\"Paid！bywhom？\"
\"Bythegentlemanwhojustwentout。\"
\"Butthisisoutrageous，\"criedCerizet。\"Iorderedthedinner，andyouallowsomeoneelsetopayforit！\"
\"Itwasn’tI，monsieur，\"saidthewaiter；\"thegentlemanwentandpaidthe’dameducomptoir’；shemusthavethoughtitwasarrangedbetweenyou。Besides，itisnotsouncommonforgentlementohavefriendlydisputesaboutpaying。\"
\"That’senough，\"saidCerizet，dismissingthewaiter。
\"Won’tthesegentlementaketheircoffee？——itispaidfor，\"saidthemanbeforehelefttheroom。
\"Agoodreasonfornottakingit，\"repliedCerizet，angrily。\"Itisreallyinconceivablethatinahouseofthiskindsuchanegregiousblundershouldbecommitted。Whatdoyouthinkofsuchinsolence？\"headded，whenthewaiterhadlefttheroom。
\"Bah！\"exclaimedDutocq，takinghishat，\"itisaschoolboyproceeding；hewantedtoshowhehadmoney；itiseasytoseeheneverhadanybefore。\"
\"No，no！that’snotit，\"saidCerizet；\"hemeanttomarktherupture。
’Iwillnotoweyouevenadinner，’iswhathesaystome。\"
\"But，afterall，\"saidDutocq，\"thisbanquetwasgiventocelebrateyourenthronementasprincipaltenantofthegrandhouse。Well，hehasfailedtogetyouthelease，andIcanunderstandthathisconsciencewasuneasyatlettingyoupayforadinnerwhich，likethosenotesofmine，werean’obligationwithoutcause。’\"
Cerizetmadenoreplytothismaliciousobservation。Theyhadreachedthecounterwherereignedthedamewhohadpermittedtheimproperpayment，and，forthesakeofhisdignity，theusurerthoughtitpropertomakeafuss。Afterwhichthetwomendeparted，andthecopying—clerktookhisemployertoalowcoffee—houseinthePassageduSaumon。ThereCerizetrecoveredhisgood—humor；hewaslikeafishoutofwatersuddenlyreturnedtohisnativeelement；forhehadreachedthatstateofdegradationwhenhefeltillateaseinplacesfrequentedbygoodsociety；anditwaswithasortofsensuouspleasurethathefelthimselfbackinthevulgarplacewheretheywerenoisilyplayingpoolforthebenefitofa\"formerconqueroroftheBastille。\"
InthisestablishmentCerizetenjoyedthefameofbeingaskilfulbilliard—player，andhewasnowentreatedtotakepartinagamealreadybegun。Intechnicallanguage，he\"boughthisball\"；thatis，oneoftheplayerssoldhimhisturnandhischances。Dutocqprofitedbythisarrangementtoslipaway，onpretenceofinquiringforasickfriend。
Presently，inhisshirt—sleeves，withapipebetweenhislips，Cerizetmadeoneofthosemasterlystrokeswhichbringdownthehousewithfranticapplause。Ashewaitedamoment，lookingabouthimtriumphantly，hiseyelightedonaterriblekill—joy。Standingamongthespectatorswithhischinonhiscane，duPortailwassteadilywatchinghim。
AtingeofredshoweditselfinCerizet’scheeks。Hehesitatedtobowortorecognizetheoldgentleman，amostunlikelypersontomeetinsuchaplace。Notknowinghowtotaketheunpleasantencounter，hewentonplaying；buthishandbetrayedhisuneasiness，andpresentlyanunluckystrokethrewhimoutofthegame。Whilehewasputtingonhiscoatinatolerablyill—humor，duPortailpassed，almostbrushinghim，onhiswaytothedoor。
\"RueMontmartre，atthefartherendofthePassage，\"saidtheoldman，inalowtone。
Whentheymet，Cerizethadthebadtastetotrytoexplainthedisreputablepositioninwhichhehadjustbeendetected。
\"But，\"saidduPortail，\"inordertoseeyouthere，Ihadtobetheremyself。\"
