\"Apparently，\"saidThuillier，acrimoniously，\"thishonestgo—betweenhadsomeinterestinexaggeratingmyvalue。Onethingisverysure；
thismonsieurhadadebtoftwenty—fivethousandfrancswhichharassedhimmuch；andashorttimebeforetheseizurethissamemonsieur，whohadnomeansofhisown，paidoffthatdebt；andunlessyoucantellmewhereelsehegotthemoney，theinferenceIthinkisnotdifficulttodraw。\"
ItwaslaPeyrade’sturntolookfixedlyatThuillier。
\"MonsieurThuillier，\"hesaid，raisinghisvoice，\"letusgetoutofenigmasandgeneralities；willyoudomethefavortonamethatperson？\"
\"Well，no，\"repliedThuillier，strikinghishanduponthetable，\"I
shallnotnamehim，becauseofthesentimentsofesteemandaffectionwhichformerlyunitedus；butyouhaveunderstoodme，MonsieurlaPeyrade。\"
\"Ioughttohaveknown，\"saidtheProvencal，inavoicechangedbyemotion，\"thatinbringingaserpenttothisplaceIshouldsoonbesoiledbyhisvenom。Poorfool！doyounotseethatyouhavemadeyourselftheechoofCerizet’scalumny？\"
\"Cerizethasnothingtodowithit；onthecontrary，hehastoldmethehighestgoodofyou。Howwasit，nothavingapennythenightbefore，——andIhadreasontoknowit，——thatyouwereabletopayDutocqtheroundsumoftwenty—fivethousandfrancsthenextday？\"
LaPeyradereflectedforamoment。
\"No，\"hesaid，\"itwasnotDutocqwhotoldyouthat。Heisnotamantowrestlewithanenemyofmystrengthwithoutastronginterestinit。ItwasCerizet；he’stheinfamouscalumniator，fromwhosehandsI
wrenchedtheleaseofyourhouseneartheMadeleine，——Cerizet，whominkindness，IwenttoseekonhisdunghillthatImightgivehimthechanceofhonorableemployment；thatisthewretch，towhomabenefitisonlyanencouragementtotreachery。Tiens！ifIweretotellyouwhatthatmanisIshouldturnyousickwithdisgust；inthesphereofinfamyhehasdiscoveredworlds。\"
ThistimeThuilliermadeanablereply。
\"Idon’tknowanythingaboutCerizetexceptthroughyou，\"hesaid；
\"youintroducedhimtomeasamanager，offeringeveryguarantee；but，allowinghimtobeblackerthanthedevil，andsupposingthatthiscommunicationcomesfromhim，Idon’tsee，myfriend，thatallthatmakesYOUanythewhiter。\"
\"NodoubtIwastoblame，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"forputtingsuchamanintorelationswithyou；butwewantedsomeonewhounderstoodjournalism，andthatvaluehereallyhadforus。Butwhocaneversoundthedepthsofsoulslikehis？Ithoughthimreformed。Amanager，Isaidtomyself，isonlyamachine；hecandonoharm。Iexpectedtofindhimamanofstraw；well，Iwasmistaken，hewillneverbeanythingbutamanofmud。\"
\"Allthatisveryfine，\"saidThuillier，\"butthosetwenty—fivethousandfrancsfoundsoconvenientlyinyourpossession，wheredidyougetthem？Thatisthepointyouareforgettingtoexplain。\"
\"Buttoreasonaboutit，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"amanofmycharacterinthepayofthepoliceandyetsopoorthatIcouldnotpaythetenthousandfrancsyourharpyofasisterdemandedwithaninsolencewhichyouyourselfwitnessed——\"
\"But，\"saidThuillier，\"iftheoriginofthismoneyishonest，asI
sincerelydesireitmaybe，whathindersyoufromtellingmehowyougotit？\"
\"Icannot，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"thehistoryofthatmoneyisasecretentrustedtomeprofessionally。\"
\"Come，come，youtoldmeyourselfthatthestatutesofyourorderforbidallbarristersfromdoingbusinessofanykind。\"
