Brigittedeclaredthatifyoudidn’ttaketimebytheforelocknoonewouldbeready。ShepreventedThuillierfromgoingtohisoffice，insistingthatifheoncegotoffshenevershouldseehimagain；sheplaguedJosephine，thecook，abouthurryingthebreakfast，andinspiteofwhathadhappenedthedaybeforeshescarcelyrestrainedherselffromnaggingatMadameThuillier，whodidnotenter，asshethoughtsheshouldhavedone，intoherfavoritemaxim，\"Betterbeearlythanlate。\"
PresentlydownshewenttotheCollevilles’tomakethesamedisturbance；andtheresheputhervetoonthecostume，fartooelegant，whichFlaviemeditatedwearing，andtoldCelestethehatandgownshewishedhertoappearin。AsforColleville，whocouldnot，hedeclared，stayawayallthemorningfromhisofficialduties，shecompelledhimtoputonhisdress—suitbeforehewentout，madehimsethiswatchbyhers，andwarnedhimthatifhewaslatenoonewouldwaitforhim。
TheamusingpartofitwasthatBrigitteherself，afterdrivingeveryoneatthepointofthebayonet，cameverynearbeinglateherself。
Underpretextofaidingothers，independentlyofmindingherownbusiness，which，forworlds，shewouldneverhavesparedherself，shehadputherfingersandeyesintosomanythingsthattheyendedbyoverwhelmingher。However，sheascribedthedelayinwhichshewasalmostcaughttothehairdresser，whomshehadsentfortomake，onthisextraordinaryoccasion，whatshecalledher\"part。\"Thatartisthaving，unadvisedly，dressedherhairinthefashion，hewascompelled，aftershehadlookedatherselfintheglass，todohisworkoveragain，andconformtotheusualstyleofhisclient，whichconsistedchieflyinneverbeing\"done\"atall，amethodthatgaveherheadageneralairofwhatisvulgarlycalled\"acrosscat。\"
Abouthalf—pastoneo’clocklaPeyrade，Thuillier，Colleville，MadameThuillier，andCelestewereassembledinthesalon。Flaviejoinedthemsoonafter，fasteningherbraceletsasshecamealongtoavoidarebuff，andhavingthesatisfactionofknowingthatshewasreadybeforeBrigitte。Asforthelatter，alreadyfuriousatfindingherselflate，shehadanothercauseforexasperation。Theeventofthedayseemedtorequireacorset，arefinementwhichsheusuallydiscarded。
Theunfortunatemaid，whosedutyitwastolaceherandtodiscovertheexactpointtowhichshewaswillingtobedrawnin，aloneknewtheterrorsandstormsofacorsetday。
\"I’drather，\"saidthegirl，\"lacetheobelisk；Iknowitwouldlenditselftobeinglacedbetterthanshedoes；and，anyhow，itcouldn’tbebad—tongued。\"
Whilethepartyinthesalonwereamusingthemselves，undertheirbreaths，atthe\"flagrantedelicto\"ofunpunctualityinwhichQueenElizabethwascaught，theporterentered，andgavetoThuillierasealedpackage，addressedto\"MonsieurThuillier，directorofthe’EchodelaBievre。’INHASTE。\"
Thuillieropenedtheenvelope，andfoundwithinacopyofaministerialjournalwhichhadhithertoshownitselfdiscourteoustothenewpaperbyrefusingtheEXCHANGEwhichallperiodicalsusuallymakeverywillinglywithoneanother。
Puzzledbythefactofthismissivebeingsenttohisownhouseandnottotheofficeofthe\"Echo，\"Thuillierhastilyopenedthesheet，andread，withwhatemotionthereadermayconceive，thefollowingarticle，commendedtohisnoticebyacircleinredink：——
Anobscureorganwasabouttoexpireinitsnativeshadewhenanambitiouspersonofrecentdatebethoughthimselfofgalvanizingit。Hisobjectwastomakeitafootholdbywhichtoclimbfrommunicipalfunctionstothecovetedpositionofdeputy。Happilythisobject，havingcometothesurface，willendinfailure。