\"True，\"returnedCerizet。\"IwasrathersurprisedtoseeaquietinhabitantoftheSaint—Sulpicequarterinsuchaplace。\"
\"Itmerelyprovestoyou，\"saidthelittleoldman，inatonewhichcutshortallexplanation，andallcuriosity，\"thatIaminthehabitofgoingprettynearlyeverywhere，andthatmystarleadsmeintothepathofthosepersonswhomIwishtomeet。Iwasthinkingofyouattheverymomentyoucamein。Well，whathaveyoudone？\"
\"Nothinggood，\"repliedCerizet。\"Afterplayingmeadevilishtrickwhichdeprivedmeofamagnificentbitofbusiness，ourmanrejectedyouroverturewithscorn。ThereisnohopewhateverinthatclaimofDutocq’s；forlaPeyradeischock—fullofmoney；hewantedtopaythenotesjustnow，andto—morrowmorninghewillcertainlydoso。\"
\"DoesheregardhismarriagetothisDemoiselleCollevilleasasettledthing？\"
\"Henotonlyconsidersitsettled，butheistryingnowtomakepeoplebelieveitisalove—match。Herattledoffaperfecttiradetoconvincemethatheisreallyinlove。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidduPortail，wishing，perhaps，toshowthathecould，onoccasion，usetheslangofalowbilliard—room，\"’stopthecharge’\"
（meaning：Donothingmore）；\"Iwillundertaketobringmonsieurtoreason。Butcomeandseemeto—morrow，andtellmeallaboutthefamilyheintendstoenter。Youhavefailedinthisaffair；butdon’tmindthat；Ishallhaveothersforyou。\"
Sosaying，hesignedtothedriverofanemptycitadine，whichwaspassing，gotintoit，and，withanodtoCerizet，toldthemantodrivetotherueHonore—Chevalier。
AsCerizetwalkeddowntherueMontmartretoregaintheEstrapadequarter，hepuzzledhisbrainstodivinewhothatlittleoldmanwiththecurtspeech，theimperiousmanner，andatonethatseemedtocastuponallthosewithwhomhespokeaboarding—grapnel，couldbe；aman，too，whocamefromsuchadistancetospendhiseveninginaplacewhere，judgingbyhisclothesalone，hehadnobusinesstobe。
CerizethadreachedtheMarketwithoutfindinganysolutiontothatproblem，whenhewasroughlyshakenoutofitbyaheavyblowintheback。Turninghastily，hefoundhimselfinpresenceofMadameCardinal，anencounterwithwhom，ataspotwhereshecameeverymorningtogetfishtopeddle，wascertainlynotsurprising。
SincethateveninginToupillier’sgarret，theworthywoman，inspiteoftheclemencysopromptlyshowntoher，hadjudgeditimprudenttomakeotherthanveryshortapparitionsinherowndomicile，andforthelasttwodaysshehadbeendrowningamongtheliquor—dealers（called\"retailersofcomfort\"）thepangsofherdefeat。Withflamingfaceandthickenedvoiceshenowaddressedherlateaccomplice：——
\"Well，papa，\"shesaid，\"whathappenedafterIleftyouwiththatlittleoldfellow？\"
\"Imadehimunderstandinaveryfewwords，\"repliedthebankerofthepoor，\"thatitwasallamistakeastome。Inthisaffair，mydearMadameCardinal，youbehavedwithareallyunpardonableheedlessness。
Howcameyoutoaskmyassistanceinobtainingyourinheritancefromyouruncle，whenwithproperinquiryyoumighthaveknowntherewasanaturaldaughter，inwhosefavorhehadlongdeclaredheshouldmakeawill？Thatlittleoldman，whointerruptedyouinyourfoolishattempttoanticipateyourlegacy，wasnootherthantheguardianofthedaughtertowhomeverythingisleft。\"
\"Ha！guardian，indeed！afinething，guardian！\"criedtheCardinal。
\"Totalkofawomanofmyage，justbecauseIwantedtoseeifmyuncleownedanythingatall，totalktoMEofthepolice！It’shateful！it’sDISGUSTING！\"
