首页 >出版文学> The Lesser Bourgeoisie>第34章
  Brigittedeclaredthatifyoudidn’ttaketimebytheforelocknoonewouldbeready。ShepreventedThuillierfromgoingtohisoffice,insistingthatifheoncegotoffshenevershouldseehimagain;sheplaguedJosephine,thecook,abouthurryingthebreakfast,andinspiteofwhathadhappenedthedaybeforeshescarcelyrestrainedherselffromnaggingatMadameThuillier,whodidnotenter,asshethoughtsheshouldhavedone,intoherfavoritemaxim,"Betterbeearlythanlate。"
  PresentlydownshewenttotheCollevilles’tomakethesamedisturbance;andtheresheputhervetoonthecostume,fartooelegant,whichFlaviemeditatedwearing,andtoldCelestethehatandgownshewishedhertoappearin。AsforColleville,whocouldnot,hedeclared,stayawayallthemorningfromhisofficialduties,shecompelledhimtoputonhisdress—suitbeforehewentout,madehimsethiswatchbyhers,andwarnedhimthatifhewaslatenoonewouldwaitforhim。
  TheamusingpartofitwasthatBrigitteherself,afterdrivingeveryoneatthepointofthebayonet,cameverynearbeinglateherself。
  Underpretextofaidingothers,independentlyofmindingherownbusiness,which,forworlds,shewouldneverhavesparedherself,shehadputherfingersandeyesintosomanythingsthattheyendedbyoverwhelmingher。However,sheascribedthedelayinwhichshewasalmostcaughttothehairdresser,whomshehadsentfortomake,onthisextraordinaryoccasion,whatshecalledher"part。"Thatartisthaving,unadvisedly,dressedherhairinthefashion,hewascompelled,aftershehadlookedatherselfintheglass,todohisworkoveragain,andconformtotheusualstyleofhisclient,whichconsistedchieflyinneverbeing"done"atall,amethodthatgaveherheadageneralairofwhatisvulgarlycalled"acrosscat。"
  Abouthalf—pastoneo’clocklaPeyrade,Thuillier,Colleville,MadameThuillier,andCelestewereassembledinthesalon。Flaviejoinedthemsoonafter,fasteningherbraceletsasshecamealongtoavoidarebuff,andhavingthesatisfactionofknowingthatshewasreadybeforeBrigitte。Asforthelatter,alreadyfuriousatfindingherselflate,shehadanothercauseforexasperation。Theeventofthedayseemedtorequireacorset,arefinementwhichsheusuallydiscarded。
  Theunfortunatemaid,whosedutyitwastolaceherandtodiscovertheexactpointtowhichshewaswillingtobedrawnin,aloneknewtheterrorsandstormsofacorsetday。
  "I’drather,"saidthegirl,"lacetheobelisk;Iknowitwouldlenditselftobeinglacedbetterthanshedoes;and,anyhow,itcouldn’tbebad—tongued。"
  Whilethepartyinthesalonwereamusingthemselves,undertheirbreaths,atthe"flagrantedelicto"ofunpunctualityinwhichQueenElizabethwascaught,theporterentered,andgavetoThuillierasealedpackage,addressedto"MonsieurThuillier,directorofthe’EchodelaBievre。’INHASTE。"
  Thuillieropenedtheenvelope,andfoundwithinacopyofaministerialjournalwhichhadhithertoshownitselfdiscourteoustothenewpaperbyrefusingtheEXCHANGEwhichallperiodicalsusuallymakeverywillinglywithoneanother。
  Puzzledbythefactofthismissivebeingsenttohisownhouseandnottotheofficeofthe"Echo,"Thuillierhastilyopenedthesheet,andread,withwhatemotionthereadermayconceive,thefollowingarticle,commendedtohisnoticebyacircleinredink:——
  Anobscureorganwasabouttoexpireinitsnativeshadewhenanambitiouspersonofrecentdatebethoughthimselfofgalvanizingit。Hisobjectwastomakeitafootholdbywhichtoclimbfrommunicipalfunctionstothecovetedpositionofdeputy。Happilythisobject,havingcometothesurface,willendinfailure。
  Electorswillcertainlynotbeinveigledbysowilyamannerofadvancingself—interests;andwhenthepropertimearrives,ifridiculehasnotalreadydonejusticeonthisabsurdcandidacy,weshallourselvesprovetothepretenderthattoaspiretothedistinguishedhonorofrepresentingthenationsomethingmoreisrequiredthanthemoneytobuyapaperandpayanunderlingtoputintogoodFrenchthehorribledictionofhisarticlesandpamphlets。Weconfineourselvesto—daytothislimitednotice,butourreadersmaybesurethatweshallkeeptheminformedaboutthiselectoralcomedy,ifindeedthepartiesconcernedhavethemelancholycouragetogoonwithit。
  Thuillierreadtwiceoverthissuddendeclarationofwar,whichwasfarfromleavinghimcalmandimpassible;then,takinglaPeyradeaside,hesaidtohim:——
  "Readthat;itisserious。"
  "Well?"saidlaPeyrade,afterreadingthearticle。
  "Well?howwell?"exclaimedThuillier。
  "Imean,whatdoyoufindsoseriousinthat?"
