"CharlesCrochard’sfirstobjectonbeingliberatedwasvengeanceonToupillier，andhisfirststepwastodenouncehimtothepoliceasreceiverofthestolenproperty。Takeninhandbythelaw，Toupillierdefendedhimselfwithsuchsingulargood—humor，beingabletoshowthatnoproofwhateverexistedagainsthim，thattheexaminingjudgelethimoff。Helosthisplace，however，asgiverofholywater，obtaining，withgreatdifficulty，permissiontobegatthedoorofthechurch。Formypart，Iwascertainofhisguilt；andImanagedtohavetheclosestwatchkeptuponhim；thoughIreliedfarmoreuponmyself。
　　Beingamanofmeansandleisure，Istuck，asyoumaysay，totheskinofmythief，anddid，inordertounmaskhim，oneofthecleverestthingsofmycareer。HewaslivingatthattimeintherueduCoeur—
　　Volant。Isucceededinbecomingthetenantoftheroomadjoininghis；
　　andonenight，throughagimletholeIhaddrilledinthepartition，I
　　sawmymantakethecaseofdiamondsfromaverycleverlycontrivedhiding—place。Hesatforanhourgazingatthemandfondlingthem；hemadethemsparkleinthelight，hepressedthempassionatelytohislips。Themanactuallylovedthosediamondsforthemselves，andhadneverthoughtofturningthemtomoney。"
　　"Iunderstand，"saidCerizet，——"amanialikethatofCardillac，thejeweller，whichhasnowbeendramatized。"
　　"Thatisjustit，"returnedduPortail；"thepoorwretchwasinlovewiththatcasket；sothatwhen，shortlyafter，IenteredhisroomandtoldhimIknewall，heproposedtometoleavehimthelifeuseofwhathecalledtheconsolationofhisoldage，pledginghimselftomakeMademoiselledelaPeyradehissoleheir，revealingtomeatthesametimetheexistenceofahoardofgold（towhichhewasaddingeveryday），andalsothepossessionofahouseandaninvestmentintheFunds。"
　　"Ifhemadethatproposalingoodfaith，"saidCerizet，"itwasadesirableone。Theinterestofthecapitalsunkinthediamondswasmorethanreturnedbythatfromtheotherproperty。"
　　"Younowsee，mydearsir，"saidduPortail，"thatIwasnotmistakenintrustinghim。Allmyprecautionswerewelltaken；IexactedthatheshouldoccupyaroominthehouseIlivedin，whereIcouldkeepacloseeyeuponhim。Iassistedhiminmakingthathiding—place，thesecretofwhichyoudiscoveredsocleverly；butwhatyoudidnotfindoutwasthatintouchingthespringthatopenedtheironsafeyourangabellinmyapartment，whichwarnedmeofanyattemptthatwasmadetoremoveourtreasure。"
　　"PoorMadameCardinal！"criedCerizet，good—humoredly，"howfarshewasfromsuspectingit！"
　　"Nowhere’sthesituation，"resumedduPortail。"OnaccountoftheinterestIfeelinthenephewofmyoldfriend，andalso，onaccountoftherelationship，thismarriageseemstomeextremelydesirable；inshort，IuniteTheodosetohiscousinandher’dot。’Asitispossiblethat，consideringthementalstateofhisfuturewife，Theodosemayobjecttosharingmyviews，Ihavenotthoughtitwisetomakethisproposaldirectlytohimself。Youhavesuddenlyturnedupuponmypath；Iknowalreadythatyouarecleverandwily，andthatknowledgeinducesmetoputthislittlematrimonialnegotiationintoyourhands。
　　Now，Ithink，youunderstandthematterthoroughly；speaktohimofafinegirl，withonelittledrawback，but，ontheotherhand，acomfortablefortune。Donotnamehertohim；andcomehereandletmeknowhowtheproposalhasbeentaken。"
　　"Yourconfidencedelightsmeasmuchasithonorsme，"repliedCerizet，"andIwilljustifyitthebestIcan。"
