"Youmean，"saidlaPeyrade，seizingtheballinitsbound，"thattogetyououtoftheclawsofthatjuryisathirteenthlaborofHercules，imposeduponmetoearnthehandofMademoiselleColleville？
　　Iexpectedthatdemandswouldmultiplyinproportiontotheproofsofmydevotion。Butthatistheverythingthathaswornmeout，andI
　　havecomehereto—daytoputanendtothisslavelaborbygivingbacktoyouyourpledges。YoumaydisposeofCeleste’shand；formypart，I
　　amnolongerasuitorforit。"
　　TheunexpectednessandsquarenessofthisdeclarationleftThuillierwithoutwordsorvoice，allthemorebecauseatthismomententeredBrigitte。Thetemperoftheoldmaidhadalsogreatlymoderatedsincethepreviousevening，andhergreetingwasfullofthemostamicablefamiliarity。
　　"Ah！sohereyouare，yougoodoldbarrister，"shesaid。
　　"Mademoiselle，yourservant，"hereplied，gravely。
　　"Well，"shecontinued，payingnoattentiontothestiffnessofhismanner，"thegovernmenthasgotitselfintoaprettymessbyseizingyourpamphlet。Yououghttoseehowthemorningpaperslashit！Here，"
　　sheadded，givingThuillierasmallsheetprintedonsugar—paper，incoarsetype，andalmostillegible，——"here’sanother，youdidn’tread；
　　theporterhasjustbroughtitup。Itisapaperfromouroldquarter，’L’EchodelaBievre。’Idon’tknow，gentlemen，ifyou’llbeofmyopinion，butIthinknothingcouldbebetterwritten。Itisdroll，though，howinattentivethesejournalistsare！mostofthemwriteyournamewithouttheH；Ithinkyououghttocomplainofit。"
　　Thuilliertookthepaper，andreadthearticleinspiredtothereviewerofthetanner’sorganbystomachgratitude。NeverinherlifehadBrigittepaidtheslightestattentiontoanewspaper，excepttoknowifitwastherightsizeforthepackagesshewrappedupinit；
　　butnow，suddenly，convertedtoaworshipofthepressbytheardorofhersisterlylove，shestoodbehindThuillierandre—read，overhisshoulder，themorestrikingpassagesofthepageshethoughtsoeloquent，pointingherfingertothem。
　　"Yes，"saidThuillier，foldingupthepaper，"that’swarm，andveryflatteringtome。Buthere’sanothermatter！Monsieurhascometotellmethatherefusestopleadforme，andrenouncesallclaimtoCeleste’shand。"
　　"Thatistosay，"saidBrigitte，"herenouncesherif，afterhavingpleaded，themarriagedoesnottakeplace’subito。’Well，poorfellow，Ithinkthat’sareasonabledemand。Whenhehasdonethatforusthereoughttobenofurtherdelay；andwhetherMademoiselleCelestelikesitornot，shemustaccepthim，because，youknow，there’sanendtoallthings。"
　　"Doyouhearthat，mygoodfellow？"saidlaPeyrade，seizinguponBrigitte’sspeech。"WhenIhavepleaded，themarriageistotakeplace。Yoursisterisfranknessitself；she，atleast，doesn’tpractisediplomacy。"
　　"Diplomacy！"echoedBrigitte。"I’dliketoseemyselfcreepingundergroundinmatters。IsaythingsasIthinkthem。Theworkmanhasworked，andheoughttohavehispay。"
　　"Dobesilent，"criedThuillier，stampinghisfoot；"youdon’tsayawordthatdoesn’tturntheknifeinthewound。"
　　"Theknifeinthewound？"saidBrigitte，inquiringly。"Ahca！areyoutwoquarrelling？"
　　"Itoldyou，"saidThuillier，"thatlaPeyradehadreturnedourpromises；andthereasonhegivesisthatweareaskinghimanotherserviceforCeleste’shand。Hethinkshehasdoneusenoughwithoutit。"