  "WhatdoIfindsoserious?"repeatedThuillier。"Idon’tthinkanythingcouldbemoreinsultingtome。"
  "Youcan’tdoubt,"saidlaPeyrade,"thatthevirtuousCerizetisatthebottomofit;hehasthrownthisfirecrackerbetweenyourlegsbywayofrevenge。"
  "Cerizet,oranybodyelsewhowrotethatdiatribeisaninsolentfellow,"criedThuillier,gettingangry,"andthemattershallnotrestthere。"
  "Formypart,"saidlaPeyrade,"Iadviseyoutomakenoreply。Youarenotnamed;though,ofcourse,theattackisaimedatyou。Butyououghttoletouradversarycommithimselffarther;whentherightmomentcomes,we’llraphimovertheknuckles。"
  "No!"saidThuillier,"Iwon’tstayquietoneminuteundersuchaninsult。"
  "Thedevil!"saidthebarrister;"whatasensitiveepidermis!Doreflect,mydearfellow,thatyouhavemadeyourselfacandidateandajournalist,andthereforeyoureallymusthardenyourselfbetterthanthat。"
  "Mygoodfriend,itisaprincipleofminenottoletanybodysteponmytoes。Besides,theysaythemselvestheyaregoingonwiththisthing。Therefore,itisabsolutelynecessarytocutshortsuchimpertinence。"
  "Butdoconsider,"saidlaPeyrade。"Certainlyinjournalism,asincandidacy,ahottemperhasitsuses;amanmakeshimselfrespected,andstopsattacks——"
  "Justso,"saidThuillier,"’principiisobsta。’Notto—day,becausewehaven’tthetime,butto—morrowIshallcarrythatpaperintocourt。"
  "Intocourt!"echoedlaPeyrade;"yousurelywouldn’tgotolawinsuchamatterasthis?Inthefirstplace,thereisnothingtoproceedupon;youarenotnamednorthepapereither,and,besides,itisapitiablebusiness,goingtolaw;you’lllooklikeaboywhohasbeenfighting,andgottheworstofit,andrunstocomplaintohismamma。
  NowifyouhadsaidthatyoumeanttomakeFleuryinterveneinthematter,Icouldunderstandthat——thoughtheaffairisratherpersonaltoyou,anditmightbedifficulttomakeitseem——"
  "Ahca!"saidThuillier,"doyousupposeIamgoingtocommitmyselfwithaCerizetoranyothernewspaperbully?Ipiquemyself,mydearfellow,onpossessingciviccourage,whichdoesnotgiveintoprejudices,andwhich,insteadoftakingjusticeintoitsownhands,hasrecoursetothemeansofdefencethatareprovidedbylaw。
  Besides,withthelegalauthoritytheCourtofCassationnowhasoverduelling,Ihavenodesiretoputmyselfinthewayofbeingexpatriated,orspendingtwoorthreeyearsinprison。"
  "Well,"saidlaPeyrade,"we’lltalkitoverlater;here’syoursister,andshewouldthinkeverythinglostifthislittlematterreachedherears。"
  WhenBrigitteappearedCollevilleshouted"Full!"andproceededtosingthechorusof"LaParisienne。"
  "Heavens!Colleville,howvulgaryouare!"criedthetardyone,hasteningtocastastoneintheother’sgardentoavoidthethrowingofoneintohers。"Well,areyouallready?"sheadded,arranginghermantlebeforeamirror。"Whato’clockisit?itwon’tdotogettherebeforethetime,likeprovincials。"
  "Tenminutestotwo,"saidColleville;"IgobytheTuileries。"
  "Well,thenwearejustright,"saidBrigitte;"itwilltakeaboutthattimetogettotherueCaumartin。Josephine,"shecried,goingtothedoorofthesalon,"we’lldineatsix,thereforebesureyouputtheturkeytoroastattherighttime,andmindyoudon’tburnit,asyoudidtheotherday。Blessme!who’sthat?"andwithahastymotionsheshutthedoor,whichshehadbeenholdingopen。"Whatanuisance!