　　"Wemustnotexpecttoomuch，"saidduPortail。"Refusalwillbethefirstimpulseofamanwhohasanaffaironhandelsewhere；butweneednotconsiderourselvesbeaten。IshallnoteasilygiveupaplanwhichIknowtobejust，evenifIpushmyzealsofarastoputlaPeyradeunderlockandkeyinClichy。Iamresolvednottotakenoforhisanswertoaproposalofwhich，intheend，hecannotfailtoseethepropriety。Therefore，inanycase，buyupthosenotesfromMonsieurDutocq。"
　　"Atpar？"askedCerizet。
　　"Yes，atpar，ifyoucannotdobetter；wearenotgoingtohaggleoverafewthousandfrancs；only，whenthistransactionisarranged，MonsieurDutocqmustpledgeuseitherhisassistance，or，attheveryleast，hisneutrality。Afterwhatyouhavesaidoftheothermarriage，itisunnecessaryformetowarnyouthatthereisnotamomenttoloseinputtingourironsintothefire。"
　　"TwodayshenceIhaveanappointmentwithlaPeyrade，"saidCerizet。
　　"Wehavealittlematterofbusinessofourowntosettle。Don’tyouthinkitwouldbebesttowaittillthen，whenIcanintroducetheproposalincidentally？Incaseofresistance，IthinkthatarrangementwouldbestconducetoOURdignity。"
　　"Sobeit，"saidduPortail；"itisn’tmuchofadelay。Remember，monsieur，thatifyousucceedyouhave，inplaceofamanabletobringyoutoasternaccountforyourIMPRUDENTASSISTANCEtoMadameCardinal，agreatlyobligedperson，whowillbereadyatalltimestoserveyou，andwhoseinfluenceisgreaterthanisgenerallysupposed。"
　　Afterthesefriendlywords，thepairseparatedwithathoroughlygoodunderstanding，andwellsatisfiedwitheachother。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　INWHICHTHELAMBDEVOURSTHEWOLF
　　Theeveningbeforethedayalreadyagreedupon，TheodosereceivedfromCerizetthefollowingnote：——
　　"To—morrow，leaseornolease，RocherdeCancale，half—pastsixo’clock。"
　　AsforDutocq，Cerizetsawhimeveryday，forhewasstillhiscopyingclerk；hethereforegavehimhisinvitationbywordofmouth；buttheattentivereadermustremarkadifferenceinthehournamed："Quarter—
　　past—six，RocherdeCancale，"saidCerizet。Itwasevident，therefore，thathewantedthatfifteenminuteswithDutocqbeforethearrivaloflaPeyrade。
　　TheseminutestheusurerproposedtoemployinjockeyingDutocqinthepurchaseofthenotes；hefanciedthatifthepropositiontobuythemweresuddenlyputbeforehimwithouttheslightestpreparationitmightbemorereadilyreceived。Bynotleavingthesellertimetobethinkhimself，perhapshemightleadhimtoloosenhisgrasp，andthenotesonceboughtbelowpar，hecouldconsiderathisleisurewhethertopocketthedifferenceorcurryfavorwithduPortailforthediscounthehadobtained。Letussay，moreover，thatapartfromself—interest，Cerizetwouldstillhaveendeavoredtoscrapealittleprofitoutofhisfriend；’twasaninstinctandaneedofhisnature。
　　HehadasgreatahorrorforstraightcoursesastheloversofEnglishgardensshowinthelinesoftheirpaths。
　　Dutocq，havingstillaportionofthecostofhispracticetopayoff，wasforcedtoliveverysparingly，sothatadinnerattheRocherdeCancalewassomethingofaneventintheeconomyofhisstraitenedexistence。Hearrived，therefore，withthatpunctualitywhichtestifiestoaninterestintheoccasion，andpreciselyataquarterpastsixheenteredtheprivateroomoftherestaurantwhereCerizetawaitedhim。
