Oneday，whenthepairwereengagedonthesheetsofthepamphlet，adiscussionaroseupontheword"nepotism，"whichThuillierwishedtoeliminatefromoneoflaPeyrade’ssentences，declaringthatneverhadhemetwithitanywhere；itwaspureneologism——which，totheliterarynotionsofthebourgeoisie，isequivalenttotheideaof1793andtheTerror。
　　GenerallylaPeyradetooktheridiculousremarksofhisdear，goodfriendprettypatiently；butonthisoccasionhemadehimselfexceedinglyexcited，andsignifiedtoThuillierthathemightterminatehimselfaworktowhichheappliedsuchluminousandintelligentcriticism；afterwhichremarkhedepartedandwasnotseenagainforseveraldays。
　　AtfirstThuilliersupposedthisoutbreaktobeamerepassingeffectofill—humor；butwhenlaPeyrade’sabsencegrewprolongedhefeltthenecessityoftakingsomeconciliatorystep，andaccordinglyhewenttoseethebarrister，intendingtomakehonorableamendsandsoputanendtohissulkiness。Wishing，however，togivethisadvanceanairwhichallowedanhonestissuetohisownself—love，heenteredlaPeyrade’sroomwithaneasymanner，andsaid，cheerfully：——
　　"Well，mydearfellow，itturnsoutthatwewerebothright：
　　’nepotism’meanstheauthoritythatthenephewsofpopestakeinpublicaffairs。Ihavesearchedthedictionaryanditgivesnootherexplanation；but，fromwhatPhelliontellsme，Ifindthatinthepoliticalvocabularythemeaningofthewordhasbeenextendedtocovertheinfluencewhichcorruptministerspermitcertainpersonstoexerciseillegally。Ithink，therefore，thatwemayretaintheexpression，thoughitiscertainlynottakeninthatsensebyNapoleonLandais。"
　　LaPeyrade，who，inreceivinghisvisitor，hadaffectedtobeextremelybusyinsortinghispapers，contentedhimselfbyshrugginghisshouldersandsayingnothing。
　　"Well，"saidThuillier，"haveyougotthelastproofs？Weoughttobegettingon。"
　　"Ifyouhavesentnothingtotheprinting—office，"repliedlaPeyrade，"ofcoursetherearenoproofs。Imyselfhaven’ttouchedthemanuscript。"
　　"But，mydearTheodose，"saidThuillier，"itisn’tpossiblethatforsuchatrifleyouareaffronted。Idon’tpretendtobeawriter，onlyasmynameisonthebookIhave，Ithink，therighttomyopinionaboutaword。"
　　"But’Mossie’Phellion，"repliedTheodose，"isawriter；andinasmuchasyouhaveconsultedhim，Idon’tseewhyyoucan’tengagehimtofinishtheworkinwhich，formypart，Ihaveresolvednottoco—operateanylonger。"
　　"Heavens！whattemper！"criedThuillier；"hereyouarefuriousjustbecauseIseemedtoquestionawordandthenconsultedsomeone。YouknowverywellthatIhavereadpassagestoPhellion，Colleville，Minard，andBarniolasiftheworkweremine，inordertoseetheeffectitwouldproduceuponthepublic；butthat’snoreasonwhyI
　　shouldbewillingtogivemynametothethingstheyarecapableofwriting。DoyouwishmetogiveyouaproofoftheconfidenceIhaveinyou？MadamelaComtessedeGodollo，towhomIreadafewpageslastnight，toldmethatthepamphletwaslikelytogetmeintotroublewiththeauthorities；butIwouldn’tallowwhatshesaidtohaveanyinfluenceuponme。"
　　"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，"Ithinkthattheoracleofthefamilyseesthematterclearly；andI’venodesiretobringyourheadtothescaffold。"
　　"Allthatisnonsense，"saidThuillier。"Haveyou，orhaveyounot，anintentiontoleavemeinthelurch？"
　　"Literaryquestionsmakemorequarrelsamongfriendsthanpoliticalquestions，"repliedTheodose。"Iwishtoputanendtothesediscussionsbetweenus。"
　　"But，mydearTheodose，neverhaveIassumedtobealiteraryman。I
