“Butawifechangeseverything。Awifemeansaproperlyfurnishedhouse,“continuedthelawyer;“shewantsthecarriageforherself;ifshegoestotheplay,shewantsabox,whilethebachelorhasonlyastalltopayfor;inshort,awiferepresentsthewholeoftheincomewhichthebachelorusedtospendonhimself。Supposethathusbandandwifehavethirtythousandfrancsayearbetweenthem——practically,thesometimebachelorisapoordevilwhothinkstwicebeforehedrivesouttoChantilly。Bringchildrenonthescene——heispinchedformoneyatonce。
　　“Now,asM。andMme。deMarvillearescarcelyturnedfifty,Cecile'sexpectationsarebillsthatwillnotfalldueforfifteenortwentyyearstocome;andnoyoungfellowcarestokeepthemsolonginhisportfolio。TheyoungfeatherheadswhoaredancingthepolkawithlorettesattheJardinMabille,aresocankeredwithself-interest,thattheydon'tstandinneedofustoexplainbothsidesoftheproblemtothem。Betweenourselves,ImaysaythatMlle。deMarvillescarcelysetsheartsthrobbingsofastbutthattheirownerscanperfectlykeeptheirheads,andtheyarefulloftheseanti-
　　matrimonialreflections。Ifanyeligibleyoungman,infullpossessionofhissensesandanincomeoftwentythousandfrancs,happenstobesketchingoutaprogrammeofmarriagethatwillsatisfyhisambitions,Mlle。deMarvilledoesnotaltogetheranswerthedescription——“
　　“Andwhynot？”askedthebewilderedmusician。
　　“Oh!——“saidthenotary,“well——ayoungmannowadaysmaybeasuglyasyouandI,mydearPons,butheisalmostsuretohavetheimpertinencetowantsixhundredthousandfrancs,agirlofgoodfamily,withwitandgoodlooksandgoodbreeding——flawlessperfectioninshort。“
　　“Thenitwillnotbeeasytomarryher？”
　　“ShewillnotbemarriedsolongasM。andMme。deMarvillecannotmakeuptheirmindstosettleMarvilleonherwhenshemarries;iftheyhadchosen,shemighthavebeentheVicomtessePopinotbynow。
　　ButherecomesM。Brunner——Weareabouttoreadthedeedofpartnershipandthemarriagecontract。“
　　Greetingsandintroductionsover,therelationsmadePonspromisetosignthecontract。Helistenedtothereadingofthedocuments,andtowardshalf-pastfivethepartywentintothedining-room。Thedinnerwasmagnificent,asacitymerchant'sdinnercanbe,whenheallowshimselfarespitefrommoney-making。GraffoftheHotelduRhinwasacquaintedwiththefirstprovisiondealersinParis;neverhadPonsnorSchmuckefaredsosumptuously。Thedisheswerearapturetothinkof!Italianpaste,delicateofflavor,unknowntothepublic;smeltsfriedasneversmeltswerefriedbefore;fishfromLakeLeman,witharealGenevesesauce,andacreamforplum-puddingwhichwouldhaveastonishedtheLondondoctorwhoissaidtohaveinventedit。Itwasnearlyteno'clockbeforetheyrosefromtable。Theamountofwine,GermanandFrench,consumedatthatdinnerwouldamazethecontemporarydandy;nobodyknowstheamountofliquorthataGermancanimbibeandyetkeepcalmandquiet;tohaveevenanideaofthequantity,youmustdineinGermanyandwatchbottlesucceedtobottle,likewaveripplingafterwavealongthesunnyshoresoftheMediterranean,anddisappearasiftheTeutonpossessedtheabsorbingpowerofspongesorseasand。Perfectharmonyprevailsmeanwhile;
　　thereisnoneoftheracketthattherewouldbeovertheliquorinFrance;thetalkisassoberasamoney-lender'sextemporespeech;
　　countenancesflush,likethefacesofthebridesinfrescoesbyCorneliusorSchnorrimperceptibly,thatistosay,andreminiscencesarepouredoutslowlywhilethesmokepuffsfromthepipes。
　　Abouthalf-pasttenthateveningPonsandSchmuckefoundthemselvessittingonabenchoutinthegarden,withtheex-flutebetweenthem;
　　theywereexplainingtheircharacters,opinions,andmisfortunes,withnoveryclearideaastowhyorhowtheyhadcometothispoint。Inthethickofapotpourriofconfidences,WilhelmspokeofhisstrongdesiretoseeFritzmarried,expressinghimselfwithvehementandvinouseloquence。
　　“WhatdoyousaytothisprogrammeforyourfriendBrunner？”criedPonsinconfidentialtones。“Acharmingandsensibleyoungladyoftwenty-four,belongingtoafamilyofthehighestdistinction。Thefatherholdsaveryhighpositionasajudge;therewillbeahundredthousandfrancspaiddownandamilliontocome。“
　　“Wait！”answeredSchwab;“IwillspeaktoFritzthisinstant。“
　　ThepairwatchedBrunnerandhisfriendastheywalkedroundandroundthegarden;againandagaintheypassedthebench,sometimesonespoke,sometimestheother。
　　Ponswasnotexactlyintoxicated;hisheadwasalittleheavy,buthisthoughts,onthecontrary,seemedallthelighter;hewatchedFritzBrunner'sfacethroughtherainbowmistoffumesofwine,andtriedtoreadauguriesfavorabletohisfamily。BeforeverylongSchwabintroducedhisfriendandpartnertoM。Pons;FritzBrunnerexpressedhisthanksforthetroublewhichPonshadbeensogoodastotake。
　　Intheconversationwhichfollowed,thetwooldbachelorsSchmuckeandPonsextolledtheestateofmatrimony,goingsofarastosay,withoutanymaliciousintent,“thatmarriagewastheendofman。“Teaandices,punchesandcakes,wereservedinthefuturehomeofthebetrothedcouple。Thewinehadbeguntotelluponthehonestmerchants,andthegeneralhilarityreacheditsheightwhenitwasannouncedthatSchwab'spartnerthoughtoffollowinghisexample。
　　Attwoo'clockthatmorning,SchmuckeandPonswalkedhomealongtheboulevards,philosophizing/apertederaison/astheywentontheharmonypervadingthearrangementsofthisourworldbelow。
　　Onthemorrowofthebanquet,CousinPonsbetookhimselftohisfaircousinthePresidente,overjoyed——poordearnoblesoul!——toreturngoodforevil。Surelyhehadattainedtoasublimeheight,aseveryonewillallow,forweliveinanagewhentheMontyonprizeisgiventothosewhodotheirdutybycarryingoutthepreceptsoftheGospel。
　　“Ah！”saidPonstohimself,asheturnedthecorneroftheRuedeChoiseul,“theywilllieunderimmenseobligationstotheirparasite。“
　　Anymanlessabsorbedinhiscontentment,anymanoftheworld,anydistrustfulnaturewouldhavewatchedthePresident'swifeanddaughterverynarrowlyonthisfirstreturntothehouse。Butthepoormusicianwasachild,hehadallthesimplicityofanartist,believingingoodnessashebelievedinbeauty;sohewasdelightedwhenCecileandhermothermademuchofhim。Afterallthevaudevilles,tragedies,andcomedieswhichhadbeenplayedundertheworthyman'seyesfortwelvelongyears,hecouldnotdetecttheinsincerityandgrimacesofsocialcomedy,nodoubtbecausehehadseentoomuchofit。AnyonewhogoesintosocietyinParis,andknowsthetypeofwoman,driedup,bodyandsoul,byaburningthirstforsocialposition,andafiercedesiretobethoughtvirtuous,anyonefamiliarwiththeshampietyandthedomineeringcharacterofawomanwhosewordislawinherownhouse,mayimaginethelurkinghatredsheborethishusband'scousinwhomshehadwronged。
　　Allthedemonstrativefriendlinessofmotheranddaughterwaslinedwithaformidablelongingforrevenge,evidentlypostponed。ForthefirsttimeinAmeliedeMarville'slifeshehadbeenputinthewrong,andthatinthesightofthehusbandoverwhomshetyrannized;andnotonlyso——shewasobligedtobeamiabletotheauthorofherdefeat!
　　Youcanscarcelyfindamatchforthispositionsaveinthehypocriticaldramaswhicharesometimeskeptupforyearsinthesacredcollegeofcardinals,orinchaptersofcertainreligiousorders。
　　Atthreeo'clock,whenthePresidentcamebackfromthelaw-courts,Ponshadscarcelymadeanendofthemarveloushistoryofhisacquaintance,M。FredericBrunner。Cecilehadgonestraighttothepoint。ShewantedtoknowhowFredericBrunnerwasdressed,howhelooked,hisheightandfigure,thecolorofhishairandeyes;andwhenshehadconjecturedadistinguishedairforFrederic,sheadmiredhisgenerosityofcharacter。
　　“Thinkofhisgivingfivehundredthousandfrancstohiscompanioninmisfortune!Oh!mamma,IshallhaveacarriageandaboxattheItaliens——“Cecilegrewalmostprettyasshethoughtthatallhermother'sambitionsforherwereabouttoberealized,thatthehopeswhichhadalmostleftherweretocometosomethingafterall。
　　AsforthePresidente,allthatshesaidwas,“Mydearlittlegirl,youmayperhapsbemarriedwithinthefortnight。“
　　Allmotherswithdaughtersofthree-and-twentyaddressthemas“littlegirl。“
　　“Still,“addedthePresident,“inanycase,wemusthavetimetomakeinquiries;neverwillIgivemydaughtertojustanybody——“
　　“Astoinquiries,“saidPons,“Berthierisdrawingupthedeeds。Astotheyoungmanhimself,mydearcousin,yourememberwhatyoutoldme?