　　"Itisqueer，"hesaid；"herewearereturnedtopreciselythesituationinwhichwebeganourbusinessrelationshipwithlaPeyrade，——except，tobesure，thatthispresentplaceofmeetingofthethreeemperorsismorecomfortable；IprefertheTilsitoftherueMontgorgeuiltotheTilsitoftheChevalRouge。"
　　"Faith！"saidCerizet，"Idon’tknowthattheresultsjustifythechange，for，tobefrank，wherearetheprofitstoUSintheschemeofourtriumvirate？"
　　"But，"saidDutocq，"itwasabargainwithalongtimelimit。Itcan’tbesaidthatlaPeyradehaslostmuchtimeingettinginstalled——
　　forgivethepun——attheThuilleries。Thescamphasmadehiswayprettyfast，youmustownthat。"
　　"Notsofastbutwhathismarriage，"saidCerizet，"isatthepresentmomentaverydoubtfulthing。"
　　"Doubtful！"criedDutocq；"whydoubtful？"
　　"Well，Iamcommissionedtoproposetohimanotherwife，andI’mnotsurethatanychoiceislefttohim。"
　　"Whatthedevilareyouabout，mydearfellow，lendingyourhandinthiswaytoanothermarriagewhenyouknowwehaveamortgageonthefirst？"
　　"Oneisn’talwaysmasterofcircumstances，myfriend；Isawatoncewhenthenewaffairwaslaidbeforemethattheonewehadsettledonmustinfalliblygobytheboard。Consequently，I’vetriedtoworkitroundinourinterests，yoursandmine。"
　　"Ahca！doyoumeantheyarepullingcapsforthisTheodose？Whoisthenewmatch？Hasshemoney？"
　　"The’dot’isprettygood；quiteasmuchasMademoiselleColleville’s。"
　　"ThenIwouldn’tgiveafigforit。LaPeyradehassignedthosenotesandhewillpaythem。"
　　"Willhepaythem？that’sthequestion。Youarenotabusinessman，neitherisTheodose；itmaycomeintohisheadtodisputethevalidityofthosenotes。Whatsecurityhavewethatifthefactsabouttheiroriginshouldcomeout，andtheThuilliermarriageshouldn’tcomeoff，thecourtofcommercemightn’tannulthemas’obligationswithoutcause。’Formypart，Ishouldlaughatsuchadecision；Icanstandit；and，moreover，myprecautionsaretaken；butyou，asclerktoajustice—of—peace，don’tyouseethatsuchanaffairwouldgivethechancellorabonetopickwithyou？"
　　"But，mygoodfellow，"saidDutocq，withtheill—humorofamanwhoseeshimselffacetofacewithanargumenthecan’trefute，"youseemtohaveamaniaforstirringupmattersandmeddlingwith——"
　　"Itellyouagain，"saidCerizet，"thiscametome；Ididn’tseekit；
　　butIsawatoncethattherewasnousestrugglingagainsttheinfluencethatisopposingus；soIchosethecourseofsavingourselvesbyasacrifice。"
　　"Asacrifice！whatsortofsacrifice？"
　　"Parbleu！I’vesoldmyshareofthosenotes，leavingthosewhoboughtthemtofightitoutwithMasterbarrister。"
　　"Whoisthepurchaser？"
　　"Whodoyousupposewouldstepintomyshoesunlessitwerethepersonswhohaveaninterestinthisothermarriage，andwhowanttoholdapoweroverTheodose，andcontrolhimbyforceifnecessary。"
　　"Thenmyshareofthenotesisequallyimportanttothem？"
　　"Nodoubt；butIcouldn’tspeakforyouuntilIhadconsultedyou。"
　　"Whatdotheyoffer？"
　　"Hangit！mydearfellow，thesamethatIaccepted。KnowingbetterthanyouthedangeroftheircompetitionIsoldouttothemonverybadterms。"
　　"Well，butwhatarethey，thoseterms？"
　　"Igaveupmysharesforfifteenthousandfrancs。"
　　"Come，come！"saidDutocq，shrugginghisshoulders，"whatyouareafteristorecoveraloss（ifyoumadeit）byacommissiononmyshare——andperhaps，afterall，thewholethingisonlyaplotbetweenyouandlaPeyrade——"
　　"Atanyrate，mygoodfriend，youdon’tminceyourwords；aninfamousthoughtcomesintoyourheadandyoustateitwithcharmingfrankness。
