CHAPTERI
DEPARTINGPARIS
ThetourniquetSaint—Jean，thenarrowpassageenteredthroughaturnstile，adescriptionofwhichwassaidtobesowearisomeinthestudyentitled"ADoubleLife"（ScenesfromPrivateLife），thatnaiverelicofoldParis，hasatthepresentmomentnoexistenceexceptinoursaidtypography。ThebuildingoftheHotel—de—Ville，suchaswenowseeit，sweptawayawholesectionofthecity。
In1830，passersalongthestreetcouldstillseetheturnstilepaintedonthesignofawine—merchant，buteventhathouse，itslastasylum，hasbeendemolished。Alas！oldParisisdisappearingwithfrightfulrapidity。Hereandthere，inthecourseofthishistoryofParisianlife，willbefoundpreserved，sometimesthetypeofthedwellingsofthemiddleages，likethatdescribedin"FameandSorrow"
（ScenesfromPrivateLife），oneortwospecimensofwhichexisttothepresentday；sometimesahouselikethatofJudgePopinot，rueduFouarre，aspecimenoftheformerbourgeoisie；here，theremainsofFulbert’shouse；there，theolddockoftheSeineasitwasunderCharlesIX。WhyshouldnotthehistorianofFrenchsociety，anewOldMortality，endeavortosavethesecuriousexpressionsofthepast，asWalterScott’soldmanrubbedupthetombstones？Certainly，forthelasttenyearstheoutcriesofliteratureinthisdirectionhavenotbeensuperfluous；artisbeginningtodisguisebeneathitsfloriatedornamentsthoseignoblefacadesofwhatarecalledinParis"housesofproduct，"whichoneofourpoetshasjocoselycomparedtochestsofdrawers。
Letusremarkhere，thatthecreationofthemunicipalcommission"delornamento"whichsuperintendsatMilanthearchitectureofstreetfacades，andtowhicheveryhouseowneriscompelledtosubjecthisplan，datesfromtheseventeenthcentury。Consequently，weseeinthatcharmingcapitaltheeffectsofthispublicspiritonthepartofnoblesandburghers，whileweadmiretheirbuildingssofullofcharacterandoriginality。Hideous，unrestrainedspeculationwhich，yearafteryear，changestheuniformlevelofstoreys，compressesawholeapartmentintothespaceofwhatusedtobeasalon，andwageswarupongardens，willinfalliblyreactonParisianmannersandmorals。Weshallsoonbeforcedtolivemorewithoutthanwithin。Oursacredprivatelife，thefreedomandlibertyofhome，wherewilltheybe？——reservedforthosewhocanmusterfiftythousandfrancsayear！
Infact，fewmillionairesnowallowthemselvestheluxuryofahousetothemselves，guardedbyacourtyardonastreetandprotectedfrompubliccuriositybyashadygardenattheback。
Bylevellingfortunes，thatsectionoftheCodewhichregulatestestamentarybequests，hasproducedthesehugestonephalansteries，inwhichthirtyfamiliesareoftenlodged，returningarentalofahundredthousandfrancsayear。Fiftyyearshenceweshallbeabletocountonourfingersthefewremaininghouseswhichresemblethatoccupied，atthemomentournarrativebegins，bytheThuillierfamily，——areallycurioushousewhichdeservesthehonorofanexactdescription，ifonlytocomparethelifeofthebourgeoisieofformertimeswiththatofto—day。
Thesituationandtheaspectofthishouse，theframeofourpresentSceneofmannersandmorals，has，moreover，aflavor，aperfumeofthelesserbourgeoisie，whichmayattractorrepelattentionaccordingtothetasteofeachreader。
Inthefirstplace，theThuillierhousedidnotbelongtoeitherMonsieurorMadameThuillier，buttoMademoiselleThuillier，thesisterofMonsieurThuillier。
Thishouse，boughtduringthefirstsixmonthswhichfollowedtherevolutionofJulybyMademoiselleMarie—Jeanne—BrigitteThuillier，aspinsteroffullage，standsaboutthemiddleoftherueSaint—
