"Oh！madame！"saidPhellion，bowingwithanairofrespectfuldissent。
　　"But，"continuedthelady，"theexplanationofmyproceedingisverysimple。IhavestudiedCeleste，andinthatdearandartlesschildI
　　findamoralweightandvaluewhichwouldmakemegrievetoseehersacrificed。"
　　"Youareright，madame，"saidMadamePhellion。"Celesteis，indeed，anangelofsweetness。"
　　"AsformonsieurFelix，Iventuretointerestmyselfbecause，inthefirstplace，heisthesonofsovirtuousafather——"
　　"Oh，madame！Ientreat——"saidPhellion，bowingagain。
　　"——andhealsoattractsmebytheawkwardnessoftruelove，whichappearsinallhisactionsandallhiswords。Wematurewomenfindaninexpressiblecharminseeingthetenderpassionunderaformwhichthreatensuswithnodeceptionsandnomisunderstandings。"
　　"Mysoniscertainlynotbrilliant，"saidMadamePhellion，withafainttoneofsharpness；"heisnotafashionableyoungman。"
　　"Buthehasthequalitiesthataremostessential，"repliedthecountess，"andameritwhichignoresitself，——athingoftheutmostconsequenceinallintellectualsuperiority——"
　　"Really，madame，"saidPhellion，"youforceustohearthingsthat——"
　　"Thatarenotbeyondthetruth，"interruptedthecountess。"AnotherreasonwhichleadsmetotakeadeepinterestinthehappinessoftheseyoungpeopleisthatIamnotsodesirousforthatofMonsieurTheodosedelaPeyrade，whoisfalseandgrasping。Ontheruinoftheirhopesthatmaniscountingtocarryouthisswindlingpurposes。"
　　"Itisquitecertain，"saidPhellion，"thattherearedarkdepthsinMonsieurdelaPeyradewherelightdoesnotpenetrate。"
　　"AndasImyselfhadthemisfortunetomarryamanofhisdescription，thethoughtofthewretchednesstowhichCelestewouldbecondemnedbysofatalaconnection，impelsme，inthehopeofsavingher，tothecharitableeffortwhichnow，Itrust，hasceasedtosurpriseyou。"
　　"Madame，"saidPhellion，"wedonotneedtheconclusiveexplanationsbywhichyouillumineyourconduct；butastothefaultsonourpart，whichhavethwartedyourgenerousefforts，Imustdeclarethatinordertoavoidcommittingtheminfuture，itseemstomenotalittledesirablethatyoushouldplainlyindicatethem。"
　　"Howlongisit，"askedthecountess，"sinceanyofyourfamilyhavepaidavisittotheThuilliers’？"
　　"Ifmymemoryservesme，"saidPhellion，"IthinkwewerealltheretheSundayafterthedinnerforthehouse—warming。"
　　"Fifteenwholedaysofabsence！"exclaimedthecountess；"andyouthinkthatnothingofimportancecouldhappeninfifteendays？"
　　"No，indeed！didnotthreegloriousdaysinJuly，1830，castdownaperjureddynastyandfoundthenobleorderofthingsunderwhichwenowlive？"
　　"Youseeityourself！"saidthecountess。"Now，tellme，duringthatevening，fifteendaysago，didnothingserioustakeplacebetweenyoursonandCeleste？"
　　"Somethingdidoccur，"repliedPhellion，——"averydisagreeableconversationonthesubjectofmyson’sreligiousopinions；itmustbeownedthatourgoodCeleste，whoinallotherrespectshasacharmingnature，isatriflefanaticinthematterofpiety。"
　　"Iagreetothat，"saidthecountess；"butshewasbroughtupbythemotherwhomyouknow；shewasnevershownthefaceoftruepiety；shesawonlythemimicryofit。RepentantMagdalensoftheMadameCollevillespeciesalwaysassumeanairofwishingtoretiretoadesertwiththeirdeath’s—headandcrossedbones。Theythinktheycan’tgetsalvationatacheaperrate。Butafterall，whatdidCelesteaskofMonsieurFelix？Merelythathewouldread’TheImitationofChrist。’"
　　"Hehasreadit，madame，"saidPhellion，"andhethinksitabookextremelywellwritten；buthisconvictions——andthatisamisfortune——havenotbeenaffectedbytheperusal。"