　　thinkIhavesoundcommon—sense，andIsayoutmyideas；youcan’tbeangryatthat；andifyouplaymethistrick，andrefusetocollaborateanylonger，itisbecauseyouhavesomeothergrudgeagainstmethatIknownothingabout。"
　　"Idon’tseewhyyoucallitatrick。There’snothingeasierforyouthannottowriteapamphlet；you’llsimplybeJeromeThuillier，asbefore。"
　　"Andyetitwasyouyourselfwhodeclaredthatthispublicationwouldhelpmyelection；besides，Irepeat，Ihavereadpassagestoallourfriends，Ihaveannouncedthematterinthemunicipalcouncil，andiftheworkwerenottoappearIshouldbedishonored；peoplewouldbesuretosaythegovernmenthadboughtmeup。"
　　"YouhaveonlytosaythatyouarethefriendofPhellion，theincorruptible；thatwillclearyou。YoumightevengiveCelestetohisboobyofason；thatalliancewouldcertainlyprotectyoufromallsuspicion。"
　　"Theodose，"saidThuillier，"thereissomethinginyourmindthatyoudon’ttellme。Itisnotnaturalthatforasimplequarrelaboutawordyoushouldwishtoloseafriendlikeme。"
　　"Well，yes，thereis，"repliedlaPeyrade，withtheairofamanwhomakesuphismindtospeakout。"Idon’tlikeingratitude。"
　　"NorIeither；Idon’tlikeit，"saidThuillier，hotly；"andifyouaccusemeofsobaseanaction，Isummonyoutoexplainyourself。Wemustgetoutofthesehintsandinnuendoes。Whatdoyoucomplainof？
　　Whathaveyouagainstamanwhomonlyafewdaysagoyoucalledyourfriend？"
　　"Nothingandeverything，"repliedlaPeyrade。"Youandyoursisteraremuchtooclevertobreakopenlywithamanwho，attheriskofhisreputation，hasputamillioninyourhands。ButIamnotsosimplethatIdon’tknowhowtodetectchanges。Therearepeopleaboutyouwhohavesetthemselves，inanunderhandway，todestroyme；andBrigittehasonlyonethought，andthatis，howtofindadecentwayofnotkeepingherpromises。Menlikemedon’twaittilltheirclaimsareopenlyprotested，andIcertainlydonotintendtoimposemyselfonanyfamily；still，Iwasfar，Iacknowledge，fromexpectingsuchtreatment。"
　　"Come，come，"saidThuillier，kindly，seeinginthebarrister’seyetheglintofatearofwhichhewascompletelythedupe，"Idon’tknowwhatBrigittemayhavebeendoingtoyou，butonethingisverycertain：Ihaveneverceasedtobeyourmostdevotedfriend。"
　　"No，"saidlaPeyrade，"sincethatmishapaboutthecrossIamonlygood，asthesayingis，tothrowtothedogs。HowcouldIhavestruggledagainstsecretinfluences？Possiblyitisthatpamphlet，aboutwhichyouhavetalkedagreatdealtoomuch，thathashinderedyourappointment。Theministersaresostupid！Theywouldratherwaitandhavetheirhandforcedbythefameofthepublicationthandothethingwithagoodgraceastherewardofyourservices。Butthesearepoliticalmysterieswhichwouldneverenteryoursister’smind。"
　　"Thedevil！"criedThuillier。"IthinkI’vegotaprettyobservingeye，andyetIcan’tseetheslightestchangeinBrigittetowardyou。"
　　"Oh，yes！"saidlaPeyrade，"youreyesightissogoodthatyouhaveneverseenperpetuallybesideherthatMadamedeGodollo，whomshenowthinksshecan’tlivewithout。"
　　"Ha，ha！"saidThuillier，slyly，"soitisalittlejealousy，isit，inourmind？"
　　"Jealousy！"retortedlaPeyrade。"Idon’tknowifthat’stherightword，butcertainlyyoursister——whosemindisnothingabovetheordinary，andtowhomIamsurprisedthatamanofyourintellectualsuperiorityallowsasupremacyinyourhouseholdwhichsheusesandabuses——"
　　"HowcanIhelpit，mydearfellow，"interruptedThuillier，suckinginthecompliment；"sheissoabsolutelydevotedtome。"
