Rushingupthestaircasetwostepsatatime，thenowjoyouslovercommittedthechildishabsurdityoflockinghimselfin；then，havingsettledhimselfathiseasebeforehisdesk，andhavingbrokenthesealwithreligiouscare，hewasforcedtopresshishandonhisheart，whichseemedtoburstfromhisbosom，beforehecouldsummoncalmnesstoreadthefollowingletter：——
　　DearMonsieur，——Idisappearforever，becausemyplayisplayedout。Ithankyouforhavingmadeitbothattractiveandeasy。BysettingagainstyoutheThuilliersandCollevilles（whoarefullyinformedofyoursentimentstowardsthem），andbyrelatinginamannermostmortifyingtotheirbourgeoisself—lovethetruereasonofyoursuddenandpitilessrupturewiththem，IamproudandhappytobelievethatIhavedoneyouasignalservice。Thegirldoesnotloveyou，andyoulovenothingbuttheeyesofher"dot"；Ihavethereforesavedyoubothfromaspeciesofhell。
　　But，inexchangeforthebrideyouhavesocurtlyrejected，anothercharminggirlisproposedtoyou；sheisricherandmorebeautifulthanMademoiselleColleville，and——tospeakofmyself——
　　moreatlibertythanYourunworthyservant，Torna"ComtessedeGodollo。"
　　P。S。Forfurtherinformationapply，withoutdelay，toMonsieurduPortail，householder，rueHonore—Chevalier，neartheruedelaCassette，quartierSaint—Sulpice，bywhomyouareexpected。
　　Whenhehadreadthislettertheadvocateofthepoortookhisheadinhishands；hesawnothing，heardnothing，thoughtnothing；hewasannihilated。
　　SeveraldayswerenecessarytolaPeyradebeforehecouldevenbegintorecoverfromthecrushingblowwhichhadstruckhimdown。Theshockwasterrible。Comingoutofthatgoldendreamwhichhadshownhimaperspectiveofthefutureinsosmilinganaspect，hefoundhimselffooledunderconditionsmostcrueltohisself—love，andtohispretensionstodepthandcleverness；irrevocablypartedfromtheThuilliers；saddledwithahopelessdebtoftwenty—fivethousandfrancstoMadameLambert，togetherwithanotheroftenthousandtoBrigitte，whichhisdignityrequiredhimtopaywiththeleastdelaypossible；and，worstofall，——tocompletehishumiliationandhissenseoffailure，——hefeltthathewasnotcuredofthepassionateemotionhehadfeltforthiswoman，theauthorofhisgreatdisaster，andtheinstrumentofhisruin。
　　EitherthisDelilahwasaverygreatlady，sufficientlyhighinstationtoallowherselfsuchcompromisingcaprices，——butevenso，shewouldscarcelyhavecaredtoplaytheroleofacoquetteinavaudevillewherehehimselfplayedthepartofninny，——ORshewassomenotedadventuresswhowasinthepayofthisduPortailandtheagentofhissingularmatrimonialdesigns。Evillifeorevilheart，theseweretheonlytwoverdictstobepronouncedonthisdangeroussiren，andineithercase，itwouldseem，shewasnotverydeservingoftheregretsofhervictim；nevertheless，hewasconsciousoffeelingthem。
　　WemustputourselvesintheplaceofthissonofProvence，thisregionofhotbloodandardentheads，who，forthefirsttimeinhislifefindinghimselffacetofacewithjewelledloveinlaces，believedhewastodrinkthatpassionfromawrought—goldcup。Justasourmindsonwakingkeeptheimpressionofavividdreamandcontinueinlovewithwhatweknowwasbutashadow，laPeyradehadneedofallhismentalenergytodriveawaythememoryofthattreacherouscountess。Wemightgofurtherandsaythatheneverceasedtolongforher，thoughhewascarefultodrapewithanhonestpretexttheintensedesirethathehadtofindher。Thatdesirehecalledcuriosity，ardorforrevenge；andherefollowtheingeniousdeductionswhichhedrewforhimself：——
