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