Electorswillcertainlynotbeinveigledbysowilyamannerofadvancingself—interests；andwhenthepropertimearrives，ifridiculehasnotalreadydonejusticeonthisabsurdcandidacy，weshallourselvesprovetothepretenderthattoaspiretothedistinguishedhonorofrepresentingthenationsomethingmoreisrequiredthanthemoneytobuyapaperandpayanunderlingtoputintogoodFrenchthehorribledictionofhisarticlesandpamphlets。Weconfineourselvesto—daytothislimitednotice，butourreadersmaybesurethatweshallkeeptheminformedaboutthiselectoralcomedy，ifindeedthepartiesconcernedhavethemelancholycouragetogoonwithit。
Thuillierreadtwiceoverthissuddendeclarationofwar，whichwasfarfromleavinghimcalmandimpassible；then，takinglaPeyradeaside，hesaidtohim：——
\"Readthat；itisserious。\"
\"Well？\"saidlaPeyrade，afterreadingthearticle。
\"Well？howwell？\"exclaimedThuillier。
\"Imean，whatdoyoufindsoseriousinthat？\"
\"WhatdoIfindsoserious？\"repeatedThuillier。\"Idon’tthinkanythingcouldbemoreinsultingtome。\"
\"Youcan’tdoubt，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thatthevirtuousCerizetisatthebottomofit；hehasthrownthisfirecrackerbetweenyourlegsbywayofrevenge。\"
\"Cerizet，oranybodyelsewhowrotethatdiatribeisaninsolentfellow，\"criedThuillier，gettingangry，\"andthemattershallnotrestthere。\"
\"Formypart，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Iadviseyoutomakenoreply。Youarenotnamed；though，ofcourse，theattackisaimedatyou。Butyououghttoletouradversarycommithimselffarther；whentherightmomentcomes，we’llraphimovertheknuckles。\"
\"No！\"saidThuillier，\"Iwon’tstayquietoneminuteundersuchaninsult。\"
\"Thedevil！\"saidthebarrister；\"whatasensitiveepidermis！Doreflect，mydearfellow，thatyouhavemadeyourselfacandidateandajournalist，andthereforeyoureallymusthardenyourselfbetterthanthat。\"
\"Mygoodfriend，itisaprincipleofminenottoletanybodysteponmytoes。Besides，theysaythemselvestheyaregoingonwiththisthing。Therefore，itisabsolutelynecessarytocutshortsuchimpertinence。\"
\"Butdoconsider，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Certainlyinjournalism，asincandidacy，ahottemperhasitsuses；amanmakeshimselfrespected，andstopsattacks——\"
\"Justso，\"saidThuillier，\"’principiisobsta。’Notto—day，becausewehaven’tthetime，butto—morrowIshallcarrythatpaperintocourt。\"
\"Intocourt！\"echoedlaPeyrade；\"yousurelywouldn’tgotolawinsuchamatterasthis？Inthefirstplace，thereisnothingtoproceedupon；youarenotnamednorthepapereither，and，besides，itisapitiablebusiness，goingtolaw；you’lllooklikeaboywhohasbeenfighting，andgottheworstofit，andrunstocomplaintohismamma。
NowifyouhadsaidthatyoumeanttomakeFleuryinterveneinthematter，Icouldunderstandthat——thoughtheaffairisratherpersonaltoyou，anditmightbedifficulttomakeitseem——\"
\"Ahca！\"saidThuillier，\"doyousupposeIamgoingtocommitmyselfwithaCerizetoranyothernewspaperbully？Ipiquemyself，mydearfellow，onpossessingciviccourage，whichdoesnotgiveintoprejudices，andwhich，insteadoftakingjusticeintoitsownhands，hasrecoursetothemeansofdefencethatareprovidedbylaw。
Besides，withthelegalauthoritytheCourtofCassationnowhasoverduelling，Ihavenodesiretoputmyselfinthewayofbeingexpatriated，orspendingtwoorthreeyearsinprison。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"we’lltalkitoverlater；here’syoursister，andshewouldthinkeverythinglostifthislittlematterreachedherears。\"
WhenBrigitteappearedCollevilleshouted\"Full！\"andproceededtosingthechorusof\"LaParisienne。\"
\"Heavens！Colleville，howvulgaryouare！\"criedthetardyone，hasteningtocastastoneintheother’sgardentoavoidthethrowingofoneintohers。\"Well，areyouallready？\"sheadded，arranginghermantlebeforeamirror。\"Whato’clockisit？itwon’tdotogettherebeforethetime，likeprovincials。\"