\"Letussuppose，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thatIhavedonesomethingnotabsolutelyregular；itwouldbestrangeindeedafterwhatIrisked，asyouknow，foryou，ifyoushouldhavethefacetoreproachmewithit。\"
\"Mypoorfriend，youaretryingtoshakeoffthehounds；butyoucan’tmakemelosethescent。Youwishtokeepyoursecret；thenkeepit。I
ammasterofmyownconfidenceandmyownesteem；bypayingyoutheforfeitstipulatedinourdeedItakethenewspaperintomyownhands。\"
\"Doyoumeanthatyoudismissme？\"criedlaPeyrade。\"Themoneythatyouhaveputintotheaffair，allyourchancesofelection，sacrificedtothecalumniesofsuchabeingasCerizet！\"
\"Inthefirstplace，\"saidThuillier，\"anothereditor—in—chiefcanbefound；itisatruesayingthatnomanisindispensable。AsforelectiontotheChamberIwouldratherneverreceiveitthanoweittothehelpofonewho——\"
\"Goon，\"saidlaPeyrade，seeingthatThuillierhesitated，\"orrather，no，besilent，foryouwillpresentlyblushforyoursuspicionsandaskmypardonhumbly。\"
BythistimelaPeyradesawthatwithoutaconfessiontowhichhemustcompelhimself，theinfluenceandthefuturehehadjustrecoveredwouldbecutfromunderhisfeet。Resuminghisspeechhesaid，solemnly：——
\"Youwillremember，myfriend，thatyouwerepitiless，and，bysubjectingmetoaspeciesofmoraltorture，youhaveforcedmetorevealtoyouasecretthatisnotmine。\"
\"Goon，\"saidThuillier，\"Itakethewholeresponsibilityuponmyself。
Makemeseethetruthclearlyinthisdarkness，andifIhavedonewrongIwillbethefirsttosayso。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thosetwenty—fivethousandfrancsarethesavingsofaservant—womanwhocametomeandaskedmetotakethemandtopayherinterest。\"
\"Aservantwithtwenty—fivethousandfrancsofsavings！Nonsense；shemustserveinmonstrouslyrichhouseholds。\"
\"Onthecontrary，sheistheoneservantofaninfirmoldsavant；anditwasonaccountofthediscrepancywhichstrikesyourmindthatshewantedtoputhermoneyinmyhandsasasortoftrustee。\"
\"Blessme！myfriend，\"saidThuillier，flippantly，\"yousaidwewereinwantofaromance—feuilletonist；butreally，afterthis，Isha’n’tbeuneasy。Here’simaginationforyou！\"
\"What？\"saidlaPeyrade，angrily，\"youdon’tbelieveme？\"
\"No，Idonotbelieveyou。Twenty—fivethousandfrancssavingsintheserviceofanoldsavant！thatisaboutasbelievableastheofficerofLaDameBlanchebuyingachateauwithhispay。\"
\"ButifIprovetoyouthetruthofmywords；ifIletyouputyourfingeruponit？\"
\"Inthatcase，likeSaintThomas，Ishalllowermyflagbeforetheevidence。Meanwhileyoumustpermitme，mynoblefriend，towaituntilyouoffermethatproof。\"
Thuillierfeltreallysuperb。
\"I’dgiveahundredfrancs，\"hesaidtohimself，\"ifBrigittecouldhavebeenhereandheardmeimpeachhim。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"supposethatwithoutleavingthisoffice，andbymeansofanotewhichyoushallread，IbringintoyourpresencethepersonfromwhomIreceivedthemoney；ifsheconfirmswhatIsaywillyoubelieveme？\"
ThisproposalandtheassurancewithwhichitwasmaderatherstaggeredThuillier。
\"Ishallknowwhattodowhenthetimecomes，\"hereplied，changinghistone。\"Butthismustbedoneatonce，now，here。\"
\"Isaid，withoutleavingthisoffice。Ishouldthinkthatwasclearenough。\"
\"Andwhowillcarrythenoteyouwrite？\"askedThuillier，believingthatbythusexaminingeverydetailhewasgivingproofsofamazingperspicacity。
\"Carrythenote！why，yourownporterofcourse，\"repliedlaPeyrade；
\"youcansendhimyourself。\"
\"Thenwriteit，\"saidThuillier，determinedtopushhimtothewall。
