\"Anditistoyourkindoffices，nodoubt，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thatI
shallowethatpreciousresult？\"
\"Yes，Imayboastofit，\"repliedduPortail，\"for，inordertotowyouintoportithasbeennecessarytostripyouofyourrigging；
unlessthatweredone，youwouldalwayshavetriedtonavigateunderyourownsailsthebourgeoisshoalsthatyouarenowamong。\"
Seeingthathe，undoubtedly，hadtodowithastronghand，laPeyradethoughtbesttomodifyhistone；andso，withamorecircumspectair，hesaid：——
\"Youwillallowme，monsieur，toreservemyacknowledgmentsuntilI
receivesomefullerexplanation。\"
\"Hereyouare，then，\"continuedduPortail，\"attwenty—eightyearsofage，withoutapenny，virtuallywithoutaprofession；withantecedentsthatarevery——middling；withassociateslikeMonsieurDutocqandthecourageousCerizet；owingtoMademoiselleThuilliertenthousandfrancs，andtoMadameLamberttwenty—fivethousand，whichyouarenodoubtextremelydesiroustoreturntoher；andfinally，thismarriage，yourlasthope，yoursheet—anchor，hasjustbecomeanutterimpossibility。Betweenourselves，ifIhavesomethingreasonabletoproposetoyou，doyounotthinkthatyouhadmuchbetterplaceyourselfatmydisposal？\"
\"Ihavetimeenoughtoprovethatyouropinionismistaken，\"returnedlaPeyrade；\"andIshallnotformanyresolutionssolongasthedesignsyouchoosetohaveuponmearenotmorefullyexplained。\"
\"Youwerespokento，atmyinstigation，aboutamarriage，\"resumedduPortail。\"Thismarriage，asIthink，iscloselyconnectedwithapastexistencefromwhichacertainhereditaryorfamilydutyhasdevolveduponyou。Doyouknowwhatthatuncleofyours，towhomyouappliedin1829，wasdoinginParis？Inyourfamilyhewasthoughttobeamillionaire；and，dyingsuddenly，youremember，beforeyougottohim，hedidnotleaveenoughforhisburial；apauper’sgravewasallthatremainedtohim。\"
\"Didyouknowhim？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Hewasmyoldestanddearestfriend，\"repliedduPortail。
\"Ifthatisso，\"saidlaPeyrade，hastily，\"asumoftwothousandfrancs，whichIreceivedonmyarrivalinParisfromsomeunknownsource——\"
\"Camefromme，\"repliedduPortail。\"Unfortunately，engagedatthetimeinarushofimportantaffairs，whichyoushallhearoflater，I
couldnotimmediatelyfollowupthebenevolentinterestIfeltinyouforyouruncle’ssake；thisexplainswhyIleftyouinthestrawofagarret，whereyoucame，likeamedlar，tothatmaturityofruinwhichbroughtyouunderthehandofaDutocqandaCerizet。\"
\"Iamnonethelessgratefultoyou，monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"andifIhadknownyouwerethatgenerousprotector，whomIwasneverabletodiscover，Ishouldhavebeenthefirsttoseekoccasiontomeetyouandtothankyou。\"
\"Atrucetocompliments，\"saidduPortail；\"and，tocomeatoncetotheserioussideofourpresentconference，whatshouldyousayifI
toldyouthatthisuncle，whoseprotectionandassistanceyoucametoParistoobtain，wasanagentofthatoccultpowerwhichhasalwaysbeenthethemeoffeebleridiculeandtheobjectofsillyprejudice？\"
\"Idonotseizeyourmeaning，\"saidlaPeyrade，withuneasycuriosity；
\"mayIaskyoutobemoreprecise？\"