Dominiqued’Enfer，totherightasyouenterbytherued’Enfer，sothatthemainbuildingoccupiedbyMonsieurThuillierfacessouth。
TheprogressivemovementwhichiscarryingtheParisianpopulationtotheheightsalongtherightbankoftheSeinehadlonginjuredthesaleofpropertyinwhatiscalledthe"Latinquarter，"whenreasons，whichwillbegivenwhenwecometotreatofthecharacterandhabitsofMonsieurThuillier，determinedhissistertothepurchaseofrealestate。Sheobtainedthispropertyforthesmallsumofforty—sixthousandfrancs；certainextrasamountedtosixthousandmore；inall，thepricepaidwasfifty—twothousandfrancs。Adescriptionofthepropertygiveninthestyleofanadvertisement，andtheresultsobtainedbyMonsieurThuillier’sexertions，willexplainbywhatmeanssomanyfortunesincreasedenormouslyafterJuly，1830，whilesomanyotherssank。
Towardthestreetthehousepresentsafacadeofroughstonecoveredwithplaster，crackedbyweatherandlinedbythemason’sinstrumentintoasemblanceofblocksofcutstone。ThisfrontageissocommoninParisandsouglythatthecityoughttoofferpremiumstohouse—
ownerswhowouldbuildtheirfacadesofcut—stoneblocks。Sevenwindowslightedthegrayfrontofthishousewhichwasraisedthreestoreys，endinginamansardroofcoveredwithslate。Theporte—
cochere，heavyandsolid，showedbyitsworkmanshipandstylethatthefrontbuildingonthestreethadbeenerectedinthedaysoftheEmpire，toutilizeapartofthecourtyardofthevastoldmansion，builtatanepochwhenthequarterd’Enferenjoyedacertainvogue。
Ononesidewastheporter’slodge；ontheotherthestaircaseofthefrontbuilding。Twowings，builtagainsttheadjoininghouses，hadformerlyservedasstables，coach—house，kitchenandofficestothereardwelling；butsince1830，theyhadbeenconvertedintowarerooms。
TheoneontherightwaslettoacertainM。Metivier，jr。，wholesaledealerinpaper；thatonthelefttoabooksellernamedBarbet。Theofficesofeachwereabovethewarerooms；thebookselleroccupyingthefirststorey，andthepaper—dealerthesecondstoreyofthehouseonthestreet。Metivier，jr。，whowasmoreofacommissionmerchantinpaperthanaregulardealer，andBarbet，muchmoreofamoneylenderanddiscounterthanabookseller，keptthesevastwareroomsforthepurposeofstoring，——one，hisstacksofpaper，boughtofneedymanufacturers，theother，editionsofbooksgivenassecurityforloans。
Thesharkofbooksellingandthepikeofpaper—dealinglivedonthebestofterms，andtheirmutualoperations，exemptfromtheturmoilofretailbusiness，broughtsofewcarriagesintothattranquilcourtyardthattheconciergewasobligedtopullupthegrassbetweenthepavingstones。Messrs。BarbetandMetivierpaidafewrarevisitstotheirlandlords，andthepunctualitywithwhichtheypaidtheirrentclassedthemasgoodtenants；infact，theywerelookeduponasveryhonestmenbytheThuilliercircle。
Asforthethirdflooronthestreet，itwasmadeintotwoapartments；
oneofwhichwasoccupiedbyM。Dutocq，clerkofthejusticeofpeace，aretiredgovernmentemployee，andafrequenteroftheThuilliersalon；theotherbytheheroofthisScene，aboutwhomwemustcontentourselvesatthepresentmomentbyfixingtheamountofhisrent，——
namely，sevenhundredfrancsayear，——andthelocationhehadchosenintheheartofthiswell—filledbuilding，exactlythreeyearsbeforethecurtainrisesonthepresentdomesticdrama。
