthepavementoftheothersideofthestreet，Phellion，whosetasteforwatchingtheprocessofbuildingourreadersmayremember，hadbeenwitnessingforthelastfifteenminutesthedramaofawallabouttofallbeneaththeunitedeffortsofasquadronofworkmen。Watchinhand，thegreatcitizenwasestimatingthelengthoftheresistancewhichthatmassoffreestonewouldpresenttothedestructivelaborofwhichitwastheobject。PreciselyatthecrucialmomentoftheimpendingcatastrophelaPeyrade，lostinthetumultofhisthoughts，wasentering，heedlessoftheshoutsaddressedtohimonallsides，theradiuswithinwhichthestoneswouldfall。SeenbyPhellion（who，itmustbesaid，wouldhavedonethesameforatotalstranger）laPeyradeundoubtedlyowedhislifetohim；for，atthemomentwhenhewasviolentlyflungbackbythevigorousgraspoftheworthycitizen，thewallfellwiththenoiseofacannon—shot，andthestonesrolledincloudsofdustalmosttohisveryfeet。
\"Areyoublindanddeaf？\"saidtheworkmanwhosebusinessitwastowarnthepassers，inatoneofamenityitiseasytoimagine。
\"Thankyou，mydearfriend，\"saidlaPeyrade，recalledtoearth。\"I
shouldcertainlyhavebeencrushedlikeanidiotifithadn’tbeenforyou。\"
AndhepressedPhellion’shand。
\"Myreward，\"repliedthelatter，\"liesinthesatisfactionofknowingthatyouaresavedfromanimminentperil。AndImaysaythatthatsatisfactionismingled，forme，withacertainpride；forIwasnotmistakenbyasinglesecondinthecalculationwhichenabledmetoforeseetheexactmomentwhenthatformidablemasswouldbedisplacedfromitscentreofgravity。Butwhatwereyouthinkingof，mydearmonsieur？ProbablyofthepleayouareabouttomakeintheThuillieraffair。Thepublicprintshaveinformedmeofthedangerofprosecutionbytheauthoritieswhichhangsabovetheheadofourestimablefriend。Youhaveanoblecausetodefend，monsieur。
HabituatedasIam，throughmylaborsasamemberofthereadingcommitteeoftheOdeon，tojudgeofworksofintellect，andwithmyhanduponmyconscience，Ideclarethatafterreadingtheincriminatedpassages，Icanfindnothinginthetoneofthatpamphletwhichjustifiestheseveremeasuresofwhichitistheobject。Betweenourselves，\"addedthegreatcitizen，loweringhisvoice，\"Ithinkthegovernmenthasshownitselfpetty。\"
\"SoIthink，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"butIamnotemployedforthedefence。
IhaveadvisedThuilliertoengagesomenotedlawyer。\"
\"Itmaybegoodadvice，\"saidPhellion；\"atanyrate，itspeakswellforyourmodesty。Poorman！Iwenttohimatoncewhentheblowfell，butIdidnotseehim；IsawonlyBrigitte，whowashavingadiscussionwithMadamedeGodollo。Thereisawomanwithstrongpoliticalviews；itseemsshepredictedthattheseizurewouldbemade。\"
\"DidyouknowthatthecountesshadleftParis？\"saidlaPeyrade，rushingatthechanceofspeakingonthesubjectofhispresentmonomania。
\"Ah！leftParis，hasshe？\"saidPhellion。\"Well，monsieur，Imusttellyouthat，althoughtherewasnotmuchsympathybetweenus，Iregardherdepartureasamisfortune。Shewillleaveaseriousvoidinthesalonofourfriends。Isaythis，becauseitismybelief，andIamnotinthehabitofdisguisingmyconvictions。\"
\"Yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"sheiscertainlyaverydistinguishedwoman，withwhominspiteofherprejudiceagainstme，IthinkIshouldhavecometoanunderstanding。Butthismorning，withoutleavinganywordastowhereshewasgoing，shestartedsuddenlywithpost—horses。\"
\"Post—horses！\"saidPhellion。\"Idon’tknowwhetheryouwillagreewithme，monsieur，butIthinkthattravellingbypostisamostagreeablemethodofconveyance。CertainlyLouisXI。，towhomweowetheinstitution，hadafortunateinspirationinthematter；although，ontheotherhand，hissanguinaryanddespoticgovernmentwasnot，tomyhumblethinking，entirelydevoidofreproach。OnceonlyinmylifehaveIusedthatmethodoflocomotion，andIcantrulysayIfounditfarsuperior，inspiteofitsinferiorrelativerapidity，totheheadlongcourseofwhatinEnglandarecalledRAILWAYS；wherespeedisattainedonlyatthepriceofsafety。\"
LaPeyradepaidbutlittleattentiontoPhellion’sphraseology。\"Wherecanshehavegone？\"——roundthatideaheduganddelvedineverydirection，anoccupationthatwouldhavemadehimindifferenttoafarmoreinterestingtopic。However，oncestarted，likethelocomotiveheobjectedto，thegreatcitizenwenton：——
\"ImadethatjourneyattheperiodofMadamePhellion’slastconfinement。ShewasinPerche，withhermother，whenIlearnedthatseriouscomplicationswerefearedfromthemilk—fever。Overcomewithterroratthedangerwhichthreatenedmywife，Iwentinstantlytothepost—officetoobtainaseatinthemail—coach，butallweretaken；I
