\"Imusthaveamongmypapers，\"hesaidashewentaway，\"somethingonthissubject；Iwilllookitupandsendittoyou。\"
Accordingly，thatsameeveningThuillierreceivedavoluminousmanuscript；andhespenttheentirenightindelvingintothatpreciousrepositoryofideas，fromwhichheextractedenoughtomakeareallyremarkablereport，clumsilyasthepillagewasmanaged。Whenreadbeforethecouncilitobtainedaverygreatsuccess，andThuillierreturnedhomeradiantandmuchelatedbythecongratulationshehadreceived。Fromthatmoment——amomentthatwasmarkedinhislife，foreventoadvancedoldagehestilltalkedofthe\"reporthehadhadthehonorofmakingtotheCouncil—generaloftheSeine\"——laPeyradewentdownconsiderablyinhisestimation；hefeltthenthathecoulddoverywellwithoutthebarrister，andthisthoughtofemancipationwasstrengthenedbyanotherhappinesswhichcametohimatalmostthesametime。
Aparliamentarycrisiswasimminent，——afactthatcausedtheministrytothinkaboutdeprivingitsadversariesofathemeofoppositionwhichalwayshasgreatinfluenceonpublicopinion。Itresolvedthereforetorelaxitsrigor，whichoflatehadbeenmuchincreasedagainstthepress。Beingincludedinthisspeciesofhypocriticalamnesty，ThuillierreceivedonemorningaletterfromthebarristerwhomhehadchoseninplaceoflaPeyrade。ThisletterannouncedthattheCouncilofStatehaddismissedthecomplaint，andorderedthereleaseofthepamphlet。
ThenDutocq’spredictionwasrealized。Thatweightthelesswithinhisbosom，Thuilliertookaswingtowardinsolence；hechorusedBrigitte，andcameatlasttospeakoflaPeyradeasasortofadventurerwhomhehadfedandclothed，atrickyfellowwhohadEXTRACTEDmuchmoneyfromhim，andhadfinallybehavedwithsuchingratitudethathewasthankfulnottocounthimanylongeramonghisfriends。Orgon，inshort，wasinfullrevolt，andlikeDorine，hewasreadytocryout：
\"Abeggar！who，whenhecame，hadneithershoesnorcoatworthabrassfarthing。\"
Cerizet，towhomtheseindignitieswerereportedbyDutocq，wouldgladlyhaveservedthemuphottolaPeyrade；buttheinterviewinwhichthecopyingclerkwastofurnishinformationaboutMadamedeGodollodidnottakeplaceatthetimefixed。LaPeyrademadehisowndiscoveriesinthiswise：
PursuedbythethoughtofthebeautifulHungarian，andawaiting，orrathernotawaitingtheresultofCerizet’sinquiry，hescouredParisineverydirection，andmighthavebeenseen，liketheidlestofloungers，inthemostfrequentedplaces，hishearttellinghimthatsoonerorlaterhemustmeettheobjectofhisardentsearch。
Oneevening——itwastowardsthemiddleofOctober——theautumn，asfrequentlyhappensinParis，wasmagnificent，andalongtheboulevards，wheretheProvencalwasairinghisloveandhismelancholy，theout—doorlifeandgaietywereasanimatedasinsummer。OntheboulevarddesItaliens，formerlyknownastheboulevarddeGand，asheloungedpastthelonglineofchairsbeforetheCafedeParis，where，mingledwithafewwomenoftheChausseed’Antinaccompaniedbytheirhusbandsandchildren，maybeseentowardeveningacordonofnocturnalbeautieswaitingonlyaglovedhandtogatherthem，laPeyrade’sheartreceivedacruelshock。Fromafar，hethoughthesawhisadoredcountess。
Shewasalone，inadazzlingtoiletscarcelyauthorizedbytheplaceandherisolation；beforeher，mountedonachair，trembledatinylap—dog，whichshestrokedfromtimetotimewithherbeautifulhands。
Afterconvincinghimselfthathewasnotmistaken，laPeyradewasabouttodartuponthatcelestialvision，whenhewasforestalledbyadandyofthemosttriumphanttype。Withoutthrowingasidehiscigar，withouteventouchinghishat，thishandsomeyoungmanbegantoconversewiththebarrister’sideal；butwhenshesawlaPeyrademakingtowardsherthesirenmusthavefeltafraid，forsherosequickly，andtakingthearmofthemanwhowastalkingtoher，shesaidaloud：——
\"Isyourcarriagehere，Emile？Mabilleclosesto—night，andIshouldliketogothere。\"
