the lesser bourgeoisie-第80章

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　　it。　His　object　was　to　make　it　a　foothold　by　which　to　climb　from
　　municipal　functions　to　the　coveted　position　of　deputy。　Happily
　　this　object；　having　come　to　the　surface；　will　end　in　failure。
　　Electors　will　certainly　not　be　inveigled　by　so　wily　a　manner　of
　　advancing　self…interests；　and　when　the　proper　time　arrives；　if
　　ridicule　has　not　already　done　justice　on　this　absurd　candidacy；　we
　　shall　ourselves　prove　to　the　pretender　that　to　aspire　to　the
　　distinguished　honor　of　representing　the　nation　something　more　is
　　required　than　the　money　to　buy　a　paper　and　pay　an　underling　to　put
　　into　good　French　the　horrible　diction　of　his　articles　and
　　pamphlets。　We　confine　ourselves　to…day　to　this　limited　notice；　but
　　our　readers　may　be　sure　that　we　shall　keep　them　informed　about
　　this　electoral　comedy；　if　indeed　the　parties　concerned　have　the
　　melancholy　courage　to　go　on　with　it。

Thuillier　read　twice　over　this　sudden　declaration　of　war；　which　was
far　from　leaving　him　calm　and　impassible；　then；　taking　la　Peyrade
aside；　he　said　to　him：

〃Read　that；　it　is　serious。〃

〃Well？〃　said　la　Peyrade；　after　reading　the　article。

〃Well？　how　well？〃　exclaimed　Thuillier。

〃I　mean；　what　do　you　find　so　serious　in　that？〃

〃What　do　I　find　so　serious？〃　repeated　Thuillier。　〃I　don't　think
anything　could　be　more　insulting　to　me。〃

〃You　can't　doubt；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　〃that　the　virtuous　Cerizet　is　at
the　bottom　of　it；　he　has　thrown　this　firecracker　between　your　legs　by
way　of　revenge。〃

〃Cerizet；　or　anybody　else　who　wrote　that　diatribe　is　an　insolent
fellow；〃　cried　Thuillier；　getting　angry；　〃and　the　matter　shall　not
rest　there。〃

〃For　my　part；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　〃I　advise　you　to　make　no　reply。　You
are　not　named；　though；　of　course；　the　attack　is　aimed　at　you。　But　you
ought　to　let　our　adversary　commit　himself　farther；　when　the　right
moment　comes；　we'll　rap　him　over　the　knuckles。〃

〃No！〃　said　Thuillier；　〃I　won't　stay　quiet　one　minute　under　such　an
insult。〃

〃The　devil！〃　said　the　barrister；　〃what　a　sensitive　epidermis！　Do
reflect；　my　dear　fellow；　that　you　have　made　yourself　a　candidate　and　a
journalist；　and　therefore　you　really　must　harden　yourself　better　than
that。〃

〃My　good　friend；　it　is　a　principle　of　mine　not　to　let　anybody　step　on
my　toes。　Besides；　they　say　themselves　they　are　going　on　with　this
thing。　Therefore；　it　is　absolutely　necessary　to　cut　short　such
impertinence。〃

〃But　do　consider；〃　said　la　Peyrade。　〃Certainly　in　journalism；　as　in
candidacy；　a　hot　temper　has　its　uses；　a　man　makes　himself　respected；
and　stops　attacks〃

〃Just　so；〃　said　Thuillier；　〃'principiis　obsta。'　Not　to…day；　because　we
haven't　the　time；　but　to…morrow　I　shall　carry　that　paper　into　court。〃

〃Into　court！〃　echoed　la　Peyrade；　〃you　surely　wouldn't　go　to　law　in
such　a　matter　as　this？　In　the　first　place；　there　is　nothing　to　proceed
upon；　you　are　not　named　nor　the　paper　either；　and；　besides；　it　is　a
pitiable　business；　going　to　law；　you'll　look　like　a　boy　who　has　been
fighting；　and　got　the　worst　of　it；　and　runs　to　complain　to　his　mamma。
Now　if　you　had　said　that　you　meant　to　make　Fleury　intervene　in　the
matter；　I　could　understand　thatthough　the　affair　is　rather　personal
to　you；　and　it　might　be　difficult　to　make　it　seem〃

〃Ah　ca！〃　said　Thuillier；　〃do　you　suppose　I　am　going　to　commit　myself
with　a　Cerizet　or　any　other　newspaper　bully？　I　pique　myself；　my　dear
fellow；　on　possessing　civic　courage；　which　does　not　give　in　to
prejudices；　and　which；　instead　of　taking　justice　into　its　own　hands；
has　recourse　to　the　means　of　defence　that　are　provided　by　law。
Besides；　with　the　legal　authority　the　Court　of　Cassation　now　has　over
duelling；　I　have　no　desire　to　put　myself　in　the　way　of　being
expatriated；　or　spending　two　or　three　years　in　prison。〃

