Mustmychildreninheritthebloodofadeistandhisconvictions？Oh！
God，whatmiseryforawife！No，no，theseideasareintolerable。
Felix！beofmyfaith，forIcannotshareyours。Donotputagulfbetweenus。Ifyoulovedme，youwouldalreadyhaveread’TheImitationofJesusChrist。’"
ThePhellionclass，sonsofthe"Constitutionnel，"dislikethepriestlymind。Felixhadtheimprudencetoreplytothissortofprayerfromthedepthsofanardentheart：——
"Youarerepeating，Celeste，thelessonsyourconfessorteachesyou；
nothing，believeme，ismorefataltohappinessthantheinterferenceofpriestsinahome。"
"Oh！"criedCeleste，woundedtothequick，forlovealoneinspiredher，"youdonotlove！Thevoiceofmyheartisnotinunisonwithyours！Youhavenotunderstoodme，becauseyouhavenotlistenedtome；butIforgiveyou，foryouknownotwhatyousay。"
Shewrappedherselfinsolemnsilence，andFelixwenttothewindowanddrummeduponthepanes，——musicfamiliartothosewhohaveindulgedinpoignantreflections。Felixwas，infact，presentingthefollowingdelicateandcuriousquestionstothePhellionconscience。
"Celesteisarichheiress，and，inyieldingagainstthevoiceofnaturalreligion，toherideas，Ishouldhaveinviewthemakingofwhatiscertainlyanadvantageousmarriage，——aninfamousact。Ioughtnot，asfatherofafamily，toallowthepriesthoodtohaveaninfluenceinmyhome。IfIyieldto—day，Idoaweakact，whichwillbefollowedbymanyothersequallypernicioustotheauthorityofahusbandandfather。Allthisisunworthyofaphilosopher。"
Thenhereturnedtohisbeloved。
"Celeste，Ientreatyouonmyknees，"hesaid，"nottominglethatwhichthelaw，initswisdom，hasseparated。Weliveintwoworlds，——
societyandheaven。Eachhasitsownwayofsalvation；butastosociety，isitnotobeyingGodtoobeythelaws？Christsaid：’RenderuntoCaesarthatwhichisCaesar’s。’Caesaristhebodypolitic。Dear，letusforgetourlittlequarrel。"
"Littlequarrel！"criedtheyoungenthusiast；"IwantyoutohavemywholeheartasIwanttohavethewholeofyours；andyoumakeitintotwoparts！Isnotthatanevil？Youforgetthatmarriageisasacrament。"
"Yourpriesthoodhaveturnedyourhead，"exclaimedthemathematician，impatiently。
"MonsieurPhellion，"saidCeleste，interruptinghimhastily，"enoughofthis！"
ItwasatthispointofthequarrelthatTheodoseconsidereditjudicioustoentertheroom。HefoundCelestepale，andtheyoungprofessorasanxiousasalovershouldbewhohasjustirritatedhismistress。
"Iheardtheword’enough’；thensomethingistoomuch？"hesaid，inquiringly，lookinginturnfromCelestetoFelix。
"Weweretalkingreligion，"repliedFelix，"andIwassayingtomademoisellehowdangerousecclesiasticalinfluenceisinthebosomoffamilies。"
"Thatwasnotthepoint，monsieur，"saidCeleste，sharply；"itwastoknowifhusbandandwifecouldbeofoneheartwhentheoneisanatheistandtheotherCatholic。"
"Cantherebesuchathingasatheists？"criedTheodose，withallthesignsofextremewonderment。"CouldatrueCatholicmarryaProtestant？Thereisnosafetypossibleforamarriedpairunlesstheyhaveperfectconformityinthematterofreligiousopinions。I，whocomefromtheComtat，ofafamilywhichcountsapopeamongitsancestors——forourarmsare：gules，akeyargent，withsupporters，amonkholdingachurch，andapilgrimwithastaff，or，andthemotto，’Iopen，Ishut’——Iam，ofcourse，intenselydogmaticonsuchpoints。
Butinthesedays，thankstoourmodernsystemofeducation，itdoesnotseemtomestrangethatreligionshouldbecalledintoquestion。I
myselfwouldnevermarryaProtestant，hadshemillions，evenifI