　　"Anddoyouthinkheshowsmuchclevernessinnotassuringhismistressofsomelittlechangeinhisinflexibleconvictions？"
　　"Myson，madame，hasneverreceivedfrommetheslightestlessonincleverness；loyalty，uprightness，thosearetheprinciplesIhaveendeavoredtoinculcateinhim。"
　　"Itseemstome，monsieur，thatthereisnowantofloyaltywhen，indealingwithatroubledmind，weendeavortoavoidwoundingit。ButletusagreethatMonsieurFelixowedittohimselftobethatirondooragainstwhichpoorCeleste’sapplicationsbeatinvain；wasthatareasonforkeepingawayfromherandsulkinginhistentforfifteenwholedays？Aboveall，oughthetohavecappedthesesulksbyaproceedingwhichIcan’tforgive，andwhich——onlyjustmadeknowntous——hasstruckthegirl’sheartwithdespair，andalsowithafeelingofextremeirritation？"
　　"Mysoncapableofanysuchact！itisquiteimpossible，madame！"
　　criedPhellion。"Iknownothingofthisproceeding；butIdonothesitatetoaffirmthatyouhavebeenill—informed。"
　　"Andyet，nothingismorecertain。YoungColleville，whocamehometo—dayforhishalf—holiday，hasjusttoldusthatMonsieurFelix，whohadpreviouslygonewiththeutmostpunctualitytohearhimrecitehasceasedentirelytohaveanythingtodowithhim。Unlessyoursonisill，Idonothesitatetosaythatthisneglectisthegreatestofblunders，inthesituationinwhichhenowstandswiththesisterheoughtnottohavechosenthismomenttoputanendtotheselessons。"
　　ThePhellionslookedateachotherasifconsultinghowtoreply。
　　"Myson，"saidMadamePhellion，"isnotexactlyill；butsinceyoumentionafactwhichis，Iacknowledge，verystrangeandquiteoutofkeepingwithhisnatureandhabits，IthinkitrighttotellyouthatfromthedaywhenCelesteseemedtosignifythatallwasatanendbetweenthem，averyextraordinarychangehascomeoverFelix，whichiscausingMonsieurPhellionandmyselfthedeepestanxiety。"
　　"Yes，madame，"saidPhellion，"theyoungmaniscertainlynotinhisnormalcondition。"
　　"Butwhatisthematterwithhim？"askedthecountess，anxiously。
　　"ThenightofthatscenewithCeleste，"repliedPhellion，"afterhisreturnhome，heweptafloodofhottearsonhismother’sbosom，andgaveustounderstandthatthehappinessofhiswholelifewasatanend。"
　　"Andyet，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"nothingveryserioushappened；butloversalwaysmaketheworstofthings。"
　　"Nodoubt，"saidMadamePhellion；"butsincethatnightFelixhasnotmadetheslightestallusiontohismisfortune，andthenextdayhewentbacktohisworkwithasortoffrenzy。Doesthatseemnaturaltoyou？"
　　"Itiscapableofexplanation；workissaidtobeagreatconsoler。"
　　"Thatismosttrue，"saidPhellion；"butinFelix’swholepersonalitythereissomethingexcited，andyetrepressed，whichisdifficulttodescribe。Youspeaktohim，andhehardlyseemstohearyou；hesitsdowntotableandforgetstoeat，ortakeshisfoodwithanabsent—
　　mindednesswhichthemedicalfacultyconsidermostinjurioustotheprocessofdigestion；hisduties，hisregularoccupations，wehavetoremindhimof——him，soextremelyregular，sopunctual！Theotherday，whenhewasattheObservatory，wherehenowspendsallhisevenings，onlycominghomeinthesmallhours，Itookituponmyselftoenterhisroomandexaminehispapers。Iwasterrified，madame，atfindingapapercoveredwithalgebraiccalculationswhich，bytheirvastextentappearedtometogobeyondthelimitsofthehumanintellect。"
　　"Perhaps，"saidthecountess，"heisontheroadtosomegreatdiscovery。"
　　"Ortomadness，"saidMadamePhellion，inalowvoice，andwithaheavysigh。
