"Imusthaveamongmypapers，"hesaidashewentaway，"somethingonthissubject；Iwilllookitupandsendittoyou。"
　　Accordingly，thatsameeveningThuillierreceivedavoluminousmanuscript；andhespenttheentirenightindelvingintothatpreciousrepositoryofideas，fromwhichheextractedenoughtomakeareallyremarkablereport，clumsilyasthepillagewasmanaged。Whenreadbeforethecouncilitobtainedaverygreatsuccess，andThuillierreturnedhomeradiantandmuchelatedbythecongratulationshehadreceived。Fromthatmoment——amomentthatwasmarkedinhislife，foreventoadvancedoldagehestilltalkedofthe"reporthehadhadthehonorofmakingtotheCouncil—generaloftheSeine"——laPeyradewentdownconsiderablyinhisestimation；hefeltthenthathecoulddoverywellwithoutthebarrister，andthisthoughtofemancipationwasstrengthenedbyanotherhappinesswhichcametohimatalmostthesametime。
　　Aparliamentarycrisiswasimminent，——afactthatcausedtheministrytothinkaboutdeprivingitsadversariesofathemeofoppositionwhichalwayshasgreatinfluenceonpublicopinion。Itresolvedthereforetorelaxitsrigor，whichoflatehadbeenmuchincreasedagainstthepress。Beingincludedinthisspeciesofhypocriticalamnesty，ThuillierreceivedonemorningaletterfromthebarristerwhomhehadchoseninplaceoflaPeyrade。ThisletterannouncedthattheCouncilofStatehaddismissedthecomplaint，andorderedthereleaseofthepamphlet。
　　ThenDutocq’spredictionwasrealized。Thatweightthelesswithinhisbosom，Thuilliertookaswingtowardinsolence；hechorusedBrigitte，andcameatlasttospeakoflaPeyradeasasortofadventurerwhomhehadfedandclothed，atrickyfellowwhohadEXTRACTEDmuchmoneyfromhim，andhadfinallybehavedwithsuchingratitudethathewasthankfulnottocounthimanylongeramonghisfriends。Orgon，inshort，wasinfullrevolt，andlikeDorine，hewasreadytocryout：
　　"Abeggar！who，whenhecame，hadneithershoesnorcoatworthabrassfarthing。"
　　Cerizet，towhomtheseindignitieswerereportedbyDutocq，wouldgladlyhaveservedthemuphottolaPeyrade；buttheinterviewinwhichthecopyingclerkwastofurnishinformationaboutMadamedeGodollodidnottakeplaceatthetimefixed。LaPeyrademadehisowndiscoveriesinthiswise：
　　PursuedbythethoughtofthebeautifulHungarian，andawaiting，orrathernotawaitingtheresultofCerizet’sinquiry，hescouredParisineverydirection，andmighthavebeenseen，liketheidlestofloungers，inthemostfrequentedplaces，hishearttellinghimthatsoonerorlaterhemustmeettheobjectofhisardentsearch。
　　Oneevening——itwastowardsthemiddleofOctober——theautumn，asfrequentlyhappensinParis，wasmagnificent，andalongtheboulevards，wheretheProvencalwasairinghisloveandhismelancholy，theout—doorlifeandgaietywereasanimatedasinsummer。OntheboulevarddesItaliens，formerlyknownastheboulevarddeGand，asheloungedpastthelonglineofchairsbeforetheCafedeParis，where，mingledwithafewwomenoftheChausseed’Antinaccompaniedbytheirhusbandsandchildren，maybeseentowardeveningacordonofnocturnalbeautieswaitingonlyaglovedhandtogatherthem，laPeyrade’sheartreceivedacruelshock。Fromafar，hethoughthesawhisadoredcountess。
　　Shewasalone，inadazzlingtoiletscarcelyauthorizedbytheplaceandherisolation；beforeher，mountedonachair，trembledatinylap—dog，whichshestrokedfromtimetotimewithherbeautifulhands。
　　Afterconvincinghimselfthathewasnotmistaken，laPeyradewasabouttodartuponthatcelestialvision，whenhewasforestalledbyadandyofthemosttriumphanttype。Withoutthrowingasidehiscigar，withouteventouchinghishat，thishandsomeyoungmanbegantoconversewiththebarrister’sideal；butwhenshesawlaPeyrademakingtowardsherthesirenmusthavefeltafraid，forsherosequickly，andtakingthearmofthemanwhowastalkingtoher，shesaidaloud：——