LaPeyradetookasheetofpaperwiththenewheadingandwroteasfollows，readingthenotealoud：——
MadameLambertisrequestedtocallatonce，onurgentbusiness，attheofficeofthe\"EchodelaBievre，\"rueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。Thebearerofthisnotewillconducther。Sheisawaitedimpatientlybyherdevotedservant，TheodosedelaPeyrade。
\"There，willthatsuityou？\"saidthebarrister，passingthepapertoThuillier。
\"Perfectly，\"repliedThuillier，takingtheprecautiontofoldtheletterhimselfandsealit。\"Puttheaddress，\"headded。
Thenherangthebellfortheporter。
\"Youwillcarrythislettertoitsaddress，\"hesaidtotheman，\"andbringbackwithyouthepersonnamed。Butwillshebethere？\"heasked，onreflection。
\"Itismorethanprobable，\"repliedlaPeyrade；\"inanycase，neitheryounorIwillleavethisroomuntilshecomes。Thismattermustbeclearedup。\"
\"Thengo！\"saidThuilliertotheporter，inatheatricaltone。
Whentheywerealone，laPeyradetookupanewspaperandappearedtobeabsorbedinitsperusal。
Thuillier，beginningtogetuneasyastotheupshotoftheaffair，regrettedthathehadnotdonesomethingtheideaofwhichhadcometohimjusttoolate。
\"Yes，Iought，\"hesaidtohimself，\"tohavetornupthatletter，andnotdrivenhimtoprovehiswords。\"
WishingtodosomethingthatmightlooklikeretaininglaPeyradeinthepositionofwhichhehadthreatenedtodeprivehim，heremarkedpresently：——
\"Bythebye，Ihavejustcomefromtheprinting—office；thenewtypehasarrived，andIthinkwemightmakeourfirstappearanceto—morrow。\"
LaPeyradedidnotanswer；buthegotupandtookhispapernearertothewindow。
\"Heissulky，\"thoughtThuillier，\"andifheisinnocent，hemaywellbe。But，afterall，whydidheeverbringamanlikethatCerizethere？\"
Thentohidehisembarrassmentandthepreoccupationofhismind，hesatdownbeforetheeditor’stable，tookasheetofthehead—linedpaperandmadehimselfwritealetter。
PresentlylaPeyradereturnedtothetableandsittingdown，tookanothersheetandwiththefeverishrapidityofamanstirredbysomeemotionhedrovehispenoverthepaper。
Fromthecornerofhiseye，ThuilliertriedhardtoseewhatlaPeyradewaswriting，andnoticingthathissentenceswereseparatedbynumbersplacedbetweenbrackets，hesaid：——
\"Tiens！areyoudrawingupaparliamentarylaw？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"thelawofthevanquished。\"
Soonafterthis，theporteropenedthedoorandintroducedMadameLambert，whomhehadfoundathome，andwhoarrivedlookingratherfrightened。
\"YouareMadameLambert？\"askedThuillier，magisterially。
\"Yes，monsieur，\"saidthewoman，inananxiousvoice。
Afterrequestinghertobeseatedandnoticingthattheporterwasstillthereasifawaitingfurtherordershesaidtotheman：——
\"Thatwilldo；youmaygo；anddon’tletanyonedisturbus。\"
ThegravityandthelordlytoneassumedbyThuillieronlyincreasedMadameLambert’suneasiness。ShecameexpectingtoseeonlylaPeyrade，andshefoundherselfreceivedbyanunknownmanwithahaughtymanner，whilethebarrister，whohadmerelybowedtoher，saidnotaword；moreover，thescenetookplaceinanewspaperoffice，anditisawell—knownfactthattopiouspersonsespeciallyallthatrelatestothepressisinfernalanddiabolical。
\"Well，\"saidThuilliertothebarrister，\"itseemstomethatnothinghindersyoufromexplainingtomadamewhyyouhavesentforher。\"
InordertoleavenoloopholeforsuspicioninThuillier’smindlaPeyradeknewthathemustputhisquestionbluntlyandwithouttheslightestpreparation；hethereforesaidtoher\"exabrupto\"：——