  IhopeHenriwillhavethesensetotellhimweareout。"
  Notatall;Henricameintosaythatanoldgentleman,withaverygenteelair,hadaskedtobereceivedonurgentbusiness。
  "Whydidn’tyousaywewereallout?"
  "That’swhatIshouldhavedoneifmademoisellehadnotopenedthedoorofthesalonsothatthegentlemancouldseethewholefamilyassembled。"
  "Oh,yes!"saidBrigitte,"youareneverinthewrong,areyou?"
  "WhatamItosaytohim?"askedtheman。
  "Say,"repliedThuillier,"thatIamverysorrynottobeabletoreceivehim,butIamexpectedatanotary’sofficeaboutamarriagecontract;butthatifhecouldreturntwohourshence——"
  "Ihavetoldhimallthat,"saidHenri,"andheansweredthatthatcontractwaspreciselywhathehadcomeabout,andthathisbusinessconcernedyoumorethanhimself。"
  "Youhadbettergoandseehim,Thuillier,andgetridofhimindouble—quick,"saidBrigitte;"that’sshorterthantalkingtoHenri,whoisalwaysanorator。"
  IflaPeyradehadbeenconsultedhemightnothavejoinedinthatadvice,forhehadhadmorethanonespecimenofthespokessomeoccultinfluencewasputtingintothewheelsofhismarriage,andthepresentvisitseemedtohimominous。
  "Showhimintomystudy,"saidThuillier,followinghissister’sadvice;and,openingthedoorwhichledfromthesalontothestudy,hewenttoreceivehisimportunatevisitor。
  Brigitteimmediatelyappliedhereyetothekeyhole。
  "Goodness!"sheexclaimed,"there’smyimbecileofaThuillierofferinghimachair!andawayinacorner,too,whereIcan’thearawordtheysay!"
  LaPeyradewaswalkingabouttheroomwithaninwardagitationcoveredbyanappearanceofgreatindifference。Heevenwentuptothethreewomen,andmadeafewlover—likespeechestoCeleste,whoreceivedthemwithasmiling,happyairinkeepingwiththeroleshewasplaying。AsforColleville,hewaskillingthetimebycomposingananagramonthesixwordsof"lejournal’l’EchodelaBievre,’"forwhichhehadfoundthefollowingversion,littlereassuring(asfarasitwent)fortheprospectsofthatnewspaper:"Od’Echo,jarni!labevuereell"——butasthefinal"e"waslackingtocompletethelastword,theworkwasnotaltogetherassatisfactoryasitshouldhavebeen。
  "He’stakingsnuff!"saidBrigitte,hereyestillgluedtothekeyhole;"hisgoldsnuff—boxbeatsMinard’s——though,perhaps,itisonlysilver—gilt,"sheadded,reflectively。"He’sdoingthetalking,andThuillierissittingtherelisteningtohimlikeabuzzard。I
  shallgoinandtellthemtheycan’tkeepladieswaitingthatway。"
  ButjustassheputherhandonthelocksheheardThuillier’svisitorraisehisvoice,andthatmadeherlookthroughthekeyholeagain。
  "Heisstandingup;he’sgoing,"shesaidwithsatisfaction。
  Butamomentlatershesawshehadmadeamistake;thelittleoldmanhadonlylefthischairtowalkupanddowntheroomandcontinuetheconversationwithgreaterfreedom。
  "Mygracious!Ishallcertainlygoin,"shesaid,"andtellThuillierwearegoingwithouthim,andhecanfollowus。"
  Sosaying,theoldmaidgavetwolittlesharpandveryimperiousrapsonthedoor,afterwhichsheresolutelyenteredthestudy。
  LaPeyrade,goadedbyanxiety,hadthebadtastetolookthroughthekeyholehimselfatwhatwashappening。Instantlyhethoughtherecognizedthesmalloldmanhehadseenunderthenameof"thecommander"onthatmemorablemorningwhenhehadwaitedforMadamedeGodollo。ThenhesawThuillieraddressinghissisterwithimpatienceandwithgesturesofauthorityaltogetheroutofhisusualhabitsofdeferenceandsubmission。