　　"Isyourcarriagehere，Emile？Mabilleclosesto—night，andIshouldliketogothere。"
　　Thenameofthatdisreputableplacethusthrowninthefaceoftheunhappybarrister，wasacharity，foritsavedhimfromafoolishaction，thatofaddressing，onthearmofthemanwhohadsuddenlymadehimselfhercavalier，theunworthycreatureofwhomhewasthinkingafewsecondsearlierwithsomuchtenderness。
　　"Sheisnotworthinsulting，"hesaidtohimself。
　　But，asloversarebeingswhowillnotallowtheirfootholdtobetakenfromthemeasily，theProvencalwasneitherconvincednorresignedasyet。Notfarfromtheplacewhichhiscountesshadleft，satanotherwoman，alsoalone；butthisonewasripewithyears，withfeathersonherhead，andbeneaththefoldsofacashmereshawlsheconcealedtheplaintiveremainsoftarnishedeleganceandlongpastluxury。Therewasnothingimposingaboutthissight，nordiditcommandrespect，butthecontrary。LaPeyradewentuptothewomanwithoutceremonyandaddressedher。
　　"Madame，"hesaid，"doyouknowthatwomanwhohasjustgoneawayonthearmofagentleman？"
　　"Certainly，monsieur；Iknownearlyallthewomenwhocomehere。"
　　"Andhernameis？——"
　　"MadameKomorn。"
　　"Issheasimpregnableasthefortressofthatname？"
　　OurreaderswilldoubtlessrememberthatatthetimeoftheinsurrectioninHungaryourearswerebatteredbythepressandbynovelistsaboutthefamouscitadelofKomorn；andlaPeyradeknewthatbyassumingatoneofindifferenceorflippancyhewasmorelikelytosucceedwithhisinquiries。
　　"Hasmonsieuranyideaofmakingheracquaintance？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"repliedlaPeyrade，"butsheisawomanwhomakespeoplethinkofher。"
　　"Andaverydangerouswoman，monsieur，"addedhiscompanion；"afearfulspendthrift，butwithnoinclinationtoreturngenerouslywhatisdoneforher。Icanspeakknowinglyofthat；whenshefirstarrivedherefromBerlin，sixmonthsago，shewasverywarmlyrecommendedtome。"
　　"Ah！"exclaimedlaPeyrade。
　　"Yes，atthattimeIhadintheenvironsofVilled’Avrayaverybeautifulplace，withparkandcovertsandastreamforfishing；butasIwasaloneIfounditdull，andseveraloftheseladiesandgentlemensaidtome，’MadameLouchard，whydon’tyouorganizepartiesinthestyleofpicnics？’"
　　"MadameLouchard！"repeatedlaPeyrade，"areyouanyrelationtoMonsieurLouchardofthecommercialpolice？"
　　"Hiswife，monsieur，butlegallyseparatedfromhim。Ahorridmanwhowantsmetogobacktohim；butI，thoughI’mreadytoforgivemostthings，Ican’tforgiveawantofrespect；justimaginethathedaredtoraisehishandagainstme！"
　　"Well，"saidlaPeyrade，tryingtobringherbacktothematterinhand；"youorganizedthosepicnics，andMadamedeGodo——ImeanMadameKomorn——"
　　"Wasoneofmyfirstlodgers。ItwasthereshemadeacquaintancewithanItalian，ahandsomeman，andrich，apoliticalrefugee，butoneoftheloftykind。Youunderstanditdidn’tsuitmypurposestohaveintriguesgoingoninmyhouse；stillthemanwassolovable，andsounhappybecausehecouldn’tmakeMadameKomornlikehim，thatatlastItookaninterestinthisparticularloveaffair；whichproducedapotofmoneyformadame，forshemanagedtogetimmensesumsoutofthatItalian。Well，wouldyoubelievethatwhen——beingjusttheningreatneed——Iaskedhertoassistmewithatriflinglittlesum，sherefusedmepoint—blank，andleftmyhouse，takingherloverwithher，who，poorman，can’tbethankfulfortheacquaintancenow。"
　　"Whynot？Whathappenedtohim？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"IthappenedtohimthatthisserpentknowseverylanguageinEurope；
　　sheiswittyandclevertothetipsofherfingers，butmoremanoeuvringthaneither；so，being，asitappears，incloserelationstothepolice，shegavethegovernmentalotofpaperstheItalianleftaboutcarelessly，onwhichtheyexpelledhimfromFrance。"
　　"Well，afterhisdeparture，MadameKomorn——"
