\"Yes，butI’mnotbehindhandeither，\"exclaimedCerizet。\"Ihavecomenowtoshowyouawaytoputthethumbscrewsontheoldmaidandmakeherspinlikeateetotum。Wemustn’tdeceiveourselves；MademoiselleThuillieristheheadandfrontofeverythinginthisaffair；ifwegetheronoursidethetowniswon。Letussaylittle，butthatlittletothepoint，asbecomesstrongmenwitheachother。Claparon，youknow，isafool；he’llbeallhislifewhathealwayswas，——acat’s—paw。JustnowheislendinghisnametoanotaryinParis，whoisconcernedwithalotofcontractors，andtheyareall——notaryandmasons——onthepointofruin。Claparonisgoingheadlongintoit。Heneveryetwasbankrupt；butthere’safirsttimeforeverything。HeishiddennowinmyhovelintheruedesPoules，wherenoonewilleverfindhim。Heisdesperate，andhehasn’tapenny。Now，amongthefiveorsixhousesbuiltbythesecontractors，whichhavetobesold，there’sajewelofahouse，builtoffreestone，intheneighborhoodoftheMadeleine，——afrontagelacedlikeamelon，withbeautifulcarvings，——butnotbeingfinished，itwillhavetobesoldforwhatitwillbring；certainlynotmorethanahundredthousandfrancs。Byspendingtwenty—fivethousandfrancsuponititcouldbelet，undoubtedly，fortenthousand。MakeMademoiselleThuilliertheproprietorofthathouseandyou’llwinherlove；she’llbelievethatyoucanputsuchchancesinherwayeveryyear。Therearetwowaysofgettingholdofvainpeople：flattertheirvanity，ORthreatenthem；
andtherearealsotwowaysofmanagingmisers：filltheirpurse，orelseattackit。Now，thisstrokeofbusiness，whileitdoesgoodtoMademoiselleThuillier，doesgoodtousaswell，anditwouldbeapitynottoprofitbythechance。\"
\"Butwhydoesthenotaryletitslipthroughhisfingers？\"askedDutocq。
\"Thenotary，mydearfellow！Why，he’stheveryonewhosavesus。
Forcedtosellhispractice，andutterlyruinedbesides，hereservedforhimselfthiscrumbofthecake。BelievinginthehonestyofthatidiotClaparon，hehasaskedhimtofindadummypurchaser。We’lllethimsupposethatMademoiselleThuillierisaworthysoulwhoallowsClaparontousehername；they’llbothbefooled，Claparonandthenotarytoo。IowethislittletricktomyfriendClaparon，wholeftmetobearthewholeweightofthetroubleabouthisstock—company，inwhichweweretrickedbyConture，andIhopeyoumayneverbeinthatman’sskin！\"headded，infernalhatredflashingfromhiswornandwitheredeyes。\"Now，I’vesaidmysay，gentlemen，\"hecontinued，sendingouthisvoicethroughhisnasalholes，andtakingadramaticattitude；foronce，atamomentofextremepenury，hehadgoneuponthestage。
Ashefinishedmakinghispropositionsomeonerangattheouterdoor，andlaPeyraderosetogoandopenit。Assoonashisbackwasturned，Cerizetsaid，hastily，toDutocq：——
\"Areyousureofhim？Iseeasortofairabouthim——AndI’magoodjudgeoftreachery。\"
\"Heissocompletelyinourpower，\"saidDutocq，\"thatIdon’ttroublemyselftowatch；but，betweenourselves，Ididn’tthinkhimasstrongasheprovestobe。Thefactis，wethoughtwewereputtingabarbbetweenthelegsofamanwhodidn’tknowhowtoride，andtherogueisanoldjockey！\"
\"Lethimtakecare，\"growledCerizet。\"Icanblowhimdownlikeahouseofcardsanyday。Asforyou，papaDutocq，youareabletoseehimatworkallthetime；watchhimcarefully。Besides，I’llfeelhispulsebygettingClaparontoproposetohimtogetridofus；thatwillhelpustojudgehim。\"
\"Prettygood，that！\"saidDutocq。\"Youaredaring，anyhow。\"