\"Forexample，Iwillsuppose，\"continuedduPortail，\"thatyouruncle，ifstillliving，weretosaytoyouto—day：’Youareseekingfortuneandinfluence，mygoodnephew；youwanttoriseabovethecrowdandtoplayyourpartinallthegreateventsofyourtime；youwantemploymentforakeen，activemind，fullofresources，andslightlyinclinedtointrigue；inshort，youlongtoexertinsomeupperandelegantspherethatforceofwillandsubtletywhichatpresentyouarewastinginthesillyanduselessmanipulationofthemostbarrenandtough—skinnedanimalonearth，towit：abourgeois。Well，then，loweryourhead，myfinenephew；enterwithmethroughthelittledoorwhichIwillopentoyou；itgivesadmittancetoagreathouse，oftenmaligned，butbetterfarthanitsreputation。Thatthresholdoncecrossed，youcanrisetotheheightofyournaturalgenius，whateveritssparkmaybe。Statesmen，kingseven，willadmityoutotheirmostsecretthoughts；youwillbetheiroccultcollaborator，andnoneofthejoyswhichmoneyandthehighestpowerscanbestowuponamanwillbelackingtoyou。\"
\"But，monsieur，\"objectedlaPeyrade，\"withoutventuringtounderstandyou，Imustremarkthatmyunclediedsopoor，youtellme，thatpubliccharityburiedhim。\"
\"Youruncle，\"repliedduPortail，\"wasamanofraretalent，buthehadacertainweaksideinhisnaturewhichcompromisedhiscareer。Hewaseagerforpleasure，aspendthrift，thoughtlessforthefuture；hewantedalsototastethosejoysthataremeantforthecommonrunofmen，butwhichforgreat，exceptionalvocationsaretheworstofsnaresandimpediments：Imeanthejoysoffamily。Hehadadaughterwhomhemadlyloved，anditwasthroughherthathisterribleenemiesopenedabreachinhislife，andpreparedthehorriblecatastrophethatendedit。\"
\"Isthatanencouragementtoenterthisshadypath，where，yousay，hemighthaveaskedmetofollowhim？\"
\"ButifImyself，\"saidduPortail，\"shouldoffertoguideyouinit，whatthen？\"
\"You，monsieur！\"saidlaPeyrade，instupefaction。
\"Yes，I——Iwhowasyouruncle’spupilatfirst，andlaterhisprotectorandprovidence；I，whoseinfluencethelasthalf—centuryhasdailyincreased；I，whoamwealthy；I，towhomallgovernments，astheyfalloneontopoftheotherslikehousesofcards，cometoaskforsafetyandforthepowertorebuildtheirfuture；I，whoamthemanagerofagreattheatreofpuppets（whereIhaveColumbinesinthestyleofMadamedeGodollo）；I，whoto—morrow，ifitwerenecessarytothesuccessofoneofmyvaudevillesoroneofmydramas，mightpresentmyselftoyoureyesasthewearerofthegrandcordonoftheLegionofhonor，oftheOrderoftheBlackEagle，orthatoftheGoldenFleece。DoyouwishtoknowwhyneitheryounorIwilldieaviolentdeathlikeyouruncle，andalsowhy，morefortunatethancontemporaneouskings，IcantransmitmysceptretothesuccessorwhomImyselfmaychoose？Because，likeyou，myyoungfriend，inspiteofyourSouthernappearance，Iwascold，profoundlycalculating，nevertemptedtolosemytimeontriflesattheoutskirts；becauseheat，whenIwasledbyforceofcircumstancestoemployit，neverwentbelowthesurface。Itismorethanprobablethatyouhaveheardofme；
well，foryouIwillopenawindowinmycloud；lookatme，observemewell；haveIaclovenhoof，oratailattheendofmyspine？Onthecontrary，amInotamodelofthemostinoffensiveofhouseholdersintheSaint—Sulpicequarter？Inthatquarter，whereIhaveenjoyed，I
maysayit，universalesteemforthelasttwenty—fiveyears，IamcalledduPortail；buttoyou，ifyouwillallowme，IshallnownamemyselfCORENTIN。\"
\"Corentin！\"criedlaPeyrade，withterrifiedastonishment。
