"Apparently，"saidThuillier，acrimoniously，"thishonestgo—betweenhadsomeinterestinexaggeratingmyvalue。Onethingisverysure；
　　thismonsieurhadadebtoftwenty—fivethousandfrancswhichharassedhimmuch；andashorttimebeforetheseizurethissamemonsieur，whohadnomeansofhisown，paidoffthatdebt；andunlessyoucantellmewhereelsehegotthemoney，theinferenceIthinkisnotdifficulttodraw。"
　　ItwaslaPeyrade’sturntolookfixedlyatThuillier。
　　"MonsieurThuillier，"hesaid，raisinghisvoice，"letusgetoutofenigmasandgeneralities；willyoudomethefavortonamethatperson？"
　　"Well，no，"repliedThuillier，strikinghishanduponthetable，"I
　　shallnotnamehim，becauseofthesentimentsofesteemandaffectionwhichformerlyunitedus；butyouhaveunderstoodme，MonsieurlaPeyrade。"
　　"Ioughttohaveknown，"saidtheProvencal，inavoicechangedbyemotion，"thatinbringingaserpenttothisplaceIshouldsoonbesoiledbyhisvenom。Poorfool！doyounotseethatyouhavemadeyourselftheechoofCerizet’scalumny？"
　　"Cerizethasnothingtodowithit；onthecontrary，hehastoldmethehighestgoodofyou。Howwasit，nothavingapennythenightbefore，——andIhadreasontoknowit，——thatyouwereabletopayDutocqtheroundsumoftwenty—fivethousandfrancsthenextday？"
　　LaPeyradereflectedforamoment。
　　"No，"hesaid，"itwasnotDutocqwhotoldyouthat。Heisnotamantowrestlewithanenemyofmystrengthwithoutastronginterestinit。ItwasCerizet；he’stheinfamouscalumniator，fromwhosehandsI
　　wrenchedtheleaseofyourhouseneartheMadeleine，——Cerizet，whominkindness，IwenttoseekonhisdunghillthatImightgivehimthechanceofhonorableemployment；thatisthewretch，towhomabenefitisonlyanencouragementtotreachery。Tiens！ifIweretotellyouwhatthatmanisIshouldturnyousickwithdisgust；inthesphereofinfamyhehasdiscoveredworlds。"
　　ThistimeThuilliermadeanablereply。
　　"Idon’tknowanythingaboutCerizetexceptthroughyou，"hesaid；
　　"youintroducedhimtomeasamanager，offeringeveryguarantee；but，allowinghimtobeblackerthanthedevil，andsupposingthatthiscommunicationcomesfromhim，Idon’tsee，myfriend，thatallthatmakesYOUanythewhiter。"
　　"NodoubtIwastoblame，"saidlaPeyrade，"forputtingsuchamanintorelationswithyou；butwewantedsomeonewhounderstoodjournalism，andthatvaluehereallyhadforus。Butwhocaneversoundthedepthsofsoulslikehis？Ithoughthimreformed。Amanager，Isaidtomyself，isonlyamachine；hecandonoharm。Iexpectedtofindhimamanofstraw；well，Iwasmistaken，hewillneverbeanythingbutamanofmud。"
　　"Allthatisveryfine，"saidThuillier，"butthosetwenty—fivethousandfrancsfoundsoconvenientlyinyourpossession，wheredidyougetthem？Thatisthepointyouareforgettingtoexplain。"
　　"Buttoreasonaboutit，"saidlaPeyrade；"amanofmycharacterinthepayofthepoliceandyetsopoorthatIcouldnotpaythetenthousandfrancsyourharpyofasisterdemandedwithaninsolencewhichyouyourselfwitnessed——"
　　"But，"saidThuillier，"iftheoriginofthismoneyishonest，asI
　　sincerelydesireitmaybe，whathindersyoufromtellingmehowyougotit？"
　　"Icannot，"saidlaPeyrade；"thehistoryofthatmoneyisasecretentrustedtomeprofessionally。"
　　"Come，come，youtoldmeyourselfthatthestatutesofyourorderforbidallbarristersfromdoingbusinessofanykind。"
　　"Letussuppose，"saidlaPeyrade，"thatIhavedonesomethingnotabsolutelyregular；itwouldbestrangeindeedafterwhatIrisked，asyouknow，foryou，ifyoushouldhavethefacetoreproachmewithit。"
