Thistrialkitehadthehappiesteffect。Thetenoradozennamesthusputforwardwereconsideredtoexpressthewilloftheelectorsandwerecalled\"thevoiceofthequarter。\"ThusThuillier’scandidacymadefromthestartsuchrapidprogressthatMinardhesitatedtoputhisownclaimsinopposition。
Delightednowwiththecourseofevents，Brigittewasthefirsttosaythatthetimehadcometoattendtothemarriage，andThuillierwasallthemorereadytoagreebecause，fromdaytoday，hefearedhemightbecalledupontopaythetwenty—fivethousandfrancstoMadameLambertforwhichhehadpledgedhimself。AthoroughexplanationnowtookplacebetweenlaPeyradeandtheoldmaid。ShetoldhimhonestlyofthefearshefeltastothemaintenanceofhersovereignauthoritywhenaSON—IN—LAWofhismindandcharacterwasestablishedinthehousehold。
\"Ifwe，\"sheendedbysaying，\"aretoopposeeachotherfortherestofourdays，itwouldbemuchbetter，fromthebeginning，tomaketwohouseholds；weshouldn’tbethelessfriendsforthat。\"
LaPeyraderepliedthatnothingunderthesunwouldinducehimtoconsenttosuchaplan；onthecontrary，heregardedasamongsthishappiestprospectsforthefuturethesecurityheshouldfeelaboutthewisemanagementofthematerialaffairsofthehomeinsuchhandsashers。Heshouldhaveenoughtodointhemanagementofoutsideinterests，andhecouldnotcomprehend，forhispart，howshecouldsupposehehadeverhadthethoughtofinterferinginmattersthatwereabsolutelyoutofhisprovince。Inshort，hereassuredhersocompletelythatsheurgedhimtotakeimmediatestepsforthepublicationofthebannsandthesignatureofthemarriagecontract，——
declaringthatshereservedtoherselfallthepreparationsrelatingtoCeleste，whoseacceptanceofthissuddenconclusionshepledgedherselftosecure。
\"Mydearchild，\"shesaidtoCelestethenextmorning，\"IthinkyouhavegivenupallideaofbeingFelixPhellion’swife。Inthefirstplace，heismoreofanatheistthanever，and，besides，youmusthavenoticedyourselfthathismindisquiteshaky。YouhaveseenatMadameMinard’sthatMadameMarmus，whomarriedasavant，officeroftheLegionofhonor，andmemberoftheInstitute。There’snotamoreunhappywoman；herhusbandhastakenhertolivebehindtheLuxembourg，intherueDuguay—Trouin，astreetthatisneitherpavednorlighted。Whenhegoesout，hedoesn’tknowwhereheisgoing；hegetstotheChampdeMarswhenhewantstogototheFaubourgPoissoniere；heisn’tevencapableofgivinghisaddresstothedriverofastreetcab；andheissoabsent—mindedhecouldn’ttellifitwerebeforedinnerorafter。Youcanimaginewhatsortoftimeawomanmusthavewithamanwhosenoseisalwaysatatelescopesnuffingstars。\"
\"ButFelix，\"saidCeleste，\"isnotasabsent—mindedasthat。\"
\"Ofcoursenot，becauseheisyounger；butwithyearshisabsent—
mindednessandhisatheismwillbothincrease。Wehavethereforedecidedthatheisnotthehusbandyouwant，andweall，yourmother，father，Thuillierandmyself，havedeterminedthatyoushalltakelaPeyrade，amanoftheworld，whowillmakehisway，andonewhohasdoneusgreatservicesinthepast，andwhowill，moreover，makeyourgodfatherdeputy。Wearedisposedtogiveyou，inconsiderationofhim，amuchlarger’dot’thanweshouldgivetoanyotherhusband。So，mydear，itissettled；thebannsaretobepublishedimmediately，andthisdayweekwesignthecontract。There’stobeagreatdinnerforthefamilyandintimates，andafterthatareception，atwhichthecontractwillbesignedandyourtrousseauandcorbeilleexhibited。AsItakeallthatintomyownhandsI’llanswerforitthateverythingshallbeofthebestkind；especiallyifyouarenotbabyish，andgiveinpleasantlytoourideas。\"
