Oneday，whenthepairwereengagedonthesheetsofthepamphlet，adiscussionaroseupontheword\"nepotism，\"whichThuillierwishedtoeliminatefromoneoflaPeyrade’ssentences，declaringthatneverhadhemetwithitanywhere；itwaspureneologism——which，totheliterarynotionsofthebourgeoisie，isequivalenttotheideaof1793andtheTerror。
GenerallylaPeyradetooktheridiculousremarksofhisdear，goodfriendprettypatiently；butonthisoccasionhemadehimselfexceedinglyexcited，andsignifiedtoThuillierthathemightterminatehimselfaworktowhichheappliedsuchluminousandintelligentcriticism；afterwhichremarkhedepartedandwasnotseenagainforseveraldays。
AtfirstThuilliersupposedthisoutbreaktobeamerepassingeffectofill—humor；butwhenlaPeyrade’sabsencegrewprolongedhefeltthenecessityoftakingsomeconciliatorystep，andaccordinglyhewenttoseethebarrister，intendingtomakehonorableamendsandsoputanendtohissulkiness。Wishing，however，togivethisadvanceanairwhichallowedanhonestissuetohisownself—love，heenteredlaPeyrade’sroomwithaneasymanner，andsaid，cheerfully：——
\"Well，mydearfellow，itturnsoutthatwewerebothright：
’nepotism’meanstheauthoritythatthenephewsofpopestakeinpublicaffairs。Ihavesearchedthedictionaryanditgivesnootherexplanation；but，fromwhatPhelliontellsme，Ifindthatinthepoliticalvocabularythemeaningofthewordhasbeenextendedtocovertheinfluencewhichcorruptministerspermitcertainpersonstoexerciseillegally。Ithink，therefore，thatwemayretaintheexpression，thoughitiscertainlynottakeninthatsensebyNapoleonLandais。\"
LaPeyrade，who，inreceivinghisvisitor，hadaffectedtobeextremelybusyinsortinghispapers，contentedhimselfbyshrugginghisshouldersandsayingnothing。
\"Well，\"saidThuillier，\"haveyougotthelastproofs？Weoughttobegettingon。\"
\"Ifyouhavesentnothingtotheprinting—office，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"ofcoursetherearenoproofs。Imyselfhaven’ttouchedthemanuscript。\"
\"But，mydearTheodose，\"saidThuillier，\"itisn’tpossiblethatforsuchatrifleyouareaffronted。Idon’tpretendtobeawriter，onlyasmynameisonthebookIhave，Ithink，therighttomyopinionaboutaword。\"
\"But’Mossie’Phellion，\"repliedTheodose，\"isawriter；andinasmuchasyouhaveconsultedhim，Idon’tseewhyyoucan’tengagehimtofinishtheworkinwhich，formypart，Ihaveresolvednottoco—operateanylonger。\"
\"Heavens！whattemper！\"criedThuillier；\"hereyouarefuriousjustbecauseIseemedtoquestionawordandthenconsultedsomeone。YouknowverywellthatIhavereadpassagestoPhellion，Colleville，Minard，andBarniolasiftheworkweremine，inordertoseetheeffectitwouldproduceuponthepublic；butthat’snoreasonwhyI
shouldbewillingtogivemynametothethingstheyarecapableofwriting。DoyouwishmetogiveyouaproofoftheconfidenceIhaveinyou？MadamelaComtessedeGodollo，towhomIreadafewpageslastnight，toldmethatthepamphletwaslikelytogetmeintotroublewiththeauthorities；butIwouldn’tallowwhatshesaidtohaveanyinfluenceuponme。\"
\"Well，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"Ithinkthattheoracleofthefamilyseesthematterclearly；andI’venodesiretobringyourheadtothescaffold。\"
\"Allthatisnonsense，\"saidThuillier。\"Haveyou，orhaveyounot，anintentiontoleavemeinthelurch？\"
\"Literaryquestionsmakemorequarrelsamongfriendsthanpoliticalquestions，\"repliedTheodose。\"Iwishtoputanendtothesediscussionsbetweenus。\"
\"But，mydearTheodose，neverhaveIassumedtobealiteraryman。I
