Thistrialkitehadthehappiesteffect。Thetenoradozennamesthusputforwardwereconsideredtoexpressthewilloftheelectorsandwerecalled"thevoiceofthequarter。"ThusThuillier’scandidacymadefromthestartsuchrapidprogressthatMinardhesitatedtoputhisownclaimsinopposition。
　　Delightednowwiththecourseofevents，Brigittewasthefirsttosaythatthetimehadcometoattendtothemarriage，andThuillierwasallthemorereadytoagreebecause，fromdaytoday，hefearedhemightbecalledupontopaythetwenty—fivethousandfrancstoMadameLambertforwhichhehadpledgedhimself。AthoroughexplanationnowtookplacebetweenlaPeyradeandtheoldmaid。ShetoldhimhonestlyofthefearshefeltastothemaintenanceofhersovereignauthoritywhenaSON—IN—LAWofhismindandcharacterwasestablishedinthehousehold。
　　"Ifwe，"sheendedbysaying，"aretoopposeeachotherfortherestofourdays，itwouldbemuchbetter，fromthebeginning，tomaketwohouseholds；weshouldn’tbethelessfriendsforthat。"
　　LaPeyraderepliedthatnothingunderthesunwouldinducehimtoconsenttosuchaplan；onthecontrary，heregardedasamongsthishappiestprospectsforthefuturethesecurityheshouldfeelaboutthewisemanagementofthematerialaffairsofthehomeinsuchhandsashers。Heshouldhaveenoughtodointhemanagementofoutsideinterests，andhecouldnotcomprehend，forhispart，howshecouldsupposehehadeverhadthethoughtofinterferinginmattersthatwereabsolutelyoutofhisprovince。Inshort，hereassuredhersocompletelythatsheurgedhimtotakeimmediatestepsforthepublicationofthebannsandthesignatureofthemarriagecontract，——
　　declaringthatshereservedtoherselfallthepreparationsrelatingtoCeleste，whoseacceptanceofthissuddenconclusionshepledgedherselftosecure。
　　"Mydearchild，"shesaidtoCelestethenextmorning，"IthinkyouhavegivenupallideaofbeingFelixPhellion’swife。Inthefirstplace，heismoreofanatheistthanever，and，besides，youmusthavenoticedyourselfthathismindisquiteshaky。YouhaveseenatMadameMinard’sthatMadameMarmus，whomarriedasavant，officeroftheLegionofhonor，andmemberoftheInstitute。There’snotamoreunhappywoman；herhusbandhastakenhertolivebehindtheLuxembourg，intherueDuguay—Trouin，astreetthatisneitherpavednorlighted。Whenhegoesout，hedoesn’tknowwhereheisgoing；hegetstotheChampdeMarswhenhewantstogototheFaubourgPoissoniere；heisn’tevencapableofgivinghisaddresstothedriverofastreetcab；andheissoabsent—mindedhecouldn’ttellifitwerebeforedinnerorafter。Youcanimaginewhatsortoftimeawomanmusthavewithamanwhosenoseisalwaysatatelescopesnuffingstars。"
　　"ButFelix，"saidCeleste，"isnotasabsent—mindedasthat。"
　　"Ofcoursenot，becauseheisyounger；butwithyearshisabsent—
　　mindednessandhisatheismwillbothincrease。Wehavethereforedecidedthatheisnotthehusbandyouwant，andweall，yourmother，father，Thuillierandmyself，havedeterminedthatyoushalltakelaPeyrade，amanoftheworld，whowillmakehisway，andonewhohasdoneusgreatservicesinthepast，andwhowill，moreover，makeyourgodfatherdeputy。Wearedisposedtogiveyou，inconsiderationofhim，amuchlarger’dot’thanweshouldgivetoanyotherhusband。So，mydear，itissettled；thebannsaretobepublishedimmediately，andthisdayweekwesignthecontract。There’stobeagreatdinnerforthefamilyandintimates，andafterthatareception，atwhichthecontractwillbesignedandyourtrousseauandcorbeilleexhibited。AsItakeallthatintomyownhandsI’llanswerforitthateverythingshallbeofthebestkind；especiallyifyouarenotbabyish，andgiveinpleasantlytoourideas。"
