\"Don’tgiveanyhopewhatevertothatyoungPhellion。NeitheryourfathernorIcanarrangeyourmarriage。Youhaveexpectationstobeconsulted。Itismuchlessimportanttopleaseaprofessorwithoutapennythantomakesureoftheaffectionandgood—willofMademoiselleBrigitteandyourgodfather。Ifyoudon’twanttokillyourmother——
yes，mydear，killher——youmustobeymeinthisaffairblindly；andrememberthatwhatwewanttosecure，aboveall，isyourgood。\"
AsthedateofthefinalsalewassetforthelastofJuly，TheodoseadvisedBrigittebytheendofJunetoarrangeheraffairsintimetobereadyforthepayment。Accordingly，shenowsoldoutherownandhersister—in—law’spropertyintheFunds。Thecatastropheofthetreatyofthefourpowers，aninsulttoFrance，isnowanestablishedhistoricalfact；butitisnecessarytoremindthereaderthatfromJulytothelastofAugusttheFrenchfunds，alarmedbytheprospectofwar，afearwhichMonsieurThiersdidmuchtopromote，felltwentyfrancs，andtheThree—per—centswentdowntosixty。Thatwasnotall：
thisfinancialfiascohadamostunfortunateinfluenceonthevalueofrealestateinParis；andallthosewhohadsuchpropertythenforsalesufferedloss。TheseeventsmadeTheodoseaprophetintheeyesofBrigitteandThuillier，towhomthehousewasnowabouttobedefinitelysoldforseventy—fivethousandfrancs。Thenotary，involvedinthepoliticaldisaster，andwhosepracticewasalreadysold，concealedhimselfforatimeinthecountry；buthetookwithhimthetenthousandfrancsforClaparon。AdvisedbyTheodose，ThuilliermadeacontractwithGrindot，whosupposedhewasreallyworkingforthenotaryinfinishingthehouse；andas，duringthisperiodoffinancialdepression，suspendedworkleftmanyworkmenwiththeirarmsfolded，thearchitectwasabletofinishoffthebuildinginasplendidmanneratalowcost。Theodoseinsistedthattheagreementshouldbeinwriting。
ThispurchaseincreasedThuillier’simportanceten—fold。Asforthenotary，hehadtemporarilylosthisheadinpresenceofpoliticaleventswhichcameuponhimlikeawaterspoutoutofcloudlessskies。
Theodose，certainnowofhissupremacy，holdingThuillierfastbyhispastservicesandbytheliteraryworkinwhichtheywerebothengaged，admiredbyBrigitteforhismodestyanddiscretion，——forneverhadhemadetheslightestallusiontohisownpovertyorutteredonewordaboutmoney，——Theodosebegantoassumeanairthatwasratherlessservilethanithadbeen。BrigitteandThuilliersaidtohimoneday：——
\"Nothingcandepriveyouofouresteem；youarehereinthishouseasifinyourownhome；theopinionofMinardandPhellion，whichyouseemtofear，hasnomorevalueforusthanastanzaofVictorHugo。
Therefore，letthemtalk！Carryyourheadhigh！\"
\"ButweshallstillneedthemforThuillier’selectiontotheChamber，\"saidTheodose。\"Followmyadvice；youhavefounditgoodsofar，haven’tyou？Whenthehouseisactuallyyours，youwillhavegotitforalmostnothing；foryoucannowbuyintotheThree—per—centsatsixtyinMadameThuillier’sname，andthusreplacenearlythewholeofherfortune。Waitonlyfortheexpirationofthetimeallowedtothenominalcreditortobuyitin，andhavethefifteenthousandfrancsreadyforourscoundrels。\"
Brigittedidnotwait；shetookherwholecapitalwiththeexceptionofasumofonehundredandtwentythousandfrancs，andboughtintotheThree—per—centsinMadameThuillier’snametotheamountoftwelvethousandfrancsayear，andinherownfortenthousandayear，resolvinginherownmindtochoosenootherkindofinvestmentinfuture。Shesawherbrothersecureoffortythousandfrancsayearbesideshispension，twelvethousandayearforMadameThuillierandeighteenthousandayearforherself，besidesthehousetheylivedin，therentalofwhichshevaluedateightthousand。