　　"Hehasdoneussomeservices，nodoubt，"saidBrigitte；"butitseemstomethatwehavenotbeenungratefultohim。Besides，itwashewhomadetheblunder，andIthinkitratheroddheshouldnowwishtoleaveusinthelurch。"
　　"Yourreasoning，mademoiselle，"saidlaPeyrade，"mighthavesomeappearanceofjusticeifIweretheonlybarristerinParis；butasthestreetsareblackwiththem，andas，onlyyesterday，Thuillierhimselfspokeofengagingsomemoreimportantlawyerthanmyself，I
　　havenottheslightestscrupleinrefusingtodefendhim。Now，astothemarriage，inorderthatitmaynotbemadetheobjectofanotherbrutalandforcibledemanduponme，Ihererenounceitinthemostformalmanner，andnothingnowpreventsMademoiselleCollevillefromacceptingMonsieurFelixPhellionandallhisadvantages。"
　　"Asyouplease，mydearmonsieur，"saidBrigitte，"ifthat’syourlastword。WeshallnotbeatalosstofindahusbandforCeleste，——FelixPhellionoranother。Butyoumustpermitmetotellyouthatthereasonyougiveisnotthetrueone。Wecan’tgofasterthanthefiddles。Ifthemarriageweresettledto—day，therearethebannstopublish；youhavesenseenoughtoknowthatMonsieurlemairecan’tmarryyoubeforetheformalitiesarecompliedwith，andbeforethenThuillier’scasewillhavebeentried。"
　　"Yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"andifIlosethecaseitwillbeIwhohavesenthimtoprison，——justasyesterdayitwasIwhobroughtabouttheseizure。"
　　"Asforthat，itseemstomethatifyouhadwrittennothingthepolicewouldhavefoundnothingtobite。"
　　"MydearBrigitte，"saidThuillier，seeinglaPeyradeshrughisshoulders，"yourargumentisviciousinthesensethatthewritingwasnotincriminatingonanyside。ItisnotlaPeyrade’sfaultifpersonsofhighstationhaveorganizedapersecutionagainstme。Yourememberthatlittlesubstitute，MonsieurOlivierVinet，whomCardotbroughttooneofourreceptions。Itseemsthatheandhisfatherarefuriousthatwedidn’twanthimforCeleste，andthey’veswornmydestruction。"
　　"Well，whydidwerefusehim，"saidBrigitte，"ifitwasn’tforthefineeyesofmonsieurhere？For，afterall，asubstituteinParisisaverysuitablematch。"
　　"Nodoubt，"saidlaPeyrade，nonchalantly。"Only，hedidnothappentobringyouamillion。"
　　"Ah！"criedBrigitte，firingup。"Ifyouaregoingtotalkanymoreaboutthathouseyouhelpedustobuy，Ishalltellyouplainlythatifyouhadhadthemoneytotrickthenotaryyouneverwouldhavecomeafterus。Youneedn’tthinkIhavebeenaltogetheryourdupe。Youspokejustnowofabargain，butyouproposedthatbargainyourself。
　　’GivemeCelesteandI’llgetyouthathouse，’——that’swhatyousaidtousinsomanywords。Besideswhich，wehadtopaylargesumsonwhichwenevercounted。"
　　"Come，come，Brigitte，"saidThuillier，"youaremakingagreatdealoutofnothing。"
　　"Nothing！nothing！"exclaimedBrigitte。"Didwe，ordidwenot，havetopaymuchmorethanweexpected？"
　　"MydearThuillier，"saidlaPeyrade，"Ithink，withyou，thatthematterisnowsettled，anditcanonlybeembitteredbydiscussingitfurther。MycoursewasdecidedonbeforeIcamehere；allthatIhavenowheardcanonlyconfirmit。IshallnotbethehusbandofCeleste，butyouandIcanremaingoodfriends。"
　　Herosetoleavetheroom。
　　"Onemoment，monsieur，"saidBrigitte，barringhisway；"thereisonematterwhichIdonotconsidersettled；andnowthatwearenolongertohaveinterestsincommon，IshouldnotbesorryifyouwouldbesogoodastotellmewhathasbecomeofasumoftenthousandfrancswhichThuilliergaveyoutobribethoserascallygovernmentofficesinordertogetthecrosswehavenevergot。"