　　"Mypoorfriend，youaretryingtoshakeoffthehounds；butyoucan’tmakemelosethescent。Youwishtokeepyoursecret；thenkeepit。I
　　ammasterofmyownconfidenceandmyownesteem；bypayingyoutheforfeitstipulatedinourdeedItakethenewspaperintomyownhands。"
　　"Doyoumeanthatyoudismissme？"criedlaPeyrade。"Themoneythatyouhaveputintotheaffair，allyourchancesofelection，sacrificedtothecalumniesofsuchabeingasCerizet！"
　　"Inthefirstplace，"saidThuillier，"anothereditor—in—chiefcanbefound；itisatruesayingthatnomanisindispensable。AsforelectiontotheChamberIwouldratherneverreceiveitthanoweittothehelpofonewho——"
　　"Goon，"saidlaPeyrade，seeingthatThuillierhesitated，"orrather，no，besilent，foryouwillpresentlyblushforyoursuspicionsandaskmypardonhumbly。"
　　BythistimelaPeyradesawthatwithoutaconfessiontowhichhemustcompelhimself，theinfluenceandthefuturehehadjustrecoveredwouldbecutfromunderhisfeet。Resuminghisspeechhesaid，solemnly：——
　　"Youwillremember，myfriend，thatyouwerepitiless，and，bysubjectingmetoaspeciesofmoraltorture，youhaveforcedmetorevealtoyouasecretthatisnotmine。"
　　"Goon，"saidThuillier，"Itakethewholeresponsibilityuponmyself。
　　Makemeseethetruthclearlyinthisdarkness，andifIhavedonewrongIwillbethefirsttosayso。"
　　"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"thosetwenty—fivethousandfrancsarethesavingsofaservant—womanwhocametomeandaskedmetotakethemandtopayherinterest。"
　　"Aservantwithtwenty—fivethousandfrancsofsavings！Nonsense；shemustserveinmonstrouslyrichhouseholds。"
　　"Onthecontrary，sheistheoneservantofaninfirmoldsavant；anditwasonaccountofthediscrepancywhichstrikesyourmindthatshewantedtoputhermoneyinmyhandsasasortoftrustee。"
　　"Blessme！myfriend，"saidThuillier，flippantly，"yousaidwewereinwantofaromance—feuilletonist；butreally，afterthis，Isha’n’tbeuneasy。Here’simaginationforyou！"
　　"What？"saidlaPeyrade，angrily，"youdon’tbelieveme？"
　　"No，Idonotbelieveyou。Twenty—fivethousandfrancssavingsintheserviceofanoldsavant！thatisaboutasbelievableastheofficerofLaDameBlanchebuyingachateauwithhispay。"
　　"ButifIprovetoyouthetruthofmywords；ifIletyouputyourfingeruponit？"
　　"Inthatcase，likeSaintThomas，Ishalllowermyflagbeforetheevidence。Meanwhileyoumustpermitme，mynoblefriend，towaituntilyouoffermethatproof。"
　　Thuillierfeltreallysuperb。
　　"I’dgiveahundredfrancs，"hesaidtohimself，"ifBrigittecouldhavebeenhereandheardmeimpeachhim。"
　　"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"supposethatwithoutleavingthisoffice，andbymeansofanotewhichyoushallread，IbringintoyourpresencethepersonfromwhomIreceivedthemoney；ifsheconfirmswhatIsaywillyoubelieveme？"
　　ThisproposalandtheassurancewithwhichitwasmaderatherstaggeredThuillier。
　　"Ishallknowwhattodowhenthetimecomes，"hereplied，changinghistone。"Butthismustbedoneatonce，now，here。"
　　"Isaid，withoutleavingthisoffice。Ishouldthinkthatwasclearenough。"
　　"Andwhowillcarrythenoteyouwrite？"askedThuillier，believingthatbythusexaminingeverydetailhewasgivingproofsofamazingperspicacity。
　　"Carrythenote！why，yourownporterofcourse，"repliedlaPeyrade；
　　"youcansendhimyourself。"
　　"Thenwriteit，"saidThuillier，determinedtopushhimtothewall。
　　LaPeyradetookasheetofpaperwiththenewheadingandwroteasfollows，readingthenotealoud：——