　　Well,heisquitefortyyearsold;heisbald。Hewishestofindinfamilylifeahavenafterastorm;Ididnotdissuadehim;everymanhashistastes——“
　　“Onereasonthemoreforapersonalinterview,“returnedthePresident。“Iamnotgoingtogivemydaughtertoavaletudinarian。“
　　“Verygood,cousin,youshallseemysuitorinfivedaysifyoulike;
　　for,withyourviews,asingleinterviewwouldbeenough“——Cecileandhermothersignifiedtheirrapture——“Fredericisdecidedlyadistinguishedamateur;hebeggedmetoallowhimtoseemylittlecollectionathisleisure。Youhaveneverseenmypicturesandcuriosities;comeandseethem,“hecontinued,lookingathisrelatives。“Youcancomesimplyastwoladies,broughtbymyfriendSchmucke,andmakeM。Brunner'sacquaintancewithoutbetrayingyourselves。Fredericneednotintheleastknowwhoyouare。“
　　“Admirable！”criedthePresident。
　　Theattentiontheypaidtotheoncescornedparasitemaybelefttotheimagination!PoorPonsthatdaybecamethePresidente'scousin。
　　Thehappymotherdrownedherdislikeinfloodsofjoy;herlooks,hersmiles,herwordssenttheoldmanintoecstasiesoverthegoodthathehaddone,overthefuturethathesawbyglimpses。Washenotsuretofinddinnerssuchasyesterday'sbanquetoverthesigningofthecontract,multipliedindefinitelybythree,inthehousesofBrunner,Schwab,andGraff?Hesawbeforehimalandofplenty——a/viedecocagne/,amiraculoussuccessionof/platscouverts/,ofdelicatesurprisedishes,ofexquisitewines。
　　“IfCousinPonsbringsthisthrough,“saidthePresident,addressinghiswifeafterPonshaddeparted,“weoughttosettleanincomeuponhimequaltohissalaryatthetheatre。“
　　“Certainly,“saidthelady;andCecilewasinformedthatiftheproposedsuitorfoundfavorinhereyes,shemustundertaketoinducetheoldmusiciantoacceptamunificenceinsuchbadtaste。
　　NextdaythePresidentwenttoBerthier。HewasanxioustomakesureofM。FredericBrunner'sfinancialposition。Berthier,forewarnedbyMme。deMarville,hadaskedhisnewclientSchwabtocome。SchwabthebankerwasdazzledbytheprospectofsuchamatchforhisfriendeverybodyknowshowdeeplyaGermanveneratessocialdistinctions,somuchso,thatinGermanyawifetakesherhusband'sofficialtitle,andistheFrauGeneral,theFrauRath,andsoforth——Schwabthereforewasasaccommodatingasacollectorwhoimaginesthatheischeatingadealer。
　　“Inthefirstplace,“saidCecile'sfather,“asIshallmakeovermyestateofMarvilletomydaughter,Ishouldwishthecontracttobedrawnuponthedotalsystem。Inthatcase,M。Brunnerwouldinvestamillionfrancsinlandtoincreasetheestate,andbysettlingthelandonhiswifehewouldsecureherandhischildrenfromanyshareintheliabilitiesofthebank。“
　　Berthierstrokedhischin。“Heiscomingonwell,isM。lePresident,“
　　thoughthe。
　　WhenthedotalsystemhadbeenexplainedtoSchwab,heseemedmuchinclinedthatwayforhisfriend。HehadheardFritzsaythathewishedtofindsomewayofinsuringhimselfagainstanotherlapseintopoverty。
　　“Thereisafarmandpasturelandworthtwelvehundredthousandfrancsinthemarketatthismoment,“remarkedthePresident。
　　“IfwetakeupsharesintheBankofFrancetotheamountofamillionfrancs,thatwillbequiteenoughtoguaranteeouraccount,“saidSchwab。“Fritzdoesnotwanttoinvestmorethantwomillionfrancsinbusiness;hewilldoasyouwish,Iamsure,M。lePresident。“
　　ThePresident'swifeanddaughterwerealmostwildwithjoywhenhebroughthomethisnews。Never,surely,didsorichacaptureswimsocomplacentlyintothenetsofmatrimony。
　　“YouwillbeMme。BrunnerdeMarville,“saidtheparent,addressinghischild;“Iwillobtainpermissionforyourhusbandtoaddthenametohis,andafterwardshecantakeoutlettersofnaturalization。IfI
　　shouldbeapeerofFrancesomeday,hewillsucceedme！”
　　ThefivedayswerespentbyMme。deMarvilleinpreparations。OnthegreatdayshedressedCecileherself,takingasmuchpainsastheadmiraloftheBritishfleettakesoverthedressingofthepleasureyachtforHerMajestyofEnglandwhenshetakesatriptoGermany。
　　PonsandSchmucke,ontheirside,cleaned,swept,anddustedPons'
　　museumroomsandfurniturewiththeagilityofsailorscleaningdownaman-of-war。Therewasnotaspeckofdustonthecarvedwood;notaninchofbrassbutitglistened。TheglassesoverthepastelsobscurednothingoftheworkofLatour,Greuze,andLiotardillustriouspainterof/TheChocolateGirl/,miraclesofanart,alas!sofugitive。TheinimitablelustreofFlorentinebronzetookallthevaryinghuesofthelight;thepaintedglassglowedwithcolor。Everylineshoneoutbrilliantly,everyobjectthrewinitsphraseinaharmonyofmasterpiecesarrangedbytwomusicians——bothofwhomalikehadattainedtobepoets。
　　Withatactwhichavoidedthedifficultiesofalateappearanceonthesceneofaction,thewomenwerethefirsttoarrive;theywishedtobeontheirownground。PonsintroducedhisfriendSchmucke,whoseemedtohisfairvisitorstobeanidiot;theirheadsweresofulloftheeligiblegentlemanwiththefourmillionsoffrancs,thattheypaidbutlittleattentiontotheworthyPons'dissertationsuponmattersofwhichtheywerecompletelyignorant。
　　TheylookedwithindifferenteyesatPetitot'senamels,spacedovercrimsonvelvet,setinthreeframesofmarvelousworkmanship。FlowersbyVanHuysum,David,andHeim;butterfliespaintedbyAbrahamMignon;
　　VanEycks,undoubtedCranachsandAlbrechtDurers;theGiorgione,theSebastiandelPiombo;Backhuijzen,Hobbema,Gericault,theraritiesofpainting——noneofthesethingssomuchasarousedtheircuriosity;
　　theywerewaitingforthesuntoariseandshineuponthesetreasures。
　　Still,theyweresurprisedbythebeautyofsomeoftheEtruscantrinketsandthesolidvalueofthesnuff-boxes,andoutofpolitenesstheywentintoecstasiesoversomeFlorentinebronzeswhichtheyheldintheirhandswhenMme。CibotannouncedM。Brunner!Theydidnotturn;theytookadvantageofasuperbVenetianmirrorframedinhugemassesofcarvedebonytoscanthisphoenixofeligibleyoungmen。
　　Frederic,forewarnedbyWilhelm,hadmadethemostofthelittlehairthatremainedtohim。Heworeaneatpairoftrousers,asoftshadeofsomedarkcolor,asilkwaistcoatofsuperlativeeleganceandtheverynewestcut,ashirtwithopen-work,itslinenhand-wovenbyaFrieslandwoman,andablue-and-whitecravat。Hiswatchchain,liketheheadofhiscane,camefromMessrs。FlorentandChanor;andthecoat,cutbyoldGraffhimself,wasoftheveryfinestcloth。TheSuedeglovesproclaimedthemanwhohadrunthroughhismother'sfortune。Youcouldhaveseenthebanker'sneatlittlebroughamandpairofhorsesmirroredinthesurfaceofhisspecklessvarnishedboots,eveniftwopairsofsharpearshadnotalreadycaughtthesoundofwheelsoutsideintheRuedeNormandie。
　　Whentheprodigaloftwentyyearsisakindofchrysalisfromwhichabankeremergesattheageofforty,thesaidbankerisusuallyanobserverofhumannature;andsomuchthemoreshrewdif,asinBrunner'scase,heunderstandshowtoturnhisGermansimplicitytogoodaccount。Hehadassumedfortheoccasiontheabstractedairofamanwhoishesitatingbetweenfamilylifeandthedissipationsofbachelorhood。ThisexpressioninaFrenchifiedGermanseemedtoCeciletobeinthehighestdegreeromantic;thedescendantoftheVirlazwasasecondWertherinhereyes——whereisthegirlwhowillnotallowherselftoweavealittlenovelabouthermarriage?CecilethoughtherselfthehappiestofwomenwhenBrunner,lookingroundatthemagnificentworksofartsopatientlycollectedduringfortyyears,waxedenthusiastic,andPons,tohisnosmallsatisfaction,foundanappreciativeadmirerofhistreasuresforthefirsttimeinhislife。