　　"But，auntBrigitte，"beganCeleste，timidly。
　　"There’sno’but，’inthematter，"saidtheoldmaid，imperiously；"itisallarranged，andwillbecarriedout，unless，mademoiselle，youpretendtohavemorewisdomthanyourelders。"
　　"Iwilldoasyouchoose，aunt，"repliedCeleste，feelingasifathunder—cloudhadburstuponherhead，andknowingbuttoowellthatshehadnopowertostruggleagainsttheironwillwhichhadjustpronouncedherdoom。
　　ShewentatoncetopourhersorrowsintoMadameThuillier’ssoul；butwhensheheardhergodmotheradvisingpatienceandresignationthepoorchildfeltthatfromthatfeeblequartershecouldgetnohelpforeventheslightesteffortofresistance，andthathersacrificewasvirtuallyaccomplished。
　　Precipitatingherselfwithasortoffrenzyintothenewelementofactivitythusintroducedintoherlife，Brigittetookthefieldinthemakingofthetrousseauandthepurchaseofthecorbeille。Likemanymisers，whoongreatoccasionscomeoutoftheirhabitsandtheirnature，theoldmaidnowthoughtnothingtoogoodforherpurpose；andsheflunghermoneyaboutsolavishlythatuntilthedayappointedforthesigningofthecontract，thejeweller，dressmaker，milliner，lingere，etc。（allchosenfromthebestestablishmentsinParis），seemedtooccupythehouse。
　　"Itislikeaprocession，"saidJosephine，thecook，admiringly，toFrancoise，theMinards’maid；"thebellneverstopsringingfrommorningtillnight。"
　　CHAPTERXII
　　ASTAR
　　ThedinneronthegreatoccasionwasorderedfromChabotandPotel，andnotfromChevet，bywhichactBrigitteintendedtoproveherinitiativeandheremancipationfromthelateMadamedeGodollo。Theinvitedguestswereasfollows：threeCollevilles，includingthebride，laPeyradethegroom，DutocqandFleury，whomhehadaskedtobehiswitnesses，theextremelylimitednumberofhisrelativesleavinghimnochoice，MinardandRabourdin，chosenaswitnessesforCeleste，MadameandMademoiselleMinardandMinardjunior，twoofThuillier’scolleaguesintheCouncil—general；thenotaryDupuis，chargedwiththedutyofdrawingupthecontract，andlastly，theAbbeGondrin，directoroftheconsciencesofMadameThuillierandCeleste，whowastogivethenuptialblessing。
　　ThelatterwastheformervicarofSaint—JacquesduHaut—Pas，whosegreatrefinementofmannerandgiftofpreachinghadinducedthearchbishoptoremovehimfromthehumbleparishwherehiscareerhadbeguntothearistocraticchurchoftheMadeleine。SinceMadameThuillierandCelestehadagainbecomehisparishioners，theyoungabbevisitedthemoccasionally，andThuillier，whohadgonetohimtoexplain，afterhisownfashion，thesuitablenessofthechoicemadeforCelesteinthepersonoflaPeyrade（takingpainsashedidsotocastreflectionsonthereligiousopinionsofFelixPhellion），hadeasilyledhimtocontributebyhispersuasivewordstotheresignationofthevictim。
　　Whenthetimecametositdowntotablethreeguestsweremissing，——
