Afterinspectingthesickman，shewent，atfullspeed，toconsultCerizet，tellinghim，inthefirstplace，howshehadfoundherdaughter，andthenthereasonsandindicationswhichmadeherthinkthatheruncleToupillierwashoardingapileofgoldinhismattress。
　　MereCardinaldidnotfeelherselfstrongenoughtoseizeupontheproperty，legallyorillegally，andshethereforecametoconfideinCerizetandgethisadvice。
　　So，then，thebankerofthepoor，likeotherscavengers，had，atlast，founddiamondsintheslimeinwhichhehadpaddledforthelastfouryears，beingalwaysonthewatchforsomesuchchance，——achance，theysay，occasionallymetwithinthepurlieus，whichgivebirthtoheiressesinsabots。ThiswasthesecretofhisunexpectedgentlenesstolaPeyrade，themanwhoseruinhehadvowed。ItiseasytoimaginetheanxietywithwhichheawaitedthereturnofMadameCardinal，towhomthiswilyschemerofnefariousplotshadgivenmeanstoverifyhersuspicionsastotheexistenceofthehoardedtreasure，promisinghercompletesuccessifshewouldtrusthimtoobtainforhersorichaharvest。Hewasnotthemantoshrinkfromacrime，aboveall，whenhesawthatotherscouldcommitit，whileheobtainedthebenefits。
　　"Well，monsieur，"criedthefishwife，enteringCerizet’sdenwithafaceasmuchinflamedbycupidityasbythehasteofhermovements，"myunclesleepsonmorethanahundredthousandfrancsingold，andI
　　amcertainthatthosePerraches，bydintofnursinghim，havesmelttherat。"
　　"Sharedamongfortyheirsthatwon’tbemuchtoeach，"saidCerizet。
　　"Listentome，MereCardinal：I’llmarryyourdaughter；giveheryouruncle’sgold，andI’llguaranteetoyoualife—interestinthehouseandthedividendsfromthemoneyintheFunds。"
　　"Wesha’n’trunanyrisk？"
　　"None，whatever。"
　　"Agreed，then，"saidthewidowCardinal，holdingoutherhandtoherfutureson—in—law。"Sixthousandfrancsayear；hey！whatafinelifeI’llhave。"
　　"Withason—in—lawlikeme！"addedCerizet。
　　"IshallbeabourgeoisieofParis！"
　　"Now，"resumedCerizet，afterapause，"Imuststudytheground。Don’tleaveyourunclealoneaminute；tellthePerrachesthatyouexpectadoctor。I’llbethedoctor，andwhenIgetthereyoumustseemnottoknowme。"
　　"Aren’tyously，youoldrogue，"saidMadameCardinal，withapunchonCerizet’sstomachbywayoffarewell。
　　Anhourlater，Cerizet，dressedinblack，disguisedbyarustywigandanartificiallypaintedphysiognomy，arrivedatthehouseintherueHonore—Chevalierintheregulationcabriolet。HeaskedtheportertotellhimhowtofindthelodgingofanoldbeggarnamedToupillier。
　　"IsmonsieurthedoctorwhomMadameCardinalexpects？"askedPerrache。
　　Cerizethadnodoubtreflectedonthegravityoftheaffairhewasundertaking，forheavoidedgivingananswertothatquestion。
　　"Isthistheway？"hesaid，turningatrandomtoonesideofthecourtyard。
　　"No，monsieur，"repliedPerrache，whothentookhimtothebackstairsofthehouse，whichleduptothewretchedatticoccupiedbythepauper。
　　Nothingremainedfortheinquisitiveportertodobuttoquestionthedriverofthecabriolet；towhichemploymentwewillleavehim，whilewepursueourowninquirieselsewhere。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　THEDIFFICULTIESTHATCROPUPINTHEEASIESTOFTHEFTS
