the lesser bourgeoisie-第17章

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sister；　for　he　made　it　a　point　of　honor　to　obey　his　Mephistopheles；
had　rushed　to　her　in　great　excitement　to　say：

〃My　dearest　girl〃　（he　always　touched　her　heart　with　those　caressing
words）；　〃we　shall　have　some　big…wigs　at　dinner　to…day。　I'm　going　to
ask　the　Minards；　therefore　take　pains　about　your　dinner。　I　have
written　to　Monsieur　and　Madame　Phellion；　it　is　rather　late；　but
there's　no　need　of　ceremony　with　them。　As　for　the　Minards；　I　must
throw　a　little　dust　in　their　eyes；　I　have　a　particular　need　of　them。〃

〃Four　Minards；　three　Phellions；　four　Collevilles；　and　ourselves；　that
makes　thirteen〃

〃La　Peyrade；　fourteen；　and　it　is　worth　while　to　invite　Dutocq；　he　may
be　useful　to　us。　I'll　go　up　and　see　him。〃

〃What　are　you　scheming？〃　cried　his　sister。　〃Fifteen　to　dinner！　There's
forty　francs；　at　the　very　least；　waltzing　off。〃

〃You　won't　regret　them；　my　dearest。　I　want　you　to　be　particularly
agreeable　to　our　young　friend；　la　Peyrade。　There's　a　friend；　indeed！
you'll　soon　have　proofs　of　that！　If　you　love　me；　cosset　him　well。〃

So　saying；　he　departed；　leaving　Brigitte　bewildered。

〃Proofs；　indeed！　yes；　I'll　look　out　for　proofs；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　to
be　caught　with　fine　words；　not　I！　He　is　an　amiable　fellow；　but　before
I　take　him　into　my　heart　I　shall　study　him　a　little　closer。〃

After　inviting　Dutocq；　Thuillier；　having　bedizened　himself；　went　to
the　hotel　Minard；　rue　des　Macons…Sorbonne；　to　capture　the　stout　Zelie；
and　gloss　over　the　shortness　of　the　invitation。

Minard　had　purchased　one　of　those　large　and　sumptuous　habitations
which　the　old　religious　orders　built　about　the　Sorbonne；　and　as
Thuillier　mounted　the　broad　stone　steps　with　an　iron　balustrade；　that
proved　how　arts　of　the　second　class　flourished　under　Louis　XIII。；　he
envied　both　the　mansion　and　its　occupant；the　mayor。

This　vast　building；　standing　between　a　courtyard　and　garden；　is
noticeable　as　a　specimen　of　the　style；　both　noble　and　elegant；　of　the
reign　of　Louis　XIII。；　coming　singularly；　as　it　did；　between　the　bad
taste　of　the　expiring　renaissance　and　the　heavy　grandeur　of　Louis
XIV。；　at　its　dawn。　This　transition　period　is　shown　in　many　public
buildings。　The　massive　scroll…work　of　several　facadesthat　of　the
Sorbonne；　for　instance；and　columns　rectified　according　to　the　rules
of　Grecian　art；　were　beginning　to　appear　in　this　architecture。

A　grocer；　a　lucky　adulterator；　now　took　the　place　of　the　former
ecclesiastical　governor　of　an　institution　called　in　former　times
L'Economat；　an　establishment　connected　with　the　general　agency　of　the
old　French　clergy；　and　founded　by　the　long…sighted　genius　of
Richelieu。　Thuillier's　name　opened　for　him　the　doors　of　the　salon；
where　sat　enthroned　in　velvet　and　gold；　amid　the　most　magnificent
〃Chineseries；〃　the　poor　woman　who　weighed　with　all　her　avoirdupois　on
the　hearts　and　minds　of　princes　and　princesses　at　the　〃popular　balls〃
of　the　palace。

〃Isn't　she　a　good　subject　for　'La　Caricature'？〃　said　a　so…called　lady
of　the　bedchamber　to　a　duchess；　who　could　hardly　help　laughing　at　the
aspect　of　Zelie；　glittering　with　diamonds；　red　as　a　poppy；　squeezed
into　a　gold　brocade；　and　rolling　along　like　the　casts　of　her　former
shop。

〃Will　you　pardon　me；　fair　lady；〃　began　Thuillier；　twisting　his　body；
and　pausing　in　pose　number　two　of　his　imperial　repertory；　〃for　having
allowed　this　invitation　to　remain　in　my　desk；　thinking；　all　the　while；
that　it　was　sent？　It　is　for　to…day；　but　perhaps　I　am　too　late？〃

Zelie　examined　her　husband's　face　as　he　approached　them　to　receive
Thuillier；　then　she　said：

〃We　intended　to　drive　into　the　country　and　dine　at　some　chance
restaurant；　but　we'll　give　up　that　idea　and　all　the　more　readily
because；　in　my　opinion；　it　is　getting　devilishly　vulgar　to　drive　out
of　Paris　on　Sundays。〃

