the lesser bourgeoisie-第75章

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this　scandalous　manner；　to　the　sacred　duties　of　his　calling？〃

〃Parbleu！　your　neighbor　in　the　rue　Saint…Jacques；　the　notary　Dupuis。〃

〃What！〃　said　Madame　Phellion；　〃that　pious　man？　Why；　he　is　churchwarden
of　the　parish！〃

〃Eh！　madame；　those　are　the　very　ones；〃　said　Minard；　〃to　run　offthere
are　many　precedents　for　that。〃

〃But；〃　said　Phellion；　〃such　news　cast　suddenly　among　the　company　must
have　fallen　like　a　thunderbolt。〃

〃Especially；〃　said　Minard；　〃as　it　was　brought　in　the　most　unexpected
and　singular　manner。〃

〃Tell　us　all　about　it；〃　said　Madame　Phellion；　with　animation。

〃Well；　it　seems；〃　continued　Minard；　〃that　this　canting　swindler　had
charge　of　the　savings　of　a　number　of　servants；　and　that　Monsieur　de　la
Peyradebecause；　you　see；　they　are　all　of　a　clique；　these　pious
peoplewas　in　the　habit　of　recruiting　clients　for　him　in　that　walk　of
life〃

〃I　always　said　so！〃　interrupted　Madame　Phellion。　〃I　knew　that
Provencal　was　no　good　at　all。〃

〃It　seems；〃　continued　the　mayor；　〃that　he　had　placed　in　Dupuis's　hands
all　the　savings　of　an　old　housekeeper；　pious　herself；　amounting　to　a
pretty　little　sum。　Faith！　I　think　myself　it　was　worth　some　trouble。
How　much　do　you　suppose　it　was？　Twenty…five　thousand　francs；　if　you
please！　This　housekeeper；　whose　name　is　Madame　Lambert〃

〃Madame　Lambert！〃　cried　Felix；　〃why；　that's　Monsieur　Picot's
housekeeper；　close　cap；　pale；　thin　face；　speaks　always　with　her　eyes
lowered；　shows　no　hair？〃

〃That's　she；〃　said　Minard；〃a　regular　hypocrite！〃

〃Twenty…five　thousand　francs　of　savings！〃　said　Felix。　〃I　don't　wonder
that　poor　pere　Picot　is　always　out　of　money。〃

〃And　that　someone　had　to　meddle　with　the　sale　of　his　book；〃　said
Minard；　slyly。　〃However　that　may　be；　you　can　imagine　that　the　woman
was　in　a　fine　state　of　mind　on　hearing　of　the　flight　of　the　notary。
Off　she　went　to　la　Peyrade's　lodgings；　there　she　was　told　he　was
dining　at　the　Thuilliers'；　to　the　Thuilliers'　she　came；　after　running
about　the　streetsfor　they　didn't　give　her　quite　the　right　address
till　ten　o'clock；　but　she　got　there　while　the　company　were　still
sitting　round　waiting　for　the　notary；　and　gaping　at　each　other；　no　one
knowing　what　to　say　and　do；　for　neither　Brigitte　nor　Thuillier　have
faculty　enough　to　get　out　of　such　a　scrape　with　credit；　and　we　all
missed　the　voice　of　Madame　de　Godollo　and　the　talent　of　Madame
Phellion。〃

〃Oh！　you　are　too　polite；　Monsieur　le　maire；〃　said　Madame　Phellion；
bridling。

〃Well；　as　I　said；〃　continued　Minard；　〃at　ten　o'clock　Madame　Lambert
reached　the　antechamber　of　Monsieur　the　general…councillor；　and　there
she　asked；　in　great　excitement；　to　see　la　Peyrade。〃

〃That　was　natural；〃　said　Phellion；　〃he　being　the　intermediary　of　the
investment；　this　woman　had　a　right　to　question　him。〃

〃You　should　just　have　seen　that　Tartuffe！〃　continued　Minard。　〃He　had
no　sooner　gone　out　than　he　returned；　bringing　the　news。　As　everybody
was　longing　to　get　away；　there　followed　a　general　helter…skelter。　And
then　what　does　our　man　do？　He　goes　back　to　Madame　Lambert；　who　was
crying　that　she　was　ruined！　she　was　lost！which　might　very　well　be
true；　but　it　might　also　be　only　a　scene　arranged　between　them　in
presence　of　the　company；　whom　the　woman's　outcries　detained　in　the
antechamber。　'Don't　be　anxious；　my　good　woman；'　said　la　Peyrade；　'the
investment　was　made　at　your　request；　consequently；　I　owe　you　nothing；
BUT　it　is　enough　that　the　money　passed　through　my　hands　to　make　my
conscience　tell　me　I　am　responsible。　If　the　notary's　assets　are　not
enough　to　pay　you　I　will　do　so。'〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Phellion；　〃that　was　my　idea　as　you　told　it；　the
intermediary　is　or　ought　to　be　responsible。　I　should　not　have
hesitated　to　do　as　Monsieur　de　la　Peyrade　did；　and　I　do　not　think　that
after　such　conduct　as　that　he　ought　to　be　taxed　with　Jesuitism。〃