Theclerk，abacheloroffifty，occupiedthelargerofthetwoapartmentsonthethirdfloor。Hekeptacook，andtherentoftheroomswasathousandfrancsayear。Withintwoyearsofthetimeofherpurchase，MademoiselleThuillierwasreceivingseventhousandtwohundredfrancsinrentals，forahousewhichthelateproprietorhadsuppliedwithoutsideblinds，renovatedwithin，andadornedwithmirrors，withoutbeingabletosellorletit。Moreover，theThuilliersthemselves，noblylodged，asweshallsee，enjoyedalsoafinegarden，——oneofthefinestinthatquarter，——thetreesofwhichshadedthelonelylittlestreetnamedtherueNeuve—Saint—Catherine。
Standingbetweenthecourtyardandthegarden，themainbuilding，whichtheyinhabited，seemstohavebeenthecapriceofsomeenrichedbourgeoisinthereignofLouisXIV。；thedwelling，perhaps，ofapresidentoftheparliament，orthatofatranquilsavant。Itsnoblefree—stoneblocks，damagedbytime，haveacertainairofLouis—the—
Fourteenthgrandeur；thecoursesofthefacadedefinethestoreys；
panelsofredbrickrecalltheappearanceofthestablesatVersailles；thewindowshavemaskscarvedasornamentsinthecentreoftheirarchesandbelowtheirsills。Thedoor，ofsmallpanelsintheupperhalfandplainbelow，throughwhich，whenopen，thegardencanbeseen，isofthathonest，unassumingstylewhichwasoftenemployedinformerdaysfortheporter’slodgesoftheroyalchateaux。
Thisbuilding，withfivewindowstoeachcourse，risestwostoreysabovetheground—floor，andisparticularlynoticeableforaroofoffoursidesendinginaweather—vane，andbrokenhereandtherebytall，handsomechimneys，andovalwindows。Perhapsthisstructureistheremainsofsomegreatmansion；butafterexaminingalltheexistingoldmapsofParis，wefindnothingwhichbearsoutthisconjecture。Moreover，thetitle—deedsofpropertyunderLouisXIV。wasPetitot，thecelebratedpainterinminiature，whoobtaineditoriginallyfromPresidentLecamus。WemaythereforebelievethatLecamuslivedinthisbuildingwhilehewaserectinghismorefamousmansionintheruedeThorigny。
SoArtandthelegalrobehavepassedthiswayinturn。Howmanyinstigationsofneedsandpleasureshaveledtotheinteriorarrangementofthedwelling！Toright，asweenterasquarehallformingaclosedvestibule，risesastonestaircasewithtwowindowslookingonthegarden。Beneaththestaircaseopensadoortothecellar。Fromthisvestibuleweenterthedining—room，lightedfromthecourtyard，andthedining—roomcommunicatesatitssidewiththekitchen，whichformsacontinuationofthewinginwhicharethewareroomsofMetivierandBarbet。Behindthestaircaseextends，onthegardenside，afinestudyorofficewithtwolargewindows。Thefirstandsecondfloorformtwocompleteapartments，andtheservants’
quartersareshownbytheovalwindowsinthefour—sidedroof。
Alargeporcelainstoveheatsthesquarevestibule，thetwoglassdoorsofwhich，placedoppositetoeachother，lightit。Thisroom，pavedinblackandwhitemarble，isespeciallynoticeableforaceilingofbeamsformerlypaintedandgilt，butwhichhadsincereceived，probablyundertheEmpire，acoatofplainwhitepaint。Thethreedoorsofthestudy，salonanddining—room，surmountedbyovalpanels，areawaitingarestorationthatismorethanneeded。Thewood—
workisheavy，buttheornamentationisnotwithoutmerit。Thesalon，panelledthroughout，recallsthegreatcenturybyitstallmantelpieceofLanguedocmarble，itsceilingdecoratedatthecorners，andbythestyleofitswindows，whichstillretaintheirlittlepanes。Thedining—room，communicatingwiththesalonbyadoubledoor，isflooredwithstone；thewood—workisoak，unpainted，andanatrociousmodernwall—paperhasbeensubstitutedforthetapestriesoftheoldentime。
Theceilingisofchestnut；andthestudy，modernizedbyThuillier，addsitsquotatothesediscordances。