　　"Iadmittheweakness，but，Irepeat，yoursisterdoesn’tfitintoyourgroove。Well，Isaythatwhenamanofthevaluewhichyouaregoodenoughtorecognizeinme，doesherthehonortoconsultheranddevotehimselftoherasIhavedone，itcanhardlybeagreeabletohimtofindhimselfsupplantedbyawomanwhocomesfromnobodyknowswhere——andallbecauseofafewtrumperychairsandtablesshehashelpedhertobuy！"
　　"Withwomen，asyouknowverywell，"repliedThuillier，"householdaffairshavethefirstplace。"
　　"AndBrigitte，whowantsafingerineverything，alsoassumestocarrymatterswithahighhandinaffairsoftheheart。Asyouaresoextraordinarilyclear—sightedyououghttohaveseenthatinBrigitte’smindnothingislesscertainthanmymarriagewithMademoiselleColleville；andyetmylovehasbeensolemnlyauthorizedbyyou。"
　　"Goodgracious！"criedThuillier，"I’dliketoseeanyoneattempttomeddlewithmyarrangements！"
　　"Well，withoutspeakingofBrigitte，Icantellyouofanotherperson，"saidTheodose，"whoisdoingthatverything；andthatpersonisMademoiselleCelesteherself。Inspiteoftheirquarrelsaboutreligion，hermindisnonethelessfullofthatlittlePhellion。"
　　"Butwhydon’tyoutellFlavietoputastoptoit？"
　　"NooneknowsFlavie，mydearThuillier，betterthanyou。Sheisawomanratherthanamother。Ihavefounditnecessarytodoalittlebitofcourtingtohermyself，and，youunderstand，whilesheiswillingforthismarriageshedoesn’tdesireitverymuch。"
　　"Well，"saidThuillier，"I’llundertaketospeaktoCelestemyself。Itshallneverbesaidthataslipofagirllaysdownthelawtome。"
　　"That’sexactlywhatIdon’twantyoutodo，"criedlaPeyrade。"Don’tmeddleinallthis。Outsideofyourrelationstoyoursisteryouhaveanironwill，andIwillneverhaveitsaidthatyouexertedyourauthoritytoputCelesteinmyarms；onthecontrary，Idesirethatthechildmayhavecompletecontroloverherownheart。TheonlythingIrequestisthatsheshalldecidepositivelybetweenFelixPhellionandmyself；becauseIdonotchoosetoremainanylongerinthisdoubtfulposition。Itistrueweagreedthatthemarriageshouldonlytakeplaceafteryoubecameadeputy；butIfeelnowthatitisimpossibletoallowthegreatesteventofmylifetoremainatthemercyofdoubtfulcircumstances。And，besides，suchanarrangement，thoughatfirstagreedupon，seemstomenowtohaveaflavorofabargainwhichisunbecomingtobothofus。IthinkIhadbettermakeyouaconfidence，towhichIamledbytheunpleasantstateofthingsnowbetweenus。Dutocqmayhavetoldyou，beforeyoulefttheapartmentintherueSaint—Dominique，thatanheiresshadbeenofferedtomewhoseimmediatefortuneislargerthanthatwhichMademoiselleCollevillewilleventuallyinherit。Irefused，becauseIhavehadthefollytoletmyheartbewon，andbecauseanalliancewithafamilyashonorableasyoursseemedtomemoredesirable；but，afterall，itisaswelltoletBrigitteknowthatifCelesterefusesme，Iamnotabsolutelyturnedoutintothecold。"
　　"Icaneasilybelievethat，"saidThuillier；"butasforputtingthewholedecisionintothehandsofthatlittlegirl，especiallyifshehas，asyoutellme，afancyforFelix——"
　　"Ican’thelpit，"saidthebarrister。"Imust，atanyprice，getoutofthisposition；itisnolongertenable。Youtalkaboutyourpamphlet；Iamnotinafitconditiontofinishit。You，whohavebeenamanofgallantry，youmustknowthedominionthatwomen，fatalcreatures！exerciseoverourwholebeing。"
　　"Bah！"saidThuillier，conceitedly，"theycaredforme，butIdidnotoftencareforthem；Itookthem，andleftthem，youknow。"