　　"Sincethen，shehashadagoodmanyadventuresandupsetseveralfortunes，andIthoughtshehadleftParis。Forthelasttwomonthsshewasnowheretobeseen，butthreedaysagoshereappeared，morebrilliantthanever。Myadvicetomonsieurisnottotrusthimselfinthatdirection；andyet，monsieurlookstomeaSoutherner，andSouthernershavepassions；perhapswhatIhavetoldhimwillonlyservetospurthemup。However，beingwarned，there’snotsomuchdanger，andsheisamostfascinatingcreature——oh！veryfascinating。
　　Sheusedtolovemeverymuch，thoughwepartedsuchill—friends；andjustnow，seeingmehere，shecameoverandaskedmyaddress，andsaidsheshouldcomeandseeme。"
　　"Well，madame，I’llthinkaboutit，"saidlaPeyrade，risingandbowingtoher。
　　Thebowwasreturnedwithextremecoldness；hisabruptdeparturedidnotshowhimtobeamanofSERIOUSintentions。
　　ItmightbesupposedfromthelivelymannerinwhichlaPeyrademadetheseinquiriesthathiscurethoughsuddenwascomplete；butthissurfaceofindifferenceandcoolself—possessionwasonlythestillnessoftheatmospherethatprecedesastorm。OnleavingMadameLouchard，laPeyradeflunghimselfintoastreet—cabandtheregavewaytoapassionoftearslikethatMadameCollevillehadwitnessedonthedayhebelievedthatCerizethadgotthebetterofhiminthesaleofthehouse。
　　Whatwashispositionnow？TheinvestmentoftheThuilliers，preparedwithsomuchcare，alluseless；Flaviewellavengedfortheodiouscomedyhehadplayedwithher；hisaffairsinaworsestatethantheywerewhenCerizetandDutocqhadsenthim，likeadevouringwolf，intothesheepfoldfromwhichhehadallowedthestupidsheeptodrivehim；
　　hisheartfullofrevengefulprojectsagainstthewomanwhohadsoeasilygotthebetterofwhathethoughthiscleverness；andthememory，stillvivid，oftheseductionstowhichhehadsuccumbed，——
　　suchwerethethoughtsandemotionsofhissleeplessnight，sleeplessexceptformomentsshakenbyagitateddreams。
　　ThenextdaylaPeyradecouldthinknomore；hewasapreytofever，theviolenceofwhichbecamesufficientlyalarmingforthephysicianwhoattendedhimtotakeallprecautionsagainstthesymptomsnowappearingofbrainfever：bleeding，cupping，leeches，andicetohishead；theseweretheagreeablefinaletohisdreamoflove。Wemusthastentoadd，however，thatthisviolentcrisisinthephysicalledtoaperfectcureofthementalbeing。ThebarristercameoutofhisillnesswithnoothersentimentthancoldcontemptforthetreacherousHungarian，asentimentwhichdidnotevenrisetoadesireforvengeance。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　GIVEANDTAKE
　　Oncemoreafoot，andreckoningwithhisfuture，onwhichhehadlostsomuchground，laPeyradeaskedhimselfifhehadnotbettertrytorenewhisrelationswiththeThuilliers，orwhetherheshouldbecompelledtofallbackontherichcrazywomanwhohadbullionwhereothershavebrains。Buteverythingthatremindedhimofhisdisastrouscampaignwasrepulsivetohim；besides，whatsafetywasthereindealingwiththisduPortail，amanwhocouldusesuchinstrumentsforhismeansofaction？
　　Greatcommotionsofthesoularelikethosestormswhichpurifytheatmosphere；theyinducereflection，theycounselgoodandstrongresolutions。LaPeyrade，astheresultofthecrueldisappointmenthehadjustendured，examinedhisownsoul。Heaskedhimselfwhatsortofexistencewasthis，ofbaseandignobleintrigue，whichhehadledforthepastyear？Wasthereforhimnobetter，nonoblerusetomakeofthefacultieshefeltwithinhim？Thebarwasopentohimastoothers；thatwasabroad，straightpathwhichcouldleadhimtoallthesatisfactionoflegitimateambition。LikeFigaro，whodisplayedmorescienceandcalculationinmerelygettingalivingthanstatesmenhadshowningoverningSpainforahundredyears，he，laPeyrade，inordertoinstallandmaintainhimselfintheThuillierhouseholdandmarrythedaughterofaclarionetandasmirchedcoquette，hadspentmoremind，moreart，and——itshouldalsobesaid，becauseinacorruptsocietyitisanelementthatmustbereckoned——moredishonestythanwasneededtoadvancehiminsomefinecareer。