　　"Brigitte！"criedThuillier，inanguish，"youhaveadevilofatongue！Yououghttobesilentaboutthat；Itoldittoyouinamomentofill—temper，andyoupromisedmefaithfullynevertoopenyourlipsaboutittoanyone，nomatterwho。"
　　"SoIdid；but，"repliedtheimplacableBrigitte，"weareparting。
　　Whenpeopleparttheysettleup；theypaytheirdebts。Tenthousandfrancs！Formypart，Ithoughtthecrossitselfdearatthat；butforacrossthathasmeltedaway，monsieurhimselfwillallowthepriceistoohigh。"
　　"Come，laPeyrade，myfriend，don’tlistentoher，"saidThuillier，goinguptothebarrister，whowaspalewithanger。"Theaffectionshehasformeblindsher；Iknowverywellwhatgovernmentofficesare，andIshouldn’tbesurprisedifyouhadhadtopayoutmoneyofyourown。"
　　"Monsieur，"saidlaPeyrade，"Iam，unfortunately，notinapositiontoreturntoyou，instantly，thatmoney，anaccountingforwhichissoinsolentlydemanded。Grantmeashortdelay；andhavethegoodnesstoacceptmynote，whichIamreadytosign，ifthatwillgiveyoupatience。"
　　"Tothedevilwithyournote！"criedThuillier；"youowemenothing；
　　onthecontrary，itiswewhooweyou；forCardottoldmeIoughttogiveyouatleasttenthousandfrancsforenablingustobuythismagnificentproperty。"
　　"Cardot！Cardot！"saidBrigitte；"heisverygenerouswithotherpeople’smoney。WeweregivingmonsieurCeleste，andthat’sagooddealmorethantenthousandfrancs。"
　　LaPeyradewastoogreatacomediannottoturnthehumiliationhehadjustenduredintoascenefinale。Withtearsinhisvoice，whichpresentlyfellfromhiseyes，heturnedtoBrigitte。
　　"Mademoiselle，"hesaid，"whenIhadthehonortobereceivedbyyouI
　　waspoor；youlongsawmesufferingandillatease，knowing，alas！
　　toowell，theindignitiesthatpovertymustbear。FromthedaythatI
　　wasabletogiveyouafortunewhichIneverthoughtofformyselfI
　　havefelt，itistrue，moreassurance；andyourownkindnessencouragedmetoriseoutofmytimidityanddepression。To—day，whenI，byfrankandloyalconduct，releaseyoufromanxiety，——for，ifyouchosetobehonest，youwouldacknowledgethatyouhavebeenthinkingofanotherhusbandforCeleste，——wemightstillremainfriends，eventhoughIrenounceamarriagewhichmydelicacyforbidsmetopursue。
　　Butyouhavenotchosentorestrainyourselfwiththelimitsofsocialpoliteness，ofwhichyouhaveamodelbesideyouinMadamedeGodollo，who，Iampersuaded，althoughsheisnotatallfriendlytome，wouldneverhaveapprovedofyourodiousbehavior。ThankHeaven！Ihaveinmyheartsomereligioussentimentatleast；theGospelisnottomeameredead—letter，and——understandmewell，mademoiselle——IFORGIVE
　　YOU。ItisnottoThuillier，whowouldrefusethem，buttoyouthatI
　　shall，beforelong，paythetenthousandfrancswhichyouinsinuateI
　　haveappliedtomyownpurposes。If，bythetimetheyarereturnedtoyou，youfeelregretforyourunjustsuspicions，andareunwillingtoacceptthemoney，IrequestthatyouwillturnitovertothebureauofBenevolencetothepoor——"
　　"TothebureauofBenevolence！"criedBrigitte，interruptinghim。"No，Ithankyou！theideaofallthatmoneybeingdistributedamongacrowdofdo—nothingsanddevotes，who’llspenditinjunketing！I’vebeenpoortoo，mylad；ImadebagsforthemoneyofotherslongbeforeIhadanymoneyofmyown；Ihavesomenow，andItakecareofit。So，wheneveryouwill，Iamreadytoreceivethattenthousandfrancsandkeepit。Ifyoudidn’tknowhowtodowhatyouundertooktodo，andspentthatmoneyintryingtoputsaltonasparrow’stail，somuchtheworseforyou。"