　　"Thatisnotprobable，"saidMadamedeGodollo；"withanorganizationsocalmandamindsowellbalanced，herunsbutlittledangerofthatmisfortune。Iknowmyselfofanotherdangerthatthreatenshimto—morrow，andunlesswecantakesomestepsthiseveningtoavertit，Celesteispositivelylosttohim。"
　　"Howso？"saidthehusbandandwifetogether。
　　"Perhapsyouarenotaware，"repliedthecountess，"thatThuillierandhissisterhavemadecertainpromisestoMonsieurdelaPeyradeaboutCeleste？"
　　"Wesuspectedasmuch，"repliedMadamePhellion。
　　"Thefulfilmentofthesepledgeswaspostponedtoaratherdistantperiod，andsubordinatedtocertainconditions。MonsieurdelaPeyrade，afterenablingthemtobuythehouseneartheMadeleine，pledgedhimselfnotonlytoobtainthecrossforMonsieurThuillier，buttowriteinhisnameapoliticalpamphlet，andassisthiminhiselectiontotheChamberofDeputies。Itsoundsliketheromancesofchivalry，inwhichthehero，beforeobtainingthehandoftheprincess，iscompelledtoexterminateadragon。"
　　"Madameisverywitty，"saidMadamePhellion，lookingatherhusband，whomadeherasignnottointerrupt。
　　"Ihavenotimenow，"saidthecountess；"infactitwouldbeuselesstotellyouthemanoeuvresbywhichMonsieurdelaPeyradehascontrivedtohastentheperiodofthismarriage；butitconcernsyoutoknowthat，thankstohisduplicity，CelesteisbeingforcedtochoosebetweenhimandMonsieurFelix；fifteendaysweregivenherinwhichtomakeherchoice；thetimeexpiresto—morrow，and，thankstotheunfortunatestateoffeelingintowhichyourson’sattitudehasthrownher，thereisveryseriousdangerofseeinghersacrificetoherwoundedfeelingsthebettersentimentsofherloveandherinstincts。"
　　"Butwhatcanbedonetopreventit？"askedPhellion。
　　"Fight，monsieur；comethiseveninginforcetotheThuilliers’；
　　induceMonsieurFelixtoaccompanyyou；lecturehimuntilhepromisestobealittlemoreflexibleinhisphilosophicalopinions。Paris，saidHenriIV。，issurelyworthamass。Butlethimavoidallsuchquestions；hecancertainlyfindinhisheartthewordsandtonestomoveawomanwholoveshim；itrequiressolittletosatisfyher！I
　　shallbetheremyself，andIwillhelphimtomyutmostability；
　　perhaps，undertheinspirationofthemoment，Imaythinkofsomewaytodoeffectually。Onethingisverycertain：wehavetofightagreatbattleto—night，andifwedonotALLdoourdutyvalorously，laPeyrademaywinit。"
　　"Mysonisnothere，madame，"saidPhellion，"andIregretit，forperhapsyourgenerousdevotionandurgentwordswouldsucceedinshakingoffhistorpor；but，atanyrate，Iwilllaybeforehimthegravityofthesituation，and，beyondalldoubt，hewillaccompanyusto—nighttotheThuilliers’。"
　　"Itisneedlesstosay，"addedthecountess，rising，"thatwemustcarefullyavoidtheveryslightestappearanceofcollusion；wemustnotconversetogether；infact，unlessitcanbedoneinsomecasualway，itwouldbebetternottospeak。"
　　"Ibegyoutorely，madame，uponmyprudence，"repliedPhellion，"andkindlyaccepttheassurance——"
　　"Ofyourmostdistinguishedsentiments，"interruptedthecountess，laughing。
　　"No，madame，"repliedPhellion，gravely，"Ireservethatformulafortheconclusionofmyletters；Ibegyoutoaccepttheassuranceofmywarmestandmostunalterablegratitude。"
　　"Wewilltalkofthatwhenweareoutofdanger，"saidMadamedeGodollo，movingtowardsthedoor；"andifMadamePhellion，thetenderestandmostvirtuousofmothers，willgrantmealittleplaceinheresteem，Ishallcountmyselfmorethanrepaidformytrouble。"
　　MadamePhellionplungedheadlongintoaresponsivecompliment；andthecountess，inhercarriage，wasatsomedistancefromthehousebeforePhellionhadceasedtoofferherhismostrespectfulsalutations。