\"I’vegotmyhandin，that’sall，\"repliedCerizet。
ThesewordswereexchangedinalowvoiceduringthetimethatittookTheodosetogototheouterdoorandreturn。Cerizetwaslookingatthebookswhenthelawyerre—enteredtheroom。
\"ItisThuillier，\"saidTheodose。\"Ithoughthe’dcome；heisinthesalon。Hemustn’tseeCerizet’sfrock—coat；thosefrogswouldfrightenhim。\"
\"Pooh！youreceivethepoorinyouroffice，don’tyou？That’sinyourrole。Doyouwantanymoney？\"addedCerizet，pullingahundredfrancsoutofhistrousers’pocket。\"Thereitis；itwon’tlookamiss。\"
Andhelaidthepileonthechimney—piece。
\"Andnow，\"saidDutocq，\"wehadbettergetoutthroughthebedroom。\"
\"Well，good—bye，\"saidTheodose，openingahiddendoorwhichcommunicatedfromthestudytothebedroom。\"Comein，MonsieurThuillier，\"hecalledouttothebeauoftheEmpire。
Whenhesawhimsafelyinthestudyhewenttoletouthistwoassociatesthroughthebedroomandkitchenintothecourtyard。
\"Insixmonths，\"saidCerizet，\"you’llhavemarriedCelesteandgotyourfootintothestirrup。Youarelucky，youare，nottohavesat，likeme，intheprisoners’dock。I’vebeentheretwice：oncein1825，for’subversivearticles’whichIneverwrote，andthesecondtimeforreceivingtheprofitsofajoint—stockcompanywhichhadslippedthroughmyfingers！Come，let’swarmthisthingup！Sac—a—papier！
DutocqandIaresorelyinneedofthattwenty—fivethousandfrancs。
Goodcourage，oldfellow！\"headded，holdingouthishandtoTheodose，andmakingthegraspatestoffaithfulness。
TheProvencalgaveCerizethisrighthand，pressingtheother’shandwarmly：——
\"Mygoodfellow，\"hesaid，\"beverysurethatinwhateverpositionI
mayfindmyselfIshallneverforgetthatfromwhichyouhavedrawnmebyputtingmeinthesaddlehere。I’msimplyyourbait；butyouaregivingmethebestpartofthecatch，andIshouldbemoreinfamousthanagalley—slavewhoturnspolicemanifIdidn’tplayfair。\"
Assoonasthedoorwasclosed，Cerizetpeepedthroughthekey—hole，tryingtocatchsightoflaPeyrade’sface。ButtheProvencalhadturnedbacktomeetThuillier，andhisdistrustfulassociatecouldnotdetecttheexpressionofhiscountenance。
Thatexpressionwasneitherdisgustnorannoyance，itwassimplyjoy，appearingonafacethatnowseemedfreed。Theodosesawthemeansofsuccessapproachinghim，andheflatteredhimselfthatthedaywouldcomewhenhemightgetridofhisignobleassociates，towhomheowedeverything。Povertyhasunfathomabledepths，especiallyinParis，slimybottoms，fromwhich，whenadrownedmanrisestothesurfaceofthewater，hebringswithhimfilthandimpurityclingingtohisclothes，ortohisperson。Cerizet，theonceopulentfriendandprotectorofTheodose，wasthemuddymirestillclingingtotheProvencal，andtheformermanagerofthejoint—stockcompanysawveryplainlythathistoolwantedtobrushhimselfonenteringaspherewheredecentclothingwasanecessity。
\"Well，mydearTheodose，\"beganThuillier，\"wehavehopedtoseeyoueverydaythisweek，andeveryeveningwefindourhopesdeceived。AsthisisourSundayforadinner，mysisterandmywifehavesentmeheretobegyoutocometous。\"
\"Ihavebeensobusy，\"saidTheodose，\"thatIhavenothadtwominutestogivetoanyone，noteventoyou，whomIcountamongmyfriends，andwithwhomIhavewishedtotalkabout——\"
\"What？haveyoureallybeenthinkingseriouslyoverwhatyousaidtome？\"criedThuillier，interruptinghim。