Thewhiteandgoldmouldingsofthesalonaresoeffacedthatnothingremainsofthegildingbutreddishlines，whilethewhiteenamellingisyellow，cracked，andpeelingoff。NeverdidtheLatinsaying"Otiumcumdignitate"haveagreatercommentarytothemindofapoetthaninthisnoblebuilding。Theiron—workofthestaircasebalusterisworthyoftheartistandthemagistrate；buttofindothertracesoftheirtasteto—dayinthismajesticrelic，theeyesofanartisticobserverareneeded。
TheThuilliersandtheirpredecessorshavefrequentlydegradedthisjeweloftheupperbourgeoisiebythehabitsandinventionsofthelesserbourgeoisie。Lookatthosewalnutchairscoveredwithhorse—
hair，thatmahoganytablewithitsoilclothcover，thatsideboard，alsoofmahogany，thatcarpet，boughtatabargain，beneaththetable，thosemetallamps，thatwretchedpaperwithitsredborder，thoseexecrableengravings，andthecalicocurtainswithredfringes，inadining—room，wherethefriendsofPetitotoncefeasted！DoyounoticetheeffectproducedinthesalonbythoseportraitsofMonsieurandMadameandMademoiselleThuillierbyPierreGrassou，theartistparexcellenceofthemodernbourgeoisie。Haveyouremarkedthecard—
tablesandtheconsolesoftheEmpire，thetea—tablesupportedbyalyre，andthatspeciesofsofa，ofgnarledmahogany，coveredinpaintedvelvetofachocolatetone？Onthechimney—piece，withtheclock（representingtheBellonaoftheEmpire），arecandelabrawithflutedcolumns。Curtainsofwoollendamask，withunder—curtainsofembroideredmuslinheldbackbystampedbrassholders，drapethewindows。Ontheflooracheapcarpet。Thehandsomevestibulehaswoodenbenches，coveredwithvelvet，andthepanelledwallswiththeirfinecarvingsaremostlyhiddenbywardrobes，broughttherefromtimetotimefromthebedroomsoccupiedbytheThuilliers。Fear，thathideousdivinity，hascausedthefamilytoaddsheet—irondoorsonthegardensideandonthecourtyardside，whicharefoldedbackagainstthewallsinthedaytime，andareclosedatnight。
Itiseasytoexplainthedeplorableprofanationpractisedonthismonumentoftheprivatelifeofthebourgeoisieoftheseventeenthcentury，bytheprivatelifeofthebourgeoisieofthenineteenth。AtthebeginningoftheConsulate，letussay，somemaster—masonhavingboughttheancientbuilding，tooktheideaofturningtoaccountthegroundwhichlaybetweenitandthestreet。Heprobablypulleddownthefineporte—cochereorentrancegate，flankedbylittlelodgeswhichguardedthecharming"sejour"（touseawordoftheoldentime），andproceeded，withtheindustryofaParisianproprietor，toimpresshiswitheringmarkontheeleganceoftheoldbuilding。Whatacuriousstudymightbemadeofthesuccessivetitle—deedsofpropertyinParis！AprivatelunaticasylumperformsitsfunctionsintheruedesBataillesintheformerdwellingoftheChevalierPierreBayardduTerrail，oncewithoutfearandwithoutreproach；astreethasnowbeenbuiltbythepresentbourgeoisadministrationthroughthesiteofthehotelNecker。OldParisisdeparting，followingitskingswhoabandonedit。ForonemasterpieceofarchitecturesavedfromdestructionbyaPolishprincess（thehotelLambert，IleSaint—Louis，boughtandoccupiedbythePrincessCzartoriska）howmanylittlepalaceshavefallen，likethisdwellingofPetitot，intothehandsofsuchasThuillier。
HerefollowsthecauseswhichmadeMademoiselleThuilliertheownerofthehouse。
CHAPTERII
THEHISTORYOFATYRANNY
AtthefalloftheVilleleministry，MonsieurLouis—JeromeThuillier，whohadthenseentwenty—sixyears’serviceasaclerkintheministryoffinance，becamesub—directorofadepartmentthereof；butscarcelyhadheenjoyedthesubalternauthorityofapositionformerlyhislowesthope，whentheeventsofJuly，1830，forcedhimtoresignit。