　　AstheLatin—quarterelementinBrigitte’ssalonbecamemorerareandlessassiduous，alivelierParisbegantoinfiltrateit。AmonghiscolleaguesinthemunicipalcouncilandamongtheupperemployeesoftheprefectureoftheSeine，thenewcouncillorhadmadeseveralveryimportantrecruits。Themayor，andthedeputymayorsofthearrondissement，onwhom，afterhisremovaltotheMadeleinequarter，Thuillierhadcalled，hastenedtoreturnthecivility；andthesamethinghappenedwiththesuperiorofficersofthefirstlegion。Thehouseitselfhadproducedacontingent；andseveralofthenewtenantscontributed，bytheirpresence，tochangetheaspectofthedominicalmeetings。AmongthenumberwemustmentionRabourdin[see"Bureaucracy"]，theformerheadofThuillier’sofficeattheministryoffinance。Havinghadthemisfortunetolosehiswife，whosesalon，atanearlierperiod，checkmatedthatofMadameColleville，Rabourdinoccupiedasabachelorthethirdfloor，abovetheapartmentlettoCardot，thenotary。Astheresultofanodiousslighttohisjustclaims，Rabourdinhadvoluntarilyresignedhispublicfunctions。Atthistime，whenheagainmetThuillier，hewasdirectorofoneofthosenumerousprojectedrailways，theconstructionofwhichisalwaysdelayedbyeitherparliamentaryrivalryorparliamentaryindecision。
　　Letussay，inpassing，thatthemeetingwiththisableadministrator，nowbecomeanimportantpersonageinthefinancialworld，wasanoccasiontotheworthyandhonestPhelliontodisplayoncemorehisnoblecharacter。AtthetimeoftheresignationtowhichRabourdinhadfelthimselfdriven，Phellionalone，ofalltheclerksintheoffice，hadstoodbyhiminhismisfortunes。Beingnowinapositiontobestowagreatnumberofplaces，Rabourdin，onmeetingoncemorehisfaithfulsubordinate，hastenedtoofferhimapositionbotheasyandlucrative。
　　"Mossieu，"saidPhellion，"yourbenevolencetouchesmeandhonorsme，butmyfranknessowesyouanavowal，whichIbegyounottotakeinillpart：Idonotbelievein’railways，’astheEnglishcallthem。"
　　"That’sanopiniontowhichyouhaveeveryright，"saidRabourdin，smiling；"but，meanwhile，untilthecontraryisproved，wepaytheemployeesinourofficewell，andIshouldbegladtohaveyouwithmeinthatcapacity。IknowbyexperiencethatyouareamanonwhomI
　　cancount。"
　　"Mossieu，"returnedthegreatcitizen，"Ididmydutyatthattime，andnothingmore。Asfortheofferyouhavebeensogoodastomaketome，Icannotacceptit；satisfiedwithmyhumblefortunes，Ifeelneithertheneednorthedesiretore—enteranadministrativecareer；
　　and，incommonwiththeLatinpoet，Imaysay，’Clauditejamrivos，pueri，satpratabiberunt。’"
　　Thuselevatedinthecharacterofitshabitues，thesalonThuillierstillneededanewelementoflife。ThankstothehelpofMadamedeGodollo，abornorganizer，whosuccessfullyputtoprofittheformerconnectionofCollevillewiththemusicalworld，afewartistscametomakediversionfrombouillotteandboston。Old—fashionedandvenerable，thosetwogameswereforcedtobeataretreatbeforewhist，theonlymanner，saidtheHungariancountess，inwhichrespectablepeoplecankilltime。