　　MadameLambertisrequestedtocallatonce，onurgentbusiness，attheofficeofthe"EchodelaBievre，"rueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。Thebearerofthisnotewillconducther。Sheisawaitedimpatientlybyherdevotedservant，TheodosedelaPeyrade。
　　"There，willthatsuityou？"saidthebarrister，passingthepapertoThuillier。
　　"Perfectly，"repliedThuillier，takingtheprecautiontofoldtheletterhimselfandsealit。"Puttheaddress，"headded。
　　Thenherangthebellfortheporter。
　　"Youwillcarrythislettertoitsaddress，"hesaidtotheman，"andbringbackwithyouthepersonnamed。Butwillshebethere？"heasked，onreflection。
　　"Itismorethanprobable，"repliedlaPeyrade；"inanycase，neitheryounorIwillleavethisroomuntilshecomes。Thismattermustbeclearedup。"
　　"Thengo！"saidThuilliertotheporter，inatheatricaltone。
　　Whentheywerealone，laPeyradetookupanewspaperandappearedtobeabsorbedinitsperusal。
　　Thuillier，beginningtogetuneasyastotheupshotoftheaffair，regrettedthathehadnotdonesomethingtheideaofwhichhadcometohimjusttoolate。
　　"Yes，Iought，"hesaidtohimself，"tohavetornupthatletter，andnotdrivenhimtoprovehiswords。"
　　WishingtodosomethingthatmightlooklikeretaininglaPeyradeinthepositionofwhichhehadthreatenedtodeprivehim，heremarkedpresently：——
　　"Bythebye，Ihavejustcomefromtheprinting—office；thenewtypehasarrived，andIthinkwemightmakeourfirstappearanceto—morrow。"
　　LaPeyradedidnotanswer；buthegotupandtookhispapernearertothewindow。
　　"Heissulky，"thoughtThuillier，"andifheisinnocent，hemaywellbe。But，afterall，whydidheeverbringamanlikethatCerizethere？"
　　Thentohidehisembarrassmentandthepreoccupationofhismind，hesatdownbeforetheeditor’stable，tookasheetofthehead—linedpaperandmadehimselfwritealetter。
　　PresentlylaPeyradereturnedtothetableandsittingdown，tookanothersheetandwiththefeverishrapidityofamanstirredbysomeemotionhedrovehispenoverthepaper。
　　Fromthecornerofhiseye，ThuilliertriedhardtoseewhatlaPeyradewaswriting，andnoticingthathissentenceswereseparatedbynumbersplacedbetweenbrackets，hesaid：——
　　"Tiens！areyoudrawingupaparliamentarylaw？"
　　"Yes，"repliedlaPeyrade，"thelawofthevanquished。"
　　Soonafterthis，theporteropenedthedoorandintroducedMadameLambert，whomhehadfoundathome，andwhoarrivedlookingratherfrightened。
　　"YouareMadameLambert？"askedThuillier，magisterially。
　　"Yes，monsieur，"saidthewoman，inananxiousvoice。
　　Afterrequestinghertobeseatedandnoticingthattheporterwasstillthereasifawaitingfurtherordershesaidtotheman：——
　　"Thatwilldo；youmaygo；anddon’tletanyonedisturbus。"
　　ThegravityandthelordlytoneassumedbyThuillieronlyincreasedMadameLambert’suneasiness。ShecameexpectingtoseeonlylaPeyrade，andshefoundherselfreceivedbyanunknownmanwithahaughtymanner，whilethebarrister，whohadmerelybowedtoher，saidnotaword；moreover，thescenetookplaceinanewspaperoffice，anditisawell—knownfactthattopiouspersonsespeciallyallthatrelatestothepressisinfernalanddiabolical。
　　"Well，"saidThuilliertothebarrister，"itseemstomethatnothinghindersyoufromexplainingtomadamewhyyouhavesentforher。"
　　InordertoleavenoloopholeforsuspicioninThuillier’smindlaPeyradeknewthathemustputhisquestionbluntlyandwithouttheslightestpreparation；hethereforesaidtoher"exabrupto"：——