　　"Cerizettalkedtomeaboutarichheiress；thecountess，inherletter，intimatesthatthewholeintrigueshewoundaboutmewastoleadtoarichmarriage；richmarriagesflungataman’sheadarenotsoplentifulthattwosuchchancesshouldcometomewithinafewweeks；thereforethematchofferedbyCerizetandthatproposedbythecountessmustbethecrazygirltheyaresofrantictomakememarry；
　　thereforeCerizet，beingintheplot，mustknowthecountess；
　　therefore，throughhimIshallgetuponhertraces。Inanycase，Iamsureofinformationaboutthisextraordinarychoicethathasfallenuponme；evidently，thesepeople，whoevertheyare，whocanpullthewiresofsuchpuppetstoreachtheirendsmustbepersonsofconsiderableposition；therefore，I’llgoandseeCerizet。"
　　AndhewenttoseeCerizet。
　　SincethedinnerattheRocherdeCancale，thepairhadnotmet。OnceortwicelaPeyradehadaskedDutocqattheThuilliers’（wherethelatterseldomwentnow，onaccountofthedistancetotheirnewabode）
　　whathadbecomeofhiscopyingclerk。
　　"Heneverspeaksofyou，"Dutocqhadanswered。
　　Henceitmightbeinferredthatresentment，the"manetaltamenterepostum"wasstilllivinginthebreastofthevindictiveusurer。LaPeyrade，however，wasnotstoppedbythatconsideration。Afterall，hewasnotgoingtoaskforanything；hewentunderthepretextofrenewinganaffairinwhichCerizethadtakenpart，andCerizetnevertookpartinanythingunlesshehadapersonalinterestinit。Thechanceswere，therefore，thathewouldbereceivedwithaffectionateeagernessratherthanunpleasantacerbity。Moreover，hedecidedtogoandseethecopyingclerkatDutocq’soffice；itwouldlook，hethought，lesslikeavisitthanifhewenttohisdenintheruedesPoules。Itwasnearlytwoo’clockwhenlaPeyrademadehisentranceintotheprecinctsofthejustice—of—peaceofthe12tharrondissement。
　　Hecrossedthefirstroom，inwhichwereacrowdofpersonswhomcivilsuitsofonekindoranothersummonedbeforethemagistrate。Withoutpausinginthatwaiting—room，laPeyradepushedontotheofficeadjoiningthatofDutocq。TherehefoundCerizetatashabbydeskofblackenedwood，atwhichanotherclerk，thenabsent，occupiedtheoppositeseat。
　　Seeinghisvisitor，Cerizetcastasavagelookathimandsaid，withoutrising，orsuspendingthecopyofthejudgmenthewasthenengrossing：——
　　"Youhere，SieurlaPeyrade？YouhavebeendoingfinethingsforyourfriendThuillier！"
　　"Howareyou？"askedlaPeyrade，inatonebothresoluteandfriendly。
　　"I？"repliedCerizet。"Asyousee，stillrowingmygalley；and，tofollowoutthenauticalmetaphor，allowmetoaskwhatwindhasblownyouhither；isit，perchance，thewindofadversity？"
　　LaPeyrade，withoutreplying，tookachairbesidehisquestioner，afterwhichhesaidinagravetone：——
　　"Mydearfellow，wehavesomethingtosaytoeachother。"
　　"Isuppose，"saidCerizet，spitefully，"theThuilliershavegrowncoldsincetheseizureofthepamphlet。"
　　"TheThuilliersareungratefulpeople；Ihavebrokenwiththem，"
　　repliedlaPeyrade。
　　"Ruptureordismissal，"saidCerizet，"theirdoorisshutagainstyou；
