\"Donotstayhere，monsieur，\"saidCorentin。\"Gointomystudy；Iwillcometoyoupresently。\"
Afewminuteslater，aftergivingLydieintothecareofKatteandBruneau，anddespatchingPerracheforDoctorBianchon，CorentinrejoinedlaPeyrade。
\"Youseenow，monsieur，\"hesaidwithsolemnity，\"thatinpursuingwithasortofpassiontheideaofthismarriage，Iwasfollowing，inasense，thewaysofGod。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，withcompunction，\"Iwillconfesstoyou——\"
\"Useless，\"saidCorentin；\"youcantellmenothingthatIdonotknow；
I，onthecontrary，havemuchtotellyou。OldPeyrade，youruncle，inthehopeofearningaPOTforthisdaughterwhomheidolized，enteredintoadangerousprivateenterprise，thenatureofwhichIneednotexplain。Inithemadeenemies；enemieswhostoppedatnothing，——
murder，poison，rape。Toparalyzeyouruncle’sactionbyattackinghiminhisdearestspot，Lydiewas，notabducted，butenticedfromherhomeandtakentoahouseapparentlyrespectable，wherefortendaysshewaskeptconcealed。Shewasnotmuchalarmedbythisdetention，beingtoldthatitwasdoneatherfather’swish，andshespenthertimewithhermusic——youremember，monsieur，howshesang？\"
\"Oh！\"exclaimedlaPeyrade，coveringhisfacewithhishands。
\"ItoldyouyesterdaythatyoumightperhapshavemoreuponyourconsciencethantheThuillierhouse。Butyouwereyoung；youhadjustcomefromyourprovince，withthatbrutality，thatfrenzyofSouthernbloodinyourveinswhichflingsitselfuponsuchanoccasion。
Besides，yourrelationshipbecameknowntothosewhowerepreparingtheruinofthisnewClarissaHarlowe，andIamwillingtobelievethananablerandbettermanthanyoumightnothaveescapedtheentanglementintowhichyoufell。Happily，Providencehasgrantedthatthereisnothingabsolutelyirreparableinthishorriblehistory。Thesamepoison，accordingtotheusethatismadeofit，maygiveeitherdeathorhealth。\"
\"But，monsieur，\"saidlaPeyrade，\"shallInotalwaysbetoheranobjectofhorror？\"
\"Thedoctor，monsieur，\"saidKatte，openingthedoor。
\"HowisMademoiselleLydie？\"askedlaPeyrade，eagerly。
\"Verycalm，\"repliedKatte。\"Justnow，whenweputhertobed，——thoughshedidnotwanttogo，sayingshefeltwell，——Itookherthebundleoflinen，butshetoldmetotakeitaway，andaskedwhatImeanthertodowithit。\"
\"Yousee，\"saidCorentin，graspingtheProvencal’shand，\"youarethelanceofAchilles。\"
AndhelefttheroomwithKattetoreceiveDoctorBianchon。
Leftalone，Theodosewasapreytothoughtswhichmayperhapsbeimagined。Afterawhilethedooropened，andBruneau，theoldvalet，usheredinCerizet。SeeinglaPeyrade，thelatterexclaimed：——
\"Ha！ha！Iknewit！IknewyouwouldendbyseeingduPortail。Andthemarriage，——howdoesthatcomeon？\"
\"Whatareyoudoinghere？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Somethingthatconcernsyou；orrather，somethingthatwemustdotogether。DuPortail，whoistoobusytoattendtobusinessjustnow，hassentmeinheretoseeyou，andconsultastothebestmeansofputtingaspokeinThuillier’selection；itseemsthatthegovernmentisdeterminedtopreventhiswinningit。Haveyouanyideasaboutit？\"
\"No，\"repliedlaPeyrade；\"andIdon’tfeelinthemoodjustnowtobeimaginative。\"