thinkIhavesoundcommon—sense，andIsayoutmyideas；youcan’tbeangryatthat；andifyouplaymethistrick，andrefusetocollaborateanylonger，itisbecauseyouhavesomeothergrudgeagainstmethatIknownothingabout。\"
\"Idon’tseewhyyoucallitatrick。There’snothingeasierforyouthannottowriteapamphlet；you’llsimplybeJeromeThuillier，asbefore。\"
\"Andyetitwasyouyourselfwhodeclaredthatthispublicationwouldhelpmyelection；besides，Irepeat，Ihavereadpassagestoallourfriends，Ihaveannouncedthematterinthemunicipalcouncil，andiftheworkwerenottoappearIshouldbedishonored；peoplewouldbesuretosaythegovernmenthadboughtmeup。\"
\"YouhaveonlytosaythatyouarethefriendofPhellion，theincorruptible；thatwillclearyou。YoumightevengiveCelestetohisboobyofason；thatalliancewouldcertainlyprotectyoufromallsuspicion。\"
\"Theodose，\"saidThuillier，\"thereissomethinginyourmindthatyoudon’ttellme。Itisnotnaturalthatforasimplequarrelaboutawordyoushouldwishtoloseafriendlikeme。\"
\"Well，yes，thereis，\"repliedlaPeyrade，withtheairofamanwhomakesuphismindtospeakout。\"Idon’tlikeingratitude。\"
\"NorIeither；Idon’tlikeit，\"saidThuillier，hotly；\"andifyouaccusemeofsobaseanaction，Isummonyoutoexplainyourself。Wemustgetoutofthesehintsandinnuendoes。Whatdoyoucomplainof？
Whathaveyouagainstamanwhomonlyafewdaysagoyoucalledyourfriend？\"
\"Nothingandeverything，\"repliedlaPeyrade。\"Youandyoursisteraremuchtooclevertobreakopenlywithamanwho，attheriskofhisreputation，hasputamillioninyourhands。ButIamnotsosimplethatIdon’tknowhowtodetectchanges。Therearepeopleaboutyouwhohavesetthemselves，inanunderhandway，todestroyme；andBrigittehasonlyonethought，andthatis，howtofindadecentwayofnotkeepingherpromises。Menlikemedon’twaittilltheirclaimsareopenlyprotested，andIcertainlydonotintendtoimposemyselfonanyfamily；still，Iwasfar，Iacknowledge，fromexpectingsuchtreatment。\"
\"Come，come，\"saidThuillier，kindly，seeinginthebarrister’seyetheglintofatearofwhichhewascompletelythedupe，\"Idon’tknowwhatBrigittemayhavebeendoingtoyou，butonethingisverycertain：Ihaveneverceasedtobeyourmostdevotedfriend。\"
\"No，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"sincethatmishapaboutthecrossIamonlygood，asthesayingis，tothrowtothedogs。HowcouldIhavestruggledagainstsecretinfluences？Possiblyitisthatpamphlet，aboutwhichyouhavetalkedagreatdealtoomuch，thathashinderedyourappointment。Theministersaresostupid！Theywouldratherwaitandhavetheirhandforcedbythefameofthepublicationthandothethingwithagoodgraceastherewardofyourservices。Butthesearepoliticalmysterieswhichwouldneverenteryoursister’smind。\"
\"Thedevil！\"criedThuillier。\"IthinkI’vegotaprettyobservingeye，andyetIcan’tseetheslightestchangeinBrigittetowardyou。\"
\"Oh，yes！\"saidlaPeyrade，\"youreyesightissogoodthatyouhaveneverseenperpetuallybesideherthatMadamedeGodollo，whomshenowthinksshecan’tlivewithout。\"
\"Ha，ha！\"saidThuillier，slyly，\"soitisalittlejealousy，isit，inourmind？\"
\"Jealousy！\"retortedlaPeyrade。\"Idon’tknowifthat’stherightword，butcertainlyyoursister——whosemindisnothingabovetheordinary，andtowhomIamsurprisedthatamanofyourintellectualsuperiorityallowsasupremacyinyourhouseholdwhichsheusesandabuses——\"
\"HowcanIhelpit，mydearfellow，\"interruptedThuillier，suckinginthecompliment；\"sheissoabsolutelydevotedtome。\"