\"Wewishtoaskyou，madame，ifitisnottruethatabouttwoandahalfmonthsagoyouplacedinmyhands，subjecttointerest，thesum，inroundnumbers，oftwenty—fivethousandfrancs。\"
ThoughshefelttheeyesofThuillierandthoseoflaPeyradeuponher，MadameLambert，undertheshockofthisquestionfiredatherpoint—blank，couldnotrestrainastart。
\"Heavens！\"sheexclaimed，\"twenty—fivethousandfrancs！andwhereshouldIgetsuchasumasthat？\"
LaPeyradegavenosignonhisfaceofthevexationhemightbesupposedtofeel。AsforThuillier，whonowlookedathimwithsorrowfulcommiseration，hemerelysaid：——
\"Yousee，myfriend！\"
\"So，\"resumedlaPeyrade，\"youareverycertainthatyoudidnotplaceinmyhandsthesumoftwenty—fivethousandfrancs；youdeclarethis，youaffirmit？\"
\"Why，monsieur！didyoueverhearofsuchasumasthatinthepocketofapoorwomanlikeme？ThelittlethatIhad，aseverybodyknows，hasgonetoekeoutthehousekeepingofthatpoordeargentlemanwhoseservantIhavebeenformorethantwentyyears。\"
\"This，\"saidThuillier，pompously，\"seemstomecategorical。\"
LaPeyradestilldidnotshowtheslightestsignofannoyance；onthecontrary，heseemedtobeplayingintoThuillier’shand。
\"Youhear，mydearThuillier，\"hesaid，\"andifnecessaryIshallcallforyourtestimony，thatmadameheredeclaresthatshedidnotpossesstwenty—fivethousandfrancsandcouldnotthereforehaveplacedtheminmyhands。Now，asthenotaryDupuis，inwhosehandsIfanciedIhadplacedthem，leftParisthismorningforBrusselscarryingwithhimthemoneyofallhisclients，Ihavenoaccountwithmadame，byherownshowing，andtheabscondingofthenotary——\"
\"HasthenotaryDupuisabsconded？\"screamedMadameLambert，drivenbythisdreadfulnewsentirelyoutofherusualtonesofdulcetsweetnessandChristianresignation。\"Ah，thevillain！itwasonlythismorningthathewastakingthesacramentatSaint—JacquesduHaut—Pas。\"
\"Toprayforasafejourney，probably，\"saidlaPeyrade。
\"Monsieurtalkslightlyenough，\"continuedMadameLambert，\"thoughthatbrigandhascarriedoffmysavings。ButIgavethemtomonsieur，andmonsieurisanswerabletomeforthem；heistheonlyoneIknowinthistransaction。\"
\"Hey？\"saidlaPeyradetoThuillier，pointingtoMadameLambert，whosewholedemeanorhadsomethingofthemother—wolfsuddenlybereftofhercubs；\"isthatnature？tellme！DoyouthinknowthatmadameandIareplayingacomedyforyourbenefit？\"
\"IamthunderstruckatCerizet’saudacity，\"saidThuillier。\"Iamoverwhelmedwithmyownstupidity；thereisnothingformetodobuttosubmitmyselfentirelytoyourdiscretion。\"
\"Madame，\"saidlaPeyrade，gaily，\"excusemeforthusfrighteningyou；
thenotaryDupuisisstillaverysaintlyman，andquiteincapableofdoinganinjurytohisclients。Asformonsieurhere，itwasnecessarythatIshouldprovetohimthatyouhadreallyplacedthatmoneyinmyhands；heis，however，anothermyself，andyoursecret，thoughknowntohim，isassafeasitiswithme。\"
\"Oh，verygood，monsieur！\"saidMadameLambert。\"Isupposethesegentlemenhavenofurtherneedofme？\"
\"No，mydearmadame，andIbegyoutopardonmeforthelittleterrorIwascompelledtooccasionyou。\"
MadameLambertturnedtoleavetheroomwithalltheappearanceofrespectfulhumility，butwhenshereachedthedoor，sheretracedhersteps，andcomingclosetolaPeyradesaid，inhersmoothesttones：——
\"Whendoesmonsieurexpecttobeabletorefundmethatmoney？\"
\"ButItoldyou，\"saidlaPeyrade，stiffly，\"thatnotariesneverreturnondemandthemoneyplacedintheirhands。\"