　　"Yes，butI，withmySouthernnature，lovepassionately；andCelestehasotherattractionsbesidesfortune。Broughtupinyourhousehold，underyourowneye，youhavemadeheradorable。Only，Imustsay，youhaveshowngreatweaknessinlettingthatyoungfellow，whodoesnotsuitherinanyrespect，getsuchholduponherfancy。"
　　"Youarequiteright；butthethingbeganinachildishfriendship；
　　sheandFelixplayedtogether。Youcamemuchlater；anditisaproofofthegreatesteeminwhichweholdyou，thatwhenyoumadeyourofferwerenouncedourearlierprojects。"
　　"YOUdid，yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"andwithsomeliterarymanias——
　　which，afterall，arefrequentlyfullofsenseandwit——youhaveaheartofgold；withyoufriendshipisasurething，andyouknowwhatyoumean。ButBrigitteisanothermatter；you’llsee，whenyouproposetohertohastenthemarriage，whataresistanceshewillmake。"
　　"Idon’tagreewithyou。IthinkthatBrigittehasalwayswantedyouandstillwantsyouforson—in—law——ifImaysoexpressmyself。Butwhethershedoesornot，IbegyoutobelievethatinallimportantmattersIknowhowtohavemywillobeyed。Only，letuscomenowtoadistinctunderstandingofwhatyouwish；thenwecanstartwiththerightfootforemost，andyou’llseethatallwillgowell。"
　　"Iwish，"repliedlaPeyrade，"toputthelasttouchestoyourpamphlet；for，aboveallthings，Ithinkofyou。"
　　"Certainly，"saidThuillier，"weoughtnottosinkinport。"
　　"Well，inconsequenceofthefeelingthatIamoppressed，stultifiedbytheprospectofamarriagestillsodoubtful，Iamcertainthatnotapageofmanuscriptcouldbegotoutofmeinanyform，untilthequestionissettled。"
　　"Verygood，"saidThuillier；"thenhowdoyoupresentthatquestion？"
　　"Naturally，ifCeleste’sdecisionbeagainstme，Ishouldwishanimmediatesolution。IfIamcondemnedtomakeamarriageofconvenienceIoughttolosenotimeintakingtheopportunityI
　　mentionedtoyou。"
　　"Sobeit；butwhattimedoyouintendtoallowus？"
　　"Ishouldthinkthatinfifteendaysagirlmightbeabletomakeuphermind。"
　　"Undoubtedly，"repliedThuillier；"butitisveryrepugnanttometoletCelestedecidewithoutappeal。"
　　"Formypart，Iwilltakethatrisk；inanycase，Ishallberidofuncertainty；andthatisreallymyfirstobject。Betweenourselves，I
　　amnotriskingasmuchasyouthink。ItwilltakemorethanfifteendaysforasonofPhellion，inotherwords，obstinacyincarnateinsilliness，tohavedonewithphilosophicalhesitations；anditisverycertainthatCelestewillnotaccepthimforahusbandunlesshegiveshersomeproofsofconversion。"
　　"That’sprobable。ButsupposeCelestetriestodawdle；supposesherefusestoacceptthealternative？"
　　"That’syouraffair，"saidtheProvencal。"Idon’tknowhowyouregardthefamilyinParis；Ionlyknowthatinmypartofthecountryitisanunheard—ofthingthatagirlshouldhavesuchliberty。Ifyou，yoursister（supposingsheplaysfairinthematter），andthefatherandmothercan’tsucceedinmakingagirlwhomyoudoweragreetososimpleathingastomakeaperfectlyfreechoicebetweentwosuitors，thengood—byetoyou！You’llhavetowriteuponyourgate—postthatCelesteisqueenandsovereignofthehouse。"
　　"Well，wehaven’tgottothatpointyet，"saidThuillier，withacapableair。
　　"Asforyou，myoldfellow，"resumedlaPeyrade，"ImustpostponeourbusinessuntilafterCeleste’sdecision。Bethatinmyfavorornot，I
　　willthengotowork，andinthreedaysthepamphletcanbefinished。"
　　"Now，"saidThuillier，"Iknowwhatyouhavehadonyourmind。I’lltalkaboutitwithBrigitte。"
　　"That’sasadconclusion，"saidlaPeyrade；"but，unhappily，soitis。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"Iwouldrather，asyoucaneasilyimagine，hearyousayofyourselfthatthethingshallbedone；butoldhabitscan’tbebrokenup。"
