Rushingupthestaircasetwostepsatatime，thenowjoyouslovercommittedthechildishabsurdityoflockinghimselfin；then，havingsettledhimselfathiseasebeforehisdesk，andhavingbrokenthesealwithreligiouscare，hewasforcedtopresshishandonhisheart，whichseemedtoburstfromhisbosom，beforehecouldsummoncalmnesstoreadthefollowingletter：——
DearMonsieur，——Idisappearforever，becausemyplayisplayedout。Ithankyouforhavingmadeitbothattractiveandeasy。BysettingagainstyoutheThuilliersandCollevilles（whoarefullyinformedofyoursentimentstowardsthem），andbyrelatinginamannermostmortifyingtotheirbourgeoisself—lovethetruereasonofyoursuddenandpitilessrupturewiththem，IamproudandhappytobelievethatIhavedoneyouasignalservice。Thegirldoesnotloveyou，andyoulovenothingbuttheeyesofher\"dot\"；Ihavethereforesavedyoubothfromaspeciesofhell。
But，inexchangeforthebrideyouhavesocurtlyrejected，anothercharminggirlisproposedtoyou；sheisricherandmorebeautifulthanMademoiselleColleville，and——tospeakofmyself——
moreatlibertythanYourunworthyservant，Torna\"ComtessedeGodollo。\"
P。S。Forfurtherinformationapply，withoutdelay，toMonsieurduPortail，householder，rueHonore—Chevalier，neartheruedelaCassette，quartierSaint—Sulpice，bywhomyouareexpected。
Whenhehadreadthislettertheadvocateofthepoortookhisheadinhishands；hesawnothing，heardnothing，thoughtnothing；hewasannihilated。
SeveraldayswerenecessarytolaPeyradebeforehecouldevenbegintorecoverfromthecrushingblowwhichhadstruckhimdown。Theshockwasterrible。Comingoutofthatgoldendreamwhichhadshownhimaperspectiveofthefutureinsosmilinganaspect，hefoundhimselffooledunderconditionsmostcrueltohisself—love，andtohispretensionstodepthandcleverness；irrevocablypartedfromtheThuilliers；saddledwithahopelessdebtoftwenty—fivethousandfrancstoMadameLambert，togetherwithanotheroftenthousandtoBrigitte，whichhisdignityrequiredhimtopaywiththeleastdelaypossible；and，worstofall，——tocompletehishumiliationandhissenseoffailure，——hefeltthathewasnotcuredofthepassionateemotionhehadfeltforthiswoman，theauthorofhisgreatdisaster，andtheinstrumentofhisruin。
EitherthisDelilahwasaverygreatlady，sufficientlyhighinstationtoallowherselfsuchcompromisingcaprices，——butevenso，shewouldscarcelyhavecaredtoplaytheroleofacoquetteinavaudevillewherehehimselfplayedthepartofninny，——ORshewassomenotedadventuresswhowasinthepayofthisduPortailandtheagentofhissingularmatrimonialdesigns。Evillifeorevilheart，theseweretheonlytwoverdictstobepronouncedonthisdangeroussiren，andineithercase，itwouldseem，shewasnotverydeservingoftheregretsofhervictim；nevertheless，hewasconsciousoffeelingthem。
WemustputourselvesintheplaceofthissonofProvence，thisregionofhotbloodandardentheads，who，forthefirsttimeinhislifefindinghimselffacetofacewithjewelledloveinlaces，believedhewastodrinkthatpassionfromawrought—goldcup。Justasourmindsonwakingkeeptheimpressionofavividdreamandcontinueinlovewithwhatweknowwasbutashadow，laPeyradehadneedofallhismentalenergytodriveawaythememoryofthattreacherouscountess。Wemightgofurtherandsaythatheneverceasedtolongforher，thoughhewascarefultodrapewithanhonestpretexttheintensedesirethathehadtofindher。Thatdesirehecalledcuriosity，ardorforrevenge；andherefollowtheingeniousdeductionswhichhedrewforhimself：——
