the lesser bourgeoisie-第87章

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our　profession；　which　just　now　seems　to　you　unpleasantly　serious；　we
do　occasionally　meet　with　comedies。　Read　it　aloud；　it　will　cheer　me
up。〃

Before　la　Peyrade　began　to　read；　Corentin　added：

〃I　ought　to　tell　you　that　the　report　is　from　a　man　called　Henri；　whom
Madame　Komorn　introduced　as　man…servant　at　the　Thuilliers'；　you
probably　remember　him。〃

〃So！〃　said　la　Peyrade；　〃servants　placed　in　families！　is　that　one　of
your　methods？〃

〃Sometimes；〃　replied　Corentin；　〃in　order　to　know　all；　we　must　use　all
means。　But　a　great　many　lies　are　told　about　us　on　that　subject。　It　is
not　true　that　the　police；　making　a　system　of　it；　has；　at　certain
periods；　by　a　general　enrolment　of　lacqueys　and　lady's…maids；
established　a　vast　network　in　private　families。　Nothing　is　fixed　and
absolute　in　our　manner　of　proceeding；　we　act　in　accordance　with　the
time　and　circumstances。　I　wanted　an　ear　and　an　influence　in　the
Thuillier　household；　accordingly；　I　let　loose　the　Godollo　upon　it；　and
she；　in　turn；　partly　to　assist　herself；　installed　there　one　of　our
men；　an　intelligent　fellow；　as　you　will　see　for　yourself。　But　for　all
that；　if；　at　another　time；　a　servant　came　and　offered　to　sell　me　the
secrets　of　his　master；　I　should　have　him　arrested；　and　let　a　warning
reach　the　ears　of　the　family　to　distrust　the　other　servants。　Now　go
on；　and　read　that　report。〃

　　Monsieur　the　Director　of　the　Secret　Police；

read　la　Peyrade　aloud；

　　I　did　not　stay　long　with　the　little　baron；　he　is　a　man　wholly
　　occupied　in　frivolous　pleasures；　and　there　was　nothing　to　be
　　gathered　there　that　was　worthy　of　a　report　to　you。　I　have　found
　　another　place；　where　I　have　already　witnessed　several　thing　which
　　fit　into　the　mission　that　Madame　de　Godollo　gave　me；　and
　　therefore；　thinking　them　likely　to　interest　you；　I　hasten　to　bring
　　them　to　your　knowledge。　The　household　in　which　I　am　now　employed
　　is　that　of　an　old　savant；　named　Monsieur　Picot；　who　lives　on　a
　　first　floor；　Place　de　la　Madeleine；　in　the　house　and　apartment
　　formerly　occupied　by　my　late　masters；　the　Thuilliers

〃What！〃　cried　la　Peyrade；　interrupting　his　reading；　〃Pere　Picot；　that
ruined　old　lunatic；　occupying　such　an　apartment　as　that？〃

〃Go　on；　go　on！〃　said　Corentin；　〃life　is　full　of　many　strange　things。
You'll　find　the　explanation　farther　along；　for　our　correspondentit
is　the　defect　of　those　fellows　to　waste　themselves　on　detailsis　only
too　fond　of　dotting　his　i's。〃

La　Peyrade　read　on：

　　The　Thuilliers　left　this　apartment　some　weeks　ago　to　return　to
　　their　Latin　quarter。　Mademoiselle　Brigitte　never　really　liked　our
　　sphere；　her　total　want　of　education　made　her　ill　at　ease。　Just
　　because　I　speak　correctly；　she　was　always　calling　me　'the　orator；'
　　and　she　could　not　endure　Monsieur　Pascal；　her　porter；　because；
　　being　beadle　in　the　church　of　the　Madeleine；　he　had　manners；　she
　　even　found　something　to　say　against　the　dealers　in　the　great
　　market　behind　the　church；　where；　of　course；　she　bought　her
　　provisions；　she　complained　that　they　gave　themselves　CAPABLE　airs；
　　merely　because　they　are　not　so　coarse…tongued　as　those　of　the
　　Halle；　and　only　laughed　at　her　when　she　tried　to　beat　them　down。
　　She　has　leased　the　whole　house　to　a　certain　Monsieur　Cerizet　（a
　　very　ugly　man；　with　a　nose　all　eaten　away）　for　an　annual　rent　of
　　fifty…five　thousand　francs。　This　tenant　seems　to　know　what　he　is
　　about。　He　has　lately　married　an　actress　at　one　of　the　minor
　　theatres；　Mademoiselle　Olympe　Cardinal；　and　he　was　just　about　to
　　occupy　himself　the　first…floor　apartment；　where　he　proposed　to
　　establish　his　present　business；　namely；　insurance　for　the　〃dots〃
　　of　children；　when　Monsieur　Picot；　arriving　from　England　with　his
　　wife；　a　very　rich　Englishwoman；　saw　the　apartment　and　offered　such
　　a　good　price　that　Monsieur　Cerizet　felt　constrained　to　take　it。
　　That　was　the　time　when；　by　the　help　of　M。　Pascal；　the　porter；　with
　　whom　I　have　been　careful　to　maintain　good　relations；　I　entered　the
　　household　of　Monsieur　Picot。