\"Yes，monsieur；andyouseethatintellingyouthatsecretIlaymyhanduponyou，andenlistyou。Corentin！’thegreatestmanofthepoliceinmoderntimes，’astheauthorofanarticleinthe’BiographiesofLivingMen’hassaidofme——astowhomIoughtinjusticetoremarkthathedoesn’tknowathingaboutmylife。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"IcanassureyouthatIshallkeepthatsecret；buttheplacewhichyouoffermenearyou——inyouremploy——\"
\"Thatfrightensyou，or，atleast，itmakesyouuneasy，\"saidCorentin，quickly。\"Beforeyouhaveevenconsideredthethingthewordscaresyou，doesit？Thepolice！POLICE！youareafraidtoencountertheterribleprejudicethatbrandsitonthebrow。\"
\"Certainly，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"itisanecessaryinstitution；butIdonotthinkthatitisalwayscalumniated。Ifthebusinessofthosewhomanageitishonorablewhydotheyconcealthemselvessocarefully？\"
\"Becauseallthatthreatenssociety，whichitisthemissionofthepolicetorepress，\"repliedCorentin，\"isplottedandpreparedinhiding。Dothievesandconspiratorsputupontheirhats，’IamGuillot，theshepherdofthisflock’？Andwhenweareafterthemmustweringabelltoletthemknowwearecoming？\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"whenasentimentisuniversalitceasestobeaprejudice，itbecomesanopinion；andthisopinionoughttobealawtoeverymanwhodesirestokeephisownesteemandthatofothers。\"
\"AndwhenyourobbedthatnotarytoenrichtheThuilliersforyourownadvantage，\"saidCorentin，\"didyoukeepyourownesteemandthatoftheCouncilofbarristers？Andwhoknows，monsieur，ifinyourlifetherearenotstillblackeractionsthanthat？Iamamorehonorablemanthanyou，because，outsideofmyfunctions，Ihavenotonedoubtfulactuponmyconscience；andwhentheopportunityforGOODhasbeenpresentedtomeIhavedoneit——alwaysandeverywhere。Doyouthinkthattheguardianshipofthatpoorinsanegirlinmyhomehasbeenallroses？Butshewasthedaughterofmyoldfriend，youruncle，andwhen，feelingtheyearscreeponme，Iproposetoyou，betweensacksofmoney，tofityourselftotakemyplace——\"
\"What！\"criedlaPeyrade，\"isthatgirlmyuncle’sdaughter？\"
\"Yes；thegirlIwishyoutomarryisthedaughterofyourunclePeyrade，——forhedemocratizedhisname，——or，ifyoulikeitbetter，shewasthedaughterofPereCanquoelle，anamehetookfromthelittleestateonwhichyourfatherlivedandstarvedwithelevenchildren。Yousee，inspiteofthesecrecyyourunclealwayskeptabouthisfamily，thatIknowallaboutit。Doyousupposethatbeforeselectingyouasyourcousin’shusbandIhadnotobtainedeverypossibleinformationaboutyou？AndwhatIhavelearnedneednotmakeyouquitesosupercilioustothepolice。Besides，asthevulgarsayingis，thebestofyournoseismadeofit。Yourunclebelongedtothepolice，and，thankstothat，hebecametheconfidant，Imightalmostsaythefriend，ofLouisXVIII。，whotookthegreatestpleasureinhiscompanionship。Andyou，bynatureandbymind，alsobythefoolishpositionintowhichyouhavegotyourself，inshort，byyourwholebeing，havegravitatedsteadilytotheconclusionIproposetoyou，namely，thatofsucceedingme，——ofsucceedingCorentin。Thatisthequestionbetweenus，Monsieur。DoyoureallybelievenowthatIhavenotagraspora’seizin，’asyoucallit，uponyou，andthatyoucanmanagetoescapemeforanyfoolishconsiderationsofbourgeoisvanity？\"
LaPeyradecouldnothavebeenatheartsoviolentlyopposedtothisproposalasheseemed，forthevigorouslanguageofthegreatmasterofthepoliceandthespeciesofappropriationwhichhemadeofhispersonbroughtasmiletotheyoungman’slips。
