\"Itseemstome，\"repliedTheodose，\"thatbarristersatthePalaisarelikeTurksatConstantinople，whereafriendofmineaffirmedyoucouldseeagoodmany。ItisYOUwhomitisrathersurprisingtoseehere。\"
\"Notatall，\"saidThuillier，carelessly。\"I’vecomeaboutthatcursedpamphlet。Isthereeveranyendtoyourlegalbothers？Iwassummonedherethismorning，butIdon’tregretit，asitgivesmethehappychanceofmeetingyou。\"
\"I，too，\"saidlaPeyrade，tyinguphisbundle。\"Iamverygladtoseeyou，butImustleaveyounow；Ihaveanappointment，andIsupposeyouwanttodoyourbusinessatonce。\"
\"Ihavedoneit，\"saidThuillier。
\"DidyouspeaktoOlivierVinet，thatmortalenemyofyours？hesitsinthatcourt，\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"No，\"saidThuillier，naminganotherofficial。
\"Well，that’squeer！\"saidthebarrister；\"thatfellowmusthavethegiftofubiquity；hehasbeenallthemorninginthefifthcourt—room，andhasjustthisminutegivenajudgmentonacaseIpleaded。\"
Thuilliercolored，andgotoutofhishobbleasbesthecould。\"Oh，hangit！\"hesaid；\"thosemeningownsareallalike，Idon’tknowonefromanother。\"
LaPeyradeshruggedhisshouldersandsaidaloud，butasiftohimself：\"Alwaysthesame；crafty，crooked，neverstraightforward。\"
\"Whomareyoutalkingabout？\"askedThuillier，rathernonplussed。
\"Why，ofyou，mydearfellow，whotakemeforanimbecile，asifIandthewholeworlddidn’tknowthatyourpamphletbusinesscametoanendtwoweeksago。Why，then，summonyoutocourt？\"
\"Well，Iwassentfor，\"saidThuillier，withembarrassment；\"somethingaboutregistryfees，——itisallGreektome，Ican’tcomprehendtheirscrawls。\"
\"Andtheychose，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"preciselytheverydaywhentheMoniteur，announcingthedissolutionoftheChamber，madeyouthinkaboutbeingacandidateforthe12tharrondissement。\"
\"Whynot？\"askedThuillier，\"whathasmycandidacytodowiththefeesIowetothecourt？\"
\"I’lltellyou，\"saidlaPeyrade，dryly。\"Thecourtisathingessentiallyamiableandcomplaisant。’Tiens！’itsaidtoitself，’here’sthisgoodMonsieurThuilliergoingtobeacandidatefortheChamber；howhamperedhe’llbebyhisattitudetohisex—friendMonsieurdelaPeyrade，withwhomhewishesnowhehadn’tquarrelled。
I’llsummonhimforfeeshedoesn’towe；thatwillbringhimtothePalaiswherelaPeyradecomesdaily；andinthatwayhecanmeethimbychance，andsoavoidtakingastepwhichwouldhurthisself—love。\"
\"Well，thereyouaremistaken！\"criedThuillier，breakingtheice。\"I
usedsolittlecraft，asyoucallit，thatI’vejustcomefromyourhouse，there！andyourportresstoldmewheretofindyou。\"
\"Welldone！\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Ilikethisfrankness；Icangetonwithmenwhoplayabove—board。Well，whatdoyouwantofme？Haveyoucometotalkaboutyourelection？Ihavealreadybeguntoworkforit。\"
\"No，really？\"saidThuillier，\"how？\"
\"Here，\"repliedlaPeyrade，feelingunderhisgownforhispocketandbringingoutapaper，\"here’swhatIscribbledjustnowinthecourt—
roomwhilethelawyerontheothersiderambledonlikeanexpert。\"
\"Whatisitabout？\"askedThuillier。
\"Readandyou’llsee。\"
Thepaperreadasfollows：——
Estimateforanewspaper，smallsize，atthirtyfrancsayear。
Calculatingtheeditionsat5，000thecostsare：——
Paper，5reamsat12francs……1，860francs。
Composition……2，400\"
Printing……450\"
Oneadministrator……250\"
Oneclerk……100\"
Oneeditor（alsocashier）……200\"
Onedespatcher……100\"
Folders……120\"
Oneofficeboy……80\"
Officeexpenses……150\"
Rent……100\"
Licenseandpostage……7，500\"
Reportingandstenographicnews……1，800\"
—————————
Totalmonthly，15，110\"