　　twoMinards，fatherandson，andthenotaryDupuis。ThelatterhadwrittenanotetoThuillierinthemorning，excusinghimselffromthedinner，butsayingthatatnineo’clockpreciselyhewouldbringthecontractandplacehimselfattheordersofMademoiselleThuillier。AsforJulienMinard，hismotherexcusedhimasbeingconfinedtohisroomwithasore—throat。TheabsenceofMinardseniorremainedunexplained，butMadameMinardinsistedthattheyshouldsitdowntotablewithouthim；whichwasdone，Brigitteorderingthatthesoupbekepthotforhim，becauseinthebourgeoiscodeofmannersandcustomsadinnerwithoutsoupisnodinneratall。
　　Therepastwasfarfromgay，andthoughthefarewasbetter，thevivacityandthewarmthoftheconversationwasfar，indeed，fromthatofthefamousimprovisedbanquetatthetimeoftheelectiontotheCouncil—general。Thegapsoccasionedbytheabsenceofthreeguestsmayhavebeenonereason；thenFlaviewasglum；shehadhadaninterviewwithlaPeyradeintheafternoonwhichendedintears；
　　Celeste，evenifshehadbeencontentwiththechoiceimposedonher，wouldscarcely，asamatterofpropriety，haveseemedjoyful；infact，shemadenoefforttobrightenasadface，anddarednotlookathergodmother，whoseowncountenancegavetheimpression，ifwemaysoexpressit，ofthelongbleatingofasheep。Thepoorgirlseeingthisfearedtoexchangealookwithherlestshemightdrivehertotears。
　　Thuilliernowfelthimself，onallsides，ofsuchimportancethathewaspompousandconsequential；whileBrigitte，uneasyoutofherownworld，whereshecouldlorditovereveryonewithoutcompetition，seemedconstrainedandembarrassed。
　　Collevilletriedbyafewjovialitiestoraisethetemperatureoftheassemblage；butthecoarsesaltofhiswitticismshadaneffect，intheatmosphereinwhichheproducedthem，ofaloudlaughinasick—
　　chamber；andamuteintimationfromhiswife，Thuillier，andlaPeyradetoBEHAVEHIMSELFputastopperonhislivelinessandturbulentexpansion。Itwassomewhatremarkablethatthegravestmemberoftheparty，aidedbyRabourdin，wasthepersonwhofinallywarmeduptheatmosphere。TheAbbeGondrin，amanofamostrefinedandcultivatedmind，had，likeeverypureandwell—orderedsoul，afundofgentlegaietywhichhewaswellabletocommunicate，andlivelinesswasbeginningtodawnuponthepartywhenMinardenteredtheroom。
　　Aftermakinghisexcusesonthegroundofimportantduties，themayoroftheeleventharrondissement，whowasinthehabitoftakingtheleadintheconversationwhereverhewent，said，havingswallowedafewhastymouthfuls：——
　　"Messieursandmesdames，haveyouheardthegreatnews？"
　　"No，whatisit？"criedseveralvoicesatonce。
　　"TheAcademyofSciencesreceived，to—day，atitsafternoonsession，theannouncementofavastdiscovery：theheavenspossessanewstar！"
　　"Tiens！"saidColleville；"thatwillhelptoreplacetheonethatBerangerthoughtwaslostwhenhegrieved（tothatairof’Octavie’）
　　overChateaubriand’sdeparture：’Chateaubriand，whyflythyland？’"
　　Thisquotation，whichhesang，exasperatedFlavie，andifthecustomhadbeenforwivestositnexttotheirhusbands，theformerclarionetoftheOpera—Comiquewouldnothaveescapedwithamere"Colleville！"
　　imperiouslycallinghimtoorder。