\"Come，come！\"saidCerizet，\"youneedn’tcomplain；yougotoffcheaply。\"
\"Well，andyou，whobrokethelocksandsaidyouweregoingtotakethediamonds，undercolorofmarryingmydaughter！Justasifshewouldhaveyou，——alegitimatedaughterlikeher！’Never，mother，’saidshe；’neverwillIgivemyhearttoamanwithsuchanose。’\"
\"Soyou’vefoundher，haveyou？\"saidCerizet。
\"Notuntillastnight。Shehasleftherblackguardofaplayer，andsheisnow，Iflattermyself，inafineposition，eatingmoney；hashercitadinebythemonth，andismuchrespectedbyabarristerwhowouldmarryheratonce，buthehasgottowaittillhisparentsdie，forthefatherhappenstobemayor，andthegovernmentwouldn’tlikeit。\"
\"Whatmayor？\"
\"11tharrondissement，——Minard，powerfullyrich，usedtodoabusinessincocoa。\"
\"Ah！verygood！verygood！Iknowallabouthim。YousayOlympeislivingwithhisson？\"
\"Well，nottosaylivingtogether，forthatwouldmaketalk，thoughheonlyseesherwithgoodmotives。Helivesathomewithhisfather，buthehasboughttheirfurniture，andhasputit，andmydaughter，too，intoalodgingintheChauseed’Antin；stylishquarter，isn’tit？\"
\"Itseemstomeprettywellarranged，\"saidCerizet；\"andasHeaven，itappears，didn’tdestineusforeachother——\"
\"No，yes，well，that’showitwas；andIthinkthatgirlisgoingtogivemegreatsatisfaction；andthere’ssomethingIwanttoconsultyouabout。\"
\"What？\"demandedCerizet。
\"Well，mydaughterbeinginluck，Idon’tthinkIoughttocontinuetocryfishinthestreets；andnowthatmyunclehasdisinheritedme，I
have，itseemstome，arighttoan’elementaryallowance。’\"
\"Youaredreaming，mypoorwoman；yourdaughterisaminor；itisyouwhooughttobefeedingher；thelawdoesn’trequirehertogiveyoualiment。\"
\"Thendoyoumean，\"saidMadameCardinal，\"thatthosewhohavenothingaretogivetothosewhohavemuch？Afinethingsuchalawasthat！
It’sasbadasguardianswho，fornothingatall，talkaboutcallingthepolice。Yes！I’dliketosee’emcallingthepolicetome！Let’emguillotineme！Itwon’tpreventmysayingthattherichareswindlers；
yes，swindlers！andthepeopleoughttomakeanotherrevolutiontogettheirrights；andTHEN，mylad，you，andmydaughter，andbarristerMinard，andthatlittleoldguardian，you’llallcomedownunderit——\"
Perceivingthathisex—mother—in—lawwasreachingstageofexaltationthatwasnotunalarming，Cerizethastenedtogetaway，herepithetspursuinghimformorethanahundredfeet；buthecomfortedhimselfbythinkingthathewouldmakeherpayforthemthenexttimeshecametohisbacktoaskfora\"convenience。\"
CHAPTERXVIII
SETASAINTTOCATCHASAINT
Asheapproachedhisownabode，Cerizet，whowasnothingsolittleascourageous，feltanemotionoffear。Heperceivedaformambushednearthedoor，which，ashecamenearer，detacheditselfasiftomeethim。
Happily，itwasonlyDutocq。Hecameforhisnotes。Cerizetreturnedtheminsomeill—humor，complainingofthedistrustimpliedinavisitatsuchanhour。Dutocqpaidnoattentiontothissensitiveness，andthenextmorning，veryearly，hepresentedhimselfatlaPeyrade’s。
LaPeyradepaid，ashehadpromised，onthenail，andtoafewsentinelremarksutteredbyDutocqassoonasthemoneywasinhispocket，heansweredwithmarkedcoldness。Hiswholeexternalappearanceandbehaviorwasthatofaslavewhohasbursthischainandhaspromisedhimselfnottomakeagospeluseofhisliberty。