　　andfromwhatDutocqtellsme，IjudgethatBrigitteishandlingyouwithoutgloves。Yousee，myfriend，whatitistotryandmanageaffairsalone；complicationscome，andthere’snoonetosmooththeangles。Ifyouhadgotmethatlease，IshouldhavehadafootingattheThuilliers’，Dutocqwouldnothaveabandonedyou，andtogetherwecouldhavebroughtyougentlyintoport。"
　　"ButsupposeIdon’twanttore—enterthatport？"saidlaPeyrade，withsomesharpness。"ItellyouI’vehadenoughofthoseThuilliers，andIbrokewiththemmyself；Iwarnedthemtogetoutofmysun；andifDutocqtoldyouanythingelseyoumaytellhimfrommethathelies。Isthatclearenough？ItseemstomeI’vemadeitplain。"
　　"Well，exactly，mygoodfellow，ifyouaresosavageagainstyourThuilliersyououghttohaveputmeamongthem，andthenyou’dhaveseenmeavengeyou。"
　　"Thereyouareright，"saidlaPeyrade；"IwishIcouldhavesetyouattheirlegs——butasforthatmatteroftheleaseItellyouagain，I
　　wasnotmasterofit。"
　　"Ofcourse，"saidCerizet，"itwasyourconsciencewhichobligedyoutotellBrigittethatthetwelvethousandfrancsayearIexpectedtomakeoutofitwerebetterinherpocketthaninmine。"
　　"ItseemsthatDutocqcontinuesthehonorableprofessionofspywhichheformerlypractisedattheministryoffinance，"saidlaPeyrade，"and，likeotherswhodothatdirtybusiness，hemakeshisreportsmorewittythantruthful——"
　　"Takecare！"saidCerizet；"youaretalkingofmypatroninhisownlair。"
　　"Lookhere！"saidlaPeyrade。"Ihavecometotalktoyouonseriousmatters。WillyoudomethefavortodroptheThuilliersandalltheirbelongings，andgivemeyourattention？"
　　"Sayon，myfriend，"saidCerizet，layingdownhispen，whichhadneverceasedtorun，uptothismoment，"Iamlistening。"
　　"Youtalkedtomesometimeago，"saidlaPeyrade，"aboutmarryingagirlwhowasrich，fullyofage，andslightlyhysterical，asyouwerepleasedtoputiteuphemistically。"
　　"Welldone！"criedCerizet。"Iexpectedthis；butyou’vebeensometimecomingtoit。"
　　"Inofferingmethisheiress，whatdidyouhaveinyourmind？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"Parbleu！tohelpyoutoasplendidstrokeofbusiness。Youhadonlytostoopandtakeit。Iwasformallychargedtoproposeittoyou；
　　and，astherewasn’tanybrokerage，Ishouldhavereliedwhollyonyourgenerosity。"
　　"Butyouarenottheonlypersonwhowascommissionedtomakemethatoffer。Awomanhadthesameorder。"
　　"Awoman！"criedCerizetinaperfectlynaturaltoneofsurprise。"NotthatIknowof。"
　　"Yes，aforeigner，youngandpretty，whomyoumusthavemetinthefamilyofthebride，towhomsheseemstobeardentlydevoted。"
　　"Never，"saidCerizet，"neverhastherebeentheslightestquestionofawomaninthisnegotiation。IhaveeveryreasontobelievethatIamexclusivelychargedwithit。"
　　"What！"saidlaPeyrade，fixinguponCerizetascrutinizingeye，"didyouneverhearoftheComtesseTornadeGodollo？"
　　"Never，inallmylife；thisisthefirsttimeIeverheardthatname。"
　　"Then，"saidlaPeyrade，"itmustreallyhavebeenanothermatch；forthatwoman，aftermanysingularpreliminaries，toolongtoexplaintoyou，mademeaformalofferofthehandofayoungwomanmuchricherthanMademoiselleColleville——"
　　"Andhysterical？"askedCerizet。
　　"No，shedidnotembellishtheproposalwiththataccessory；butthere’sanotherdetailwhichmayputyouonthetrackofher。MadamedeGodolloexhortedme，ifIwishedtopushthematter，togoandseeacertainMonsieurduPortail——"
　　"RueHonore—Chevalier？"exclaimedCerizet，quickly。
　　"Precisely。"