\"Well，here’sthesituation，\"saidCerizet。\"Thegovernmenthasanothercandidate，whichitdoesn’tyetproduce，becausetheministerialnegotiationswithhimhavebeenratherdifficult。DuringthistimeThuillier’schanceshavebeenmakingheadway。Minard，onwhomtheycountedtocreateadiversion，sits，thestupidfool，inhiscorner；theseizureofthatpamphlethasgivenyourblockheadofaprotegeacertainperfumeofpopularity。Inshort，theministryareafraidhe’llbeelected，andnothingcouldbemoredisagreeabletothem。Pompousimbeciles，likeThuillier，arehorriblyembarrassingintheOpposition；theyarepitcherswithouthandles；youcan’ttakeholdofthemanywhere。\"
\"MonsieurCerizet，\"saidlaPeyrade，beginningtoassumeaprotectingtone，andwishingtodiscoverhislateassociate’splaceinCorentin’sconfidence，\"youseemtoknowagooddealaboutthesecretintentionsofthegovernment；haveyoufoundyourwaytoacertaindeskintheruedeGrenelle？\"
\"No。AllthatItellyou，\"saidCerizet，\"IgetfromduPortail。\"
\"Ahca！\"saidlaPeyrade，loweringhisvoice，\"whoISduPortail？Youseemtohaveknownhimforsometime。Amanofyourforceoughttohavediscoveredtherealcharacterofamanwhoseemstometoberathermysterious。\"
\"Myfriend，\"repliedCerizet，\"duPortailisaprettystrongman。He’sanoldslyboots，whohashadsomepost，Ifancy，intheadministrationofthenationaldomain，orsomethingofthatkind，undergovernment；
inwhich，Ithink，hemusthavebeenemployedinthedepartmentssuppressedundertheEmpire。\"
\"Yes？\"saidlaPeyrade。
\"That’swhereIthinkhemadehismoney，\"continuedCerizet；\"andbeingashrewdoldfellow，andhavinganaturaldaughtertomarry，hehasconcoctedthisphilanthropictaleofherbeingthedaughterofanoldfriendnamedPeyrade；andyournamebeingthesamemayhavegivenhimtheideaoffasteninguponyou——for，afterall，hehastomarryhertosomebody。\"
\"Yes，that’sallverywell；buthiscloserelationswiththegovernment，andtheinteresthetakesinelections，howdoyouexplainallthat？\"
\"Naturallyenough，\"repliedCerizet。\"DuPortailisamanwholovesmoney，andlikestohandleit；hehasdoneRastignac，thatgreatmanipulatorofelections，whois，Ithink，hiscompatriot，severalsignalservicesasanamateur；Rastignac，inreturn，giveshiminformation，obtainedthroughNucingen，whichenableshimtogambleattheBourse。\"
\"Didhehimselftellyouallthis？\"askedlaPeyrade。
\"Whatdoyoutakemefor？\"returnedCerizet。\"Withthatworthyoldfellow，fromwhomIhavealreadywormedapromiseofthirtythousandfrancs，Iplaytheninny；Iflattenmyselftonothing。ButI’vemadeBruneautalk，thatoldvaletofhis。Youcansafelyallyyourselftohisfamily，mydearfellow；duPortailispowerfullyrich；he’llgetyoumadesub—prefectsomewhere；andthencetoaprefectureandafortuneisbutonestep。\"
\"Thanksfortheinformation，\"saidlaPeyrade；\"atleast，Ishallknowonwhichfoottohop。Butyouyourself，howcameyoutoknowhim？\"
\"Oh！that’squiteahistory；bymyhelphewasabletogetbackalotofdiamondswhichhadbeenstolenfromhim。\"
AtthismomentCorentinenteredtheroom。
\"Alliswell，\"hesaidtolaPeyrade。\"Therearesignsofreturningreason。Bianchon，towhomIhavetoldall，wishestoconferwithyou；
therefore，mydearMonsieurCerizet，wewillpostponeuntilthisevening，ifyouarewilling，ourlittlestudyovertheThuillierelection。\"
\"Well，sohereyouhavehim，atlast！\"saidCerizet，slappinglaPeyrade’sshoulder。