〃Yes；　you　would　have　done　so；〃　said　Minard；　〃and　so　should　I；　but　we
shouldn't　have　done　it　with　a　brass　band；　we　should　have　paid　our
money　quietly；　like　gentlemen。　But　this　electoral　manager；　how　is　he
going　to　pay　it？　Out　of　the　'dot'？〃

At　this　moment　the　little　page　entered　the　room　and　gave　a　letter　to
Felix　Phellion。　It　came　from　pere　Picot；　and　was　written　at　his
dictation　by　Madame　Lambert；　for　which　reason　we　will　not　reproduce
the　orthography。　The　writing　of　Madame　Lambert　was　of　those　that　can
never　be　forgotten　when　once　seen。　Recognizing　it　instantly；　Felix
hastened　to　say：

〃A　letter　from　the　professor〃；　then；　before　breaking　the　seal；　he
added；　〃Will　you　permit　me；　Monsieur　le　maire。〃

〃He'll　rate　you　finely；〃　said　Minard；　laughing。　〃I　never　saw　anything
so　comical　as　his　wrath　last　night。〃

Felix；　as　he　read　the　letter；　smiled　to　himself。　When　he　had　finished
it；　he　passed　it　to　his　father；　saying：

〃Read　it　aloud　if　you　like。〃

Whereupon；　with　his　solemn　voice　and　manner；　Phellion　read　as
follows：

　　My　dear　Felix；I　have　just　received　your　note；　it　came　in　the
　　nick　of　time；　for　I　was；　as　they　say；　in　a　fury　with　you。　You　tell
　　me　that　you　were　guilty　of　that　abuse　of　confidence　（about　which　I
　　intended　to　write　you　a　piece　of　my　mind）　in　order　to　give　a
　　knock…down　blow　to　my　relations　by　proving　that　a　man　capable　of
　　making　such　complicated　calculations　as　your　discovery　required
　　was　not　a　man　to　put　in　a　lunatic　asylum　or　drag　before　a
　　judiciary　council。　That　argument　pleases　me；　and　it　makes　such　a
　　good　answer　to　the　infamous　proceedings　of　my　relations　that　I
　　praise　you　for　having　had　the　idea。　But　you　sold　it　to　me；　that
　　argument；　pretty　dear　when　you　put　me　in　company　with　a　star；　for
　　you　know　very　well　THAT　propinquity　wouldn't　please　me　at　all。　It
　　is　not　at　my　age；　and　after　solving　the　great　problem　of　perpetual
　　motion；　that　a　man　could　take　up　with　such　rubbish　as　that；good
　　only　for　boys　and　greenhorns　like　you；　and　that　is　what　I　have
　　taken　the　liberty　this　morning　to　go　and　tell　the　minister　of
　　public　instruction；　by　whom　I　must　say　I　was　received　with　the
　　most　perfect　urbanity。　I　asked　him　to　see　whether；　as　he　had　made
　　a　mistake　and　sent　them　to　the　wrong　address；　he　could　not　take
　　back　his　cross　and　his　pension；though　to　be　sure；　as　I　told　him；
　　I　deserved　them　for　other　things。

　　〃The　government；〃　he　replied；　〃is　not　in　the　habit　of　making
　　mistakes；　what　it　does　is　always　properly　done；　and　it　never
　　annuls　an　ordinance　signed　by　the　hand　of　his　Majesty。　Your　great
　　labors　have　deserved　the　two　favors　the　King　has　granted　you；　it
　　is　a　long…standing　debt；　which　I　am　happy　to　pay　off　in　his　name。〃

　　〃But　Felix？〃　I　said；　〃because　after　all　for　a　young　man　it　is　not
　　such　a　bad　discovery。〃

　　〃Monsieur　Felix　Phellion；〃　replied　the　minister；　〃will　receive　in
　　the　course　of　the　day　his　appointment　to　the　rank　of　Chevalier　of
　　the　Legion　of　honor；　I　will　have　it　signed　this　morning　by　the
　　king。　Moreover；　there　is　a　vacant　place　at　the　Academy　of
　　Sciences；　and　if　you　are　not　a　candidate　for　it〃

　　〃I；　in　the　Academy！〃　I　interrupted；　with　the　frankness　of　speech
　　you　know　I　always　use；　〃I　execrate　academies；　they　are　stiflers；
　　extinguishers；　assemblages　of　sloths；　idlers；　shops　with　big　signs
　　and　nothing　to　sell　inside〃

　　〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　minister；　smiling；　〃I　think　that　at　the
　　next　election　Monsieur　Felix　Phellion　will　have　every　chance；　and
　　among　those　chances　I　count　the　influence　of　the　government　which
　　is　secured　to　him。〃