　　"Thenitisthesamemarriagewhichisofferedtoyouthroughtwodifferentmediums。ItisstrangeIwasnotinformedofthiscollaboration！"
　　"Inshort，"saidlaPeyrade，"younotonlydidn’thavewindofthecountess’sintervention，butyoudon’tknowher，andyoucan’tgivemeanyinformationabouther——isthatso？"
　　"AtpresentIcan’t，"repliedCerizet，"butI’llfindoutabouther；
　　forthewholeproceedingisrathercavaliertowardsme；butthisemploymentoftwoagentsonlyshowsyouhowdesirableyouaretothefamily。"
　　Atthismomentthedooroftheroomwasopenedcautiously，awoman’sheadappeared，andavoice，whichwasinstantlyrecognizedbylaPeyrade，said，addressingthecopying—clerk：——
　　"Ah！excuseme！Iseemonsieurisbusy。CouldIsayawordtomonsieurwhenheisalone？"
　　Cerizet，whohadaneyeasnimbleasahand，instantlynoticedacertainfact。LaPeyrade，whowassoplacedastobeplainlyseenbythenew—comer，nosoonerheardthatdrawling，honeyedvoice，thanheturnedhisheadinamannertoconcealhisfeatures。Insteadthereforeofbeingroughlysentaway，asusuallyhappenedtopetitionerswhoaddressedthemostsurlyofofficialclerks，themodestvisitorheardherselfgreetedinaverysurprisingmanner。
　　"Comein，comein，MadameLambert，"saidCerizet；"youwon’tbekeptwaitinglong；comein。"
　　Thevisitoradvanced，andthencamefacetofacewithlaPeyrade。
　　"Ah！monsieur！"criedhiscreditor，whomthereaderhasnodoubtrecognized，"howfortunateIamtomeetmonsieur！Ihavebeenseveraltimestohisofficetoaskifhehadhadtimetoattendtomylittleaffair。"
　　"Ihavehadmanyengagementswhichhavekeptmeawayfrommyofficelately；butIattendedtothatmatter；everythinghasbeendoneright，andisnowinthehandsofthesecretary。"
　　"Oh！howgoodmonsieuris！IprayGodtoblesshim，"saidthepiouswoman，claspingherhands。
　　"Blessme！doyouhavebusinesswithMadameLambert？"saidCerizet；
　　"younevertoldmethat。AreyouPerePicot’scounsel？"
　　"No，unfortunately，"saidMadameLambert，"mymasterwon’ttakeanycounsel；heissoself—willed，soobstinate！But，mygoodmonsieur，whatIcametoaskiswhetherthefamilycouncilistomeet。"
　　"Ofcourse，"saidCerizet，"andnotlaterthanto—morrow。"
　　"Butmonsieur，IhearthosegentlemenoftheRoyalcourtsaidthefamilyhadnorights——"
　　"Yes，that’sso，"saidtheclerk；"thelowercourtandtheRoyalcourthaveboth，onthepetitionoftherelatives，rejectedtheirdemandforacommission。"
　　"Ishouldhopeso！"saidthewoman；"tothinkofmakinghimoutalunatic！himsofullofwisdomandlearning！"
　　"Buttherelationsdon’tmeantogiveup；theyaregoingtotrythematteragainunderanewform，andaskfortheappointmentofajudicialcounsel。That’swhatthefamilycouncilmeetsforto—morrow；
　　andIthink，thistime，mydearMadameLambert，youroldPicotwillfindhimselfrestrained。Thereareseriousallegations，Icantellyou。Itwasallverywelltotaketheeggs，buttopluckthehenwasanotherthing。"
　　"Isitpossiblethatmonsieurcansuppose——"beganthedevote，claspingherhandsunderherchin。
　　"Isupposenothing，"saidCerizet；"Iamnotthejudgeofthisaffair。
　　Buttherelationsdeclarethatyouhavepocketedconsiderablesums，andmadeinvestmentsaboutwhichtheydemandinquiry。"
　　"Oh！heavens！"saidthewoman，castinguphereyes；"theycaninquire；
　　Iampoor；Ihavenotadeed，noranote，norashare；nottheslightestsecurityofanykindinmypossession。"