　　"Thepointwhichgivesthisgreatastronomicaleventaspecialinterestonthisoccasion，"continuedMinard，"isthattheauthorofthediscoveryisadenizenofthetwelftharrondissement，whichmanyofyoustillinhabit，orhaveinhabited。Butotherpointsarestrikinginthisgreatscientificfact。TheAcademy，onthereadingofthecommunicationwhichannouncedit，wassoconvincedoftheexistenceofthisstarthatadeputationwasappointedtovisitthedomicileofthemodernGalileoandcomplimenthiminthenameofthewholebody。Andyetthisstarisnotvisibletoeithertheeyeorthetelescope！Itisonlybythepowerofcalculationandinductionthatitsexistenceandtheplaceitoccupiesintheheavenshavebeenprovedinthemostirrefutablemanner：’ThereMUSTbeTHEREahithertounknownstar；I
　　cannotseeit，butIamsureofit，’——thatiswhatthismanofsciencesaidtotheAcademy，whomheinstantlyconvincedbyhisdeductions。
　　Anddoyouknow，messieurs，whoisthisChristopherColumbusofanewcelestialworld？Anoldman，two—thirdsblind，whohasscarcelyeyesenoughtowalkinthestreet。"
　　"Wonderful！Marvellous！Admirable！"camefromallsides。
　　"Whatisthenameofthislearnedman？"askedseveralvoices。
　　"MonsieurPicot，or，ifyoupreferit，perePicot，forthatishowtheycallhimintherueduVal—de—Grace，wherehelives。Heissimplyanoldprofessorofmathematics，whohasturnedoutseveralveryfinepupils，——bythebye，FelixPhellion，whomweallknow，studiedunderhim，anditwashewhoread，onbehalfofhisblindoldmaster，thecommunicationtotheAcademythisafternoon。"
　　Hearingthatname，andrememberingthepromiseFelixhadmadehertolifthertotheskies，which，ashesaidit，shehadfanciedasignofmadness，CelestelookedatMadameThuillier，whosefacehadtakenasuddenglowofanimation，andseemedtosaytoher，"Courage，mychild！allisnotlost。"
　　"MydearTheodose，"saidThuillier，"Felixiscominghereto—night；
　　youmusttakehimasideandgethimtogiveyouacopyofthatcommunication；itwouldbeafinestrokeoffortuneforthe’Echo’tobethefirsttopublishit。"
　　"Yes，"saidMinard，assumingtheanswer，"thatwoulddogoodservicetothepublic，fortheaffairisgoingtomakeagreatnoise。Thecommittee，notfindingMonsieurPicotathome，wentstraighttotheMinisterofPublicInstruction；andtheministerflewtotheTuileriesandsawtheKing；andthe’Messager’cameoutthisevening——strangetosay，soearlythatIcouldreaditinmycarriageasIdrovealong——
　　withanannouncementthatMonsieurPicotisnamedChevalieroftheLegionofhonor，withapensionofeighteenhundredfrancsfromthefunddevotedtotheencouragementofscienceandletters。"
　　"Well，"saidThuillier，"there’sonecrossatleastwellbestowed。"
　　"Buteighteenhundredfrancsforthepensionseemstomeratherpaltry，"saidDutocq。
　　"Soitdoes，"saidThuillier，"andallthemorebecausethatmoneycomesfromthetax—payers；and，whenoneseesthetaxes，aswedo，fritteredawayoncourtfavorites——"
　　"Eighteenhundredfrancsayear，"interruptedMinard，"iscertainlysomething，especiallyforsavants，aclassofpeoplewhoareaccustomedtoliveonverylittle。"
　　"IthinkIhaveheard，"saidlaPeyrade，"thatthisveryMonsieurPicotleadsastrangelife，andthathisfamily，whoatfirstwantedtoshuthimupasalunatic，arenowtryingtohaveguardiansappointedoverhim。Theysayheallowsaservant—womanwhokeepshishousetorobhimofallhehas。Parbleu！Thuillier，youknowher；itisthatwomanwhocametotheofficetheotherdayaboutsomemoneyinDupuis’shands。"
　　"Yes，yes，true，"saidThuillier，significantly；"youareright，Idoknowher。"
　　"Itisqueer，"saidBrigitte，seeingachancetoenforcetheargumentshehadusedtoCeleste，"thatalltheselearnedmenaregoodfornothingoutsideoftheirscience；intheirhomestheyhavetobetreatedlikechildren。"