\"WeareworthquiteasmuchastheMinards，\"sheremarked。
\"Don’tchantvictorybeforeyouwinit，\"saidTheodose。\"Therightofredemptiondoesn’texpireforanotherweek。Ihaveattendedtoyouraffairs，butminehavegoneterriblytopieces。\"
\"Mydearchild，youhavefriends，\"criedBrigitte；\"ifyoushouldhappentowantfivehundredfrancsorso，youwillalwaysfindthemhere。\"
TheodoseexchangedasmilewithThuillier，whohastenedtocarryhimoff，saying：——
\"Excusemypoorsister；sheseestheworldthroughasmallhole。Butifyoushouldwanttwenty—fivethousandfrancsI’lllendthemtoyou——
outofmyfirstrents，\"headded。
\"Thuillier，\"exclaimedTheodose，\"theropeisroundmyneck。EversinceIhavebeenabarristerIhavehadnotesofhandrunning。Butsaynothingaboutit，\"addedTheodose，frightenedhimselfathavingletoutthesecretofhissituation。\"I’mintheclawsofscoundrels，butIhopetocrushthemyet。\"
IntellingthissecretTheodose，thoughalarmedashedidso，hadatwo—foldpurpose：first，totestThuillier；andnext，toaverttheconsequencesofafatalblowwhichmightbedealttohimanydayinasecretandsinisterstrugglehehadlongforeseen。Twowordswillexplainhishorribleposition。
CHAPTERXII
DEVILSAGAINSTDEVILS
DuringtheextremepovertyoflaPeyrade’sfirstyearsinParis，nonebutCerizethadevergonetoseehiminthewretchedgarretwhere，inseverelycoldweather，hestayedinbedforwantofclothes。Onlyoneshirtremainedtohim。Forthreedayshelivedononeloafofbread，cuttingitintomeasuredmorsels，andaskinghimself，\"WhatamItodo？\"Atthismomentitwasthathisformerpartnercametohim，havingjustleftprison，pardoned。Theprojectswhichthetwomenthenformedbeforeafireoflaths，onewrappedinhislandlady’scounterpane，theotherinhisinfamy，itisuselesstorelate。ThenextdayCerizet，whohadtalkedwithDutocqinthecourseofthemorning，returned，bringingtrousers，waistcoat，coat，hat，andboots，boughtintheTemple，andhecarriedoffTheodosetodinewithhimselfandDutocq。
ThehungryProvencalateatPinson’s，ruedel’AncienneComedie，halfofadinnercostingforty—sevenfrancs。Atdessert，afterTheodosehaddrunkfreely，Cerizetsaidtohim：——
\"Willyousignmebillsofexchangeforfiftythousandfrancsinyourcapacityasabarrister？\"
\"Youcouldn’tgetfivethousandonthem。\"
\"That’snotyouraffair，butours；Imeanmonsieur’shere，whoisgivingusthisdinner，andmine，inamatterwhereyourisknothing，butinwhichyou’llgetyourtitleasbarrister，afinepractice，andthehandinmarriageofagirlabouttheageofanolddog，andrichbytwentyorthirtythousandfrancsayear。NeitherDutocqnorIcanmarryher；butwe’llequipyou，giveyouthelookofadecentman，feedandlodgeyou，andsetyouupgenerally。Consequently，wewantsecurity。Idon’tsaythatonmyownaccount，forIknowyou，butformonsieurhere，whoseproxyIam。We’llequipyouasapirate，hey！todothewhite—slavetrade！Ifwecan’tcapturethat’dot，’we’lltryotherplans。Betweenourselves，noneofusneedbeparticularwhatwetouch——that’splainenough。We’llgiveyoucarefulinstructions；forthematteriscertaintotaketime，andthere’llprobablybesomebotheraboutit。Here，see，Ihavebroughtstampedpaper。\"