\"DoesmonsieurthinkthatifIwenttoseeMonsieurDupuishimselfandaskedhim——\"
\"Ithink，\"saidlaPeyrade，interruptingher，\"thatyouwoulddoamostridiculousthing。Hereceivedthemoneyfrommeinmyownname，asyourequested，andheknowsonlymeinthematter。\"
\"Thenmonsieurwillbesokind，willhenot，astogetbackthatmoneyformeassoonaspossible？IamsureIwouldnotwishtopressmonsieur，butintwoorthreemonthsfromnowImaywantit；Ihaveheardofalittlepropertyitwouldsuitmetobuy。\"
\"Verygood，MadameLambert，\"saidlaPeyrade，withwell—concealedirritation，\"itshallbedoneasyouwish；andinlesstime，perhaps，thanyouhavestatedIshallhopetoreturnyourmoneytoyou。\"
\"Thatwon’tinconveniencemonsieur，Itrust，\"saidthewoman；\"hetoldmethatatthefirstindiscretionIcommitted——\"
\"Yes，yes，thatisallunderstood，\"saidlaPeyrade，interruptingher。
\"ThenIhavethehonortobetheveryhumbleservantofthesegentlemen，\"saidMadameLambert，nowdepartingdefinitively。
\"Yousee，myfriend，thetroubleyouhavegotmeinto，\"saidlaPeyradetoThuillierassoonastheywerealone，\"andtowhatIamexposedbymykindnessinsatisfyingyourdiseasedmind。Thatdebtwasdormant；itwasinachronicstate；andyouhavewakeditupandmadeitacute。Thewomanbroughtmethemoneyandinsistedonmykeepingit，atagoodrateofinterest。Irefusedatfirst；thenIagreedtoplaceitinDupuis’shands，explainingtoherthatitcouldn’tbewithdrawnatonce；butsubsequently，whenDutocqpressedme，I
decided，afterall，tokeepitmyself。\"
\"Iamdreadfullysorry，dearfriend，formysillycredulity。Butdon’tbeuneasyabouttheexactionsofthatwoman；wewillmanagetoarrangeallthat，evenifIhavetomakeyouanadvanceuponCeleste’s’dot。’\"
\"Myexcellentfriend，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"itisabsolutelynecessarythatweshouldtalkoverourprivatearrangements；totellyouthetruth，Ihavenofancyforbeinghauledupeverymorningandquestionedastomyconduct。Justnow，whilewaitingforthatwoman，I
drewupalittleagreement，whichyouandIwilldiscussandsign，ifyouplease，beforethefirstnumberofthepaperisissued。\"
\"But，\"saidThuillier，\"ourdeedofpartnershipseemstometosettle——\"
\"——thatbyapaltryforfeitoffivethousandfrancs，asstatedinArticle14，\"interruptedTheodose，\"youcanputme，whenyouchoose，outofdoors。No，Ithankyou！Aftermyexperienceto—day，Iwantsomebettersecuritythanthat。\"
AtthismomentCerizetwithalivelyandall—conqueringair，enteredtheroom。
\"Mymasters！\"heexclaimed，\"I’vebroughtthemoney；andwecannowsignthebond。\"
Then，remarkingthathisnewswasreceivedwithextremecoldness，headded：——
\"Well？whatisit？\"
\"Itisthis，\"repliedThuillier：\"Irefusetobeassociatedwithdouble—facemenandcalumniators。Wehavenoneedofyouoryourmoney；andIrequestyounottohonortheseprecinctsanylongerwithyourpresence。\"
\"Dear！dear！dear！\"saidCerizet；\"sopapaThuillierhasletthewoolbepulledoverhiseyesagain！\"
\"Leavetheroom！\"saidThuillier；\"youhavenothingmoretodohere。\"
\"Hey，myboy！\"saidCerizet，turningtolaPeyrade，\"soyou’vetwistedtheoldbourgeoisroundyourfingeragain？Well，well，nomatter！I
thinkyouaremakingamistakenottogoandseeduPortail，andI
shalltellhim——\"
\"Leavethishouse！\"criedThuillier，inathreateningtone。
\"Pleaseremember，mydearmonsieur，thatIneveraskedyoutoemployme；Iwaswellenoughoffbeforeyousentforme，andIshallbeafter。ButI’llgiveyouapieceofadvice：don’tpaythetwenty—fivethousandfrancsoutofyourownpocket，forthat’shangingtoyournose。\"