\"But，auntBrigitte，\"beganCeleste，timidly。
\"There’sno’but，’inthematter，\"saidtheoldmaid，imperiously；\"itisallarranged，andwillbecarriedout，unless，mademoiselle，youpretendtohavemorewisdomthanyourelders。\"
\"Iwilldoasyouchoose，aunt，\"repliedCeleste，feelingasifathunder—cloudhadburstuponherhead，andknowingbuttoowellthatshehadnopowertostruggleagainsttheironwillwhichhadjustpronouncedherdoom。
ShewentatoncetopourhersorrowsintoMadameThuillier’ssoul；butwhensheheardhergodmotheradvisingpatienceandresignationthepoorchildfeltthatfromthatfeeblequartershecouldgetnohelpforeventheslightesteffortofresistance，andthathersacrificewasvirtuallyaccomplished。
Precipitatingherselfwithasortoffrenzyintothenewelementofactivitythusintroducedintoherlife，Brigittetookthefieldinthemakingofthetrousseauandthepurchaseofthecorbeille。Likemanymisers，whoongreatoccasionscomeoutoftheirhabitsandtheirnature，theoldmaidnowthoughtnothingtoogoodforherpurpose；andsheflunghermoneyaboutsolavishlythatuntilthedayappointedforthesigningofthecontract，thejeweller，dressmaker，milliner，lingere，etc。（allchosenfromthebestestablishmentsinParis），seemedtooccupythehouse。
\"Itislikeaprocession，\"saidJosephine，thecook，admiringly，toFrancoise，theMinards’maid；\"thebellneverstopsringingfrommorningtillnight。\"
CHAPTERXII
ASTAR
ThedinneronthegreatoccasionwasorderedfromChabotandPotel，andnotfromChevet，bywhichactBrigitteintendedtoproveherinitiativeandheremancipationfromthelateMadamedeGodollo。Theinvitedguestswereasfollows：threeCollevilles，includingthebride，laPeyradethegroom，DutocqandFleury，whomhehadaskedtobehiswitnesses，theextremelylimitednumberofhisrelativesleavinghimnochoice，MinardandRabourdin，chosenaswitnessesforCeleste，MadameandMademoiselleMinardandMinardjunior，twoofThuillier’scolleaguesintheCouncil—general；thenotaryDupuis，chargedwiththedutyofdrawingupthecontract，andlastly，theAbbeGondrin，directoroftheconsciencesofMadameThuillierandCeleste，whowastogivethenuptialblessing。
ThelatterwastheformervicarofSaint—JacquesduHaut—Pas，whosegreatrefinementofmannerandgiftofpreachinghadinducedthearchbishoptoremovehimfromthehumbleparishwherehiscareerhadbeguntothearistocraticchurchoftheMadeleine。SinceMadameThuillierandCelestehadagainbecomehisparishioners，theyoungabbevisitedthemoccasionally，andThuillier，whohadgonetohimtoexplain，afterhisownfashion，thesuitablenessofthechoicemadeforCelesteinthepersonoflaPeyrade（takingpainsashedidsotocastreflectionsonthereligiousopinionsofFelixPhellion），hadeasilyledhimtocontributebyhispersuasivewordstotheresignationofthevictim。
Whenthetimecametositdowntotablethreeguestsweremissing，——