　　"EnoughofsuchconnectionsasDutocqandCerizet，"hesaidtohimself；"enoughofthenauseatingatmosphereoftheMinardsandPhellionsandCollevillesandBarniolsandalltherestofthem。I’llshakeoffthisprovince’intramuros，’athousandtimesmoreabsurdandpettythanthetrueprovinces；theyatleast，sidebysidewiththeirpettiness，havehabitsandcustomsthatarecharacteristic，a’suigeneris’dignity；theyarefranklywhattheyare，theantipodesofParisianlife；thisotherisbutaparodyofit。IwillflingmyselfuponParis。"
　　Inconsequenceofthesereflections，laPeyradewenttoseetwoorthreebarristerswhohadofferedtointroducehimatthePalaisinsecondarycases。Heacceptedthosethatpresentedthemselvesatonce，andthreeweeksafterhisrupturewiththeThuilliershewasnolongerthe"advocateofthepoor，"butabarristerpleadingbeforetheRoyalcourt。
　　Hehadalreadypleadedseveralcasessuccessfullywhenhereceived，onemorning，aletterwhichgreatlydisturbedhim。ThepresidentoftheorderofbarristersrequestedhimtocometohisofficeatthePalaisinthecourseoftheday，ashehadsomethingofimportancetosaytohim。LaPeyradeinstantlythoughtofthetransactionrelatingtothepurchaseofthehouseontheboulevarddelaMadeleine；itmusthavecome，hethought，totheearsoftheCouncilofDiscipline；ifsohewasaccountabletothattribunalandheknewitsseverity。
　　NowthisduPortail，whomhehadneveryetbeentosee，inspiteofhisconditionalpromisetoCerizet，waslikelytohaveheardthewholestoryofthattransactionfromCerizethimself。Evidentlyallmeanswerethoughtgoodbythatman，judgingbytheusehehadmadeoftheHungarianwoman。Inhissavagedeterminationtobringaboutthemarriagewiththecrazygirl，hadthisvirulentoldmandenouncedhim？
　　Onseeinghimcourageouslyandwithsomeappearanceofsuccessenteringacareerinwhichhemightfindfameandindependence，hadhispersecutortakenasteptomakethatcareerimpossible？Certainlytherewasenoughlikelihoodinthissuggestiontomakethebarristerwaitincruelanxietyforthehourwhenhemightlearnthetruenatureofthealarmingsummons。
　　Whilebreakfastingrathermeagrely，hismindfullofthesepainfulconjectures，MadameCoffinet，whohadthehonortotakechargeofhishousekeeping，cameuptoaskifhewouldseeMonsieurEtienneLousteau。[See"TheGreatManoftheProvincesinParis。"]
　　EtienneLousteau！laPeyradehadanideathathehadheardthenamebefore。
　　"Showhimintomyoffice，"hesaidtotheportress。
　　Amomentlaterhemethisvisitor，whosefacedidnotseemutterlyunknowntohim。
　　"Monsieur，"saidthisnew—comer，"IhadthehonorofbreakfastingwithyounotlongagoatVefour’s；Iwasinvitedtothatmeeting，afterwardsratherdisturbed，byMonsieurThuillier。"
　　"Ah，verygood！"saidthebarrister，offeringachair；"youareattachedtothestaffofanewspaper？"
　　"Editor—in—chiefofthe’EchodelaBievre，’anditisonthesubjectofthatpaperthatIhavenowcalledtoseeyou。Youknowwhathashappened？"
　　"No，"saidlaPeyrade。
　　"Isitpossibleyouarenotawarethattheministrymetwithterribledefeatlastnight？Butinsteadofresigning，aseveryoneexpected，theyhavedissolvedtheChamberandappealtothepeople。"
　　"Iknewnothingofallthat，"saidlaPeyrade。"Ihavenotreadthemorningpapers。"
　　"So，"continuedLousteau，"allparliamentaryambitionswilltakethefield，and，ifIamwellinformed，MonsieurThuillier，alreadymemberoftheCouncil—general，intendstopresenthimselfascandidateforelectioninthe12tharrondissement。"
　　"Yes，"saidlaPeyrade，"thatislikelytobehisintention。"
　　"Well，monsieur，IdesiretoplaceathisdispositionaninstrumentthevalueofwhichIamconfidentyouwillnotunderestimate。The’EchodelaBievre，’aspecialistpaper，canhaveadecisiveinfluenceontheelectioninthatquarter。"