Thenameofthatdisreputableplacethusthrowninthefaceoftheunhappybarrister，wasacharity，foritsavedhimfromafoolishaction，thatofaddressing，onthearmofthemanwhohadsuddenlymadehimselfhercavalier，theunworthycreatureofwhomhewasthinkingafewsecondsearlierwithsomuchtenderness。
\"Sheisnotworthinsulting，\"hesaidtohimself。
But，asloversarebeingswhowillnotallowtheirfootholdtobetakenfromthemeasily，theProvencalwasneitherconvincednorresignedasyet。Notfarfromtheplacewhichhiscountesshadleft，satanotherwoman，alsoalone；butthisonewasripewithyears，withfeathersonherhead，andbeneaththefoldsofacashmereshawlsheconcealedtheplaintiveremainsoftarnishedeleganceandlongpastluxury。Therewasnothingimposingaboutthissight，nordiditcommandrespect，butthecontrary。LaPeyradewentuptothewomanwithoutceremonyandaddressedher。
\"Madame，\"hesaid，\"doyouknowthatwomanwhohasjustgoneawayonthearmofagentleman？\"
\"Certainly，monsieur；Iknownearlyallthewomenwhocomehere。\"
\"Andhernameis？——\"
\"MadameKomorn。\"
\"Issheasimpregnableasthefortressofthatname？\"
OurreaderswilldoubtlessrememberthatatthetimeoftheinsurrectioninHungaryourearswerebatteredbythepressandbynovelistsaboutthefamouscitadelofKomorn；andlaPeyradeknewthatbyassumingatoneofindifferenceorflippancyhewasmorelikelytosucceedwithhisinquiries。
\"Hasmonsieuranyideaofmakingheracquaintance？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"butsheisawomanwhomakespeoplethinkofher。\"
\"Andaverydangerouswoman，monsieur，\"addedhiscompanion；\"afearfulspendthrift，butwithnoinclinationtoreturngenerouslywhatisdoneforher。Icanspeakknowinglyofthat；whenshefirstarrivedherefromBerlin，sixmonthsago，shewasverywarmlyrecommendedtome。\"
\"Ah！\"exclaimedlaPeyrade。
\"Yes，atthattimeIhadintheenvironsofVilled’Avrayaverybeautifulplace，withparkandcovertsandastreamforfishing；butasIwasaloneIfounditdull，andseveraloftheseladiesandgentlemensaidtome，’MadameLouchard，whydon’tyouorganizepartiesinthestyleofpicnics？’\"
\"MadameLouchard！\"repeatedlaPeyrade，\"areyouanyrelationtoMonsieurLouchardofthecommercialpolice？\"
\"Hiswife，monsieur，butlegallyseparatedfromhim。Ahorridmanwhowantsmetogobacktohim；butI，thoughI’mreadytoforgivemostthings，Ican’tforgiveawantofrespect；justimaginethathedaredtoraisehishandagainstme！\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，tryingtobringherbacktothematterinhand；\"youorganizedthosepicnics，andMadamedeGodo——ImeanMadameKomorn——\"
\"Wasoneofmyfirstlodgers。ItwasthereshemadeacquaintancewithanItalian，ahandsomeman，andrich，apoliticalrefugee，butoneoftheloftykind。Youunderstanditdidn’tsuitmypurposestohaveintriguesgoingoninmyhouse；stillthemanwassolovable，andsounhappybecausehecouldn’tmakeMadameKomornlikehim，thatatlastItookaninterestinthisparticularloveaffair；whichproducedapotofmoneyformadame，forshemanagedtogetimmensesumsoutofthatItalian。Well，wouldyoubelievethatwhen——beingjusttheningreatneed——Iaskedhertoassistmewithatriflinglittlesum，sherefusedmepoint—blank，andleftmyhouse，takingherloverwithher，who，poorman，can’tbethankfulfortheacquaintancenow。\"
\"Whynot？Whathappenedtohim？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"IthappenedtohimthatthisserpentknowseverylanguageinEurope；
sheiswittyandclevertothetipsofherfingers，butmoremanoeuvringthaneither；so，being，asitappears，incloserelationstothepolice，shegavethegovernmentalotofpaperstheItalianleftaboutcarelessly，onwhichtheyexpelledhimfromFrance。\"
\"Well，afterhisdeparture，MadameKomorn——\"