twoMinards，fatherandson，andthenotaryDupuis。ThelatterhadwrittenanotetoThuillierinthemorning，excusinghimselffromthedinner，butsayingthatatnineo’clockpreciselyhewouldbringthecontractandplacehimselfattheordersofMademoiselleThuillier。AsforJulienMinard，hismotherexcusedhimasbeingconfinedtohisroomwithasore—throat。TheabsenceofMinardseniorremainedunexplained，butMadameMinardinsistedthattheyshouldsitdowntotablewithouthim；whichwasdone，Brigitteorderingthatthesoupbekepthotforhim，becauseinthebourgeoiscodeofmannersandcustomsadinnerwithoutsoupisnodinneratall。
Therepastwasfarfromgay，andthoughthefarewasbetter，thevivacityandthewarmthoftheconversationwasfar，indeed，fromthatofthefamousimprovisedbanquetatthetimeoftheelectiontotheCouncil—general。Thegapsoccasionedbytheabsenceofthreeguestsmayhavebeenonereason；thenFlaviewasglum；shehadhadaninterviewwithlaPeyradeintheafternoonwhichendedintears；
Celeste，evenifshehadbeencontentwiththechoiceimposedonher，wouldscarcely，asamatterofpropriety，haveseemedjoyful；infact，shemadenoefforttobrightenasadface，anddarednotlookathergodmother，whoseowncountenancegavetheimpression，ifwemaysoexpressit，ofthelongbleatingofasheep。Thepoorgirlseeingthisfearedtoexchangealookwithherlestshemightdrivehertotears。
Thuilliernowfelthimself，onallsides，ofsuchimportancethathewaspompousandconsequential；whileBrigitte，uneasyoutofherownworld，whereshecouldlorditovereveryonewithoutcompetition，seemedconstrainedandembarrassed。
Collevilletriedbyafewjovialitiestoraisethetemperatureoftheassemblage；butthecoarsesaltofhiswitticismshadaneffect，intheatmosphereinwhichheproducedthem，ofaloudlaughinasick—
chamber；andamuteintimationfromhiswife，Thuillier，andlaPeyradetoBEHAVEHIMSELFputastopperonhislivelinessandturbulentexpansion。Itwassomewhatremarkablethatthegravestmemberoftheparty，aidedbyRabourdin，wasthepersonwhofinallywarmeduptheatmosphere。TheAbbeGondrin，amanofamostrefinedandcultivatedmind，had，likeeverypureandwell—orderedsoul，afundofgentlegaietywhichhewaswellabletocommunicate，andlivelinesswasbeginningtodawnuponthepartywhenMinardenteredtheroom。
Aftermakinghisexcusesonthegroundofimportantduties，themayoroftheeleventharrondissement，whowasinthehabitoftakingtheleadintheconversationwhereverhewent，said，havingswallowedafewhastymouthfuls：——
\"Messieursandmesdames，haveyouheardthegreatnews？\"
\"No，whatisit？\"criedseveralvoicesatonce。
\"TheAcademyofSciencesreceived，to—day，atitsafternoonsession，theannouncementofavastdiscovery：theheavenspossessanewstar！\"
\"Tiens！\"saidColleville；\"thatwillhelptoreplacetheonethatBerangerthoughtwaslostwhenhegrieved（tothatairof’Octavie’）
overChateaubriand’sdeparture：’Chateaubriand，whyflythyland？’\"
Thisquotation，whichhesang，exasperatedFlavie，andifthecustomhadbeenforwivestositnexttotheirhusbands，theformerclarionetoftheOpera—Comiquewouldnothaveescapedwithamere\"Colleville！\"
imperiouslycallinghimtoorder。
\"Thepointwhichgivesthisgreatastronomicaleventaspecialinterestonthisoccasion，\"continuedMinard，\"isthattheauthorofthediscoveryisadenizenofthetwelftharrondissement，whichmanyofyoustillinhabit，orhaveinhabited。Butotherpointsarestrikinginthisgreatscientificfact。TheAcademy，onthereadingofthecommunicationwhichannouncedit，wassoconvincedoftheexistenceofthisstarthatadeputationwasappointedtovisitthedomicileofthemodernGalileoandcomplimenthiminthenameofthewholebody。Andyetthisstarisnotvisibletoeithertheeyeorthetelescope！Itisonlybythepowerofcalculationandinductionthatitsexistenceandtheplaceitoccupiesintheheavenshavebeenprovedinthemostirrefutablemanner：’ThereMUSTbeTHEREahithertounknownstar；I
