CHAPTERX
　　HOWBRIGITTEWASWON
　　Thedayafterthisconferenceatthe"ChevalRouge，"laPeyradewenttodinewiththeThuilliers，andonthecommonplacepretextofavisittopay，Thuilliercarriedoffhiswife，leavingTheodosealonewithBrigitte。NeitherThuillier，norhissister，norTheodose，werethedupesofthiscomedy；buttheoldbeauoftheEmpireconsideredthemanoeuvreapieceofdiplomacy。
　　"Youngman，donottakeadvantageofmysister’sinnocence；respectit，"saidThuilliersolemnly，ashedeparted。
　　"Mademoiselle，"saidTheodose，drawinghischairclosertothesofawhereBrigittesatknitting，"haveyouthoughtofinducingthebusinessmenofthearrondissementtosupportThuillier’sinterests？"
　　"HowcanI？"sheasked。
　　"Why！youareincloserelationswithBarbetandMetivier。"
　　"Ah！youareright！Faith！youarenoblunderer！"shesaidafterapause。
　　"Whenweloveourfriends，weservethem，"hereplied，sententiously。
　　TocaptureBrigittewouldbelikecarryingtheredoubtoftheMoskowa，theculminatingstrategicpoint。Butitwasnecessarytopossessthatoldmaidasthedevilwassupposedinthemiddleagestopossessmen，andinawaytomakeanyawakeningimpossibleforher。ForthelastthreedayslaPeyradehadbeenmeasuringhimselfforthetask；hehadcarefullyreconnoitredthegroundtoseealldifficulty。Flattery，thatalmostinfalliblemeansinablehands，wouldcertainlymiscarrywithawomanwhoforyearshadknownshehadnobeauty。Butamanofstrongwillfindsnothingimpregnable；theLamarquescouldneverhavefailedtotakeCapri。Therefore，nothingmustbeomittedfromthememorablescenewhichwasnowtotakeplace；allthingsaboutithadtheirownimportance，——inflectionsofthevoice，pauses，glances，loweredeyes。
　　"But，"rejoinedBrigitte，"youhavealreadyprovedtousyouraffection。"
　　"Yourbrotherhastoldyou——？"
　　"No，hemerelytoldmethatyouhadsomethingtotellme。"
　　"Yes，mademoiselle，Ihave；foryouarethemanofthefamily。Inreflectingonthismatter，Ifindmanydangersformyself，suchasamanonlyrisksforhisnearestanddearest。Itinvolvesafortune；
　　thirtytofortythousandfrancsayear，andnottheslightestspeculation——apieceoflandedproperty。ThehopeofhelpingThuilliertowinsuchafortuneenticedmefromthefirst。’Itfascinatesme，’I
　　saidtohim——for，unlessamanisanabsolutefool，hecan’thelpaskinghimself：’Whyshouldhecaretodousallthisgood？’SoItoldhimfranklythatinworkingforhisinterests，IflatteredmyselfI
　　wasworkingformyown，asI’llexplaintoyoulater。Ifhewishestobedeputy，twothingsareabsolutelynecessary：tocomplywiththelawastoproperty，andtowinforhisnamesomesortofpubliccelebrity。
　　IfImyselfpushmydevotiontothepointofhelpinghimtowriteabookonpublicfinanciering——oranythingelse，nomatterwhat——whichwouldgivehimthatcelebrity，Ioughtalsotothinkoftheothermatter，hisproperty——itwouldbeabsurdtoexpectyoutogivehimthishouse——"
　　"Formybrother？Why，I’dputitinhisnameto—morrow，"criedBrigitte。"Youdon’tknowme。"
　　"Idon’tknowyouthoroughly，"saidlaPeyrade，"butIdoknowthingsaboutyouwhichnowmakemeregretthatIdidnottellyouthewholeaffairfromitsorigin；ImeanfromthemomentwhenIconceivedtheplantowhichThuillierwillowehisnomination。Hewillbehunteddownbyenvyandjealousy，andthetaskofupholdinghimwillbeahardone；wemust，however，getthebetterofhisrivalsandtakethewindoutoftheirsails。"
　　"Butthisaffair，"saidBrigitte，"whatarethedifficulties？"
　　"Mademoiselle，thedifficultiesliewithinmyownconscience。