  "Itseems,"saidBrigitte,re—enteringthesalon,"thatThuillierfindssomegreatinterestinthatcreature’stalk,forheorderedmebluntlytoleavethem,thoughthelittleoldfellowdidsay,rathercivilly,thattheywouldsoonbethrough。ButJeromeadded:’MIND,youaretowaitforme。’Really,sincehehastakentomakingnewspapersI
  don’tknowhim;hehassetupanairasifhewereleadingtheworldwithhiswand。"
  "Iamverymuchafraidheisbeingentangledbysomeadventurer,"saidlaPeyrade。"IamprettysureIsawthatoldmanatMadamedeGodollo’sthedayIwenttowarnheroffthepremises;hemustbeofthesamestripe。"
  "Whydidn’tyoutellme?"criedBrigitte。"I’dhaveaskedhimfornewsofthecountess,andlethimseeweknewwhatweknewofhisHungarian。"
  Justthenthesoundofmovingchairswasheard,andBrigittedartedbacktothekeyhole。
  "Yes,"shesaid,"heisreallygoing,andThuillierisbowinghimoutrespectfully!"
  AsThuillierdidnotimmediatelyreturn,Collevillehadtimetogotothewindowandexclaimatseeingthelittleoldgentlemandrivingawayinanelegantcoupe,ofwhichthereaderhasalreadyheard。
  "Thedeuce!"criedColleville;"whatanornatelivery!Ifheisanadventurerheisanumberone。"
  AtlastThuillierre—enteredtheroom,hisfacefullofcare,hismannerextremelygrave。
  "MydearlaPeyrade,"hesaid,"youdidnottellusthatanotherproposalofmarriagehadbeenseriouslyconsideredbyyou。"
  "Yes,Idid;Itoldyouthataveryrichheiresshadbeenofferedtome,butthatmyinclinationswerehere,andthatIhadnotgivenanyencouragementtotheaffair;consequently,ofcourse,therewasnoseriousengagement。"
  "Well,Ithinkyoudowrongtotreatthatproposalsolightly。"
  "What!doyoumeantosay,inpresenceoftheseladies,thatyoublamemeforremainingfaithfultomyfirstdesiresandouroldengagement?"
  "Myfriend,theconversationthatIhavejusthadhasbeenamostinstructiveonetome;andwhenyouknowwhatIknow,withotherdetailspersonaltoyourself,whichwillbeconfidedtoyou,Ithinkthatyouwillenterintomyideas。Onethingiscertain;weshallnotgotothenotaryto—day;andasforyou,thebestthingthatyoucandoistogo,withoutdelay,toMonsieurduPortail。"
  "Thatnameagain!itpursuesmelikearemorse,"exclaimedlaPeyrade。
  "Yes;goatonce;heisawaitingyou。Itisanindispensablepreliminarybeforewecangoanyfarther。Whenyouhaveseenthatexcellentmanandheardwhathehastosaytoyou——well,THENifyoupersistinclaimingCeleste’shand,wemightperhapscarryoutourplans。Untilthenweshalltakenostepsinthematter。"
  "But,mypoorThuillier,"saidBrigitte,"youhaveletyourselfbegammonedbyarascal;thatmanbelongstotheGodolloset。"
  "MadamedeGodollo,"repliedThuillier,"isnotatallwhatyousupposehertobe,andthebestthingthishousecandoisnevertosayonewordabouther,eithergoodorevil。AsforlaPeyrade,asthisisnotthefirsttimehehasbeenrequestedtogoandseeMonsieurduPortail,Iamsurprisedthathehesitatestodoso。"
  "Ahca!"saidBrigitte,"thatlittleoldmanhascompletelybefooledyou。"
  "Itellyouthatthatlittleoldmanisallthatheappearstobe。Hewearssevencrosses,hedrivesinasplendidequipage,andhehastoldmethingsthathaveoverwhelmedmewithastonishment。"
  "Well,perhapshe’safortune—tellerlikeMadameFontaine,whomanagedonceuponatimetoupsetmewhenMadameMinardandI,justtoamuseourselves,wenttoconsulther。"
  "Well,ifheisnotasorcererhecertainlyhasaverylongarm,"saidThuillier,"andIthinkamanwouldsufferforitifhedidn’trespecthisadvice。Asforyou,Brigitte,hesawyouonlyforaminute,buthetoldmeyourwholecharacter;hesaidyouwereamasterfulwoman,borntocommand。"