cannotseeit，butIamsureofit，’——thatiswhatthismanofsciencesaidtotheAcademy，whomheinstantlyconvincedbyhisdeductions。
Anddoyouknow，messieurs，whoisthisChristopherColumbusofanewcelestialworld？Anoldman，two—thirdsblind，whohasscarcelyeyesenoughtowalkinthestreet。\"
\"Wonderful！Marvellous！Admirable！\"camefromallsides。
\"Whatisthenameofthislearnedman？\"askedseveralvoices。
\"MonsieurPicot，or，ifyoupreferit，perePicot，forthatishowtheycallhimintherueduVal—de—Grace，wherehelives。Heissimplyanoldprofessorofmathematics，whohasturnedoutseveralveryfinepupils，——bythebye，FelixPhellion，whomweallknow，studiedunderhim，anditwashewhoread，onbehalfofhisblindoldmaster，thecommunicationtotheAcademythisafternoon。\"
Hearingthatname，andrememberingthepromiseFelixhadmadehertolifthertotheskies，which，ashesaidit，shehadfanciedasignofmadness，CelestelookedatMadameThuillier，whosefacehadtakenasuddenglowofanimation，andseemedtosaytoher，\"Courage，mychild！allisnotlost。\"
\"MydearTheodose，\"saidThuillier，\"Felixiscominghereto—night；
youmusttakehimasideandgethimtogiveyouacopyofthatcommunication；itwouldbeafinestrokeoffortuneforthe’Echo’tobethefirsttopublishit。\"
\"Yes，\"saidMinard，assumingtheanswer，\"thatwoulddogoodservicetothepublic，fortheaffairisgoingtomakeagreatnoise。Thecommittee，notfindingMonsieurPicotathome，wentstraighttotheMinisterofPublicInstruction；andtheministerflewtotheTuileriesandsawtheKing；andthe’Messager’cameoutthisevening——strangetosay，soearlythatIcouldreaditinmycarriageasIdrovealong——
withanannouncementthatMonsieurPicotisnamedChevalieroftheLegionofhonor，withapensionofeighteenhundredfrancsfromthefunddevotedtotheencouragementofscienceandletters。\"
\"Well，\"saidThuillier，\"there’sonecrossatleastwellbestowed。\"
\"Buteighteenhundredfrancsforthepensionseemstomeratherpaltry，\"saidDutocq。
\"Soitdoes，\"saidThuillier，\"andallthemorebecausethatmoneycomesfromthetax—payers；and，whenoneseesthetaxes，aswedo，fritteredawayoncourtfavorites——\"
\"Eighteenhundredfrancsayear，\"interruptedMinard，\"iscertainlysomething，especiallyforsavants，aclassofpeoplewhoareaccustomedtoliveonverylittle。\"
\"IthinkIhaveheard，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thatthisveryMonsieurPicotleadsastrangelife，andthathisfamily，whoatfirstwantedtoshuthimupasalunatic，arenowtryingtohaveguardiansappointedoverhim。Theysayheallowsaservant—womanwhokeepshishousetorobhimofallhehas。Parbleu！Thuillier，youknowher；itisthatwomanwhocametotheofficetheotherdayaboutsomemoneyinDupuis’shands。\"
\"Yes，yes，true，\"saidThuillier，significantly；\"youareright，Idoknowher。\"
\"Itisqueer，\"saidBrigitte，seeingachancetoenforcetheargumentshehadusedtoCeleste，\"thatalltheselearnedmenaregoodfornothingoutsideoftheirscience；intheirhomestheyhavetobetreatedlikechildren。\"