lovedherdistractedly。Faithisathingthatcannotbetamperedwith。
’Unafides，unusDominus，’thatismydeviceinlife。"
"Youhearthat！"criedCeleste，triumphantly，lookingatFelixPhellion。
"Iamnotopenlydevout，"continuedlaPeyrade。"Igotomassatsixeverymorning，thatImaynotbeobserved；IfastonFridays；Iam，inshort，asonoftheChurch，andIwouldnotundertakeanyseriousenterprisewithoutprayer，aftertheancientfashionofourancestors；
butnooneisabletonoticemyreligion。AsingularthinghappenedtoourfamilyduringtheRevolutionof1789，whichattachedusmorecloselythanevertoourholymothertheChurch。ApooryoungladyoftheelderbranchofthePeyrades，whoownedthelittleestateoflaPeyrade，——forweourselvesarePeyradesofCanquoelle，butthetwobranchesinheritfromoneanother，——well，thisyoungladymarried，sixyearsbeforetheRevolution，abarristerwho，afterthefashionofthetimes，wasVoltairean，thatistosay，anunbeliever，or，ifyouchoose，adeist。Hetookupalltherevolutionaryideas，andpractisedthecharmingritesthatyouknowofintheworshipofthegoddessReason。HecameintoourpartofthecountryimbuedwiththeideasoftheConvention，andfanaticalaboutthem。Hiswifewasveryhandsome；
hecompelledhertoplaythepartofLiberty；andthepoorunfortunatecreaturewentmad。Shediedinsane！Well，asthingsaregoingnowitlooksasifwemighthaveanother1793。"
Thishistory，inventedonthespot，madesuchanimpressiononCeleste’sfreshandyouthfulimaginationthatsherose，bowedtotheyoungmenandhastenedtoherchamber。
"Ah！monsieur，whydidyoutellherthat？"criedFelix，strucktotheheartbythecoldlooktheyounggirl，affectingprofoundindifference，castuponhim。ShefanciedherselftransformedintoagoddessofReason。
"Whynot？Whatwereyoutalkingabout？"askedTheodose。
"Aboutmyindifferencetoreligion。"
"Thegreatsoreofthiscentury，"repliedTheodose，gravely。
"Iamready，"saidMadameColleville，appearinginatoiletofmuchtaste。"Butwhatisthematterwithmypoordaughter？Sheiscrying！"
"Crying？madame，"exclaimedFelix；"pleasetellherthatIwillstudy’TheImitationofChrist’atonce。"
FelixleftthehousewithTheodoseandFlavie，whosearmthebarristerpressedtoletherknowhewouldexplaininthecarriagetheapparentdementiaoftheyoungprofessor。
Anhourlater，MadameCollevilleandCeleste，CollevilleandTheodosewereenteringtheThuilliers’apartmenttodinethere。TheodoseandFlavietookThuillierintothegarden，wheretheformersaidtohim：——
"Dear，goodfriend！youwillhavethecrosswithinaweek。OurcharmingfriendherewilltellyouaboutourvisittotheComtesseduBruel。"
AndTheodoseleftThuillier，havingcaughtsightofDesrochesintheactofbeingbroughtbyMademoiselleThuillierintothegarden；hewent，drivenbyaterribleandglacialpresentiment，tomeethim。
"Mygoodfriend，"saidDesrochesinhisear，"Ihavecometoseeifyoucanprocureatoncetwenty—fivethousandfrancsplustwothousandsixhundredandeightyforcosts。"
"AreyouactingforCerizet？"askedthebarrister。
"CerizethasputallthepapersintothehandsofLouchard，andyouknowwhatyouhavetoexpectifarrested。IsCerizetwronginthinkingyouhavetwenty—fivethousandfrancsinyourdesk？Hesaysyouofferedthemtohimandhethinksitonlynaturalnottoleavetheminyourhands。"
"Thankyoufortakingthestep，mygoodfriend，"repliedTheodose。"I
havebeenexpectingthisattack。"
"Betweenourselves，"repliedDesroches，"youhavemadeanutterfoolofhim，andheisfurious。Thescampwillstopatnothingtogethisrevengeuponyou——forhe’llloseeverythingifheforcesyoutoflingyourbarrister’sgown，astheysay，tothenettlesandgotoprison。"