\"Cerizettalkedtomeaboutarichheiress；thecountess，inherletter，intimatesthatthewholeintrigueshewoundaboutmewastoleadtoarichmarriage；richmarriagesflungataman’sheadarenotsoplentifulthattwosuchchancesshouldcometomewithinafewweeks；thereforethematchofferedbyCerizetandthatproposedbythecountessmustbethecrazygirltheyaresofrantictomakememarry；
thereforeCerizet，beingintheplot，mustknowthecountess；
therefore，throughhimIshallgetuponhertraces。Inanycase，Iamsureofinformationaboutthisextraordinarychoicethathasfallenuponme；evidently，thesepeople，whoevertheyare，whocanpullthewiresofsuchpuppetstoreachtheirendsmustbepersonsofconsiderableposition；therefore，I’llgoandseeCerizet。\"
AndhewenttoseeCerizet。
SincethedinnerattheRocherdeCancale，thepairhadnotmet。OnceortwicelaPeyradehadaskedDutocqattheThuilliers’（wherethelatterseldomwentnow，onaccountofthedistancetotheirnewabode）
whathadbecomeofhiscopyingclerk。
\"Heneverspeaksofyou，\"Dutocqhadanswered。
Henceitmightbeinferredthatresentment，the\"manetaltamenterepostum\"wasstilllivinginthebreastofthevindictiveusurer。LaPeyrade，however，wasnotstoppedbythatconsideration。Afterall，hewasnotgoingtoaskforanything；hewentunderthepretextofrenewinganaffairinwhichCerizethadtakenpart，andCerizetnevertookpartinanythingunlesshehadapersonalinterestinit。Thechanceswere，therefore，thathewouldbereceivedwithaffectionateeagernessratherthanunpleasantacerbity。Moreover，hedecidedtogoandseethecopyingclerkatDutocq’soffice；itwouldlook，hethought，lesslikeavisitthanifhewenttohisdenintheruedesPoules。Itwasnearlytwoo’clockwhenlaPeyrademadehisentranceintotheprecinctsofthejustice—of—peaceofthe12tharrondissement。
Hecrossedthefirstroom，inwhichwereacrowdofpersonswhomcivilsuitsofonekindoranothersummonedbeforethemagistrate。Withoutpausinginthatwaiting—room，laPeyradepushedontotheofficeadjoiningthatofDutocq。TherehefoundCerizetatashabbydeskofblackenedwood，atwhichanotherclerk，thenabsent，occupiedtheoppositeseat。
Seeinghisvisitor，Cerizetcastasavagelookathimandsaid，withoutrising，orsuspendingthecopyofthejudgmenthewasthenengrossing：——
\"Youhere，SieurlaPeyrade？YouhavebeendoingfinethingsforyourfriendThuillier！\"
\"Howareyou？\"askedlaPeyrade，inatonebothresoluteandfriendly。
\"I？\"repliedCerizet。\"Asyousee，stillrowingmygalley；and，tofollowoutthenauticalmetaphor，allowmetoaskwhatwindhasblownyouhither；isit，perchance，thewindofadversity？\"
LaPeyrade，withoutreplying，tookachairbesidehisquestioner，afterwhichhesaidinagravetone：——
\"Mydearfellow，wehavesomethingtosaytoeachother。\"
\"Isuppose，\"saidCerizet，spitefully，\"theThuilliershavegrowncoldsincetheseizureofthepamphlet。\"
\"TheThuilliersareungratefulpeople；Ihavebrokenwiththem，\"
repliedlaPeyrade。
\"Ruptureordismissal，\"saidCerizet，\"theirdoorisshutagainstyou；
andfromwhatDutocqtellsme，IjudgethatBrigitteishandlingyouwithoutgloves。Yousee，myfriend，whatitistotryandmanageaffairsalone；complicationscome，andthere’snoonetosmooththeangles。Ifyouhadgotmethatlease，IshouldhavehadafootingattheThuilliers’，Dutocqwouldnothaveabandonedyou，andtogetherwecouldhavebroughtyougentlyintoport。\"