　　"Thatproves，"saidtheAbbeGondrin，"thegreatabsorptionwhichtheirstudiesgivetotheirminds，and，atthesametime，asimplicityofnaturewhichisverytouching。"
　　"Whentheyarenotasobstinateasmules，"saidBrigitte，hastily。
　　"Formyself，monsieurl’abbe，ImustsaythatifIhadhadanyideaofmarriage，asavantwouldn’thavesuitedmeatall。Whatdotheydo，thesesavants，anyhow？Uselessthingsmostofthetime。Youarealladmiringonewhohasdiscoveredastar；butaslongasweareinthisworldwhatgoodisthattous？Foralltheusewemakeofstarsitseemstomewehavegotenoughofthemasitis。"
　　"Bravo，Brigitte！"saidColleville，gettinglooseagain；"youareright，mygirl，andIthink，asyoudo，thatthemanwhodiscoversanewdishdeservesbetterofhumanity。"
　　"Colleville，"saidFlavie，"Imustsaythatyourstyleofbehaviorisintheworsttaste。"
　　"Mydearlady，"saidtheAbbeGondrin，addressingBrigitte，"youmightberightifwewereformedofmatteronly；andif，boundtoourbody，therewerenotasoulwithinstinctsandappetitesthatmustbesatisfied。Well，Ithinkthatthissenseoftheinfinitewhichiswithinus，andwhichwealltrytosatisfyeachinourownway，ismarvellouslywellhelpedbythelaborsofastronomy，thatrevealtousfromtimetotimenewworldswhichthehandoftheCreatorhasputintospace。Theinfiniteinyouhastakenanothercourse；thispassionforthecomfortofthoseaboutyou，thiswarm，devoted，ardentaffectionwhichyoufeelforyourbrother，areequallythemanifestationofaspirationswhichhavenothingmaterialaboutthem，andwhich，inseekingtheirendandobject，neverthinkofasking，’Whatgooddoesthatdo？whatistheuseofthis？’Besides，Imustassureyouthatthestarsarenotasuselessasyouseemtothink。
　　Withoutthemhowwouldnavigatorscrossthesea？TheywouldbepuzzledtogetyouthevanillawithwhichyouhaveflavoredthedeliciouscreamIamnoweating。So，asMonsieurCollevillehasperceived，thereismoreaffinitythanyouthinkbetweenadishandastar；nooneshouldbedespised，——neitheranastronomernoragoodhousekeeper——"
　　Theabbewashereinterruptedbythenoiseofalivelyaltercationintheantechamber。
　　"ItellyouthatIwillgoin，"saidaloudvoice。
　　"No，monsieur，youshallnotgoin，"saidanothervoice，thatoftheman—servant。"Thecompanyareattable，Itellyou，andnobodyhastherighttoforcehimselfin。"
　　Thuillierturnedpale；eversincetheseizureofhispamphlet，hefanciedallsuddenarrivalsmeantthecomingofthepolice。
　　AmongthevarioussocialrulesimpartedtoBrigittebyMadamedeGodollo，theonethatmostneededrepeatingwastheinjunctionnever，asmistressofthehouse，torisefromthetableuntilshegavethesignalforretiring。Butpresentcircumstancesappearedtowarranttheinfractionoftherule。
　　"I’llgoandseewhatitis，"shesaidtoThuillier，whoseanxietyshenoticedatonce。"WhatISthematter？"shesaidtotheservantassoonasshereachedthesceneofaction。
　　"Here’sagentlemanwhowantstocomein，andsaysthatnooneiseverdiningateighto’clockatnight。"
　　"Butwhoareyou，monsieur？"saidBrigitte，addressinganoldmanveryoddlydressed，whoseeyeswereprotectedbyagreenshade。
　　"Madame，Iamneitherabeggarnoravagabond，"repliedtheoldman，instentoriantones；"mynameisPicot，professorofmathematics。"
　　"RueduVal—de—Grace？"askedBrigitte。
　　"Yes，madame，——No。9，nexttotheprint—shop。"