\"Sincethen，shehashadagoodmanyadventuresandupsetseveralfortunes，andIthoughtshehadleftParis。Forthelasttwomonthsshewasnowheretobeseen，butthreedaysagoshereappeared，morebrilliantthanever。Myadvicetomonsieurisnottotrusthimselfinthatdirection；andyet，monsieurlookstomeaSoutherner，andSouthernershavepassions；perhapswhatIhavetoldhimwillonlyservetospurthemup。However，beingwarned，there’snotsomuchdanger，andsheisamostfascinatingcreature——oh！veryfascinating。
Sheusedtolovemeverymuch，thoughwepartedsuchill—friends；andjustnow，seeingmehere，shecameoverandaskedmyaddress，andsaidsheshouldcomeandseeme。\"
\"Well，madame，I’llthinkaboutit，\"saidlaPeyrade，risingandbowingtoher。
Thebowwasreturnedwithextremecoldness；hisabruptdeparturedidnotshowhimtobeamanofSERIOUSintentions。
ItmightbesupposedfromthelivelymannerinwhichlaPeyrademadetheseinquiriesthathiscurethoughsuddenwascomplete；butthissurfaceofindifferenceandcoolself—possessionwasonlythestillnessoftheatmospherethatprecedesastorm。OnleavingMadameLouchard，laPeyradeflunghimselfintoastreet—cabandtheregavewaytoapassionoftearslikethatMadameCollevillehadwitnessedonthedayhebelievedthatCerizethadgotthebetterofhiminthesaleofthehouse。
Whatwashispositionnow？TheinvestmentoftheThuilliers，preparedwithsomuchcare，alluseless；Flaviewellavengedfortheodiouscomedyhehadplayedwithher；hisaffairsinaworsestatethantheywerewhenCerizetandDutocqhadsenthim，likeadevouringwolf，intothesheepfoldfromwhichhehadallowedthestupidsheeptodrivehim；
hisheartfullofrevengefulprojectsagainstthewomanwhohadsoeasilygotthebetterofwhathethoughthiscleverness；andthememory，stillvivid，oftheseductionstowhichhehadsuccumbed，——
suchwerethethoughtsandemotionsofhissleeplessnight，sleeplessexceptformomentsshakenbyagitateddreams。
ThenextdaylaPeyradecouldthinknomore；hewasapreytofever，theviolenceofwhichbecamesufficientlyalarmingforthephysicianwhoattendedhimtotakeallprecautionsagainstthesymptomsnowappearingofbrainfever：bleeding，cupping，leeches，andicetohishead；theseweretheagreeablefinaletohisdreamoflove。Wemusthastentoadd，however，thatthisviolentcrisisinthephysicalledtoaperfectcureofthementalbeing。ThebarristercameoutofhisillnesswithnoothersentimentthancoldcontemptforthetreacherousHungarian，asentimentwhichdidnotevenrisetoadesireforvengeance。
CHAPTERIX
GIVEANDTAKE
Oncemoreafoot，andreckoningwithhisfuture，onwhichhehadlostsomuchground，laPeyradeaskedhimselfifhehadnotbettertrytorenewhisrelationswiththeThuilliers，orwhetherheshouldbecompelledtofallbackontherichcrazywomanwhohadbullionwhereothershavebrains。Buteverythingthatremindedhimofhisdisastrouscampaignwasrepulsivetohim；besides，whatsafetywasthereindealingwiththisduPortail，amanwhocouldusesuchinstrumentsforhismeansofaction？
Greatcommotionsofthesoularelikethosestormswhichpurifytheatmosphere；theyinducereflection，theycounselgoodandstrongresolutions。LaPeyrade，astheresultofthecrueldisappointmenthehadjustendured，examinedhisownsoul。Heaskedhimselfwhatsortofexistencewasthis，ofbaseandignobleintrigue，whichhehadledforthepastyear？Wasthereforhimnobetter，nonoblerusetomakeofthefacultieshefeltwithinhim？Thebarwasopentohimastoothers；thatwasabroad，straightpathwhichcouldleadhimtoallthesatisfactionoflegitimateambition。LikeFigaro，whodisplayedmorescienceandcalculationinmerelygettingalivingthanstatesmenhadshowningoverningSpainforahundredyears，he，laPeyrade，inordertoinstallandmaintainhimselfintheThuillierhouseholdandmarrythedaughterofaclarionetandasmirchedcoquette，hadspentmoremind，moreart，and——itshouldalsobesaid，becauseinacorruptsocietyitisanelementthatmustbereckoned——moredishonestythanwasneededtoadvancehiminsomefinecareer。