Asheconductedhisvisitortothedoor，thelattercamefacetofacewithawomaninservant’sdress，whowasjustabouttoringthebell。
Thiswomanwas，apparently，knowntoDutocq，forhesaidtoher：——
\"Haha！littlewoman；sowefeelthenecessityofconsultingabarrister？Youareright；atthefamilycouncilveryseriousmatterswerebroughtupagainstyou。\"
\"ThankGod，Ifearnoone。Icanwalkwithmyheadup，\"saidthepersonthusaddressed。
\"Somuchthebetterforyou，\"repliedtheclerkofthejustice—of—
peace；\"butyouwillprobablybesummonedbeforethejudgewhoexaminestheaffair。Atanyrate，youareingoodhandshere；andmyfriendlaPeyradewilladviseyouforthebest。\"
\"Monsieurismistaken，\"saidthewoman；\"itisnotforwhathethinksthatIhavecometoconsultalawyer。\"
\"Well，becarefulwhatyousayanddo，mydearwoman，forIwarnyouyouaregoingtobefinelypickedtopieces。Therelationsarefuriousagainstyou，andyoucan’tgettheideaoutoftheirheadsthatyouhavegotagreatdealofmoney。\"
Whilespeakingthus，DutocqkepthiseyeonTheodose，whoborethelookuneasily，andrequestedhisclienttoenter。
HerefollowsascenewhichhadtakenplacethepreviousafternoonbetweenthiswomanandlaPeyrade。
LaPeyrade，wemayremember，wasinthehabitofgoingtoearlymassathisparishchurch。Forsomelittletimehehadfelthimselftheobjectofasingularattentionwhichhecouldnotexplainonthepartofthewomanwhomwehavejustseenenteringhisoffice，whodailyattendedthechurchat，asDorinesays，his\"specialhour。\"Coulditbeforlove？Thatexplanationwasscarcelycompatiblewiththematurityandthesaintly，beatificairofthisperson，who，beneathaplaincap，called\"alaJanseniste，\"bywhichferventfemalesoulsofthatsectwererecognized，affected，likeanun，tohideherhair。Ontheotherhand，therestofherclothingwasofaneatnessthatwasalmostdainty，andthegoldcrossatherthroat，suspendedbyablackvelvetribbon，excludedtheideaofhumbleandhesitatingmendicity。
ThemorningofthedayonwhichthedinnerattheRocherdeCancalewastotakeplace，laPeyrade，wearyofaperformancewhichhadendedbypreoccupyinghismind，wentuptothewomanandaskedherpointblankifshehadanyrequesttomakeofhim。
\"Monsieur，\"sheanswered，inatoneofsolemnity，\"is，Ithink，thecelebratedMonsieurdelaPeyrade，theadvocateofthepoor？\"
\"IamlaPeyrade；andIhavehad，itistrue，anopportunitytorenderservicestotheindigentpersonsofthisquarter。\"
\"Wouldit，then，beaskingtoomuchofmonsieur’sgoodnessthatheshouldsuffermetoconsulthim？\"
\"Thisplace，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"isnotwellchosenforsuchconsultation。Whatyouhavetosaytomeseemsimportant，tojudgebythelengthoftimeyouhavebeenhesitatingtospeaktome。Ilivenearhere，rueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer，andifyouwilltakethetroubletocometomyoffice——\"
\"Itwillnotannoymonsieur？\"
\"Notintheleast；mybusinessistohearclients。\"
\"Atwhathour——lestIdisturbmonsieur——？\"
\"Whenyouchoose；Ishallbeathomeallthemorning。\"
\"ThenIwillhearanothermass，atwhichIcantakethecommunion。I
didnotdaretodosoatthismass，forthethoughtofspeakingtomonsieursodistractedmymind。Iwillbeatmonsieur’shousebyeighto’clock，whenIhaveendedmymeditation，ifthathourdoesnotinconveniencehim。\"