　　ThehouseinwhichToupillierlivedisoneofthosewhichhavelosthalftheirdepth，owingtothestraighteningofthelineofthestreet，therueHonore—ChevalierbeingoneofthenarrowestintheSaint—Sulpicequarter。Theowner，forbiddenbythelawtorepairit，ortoaddnewstoreys，wascompelledtoletthewretchedbuildingintheconditioninwhichheboughtit。Itconsistedofafirststoreyabovetheground—floor，surmountedbygarrets，withtwosmallwingsrunningbackoneitherside。Thecourtyardthusformedendedinagardenplantedwithtrees，whichwasalwaysrentedtotheoccupantofthefirstfloor。Thisgarden，separatedbyanironrailingfromthecourtyard，wouldhaveallowedarichownertosellthefrontbuildingstothecity，andtobuildanewhouseuponthecourtyard；butthewholeofthefirstfloorwasletonaneighteenyears’leasetoamysteriouspersonage，aboutwhomneithertheofficialpolicingoftheconciergenorthecuriosityoftheothertenantscouldfindanythingtocensure。
　　Thistenant，nowseventyyearsofage，hadbuilt，in1829，anouterstairway，leadingfromtherightwingofthefirstfloortothegarden，sothathecouldgettherewithoutgoingthroughthecourtyard。Halftheground—floorwasoccupiedbyabook—stitcher，whoforthelasttenyearshadusedthestableandcoach—houseforworkshops。Abook—binderoccupiedtheotherhalf。Thebinderandthestitcherlived，eachofthem，inhalfthegarretroomsoverthefrontbuildingonthestreet。Thegarretsabovetherearwingswereoccupied，theoneontherightbythemysterioustenant，theoneontheleftbyToupillier，whopaidahundredfrancsayearforit，andreacheditbyadarkstaircase，lightedbysmallroundwindows。Theporte—cocherewasmadeinthecircularformindispensableinastreetsonarrowthattwocarriagescannotpassinit。
　　Cerizetlaidholdoftheropewhichservedasabaluster，toclimbthespeciesofladderleadingtotheroomwheretheso—calledbeggarwasdying，——aroominwhichtheodiousspectacleofpretendedpauperismwasbeingplayed。InParis，everythingthatisdoneforapurposeisthoroughlydone。Would—bepaupersareascleveratmountingtheirdisguiseasshopkeepersinpreparingtheirshow—windows，orshamrichmeninobtainingcredit。
　　Thefloorhadneverbeenswept；thebrickshaddisappearedbeneathlayersofdirt，dust，driedmud，andanyandeverythingthrowndownbyToupillier。Amiserablestoveofcast—iron，thepipeofwhichenteredacrumblingchimney，wasthemostapparentpieceoffurnitureinthishovel。Inanalcovestoodabed，withtesterandvalenceofgreenserge，whichthemothshadtransformedintolace。Thewindow，almostuseless，hadaheavycoatingofgreaseuponitspanes，whichdispensedwiththenecessityofcurtains。Thewhitewashedwallspresentedtotheeyefuliginoustones，duetothewoodandpeatburnedbythepauperinhisstove。Onthefireplacewereabrokenwater—
　　pitcher，twobottles，andacrackedplate。Aworm—eatenchestofdrawerscontainedhislinenanddecentclothes。Therestofthefurnitureconsistedofanight—tableofthecommonestdescription，anothertable，worthaboutfortysous，andtwokitchenchairswiththestrawseatsalmostgone。Theextremelypicturesquecostumeofthecentenarianpauperwashangingfromanail，andbelowit，onthefloor，weretheshapelessmat—weedcoveringsthatservedhimforshoes，thewholeforming，withhisamorphousoldhatandknottystick，asortofpanoplyofmisery。
　　Asheentered，Cerizetgavearapidglanceattheoldman，whoseheadlayonapillowbrownwithgreaseandwithoutapillow—case；hisangularprofile，likethosewhichengraversofthelastcenturywerefondofmakingoutofrocksinthelandscapestheyengraved，wasstronglydefinedinblackagainstthegreensergehangingsofthetester。Toupillier，amannearlysixfeettall，waslookingfixedlyatsomeobjectatthefootofhisbed；hedidnotmoveonhearingthegroaningoftheheavydoor，which，beingarmedwithironboltsandastronglock，closedhisdomicilesecurely。
　　"Isheconscious？"saidCerizet，beforewhomMadameCardinalstartedback，nothavingrecognizedhimtillhespoke。