\"EnoughofsuchconnectionsasDutocqandCerizet，\"hesaidtohimself；\"enoughofthenauseatingatmosphereoftheMinardsandPhellionsandCollevillesandBarniolsandalltherestofthem。I’llshakeoffthisprovince’intramuros，’athousandtimesmoreabsurdandpettythanthetrueprovinces；theyatleast，sidebysidewiththeirpettiness，havehabitsandcustomsthatarecharacteristic，a’suigeneris’dignity；theyarefranklywhattheyare，theantipodesofParisianlife；thisotherisbutaparodyofit。IwillflingmyselfuponParis。\"
Inconsequenceofthesereflections，laPeyradewenttoseetwoorthreebarristerswhohadofferedtointroducehimatthePalaisinsecondarycases。Heacceptedthosethatpresentedthemselvesatonce，andthreeweeksafterhisrupturewiththeThuilliershewasnolongerthe\"advocateofthepoor，\"butabarristerpleadingbeforetheRoyalcourt。
Hehadalreadypleadedseveralcasessuccessfullywhenhereceived，onemorning，aletterwhichgreatlydisturbedhim。ThepresidentoftheorderofbarristersrequestedhimtocometohisofficeatthePalaisinthecourseoftheday，ashehadsomethingofimportancetosaytohim。LaPeyradeinstantlythoughtofthetransactionrelatingtothepurchaseofthehouseontheboulevarddelaMadeleine；itmusthavecome，hethought，totheearsoftheCouncilofDiscipline；ifsohewasaccountabletothattribunalandheknewitsseverity。
NowthisduPortail，whomhehadneveryetbeentosee，inspiteofhisconditionalpromisetoCerizet，waslikelytohaveheardthewholestoryofthattransactionfromCerizethimself。Evidentlyallmeanswerethoughtgoodbythatman，judgingbytheusehehadmadeoftheHungarianwoman。Inhissavagedeterminationtobringaboutthemarriagewiththecrazygirl，hadthisvirulentoldmandenouncedhim？
Onseeinghimcourageouslyandwithsomeappearanceofsuccessenteringacareerinwhichhemightfindfameandindependence，hadhispersecutortakenasteptomakethatcareerimpossible？Certainlytherewasenoughlikelihoodinthissuggestiontomakethebarristerwaitincruelanxietyforthehourwhenhemightlearnthetruenatureofthealarmingsummons。
Whilebreakfastingrathermeagrely，hismindfullofthesepainfulconjectures，MadameCoffinet，whohadthehonortotakechargeofhishousekeeping，cameuptoaskifhewouldseeMonsieurEtienneLousteau。[See\"TheGreatManoftheProvincesinParis。\"]
EtienneLousteau！laPeyradehadanideathathehadheardthenamebefore。
\"Showhimintomyoffice，\"hesaidtotheportress。
Amomentlaterhemethisvisitor，whosefacedidnotseemutterlyunknowntohim。
\"Monsieur，\"saidthisnew—comer，\"IhadthehonorofbreakfastingwithyounotlongagoatVefour’s；Iwasinvitedtothatmeeting，afterwardsratherdisturbed，byMonsieurThuillier。\"
\"Ah，verygood！\"saidthebarrister，offeringachair；\"youareattachedtothestaffofanewspaper？\"
\"Editor—in—chiefofthe’EchodelaBievre，’anditisonthesubjectofthatpaperthatIhavenowcalledtoseeyou。Youknowwhathashappened？\"
\"No，\"saidlaPeyrade。
\"Isitpossibleyouarenotawarethattheministrymetwithterribledefeatlastnight？Butinsteadofresigning，aseveryoneexpected，theyhavedissolvedtheChamberandappealtothepeople。\"
\"Iknewnothingofallthat，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Ihavenotreadthemorningpapers。\"
\"So，\"continuedLousteau，\"allparliamentaryambitionswilltakethefield，and，ifIamwellinformed，MonsieurThuillier，alreadymemberoftheCouncil—general，intendstopresenthimselfascandidateforelectioninthe12tharrondissement。\"
\"Yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thatislikelytobehisintention。\"
\"Well，monsieur，IdesiretoplaceathisdispositionaninstrumentthevalueofwhichIamconfidentyouwillnotunderestimate。The’EchodelaBievre，’aspecialistpaper，canhaveadecisiveinfluenceontheelectioninthatquarter。\"