　　LuckilyyoushallpresentlyhearmemaketheproposaltoTheodose，andyouarecleverenoughtoknowbyhismanneriftherehasbeenanyconnivancebetweenus。"
　　"Sobeit！"saidDutocq。"Iwithdrawtheinsinuation；butImustsayyouremployersarepirates；Icalltheirproposalthrottlingpeople。I
　　havenot，likeyou，somethingtofallbackupon。"
　　"Well，youpoorfellow，thisishowIreasoned：Isaidtomyself，ThatgoodDutocqisterriblypressedforthelastpaymentonhispractice；
　　thiswillgivehimenoughtopayitoffatonestroke；eventshaveprovedthattherearegreatuncertaintiesaboutourTheodose—and—
　　Thuillierscheme；here’smoneydown，livemoney，andthereforeitwon’tbesobadabargainafterall。"
　　"Itisalossoftwo—fifths！"
　　"Come，"saidCerizet，"youweretalkingjustnowofcommissions。Iseeameansofgettingoneforyouifyou’llengagetobatterdownthisCollevillemarriage。IfyouwillcryitdownasyouhavelatelycrieditupIshouldn’tdespairofgettingyouaroundtwentythousandoutoftheaffair。"
　　"ThenyouthinkthatthisnewproposalwillnotbeagreeabletolaPeyrade，——thathe’llrejectit？Isitsomeheiressonwhomhehasalreadytakenamortgage？"
　　"AllthatIcantellyouisthatthesepeopleexpectsomedifficultyinbringingthemattertoaconclusion。"
　　"Well，Idon’tdesirebetterthantofollowyourleadanddowhatisdisagreeabletolaPeyrade；butfivethousandfrancs——thinkofit！——itistoomuchtolose。"
　　Atthismomentthedooropened，andawaiterusheredintheexpectedguest。
　　"Youcanservedinner，"saidCerizettothewaiter；"weareallhere。"
　　ItwasplainthatTheodosewasbeginningtotakewingtowardhighersocialspheres；elegancewasbecomingaconstantthoughtinhismind。
　　Heappearedinadresssuitandvarnishedshoes，whereashistwoassociatesreceivedhiminfrock—coatsandmuddyboots。
　　"Gentlemen，"hesaid，"IthinkIamalittlelate，butthatdevilofaThuillieristhemostintolerableofhumanbeingsaboutapamphletI
　　amconcoctingforhim。Iwasunluckyenoughtoagreetocorrecttheproofswithhim，andovereveryparagraphthere’safight。’WhatI
　　can’tunderstand，’hesays，’thepubliccan’t，either。I’mnotamanofletters，butI’mapracticalman’；andthat’sthewaywebattleit，pageafterpage。Ithoughtthesittingthisafternoonwouldneverend。"
　　"Howunreasonableyouare，mydearfellow，"saidDutocq；"whenamanwantstosucceedhemusthavethecouragetomakesacrifices。Oncemarried，youcanliftyourhead。"
　　"Ah，yes！"saidlaPeyradewithasigh，"I’llliftit；forsincethedayyoumademeeatthisbreadofanguishI’vebecometerriblysickofit。"
　　"Cerizet，"saidDutocq，"hasaplanthatwillfeedyoumoresucculently。"
　　Nothingmorewassaidatthemoment，forjusticehadtobedonetotheexcellentfareorderedbyCerizetinhonorofhiscominglease。Asusuallyhappensatdinnerswhereaffairsarelikelytobediscussed，eachman，withhismindfullofthem，tookpainsnottoapproachthosetopics，fearingtocompromisehisadvantagesbyseemingeager；theconversation，therefore，continuedforalongtimeongeneralsubjects，anditwasnotuntilthedessertwasservedthatCerizetbroughthimselftoasklaPeyradewhathadbeensettledaboutthetermsofhislease。
　　"Nothing，myfriend，"repliedTheodose。
　　"What！nothing？Icertainlyallowedyoutimeenoughtodecidethematter。"
　　"Well，astothat，somethingisdecided。Therewillnotbeanyprincipaltenantatall；MademoiselleBrigitteisgoingtoletthehouseherself。"