　　"Wewishtoaskyou，madame，ifitisnottruethatabouttwoandahalfmonthsagoyouplacedinmyhands，subjecttointerest，thesum，inroundnumbers，oftwenty—fivethousandfrancs。"
　　ThoughshefelttheeyesofThuillierandthoseoflaPeyradeuponher，MadameLambert，undertheshockofthisquestionfiredatherpoint—blank，couldnotrestrainastart。
　　"Heavens！"sheexclaimed，"twenty—fivethousandfrancs！andwhereshouldIgetsuchasumasthat？"
　　LaPeyradegavenosignonhisfaceofthevexationhemightbesupposedtofeel。AsforThuillier，whonowlookedathimwithsorrowfulcommiseration，hemerelysaid：——
　　"Yousee，myfriend！"
　　"So，"resumedlaPeyrade，"youareverycertainthatyoudidnotplaceinmyhandsthesumoftwenty—fivethousandfrancs；youdeclarethis，youaffirmit？"
　　"Why，monsieur！didyoueverhearofsuchasumasthatinthepocketofapoorwomanlikeme？ThelittlethatIhad，aseverybodyknows，hasgonetoekeoutthehousekeepingofthatpoordeargentlemanwhoseservantIhavebeenformorethantwentyyears。"
　　"This，"saidThuillier，pompously，"seemstomecategorical。"
　　LaPeyradestilldidnotshowtheslightestsignofannoyance；onthecontrary，heseemedtobeplayingintoThuillier’shand。
　　"Youhear，mydearThuillier，"hesaid，"andifnecessaryIshallcallforyourtestimony，thatmadameheredeclaresthatshedidnotpossesstwenty—fivethousandfrancsandcouldnotthereforehaveplacedtheminmyhands。Now，asthenotaryDupuis，inwhosehandsIfanciedIhadplacedthem，leftParisthismorningforBrusselscarryingwithhimthemoneyofallhisclients，Ihavenoaccountwithmadame，byherownshowing，andtheabscondingofthenotary——"
　　"HasthenotaryDupuisabsconded？"screamedMadameLambert，drivenbythisdreadfulnewsentirelyoutofherusualtonesofdulcetsweetnessandChristianresignation。"Ah，thevillain！itwasonlythismorningthathewastakingthesacramentatSaint—JacquesduHaut—Pas。"
　　"Toprayforasafejourney，probably，"saidlaPeyrade。
　　"Monsieurtalkslightlyenough，"continuedMadameLambert，"thoughthatbrigandhascarriedoffmysavings。ButIgavethemtomonsieur，andmonsieurisanswerabletomeforthem；heistheonlyoneIknowinthistransaction。"
　　"Hey？"saidlaPeyradetoThuillier，pointingtoMadameLambert，whosewholedemeanorhadsomethingofthemother—wolfsuddenlybereftofhercubs；"isthatnature？tellme！DoyouthinknowthatmadameandIareplayingacomedyforyourbenefit？"
　　"IamthunderstruckatCerizet’saudacity，"saidThuillier。"Iamoverwhelmedwithmyownstupidity；thereisnothingformetodobuttosubmitmyselfentirelytoyourdiscretion。"
　　"Madame，"saidlaPeyrade，gaily，"excusemeforthusfrighteningyou；
　　thenotaryDupuisisstillaverysaintlyman，andquiteincapableofdoinganinjurytohisclients。Asformonsieurhere，itwasnecessarythatIshouldprovetohimthatyouhadreallyplacedthatmoneyinmyhands；heis，however，anothermyself，andyoursecret，thoughknowntohim，isassafeasitiswithme。"
　　"Oh，verygood，monsieur！"saidMadameLambert。"Isupposethesegentlemenhavenofurtherneedofme？"
　　"No，mydearmadame，andIbegyoutopardonmeforthelittleterrorIwascompelledtooccasionyou。"
　　MadameLambertturnedtoleavetheroomwithalltheappearanceofrespectfulhumility，butwhenshereachedthedoor，sheretracedhersteps，andcomingclosetolaPeyradesaid，inhersmoothesttones：——
　　"Whendoesmonsieurexpecttobeabletorefundmethatmoney？"
　　"ButItoldyou，"saidlaPeyrade，stiffly，"thatnotariesneverreturnondemandthemoneyplacedintheirhands。"