\"ButsupposeIdon’twanttore—enterthatport？\"saidlaPeyrade，withsomesharpness。\"ItellyouI’vehadenoughofthoseThuilliers，andIbrokewiththemmyself；Iwarnedthemtogetoutofmysun；andifDutocqtoldyouanythingelseyoumaytellhimfrommethathelies。Isthatclearenough？ItseemstomeI’vemadeitplain。\"
\"Well，exactly，mygoodfellow，ifyouaresosavageagainstyourThuilliersyououghttohaveputmeamongthem，andthenyou’dhaveseenmeavengeyou。\"
\"Thereyouareright，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"IwishIcouldhavesetyouattheirlegs——butasforthatmatteroftheleaseItellyouagain，I
wasnotmasterofit。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidCerizet，\"itwasyourconsciencewhichobligedyoutotellBrigittethatthetwelvethousandfrancsayearIexpectedtomakeoutofitwerebetterinherpocketthaninmine。\"
\"ItseemsthatDutocqcontinuesthehonorableprofessionofspywhichheformerlypractisedattheministryoffinance，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"and，likeotherswhodothatdirtybusiness，hemakeshisreportsmorewittythantruthful——\"
\"Takecare！\"saidCerizet；\"youaretalkingofmypatroninhisownlair。\"
\"Lookhere！\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Ihavecometotalktoyouonseriousmatters。WillyoudomethefavortodroptheThuilliersandalltheirbelongings，andgivemeyourattention？\"
\"Sayon，myfriend，\"saidCerizet，layingdownhispen，whichhadneverceasedtorun，uptothismoment，\"Iamlistening。\"
\"Youtalkedtomesometimeago，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"aboutmarryingagirlwhowasrich，fullyofage，andslightlyhysterical，asyouwerepleasedtoputiteuphemistically。\"
\"Welldone！\"criedCerizet。\"Iexpectedthis；butyou’vebeensometimecomingtoit。\"
\"Inofferingmethisheiress，whatdidyouhaveinyourmind？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Parbleu！tohelpyoutoasplendidstrokeofbusiness。Youhadonlytostoopandtakeit。Iwasformallychargedtoproposeittoyou；
and，astherewasn’tanybrokerage，Ishouldhavereliedwhollyonyourgenerosity。\"
\"Butyouarenottheonlypersonwhowascommissionedtomakemethatoffer。Awomanhadthesameorder。\"
\"Awoman！\"criedCerizetinaperfectlynaturaltoneofsurprise。\"NotthatIknowof。\"
\"Yes，aforeigner，youngandpretty，whomyoumusthavemetinthefamilyofthebride，towhomsheseemstobeardentlydevoted。\"
\"Never，\"saidCerizet，\"neverhastherebeentheslightestquestionofawomaninthisnegotiation。IhaveeveryreasontobelievethatIamexclusivelychargedwithit。\"
\"What！\"saidlaPeyrade，fixinguponCerizetascrutinizingeye，\"didyouneverhearoftheComtesseTornadeGodollo？\"
\"Never，inallmylife；thisisthefirsttimeIeverheardthatname。\"
\"Then，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"itmustreallyhavebeenanothermatch；forthatwoman，aftermanysingularpreliminaries，toolongtoexplaintoyou，mademeaformalofferofthehandofayoungwomanmuchricherthanMademoiselleColleville——\"
\"Andhysterical？\"askedCerizet。
\"No，shedidnotembellishtheproposalwiththataccessory；butthere’sanotherdetailwhichmayputyouonthetrackofher。MadamedeGodolloexhortedme，ifIwishedtopushthematter，togoandseeacertainMonsieurduPortail——\"