Corentinhadrisen，andwaswalkingupanddowntheroom，speaking，apparently，tohimself。
\"Thepolice！\"hecried；\"onemaysayofit，asBasilesaidofcalumnytoBatholo，’Thepolice，monsieur！youdon’tknowwhatyoudespise！’
And，afterall，\"hecontinued，afterapause，\"whoaretheywhodespiseit？Imbeciles，whodon’tknowanybetterthantoinsulttheirprotectors。Suppressthepolice，andyoudestroycivilization。Dothepoliceaskfortherespectofsuchpeople？No，theywanttoinspirethemwithonesentimentonly：fear，thatgreatleverwithwhichtogovernmankind，——animpureracewhoseodiousinstinctsGod，hell，theexecutioner，andthegendarmescanscarcelyrestrain！\"
StoppingshortbeforelaPeyrade，andlookingathimwithadisdainfulsmile，hecontinued：——
\"Soyouareoneofthoseninnieswhoseeinthepolicenothingmorethanahordeofspiesandinformers？Haveyouneversuspectedthestatesmen，thediplomats，theRichelieusitproduces？Mercury，monsieur，——Mercury，thecleverestofthegodsofpaganism，——whatwashebutthepoliceincarnate？Itistruethathewasalsothegodofthieves。Wearebetterthanhe，forwedon’tallowthatjunctionofforces。\"
\"Andyet，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Vautrin，or，Ishouldsay，JacquesCollin，thefamouschiefofthedetectivepolice——\"
\"Yes，yes！butthat’sinthelowerranks，\"repliedCorentin，resuminghiswalk；\"there’salwaysamuddyplacesomewhere。Still，don’tbemistakeneveninthat。Vautrinisamanofgenius，buthispassions，likethoseofyouruncle，draggedhimdown。Butgouphigher（forthereliesthewholequestion，namely，therungoftheladderonwhichamanhaswitsenoughtoperch）。Taketheprefect，forinstance，thathonoredminister，flatteredandrespected，isheaspy？Well，I，monsieur，amtheprefectofthesecretpoliceofdiplomacy——ofthehigheststatesmanship。Andyouhesitatetomountthatthrone！——toseemsmallanddogreatthings；toliveinacavecomfortablyarrangedlikethis，andcommandthelight；tohaveatyourordersaninvisiblearmy，alwaysready，alwaysdevoted，alwayssubmissive；toknowtheOTHER
SIDEofeverything；tobedupedbynointriguebecauseyouholdthethreadsofallwithinyourfingers；toseethroughallpartitions；topenetrateallsecrets，searchallhearts，allconsciences，——thesearethethingsyoufear！AndyetyouwerenotafraidtogoandwallowinaThuillierbog；you，athoroughbred，allowedyourselftobeharnessedtoahackney—coach，totheignoblebusinessofelectingthatparvenubourgeois。\"
\"Amandoeswhathecan，\"saidlaPeyrade。
\"Here’saveryremarkablething，\"pursuedCorentin，replyingtohisownthought；\"theFrenchlanguage，morejustthanpublicopinion，hasgivenusourrightplace，forithasmadethewordpolicethesynonymofcivilizationandtheantipodesofsavagelife，whenitsaidandwrote：’l’Etatpolice，’fromtheGreekwordsstateandcity。So，Icanassureyou，wecarelittlefortheprejudicethattriestobrandus；
noneknowmenaswedo；andtoknowthembringscontemptfortheircontemptaswellasfortheiresteem。\"
\"Thereiscertainlymuchtruthinwhatyousaywithsuchwarmth，\"saidlaPeyrade，finally。
\"Muchtruth！\"exclaimedCorentin，goingbacktohischair，\"say，rather，thatitisalltrue，andnothingbutthetruth；yetitisnotthewholetruth。Butenoughforto—day，monsieur。Tosucceedmeinmyfunctions，andtomarryyourcousinwitha’dot’thatwillnotbelessthanfivehundredthousandfrancs，thatismyoffer。Idonotaskyouforananswernow。Ishouldhavenoconfidenceinadeterminationnotseriouslyreflectedupon。To—morrow，Ishallbeathomeallthemorning。Itrustthatmyconvictionmaythenhaveformedyours。\"