　　LikeLouisXVI。，whobeganbyputtinghisownhandtoreformswhichsubsequentlyengulfedhisthrone，Brigittehadencouraged，atfirst，thisdomesticrevolution；theneedofsustainingherpositionsuitablyinthenewquartertowhichshehademigratedhadmadeherdociletoallsuggestionsofcomfortandelegance。Butthedayonwhichoccurredthesceneweareabouttowitness，anapparentlytrivialdetailhadrevealedtoherthedangerofthedeclivityonwhichshestood。Thegreaternumberofthenewguests，recentlyimportedbyThuillier，knewnothingofhissister’ssupremacyinhishome。Onarrival，therefore，theyallaskedThuilliertopresentthemtoMADAME，and，naturally，Thuilliercouldnotsaytothemthathiswifewasafigure—headwhogroanedundertheironhandofaRichelieu，towhomthewholehouseholdbenttheknee。Itwasthereforenotuntilthefirsthomagerenderedtothesovereign"dejure"waspaid，thatthenew—comerswereleduptoBrigitte，andbyreasonofthestiffnesswhichdispleasureatthismisplacementofpowergavetohergreetingtheywerescarcelyencouragedtopayheranyfurtherattentions。Quicktoperceivethisspeciesofoverthrow，QueenElizabethsaidtoherself，withthatprofoundinstinctofdominationwhichwasherrulingpassion：——
　　"IfIdon’ttakecareIshallsoonbenobodyinthishouse。"
　　Burrowingintothatidea，shecametothinkthatiftheprojectofmakingacommonhouseholdwithlaPeyrade，thenCeleste’shusband，werecarriedout，thesituationwhichwasbeginningtoalarmherwouldbecomeevenworse。Fromthatmoment，andbysuddenintuition，FelixPhellion，thatgoodyoungman，withhisheadtoofullofmathematicsevertobecomeaformidablerivaltohersovereignty，seemedtoherafarbettermatchthantheenterprisinglawyer，andshewasthefirst，onseeingthePhellionfatherandmotherarrivewithouttheson，toexpressregretathisabsence。Brigitte，however，wasnottheonlyonetofeeltheinjurythatthelucklessprofessorwasdoingtohisprospectsinthuskeepingawayfromherreception。MadameThuillier，withsimplecandor，andCelestewithfeignedreserve，bothmademanifesttheirdispleasure。AsforMadamedeGodollo，who，inspiteofaveryremarkablevoice，usuallyrequiredmuchpressingbeforeshewouldsing（thepianohavingbeenopenedsinceherreignbegan），shenowwentuptoMadamePhellionandaskedhertoaccompanyher，andbetweentwoversesofasongshesaidinherear：——
　　"Whyisn’tyoursonhere？"
　　"Heiscoming，"saidMadamePhellion。"Hisfathertalkedtohimverydecidedly；butto—nighttherehappenstobeaconjunctionofIdon’tknowwhatplanets；itisagreatnightattheObservatory，andhedidnotfeelwillingtodispensewith——"
　　"Itisinconceivablethatamanshouldbesofoolish！"exclaimedMadamedeGodollo；"wasn’ttheologybadenough，thathemustneedsbringinastronomytoo？"
　　AndhervexationgavetohervoicesovibratingatonethathersongendedinthemidstofwhattheEnglishcallathunderofapplause。LaPeyrade，whofearedherextremely，wasnotoneofthelast，whenshereturnedtoherplace，toapproachher，andexpresshisadmiration；
　　butshereceivedhiscomplimentswithacoldnesssoneartoincivilitythattheirmutualhostilitywasgreatlyincreased。LaPeyradeturnedawaytoconsolehimselfwithMadameColleville，whohadstilltoomanypretensionstobeautynottobetheenemyofawomanmadetointerceptallhomage。
　　"Soyoualso，youthinkthatwomansingswell？"shesaid，contemptuously，toTheodose。
　　"Atanyrate，Ihavebeentotellherso，"repliedlaPeyrade，"becausewithouther，inregardtoBrigitte，there’snosecurity。ButdojustlookatyourCeleste；hereyesneverleavethatdoor，andeverytimeatrayisbroughtin，thoughitisanhouratleastsincethelastguestcame，herfaceexpressesdisappointment。"
　　Wemustremark，inpassing，thatsincethereignofMadamedeGodollotrayswerepassedroundontheSundayreceptiondays，andthatwithoutscrimping；onthecontrary，theywereladenwithices，cakes，andsyrups，fromTaurade’s，thenthebestconfectioner。
　　"Don’tharassme！"criedFlavie。"Iknowverywellwhatthatfoolishgirlhasinhermind；andyourmarriagewilltakeplaceonlytoosoon。"