\"RueHonore—Chevalier？\"exclaimedCerizet，quickly。
\"Precisely。\"
\"Thenitisthesamemarriagewhichisofferedtoyouthroughtwodifferentmediums。ItisstrangeIwasnotinformedofthiscollaboration！\"
\"Inshort，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"younotonlydidn’thavewindofthecountess’sintervention，butyoudon’tknowher，andyoucan’tgivemeanyinformationabouther——isthatso？\"
\"AtpresentIcan’t，\"repliedCerizet，\"butI’llfindoutabouther；
forthewholeproceedingisrathercavaliertowardsme；butthisemploymentoftwoagentsonlyshowsyouhowdesirableyouaretothefamily。\"
Atthismomentthedooroftheroomwasopenedcautiously，awoman’sheadappeared，andavoice，whichwasinstantlyrecognizedbylaPeyrade，said，addressingthecopying—clerk：——
\"Ah！excuseme！Iseemonsieurisbusy。CouldIsayawordtomonsieurwhenheisalone？\"
Cerizet，whohadaneyeasnimbleasahand，instantlynoticedacertainfact。LaPeyrade，whowassoplacedastobeplainlyseenbythenew—comer，nosoonerheardthatdrawling，honeyedvoice，thanheturnedhisheadinamannertoconcealhisfeatures。Insteadthereforeofbeingroughlysentaway，asusuallyhappenedtopetitionerswhoaddressedthemostsurlyofofficialclerks，themodestvisitorheardherselfgreetedinaverysurprisingmanner。
\"Comein，comein，MadameLambert，\"saidCerizet；\"youwon’tbekeptwaitinglong；comein。\"
Thevisitoradvanced，andthencamefacetofacewithlaPeyrade。
\"Ah！monsieur！\"criedhiscreditor，whomthereaderhasnodoubtrecognized，\"howfortunateIamtomeetmonsieur！Ihavebeenseveraltimestohisofficetoaskifhehadhadtimetoattendtomylittleaffair。\"
\"Ihavehadmanyengagementswhichhavekeptmeawayfrommyofficelately；butIattendedtothatmatter；everythinghasbeendoneright，andisnowinthehandsofthesecretary。\"
\"Oh！howgoodmonsieuris！IprayGodtoblesshim，\"saidthepiouswoman，claspingherhands。
\"Blessme！doyouhavebusinesswithMadameLambert？\"saidCerizet；
\"younevertoldmethat。AreyouPerePicot’scounsel？\"
\"No，unfortunately，\"saidMadameLambert，\"mymasterwon’ttakeanycounsel；heissoself—willed，soobstinate！But，mygoodmonsieur，whatIcametoaskiswhetherthefamilycouncilistomeet。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidCerizet，\"andnotlaterthanto—morrow。\"
\"Butmonsieur，IhearthosegentlemenoftheRoyalcourtsaidthefamilyhadnorights——\"
\"Yes，that’sso，\"saidtheclerk；\"thelowercourtandtheRoyalcourthaveboth，onthepetitionoftherelatives，rejectedtheirdemandforacommission。\"
\"Ishouldhopeso！\"saidthewoman；\"tothinkofmakinghimoutalunatic！himsofullofwisdomandlearning！\"
\"Buttherelationsdon’tmeantogiveup；theyaregoingtotrythematteragainunderanewform，andaskfortheappointmentofajudicialcounsel。That’swhatthefamilycouncilmeetsforto—morrow；
andIthink，thistime，mydearMadameLambert，youroldPicotwillfindhimselfrestrained。Thereareseriousallegations，Icantellyou。Itwasallverywelltotaketheeggs，buttopluckthehenwasanotherthing。\"
\"Isitpossiblethatmonsieurcansuppose——\"beganthedevote，claspingherhandsunderherchin。
\"Isupposenothing，\"saidCerizet；\"Iamnotthejudgeofthisaffair。
Buttherelationsdeclarethatyouhavepocketedconsiderablesums，andmadeinvestmentsaboutwhichtheydemandinquiry。\"
\"Oh！heavens！\"saidthewoman，castinguphereyes；\"theycaninquire；