　　There；　my　poor　boy；　is　all　that　I　have　been　able　to　do　to　reward
　　your　good　intentions　and　to　prove　to　you　that　I　am　no　longer
　　angry。　I　think　the　relations　are　going　to　pull　a　long　face。　Come
　　and　talk　about　it　to…day　at　four　o'clock；for　I　don't　dine　after
　　bedtime；　as　I　saw　some　people　doing　last　night　in　a　house　where　I
　　had　occasion　to　mention　your　talents　in　a　manner　that　was　very
　　advantageous　to　you。　Madame　Lambert；　who　does　better　with　a
　　saucepan　than　with　pen　and　ink；　shall　distinguish　herself；　though
　　it　is　Friday；　and　she　never　lets　me　off　a　fast　day。　But　she　has
　　promised　us　a　fish　dinner　worthy　of　an　archbishop；　with　a　fine
　　half…bottle　of　champagne　（doubled　if　need　be）　to　wash　it　down。

Your　old　professor　and　friend；
Picot　（Nepomucene）；
Chevalier　of　the　Legion　of　honor。

　　P。S。Do　you　think　you　could　obtain　from　your　respectable　mother　a
　　little　flask　of　that　old　and　excellent　cognac　you　once　gave　me？
　　Not　a　drop　remains；　and　yesterday　I　was　forced　to　drink　some　stuff
　　only　fit　to　bathe　horses'　feet；　as　I　did　not　hesitate　to　say　to
　　the　beautiful　Hebe　who　served　it　to　me。


〃Of　course　he　shall　have　some；〃　said　Madame　Phellion；　〃not　a　flask；
but　a　gallon。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　Minard；　〃who　pique　myself　on　mine；　which　didn't　come
from　Brigitte's　grocer　either；　I'll　send　him　several　bottles；　but
don't　tell　him　who　sent　them；　Monsieur　le　chevalier；　for　you　never　can
tell　how　that　singular　being　will　take　things。〃

〃Wife；〃　said　Phellion；　suddenly；　〃get　me　my　black　coat　and　a　white
cravat。〃

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　asked　Madame　Phellion。　〃To　the　minister；　to
thank　him？〃

〃Bring　me；　I　say；　those　articles　of　habiliment。　I　have　an　important
visit　to　make；　and　Monsieur　le　maire　will；　I　know；　excuse　me。〃

〃I　myself　must　be　off；〃　said　Minard。　〃I；　too；　have　important　business；
though　it　isn't　about　a　star。〃

Questioned　in　vain　by　Felix　and　his　wife；　Phellion　completed　his
attire　with　a　pair　of　white　gloves；　sent　for　a　carriage；　and；　at　the
end　of　half　an　hour；　entered　the　presence　of　Brigitte；　whom　he　found
presiding　over　the　careful　putting　away　of　the　china；　glass；　and
silver　which　had　performed　their　several　functions　the　night　before。
Leaving　these　housekeeping　details；　she　received　her　visitor。

〃Well；　papa　Phellion；〃　she　said；　when　they　were　both　seated　in　the
salon；　〃you　broke　your　word　yesterday；　you　were　luckier　than　the　rest。
Do　you　know　what　a　trick　that　notary　played　us？〃

〃I　know　all；〃　said　Phellion；　〃and　it　is　the　check　thus　unexpectedly
given　to　the　execution　of　your　plans　that　I　shall　take　for　the　text　of
an　important　conversation　which　I　desire　to　have　with　you。　Sometimes
Providence　would　seem　to　take　pleasure　in　counteracting　our　best…laid
schemes；　sometimes；　also；　by　means　of　the　obstacles　it　raises　in　our
path；　it　seems　to　intend　to　indicate　that　we　are　bearing　too　far　to
the　right　or　to　the　left；　and　should　pause　to　reflect　upon　our　way。〃

〃Providence！〃　said　Brigitte　the　strong…minded；〃Providence　has
something　else　to　do　than　to　look　after　us。〃

〃That　is　one　opinion；〃　said　Phellion；　〃but　I　myself　am　accustomed　to
see　its　decrees　in　the　little　as　well　as　the　great　things　of　life；　and
certainly；　if　it　had　allowed　the　fulfilment　of　your　engagements　with
Monsieur　de　la　Peyrade　to　be　even　partially　begun　yesterday；　you　would
not　have　seen　me　here　to…day。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Brigitte；　〃do　you　think　that　by　default　of　a　notary　the
marriage　will　not　take　place？　They　do　say　that　for　want　of　a　monk　the
abbey　won't　come　to　a　standstill。〃

〃Dear　lady；〃　said　the　great　citizen；　〃you　will　do　me　the　justice　to
feel　that　neither　I；　nor　my　wife；　have　ever　attempted　to　influence
your　decision；　we　have　allowed　our　young　people　to　love　each　other
without　much　consideration　as　to