　　“Heispoetical,“theyoungladysaidtoherself;“heseesmillionsinthethings。Apoetisamanthatcannotcountandleaveshiswifetolookafterhismoney——aneasymantomanageandamusewithtrifles。“
　　EverypaneinthetwowindowswasasquareofSwisspaintedglass;theleastofthemwasworthathousandfrancs;andPonspossessedsixteenoftheseunrivaledworksofartforwhichamateursseeksoeagerlynowadays。In1815thepanescouldbeboughtforsixortenfrancsapiece。Thevalueofthegloriouscollectionofpictures,flawlessgreatworks,authentic,untouchedsincetheyleftthemaster'shands,couldonlybeprovedinthefieryfurnaceofasaleroom。Notapicturebutwassetinacostlyframe;therewereframesofeverykind——
　　Venetians,carvedwithheavyornaments,likeEnglishplateofthepresentday;Romans,distinguishableamongtheothersforacertaindashthatartistscall/flafla/;Spanishwreathsinboldrelief;
　　FlemingsandGermanswithquaintfigures,tortoise-shellframesinlaidwithcopperandbrassandmother-of-pearlandivory;framesofebonyandboxwoodinthestylesofLouisTreize,LouisQuatorze,LouisQuinze,andLouisSeize——inshort,itwasauniquecollectionofthefinestmodels。Pons,luckierthantheartmuseumsofDresdenandVienna,possessedaframebythefamousBrustoloni——theMichaelAngeloofwood-carvers。
　　Mlle。deMarvillenaturallyaskedforexplanationsofeachnewcuriosity,andwasinitiatedintothemysteriesofartbyBrunner。Herexclamationsweresochildish,sheseemedsopleasedtohavethevalueandbeautyofthepaintings,carvings,orbronzespointedouttoher,thattheGermangraduallythawedandlookedquiteyoungagain,andbothwereledonfurtherthantheyintendedatthispurelyaccidentalfirstmeeting。
　　Theprivateviewlastedforthreehours。BrunnerofferedhisarmwhenCecilewentdownstairs。Astheydescendedslowlyanddiscreetly,Cecile,stilltalkingfineart,wonderedthatM。Brunnershouldadmirehercousin'sgimcrackssomuch。
　　“Doyoureallythinkthatthesethingsthatwehavejustseenareworthagreatdealofmoney？”
　　“Mademoiselle,ifyourcousinwouldsellhiscollection,Iwouldgiveeighthundredthousandfrancsforitthisevening,andIshouldnotmakeabadbargain。Thepicturesalonewouldfetchmorethanthatatapublicsale。“
　　“Sinceyousayso,Ibelieveit,“returnedshe;“thethingstookupsomuchofyourattentionthatitmustbeso。“
　　“On!mademoiselle！”protestedBrunner。“Forallanswertoyourreproach,Iwillaskyourmother'spermissiontocall,sothatImayhavethepleasureofseeingyouagain。“
　　“Howcleversheis,that'littlegirl'ofmine！”thoughtthePresidente,followingcloselyuponherdaughter'sheels。Aloudshesaid,“Withthegreatestpleasure,monsieur。Ihopethatyouwillcomeatdinner-timewithourCousinPons。ThePresidentwillbedelightedtomakeyouracquaintance——Thankyou,cousin。“
　　TheladysqueezedPons'armwithdeepmeaning;shecouldnothavesaidmoreifshehadusedtheconsecratedformula,“Letusswearaneternalfriendship。“Theglancewhichaccompaniedthat“Thankyou,cousin,“
　　wasacaress。
　　Whentheyoungladyhadbeenputintothecarriage,andthejobbedbroughamhaddisappeareddowntheRueCharlot,Brunnertalkedbric-a-
　　bractoPons,andPonstalkedmarriage。
　　“Thenyouseenoobstacle？”saidPons。
　　“Oh！”saidBrunner,“sheisaninsignificantlittlething,andthemotherisatrifleprim——Weshallsee。“
　　“Ahandsomefortuneoneofthesedays……Morethanamillion——“
　　“Good-byetillMonday！”interruptedthemillionaire。“Ifyoushouldcaretosellyourcollectionofpictures,Iwouldgiveyoufiveorsixhundredthousandfrancs——“
　　“Ah！”saidPons;hehadnoideathathewassorich。“Buttheyaremygreatpleasureinlife,andIcouldnotbringmyselftopartwiththem。Icouldonlysellmycollectiontobedeliveredaftermydeath。“
　　“Verywell。Weshallsee。“
　　“Herewehavetwoaffairsafoot！”saidPons;hewasthinkingonlyofthemarriage。
　　Brunnershookhandsanddroveawayinhissplendidcarriage。Ponswatcheditoutofsight。HedidnotnoticethatRemonencqwassmokinghispipeinthedoorway。
　　ThateveningMme。deMarvillewenttoaskadviceofherfather-in-law,andfoundthewholePopinotfamilyattheCamusots'house。Itwasonlynaturalthatamotherwhohadfailedtocaptureaneldestsonshouldbetemptedtotakeherlittlerevenge;soMme。deMarvillethrewouthintsofthesplendidmarriagethatherCecilewasabouttomake——
　　“WhomcanCecilebegoingtomarry？”wasthequestionuponalllips。
　　AndCecile'smother,withoutsuspectingthatshewasbetrayinghersecret,letfallwordsandwhisperedconfidences,afterwardssupplementedbyMme。Berthier,tillgossipcirculatinginthebourgeoisempyreanwherePonsaccomplishedhisgastronomicalevolutionstooksomethinglikethefollowingform：
　　“CeciledeMarvilleisengagedtobemarriedtoayoungGerman,abankerfromphilanthropicmotives,forhehasfourmillions;heislikeaheroinanovel,aperfectWerther,charmingandkind-hearted。
　　Hehassownhiswildoats,andheisdistractedlyinlovewithCecile;
　　itisacaseofloveatfirstsight;andsomuchthemorecertain,sinceCecilehadallPons'paintingsofMadonnasforrivals,“andsoforthandsoforth。
　　TwoorthreeofthesetcametocallonthePresidente,ostensiblytocongratulate,butreallytofindoutwhetherornotthemarveloustaleweretrue。FortheirbenefitMme。deMarvilleexecutedthefollowingadmirablevariationsonthethemeofson-in-lawwhichmothersmayconsult,aspeopleusedtorefertothe/CompleteLetterWriter/。
　　“Amarriageisnotanaccomplishedfact,“shetoldMme。Chiffreville,“untilyouhavebeeninthemayor'sofficeandthechurch。Wehaveonlycomeasfarasapersonalinterview;soIcountuponyourfriendshiptosaynothingofourhopes。“
　　“Youareveryfortunate,madame;marriagesaresodifficulttoarrangeinthesedays。“
　　“Whatcanonedo?Itwaschance;butmarriagesareoftenmadeinthatway。“
　　“Ah!well。SoyouaregoingtomarryCecile？”saidMme。Cardot。
　　“Yes,“saidCecile'smother,fullyunderstandingthemeaningofthe“so。““Wewereveryparticular,orCecilewouldhavebeenestablishedbeforethis。Butnowwehavefoundeverythingwewish：money,goodtemper,goodcharacter,andgoodlooks;andmysweetlittlegirlcertainlydeservesnothingless。M。Brunnerisacharmingyoungman,mostdistinguished;heisfondofluxury,heknowslife;heiswildaboutCecile,heloveshersincerely;andinspiteofhisthreeorfourmillions,Cecileisgoingtoaccepthim——Wehadnotlookedsohighforher;still,storeisnosore。“
　　“Itwasnotsomuchthefortuneastheaffectioninspiredbymydaughterwhichdecidedus,“thePresidentetoldMme。Lebas。“M。
　　Brunnerisinsuchahurrythathewantsthemarriagetotakeplacewiththeleastpossibledelay。“
　　“Isheaforeigner？”
　　“Yes,madame;butIamveryfortunate,Iconfess。No,Ishallnothaveason-in-law,butason。M。Brunner'sdelicacyhasquitewonourhearts。Noonewouldimaginehowanxioushewastomarryunderthedotalsystem。Itisagreatsecurityforfamilies。Heisgoingtoinvesttwelvehundredthousandfrancsingrazingland,whichwillbeaddedtoMarvillesomeday。“
　　Morevariationsfollowedonthemorrow。Forinstance——M。Brunnerwasagreatlord,doingeverythinginlordlyfashion;hedidnothaggle。IfM。deMarvillecouldobtainlettersofnaturalization,qualifyingM。
　　BrunnerforanofficeunderGovernmentandtheHomeSecretarysurelycouldstrainapointforM。deMarville,hisson-in-lawwouldbeapeerofFrance。NobodyknewhowmuchmoneyM。Brunnerpossessed;“hehadthefinesthorsesandthesmartestcarriagesinParis！”andsoonandsoon。
　　FromthepleasurewithwhichtheCamusotspublishedtheirhopes,itwasprettyclearthatthistriumphwasunexpected。
　　ImmediatelyaftertheinterviewinPons'museum,M。deMarville,athiswife'sinstance,beggedtheHomeSecretary,hischief,andtheattorneyforthecrowntodinewithhimontheoccasionoftheintroductionofthisphoenixofason-in-law。