Sosaying，Cerizetputhisthirty—threethousandfrancsinbanknotesbackintohiswallet，tookhishatfromthetable，carefullysmoothedthenapwithhisforearmanddeparted。
ThuillierhadbeenledbyCerizetintowhatprovedtobeamostdisastrouscampaign。NowbecomethehumbleservantoflaPeyrade，hewasforcedtoaccepthisconditions，whichwereasfollows：fivehundredfrancsamonthforlaPeyrade’sservicesingeneral；hiseditorshipofthepapertobepaidattherateoffiftyfrancsacolumn，——whichwassimplyenormous，consideringthesmallsizeofthesheet；abindingpledgetocontinuethepublicationofthepaperforsixmonths，underpainoftheforfeitureoffifteenthousandfrancs；
anabsoluteomnipotenceinthedutiesofeditor—in—chief，——thatistosay，thesovereignrightofinserting，controlling，andrejectingallarticleswithoutbeingcalledtoexplainthereasonsofhisactions，——
suchwerethestipulationsofatreatyinduplicatemadeopenly，\"ingoodfaith，\"betweenthecontractingparties。BUT，invirtueofanotherandsecretagreement，Thuilliergavesecurityforthepaymentofthetwenty—fivethousandfrancsforwhichlaPeyradewasaccountabletoMadameLambert，bindingthesaidSieurdelaPeyrade，incasethepaymentwererequiredbeforehismarriagewithCelesteCollevillecouldtakeplace，toacknowledgethereceiptofsaidsumadvanceduponthedowry。
Mattersbeingthusarrangedandacceptedbythecandidate，whosawnochanceofelectionifhelostlaPeyrade，Thuillierwasseizedwithahappythought。HewenttotheCirque—Olympique，whereherememberedtohaveseenintheticket—officeaformeremployeeinhisofficeattheministryofFinance，——amannamedFleury；towhomheproposedthepostofmanager。Fleury，beinganoldsoldier，agoodshot，andaskilfulfencer，wouldcertainlymakehimselfanobjectofrespectinanewspaperoffice。Theworking—staffofthepaperbeingthusreconstituted，withtheexceptionofafewco—editorsorreporterstobeaddedlater，butwhomlaPeyrade，thankstothefacilityofhispen，wasableforthepresenttodowithout，thefirstnumberofthenewpaperwaslaunchedupontheworld。
ThuilliernowrecommencedtheexplorationsaboutPariswhichwesawhimmakeonthepublicationofhispamphlet。Enteringallreading—
roomsandcafes，heaskedforthe\"EchodelaBievre，\"andwheninformed，alas，veryfrequently，thatthepaperwasunknowninthisorthatestablishment，\"Itisincredible！\"hewouldexclaim，\"thatahousewhichrespectsitselfdoesnottakesuchawidelyknownpaper。\"
Onthat，hedeparteddisdainfully，notobservingthatinmanyplaces，wherethisancienttrickofcommercialtravellerswaswellunderstood，theywerelaughingbehindhisback。
Theeveningofthedaywhentheinaugurationnumbercontainingthe\"professionoffaith\"appeared，Brigitte’ssalon，althoughthedaywasnotSunday，wasfilledwithvisitors。ReconciledtolaPeyrade，whomherbrotherhadbroughthometodinner，theoldmaidwentsofarastotellhimthat，withoutflattery，shethoughthisleadingarticlewasafamousHIT。Forthatmatter，alltheguestsastheyarrived，reportedthatthepublicseemedenchantedwiththefirstnumberofthenewjournal。
Thepublic！everybodyknowswhatthatis。Toeverymanwholaunchesabitofwritingintotheworld，thepublicconsistsoffiveorsixintimateswhocannot，withoutoffendingtheauthor，avoidknowingsomethingmoreorlessofhislucubrations。
\"Asforme！\"criedColleville，\"IcantruthfullydeclarethatitisthefirstpoliticalarticleIeverreadthatdidn’tsendmetosleep。\"