\"Ifyouhadnotcomeherenowforafullunderstanding，Ishouldn’trespectyouasIdo，\"repliedlaPeyrade，smiling。\"Youhavebeenasub—director，andthereforeyoumusthavetheremainsofambition——
whichisdeucedlylegitimateinyourcase！Come，now，betweenourselves，whenoneseesaMinard，thatgildedpot，displayinghimselfattheTuileries，andcomplimentingtheking，andaPopinotabouttobecomeaministerofState，andthenlookatyou！amantrainedtoadministrativework，amanwiththirtyyears’experience，whohasseensixgovernments，lefttoplantbalsamsinalittlegarden！Heavensandearth！——Iamfrank，mydearThuillier，andI’llsay，honestly，thatI
wanttoadvanceyou，becauseyou’lldrawmeafteryou。Well，here’smyplan。Wearesoontoelectamemberofthecouncil—generalfromthisarrondissement；andthatmembermustbeyou。And，\"headded，dwellingontheword，\"itWILLbeyou！Afterthat，youwillcertainlybedeputyfromthearrondissementwhentheChamberisre—elected，whichmustsurelybebeforelong。Thevotesthatelectyoutothemunicipalcouncilwillstandbyyouintheelectionfordeputy，trustmeforthat。\"
\"Buthowwillyoumanageallthis？\"criedThuillier，fascinated。
\"Youshallknowingoodtime；butyoumustletmeconductthislonganddifficultaffair；ifyoucommittheslightestindiscretionastowhatissaid，orplanned，oragreedbetweenus，Ishallhavetodropthewholematter，andgood—byetoyou！\"
\"Oh！youcanrelyontheabsolutedumbnessofaformersub—director；
I’vehadsecretstokeep。\"
\"That’sallverywell；butthesearesecretstokeepfromyourwifeandsister，andfromMonsieurandMadameColleville。\"
\"Notamuscleofmyfaceshallrevealthem，\"saidThuillier，assumingastolidair。
\"Verygood，\"continuedTheodose。\"Ishalltestyou。Inordertomakeyourselfeligible，youmustpaytaxesonacertainamountofproperty，andyouarenotpayingthem。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon；I’mallrightforthemunicipalcouncilatanyrate；Ipaytwofrancsninety—sixcentimes。\"
\"Yes，butthetaxonpropertynecessaryforelectiontothechamberisfivehundredfrancs，andthereisnotimetoloseinacquiringthatproperty，becauseyoumustprovepossessionforoneyear。\"
\"Thedevil！\"criedThuillier；\"betweennowandayearhencetobetaxedfivehundredfrancsonpropertywhich——\"
\"BetweennowandtheendofJuly，atthelatest，youmustpaythattax。Well，Ifeelenoughinterestinyoutotellyouthesecretofanaffairbywhichyoumightmakefromthirtytofortythousandfrancsayear，byemployingacapitalofonehundredandfiftythousandatmost。Iknowthatinyourfamilyitisyoursisterwhodoesyourbusiness；Iamfarfromthinkingthatamistake；shehas，theytellme，excellentjudgment；andyoumustletmebeginbyobtaininghergood—willandfriendship，andproposingthisinvestmenttoher。Andthisiswhy：IfMademoiselleThuillierisnotinducedtoputfaithinmyplan，weshallcertainlyhavedifficultywithher。Besides，itwon’tdoforYOUtoproposetoherthatsheshouldputtheinvestmentofhermoneyinyourname。Theideahadbettercomefromme。Astomymeansofgettingyouelectedtothemunicipalcouncil，theyarethese：
Phellioncontrolsonequarterofthearrondissement；heandLaudigeoishavelivedinitthesethirtyyears，andtheyarelistenedtolikeoracles。Ihaveafriendwhocontrolsanotherquarter；andtherectorofSaint—Jacques，whoisnotwithoutinfluence，thankstohisvirtues，disposesofcertainvotes。Dutocq，inhiscloserelationtothepeople，andalsothejusticeofpeace，willhelpme，aboveall，asI’mnotactingformyself；andColleville，assecretaryofthemayor’soffice，cancertainlymanagetoobtainanotherfourthofthevotes。\"