Hecalculated，shrewdlyenough，thathispensionwouldbehonorablyandreadilygivenbythenew—comers，gladtohaveanotherofficeattheirdisposal。Hewasright；forapensionofseventeenhundredfrancswaspaidtohimimmediately。
Whentheprudentsub—directorfirsttalkedofresigning，hissister，whowasfarmorethecompanionofhislifethanhiswife，trembledforhisfuture。
"WhatwillbecomeofThuillier？"wasaquestionwhichMadameandMademoiselleThuillierputtoeachotherwithmutualterrorintheirlittlelodgingonathirdflooroftherued’Argenteuil。
"Securinghispensionwilloccupyhimforatime，"MademoiselleThuilliersaidoneday；"butIamthinkingofinvestingmysavingsinawaythatwillcutoutworkforhim。Yes；itwillbesomethinglikeadministratingthefinancestomanageapieceofproperty。"
"Oh，sister！youwillsavehislife，"criedMadameThuillier。
"IhavealwayslookedforacrisisofthiskindinJerome’slife，"
repliedtheoldmaid，withaprotectingair。
MademoiselleThuillierhadtoooftenheardherbrotherremark："Suchaoneisdead；heonlysurvivedhisretirementtwoyears"；shehadtoooftenheardColleville，herbrother’sintimatefriend，agovernmentemployeelikehimself，say，jestingonthisclimactericofbureaucrats，"Weshallallcometoit，ourselves，"nottoappreciatethedangerherbrotherwasrunning。Thechangefromactivitytoleisureis，intruth，thecriticalperiodforgovernmentemployeesofallkinds。
Thoseofthemwhoknownothowtosubstitute，orperhapscannotsubstituteotheroccupationsfortheworktowhichtheyhavebeenaccustomed，changeinasingularmanner；somedieoutright；otherstaketofishing，thevacancyofthatamusementresemblingthatoftheirlateemploymentundergovernment；others，whoaresmartermen，dabbleinstocks，losetheirsavings，andarethankfultoobtainaplaceinsomeenterprisethatislikelytosucceed，afterafirstdisasterandliquidation，inthehandsofanablermanagement。Thelateclerkthenrubshishands，nowempty，andsaystohimself，"I
alwaysdidforeseethesuccessofthebusiness。"Butnearlyalltheseretiredbureaucratshavetofightagainsttheirformerhabits。
"Some，"Collevilleusedtosay，"arevictimstoasortof’spleen’
peculiartothegovernmentclerk；theydieofacheckedcirculation；ared—tapewormisintheirvitals。ThatlittlePoiretcouldn’tseethewell—knownwhitecartonwithoutchangingcoloratthebelovedsight；
heusedtoturnfromgreentoyellow。"
MademoiselleThuillierwasconsideredthemovingspiritofherbrother’shousehold；shewasnotwithoutdecisionandforceofcharacter，asthefollowinghistorywillshow。Thissuperiorityoverthosewhoimmediatelysurroundedherenabledhertojudgeherbrother，althoughsheadoredhim。Afterwitnessingthefailureofthehopesshehadsetuponheridol，shehadtoomuchrealmaternityinherfeelingforhimtoletherselfbemistakenastohissocialvalue。
Thuillierandhissisterwerechildrenoftheheadporterattheministryoffinance。Jeromehadescaped，thankstohisnear—
sightedness，alldraftsandconscriptions。Thefather’sambitionwastomakehissonagovernmentclerk。Atthebeginningofthiscenturythearmypresentedtoomanypostsnottoleavevariousvacanciesinthegovernmentoffices。AdeficiencyofminorofficialsenabledoldPereThuilliertohoisthissonupontheloweststepofthebureaucratichierarchy。Theoldmandiedin1814，leavingJeromeonthepointofbecomingsub—director，butwithnootherfortunethanthatprospect。TheworthyThuillierandhiswife（whodiedin1810）