\"Andyouwouldbedisposed，\"askedlaPeyrade，\"tomakethatpapersupportMonsieurThuillier’scandidacy？\"
\"Betterthanthat，\"repliedLousteau。\"IhavecometoproposetoMonsieurThuillierthathepurchasethepaperitself。Oncetheproprietorofithecanuseitashepleases。\"
\"Butinthefirstplace，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"whatisthepresentconditionoftheenterprise？Initscharacterasaspecialistjournal——asyoucalleditjustnow——itisasheetIhaveseldommetwith；infact，itwouldbeentirelyunknowntomewereitnotfortheremarkablearticleyouweresogoodastodevotetoThuillier’sdefenceatthetimehispamphletwasseized。\"
EtienneLousteaubowedhisthanks，andthensaid：
\"Thepositionofthepaperisexcellent；wecangiveittoyouoneasyterms，forwewereintendingshortlytostopthepublication。\"
\"Thatisstrangeforaprosperousjournal。\"
\"Onthecontrary，ithappenstobequitenatural。Thefounders，whowereallrepresentativesofthegreatleatherinterest，startedthispaperforaspecialobject。Thatobjecthasbeenattained。The’EchodelaBievre’hasthereforebecomeaneffectwithoutacause。Insuchacase，stockholderswhodon’tlikethetailendofmatters，andarenoteageraftersmallprofits，verynaturallyprefertosellout。\"
\"But，\"askedlaPeyrade，\"doesthepaperpayitscosts？\"
\"That，\"repliedLousteau，\"isapointwedidnotconsider；wewerenotveryanxioustohavesubscribers；themainspringofthewholeaffairwasdirectandimmediateactionontheministryofcommercetoobtainahigherdutyontheintroductionofforeignleathers。Youunderstandthatoutsideofthetannerycircle，thisinterestwasnotveryexcitingtothegeneralreader。\"
\"Ishouldhavethought，however，\"persistedlaPeyrade，\"thatanewspaper，howevercircumscribeditsaction，wouldbealeverwhichdependedforitsforceonthenumberofitssubscribers。\"
\"Notforjournalswhichaimforasingledefinitething，\"repliedLousteau，dogmatically。\"Inthatcase，subscribersare，onthecontrary，anembarrassment，foryouhavetopleaseandamusethem，andinsodoing，therealobjecthastobeneglected。Anewspaperwhichhasadefiniteandcircumscribedobjectoughttobelikethestrokeofthatpendulumwhich，strikingsteadilyononespot，firesatagivenhourthecannonofthePalais—Royal。\"
\"Atanyrate，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"whatpricedoyouputuponapublicationwhichhasnosubscribers，doesnotpayitsexpenses，andhasuntilnowbeendevotedtoapurposetotallydifferentfromthatyouproposeforit？\"
\"Beforeanswering，\"returnedLousteau，\"Ishallaskyouanotherquestion。Haveyouanyintentionofbuyingit？\"
\"That’saccordingtocircumstances，\"repliedlaPeyrade。\"OfcourseI
mustseeThuillier；butImayhereremarktoyouthatheknowsabsolutelynothingaboutnewspaperbusiness。Withhisratherbourgeoisideas，theownershipofanewspaperwillseemtohimaruinousspeculation。Therefore，if，inadditiontoanideathatwillscarehim，yousuggestanalarmingprice，itisuselessformetospeaktohim。Iamcertainhewouldnevergointotheaffair。\"
\"No，\"repliedLousteau。\"Ihavetoldyouweshouldbereasonable；
thesegentlemenhaveleftthewholematterinmyhands。Only，Ibegtoremarkthatwehavehadpropositionsfromotherparties，andingivingMonsieurThuillierthisoption，weintendedtopayhimaparticularcourtesy。WhencanIhaveyouranswer？\"
\"To—morrow，Ithink；shallIhavethehonorofseeingyouatyourownhouse，orattheofficeofthejournal？\"
\"No，\"saidLousteau，\"to—morrowIwillcomehere，atthesamehour，ifthatisconvenienttoyou。\"
\"Perfectly，\"repliedlaPeyrade，bowingouthisvisitor，whomhewasinclinedtothinkmoreconsequentialthanable。
BythemannerinwhichthebarristerhadreceivedthepropositiontobecomeanintermediarytoThuillier，thereadermusthaveseenthatarapidrevolutionhadtakenplaceinhisideas。Evenifhehadnotreceivedthatextremelydisquietingletterfromthepresidentoftheorderofbarristers，thenewsituationinwhichThuillierwouldbeplacedifelectedtotheChambergavehimenoughtothinkabout。