\"Youareright！\"criedThuillier。\"I’melected！\"
\"Doyouthinkso？\"saidlaPeyrade，inavoiceofthedeepestsarcasm。
\"Verygood！thengoandaskyourfriendCollevilletohelpyou，andseewhathe’llsay。Notriumphinelectioncasesiseverbroughtaboutbythecandidatehimself，butbyhisfriends。Heshouldneveraskanythinghimselfforhimself；hemustbeinvitedtoaccept，andappeartobewithoutambition。\"
\"LaPeyrade！\"criedThuillier，rising，andtakingthehandoftheyounglawyer，\"youareaverycapableman。\"
\"Notascapableasyou，butIhavemymerits，\"saidtheProvencal，smiling。
\"IfwesucceedhowshallIeverrepayyou？\"askedThuillier，naively。
\"Ah！that，indeed！Iamafraidyouwillthinkmeimpertinent，butremember，thereisatruefeelinginmyheartwhichofferssomeexcuseforme；infact，ithasgivenmethespirittoundertakethisaffair。
Ilove——andItakeyouformyconfidant。\"
\"Butwhoisit？\"saidThuillier。
\"YourdearlittleCeleste，\"repliedlaPeyrade。\"Myloveforherwillbeapledgetoyouofmydevotion。WhatwouldInotdoforaFATHER—
IN—LAW！Thisispureselfishness；Ishallbeworkingformyself。\"
\"Hush！\"criedThuillier。
\"Eh，myfriend！\"saidlaPeyrade，catchingThuillierroundthebody；
\"ifIhadn’tFlavieonmyside，andifIdidn’tknowALL，shouldI
venturetobetalkingtoyouthus？ButpleasesaynothingtoFlavieaboutthis；waittillshespeakstoyou。Listentome；I’mofthemetalthatmakesministers；IdonotseektoobtainCelesteuntilI
deserveher。YoushallnotbeaskedtogivehertomeuntilthedaywhenyourelectionasadeputyofParisisassured。InordertobedeputyofParis，wemustgetthebetterofMinard；andinordertocrushMinardyoumustkeepinyourownhandsallyourmeansofinfluence；forthatreasonuseCelesteasahope；we’llplaythemoff，thesepeople，againsteachotherandfoolthemall——MadameCollevilleandyouandIwillbepersonsofimportanceoneofthesedays。Don’tthinkmemercenary。IwantCelestewithouta\"dot，\"withnothingmorethanherfutureexpectations。Toliveinyourfamilywithyou，tokeepmywifeinyourmidst，thatismydesire。YouseenowthatIhavenohiddenthoughts。Asforyou，mydearfriend，sixmonthsafteryourelectiontothemunicipalcouncil，youwillhavethecrossoftheLegionofhonor，andwhenyouaredeputyyouwillbemadeanofficerofit。AsforyourspeechesintheChamber——well！we’llwritethemtogether。Perhapsitwouldbedesirableforyoutowriteabook，——aseriousbookonmattershalfmoralandphilanthropic，halfpolitical；
such，forinstance，ascharitableinstitutionsconsideredfromthehigheststand—point；orreformsinthepawningsystem，theabusesofwhicharereallyfrightful。Letusfastensomeslightdistinctiontoyourname；itwillhelpyou，——especiallyinthearrondissement。Now，I
sayagain，trustme，believeinme；donotthinkoftakingmeintoyourfamilyuntilyouhavetheribboninyourbuttonholeonthemorrowofthedaywhenyoutakeyourseatintheChamber。I’lldomorethanthat，however；I’llputyouinthewayofmakingfortythousandfrancsayear。\"
\"ForanyoneofthosethreethingsyoushallhaveourCeleste，\"saidThuillier。