\"Iadmittheweakness，but，Irepeat，yoursisterdoesn’tfitintoyourgroove。Well，Isaythatwhenamanofthevaluewhichyouaregoodenoughtorecognizeinme，doesherthehonortoconsultheranddevotehimselftoherasIhavedone，itcanhardlybeagreeabletohimtofindhimselfsupplantedbyawomanwhocomesfromnobodyknowswhere——andallbecauseofafewtrumperychairsandtablesshehashelpedhertobuy！\"
\"Withwomen，asyouknowverywell，\"repliedThuillier，\"householdaffairshavethefirstplace。\"
\"AndBrigitte，whowantsafingerineverything，alsoassumestocarrymatterswithahighhandinaffairsoftheheart。Asyouaresoextraordinarilyclear—sightedyououghttohaveseenthatinBrigitte’smindnothingislesscertainthanmymarriagewithMademoiselleColleville；andyetmylovehasbeensolemnlyauthorizedbyyou。\"
\"Goodgracious！\"criedThuillier，\"I’dliketoseeanyoneattempttomeddlewithmyarrangements！\"
\"Well，withoutspeakingofBrigitte，Icantellyouofanotherperson，\"saidTheodose，\"whoisdoingthatverything；andthatpersonisMademoiselleCelesteherself。Inspiteoftheirquarrelsaboutreligion，hermindisnonethelessfullofthatlittlePhellion。\"
\"Butwhydon’tyoutellFlavietoputastoptoit？\"
\"NooneknowsFlavie，mydearThuillier，betterthanyou。Sheisawomanratherthanamother。Ihavefounditnecessarytodoalittlebitofcourtingtohermyself，and，youunderstand，whilesheiswillingforthismarriageshedoesn’tdesireitverymuch。\"
\"Well，\"saidThuillier，\"I’llundertaketospeaktoCelestemyself。Itshallneverbesaidthataslipofagirllaysdownthelawtome。\"
\"That’sexactlywhatIdon’twantyoutodo，\"criedlaPeyrade。\"Don’tmeddleinallthis。Outsideofyourrelationstoyoursisteryouhaveanironwill，andIwillneverhaveitsaidthatyouexertedyourauthoritytoputCelesteinmyarms；onthecontrary，Idesirethatthechildmayhavecompletecontroloverherownheart。TheonlythingIrequestisthatsheshalldecidepositivelybetweenFelixPhellionandmyself；becauseIdonotchoosetoremainanylongerinthisdoubtfulposition。Itistrueweagreedthatthemarriageshouldonlytakeplaceafteryoubecameadeputy；butIfeelnowthatitisimpossibletoallowthegreatesteventofmylifetoremainatthemercyofdoubtfulcircumstances。And，besides，suchanarrangement，thoughatfirstagreedupon，seemstomenowtohaveaflavorofabargainwhichisunbecomingtobothofus。IthinkIhadbettermakeyouaconfidence，towhichIamledbytheunpleasantstateofthingsnowbetweenus。Dutocqmayhavetoldyou，beforeyoulefttheapartmentintherueSaint—Dominique，thatanheiresshadbeenofferedtomewhoseimmediatefortuneislargerthanthatwhichMademoiselleCollevillewilleventuallyinherit。Irefused，becauseIhavehadthefollytoletmyheartbewon，andbecauseanalliancewithafamilyashonorableasyoursseemedtomemoredesirable；but，afterall，itisaswelltoletBrigitteknowthatifCelesterefusesme，Iamnotabsolutelyturnedoutintothecold。\"
\"Icaneasilybelievethat，\"saidThuillier；\"butasforputtingthewholedecisionintothehandsofthatlittlegirl，especiallyifshehas，asyoutellme，afancyforFelix——\"
\"Ican’thelpit，\"saidthebarrister。\"Imust，atanyprice，getoutofthisposition；itisnolongertenable。Youtalkaboutyourpamphlet；Iamnotinafitconditiontofinishit。You，whohavebeenamanofgallantry，youmustknowthedominionthatwomen，fatalcreatures！exerciseoverourwholebeing。\"
\"Bah！\"saidThuillier，conceitedly，\"theycaredforme，butIdidnotoftencareforthem；Itookthem，andleftthem，youknow。\"