　　"DoesmonsieurthinkthatifIwenttoseeMonsieurDupuishimselfandaskedhim——"
　　"Ithink，"saidlaPeyrade，interruptingher，"thatyouwoulddoamostridiculousthing。Hereceivedthemoneyfrommeinmyownname，asyourequested，andheknowsonlymeinthematter。"
　　"Thenmonsieurwillbesokind，willhenot，astogetbackthatmoneyformeassoonaspossible？IamsureIwouldnotwishtopressmonsieur，butintwoorthreemonthsfromnowImaywantit；Ihaveheardofalittlepropertyitwouldsuitmetobuy。"
　　"Verygood，MadameLambert，"saidlaPeyrade，withwell—concealedirritation，"itshallbedoneasyouwish；andinlesstime，perhaps，thanyouhavestatedIshallhopetoreturnyourmoneytoyou。"
　　"Thatwon’tinconveniencemonsieur，Itrust，"saidthewoman；"hetoldmethatatthefirstindiscretionIcommitted——"
　　"Yes，yes，thatisallunderstood，"saidlaPeyrade，interruptingher。
　　"ThenIhavethehonortobetheveryhumbleservantofthesegentlemen，"saidMadameLambert，nowdepartingdefinitively。
　　"Yousee，myfriend，thetroubleyouhavegotmeinto，"saidlaPeyradetoThuillierassoonastheywerealone，"andtowhatIamexposedbymykindnessinsatisfyingyourdiseasedmind。Thatdebtwasdormant；itwasinachronicstate；andyouhavewakeditupandmadeitacute。Thewomanbroughtmethemoneyandinsistedonmykeepingit，atagoodrateofinterest。Irefusedatfirst；thenIagreedtoplaceitinDupuis’shands，explainingtoherthatitcouldn’tbewithdrawnatonce；butsubsequently，whenDutocqpressedme，I
　　decided，afterall，tokeepitmyself。"
　　"Iamdreadfullysorry，dearfriend，formysillycredulity。Butdon’tbeuneasyabouttheexactionsofthatwoman；wewillmanagetoarrangeallthat，evenifIhavetomakeyouanadvanceuponCeleste’s’dot。’"
　　"Myexcellentfriend，"saidlaPeyrade，"itisabsolutelynecessarythatweshouldtalkoverourprivatearrangements；totellyouthetruth，Ihavenofancyforbeinghauledupeverymorningandquestionedastomyconduct。Justnow，whilewaitingforthatwoman，I
　　drewupalittleagreement，whichyouandIwilldiscussandsign，ifyouplease，beforethefirstnumberofthepaperisissued。"
　　"But，"saidThuillier，"ourdeedofpartnershipseemstometosettle——"
　　"——thatbyapaltryforfeitoffivethousandfrancs，asstatedinArticle14，"interruptedTheodose，"youcanputme，whenyouchoose，outofdoors。No，Ithankyou！Aftermyexperienceto—day，Iwantsomebettersecuritythanthat。"
　　AtthismomentCerizetwithalivelyandall—conqueringair，enteredtheroom。
　　"Mymasters！"heexclaimed，"I’vebroughtthemoney；andwecannowsignthebond。"
　　Then，remarkingthathisnewswasreceivedwithextremecoldness，headded：——
　　"Well？whatisit？"
　　"Itisthis，"repliedThuillier："Irefusetobeassociatedwithdouble—facemenandcalumniators。Wehavenoneedofyouoryourmoney；andIrequestyounottohonortheseprecinctsanylongerwithyourpresence。"
　　"Dear！dear！dear！"saidCerizet；"sopapaThuillierhasletthewoolbepulledoverhiseyesagain！"
　　"Leavetheroom！"saidThuillier；"youhavenothingmoretodohere。"
　　"Hey，myboy！"saidCerizet，turningtolaPeyrade，"soyou’vetwistedtheoldbourgeoisroundyourfingeragain？Well，well，nomatter！I
　　thinkyouaremakingamistakenottogoandseeduPortail，andI
　　shalltellhim——"
　　"Leavethishouse！"criedThuillier，inathreateningtone。
　　"Pleaseremember，mydearmonsieur，thatIneveraskedyoutoemployme；Iwaswellenoughoffbeforeyousentforme，andIshallbeafter。ButI’llgiveyouapieceofadvice：don’tpaythetwenty—fivethousandfrancsoutofyourownpocket，forthat’shangingtoyournose。"