\"Waiter，pensandink！\"criedTheodose。
\"Ha！Ilikefellowsofthatkind！\"exclaimedDutocq。
\"Sign：’TheodosedelaPeyrade，’andafteryournameput’Barrister，rueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer，’underthewords’Acceptedfortenthousand。’We’lldatethenotesandsueyou，——allsecretly，ofcourse，butinordertohaveaholduponyou；theownersofaprivateeroughttohavesecuritywhenthebrigandthecaptainareatsea。\"
Thedayafterthisinterviewthebailiffofthejustice—of—peacedidCerizettheserviceofsuinglaPeyradesecretly。Hewenttoseethebarristerthatevening，andthewholeaffairwasdonewithoutanypublicity。TheCourtofcommercehasahundredsuchcasesinthecourseofoneterm。ThestrictregulationsofthecouncilofbarristersofthebarofParisarewellknown。Thisbody，andalsothecouncilofattorneys，exerciseseveredisciplineovertheirmembers。A
barristerliabletogotoClichywouldbedisbarred。Consequently，Cerizet，underDutocq’sadvice，hadtakenagainsttheirpuppetmeasureswhichwerecertaintosecuretoeachofthemtwenty—fivethousandfrancsoutofCeleste’s\"dot。\"Insigningthenotes，Theodosesawbutonething，——hismeansoflivingsecured；butastimehadgoneon，andthehorizongrewclearer，andhemounted，stepbystep，toabetterpositiononthesocialladder，hebegantodreamofgettingridofhisassociates。Andnow，onobtainingtwenty—fivethousandfrancsfromThuillier，hehopedtotreatonthebasisoffiftypercentforthereturnofhisfatalnotesbyCerizet。
Unfortunately，thissortofinfamousspeculationisnotanexceptionalfact；ittakesplaceinParisundervariousformstoolittledisguisedforthehistorianofmannersandmoralstopassthemoverunnoticedinacompleteandaccuratepictureofsocietyinthenineteenthcentury。
Dutocq，anarrantscoundrel，stillowedfifteenthousandfrancsonhispractice，andlivedinhopesofsomethingturninguptokeephishead，asthesayingis，abovewateruntilthecloseof1840。Uptothepresenttimenoneofthethreeconfederateshadflinchedorgroaned。
Eachfelthisstrengthandknewhisdanger。Equalstheywereindistrust，inwatchfulness；equals，too，inapparentconfidence；andequallystolidinsilenceandlookwhenmutualsuspicionsrosetothesurfaceoffaceorspeech。ForthelasttwomonthsthepositionofTheodosewasacquiringthestrengthofadetachedfort。ButCerizetandDutocqhelditunderminedbyamassofpowder，withthematcheverlighted；butthewindmightextinguishthematchorthedevilmightfloodthemine。
Themomentwhenwildbeastsseizetheirfoodisalwaysthemostcritical，andthatmomenthadnowarrivedforthesethreehungrytigers。CerizetwouldsometimessaytoTheodose，withthatrevolutionaryglancewhichtwiceinthiscenturysovereignshavehadtomeet：——
\"Ihavemadeyouking，andhereamIstillnothing！foritisnothingnottobeall。\"
AreactionofenvywasrushingitsavalanchethroughCerizet。Dutocqwasatthemercyofhiscopyingclerk。Theodosewouldgladlyhaveburnedhiscopartnerscouldhehaveburnedtheirpapersinthesameconflagration。Allthreestudiedeachothertoocarefully，inordertoconcealtheirownthoughts，nottobeinturndivined。Theodoselivedalifeofthreehellsashethoughtofwhatlaybelowthecards，thenofhisowngame，andthenofhisfuture。HisspeechtoThuillierwasacryofdespair；hethrewhisleadintothewatersoftheoldbourgeoisandfoundtherenothingmorethantwenty—fivethousandfrancs。