hadretiredfromactiveservicein1806，withapensionastheironlymeansofsupport；havingspentwhatpropertytheyhadingivingJerometheeducationrequiredinthesedays，andinsupportingbothhimandhissister。
TheinfluenceoftheRestorationonthebureaucracyiswellknown。
FromthefortyandonesuppresseddepartmentsacrowdofhonorableemployeesreturnedtoPariswithnothingtodo，andclamorousforplacesinferiortothosetheyhadlatelyoccupied。TotheseacquiredrightswereaddedthoseofexiledfamiliesruinedbytheRevolution。
Pressedbetweenthetwofloods，Jeromethoughthimselfluckynottohavebeendismissedundersomefrivolouspretext。Hetrembleduntilthedaywhen，becomingbymerechancesub—director，hesawhimselfsecureofaretiringpension。ThiscursoryviewofmatterswillservetoexplainMonsieurThuillier’sverylimitedscopeandknowledge。HehadlearnedtheLatin，mathematics，history，andgeographythataretaughtinschools，buthenevergotbeyondwhatiscalledthesecondclass；hisfatherhavingpreferredtotakeadvantageofasuddenopportunitytoplacehimattheministry。So，whiletheyoungThuillierwasmakinghisfirstrecordsontheGrand—Livre，heoughttohavebeenstudyinghisrhetoricandphilosophy。
Whilegrindingtheministerialmachine，hehadnoleisuretocultivateletters，stilllessthearts；butheacquiredaroutineknowledgeofhisbusiness，andwhenhehadanopportunitytorise，undertheEmpire，tothesphereofsuperioremployees，heassumedasuperficialairofcompetencewhichconcealedthesonofaporter，thoughnoneofitrubbedintohismind。Hisignorance，however，taughthimtokeepsilence，andsilenceservedhimwell。Heaccustomedhimselftopractise，undertheimperialregime，apassiveobediencewhichpleasedhissuperiors；anditwastothisqualitythatheowedatalaterperiodhispromotiontotherankofsub—director。Hisroutinehabitsthenbecamegreatexperience；hismannersandhissilenceconcealedhislackofeducation，andhisabsolutenullitywasarecommendation，foracipherwasneeded。ThegovernmentwasafraidofdispleasingbothpartiesintheChamberbyselectingamanfromeitherside；itthereforegotoutofthedifficultybyresortingtotheruleofseniority。ThatishowThuillierbecamesub—director。MademoiselleThuillier，knowingthatherbrotherabhorredreading，andcouldsubstitutenobusinessforthebustleofapublicoffice，hadwiselyresolvedtoplungehimintothecaresofproperty，intothecultureofagarden，inshort，intoalltheinfinitelypettyconcernsandneighborhoodintrigueswhichmakeupthelifeofthebourgeoisie。
ThetransplantingoftheThuillierhouseholdfromtherued’ArgenteuiltotherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer，thebusinessofmakingthepurchase，offindingasuitableporter，andthenofobtainingtenantsoccupiedThuillierfrom1831to1832。Whenthephenomenonofthechangewasaccomplished，andthesistersawthatJeromehadborneitfairlywell，shefoundhimothercaresandoccupations（aboutwhichweshallhearlater），allbaseduponthecharacterofthemanhimself，astowhichitwillnowbeusefultogiveinformation。
Thoughthesonofaministerialporter，Thuillierwaswhatiscalledafineman，slenderinfigure，abovemiddleheight，andpossessingafacethatwasratheragreeableifwearinghisspectacles，butfrightfulwithoutthem；whichisfrequentlythecasewithnear—sightedpersons；forthehabitoflookingthroughglasseshascoveredthepupilsofhiseyeswithasortoffilm。
Betweentheagesofeighteenandthirty，youngThuillierhadmuchsuccessamongwomen，inaspherewhichbeganwiththelesserbourgeoisandendedinthatoftheheadsofdepartments。UndertheEmpire，warleftParisiansocietyratherdenudedofmenofenergy，whoweremostlyonthebattlefield；andperhaps，asagreatphysicianhassuggested，thismayaccountfortheflabbinessofthegenerationwhichoccupiesthemiddleofthenineteenthcentury。