"I？"saidTheodose。"I’mgoingtopayhim。Butevenso，therewillstillbefivenotesofmineinhishands，forfivethousandfrancseach；whatdoeshemeantodowiththem？"
"Oh！aftertheaffairofthismorning，Ican’ttellyou；myclientisacrafty，mangycur，andheissuretohavehislittleplans。"
"Lookhere，Desroches，"saidTheodose，takingthehard，unyieldingattorneyroundthewaist，"thosepapersareinyourhands，arenotthey？"
"Willyoupaythem？"
"Yes，inthreehours。"
"Verygood，then。Beatmyofficeatnineo’clock；I’llreceivethemoneyandgiveyouyournotes；BUT，athalf—pastnineo’clock，theywillbeinthesheriff’shands。"
"To—night，then，atnineo’clock，"saidTheodose。
"Nineo’clock，"repeatedDesroches，whoseglancehadtakeninthewholefamily，thenassembledinthegarden。
Celeste，withredeyes，wastalkingtohergodmother；CollevilleandBrigitte，FlavieandThuillierwereonthestepsofthebroadporticoleadingtotheentrance—hall。DesrochesremarkedtoTheodose，whofollowedhimtothedoor：——
"Youcanpayoffthosenotes。"
Atasingleglancetheshrewdattorneyhadcomprehendedthewholeschemeofthebarrister。
CHAPTERXIV
ONEOFCERIZET’SFEMALECLIENTS
Thenextmorning，atdaybreak，Theodosewenttotheofficeofthebankerofthepoor，toseetheeffectproduceduponhisenemybythepunctualpaymentofthenightbefore，andtomakeanotherefforttogetridofhishornet。
HefoundCerizetstandingup，inconferencewithawoman，andhereceivedanimperativesigntokeepatadistanceandnottointerrupttheinterview。Thebarristerwasthereforereducedtoconjecturesastotheimportanceofthiswoman，animportancerevealedbytheeagerlookonthefaceofthelender"bythelittleweek。"Theodosehadapresentiment，thoughaveryvagueone，thattheupshotofthisconferencewouldhavesomeinfluenceonCerizet’sownarrangements，forhesuddenlybeheldonthatcraftycountenancethechangeproducedbyadawninghope。
"But，mydearmammaCardinal——"
"Yes，mygoodmonsieur——"
"Whatisityouwant——？"
"Itmustbedecided——"
Thesebeginnings，ortheseendsofsentencesweretheonlygleamsoflightthattheanimatedconversation，carriedoninthelowesttoneswithliptoearandeartolip，conveyedtothemotionlesswitness，whoseattentionwasfixedonMadameCardinal。
MadameCardinalwasoneofCerizet’searliestclients；shepeddledfish。IfParisiansknowthesecreationspeculiartotheirsoil，foreignershavenosuspicionoftheirexistence；andMereCardinal——
technologicallyspeaking，ofcourse，deservedalltheinterestsheexcitedinTheodose。Somanywomenofherspeciesmaybemetwithinthestreetsthatthepassers—bygivethemnomoreattentionthantheygivetothethreethousandpicturesoftheSalon。ButasshestoodinCerizet’sofficetheCardinalhadallthevalueofanisolatedmasterpiece；shewasacompleteandperfecttypeofherspecies。
Thewomanwasmountedonmuddysabots；butherfeet，carefullywrappedingaiters，werestillfurtherprotectedbystoutandthick—ribbedstockings。Hercottongown，adornedwithaglounceofmud，boretheimprintofthestrapwhichsupportedthefish—basket。Herprincipalgarmentwasashawlofwhatwascalled"rabbit’s—haircashmere，"thetwoendsofwhichwereknottedbehind，aboveherbustle——forwemustneedsemployafashionablewordtoexpresstheeffectproducedbythetransversalpressureofthebasketuponherpetticoats，whichprojectedbelowit，inshapelikeacabbage。Aprintedcottonneckerchief，ofthecoarsestdescription，gavetoviewaredneck，ribbedandlinedlikethesurfaceofapondwherepeoplehaveskated。
