\"Allthiswithaneasygood-humorfittogiveavirtuouscitizenthecolic。
\"\'Youarewrong，MonsieurleComte，\'retortedCerizet，inaslightlyperemptorytone。\'Wewillbepaidinfull，andthatinawaywhichyoumaynotlike。ThatiswhyIcametoyoufirstinafriendlyspirit，asisrightandfitbetweengentlemen——\'
\"\'Oh!sothatishowyouunderstandit？\'beganMaxime，enragedbythislastpieceofpresumption。TherewassomethingofTalleyrand\'switintheinsolentretort，ifyouhavequitegraspedthecontrastbetweenthetwomenandtheircostumes。Maximescowledandlookedfullattheintruder；Cerizetnotmerelyenduredtheglareofcoldfury，butevenreturnedit，withanicy，cat-likemalignanceandfixityofgaze。
\"\'Verygood，sir，goout——\'
\"\'Verywell，good-day，MonsieurleComte。Weshallbequitsbeforesixmonthsareout。\'
\"\'Ifyoucanstealtheamountofyourbill，whichislegallydueI
own，Ishallbeindebtedtoyou，sir，\'repliedMaxime。\'Youwillhavetaughtmeanewprecautiontotake。Iamverymuchyourservant。\'
\"\'MonsieurleComte，\'saidCerizet，\'itisI，onthecontrary，whoamyours。\'
\"Herewasanexplicit，forcible，confidentdeclarationoneitherside。
Acoupleoftigersconfabulating，withthepreybeforethem，andafightimpending，wouldhavebeennofinerandnoshrewderthanthispair；theinsolentfinegentlemanasgreatablackguardastheotherinhissoiledandmud-stainedclothes。
\"Whichwillyoulayyourmoneyon？\"askedDesroches，lookingroundatanaudience，surprisedtofindhowdeeplyitwasinterested。
\"Aprettystory!\"criedMalaga。\"Mydearboy，goon，Ibegofyou。
Thisgoestoone\'sheart。”
\"Nothingcommonplacecouldhappenbetweentwofighting-cocksofthatcalibre，\"addedLaPalferine。
\"Pooh!\"criedMalaga。\"Iwillwagermycabinet-maker\'sinvoicethefellowisdunningmethatthelittletoadwastoomanyforMaxime。”
\"IbetonMaxime，\"saidCardot。\"Nobodyevercaughthimnapping。”
DesrochesdrankoffaglassthatMalagahandedtohim。
\"Mlle。Chocardelle\'sreading-room，\"hecontinued，afterapause，\"wasintheRueCoquenard，justasteportwofromtheRuePigallewhereMaximewasliving。ThesaidMlle。Chocardellelivedatthebackonthegardensideofthehouse，beyondabigdarkplacewherethebookswerekept。Antonialeftheraunttolookafterthebusiness——\"
\"Hadsheanaunteventhen？\"exclaimedMalaga。\"Hangitall，Maximedidthingshandsomely。”
\"Alas!itwasarealaunt，\"saidDesroches；\"hernamewas——letmesee——\"
\"IdaBonamy，\"saidBixiou。
\"SoasAntonia\'saunttookagooddealoftheworkoffherhands，shewenttobedlateandlaylateofamorning，nevershowingherfaceatthedeskuntiltheafternoon，sometimebetweentwoandfour。Fromtheveryfirstherappearancewasenoughtodrawcustom。Severalelderlymeninthequarterusedtocome，amongthemaretiredcoach-builder，oneCroizeau。Beholdingthismiracleoffemalelovelinessthroughthewindow-panes，hetookitintohisheadtoreadthenewspapersinthebeauty\'sreading-room；andasometimecustom-houseofficer，namedDenisart，witharibboninhisbutton-hole，followedtheexample。
CroizeauchosetolookuponDenisartasarival。\'/Monsieur/，\'hesaidafterwards，\'
Ididnotknowwhattobuyforyou!\'
\"Thatspeechshouldgiveyouanideaoftheman。TheSieurCroizeauhappenstobelongtoaparticularclassofoldmanwhichshouldbeknownas\'Coquerels\'sinceHenriMonnier\'stime；sowelldidMonnierrenderthepipingvoice，thelittlemannerisms，littlequeue，littlesprinklingofpowder，littlemovementsofthehead，primlittlemanner，andtrippinggaitinthepartofCoquerelin/LaFamilleImprovisee/。ThisCroizeauusedtohandoverhishalfpencewithaflourishanda\'There，fairlady!\'