〃We　will　have　a　little　dance　to　the　piano　for　the　young　people；　if
enough　come；　as　I　hope　they　will。　I　have　sent　a　line　to　Phellion；
whose　wife　is　intimate　with　Madame　Pron；　the　successor〃

〃SuccessorESS；〃　interrupted　Madame　Minard。

〃No；〃　said　Thuillier；　〃it　ought　to　be　success'ress；　just　as　we　say
may'ress；　dropping　the　O；　you　know。〃

〃Is　it　full　dress？〃　asked　Madame　Minard。

〃Heavens！　no；〃　replied　Thuillier；　〃you　would　get　me　finely　scolded　by
my　sister。　No；　it　is　only　a　family　party。　Under　the　Empire；　madame；　we
all　devoted　ourselves　to　dancing。　At　that　great　epoch　of　our　national
life　they　thought　as　much　of　a　fine　dancer　as　they　did　of　a　good
soldier。　Nowadays　the　country　is　so　matter…of…fact。〃

〃Well；　we　won't　talk　politics；〃　said　the　mayor；　smiling。　〃The　King　is
grand；　he　is　very　able。　I　have　a　deep　admiration　for　my　own　time；　and
for　the　institutions　which　we　have　given　to　ourselves。　The　King；　you
may　be　sure；　knows　very　well　what　he　is　doing　by　the　development　of
industries。　He　is　struggling　hand　to　hand　against　England；　and　we　are
doing　him　more　harm　during　this　fruitful　peace　than　all　the　wars　of
the　Empire　would　have　done。〃

〃What　a　deputy　Minard　would　make！〃　cried　Zelie；　naively。　〃He　practises
speechifying　at　home。　You'll　help　us　to　get　him　elected；　won't　you；
Thuillier？〃

〃We　won't　talk　politics　now；〃　replied　Thuillier。　〃Come　at　five。〃

〃Will　that　little　Vinet　be　there？〃　asked　Minard；　〃he　comes；　no　doubt；
for　Celeste。〃

〃Then　he　may　go　into　mourning；〃　replied　Thuillier。　〃Brigitte　won't
hear　of　him。〃

Zelie　and　Minard　exchanged　a　smile　of　satisfaction。

〃To　think　that　we　must　hob…nob　with　such　common　people；　all　for　the
sake　of　our　son！〃　cried　Zelie；　when　Thuillier　was　safely　down　the
staircase；　to　which　the　mayor　had　accompanied　him。

〃Ha！　he　thinks　to　be　deputy！〃　thought　Thuillier；　as　he　walked　away。
〃These　grocers！　nothing　satisfies　them。　Heavens！　what　would　Napoleon
say　if　he　could　see　the　government　in　the　hands　of　such　people！　I'm　a
trained　administrator；　at　any　rate。　What　a　competitor；　to　be　sure！　I
wonder　what　la　Peyrade　will　say？〃

The　ambitious　ex…beau　now　went　to　invite　the　whole　Laudigeois　family
for　the　evening；　after　which　he　went　to　the　Collevilles'；　to　make　sure
that　Celeste　should　wear　a　becoming　gown。　He　found　Flavie　rather
pensive。　She　hesitated　about　coming；　but　Thuillier　overcame　her
indecision。

〃My　old　and　ever　young　friend；〃　he　said；　taking　her　round　the　waist；
for　she　was　alone　in　her　little　salon；　〃I　won't　have　any　secret　from
you。　A　great　affair　is　in　the　wind　for　me。　I　can't　tell　you　more　than
that；　but　I　can　ask　you　to　be　particularly　charming　to　a　certain　young
man〃

〃Who　is　it？〃

〃La　Peyrade。〃

〃Why；　Charles？〃

〃He　holds　my　future　in　his　hands。　Besides；　he's　a　man　of　genius。　I
know　what　that　is。　He's　got　this　sort　of　thing；〃and　Thuillier　made
the　gesture　of　a　dentist　pulling　out　a　back　tooth。　〃We　must　bind　him
to　us；　Flavie。　But；　above　all；　don't　let　him　see　his　power。　As　for　me；
I　shall　just　give　and　take　with　him。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　be　coquettish？〃

〃Not　too　much　so；　my　angel；〃　replied　Thuillier；　with　a　foppish　air。

And　he　departed；　not　observing　the　stupor　which　overcame　Flavie。

〃That　young　man　is　a　power；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃Well；　we　shall
see！〃

For　these　reasons　she　dressed　her　hair　with　marabouts；　put　on　her
prettiest　gown　of　gray　and　pink；　which　allowed　her　fine　shoulders　to
be　seen　beneath　a　pelerine　of　black　lace；　and　took　care　to　keep
Celeste　in　a　little　silk　frock　made　with　a　yoke　and　a　large　plaited
collarette；　telling　her　to　dress　her　hair　plainly；　a　la　Berthe。