\"Yes，butI，withmySouthernnature，lovepassionately；andCelestehasotherattractionsbesidesfortune。Broughtupinyourhousehold，underyourowneye，youhavemadeheradorable。Only，Imustsay，youhaveshowngreatweaknessinlettingthatyoungfellow，whodoesnotsuitherinanyrespect，getsuchholduponherfancy。\"
\"Youarequiteright；butthethingbeganinachildishfriendship；
sheandFelixplayedtogether。Youcamemuchlater；anditisaproofofthegreatesteeminwhichweholdyou，thatwhenyoumadeyourofferwerenouncedourearlierprojects。\"
\"YOUdid，yes，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"andwithsomeliterarymanias——
which，afterall，arefrequentlyfullofsenseandwit——youhaveaheartofgold；withyoufriendshipisasurething，andyouknowwhatyoumean。ButBrigitteisanothermatter；you’llsee，whenyouproposetohertohastenthemarriage，whataresistanceshewillmake。\"
\"Idon’tagreewithyou。IthinkthatBrigittehasalwayswantedyouandstillwantsyouforson—in—law——ifImaysoexpressmyself。Butwhethershedoesornot，IbegyoutobelievethatinallimportantmattersIknowhowtohavemywillobeyed。Only，letuscomenowtoadistinctunderstandingofwhatyouwish；thenwecanstartwiththerightfootforemost，andyou’llseethatallwillgowell。\"
\"Iwish，\"repliedlaPeyrade，\"toputthelasttouchestoyourpamphlet；for，aboveallthings，Ithinkofyou。\"
\"Certainly，\"saidThuillier，\"weoughtnottosinkinport。\"
\"Well，inconsequenceofthefeelingthatIamoppressed，stultifiedbytheprospectofamarriagestillsodoubtful，Iamcertainthatnotapageofmanuscriptcouldbegotoutofmeinanyform，untilthequestionissettled。\"
\"Verygood，\"saidThuillier；\"thenhowdoyoupresentthatquestion？\"
\"Naturally，ifCeleste’sdecisionbeagainstme，Ishouldwishanimmediatesolution。IfIamcondemnedtomakeamarriageofconvenienceIoughttolosenotimeintakingtheopportunityI
mentionedtoyou。\"
\"Sobeit；butwhattimedoyouintendtoallowus？\"
\"Ishouldthinkthatinfifteendaysagirlmightbeabletomakeuphermind。\"
\"Undoubtedly，\"repliedThuillier；\"butitisveryrepugnanttometoletCelestedecidewithoutappeal。\"
\"Formypart，Iwilltakethatrisk；inanycase，Ishallberidofuncertainty；andthatisreallymyfirstobject。Betweenourselves，I
amnotriskingasmuchasyouthink。ItwilltakemorethanfifteendaysforasonofPhellion，inotherwords，obstinacyincarnateinsilliness，tohavedonewithphilosophicalhesitations；anditisverycertainthatCelestewillnotaccepthimforahusbandunlesshegiveshersomeproofsofconversion。\"
\"That’sprobable。ButsupposeCelestetriestodawdle；supposesherefusestoacceptthealternative？\"
\"That’syouraffair，\"saidtheProvencal。\"Idon’tknowhowyouregardthefamilyinParis；Ionlyknowthatinmypartofthecountryitisanunheard—ofthingthatagirlshouldhavesuchliberty。Ifyou，yoursister（supposingsheplaysfairinthematter），andthefatherandmothercan’tsucceedinmakingagirlwhomyoudoweragreetososimpleathingastomakeaperfectlyfreechoicebetweentwosuitors，thengood—byetoyou！You’llhavetowriteuponyourgate—postthatCelesteisqueenandsovereignofthehouse。\"
\"Well，wehaven’tgottothatpointyet，\"saidThuillier，withacapableair。
\"Asforyou，myoldfellow，\"resumedlaPeyrade，\"ImustpostponeourbusinessuntilafterCeleste’sdecision。Bethatinmyfavorornot，I
willthengotowork，andinthreedaysthepamphletcanbefinished。\"
\"Now，\"saidThuillier，\"Iknowwhatyouhavehadonyourmind。I’lltalkaboutitwithBrigitte。\"
\"That’sasadconclusion，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"but，unhappily，soitis。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"