\"Ah！whatapearlsheis！\"exclaimedlaPeyrade，raisinghiseyestoheaven。\"IhavetheweaknesstopraytoGodforhereveryday。Sheischarming；sheisexactlylikeyou——oh！nonsense；surelyyouneedn’tcautionme！Dutocqtoldmeall。Well，I’llbewithyouto—night。I
mustgotothePhellions’now，andbegintoworkourplan。Youdon’tneedmetocautionyounottoletitbeknownthatyouarethinkingofmeforCeleste；ifyoudo，you’llcutoffmyarmsandlegs。Therefore，silence！eventoFlavie。Waittillshespeakstoyouherself。Phellionshallto—nightbroachthematterofproposingyouascandidateforthecouncil。\"
\"To—night？\"saidThuillier。
\"Yes，to—night，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"unlessIdon’tfindhimathomenow。\"
Thuillierdeparted，sayingtohimself：——
\"That’saverysuperiorman；weshallalwaysunderstandeachother。
Faith！itmightbehardtodobetterforCeleste。Theywilllivewithus，asinourownfamily，andthat’sagooddeal！Yes，he’safinefellow，asoundman。\"
TomindsofThuillier’scalibre，asecondaryconsiderationoftenassumestheimportanceofaprincipalreason。Theodosehadbehavedtohimwithcharmingbonhomie。
CHAPTERVII
THEWORTHYPHELLIONS
ThehousetowhichTheodosedelaPeyradenowbenthisstepshadbeenthe\"hoceratinvotis\"ofMonsieurPhellionfortwentyyears；itwasthehouseofthePhellions，justasmuchasCerizet’sfroggedcoatwasthenecessarycomplementofhispersonality。
Thisdwellingwasstuckagainstthesideofalargehouse，butonlytothedepthofoneroom（abouttwentyfeetorso），andterminatedateachendinasortofpavilionwithonewindow。Itschiefcharmwasagarden，onehundredandeightyfeetsquare，longerthanthefacadeofthehousebythewidthofacourtyardwhichopenedonthestreet，andalittleclumpoflindens。Beyondthesecondpavilion，thecourtyardhad，betweenitselfandthestreet，anironrailing，inthecentreofwhichwasalittlegateopeninginthemiddle。
Thisbuilding，ofrougestonecoveredwithstucco，andtwostoreysinheight，hadreceivedacoatofyellow—wash；theblindswerepaintedgreen，andsoweretheshuttersonthelowerstorey。Thekitchenoccupiedtheground—floorofthepaviliononthecourtyard，andthecook，astout，stronggirl，protectedbytwoenormousdogs，performedthefunctionsofportress。Thefacade，composedoffivewindows，andthetwopavilions，whichprojectedninefeet，wereinthestylePhellion。Abovethedoorthemasterofthehousehadinsertedatabletofwhitemarble，onwhich，inlettersofgold，werereadthewords，\"Aureamediocritas。\"Abovethesun—dial，affixedtoonepanelofthefacade，hehadalsocausedtobeinscribedthissapientmaxim：\"Umbrameavita，sic！\"
Theformerwindow—sillshadrecentlybeensupercededbysillsofredLanguedocmarble，foundinamarbleshop。Atthebottomofthegardencouldbeseenacoloredstatue，intendedtoleadcasualobserverstoimaginethatanursewascarryingachild。Theground—floorofthehousecontainedonlythesalonandthedining—room，separatedfromeachotherbythewellofthestaircaseandthelanding，whichformedasortofantechamber。Attheendofthesalon，intheotherpavilion，wasalittlestudyoccupiedbyPhellion。
Onthefirstupperfloorweretheroomsofthefatherandmotherandthatoftheyoungprofessor。Abovewerethechambersofthechildrenandtheservants；forPhellion，onconsiderationofhisownageandthatofhiswife，hadsetupamaledomestic，agedfifteen，hissonhavingbythattimeentereduponhisdutiesoftuition。Toright，onenteringthecourtyard，werelittleofficeswherewoodwasstored，andwheretheformerproprietorhadlodgedaporter。ThePhellionswerenodoubtawaitingthemarriageoftheirsontoallowthemselvesthatadditionalluxury。