〃Well；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　〃we'll　talk　it　over　later；　here's　your
sister；　and　she　would　think　everything　lost　if　this　little　matter
reached　her　ears。〃

When　Brigitte　appeared　Colleville　shouted　〃Full！〃　and　proceeded　to
sing　the　chorus　of　〃La　Parisienne。〃

〃Heavens！　Colleville；　how　vulgar　you　are！〃　cried　the　tardy　one；
hastening　to　cast　a　stone　in　the　other's　garden　to　avoid　the　throwing
of　one　into　hers。　〃Well；　are　you　all　ready？〃　she　added；　arranging　her
mantle　before　a　mirror。　〃What　o'clock　is　it？　it　won't　do　to　get　there
before　the　time；　like　provincials。〃

〃Ten　minutes　to　two；〃　said　Colleville；　〃I　go　by　the　Tuileries。〃

〃Well；　then　we　are　just　right；〃　said　Brigitte；　〃it　will　take　about
that　time　to　get　to　the　rue　Caumartin。　Josephine；〃　she　cried；　going　to
the　door　of　the　salon；　〃we'll　dine　at　six；　therefore　be　sure　you　put
the　turkey　to　roast　at　the　right　time；　and　mind　you　don't　burn　it；　as
you　did　the　other　day。　Bless　me！　who's　that？〃　and　with　a　hasty　motion
she　shut　the　door；　which　she　had　been　holding　open。　〃What　a　nuisance！
I　hope　Henri　will　have　the　sense　to　tell　him　we　are　out。〃

Not　at　all；　Henri　came　in　to　say　that　an　old　gentleman；　with　a　very
genteel　air；　had　asked　to　be　received　on　urgent　business。

〃Why　didn't　you　say　we　were　all　out？〃

〃That's　what　I　should　have　done　if　mademoiselle　had　not　opened　the
door　of　the　salon　so　that　the　gentleman　could　see　the　whole　family
assembled。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　said　Brigitte；　〃you　are　never　in　the　wrong；　are　you？〃

〃What　am　I　to　say　to　him？〃　asked　the　man。

〃Say；〃　replied　Thuillier；　〃that　I　am　very　sorry　not　to　be　able　to
receive　him；　but　I　am　expected　at　a　notary's　office　about　a　marriage
contract；　but　that　if　he　could　return　two　hours　hence〃

〃I　have　told　him　all　that；〃　said　Henri；　〃and　he　answered　that　that
contract　was　precisely　what　he　had　come　about；　and　that　his　business
concerned　you　more　than　himself。〃

〃You　had　better　go　and　see　him；　Thuillier；　and　get　rid　of　him　in
double…quick；〃　said　Brigitte；　〃that's　shorter　than　talking　to　Henri；
who　is　always　an　orator。〃

If　la　Peyrade　had　been　consulted　he　might　not　have　joined　in　that
advice；　for　he　had　had　more　than　one　specimen　of　the　spokes　some
occult　influence　was　putting　into　the　wheels　of　his　marriage；　and　the
present　visit　seemed　to　him　ominous。

〃Show　him　into　my　study；〃　said　Thuillier；　following　his　sister's
advice；　and；　opening　the　door　which　led　from　the　salon　to　the　study；
he　went　to　receive　his　importunate　visitor。

Brigitte　immediately　applied　her　eye　to　the　keyhole。

〃Goodness！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃there's　my　imbecile　of　a　Thuillier
offering　him　a　chair！　and　away　in　a　corner；　too；　where　I　can't　hear　a
word　they　say！〃

La　Peyrade　was　walking　about　the　room　with　an　inward　agitation　covered
by　an　appearance　of　great　indifference。　He　even　went　up　to　the　three
women；　and　made　a　few　lover…like　speeches　to　Celeste；　who　received
them　with　a　smiling；　happy　air　in　keeping　with　the　role　she　was
playing。　As　for　Colleville；　he　was　killing　the　time　by　composing　an
anagram　on　the　six　words　of　〃le　journal　'l'Echo　de　la　Bievre；'〃　for
which　he　had　found　the　following　version；　little　reassuring　（as　far　as
it　went）　for　the　prospects　of　that　newspaper：　〃O　d'Echo；　jarni！　la
bevue　reell〃but　as　the　final　〃e〃　was　lacking　to　complete　the　last
word；　the　work　was　not　altogether　as　satisfactory　as　it　should　have
been。

〃He's　taking　snuff！〃　said　Brigitte；　her　eye　still　glued　to　the
keyhole；　〃his　gold　snuff…box　beats　Minard'sthough；　perhaps；　it　is
only　silver…gilt；〃　she　added；　reflectively。　〃He's　doing　the　talking；
and　Thuillier　is　sitting　there　listening　to　him　like　a　buzzard。　I
shall　go　in　and　tell　them　they　can't　keep　ladies　waiting　that　way。〃