\"And，\"hesaidtohimselfashewenttohisownroom，\"possiblynothingatallamonthhence。\"
HenewfeltthedeepesthatredtotheThuilliers。ButThuillierhimselfheheldbyaharpoonstuckintothedepthsoftheman’svanity；namely，bytheprojectedwork，entitled\"TaxationandtheSinkingFund，\"forwhichheintendedtorearrangetheideasoftheSaint—Simonian\"Globe，\"givingthemasystematicform，andcoloringthemwithhisfervidSoutherndiction。Thuillier’sbureaucraticknowledgeofthesubjectwouldbeofusetohimhere。Theodosethereforeclungtothisrope，resolvingtodobattle，onsopoorabaseofoperations，withthevanityofafool，which，accordingtoindividualcharacter，iseithergraniteorsand。Onreflection，Theodosewasinclinedtobecontentwiththeprospect。
Ontheeveningbeforetherightofredemptionexpired，ClaparonandCerizetproceededtomanipulatethenotaryinthefollowingmanner。
Cerizet，towhomClaparonhadrevealedthepasswordandthenotary’sretreat，wentouttothishiding—placetosaytothelatter：——
\"Oneofmyfriends，Claparon，whomyouknow，hasaskedmetocomeandseeyou；hewillexpectyouto—morrow，intheevening，youknowwhere。
Hehasthepaperyouexpectfromhim，whichhewillexchangewithyouforthetenthousandagreedupon；butImustbepresent，forfivethousandofthatsumbelongtome；andIwarnyou，mydearmonsieur，thatthenameinthecounter—deedisinblank。\"
\"Ishallbethere，\"repliedtheex—notary。
Thepoordevilwaitedthewholenightinagoniesofmindthatcanwellbeimagined，forsafetyorinevitableruinwereinthebalance。Atsunrisehesawapproachinghim，insteadofClaparon，abailiffoftheCourtofcommerce，whoproducedajudgmentagainsthiminregularform，andinformedhimthathemustgowithhimtoClichy。
Cerizethadmadeanarrangementwithoneofthecreditorsofthelucklessnotary，pledginghimselftodeliverupthedebtoronpaymenttohimselfofhalfthedebt。OutofthetenthousandfrancspromisedtoClaparon，thevictimofthistrapwasobliged，inordertoobtainhisliberty，topaysixthousanddown，theamountofhisdebt。
OnreceivinghisshareofthisextortionCerizetsaidtohimself：
\"There’sthreethousandtomakeCerizetclearout。\"
Cerizetthenreturnedtothenotaryandsaid：\"Claparonisascoundrel，monsieur；hehasreceivedfifteenthousandfrancsfromtheproposedpurchaserofyourhouse，whowillnow，ofcourse，becometheowner。Threatentorevealhishiding—placetohiscreditors，andtohavehimsuedforfraudulentbankruptcy，andhe’llgiveyouhalf。\"
InhiswraththenotarywroteafulminatinglettertoClaparon。
Claparon，alarmed，fearedanarrest，andCerizetofferedtogethimapassport。
\"Youhaveplayedmemanyatrick，Claparon，\"hesaid，\"butlistentomenow，andyoucanjudgeofmykindness。Ipossess，asmywholemeans，threethousandfrancs；I’llgivethemtoyou；startforAmerica，andmakeyourfortunethere，asI’mtryingtomakeminehere。\"
ThateveningClaparon，carefullydisguisedbyCerizet，leftforHavrebythediligence。CerizetremainedmasterofthefifteenthousandfrancstobepaidtoClaparon，andheawaitedTheodosewiththepaymentthereoftranquilly。
\"Thelimitforbidding—inispassed，\"thoughtTheodose，ashewenttofindDutocqandaskhimtobringCerizettohisoffice。\"SupposeI
werenowtomakeanefforttogetridofmyleech？\"
\"Youcan’tsettlethisaffairanywherebutatCerizet’s，becauseClaparonmustbepresent，andheishidingthere，\"saidDutocq。