\"No；butthereisnonecessityforallthisceremony，\"repliedlaPeyrade，withsomeimpatience。
Perhapsalittleprofessionaljealousyinspiredhisill—humor，foritwasevidentthathehadtodowithanantagonistwhowascapableofgivinghimpoints。
Atthehourappointed，notaminutebeforenoraminuteafter，thepiouswomanrangthebell，andthebarristerhaving，notwithoutsomedifficulty，inducedhertositdown，herequestedhertostatehercase。Shewasthenseizedwiththatdelayinglittlecoughwithwhichweobtainarespitewhenbroughtfacetofacewithadifficultsubject。Atlast，however，shecompelledherselftoapproachtheobjectofhervisit。
\"Itistoaskmonsieur，\"shesaid，\"ifhewouldbesoverygoodastoinformmewhetheritistruethatacharitablegentleman，nowdeceased，hasbequeathedafundtorewarddomesticservantswhoarefaithfultotheirmasters。\"
\"Yes，\"repliedlaPeyrade；\"thatistosay，MonsieurdeMontyonfounded’prizesforvirtue，’whicharefrequentlygiventozealousandexemplarydomesticservants。Butordinarygoodconductisnotsufficient；theremustbesomeactoractsofgreatdevotion，andtrulyChristianself—abnegation。\"
\"Religionenjoinshumilityuponus，\"repliedthepiouswoman，\"andthereforeIdarenotpraisemyself；butinasmuchasforthelasttwentyyearsIhavelivedintheserviceofanoldmanofthedullestdescription，asavant，whohaswastedhissubstanceoninventions，sothatImyselfhavehadtofeedandclothehim，personshavethoughtthatIamnotaltogetherundeservingofthatprize。\"
\"ItiscertainlyundersuchconditionsthattheAcademyselectsitscandidates，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Whatisyourmaster’sname？\"
\"PerePicot；heisnevercalledotherwiseinourquarter；sometimeshegoesoutintothestreetsasifdressedforthecarnival，andallthelittlechildrencrowdabouthim，callingout：’Howd’yedo，PerePicot！Good—morning，PerePicot！’Butthat’showitis；hetakesnocareofhisdignity；hegoesaboutfullofhisownideas；andthoughI
killmyselftryingtogivehimappetizingfood，ifyouaskhimwhathehashadforhisdinnerhecan’ttellyou。Yethe’samanfullofability，andhehastaughtgoodpupils。PerhapsmonsieurknowsyoungPhellion，aprofessorintheCollegeofSaint—Louis；hewasoneofhisscholars，andhecomestoseehimveryoften。\"
\"Then，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"yourmasterisamathematician？\"
\"Yes，monsieur；mathematicshavebeenhisbane；theyhaveflunghimintoasetofideaswhichdon’tseemtohaveanycommon—senseinthemeversincehehasbeenemployedattheObservatory，nearhere。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"youmustbringtestimonyprovingyourlongdevotiontothisoldman，andIwillthendrawupamemorialtotheAcademyandtakethenecessarystepstopresentit。\"
\"Howgoodmonsieuris！\"saidthepiouswoman，claspingherhands；\"andifhewouldalsoletmetellhimofalittledifficulty——\"
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Theytellme，monsieur，thattogetthisprizepersonsmustbereallyverypoor。\"
\"Notexactly；still，theAcademydoesendeavortochoosewhosewhoareinstraitenedcircumstances，andwhohavemadesacrificestooheavyfortheirmeans。\"
\"Sacrifices！IthinkImayindeedsayIhavemadesacrifices，forthelittlepropertyIinheritedfrommyparentshasallbeenspentinkeepingtheoldman，andforfifteenyearsIhavehadnowages，which，atthreehundredfrancsayearandcompoundinterest，amountnowtoaprettylittlesum；asmonsieur，Iamsure，willagree。\"