\"Yes，\"saidCorentin，\"andyouknowwhatIpromised；youmayrelyonthat。\"
Cerizetdepartedjoyful。
CHAPTERXVI
CHECKMATETOTHUILLIER
Thedayafterthatevening，whenCorentin，laPeyrade，andCerizetweretohavehadtheirconsultationinreferencetotheattackonThuillier’scandidacy，thelatterwasdiscussingwithhissisterBrigittetheletterinwhichTheodosedeclinedthehandofCeleste，andhismindseemedparticularlytodwellonthepostscriptwhereitwasintimatedthatlaPeyrademightnotcontinuetheeditorofthe\"EchodelaBievre。\"AtthismomentHenri，the\"maledomestic，\"
enteredtheroomtoaskifhismasterwouldreceiveMonsieurCerizet。
Thuillier’sfirstimpulsewastodenyhimselftothatunwelcomevisitor。Then，thinkingbetterofit，hereflectedthatiflaPeyradesuddenlylefthiminthelurch，Cerizetmightpossiblyproveapreciousresource。Consequently，heorderedHenritoshowhimin。Hismanner，however，wasextremelycold，andinsomesortexpectant。AsforCerizet，hepresentedhimselfwithouttheslightestembarrassmentandwiththeairofamanwhohadcalculatedalltheconsequencesofthestephewastaking。
\"Well，mydearmonsieur，\"hebegan，\"IsupposebythistimeyouhavebeenpostedastotheSieurlaPeyrade。\"
\"Whatmayyoumeanbythat？\"saidThuillier，stiffly。
\"Well，theman，\"repliedCerizet，\"who，afterintriguingtomarryyourgoddaughter，breaksoffthemarriageabruptly——ashewill，beforelong，breakthatlion’s—sharecontracthemadeyousignabouthiseditorship——can’tbe，Ishouldsuppose，theobjectofthesameblindconfidenceyouformerlyreposedinhim。\"
\"Ah！\"saidThuillier，hastily，\"thendoyouknowanythingaboutlaPeyrade’sintentionofleavingthenewspaper？\"
\"No，\"saidtheother；\"onthetermsInowamwithhim，youcanreadilybelievewedon’tseeeachother；stilllessshouldIreceivehisconfidences。ButIdrawtheinductionfromthewell—knowncharacteroftheperson，andyoumaybesurethatwhenhefindsitforhisinteresttoleaveyou，he’llthrowyouawaylikeanoldcoat——I’vepassedthatway，andIspeakfromexperience。\"
\"Thenyoumusthavehadsomedifficultieswithhimbeforeyoujoinedmypaper？\"saidThuillier，interrogatively。
\"Parbleu！\"repliedCerizet；\"theaffairofthishousewhichhehelpedyoutobuywasmine；Istartedthathare。Hewastoputmeinrelationwithyou，andmakemetheprincipaltenantofthehouse。Buttheunfortunateaffairofthatbidding—ingavehimachancetoknockmeoutofeverythingandgetalltheprofitsforhimself。\"
\"Profits！\"exclaimedThuillier。\"Idon’tseethathegotanythingoutofthattransaction，exceptthemarriagewhichhenowrefuses——\"
\"But，\"interruptedCerizet，\"there’sthetenthousandfrancshegotoutofyouonpretenceofthecrosswhichyouneverreceived，andthetwenty—fivethousandheowestoMadameLambert，forwhichyouwentsecurity，andwhichyouwillsoonhavetopaylikeagoodfellow。\"
\"What’sthisIhear？\"criedBrigitte，upinarms；\"twenty—fivethousandfrancsforwhichyouhavegivensecurity？\"
\"Yes，mademoiselle，\"interposedCerizet；\"behindthatsumwhichthiswomanhadlenthimtherewasamystery，andifIhadnotlaidmyhandonthetrueexplanation，therewouldcertainlyhavebeenaverydirtyendingtoit。LaPeyradewascleverenoughnotonlytowhitewashhimselfinMonsieurThuillier’seyes，buttogethimtosecurethedebt。\"