　　Assuredly，Icouldnotserveyouinthismatterwithoutfirstconsultingmyconfessor。Fromaworldlypointofview——oh！theaffairisperfectlylegal，andIam——you’llunderstandme？——abarristerinscribedonthepanel，thatis，memberofabarcontrolledbythestrictestrules。Iamthereforeincapableofproposinganenterprisewhichmightgiveoccasionforblame。Inthefirstplace，Imyselfdon’tmakeapennybyit。"
　　Brigittewasonthorns；herfacewasflaming；shebrokeherwool，mendedit，brokeitagain，anddidnotknowwhichwaytolook。
　　"Onecan’tget，"shesaid，"inthesedays，fortythousandfrancsayearfromlandedpropertyunlessitisworthonemillioneighthundredthousand。"
　　"Well，Iwillundertakethatyoushallseeapieceofpropertyandestimateyourselfitsprobablerevenue，whichIcanmakeThuilliertheownerofforfiftythousandfrancsdown。"
　　"Oh！ifyoucanmakeusobtainthat！"criedBrigitte，workeduptothehighestexcitementbythespurofhernaturalcupidity。"Goon，mydearMonsieurTheodose，and——"
　　Shestoppedshort。
　　"Well，mademoiselle？"
　　"Youwill，perhaps，havedoneyourselfaservice。"
　　"Ah！ifThuillierhastoldyoumysecret，Imustleavethishouse。"
　　Brigittelookedup。
　　"DidhetellyouthatIloveCeleste？"
　　"No，onmywordofhonor！"criedBrigitte，"butImyselfwasjustabouttospeakofher。"
　　"Andofferhertome？Oh！mayGodforgiveus！Icanonlywinherofherself，herparents，byafreechoice——No，no，allIaskofyouisyourgood—will，yourprotection。Promiseme，asThuillierhas，inreturnformyservicesyourinfluence，yourfriendship；tellmethatyouwilltreatmeasason。Ifyouwilldothat，Iwillabidebyyourdecisioninthismatter；Icantrustit；Ineednotspeaktomyconfessor。Forthelasttwoyears，eversinceIhaveseenmuchofthisfamily，towhomIwouldfaingivemypowersanddevotemyutmostenergy——for，Ishallsucceed！surelyIshall！——Ihaveobservedthatyourintegrity，yourhonoristhatoftheoldentime，yourjudgmentrighteousandinflexible。Also，youhaveaknowledgeofbusiness；andthesequalitiescombinedareprecioushelpstoaman。Withamother—
　　in—law，asImaysay，ofyourpowers，Ishouldfindmyhomeliferelievedofacrowdofcaresanddetailsastoproperty，whichhinderaman’sadvanceinapoliticalcareerifheisforcedtoattendtothem。IadmiredyoudeeplyonSundayevening。Ah！youwerefine！Howyoudidmanagematters！Intenminutesthatdining—roomwascleared！
　　And，withoutgoingoutsideofyourownapartment，youhadeverythingathandfortherefreshments，forthesupper！’There，’Isaidtomyself，asIwatchedyou，’isatrue"maitresse—femme"——amasterlywoman！’"
　　Brigitte’snostrilsdilated；shebreathedinthewordsoftheyounglawyer。Hegaveheraside—longglancetoenjoyhistriumph；hehadtouchedtherightchordinherbreast。
　　Atthismomenthewasstanding，buthenowresumedhisseatbesideher，andsaid：——
　　"Nowhereisouraffair，dearaunt——foryouwillbeasortofaunt——"
　　"Hush！younaughtyfellow！"saidBrigitte，"andgoon。"
　　"I’lltellyouthematterroughly——andremark，ifyouplease，thatI
　　compromisemyselfintellingittoyou；forthesesecretsareentrustedtomeasalawyer。ThereforeunderstandthatyouandIarebothcommittingacrime，sotospeak，ofleze—confidence！AnotaryofPariswasinpartnershipwithanarchitect；theyboughtlandandbuiltuponit；atthepresentmoment，propertyhascomedownwitharush；
　　theyfindthemselvesembarrassed——butallthatdoesn’tconcernus。