〃Monsieur　Picot　married　to　a　rich　Englishwoman！〃　exclaimed　la　Peyrade；
interrupting　himself　again；　〃but　it　is　incomprehensible。〃

〃Go　on；　I　tell　you；〃　said　Corentin；　〃you'll　comprehend　it　presently。〃

　　The　fortune　of　my　new　master；

continued　la　Peyrade；

　　is　quite　a　history；　and　I　speak　of　it　to　Monsieur　le　directeur
　　because　another　person　in　whom　Madame　de　Godollo　was　interested
　　has　his　marriage　closely　mixed　up　in　it。　That　other　person　is
　　Monsieur　Felix　Phellion；　the　inventor　of　a　star；　who；　in　despair
　　at　not　being　able　to　marry　that　demoiselle　whom　they　wanted　to
　　give　to　the　Sieur　la　Peyrade　whom　Madame　de　Godollo　made　such　a
　　fool　of

〃Scoundrel！〃　said　the　Provencal；　in　a　parenthesis。　〃Is　that　how　he
speaks　of　me？　He　doesn't　know　who　I　am。〃

Corentin　laughed　heartily　and　exhorted　his　pupil　to　read　on。

　　who；　in　despair　at　not　being　able　to　marry　that　demoiselle　。　。　。
　　went　to　England　in　order　to　embark　for　a　journey　round　the　world
　　a　lover's　notion！　Learning　of　this　departure；　Monsieur　Picot；　his
　　former　professor；　who　took　great　interest　in　his　pupil；　went　after
　　him　to　prevent　that　nonsense；　which　turned　out　not　to　be
　　difficult。　The　English　are　naturally　very　jealous　of　discoveries；
　　and　when　they　saw　Monsieur　Phellion　coming　to　embark　at　the　heels
　　of　their　own　savants　they　asked　him　for　his　permit　from　the
　　Admiralty；　which；　not　having　been　provided；　he　could　not　produce；
　　so　then　they　laughed　in　his　face　and　would　not　let　him　embark　at
　　all；　fearing　that　he　should　prove　more　learned　than　they。

〃He　is　a　fine　hand　at　the　'entente　cordiale；'　your　Monsieur　Henri；〃
said　la　Peyrade；　gaily。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Corentin；　〃you　will　be　struck；　in　the　reports　of　nearly
all　our　agents；　with　this　general　and　perpetual　inclination　to
calumniate。　But　what's　to　be　done？　For　the　trade　of　spies　we　can't
have　angels。〃

　　Left　upon　the　shore；　Telemachus　and　his　mentor

〃You　see　our　men　are　lettered；〃　commented　Corentin。

　　Telemachus　and　his　mentor　thought　best　to　return　to　France；　and
　　were　about　to　do　so　when　Monsieur　Picot　received　a　letter　such　as
　　none　but　an　Englishwoman　could　write。　It　told　him　that　the　writer
　　had　read　his　〃Theory　of　Perpetual　Motion；〃　and　had　also　heard　of
　　his　magnificent　discovery　of　a　star；　that　she　regarded　him　as　a
　　genius　only　second　to　Newton；　and　that　if　the　hand　of　her　who
　　addressed　him；　joined　to　eighty　thousand　pounds　sterlingthat　is；
　　two　millionsof　〃dot；〃　was　agreeable　to　him　it　was　at　his
　　disposal。　The　first　thought　of　the　good　man　was　to　make　his　pupil
　　marry　her；　but　finding　that　impossible；　he　told　her；　before
　　accepting　on　his　own　account；　that　he　was　old　and　three…quarters
　　blind；　and　had　never　discovered　a　star；　and　did　not　own　a　penny。
　　The　Englishwoman　replied　that　Milton　was　not　young　either；　and　was
　　altogether　blind；　that　Monsieur　Picot　seemed　to　her　to　have
　　nothing　worse　than　a　cataract；　for　she　knew　all　about　it；　being
　　the　daughter　of　a　great　oculist；　and　she　would　have　him　operated
　　upon；　that　as　for　the　star；　she　did　not　care　so　very　much　about
　　that；　it　was　the　author　of　the　〃Theory　of　Perpetual　Motion〃　who　
　　was　the　man　of　her　dreams；　and　to　whom　she　again　offered　her　hand
　　with　eighty　thousand　pounds　sterling　（two　millions）　of　〃dot。〃
　　Monsieur　Picot　replied　that　if　his　sight　were　restored　and　she
　　would　consent　to　live　in　Paris；　for　he　hated　England；　he　would　let
　　himself　be　married。　The　operation　was　performed　and　was
　　successful；　and；　at　the　end　of　three　weeks　the　newly　married　pair
　　arrived　in　the　capital。　These　details　I　obtained　from　the　lady's
　　maid；　with　whom　I　am　on　the　warmest　terms。