Iampoor；Ihavenotadeed，noranote，norashare；nottheslightestsecurityofanykindinmypossession。\"
\"Idaresaynot，\"saidCerizet，glancingatlaPeyradeoutofthecornerofhiseye；\"buttherearealwaysfriendstotakecareofsuchthings。However，thatisnoneofmybusiness；everyonemustsettlehisownaffairsinhisownway。Now，then，saywhatyouhavetosay，distinctly。\"
\"Icame，monsieur，\"shereplied，\"toimploreyou，monsieur，toimploreMonsieurthejudge’sclerk，tospeakinourfavortoMonsieurthejustice—of—peace。MonsieurthevicarofSaint—Jacquesisalsotospeaktohim。ThatpoorMonsieurPicot！\"shewenton，weeping，\"they’llkillhimiftheycontinuetoworryhiminthisway。\"
\"Isha’n’tconcealfromyou，\"saidCerizet，\"thatthejustice—of—peaceisveryill—disposedtoyourcause。Youmusthaveseenthattheotherday，whenherefusedtoreceiveyou。AsforMonsieurDutocqandmyself，ourassistancewon’thelpyoumuch；andbesides，mygoodwoman，youaretooclose—mouthed。\"
\"MonsieuraskedmeifIhadlaidbyafewlittlesavings；andI
couldn’ttellhimthatIhad，be——becausetheyhavegonetokeeptheh——houseofthatpoorMonsieurPi——i——cot；andnowtheyaccusemeofr——robbinghim！\"
MadameLambertsobbed。
\"Myopinionis，\"saidCerizet，\"thatyouaremakingyourselfoutmuchpoorerthanyouare；andiffriendPeyradehere，whoseemstobemoreinyourconfidence，hadn’thistonguetiedbytherulesofhisprofession——\"
\"I！\"saidlaPeyrade，hastily，\"Idon’tknowanythingofmadame’saffairs。Sheaskedmetodrawupapetitiononamatterinwhichtherewasnothingjudicialorfinancial。\"
\"Ah！that’sit，isit？\"saidCerizet。\"MadamehaddoubtlessgonetoseeyouaboutthispetitionthedayDutocqmetheratyouroffice，themorningafterourdinnerattheRocherdeCancale——whenyouweresuchaRoman，youknow。\"
Then，withoutseemingtoattachanyimportancetothereminiscence，headded：——
\"Well，mygoodMadameLambert，I’llaskmypatrontospeaktothejustice—of—peace，and，ifIgetachance，I’llspeaktohimmyself；
but，Irepeatit，heisverymuchprejudicedagainstyou。\"
MadameLambertretiredwithmanycurtseysandprotestationsofgratitude。WhenshewasfairlygonelaPeyraderemarked：——
\"Youdon’tseemtobelievethatthatwomancametomeaboutapetition；andyetnothingwasevertruer。Sheisthoughtasaintinthestreetshelivesin，andthatoldmantheyaccuseherofrobbingisactuallykeptalivebyherdevotion，soI’mtold。Consequently，theneighborshaveputitintothegoodwoman’sheadtoapplyfortheMontyonprize；anditwasforthepurposeofputtingherclaimsinlegalshapethatsheappliedtome。\"
\"Dear！dear！theMontyonprize！\"criedCerizet；\"well，that’sanidea！
Mygoodfellow，weoughttohavecultivateditbefore，——I，especially，asbankerofthepoor，andyou，theiradvocate。Asforthisclientofyours，itisluckyforherMonsieurPicot’srelativesarenotmembersoftheFrenchacademy；itisinthecorrectionalpolice—court，sixthchamber，wheretheymeantogivehertherewardofvirtue。However，tocomebacktowhatweweretalkingabout。Itellyouthatafterallyourtergiversationsyouhadbettersettledownpeaceably；andI
adviseyou，asyourcountessdid，togoandseeduPortail。\"
\"Whoandwhatishe？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Heisalittleoldman，\"repliedCerizet，\"asshrewdasaweasel。Hegivesmetheideaofhavingdealingswiththedevil。Goandseehim！
Sight，astheysay，costsnothing。\"