　　"Idaresaynot，"saidCerizet，glancingatlaPeyradeoutofthecornerofhiseye；"buttherearealwaysfriendstotakecareofsuchthings。However，thatisnoneofmybusiness；everyonemustsettlehisownaffairsinhisownway。Now，then，saywhatyouhavetosay，distinctly。"
　　"Icame，monsieur，"shereplied，"toimploreyou，monsieur，toimploreMonsieurthejudge’sclerk，tospeakinourfavortoMonsieurthejustice—of—peace。MonsieurthevicarofSaint—Jacquesisalsotospeaktohim。ThatpoorMonsieurPicot！"shewenton，weeping，"they’llkillhimiftheycontinuetoworryhiminthisway。"
　　"Isha’n’tconcealfromyou，"saidCerizet，"thatthejustice—of—peaceisveryill—disposedtoyourcause。Youmusthaveseenthattheotherday，whenherefusedtoreceiveyou。AsforMonsieurDutocqandmyself，ourassistancewon’thelpyoumuch；andbesides，mygoodwoman，youaretooclose—mouthed。"
　　"MonsieuraskedmeifIhadlaidbyafewlittlesavings；andI
　　couldn’ttellhimthatIhad，be——becausetheyhavegonetokeeptheh——houseofthatpoorMonsieurPi——i——cot；andnowtheyaccusemeofr——robbinghim！"
　　MadameLambertsobbed。
　　"Myopinionis，"saidCerizet，"thatyouaremakingyourselfoutmuchpoorerthanyouare；andiffriendPeyradehere，whoseemstobemoreinyourconfidence，hadn’thistonguetiedbytherulesofhisprofession——"
　　"I！"saidlaPeyrade，hastily，"Idon’tknowanythingofmadame’saffairs。Sheaskedmetodrawupapetitiononamatterinwhichtherewasnothingjudicialorfinancial。"
　　"Ah！that’sit，isit？"saidCerizet。"MadamehaddoubtlessgonetoseeyouaboutthispetitionthedayDutocqmetheratyouroffice，themorningafterourdinnerattheRocherdeCancale——whenyouweresuchaRoman，youknow。"
　　Then，withoutseemingtoattachanyimportancetothereminiscence，headded：——
　　"Well，mygoodMadameLambert，I’llaskmypatrontospeaktothejustice—of—peace，and，ifIgetachance，I’llspeaktohimmyself；
　　but，Irepeatit，heisverymuchprejudicedagainstyou。"
　　MadameLambertretiredwithmanycurtseysandprotestationsofgratitude。WhenshewasfairlygonelaPeyraderemarked：——
　　"Youdon’tseemtobelievethatthatwomancametomeaboutapetition；andyetnothingwasevertruer。Sheisthoughtasaintinthestreetshelivesin，andthatoldmantheyaccuseherofrobbingisactuallykeptalivebyherdevotion，soI’mtold。Consequently，theneighborshaveputitintothegoodwoman’sheadtoapplyfortheMontyonprize；anditwasforthepurposeofputtingherclaimsinlegalshapethatsheappliedtome。"
　　"Dear！dear！theMontyonprize！"criedCerizet；"well，that’sanidea！
　　Mygoodfellow，weoughttohavecultivateditbefore，——I，especially，asbankerofthepoor，andyou，theiradvocate。Asforthisclientofyours，itisluckyforherMonsieurPicot’srelativesarenotmembersoftheFrenchacademy；itisinthecorrectionalpolice—court，sixthchamber，wheretheymeantogivehertherewardofvirtue。However，tocomebacktowhatweweretalkingabout。Itellyouthatafterallyourtergiversationsyouhadbettersettledownpeaceably；andI
　　adviseyou，asyourcountessdid，togoandseeduPortail。"
　　"Whoandwhatishe？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"Heisalittleoldman，"repliedCerizet，"asshrewdasaweasel。Hegivesmetheideaofhavingdealingswiththedevil。Goandseehim！
　　Sight，astheysay，costsnothing。"
　　"Yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"perhapsIwill；but，firstofall，IwantyoutofindoutformeaboutthisComtessedeGodollo。"