CHAPTER　VIII

AD　MAJOREM　THEODOSIS　GLORIAM

At　half…past　four　o'clock　Theodose　was　at　his　post。　He　had　put　on　his
vacant；　half…servile　manner　and　soft　voice；　and　he　drew　Thuillier　at
once　into　the　garden。

〃My　friend；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　doubt　your　triumph；　but　I　feel　the
necessity　of　again　warning　you　to　be　absolutely　silent。　If　you　are
questioned　about　anything；　especially　about　Celeste；　make　evasive
answers　which　will　keep　your　questioners　in　suspense。　You　must　have
learned　how　to　do　that　in　a　government　office。〃

〃I　understand！〃　said　Thuillier。　〃But　what　certainty　have　you？〃

〃You'll　see　what　a　fine　dessert　I　have　prepared　for　you。　But　please　be
modest。　There　come　the　Minards；　let　me　pipe　to　them。　Bring　them　out
here；　and　then　disappear　yourself。〃

After　the　first　salutations；　la　Peyrade　was　careful　to　keep　close　to
the　mayor；　and　presently　at　an　opportune　moment　he　drew　him　aside　to
say：

〃Monsieur　le　maire；　a　man　of　your　political　importance　doesn't　come　to
bore　himself　in　a　house　of　this　kind　without　an　object。　I　don't　want
to　fathom　your　motiveswhich；　indeed；　I　have　no　right　to　doand　my
part　in　this　world　is　certainly　not　to　mingle　with　earthly　powers；　but
please　pardon　my　apparent　presumption；　and　deign　to　listen　to　a　piece
of　advice　which　I　shall　venture　to　give　you。　If　I　do　you　a　service
to…day　you　are　in　a　position　to　return　it　to　me　to…morrow；　therefore；
in　case　I　should　be　so　fortunate　as　to　do　you　a　good　turn；　I　am　really
only　obeying　the　law　of　self…interest。　Our　friend　Thuillier　is　in
despair　at　being　a　nobody；　he　has　taken　it　into　his　head　that　he　wants
to　become　a　personage　in　this　arrondissement〃

〃Ah！　ah！〃　exclaimed　Minard。

〃Oh！　nothing　very　exalted；　he　wants　to　be　elected　to　the　municipal
council。　Now；　I　know　that　Phellion；　seeing　the　influence　such　a
service　would　have　on　his　family　interests；　intends　to　propose　your
poor　friend　as　candidate。　Well；　perhaps　you　might　think　it　wise；　in
your　own　interests；　to　be　beforehand　with　him。　Thuillier's　nomination
could　only　be　favorable　for　youI　mean　agreeable；　and　he'll　fill　his
place　in　the　council　very　well；　there　are　some　there　who　are　not　as
strong　as　he。　Besides；　owing　to　his　place　to　your　support；　he　will　see
with　your　eyes；　he　already　looks　to　you　as　one　of　the　lights　of　the
town。〃

〃My　dear　fellow；　I　thank　you　very　much；〃　replied　Minard。　〃You　are
doing　me　a　service　I　cannot　sufficiently　acknowledge；　and　which　proves
to　me〃

〃That　I　don't　like　those　Phellions；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　taking　advantage
of　a　slight　hesitation　on　the　part　of　the　mayor；　who　feared　to　express
an　idea　in　which　the　lawyer　might　see　contempt。　〃I　hate　people　who
make　capital　out　of　their　honesty　and　coin　money　from　fine
sentiments。〃

〃You　know　them　well；〃　said　Minard；　〃they　are　sycophants。　That　man's
whole　life　for　the　last　ten　years　is　explained　by　this　bit　of　red
ribbon；〃　added　the　mayor；　pointing　to　his　own　buttonhole。

〃Take　care！〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃his　son　is　in　love　with　Celeste；　and
he's　fairly　in　the　heart　of　the　family。〃

〃Yes；　but　my　son　has　twelve　thousand　a　year　in　his　own　right。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Theodose；　with　a　start；　〃Mademoiselle　Brigitte　was　saying
the　other　day　that　she　wanted　at　least　as　much　as　that　in　Celeste's
suitor。　Moreover；　six　months　hence　you'll　probably　hear　that　Thuillier
has　a　property　worth　forty　thousand　francs　a　year。〃

〃The　devil！　well；　I　thought　as　much。　Yes；　certainly；　he　shall　be　made
a　member　of　the　municipal　council。〃

〃In　any　case；　don't　say　anything　about　me　to　him；〃　said　the　advocate
of　the　poor；　who　now　hastened　away　to　speak　to　Madame　Phellion。　〃Well；
my　fair　lady；〃　he　said；　when　he　reached　her；　〃have　you　succeeded？〃

〃I　waited　till　four　o'clock；　and　then　that　worthy　and　excellent　man
would　not　let　me　finish　what　I　h