\"Iwouldrather，asyoucaneasilyimagine，hearyousayofyourselfthatthethingshallbedone；butoldhabitscan’tbebrokenup。\"
\"Ahca！doyouthinkI’mamanwithoutanywill，anyinitiativeofmyown？\"
\"No！butI’dliketobehiddeninacornerandhearhowyouwillopenthesubjectwithyoursister。\"
\"Parbleu！Ishallopenitfrankly。IWILL，veryfirmlysaid，shallmeeteveryoneofherobjections。\"
\"Ah，mypoorfellow！\"saidlaPeyrade，clappinghimontheshoulder，\"fromChrysaledownhowoftenhaveweseenbravewarriorsloweringtheirpenantsbeforethewillsofwomenaccustomedtomasterthem！\"
\"We’llseeaboutTHAT，\"repliedThuillier，makingatheatricalexit。
Theeagerdesiretopublishhispamphlet，andthecleverdoubtthrownuponthestrengthofhiswillhadmadehimfurious，——anactualtiger；
andhewentawayresolved，incaseofopposition，toreducehishousehold，asthesayingis，byfireandsword。
WhenhereachedhomeThuillierinstantlylaidthequestionbeforeBrigitte。She，withhercrudegoodsenseandegotism，pointedouttohimthatbythushasteningtheperiodformerlyagreeduponforthemarriage，theycommittedtheblunderofdisarmingthemselves；theycouldnotbesurethatwhentheelectiontookplacelaPeyradewouldputthesamezealintopreparingforit。Itmightbe，\"saidtheoldmaid，\"justasithasbeenaboutthecross。\"
\"There’sthisdifference，\"saidThuillier；\"thecrossdoesn’tdependdirectlyuponlaPeyrade，whereastheinfluenceheexertsinthe12tharrondissementhecanemployashewill。\"
\"Andsupposehewilled，afterwehavefeatheredhisnest，\"saidBrigitte，\"toworkhisinfluenceforhisownelection？Heisveryambitious，youknow。\"
Thisdangerdidnotfailtostrikethemindofthefuturelegislator，whothought，however，thathemightfeelsomesecurityinthehonorandmoralityoflaPeyrade。
\"Aman’shonorcan’tbeverydelicate，\"returnedBrigitte，\"whenhetriestogetoutofabargain；andthisfashionofdanglingabitofsugarbeforeusaboutgettingyourpamphletfinished，doesn’tpleasemeatall。Can’tyougetPhelliontohelpyou，anddowithoutTheodose？Or，Idaresay，MadamedeGodollo，whoknowseverybodyinpolitics，couldfindyouajournalist——theysaythereareplentyofthemoutatelbows；acoupleofhundredfrancswoulddothething。\"
\"Butthesecretwouldgetintothepapers，\"saidThuillier。\"No，I
mustabsolutelyhaveTheodose；heknowsthat，andhemakestheseconditions。Afterall，wedidpromisehimCeleste，anditisonlyfulfillingthepromiseayearearlier——whatamIsaying？——afewmonths，afewweeks，possibly；forthekingmaydissolvetheChamberbeforeanyoneexpectsit。\"
\"ButsupposeCelestewon’thavehim？\"objectedBrigitte。
\"Celeste！Celeste，indeed！\"ejaculatedThuillier；\"sheMUSThavewhomsoeverwechoose。WeoughttohavethoughtofthatwhenwemadetheengagementwithlaPeyrade；ourwordispassednow，youknow。
Besides，ifthechildisallowedtochoosebetweenlaPeyradeandPhellion——\"
\"Soyoureallythink，\"saidthescepticaloldmaid，\"thatifCelestedecidesforPhellionyoucanstillcountonlaPeyrade’sdevotion？\"
\"WhatelsecanIdo？Thosearehisconditions。Besides，thefellowhascalculatedthewholething；heknowsverywellthatFelixwillneverbringhimselfintwoweekstopleaseCelestebygoingtoconfession，andunlesshedoes，thatlittlemonkeywillneveraccepthimforahusband。LaPeyrade’sgameisveryclever。\"
\"Tooclever，\"saidBrigitte。\"Well，settlethematterasyouchoose；I
shallnotmeddle；allthismanoeuvringisnottomytaste。\"
ThuillierwenttoseeMadameColleville，andintimatedtoherthatshemustinformCelesteofthedesignsuponher。