　　"Comein，monsieur，comein；weshallbeonlytoohappytoreceiveyou，"criedThuillier，who，onhearingthename，hadhurriedouttomeetthesavant。
　　"Hein！youscamp，"saidthelearnedman，turningupontheman—servant，whohadretired，seeingthatthematterwasbeingsettledamicably，"I
　　toldyouIshouldgetin。"
　　PerePicotwasatalloldman，withanangular，sternface，who，despitethecorrectiveofablondwigwithheavycurls，andthatofthepacificgreenshadewehavealreadymentioned，expressedonhislargefeatures，uponwhichthefuryofstudyhadproducedasurfaceofleadenpallor，asnappishandquarrelsomedisposition。Ofthishehadalreadygivenproofbeforeenteringthedining—room，whereeveryonenowrosetoreceivehim。
　　Hiscostumeconsistedofahugefrock—coat，somethingbetweenapaletotandadressing—gown，betweenwhichanimmensewaistcoatofiron—graycloth，fastenedfromthethroattothepitofthestomachwithtworowsofbuttons，hussarfashion，formedasortofbuckler。
　　Thetrousers，thoughOctoberwasnearingitsclose，weremadeofblacklasting，andgavetestimonytolongservicebytheprojectionofadarnontheotherwisepolishedsurfacecoveringtheknees，thepolishbeingproducedbytherubbingofthehandsuponthoseparts。But，inbroaddaylight，thefeatureoftheoldsavant’sappearancewhichstrucktheeyemostvividlywasapairofPatagonianfeet，imprisonedinslippersofbeavercloth，thewhich，mouldeduponthemountainouselevationsofgiganticbunions，madethespectatorthink，involuntarily，ofthebackofadromedaryoranadvancedcaseofelephantiasis。
　　Onceinstalledinachairwhichwashastilybroughtforhim，andthecompanyhavingreturnedtotheirplacesattable，theoldmansuddenlyburstoutinthunderingtones，amidthesilencecreatedbycuriosity：——
　　"Whereishe，——thatrogue，thatscamp？Lethimshowhimself；lethimdaretospeaktome！"
　　"Whoisitthatoffendsyou，mydearmonsieur？"saidThuillier，inconciliatingaccents，inwhichtherewasaslighttoneofpatronage。
　　"AscampwhomIcouldn’tfindinhisownhome，andtheytoldmehewashere，inthishouse。I’mintheapartment，Ithink，ofMonsieurThuillieroftheCouncil—general，placedelaMadeleine，firststoryabovetheentresol？"
　　"Precisely，"saidThuillier；"andallowmetoadd，monsieur，thatyouaresurroundedwiththerespectandsympathyofall。"
　　"Andyouwilldoubtlesspermitmetoadd，"saidMinard，"thatthemayorofthearrondissementadjoiningthatwhichyouinhabitcongratulateshimselfonbeinghereinpresenceofMonsieurPicot，——
　　THEMonsieurPicot，nodoubt，whohasjustimmortalizedhisnamebythediscoveryofastar！"
　　"Yes，monsieur，"repliedtheprofessor，elevatingtoastillhigherpitchthestentoriandiapasonofhisvoice，"IamPicot（Nepomucene），butIhavenotdiscoveredastar；Idon’tconcernmyselfwithanysuchfiddle—faddle；besides，myeyesareveryweak；andthatinsolentyoungfellowIhavecomeheretofindismakingmeridiculouswithsuchtalk。Idon’tseehimhere；heishidinghimself，Iknow；hedaresnotlookmeintheface。"
　　"Whoisthispersonwhoannoysyou？"askedseveralvoicesatonce。
　　"Anunnaturalpupilofmine，"repliedtheoldmathematician；"ascamp，butfullofideas；hisnameisFelixPhellion。"
　　Thenamewasreceived，asmaywellbeimagined，withamazement。
　　Findingthesituationamusing，CollevilleandlaPeyradewentoffintofitsoflaughter。