　　"Prettynearly，"shereplied。
　　"Comeoutonthestaircase，sothathedoesn’thearus，"whisperedCerizet。"Thisishowwe’llmanageit，"hecontinued，intheearofhisfuturemother—in—law。"Heisweak，butheisn’tsoverylow；wehavefullyaweekbeforeus。I’llsendyouadoctorwho’llsuitus，——
　　youunderstand？andlaterintheeveningI’llbringyousixpoppy—
　　heads。Inthestatehe’sin，yousee，adecoctionofpoppy—headswillsendhimintoasoundsleep。I’llsendyouacot—bedonpretenceofyoursleepingintheroomwithhim。We’llmovehimfromonebedtotheother，andwhenwe’vefoundthemoneytherewon’tbeanydifficultyincarryingitoff。Butweoughttoknowwhothepeoplearewholiveinthisoldbarrack。IfPerrachesuspects，asyouthink，aboutthemoney，hemightgiveanalarm，andsomanytenants，somanyspies，youknow——"
　　"Oh！asforthat，"saidMadameCardinal，"I’vefoundoutalreadythatMonsieurduPortail，theoldmanwhooccupiesthefirstfloor，haschargeofaninsanewoman；IheardtheirDutchservant—woman，Katte，callingherLydiethismorning。TheonlyotherservantisanoldvaletnamedBruneau；hedoeseverything，exceptcook。"
　　"Butthebinderandthestitcherdownbelow，"returnedCerizet，"theybeginworkveryearlyinthemorning——Well，anyhow，wemuststudythematter，"headded，inthetoneofamanwhoseplansarenotyetdecided。"I’llgotothemayor’sofficeofyourarrondissement，andgetOlympe’sregisterofbirth，andputupthebanns。ThemarriagemusttakeplaceaweekfromSaturday。"
　　"Howhegoesit，therascal！"criedtheadmiringMadameCardinal，pushingherformidableson—in—lawbytheshoulder。
　　AshewentdownstairsCerizetwassurprisedtosee，throughoneofthesmallroundwindows，anoldman，evidentlyduPortail，walkinginthegardenwithaveryimportantmemberofthegovernment，ComteMartialdelaRoche—Hugon。Hestoppedinthecourtyardwhenhereachedit，asiftoexaminetheoldhouse，builtinthereignofLouisXIV。，theyellowwallsofwhich，thoughoffreestone，werebentliketheelderlybeggartheycontained。Thenhelookedattheworkshops，andcountedtheworkmen。Thehousewasotherwiseassilentasacloister。Beingobservedhimself，Cerizetdeparted，thinkingoverinhismindthevariousdifficultiesthatmightariseinextractingthesumhiddenbeneaththedyingman。
　　"Carryoffallthatgoldatnight？"hesaidtohimself；"why，thoseporterswillbeonthewatch，andtwentypersonsmightseeus！Itishardworktocarryeventwenty—fivethousandfrancsofgoldonone’sperson。"
　　Societieshavetwogoalsofperfection；thefirstisastateofcivilizationinwhichmoralityequallyinfusedandpervasivedoesnotadmiteventheideaofcrime；theJesuitsreachedthatpoint，formerlypresentedbytheprimitiveChurch。Thesecondisthestateofanothercivilizationinwhichthesupervisionofcitizensoveroneanothermakescrimeimpossible。Theendwhichmodernsocietyhasplacedbeforeitselfisthelatter；namely，thatinwhichacrimepresentssuchdifficultiesthatamanmustabandonallreasoninginordertocommitit。Infact，iniquitieswhichthelawcannotreacharenotleftactuallyunpunished，forsocialjudgmentisevenmoreseverethanthatofcourts。IfamanlikeMinoret，thepost—masteratNemours[see"UrsuleMirouet"]suppressesawillandnoonewitnessestheact，thecrimeistracedhometohimbythewatchfulnessofvirtueassurelyasarobberyisfollowedupbythedetectivepolice。Nowrong—doingpassesactuallyunperceived；andwhereveralesioninrectitudetakesplacethescarremains。Thingscanbenomoremadetodisappearthanmen；socarefully，inParisespecially，arearticlesandobjectsticketedandnumbered，houseswatched，streetsobserved，placesspiedupon。Toliveatease，crimemusthaveasanctionlikethatoftheBourse；likethatconcededbyCerizet’sclients；whonevercomplainedofhisusury，and，indeed，wouldhavebeentroubledinmindiftheirflayerwerenotinhisdenofaTuesday。