　　Seeingthathehadmissedhiseffect，andhadmadenottheslightestimpressiononBrigitte’sgranite，laPeyradecastadisdainfullookuponherandlefttheroommajestically。AshedidsohenoticedamovementmadebyThuilliertofollowhim，andalsotheimperiousgestureofBrigitte，alwaysqueenandmistress，whichnailedherbrothertohischair。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　AtthemomentwhenlaPeyradewaspreparingtolayatthefeetofthecountessthelibertyhehadrecoveredinsobrutalamanner，hereceivedaperfumednote，whichmadehisheartbeat，foronthesealwasthatmomentous"AllorNothing"whichshehadgivenhimastheruleoftherelationnowtobeinauguratedbetweenthem。Thecontentsofthenotewereasfollows：——
　　DearMonsieur，——Ihaveheardofthestepyouhavetaken；thankyou！ButImustnowpreparetotakemyown。Icannot，asyoumaywellthink，continuetoliveinthishouse，andamongthesepeoplewhoaresolittleofourownclassandwithwhomwehavenothingincommon。Toarrangethistransaction，andtoavoidexplanationsofthefactthattheentresolwelcomesthevoluntaryexilefromthefirst—floor，Ineedto—dayandto—morrowtomyself。Donotthereforecometoseemeuntilthedayafter。BythattimeIshallhaveexecutedBrigitte，astheysayattheBourse，andhavemuchtotellyou。
　　Tuatota，TornadeGodollo。
　　That"Whollythine"inLatinseemedcharmingtolaPeyrade，whowasnot，however，astonished，forLatinisasecondnationallanguagetotheHungarians。Thetwodays’waitingtowhichhewasthuscondemnedonlyfannedtheflameoftheardentpassionwhichpossessedhim，andonthethirddaywhenreachedthehousebytheMadeleinehislovehadrisentoadegreeofincandescenceofwhichonlyafewdaysearlierhewouldscarcelyhavesupposedhimselfcapable。
　　Thistimetheporter’swifeperceivedhim；buthewasnowquiteindifferentastowhetherornottheobjectofhisvisitshouldbeknown。Theicewasbroken，hishappinesswassoontobeofficial，andhewasmoredisposedtocryitaloudinthestreetsthantomakeamysteryofit。
　　Runninglightlyupthestairs，hepreparedtoringthebell，when，onputtingouthishandtoreachthesilkenbell—cordheperceivedthatthebell—cordhaddisappeared。LaPeyrade’sfirstthoughtwasthatoneofthoseseriousillnesseswhichmakeallnoisesintolerabletoapatientwouldexplainitsabsence；butwiththethoughtcameotherobservationsthatweakenedit，andwhich，moreover，werenotinthemselvescomforting。
　　Fromthevestibuletothecountess’sdoorastaircarpet，heldateachstepbyabrassrod，madeasoftascenttothefeetofvisitors；this，too，hadbeenremoved。Ascreen—doorcoveredwithgreenvelvetandstuddedwithbrassnailshadhithertoprotectedtheentrancetotheapartment；ofthatnosign，excepttheinjurytothewalldonebytheworkmenintakingitaway。Foramomentthebarristerthought，inhisagitation，thathemusthavemistakenthefloor，but，castinghiseyeoverthebalusterhesawthathehadnotpassedtheentresol。MadamedeGodollomust，therefore，beintheactofmovingaway。