　　"ButyouknowitisnotformyselfImakeit，"saidlaPeyrade；"itisanecessityforthefutureofallofus。Come，come，therearetearsinyoureyes！Ishallleaveyou；youarenotreasonable。Thedevil！asthatPrudhommeofaPhellionsays，’Whosowantstheendwantsthemeans。’"
　　AndhewenttowardthegroupcomposedofCeleste，MadameThuillier，MadamedeGodollo，Colleville，andPhellion。MadameCollevillefollowedhim；and，undertheinfluenceofthefeelingofjealousyshehadjustshown，shebecameasavagemother。
　　"Celeste，"shesaid，"whydon’tyousing？Thesegentlemenwishtohearyou。"
　　"Oh，mamma！"criedthegirl，"howcanIsingafterMadamedeGodollo，withmypoorthreadofavoice？Besides，youknowIhaveacold。"
　　"Thatistosaythat，asusual，youmakeyourselfpretentiousanddisagreeable；peoplesingastheycansing；allvoiceshavetheirownmerits。"
　　"Mydear，"saidColleville，who，havingjustlosttwentyfrancsatthecard—tables，foundcourageinhisill—humortoopposehiswife，"thatsaying，’Peoplesingastheycansing’isabourgeoismaxim。Peoplesingwithavoice，iftheyhaveone；buttheydon’tsingafterhearingsuchamagnificentoperavoiceasthatofMadamelacomtesse。Formypart，IreadilyexcuseCelestefornotwarblingtousoneofhersentimentallittleditties。"
　　"Thenitiswellworthwhile，"saidFlavie，leavingthegroup，"tospendsomuchmoneyonexpensivemasterswhoaregoodfornothing。"
　　"So，"saidColleville，resumingtheconversationwhichtheinvasionofFlaviehadinterrupted，"Felixnolongerinhabitsthisearth；helivesamongthestars？"
　　"Mydearandformercolleague，"saidPhellion，"Iam，asyouare，annoyedwithmysonforneglecting，ashedoes，theoldestfriendsofhisfamily；andthoughthecontemplationofthosegreatluminousbodiessuspendedinspacebythehandoftheCreatorpresents，inmyopinion，higherinterestthanitappearstohavetoyourmoreeagerbrain，IthinkthatFelix，bynotcominghereto—night，ashepromisedmehewould，showsawantofpropriety，aboutwhich，IcanassureyouIshallspeakmymind。"
　　"Science，"saidlaPeyrade，"isafinething，butithas，unfortunately，theattributeofmakingbearsandmonomaniacs。"
　　"Nottomention，"saidCeleste，"thatitdestroysallreligioussentiments。"
　　"Youaremistakenthere，mydearchild，"saidMadamedeGodollo。
　　"Pascal，whowashimselfagreatexampleofthefalsenessofyourpointofview，says，ifIamnotmistaken，thatalittlesciencedrawsusfromreligion，butagreatdealdrawsusbacktoit。"
　　"Andyet，madame，"saidCeleste，"everyoneadmitsthatMonsieurFelixisreallyverylearned；whenhehelpedmybrotherwithhisstudiesnothingcouldbe，soFrancoistoldme，clearerormorecomprehensiblethanhisexplanations；andyousee，yourself，heisnotthemorereligiousforthat。"
　　"Itellyou，mydearchild，thatMonsieurFelixisnotirreligious，andwithalittlegentlenessandpatiencenothingwouldbeeasierthantobringhimback。"
　　"Bringbackasavanttothedutiesofreligion！"exclaimedlaPeyrade。
　　"Really，madame，thatseemstomeverydifficult。Thesegentlemenputtheobjectoftheirstudiesbeforeeverythingelse。Tellageometricianorageologist，forexample，thattheChurchdemands，imperatively，thesanctificationoftheSabbathbythesuspensionofallspeciesofwork，andtheywillshrugtheirshoulders，thoughGodHimselfdidnotdisdaintorestfromHislabors。"
　　"Sothatinnotcomingherethisevening，"saidCeleste，naively，"MonsieurFelixcommitsnotonlyafaultagainstgoodmanners，butasin。"
　　"But，mydearest，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"doyouthinkthatourmeetingherethiseveningtosingballadsandeaticesandsayevilofourneighbor——whichisthecustomaryhabitofsalons——ismorepleasingtoGodthantoseeamanofscienceinhisobservatorybusiedinstudyingthemagnificentsecretsofHiscreation？"