foundtheyhadbeenengagedformorethanaweek。Uponthat，Icametoadecision；IwenttotheruePigalle，and，foraverylargesumingoldapost—chaiseandthreehorseswereplacedatmydisposal，whenunfortunatelytheformalityofapassport，withwhichIhadneglectedtosupplymyself，andwithoutwhich，invirtueofthedecreesoftheconsulateof17Nivose，yearVII。，thepostagentswerenotpermittedtodeliverhorsestotravellers——\"
ThelastfewwordswerelikeaflashoflighttolaPeyrade，andwithoutwaitingfortheendofthepostalodysseyofthegreatcitizen，hedartedawayinthedirectionoftheruePigalle，beforePhellion，inthemiddleofhissentence，perceivedhisdeparture。
ReachingtheRoyalpostalestablishment，laPeyradewaspuzzledastowhomtoaddresshimselfinordertoobtaintheinformationhewanted。
Hebeganbyexplainingtotheporterthathehadalettertosendtoaladyofhisacquaintancethatmorningbypost，neglecting，verythoughtlessly，tosendhimheraddress，andthathethoughthemightdiscoveritbymeansofthepassportwhichshemusthavepresentedinordertoobtainhorses。
\"WasitaladyaccompaniedbyamaidwhomItookupontheboulevarddelaMadeleine？\"askedapostilionsittinginthecorneroftheroomwherelaPeyradewasmakinghispreliminaryinquiry。
\"Exactly，\"saidlaPeyrade，goingeagerlyuptotheprovidentialbeing，andslippingafive—francpieceintohishand。
\"Ah！well，she’saqueertraveller！\"saidtheman，\"shetoldmetotakehertotheBoisdeBoulogne，andthereshemademedriveroundandroundforanhour。Afterthat，wecamebacktotheBarrieredel’Etoile，whereshegavemeagood’pourboire’andgotintoahackneycoach，tellingmetotakethetravellingcarriagebacktothemanwholetssuchcarriagesintheCourdesCoches，FaubourgSaint—Honore。\"
\"Givemethenameofthatman？\"saidlaPeyrade，eagerly。
\"Simonin，\"repliedthepostilion。
FurnishedwiththatinformationlaPeyraderesumedhiscourse，andfifteenminuteslaterhewasquestioningthelivery—stablekeeper；butthatindividualknewonlythataladyresidingontheBoulevarddelaMadeleinehadhired，withouthorses，atravelling—carriageforhalfaday；thathehadsentoutthesaidcarriageatninethatmorning，anditwasbroughtbackattwelvebyapostilionoftheRoyalPosthouse。
\"Nevermind，\"thoughtlaPeyrade，\"IamcertainnowshehasnotleftParis，andisnotavoidingme。Mostprobably，shewantstobreakutterlywiththeThuilliers，andsohasinventedthisjourney。FoolthatIam！nodoubtthere’saletterwaitingformeathome，explainingthewholething。\"
Wornoutwithemotionandfatigue，andinordertoverifyasquicklyaspossiblethisnewsupposition，laPeyradeflunghimselfintoastreetcab，andinlessthanaquarterofanhour，havingpromisedthedriveragoodpourboire，hewasdepositedatthehouseintherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。Therehewascompelledtoendurestilllongerthetorturesofwaiting。SinceBrigitte’sdeparture，thedutyoftheporter，Coffinet，hadbeenverynegligentlyperformed，andwhenlaPeyraderushedtothelodgetoinquireforhisletter，whichhethoughthesawinthecasethatbelongedtohim，theporterandhiswifewerebothabsentandtheirdoorwaslocked。Thewifewasdoingsomehouseholdworkinthebuilding，andCoffinethimself，takingadvantageofthatcircumstance，hadallowedafriendtoenticehimintoaneighboringwine—shop，where，betweentwoglasses，hewassupporting，againstarepublicanwhowastalkingdisrespectfullyagainstit，thecauseoftheownersofproperty。
Itwastwentyminutesbeforetheworthyporter，rememberingthe\"property\"entrustedtohischarge，decidedtoreturntohispost。ItiseasytoimaginethereproacheswithwhichlaPeyradeoverwhelmedhim。HeexcusedhimselfbysayingthathehadgonetodoacommissionforMademoiselle，andthathecouldn’tbeatthedoorandwherehismasterschosetosendhimatthesametime。Atlast，however，hegavethelawyeraletterbearingtheParispostmark。
WithhisheartratherthanhiseyeslaPeyraderecognizedthehandwriting，and，turningoverthemissive，thearmsandmottoconfirmedthehopethathehadreachedtheendofthecruellestemotionhehadeverinhislifeexperienced。Toreadthatletterbeforethatodiousporterseemedtohimaprofanation。Witharefinementoffeelingwhichallloverswillunderstand，hegavehimselfthepleasureofpausingbeforehishappiness；hewouldnotevenunsealthatblissfulnoteuntilthemomentwhen，withcloseddoorsandnointerruptionstodistracthim，hecouldenjoyathiseasethedelicioussensationofwhichhishearthadaforetaste。