〃Oh！　the　puppy！〃　said　Corentin；　laughing。

　　The　above　is　therefore　hearsay；　but　what　remains　to　be　told　to
　　Monsieur　le　directeur　are　facts　of　which　I　can　speak　〃de　visu；〃
　　and　to　which　I　am；　consequently；　in　a　position　to　certify。　As
　　soon　as　Monsieur　and　Madame　Picot　had　installed　themselves；　which
　　was　done　in　the　most　sumptuous　and　comfortable　manner；　my　master
　　gave　me　a　number　of　invitations　to　dinner　to　carry　to　the
　　Thuillier　family；　the　Colleville　family；　the　Minard　family；　the
　　Abbe　Gondrin；　vicar　of　the　Madeleine；　and　nearly　all　the　guests
　　who　were　present　at　another　dinner　a　few　months　earlier；　when　he
　　had　an　encounter　with　Mademoiselle　Thuillier；　and　behaved；　I　must
　　say；　in　a　rather　singular　manner。　All　the　persons　who　received
　　these　invitations　were　so　astonished　to　learn　that　the　old　man
　　Picot　had　married　a　rich　wife　and　was　living　in　the　Thuilliers'
　　old　apartment　that　most　of　them　came　to　inquire　of　Monsieur
　　Pascal；　the　porter；　to　see　if　they　were　hoaxed。　The　information
　　they　obtained　being　honest　and　honorable；　the　whole　society
　　arrived　punctually　on　time；　but　Monsieur　Picot　did　not　appear。
　　The　guests　were　received　by　Madame　Picot；　who　does　not　speak
　　French　and　could　only　say；　〃My　husband　is　coming　soon〃；　after
　　which；　not　being　able　to　make　further　conversation；　the　company
　　were　dull　and　ill　at　ease。　At　last　Monsieur　Picot　arrived；　and　all
　　present　were　stupefied　on　seeing；　instead　of　an　old　blind　man；
　　shabbily　dressed；　a　handsome　young　elderly　man；　bearing　his　years
　　jauntily；　like　Monsieur　Ferville　of　the　Gymnase；　who　said　with　a
　　lively　air：

　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　mesdames；　for　not　being　here　at　the　moment　of
　　your　arrival；　but　I　was　at　the　Academy　of　Sciences；　awaiting　the
　　result　of　an　election；that　of　Monsieur　Felix　Phellion；　who　has
　　been　elected　unanimously　less　three　votes。〃

　　This　news　seemed　to　have　a　great　effect　upon　the　company。　So　then
　　Monsieur　Picot　resumed：

　　〃I　must　also；　mesdames；　ask　your　pardon　for　the　rather　improper
　　manner　in　which　I　behaved　a　short　time　ago　in　the　house　where　we
　　are　now　assembled。　My　excuse　must　be　my　late　infirmity；　the
　　annoyances　of　a　family　lawsuit；　and　of　an　old　housekeeper　who
　　robbed　me　and　tormented　me　in　a　thousand　ways；　from　whom　I　am
　　happily　delivered。　To…day　you　see　me　another　man；　rejuvenated　and
　　rich　with　the　blessings　bestowed　upon　me　by　the　amiable　woman　who
　　has　given　me　her　hand；　and　I　should　be　in　the　happiest　frame　of
　　mind　to　receive　you　if　the　recollection　of　my　young　friend；　whose
　　eminence　as　a　man　of　science　has　just　been　consecrated　by　the
　　Academy；　did　not　cast　upon　my　mind　a　veil　of　sadness。　All　here
　　present；〃　continued　Monsieur　Picot；　raising　his　voice；　which　is
　　rather　loud；　〃are　guilty　towards　him：　I；　for　ingratitude　when　he
　　gave　me　the　glory　of　his　discovery　and　the　reward　of　his　immortal
　　labors；　that　young　lady；　whom　I　see　over　there　with　tears　in　her
　　eyes；　for　having　foolishly　accused　him　of　atheism；　that　other
　　lady；　with　the　stern　face；　for　having　harshly　replied　to　the
　　proposals　of　his　noble　father；　whose　white　hairs　she　ought　rather
　　to　have　honored；　Monsieur　Thuillier；　for　having　sacrificed　him　to
　　ambition；　Monsieur　Colleville；　for　not　performing　his　part　of
　　father　and　choosing　for　his　daughter　the　worthiest　and　most
　　honorable　man；　Monsieur　Minard；　for　having　tried　to　foist　his　son
　　into　his　place。　There　are　but　two　persons　in　the　room　at　this
　　moment　who