\"yearly，181，320\"
\"Doyouwanttosetupapaper？\"askedThuillier，indread。
\"I？\"askedlaPeyrade，\"Iwantnothingatall；youaretheonetobeaskedifyouwanttobeadeputy。\"
\"UndoubtedlyIdo；because，whenyouurgedmetobecomeamunicipalcouncillor，youputtheideaintomyhead。Butreflect，mydearTheodose，onehundredandeightyonethousandthreehundredandtwentyfrancstoputout！HaveIafortunelargeenoughtomeetsuchademand？\"
\"Yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"youcouldverywellsupportthatexpense，forconsideringtheendyouwanttoobtainthereisnothingexorbitantinit。InEnglandtheymakemuchgreatersacrificestogetaseatinParliament；butinanycase，Ibegyoutoobservethatthecostsareveryhighonthatestimate，andsomecouldbecutoffaltogether。Forinstance，youwouldnotwantanadministrator。You，yourself，anoldaccountant，andI，anoldjournalist，canverywellmanagetheaffairbetweenus。Alsorent，weneedn’tcountthat；youhaveyouroldapartmentintherueSaint—Dominiquewhichisnotyetleased；thatwillmakeafinenewspaperoffice。\"
\"Allthatcostsofftwothousandfourhundredfrancsayear，\"saidThuillier。
\"Well，that’ssomething；butyourerrorconsistsincalculatingontheyearlycost。Whendotheelectionstakeplace？\"
\"Intwomonths，\"saidThuillier。
\"Verygood；twomonthswillcostyouthirtythousandfrancs，evensupposingthepaperhadnosubscribers。\"
\"True，\"saidThuillier，\"theexpenseiscertainlylessthanIthoughtatfirst。Butdoesanewspaperreallyseemtoyouessential？\"
\"Soessentialthatwithoutthatpowerinourhands，Iwon’thaveanythingtodowiththeelection。Youdon’tseemtosee，mypoorfellow，thatingoingtoliveintheotherquarteryouhavelost，electorallyspeaking，animmenseamountofground。Youarenolongerthemanoftheplace，andyourelectioncouldbebalkedbythecryofwhattheEnglishcall’absenteeism。’Thismakesyourgameveryhardtoplay。\"
\"Iadmitthat，\"saidThuillier；\"buttherearesomanythingswantedbesidesmoney，——anameforonething，amanager，editorialstaff，andsoforth。\"
\"Aname，wehaveonemadetohand；editors，theyareyouandIandafewyoungfellowswhogrowoneverybushinParis。Asforthemanager，Ihaveamaninview。\"
\"Whatnameisit？\"askedThuillier。
\"L’EchodelaBievre。\"
\"Butthereisalreadyapaperofthatname。\"
\"Precisely，andthat’swhyIgivemyapprovaltotheaffair。DoyouthinkIshouldbefoolenoughtoadviseyoutostartanentirelynewpaper？’EchodelaBievre！’thattitleisatreasuretoamanwhowantssupportforhiscandidacyinthe12tharrondissement。Saythewordonly，andIputthattreasureintoyourhands。\"
\"How？\"askedThuillier，withcuriosity。
\"Parbleu！bybuyingit；itcanbehadforasong。\"
\"Therenow，yousee，\"saidThuillierinadiscouragedtone；\"younevercountedinthecostofpurchase。\"
\"Howyoudwellonnothings！\"saidlaPeyrade，hunchinghisshoulders；
\"wehaveotherandmoreimportantdifficultiestosolve。\"
\"Otherdifficulties？\"echoedThuillier。
\"Parbleu！\"exclaimedlaPeyrade；\"doyousupposethatafterallthathastakenplacebetweenusIshouldboldlyharnessmyselftoyourelectionwithoutknowingexactlywhatbenefitIamtogetforit？\"
\"But，\"saidThuillier，ratherastonished，\"Ithoughtthatfriendshipwasagoodexchangeforsuchservices。\"
\"Yes；butwhentheexchangeconsistsinonesidegivingallandtheothersidenothing，friendshipgetstiredofthatsortofsharing，andasksforsomethingalittlebetterbalanced。\"
\"But，mydearTheodose，whathaveItoofferyouthatyouhavenotalreadyrejected？\"
\"Irejectedit，becauseitwasofferedwithoutheartiness，andseasonedwithMademoiselleBrigitte’svinegar；everyself—respectingmanwouldhaveactedasIdid。Giveandkeepdon’tpass，astheoldlegalsayingis；butthatispreciselywhatyoupersistindoing。\"