  "Thefactis,"saidBrigitte,lickingherchopsatthiscompliment,likeacatdrinkingcream,"hehasaverywell—bredair,thatlittleoldfellow。Youtakemyadvice,mydear,"shesaid,turningtolaPeyrade;"ifsuchaverybig—wigasthatwantsyoutodoso,goandseethisduPortail,whoeverheis。That,itseemstome,won’tbindyoutoanything。"
  "Youareright,Brigitte,"saidColleville;"asforme,I’dfollowupallthePortails,orPortERS,orPortENTSforthematterofthat,iftheyaskedmeto。"
  Thescenewasbeginningtoresemblethatinthe"BarberofSeville,"
  whereeverybodytellsBasiltogotobed,forhecertainlyhasafever。LaPeyrade,thusprodded,pickeduphishatinsomeill—humor,andwentwherehisdestinycalledhim,——"quosuafatavocabant。"
  CHAPTERXV
  ATDUPORTAIL’S
  OnreachingtherueHonore—ChevalierlaPeyradefeltadoubt;thedilapidatedappearanceofthehousetowhichhewassummonedmadehimthinkhehadmistakenthenumber。ItseemedtohimthatapersonofMonsieurduPortail’sevidentimportancecouldnotinhabitsuchaplace。ItwasthereforewithsomehesitationthatheaccostedSieurPerrache,theporter。ButnosoonerhadheenteredtheantechamberoftheapartmentpointedouttohimthantheexcellentdeportmentofBruneau,theoldvalet,andtheextremelycomfortableappearanceofthefurnitureandotherappointmentsmadehimseethathewasprobablyintherightplace。Introducedatonce,assoonashehadgivenhisname,intothestudyofthemasterofthehouse,hissurprisewasgreatwhenhefoundhimselfinpresenceofthecommander,socalled,thefriendofMadamedeGodollo,andthelittleoldmanhehadseenhalfanhourearlierwithThuillier。
  "Atlast!"saidduPortail,rising,andofferinglaPeyradeachair,"atlastwemeet,myrefractoryfriend;ithastakenagooddealtobringyouhere。"
  "MayIknow,monsieur,"saidlaPeyrade,haughtily,nottakingthechairwhichwasofferedtohim,"whatinterestyouhaveinmeddlingwithmyaffairs?Idonotknowyou,andImayaddthattheplacewhereIoncesawyoudidnotcreateanunconquerabledesireinmetomakeyouracquaintance。"
  "Wherehaveyouseenme?"askedduPortail。
  "IntheapartmentofastrumpetwhocalledherselfMadamedeGodollo。"
  "Wheremonsieur,consequently,wenthimself,"saidthelittleoldman,"andforapurposemuchlessdisinterestedthanmine。"
  "Ihavenotcomehere,"saidlaPeyrade,"tobandywordswithanyone。
  Ihavetheright,monsieur,toafullexplanationastothemeaningofyourproceedingstowardsme。Ithereforerequestyounottodelaythembyafacetiousnesstowhich,Iassureyou,Iamnotinthehumortolisten。"
  "Then,mydearfellow,"saidduPortail,"sitdown,forIamnotinthehumortotwistmyneckbytalkingupatyou。"
  Thewordswerereasonable,andtheyweresaidinatonethatshowedtheoldgentlemanwasnotlikelytobefrightenedbygrandairs。LaPeyradethereforedeferredtothewishesofhishost,buthetookcaretodosowiththeworstgracepossible。
  "MonsieurCerizet,"saidduPortail,"amanofexcellentstandingintheworld,andwhohasthehonortobeoneofyourfriends——"
  "Ihavenothingtodowiththatmannow,"saidlaPeyrade,sharply,understandingthemaliciousmeaningoftheoldman’sspeech。
  "Well,thetimehasbeen,"saidduPortail,"whenyousawhim,atleast,occasionally:forinstance,whenyoupaidforhisdinnerattheRocherdeCancale。AsIwassaying,IchargedthevirtuousMonsieurCerizettosoundyouastoamarriage——"
  "WhichIrefused,"interruptedlaPeyrade,"andwhichInowrefuseagain,morevehementlythanever。"