　　Hethenresignedhimselftomakeknownhispresenceatthegreatlady’sdoorashewouldhavedoneatthatofagrisette。Herappedwithhisknuckles，butahollowsonorityrevealingthevoid，"intonuerecavernae，"echoedbeyondthedoorwhichhevainlyappealedtowithhisfist。Healsoperceivedfrombeneaththatdoorarayofvividlight，thesuresignofanuninhabitedapartmentwherecurtainsandcarpetsandfurniturenolongerdimthelightordeadensound。
　　Compelledtobelieveinatotalremoval，laPeyradenowsupposedthatintherupturewithBrigitte，mentionedasprobablebyMadamedeGodollo，somebrutalinsolenceoftheoldmaidhadnecessitatedthisabruptdeparture。Butwhyhadhenotbeentoldofit？Andwhatanidea，toexposehimtothisridiculousmeetingwithwhatthecommonpeoplecall，intheirpicturesquelanguage，"thewoodenface"！
　　Beforeleavingthedoorfinally，andasifsomedoubtstillremainedinhismind，laPeyrademadealastandmostthunderingassaultuponit。
　　"Who’sknockinglikethat，asifthey’dbringthehousedown？"saidtheporter，attractedbythenoisetothefootofthestaircase。
　　"Doesn’tMadamedeGodollostilllivehere？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"Ofcourseshedoesn’tliveherenow；shehasmovedaway。IfmonsieurhadtoldmehewasgoingtoherapartmentIwouldhavesparedhimthetroubleofbatteringdownthedoor。"
　　"Iknewthatshewasgoingtoleavetheapartment，"saidlaPeyrade，notwishingtoseemignorantoftheprojectofdeparture，"butIhadnoideashewasgoingsosoon。"
　　"Isupposeitwassomethingsudden，"saidtheporter，"forshewentoffearlythismorningwithpost—horses。"
　　"Post—horses！"echoedlaPeyrade，stupefied。"ThenshehasleftParis？"
　　"That’stobesupposed，"saidtheporter；"peopledon’tusuallytakepost—horsesandapostiliontochangefromonequarterofParistoanother。"
　　"Andshedidnottellyouwhereshewasgoing？"
　　"Ah！monsieur，whatanidea！Dopeopleaccounttousportersforwhattheydo？"
　　"No，butherletters——thosethatcomeafterherdeparture？"
　　"Herletters？IamorderedtodeliverthemtoMonsieurlecommandeur，thelittleoldgentlemenwhocametoseehersooften；monsieurmusthavemethim。"
　　"Yes，yes，certainly，"saidlaPeyrade，keepinghispresenceofmindinthemidstofthesuccessiveshockswhichcameuponhim，——"thepoweredlittlemanwhowashereeveryday。"
　　"Icouldn’tsayeveryday；buthecameoften。Well，Iamtoldtogivethecountess’sletterstohim。"
　　"Andforotherpersonsofheracquaintance，"saidlaPeyrade，carelessly，"didsheleavenomessage？"
　　"None，monsieur。"
　　"Verywell，"saidlaPeyrade，"good—morning。"Andheturnedtogoout。
　　"ButIthink，"saidtheporter，"thatMademoiselleThuillierknowsmoreaboutitthanIdo。Won’tmonsieurgoup？Sheisathome；andsoisMonsieurThuillier。"
　　"No，nevermind，"saidlaPeyrade，"IonlycametotellMadamedeGodolloaboutacommissionsheaskedmetoexecute；Ihaven’ttimetostopnow。"
　　"Well，asItoldyou，sheleftwithpost—horsesthismorning。Twohoursearliermonsieurmightstillhavefoundher；butnow，withpost—
　　horses，shemustbythistimehavegoneagooddistance。"
　　LaPeyradedeparted，withasenseofdespairinhisheart。Addedtotheanxietycausedbythishastydeparture，jealousyenteredhissoul，andinthisagonizingmomentofdisappointmentthemostdistressingexplanationscrowdedonhismind。
　　Then，afterfurtherreflection，hesaidtohimself：——
　　"Thesecleverdiplomaticwomenareoftensentonsecretmissionswhichrequirethemostabsolutesilence，andextremerapidityofmovement。"
　　Buthereasuddenrevulsionofthoughtovercamehim：——
