the lesser bourgeoisie-第36章

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Allowing　this　bacchante　to　give　vent　to　her　despair　by　saluting　her
much…beloved　uncle　with　the　harshest　epithets；　Cerizet　quietly
inserted　his　arm　into　the　cupboard；　and　after　feeling　it　over　at　the
back；　he　cried　out；　〃An　iron　safe！〃　adding；　impatiently；　〃Give　me　more
light；　Madame　Cardinal。〃

Then；　as　the　light　did　not　penetrate　to　the　depths　of　the　cupboard；　he
snatched　the　candle　from　the　bottle；　where；　in　default　of　a
candlestick；　the　Cardinal　had　stuck　it；　and；　taking　it　in　his　hand；
moved　it　carefully　over　all　parts　of　the　iron　safe；　the　existence　of
which　was　now　a　certainty。

〃There　is　no　visible　lock；〃　he　said。　〃There　must　be　a　secret　opening。〃

〃Isn't　he　sly；　that　old　villain！〃　exclaimed　Madame　Cardinal；　while
Cerizet's　bony　fingers　felt　the　side　of　the　safe　over　minutely。

〃Ha！〃　he　exclaimed；　after　groping　for　ten　minutes；　〃I　have　it！〃

During　this　time　Madame　Cardinal's　life　seemed　actually　suspended。

Under　the　pressure　which　Cerizet　now　applied；　the　iron　side　rose
quickly　into　the　thickness　of　the　wall　above；　and　in　the　midst　of　a
mass　of　gold　thrown　pell…mell　into　a　large　excavation　that　was　now
exposed　to　view；　lay　a　case　of　red　morocco；　which；　from　its　size　and
appearance；　gave　promise　of　magnificent　booty。

〃I　take　the　diamonds　for　myself；〃　said　Cerizet；　when　he　had　opened　the
case　and　seen　the　splendid　jewels　it　contained；　〃you　won't　know　how　to
get　rid　of　them。　I'll　leave　you　the　gold　for　your　share。　As　for　the
house　and　the　money　in　the　Funds；　they　are　not　worth　the　trouble　it
would　be　to　get　the　old　fellow　to　make　a　will。〃

〃Not　so　fast；　my　little　man！〃　replied　the　Cardinal；　who　thought　this
decision　rather　summary；　〃we　will　first　count　the　money〃

〃Hush！〃　exclaimed　Cerizet；　apparently　listening　to　a　sound。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　Cardinal。

〃Don't　you　hear　some　one　moving　below？〃

〃No；　I　hear　nothing。〃

Cerizet；　making　her　a　sign　to　be　silent；　listened　attentively。

〃I　hear　a　step　on　the　stairs；〃　he　said；　a　moment　later。

Then　he　hastily　replaced　the　morocco　case；　and　made　desperate　but
unavailing　efforts　to　lower　the　panel。

〃Yes！〃　cried　Madame　Cardinal；　terrified；　〃some　one　is　really　coming。〃
Then；　fastening　to　a　hope　of　safety；　she　added；　〃I　dare　say　it　is　that
insane　girl；　they　say　she　walks　at　night。〃

At　any　rate；　the　insane　girl　（if　it　were　she）　had　a　key　to　the　room；
for　a　moment　later；　this　key　was　inserted　in　the　lock。　With　a　rapid
glance　Madame　Cardinal　measured　the　distance　to　the　door；　should　she
have　time　to　push　the　bolt？　No；　certain　that　it　was　then　too　late；　so
she　blew　out　the　candle　to　give　herself　at　least　some　chances　in　the
darkness。

Useless　effort！　the　intruder　who　now　appeared　had　brought　a　candle
with　him。

When　Madame　Cerizet　saw　that　she　had　to　do　with　a　small；　old　man　of
puny　appearance；　she　flung　herself　before　him　with　flaming　eyes；　like
a　lioness　from　whom　the　hunter　is　seeking　to　take　her　cubs。

〃Be　calm；　my　good　woman；〃　said　the　little　man；　in　a　jeering　tone；　〃the
police　are　sent　for；　they　will　be　here　in　a　moment。〃

At　the　word　〃police〃　the　Cardinal's　legs　gave　way。

〃But；　monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃why　the　police？　we　are　not　robbers。〃

〃No　matter　for　that；　if　I　were　in　your　place　I　shouldn't　wait　for
them；〃　said　the　little　old　man；　〃they　make　unfortunate　mistakes
sometimes。〃

〃Can　I　clear　out？〃　asked　the　woman；　incredulously。

〃Yes；　if　you　empty　your　pockets　of　anything　which　has；　BY　ACCIDENT；
got　into　them。〃

〃Oh！　my　good　monsieur；　I　haven't　a　thing　in　my　hands　or　my　pockets；　I
wasn't　here　to　harm　any　one；only　to　nurse　my　poor　dear　uncle；　you
can　search　me。〃