\"Mme。IdaBonamytheauntwasnotlonginfindingoutthroughaservantthatCroizeau，bypopularreportoftheneighborhoodoftheRuedeBuffault，wherehelived，wasamanofexceedingstinginess，possessedoffortythousandfrancsperannum。Aweekaftertheinstalmentofthecharminglibrarianhewasdeliveredofapun:
\"\'Youlendmebookslivres，butIgiveyouplentyoffrancsinreturn，\'saidhe。
\"Afewdayslaterheputonaknowinglittleair，asmuchastosay，\'Iknowyouareengaged，butmyturnwillcomeoneday；Iamawidower。\'
\"Healwayscamearrayedinfinelinen，acornflowerbluecoat，apaduasoywaistcoat，blacktrousers，andblackribbonbowsonthedoublesoledshoesthatcreakedlikeanabbe\'s；healwaysheldafourteenfrancsilkhatinhishand。
\"\'IamoldandIhavenochildren，\'hetookoccasiontoconfidetotheyoungladysomefewdaysafterCerizet\'svisittoMaxime。\'Iholdmyrelationsinhorror。Theyarepeasantsborntoworkinthefields。
Justimagineit，Icameupfromthecountrywithsixfrancsinmypocket，andmademyfortunehere。Iamnotproud。Aprettywomanismyequal。NowwoulditnotbenicertobeMme。CroizeauforsomeyearstocomethantodoaCount\'spleasureforatwelvemonth？Hewillgooffandleaveyousometimeorother；andwhenthatdaycomes，youwillthinkofme……yourservant，myprettylady!\'
\"Allthiswassimmeringbelowthesurface。Theslightestapproachatlove-makingwasmadequiteonthesly。NotasoulsuspectedthatthetrimlittleoldfogywassmittenwithAntonia；andsoprudentwastheelderlylover，thatnorivalcouldhaveguessedanythingfromhisbehaviorinthereading-room。ForacoupleofmonthsCroizeauwatchedtheretiredcustom-houseofficial；butbeforethethirdmonthwasouthehadgoodreasontobelievethathissuspicionsweregroundless。HeexertedhisingenuitytoscrapeanacquaintancewithDenisart，cameupwithhiminthestreet，andatlengthseizedhisopportunitytoremark，\'Itisafineday，sir!\'
\"Whereupontheretiredofficialrespondedwith，\'Austerlitzweather，sir。Iwastheremyself——Iwaswoundedindeed，IwonmyCrossonthatgloriousday。\'
\"AndsofromonethingtoanotherthetwodriftedwrecksoftheEmpirestruckupanacquaintance。LittleCroizeauwasattachedtotheEmpirethroughhisconnectionwithNapoleon\'ssisters。Hehadbeentheircoach-builder，andhadfrequentlydunnedthemformoney；sohegaveoutthathe\'hadhadrelationswiththeImperialfamily。\'Maxime，dulyinformedbyAntoniaofthe\'niceoldman\'s\'proposalsforsotheauntcalledCroizeau，wishedtoseehim。Cerizet\'sdeclarationofwarhadsofartakeneffectthatheoftheyellowkidgloveswasstudyingthepositionofeverypiece，howeverinsignificant，upontheboard；anditsohappenedthatatthementionofthat\'niceoldman，\'anominoustinklingsoundedinhisears。Oneevening，therefore，Maximeseatedhimselfamongthebook-shelvesinthedimlylightedbackroom，reconnoitredthesevenoreightcustomersthroughthechinkbetweenthegreencurtains，andtookthelittlecoach-builder\'smeasure。Hegaugedtheman\'sinfatuation，andwasverywellsatisfiedtofindthatthevarnisheddoorsofatolerablysumptuousfuturewerereadytoturnatawordfromAntoniasosoonashisownfancyhadpassedoff。
\"\'Andthatotheroneyonder？\'askedhe，pointingoutthestoutfine-
lookingelderlymanwiththeCrossoftheLegionofHonor。\'Whoishe？\'
\"\'Aretiredcustom-houseofficer。\'