\"I！——Ithinkyoutookoffenceveryunreasonably；buttheengagementmightberenewed。\"
\"Sobeit，\"repliedlaPeyrade；\"butIwillnotputmyselfatthemercyofeitherthesuccessoftheelectionorMademoiselleCeleste’scaprices。Iclaimtherighttosomethingpositiveandcertain。Giveandtake；shortaccountsmakegoodfriends。\"
\"Iperfectlyagreewithyou，\"saidThuillier，\"andIhavealwaystreatedyouwithtoomuchgoodfaithtofearanyoftheseprecautionsyounowwanttotake。Butwhatguaranteesdoyouwant？\"
\"IwantthatthehusbandofCelesteshouldmanageyourelection，andnotTheodosedelaPeyrade。\"
\"Byhurryingthingsasmuchaspossible，soBrigittesaid，itwouldstilltakefifteendays；andjustthink，withtheelectionsonlyeightweeksoff，tolosetwoofthemdoingnothing！\"
\"Dayafterto—morrow，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"thebannscanbepublishedforthefirsttimeatthemayor’soffice，intheintervalsofpublicationsomethingscouldbedone，forthoughthepublishingofthebannsisnotastepfromwhichthereisnoretreat，itisatleastapublicpledgeandalongsteptaken；afterthatwecangetyournotarytodrawthecontractatonce。Moreover，ifyoudecideonbuyingthisnewspaper，Ishouldn’tbeafraidthatyouwouldgobackonme，foryoudon’twantauselesshorseinyourstable，andwithoutmeIamcertainyoucan’tmanagehim。\"
\"But，mydearfellow，\"saidThuillier，goingbacktohisobjections，\"supposethataffairprovestooonerous？\"
\"There’snoneedtosaythatyouarethesolejudgeoftheconditionsofthepurchase。Idon’twishanymorethanyoudotobuyapiginapoke。Ifto—morrowyouauthorizeme，Iwon’tsaytobuy，buttoletthesepeopleknowthatyoumaypossiblymakethepurchase，I’llconferwithoneofthemonyourbehalf，andyoumaybecertainthatI’llstandupforyourinterestsasiftheyweremyown。\"
\"Verygood，mydearfellow，\"saidThuillier，\"goahead！\"
\"Andassoonasthepaperispurchasedwearetofixthedayforsigningthecontract？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedThuillier；\"butwillyoubindyourselftouseyourutmostinfluenceontheelection？\"
\"Asifitweremyown，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"which，bythebye，isnotaltogetheranhypothesis。Ihavealreadyreceivedsuggestionsaboutmyowncandidacy，andifIwerevindictive——\"
\"Certainly，\"saidThuillier，withhumility，\"youwouldmakeabetterdeputythanI；\"butyouarenotoftherequiredage，Ithink。\"
\"There’sabetterreasonthanthat，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"youaremyfriend；Ifindyouagainwhatyouoncewere，andIshallkeepthepledgesIhavegivenyou。Asfortheelection，Ipreferthatpeoplesayofme，’Hemakesdeputies，butwillbenonehimself。’NowImustleaveyouandkeepmyappointment。To—morrowinmyownrooms，comeandseeme；Ishallhavesomethingtoannounce。\"
Whosohaseverbeenanewspapermanwilleverbeone；thathoroscopeisassureandcertainasthatofdrunkards。Whoeverhastastedthatfeverishlybusyandrelativelylazyandindependentlife；whoeverhasexercisedthatsovereigntywhichcriticisesintellect，art，talent，fame，virtue，absurdity，andeventruth；whoeverhasoccupiedthattribuneerectedbyhisownhands，fulfilledthefunctionsofthatmagistracytowhichheisself—appointed，——inshort，whosoeverhasbeen，forhoweverbriefaspan，thatproxyofpublicopinion，looksuponhimselfwhenremandedtoprivatelifeasanexile，andthemomentachanceisofferedtohimputsoutaneagerhandtosnatchbackhiscrown。