\"Yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"perhapsIwill；but，firstofall，IwantyoutofindoutformeaboutthisComtessedeGodollo。\"
\"Whatdoyoucareabouther？Sheisnothingbutasupernumerary，thatcountess。\"
\"Ihavemyreasons，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"youcancertainlygetsomeinformationaboutherinthreedays；I’llcomeandseeyouthen。\"
\"Mygoodfellow，\"saidCerizet，\"youseemtometobeamusingyourselfwiththingsthatdon’tpay；youhaven’tfalleninlovewiththatgo—
between，haveyou？\"
\"Plaguetakehim！\"thoughtlaPeyrade；\"hespieseverything；there’snohidinganythingfromhim！No，\"hesaid，aloud，\"Iamnotinlove；
onthecontrary，Iamverycautious。Imustadmitthatthismarriagewithacrazygirldoesn’tattractme，andbeforeIgoastepintoitI
wanttoknowwhereIputmyfeet。Thesecrookedproceedingsarenotreassuring，andassomanyinfluencesarebeingbroughttobear，I
choosetocontrolonebyanother。Thereforedon’tplaysly，butgivemealltheinformationyougetintoyourpouchaboutMadamelaComtesseTornadeGodollo。IwarnyouIknowenoughtotesttheveracityofyourreport；andifIseeyouaretryingtooverreachmeI’llbreakoffshortwithyourduPortail。\"
\"Tryingtooverreachyou，monseigneur！\"repliedCerizet，inthetoneandmannerofFredericLemaitre。\"Whowoulddareattemptit？\"
Ashepronouncedthosewordsinaslightlymockingtone，Dutocqappeared，accompaniedbyhislittleclerk。
\"Blessme！\"heexclaimed，seeinglaPeyradeandCerizettogether；
\"here’sthetrinityreconstituted！buttheobjectofthealliance，the’casusfoederis，’hasfloatedoff。WhathaveyoudonetothatgoodBrigitte，laPeyrade？Sheisafteryourblood。\"
\"WhataboutThuillier？\"askedlaPeyrade。
Molierewasreversed；herewasTartuffeinquiringforOrgon。
\"Thuillierbeganbynotbeingveryhostiletoyou；butitnowseemsthattheseizurebusinesshastakenagoodturn，andhavinglessneedofyouheisgettingdrawnintohissister’swaters；andifthetendencycontinues，Ihaven’tadoubtthathe’llsooncometothinkyoudeservingofhanging。\"
\"Well，I’moutofitall，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"andifanybodyevercatchesmeinsuchamessagain！——Well，adieu，myfriends，\"headded。
\"Andyou，Cerizet，astowhatwewerespeakingabout，activity，safety，anddiscretion！\"
WhenlaPeyradereachedthecourtyardofthemunicipalbuilding，hewasaccostedbyMadameLambert，whowaslyinginwaitforhim。
\"Monsieurwouldn’tbelieve，Iamsure，\"shesaid，inadeprecatingtone，\"thevillainousthingsthatMonsieurCerizetsaidaboutme；
monsieurknowsitwasthelittlepropertyIreceivedfrommyuncleinEnglandthatIplacedinhishands。\"
\"Yes，yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"butyoumustunderstandthatwithalltheserumorssetaboutbyyourmaster’srelativestheprizeofvirtueisdesperatelyendangered。\"
\"IfitisGod’swillthatIamnottohaveit——\"
\"YououghtalsotounderstandhowimportantitisforyourintereststokeepsecrettheotherservicewhichIdidforyou。Atthefirstappearanceofanyindiscretiononyourpartthatmoney，asItoldyou，willbeperemptorilyreturnedtoyou。\"
\"Oh！monsieurmaybeeasyaboutthat。\"
\"Verywell；thengood—byetoyou，mydear，\"saidlaPeyrade，inafriendlytone。
Asheturnedtoleaveher，anasalvoicewasheardfromawindowonthestaircase。
\"MadameLambert！\"criedCerizet，who，suspectingthecolloquy，hadgonetothestaircasewindowtomakesureofit。\"MadameLambert！