\"\'Thecutofhiscountenanceisnotreassuring，\'saidMaxime，beholdingtheSieurDenisart。
\"Andindeedtheoldsoldierheldhimselfuprightasasteeple。Hisheadwasremarkablefortheamountofpowderandpomatumbestoweduponit；helookedalmostlikeapostilionatafancyball。Underneaththatfeltedcovering，mouldedtothetopofthewearer\'scranium，appearedanelderlyprofile，half-official，half-soldierly，withacomicaladmixtureofarrogance，——altogethersomethinglikecaricaturesofthe/Constitutionnel/。Thesometimeofficialfindingthatage，andhair-
powder，andtheconformationofhisspinemadeitimpossibletoreadawordwithoutspectacles，satdisplayingaverycreditableexpanseofchestwithalltheprideofanoldmanwithamistress。LikeoldGeneralMontcornet，thatpillaroftheVaudeville，heworeearrings。
Denisartwaspartialtoblue；hisroomytrousersandwell-worngreatcoatwerebothofbluecloth。
\"\'Howlongisitsincethatoldfogycamehere？\'inquiredMaxime，thinkingthathesawdangerinthespectacles。
\"\'Oh，fromthebeginning，\'returnedAntonia，\'prettynearlytwomonthsagonow。\'
\"\'Good，\"saidMaximetohimself，\'Cerizetonlycametomeamonthago——Justgethimtotalk，\'headdedinAntonia\'sear；\'Iwanttohearhisvoice。\'
\"\'Pshaw，\'saidshe，\'thatisnotsoeasy。Heneversaysawordtome。\'
\"\'Thenwhydoeshecomehere？\'demandedMaxime。
\"\'Foraqueerreason，\'returnedthefairAntonia。\'Inthefirstplace，althoughheissixty-nine，hehasafancy；andbecauseheissixty-nine，heisasmethodicalasaclockface。Everydayatfiveo\'clocktheoldgentlemangoestodinewith/her/intheRuedelaVictoire。Iamsorryforher。Thenatsixo\'clock，hecomeshere，readssteadilyatthepapersforfourhours，andgoesbackatteno\'clock。DaddyCroizeausaysthatheknowsM。Denisart\'smotives，andapproveshisconduct；andinhisplace，hewoulddothesame。SoI
knowexactlywhattoexpect。IfeverIamMme。Croizeau，Ishallhavefourhourstomyselfbetweensixandteno\'clock。\'
\"Maximelookedthroughthedirectory，andfoundthefollowingreassuringitem:
\"DENISART，*retiredcustom-houseofficer，RuedelaVictoire。
\"Hisuneasinessvanished。
\"GraduallytheSieurDenisartandtheSieurCroizeaubegantoexchangeconfidences。Nothingsobindstwomentogetherasasimilarityofviewsinthematterofwomankind。DaddyCroizeauwenttodinewith\'M。
Denisart\'sfairlady，\'ashecalledher。AndhereImustmakeasomewhatimportantobservation。
\"Thereading-roomhadbeenpaidforhalfincash，halfinbillssignedbythesaidMlle。Chocardelle。The/quartd\'heuredeRabelais/
arrived；theCounthadnomoney。Sothefirstbillofthreethousandfrancswasmetbytheamiablecoach-builder；thatoldscoundrelDenisarthavingrecommendedhimtosecurehimselfwithamortgageonthereading-room。
\"\'Formyownpart，\'saidDenisart，\'Ihaveseenprettydoingsfromprettywomen。Soinallcases，evenwhenIhavelostmyhead，Iamalwaysonmyguardwithawoman。Thereisthiscreature，forinstance；
Iammadlyinlovewithher；butthisisnotherfurniture；no，itbelongstome。Theleaseistakenoutinmyname。\'
\"YouknowMaxime!Hethoughtthecoach-builderuncommonlygreen。
Croizeaumightpayallthreebills，andgetnothingforalongwhile；
forMaximefeltmoreinfatuatedwithAntoniathanever。”
\"Icanwellbelieveit，\"saidLaPalferine。\"Sheisthe/bellaImperia/ofourday。”
\"Withherroughskin!\"exclaimedMalaga；\"sorough，thatsheruinsherselfinbranbaths!\"