Dismissinghisvisitorwithacurtlittlebow，headded：\"Idonotbidyouadieu，butaurevoir，MonsieurdelaPeyrade。\"
WhereuponCorentinwenttoaside—table，wherehefoundallthatheneededtoprepareaglassof\"eausucree，\"whichhehadcertainlyearned，and，withoutlookingatlaPeyrade，wholefttheroomratherstunned，heseemedtohavenootherinterestonhismindthanthatprosaicpreparation。
Wasit，indeed，necessarythatthemorningafterthismeetingwithCorentinavisitfromMadameLambert，nowbecomeanexactingandimportunatecreditor，shouldcometobearitsweightonlaPeyrade’sdetermination？Asthegreatchiefhadpointedouttohimthenightbefore，wastherenotinhisnature，inhismind，inhisaspirations，inthemistakesandimprudencesofhispastlife，asortofirresistibleinclinewhichdrewhimdowntowardthestrangesolutionofexistencethussuddenlyofferedtohim？
Fatality，ifwemaysocallit，waslavishoftheinducementstowhichhewasdestinedtosuccumb。Thisdaywasthe31stofOctober；thevacationofthePalaiswasjustover。The2ndofNovemberwasthedayonwhichthecourtsreopened，andasMadameLambertlefthisroomhereceivedasummonstoappearonthatdaybeforetheCouncilofhisorder。
ToMadameLambert，whopressedhimsharplytorepayher，underpretencethatshewasabouttoleaveMonsieurPicotandreturntohernativeplace，hereplied：\"Comeherethedayafterto—morrow，atthesamehour，andyourmoneywillbereadyforyou。\"
TothesummonstogiveaccountofhisactionstohispeersherepliedthathedidnotrecognizetherightoftheCounciltoquestionhimonthefactsofhisprivatelife。Thatwasananswerofonesort，certainly。InevitablyitwouldresultinhisbeingstrickenfromtherollofthebarristersoftheRoyalcourts；but，atleast，ithadanairofdignityandprotestationwhichsaved，inameasure，hisself—
love。
Finally，hewrotealettertoThuillier，inwhichhesaidthathisvisittoduPortailhadresultedinhisbeingobligedtoacceptanothermarriage。HethereforereturnedtoThuillierhispromise，andtookbackhisown。Allthiswascurtlysaid，withouttheslightestexpressionofregretforthemarriageherenounced。Inapostscriptheadded：\"Weshallbeobligedtodiscussmypositiononthenewspaper，\"
——indicatingthatitmightenterintohisplansnottoretainit。
Hewascarefultomakeacopyofthisletter，andanhourlater，when，inCorentin’sstudy，hewasquestionedastotheresultofhisnight’sreflections，hegavethatgreatgeneral，forallanswer，thematrimonialresignationhehadjustdespatched。
\"Thatwilldo，\"saidCorentin。\"Butasforyourpositiononthenewspaper，youmayperhapshavetokeepitforatime。Thecandidacyofthatfoolinterfereswiththeplansofthegovernment，andwemustmanageinsomewaytotripuptheheelsofthemunicipalcouncillor。
Inyourpositionaseditor—in—chiefyoumayfindachancetodoit，andIthinkyourconsciencewon’tkickatthemission。\"
\"No，indeed！\"saidlaPeyrade，\"thethoughtofthehumiliationstowhichIhavebeensolongsubjectedwillmakeitapreciousjoytolashthatbourgeoisbrood。\"
\"Takecare！\"saidCorentin；\"youareyoung，andyoumustwatchagainstthoserevengefulemotions。Inouraustereprofessionwelovenothingandwehatenothing。Menaretousmerepawnsofwoodorivory，accordingtotheirquality——withwhichweplayourgame。Wearelikethebladethatcutswhatisgivenittocut，but，carefulonlytobedelicatelysharpened，wishesneitherharmnorgoodtoanyone。Nowletusspeakofyourcousin，towhom，Isuppose，youhavesomecuriositytobepresented。\"