\"Tenminutestotwo，\"saidColleville；\"IgobytheTuileries。\"
\"Well，thenwearejustright，\"saidBrigitte；\"itwilltakeaboutthattimetogettotherueCaumartin。Josephine，\"shecried，goingtothedoorofthesalon，\"we’lldineatsix，thereforebesureyouputtheturkeytoroastattherighttime，andmindyoudon’tburnit，asyoudidtheotherday。Blessme！who’sthat？\"andwithahastymotionsheshutthedoor，whichshehadbeenholdingopen。\"Whatanuisance！
IhopeHenriwillhavethesensetotellhimweareout。\"
Notatall；Henricameintosaythatanoldgentleman，withaverygenteelair，hadaskedtobereceivedonurgentbusiness。
\"Whydidn’tyousaywewereallout？\"
\"That’swhatIshouldhavedoneifmademoisellehadnotopenedthedoorofthesalonsothatthegentlemancouldseethewholefamilyassembled。\"
\"Oh，yes！\"saidBrigitte，\"youareneverinthewrong，areyou？\"
\"WhatamItosaytohim？\"askedtheman。
\"Say，\"repliedThuillier，\"thatIamverysorrynottobeabletoreceivehim，butIamexpectedatanotary’sofficeaboutamarriagecontract；butthatifhecouldreturntwohourshence——\"
\"Ihavetoldhimallthat，\"saidHenri，\"andheansweredthatthatcontractwaspreciselywhathehadcomeabout，andthathisbusinessconcernedyoumorethanhimself。\"
\"Youhadbettergoandseehim，Thuillier，andgetridofhimindouble—quick，\"saidBrigitte；\"that’sshorterthantalkingtoHenri，whoisalwaysanorator。\"
IflaPeyradehadbeenconsultedhemightnothavejoinedinthatadvice，forhehadhadmorethanonespecimenofthespokessomeoccultinfluencewasputtingintothewheelsofhismarriage，andthepresentvisitseemedtohimominous。
\"Showhimintomystudy，\"saidThuillier，followinghissister’sadvice；and，openingthedoorwhichledfromthesalontothestudy，hewenttoreceivehisimportunatevisitor。
Brigitteimmediatelyappliedhereyetothekeyhole。
\"Goodness！\"sheexclaimed，\"there’smyimbecileofaThuillierofferinghimachair！andawayinacorner，too，whereIcan’thearawordtheysay！\"
LaPeyradewaswalkingabouttheroomwithaninwardagitationcoveredbyanappearanceofgreatindifference。Heevenwentuptothethreewomen，andmadeafewlover—likespeechestoCeleste，whoreceivedthemwithasmiling，happyairinkeepingwiththeroleshewasplaying。AsforColleville，hewaskillingthetimebycomposingananagramonthesixwordsof\"lejournal’l’EchodelaBievre，’\"forwhichhehadfoundthefollowingversion，littlereassuring（asfarasitwent）fortheprospectsofthatnewspaper：\"Od’Echo，jarni！labevuereell\"——butasthefinal\"e\"waslackingtocompletethelastword，theworkwasnotaltogetherassatisfactoryasitshouldhavebeen。
\"He’stakingsnuff！\"saidBrigitte，hereyestillgluedtothekeyhole；\"hisgoldsnuff—boxbeatsMinard’s——though，perhaps，itisonlysilver—gilt，\"sheadded，reflectively。\"He’sdoingthetalking，andThuillierissittingtherelisteningtohimlikeabuzzard。I
shallgoinandtellthemtheycan’tkeepladieswaitingthatway。\"
ButjustassheputherhandonthelocksheheardThuillier’svisitorraisehisvoice，andthatmadeherlookthroughthekeyholeagain。
\"Heisstandingup；he’sgoing，\"shesaidwithsatisfaction。
Butamomentlatershesawshehadmadeamistake；thelittleoldmanhadonlylefthischairtowalkupanddowntheroomandcontinuetheconversationwithgreaterfreedom。
\"Mygracious！Ishallcertainlygoin，\"shesaid，\"andtellThuillierwearegoingwithouthim，andhecanfollowus。\"
Sosaying，theoldmaidgavetwolittlesharpandveryimperiousrapsonthedoor，afterwhichsheresolutelyenteredthestudy。