Evidentlyhisdeargoodfriendwouldhavetocomebacktohim，andThuillier’seagernessforelectionwoulddeliverhimover，boundhandandfoot。WasitnottherightmomenttoattempttorenewhismarriagewithCeleste？Farfrombeinganobstacletothegoodresolutionsinspiredbyhisamorousdisappointmentandhisincipientbrainfever，suchafinalewouldensuretheircontinuanceandsuccess。Moreover，ifhereceived，ashefeared，oneofthosecensureswhichwouldruinhisdawningprospectsatthebar，itwaswiththeThuilliers，theaccomplicesandbeneficiariesofthecauseofhisfall，thathisinstinctledhimtoclaimanasylum。
WiththesethoughtsstirringinhismindlaPeyradeobeyedthesummonsandwenttoseethepresidentoftheorderofbarristers。
Hewasnotmistaken；averycircumstantialstatementofhiswholeproceedinginthematterofthehousehadbeenlaidbeforehisbrethrenofthebar；andthehighestdignitaryoftheorder，afterstatingthatananonymousdenunciationoughtalwaystobereceivedwithgreatdistrust，toldhimthathewasreadytoreceiveandwelcomeanexplanation。LaPeyradedarednotentrenchhimselfinabsolutedenial；thehandfromwhichhebelievedtheblowhadcomeseemedtohimtooresoluteandtooablenottoholdtheproofsaswell。But，whileadmittingthefactsingeneral，heendeavoredtogivethemanacceptablecoloring。Inthis，hesawthathehadfailed，whenthepresidentsaidtohim：——
\"AfterthevacationwhichisnowbeginningIshallreporttotheCounciloftheorderthechargesmadeagainstyou，andthestatementsbywhichyouhavedefendedyourself。TheCouncilalonehastherighttodecideonamatterofsuchimportance。\"
Thusdismissed，laPeyradefeltthathiswholefutureatthebarwasimperilled；butatleasthehadarespite，andincaseofcondemnationanewprojectonwhichtoresthishead。Accordingly，heputonhisgown，whichhehadneverworntillnow，andwenttothefifthcourt—
room，wherehewasemployeduponacase。
Asheleftthecourt—room，carryingoneofthosebundlesoflegalpapersheldtogetherbyastripofcottonwhich，beingtoovoluminoustoholdunderthearm，arecarriedbythehandandtheforearmpressedagainstthechest，laPeyradebegantopaceabouttheSalledesPasperduswiththatharassedlookofbusinesswhichdenotesalawyeroverwhelmedwithwork。Whetherhehadreallyexcitedhimselfinpleading，orwhetherhewaspretendingtobeexhaustedtoprovethathisgownwasnotadignityforshow，asitwaswithmanyofhislegalbrethren，butanarmorbuckledonforthefight，itiscertainthat，handkerchiefinhand，hewasmoppinghisforeheadashewalked，when，inthedistance，hespiedThuillier，whohadevidentlyjustcaughtsightofhim，andwasbeginningonhissidetomanoeuvre。
LaPeyradewasnotsurprisedbytheencounter。OnleavinghomehehadtoldMadameCoffinethewasgoingtothePalais，andshouldbetheretillthreeo’clock，andshemightsendtohimanypersonswhocalledonbusiness。NotwishingtoletThuillieraccosthimtooeasily，heturnedabruptly，asifsomethoughthadchangedhispurpose，andwentandseatedhimselfononeofthebencheswhichsurroundthewallsofthatgreatantechamberofJustice。Thereheundidhisbundle，tookoutapaper，andburiedhimselfinitwiththeairofamanwhohadnothadtimetoexamineinhisstudyacasehewasabouttoplead。ItisnotnecessarytosaythatwhiledoingthistheProvencalwaswatchingthemanoeuvresofThuillieroutofthecornerofhiseye。Thuillier，believingthatlaPeyradewasreallyoccupiedinsomeseriousbusiness，hesitatedtoapproachhim。
However，aftersundrybackingsandfillingsthemunicipalcouncillormadeuphismind，andsailingstraightbeforethewindheheadedforthespothehadbeenreconnoitringforthelasttenminutes。
\"Blessme，Theodose！\"hecriedassoonashehadgotwithinhailingdistance。\"DoyoucometothePalaisnow？\"