Herheadwascoveredinayellowsilkfoulard，twinedinamannerthatwasratherpicturesque。Shortandstout，andruddyofskin，MereCardinalprobablydrankherlittledropofbrandyinthemorning。Shehadoncebeenhandsome。TheHallehadformerlyreproachedher，intheboldnessofitsfigurativespeech，fordoing"adoubleday’s—workinthetwenty—four。"Hervoice，inordertoreduceitselftothediapasonofordinaryconversation，wasobligedtostifleitssoundasothervoicesdoinasick—room；butatsuchtimesitcamethickandmuffled，fromathroataccustomedtosendtothefarthestrecessesofthehighestgarretthenamesofthefishintheirseason。Hernose，alaRoxelane，herwell—cutlips，herblueeyes，andallthatformerlymadeupherbeauty，wasnowburiedinfoldsofvigorousfleshwhichtoldofthehabitsandoccupationsofanoutdoorlife。ThestomachandbosomweredistinguishedforanamplitudeworthyofRubens。
"Doyouwanttomakemelieinthestraw？"shesaidtoCerizet。"WhatdoIcarefortheToupilliers？Ain’tIaToupilliermyself？Whatdoyouwanttodowiththem，thoseToupilliers？"
ThissavageoutburstwashastilyrepressedbyCerizet，whoutteredaprolonged"Hush—sh！"suchasallconspiratorsobey。
"Well，goandfindoutallyoucanaboutit，andcomebacktome，"
saidCerizet，pushingthewomantowardthedoor，andwhispering，ashedidso，afewwordsinherear。
"Well，mydearfriend，"saidTheodosetoCerizet，"youhavegotyourmoney？"
"Yes，"returnedCerizet"wehavemeasuredourclaws，theyarethesamelength，thesamestrength，andthesamesharpness。Whatnext？"
"AmItotellDutocqthatyoureceived，lastnight，twenty—fivethousandfrancs？"
"Oh！mydearfriend，notaword，ifyouloveme！"criedCerizet。
"Listen，"saidTheodose。"Imustknow，onceforall，whatyouwant。I
ampositivelydeterminednottoremaintwenty—fourhourslongeronthegridironwhereyouhavegotme。CheatDutocqifyouwill；Iamutterlyindifferenttothat；butIintendthatyouandIshallcometoanunderstanding。ItisafortunethatIhavepaidyou，twenty—fivethousandfrancs，andyoumusthaveearnedtenthousandmoreinyourbusiness；itisenoughtomakeyouanhonestman。Cerizet，ifyouwillleavemeinpeace，ifyouwon’tpreventmymarriagewithMademoiselleColleville，Ishallcertainlybeking’sattorney—general，orsomethingofthatkindinParis。Youcan’tdobetterthanmakesureofaninfluenceinthatsphere。"
"Herearemyconditions；andtheywon’tallowofdiscussion；youcantakethemorleavethem。YouwillobtainformetheleaseofThuillier’snewhouseforeighteenyears，andI’llhandyoubackoneofyourfivenotescancelled，andyoushallnotfindmeanylongerinyourway。ButyouwillhavetosettlewithDutocqfortheremainingfournotes。YougotthebetterofME，andIknowDutocqhasn’ttheforcetostandagainstyou。"
"I’llagreetothat，providedyou’llpayarentofforty—eightthousandfrancsforthehouse，thelastyearinadvance，andbegintheleaseinOctober。"
"Yes；butIshallnotgiveforthelastyear’srentmorethanforty—
threethousandfrancs；yournotewillpaytheremainder。Ihaveseenthehouse，andexaminedit。Itsuitsmeverywell。"
"Onelastcondition，"saidTheodose；"you’llhelpmeagainstDutocq？"
"No，"saidCerizet，"you’llcookhimbrownyourself；hedoesn’tneedanybastingfromme；he’llgiveouthisgravyfastenough。Butyououghttobereasonable。Thepoorfellowcan’tpayoffthelastfifteenthousandfrancsdueonhispractice，andyoushouldreflectthatfifteenthousandfrancswouldcertainlybuybackyournotes。"
"Well；givemetwoweekstogetyourlease——"
"No，notadaylaterthanMondaynext！TuesdayyournoteswillbeinLouchard’shands；unlessyoupaythemMonday，orThuilliersignsthelease。"