　　Amongthehousesbuiltbythisillegalpartnership——fornotaries，youknow，aresworntohavenothingtodowithenterprises——isaverygoodonewhich，notbeingfinished，mustbesoldatagreatsacrifice；sogreatthattheynowaskonlyonehundredthousandfrancsforit，althoughthecostofthelandandthebuildingwasatleastfourhundredthousand。Asthewholeinteriorisstillunfinished，thevalueofwhatisstilltodoiseasilyappraised；itwillprobablynotbemorethanfiftythousandfrancs。Now，owingtoitsexcellentposition，thishouse，whenfinished，willcertainlybringinarental，overandabovethetaxes，offortythousandfrancsayear。Itisbuiltoffreestone，thecornersandcopingsofcutgranite；thefacadeiscoveredwithhandsomecarvings，onwhichtheyspentmorethantwentythousandfrancs；thewindowsareplateglasswithanewstyleoffasteningcalled’cremona。’"
　　"Well，whereisthedifficulty？"
　　"Justhere：thenotarywantstoreservetohimselfthisbitofthecakeheisforcedtosurrender；heis，underthenameofafriend，thecreditorwhorequeststhesaleofthepropertybytheassigneeofthebankruptcy。Thecasehasnotbeenbroughtintocourt；forlegalproceedingscostsomuchmoney。Thesaleistobemadebyvoluntaryagreement。Now，thisnotaryhasappliedtooneofmyclientstolendhimhisnameforthispurchase。Myclient，apoordevil，saystome：
　　’There’safortunetomadeoutofthathousebyfoolingthenotary。’"
　　"Andtheydothatsortofthinginbusiness！"saidBrigitte，quickly。
　　"Ifthatweretheonlydifficulty，"continuedTheodose，"itwouldbe，asafriendofminesaidtohispupil，whowascomplainingofthelengthoftimeittooktoproducemasterpiecesinpainting：’Mydearyoungfellow，ifitwerenotso，ourvaletswouldbepaintingpictures。’But，mademoiselle，ifwenowgetthebetterofthisnotary，whocertainlydeservesit，forhehascompromisedanumberofprivatefortunes，yet，asheisaveryshrewdman（thoughanotary），itmightperhapsbeverydifficulttodoitasecondtime，andhere’stherub：
　　Whenapieceoflandedpropertyisboughtataforcedsale，ifthosewhohavelentmoneyonthatpropertyseethatislikelytobesoldsolowasnottocoverthesumloaneduponit，theyhavetheright，untiltheexpirationofacertaintime，tobiditin；thatis，tooffermoreandkeepthepropertyintheirownhands。Ifthistrickstercan’tbehoodwinkedastothesalebeingabonafideoneuntilthetimewhenhisrighttobuyitexpires，someotherschememustberesortedto。
　　Now，isthisbusinessstrictlylegal？AmIjustifiedindoingitforthebenefitofafamilyIseektoenter？ThatisthequestionIhavebeenrevolvinginmymindforthelastthreedays。"
　　Brigitte，wemustacknowledge，hesitated，andTheodosethenbroughtforwardhislastcard：——
　　"Takethenighttothinkofit，"hesaid，"to—morrowwewilltalkitover。"
　　"Myyoungfriend，"saidBrigitte，lookingatthelawyerwithanalmostlovingair，"thefirstthingtobedoneistoseethehouse。Whereisit？"
　　"NeartheMadeleine。ThatwillbetheheartofParisintenyears。Allthatpropertyhasbeendesirablesince1819；thebankerDuTillet’sfortunewasderivedfrompropertyaboutthere。ThefamousfailureofMaitreRoquin，whichcarriedterrortoallParis，anddidsuchharmtotheconfidencegiventothenotariat，wasalsocausedbyit；theywentintoheavyspeculationsonthatlandtoosoon；theyshouldhavewaiteduntilnow。"
　　"Irememberaboutthat，"saidBrigitte。
　　"Thehousemightbefinishedbytheendoftheyear，"continuedTheodose，"andtherentalscouldbeginnextspring。"
　　"Couldwegothereto—morrow？"
　　"Dearaunt，Iamatyourorders。"
　　"Ahca！"shecried，"don’tcallmethatbeforepeople。Astothisaffair，"shecontinued，"Ican’thaveanyopinionuntilIhaveseenthehouse。"