ForthisreasonwhenEtienneLousteauwenttolaPeyrade，aformerjournalist，withanofferoftheweaponentitledthe\"EchodelaBievre，\"allthelatter’sinstinctsasanewspapermanwerearoused，inspiteoftheveryinferiorqualityoftheblade。Thepaperhadfailed；laPeyradebelievedhecouldreviveit。Thesubscribers，onthevendor’sownshowing，werefewandfarbetween，buthewouldexerciseuponthema\"compelleintrare\"bothpowerfulandirresistible。Inthecircumstancesunderwhichtheaffairwaspresentedtohimitmightsurelybeconsideredprovincial。Threatenedwiththelossofhispositionatthebar，hewasthusacquiring，aswesaidbefore，anewpositionandthatofa\"detachedfort\"；compelled，ashemightbe，todefendhimself，hecouldfromthatvantage—groundtaketheoffensiveandobligehisenemiestoreckonwithhim。
OntheThuillierside，thenewspaperwouldundoubtedlymakehimapersonageofconsiderableimportance；hewouldhavemorepowerontheelection；andbyinvolvingtheircapitalinanenterprisewhich，withouthim，theywouldfeelagulfandasnare，heboundthemtohimbyself—interestssofirmlythattherewasnothingtofearfromtheircapriceoringratitude。
Thishorizon，rapidlytakeninduringEtienneLousteau’svisit，hadfairlydazzledtheProvencal，andwehaveseentheperemptorymannerinwhichThuillierwasforcedintoacceptingwithsomeenthusiasmthediscoveryofthisphilosopher’s—stone。
Thecostofthepurchasewasridiculouslyinsignificant。Abank—noteforfivehundredfrancs，forwhichEtienneLousteauneverclearlyaccountedtotheshare—holders，putThuillierinpossessionofthename，property，furniture，andgood—willofthenewspaper，whichheandlaPeyradeatoncebusiedthemselvesinreorganizing。
CHAPTERX
INWHICHCERIZETPRACTISESTHEHEALINGARTAND
THEARTOFPOISONINGONTHESAMEDAY
Whilethisregenerationwasgoingon，CerizetwentonemorningtoseeduPortail，withwhomlaPeyradewasnowmorethaneverdeterminedtoholdnocommunication。
\"Well，\"saidthelittleoldmantothepoorman’sbanker，\"whateffectdidthenewswegavetothepresidentofthebarproduceonourman？
DidtheaffairgetwindatthePalais？\"
\"Phew！\"saidCerizet，whoseintercourse，nodoubtprettyfrequent，withduPortailhadputhimonafootingofsomefamiliaritywiththeoldman，\"there’snoquestionofthatnow。Theeelhaswriggledoutofourhands；neithersoftnessnorviolencehasanyeffectuponthatdevilofaman。Hehasquarrelledwiththebar，andisinbetterodorthaneverwithThuillier。’Necessity，’saysFigaro，’obliteratesdistance。’ThuillierneedshimtopushhiscandidacyinthequartierSaint—Jacques，sotheykissedandmadeup。\"
\"Andnodoubt，\"saidduPortail，withoutmuchappearanceoffeeling，\"themarriageisfixedforanearlyday？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedCerizet，\"butthere’sanotherpieceofworkonhand。
ThatcrazyfellowhaspersuadedThuilliertobuyanewspaper，andhe’llmakehimsinkfortythousandfrancsinit。Thuillier，onceinvolved，willwanttogethismoneyback，andinmyopiniontheyareboundtogetherfortherestoftheirdays。\"
\"Whatpaperisit？\"
\"Oh，acabbage—leafthatcallsitselfthe’EchodelaBievre’！\"repliedCerizetwithgreatscorn；\"apaperwhichanoldhackofajournalistonhislastlegsmanagedtosetupintheMouffetardquarterbythehelpofalotoftanners——that，youknow，istheindustryofthequarter。Fromapoliticalandliterarypointofviewtheaffairisnothingatall，butThuillierhasbeenmadetothinkitamasterlystroke。\"
\"Well，forlocalservicetotheelectiontheinstrumentisn’tsobad，\"
remarkedduPortail。\"LaPeyradehastalent，activity，andmuchresourceofmind；hemaymakesomethingoutofthat’Echo。’UnderwhatpoliticalbannerwillThuillierpresenthimself？\"
\"Thuillier，\"repliedthebeggars’banker，\"isanoyster；hehasn’tanyopinions。Untilthepublicationofhispamphlethewas，likeallthosebourgeois，arabidconservative；butsincetheseizurehehasgoneovertotheOpposition。HisfirststagewillprobablybetheLeft—