  "That’sthequestion,"saidtheoldman。"Ithink,onthecontrary,thatyouwillacceptit;anditistotalkoverthisaffairwithyouthatIhavesolongdesiredameeting。"
  "Butthiscrazygirlthatyouareflingingatmyhead,"saidlaPeyrade,"whatisshetoyou?Shecan’tbeyourdaughter,oryouwouldputmoredecencyintoyourhuntforahusband。"
  "Thisyounggirl,"repliedduPortail,"isthedaughterofoneofmyfriendswhodiedabouttenyearsago;athisdeathItookhertolivewithme,andhavegivenherallthecarehersadconditionneeded。Herfortune,whichIhavegreatlyincreased,addedtomyown,whichI
  intendtoleavetoher,willmakeheraveryrichheiress。Iknowthatyouarenoenemytohandsome’dots,’foryouhavesoughttheminvariousplaces,——Thuillier’shouse,forinstance,or,touseyourownexpression,thatofastrumpetwhomyouscarcelyknew。Ihavethereforesupposedyouwouldacceptatmyhandsaveryrichyoungwoman,especiallyasherinfirmityisdeclaredbythebestphysicianstobecurable;whereasyoucannevercureMonsieurandMademoiselleThuillier,theoneofbeingafool,theotherofbeingafury,anymorethanyoucouldcureMadameKomornofbeingawomanofverymediumvirtueandextremelygiddy。"
  "Itmaysuitme,"repliedlaPeyrade,"tomarrythedaughterofafoolandafuryifIchooseher,orImightbecomethehusbandofaclevercoquette,ifpassionseizedme,buttheQueenofShebaherself,ifimposeduponme,neitheryou,monsieur,northeablestandmostpowerfulmanlivingcouldforcemetoaccept。"
  "Precisely;thereforeitistoyourowngoodsenseandintelligencethatInowaddressmyself;butwehavetocomefacetofacewithpeopleinordertospeaktothem,youknow。Now,then,letuslookintoyourpresentsituation,anddon’tgetangryif,likeasurgeonwhowantstocurehispatient,Ilaymyhandmercilesslyonwoundswhichhavelongtormentedandharassedyou。ThefirstpointtostateisthattheCelesteCollevilleaffairisatanendforyou。"
  "Whyso?"demandedlaPeyrade。
  "BecauseIhavejustseenThuillierandterrifiedhimwiththehistoryofthemisfortuneshehasincurred,andthosehewillincurifhepersistsintheideaofgivingyouhisgoddaughterinmarriage。HeknowsnowthatitwasIwhoparalyzedMadameduBruel’skindofficesinthematterofthecross;thatIhadhispamphletseized;thatI
  sentthatHungarianwomanintohishousetohandleyouall,asshedid;andthatmyhandisopeningfireintheministerialjournals,whichwillonlyincreasefrombadtoworse,——nottospeakofothermachinationswhichwillbedirectedagainsthiscandidacy。Thereforeyousee,mygoodfriend,thatnotonlyhaveyounolongerthecreditinThuillier’seyesofbeinghisgreathelpertothatelection,butthatyouactuallyblockthewaytohisambition。Thatisenoughtoprovetoyouthatthesidebywhichyouhaveimposedyourselfonthatfamily——whohaveneversincerelylikedordesiredyou——isnowcompletelybattereddownanddismantled。"
  "Buttohavedoneallthatwhichyouclaimwithsuchpretension,whoareyou?"demandedlaPeyrade。
  "Ishallnotsaythatyouareveryinquisitive,forIintendtoansweryourquestionlater;butforthepresentletuscontinue,ifyouplease,theautopsyofyourexistence,deadto—day,butwhichI
  proposetoresuscitategloriously。Youaretwenty—eightyearsold,andyouhavebegunacareerinwhichIshallnotallowyoutomakeanotherstep。AfewdayshencetheCounciloftheorderofbarristerswillassembleandwillcensure,moreorlessseverely,yourconductinthematterofthepropertyyouplacedwithsuchcandorinThuillier’shands。Donotdeceiveyourself;censurefromthatquarter(andI
  mentiononlyyourleastdanger)isasfataltoabarristerasbeingactuallydisbarred。"