　　"Andyouwouldbedisposed，"askedlaPeyrade，"tomakethatpapersupportMonsieurThuillier’scandidacy？"
　　"Betterthanthat，"repliedLousteau。"IhavecometoproposetoMonsieurThuillierthathepurchasethepaperitself。Oncetheproprietorofithecanuseitashepleases。"
　　"Butinthefirstplace，"saidlaPeyrade，"whatisthepresentconditionoftheenterprise？Initscharacterasaspecialistjournal——asyoucalleditjustnow——itisasheetIhaveseldommetwith；infact，itwouldbeentirelyunknowntomewereitnotfortheremarkablearticleyouweresogoodastodevotetoThuillier’sdefenceatthetimehispamphletwasseized。"
　　EtienneLousteaubowedhisthanks，andthensaid：
　　"Thepositionofthepaperisexcellent；wecangiveittoyouoneasyterms，forwewereintendingshortlytostopthepublication。"
　　"Thatisstrangeforaprosperousjournal。"
　　"Onthecontrary，ithappenstobequitenatural。Thefounders，whowereallrepresentativesofthegreatleatherinterest，startedthispaperforaspecialobject。Thatobjecthasbeenattained。The’EchodelaBievre’hasthereforebecomeaneffectwithoutacause。Insuchacase，stockholderswhodon’tlikethetailendofmatters，andarenoteageraftersmallprofits，verynaturallyprefertosellout。"
　　"But，"askedlaPeyrade，"doesthepaperpayitscosts？"
　　"That，"repliedLousteau，"isapointwedidnotconsider；wewerenotveryanxioustohavesubscribers；themainspringofthewholeaffairwasdirectandimmediateactionontheministryofcommercetoobtainahigherdutyontheintroductionofforeignleathers。Youunderstandthatoutsideofthetannerycircle，thisinterestwasnotveryexcitingtothegeneralreader。"
　　"Ishouldhavethought，however，"persistedlaPeyrade，"thatanewspaper，howevercircumscribeditsaction，wouldbealeverwhichdependedforitsforceonthenumberofitssubscribers。"
　　"Notforjournalswhichaimforasingledefinitething，"repliedLousteau，dogmatically。"Inthatcase，subscribersare，onthecontrary，anembarrassment，foryouhavetopleaseandamusethem，andinsodoing，therealobjecthastobeneglected。Anewspaperwhichhasadefiniteandcircumscribedobjectoughttobelikethestrokeofthatpendulumwhich，strikingsteadilyononespot，firesatagivenhourthecannonofthePalais—Royal。"
　　"Atanyrate，"saidlaPeyrade，"whatpricedoyouputuponapublicationwhichhasnosubscribers，doesnotpayitsexpenses，andhasuntilnowbeendevotedtoapurposetotallydifferentfromthatyouproposeforit？"
　　"Beforeanswering，"returnedLousteau，"Ishallaskyouanotherquestion。Haveyouanyintentionofbuyingit？"
　　"That’saccordingtocircumstances，"repliedlaPeyrade。"OfcourseI
　　mustseeThuillier；butImayhereremarktoyouthatheknowsabsolutelynothingaboutnewspaperbusiness。Withhisratherbourgeoisideas，theownershipofanewspaperwillseemtohimaruinousspeculation。Therefore，if，inadditiontoanideathatwillscarehim，yousuggestanalarmingprice，itisuselessformetospeaktohim。Iamcertainhewouldnevergointotheaffair。"
　　"No，"repliedLousteau。"Ihavetoldyouweshouldbereasonable；
　　thesegentlemenhaveleftthewholematterinmyhands。Only，Ibegtoremarkthatwehavehadpropositionsfromotherparties，andingivingMonsieurThuillierthisoption，weintendedtopayhimaparticularcourtesy。WhencanIhaveyouranswer？"
　　"To—morrow，Ithink；shallIhavethehonorofseeingyouatyourownhouse，orattheofficeofthejournal？"
　　"No，"saidLousteau，"to—morrowIwillcomehere，atthesamehour，ifthatisconvenienttoyou。"
　　"Perfectly，"repliedlaPeyrade，bowingouthisvisitor，whomhewasinclinedtothinkmoreconsequentialthanable。
　　BythemannerinwhichthebarristerhadreceivedthepropositiontobecomeanintermediarytoThuillier，thereadermusthaveseenthatarapidrevolutionhadtakenplaceinhisideas。Evenifhehadnotreceivedthatextremelydisquietingletterfromthepresidentoftheorderofbarristers，thenewsituationinwhichThuillierwouldbeplacedifelectedtotheChambergavehimenoughtothinkabout。