\"But，\"saidThuillier，\"howdoyouknowthatIdidgivesecurityforthatdebt，ifyouhavenotseenhimsincethen？\"
\"Iknowitfromthewomanherself，whotellsthewholestorynowsheiscertainofbeingpaid。\"
\"Well，\"saidBrigittetoherbrother，\"aprettybusinessyouareengagedin！\"
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidCerizet，\"IonlymeanttowarnMonsieurThuillieralittle。Ithinkmyselfthatyouaresuretobepaid。Withoutknowingtheexactparticularsofthisnewmarriage，Iamcertainthefamilywouldneverallowhimtooweyoutosuchmortifyingdebts；ifnecessary，Ishouldbeverygladtointervene。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidThuillier，stiffly，\"thankingyouforyourofficiousintervention，permitmetosaythatitsurprisesmealittle，forthemannerinwhichwepartedwouldnothaveallowedmetohopeit。\"
\"Ahca！\"saidCerizet；\"youdon’tthinkIwasangrywithyouforthat，doyou？Ipitiedyou，thatwasall。Isawyouunderthespell，andI
saidtomyself：’LeavehimtolearnlaPeyradebyexperience。’Iknewverywellthatthedayofjusticewoulddawnforme，andbeforelong，too。LaPeyradeisamanwhodoesn’tmakeyouwaitforhisquestionableproceedings。\"
\"Allowmetosay，\"remarkedThuillier，\"thatIdonotconsidertheruptureofthemarriagewehadproposedaquestionableproceeding。Thematterwasarranged，Imaysay，bymutualconsent。\"
\"Andthetrickheisgoingtoplayyoubyleavingthepaperinthelurch，andthedebthehassaddledyouwith，whatarethey？\"
\"MonsieurCerizet，\"continuedThuillier，stillholdinghimselfonthereserve，\"asIhavesaidmorethanoncetolaPeyrade，nomanisindispensable；andiftheeditorshipofmypaperbecomesvacant，I
feelconfidentthatIshallatoncemeetwithpersonsveryeagertooffermetheirservices。\"
\"Isitformeyousaythat？\"askedCerizet。\"Well，youhaven’thitthenail；ifyoudidmethehonortowantmyservicesitwouldbeimpossibleformetograntthem。Ihavelongbeendisgustedwithjournalism。IletlaPeyrade，Ihardlyknowwhy，persuademetomakethiscampaignwithyou；itdidn’tturnouthappily，andIhavevowedtomyselftohavenomoretodowithnewspapers。ItwasaboutanothermatteraltogetherthanIcametospeaktoyou。\"
\"Ah！\"saidThuillier。
\"Yes，\"continuedCerizet，\"rememberingthebusiness—likemannerinwhichyoumanagedtheaffairofthishouseinwhichyoudomethehonortoreceiveme，IthoughtIcouldnotdobetterthantocallyourattentiontoamatterofthesamekindwhichIhavejustnowinhand。
ButIshallnotdoaslaPeyradedid，——makeabargainforthehandofyourgoddaughter，andprofessgreatfriendshipanddevotiontoyoupersonally。Thisispurelybusiness，andIexpecttomakemyprofitoutofit。Now，asIstilldesiretobecometheprincipaltenantofthishouse，——thelettingofwhichmustbeacareandadisappointmenttomademoiselle，forIsawasIcamealongthattheshopswerestillunrented，——Ithinkthatthisleasetome，ifyouwillmakeit，mightbereckonedintomyshareoftheprofits。Yousee，monsieur，thattheobjectofmyvisithasnothingtodowiththenewspaper。\"
\"Whatisthisnewaffair？\"saidBrigitte；\"that’sthefirstthingtoknow。\"
\"ItrelatestoafarminBeauce，whichhasjustbeensoldforasong，anditisplacedinmyhandstoresell，atanadvance，butasmallone；youcouldreallybuyit，asthesayingis，forabitofbread。\"