\"Croizeauspokewithacoach-builder\'sadmirationofthesumptuousfurnitureprovidedbytheamorousDenisartasasettingforhisfairone，describingitallindetailwithdiabolicalcomplacencyforAntonia\'sbenefit，\"continuedDesroches。\"Theebonychestsinlaidwithmother-of-pearlandgoldwire，theBrusselscarpets，amediaevalbedsteadworththreethousandfrancs，aBouleclock，candelabrainthefourcornersofthedining-room，silkcurtains，onwhichChinesepatiencehadwroughtpicturesofbirds，andhangingsoverthedoors，worthmorethantheportressthatopenedthem。
\"\'Andthatiswhat/you/oughttohave，myprettylady——AndthatiswhatIshouldliketoofferyou，\'hewouldconclude。\'Iamquiteawarethatyouscarcelycareabitaboutme；but，atmyage，wecannotexpecttoomuch。JudgehowmuchIloveyou；Ihavelentyouathousandfrancs。Imustconfessthat，inallmyborndays，Ihavenotlentanybody/that/much——\'
\"Heheldouthispennyashespoke，withtheimportantairofamanthatgivesalearneddemonstration。
\"ThateveningattheVarietes，AntoniaspoketotheCount。
\"\'Areading-roomisverydull，allthesame，\'saidshe；\'IfeelthatIhavenosortoftasteforthatkindoflife，andIseenofutureinit。Itisonlyfitforawidowthatwishestokeepbodyandsoultogether，orforsomehideouslyuglythingthatfanciesshecancatchahusbandwithalittlefinery。\'
\"\'Itwasyourownchoice，\'returnedtheCount。Justatthatmoment，incameNucingen，ofwhomMaxime，kingoflionsthe\'yellowkidgloves\'werethelionsofthatdayhadwonthreethousandfrancstheeveningbefore。Nucingenhadcometopayhisgamingdebt。
\"\'EinwritofattachmenthafshoostpeenservedonmebyderorderofdotteufelGlabaron，\'hesaid，seeingMaxime\'sastonishment。
\"\'Oh，sothatishowtheyaregoingtowork，isit？\'criedMaxime。
\'Theyarenotuptomuch，thatpair——\'
\"\'Itmakesnot，\'saidthebanker，\'baydem，fordeymayapplydemselfstooderspesides，unddoyouharm。IdakedeesbrettyvomantovitnessdotIhafbaidyoudeesmorning，longpeforedatwritvasserfed。\'\"
\"Queenoftheboards，\"smiledLaPalferine，lookingatMalaga，\"thouartabouttolosethybet。”
\"Once，alongtimeago，inasimilarcase，\"resumedDesroches，\"atoohonestdebtortookfrightattheideaofasolemndeclarationinacourtoflaw，anddeclinedtopayMaximeafternoticewasgiven。Thattimewemadeithotforthecreditorbypilingonwritsofattachment，soastoabsorbthewholeamountincosts——\"
\"Oh，whatisthat？\"criedMalaga；\"itallsoundslikegibberishtome。
Asyouthoughtthesturgeonsoexcellentatdinner，letmetakeoutthevalueofthesauceinlessonsinchicanery。”
\"Verywell，\"saidDesroches。\"Supposethatamanowesyoumoney，andyourcreditorsserveawritofattachmentuponhim；thereisnothingtopreventallyourothercreditorsfromdoingthesamething。Andnowwhatdoesthecourtdowhenallthecreditorsmakeapplicationfororderstopay？/Thecourtdividesthewholesumattached，proportionatelyamongthemall。/Thatdivision，madeundertheeyeofamagistrate，iswhatwecalla/contribution/。Ifyouowetenthousandfrancs，andyourcreditorsissuewritsofattachmentonadebtduetoyouofathousandfrancs，eachoneofthemgetssomuchpercent，\'somuchinthepound，\'inlegalphrase；somuchthatmeansinproportiontotheamountsseverallyclaimedbythecreditors。But——thecreditorscannottouchthemoneywithoutaspecialorderfromtheclerkofthecourt。Doyouguesswhatallthisworkdrawnupbyajudgeandpreparedbyattorneysmustmean？Itmeansaquantityofstampedpaperfullofdiffuselinesandblanks，thefiguresalmostlostinvastspacesofcompletelyemptyruledcolumns。