　　"Supposeshewereoneofthoseintriguingadventurerswhomforeigngovernmentsemployasagents？Supposethetale，moreorlessprobable，ofthatRussianprincessforcedtosellherfurnituretoBrigittewerealsothatofthisHungariancountess？Andyet，"hecontinued，ashisbrainmadeathirdevolutioninthisfrightfulanarchyofideasandfeelings，"hereducation，hermanners，herlanguage，allbespokeawomanofthebestposition。Besides，ifshewereonlyabirdofpassage，whyhavegivenherselfsomuchtroubletowinmeover？"
　　LaPeyrademighthavecontinuedtopleadthusforandagainstforalongtimehadhenotbeensuddenlygraspedroundtheshouldersbyastrongarmandaddressedinawell—knownvoice。
　　"Takecare！mydearbarrister；afrightfuldangerthreatensyou；youarerunningrightintoit。"
　　LaPeyrade，thusarrested，lookedroundandfoundhimselfinthearmsofPhellion。
　　ThescenetookplaceinfrontofahousewhichwasbeingpulleddownatthecorneroftheruesDuphotandSaint—Honore。Postedonthepavementoftheothersideofthestreet，Phellion，whosetasteforwatchingtheprocessofbuildingourreadersmayremember，hadbeenwitnessingforthelastfifteenminutesthedramaofawallabouttofallbeneaththeunitedeffortsofasquadronofworkmen。Watchinhand，thegreatcitizenwasestimatingthelengthoftheresistancewhichthatmassoffreestonewouldpresenttothedestructivelaborofwhichitwastheobject。PreciselyatthecrucialmomentoftheimpendingcatastrophelaPeyrade，lostinthetumultofhisthoughts，wasentering，heedlessoftheshoutsaddressedtohimonallsides，theradiuswithinwhichthestoneswouldfall。SeenbyPhellion（who，itmustbesaid，wouldhavedonethesameforatotalstranger）laPeyradeundoubtedlyowedhislifetohim；for，atthemomentwhenhewasviolentlyflungbackbythevigorousgraspoftheworthycitizen，thewallfellwiththenoiseofacannon—shot，andthestonesrolledincloudsofdustalmosttohisveryfeet。
　　"Areyoublindanddeaf？"saidtheworkmanwhosebusinessitwastowarnthepassers，inatoneofamenityitiseasytoimagine。
　　"Thankyou，mydearfriend，"saidlaPeyrade，recalledtoearth。"I
　　shouldcertainlyhavebeencrushedlikeanidiotifithadn’tbeenforyou。"
　　AndhepressedPhellion’shand。
　　"Myreward，"repliedthelatter，"liesinthesatisfactionofknowingthatyouaresavedfromanimminentperil。AndImaysaythatthatsatisfactionismingled，forme，withacertainpride；forIwasnotmistakenbyasinglesecondinthecalculationwhichenabledmetoforeseetheexactmomentwhenthatformidablemasswouldbedisplacedfromitscentreofgravity。Butwhatwereyouthinkingof，mydearmonsieur？ProbablyofthepleayouareabouttomakeintheThuillieraffair。Thepublicprintshaveinformedmeofthedangerofprosecutionbytheauthoritieswhichhangsabovetheheadofourestimablefriend。Youhaveanoblecausetodefend，monsieur。
　　HabituatedasIam，throughmylaborsasamemberofthereadingcommitteeoftheOdeon，tojudgeofworksofintellect，andwithmyhanduponmyconscience，Ideclarethatafterreadingtheincriminatedpassages，Icanfindnothinginthetoneofthatpamphletwhichjustifiestheseveremeasuresofwhichitistheobject。Betweenourselves，"addedthegreatcitizen，loweringhisvoice，"Ithinkthegovernmenthasshownitselfpetty。"
　　"SoIthink，"saidlaPeyrade，"butIamnotemployedforthedefence。
　　IhaveadvisedThuilliertoengagesomenotedlawyer。"