Thisproperty，onwhichthePhellionshadlonghadtheireye，costthemeighteenthousandfrancsin1831。Thehousewasseparatedfromthecourtyardbyabalustradewithabaseoffreestoneandacopingoftiles；thislittlewall，whichwasbreast—high，waslinedwithahedgeofBengalroses，inthemiddleofwhichopenedawoodengateoppositeandleadingtothelargegatesonthestreet。Thosewhoknowthecul—
de—sacoftheFeuillantines，willunderstandthatthePhellionhouse，standingatrightanglestothestreet，hadasouthernexposure，andwasprotectedonthenorthbytheimmensewalloftheadjoininghouse，againstwhichthesmallerstructurewasbuilt。ThecupolaofthePantheonandthatoftheVal—de—Gracelookedfromthereliketwogiants，andsodiminishedtheskyspacethat，walkinginthegarden，onefeltcrampedandoppressed。Noplacecouldbemoresilentthanthisblindstreet。
Suchwastheretreatofthegreatunknowncitizenwhowasnowtastingthesweetsofrepose，afterdischarginghisdutytothenationintheministryoffinance，fromwhichhehadretiredasregistrationclerkafteraserviceofthirty—sixyears。In1832hehadledhisbattalionoftheNationalGuardtotheattackonSaint—Merri，buthisneighborshadpreviouslyseentearsinhiseyesatthethoughtofbeingobligedtofireonmisguidedFrenchmen。TheaffairwasalreadydecidedbythetimehislegioncrossedthepontNotre—Dameataquickstep，afterdebouchingbytheflower—market。Thisnoblehesitationwonhimtherespectofhiswholequarter，buthelostthedecorationoftheLegionofhonor；hiscoloneltoldhiminaloudvoicethat，underarms，therewasnosuchthingasdeliberation，——asayingofLouis—PhilippetotheNationalGuardofMetz。Nevertheless，thebourgeoisvirtuesofPhellion，andthegreatrespectinwhichhewasheldinhisownquarterhadkepthimmajorofthebattalionforeightyears。Hewasnownearlysixty，andseeingthemomentcomingwhenhemustlayofftheswordandstock，hehopedthatthekingwoulddeigntorewardhisservicesbygrantinghimatlasttheLegionofhonor。
Truthcompelsustosay，inspiteofthestainthispettinesswillputuponsofineacharacter，thatCommanderPhellionroseuponthetipsofhistoesatthereceptionsintheTuileries，anddidallthathecouldtoputhimselfforward，eveneyeingthecitizen—kingperpetuallywhenhedinedathistable。Inshort，heintriguedinadumbsortofway；buthadneveryetobtainedalookinreturnfromthekingofhischoice。Theworthymanhadmorethanoncethought，butwasnotyetdecided，tobegMonsieurMinardtoassisthiminobtaininghissecretdesire。
Phellion，amanofpassiveobedience，wasstoicalinthematterofduty，andironinallthattouchedhisconscience。Tocompletethispicturebyasketchofhisperson，wemustaddthatatfifty—nineyearsofagePhellionhad\"thickened，\"touseatermofthebourgeoisvocabulary。Hisface，ofonemonotonoustoneandpittedwiththesmall—pox，hadgrowntoresembleafullmoon；sothathislips，formerlylarge，nowseemedofordinarysize。Hiseyes，muchweakened，andprotectedbyglasses，nolongershowedtheinnocenceoftheirlight—blueorbs，whichinformerdayshadoftenexcitedasmile；hiswhitehairnowgavegravitytomuchthattwelveyearsearlierhadlookedlikesilliness，andlentitselftoridicule。Time，whichdoessuchdamagetofaceswithrefinedanddelicatefeatures，onlyimprovesthosewhich，intheiryouth，havebeencourseandmassive。ThiswasthecasewithPhellion。HeoccupiedtheleisureofhisoldageinmakinganabridgmentoftheHistoryofFrance；forPhellionwastheauthorofseveralworksadoptedbytheUniversity。