LaPeyrade，goadedbyanxiety，hadthebadtastetolookthroughthekeyholehimselfatwhatwashappening。Instantlyhethoughtherecognizedthesmalloldmanhehadseenunderthenameof\"thecommander\"onthatmemorablemorningwhenhehadwaitedforMadamedeGodollo。ThenhesawThuillieraddressinghissisterwithimpatienceandwithgesturesofauthorityaltogetheroutofhisusualhabitsofdeferenceandsubmission。
\"Itseems，\"saidBrigitte，re—enteringthesalon，\"thatThuillierfindssomegreatinterestinthatcreature’stalk，forheorderedmebluntlytoleavethem，thoughthelittleoldfellowdidsay，rathercivilly，thattheywouldsoonbethrough。ButJeromeadded：’MIND，youaretowaitforme。’Really，sincehehastakentomakingnewspapersI
don’tknowhim；hehassetupanairasifhewereleadingtheworldwithhiswand。\"
\"Iamverymuchafraidheisbeingentangledbysomeadventurer，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"IamprettysureIsawthatoldmanatMadamedeGodollo’sthedayIwenttowarnheroffthepremises；hemustbeofthesamestripe。\"
\"Whydidn’tyoutellme？\"criedBrigitte。\"I’dhaveaskedhimfornewsofthecountess，andlethimseeweknewwhatweknewofhisHungarian。\"
Justthenthesoundofmovingchairswasheard，andBrigittedartedbacktothekeyhole。
\"Yes，\"shesaid，\"heisreallygoing，andThuillierisbowinghimoutrespectfully！\"
AsThuillierdidnotimmediatelyreturn，Collevillehadtimetogotothewindowandexclaimatseeingthelittleoldgentlemandrivingawayinanelegantcoupe，ofwhichthereaderhasalreadyheard。
\"Thedeuce！\"criedColleville；\"whatanornatelivery！Ifheisanadventurerheisanumberone。\"
AtlastThuillierre—enteredtheroom，hisfacefullofcare，hismannerextremelygrave。
\"MydearlaPeyrade，\"hesaid，\"youdidnottellusthatanotherproposalofmarriagehadbeenseriouslyconsideredbyyou。\"
\"Yes，Idid；Itoldyouthataveryrichheiresshadbeenofferedtome，butthatmyinclinationswerehere，andthatIhadnotgivenanyencouragementtotheaffair；consequently，ofcourse，therewasnoseriousengagement。\"
\"Well，Ithinkyoudowrongtotreatthatproposalsolightly。\"
\"What！doyoumeantosay，inpresenceoftheseladies，thatyoublamemeforremainingfaithfultomyfirstdesiresandouroldengagement？\"
\"Myfriend，theconversationthatIhavejusthadhasbeenamostinstructiveonetome；andwhenyouknowwhatIknow，withotherdetailspersonaltoyourself，whichwillbeconfidedtoyou，Ithinkthatyouwillenterintomyideas。Onethingiscertain；weshallnotgotothenotaryto—day；andasforyou，thebestthingthatyoucandoistogo，withoutdelay，toMonsieurduPortail。\"
\"Thatnameagain！itpursuesmelikearemorse，\"exclaimedlaPeyrade。
\"Yes；goatonce；heisawaitingyou。Itisanindispensablepreliminarybeforewecangoanyfarther。Whenyouhaveseenthatexcellentmanandheardwhathehastosaytoyou——well，THENifyoupersistinclaimingCeleste’shand，wemightperhapscarryoutourplans。Untilthenweshalltakenostepsinthematter。\"
\"But，mypoorThuillier，\"saidBrigitte，\"youhaveletyourselfbegammonedbyarascal；thatmanbelongstotheGodolloset。\"
\"MadamedeGodollo，\"repliedThuillier，\"isnotatallwhatyousupposehertobe，andthebestthingthishousecandoisnevertosayonewordabouther，eithergoodorevil。AsforlaPeyrade，asthisisnotthefirsttimehehasbeenrequestedtogoandseeMonsieurduPortail，Iamsurprisedthathehesitatestodoso。\"
\"Ahca！\"saidBrigitte，\"thatlittleoldmanhascompletelybefooledyou。\"
\"Itellyouthatthatlittleoldmanisallthatheappearstobe。Hewearssevencrosses，hedrivesinasplendidequipage，andhehastoldmethingsthathaveoverwhelmedmewithastonishment。\"
\"Well，perhapshe’safortune—tellerlikeMadameFontaine，whomanagedonceuponatimetoupsetmewhenMadameMinardandI，justtoamuseourselves，wenttoconsulther。\"