\"Thatproves，\"saidtheAbbeGondrin，\"thegreatabsorptionwhichtheirstudiesgivetotheirminds，and，atthesametime，asimplicityofnaturewhichisverytouching。\"
\"Whentheyarenotasobstinateasmules，\"saidBrigitte，hastily。
\"Formyself，monsieurl’abbe，ImustsaythatifIhadhadanyideaofmarriage，asavantwouldn’thavesuitedmeatall。Whatdotheydo，thesesavants，anyhow？Uselessthingsmostofthetime。Youarealladmiringonewhohasdiscoveredastar；butaslongasweareinthisworldwhatgoodisthattous？Foralltheusewemakeofstarsitseemstomewehavegotenoughofthemasitis。\"
\"Bravo，Brigitte！\"saidColleville，gettinglooseagain；\"youareright，mygirl，andIthink，asyoudo，thatthemanwhodiscoversanewdishdeservesbetterofhumanity。\"
\"Colleville，\"saidFlavie，\"Imustsaythatyourstyleofbehaviorisintheworsttaste。\"
\"Mydearlady，\"saidtheAbbeGondrin，addressingBrigitte，\"youmightberightifwewereformedofmatteronly；andif，boundtoourbody，therewerenotasoulwithinstinctsandappetitesthatmustbesatisfied。Well，Ithinkthatthissenseoftheinfinitewhichiswithinus，andwhichwealltrytosatisfyeachinourownway，ismarvellouslywellhelpedbythelaborsofastronomy，thatrevealtousfromtimetotimenewworldswhichthehandoftheCreatorhasputintospace。Theinfiniteinyouhastakenanothercourse；thispassionforthecomfortofthoseaboutyou，thiswarm，devoted，ardentaffectionwhichyoufeelforyourbrother，areequallythemanifestationofaspirationswhichhavenothingmaterialaboutthem，andwhich，inseekingtheirendandobject，neverthinkofasking，’Whatgooddoesthatdo？whatistheuseofthis？’Besides，Imustassureyouthatthestarsarenotasuselessasyouseemtothink。
Withoutthemhowwouldnavigatorscrossthesea？TheywouldbepuzzledtogetyouthevanillawithwhichyouhaveflavoredthedeliciouscreamIamnoweating。So，asMonsieurCollevillehasperceived，thereismoreaffinitythanyouthinkbetweenadishandastar；nooneshouldbedespised，——neitheranastronomernoragoodhousekeeper——\"
Theabbewashereinterruptedbythenoiseofalivelyaltercationintheantechamber。
\"ItellyouthatIwillgoin，\"saidaloudvoice。
\"No，monsieur，youshallnotgoin，\"saidanothervoice，thatoftheman—servant。\"Thecompanyareattable，Itellyou，andnobodyhastherighttoforcehimselfin。\"
Thuillierturnedpale；eversincetheseizureofhispamphlet，hefanciedallsuddenarrivalsmeantthecomingofthepolice。
AmongthevarioussocialrulesimpartedtoBrigittebyMadamedeGodollo，theonethatmostneededrepeatingwastheinjunctionnever，asmistressofthehouse，torisefromthetableuntilshegavethesignalforretiring。Butpresentcircumstancesappearedtowarranttheinfractionoftherule。
\"I’llgoandseewhatitis，\"shesaidtoThuillier，whoseanxietyshenoticedatonce。\"WhatISthematter？\"shesaidtotheservantassoonasshereachedthesceneofaction。
\"Here’sagentlemanwhowantstocomein，andsaysthatnooneiseverdiningateighto’clockatnight。\"
\"Butwhoareyou，monsieur？\"saidBrigitte，addressinganoldmanveryoddlydressed，whoseeyeswereprotectedbyagreenshade。
\"Madame，Iamneitherabeggarnoravagabond，\"repliedtheoldman，instentoriantones；\"mynameisPicot，professorofmathematics。\"
\"RueduVal—de—Grace？\"askedBrigitte。
\"Yes，madame，——No。9，nexttotheprint—shop。\"