　　"Ithassixstoreys；ninewindowsonthefront；afinecourtyard，fourshops，anditstandsonacorner。Ah！thatnotaryknowswhatheisaboutinwishingtoholdontosuchpiecesofproperty！Butletpoliticaleventsinterfere，anddowngotheFunds！IfIwereyou，I
　　shouldselloutallthatyouandMadameThuillierhaveontheGrandLivreandbuythisfinepieceofrealestateforThuillier，andI’drecoverthefortuneofthatpoor，piouscreaturebysavingsfromitsproceeds。CantheFundsgohigherthantheyareto—day？Onehundredandtwenty—two！itisfabulous；Ishouldmakehastetosell。"
　　Brigittelickedherlips；sheperceivedthemeansofkeepingherownpropertyintact，andofenrichingherbrotherbythisuseofMadameThuillier’sfortune。
　　"Mybrotherisright，"shesaidtoTheodose；"youcertainlyarearareman；you’llgetonintheworld。"
　　"Andhe’llwalkbeforeme，"respondedTheodosewithanaivetethattouchedtheoldmaid。
　　"Youwillliveinthefamily，"shesaid。
　　"Theremaybeobstaclestothat，"heremarked。"MadameThuillierisveryqueerattimes；shedoesn’tlikeme。"
　　"Ha！I’llsettlethat，"criedBrigitte。"Doyouattendtothataffairandcarryitthroughifitisfeasible，andleaveyourinterestsinmyhands。"
　　"Thuillier，memberofthemunicipalcouncil，ownerofanestatewitharentaloffortythousandfrancsayear，withthecrossoftheLegionofhonorandtheauthorofapoliticalwork，grave，serious，important，willbedeputyattheforthcominggeneralelection。But，betweenourselves，littleaunt，onecouldn’tdevoteone’sselfsoutterlyexceptforafather—in—law。"
　　"Youareright。"
　　"ThoughIhavenofortuneIshallhavedoubledyours；andifthisaffairgoesthroughdiscreetly，otherswillturnup。"
　　"UntilIhaveseenthehouse，"saidMademoiselleThuillieragain，"I
　　candecideonnothing。"
　　"Wellthen，sendforacarriageto—morrowandletusgothere。Iwillgetaticketearlyinthemorningtoviewthepremises。"
　　"To—morrow，then，aboutmid—day，"respondedBrigitte，holdingoutherhandtoTheodosethathemightshakeit，butinsteadofthathelaiduponitthemostrespectfulandthemosttenderkissthatBrigittehadeverinherlifereceived。
　　"Adieu，mychild，"shesaid，ashereachedthedoor。
　　Sherangthebellhurriedlyandwhentheservantcame：——
　　"Josephine，"shecried，"goatoncetoMadameColleville，andaskhertocomeoverandspeaktome。"
　　FifteenminuteslaterFlavieenteredthesalon，whereBrigittewaswalkingupanddown，inastateofextremeagitation。
　　"Mydear，"shecriedonseeingFlavie，"youcandomeagreatservice，whichconcernsourdearCeleste。YouknowTullia，don’tyou？——adanseuseattheopera；mybrotherwasalwaysdinningherintomyearsatonetime。"
　　"Yes，Iknowher；butsheisnolongeradanseuse；sheisMadamelaComtesseduBruel。HerhusbandispeerofFrance！"
　　"Doesshestilllikeyou？"
　　"Weneverseeeachothernow。"
　　"Well，IknowthatChaffaroux，therichcontractor，isheruncle，"
　　saidBrigitte。"Heisoldandwealthy。Goandseeyourformerfriend，andgethertogiveyoualineofintroductiontohim，sayinghewoulddoheraneminentfavorifhewouldgiveapieceoffriendlyadvicetothebearerofthenote，andthenyouandIwilltakeittohimto—morrowaboutoneo’clock。ButtellTulliashemustrequestheruncletokeepsecretaboutit。Go，mydear。Celeste，ourdearchild，willbeamillionaire！Ican’tsaymore；butshe’llhave，fromme，ahusbandwhowillputheronapinnacle。"