Thefirstproceedingistodeductthecosts。Now，asthecostsarepreciselythesamewhethertheamountattachedisonethousandoronemillionfrancs，itisnotdifficulttoeatupthreethousandfrancsforinstanceincosts，especiallyifyoucanmanagetoraisecounterapplications。”
\"Andanattorneyalwaysmanagestodoit，\"saidCardot。\"Howmanyatimeoneofyouhascometomewith，\'Whatistheretobegotoutofthecase？\'\"
\"Itisparticularlyeasytomanageitifthedebtoreggsyouontorunupcoststilltheyeatuptheamount。And，asarule，theCount\'screditorstooknothingbythatmove，andwereoutofpocketinlawandpersonalexpenses。TogetmoneyoutofsoexperiencedadebtorastheCount，acreditorshouldreallybeinapositionuncommonlydifficulttoreach；itisaquestionofbeingcreditoranddebtorboth，forthenyouarelegallyentitledtoworktheconfusionofrights，inlawlanguage——\"
\"Totheconfusionofthedebtor？\"askedMalaga，lendinganattentiveeartothisdiscourse。
\"No，theconfusionofrightsofdebtorandcreditor，andpayyourselfthroughyourownhands。SoClaparon\'sinnocenceinmerelyissuingwritsofattachmenteasedtheCount\'smind。AshecamebackfromtheVarieteswithAntonia，hewassomuchthemoretakenwiththeideaofsellingthereading-roomtopayoffthelasttwothousandfrancsofthepurchase-money，becausehedidnotcaretohavehisnamemadepublicasapartnerinsuchaconcern。SoheadoptedAntonia\'splan。
Antoniawishedtoreachthehigherranksofhercalling，withsplendidrooms，amaid，andacarriage；inshort，shewantedtorivalourcharminghostess，forinstance——\"
\"Shewasnotwomanenoughforthat，\"criedthefamousbeautyoftheCircus；\"still，sheruinedyoungd\'Esgrignonveryneatly。”
\"Tendaysafterwards，littleCroizeau，perchedonhisdignity，saidalmostexactlythesamething，forthefairAntonia\'sbenefit，\"
continuedDesroches。
\"\'Child，\'saidhe，\'yourreading-roomisaholeofaplace。Youwillloseyourcomplexion；thegaswillruinyoureyesight。Yououghttocomeoutofit；and，lookhere，letustakeadvantageofanopportunity。Ihavefoundayoungladyforyouthatasksnobetterthantobuyyourreading-room。Sheisaruinedwomanwithnothingbeforeherbutaplungeintotheriver；butshehadfourthousandfrancsincash，andthebestthingtodoistoturnthemtoaccount，soastofeedandeducateacoupleofchildren。\'
\"\'Verywell。Itiskindofyou，DaddyCroizeau，\'saidAntonia。
\"\'Oh，IshallbemuchkinderbeforeIhavedone。Justimagineit，poorM。Denisarthasbeenworriedintothejaundice!Yes，ithasgonetotheliver，asitusuallydoeswithsusceptibleoldmen。Itisapityhefeelsthingsso。Itoldhimsomyself；Isaid，\"Bepassionate，thereisnoharminthat，butasfortakingthingstoheart——drawthelineatthat!Itisthewaytokillyourself。”——Really，Iwouldnothaveexpectedhimtotakeonsoaboutit；amanthathassenseenoughandexperienceenoughtokeepawayashedoeswhilehedigestshisdinner——\'
\"\'Butwhatisthematter？\'inquiredMlle。Chocardelle。
\"\'ThatlittlebaggagewithwhomIdinedhasclearedoutandlefthim!……Yes。Gavehimtheslipwithoutanywarningbutaletter，inwhichthespellingwasalltoseek。\'
\"\'There，DaddyCroizeau，youseewhatcomesofboringawoman——\'
\"\'Itisindeedalesson，myprettylady，\'saidtheguilefulCroizeau。