\"Comein，monsieur，comein；weshallbeonlytoohappytoreceiveyou，\"criedThuillier，who，onhearingthename，hadhurriedouttomeetthesavant。
\"Hein！youscamp，\"saidthelearnedman，turningupontheman—servant，whohadretired，seeingthatthematterwasbeingsettledamicably，\"I
toldyouIshouldgetin。\"
PerePicotwasatalloldman，withanangular，sternface，who，despitethecorrectiveofablondwigwithheavycurls，andthatofthepacificgreenshadewehavealreadymentioned，expressedonhislargefeatures，uponwhichthefuryofstudyhadproducedasurfaceofleadenpallor，asnappishandquarrelsomedisposition。Ofthishehadalreadygivenproofbeforeenteringthedining—room，whereeveryonenowrosetoreceivehim。
Hiscostumeconsistedofahugefrock—coat，somethingbetweenapaletotandadressing—gown，betweenwhichanimmensewaistcoatofiron—graycloth，fastenedfromthethroattothepitofthestomachwithtworowsofbuttons，hussarfashion，formedasortofbuckler。
Thetrousers，thoughOctoberwasnearingitsclose，weremadeofblacklasting，andgavetestimonytolongservicebytheprojectionofadarnontheotherwisepolishedsurfacecoveringtheknees，thepolishbeingproducedbytherubbingofthehandsuponthoseparts。But，inbroaddaylight，thefeatureoftheoldsavant’sappearancewhichstrucktheeyemostvividlywasapairofPatagonianfeet，imprisonedinslippersofbeavercloth，thewhich，mouldeduponthemountainouselevationsofgiganticbunions，madethespectatorthink，involuntarily，ofthebackofadromedaryoranadvancedcaseofelephantiasis。
Onceinstalledinachairwhichwashastilybroughtforhim，andthecompanyhavingreturnedtotheirplacesattable，theoldmansuddenlyburstoutinthunderingtones，amidthesilencecreatedbycuriosity：——
\"Whereishe，——thatrogue，thatscamp？Lethimshowhimself；lethimdaretospeaktome！\"
\"Whoisitthatoffendsyou，mydearmonsieur？\"saidThuillier，inconciliatingaccents，inwhichtherewasaslighttoneofpatronage。
\"AscampwhomIcouldn’tfindinhisownhome，andtheytoldmehewashere，inthishouse。I’mintheapartment，Ithink，ofMonsieurThuillieroftheCouncil—general，placedelaMadeleine，firststoryabovetheentresol？\"
\"Precisely，\"saidThuillier；\"andallowmetoadd，monsieur，thatyouaresurroundedwiththerespectandsympathyofall。\"
\"Andyouwilldoubtlesspermitmetoadd，\"saidMinard，\"thatthemayorofthearrondissementadjoiningthatwhichyouinhabitcongratulateshimselfonbeinghereinpresenceofMonsieurPicot，——
THEMonsieurPicot，nodoubt，whohasjustimmortalizedhisnamebythediscoveryofastar！\"
\"Yes，monsieur，\"repliedtheprofessor，elevatingtoastillhigherpitchthestentoriandiapasonofhisvoice，\"IamPicot（Nepomucene），butIhavenotdiscoveredastar；Idon’tconcernmyselfwithanysuchfiddle—faddle；besides，myeyesareveryweak；andthatinsolentyoungfellowIhavecomeheretofindismakingmeridiculouswithsuchtalk。Idon’tseehimhere；heishidinghimself，Iknow；hedaresnotlookmeintheface。\"
\"Whoisthispersonwhoannoysyou？\"askedseveralvoicesatonce。
\"Anunnaturalpupilofmine，\"repliedtheoldmathematician；\"ascamp，butfullofideas；hisnameisFelixPhellion。\"
Thenamewasreceived，asmaywellbeimagined，withamazement。
Findingthesituationamusing，CollevilleandlaPeyradewentoffintofitsoflaughter。