　　"Doyouwantmetotellyouthefirstlettersofhisname？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"T。P。，——TheodosedelaPeyrade。Youareright。That’samanwhomay，ifsupportedbyawomanlikeyou，becomeaminister。"
　　"ItisGodhimselfwhohasplacedhiminourhouse！"criedtheoldmaid。
　　AtthismomentMonsieurandMadameThuillierreturnedhome。
　　Fivedayslater，inthemonthofApril，theordinancewhichconvokedtheelectorstoappointamemberofthemunicipalcouncilonthe20thofthesamemonthwasinsertedinthe"Moniteur，"andplacardedaboutParis。Forseveralweekstheministry，calledthatofMarch1st，hadbeeninpower。Brigittewasinacharminghumor。ShehadbeenconvincedofthetruthofalllaPeyrade’sassertions。Thehouse，visitedfromgarrettocellarbyoldChaffaroux，wasadmittedbyhimtobeanadmirableconstruction；poorGrindot，thearchitect，whowasinterestedwiththenotaryandClaparonintheaffair，thoughttheoldmanwasemployedintheinterestsofthecontractor；theoldfellowhimselfthoughthewasactingintheinterestsofhisniece，andhegaveitashisopinionthatthirtythousandfrancswouldfinishthehouse。Thus，inthecourseofoneweeklaPeyradebecameBrigitte’sgod；andsheprovedtohimbythemostnaivelynefariousargumentsthatfortuneshouldbeseizedwhenitoffereditself。
　　"Well，ifthereISanysininthebusiness，"shesaidtohiminthemiddleofthegarden，"youcanconfessit。"
　　"Thedevil！"criedThuillier，"amanoweshimselftohisrelatives，andyouareoneofusnow。"
　　"ThenIdecidetodoit，"repliedlaPeyrade，inavoiceofemotion；
　　"butonconditionsthatImustnowdistinctlystate。Iwillnot，inmarryingCeleste，beaccusedofgreedandmercenarymotives。Ifyoulayremorseuponme，atleastyoumustconsentthatIshallremainasIamforthepresent。DonotsettleuponCeleste，myoldThuillier，thefuturepossessionofthepropertyIamabouttoobtainforyou——"
　　"Youareright。"
　　"Don’trobyourself；andletmydearlittleaunthereactinthesamewayinrelationtothemarriagecontract。PuttheremainderofthecapitalinMadameThuillier’sname，ontheGrandLivre，andshecandowhatshelikeswithit。Weshallalllivetogetherasonefamily，andI’llundertaketomakemyownfortune，nowthatIamfreefromanxietyaboutthefuture。"
　　"Thatsuitsme，"saidThuillier；"that’sthetalkofanhonestman。"
　　"Letmekissyouontheforehead，myson，"saidtheoldmaid；"but，inasmuchasCelestecannotbeallowedtogowithouta’dot，’weshallgivehersixtythousandfrancs。"
　　"Forherdress，"saidlaPeyrade。
　　"Weareallthreepersonsofhonor，"criedThuillier。"Itisnowsettled，isn’tit？Youaretomanagethepurchaseofthehouse；wearetowritetogether，youandI，mypoliticalwork；andyou’llbestiryourselftogetmethedecoration？"
　　"Youwillhavethatassoonasyouaremadeamunicipalcouncilloronthe1stofMay。Only，mygoodfriend，Imustbegyou，andyou，too，dearaunt，tokeepthemostprofoundsecrecyaboutmeinthisaffair；
　　anddonotlistentothecalumnieswhichallthemenIamabouttotrickwillspreadaboutme。Ishallbecome，you’llsee，avagabond，aswindler，adangerousman，aJesuit，anambitiousfortune—hunter。Canyouhearthoseaccusationsagainstmewithcomposure？"
　　"Fearnothing，"repliedBrigitte。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THEREIGNOFTHEODOSE