WhenlaPeyradepresentedhimself，thefamilywerealltogether。
MadameBarniolwasjusttellinghermotheraboutoneofherbabies，whichwasslightlyindisposed。TheyweredressedintheirSundayclothes，andweresittingbeforethefireplaceofthewainscotedsalononchairsboughtatabargain；andtheyallfeltanemotionwhenGenevieve，thecookandportress，announcedthepersonageofwhomtheywerejustthenspeakinginconnectionwithCeleste，whom，wemustherestate，FelixPhellionloved，totheextentofgoingtomasstobeholdher。Thelearnedmathematicianhadmadethateffortinthemorning，andthefamilywerejokinghimaboutitinapleasantway，hopingintheirheartsthatCelesteandherparentsmightunderstandthetreasurethatwasthusofferedtothem。
\"Alas！theThuilliersseemtomeinfatuatedwithaverydangerousman，\"saidMadamePhellion。\"HetookMadameCollevillebythearmthismorningafterchurch，andtheywenttogethertotheLuxembourg。\"
\"Thereissomethingaboutthatlawyer，\"remarkedFelixPhellion，\"thatstrikesmeassinister。HemightbefoundtohavecommittedsomecrimeandIshouldn’tbesurprised。\"
\"That’sgoingtoofar，\"saidoldPhellion。\"Heiscousin—germaintoTartuffe，thatimmortalfigurecastinbronzebyourhonestMoliere；
forMoliere，mychildren，hadhonestyandpatriotismforthebasisofhisgenius。\"
ItwasatthatinstantthatGenevievecameintosay，\"There’saMonsieurdelaPeyradeoutthere，whowantstoseemonsieur。\"
\"Toseeme！\"exclaimedPhellion。\"Askhimtocomein，\"headded，withthatsolemnityinlittlethingswhichgavehimevennowatouchofabsurdity，thoughitalwaysimpressedhisfamily，whichacceptedhimasking。
Phellion，histwosons，andhiswifeanddaughter，roseandreceivedthecircularbowmadebythelawyer。
\"Towhatdoweowethehonorofyourvisit，monsieur？\"askedPhellion，stiffly。
\"Toyourimportanceinthisarrondissement，mydearMonsieurPhellion，andtopublicinterests，\"repliedTheodose。
\"Thenletusgointomystudy，\"saidPhellion。
\"No，no，myfriend，\"saidtherigidMadamePhellion，asmallwoman，flatasaflounder，whoretaineduponherfeaturesthegrimseveritywithwhichshetaughtmusicinboarding—schoolsforyoungladies；\"wewillleaveyou。\"
AnuprightErardpiano，placedbetweenthetwowindowsandoppositetothefireplace，showedtheconstantoccupationofaproficient。
\"AmIsounfortunateastoputyoutoflight？\"saidTheodose，smilinginakindlywayatthemotheranddaughter。\"Youhaveadelightfulretreathere，\"hecontinued。\"Youonlylackaprettydaughter—in—lawtopasstherestofyourdaysinthis’aureamediocritas，’thewishoftheLatinpoet，surroundedbyfamilyjoys。Yourantecedents，mydearMonsieurPhellion，oughtsurelytowinyousuchrewards，forIamtoldthatyouarenotonlyapatriotbutagoodcitizen。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidPhellion，embarrassed，\"monsieur，Ihaveonlydonemyduty。\"Attheword\"daughter—in—law，\"utteredbyTheodose，MadameBarniol，whoresembledhermotherasmuchasonedropofwaterislikeanother，lookedatMadamePhellionandatFelixasifshewouldsay，\"Werewemistaken？\"