CelestehadneverbeenofficiallyauthorizedtoindulgehersentimentforFelixPhellion。Flavie，onthecontrary，hadonceexpresslyforbiddenhertoencouragethehopesoftheyoungprofessor；butas，onthepartofMadameThuillier，hergodmotherandherconfidant，sheknewshewassustainedinherinclination，shehadletherselfgentlyfollowitwithoutthinkingveryseriouslyoftheobstaclesherchoicemightencounter。When，therefore，shewasorderedtochooseatoncebetweenFelixandlaPeyrade，thesimple—heartedgirlwasatfirstonlystruckbytheadvantagesofonehalfofthealternative，andshefanciedshedidherselfagreatservicebyagreeingtoanarrangementwhichmadeherthemistressofherownchoiceandallowedhertobestowitasherheartdesired。
ButlaPeyradewasnotmistakeninhiscalculationwhenhereckonedthatthereligiousintoleranceoftheyounggirlononeside，andthephilosophicalinflexibilityofPhellion’ssonontheother，wouldcreateaninvincibleobstacletotheircomingtogether。
CHAPTERIII
GOODBLOODCANNOTLIE
TheeveningofthedayonwhichFlaviehadcommunicatedtoCelestethesovereignordersofThuillier，thePhellionscalledtospendtheeveningwithBrigitte，andaverysharpengagementtookplacebetweenthetwoyoungpeople。MademoiselleCollevilledidnotneedtobetoldbyhermotherthatitwouldbeextremelyunbecomingifsheallowedFelixtoknowoftheconditionalapprovalthatwasgrantedtotheirsentiments。Celestehadtoomuchdelicacy，andtoomuchrealreligiousfeelingtowishtoobtaintheconversionofthemanshelovedonanyothergroundthanthatofhisconviction。Theireveningwasthereforepassedintheologicaldebate；butloveissostrangeaProteus，andtakessomanyandsuchvariousforms，thatthoughitappearedonthisoccasioninablackgownandamobcap，itwasnotatallasungracefulanddispleasingasmighthavebeenimagined。ButPhellionjuniorwasinthisencounter，thesolemnityofwhichhelittleknew，unluckyandblunderingtothelastdegree。Notonlydidheconcedenothing，buthetookatoneofairyandironicaldiscussion，andendedbyputtingpoorCelestesobesideherselfthatshefinallydeclaredanopenruptureandforbadehimtoappearinherpresenceagain。
Itwasjustthecaseforalovermoreexperiencedthantheyoungsavanttoreappeartheverynextday，foryoungheartsareneversoneartounderstandingeachotheraswhentheyhavejustdeclaredthenecessityofeternalseparation。Butthislawisnotoneoflogarithms，andFelixPhellion，beingincapableofguessingit，thoughthimselfpositivelyandfinallybanished；somuchso，thatduringthefifteendaysgrantedtothepoorgirltodeliberate（assaystheCodeinthematterofbeneficiarybequests），althoughhewasexpecteddaybyday，andfromminutetominutebyCeleste，whogavenomorethoughttolaPeyradethanifhehadnothingtodowiththequestion，thedeplorablystupidyouthdidnothavethemostdistantideaofbreakinghisban。
Luckilyforthishopelesslover，abeneficentfairywaswatchingoverhim，andtheeveningbeforethedayonwhichtheyounggirlwastomakeherdecisionthefollowingaffairtookplace。
ItwasSunday，thedayonwhichtheThuilliersstillkeptuptheirweeklyreceptions。
MadamePhellion，convincedthatthehousekeepingleakage，vulgarlycalled\"thebasketdance，\"wastheruinofthebest—regulatedhouseholds，wasinthehabitofgoinginpersontohertradespeople。