　　Thethreegreatpersonagesacceptedtheinvitation,albeititwasgivenonshortnotice;theyallsawthepartthattheyweretoplayinthefamilypolitics,andreadilycametothefather'ssupport。InFranceweareusuallyprettyreadytoassistthemotherofmarriageabledaughterstohookaneligibleson-in-law。TheCountandCountessPopinotlikewiselenttheirpresencetocompletethesplendoroftheoccasion,althoughtheythoughttheinvitationinquestionabletaste。
　　Therewereeleveninall。Cecile'sgrandfather,oldCamusot,came,ofcourse,withhiswifetoafamilyreunionpurposelyarrangedtoelicitaproposalfromM。Brunner。
　　TheCamusotdeMarvilleshadgivenoutthattheguestoftheeveningwasoneoftherichestcapitalistsinGermany,amanoftastehewasinlovewith“thelittlegirl“,afuturerivaloftheNucingens,Kellers,duTillets,andtheirlike。
　　“Itisourday,“saidthePresidentewithelaboratesimplicity,whenshehadnamedherguestsonebyonefortheGermanwhomshealreadyregardedasherson-in-law。“Wehaveonlyafewintimatefriends——
　　first,myhusband'sfather,who,asyouknow,issuretoberaisedtothepeerage;M。leComteandMme。laComtessePopinot,whosesonwasnotthoughtrichenoughforCecile;theHomeSecretary;ourFirstPresident;ourattorneyforthecrown;ourpersonalfriends,inshort——
　　Weshallbeobligedtodineratherlateto-night,becausetheChamberissitting,andpeoplecannotgetawaybeforesix。“
　　BrunnerlookedsignificantlyatPons,andPonsrubbedhishandsasiftosay,“Ourfriends,yousee!/My/friends！”
　　Mme。deMarville,asaclevertactician,hadsomethingveryparticulartosaytohercousin,thatCecileandherWerthermightbelefttogetherforamoment。Cecilechatteredawayvolubly,andcontrivedthatFredericshouldcatchsightofaGermandictionary,aGermangrammar,andavolumeofGoethehiddenawayinaplacewherehewaslikelytofindthem。
　　“Ah!areyoulearningGerman？”askedBrunner,flushingred。
　　ForlayingtrapsofthiskindtheFrenchwomanhasnothermatch!
　　“Oh!hownaughtyyouare！”shecried;“itistoobadofyou,monsieur,toexploremyhiding-placeslikethis。IwanttoreadGoetheintheoriginal,“sheadded;“IhavebeenlearningGermanfortwoyears。“
　　“Thenthegrammarmustbeverydifficulttolearn,forscarcelytenpageshavebeencut——“Brunnerremarkedwithmuchcandor。
　　Cecile,abashed,turnedawaytohideherblushes。AGermancannotresistadisplayofthiskind;BrunnercaughtCecile'shand,madeherturn,andwatchedherconfusionunderhisgaze,afterthemanneroftheheroesofthenovelsofAugusteLafontaineofchastememory。
　　“Youareadorable,“saidhe。
　　Cecile'spetulantgesturereplied,“Soareyou——whocouldhelplikingyou？”
　　“Itisallright,mamma,“shewhisperedtoherparent,whocameupatthatmomentwithPons。
　　Thesightofafamilypartyontheseoccasionsisnottobedescribed。
　　Everybodywaswellsatisfiedtoseeamotherputherhandonaneligibleson-in-law。Compliments,double-barreledanddouble-charged,werepaidtoBrunnerwhopretendedtounderstandnothing;toCecile,onwhomnothingwaslost;andtothePresidente,whofishedforthem。
　　Ponsheardthebloodsinginginhisears,thelightofalltheblazinggas-jetsofthetheatrefootlightsseemedtobedazzlinghiseyes,whenCecile,inalowvoiceandwiththemostingeniouscircumspection,spokeofherfather'splanoftheannuityoftwelvehundredfrancs。Theoldartistpositivelydeclinedtheoffer,bringingforwardthevalueofhisfortuneinfurniture,onlynowmadeknowntohimbyBrunner。
　　TheHomeSecretary,theFirstPresident,theattorneyforthecrown,thePopinots,andthosewhohadotherengagements,allwent;andbeforelongnoonewasleftexceptM。Camusotsenior,andCardottheoldnotary,andhisassistantandson-in-lawBerthier。Pons,worthysoul,lookingroundandseeingnoonebutthefamily,blunderedoutaspeechofthankstothePresidentandhiswifefortheproposalwhichCecilehadjustmadetohim。Soitiswiththosewhoareguidedbytheirfeelings;theyactuponimpulse。Brunner,hearingofanannuityofferedinthisway,thoughtthatithadverymuchthelookofacommissionpaidtoPons;hemadeanIsraelite'sreturnuponhimself,hisattitudetoldofmorethancoolcalculation。
　　MeanwhilePonswassayingtohisastonishedrelations,“Mycollectionoritsvaluewill,inanycase,gotoyourfamily,whetherIcometotermswithourfriendBrunnerorkeepit。“TheCamusotswereamazedtohearthatPonswassorich。
　　Brunner,watching,sawhowalltheseignorantpeoplelookedfavorablyuponamanoncebelievedtobepoorsosoonastheyknewthathehadgreatpossessions。Hehadseen,too,alreadythatCecilewasspoiledbyherfatherandmother;heamusedhimself,therefore,byastonishingthegoodbourgeois。
　　“Iwastellingmademoiselle,“saidhe,“thatM。Pons'pictureswereworththatsumto/me/;butthepricesofworksofarthaverisensomuchoflate,thatnoonecantellhowmuchthecollectionmightsellforatpublicauction。Thesixtypicturesmightfetchamillionfrancs;severalthatIsawtheotherdaywereworthfiftythousandapiece。“
　　“Itisafinethingtobeyourheir！”remarkedoldCardot,lookingatPons。
　　“MyheirismyCousinCecilehere,“answeredPons,insistingontherelationship。Therewasaflutterofadmirationatthis。
　　“Shewillbeaveryrichheiress,“laughedoldCardot,ashetookhisdeparture。
　　Camusotsenior,thePresidentandhiswife,Cecile,Brunner,Berthier,andPonswerenowlefttogether;foritwasassumedthattheformaldemandforCecile'shandwasabouttobemade。NosoonerwasCardotgone,indeed,thanBrunnerbeganwithaninquirywhichauguredwell。
　　“IthinkIunderstood,“hesaid,turningtoMme。deMarville,“thatmademoiselleisyouronlydaughter。“
　　“Certainly,“theladysaidproudly。
　　“Nobodywillmakeanydifficulties,“Pons,goodsoul,putinbywayofencouragingBrunnertobringouthisproposal。
　　ButBrunnergrewthoughtful,andanominoussilencebroughtonacoolnessofthestrangestkind。ThePresidentemighthaveadmittedthather“littlegirl“wassubjecttoepilepticfits。ThePresident,thinkingthatCecileoughtnottobepresent,signedtohertogo。Shewent。StillBrunnersaidnothing。Theyallbegantolookatoneanother。Thesituationwasgrowingawkward。
　　Camusotsenior,amanofexperience,tooktheGermantoMme。deMarville'sroom,ostensiblytoshowhimPons'fan。Hesawthatsomedifficultyhadarisen,andsignedtotheresttoleavehimalonewithCecile'ssuitor-designate。
　　“Hereisthemasterpiece,“saidCamusot,openingoutthefan。
　　Brunnertookitinhishandandlookedatit。“Itisworthfivethousandfrancs,“hesaidafteramoment。
　　“Didyounotcomehere,sir,toaskformygranddaughter？”inquiredthefuturepeerofFrance。
　　“Yes,sir,“saidBrunner;“andIbegyoutobelievethatnopossiblemarriagecouldbemoreflatteringtomyvanity。Ishallneverfindanyonemorecharmingnormoreamiable,norayoungladywhoanswerstomyideaslikeMlle。Cecile;but——“
　　“Oh,no/buts/！”oldCamusotbrokein;“orletushavethetranslationofyour'buts'atonce,mydearsir。“
　　“Iamveryglad,sir,thatthematterhasgonenofurtheroneitherside,“Brunneransweredgravely。“IhadnoideathatMlle。Cecilewasanonlydaughter。Anybodyelsewouldconsiderthisanadvantage;buttome,believeme,itisaninsurmountableobstacleto——“
　　“What,sir！”criedCamusot,amazedbeyondmeasure。“Doyoufindapositivedrawbackinanimmenseadvantage?Yourconductisreallyextraordinary;Ishouldverymuchliketoheartheexplanationofit。“