\"Well，ifheisnotasorcererhecertainlyhasaverylongarm，\"saidThuillier，\"andIthinkamanwouldsufferforitifhedidn’trespecthisadvice。Asforyou，Brigitte，hesawyouonlyforaminute，buthetoldmeyourwholecharacter；hesaidyouwereamasterfulwoman，borntocommand。\"
\"Thefactis，\"saidBrigitte，lickingherchopsatthiscompliment，likeacatdrinkingcream，\"hehasaverywell—bredair，thatlittleoldfellow。Youtakemyadvice，mydear，\"shesaid，turningtolaPeyrade；\"ifsuchaverybig—wigasthatwantsyoutodoso，goandseethisduPortail，whoeverheis。That，itseemstome，won’tbindyoutoanything。\"
\"Youareright，Brigitte，\"saidColleville；\"asforme，I’dfollowupallthePortails，orPortERS，orPortENTSforthematterofthat，iftheyaskedmeto。\"
Thescenewasbeginningtoresemblethatinthe\"BarberofSeville，\"
whereeverybodytellsBasiltogotobed，forhecertainlyhasafever。LaPeyrade，thusprodded，pickeduphishatinsomeill—humor，andwentwherehisdestinycalledhim，——\"quosuafatavocabant。\"
CHAPTERXV
ATDUPORTAIL’S
OnreachingtherueHonore—ChevalierlaPeyradefeltadoubt；thedilapidatedappearanceofthehousetowhichhewassummonedmadehimthinkhehadmistakenthenumber。ItseemedtohimthatapersonofMonsieurduPortail’sevidentimportancecouldnotinhabitsuchaplace。ItwasthereforewithsomehesitationthatheaccostedSieurPerrache，theporter。ButnosoonerhadheenteredtheantechamberoftheapartmentpointedouttohimthantheexcellentdeportmentofBruneau，theoldvalet，andtheextremelycomfortableappearanceofthefurnitureandotherappointmentsmadehimseethathewasprobablyintherightplace。Introducedatonce，assoonashehadgivenhisname，intothestudyofthemasterofthehouse，hissurprisewasgreatwhenhefoundhimselfinpresenceofthecommander，socalled，thefriendofMadamedeGodollo，andthelittleoldmanhehadseenhalfanhourearlierwithThuillier。
\"Atlast！\"saidduPortail，rising，andofferinglaPeyradeachair，\"atlastwemeet，myrefractoryfriend；ithastakenagooddealtobringyouhere。\"
\"MayIknow，monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，haughtily，nottakingthechairwhichwasofferedtohim，\"whatinterestyouhaveinmeddlingwithmyaffairs？Idonotknowyou，andImayaddthattheplacewhereIoncesawyoudidnotcreateanunconquerabledesireinmetomakeyouracquaintance。\"
\"Wherehaveyouseenme？\"askedduPortail。
\"IntheapartmentofastrumpetwhocalledherselfMadamedeGodollo。\"
\"Wheremonsieur，consequently，wenthimself，\"saidthelittleoldman，\"andforapurposemuchlessdisinterestedthanmine。\"
\"Ihavenotcomehere，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"tobandywordswithanyone。
Ihavetheright，monsieur，toafullexplanationastothemeaningofyourproceedingstowardsme。Ithereforerequestyounottodelaythembyafacetiousnesstowhich，Iassureyou，Iamnotinthehumortolisten。\"
\"Then，mydearfellow，\"saidduPortail，\"sitdown，forIamnotinthehumortotwistmyneckbytalkingupatyou。\"
Thewordswerereasonable，andtheyweresaidinatonethatshowedtheoldgentlemanwasnotlikelytobefrightenedbygrandairs。LaPeyradethereforedeferredtothewishesofhishost，buthetookcaretodosowiththeworstgracepossible。
\"MonsieurCerizet，\"saidduPortail，\"amanofexcellentstandingintheworld，andwhohasthehonortobeoneofyourfriends——\"
\"Ihavenothingtodowiththatmannow，\"saidlaPeyrade，sharply，understandingthemaliciousmeaningoftheoldman’sspeech。
\"Well，thetimehasbeen，\"saidduPortail，\"whenyousawhim，atleast，occasionally：forinstance，whenyoupaidforhisdinnerattheRocherdeCancale。AsIwassaying，IchargedthevirtuousMonsieurCerizettosoundyouastoamarriage——\"