　　"That’sasingularthing，"saidCerizet，stiffly。"Afteryouragreementwithme，Icertainlydidnotexpectsucharesultasthis。"
　　"HowcanIhelpit，mydearfellow？Iagreedwithyou，barringamendmentsontheotherside；Iwasn’tabletogiveanotherturntotheaffair。Inhernaturalcharacterasamanagingwomanandasampleofperpetualmotion，Brigittehasreflectedthatshemightaswellmanagethathouseherselfandputintoherownpockettheprofitsyouproposedtomake。IsaidallIcouldaboutthecaresandannoyanceswhichshewouldcertainlysaddleuponherself。’Oh！nonsense！’shesaid；’they’llstirmybloodanddomyhealthgood！’"
　　"Itispitiable！"saidCerizet。"Thatpooroldmaidwillneverknowwhichendtotakeholdof；shedoesn’timaginewhatitistohaveanemptyhouse，andwhichmustbefilledwithtenantsfromgarrettocellar。"
　　"Ipliedherwithallthosearguments，"repliedlaPeyrade；"butI
　　couldn’tmoveherresolution。Don’tyousee，mydeardemocrats，youstirreduptherevolutionof’89；youthoughttomakeafinespeculationindethroningthenoblebythebourgeois，andtheendofitisyouareshovedoutyourselves。Thislookslikeparadox；butyou’vefoundoutnowthatthepeasantandclodhopperisn’tmalleable；
　　hecan’tbeforceddownandkeptunderlikethenoble。Thearistocracy，onbehalfofitsdignity，wouldnotcondescendtocommoncares，andwasthereforedependentonacrowdofplebeianservitorstowhomithadtotrustforthree—fourthsoftheactionsofitsownlife。
　　Thatwasthereignofstewardsandbailiffs，wilyfellows，intowhosehandstheinterestsofthegreatfamiliespassed，andwhofedandgrewfatontheparingsofthegreatfortunestheymanaged。Butnow—a—days，utilitariantheories，astheycallthem，havecometothefore，——’Weareneversowellservedasbyourselves，’’There’snoshameinattendingtoone’sownbusiness，’andmanyotherbourgeoismaximswhichhavesuppressedtheroleofintermediaries。Whyshouldn’tMademoiselleBrigitteThuilliermanageherownhousewhendukesandpeersgoinpersontotheBourse，wheresuchmensigntheirownleasesandreadthedeedsbeforetheysignthem，andgothemselvestothenotary，whom，informerdays，theyconsideredaservant。"
　　DuringthistimeCerizethadtimetorecoverfromtheblowhehadjustreceivedsquarelyintheface，andtothinkofthetransitionhehadtomakefromonesetofintereststotheother，ofwhichhewasnowtheagent。
　　"Whatyouaredeclaimingthereisallveryclever，"hesaid，carelessly，"butthethingthatprovestomeourdefeatisthefactthatyouarenotonthetermswithMademoiselleThuillieryouwouldhaveusbelieveyouare。Sheisslippingthroughyourfingers；andI
　　don’tthinkthatmarriageisanythinglikeascertainasDutocqandI
　　havebeenfancyingitwas。"
　　"Well，nodoubt，"saidlaPeyrade，"therearestillsometouchestobegiventooursketch，butIbelieveitiswellunderway。"
　　"AndIthink，onthecontrary，thatyouhavelostground；andthereasonissimple：youhavedonethosepeopleanimmenseservice；andthat’sathingneverforgiven。"
　　"Well，weshallsee，"saidlaPeyrade。"Ihavemorethanoneholduponthem。"
　　"No，youaremistaken。Youthoughtyoudidabrilliantthinginputtingthemonapinnacle，butthefactisyouemancipatedthem；
　　they’llkeepyounowatheel。Thehumanheart，particularlythebourgeoisheart，ismadethatway。IfIwereinyourplaceIshouldn’tfeelsosureofbeingonsolidground，andifsomethingelseturnedupthatofferedmeagoodchance——"