　　"Itmaybegoodadvice，"saidPhellion；"atanyrate，itspeakswellforyourmodesty。Poorman！Iwenttohimatoncewhentheblowfell，butIdidnotseehim；IsawonlyBrigitte，whowashavingadiscussionwithMadamedeGodollo。Thereisawomanwithstrongpoliticalviews；itseemsshepredictedthattheseizurewouldbemade。"
　　"DidyouknowthatthecountesshadleftParis？"saidlaPeyrade，rushingatthechanceofspeakingonthesubjectofhispresentmonomania。
　　"Ah！leftParis，hasshe？"saidPhellion。"Well，monsieur，Imusttellyouthat，althoughtherewasnotmuchsympathybetweenus，Iregardherdepartureasamisfortune。Shewillleaveaseriousvoidinthesalonofourfriends。Isaythis，becauseitismybelief，andIamnotinthehabitofdisguisingmyconvictions。"
　　"Yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"sheiscertainlyaverydistinguishedwoman，withwhominspiteofherprejudiceagainstme，IthinkIshouldhavecometoanunderstanding。Butthismorning，withoutleavinganywordastowhereshewasgoing，shestartedsuddenlywithpost—horses。"
　　"Post—horses！"saidPhellion。"Idon’tknowwhetheryouwillagreewithme，monsieur，butIthinkthattravellingbypostisamostagreeablemethodofconveyance。CertainlyLouisXI。，towhomweowetheinstitution，hadafortunateinspirationinthematter；although，ontheotherhand，hissanguinaryanddespoticgovernmentwasnot，tomyhumblethinking，entirelydevoidofreproach。OnceonlyinmylifehaveIusedthatmethodoflocomotion，andIcantrulysayIfounditfarsuperior，inspiteofitsinferiorrelativerapidity，totheheadlongcourseofwhatinEnglandarecalledRAILWAYS；wherespeedisattainedonlyatthepriceofsafety。"
　　LaPeyradepaidbutlittleattentiontoPhellion’sphraseology。"Wherecanshehavegone？"——roundthatideaheduganddelvedineverydirection，anoccupationthatwouldhavemadehimindifferenttoafarmoreinterestingtopic。However，oncestarted，likethelocomotiveheobjectedto，thegreatcitizenwenton：——
　　"ImadethatjourneyattheperiodofMadamePhellion’slastconfinement。ShewasinPerche，withhermother，whenIlearnedthatseriouscomplicationswerefearedfromthemilk—fever。Overcomewithterroratthedangerwhichthreatenedmywife，Iwentinstantlytothepost—officetoobtainaseatinthemail—coach，butallweretaken；I
　　foundtheyhadbeenengagedformorethanaweek。Uponthat，Icametoadecision；IwenttotheruePigalle，and，foraverylargesumingoldapost—chaiseandthreehorseswereplacedatmydisposal，whenunfortunatelytheformalityofapassport，withwhichIhadneglectedtosupplymyself，andwithoutwhich，invirtueofthedecreesoftheconsulateof17Nivose，yearVII。，thepostagentswerenotpermittedtodeliverhorsestotravellers——"
　　ThelastfewwordswerelikeaflashoflighttolaPeyrade，andwithoutwaitingfortheendofthepostalodysseyofthegreatcitizen，hedartedawayinthedirectionoftheruePigalle，beforePhellion，inthemiddleofhissentence，perceivedhisdeparture。
　　ReachingtheRoyalpostalestablishment，laPeyradewaspuzzledastowhomtoaddresshimselfinordertoobtaintheinformationhewanted。
　　Hebeganbyexplainingtotheporterthathehadalettertosendtoaladyofhisacquaintancethatmorningbypost，neglecting，verythoughtlessly，tosendhimheraddress，andthathethoughthemightdiscoveritbymeansofthepassportwhichshemusthavepresentedinordertoobtainhorses。