\"WhichIrefused，\"interruptedlaPeyrade，\"andwhichInowrefuseagain，morevehementlythanever。\"
\"That’sthequestion，\"saidtheoldman。\"Ithink，onthecontrary，thatyouwillacceptit；anditistotalkoverthisaffairwithyouthatIhavesolongdesiredameeting。\"
\"Butthiscrazygirlthatyouareflingingatmyhead，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"whatisshetoyou？Shecan’tbeyourdaughter，oryouwouldputmoredecencyintoyourhuntforahusband。\"
\"Thisyounggirl，\"repliedduPortail，\"isthedaughterofoneofmyfriendswhodiedabouttenyearsago；athisdeathItookhertolivewithme，andhavegivenherallthecarehersadconditionneeded。Herfortune，whichIhavegreatlyincreased，addedtomyown，whichI
intendtoleavetoher，willmakeheraveryrichheiress。Iknowthatyouarenoenemytohandsome’dots，’foryouhavesoughttheminvariousplaces，——Thuillier’shouse，forinstance，or，touseyourownexpression，thatofastrumpetwhomyouscarcelyknew。Ihavethereforesupposedyouwouldacceptatmyhandsaveryrichyoungwoman，especiallyasherinfirmityisdeclaredbythebestphysicianstobecurable；whereasyoucannevercureMonsieurandMademoiselleThuillier，theoneofbeingafool，theotherofbeingafury，anymorethanyoucouldcureMadameKomornofbeingawomanofverymediumvirtueandextremelygiddy。\"
\"Itmaysuitme，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"tomarrythedaughterofafoolandafuryifIchooseher，orImightbecomethehusbandofaclevercoquette，ifpassionseizedme，buttheQueenofShebaherself，ifimposeduponme，neitheryou，monsieur，northeablestandmostpowerfulmanlivingcouldforcemetoaccept。\"
\"Precisely；thereforeitistoyourowngoodsenseandintelligencethatInowaddressmyself；butwehavetocomefacetofacewithpeopleinordertospeaktothem，youknow。Now，then，letuslookintoyourpresentsituation，anddon’tgetangryif，likeasurgeonwhowantstocurehispatient，Ilaymyhandmercilesslyonwoundswhichhavelongtormentedandharassedyou。ThefirstpointtostateisthattheCelesteCollevilleaffairisatanendforyou。\"
\"Whyso？\"demandedlaPeyrade。
\"BecauseIhavejustseenThuillierandterrifiedhimwiththehistoryofthemisfortuneshehasincurred，andthosehewillincurifhepersistsintheideaofgivingyouhisgoddaughterinmarriage。HeknowsnowthatitwasIwhoparalyzedMadameduBruel’skindofficesinthematterofthecross；thatIhadhispamphletseized；thatI
sentthatHungarianwomanintohishousetohandleyouall，asshedid；andthatmyhandisopeningfireintheministerialjournals，whichwillonlyincreasefrombadtoworse，——nottospeakofothermachinationswhichwillbedirectedagainsthiscandidacy。Thereforeyousee，mygoodfriend，thatnotonlyhaveyounolongerthecreditinThuillier’seyesofbeinghisgreathelpertothatelection，butthatyouactuallyblockthewaytohisambition。Thatisenoughtoprovetoyouthatthesidebywhichyouhaveimposedyourselfonthatfamily——whohaveneversincerelylikedordesiredyou——isnowcompletelybattereddownanddismantled。\"
\"Buttohavedoneallthatwhichyouclaimwithsuchpretension，whoareyou？\"demandedlaPeyrade。
\"Ishallnotsaythatyouareveryinquisitive，forIintendtoansweryourquestionlater；butforthepresentletuscontinue，ifyouplease，theautopsyofyourexistence，deadto—day，butwhichI
proposetoresuscitategloriously。Youaretwenty—eightyearsold，andyouhavebegunacareerinwhichIshallnotallowyoutomakeanotherstep。AfewdayshencetheCounciloftheorderofbarristerswillassembleandwillcensure，moreorlessseverely，yourconductinthematterofthepropertyyouplacedwithsuchcandorinThuillier’shands。Donotdeceiveyourself；censurefromthatquarter（andI
mentiononlyyourleastdanger）isasfataltoabarristerasbeingactuallydisbarred。\"