Atthewords\"compoundinterest，\"whichevidencedacertainamountoffinancialculture，laPeyradelookedatthisAntigonewithincreasedattention。
\"Inshort，\"hesaid，\"yourdifficultyis——\"
\"Monsieurwillnotthinkitstrange，\"repliedthesaintlyperson，\"thataveryrichuncledyinginEngland，whohadneverdoneanythingforhisfamilyinhislifetime，shouldhaveleftmetwenty—fivethousandfrancs。\"
\"Certainly，\"saidthebarrister，\"there’snothinginthatbutwhatisperfectlynaturalandproper。\"
\"But，monsieur，Ihavebeentoldthatthepossessionofthismoneywillpreventthejudgesfromconsideringmyclaimstotheprize。\"
\"Possibly；becauseseeingyouinpossessionofalittlecompetence，thesacrificeswhichyouapparentlyintendtocontinueinfavorofyourmasterwillbelessmeritorious。\"
\"Ishallneverabandonhim，poor，dearman，inspiteofhisfaults，thoughIknowthatthispoorlittlelegacywhichHeavenhasgivenmeisinthegreatestdangerfromhim。\"
\"Howso？\"askedlaPeyrade，withsomecuriosity。
\"Eh！monsieur，lethimonlygetwindofthatmoney，andhe’dsnapitupatamouthful；itwouldallgointohisinventionsofperpetualmotionandothermachinesofvariouskindswhichhavealreadyruinedhim，andme，too。\"
\"Then，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"yourdesireisthatthislegacyshouldremaincompletelyunknown，notonlytoyourmasterbuttothejudgesoftheAcademy？\"
\"Howclevermonsieuris，andhowwellheunderstandsthings！\"shereplied，smiling。
\"Andalso，\"continuedthebarrister，\"youdon’twanttokeepthatmoneyopenlyinyourpossession？\"
\"Forfearmymastershouldfinditoutandgetitawayfromme？
Exactly。Besides，asmonsieurwillunderstand，Ishouldn’tbesorry，inordertosupplythepoordearmanwithextracomforts，thatthesumshouldbearinterest。\"
\"Andthehighestpossibleinterest，\"saidthebarrister。
\"Oh！asforthat，monsieur，fiveorsixpercent。\"
\"Verygood；thenitisnotonlyaboutthememorialtotheAcademyfortheprizeofvirtue，butalsoaboutaninvestmentofyourlegacythatyouhavesolongbeendesirousofconsultingme？\"
\"Monsieurissokind，socharitable，soencouraging！\"
\"Thememorial，afterIhavemadeafewinquiries，willbeeasyenough；
butaninvestment，offeringgoodsecurity，thesecretofwhichyoudesiretokeep，ismuchlessreadilyobtained。\"
\"Ah！ifIdaredto——\"saidthepiouswoman，humbly。
\"What？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Monsieurunderstandsme？\"
\"I？nottheleastintheworld。\"
\"AndyetIprayedearnestlyjustnowthatmonsieurmightbewillingtokeepthismoneyforme。Ishouldfeelsuchconfidenceifitwereinhishands；Iknowhewouldreturnittome，andneverspeakofit。\"
LaPeyradegathered，atthisinstant，thefruitofhiscomedyoflegaldevotiontothenecessitousclasses。Thechoirofporterschantinghispraisestotheskiescouldalonehaveinspiredthisservant—womanwiththeboundlessconfidenceofwhichhefoundhimselftheobject。HisthoughtsrevertedinstantlytoDutocqandhisnotes，andhewasnotfarfromthinkingthatthiswomanhadbeensenttohimbyProvidence。
Butthemorehewasinclinedtoprofitbythischancetowinhisindependence，themorehefeltthenecessityofseemingtoyieldonlytoherimportunity；consequentlyhisobjectionsweremany。