　　"Ahca！doyouthinkI’mamanwithoutanywill，anyinitiativeofmyown？"
　　"No！butI’dliketobehiddeninacornerandhearhowyouwillopenthesubjectwithyoursister。"
　　"Parbleu！Ishallopenitfrankly。IWILL，veryfirmlysaid，shallmeeteveryoneofherobjections。"
　　"Ah，mypoorfellow！"saidlaPeyrade，clappinghimontheshoulder，"fromChrysaledownhowoftenhaveweseenbravewarriorsloweringtheirpenantsbeforethewillsofwomenaccustomedtomasterthem！"
　　"We’llseeaboutTHAT，"repliedThuillier，makingatheatricalexit。
　　Theeagerdesiretopublishhispamphlet，andthecleverdoubtthrownuponthestrengthofhiswillhadmadehimfurious，——anactualtiger；
　　andhewentawayresolved，incaseofopposition，toreducehishousehold，asthesayingis，byfireandsword。
　　WhenhereachedhomeThuillierinstantlylaidthequestionbeforeBrigitte。She，withhercrudegoodsenseandegotism，pointedouttohimthatbythushasteningtheperiodformerlyagreeduponforthemarriage，theycommittedtheblunderofdisarmingthemselves；theycouldnotbesurethatwhentheelectiontookplacelaPeyradewouldputthesamezealintopreparingforit。Itmightbe，"saidtheoldmaid，"justasithasbeenaboutthecross。"
　　"There’sthisdifference，"saidThuillier；"thecrossdoesn’tdependdirectlyuponlaPeyrade，whereastheinfluenceheexertsinthe12tharrondissementhecanemployashewill。"
　　"Andsupposehewilled，afterwehavefeatheredhisnest，"saidBrigitte，"toworkhisinfluenceforhisownelection？Heisveryambitious，youknow。"
　　Thisdangerdidnotfailtostrikethemindofthefuturelegislator，whothought，however，thathemightfeelsomesecurityinthehonorandmoralityoflaPeyrade。
　　"Aman’shonorcan’tbeverydelicate，"returnedBrigitte，"whenhetriestogetoutofabargain；andthisfashionofdanglingabitofsugarbeforeusaboutgettingyourpamphletfinished，doesn’tpleasemeatall。Can’tyougetPhelliontohelpyou，anddowithoutTheodose？Or，Idaresay，MadamedeGodollo，whoknowseverybodyinpolitics，couldfindyouajournalist——theysaythereareplentyofthemoutatelbows；acoupleofhundredfrancswoulddothething。"
　　"Butthesecretwouldgetintothepapers，"saidThuillier。"No，I
　　mustabsolutelyhaveTheodose；heknowsthat，andhemakestheseconditions。Afterall，wedidpromisehimCeleste，anditisonlyfulfillingthepromiseayearearlier——whatamIsaying？——afewmonths，afewweeks，possibly；forthekingmaydissolvetheChamberbeforeanyoneexpectsit。"
　　"ButsupposeCelestewon’thavehim？"objectedBrigitte。
　　"Celeste！Celeste，indeed！"ejaculatedThuillier；"sheMUSThavewhomsoeverwechoose。WeoughttohavethoughtofthatwhenwemadetheengagementwithlaPeyrade；ourwordispassednow，youknow。
　　Besides，ifthechildisallowedtochoosebetweenlaPeyradeandPhellion——"
　　"Soyoureallythink，"saidthescepticaloldmaid，"thatifCelestedecidesforPhellionyoucanstillcountonlaPeyrade’sdevotion？"
　　"WhatelsecanIdo？Thosearehisconditions。Besides，thefellowhascalculatedthewholething；heknowsverywellthatFelixwillneverbringhimselfintwoweekstopleaseCelestebygoingtoconfession，andunlesshedoes，thatlittlemonkeywillneveraccepthimforahusband。LaPeyrade’sgameisveryclever。"
　　"Tooclever，"saidBrigitte。"Well，settlethematterasyouchoose；I
　　shallnotmeddle；allthismanoeuvringisnottomytaste。"
　　ThuillierwenttoseeMadameColleville，andintimatedtoherthatshemustinformCelesteofthedesignsuponher。