　　"Well，mydearmonsieur，"saidMadamePerrache，theporter’swife，ashepassedherlodge，"howdoyoufindhim，thatfriendofGod，thatpoorman？"
　　"Iamnotthedoctor，"repliedCerizet，whonowdecidedlydeclinedthatrole。"IamMadameCardinal’sbusinessman。Ihavejustadvisedhertohaveacot—bedputup，soastonurseherunclenightandday；
　　though，perhaps，shewillhavetogetaregularnurse。"
　　"Icanhelpher，"saidMadamePerrache。"Inursewomeninchildbed。"
　　"Well，we’llseeaboutit，"saidCerizet；"I’llarrangeallthat。Whoisthetenantonyourfirstfloor？"
　　"MonsieurduPortail。Hehaslodgedherethesethirtyyears。Heisamanwithagoodincome，monsieur；highlyrespectable，andelderly。YouknowpeoplewhoinvestintheFundsliveontheirincomes。Heusedtobeinbusiness。Butitismorethanelevenyearsnowsincehehasbeentryingtorestorethereasonofadaughterofoneofhisfriends，MademoiselleLydiedelaPeyrade。Shehasthebestadvice，Icantellyou；theveryfirstdoctorsinParis；onlythismorningtheyhadaconsultation。Butsofarnothinghascuredher；andtheyhavetowatchherprettyclose；forsometimesshegetsupandwalksatnight——"
　　"MademoiselleLydiedelaPeyrade！"exclaimedCerizet；"areyousureofthename？"
　　"I’veheardMadameKatte，hernurse，whoalsodoesthecooking，callhersoathousandtimes，monsieur；though，generally，neitherMonsieurBruneau，thevalet，norMadameKattesaymuch。It’sliketalkingtothewalltotryandgetanyinformationoutofthem。Wehavebeenportersherethesetwentyyearsandwe’veneverfoundoutanythingaboutMonsieurduPortailyet。Morethanthat，monsieur，heownsthelittlehousealongside；youseethedoubledoorfromhere。Well，hecangooutthatwayandreceivehiscompanytoo，andweknownothingaboutit。Ourownerdoesn’tknowanythingmorethanwedo；whenpeopleringatthatdoor，MonsieurBruneaugoesandopensit。"
　　"Thenyoudidn’tseethegentlemanwhoistalkingwithhiminthegardengobythisway？"
　　"Blessme！no，thatIdidn’t！"
　　"Ah！"thoughtCerizetashegotintothecabriolet，"shemustbethedaughterofthatuncleofTheodose。IwonderifduPortailcanbethesecretbenefactorwhosentmoneyfromtimetotimetothatrascal？
　　SupposeIsendananonymouslettertotheoldfellow，warninghimofthedangerthebarristerrunsfromthosenotesfortwenty—fivethousandfrancs？"
　　Anhourlaterthecot—bedhadarrivedforMadameCardinal，towhomtheinquisitiveportressofferedherservicestobringhersomethingtoeat。
　　"Doyouwanttoseetherector？"MadameCardinalinquiredofheruncle。
　　Shehadnoticedthatthearrivalofthebedseemedtodrawhimfromhissomnolence。
　　"Iwantwine！"repliedthepauper。
　　"Howdoyoufeelnow，PereToupillier？"askedMadamePerrache，inacoaxingvoice。
　　"ItellyouIwantwine，"repeatedtheoldman，withanenergeticinsistencescarcelytobeexpectedofhisfeebleness。
　　"Wemustfirstfindoutifitisgoodforyou，uncle，"saidMadameCardinal，soothingly。"Waittillthedoctorcomes。"
　　"Doctor！Iwon’thaveadoctor！"criedToupillier；"andyou，whatareyoudoinghere？Idon’twantanybody。"
　　"Mygooduncle，Icametoknowifyou’dlikesomethingtasty。I’vegotsomenicefreshsoles——hey！abitoffriedsole，withasqueezeoflemononit？"
　　"Yourfish，indeed！"criedToupillier；"allrotten！Thatlastyoubroughtme，morethansixweeksago，itisthereinthecupboard；youcantakeitawaywithyou。"