\"Itiscertain，\"saidPhellion，\"thattheleadingarticleseemstometobestampedwithvigorjoinedtoanatticismwhichwemayseekinvaininthecolumnsoftheotherpublicprints。\"
\"Yes，\"saidDutocq，\"thematterisverywellpresented；andbesides，there’saturnofphrase，acleverdiction，thatdoesn’tbelongtoeverybody。However，wemustwaitandseehowitkeepson。Ifancythatto—morrowthe’EchodelaBievre’willbestronglyattackedbytheotherpapers。\"
\"Parbleu！\"criedThuillier，\"that’swhatwearehopingfor；andifthegovernmentwouldonlydousthefavortoseizeus——\"
\"No，thankyou，\"saidFleury，whomThuillierhadalsobroughthometodinner，\"Idon’twanttoenteruponthosefunctionsatfirst。\"
\"Seized！\"saidDutocq，\"oh，youwon’tbeseized；butIthinktheministerialjournalswillfireabroadsideatyou。\"
ThenextdayThuillierwasattheofficeasearlyaseighto’clock，inordertobethefirsttoreceivethatformidablesalvo。Afterlookingthrougheverymorningpaperhewasforcedtoadmitthattherewasnomorementionofthe\"EchodelaBievre\"thanifitdidn’texist。WhenlaPeyradearrivedhefoundhisunhappyfriendinastateofconsternation。
\"Doesthatsurpriseyou？\"saidtheProvencal，tranquilly。\"Iletyouenjoyyesterdayyourhopesofahotengagementwiththepress；butI
knewmyselfthatinallprobabilitytherewouldn’tbetheslightestmentionofusinto—day’spapers。Againsteverypaperwhichmakesitsdebutwithsomedistinction，there’salwaysatwoweeks’，sometimesatwomonths’conspiracyofsilence。\"
\"Conspiracyofsilence！\"echoedThuillier，withadmiration。
Hedidnotknowwhatitmeant，butthewordshadagrandeurandaSOMETHINGthatappealedtohisimagination。AfterlaPeyradehadexplainedtohimthatby\"conspiracyofsilence\"wasmeanttheagreementofexistingjournalstomakenomentionofnew—comerslestsuchnoticeshouldservetoadvertisethem，Thuillier’smindwashardlybettersatisfiedthanithadbeenbythepompousflowofthewords。Thebourgeoisisbornso；wordsarecoinswhichhetakesandpasseswithoutquestion。Foraword，hewillexcitehimselforcalmdown，insultorapplaud。Withaword，hecanbebroughttomakearevolutionandoverturnagovernmentofhisownchoice。
Thepaper，however，wasonlyameans；theobjectwasThuillier’selection。Thiswasinsinuatedratherthanstatedinthefirstnumbers。
Butonemorning，inthecolumnsofthe\"Echo，\"appearedaletterfromseveralelectorsthankingtheirdelegatetothemunicipalcouncilforthefirmandfranklyliberalattitudeinwhichhehadtakenonallquestionsoflocalinterests。\"Thisfirmness，\"saidtheletter，\"hadbroughtdownuponhimthepersecutionofthegovernment，which，towedattheheelsofforeigners，hadsacrificedPolandandsolditselftoEngland。ThearrondissementneededamanofsuchtriedconvictionstorepresentitintheChamber，——amanholdinghighandfirmthebannerofdynasticopposition，amanwhowouldbe，bythemeresignificationofhisname，asternlessongiventotheauthorities。\"
EnforcedbyanablecommentaryfromlaPeyrade，thisletterwassignedbyBarbetandMetivierandallBrigitte’stradesmen（whom，inviewoftheelectionshehadcontinuedtoemploysinceheremigration）；alsobythefamilydoctorandapothecary，andbyThuillier’sbuilder，andBarniol，Phellion’sson—in—law，whoprofessedtoholdrather\"advanced\"politicalopinions。AsforPhellionhimself，hethoughtthewordingoftheletternotaltogethercircumspect，and——alwayswithoutfearaswithoutreproach——howevermuchhemightexpectthatthisrefusalwouldinjurehissoninhisdearestinterests，hebravelyrefrainedfromsigningit。