centre；butiftheelectionwindshouldblowfromanotherquarter，he’llgostraightbeforeittotheextremeleft。Self—interest，forthosebourgeois，that’sthemeasureoftheirconvictions。\"
\"Dear，dear！\"saidduPortail，\"thisnewcombinationoflaPeyrade’smayassumetheimportanceofapoliticaldangerfromthepointofviewofmyopinions，whichareextremelyconservativeandgovernmental。\"
Then，afteramoment’sreflection，headded，\"Ithinkyoudidnewspaperworkonceuponatime；Iremember’thecourageousCerizet。’\"
\"Yes，\"repliedtheusurer，\"IevenmanagedonewithlaPeyrade，——aneveningpaper；andaprettypieceofworkwedid，forwhichwewerefinelyrecompensed。\"
\"Well，\"saidduPortail，\"whydon’tyoudoitagain，——journalism，I
mean，——withlaPeyrade。\"
CerizetlookedatduPortailinamazement。
\"Ahca！\"hecried，\"areyouthedevil，monsieur？Cannothingeverbehiddenfromyou？\"
\"Yes，\"saidduPortail，\"Iknowagoodmanythings。ButwhathasbeensettledbetweenyouandlaPeyrade？\"
\"Well，rememberingmyexperienceinthebusiness，andnotknowingwhomelsetoget，heofferedtomakememanagerofthepaper。\"
\"Ididnotknowthat，\"saidduPortail，\"butitwasquiteprobable。
Didyouaccept？\"
\"Conditionally；Iaskedtimeforreflection。Iwantedtoknowwhatyouthoughtoftheoffer。\"
\"Parbleu！Ithinkthatoutofanevilthatcan’tberemediedweshouldget，astheproverbsays，wingorfoot。Ihadratherseeyouinsidethanoutsideofthatenterprise。\"
\"Verygood；butinordertogetintoitthere’sadifficulty。LaPeyradeknowsIhavedebts，andhewon’thelpmewiththethirty—
three—thousandfrancs’securitywhichmustbepaiddowninmyname。I
haven’tgotthem，andifIhad，Iwouldn’tshowthemandexposemyselftotheinsultsofcreditors。\"
\"Youmusthaveagooddealleftofthattwenty—fivethousandfrancslaPeyradepaidyounotmorethantwomonthsago，\"remarkedduPortail。
\"Onlytwothousandtwohundredfrancsandfiftycentimes，\"repliedCerizet。\"Iwasaddingituplastnight；theresthasallgonetopayoffpressingdebts。\"
\"Butifyouhavepaidyourdebtsyouhaven’tanycreditors。\"
\"Yes，thoseI’vepaid，butthoseIhaven’tpaidIstillowe。\"
\"Doyoumeantotellmethatyourliabilitiesweremorethantwenty—
fivethousandfrancs？\"saidduPortail，inatoneofincredulity。
\"Doesamangointobankruptcyforless？\"repliedCerizet，asthoughhewereenunciatingamaxim。
\"Well，IseeIamexpectedtopaythatsummyself，\"saidduPortail，crossly；\"butthequestioniswhethertheutilityofyourpresenceinthisenterpriseisworthtometheinterestononehundredandthirty—
threethousand，threehundredandthirty—threefrancs，thirty—threecentimes。\"
\"Hangit！\"saidCerizet，\"ifIwereonceinstallednearThuillier，I
shouldn’tdespairofsoonputtinghimandlaPeyradeatloggerheads。
Inthemanagementofanewspapertherearelotsofinevitabledisagreements，andbyalwaystakingthesideofthefoolagainstthecleverman，Icanincreasetheconceitofoneandwoundtheconceitoftheotheruntillifetogetherbecomesimpossible。Besides，youspokejustnowofpoliticaldanger；nowthemanagerofanewspaper，asyououghttoknow，whenhehastheintellecttobesomethingbetterthanamanofstraw，canquietlygivehissheetapushinthedirectionwanted。
\"There’sagooddealoftruthinthat，\"saidduPortail，\"butdefeattolaPeyrade，that’swhatIamthinkingabout。\"
\"Well，\"saidCerizet，\"IthinkIhaveanothernicelittleinsidiousmeansofdemolishinghimwithThuillier。\"
\"Saywhatitis，then！\"exclaimedduPortail，impatiently；\"yougoroundandroundthepotasifIwereamanitwoulddoyousomegoodtofinessewith。\"