　　FromthatdayforthThuillierbecameadear，goodfriend。"Mydear，goodfriend，"wasthenamegiventohimbyTheodose，withvoiceinflectionsofvarietiesoftendernesswhichastonishedFlavie。But"littleaunt，"anamethatflatteredBrigittedeeply，wasonlygiveninfamilysecrecy，andoccasionallybeforeFlavie。TheactivityofTheodoseandDutocq，Cerizet，Barbet，Metivier，Minard，Phellion，Colleville，andothersoftheThuilliercirclewasextreme。Greatandsmall，theyallputtheirhandstothework。Cadenetprocuredthirtyvotesinhissection。Onthe30thofAprilThuillierwasproclaimedmemberoftheCouncil—generalofthedepartmentoftheSeinebyanimposingmajority；infact，heonlyneededsixtymorevotestomakehiselectionunanimous。May1stThuillierjoinedthemunicipalbodyandwenttotheTuileriestocongratulatetheKingonhisfete—day，andreturnedhomeradiant。HehadgonewhereMinardwent！
　　Tendayslaterayellowposterannouncedthesaleofthehouse，afterduepublication；thepricenamedbeingseventy—fivethousandfrancs；
　　thefinalpurchasetotakeplaceaboutthelastofJuly。OnthispointCerizetandClaparonhadanagreementbywhichCerizetpledgedthesumoffifteenthousandfrancs（inwordsonly，beitunderstood）toClaparonincasethelattercoulddeceivethenotaryandkeephimquietuntilthetimeexpiredduringwhichhemightwithdrawthepropertybybiddingitin。MademoiselleThuillier，notifiedbyTheodose，agreedentirelytothissecretclause，understandingperfectlythenecessityofpayingtheculpritsguiltyofthetreachery。ThemoneywastopassthroughlaPeyrade’shands。Claparonmethisaccomplice，thenotary，onthePlacedel’Observatoirebymidnight。Thisyoungman，thesuccessorofLeopoldHannequin，wasoneofthosewhorunafterfortuneinsteadoffollowingitleisurely。Henowsawanotherfuturebeforehim，andhemanagedhispresentaffairsinordertobefreetotakeholdofit。Inthismidnightinterview，heofferedClaparontenthousandfrancstosecurehimselfinthisdirtybusiness，——asumwhichwasonlytobepaidonreceipt，throughClaparon，ofacounter—deedfromthenominalpurchaseroftheproperty。Thenotarywasawarethatthatsumwasall—importanttoClaparontoextricatehimfrompresentdifficulties，andhefeltsecureofhim。
　　"Whobutyou，inallParis，wouldgivemesuchafeeforsuchanaffair？"Claparonsaidtohim，withafalseshowofnaivete。"Youcansleepinpeace；myostensiblepurchaserisoneofthosemenofhonorwhoaretoostupidtohaveideasofyourkind；heisaretiredgovernmentemployee；givehimthemoneytomakethepurchaseandhe’llsignthecounter—deedatonce。"
　　WhenthenotaryhadmadeClaparonclearlyunderstandthathecouldnotgetmorethanthetenthousandfrancsfromhim，Cerizetofferedthelattertwelvethousanddown，andaskedTheodoseforfifteenthousand，intendingtokeepthebalanceforhimself。Allthesescenesbetweenthefourmenwereseasonedwiththefinestspeechesaboutfeelings，integrity，andthehonorthatmenowedtooneanotherindoingbusiness。Whilethesesubmarineperformancesweregoingon，apparentlyintheinterestsofThuillier，towhomTheodoserelatedthemwiththedeepestmanifestationsofdisgustatbeingimplicatedtherein，thepairweremeditatingthegreatpoliticalworkwhich"mydeargoodfriend"wastopublish。Thusthenewmunicipalcouncillornaturallyacquiredaconvictionthathecouldneverdoorbeanythingwithoutthehelpofthismanofgenius；whosemindsoamazedhim，andwhoseabilitywasnowsoimportanttohim，thateverydayhebecamemoreandmoreconvincedofthenecessityofmarryinghimtoCeleste，andoftakingtheyoungcoupletolivewithhim。Infact，afterMaythe1st，Theodosehadalreadydinedfourtimesaweekwith"mydear，goodfriend。"