AndCerizetwentontoexplainthewholemechanismoftheaffair，whichweneednotrelatehere，asnoonebutBrigittewouldtakeanyinterestinit。Thestatementwasclearandprecise，andittookcloseholdontheoldmaid’smind。EvenThuillierhimself，inspiteofhisinwarddistrust，wasobligedtoownthattheaffairhadalltheappearanceofagoodspeculation。
\"Only，\"saidBrigitte，\"wemustfirstseethefarmourselves。\"
This，thereaderwillremember，washeranswertolaPeyradewhenhefirstproposedthepurchaseofthehouseattheMadeleine。
\"Nothingiseasierthanthat，\"saidCerizet。\"Imyselfwanttoseeit，andIhavebeenintendingtomakealittleexcursionthere。Ifyoulike，I’llbeatyourdoorthisafternoonwithapost—chaise，andto—morrowmorning，veryearly，wecanexaminethefarm，breakfastatsomeinnnearby，andbebackintimefordinner。\"
\"Apost—chaise！\"saidBrigitte，\"that’sverylordly；whynottakethediligence？\"
\"Diligencesaresouncertain，\"repliedCerizet；\"youneverknowatwhattimetheywillgettoaplace。Butyouneednotthinkabouttheexpense，forIshouldotherwisegoalone，andIamonlytoohappytoofferyoutwoseatsinmycarriage。\"
Tomisers，smallgainsareoftendeterminingcausesingreatmatters；
afteralittleresistance\"proforma，\"Brigitteendedbyacceptingtheproposal，andthreehourslaterthetriowereontheroadtoChartres，CerizethavingadvisedThuilliernottoletlaPeyradeknowofhisabsence，lesthemighttakesomeunfairadvantageofit。
Thenextday，byfiveo’clock，thepartyhadreturned，andthebrotherandsister，whokepttheiropinionstothemselvesinpresenceofCerizet，werebothagreedthatthepurchasewasagoodone。Theyhadfoundthesoilofthebestquality，thebuildingsinperfectrepair，thecattlelookedsoundandhealthy；inshort，thisideaofbecomingthemistressofruralpropertyseemedtoBrigittethefinalconsecrationofopulence。
\"Minard，\"sheremarked，\"hasonlyatown—houseandinvestedcapital，whereasweshallhaveallthatandacountry—placebesides；onecan’tbereallyrichwithoutit。\"
Thuillierwasnotsufficientlyunderthecharmofthatdream——therealizationofwhichwas，inanycase，quitedistant——toforget，evenforamoment，the\"EchodelaBievre\"andhiscandidacy。Nosoonerhadhereachedhomethanheaskedforthemorning’spaper。
\"Ithasnotcome，\"saidthe\"maledomestic。\"
\"That’safinedistribution，wheneventheownerofthepaperisnotserved！\"criedThuillier，discontentedly。
Althoughitwasnearlydinner—time，andafterhisjourneyhewouldmuchratherhavetakenabaththanrushtotherueSaint—Dominique，Thuillierorderedacabanddroveatoncetotheofficeofthe\"Echo。\"
Thereafreshdisappointmentmethim。Thepaper\"wasmade，\"astheysay，andalltheemployeeshaddeparted，evenlaPeyrade。AsforCoffinet，whowasnottobefoundathispostofoffice—boy，noryetathisotherpostofporter，hehadgone\"ofanerrand，\"hiswifesaid，takingthekeyoftheclosetinwhichtheremainingcopiesofthepaperwerelockedup。Impossible，therefore，toprocurethenumberwhichtheunfortunateproprietorhadcomesofartofetch。
TodescribeThuillier’sindignationwouldbeimpossible。Hemarchedupanddowntheroom，talkingaloudtohimself，aspeopledoinmomentsofexcitement。
\"I’llturnthemallout！\"hecried。Andweareforcedtoomittherestofthefuriousobjurgation。
Asheendedhisanathemaarapwasheardonthedoor。