\'Meanwhile，Ihaveneverseenamaninsuchastate。OurfriendDenisartcannottellhislefthandfromhisright；hewillnotgobacktolookatthe\"sceneofhishappiness，\"ashecallsit。Hehassothoroughlylosthiswits，thatheproposesthatIshouldbuyallHortense\'sfurnitureHortensewashernameforfourthousandfrancs。\'
\"\'Aprettyname，\'saidAntonia。
\"Yes。Napoleon\'sstepdaughterwascalledHortense。Ibuiltcarriagesforher，asyouknow。\'
\"\'Verywell，Iwillsee，\'saidcunningAntonia；\'beginbysendingthisyoungwomantome。\'
\"Antoniahurriedofftoseethefurniture，andcamebackfascinated。
ShebroughtMaximeunderthespellofantiquarianenthusiasm。ThatveryeveningtheCountagreedtothesaleofthereading-room。Theestablishment，yousee，nominallybelongedtoMlle。Chocardelle。
MaximeburstoutlaughingattheideaoflittleCroizeau\'sfindinghimabuyer。ThefirmofMaximeandChocardellewaslosingtwothousandfrancs，itistrue，butwhatwasthelosscomparedwithfourgloriousthousand-francnotesinhand？\'Fourthousandfrancsoflivecoin!——
therearemomentsinone\'slifewhenonewouldsignbillsforeightthousandtogetthem，\'astheCountsaidtome。
\"TwodayslatertheCountmustseethefurniturehimself，andtookthefourthousandfrancsuponhim。Thesalehadbeenarranged；thankstolittleCroizeau\'sdiligence，hepushedmatterson；hehad\'comeround\'
thewidow，asheexpressedit。ItwasMaxime\'sintentiontohaveallthefurnitureremovedatoncetoalodginginanewhouseintheRueTronchet，takeninthenameofMme。IdaBonamy；hedidnottroublehimselfmuchabouttheniceoldmanthatwasabouttolosehisthousandfrancs。Buthehadsentbeforehandforseveralbigfurniturevans。
\"Onceagainhewasfascinatedbythebeautifulfurniturewhichawholesaledealerwouldhavevaluedatsixthousandfrancs。Bythefiresidesatthewretchedowner，yellowwithjaundice，hisheadtiedupinacoupleofprintedhandkerchiefs，andacottonnight-capontopofthem；hewashuddledupinwrappingslikeachandelier，exhausted，unabletospeak，andaltogethersoknockedtopiecesthattheCountwasobligedtotransacthisbusinesswiththeman-servant。Whenhehadpaiddownthefourthousandfrancs，andtheservanthadtakenthemoneytohismasterforareceipt，Maximeturnedtotellthemantocallupthevanstothedoor；butevenashespoke，avoicelikearattlesoundedinhisears。
\"\'Itisnotworthwhile，MonsieurleComte。YouandIarequits；I
havesixhundredandthirtyfrancsfifteencentimestogiveyou!\'
\"Tohisutterconsternation，hesawCerizet，emergedfromhiswrappingslikeabutterflyfromthechrysalis，holdingouttheaccursedbundleofdocuments。
\"\'WhenIwasdownonmyluck，Ilearnedtoactonthestage，\'addedCerizet。\'IamasgoodasBouffeatoldmen。\'
\"\'Ihavefallenamongthieves!\'shoutedMaxime。
\"\'No，MonsieurleComte，youareinMlle。Hortense\'shouse。SheisafriendofoldLordDudley\'s；hekeepsherhiddenawayhere；butshehasthebadtastetolikeyourhumbleservant。\'
\"\'IfeverIlongedtokillaman，\'sotheCounttoldmeafterwards，\'itwasatthatmoment；butwhatcouldonedo？Hortenseshowedherprettyface，onehadtolaugh。Tokeepmydignity，Iflungherthesixhundredfrancs。\"There\'sforthegirl，\"saidI。\'\"
\"ThatisMaximeallover!\"criedLaPalferine。
\"MoreespeciallyasitwaslittleCroizeau\'smoney，\"addedCardottheprofound。
\"Maximescoredatriumph，\"continuedDesroches，\"forHortenseexclaimed，\'Oh，ifIhadonlyknownthatitwasyou!\'\"
\"Apretty\'confusion\'indeed!\"putinMalaga。\"Youhavelost，milord，\"
sheaddedturningtothenotary。
Andinthiswaythecabinetmaker，towhomMalagaowedahundredcrowns，waspaid。