　　"Heavens！howungratefulsickmenare！"whisperedthewidowCardinaltoPerrache。
　　Nevertheless，toexhibitsolicitude，shearrangedthepillowunderthepatient’shead，saying：——
　　"There！uncle，don’tyoufeelbetterlikethat？"
　　"Letmealone！"shoutedToupillier，angrily；"Iwantnoonehere；I
　　wantwine；leavemeinpeace。"
　　"Don’tgetangry，littleuncle；we’llfetchyousomewine。"
　　"Numbersixwine，ruedesCanettes，"criedthepauper。
　　"Yes，Iknow，"repliedMadameCardinal；"butletmecountoutmycoppers。Iwanttogetsomethingbetterforyouthanthatkindofwine；for，don’tyousee，anuncle，he’sakindoffather，andoneshouldn’tmindwhatonedoesforhim。"
　　Sosaying，shesatdown，withherlegsapart，ononeofthedilapidatedchairs，andpouredintoherapronthecontentsofherpockets，namely：aknife，hersnuff—box，twopawn—tickets，somecrustsofbread，andahandfulofcopper，fromwhichsheextractedafewsilverbits。
　　Thisexhibition，intendedtoprovehergenerousandeagerdevotion，hadnoresult。Toupillierseemednottonoticeit。Exhaustedbythefeverishenergywithwhichhehaddemandedhisfavoriteremedy，hemadeanefforttochangehisposition，and，withhisbackturnedtohistwonurses，heagainmuttered："Wine！wine！"afterwhichnothingmorewasheardofhimbutastentorousbreathing，thatplainlyshowedthestateofhislungs，whichwerebeginningtocongest。
　　"IsupposeImustgoandfetchhiswine！"saidtheCardinal，restoringtoherpockets，withsomeill—humor，thecargoshehadjustpulledoutofthem。
　　"Ifyoudon’twanttogo——"beganMadamePerrache，alwaysreadytoofferherservices。
　　Thefishwifehesitatedforamoment；then，reflectingthatsomethingmightbegotoutofaconversationwiththewine—merchant，andsure，moreover，thataslongasToupillierlayonhisgoldshecouldsafelyleavehimalonewiththeportress，shesaid：——
　　"Thankyou，MadamePerrache，butI’dbettermakeacquaintancewithhistrades—folk。"
　　Then，havingspiedbehindthenight—tableadirtybottlewhichmightholdabouttwoquarts，——
　　"DidhesaytheruedesCanelles？"sheinquiredoftheportress。
　　"CorneroftherueGuisarde，"repliedMadamePerrache。"MonsieurLegrelu，atall，finemanwithbigwhiskersandnohair。"Then，loweringhervoice，sheadded："Hisnumber—sixwine，youknow，isRoussillon，andthebest，too。However，thewine—merchantknows；itisenoughifyoutellhimyouhavecomefromhiscustomer，thepauperofSaint—Sulpice。"
　　"Noneedtotellmeanythingtwice，"saidtheCardinal，openingthedoorandmaking，astheysay，afalseexit。"Ahca！"shesaid，comingback；"whatdoesheburninhisstove，supposingIwanttoheatsomeremedyforhim？"
　　"Goodness！"saidtheportress，"hedoesn’tmakemuchprovisionforwinter，andhereweareinthemiddleofsummer！"
　　"Andnotasaucepan！notapot，even！Gracious！whatawaytolive。
　　I’llhavetofetchhimsomeprovisions；IhopenobodywillseethethingsIbringback；I’dbeashamedtheyshould——"
　　"I’lllendyouahand—bag，"saidtheportress，alwaysreadyandofficious。
　　"No，I’llbuyabasket，"repliedthefishwife，moreanxiousaboutwhatsheexpectedtocarryawaythanwhatshewasabouttobringhometothepauper。"TheremustbesomeAuvergnatintheneighborhoodwhosellswood，"sheadded。
　　"CorneroftherueFerou；you’llfindonethere。Afineestablishment，withlogsofwoodpaintedinakindofanarcadeallroundtheshop——
　　solike，you’dthinktheyweregoingtospeaktoyou。"
　　Beforegoingfinallyoff，MadameCardinalwentthroughapieceofverydeephypocrisy。Wehaveseenhowshehesitatedaboutleavingtheportressalonewiththesickman：——
　　"MadamePerrache，"shesaidtoher，"youwon’tleavehim，thepoordarling，willyou，tillIgetback？"