\"Comein！\"saidThuillier，inatonethatdepictedhiswrathandhisfranticimpatience。
Thedooropened，andMinardrushedprecipitatelyintohisarms。
\"Mygood，myexcellentfriend！\"criedthemayoroftheeleventharrondissement，concludinghisembracewithaheartyshakeofthehand。
\"Why！whatisit？\"saidThuillier，unabletocomprehendthewarmthofthisdemonstration。
\"Ah！mydearfriend，\"continuedMinard，\"suchanadmirableproceeding！
reallychivalrous！mostdisinterested！Theeffect，Iassureyou，isquitestupendousinthearrondissement。\"
\"Butwhat，Isay？\"criedThuillier，impatiently。
\"Thearticle，thewholeaction，\"continuedMinard，\"sonoble，soelevated！\"
\"Butwhatarticle？whataction？\"saidtheproprietorofthe\"Echo，\"
gettingquitebesidehimself。
\"Thearticleofthismorning，\"saidMinard。
\"Thearticleofthismorning？\"
\"Ahca！didyouwriteitwhenyouwereasleep；or，likeMonsieurJourdaindoingprose，doyoudoheroismwithoutknowingit？\"
\"I！Ihaven’twrittenanyarticle！\"criedThuillier。\"IhavebeenawayfromParisforaday，andIdon’tevenknowwhatisinthismorning’spaper；andtheoffice—boyisnotheretogivemeacopy。\"
\"Ihaveone，\"saidMinard，pullingthemuchdesiredpaperfromhispocket。\"Ifthearticleisnotyearsyouhavecertainlyinspiredit；
inanycase，thedeedisdone。\"
ThuillierhurriedlyunfoldedthesheetMinardhadgivenhim，anddevouredratherthanreadthefollowingarticle：——
Longenoughhastheproprietorofthisregeneratedjournalsubmittedwithoutcomplaintandwithoutreplytothecowardlyinsinuationswithwhichavenalpressinsultsallcitizenswho，strongintheirconvictions，refusetopassbeneaththeCaudineForksofpower。Longenoughhasaman，whohasalreadygivenproofsofdevotionandabnegationintheimportantfunctionsoftheaedilityofParis，allowedthesesheetstocallhimambitiousandself—seeking。MonsieurJeromeThuillier，stronginhisdignity，hassufferedsuchcoarseattackstopasshimwithcontempt。Encouragedbythisdisdainfulsilence，thestipendiariesofthepresshavedaredtowritethatthisjournal，aworkofconvictionandofthemostdisinterestedpatriotism，wasbutthestepping—stoneofaman，thespeculationofaseekerforelection。
MonsieurJeromeThuillierhasheldhimselfimpassiblebeforetheseshamefulimputationsbecausejusticeandtrutharepatient，andhebidedhistimetoscotchthereptile。Thattimehascome。
\"ThatdeuceofaPeyrade！\"saidThuillier，stoppingshort；\"howhedoestouchitoff！\"
\"Itismagnificent！\"criedMinard。
Readingaloud，Thuilliercontinued：——
Everyone，friendsandenemiesalike，canbearwitnessthatMonsieurJeromeThuillierhasdonenothingtoseekacandidacywhichwasofferedtohimspontaneously。
\"That’sevident，\"saidThuillier，interruptinghimself。Thenheresumed：——
But，sincehissentimentsaresoodiouslymisrepresented，andhisintentionssofalselytravestied，MonsieurJeromeThuillierowesittohimself，andabovealltothegreatnationalpartyofwhichheisthehumblestsoldier，togiveanexamplewhichshallconfoundthevilesycophantsofpower。
\"Itisfine，thewaylaPeyradeposesme！\"saidThuillier，pausingoncemoreinhisreading。\"Iseenowwhyhedidn’tsendmethepaper；
hewantedtoenjoymysurprise——’confoundthevilesycophantsofpower！’howfinethatis！\"
Afterwhichreflection，hecontinued：——