　　Evidentlyhisdeargoodfriendwouldhavetocomebacktohim，andThuillier’seagernessforelectionwoulddeliverhimover，boundhandandfoot。WasitnottherightmomenttoattempttorenewhismarriagewithCeleste？Farfrombeinganobstacletothegoodresolutionsinspiredbyhisamorousdisappointmentandhisincipientbrainfever，suchafinalewouldensuretheircontinuanceandsuccess。Moreover，ifhereceived，ashefeared，oneofthosecensureswhichwouldruinhisdawningprospectsatthebar，itwaswiththeThuilliers，theaccomplicesandbeneficiariesofthecauseofhisfall，thathisinstinctledhimtoclaimanasylum。
　　WiththesethoughtsstirringinhismindlaPeyradeobeyedthesummonsandwenttoseethepresidentoftheorderofbarristers。
　　Hewasnotmistaken；averycircumstantialstatementofhiswholeproceedinginthematterofthehousehadbeenlaidbeforehisbrethrenofthebar；andthehighestdignitaryoftheorder，afterstatingthatananonymousdenunciationoughtalwaystobereceivedwithgreatdistrust，toldhimthathewasreadytoreceiveandwelcomeanexplanation。LaPeyradedarednotentrenchhimselfinabsolutedenial；thehandfromwhichhebelievedtheblowhadcomeseemedtohimtooresoluteandtooablenottoholdtheproofsaswell。But，whileadmittingthefactsingeneral，heendeavoredtogivethemanacceptablecoloring。Inthis，hesawthathehadfailed，whenthepresidentsaidtohim：——
　　"AfterthevacationwhichisnowbeginningIshallreporttotheCounciloftheorderthechargesmadeagainstyou，andthestatementsbywhichyouhavedefendedyourself。TheCouncilalonehastherighttodecideonamatterofsuchimportance。"
　　Thusdismissed，laPeyradefeltthathiswholefutureatthebarwasimperilled；butatleasthehadarespite，andincaseofcondemnationanewprojectonwhichtoresthishead。Accordingly，heputonhisgown，whichhehadneverworntillnow，andwenttothefifthcourt—
　　room，wherehewasemployeduponacase。
　　Asheleftthecourt—room，carryingoneofthosebundlesoflegalpapersheldtogetherbyastripofcottonwhich，beingtoovoluminoustoholdunderthearm，arecarriedbythehandandtheforearmpressedagainstthechest，laPeyradebegantopaceabouttheSalledesPasperduswiththatharassedlookofbusinesswhichdenotesalawyeroverwhelmedwithwork。Whetherhehadreallyexcitedhimselfinpleading，orwhetherhewaspretendingtobeexhaustedtoprovethathisgownwasnotadignityforshow，asitwaswithmanyofhislegalbrethren，butanarmorbuckledonforthefight，itiscertainthat，handkerchiefinhand，hewasmoppinghisforeheadashewalked，when，inthedistance，hespiedThuillier，whohadevidentlyjustcaughtsightofhim，andwasbeginningonhissidetomanoeuvre。
　　LaPeyradewasnotsurprisedbytheencounter。OnleavinghomehehadtoldMadameCoffinethewasgoingtothePalais，andshouldbetheretillthreeo’clock，andshemightsendtohimanypersonswhocalledonbusiness。NotwishingtoletThuillieraccosthimtooeasily，heturnedabruptly，asifsomethoughthadchangedhispurpose，andwentandseatedhimselfononeofthebencheswhichsurroundthewallsofthatgreatantechamberofJustice。Thereheundidhisbundle，tookoutapaper，andburiedhimselfinitwiththeairofamanwhohadnothadtimetoexamineinhisstudyacasehewasabouttoplead。ItisnotnecessarytosaythatwhiledoingthistheProvencalwaswatchingthemanoeuvresofThuillieroutofthecornerofhiseye。Thuillier，believingthatlaPeyradewasreallyoccupiedinsomeseriousbusiness，hesitatedtoapproachhim。
　　However，aftersundrybackingsandfillingsthemunicipalcouncillormadeuphismind，andsailingstraightbeforethewindheheadedforthespothehadbeenreconnoitringforthelasttenminutes。
　　"Blessme，Theodose！"hecriedassoonashehadgotwithinhailingdistance。"DoyoucometothePalaisnow？"