　　"There’satimeforallthings，"saidCeleste；"and，asMonsieurdelaPeyradesays，GodHimselfdidnotdisdaintorest。"
　　"But，mylove，"saidMadamedeGodollo，"Godhastimetodoso；Heiseternal。"
　　"That，"saidlaPeyrade，"isoneofthewittiestimpietieseveruttered；thosearethereasonsthattheworld’speopleputforth。TheyinterpretandexplainawaythecommandsofGod，eventhosethataremostexplicitandimperative；theytakethem，leavethem，orchooseamongthem；thefree—thinkersubjectsthemtohislordlyrevision，andfromfree—thinkingthedistanceisshorttofreeactions。"
　　DuringthisharangueofthebarristerMadamedeGodollohadlookedattheclock；itthensaidhalf—pasteleven。Thesalonbegantoempty。
　　Onlyonecard—tablewasstillgoingon，Minard，Thuillier，andtwoofthenewacquaintancesbeingtheplayers。Phellionhadjustquittedthegroupwithwhichhehadsofarbeensitting，tojoinhiswife，whowastalkingwithBrigitteinacorner；bythevehemenceofhispantomimicactionitwaseasytoseethathewasfilledwithsomevirtuousindignation。Everythingseemedtoshowthatallhopeofseeingthearrivalofthetardyloverwasdecidedlyover。
　　"Monsieur，"saidthecountesstolaPeyrade，"doyouconsiderthegentlemenattachedtoSaint—JacquesduHautPasintheruedesPostesgoodCatholics？"
　　"Undoubtedly，"repliedthebarrister，"religionhasnomoreloyalsupporters。"
　　"Thismorning，"continuedthecountess，"IhadthehappinesstobereceivedbyPereAnselme。HeisthoughtthemodelofallChristianvirtues，andyetthegoodfatherisaverylearnedmathematician。"
　　"Ihavenotsaid，madame，thatthetwoqualitieswereabsolutelyincompatible。"
　　"ButyoudidsaythatatrueChristiancouldnotattendtoanyspeciesofworkonSunday。Ifso，PereAnselmemustbeanunbeliever；forwhenIwasadmittedtohisroomIfoundhimstandingbeforeablackboardwithabitofchalkinhishand，busywithaproblemwhichwas，nodoubt，knotty，fortheboardwasthree—partscoveredwithalgebraicsigns；andImustaddthathedidnotseemtocareforthescandalthisoughttocause，forhehadwithhimanindividualwhomIamnotallowedtoname，ayoungermanofscience，ofgreatpromise，whowassharinghisprofaneoccupation。"
　　CelesteandMadameThuillierlookedateachother，andbothsawagleamofhopeintheother’seyes。
　　"Whycan’tyoutellusthenameofthatyoungmanofscience？"MadameThuillierventuredtosay，forsheneverputanydiplomacyintotheexpressionofherthoughts。
　　"Becausehehasnot，likePereAnselme，thesaintlinesswhichwouldabsolvehimintheeyesofmonsieurhereforthisflagrantviolationoftheSabbath。Besides，"addedMadamedeGodollo，inasignificantmanner，"heaskedmenottomentionthatIhadmethimthere。"
　　"Thenyouknowagoodmanyscientificyoungmen？"saidCeleste，interrogatively；"thisoneandMonsieurFelix——thatmakestwo。"
　　"Mydearlove，"saidthecountess，"youareaninquisitivelittlegirl，andyouwillnotmakemesaywhatIdonotchoosetosay，especiallyafteraconfidencethatPereAnselmemadetome；forifI
　　did，yourimaginationwouldatoncesetoffatagallop。"
　　Thegallophadalreadystarted，andeverywordthecountesssaidonlyaddedtotheanxiouseagernessoftheyounggirl。
　　"Asforme，"saidlaPeyrade，sarcastically，"Ishouldn’tbeatallsurprisedifPereAnselme’syoungcollaboratorwasthatveryFelixPhellion。VoltairealwayskeptverycloserelationswiththeJesuitswhobroughthimup；buthenevertalkedreligionwiththem。"
　　"Well，myyoungsavantdoestalkofittohisvenerablebrotherinscience；hesubmitshisdoubtstohim；infact，thatwasthebeginningoftheirscientificintimacy。"