\"Youremember，\"saidCerizet，comingoutwithit，\"thatsometimeagoDutocqandIweremuchpuzzledtoknowhowlaPeyradewas，allofasudden，abletomakethatpaymentoftwenty—fivethousandfrancs？\"
\"Ha！\"saidtheoldmanquickly，\"haveyoudiscoveredtheoriginofthatveryimprobablesuminourfriend’shands；andisthatoriginshady？\"
\"Youshalljudge，\"saidCerizet。
AndherelatedinallitsdetailstheaffairofMadameLambert，——
adding，however，thatonquestioningthewomancloselyattheofficeofthejustice—of—peace，afterthemeetingwithlaPeyrade，hehadbeenunabletoextractfromheranyconfession，althoughbyherwholebearingshehadamplyconfirmedthesuspicionsofDutocqandhimself。
\"MadameLambert，rueduVal—de—Grace，No。9；atthehouseofMonsieurPicot，professorofmathematics，\"saidduPortail，ashemadeanoteoftheinformation。\"Verygood，\"headded；\"comebackandseemeto—morrow，mydearMonsieurCerizet。\"
\"Butpleaseremark，\"saidtheusurer，\"thatImustgiveananswertolaPeyradeinthecourseofto—day。Heisinagreathurrytostartthebusiness。\"
\"Verywell；youmustaccept，askingadelayoftwenty—fourhourstoobtainyoursecurity。If，aftermakingcertaininquiriesIseeitismoretomyinterestsnottomeddleintheaffair，youcangetoutofitbymerelybreakingyourword；youcan’tbesenttothecourtofassizesforthat。\"
IndependentlyofasortofinexplicablefascinationwhichduPortailexercisedoverhisagent，heneverlostanopportunitytoremindhimoftheveryquestionablepointofdepartureoftheirintercourse。
ThenextdayCerizetreturned。
\"Youguessedright，\"saidduPortail。\"ThatwomanLambert，beingobligedtoconcealtheexistenceofherbooty，andwantingtodrawinterestonherstolenproperty，musthavetakenitintoherheadtoconsultlaPeyrade；hisdevoutexteriormayhaverecommendedhimtoher。Sheprobablygavehimthatmoneywithouttakingareceipt。InwhatkindofmoneywasDutocqpaid？\"
\"Innineteenthousand—francnotes，andtwelveoffive—hundredfrancs。\"
\"That’spreciselyit，\"saidduPortail。\"Therecan’tbetheslightestdoubtleft。Now，whatusedoyouexpecttomakeofthisinformationbearinguponThuillier。\"
\"IexpecttoputitintohisheadthatlaPeyrade，towhomheisgoingtogivehisgoddaughterandheiress，isoverheadandearsindebt；
thathemakesenormoussecretloans；andthatinordertogetoutofhisdifficultieshemeanstognawthenewspapertothebone；andI
shallinsinuatethatthepositionofamansomuchindebtmustbeknowntothepublicbeforelong，andbecomeafatalblowtothecandidatewhoserighthandheis。\"
\"That’snotbad，\"saidduPortail；\"butthere’sanotherandevenmoreconclusiveusetobemadeofthediscovery。\"
\"Tellme，master；I’mlistening，\"saidCerizet。
\"Thuillierhasnotyetbeenable，hashe，toexplaintohimselfthereasonoftheseizureofthepamphlet？\"
\"Yes，hehas，\"repliedCerizet。\"LaPeyradewastellingmeonlyyesterday，bywayofexplainingThuillier’sidioticsimplicity，thathehadbelievedamostridiculousbitofhumbug。The’honestbourgeois’ispersuadedthattheseizurewasinstigatedbyMonsieurOlivierVinet，substitutetotheprocureur—general。TheyoungmanaspiredforamomenttothehandofMademoiselleColleville，andtheworthyThuillierhasbeenmadetoimaginethattheseizureofhispamphletwasarevengefortherefusal。\"
\"Good！\"saidduPortail；\"to—morrow，asapreparationfortheotherversionofwhichyouaretobetheorgan，ThuilliershallreceivefromMonsieurVinetaverysharpanddecideddenialoftheabuseofpowerhefoolishlygaveearto。\"
\"Willhe？\"saidCerizet，withcuriosity。
\"Butanotherexplanationmusttakeitsplace，\"continuedduPortail；
\"youmustassureThuillierthatheisthevictimofpolicemachinations。Thatisallthepoliceisgoodfor，youknow，——
machinations。\"