　　CelestehadneverbeenofficiallyauthorizedtoindulgehersentimentforFelixPhellion。Flavie，onthecontrary，hadonceexpresslyforbiddenhertoencouragethehopesoftheyoungprofessor；butas，onthepartofMadameThuillier，hergodmotherandherconfidant，sheknewshewassustainedinherinclination，shehadletherselfgentlyfollowitwithoutthinkingveryseriouslyoftheobstaclesherchoicemightencounter。When，therefore，shewasorderedtochooseatoncebetweenFelixandlaPeyrade，thesimple—heartedgirlwasatfirstonlystruckbytheadvantagesofonehalfofthealternative，andshefanciedshedidherselfagreatservicebyagreeingtoanarrangementwhichmadeherthemistressofherownchoiceandallowedhertobestowitasherheartdesired。
　　ButlaPeyradewasnotmistakeninhiscalculationwhenhereckonedthatthereligiousintoleranceoftheyounggirlononeside，andthephilosophicalinflexibilityofPhellion’ssonontheother，wouldcreateaninvincibleobstacletotheircomingtogether。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　GOODBLOODCANNOTLIE
　　TheeveningofthedayonwhichFlaviehadcommunicatedtoCelestethesovereignordersofThuillier，thePhellionscalledtospendtheeveningwithBrigitte，andaverysharpengagementtookplacebetweenthetwoyoungpeople。MademoiselleCollevilledidnotneedtobetoldbyhermotherthatitwouldbeextremelyunbecomingifsheallowedFelixtoknowoftheconditionalapprovalthatwasgrantedtotheirsentiments。Celestehadtoomuchdelicacy，andtoomuchrealreligiousfeelingtowishtoobtaintheconversionofthemanshelovedonanyothergroundthanthatofhisconviction。Theireveningwasthereforepassedintheologicaldebate；butloveissostrangeaProteus，andtakessomanyandsuchvariousforms，thatthoughitappearedonthisoccasioninablackgownandamobcap，itwasnotatallasungracefulanddispleasingasmighthavebeenimagined。ButPhellionjuniorwasinthisencounter，thesolemnityofwhichhelittleknew，unluckyandblunderingtothelastdegree。Notonlydidheconcedenothing，buthetookatoneofairyandironicaldiscussion，andendedbyputtingpoorCelestesobesideherselfthatshefinallydeclaredanopenruptureandforbadehimtoappearinherpresenceagain。
　　Itwasjustthecaseforalovermoreexperiencedthantheyoungsavanttoreappeartheverynextday，foryoungheartsareneversoneartounderstandingeachotheraswhentheyhavejustdeclaredthenecessityofeternalseparation。Butthislawisnotoneoflogarithms，andFelixPhellion，beingincapableofguessingit，thoughthimselfpositivelyandfinallybanished；somuchso，thatduringthefifteendaysgrantedtothepoorgirltodeliberate（assaystheCodeinthematterofbeneficiarybequests），althoughhewasexpecteddaybyday，andfromminutetominutebyCeleste，whogavenomorethoughttolaPeyradethanifhehadnothingtodowiththequestion，thedeplorablystupidyouthdidnothavethemostdistantideaofbreakinghisban。
　　Luckilyforthishopelesslover，abeneficentfairywaswatchingoverhim，andtheeveningbeforethedayonwhichtheyounggirlwastomakeherdecisionthefollowingaffairtookplace。
　　ItwasSunday，thedayonwhichtheThuilliersstillkeptuptheirweeklyreceptions。
　　MadamePhellion，convincedthatthehousekeepingleakage，vulgarlycalled"thebasketdance，"wastheruinofthebest—regulatedhouseholds，wasinthehabitofgoinginpersontohertradespeople。