　　Sosaying，Cerizetputhisthirty—threethousandfrancsinbanknotesbackintohiswallet，tookhishatfromthetable，carefullysmoothedthenapwithhisforearmanddeparted。
　　ThuillierhadbeenledbyCerizetintowhatprovedtobeamostdisastrouscampaign。NowbecomethehumbleservantoflaPeyrade，hewasforcedtoaccepthisconditions，whichwereasfollows：fivehundredfrancsamonthforlaPeyrade’sservicesingeneral；hiseditorshipofthepapertobepaidattherateoffiftyfrancsacolumn，——whichwassimplyenormous，consideringthesmallsizeofthesheet；abindingpledgetocontinuethepublicationofthepaperforsixmonths，underpainoftheforfeitureoffifteenthousandfrancs；
　　anabsoluteomnipotenceinthedutiesofeditor—in—chief，——thatistosay，thesovereignrightofinserting，controlling，andrejectingallarticleswithoutbeingcalledtoexplainthereasonsofhisactions，——
　　suchwerethestipulationsofatreatyinduplicatemadeopenly，"ingoodfaith，"betweenthecontractingparties。BUT，invirtueofanotherandsecretagreement，Thuilliergavesecurityforthepaymentofthetwenty—fivethousandfrancsforwhichlaPeyradewasaccountabletoMadameLambert，bindingthesaidSieurdelaPeyrade，incasethepaymentwererequiredbeforehismarriagewithCelesteCollevillecouldtakeplace，toacknowledgethereceiptofsaidsumadvanceduponthedowry。
　　Mattersbeingthusarrangedandacceptedbythecandidate，whosawnochanceofelectionifhelostlaPeyrade，Thuillierwasseizedwithahappythought。HewenttotheCirque—Olympique，whereherememberedtohaveseenintheticket—officeaformeremployeeinhisofficeattheministryofFinance，——amannamedFleury；towhomheproposedthepostofmanager。Fleury，beinganoldsoldier，agoodshot，andaskilfulfencer，wouldcertainlymakehimselfanobjectofrespectinanewspaperoffice。Theworking—staffofthepaperbeingthusreconstituted，withtheexceptionofafewco—editorsorreporterstobeaddedlater，butwhomlaPeyrade，thankstothefacilityofhispen，wasableforthepresenttodowithout，thefirstnumberofthenewpaperwaslaunchedupontheworld。
　　ThuilliernowrecommencedtheexplorationsaboutPariswhichwesawhimmakeonthepublicationofhispamphlet。Enteringallreading—
　　roomsandcafes，heaskedforthe"EchodelaBievre，"andwheninformed，alas，veryfrequently，thatthepaperwasunknowninthisorthatestablishment，"Itisincredible！"hewouldexclaim，"thatahousewhichrespectsitselfdoesnottakesuchawidelyknownpaper。"
　　Onthat，hedeparteddisdainfully，notobservingthatinmanyplaces，wherethisancienttrickofcommercialtravellerswaswellunderstood，theywerelaughingbehindhisback。
　　Theeveningofthedaywhentheinaugurationnumbercontainingthe"professionoffaith"appeared，Brigitte’ssalon，althoughthedaywasnotSunday，wasfilledwithvisitors。ReconciledtolaPeyrade，whomherbrotherhadbroughthometodinner，theoldmaidwentsofarastotellhimthat，withoutflattery，shethoughthisleadingarticlewasafamousHIT。Forthatmatter，alltheguestsastheyarrived，reportedthatthepublicseemedenchantedwiththefirstnumberofthenewjournal。
　　Thepublic！everybodyknowswhatthatis。Toeverymanwholaunchesabitofwritingintotheworld，thepublicconsistsoffiveorsixintimateswhocannot，withoutoffendingtheauthor，avoidknowingsomethingmoreorlessofhislucubrations。
　　"Asforme！"criedColleville，"IcantruthfullydeclarethatitisthefirstpoliticalarticleIeverreadthatdidn’tsendmetosleep。"