　　"Whatdoyoucareabouther？Sheisnothingbutasupernumerary，thatcountess。"
　　"Ihavemyreasons，"saidlaPeyrade；"youcancertainlygetsomeinformationaboutherinthreedays；I’llcomeandseeyouthen。"
　　"Mygoodfellow，"saidCerizet，"youseemtometobeamusingyourselfwiththingsthatdon’tpay；youhaven’tfalleninlovewiththatgo—
　　between，haveyou？"
　　"Plaguetakehim！"thoughtlaPeyrade；"hespieseverything；there’snohidinganythingfromhim！No，"hesaid，aloud，"Iamnotinlove；
　　onthecontrary，Iamverycautious。Imustadmitthatthismarriagewithacrazygirldoesn’tattractme，andbeforeIgoastepintoitI
　　wanttoknowwhereIputmyfeet。Thesecrookedproceedingsarenotreassuring，andassomanyinfluencesarebeingbroughttobear，I
　　choosetocontrolonebyanother。Thereforedon’tplaysly，butgivemealltheinformationyougetintoyourpouchaboutMadamelaComtesseTornadeGodollo。IwarnyouIknowenoughtotesttheveracityofyourreport；andifIseeyouaretryingtooverreachmeI’llbreakoffshortwithyourduPortail。"
　　"Tryingtooverreachyou，monseigneur！"repliedCerizet，inthetoneandmannerofFredericLemaitre。"Whowoulddareattemptit？"
　　Ashepronouncedthosewordsinaslightlymockingtone，Dutocqappeared，accompaniedbyhislittleclerk。
　　"Blessme！"heexclaimed，seeinglaPeyradeandCerizettogether；
　　"here’sthetrinityreconstituted！buttheobjectofthealliance，the’casusfoederis，’hasfloatedoff。WhathaveyoudonetothatgoodBrigitte，laPeyrade？Sheisafteryourblood。"
　　"WhataboutThuillier？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　Molierewasreversed；herewasTartuffeinquiringforOrgon。
　　"Thuillierbeganbynotbeingveryhostiletoyou；butitnowseemsthattheseizurebusinesshastakenagoodturn，andhavinglessneedofyouheisgettingdrawnintohissister’swaters；andifthetendencycontinues，Ihaven’tadoubtthathe’llsooncometothinkyoudeservingofhanging。"
　　"Well，I’moutofitall，"saidlaPeyrade，"andifanybodyevercatchesmeinsuchamessagain！——Well，adieu，myfriends，"headded。
　　"Andyou，Cerizet，astowhatwewerespeakingabout，activity，safety，anddiscretion！"
　　WhenlaPeyradereachedthecourtyardofthemunicipalbuilding，hewasaccostedbyMadameLambert，whowaslyinginwaitforhim。
　　"Monsieurwouldn’tbelieve，Iamsure，"shesaid，inadeprecatingtone，"thevillainousthingsthatMonsieurCerizetsaidaboutme；
　　monsieurknowsitwasthelittlepropertyIreceivedfrommyuncleinEnglandthatIplacedinhishands。"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"butyoumustunderstandthatwithalltheserumorssetaboutbyyourmaster’srelativestheprizeofvirtueisdesperatelyendangered。"
　　"IfitisGod’swillthatIamnottohaveit——"
　　"YououghtalsotounderstandhowimportantitisforyourintereststokeepsecrettheotherservicewhichIdidforyou。Atthefirstappearanceofanyindiscretiononyourpartthatmoney，asItoldyou，willbeperemptorilyreturnedtoyou。"
　　"Oh！monsieurmaybeeasyaboutthat。"
　　"Verywell；thengood—byetoyou，mydear，"saidlaPeyrade，inafriendlytone。
　　Asheturnedtoleaveher，anasalvoicewasheardfromawindowonthestaircase。
　　"MadameLambert！"criedCerizet，who，suspectingthecolloquy，hadgonetothestaircasewindowtomakesureofit。"MadameLambert！
　　MonsieurDutocqhasreturned；youmaycomeupandseehim，ifyoulike。"