　　ItmayhavebeennoticedthatCerizethadnotdecidedonanydefinitecourseofactioninthenewaffairhewasnowundertaking。Thepartofdoctor，whichforamomenthethoughtofassuming，frightenedhim，andhegavehimselfout，aswehaveseen，toMadamePerracheasthebusinessagentofhisaccomplice。Oncealone，hebegantoseethathisoriginalideacomplicatedwithadoctor，anurse，andanotary，presentedthemostseriousdifficulties。AregularwilldrawninfavorofMadameCardinalwasnotathingtobeimprovisedinamoment。Itwouldtakesometimetoacclimatizetheideainthesurlyandsuspiciousmindoftheoldpauper，anddeath，whichwascloseathand，mightplaythematrickatanymoment，andbalkthemostcarefulpreparations。
　　ItwastruethatunlessawillweremadetheincomeofeightthousandfrancsontheGrandLivreandthehouseintherueNotre—DamedeNazarethwouldgototheheirs—at—law，andMadameCardinalwouldgetonlyhershareoftheproperty；buttheabandonmentofthisvisibleportionoftheinheritancewasthesurestmeansoflayinghandsontheinvisiblepartofit。Besides，ifthelatterweresecured，whathinderedtheirreturningtotheideaofawill？
　　Resolving，therefore，toconfinetheOPERATIONtothesimplesttermsatfirst，Cerizetsummedthemupinthemanoeuvreofthepoppy—heads，alreadymentioned，andhewasmakinghiswaybacktoToupillier’sabode，armedwiththatsingleweaponofwar，intendingtogiveMadameCardinalfurtherinstructions，whenhemether，bearingonherarmthebasketshehadjustbought；andinthatbasketwasthesickman’spanacea。
　　"Uponmyword！"criedtheusurer，"isthisthewayyoukeepyourwatch？"
　　"Ihadtogooutandbuyhimwine，"repliedtheCardinal；"heishowlinglikeasoulinhellthathewantstobeatpeace，andtobeletalone，andgethiswine！ItishisoneideathatRoussillonisgoodforhisdisease。Well，whenhehasdrunkit，Idaresayhewillbequieter。"
　　"Youareright，"saidCerizet，sententiously；"nevercontradictasickman。Butthiswine，youknow，oughttobeimproved；byinfusingthese"
　　（andliftingoneofthecoversofthebasketheslippedinthepoppies）"you’llprocurethepoormanagood，longsleep，——fiveorsixhoursatleast。ThiseveningI’llcomeandseeyou，andnothing，I
　　think，needpreventusfromexaminingalittlecloserthosemattersofinheritance。"
　　"Isee，"saidMadameCardinal，winking。
　　"To—night，then，"saidCerizet，notwishingtoprolongtheconversation。
　　Hehadastrongsenseofthedifficultyanddangeroftheaffair，andwasveryreluctanttobeseeninthestreetconversingwithhisaccomplice。
　　Returningtoheruncle’sgarret，MadameCardinalfoundhimstillinastateofsemi—torpor；sherelievedMadamePerrache，andbadehergood—
　　bye，goingtothedoortoreceiveasupplyofwood，allsawed，whichshehadorderedfromtheAuvergnatintherueFerou。
　　Intoanearthenpot，whichshehadboughtoftherightsizetofitupontheholeinthestovesofthepoorwheretheyputtheirsoup—
　　kettles，shenowthrewthepoppies，pouringoverthemtwo—thirdsofthewineshehadbroughtbackwithher。Thenshelightedafirebeneaththepot，intendingtoobtainthedecoctionagreeduponasquicklyaspossible。Thecracklingofthewoodandtheheat，whichsoonspreadabouttheroom，broughtToupillieroutofhisstupor。
　　Seeingthestovelightedhecalledout：——
　　"Whoismakingafirehere？Doyouwanttoburnthehousedown？"
　　"Why，uncle，"saidtheCardinal，"itiswoodIboughtwithmyownmoney，towarmyourwine。Thedoctordoesn’twantyoutodrinkitcold。"
　　"Whereisit，thatwine？"demandedToupillier，calmingdownalittleatthethoughtthatthefirewasnotburningathisexpense。