　　“Icameherethisevening,sir,“returnedtheGermanphlegmatically,“intendingtoaskM。lePresidentforhisdaughter'shand。ItwasmydesiretogiveMlle。Cecileabrilliantfuturebyofferinghersomuchofmyfortuneasshewouldconsenttoaccept。Butanonlydaughterisachildwhosewillislawtoindulgentparents,whohasneverbeencontradicted。Ihavehadtheopportunityofobservingthisinmanyfamilies,whereparentsworshipdivinitiesofthiskind。Andyourgranddaughterisnotonlytheidolofthehouse,butMme。laPresidente……youknowwhatImean。Ihaveseenmyfather'shouseturnedintoahell,sir,fromthisverycause。Mystepmother,thesourceofallmymisfortunes,anonlydaughter,idolizedbyherparents,themostcharmingbetrothedimaginable,aftermarriagebecameafiendincarnate。IdonotdoubtthatMlle。Cecileisanexceptiontotherule;butIamnotayoungman,Iamfortyyearsold,andthedifferencebetweenouragesentailsdifficultieswhichwouldputitoutofmypowertomaketheyoungladyhappy,whenMme。laPresidentealwayscarriedoutherdaughter'severywishandlistenedtoherasifMademoisellewasanoracle。WhatrighthaveItoexpectMlle。Ceciletochangeherhabitsandideas?Insteadofafatherandmotherwhoindulgehereverywhim,shewouldfindanegotisticmanofforty;ifsheshouldresist,themanoffortywouldhavetheworstofit。So,asanhonestman——Iwithdraw。Ifthereshouldbeanyneedtoexplainmyvisithere,Idesiretobeentirelysacrificed——“
　　“Iftheseareyourmotives,sir,“saidthefuturepeerofFrance,“howeversingulartheymaybe,theyareplausible——“
　　“Donotcallmysincerityinquestion,sir,“Brunnerinterruptedquickly。“Ifyouknowofapennilessgirl,oneofalargefamily,wellbroughtupbutwithoutfortune,ashappensveryofteninFrance;andifhercharacteroffersmesecurity,Iwillmarryher。“
　　Apausefollowed;FredericBrunnerleftCecile'sgrandfatherandpolitelytookleaveofhishostandhostess。Whenhewasgone,Cecileappeared,alivingcommentaryuponherWerther'sleave-taking;shewasghastlypale。Shehadhiddeninhermother'swardrobeandoverheardthewholeconversation。
　　“Refused!……“shesaidinalowvoiceforhermother'sear。
　　“Andwhy？”askedthePresidente,fixinghereyesuponherembarrassedfather-in-law。
　　“Uponthefinepretextthatanonlydaughterisaspoiltchild,“
　　repliedthatgentleman。“Andheisnotaltogetherwrongthere,“headded,seizinganopportunityofputtingtheblameonthedaughter-in-
　　law,whohadworriedhimnotalittlefortwentyyears。
　　“Itwillkillmychild！”criedthePresidente,“anditisyourdoing！”
　　sheexclaimed,addressingPons,asshesupportedherfaintingdaughter,forCecilethoughtwelltomakegoodhermother'swordsbysinkingintoherarms。ThePresidentandhiswifecarriedCeciletoaneasy-chair,wheresheswoonedoutright。Thegrandfatherrangfortheservants。
　　“Itisaplotofhisweaving;Iseeitallnow,“saidtheinfuriatedmother。
　　Ponssprangupasifthetrumpofdoomweresoundinginhisears。
　　“Yes！”saidthelady,hereyesliketwospringsofgreenbile,“thisgentlemanwishedtorepayaharmlessjokebyaninsult。WhowillbelievethatthatGermanwasrightinhismind?Heiseitheranaccompliceinawickedschemeofrevenge,orheiscrazy。Ihope,M。
　　Pons,thatinfutureyouwillspareustheannoyanceofseeingyouinthehousewhereyouhavetriedtobringshameanddishonor。“
　　Ponsstoodlikeastatue,withhiseyesfixedonthepatternofthecarpet。
　　“Well!Areyoustillhere,monsterofingratitude？”criedshe,turningroundonPons,whowastwirlinghisthumbs——“YourmasterandIareneverathome,remember,ifthisgentlemancalls,“shecontinued,turningtotheservants——“Jean,goforthedoctor;andbringhartshorn,Madeleine。“
　　InthePresidente'seyes,thereasongivenbyBrunnerwassimplyanexcuse,therewassomethingelsebehind;but,atthesametime,thefactthatthemarriagewasbrokenoffwasonlythemorecertain。A
　　woman'smindworksswiftlyingreatcrises,andMme。deMarvillehadhitatonceupontheonemethodofrepairingthecheck。Shechosetolookuponitasaschemeofrevenge。ThisnotionofascribingafiendishschemetoPonssatisfiedfamilyhonor。Faithfultoherdislikeofthecousin,shetreatedafemininesuspicionasafact。
　　Women,generallyspeaking,holdacreedpeculiartothemselves,acodeoftheirown;tothemanythingwhichservestheirinterestsortheirpassionsistrue。ThePresidentewentagooddealfurther。InthecourseoftheeveningshetalkedthePresidentintoherbelief,andnextmorningfoundthemagistrateconvincedofhiscousin'sculpability。
　　Everyone,nodoubt,willcondemnthelady'shorribleconduct;butwhatmotherinMme。Camusot'spositionwillnotdothesame?Putthechoicebetweenherowndaughterandanalien,shewillprefertosacrificethehonorofthelatter。Therearemanywaysofdoingthis,buttheendinviewisthesame。
　　Theoldmusicianfleddownthestaircaseinhaste;buthewentslowlyalongtheboulevardstohistheatre,heturnedinmechanicallyatthedoor,andmechanicallyhetookhisplaceandconductedtheorchestra。
　　IntheintervalhegavesuchrandomanswerstoSchmucke'squestions,thathisoldfrienddissembledhisfearthatPons'mindhadgivenway。
　　Tosochildlikeanature,therecentscenetooktheproportionsofacatastrophe。Hehadmeanttomakeeveryonehappy,andhehadarousedaterribleslumberingfeelingofhate;everythinghadbeenturnedtopsy-turvy。HehadatlastseenmortalhateinthePresidente'seyes,tones,andgesture。
　　Onthemorrow,Mme。CamusotdeMarvillemadeagreatresolution;thePresidentlikewisesanctionedthestepnowforceduponthembycircumstances。ItwasdeterminedthattheestateofMarvilleshouldbesettleduponCecileatthetimeofhermarriage,aswellasthehouseintheRuedeHanovreandahundredthousandfrancs。Inthecourseofthemorning,thePresidentewenttocallupontheComtessePopinot;
　　forshesawplainlythatnothingbutasettledmarriagecouldenablethemtorecoveraftersuchacheck。TotheComtessePopinotshetoldtheshockingstoryofPons'revenge,Pons'hideoushoax。ItallseemedprobableenoughwhenitcameoutthatthemarriagehadbeenbrokenoffsimplyonthepretextthatCecilewasanonlydaughter。ThePresidentenextdweltartfullyupontheadvantageofadding“deMarville“tothenameofPopinot;andtheimmensedowry。AtthepresentpricefetchedbylandinNormandy,attwopercent,thepropertyrepresentedninehundredthousandfrancs,andthehouseintheRuedeHanovreabouttwohundredandfiftythousand。Noreasonablefamilycouldrefusesuchanalliance。TheComteandComtessePopinotaccepted;andastheywerenowtouchedbythehonorofthefamilywhichtheywereabouttoenter,theypromisedtohelpexplainawayyesterdayevening'smishap。
　　AndnowinthehouseoftheelderCamusot,beforetheverypersonswhohadheardMme。deMarvillesingingFredericBrunner'spraisesbutafewdaysago,thatlady,towhomnobodyventuredtospeakonthetopic,plungedcourageouslyintoexplanations。
　　“Really,nowadays“shesaid,“onecouldnotbetoocarefulifamarriagewasinquestion,especiallyifonehadtodowithforeigners。“
　　“Andwhy,madame？”
　　“Whathashappenedtoyou？”askedMme。Chiffreville。
　　“DoyounotknowaboutouradventurewiththatBrunner,whohadtheaudacitytoaspiretomarryCecile?HisfatherwasaGermanthatkeptawine-shop,andhisuncleisadealerinrabbit-skins！”
　　“Isitpossible?Soclear-sightedasyouare!……“murmuredalady。
　　“Theseadventurersaresocunning。ButwefoundouteverythingthroughBerthier。Hisfriendisabeggarthatplaystheflute。HeisfriendlywithapersonwholetsfurnishedlodgingsintheRueduMailandsometailororother……Wefoundoutthathehadledamostdisreputablelife,andnoamountoffortunewouldbeenoughforascampthathasrunthroughhismother'sproperty。“
　　“Why,Mlle。deMarvillewouldhavebeenwretched！”saidMme。Berthier。
　　“Howdidhecometoyourhouse？”askedoldMme。Lebas。