Accordingly，Theodosewent，betweensevenandeighto’clock，tothedenofthe\"bankerofthepoor，\"whomDutocqhadnotifiedofhiscoming。Cerizetreceivedhiminthehorriblekitchenwheremiseriesandsorrowswerechoppedandcooked，aswehaveseenalready。Thepairthenwalkedupanddown，preciselyliketwoanimalsinacage，whilemutuallyplayingthefollowingscene：——
\"Haveyoubroughtthefifteenthousandfrancs？\"
\"No，butIhavethemathome。\"
\"Whynothavetheminyourpocket？\"askedCerizet，sharply。
\"I’lltellyou，\"repliedTheodose，who，ashewalkedfromtherueSaint—DominiquetotheEstrapade，haddecidedonhiscourseofaction。
TheProvencal，writhinguponthegridirononwhichhispartnersheldhim，becamesuddenlypossessedwithagoodidea，whichflashedfromthebodyofthelivecoalunderhim。Perilhasgleamsoflight。Heresolvedtorelyonthepoweroffrankness，whichaffectsallmen，evenswindlers。Everyoneisgratefultoanadversarywhobareshimselftothewaistinaduel。
\"Well！\"saidCerizet，\"nowthehumbugbegins。\"
Thewordsseemedtocomewhollythroughtheholeinhisnosewithhorribleintonations。
\"Youhaveputmeinamagnificentposition，andIshallneverforgettheserviceyouhavedoneme，myfriend，\"beganTheodose，withemotion。
\"Oh，that’showyoutakeit，isit？\"saidCerizet。
\"Listentome；youdon’tunderstandmyintentions。\"
\"Yes，Ido！\"repliedthelenderby\"thelittleweek。\"
\"No，youdon’t。\"
\"Youintendnottogiveupthosefifteenthousandfrancs。\"
TheodoseshruggedhisshouldersandlookedfixedlyatCerizet，who，struckbythetwomotions，keptsilence。
\"Wouldyouliveinmyposition，knowingyourselfwithinrangeofacannonloadedwithgrape—shot，withoutfeelingastrongdesiretogetoutofit？Nowlistentomecarefully。Youaredoingadangerousbusiness，andyouwouldbegladenoughtohavesomesolidprotectionintheveryheartofthemagistracyofParis。IfIcancontinuemypresentcourse，Ishallbesubstituteattorney—general，possiblyattorney—general，inthreeyears。Iofferyouto—daytheofficesofadevotedfriendship，whichwillserveyouhereaftermostassuredly，ifonlytoreplaceyouinahonorableposition。Herearemyconditions——\"
\"Conditions！\"exclaimedCerizet。
\"IntenminutesIwillbringyoutwenty—fivethousandfrancsifyoureturntomeallthenoteswhichyouhaveagainstme。\"
\"ButDutocq？andClaparon？\"saidCerizet。
\"Leavetheminthelurch！\"repliedTheodose，withhislipsatCerizet’sear。
\"That’saprettythingtosay！\"criedCerizet。\"Andsoyouhaveinventedthislittlegameofhocus—pocusbecauseyouholdinyourfingersfifteenthousandfrancsthatdon’tbelongtoyou！\"
\"ButI’veaddedtenthousandfrancstothem。Besides，youandIknoweachother。\"
\"Ifyouareabletogettenthousandfrancsoutofyourbourgeoisyoucansurelygetfifteen，\"saidCerizet。\"ForthirtythousandI’myourman。Franknessforfrankness，youknow。\"
\"Youasktheimpossible，\"repliedTheodose。\"Atthisverymoment，ifyouhadtodowithClaparoninsteadofwithme，yourfifteenthousandwouldbelost，forThuillieristo—daytheownerofthathouse。\"
\"I’llspeaktoClaparon，\"saidCerizet，pretendingtogoandconsulthim，andmountingthestairstothebedroom，fromwhichClaparonhadonlyjustdepartedonhisroadtoHavre。
Thetwoadversarieshadbeenspeaking，weshouldhereremark，inamannernottobeoverheard；andeverytimethatTheodoseraisedhisvoiceCerizetwouldmakeagesture，intimatingthatClaparon，fromabove，mightbelistening。ThefiveminutesduringwhichTheodoseheardwhatseemedtobethemurmuringoftwovoicesweretorturetohim，forhehadstakedhisverylifeupontheissue。Cerizetatlastcamedown，withasmileuponhislips，hiseyessparklingwithinfernalmischief，hiswholeframequiveringinhisjoy，aLuciferofgaiety！