　　"Itmustcometoaboil，"saidhisnurse；"thedoctorinsisteduponthat。Still，ifyou’llbegoodI’llgiveyouhalfaglassofitcold，justtowetyourwhistle。I’lltakethatuponmyself，butdon’tyoutellthedoctor。"
　　"Doctor！Iwon’thaveadoctor；theyareallscoundrels，inventedtokillpeople，"criedToupillier，whomtheideaofdrinkhadrevived。
　　"Come，givemethewine！"hesaid，inthetoneofamanwhosepatiencehadcometoanend。
　　Convincedthatthoughthiscompliancewoulddonoharmitcoulddonogood，MadameCardinalpouredouthalfaglass，andwhileshegaveitwithonehandtothesickman，withtheothersheraisedhimtoasittingposturethathemightdrinkit。
　　Withhisfleshless，eagerfingersToupillierclutchedtheglass，emptieditatagulp，andexclaimed：——
　　"Ah！that’safinedrop，thatis！thoughyou’vewateredit。"
　　"Youmustn’tsaythat，uncle；IwentandboughtitmyselfofPereLegrelu，andI’vegivenityouquitepure。Butyouletmesimmertherest；thedoctorsaidImightthengiveyouallyouwanted。"
　　Toupillierresignedhimselfwithashrugoftheshoulders。Attheendoffifteenminutes，theinfusionbeinginconditiontoserve，MadameCardinalbroughthim，withoutfurtherappeal，afullcupofit。
　　Theaviditywithwhichtheoldpauperdrankitdownpreventedhimfromnoticingatfirstthatthewinewasdrugged；butasheswallowedthelastdropshetastedthesicklyandnauseatingflavor，andflingingthecuponthebedhecriedoutthatsomeonewastryingtopoisonhim。
　　"Poison！nonsense！"saidthefishwife，pouringintoherownmouthafewdropsofthatwhichremainedinthebottle，declaringtotheoldmanthatifthewinedidnotseemtohimthesameasusual，itwasbecausehismouthhada"badtastetoit。"
　　Beforetheendofthedispute，whichlastedsometime，thenarcoticbegantotakeeffect，andattheendofanhourthesickmanwassoundasleep。
　　WhileidlywaitingforCerizet，anideatookpossessionoftheCardinal’smind。Shethoughtthatinviewoftheircomingsandgoingswiththetreasure，itwouldbewellifthevigilanceofthePerrachehusbandandwifecouldbedulledinsomemanner。Consequently，aftercarefullyflingingtherefusepoppy—headsintotheprivy，shecalledtotheportress：——
　　"MadamePerrache，comeupandtastehiswine。Wouldn’tyouhavethoughttohearhimtalkhewasreadytodrinkacaskofit？Well，acupfulsatisfiedhim。"
　　"Yourhealth！"saidtheportress，touchingglasseswiththeCardinal，whowascarefultohavehersfilledwiththeunboiledwine。Lessaccomplishedasagourmetthantheoldbeggar，MadamePerracheperceivednothingintheinsidiousliquid（coldbythetimeshedrankit）tomakehersuspectitsnarcoticcharacter；onthecontrary，shedeclareditwas"velvet，"andwishedthatherhusbandweretheretohaveashareinthetreat。Afteraratherlonggossip，thetwowomenseparated。Then，withthecookedmeatshehadprovidedforherself，andtheremainsoftheRoussillon，MadameCardinalmadearepastwhichshefinishedoffwithasiesta。Withoutmentioningtheemotionsoftheday，theinfluenceofoneofthemostheadywinesofthecountrywouldhavesufficedtoexplainthesoundnessofhersleep；whenshewokedarknesswascomingon。
　　Herfirstcarewastogiveaglanceatherpatient；hissleepwasrestless，andhewasdreamingaloud。
　　"Diamonds，"hesaid；"thosediamonds？Atmydeath，butnotbefore。"
　　"Gracious！"thoughtMadameCardinal，"thatwastheonethinglacking，——diamonds！thatheshouldhavediamonds！"
　　Then，asToupillierseemedtobeinthegraspofaviolentnightmare，sheleanedoverhimsoasnottoloseawordofhisspeech，hopingtogatherfromitsomeimportantrevelation。Atthismomentaslightrapgiventothedoor，fromwhichthecarefulnursehadremovedthekey，announcedthearrivalofCerizet。