　　“ItwasM。Pons。Outofrevenge,heintroducedthisfinegentlemantous,tomakeusridiculous……ThisBrunneritisthesamenameasFontaineinFrench——thisBrunner,thatwasmadeouttobesuchagrandee,haspoorenoughhealth,heisbald,andhisteetharebad。
　　Thefirstsightofhimwasenoughforme;Idistrustedhimfromthefirst。“
　　“Buthowaboutthegreatfortunethatyouspokeof？”ayoungmarriedwomanaskedshyly。
　　“Thefortunewasnotnearlysolargeastheysaid。Thesetailorsandthelandlordandheallscrapedthemoneytogetheramongthem,andputalltheirsavingsintothisbankthattheyarestarting。Whatisabankforthosethatbegininthesedays?Simplyalicensetoruinthemselves。Abanker'swifemayliedownatnightamillionaireandwakeupinthemorningwithnothingbuthersettlement。Atfirstword,attheveryfirstsightofhim,wemadeupourmindsaboutthisgentleman——heisnotoneofus。Youcantellbyhisgloves,byhiswaistcoat,thatheisaworkingman,thesonofamanthatkeptapot-
　　housesomewhereinGermany;hehasnottheinstinctsofagentleman;
　　hedrinksbeer,andhesmokes——smokes?ah!madame,/twenty-fivepipesaday!/……WhatwouldhavebecomeofpoorLili?……Itmakesmeshudderevennowtothinkofit。Godhasindeedpreservedus!Andbesides,Cecileneverlikedhim……Whowouldhaveexpectedsuchatrickfromarelative,anoldfriendofthehousethathaddinedwithustwiceaweekfortwentyyears?Wehaveloadedhimwithbenefits,andheplayedhisgamesowell,thathesaidCecilewashisheirbeforetheKeeperoftheSealsandtheAttorneyGeneralandtheHomeSecretary!……ThatBrunnerandM。Ponshadtheirstoryready,andeachofthemsaidthattheotherwasworthmillions!……No,Idoassureyou,allofyouwouldhavebeentakeninbyanartist'shoaxlikethat。“
　　Inafewweeks'time,theunitedforcesoftheCamusotandPopinotfamiliesgainedaneasyvictoryintheworld,fornobodyundertooktodefendtheunfortunatePons,thatparasite,thatcurmudgeon,thatskinflint,thatsmooth-facedhumbug,onwhomeverybodyheapedscorn;
　　hewasavipercherishedinthebosomofthefamily,hehadnothismatchforspite,hewasadangerousmountebankwhomnobodyoughttomention。
　　AboutamonthaftertheperfidiousWerther'swithdrawal,poorPonslefthisbedforthefirsttimeafteranattackofnervousfever,andwalkedalongthesunnysideofthestreetleaningonSchmucke'sarm。
　　NobodyintheBoulevardduTemplelaughedatthe“pairofnutcrackers,“foroneoftheoldmenlookedsoshattered,andtheothersotouchinglycarefulofhisinvalidfriend。BythetimethattheyreachedtheBoulevardPoissonniere,alittlecolorcamebacktoPons'face;hewasbreathingtheairoftheboulevards,hefeltthevitalizingpoweroftheatmosphereofthecrowdedstreet,thelife-
　　givingpropertyoftheairthatisnoticeableinquarterswherehumanlifeabounds;inthefilthyRomanGhetto,forinstance,withitsswarmingJewishpopulation,wheremalariaisunknown。Perhaps,too,thesightofthestreets,thegreatspectacleofParis,thedailypleasureofhislife,didtheinvalidgood。Theywalkedonsidebyside,thoughPonsnowandagainlefthisfriendtolookattheshopwindows。OppositetheTheatredesVarieteshesawCountPopinot,andwentuptohimveryrespectfully,forofallmenPonsesteemedandveneratedtheex-Minister。
　　ThepeerofFranceansweredhimseverely：
　　“Iamatalosstounderstand,sir,howyoucanhavenomoretactthantospeaktoanearconnectionofafamilywhomyoutriedtobrandwithshameandridiculebyatrickwhichnoonebutanartistcoulddevise。
　　Understandthis,sir,thatfromto-daywemustbecompletestrangerstoeachother。Mme。laComtessePopinot,likeeveryoneelse,feelsindignantatyourbehaviortotheMarvilles。“
　　AndCountPopinotpassedon,leavingPonsthunderstruck。Passion,justice,policy,andgreatsocialforcesnevertakeintoaccounttheconditionofthehumancreaturewhomtheystrikedown。Thestatesman,drivenbyfamilyconsiderationstocrushPons,didnotsomuchasseethephysicalweaknessofhisredoubtableenemy。
　　“Vatisit,mineboorfriend？”exclaimedSchmucke,seeinghowwhitePonshadgrown。
　　“Itisafreshstabintheheart,“Ponsreplied,leaningheavilyonSchmucke'sarm。“Ithinkthatnoone,saveGodinheaven,canhaveanyrighttodogood,andthatiswhyallthosewhomeddleinHisworkaresocruellypunished。“
　　Theoldartist'ssarcasmwasutteredwithasupremeeffort;hewastrying,excellentcreature,toquietthedismayvisibleinSchmucke'sface。
　　“SoIdink,“Schmuckerepliedsimply。
　　Ponscouldnotunderstandit。NeithertheCamusotsnorthePopinotshadsenthimnoticeofCecile'swedding。
　　OntheBoulevarddesItaliensPonssawM。Cardotcomingtowardsthem。
　　WarnedbyCountPopinot'sallocution,Ponswasverycarefulnottoaccosttheoldacquaintancewithwhomhehaddinedonceafortnightforthelastyear;heliftedhishat,buttheother,mayoranddeputyofParis,threwhimanindignantglanceandwentby。PonsturnedtoSchmucke。
　　“Dogoandaskhimwhatitisthattheyallhaveagainstme,“hesaidtothefriendwhoknewallthedetailsofthecatastrophethatPonscouldtellhim。
　　“Mennseir,“Schmuckebegandiplomatically,“minefriendBonsischustrecoferingfromanillness;youhafnodoubtfailtorekognizehim？”
　　“Notintheleast。“
　　“Butmitvatkannyourebroachhim？”
　　“Youhaveamonsterofingratitudeforafriend,sir;ifheisstillalive,itisbecausenothingkillsillweeds。Peopledowelltomistrustartists;theyareasmischievousandspitefulasmonkeys。
　　Thisfriendofyourstriedtodishonorhisownfamily,andtoblightayounggirl'scharacter,inrevengeforaharmlessjoke。Iwishtohavenothingtodowithhim;IshalldomybesttoforgetthatIhaveknownhim,orthatsuchamanexists。Allthemembersofhisfamilyandmyownsharethewish,sir,sodoallthepersonswhooncedidthesaidPonsthehonorofreceivinghim。“
　　“Boot,mennseir,youareareasonaplemann;gifyouvillbermitme,I
　　shallexblaindieaffair——“
　　“Youarequiteatlibertytoremainhisfriend,sir,ifyouaremindedthatway,“returnedCardot,“butyouneedgonofurther;forImustgiveyouwarningthatinmyopinionthosewhotrytoexcuseordefendhisconductarejustasmuchtoblame。“
　　“Tochustifyit？”
　　“Yes,forhisconductcanneitherbejustifiednorqualified。“Andwiththatword,thedeputyfortheSeinewenthisway;hewouldnothearanothersyllable。
　　“IhavetwopowersintheStateagainstme,“smiledpoorPons,whenSchmuckehadrepeatedthesesavagespeeches。
　　“Eferpodyisagainstus,“Schmuckeanswereddolorously。“Letusgoavaypeforeweshallmeedoderfools。“
　　NeverbeforeinthecourseofatrulyovinelifehadSchmuckeutteredsuchwordsasthese。Neverbeforehadhisalmostdivinemeeknessbeenruffled。Hehadsmiledchildlikeonallthemischancesthatbefellhim,buthecouldnotlookandseehissublimePonsmaltreated;hisPons,hisunknownAristides,thegeniusresignedtohislot,thenaturethatknewnobitterness,thetreasuryofkindness,theheartofgold!……Alceste'sindignationfilledSchmucke'ssoul——hewasmovedtocallPons'amphitryons“fools。“ForhispacificnaturethatimpulseequaledthewrathofRoland。
　　Withwiseforesight,SchmucketurnedtogohomebythewayoftheBoulevardduTemple,Ponspassivelysubmittinglikeafallenfighter,heedlessofblows;butchanceorderedthatheshouldknowthatallhisworldwasagainsthim。TheHouseofPeers,theChamberofDeputies,strangersandthefamily,thestrong,theweak,andtheinnocent,allcombinedtosenddowntheavalanche。
　　IntheBoulevardPoissonniere,PonscaughtsightofthatveryM。
　　Cardot'sdaughter,who,youngasshewas,hadlearnedtobecharitabletoothersthroughtroubleofherown。Herhusbandknewasecretbywhichhekeptherinbondage。ShewastheonlyoneamongPons'
　　hostesseswhomhecalledbyherChristianname;headdressedMme。