Thuillier，forcedtomakehimselfnoticeablebyothercharmsthanthoseofmind，learnedtodanceandtowaltzinawaytobecited；hewascalled"thathandsomeThuillier"；heplayedbilliardstoperfection；heknewhowtocutoutlikenessesinblackpaper，andhisfriendCollevillecoachedhimsowellthathewasabletosingalltheballadsoftheday。Thesevarioussmallaccomplishmentsresultedinthatappearanceofsuccesswhichdeceivesyouthandbefogsitaboutthefuture。MademoiselleThuillier，from1806to1814，believedinherbrotherasMademoiselled’OrleansbelievedinLouis—Philippe。ShewasproudofJerome；sheexpectedtoseehimthedirector—generalofhisdepartmentoftheministry，thankstohissuccessesincertainsalons，where，undoubtedly，hewouldneverhavebeenadmittedbutforthecircumstanceswhichmadesocietyundertheEmpireamedley。
Butthesuccessesof"thathandsomeThuillier"wereusuallyofshortduration；womendidnotcaretokeephisdevotionanymorethanhedesiredtomakehisdevotioneternal。HewasreallyanunwillingDonJuan；thecareerofa"beau"weariedhimtothepointofaginghim；
hisface，coveredwithlineslikethatofanoldcoquette，lookedadozenyearsolderthantheregistersmadehim。Thereremainedtohimofallhissuccessesingallantry，ahabitoflookingathimselfinmirrors，ofbuttoninghiscoattodefinehiswaist，andofposinginvariousdancingattitudes；allofwhichprolonged，beyondtheperiodofenjoyinghisadvantages，thesortofleasethatheheldonhiscognomen，"thathandsomeThuillier。"
Thetruthof1806has，however，becomeafable，in1826。HeretainsafewvestigesoftheformercostumeofthebeauxoftheEmpire，whicharenotunbecomingtothedignityofaformersub—director。Hestillwearsthewhitecravatwithinnumerablefolds，whereinhischinisburied，andthecoquettishbow，formerlytiedbythehandsofbeauty，thetwoendsofwhichthreatendangertothepasserstorightandleft。Hefollowsthefashionsofformerdays，adaptingthemtohispresentneeds；hetipshishatonthebackofhishead，andwearsshoesandthreadstockingsinsummer；hislong—tailedcoatsremindoneofthewell—known"surtouts"oftheEmpire；hehasnotyetabandonedhisfrilledshirtsandhiswhitewaistcoats；hestillplayswithhisEmpireswitch，andholdshimselfsoerectthathisbackbendsin。Noone，seeingThuillierpromenadingontheboulevards，wouldtakehimforthesonofamanwhocookedthebreakfastsoftheclerksataministryandworetheliveryofLouisXVI。；heresemblesanimperialdiplomatistorasub—prefect。Now，notonlydidMademoiselleThuillierveryinnocentlyworkuponherbrother’sweakspotbyencouraginginhimanexcessivecareofhisperson，which，inher，wassimplyacontinuationofherworship，butshealsoprovidedhimwithfamilyjoys，bytransplantingtotheirmidstahouseholdwhichhadhithertobeenquasi—collateraltothem。
ItwasthatofMonsieurColleville，anintimatefriendofThuillier。
ButbeforeweproceedtodescribePyladesletusfinishwithOrestes，andexplainwhyThuillier——thathandsomeThuillier——wasleftwithoutafamilyofhisown——forthefamily，beitsaid，isnon—existentwithoutchildren。Hereinappearsoneofthosedeepmysterieswhichlieburiedinthearenaofprivatelife，afewshredsofwhichrisetothesurfaceatmomentswhenthepainofaconcealedsituationgrowspoignant。ThisconcernsthelifeofMadameandMademoiselleThuillier；
sofar，wehaveseenonlythelife（andwemaycallitthepubliclife）ofJeromeThuillier。