\"Youlaugh，fools！\"criedtheirateoldman，rising。\"Yes，comeandlaughwithinreachofmyarm。\"
Sosaying，hebrandishedathickstickwithawhitechinahandle，whichheusedtoguidehimself，therebynearlyknockingoveracandelabrumonthedinner—tableuponMadameMinard’shead。
\"Youaremistaken，monsieur，\"criedBrigitte，springingforwardandseizinghisarm。\"MonsieurFelixisnothere。Hewillprobablycomelatertoareceptionweareabouttogive；butatpresenthehasnotarrived。\"
\"Theydon’tbeginearly，yourreceptions，\"saidtheoldman；\"itispasteighto’clock。Well，asMonsieurFelixiscominglater，youmustallowmetowaitforhim。Ibelieveyouwereeatingyourdinners；
don’tletmedisturbyou。\"
Andhewentbackpeaceablytohischair。
\"Asyoupermitit，monsieur，\"saidBrigitte，\"wewillcontinue，or，I
shouldsay，finishdinner，forwearenowatthedessert。MayIofferyouanything，——aglassofchampagneandabiscuit？\"
\"Iamverywilling，madame，\"repliedtheintruder。\"Nooneeverrefuseschampagne，andIamalwaysreadytoeatbetweenmymeals；butyoudineverylate。\"
AplacewasmadeforhimattablebetweenCollevilleandMademoiselleMinard，andtheformermadeithisbusinesstofilltheglassofhisnewneighbor，beforewhomwasplacedadishofsmallcakes。
\"Monsieur，\"saidlaPeyradeinacajolingtone，\"yousawhowsurprisedweweretohearyoucomplainofMonsieurFelixPhellion，——soamiable，soinoffensiveayoungman。Whathashedonetoyou，thatyoushouldfeelsoangrywithhim？\"
Withhismouthfullofcakes，whichhewasengulfinginquantitiesthatmadeBrigitteuneasy，theprofessormadeasignthathewouldsoonanswer；then，havingmistakenhisglassandswallowedthecontentsofColleville’s，hereplied：——
\"Youaskwhatthatinsolentyoungmanhaddonetome？Arascallything；andnotthefirst，either。HeknowsthatIcannotabidestars，havingverygoodreasontohatethem，asyoushallhear：In1807，beingattachedtotheBureauofLongitudes，IwaspartofthescientificexpeditionsenttoSpain，underthedirectionofmyfriendandcolleague，Jean—BaptisteBiot，todeterminethearcoftheterrestrialmeridianfromBarcelonatotheBalearicisles。Iwasjustintheactofobservingastar（perhapstheveryonemyrascallypupilhasdiscovered），whensuddenly，warhavingbrokenoutbetweenFranceandSpain，thepeasants，seeingmeperchedwithatelescopeonMonteGalazzo，tookitintotheirheadsthatIwasmakingsignalstotheenemy。Amobofsavagesbrokemyinstruments，andtalkedofstringingmeup。Theywerejustgoingtodoit，whenthecaptainofavesseltookmeprisonerandthrustmeintothecitadelofBelver，whereI
spentthreeyearsintheharshestcaptivity。Sincethem，asyoumaywellbelieve，Iloathethewholecelestialsystem；thoughIwas，withoutknowingit，thefirsttoobservethefamouscometof1811；butIshouldhavetakencarenottosayawordaboutitifithadnotbeenforMonsieurFlauguergues，whoannouncedit。Likeallmypupils，Phellionknowsmyaversiontostars，andheknewverywelltheworsttrickhecouldplaymewouldbetosaddleoneonmyback；andthatdeputationthatcametoplaythefarceofcongratulatingmewasmightyluckynottofindmeathome，foriftheyhad，IcanassurethosegentlemenoftheAcademy，theywouldhavehadahotreception。\"
Everybodypresentthoughttheoldmathematician’smonomaniaquitedelightful，exceptlaPeyrade，whonow，inperceivingFelixPhellion’spartintheaffair，regretteddeeplyhavingcausedtheexplanation。