　　Berthieras“Felicie,“andhethoughtthatsheunderstoodhim。ThegentlecreatureseemedtobedistressedbythesightofCousinPons,ashewascalledthoughhewasinnowayrelatedtothefamilyofthesecondwifeofacousinbymarriage。Therewasnohelpforit,however;FelicieBerthierstoppedtospeaktotheinvalid。
　　“Ididnotthinkyouwerecruel,cousin,“shesaid;“butifevenaquarterofallthatIhearofyouistrue,youareveryfalse……
　　Oh!donotjustifyyourself,“sheaddedquickly,seeingPons'
　　significantgesture,“itisuseless,fortworeasons。Inthefirstplace,Ihavenorighttoaccuseorjudgeorcondemnanybody,forI
　　myselfknowsowellhowmuchmaybesaidforthosewhoseemtobemostguilty;secondly,yourexplanationwoulddonogood。M。BerthierdrewupthemarriagecontractforMlle。deMarvilleandtheVicomtePopinot;heissoexasperated,thatifheknewthatIhadsomuchasspokenonewordtoyou,onewordforthelasttime,hewouldscoldme。
　　Everybodyisagainstyou。“
　　“Soitseemsindeed,madame,“Ponssaid,hisvoiceshakingasheliftedhishatrespectfully。
　　PainfullyhemadehiswaybacktotheRuedeNormandie。TheoldGermanknewfromtheheavyweightonhisarmthathisfriendwasstrugglingbravelyagainstfailingphysicalstrength。ThatthirdencounterwasliketheverdictoftheLambatthefootofthethroneofGod;andtheangeroftheAngelofthePoor,thesymbolofthePeoples,isthelastwordofHeaven。Theyreachedhomewithoutanotherword。
　　Therearemomentsinourliveswhenthesensethatourfriendisnearisallthatwecanbear。Ourwoundssmartundertheconsolingwordsthatonlyrevealthedepthsofpain。Theoldpianist,yousee,possessedageniusforfriendship,thetactofthosewho,havingsufferedmuch,knewthecustomsofsuffering。
　　Ponswasnevertotakeawalkagain。Fromoneillnesshefellintoanother。Hewasofasanguine-bilioustemperament,thebilepassedintohisblood,andaviolentliverattackwastheresult。Hehadneverknownaday'sillnessinhislifetillamonthago;hehadneverconsultedadoctor;soLaCibot,withalmostmotherlycareandintentionsatfirstoftheverybest,calledin“thedoctorofthequarter。“
　　IneveryquarterofParisthereisadoctorwhosenameandaddressareonlyknowntotheworkingclasses,tothelittletradespeopleandtheporters,andinconsequenceheiscalled“thedoctorofthequarter。“
　　Heundertakesconfinementcases,heletsblood,heisinthemedicalprofessionprettymuchwhatthe“generalservant“oftheadvertisingcolumnisinthescaleofdomesticservice。Hemustperforcebekindtothepoor,andtolerablyexpertbyreasonofmuchpractice,andheisgenerallypopular。Dr。Poulain,calledinbyMme。Cibot,gaveaninattentiveeartotheoldmusician'scomplainings。Ponsgroanedoutthathisskinitched;hehadscratchedhimselfallnightlong,tillhecouldscarcelyfeel。Thelookofhiseyes,withtheyellowcirclesaboutthem,corroboratedthesymptoms。
　　“Hadyousomeviolentshockacoupleofdaysago？”thedoctoraskedthepatient。
　　“Yes,alas！”
　　“Youhavethesamecomplaintthatthisgentlemanwasthreatenedwith,“
　　saidDr。Poulain,lookingatSchmuckeashespoke;“itisanattackofjaundice,butyouwillsoongetoverit,“headded,ashewroteaprescription。
　　Butinspiteofthatcomfortablephrase,thedoctor'seyeshadtoldanothertaleashelookedprofessionallyatthepatient;andthedeath-sentence,thoughhiddenunderstereotypedcompassion,canalwaysbereadbythosewhowishtoknowthetruth。Mme。Cibotgaveaspy'sglanceatthedoctor,andreadhisthought;hisbedsidemannerdidnotdeceiveher;shefollowedhimoutoftheroom。
　　“Doyouthinkhewillgetoverit？”askedMme。Cibot,atthestairhead。
　　“MydearMme。Cibot,yourlodgerisadeadman;notbecauseofthebileinthesystem,butbecausehisvitalityislow。Still,withgreatcare,yourpatientmaypullthrough。Somebodyoughttotakehimawayforachange——“
　　“Howishetogo？”askedMme。Cibot。“Hehasnothingtoliveuponbuthissalary;hisfriendhasjustalittlemoneyfromsomegreatladies,verycharitableladies,inreturnforhisservices,itseems。Theyaretwochildren。Ihavelookedafterthemfornineyears。“
　　“Ispendmylifewatchingpeopledie,notoftheirdisease,butofanotherbadandincurablecomplaint——thewantofmoney,“saidthedoctor。“Howoftenithappensthatsofarfromtakingafee,Iamobligedtoleaveafive-francpieceonthemantel-shelfwhenIgo——“
　　“Poor,dearM。Poulain！”criedMme。Cibot。“Ah,ifyouhadn'tonlythehundredthousandlivresayear,whatsomestingyfolkshasinthequarterregulardevilsfromhelltheyare,youwouldbelikeProvidenceonearth。“
　　Dr。Poulainhadmadethelittlepractice,bywhichhemadeabaresubsistence,chieflybywinningtheesteemoftheporters'lodgesinhisdistrict。SoheraisedhiseyestoheavenandthankedMme。CibotwithasolemnfaceworthyofTartuffe。
　　“Thenyouthinkthatwithcarefulnursingourdearpatientwillgetbetter,mydearM。Poulain？”
　　“Yes,ifthisshockhasnotbeentoomuchforhim。“
　　“Poorman!whocanhavevexedhim?Thereisn'tnobodylikehimonearthexcepthisfriendM。Schmucke。Iwillfindoutwhatisthematter,andIwillundertaketogivethemthatupsetmygentlemanahaulingoverthecoals——“
　　“Lookhere,mydearMme。Cibot,“saidthedoctorastheystoodinthegateway,“oneoftheprincipalsymptomsofhiscomplaintisgreatirritability;andasitishardlytobesupposedthathecanaffordanurse,thetaskofnursinghimwillfalltoyou。So——“
　　“AreyoutalkingofMouchieuPonsh？”askedthemarinestore-dealer。Hewassittingsmokingonthecurb-postinthegateway,andnowherosetojoinintheconversation。
　　“Yes,DaddyRemonencq。“
　　“Allright,“saidRemonencq,“ashtomoneysh,heishbetteroffthanMouchieuMonishtrolandthebigmeninthecurioshityline。Iknowenoughintheartlinetotellyouthish——thedearmanhastreasursh！”
　　hespokewithabroadAuvergnedialect。
　　“Lookhere,IthoughtyouwerelaughingatmetheotherdaywhenmygentlemenwereoutandIshowedyoutheoldrubbishupstairs,“saidMme。Cibot。
　　InParis,wherewallshaveears,wheredoorshavetongues,andwindowbarshaveeyes,therearefewthingsmoredangerousthanthepracticeofstandingtochatinagateway。Partingsarelikepostscriptstoaletter——indiscreetutterancesthatdoasmuchmischieftothespeakerastothosewhooverhearthem。Asingleinstancewillbesufficientasaparalleltoaneventinthishistory。
　　InthetimeoftheEmpire,whenmenpaidconsiderableattentiontotheirhair,oneofthefirstcoiffeursofthedaycameoutofahousewherehehadjustbeendressingaprettywoman'shead。Thisartistinquestionenjoyedthecustomofallthelowerfloorinmatesofthehouse;andamongthese,thereflourishedanelderlybachelorguardedbyahousekeeperwhodetestedhermaster'snext-of-kin。The/ci-
　　devant/youngman,fallingseriouslyill,themostfamousofdoctorsofthedaytheywerenotasyetstyledthe“princesofscience“hadbeencalledintoconsultuponhiscase;anditsochancedthatthelearnedgentlemenweretakingleaveofoneanotherinthegatewayjustasthehairdressercameout。Theyweretalkingasdoctorsusuallytalkamongthemselveswhenthefarceofaconsultationisover。“Heisadeadman,“quothDr。Haudry——“Hehadnotamonthtolive,“addedDesplein,“unlessamiracletakesplace。“——Thesewerethewordsoverheardbythehairdresser。
　　Likeallhairdressers,hekeptupagoodunderstandingwithhiscustomers'servants。Prodigiousgreedsentthemanupstairsagain;hemountedtothe/ci-devant/youngman'sapartment,andpromisedtheservant-mistressatolerablyhandsomecommissiontopersuadehermastertosinkalargeportionofhismoneyinanannuity。Thedyingbachelor,fifty-sixbycountofyears,andtwiceasoldashisagebyreasonofamorouscampaigns,owned,amongotherproperty,asplendidhouseintheRuedeRichelieu,worthatthattimeabouttwohundredandfiftythousandfrancs。Itwasthishousethatthehairdressercoveted;andonagreementtopayanannuityofthirtythousandfrancssolongasthebachelorlived,itpassedintohishands。Thishappenedin1806。Andinthisyear1846thehairdresserisstillpayingthatannuity。Hehasretiredfrombusiness,heisseventyyearsold;the/ci-devant/youngmanisinhisdotage;andashehasmarriedhisMme。