　　"WasitaladyaccompaniedbyamaidwhomItookupontheboulevarddelaMadeleine？"askedapostilionsittinginthecorneroftheroomwherelaPeyradewasmakinghispreliminaryinquiry。
　　"Exactly，"saidlaPeyrade，goingeagerlyuptotheprovidentialbeing，andslippingafive—francpieceintohishand。
　　"Ah！well，she’saqueertraveller！"saidtheman，"shetoldmetotakehertotheBoisdeBoulogne，andthereshemademedriveroundandroundforanhour。Afterthat，wecamebacktotheBarrieredel’Etoile，whereshegavemeagood’pourboire’andgotintoahackneycoach，tellingmetotakethetravellingcarriagebacktothemanwholetssuchcarriagesintheCourdesCoches，FaubourgSaint—Honore。"
　　"Givemethenameofthatman？"saidlaPeyrade，eagerly。
　　"Simonin，"repliedthepostilion。
　　FurnishedwiththatinformationlaPeyraderesumedhiscourse，andfifteenminuteslaterhewasquestioningthelivery—stablekeeper；butthatindividualknewonlythataladyresidingontheBoulevarddelaMadeleinehadhired，withouthorses，atravelling—carriageforhalfaday；thathehadsentoutthesaidcarriageatninethatmorning，anditwasbroughtbackattwelvebyapostilionoftheRoyalPosthouse。
　　"Nevermind，"thoughtlaPeyrade，"IamcertainnowshehasnotleftParis，andisnotavoidingme。Mostprobably，shewantstobreakutterlywiththeThuilliers，andsohasinventedthisjourney。FoolthatIam！nodoubtthere’saletterwaitingformeathome，explainingthewholething。"
　　Wornoutwithemotionandfatigue，andinordertoverifyasquicklyaspossiblethisnewsupposition，laPeyradeflunghimselfintoastreetcab，andinlessthanaquarterofanhour，havingpromisedthedriveragoodpourboire，hewasdepositedatthehouseintherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。Therehewascompelledtoendurestilllongerthetorturesofwaiting。SinceBrigitte’sdeparture，thedutyoftheporter，Coffinet，hadbeenverynegligentlyperformed，andwhenlaPeyraderushedtothelodgetoinquireforhisletter，whichhethoughthesawinthecasethatbelongedtohim，theporterandhiswifewerebothabsentandtheirdoorwaslocked。Thewifewasdoingsomehouseholdworkinthebuilding，andCoffinethimself，takingadvantageofthatcircumstance，hadallowedafriendtoenticehimintoaneighboringwine—shop，where，betweentwoglasses，hewassupporting，againstarepublicanwhowastalkingdisrespectfullyagainstit，thecauseoftheownersofproperty。
　　Itwastwentyminutesbeforetheworthyporter，rememberingthe"property"entrustedtohischarge，decidedtoreturntohispost。ItiseasytoimaginethereproacheswithwhichlaPeyradeoverwhelmedhim。HeexcusedhimselfbysayingthathehadgonetodoacommissionforMademoiselle，andthathecouldn’tbeatthedoorandwherehismasterschosetosendhimatthesametime。Atlast，however，hegavethelawyeraletterbearingtheParispostmark。
　　WithhisheartratherthanhiseyeslaPeyraderecognizedthehandwriting，and，turningoverthemissive，thearmsandmottoconfirmedthehopethathehadreachedtheendofthecruellestemotionhehadeverinhislifeexperienced。Toreadthatletterbeforethatodiousporterseemedtohimaprofanation。Witharefinementoffeelingwhichallloverswillunderstand，hegavehimselfthepleasureofpausingbeforehishappiness；hewouldnotevenunsealthatblissfulnoteuntilthemomentwhen，withcloseddoorsandnointerruptionstodistracthim，hecouldenjoyathiseasethedelicioussensationofwhichhishearthadaforetaste。