Moreover，hehadnogreatbeliefinthecharacterofhisclient，anddidnotcare，asthecommonsayingis，touncoverSaintPetertocoverSaintPaul；inotherwords，tosubstituteforacreditorwho，afterall，washisaccomplice，awomanwhomightatanytimebecomeexactingandinsistinrepaymentinsomepublicmannerthatwouldinjurehisreputation。Hedecided，therefore，toplaythegamewithahighhand。
\"Mygoodwoman，\"hesaid，\"Iamnotinwantofmoney，andIamnotrichenoughtopayinterestontwenty—fivethousandfrancsforwhichI
havenouse。AllthatIcandoforyouistoplacethatsum，inmyname，withthenotaryDupuis。Heisareligiousman；youcanseehimeverySundayinthewarden’spewinourchurch。Notaries，youknow，nevergivereceipts，thereforeIcouldnotgiveyouonemyself；Icanonlypromisetoleaveamongmypapers，incaseofdeath，amemorandumwhichwillsecuretherestitutionofthemoneyintoyourhands。Theaffair，yousee，isoneofblindconfidence，andIamveryunwillingtomakeit。IfIdoso，itisonlytoobligeapersonwhosepietyandthecharitableusesheintendstomakeoftheproceedsofherlittlefortuneentitlehertomygood—will。\"
\"Ifmonsieurthinksthatthemattercannotbeotherwisearranged——\"
\"Thisappearstometheonlypossibleway，\"saidlaPeyrade。\"Ishallhopetogetyousixpercentinterest，andyoumayrelythatitwillbepaidwiththeutmostregularity。Butremember，sixmonths，orevenayear，mayelapsebeforethenotarywillbeinapositiontorepaythismoney，becausenotariesinvestsuchtrustfundschieflyinmortgageswhichrequireacertaintimetomature。Now，whenyouhaveobtainedtheprizeforvirtue，which，accordingtoallappearance，I
canreadilydoforyou，therewillbenoreasontohideyourlittlepropertyanylonger，——areasonwhichIfullyunderstand；butyouwillnotbeabletowithdrawitfromthenotary’shandsimmediately；andincaseofanydifficultyarising，Ishouldbeforcedtoexplainthesituation，themannerinwhichyouhaveconcealedyourprosperityfromyourmaster，towhomyouhavebeensupposedtobewhollydevoted。
This，asyouwillsee，wouldputyouinthepositionoffalselyprofessingvirtue，andwoulddogreatharmtoyourreputationforpiety。\"
\"Oh！monsieur，\"saidthesaintlywoman，\"canitbethatanyonewouldthinkmeapersonwhodidnotspeakthetruth？\"
\"Blessyou！mygoodcreature，inbusinessitisnecessarytoforeseeeverything。Moneyembroilsthebestfriends，andleadstoactionstheyneverforesaw。Thereforereflect；youcancomeandseemeagaininafewdays。Itispossiblethatbetweennowandthenyouwillfindsomebetterinvestment；andImyself，whoamdoingatthismomentathingI
don’taltogetherlike，mayhavefoundotherdifficultieswhichIdonotnowexpect。\"
Thisthreat，adroitlythrownoutasanafterthought，wasintendedtoimmediatelyclinchthematter。
\"Ihavereflectedcarefully，\"saidthepiouswoman，\"andIfeelsurethatinthehandsofsoreligiousamanasmonsieurIrunnorisks。\"
Takingfromherbosomalittlepocket—book，shepulledouttwenty—fivebanknotes。TherapidmannerinwhichshecountedthemwasarevelationtolaPeyrade。Thewomanwasevidentlyaccustomedtohandlemoney，andasingularideadartedthroughhismind。
\"Canitbethatsheismakingmeareceiverofstolenproperty？No，\"
hesaidaloud，\"inordertodrawupthememorialfortheAcademy，I
must，asItoldyou，makeafewinquiries；andthatwillgivemeoccasiontocalluponyou。AtwhathourcanIseeyoualone？\"
\"Atfouro’clock，whenmonsieurgoestotakehiswalkintheLuxembourg。\"