　　Evrard,hemaylastforalongwhileyet。Asthehairdressergavethewomanthirtythousandfrancs,hisbitofrealestatehascosthim,firstandlast,morethanamillion,andthehouseatthisdayiswortheightorninehundredthousandfrancs。
　　Likethehairdresser,RemonencqtheAuvergnathadoverheardBrunner'spartingremarkinthegatewayonthedayofCecile'sfirstinterviewwiththatphoenixofeligiblemen。RemonencqatoncelongedtogainasightofPons'museum;andashelivedongoodtermswithhisneighborstheCibots,itwasnotverylongbeforetheopportunitycameonedaywhenthefriendswereout。Thesightofsuchtreasuresdazzledhim;hesawa“goodhaul,“indealers'phrase,whichbeinginterpretedmeansachancetostealafortune。Hehadbeenmeditatingthisforfiveorsixdays。
　　“Iamshofarfromjoking,“hesaid,inreplytoMme。Cibot'sremark,“thatwewilltalkthethingover;andifthegoodshentlemanwilltakeanannuity,offiftythousandfrancsh,Iwillshtandahamperofwine,if——“
　　“Fiftythousandfrancs！”interruptedthedoctor;“whatareyouthinkingabout?Why,ifthegoodmanissowelloffasthat,withmeinattendance,andMme。Cibottonursehim,hemaygetbetter——forlivercomplaintisadiseasethatattacksstrongconstitutions。“
　　“Fifty,didIshay?Why,ashentlemanhere,onyourverydoorshtep,offeredhimshevenhundredthoushandfrancsh,shimplyforthepictursh,/fouchtra/！”
　　WhileRemonencqmadethisannouncement,Mme。CibotwaslookingatDr。
　　Poulain。Therewasastrangeexpressioninhereyes;thedevilmighthavekindledthatsinisterglitterintheirtawnydepths。
　　“Oh,come!wemustnotpayanyattentiontosuchidletales,“saidthedoctor,wellpleased,however,tofindthathispatientcouldaffordtopayforhisvisits。
　　“IfmydearMme。Cibot,here,wouldletmecomeandbringanekshpertshinshtheshentlemanupshtairsishinbed,Iwillshertainlyfindthemoneyinacoupleofhoursh,evenifshevenhundredthousandfrancshishinqueshtion——“
　　“Allright,myfriend,“saidthedoctor。“Now,Mme。Cibot,becarefulnevertocontradicttheinvalid。Youmustbepreparedtobeverypatientwithhim,forhewillfindeverythingirritatingandwearisome,evenyourservices;nothingwillpleasehim;youmustexpectgrumbling——“
　　“Hewillbeuncommonlyhardtoplease,“saidLaCibot。
　　“Lookhere,mindwhatItellyou,“thedoctorsaidinatoneofauthority,“M。Pons'lifeisinthehandsofthosethatnursehim;I
　　shallcomeperhapstwiceaday。Ishalltakehimfirstonmyround。“
　　Thedoctor'sprofoundindifferencetothefateofapoorpatienthadsuddenlygivenplacetoamosttendersolicitudewhenhesawthatthespeculatorwasserious,andthattherewasapossiblefortuneinquestion。
　　“Hewillbenursedlikeaking,“saidMadameCibot,forcingupenthusiasm。ShewaitedtillthedoctorturnedthecornerintotheRueCharlot;thenshefelltotalkingagainwiththedealerinoldiron。
　　Remonencqhadfinishedsmokinghispipe,andstoodinthedoorwayofhisshop,leaningagainsttheframe;hehadpurposelytakenthisposition;hemeanttheportresstocometohim。
　　Theshophadoncebeenacafe。NothinghadbeenchangedtheresincetheAuvergnatdiscovereditandtookoverthelease;youcouldstillread“CafedeNormandie“onthestripleftabovethewindowsinallmodernshops。Remonencqhadfoundsomebody,probablyahousepainter'sapprentice,whodidtheworkfornothing,topaintanotherinscriptionintheremainingspacebelow——“REMONENCQ,“itran,“DEALERINMARINE
　　STORES,FURNITUREBOUGHT“——paintedinsmallblackletters。Allthemirrors,tables,seats,shelves,andfittingsoftheCafedeNormandiehadbeensold,asmighthavebeenexpected,beforeRemonencqtookpossessionoftheshopasitstood,payingayearlyrentofsixhundredfrancsfortheplace,withabackshop,akitchen,andasingleroomabove,wherethehead-waiterusedtosleep,forthehousebelongingtotheCafedeNormandiewasletseparately。Oftheformersplendorofthecafe,nothingnowremainedsavetheplainlightgreenpaperonthewalls,andthestrongironboltsandbarsoftheshop-
　　front。
　　WhenRemonencqcamehitherin1831,aftertheRevolutionofJuly,hebeganbydisplayingaselectionofbrokendoorbells,crackedplates,oldiron,andtheobsoletescalesandweightsabolishedbyaGovernmentwhichalonefailstocarryoutitsownregulations,forpenceandhalfpenceofthetimeofLouisXVI。arestillincirculation。AfteratimethisAuvergnat,amatchforfiveordinaryAuvergnats,boughtupoldsaucepansandkettles,oldpicture-frames,oldcopper,andchippedchina。Gradually,astheshopwasemptiedandfilled,thequalityofthestock-in-tradeimproved,likeNicolet'sfarces。Remonencqpersistedinanunfailingandprodigiouslyprofitablemartingale,a“system“whichanyphilosophicalidlermaystudyashewatchestheincreasingvalueofthestockkeptbythisintelligentclassoftrader。Picture-framesandcoppersucceedtotin-ware,argandlamps,anddamagedcrockery;chinamarksthenexttransition;andafternolongtarrianceinthe“omniumgatherum“
　　stage,theshopbecomesamuseum。Somedayorotherthedustywindowsarecleaned,theinteriorisrestored,theAuvergnatrelinquishesvelveteenandjacketsforagreat-coat,andtherehesitslikeadragonguardinghistreasure,surroundedbymasterpieces!Heisacunningconnoisseurbythistime;hehasincreasedhiscapitaltenfold;heisnottobecheated;heknowsthetricksofthetrade。
　　Themonsteramonghistreasureslookslikesomeoldhagamongascoreofyounggirlsthatsheofferstothepublic。Beautyandmiraclesofartarealikeindifferenttohim;subtleanddenseasheis,hehasakeeneyetoprofits,hetalksroughlytothosewhoknowlessthanhedoes;hehaslearnedtoactapart,hepretendstolovehispictures,oragainheletsyouknowthepricehehimselfgaveforthethings,heofferstoletyouseethememorandaofthesale。HeisaProteus;inonehourhecanbeJocrisse,Janot,/Queue-rouge/,Mondor,Hapagon,orNicodeme。
　　Thethirdyearfoundarmor,andoldpictures,andsometolerablyfineclocksinRemonencq'sshop。Hesentforhissister,andLaRemonencqcameonfootallthewayfromAuvergnetotakechargeoftheshopwhileherbrotherwasaway。Abigandveryuglywoman,dressedlikeaJapaneseidol,ahalf-idioticcreaturewithavague,staringgazeshewouldnotbateacentimeofthepricesfixedbyherbrother。Intheintervalsofbusinessshedidtheworkofthehouse,andsolvedtheapparentlyinsolubleproblem——howtoliveon“themistsoftheSeine。“
　　TheRemonencqs'dietconsistedofbreadandherrings,withtheoutsideleavesoflettuceorvegetablerefuseselectedfromtheheapsdepositedinthekennelbeforethedoorsofeating-houses。Thetwobetweenthemdidnotspendmorethanfivepenceadayonfoodbreadincluded,andLaRemonencqearnedthemoneybysewingorspinning。
　　RemonencqcametoParisinthefirstinstancetoworkasanerrand-
　　boy。Betweentheyears1825and1831heranerrandsfordealersincuriositiesintheBoulevardBeaumarchaisorcoppersmithsintheRuedeLappe。Itistheusualstartinlifeinhislineofbusiness。Jews,Normans,Auvergnats,andSavoyards,thosefourdifferentracesofmenallhavethesameinstincts,andmaketheirfortunesinthesameway;
　　theyspendnothing,makesmallprofits,andletthemaccumulateatcompoundinterest。Suchistheirtradingcharter,and/that/charterisnodelusion。
　　RemonencqatthismomenthadmadeitupwithhisoldmasterMonistrol;
　　hedidbusinesswithwholesaledealers,hewasa/chineur/thetechnicalword,plyinghistradeinthe/banlieue/,which,aseverybodyknows,extendsforsomefortyleaguesroundParis。