But　just　as　she　put　her　hand　on　the　lock　she　heard　Thuillier's　visitor
raise　his　voice；　and　that　made　her　look　through　the　keyhole　again。

〃He　is　standing　up；　he's　going；〃　she　said　with　satisfaction。

But　a　moment　later　she　saw　she　had　made　a　mistake；　the　little　old　man
had　only　left　his　chair　to　walk　up　and　down　the　room　and　continue　the
conversation　with　greater　freedom。

〃My　gracious！　I　shall　certainly　go　in；〃　she　said；　〃and　tell　Thuillier
we　are　going　without　him；　and　he　can　follow　us。〃

So　saying；　the　old　maid　gave　two　little　sharp　and　very　imperious　raps
on　the　door；　after　which　she　resolutely　entered　the　study。

La　Peyrade；　goaded　by　anxiety；　had　the　bad　taste　to　look　through　the
keyhole　himself　at　what　was　happening。　Instantly　he　thought　he
recognized　the　small　old　man　he　had　seen　under　the　name　of　〃the
commander〃　on　that　memorable　morning　when　he　had　waited　for　Madame　de
Godollo。　Then　he　saw　Thuillier　addressing　his　sister　with　impatience
and　with　gestures　of　authority　altogether　out　of　his　usual　habits　of
deference　and　submission。

〃It　seems；〃　said　Brigitte；　re…entering　the　salon；　〃that　Thuillier
finds　some　great　interest　in　that　creature's　talk；　for　he　ordered　me
bluntly　to　leave　them；　though　the　little　old　fellow　did　say；　rather
civilly；　that　they　would　soon　be　through。　But　Jerome　added：　'MIND；　you
are　to　wait　for　me。'　Really；　since　he　has　taken　to　making　newspapers　I
don't　know　him；　he　has　set　up　an　air　as　if　he　were　leading　the　world
with　his　wand。〃

〃I　am　very　much　afraid　he　is　being　entangled　by　some　adventurer；〃　said
la　Peyrade。　〃I　am　pretty　sure　I　saw　that　old　man　at　Madame　de
Godollo's　the　day　I　went　to　warn　her　off　the　premises；　he　must　be　of
the　same　stripe。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃　cried　Brigitte。　〃I'd　have　asked　him　for　news
of　the　countess；　and　let　him　see　we　knew　what　we　knew　of　his
Hungarian。〃

Just　then　the　sound　of　moving　chairs　was　heard；　and　Brigitte　darted
back　to　the　keyhole。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃he　is　really　going；　and　Thuillier　is　bowing　him　out
respectfully！〃

As　Thuillier　did　not　immediately　return；　Colleville　had　time　to　go　to
the　window　and　exclaim　at　seeing　the　little　old　gentleman　driving　away
in　an　elegant　coupe；　of　which　the　reader　has　already　heard。

〃The　deuce！〃　cried　Colleville；　〃what　an　ornate　livery！　If　he　is　an
adventurer　he　is　a　number　one。〃

At　last　Thuillier　re…entered　the　room；　his　face　full　of　care；　his
manner　extremely　grave。

〃My　dear　la　Peyrade；〃　he　said；　〃you　did　not　tell　us　that　another
proposal　of　marriage　had　been　seriously　considered　by　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　did；　I　told　you　that　a　very　rich　heiress　had　been　offered　to
me；　but　that　my　inclinations　were　here；　and　that　I　had　not　given　any
encouragement　to　the　affair；　consequently；　of　course；　there　was　no
serious　engagement。〃

〃Well；　I　think　you　do　wrong　to　treat　that　proposal　so　lightly。〃

〃What！　do　you　mean　to　say；　in　presence　of　these　ladies；　that　you　blame
me　for　remaining　faithful　to　my　first　desires　and　our　old　engagement？〃

〃My　friend；　the　conversation　that　I　have　just　had　has　been　a　most
instructive　one　to　me；　and　when　you　know　what　I　know；　with　other
details　personal　to　yourself；　which　will　be　confided　to　you；　I　think
that　you　will　enter　into　my　ideas。　One　thing　is　certain；　we　shall　not
go　to　the　notary　to…day；　and　as　for　you；　the　best　thing　that　you　can
do　is　to　go；　without　delay；　to　Monsieur　du　Portail。〃

〃That　name　again！　it　pursues　me　like　a　remorse；〃　exclaimed　la　Peyrade。

〃Yes；　go　at　once；　he　is　awaiting　you。　It　is　an　indispensable
preliminary　before　we　can　go　any　farther。　When　you　have　seen　that
excellent　man　and　heard　what　he　has　to　say　to　youwell；　THEN　if　you
persist　in　claiming　Celeste's　hand；　we　migh