"Well，Monday，sobeit！"saidTheodose；"arewefriends？"
"WeshallbeMonday，"respondedCerizet。
"Well，then，Mondayyou’llpayformydinner，"saidTheodose，laughing。
"Yes，attheRocherdeCancale，ifIhavethelease。Dutocqshallbethere——we’llallbethere——ah！itislongsinceI’vehadagoodlaugh。"
TheodoseandCerizetshookhands，saying，reciprocally：——
"We’llmeetsoon。"
Cerizethadnotcalmeddownsosuddenlywithoutreasons。Inthefirstplace，asDesrochesoncesaid，"Biledoesnotfacilitatebusiness，"
andtheusurerhadtoowellseenthejusticeofthatremarknottocoollyresolvetogetsomethingoutofhisposition，andtosqueezethejugularveinofthecraftyProvencaluntilhestrangledhim。
"Itisafairrevenge，"Desrochessaidtohim；"mindyouextractitsquintessence。Youholdthatfellow。"
FortenyearspastCerizethadseenmengrowingrichbypractisingthetradeofprincipaltenant。Theprincipaltenantis，inParis，totheownersofhouseswhatfarmersaretocountrylandlords。AllParishasseenoneofitsgreattailors，buildingathisowncost，onthefamoussiteofFrascati，oneofthemostsumptuousofhouses，andpaying，asprincipaltenant，fiftythousandfrancsayearforthegroundrentofthehouse，which，attheendofnineteenyears’lease，wastobecomethepropertyoftheowneroftheland。Inspiteofthecostsofconstruction，whichweresomethinglikesevenhundredthousandfrancs，theprofitsofthosenineteenyearsproved，intheend，verylarge。
Cerizet，alwaysonthewatchforbusiness，hadexaminedthechancesforgainofferedbythesituationofthehousewhichThuillierhadSTOLEN，——ashesaidtoDesroches，——andhehadseenthepossibilityoflettingitforsixtythousandattheendofsixyears。Therewerefourshops，twooneachside，foritstoodonaboulevardcorner。Cerizetexpected，therefore，togetcleartenthousandayearforadozenyears，allowingforeventualitiesandsundriesattendantonrenewalofleases。Hethereforeproposedtohimselftosellhismoney—lendingbusinesstothewidowPoiretandCadenetfortenthousandfrancs；healreadypossessedthirtythousand；andthetwotogetherwouldenablehimtopaythelastyear’srentinadvance，whichhouse—ownersinParisusuallydemandasaguaranteefromaprincipaltenantonalonglease。Cerizethadspentahappynight；hefellasleepinagloriousdream；hesawhimselfinafairwaytodoanhonestbusiness，andtobecomeabourgeoislikeThuillier，likeMinard，andsomanyothers。
Buthehadawakingofwhichhedidnotdream。HefoundFortunestandingbeforehim，andemptyinghergildedhornsofplentyathisfeetinthepersonofMadameCardinal。Hehadalwayshadalikingforthewoman，andhadpromisedherforayearpastthenecessarysumtobuyadonkeyandalittlecart，sothatshecouldcarryonherbusinessonalargescale，andgofromParistothesuburbs。MadameCardinal，widowofaporterinthecorn—market，hadanonlydaughter，whosebeautyCerizethadheardoffromsomeofthemother’scronies。
OlympeCardinalwasaboutthirteenyearsofageatthetime，1837，whenCerizetbeganhissystemofloansinthequarter；andwithaviewtoaninfamouslibertinism，hehadpaidgreatattentiontothemother，whomherescuedfromuttermisery，hopingtomakeOlympehismistress。
Butsuddenly，in1838，thegirllefthermother，and"madeherlife，"
touseanexpressionbywhichthelowerclassesinParisdescribetheabuseofthemostpreciousgiftsofnatureandyouth。
TolookforagirlinParisistolookforasmeltintheSeine；
nothingbutchancecanthrowherintothenet。Thechancecame。MereCardinal，whotoentertainaneighborhadtakenhertotheBobinotheatre，recognizedintheleadingladyherowndaughter，whomthefirstcomedianhadheldunderhiscontrolforthreeyears。Themother，gratifiedatfirstatbeholdingherdaughterinafinegownofgoldbrocade，herhairdressedlikethatofaduchess，andwearingopen—