MonsieurDutocqhasreturned；youmaycomeupandseehim，ifyoulike。\"
ImpossibleforlaPeyradetopreventtheconference，althoughheknewthesecretofthattwenty—fivethousandfrancsranthegreatestdanger。
\"Certainly，\"hesaidtohimselfashewalkedaway，\"I’minarunofill—luck；andIdon’tknowwhereitwillend。\"
InBrigitte’snaturetherewassuchanall—devouringinstinctofdomination，thatitwaswithoutregret，and，wemayevensay，withasortofsecretjoythatshesawthedisappearanceofMadamedeGodollo。Thatwoman，shefelt，hadacrushingsuperiorityoverher；
andthis，whileithadgivenahigherordertotheThuillierestablishment，madeherillatease。Whenthereforetheseparationtookplace，whichwasdone，letusheresay，ongoodterms，andunderfairandhonorablepretexts，MademoiselleThuillierbreathedmorefreely。Shefeltlikethosekingslongswayedbyimperiousandnecessaryministers，whocelebratewithintheirheartsthedaywhendeathdeliversthemfromamasterwhoseservicesandrivalinfluencetheyimpatientlyendured。
ThuillierwasnotfarfromhavingthesamesentimentaboutlaPeyrade。
ButMadamedeGodollowasonlytheelegance，whereaslaPeyradewastheutilityofthehousetheyhadnowsimultaneouslyabandoned；andafterthelapseofafewdays，aterribleneedofTheodosemadeitselffeltintheliteraryandpoliticalexistenceofhisdear，goodfriend。
Themunicipalcouncillorfoundhimselfsuddenlyappointedtodraftanimportantreport。Hewasunabletodeclinethetask，saddledashewaswiththereputation，derivedfromhispamphlet，ofbeingamanoflettersandanablewriter；therefore，inpresenceoftheperiloushonorconferreduponhimbyhiscolleaguesofthegeneralCouncil，hesatdownterrifiedbyhissolitudeandhisinsufficiency。
Invaindidhelockhimselfintohisstudy，gorgehimselfwithblackcoffee，mendinnumerablepens，andwriteascoreoftimesattheheadofhispaper（whichhewascarefultocutoftheexactdimensionsasthatusedbylaPeyrade）thesolemnwords：\"ReporttotheMembersoftheMunicipalCounciloftheCityofParis，\"followed，onalinebyitself，byamagnificentMESSIEURS——nothingcameofit！Hewasfaintoissuefuriousfromhisstudy，complainingofthehorriblehouseholdracketwhich\"cutthethreadofhisideas\"；thoughreallynogreaternoisethantheclosingofadoorortheopeningofaclosetorthemovingofachairhadmadeitselfheard。Allthis，however，didnothelptheadvancementofthework，whichremained，asbefore——simplybegun。
Mostfortunately，ithappenedthatRabourdin，wantingtomakesomechangeinhisapartment，came，aswasproper，tosubmithisplantotheownerofthehouse。Thuilliergrantedcordiallytherequestthatwasmadetohim，andthendiscoursedtohistenantaboutthereportwithwhichhewascharged，——beingdesirous，hesaid，toobtainhisideasonthesubject。
Rabourdin，towhomnoadministrativequestionwasforeign，veryreadilythrewuponthesubjectanumberofveryclearandlucidideas。
Hewasoneofthosementowhomthequalityoftheintellecttowhichtheyaddressthemselvesismoreorlessindifferent；afool，oramanoftalentwhowilllistentothem，servesequallywelltothinkaloudto，andtheyare，asastimulant，aboutthesamething。AfterRabourdinhadsaidhissay，heobservedthatThuillierhadnotunderstoodhim；buthehadlistenedtohimselfwithpleasure，andhewas，moreover，gratefulfortheattention，obtuseasitwas，ofhishearer，andalsoforthekindlinessofthelandlordinreceivinghisrequest。