〃Come；　be　off　with　you！　that　will　do；〃　said　the　old　man。

Madame　Cardinal　did　not　oblige　him　to　repeat　the　order；　and　she
rapidly　disappeared　down　the　staircase。

Cerizet　made　as　though　he　would　take　the　same　road。

〃You；　monsieur；　are　quite　another　thing；〃　said　the　little　old　man。
〃You　and　I　must　talk　together；　but　if　you　are　tractable；　the　affair
between　us　can　be　settled　amicably。〃

Whether　it　was　that　the　narcotic　had　ceased　to　operate；　or　that　the
noise　going　on　about　Toupillier　put　an　end　to　his　sleep；　he　now　opened
his　eyes　and　cast　around　him　the　glance　of　a　man　who　endeavors　to
remember　where　he　is；　then；　seeing　his　precious　cupboard　open；　he
found　in　the　emotion　that　sight　produced　the　strength　to　cry　out　two
or　three　times；　〃Help！　help！　robbers！〃　in　a　voice　that　was　loud　enough
to　rouse　the　house。

〃No；　Toupillier；〃　said　the　little　old　man；　〃you　have　not　been　robbed；
I　came　here　in　time　to　prevent　it；　nothing　has　been　taken。〃

〃Why　don't　you　arrest　that　villain？〃　shouted　the　old　pauper；　pointing
to　Cerizet。

〃Monsieur　is　not　a　thief；〃　replied　the　old　man。　〃On　the　contrary；　he
came　up　with　me　to　lend　assistance。〃　Then；　turning　to　Cerizet；　he
added；　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　think；　my　good　friend；　that　we　had　better
postpone　the　interview　I　desire　to　have　with　you　until　to…morrow。　Come
at　ten　o'clock　to　the　adjoining　house；　and　ask　for　Monsieur　du
Portail。　After　what　has　passed　this　evening；　there　will；　I　ought　to
warn　you；　be　some　danger　to　you　in　not　accepting　this　conference。　I
shall　find　you　elsewhere；　infallibly；　for　I　have　the　honor　to　know　who
you　are；　you　are　the　man　whom　the　Opposition　journals　were　accustomed
to　call　'the　courageous　Cerizet。'〃

In　spite　of　the　profound　sarcasm　of　this　remark；　Cerizet；　perceiving
that　he　was　not　to　be　treated　more　rigorously　than　Madame　Cardinal；
felt　so　pleased　with　this　conclusion　that　he　promised；　very　readily；
to　keep　the　appointment；　and　then　slipped　away　with　all　the　haste　he
could。



CHAPTER　XVI

DU　PORTAIL

The　next　day　Cerizet　did　not　fail　to　appear　at　the　rendezvous　given　to
him。　Examined；　at　first；　through　the　wicket　of　the　door；　he　was
admitted；　after　giving　his　name；　into　the　house；　and　was　ushered
immediately　to　the　study　of　Monsieur　du　Portail；　whom　he　found　at　his
desk。

Without　rising；　and　merely　making　a　sign　to　his　guest　to　take　a　chair；
the　little　old　man　continued　the　letter　he　was　then　writing。　After
sealing　it　with　wax；　with　a　care　and　precision　that　denoted　a　nature
extremely　fastidious　and　particular；　or　else　a　man　accustomed　to
discharge　diplomatic　functions；　du　Portail　rang　for　Bruneau；　his
valet；　and　said；　as　he　gave　him　the　letter：

〃For　the　justice…of…peace　of　the　arrondissement。〃

Then　he　carefully　wiped　the　steel　pen　he　had　just　used；　restored　to
their　places；　symmetrically；　all　the　displaced　articles　on　his　desk；
and　it　was　only　when　these　little　arrangements　were　completed　that　he
turned　to　Cerizet；　and　said：

〃You　know；　of　course；　that　we　lost　that　poor　Monsieur　Toupillier　last
night？〃

〃No；　really？〃　said　Cerizet；　putting　on　the　most　sympathetic　air　he
could　manage。　〃This　is　my　first　knowledge　of　it。〃

〃But　you　probably　expected　it。　When　one　gives　a　dying　man　an　immense
bowl　of　hot　wine；　which　has　also　been　narcotized；for　the　Perrache
woman　slept　all　night　in　a　sort　of　lethargy　after　drinking　a　small
glass　of　it；it　is　evident　that　the　catastrophe　has　been　hastened。〃

〃I　am　ignorant；　monsieur；〃　said　Cerizet；　with　dignity；　〃of　what　Madame
Cardinal　may　have　given　to　her　uncle。　I　have　no　doubt　committed　a
great　piece　of　thoughtlessness　in　assisting　this　woman　to　obtain　an
inheritance　to　which　she　assured　me　she　had　legal　rights；　but　as　to
attempting　the　life　of　that　old　pauper；　I　am　quite　incapable　of　such　a
thing；　nothing　of　the　kind　ever　entered　my　mind。〃