workedstockings，satinshoes，andreceivingtheplauditsoftheaudience，endedbyscreamingoutfromherseatinthegallery：——
"Youshallsoonhearofme，murdererofyourownmother！I’llknowwhethermiserablestrolling—playershavetherighttocomeanddebauchyounggirlsofsixteen！"
Shewaitedatthestage—doortocaptureherdaughter，butthefirstcomedianandtheleadingladyhadnodoubtjumpedacrossthefootlightsandleftthetheatrewiththeaudience，insteadofissuingbythestage—door，whereMadameCardinalandhercrony，MereMahoudeau，madeaninfernalrumpus，whichtwomunicipalguardswerecalledupontopacify。Thoseaugustpersonages，beforewhomthetwowomenloweredthediapasonoftheirvoices，calledthemother’sattentiontothefactthatthegirlwasoflegitimatetheatricalage，andthatinsteadofscreamingatthedoorafterthedirector，shecouldsummonhimbeforethejustice—of—peace，orthepolice—court，whichevershepleased。
ThenextdayMadameCardinalintendedtoconsultCerizet，inviewofthefactthathewasaclerkintheofficeofthejustice—of—peace；
but，beforereachinghislairintheruedesPoules，shewasmetbytheporterofahouseinwhichanuncleofhers，acertainToupillier，wasliving，whotoldherthattheoldmanhadn’tprobablytwodaystolive，beingtheninthelastextremity。
"Well，howdoyouexpectmetohelpit？"repliedthewidowCardinal。
"Wecountonyou，mydearMadameCardinal；weknowyouwon’tforgetthegoodadvicewe’llgiveyou。Here’sthething。Lately，yourpooruncle，notbeingabletostirround，hastrustedmetogoandcollecttherentsofhishouse，rueNotre—DamedeNazareth，andthearrearsofhisdividendsattheTreasury，whichcometoeighteenhundredfrancs。"
BythistimethewidowCardinal’seyeswerebecomingfixedinsteadofwandering。
"Yes，mydear，"continuedPerrache，ahump—backedlittleconcierge；
"and，seeingthatyouaretheonlypersonwhoeverthinksabouthim，andthatyoucomeandseehimsometimes，andbringhimfish，perhapshemaymakeabequestinyourfavor。Mywife，whohasbeennursinghimforthelastfewdayssincehehasbeensoill，spoketohimofyou，buthewouldn’thaveyoutoldabouthisillness。Butnow，don’tyousee，itishightimeyoushouldshowyourselfthere。Itisprettynightwomonthssincehehasbeenabletoattendtobusiness。"
"Youmaywellthink，youoldthief，"repliedMadameCardinal，hurryingattopspeedtowardtherueHonore—Chevalier，whereherunclelivedinawretchedgarret，"thatthehairwouldgrowonmyhandbeforeIcouldeverimaginethat。What！myuncleToupillierrich！theoldpauperofthechurchofSaint—Sulpice！"
"Ah！"returnedtheporter，"buthefedwell。Hewenttobedeverynightwithhisbestfriend，abigbottleofRoussillon。Mywifehastastedit，thoughhetoldusitwascommonstuff。Thewine—merchantintheruedesCanettessuppliesittohim。"
"Don’tsayawordaboutallthis，"saidthewidow，whenshepartedfromthemanwhohadgivenhertheinformation。"I’lltakecareandrememberyou——ifanythingcomesofit。"
Toupillier，formerdrum—majorintheFrenchGuards，hadbeenforthetwoyearspreceding1789intheserviceoftheChurchasbeadleofSaint—Sulpice。TheRevolutiondeprivedhimofthatpost，andhethendroppeddownintoastateofabjectmisery。Hewasevenobligedtotaketotheprofessionofmodel，forheENJOYED，astheysay，afinephysique。Whenpublicworshipwasrestored，hetookuphisbeadle’sstaffoncemore；butin1816hewasdismissed，asmuchonaccountofhisimmoralityasforhispoliticalopinions。Nevertheless，hewasallowedtostayaboutthedoorofthechurchanddistributetheholywater。Later，anunfortunateaffair，whichweshallpresentlymention，madehimloseeventhatposition；but，stillfindingmeanstokeeptothesanctuary，heobtainedpermissiontobeallowedasapauperintheporch。Atthisperiodoflife，beingthenseventy—twoyearsofage，hemadehimselfninety—six，andbegantheprofessionofcentenarian。