　　FromtimeimmemorialinthePhellionestablishment，Sundaywasthedayofthe"pot—au—feu，"andthewifeofthegreatcitizen，inthatintentionallydowdycostumeinwhichgoodhousekeepersbundlethemselveswhentheygotomarket，wasprosaicallyreturningfromavisittothebutcher，followedbyhercookandthebasket，inwhichlayamagnificentcutoftheloinofbeef。Twicehadsherungherowndoorbell，andterriblewasthestormgatheringontheheadofthefoot—boy，whobyhisslownessinopeningthedoorwasputtinghismistressinasituationlesstolerablethanthatofLouisXIV。，whohadonlyALMOSTwaited。InherfeverishimpatienceMadamePhellionhadjustgiventhebellathirdandferociousreverberation，when，judgeofherconfusion，alittlecoupedrewupwithmuchclatteratthedoorofherhouse，andaladydescended，whomsherecognized，atthisuntimelyhour，astheelegantComtesseTornadeGodollo！
　　Turningapurplishscarlet，theunfortunatebourgeoiselostherhead，and，flounderinginexcuses，shewasabouttocomplicatethepositionbysomesignalpieceofawkwardness，when，happilyforher，Phellion，attractedbythenoiseofthebell，andattiredinadressing—gownandGreekcap，cameoutofhisstudytoinquirewhatwasthematter。Afteraspeech，thepompouscharmofwhichdidmuchtocompensateforhisdishabille，thegreatcitizen，withtheserenitythatneverabandonedhim，offeredhishandverygallantlytothelady，andhavinginstalledherinthesalon，said：——
　　"MayI，withoutindiscretion，askMadamelacomtessewhathasprocuredforustheunhoped—foradvantageofthisvisit？"
　　"Ihavecome，"saidthelady，"totalkwithMadamePhelliononamatterwhichmustdeeplyinteresther。Ihavenootherwayofmeetingherwithoutwitnesses；andtherefore，thoughIamhardlyknowntoMadamePhellion，Ihavetakenthelibertytocalluponherhere。"
　　"Madame，yourvisitisagreathonortothispoordwelling。ButwhereisMadamePhellion？"addedtheworthyman，impatiently，goingtowardsthedoor。
　　"No，Ibegofyou，don’tdisturbher，"saidthecountess；"Ihaveheedlesslycomeatamomentwhensheisbusywithhouseholdcares。
　　Brigittehasbeenmyeducatorinsuchmatters，andIknowtherespectweoughttopaytogoodhousekeepers。Besides，Ihavethepleasureofyourpresence，whichIscarcelyexpected。"
　　BeforePhellioncouldreplytotheseobligingwords，MadamePhellionappeared。Acapwithribbonshadtakentheplaceofthemarketbonnet，andalargeshawlcoveredtheotherinsufficienciesofthemorningtoilet。Whenhiswifearrived，thegreatcitizenmadeasthoughhewoulddiscreetlyretire。
　　"MonsieurPhellion，"saidthecountess，"youarenotonetoomanyintheconferenceIdesirewithmadame；onthecontrary，yourexcellentjudgmentwillbemostusefulinthrowinglightuponamatterasinterestingtoyouastoyourwife。Ialludetothemarriageofyourson。"
　　"Themarriageofmyson！"criedMadamePhellion，withalookofastonishment；"butIamnotawarethatanythingofthekindisatpresentinprospect。"
　　"ThemarriageofMonsieurFelixwithMademoiselleCelesteis，Ithink，oneofyourstrongestdesires——"
　　"Butwehavenever，"saidPhellion，"takenanyovertstepsforthatobject。"
　　"Iknowthatonlytoowell，"repliedthecountess；"onthecontrary，everyoneinyourfamilyseemstostudyhowtodefeatmyeffortsinthatdirection。However，onethingisclearinspiteofthereserve，and，youmustallowmetosayso，theclumsinessinwhichtheaffairhasbeenmanaged，andthatisthattheyoungpeopleloveeachother，andtheywillbothbeunhappyiftheydonotmarry。Now，topreventthiscatastropheistheobjectwithwhichIhavecomeherethismorning。"
　　"Wecannot，madame，beotherwisethandeeplysensibleoftheinterestyouaresogoodastoshowinthehappinessofourson，"saidPhellion；"but，intruth，thisinterest——"
　　"Issomethingsoinexplicable，"interruptedthecountess，"thatyoufeeladistrustofit？"