LaPeyradewasnotobligedtopretendtoeagerness，thatwhichhefeltwasgenuine。
\"LydiedelaPeyrade，\"saidCorentin，\"isnearlythirty，butherinnocence，joinedtoagentleformofinsanity，haskeptherapartfromallthosepassions，ideas，andimpressionswhichuseuplife，andhas，ifImaysayso，embalmedherinasortofeternalyouth。Youwouldnotthinkhermorethantwenty。Sheisfairandslender；herface，whichisverydelicate，isespeciallyremarkableforanexpressionofangelicsweetness。Deprivedofherfullreasonbyaterriblecatastrophe，hermonomaniahassomethingtouchingaboutit。
Shealwayscarriesinherarmsorkeepsbesideherabundleoflinenwhichshenursesandcaresforasthoughitwereasickchild；and，exceptingBruneauandmyself，whomsherecognizes，shethinksallothermenaredoctors，whomsheconsultsaboutthechild，andtowhomshelistensasoracles。AcrisiswhichlatelyhappenedinhermaladyhasconvincedHoraceBianchon，thatprinceofscience，thatiftherealitycouldbesubstitutedforthislongdelusionofmotherhood，herreasonwouldassertitself。Itissurelyaworthytasktobringbacklighttoasoulinwhichitisscarcelyveiled；andtheexistingbondofrelationshiphasseemedtometopointyououtasspeciallydesignatedtoeffectthiscure，thesuccessofwhichBianchonandtwoothereminentdoctorswhohaveconsultedwithhimdeclaretobebeyondadoubt。Now，IwilltakeyoutoLydie’spresence；remembertoplaythepartofdoctor；fortheonlythingthatmakesherlosehercustomaryserenityisnottoenterintohernotionofmedicalconsultation。\"
AftercrossingseveralroomsCorentinwasonthepointoftakinglaPeyradeintothatusuallyoccupiedbyLydiewhenemployedincradlingordandlingherimaginarychild，whensuddenlytheywerestoppedbythesoundoftwoorthreechordsstruckbythehandofamasteronapianoofthefinestsonority。
\"Whatisthat？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"ThatisLydie，\"repliedCorentin，withwhatmightbecalledanexpressionofpaternalpride；\"sheisanadmirablemusician，andthoughshenolongerwritesdown，asinthedayswhenhermindwasclear，herdelightfulmelodies，sheoftenimprovisestheminawaythatmovesmetothesoul——thesoulofCorentin！\"addedtheoldman，smiling。\"IsnotthatthefinestpraiseIcanbestowuponher？Butsupposewesitdownhereandlistentoher。Ifwegoin，theconcertwillceaseandthemedicalconsultationbegin。\"
LaPeyradewasamazedashelistenedtoanimprovisationinwhichtherareunionofinspirationandscienceopenedtohisimpressionablenatureasourceofemotionsasdeepastheywereunexpected。CorentinwatchedthesurprisewhichfrommomenttomomenttheProvencalexpressedbyadmiringexclamations。
\"Hein！howsheplays！\"saidtheoldman。\"Liszthimselfhasn’tafirmertouch。\"
Toaveryquick\"scherzo\"theperformernowaddedthefirstnotesofan\"adagio。\"
\"Sheisgoingtosing，\"saidCorentin，recognizingtheair。
\"Doesshesingtoo？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"LikePasta，likeMalibran；buthush，listentoher！\"
Afterafewopeningbarsin\"arpeggio\"avibrantvoiceresounded，thetonesofwhichappearedtostirtheProvencaltothedepthsofhisbeing。
\"Howthemusicmovesyou！\"saidCorentin；\"youwereundoubtedlymadeforeachother。\"
\"MyGod！thesameair！thesamevoice！\"
\"HaveyoualreadymetLydiesomewhere？\"askedthegreatmasterofthepolice。