　　"What！justbecauseIcouldn’tgetyoutheleaseofthathousedoyouwanttoknockeverythingtopieces？"
　　"No，"saidCerizet，"Iamnotlookingatthematterinthelightofmyowninterests；Idon’tdoubtthatasatrustworthyfriendyouhavedoneeveryimaginablethingtopromotethem；butIthinkthemannerinwhichyouhavebeenshovedasideaverydisturbingsymptom。ItevendecidesmetotellyousomethingIdidnotintendtospeakof；
　　because，inmyopinion，whenpersonsstartacoursetheyoughttokeeponsteadily，lookingneitherforwardnorback，andnotallowingthemselvestobedivertedtootheraspirations。"
　　"Ahca！"criedlaPeyrade，"whatdoesallthisverbiagemean？Haveyouanythingtoproposetome？What’sthepriceofit？"
　　"MydearTheodose，"saidCerizet，payingnoattentiontotheimpertinence，"youyourselfcanjudgeofthevalueofdiscoveringayounggirl，wellbrought—up，adornedwithbeautyandtalentsanda’dot’equaltothatofCeleste，whichshehasinherownright，PLUS
　　fiftythousandfrancs’worthofdiamonds（asMademoiselleGeorgessaysonherpostersintheprovinces），and，moreover，——afactwhichoughttostrikethemindofanambitiousman，——astrongpoliticalinfluence，whichshecanuseforahusband。"
　　"Andthistreasureyouholdinyourhand？"saidlaPeyrade，inatoneofincredulity。
　　"Betterstill，Iamauthorizedtoofferittoyou；infact，ImightsaythatIamchargedtodoso。"
　　"Myfriend，youarepokingfunatme；unless，indeed，thisphoenixhassomehideousorprohibitorydefect。"
　　"Well，I’lladmit，"saidCerizet，"thatthereisaslightobjection，notonthescoreoffamily，for，totellthetruth，theyoungwomanhasnone——"
　　"Ah！"saidlaPeyrade，"anaturalchild——Well，whatnext？"
　　"Next，sheisnotsoveryyoung，——somethingliketwenty—nineorso；
　　butthere’snothingeasierthantoturnanelderlygirlintoayoungwidowifyouhaveimagination。"
　　"Isthatallthevenominit？"
　　"Yes，allthatisirreparable。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Isitacaseofrhinoplasty？"
　　AddressedtoCerizetthewordhadanaggressiveair，which，infact，wasnoticeablesincethebeginningofthedinnerinthewholemannerandconversationofthebarrister。Butitdidnotsuitthepurposeofthenegotiatortoresentit。
　　"No，"hereplied，"ournoseisaswellmadeasourfootandourwaist；
　　butwemay，perhaps，haveaslighttouchofhysteria。"
　　"Oh！verygood，"saidlaPeyrade；"andasfromhysteriatoinsanitythereisbutastep——"
　　"Well，yes，"interruptedCerizet，hastily，"sorrowshaveaffectedourbrainslightly；butthedoctorsareunanimousintheirdiagnosis；theyallsaythatafterthebirthofthefirstchildnotatracewillremainofthislittletrouble。"
　　"Iamwillingtoadmitthatdoctorsareinfallible，"repliedlaPeyrade；"but，inspiteofyourdiscouragement，youmustallowme，myfriend，topersistinmysuittoMademoiselleColleville。Perhapsitisridiculoustoconfessit，butthetruthisIamgraduallyfallinginlovewiththatlittlegirl。Itisn’tthatherbeautyisresplendent，orthattheglitterofher’dot’hasdazzledme，butI
　　findinthatchildagreatfundofsoundsensejoinedtosimplicity；
　　and，whattomindisofgreaterconsequence，hersincereandsolidpietyattractsme；Ithinkahusbandoughttobeveryhappywithher。"
　　"Yes，"saidCerizet，who，havingbeenonthestage，mayverywellhaveknownhisMoliere，"thismarriagewillcrownyourwisheswithallgood；itwillbefilledwithsweetnessandwithpleasures。"