\"Iknownothing，soitseems！\"hecried，shakinghisshoulders，\"butClaparonknowsagreatdeal；hehasworkedwiththebig—wigbankers，andwhenItoldwhatyouwantedhebegantolaugh，andsaid，’I
thoughtasmuch！’Youwillhavetobringmethetwenty—fivethousandyouoffermeto—morrowmorning，mylad；andasmuchmorebeforeyoucanrecoveryournotes。\"
\"Why？\"askedTheodose，feelinghisspinalcolumnliquidizingasifthedischargeofsomeinwardelectricfluidhadmeltedit。
\"Thehouseisours。\"
\"How？\"
\"Claparonhasbititinunderthenameofoneofhiscreditors，alittletoadnamedSauvaignou。Desroches，thelawyer，hastakenthecase，andyou’llgetanoticeto—morrow。ThisaffairwillobligeClaparon，Dutocq，andmetoraisefunds。WhatwouldbecomeofmewithoutClaparon！SoIforgivehim——yes，Iforgavehim，andthoughyoumaynotbelieveit，mydearfriend，Iactuallykissedhim！Changeyourterms。\"
Thelastthreewordswerehorribletohear，especiallywhenillustratedbythefaceofthespeaker，whoamusedhimselfbyplayingascenefromthe\"Legataire，\"allthewhilestudyingattentivelytheProvencal’scharacter。
\"Oh，Cerizet！\"criedTheodose；\"I，whowishedtodoyousomuchgood！\"
\"Don’tyousee，mydearfellow，\"returnedCerizet，\"thatbetweenyouandmethereoughttobeTHIS，——\"andhestruckhisheart，——\"ofwhichyouhavenone。Assoonasyouthoughtyouhadaleveronus，youhavetriedtoknockusover。Isavedyoufromthehorrorsofstarvationandvermin！You’lldieliketheidiotyouare。Weputyouonthehigh—roadtofortune；wegaveyouafinesocialskinandapositioninwhichyoucouldgraspthefuture——andlookwhatyoudo！NOWIknowyou！andfromthistimeforth，weshallgoarmed。\"
\"Thenitiswarbetweenus！\"exclaimedTheodose。
\"Youfiredfirst，\"returnedCerizet。
\"Ifyoupullmedown，farewelltoyourhopesandplans；ifyoudon’tpullmedown，youhaveinmeanenemy。\"
\"That’sjustwhatIsaidyesterdaytoDutocq；but，howcanwehelpit？
Weareforcedtochoosebetweentwoalternatives——wemustgoaccordingtocircumstances。I’magood—naturedfellowmyself，\"headded，afterapause；\"bringmeyourtwenty—fivethousandfrancsto—morrowmorningandThuilliershallkeepthehouse。We’llcontinuetohelpyouatbothends，butyou’llhavetopayup，myboy。Afterwhathasjusthappenedthat’sprettykind，isn’tit？\"
AndCerizetpattedTheodoseontheshoulder，withacynicismthatseemedtobrandhimmorethantheironofthegalleys。
\"Well，givemetillto—morrowatmid—day，\"repliedtheProvencal，\"forthere’llbe，asyousaid，somemanipulationtodo。\"
\"I’lltrytokeepClaparonquiet；he’sinsuchahurry，thatman！\"
\"To—morrowthen，\"saidTheodose，inthetoneofamanwhodecideshiscourse。
\"Good—night，friend，\"saidCerizet，inhisnasaltone，whichdegradedthefinestwordinthelanguage。\"There’sonewhohasgotamouthfultosuck！\"thoughtCerizet，ashewatchedTheodosegoingdownthestreetwiththestepofadazedman。
WhenlaPeyradereachedtheruedesPosteshewentwithrapidstridestoMadameColleville’shouse，excitinghimselfashewalkedalong，andtalkingaloud。ThefireofhisrousedpassionsandthesortofinwardconflagrationofwhichmanyParisiansareconscious（forsuchsituationsaboundinParis）broughthimfinallytoapitchoffrenzyandeloquencewhichfoundexpression，asheturnedintotheruedesDeux—Eglises，inthewords：——