InallParisitwasimpossibletofindanothersuchbeardandheadofhairasToupillier’s。Ashewalkedheappearedbentdouble；heheldastickinhisshakinghand，——ahandthatwascoveredwithlichen，likeagraniterock，andwiththeotherheheldouttheclassichatwithabroadbrim，filthyandbattered，intowhich，however，therefellabundantalms。Hislegswereswathedinragsandbandages，andhisfeetshuffledalonginmiserableovershoesofwovenmat—weed，insideofwhichhehadfastenedexcellentcorksoles。Hewashedhisfacewithcertaincompounds，whichgaveitanappearanceofformsofillness，andheplayedthesenilityofacentenariantothelife。Hereckonedhimselfahundredyearsoldin1830，atwhichtimehisactualagewaseighty；hewastheheadofthepaupersofSaint—Sulpice，themasteroftheplace，andallthosewhocametobegunderthearcadesofthechurch，safefromthepersecutionsofthepoliceandbeneaththeprotectionofthebeadleandthegiverofholywater，wereforcedtopayhimasortoftithe。
Whenanewheir，abridegroom，orsomegodfatherleftthechurch，saying，"Here，thisisforallofyou；don’ttormentanyofmyparty，"
Toupillier，appointedbythebeadletoreceivethesealms，pocketedthree—fourths，anddistributedonlytheremainingquarteramonghishenchmen，whosetributeamountedtoasouaday。Moneyandwinewerehislasttwopassions；butheregulatedthelatterandgavehimselfuptotheformer，withneglectinghispersonalcomfort。Hedrankatnightonly，afterhisdinner，andfortwentyyearshesleptinthearmsofdrunkenness，hislastmistress。
Intheearlymorninghewasathispostwithallhisfaculties。Fromthenuntilhisdinner，whichhetookatPereLathuile’s（madefamousbyCharlet），hegnawedcrustsofbreadbywayofnourishment；andhegnawedthemartistically，withanairofresignationwhichearnedhimabundantalms。Thebeadleandthegiverofholywater，withwhomhemayhavehadsomeprivateunderstanding，wouldsayofhim：——
"Heisoneoftheworthypoorofthechurch；heusedtoknowtherectorLanguet，whobuiltSaint—Sulpice；hewasfortwentyyearsbeadleofthechurchbeforetheRevolution，andheisnowoverahundredyearsold。"
Thislittlebiography，wellknowntoallthepiousattendantsofthechurch，was，ofcourse，thebestofhisadvertisements，andnohatwassowelllinedashis。Heboughthishousein1826，andbegantoinvesthismoneyintheFundsin1830。Fromthevalueofthetwoinvestmentshemusthavemadesomethinglikesixthousandfrancsayear，andprobablyturnedthemoverbyusury，afterCerizet’sownfashion；forthesumhepaidforthehousewasfortythousandfrancs，whilehisinvestmentin1830wasforty—eightthousandmore。Hisniece，deceivedbytheoldmanasmuchashedeceivedthefunctionariesandthepioussoulsofthechurch，believedhimthemostmiserableofpaupers，andwhenshehadanyfishthatwerespoilingshesometimestookthemtotheagedbeggar。
Consequently，shenowfeltitherrighttogetwhatshecouldinreturnforherpityandherliberalitytoanunclewhowaslikelytohaveacrowdofcollateralheirs；sheherselfbeingthethirdandlastToupillierdaughter。Shehadfourbrothers，andherfather，aporterwithahand—cart，hadtoldher，inherchildhood，ofthreeauntsandfouruncles，whoallledanexistenceofthebasersort。