　　TheallusiontoTartuffewaskeenlyfeltbylaPeyrade，whotookitupandsaid，hotly：——
　　"ThecontactwithinnocencewilldisinfectmeofthevileatmosphereinwhichIhavelivedtoolong。"
　　"Andyouwillpayyournotesofhand，"addedCerizet，"whichIadviseyoutodowiththeleastpossibledelay；forDutocqherewassayingtomejustnowthathewouldliketoseethecolorofyourmoney。"
　　"I？notatall，"interposedDutocq。"Ithink，onthecontrary，thatourfriendhasarighttothedelay。"
　　"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"IagreewithCerizet。Iholdthatthelessadebtisdue，andthereforethemoreinsecureandopentocontentionitis，thesooneroneoughttofreeone’sselfbypayingit。"
　　"But，mydearlaPeyrade，"saidDutocq，"whytakethisbittertone？"
　　Pullingfromhispocketaportfolio，laPeyradesaid：——
　　"Haveyouthosenoteswithyou，Dutocq？"
　　"Faith！no，mydearfellow，"repliedDutocq，"Idon’tcarrythemaboutwithme；besides，theyareinCerizet’shands。"
　　"Well，"saidthebarrister，rising，"wheneveryoucometomyhouseI’llpayyouonthenail，asCerizetcantellyou。"
　　"What！areyougoingtoleaveuswithoutyourcoffee？"saidCerizet，amazedtothelastdegree。
　　"Yes；Ihaveanarbitrationcaseateighto’clock。Besides，wehavesaidallwehadtosay。Youhaven’tyourlease，butyou’vegotyourtwentyfivethousandfrancsinfull，andthoseofDutocqarereadyforhimwheneverhechoosestocometomyoffice。Iseenothingnowtopreventmefromgoingwheremyprivatebusinesscallsme，andI
　　thereforeverycordiallybidyougood—bye。"
　　"Ahca！Dutocq，"criedCerizet，aslaPeyradedisappeared，"thismeansarupture。"
　　"Preparedwiththeutmostcare，"addedDutocq。"Didyounoticetheairwithwhichhepulledoutthatpocket—book？"
　　"Butwherethedevil，"saidtheusurer，"couldhehavegotthemoney？"
　　"Probably，"repliedDutocq，sarcastically，"wherehegotthatwithwhichhepaidyouinfullforthosenotesyousoldatasacrifice。"
　　"MydearDutocq，"saidCerizet，"I’llexplaintoyouthecircumstancesunderwhichthatinsolentfellowfreedhimself，andyou’llseeifhedidn’trobmeoffifteenthousandfrancs。"
　　"Possibly，butyou，myworthyclerk，weretryingtogettenthousandawayfromme。"
　　"No，no；Iwaspositivelyorderedtobuyupyourclaim；andyououghttorememberthatmyofferhadrisentotwentythousandwhenTheodosecamein。"
　　"Well，"saidDutocq，"whenweleaveherewe’llgotoyourhouse，whereyouwillgivemethosenotes；for，you’llunderstandthatto—morrowmorning，attheearliestdecenthour，IshallgotolaPeyrade’soffice；Idon’tmeantolethispayinghumorcool。"
　　"Andrightyouare；forIcantellyounowthatbeforelongthere’llbeafineupsetinhislife。"
　　"Thenthethingisreallyserious——thistaleofacrazywomanyouwanthimtomarry？Imustsaythatinhisplace，withthesemoney—mattersevidentlyontherise，Ishouldhavebackedoutofyourproposalsjustashedid。NinasandOpheliasareallverywellonthestage，butinahome——"
　　"Inahome，whentheybringa’dot，’wecanbetheirguardian，"
　　repliedCerizet，sententiously。"Inpointoffact，wegetafortuneandnotawife。"
　　"Well，"saidDutocq，"that’sonewaytolookatit。"
　　"Ifyouarewilling，"saidCerizet，"letusgoandtakeourcoffeesomewhereelse。ThisdinnerhasturnedoutsofoolishlythatIwanttogetoutofthisroom，wherethere’snoair。"Herangforthewaiter。
　　"Garcon！"hesaid，"thebill。"
　　"Monsieur，itispaid。"