\"Iwillkillhim！\"
\"There’safellowwhoisnotcontent！\"saidapassingworkman，andthejestingwordscalmedtheincandescentmadnesstowhichTheodosewasaprey。
AsheleftCerizet’stheideacametohimtogotoFlavieandtellherall。Southernnaturesarebornthus——stronguntilcertainpassionsarise，andthencollapsed。HeenteredFlavie’sroom；shewasalone，andwhenshesawTheodoseshefanciedherlasthourhadcome。
\"Whatisthematter？\"shecried。
\"I——I——\"hesaid。\"Doyouloveme，Flavie？\"
\"Oh！howcanyoudoubtit？\"
\"Doyoulovemeabsolutely？——ifIwerecriminal，even？\"
\"Hashemurderedsomeone？\"shethought，replyingtohisquestionbyanod。
Theodose，thankfultoseizeeventhisbranchofwillow，drewachairbesideFlavie’ssofa，andtheregavewaytosobsthatmighthavetouchedtheoldestjudge，whiletorrentsoftearsbegantoflowfromhiseyes。
Flavieroseandlefttheroomtosaytohermaid：\"Iamnotathometoanyone。\"ThensheclosedalldoorsandreturnedtoTheodose，movedtotheutmostpitchofmaternalsolicitude。Shefoundhimstretchedout，hisheadthrownback，andweeping。Hehadtakenouthishandkerchief，andwhenFlavietriedtomoveitfromhisfaceitwasheavywithtears。
\"Butwhatisthematter？\"sheasked；\"whatailsyou？\"
Nature，moreimpressivethanart，servedTheodosewell；nolongerwasheplayingapart；hewashimself；thisnervouscrisisandthesetearswerethewindingupofhisprecedingscenesofactedcomedy。
\"Youareachild，\"shesaid，inagentlevoice，strokinghishairsoftly。
\"Ihavebutyou，youonly，inalltheworld！\"hereplied，kissingherhandswithasortofpassion；\"andifyouaretruetome，ifyouaremine，asthebodybelongstothesoulandthesoultothebody，then——\"headded，recoveringhimselfwithinfinitegrace，\"THENIcanhavecourage。\"
Herose，andwalkedabouttheroom。
\"Yes，Iwillstruggle；Iwillrecovermystrength，likeAntaeus，fromafall；Iwillstranglewithmyownhandstheserpentsthatentwineme，thatkisswithserpentkisses，thatslavermycheeks，thatsuckmyblood，myhonor！Oh，misery！oh，poverty！Oh，howgreataretheywhocanstanderectandcarryhightheirheads！Ihadbetterhaveletmyselfdieofhunger，there，onmywretchedpallet，threeandahalfyearsago！AcoffinisasofterbedtolieinthanthelifeIlead！ItiseighteenmonthsthatIhaveFEDONBOURGEOIS！andnow，atthemomentofattaininganhonest，fortunatelife，amagnificentfuture，atthemomentwhenIwasabouttositdowntothesocialbanquet，theexecutionerstrikesmeontheshoulder！Yes，themonster！hestruckmethere，onmyshoulder，andsaidtome：’Paythyduestothedevil，ordie！’AndshallInotcrushthem？ShallInotforcemyarmdowntheirthroatstotheirveryentrails？Yes，yes，Iwill，Iwill！See，Flavie，myeyesaredrynow。Ha，ha！nowIlaugh；Ifeelmystrengthcomebacktome；powerismine！Oh！saythatyouloveme；sayitagain！Atthismomentitsoundsliketheword’Pardon’tothemancondemnedtodeath！\"
\"Youareterrible，myfriend！\"criedFlavie。\"Oh！youarekillingme。\"
Sheunderstoodnothingofallthis，butshefelluponthesofa，exhaustedbythespectacle。Theodoseflunghimselfatherfeet。
\"Forgiveme！forgiveme！\"hesaid。
\"Butwhatisthematter？whatisit？\"sheaskedagain。
\"Theyaretryingtodestroyme。Oh！promisetogivemeCeleste，andyoushallseewhatagloriouslifeIwillmakeyoushare。Ifyouhesitate——verygood；thatissayingyouwillbewhollymine，andI
willhaveyou！\"