　　"Itiscertain，"saidPhellion，"thattheleadingarticleseemstometobestampedwithvigorjoinedtoanatticismwhichwemayseekinvaininthecolumnsoftheotherpublicprints。"
　　"Yes，"saidDutocq，"thematterisverywellpresented；andbesides，there’saturnofphrase，acleverdiction，thatdoesn’tbelongtoeverybody。However，wemustwaitandseehowitkeepson。Ifancythatto—morrowthe’EchodelaBievre’willbestronglyattackedbytheotherpapers。"
　　"Parbleu！"criedThuillier，"that’swhatwearehopingfor；andifthegovernmentwouldonlydousthefavortoseizeus——"
　　"No，thankyou，"saidFleury，whomThuillierhadalsobroughthometodinner，"Idon’twanttoenteruponthosefunctionsatfirst。"
　　"Seized！"saidDutocq，"oh，youwon’tbeseized；butIthinktheministerialjournalswillfireabroadsideatyou。"
　　ThenextdayThuillierwasattheofficeasearlyaseighto’clock，inordertobethefirsttoreceivethatformidablesalvo。Afterlookingthrougheverymorningpaperhewasforcedtoadmitthattherewasnomorementionofthe"EchodelaBievre"thanifitdidn’texist。WhenlaPeyradearrivedhefoundhisunhappyfriendinastateofconsternation。
　　"Doesthatsurpriseyou？"saidtheProvencal，tranquilly。"Iletyouenjoyyesterdayyourhopesofahotengagementwiththepress；butI
　　knewmyselfthatinallprobabilitytherewouldn’tbetheslightestmentionofusinto—day’spapers。Againsteverypaperwhichmakesitsdebutwithsomedistinction，there’salwaysatwoweeks’，sometimesatwomonths’conspiracyofsilence。"
　　"Conspiracyofsilence！"echoedThuillier，withadmiration。
　　Hedidnotknowwhatitmeant，butthewordshadagrandeurandaSOMETHINGthatappealedtohisimagination。AfterlaPeyradehadexplainedtohimthatby"conspiracyofsilence"wasmeanttheagreementofexistingjournalstomakenomentionofnew—comerslestsuchnoticeshouldservetoadvertisethem，Thuillier’smindwashardlybettersatisfiedthanithadbeenbythepompousflowofthewords。Thebourgeoisisbornso；wordsarecoinswhichhetakesandpasseswithoutquestion。Foraword，hewillexcitehimselforcalmdown，insultorapplaud。Withaword，hecanbebroughttomakearevolutionandoverturnagovernmentofhisownchoice。
　　Thepaper，however，wasonlyameans；theobjectwasThuillier’selection。Thiswasinsinuatedratherthanstatedinthefirstnumbers。
　　Butonemorning，inthecolumnsofthe"Echo，"appearedaletterfromseveralelectorsthankingtheirdelegatetothemunicipalcouncilforthefirmandfranklyliberalattitudeinwhichhehadtakenonallquestionsoflocalinterests。"Thisfirmness，"saidtheletter，"hadbroughtdownuponhimthepersecutionofthegovernment，which，towedattheheelsofforeigners，hadsacrificedPolandandsolditselftoEngland。ThearrondissementneededamanofsuchtriedconvictionstorepresentitintheChamber，——amanholdinghighandfirmthebannerofdynasticopposition，amanwhowouldbe，bythemeresignificationofhisname，asternlessongiventotheauthorities。"
　　EnforcedbyanablecommentaryfromlaPeyrade，thisletterwassignedbyBarbetandMetivierandallBrigitte’stradesmen（whom，inviewoftheelectionshehadcontinuedtoemploysinceheremigration）；alsobythefamilydoctorandapothecary，andbyThuillier’sbuilder，andBarniol，Phellion’sson—in—law，whoprofessedtoholdrather"advanced"politicalopinions。AsforPhellionhimself，hethoughtthewordingoftheletternotaltogethercircumspect，and——alwayswithoutfearaswithoutreproach——howevermuchhemightexpectthatthisrefusalwouldinjurehissoninhisdearestinterests，hebravelyrefrainedfromsigningit。