MonsieurThuillierwassofarfromfoundingthisjournalofdynasticoppositiontosupportandpromotehiselectionthat，attheverymomentwhentheprospectsofthatelectionseemmostfavorabletohimselfandmostdisastroustohisrivals，heheredeclarespublicly，andinthemostformal，absolute，andirrevocablemannerthatheRENOUNCESHISCANDIDACY。
\"What？\"criedThuillier，thinkinghehadreadwrong，orhadmisunderstoodwhatheread。
\"Goon！goon！\"saidthemayoroftheeleventh。
Then，asThuillier，withabewilderedair，seemednotdisposedtocontinuehisreading，Minardtookthepaperfromhishandsandreadtherestofthearticlehimself，beginningwheretheotherhadleftoff：——
Renounceshiscandidacy；andhestronglyurgestheelectorstotransfertoMonsieurMinard，mayoroftheeleventharrondissementandhisfriendandcolleagueinhismunicipalfunctions，allthevoteswithwhichtheyseemedabouttohonorhim。
\"Butthisisinfamous！\"criedThuillier，recoveringhisspeech；\"youhaveboughtthatJesuitlaPeyrade。\"
\"So，\"saidMinard，stupefiedbyThuillier’sattitude，\"thearticlewasnotagreeduponbetweenyou？\"
\"Thewretchhasprofitedbymyabsencetoslipitintothepaper；I
understandnowwhyhepreventedacopyfromreachingmeto—day。\"
\"Mydearfriend，\"saidMinard，\"whatyoutellmewillseemincredibletothepublic。\"
\"Itellyouitistreachery；itisanabominabletrap。Renouncemycandidacy！——whyshouldI？\"
\"Youunderstand，mydearfriend，\"saidMinard，\"thatIamtrulysorryifyourconfidencehasbeenabused，butIhavejustissuedmycircularmanifesto；thedieiscast，andlucktotheluckynow。\"
\"Leaveme，\"saidThuillier；\"itisacomedyforwhichyouhavepaid。\"
\"MonsieurThuillier，\"saidMinard，inathreateningvoice，\"Iadviseyounottorepeatthosewords，unlessyouarereadytogivemesatisfactionforthem。\"
HappilyforThuillier，who，wemayremember，hadmadehisprofessionoffaithastociviccouragesometimebefore，hewasrelievedfromansweringbyCoffinet，whonowopenedthedooroftheeditorialsanctum，andannounced：——
\"Messieurstheelectorsofthetwelftharrondissement。\"
Thearrondissementwasrepresentedonthisoccasionbyfivepersons。
Anapothecary，chairmanofthedeputation，proceededtoaddressThuillierinthefollowingterms：——
\"Wehavecome，monsieur，aftertakingcognizanceofanarticleinsertedthismorninginthe’EchodelaBievre，’toinquireofyouwhatmaybepreciselytheoriginandbearingofthatarticle；thinkingitincrediblethat，havingsolicitedoursuffrages，youshould，ontheeveofthiselection，andfromamostmistakenpuritanism，havecastdisorderanddisunionintoourranks，andprobablyhavecausedthetriumphoftheministerialcandidate。Acandidatedoesnotbelongtohimself；hebelongstotheelectorswhohavepromisedtohonorhimwiththeirvotes。But，\"continuedtheorator，castinghiseyeatMinard，\"thepresenceintheseprecinctsofthecandidatewhomyouhavegoneoutofyourwaytorecommendtous，indicatesthatbetweenyouandhimthereisconnivance；andIhavenoneedtoaskwhoisbeingheredeceived。\"
\"No，messieurs，no，\"saidThuillier；\"Ihavenotrenouncedmycandidacy。Thatarticlewaswrittenandprintedwithoutmyknowledgeorconsent。To—morrowyouwillseethedenialofitinthesamepaper，andyouwillalsolearnthattheinfamouspersonwhohasbetrayedmyconfidenceisnolongertheeditorofthisjournal。\"