FromtimeimmemorialinthePhellionestablishment，Sundaywasthedayofthe\"pot—au—feu，\"andthewifeofthegreatcitizen，inthatintentionallydowdycostumeinwhichgoodhousekeepersbundlethemselveswhentheygotomarket，wasprosaicallyreturningfromavisittothebutcher，followedbyhercookandthebasket，inwhichlayamagnificentcutoftheloinofbeef。Twicehadsherungherowndoorbell，andterriblewasthestormgatheringontheheadofthefoot—boy，whobyhisslownessinopeningthedoorwasputtinghismistressinasituationlesstolerablethanthatofLouisXIV。，whohadonlyALMOSTwaited。InherfeverishimpatienceMadamePhellionhadjustgiventhebellathirdandferociousreverberation，when，judgeofherconfusion，alittlecoupedrewupwithmuchclatteratthedoorofherhouse，andaladydescended，whomsherecognized，atthisuntimelyhour，astheelegantComtesseTornadeGodollo！
Turningapurplishscarlet，theunfortunatebourgeoiselostherhead，and，flounderinginexcuses，shewasabouttocomplicatethepositionbysomesignalpieceofawkwardness，when，happilyforher，Phellion，attractedbythenoiseofthebell，andattiredinadressing—gownandGreekcap，cameoutofhisstudytoinquirewhatwasthematter。Afteraspeech，thepompouscharmofwhichdidmuchtocompensateforhisdishabille，thegreatcitizen，withtheserenitythatneverabandonedhim，offeredhishandverygallantlytothelady，andhavinginstalledherinthesalon，said：——
\"MayI，withoutindiscretion，askMadamelacomtessewhathasprocuredforustheunhoped—foradvantageofthisvisit？\"
\"Ihavecome，\"saidthelady，\"totalkwithMadamePhelliononamatterwhichmustdeeplyinteresther。Ihavenootherwayofmeetingherwithoutwitnesses；andtherefore，thoughIamhardlyknowntoMadamePhellion，Ihavetakenthelibertytocalluponherhere。\"
\"Madame，yourvisitisagreathonortothispoordwelling。ButwhereisMadamePhellion？\"addedtheworthyman，impatiently，goingtowardsthedoor。
\"No，Ibegofyou，don’tdisturbher，\"saidthecountess；\"Ihaveheedlesslycomeatamomentwhensheisbusywithhouseholdcares。
Brigittehasbeenmyeducatorinsuchmatters，andIknowtherespectweoughttopaytogoodhousekeepers。Besides，Ihavethepleasureofyourpresence，whichIscarcelyexpected。\"
BeforePhellioncouldreplytotheseobligingwords，MadamePhellionappeared。Acapwithribbonshadtakentheplaceofthemarketbonnet，andalargeshawlcoveredtheotherinsufficienciesofthemorningtoilet。Whenhiswifearrived，thegreatcitizenmadeasthoughhewoulddiscreetlyretire。
\"MonsieurPhellion，\"saidthecountess，\"youarenotonetoomanyintheconferenceIdesirewithmadame；onthecontrary，yourexcellentjudgmentwillbemostusefulinthrowinglightuponamatterasinterestingtoyouastoyourwife。Ialludetothemarriageofyourson。\"
\"Themarriageofmyson！\"criedMadamePhellion，withalookofastonishment；\"butIamnotawarethatanythingofthekindisatpresentinprospect。\"
\"ThemarriageofMonsieurFelixwithMademoiselleCelesteis，Ithink，oneofyourstrongestdesires——\"
\"Butwehavenever，\"saidPhellion，\"takenanyovertstepsforthatobject。\"
\"Iknowthatonlytoowell，\"repliedthecountess；\"onthecontrary，everyoneinyourfamilyseemstostudyhowtodefeatmyeffortsinthatdirection。However，onethingisclearinspiteofthereserve，and，youmustallowmetosayso，theclumsinessinwhichtheaffairhasbeenmanaged，andthatisthattheyoungpeopleloveeachother，andtheywillbothbeunhappyiftheydonotmarry。Now，topreventthiscatastropheistheobjectwithwhichIhavecomeherethismorning。\"
\"Wecannot，madame，beotherwisethandeeplysensibleoftheinterestyouaresogoodastoshowinthehappinessofourson，\"saidPhellion；\"but，intruth，thisinterest——\"
\"Issomethingsoinexplicable，\"interruptedthecountess，\"thatyoufeeladistrustofit？\"