Thedesiretotalkthisincidentovercarriedallfourpersonagesintothegarden，for，inMarch，1840，theweatherwasspring—like，atleastinParis。
\"Commander，\"saidTheodose，assoonashewasalonewithPhellion，whowasalwaysflatteredbythattitle，\"Ihavecometospeaktoyouabouttheelection——\"
\"Yes，true；weareabouttonominateamunicipalcouncillor，\"saidPhellion，interruptinghim。
\"AnditisaproposofthatcandidacythatIhavecometodisturbyourSundayjoys；butperhapsinsodoingweshallnotgobeyondthelimitsofthefamilycircle。\"
ItwouldbeimpossibleforPhelliontobemorePhellionthanTheodosewasPhellionatthatmoment。
\"Ishallnotletyousayanotherword，\"repliedthecommander，profitingbythepausemadebyTheodose，whowatchedfortheeffectofhisspeech。\"Mychoiceismade。\"
\"Wehavehadthesameidea！\"exclaimedTheodose；\"menofthesamecharacteragreeaswellasmenofthesamemind。\"
\"InthiscaseIdonotbelieveinthatphenomenon，\"repliedPhellion。
\"Thisarrondissementhadforitsrepresentativeinthemunicipalcouncilthemostvirtuousofmen，ashewasthenoblestofmagistrates。IalludetothelateMonsieurPopinot，thedeceasedjudgeoftheRoyalcourts。Whenthequestionofreplacinghimcameup，hisnephew，theheirtohisbenevolence，didnotresideinthisquarter。
Hehassince，however，purchased，andnowoccupies，thehousewherehisunclelivedintheruedelaMontagne—Sainte—Genevieve；heisthephysicianoftheEcolePolytechniqueandthatofourhospitals；hedoeshonortothisquarter；forthesereasons，andtopayhomageinthepersonofthenephewtothememoryoftheuncle，wehavedecidedtonominateDoctorHoraceBianchon，memberoftheAcademyofSciences，asyouareaware，andoneofthemostdistinguishedyoungmenintheillustriousfacultyofParis。Amanisnotgreatinoureyessolelybecauseheiscelebrated；tomymindthelateCouncillorPopinotwasalmostanotherSaintVincentdePaul。\"
\"Butadoctorisnotanadministrator，\"repliedTheodose；\"and，besides，Ihavecometoaskyourvoteforamantowhomyourdearestinterestsrequirethatyoushouldsacrificeapredilection，which，afterall，isquiteunimportanttothepublicwelfare。\"
\"Monsieur！\"criedPhellion，risingandstrikinganattitudelikethatofLafonin\"LeGlorieux，\"\"Doyoudespisemesufficientlytosupposethatmypersonalinterestscouldeverinfluencemypoliticalconscience？Whenamatterconcernsthepublicwelfare，Iamacitizen——nothingmore，andnothingless。\"
Theodosesmiledtohimselfatthethoughtofthebattlewhichwasnowtotakeplacebetweenthefatherandthecitizen。
\"Donotbindyourselftoyourpresentideas，Ientreatyou，\"hesaid，\"forthismatterconcernsthehappinessofyourdearFelix。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythosewords？\"askedPhellion，stoppingshortinthemiddleofthesalonandposing，withhishandthrustthroughthebosomofhiswaistcoatfromrighttoleft，inthewell—knownattitudeofOdilonBarrot。
\"Ihavecomeinbehalfofourmutualfriend，theworthyandexcellentMonsieurThuillier，whoseinfluenceonthedestinyofthatbeautifulCelesteCollevillemustbewellknowntoyou。If，asIthink，yourson，whosemeritsareincontestable，andofwhombothfamiliesmaywellbeproud，if，Isay，heiscourtingCelestewithaviewtoamarriageinwhichallexpedienciesmaybecombined，youcannotdomoretopromotethatendthantoobtainThuillier’seternalgratitudebyproposingyourworthyfriendtothesuffragesofyourfellow—citizens。