　　ThiswastheperiodwhenTheodosereignedwithoutadissentingvoiceinthebosomofthathousehold，andallthefriendsofthefamilyapprovedofhim——forthefollowingreason：ThePhellions，hearinghispraisessungbyBrigitteandThuillier，fearedtodispleasethetwopowersandchorussedtheirwords，evenwhensuchperpetuallaudationseemedtothemexaggerated。ThesamemaybesaidoftheMinards。
　　MoreoverlaPeyrade’sbehavior，as"friendofthefamily"wasperfect。
　　Hedisarmeddistrustbythemannerinwhichheeffacedhimself；hewastherelikeanewpieceoffurniture；andhecontrivedtomakeboththePhellionsandMinardsbelievethatBrigitteandThuillierhadweighedhim，andfoundhimtoolightinthescalestobeanythingmoreinthefamilythanayoungmanwhoseserviceswereusefultothem。
　　"Hemaythink，"saidThuillieronedaytoMinard，"thatmysisterwillputhiminherwill；hedoesn’tknowher。"
　　Thisspeech，inspiredbyTheodosehimself，calmedtheuneasinessofMinard"pere。"
　　"Heisdevotedtous，"saidBrigittetoMadamePhellion；"buthecertainlyowesusagreatdealofgratitude。Wehavegivenhimhislodgingrent—free，andhedineswithusalmosteveryday。"
　　Thisspeechoftheoldmaid，alsoinstigatedbyTheodose，wentfromeartoearamongthefamilieswhofrequentedtheThuilliersalon，anddissipatedallfears。TheyoungmancalledattentiontotheremarksofThuillierandhissisterwiththeservilityofaparasite；whenheplayedwhisthejustifiedtheblundersofhisdear，goodfriend，andhekeptuponhiscountenanceasmile，fixedandbenign，likethatofMadameThuillier，readytobestowuponallthebourgeoissillinessesofthebrotherandsister。
　　Heobtained，whathewantedaboveall，thecontemptofhistrueantagonists；andheuseditasacloaktohidehisrealpower。Forfourconsecutivemonthshisfaceworeatorpidexpression，likethatofasnakeasitgulpsanddigestsitsprey。ButattimeshewouldrushintothegardenwithCollevilleorFlavie，tolaughandlayoffhismask，andresthimself；orgetfreshstrengthbygivingwaybeforehisfuturemother—in—lawtofitsofnervouspassionwhicheitherterrifiedordeeplytouchedher。
　　"Don’tyoupityme？"hecriedtohertheeveningbeforethepreparatorysaleofthehouse，whenThuillierwastomakethepurchaseatseventy—fivethousandfrancs。"Thinkofamanlikeme，forcedtocreeplikeacat，tochokedowneverypointedword，toswallowmyowngall，andsubmittoyourrebuffs！"
　　"Myfriend！mychild！"Flaviereplied，undecidedinmindhowtotakehim。
　　ThesewordsareathermometerwhichwillshowthetemperatureatwhichthisclevermanipulatormaintainedhisintriguewithFlavie。Hekeptherfloatingbetweenherheartandhermoralsense，betweenreligioussentimentsandthismysteriouspassion。
　　DuringthistimeFelixPhellionwasgiving，withadevotionandconstancyworthyofallpraise，regularlessonstoyoungColleville。
　　Hespentmuchofhistimeupontheselessons，feelingthathewasthusworkingforhisfuturefamily。Toacknowledgethisservice，hewasinvited，byadviceofTheodosetoFlavie，todineattheCollevilles’
　　everyThursday，wherelaPeyradealwaysmethim。Flaviewasusuallymakingeitherapurseorslippersoracigar—caseforthehappyyoungman，whowouldsay，deprecatingly：——
　　"Iamonlytoowellrewarded，madame，bythehappinessIfeelinbeingusefultoyou。"
　　"Wearenotrich，monsieur，"repliedColleville，"but，Godblessme！
　　wearenotungrateful。"
　　OldPhellionwouldrubhishandsashelistenedtohisson’saccountoftheseevenings，beholdinghisdearandnobleFelixalreadyweddedtoCeleste。
　　ButCeleste，themoreshelovedFelix，themoregraveandseriousshebecamewithhim；partlybecausehermothersharplylecturedher，sayingtoheroneevening：——