〃You　wrote　me　this　letter；　I　think；〃　said　du　Portail；　abruptly；　taking
from　beneath　a　bohemian　glass　bowl　a　paper　which　he　offered　to
Cerizet。

〃A　letter？〃　replied　Cerizet；　with　the　hesitation　of　a　man　who　doesn't
know　whether　to　lie　or　speak　the　truth。

〃I　am　quite　sure　of　what　I　say；〃　continued　du　Portail。　〃I　have　a　mania
for　autographs；　and　I　possess　one　of　yours；　obtained　at　the　period
when　the　Opposition　exalted　you　to　the　glorious　rank　of　martyr。　I　have
compared　the　two　writings；　and　I　find　that　you　certainly　wrote　me；
yesterday；　the　letter　which　you　hold　in　your　hand；　informing　me　of　the
money　embarrassments　of　young　la　Peyrade　at　the　present　moment。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Cerizet；　〃knowing　that　you　had　given　a　home　to
Mademoiselle　de　la　Peyrade；　who　is　probably　cousin　of　Theodose；　I
thought　I　recognized　in　you　the　mysterious　protector　from　whom；　on
more　than　one　occasion；　my　friend　has　received　the　most　generous
assistance。　Now；　as　I　have　a　sincere　affection　for　that　poor　fellow；
it　was　in　his　interests　that　I　permitted　myself〃

〃You　did　quite　right；〃　interrupted　du　Portail。　〃I　am　delighted　to　have
fallen　in　with　a　friend　of　la　Peyrade。　I　ought　not　to　conceal　from　you
that　it　was　this　particular　fact　which　protected　you　last　night。　But
tell　me；　what　is　this　about　notes　for　twenty…five　thousand　francs？　Is
our　friend　so　badly　off　in　his　affairs？　Is　he　leading　a　dissipated
life？〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　replied　Cerizet；　〃he's　a　puritan。　Given　to　the
deepest　piety；　he　did　not　choose　to　take；　as　a　barrister；　any　other
cases　but　those　of　the　poor。　He　is　now　on　the　point　of　making　a　rich
marriage。〃

〃Ah！　is　he　going　to　be　married？　and　to　whom？〃

〃To　a　Demoiselle　Colleville；　daughter　of　the　secretary　of　the　mayor　of
the　12th　arrondissement。　In　herself；　the　girl　has　no　fortune；　but　a
certain　Monsieur　Thuillier；　her　godfather；　member　of　the　Council…
general　of　the　Seine；　has　promised　her　a　suitable　'dot。'〃

〃Who　has　handled　this　affair？〃

〃La　Peyrade　has　been　devoted　to　the　Thuillier　family；　into　which　he
was　introduced　by　Monsieur　Dutocq；　clerk　of　the　justice…of…peace　of
their　arrondissement。〃

〃But　you　wrote　me　that　these　notes　were　signed　in　favor　of　Monsieur
Dutocq。　The　affair　is　a　bit　of　matrimonial　brokerage；　in　short？〃

〃Well；　something　of　that　kind；〃　replied　Cerizet。　〃You　know；　monsieur；
that　in　Paris　such　transactions　are　very　common。　Even　the　clergy　won't
disdain　to　have　a　finger　in　them。〃

〃Is　the　marriage　a　settled　thing？〃

〃Yes；　and　within　the　last　few　days　especially。〃

〃Well；　my　good　sir；　I　rely　on　you　to　put　an　end　to　it。　I　have　other
views　for　Theodose；another　marriage　to　propose　to　him。〃

〃Excuse　me！〃　said　Cerizet；　〃to　break　up　this　marriage　would　make　it
impossible　for　him　to　pay　his　notes；　and　I　have　the　honor　to　call　your
attention　to　the　fact　that　these　particular　bills　of　exchange　are
serious　matters。　Monsieur　Dutocq　is　in　the　office　of　the　justice…of…
peace；　in　other　words；　he　couldn't　be　easily　defeated　in　such　a
matter。〃

〃The　debt　to　Monsieur　Dutocq　you　shall　buy　off　yourself；〃　replied　du
Portail。　〃Make　arrangements　with　him　to　that　effect。　Should　Theodose
prove　reluctant　to　carry　out　my　plans；　those　notes　may　become　a　useful
weapon　in　our　hands。　You　will　take　upon　yourself　to　sue　him　for　them；
and　you　shall　have　no　money　responsibility　in　the　matter。　I　will　pay
you　the　amount　of　the　notes　for　Dutocq；　and　your　costs　in　suing
Theodose。〃

〃You　are　square　in　business；　monsieur；〃　said　Cerizet。　〃There's　some
pleasure　in　being　your　agent。　Now；　if　you　think　the　right　moment　has
come；　I　should　be　glad　if　you　would　give　me　some　better　light　on　the
mission　you　are　doing　me　the　honor　to　place　in　my　hands。〃

〃You　spoke　just　now；〃　replied　du　Portail；　〃of