\"Andwheredoyoulive？\"
\"RueduVal—de—Grace，No。9。\"
\"Verygood；atfouro’clock；andif，asIdoubtnot，theresultofmyinquiryisfavorable，Iwilltakeyourmoneythen。Otherwise，iftherearenotgoodgroundsforyourapplicationfortheprizeofvirtuetherewillbenoreasonwhyyoushouldmakeamysteryofyourlegacy。
YoucouldtheninvestitinsomemorenormalmannerthanthatIhavesuggestedtoyou。\"
\"Oh！howcautiousmonsieuris！\"shesaid，withevidentdisappointment，havingthoughttheaffairsettled。\"Thismoney，Godbethanked！Ihavenotstolen，andmonsieurcanmakewhatinquirieshelikesaboutmeinthequarter。\"
\"ItisquiteindispensablethatIshoulddoso，\"saidlaPeyrade，dryly，forhedidnotatalllike，underthismaskofsimplicity，thequickintelligencethatpenetratedhisthoughts。\"Withoutbeingathief，awomanmayverywellnotbeaSisterofCharity；there’sawidemarginbetweenthetwoextremes。\"
\"Asmonsieurchooses，\"shereplied；\"heisdoingmesogreataservicethatIoughttolethimtakeallprecautions。\"
Then，withapiouslyhumblebow，shewentaway，takinghermoneywithher。
\"Thedevil！\"thoughtlaPeyrade；\"thatwomanisstrongerthanI；sheswallowsinsultswithgratitudeandwithoutthesignofagrimace！I
haveneveryetbeenabletomastermyselflikethat。\"
Hebegannowtofearthathehadbeentootimid，andtothinkthathiswould—becreditormightchangehermindbeforehecouldpayherthevisithehadpromised。Buttheharmwasdone，and，althoughconsumedwithanxietylesthehadlostararechance，hewouldhavecutoffalegsoonerthanyieldtohisimpulsetogotoheroneminutebeforethehourhehadfixed。Theinformationheobtainedaboutherinthequarterwasrathercontradictory。Somesaidhisclientwasasaint；
otherwisedeclaredhertobeaslycreature；but，onthewhole，nothingwassaidagainsthermoralitythatdeterredlaPeyradefromtakingthepieceofluckshehadofferedhim。
Whenhemetheratfouro’clockhefoundherinthesamemind。
WiththemoneyinhispockethewenttodinewithCerizetandDutocqattheRocherdeCancale；anditistothevariousemotionshehadpassedthroughduringthedaythatwemustattributethesharpandill—consideredmannerinwhichheconductedhisrupturewithhistwoassociates。Thisbehaviorwasneitherthatofhisnaturaldispositionnorofhisacquiredtemperament；butthemoneythatwasburninginhispocketshadslightlyintoxicatedhim；itsverytouchhadconveyedtohimanexcitementandanimpatienceforemancipationofwhichhewasnotwhollymaster。HeflungCerizetoverinthematteroftheleasewithoutsomuchasconsultingBrigitte；andyet，hehadnothadthefullcourageofhisduplicity；forhehadlaidtothechargeoftheoldwomanarefusalwhichwasmerelytheactofhisownwill，promptedbybitterrecollectionsofhisfruitlessstruggleswiththemanwhohadsolongoppressedhim。
Inshort，duringthewholeday，laPeyradehadnotshownhimselftheableandinfalliblemanthatwehavehithertoseenhim。Oncebefore，whenhecarriedthefifteenthousandfrancsentrustedtohimbyThuillier，hehadbeenledbyCerizetintoaninsurrectionaryproceedingwhichnecessitatedtheaffairofSauvaignou。Perhaps，onthewhole，itismoredifficulttobestrongundergoodthanunderevilfortune。TheFarneseHercules，calmandinstillrepose，expressesmoreenergeticallytheplenitudeofmuscularpowerthanaviolentandagitatedHerculesrepresentedintheover—excitedenergyofhislabors。