\"Idon’tknow——Ithinknot，\"answeredlaPeyrade，inastammeringvoice；\"inanycase，itwaslongago——Butthatair——thatvoice——I
think——\"
\"Letusgoin，\"saidCorentin。
Openingthedoorabruptly，heentered，pullingtheyoungmanafterhim。
Sittingwithherbacktothedoor，andpreventedbythesoundofthepianofromhearingwhathappenedbehindher，Lydiedidnotnoticetheirentrance。
\"Nowhaveyouanyremembranceofher？\"saidCorentin。
LaPeyradeadvancedastep，andnosoonerhadhecaughtaglimpseofthegirl’sprofilethanhethrewuphishandsabovehishead，strikingthemtogether。
\"Itisshe！\"hecried。
Hearinghiscry，Lydieturnedround，andfixingherattentiononCorentin，shesaid：——
\"Hownaughtyandtroublesomeyouaretocomeanddisturbme；youknowverywellIdon’tliketobelistenedto。Ah！but——\"sheadded，catchingsightoflaPeyrade’sblackcoat，\"youhavebroughtthedoctor；thatisverykindofyou；Iwasjustgoingtoaskyoutosendforhim。Thebabyhasdonenothingbutcrysincemorning；Iwassingingtoputhertosleep，butnothingcandothat。\"
Andsherantofetchwhatshecalledherchildfromacorneroftheroom，wherewithtwochairslaidontheirbacksandthecushionsofthesofa，shehadconstructedasortofcradle。
AsshewenttowardslaPeyrade，carryingherpreciousbundlewithonehand，withtheothershewasarrangingtheimaginarycapofher\"littledarling，\"havingnoeyesexceptforthesadcreationofherdisorderedbrain。Stepbystep，assheadvanced，laPeyrade，pale，trembling，andwithstaringeyes，retreatedbackwards，untilhestruckagainstaseat，intowhich，losinghisequilibrium，hefell。
AmanofCorentin’spowerandexperience，andwho，moreover，knewtoitsslightestdetailthehorribledramainwhichLydiehadlostherreason，hadalready，ofcourse，takeninthesituation，butitsuitedhispurposeandhisideastoallowtheclearlightofevidencetopiercethisdarkness。
\"Look，doctor，\"saidLydie，unfasteningthebundle，andputtingthepinsinhermouthasshedidso，\"don’tyouseethatsheisgrowingthinnereveryday？\"
LaPeyradecouldnotanswer；hekepthishandkerchiefoverhisface，andhisbreathcamesofastfromhischestthathewastotallyunabletoutteraword。
Then，withoneofthosegesturesoffeverishimpatience，towhichhermentalstatepredisposedher，sheexclaimed，hastily：——
\"Butlookatherdoctor，look！\"takinghisarmviolentlyandforcinghimtoshowhisfeatures。\"MyGod！\"shecried，whenshehadlookedhimintheface。
Lettingfallthelinenbundleinherarms，shethrewherselfhastilybackwards，andhereyesgrewhaggard。Passingherwhitehandsrapidlyoverherforeheadandthroughherhair，tossingitintodisorder，sheseemedtobemakinganefforttoobtainfromhermemorysomedormantrecollection。Then，likeafrightenedmare，whichcomestosmellanobjectthathasgivenitamomentaryterror，sheapproachedlaPeyradeslowly，stoopingtolookintohisface，whichhekeptlowered，while，inthemidstofasilenceinexpressible，sheexaminedhimsteadilyforseveralseconds。Suddenlyaterriblecryescapedherbreast；sheranforrefugeintothearmsofCorentin，andpressingherselfagainsthimwithallherforce，sheexclaimed：——
\"Saveme！saveme！Itishe！thewretch！Itishewhodidit！\"
And，withherfingerpointedatlaPeyrade，sheseemedtonailthemiserableobjectofherterrortohisplace。
Afterthisexplosion，shemutteredafewdisconnectedwords，andhereyesclosed；Corentinfelttherelaxingofallthemusclesbywhichshehadheldhimasinavicethemomentbefore，andhetookherinhisarmsandlaidheronthesofa，insensible。