　　ImpossibleforlaPeyradetopreventtheconference，althoughheknewthesecretofthattwenty—fivethousandfrancsranthegreatestdanger。
　　"Certainly，"hesaidtohimselfashewalkedaway，"I’minarunofill—luck；andIdon’tknowwhereitwillend。"
　　InBrigitte’snaturetherewassuchanall—devouringinstinctofdomination，thatitwaswithoutregret，and，wemayevensay，withasortofsecretjoythatshesawthedisappearanceofMadamedeGodollo。Thatwoman，shefelt，hadacrushingsuperiorityoverher；
　　andthis，whileithadgivenahigherordertotheThuillierestablishment，madeherillatease。Whenthereforetheseparationtookplace，whichwasdone，letusheresay，ongoodterms，andunderfairandhonorablepretexts，MademoiselleThuillierbreathedmorefreely。Shefeltlikethosekingslongswayedbyimperiousandnecessaryministers，whocelebratewithintheirheartsthedaywhendeathdeliversthemfromamasterwhoseservicesandrivalinfluencetheyimpatientlyendured。
　　ThuillierwasnotfarfromhavingthesamesentimentaboutlaPeyrade。
　　ButMadamedeGodollowasonlytheelegance，whereaslaPeyradewastheutilityofthehousetheyhadnowsimultaneouslyabandoned；andafterthelapseofafewdays，aterribleneedofTheodosemadeitselffeltintheliteraryandpoliticalexistenceofhisdear，goodfriend。
　　Themunicipalcouncillorfoundhimselfsuddenlyappointedtodraftanimportantreport。Hewasunabletodeclinethetask，saddledashewaswiththereputation，derivedfromhispamphlet，ofbeingamanoflettersandanablewriter；therefore，inpresenceoftheperiloushonorconferreduponhimbyhiscolleaguesofthegeneralCouncil，hesatdownterrifiedbyhissolitudeandhisinsufficiency。
　　Invaindidhelockhimselfintohisstudy，gorgehimselfwithblackcoffee，mendinnumerablepens，andwriteascoreoftimesattheheadofhispaper（whichhewascarefultocutoftheexactdimensionsasthatusedbylaPeyrade）thesolemnwords："ReporttotheMembersoftheMunicipalCounciloftheCityofParis，"followed，onalinebyitself，byamagnificentMESSIEURS——nothingcameofit！Hewasfaintoissuefuriousfromhisstudy，complainingofthehorriblehouseholdracketwhich"cutthethreadofhisideas"；thoughreallynogreaternoisethantheclosingofadoorortheopeningofaclosetorthemovingofachairhadmadeitselfheard。Allthis，however，didnothelptheadvancementofthework，whichremained，asbefore——simplybegun。
　　Mostfortunately，ithappenedthatRabourdin，wantingtomakesomechangeinhisapartment，came，aswasproper，tosubmithisplantotheownerofthehouse。Thuilliergrantedcordiallytherequestthatwasmadetohim，andthendiscoursedtohistenantaboutthereportwithwhichhewascharged，——beingdesirous，hesaid，toobtainhisideasonthesubject。
　　Rabourdin，towhomnoadministrativequestionwasforeign，veryreadilythrewuponthesubjectanumberofveryclearandlucidideas。
　　Hewasoneofthosementowhomthequalityoftheintellecttowhichtheyaddressthemselvesismoreorlessindifferent；afool，oramanoftalentwhowilllistentothem，servesequallywelltothinkaloudto，andtheyare，asastimulant，aboutthesamething。AfterRabourdinhadsaidhissay，heobservedthatThuillierhadnotunderstoodhim；buthehadlistenedtohimselfwithpleasure，andhewas，moreover，gratefulfortheattention，obtuseasitwas，ofhishearer，andalsoforthekindlinessofthelandlordinreceivinghisrequest。