　　"Youlaugh，fools！"criedtheirateoldman，rising。"Yes，comeandlaughwithinreachofmyarm。"
　　Sosaying，hebrandishedathickstickwithawhitechinahandle，whichheusedtoguidehimself，therebynearlyknockingoveracandelabrumonthedinner—tableuponMadameMinard’shead。
　　"Youaremistaken，monsieur，"criedBrigitte，springingforwardandseizinghisarm。"MonsieurFelixisnothere。Hewillprobablycomelatertoareceptionweareabouttogive；butatpresenthehasnotarrived。"
　　"Theydon’tbeginearly，yourreceptions，"saidtheoldman；"itispasteighto’clock。Well，asMonsieurFelixiscominglater，youmustallowmetowaitforhim。Ibelieveyouwereeatingyourdinners；
　　don’tletmedisturbyou。"
　　Andhewentbackpeaceablytohischair。
　　"Asyoupermitit，monsieur，"saidBrigitte，"wewillcontinue，or，I
　　shouldsay，finishdinner，forwearenowatthedessert。MayIofferyouanything，——aglassofchampagneandabiscuit？"
　　"Iamverywilling，madame，"repliedtheintruder。"Nooneeverrefuseschampagne，andIamalwaysreadytoeatbetweenmymeals；butyoudineverylate。"
　　AplacewasmadeforhimattablebetweenCollevilleandMademoiselleMinard，andtheformermadeithisbusinesstofilltheglassofhisnewneighbor，beforewhomwasplacedadishofsmallcakes。
　　"Monsieur，"saidlaPeyradeinacajolingtone，"yousawhowsurprisedweweretohearyoucomplainofMonsieurFelixPhellion，——soamiable，soinoffensiveayoungman。Whathashedonetoyou，thatyoushouldfeelsoangrywithhim？"
　　Withhismouthfullofcakes，whichhewasengulfinginquantitiesthatmadeBrigitteuneasy，theprofessormadeasignthathewouldsoonanswer；then，havingmistakenhisglassandswallowedthecontentsofColleville’s，hereplied：——
　　"Youaskwhatthatinsolentyoungmanhaddonetome？Arascallything；andnotthefirst，either。HeknowsthatIcannotabidestars，havingverygoodreasontohatethem，asyoushallhear：In1807，beingattachedtotheBureauofLongitudes，IwaspartofthescientificexpeditionsenttoSpain，underthedirectionofmyfriendandcolleague，Jean—BaptisteBiot，todeterminethearcoftheterrestrialmeridianfromBarcelonatotheBalearicisles。Iwasjustintheactofobservingastar（perhapstheveryonemyrascallypupilhasdiscovered），whensuddenly，warhavingbrokenoutbetweenFranceandSpain，thepeasants，seeingmeperchedwithatelescopeonMonteGalazzo，tookitintotheirheadsthatIwasmakingsignalstotheenemy。Amobofsavagesbrokemyinstruments，andtalkedofstringingmeup。Theywerejustgoingtodoit，whenthecaptainofavesseltookmeprisonerandthrustmeintothecitadelofBelver，whereI
　　spentthreeyearsintheharshestcaptivity。Sincethem，asyoumaywellbelieve，Iloathethewholecelestialsystem；thoughIwas，withoutknowingit，thefirsttoobservethefamouscometof1811；butIshouldhavetakencarenottosayawordaboutitifithadnotbeenforMonsieurFlauguergues，whoannouncedit。Likeallmypupils，Phellionknowsmyaversiontostars，andheknewverywelltheworsttrickhecouldplaymewouldbetosaddleoneonmyback；andthatdeputationthatcametoplaythefarceofcongratulatingmewasmightyluckynottofindmeathome，foriftheyhad，IcanassurethosegentlemenoftheAcademy，theywouldhavehadahotreception。"
　　Everybodypresentthoughttheoldmathematician’smonomaniaquitedelightful，exceptlaPeyrade，whonow，inperceivingFelixPhellion’spartintheaffair，regretteddeeplyhavingcausedtheexplanation。