"Anditistoyourkindoffices，nodoubt，"saidlaPeyrade，"thatI
　　shallowethatpreciousresult？"
　　"Yes，Imayboastofit，"repliedduPortail，"for，inordertotowyouintoportithasbeennecessarytostripyouofyourrigging；
　　unlessthatweredone，youwouldalwayshavetriedtonavigateunderyourownsailsthebourgeoisshoalsthatyouarenowamong。"
　　Seeingthathe，undoubtedly，hadtodowithastronghand，laPeyradethoughtbesttomodifyhistone；andso，withamorecircumspectair，hesaid：——
　　"Youwillallowme，monsieur，toreservemyacknowledgmentsuntilI
　　receivesomefullerexplanation。"
　　"Hereyouare，then，"continuedduPortail，"attwenty—eightyearsofage，withoutapenny，virtuallywithoutaprofession；withantecedentsthatarevery——middling；withassociateslikeMonsieurDutocqandthecourageousCerizet；owingtoMademoiselleThuilliertenthousandfrancs，andtoMadameLamberttwenty—fivethousand，whichyouarenodoubtextremelydesiroustoreturntoher；andfinally，thismarriage，yourlasthope，yoursheet—anchor，hasjustbecomeanutterimpossibility。Betweenourselves，ifIhavesomethingreasonabletoproposetoyou，doyounotthinkthatyouhadmuchbetterplaceyourselfatmydisposal？"
　　"Ihavetimeenoughtoprovethatyouropinionismistaken，"returnedlaPeyrade；"andIshallnotformanyresolutionssolongasthedesignsyouchoosetohaveuponmearenotmorefullyexplained。"
　　"Youwerespokento，atmyinstigation，aboutamarriage，"resumedduPortail。"Thismarriage，asIthink，iscloselyconnectedwithapastexistencefromwhichacertainhereditaryorfamilydutyhasdevolveduponyou。Doyouknowwhatthatuncleofyours，towhomyouappliedin1829，wasdoinginParis？Inyourfamilyhewasthoughttobeamillionaire；and，dyingsuddenly，youremember，beforeyougottohim，hedidnotleaveenoughforhisburial；apauper’sgravewasallthatremainedtohim。"
　　"Didyouknowhim？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"Hewasmyoldestanddearestfriend，"repliedduPortail。
　　"Ifthatisso，"saidlaPeyrade，hastily，"asumoftwothousandfrancs，whichIreceivedonmyarrivalinParisfromsomeunknownsource——"
　　"Camefromme，"repliedduPortail。"Unfortunately，engagedatthetimeinarushofimportantaffairs，whichyoushallhearoflater，I
　　couldnotimmediatelyfollowupthebenevolentinterestIfeltinyouforyouruncle’ssake；thisexplainswhyIleftyouinthestrawofagarret，whereyoucame，likeamedlar，tothatmaturityofruinwhichbroughtyouunderthehandofaDutocqandaCerizet。"
　　"Iamnonethelessgratefultoyou，monsieur，"saidlaPeyrade；"andifIhadknownyouwerethatgenerousprotector，whomIwasneverabletodiscover，Ishouldhavebeenthefirsttoseekoccasiontomeetyouandtothankyou。"
　　"Atrucetocompliments，"saidduPortail；"and，tocomeatoncetotheserioussideofourpresentconference，whatshouldyousayifI
　　toldyouthatthisuncle，whoseprotectionandassistanceyoucametoParistoobtain，wasanagentofthatoccultpowerwhichhasalwaysbeenthethemeoffeebleridiculeandtheobjectofsillyprejudice？"
　　"Idonotseizeyourmeaning，"saidlaPeyrade，withuneasycuriosity；
　　"mayIaskyoutobemoreprecise？"
　　"Forexample，Iwillsuppose，"continuedduPortail，"thatyouruncle，ifstillliving，weretosaytoyouto—day：’Youareseekingfortuneandinfluence，mygoodnephew；youwanttoriseabovethecrowdandtoplayyourpartinallthegreateventsofyourtime；youwantemploymentforakeen，activemind，fullofresources，andslightlyinclinedtointrigue；inshort，youlongtoexertinsomeupperandelegantspherethatforceofwillandsubtletywhichatpresentyouarewastinginthesillyanduselessmanipulationofthemostbarrenandtough—skinnedanimalonearth，towit：abourgeois。Well，then，loweryourhead，myfinenephew；enterwithmethroughthelittledoorwhichIwillopentoyou；itgivesadmittancetoagreathouse，oftenmaligned，butbetterfarthanitsreputation。Thatthresholdoncecrossed，youcanrisetotheheightofyournaturalgenius，whateveritssparkmaybe。Statesmen，kingseven，willadmityoutotheirmostsecretthoughts；youwillbetheiroccultcollaborator，andnoneofthejoyswhichmoneyandthehighestpowerscanbestowuponamanwillbelackingtoyou。"
　　"But，monsieur，"objectedlaPeyrade，"withoutventuringtounderstandyou，Imustremarkthatmyunclediedsopoor，youtellme，thatpubliccharityburiedhim。"
　　"Youruncle，"repliedduPortail，"wasamanofraretalent，buthehadacertainweaksideinhisnaturewhichcompromisedhiscareer。Hewaseagerforpleasure，aspendthrift，thoughtlessforthefuture；hewantedalsototastethosejoysthataremeantforthecommonrunofmen，butwhichforgreat，exceptionalvocationsaretheworstofsnaresandimpediments：Imeanthejoysoffamily。Hehadadaughterwhomhemadlyloved，anditwasthroughherthathisterribleenemiesopenedabreachinhislife，andpreparedthehorriblecatastrophethatendedit。"
　　"Isthatanencouragementtoenterthisshadypath，where，yousay，hemighthaveaskedmetofollowhim？"
　　"ButifImyself，"saidduPortail，"shouldoffertoguideyouinit，whatthen？"
　　"You，monsieur！"saidlaPeyrade，instupefaction。
　　"Yes，I——Iwhowasyouruncle’spupilatfirst，andlaterhisprotectorandprovidence；I，whoseinfluencethelasthalf—centuryhasdailyincreased；I，whoamwealthy；I，towhomallgovernments，astheyfalloneontopoftheotherslikehousesofcards，cometoaskforsafetyandforthepowertorebuildtheirfuture；I，whoamthemanagerofagreattheatreofpuppets（whereIhaveColumbinesinthestyleofMadamedeGodollo）；I，whoto—morrow，ifitwerenecessarytothesuccessofoneofmyvaudevillesoroneofmydramas，mightpresentmyselftoyoureyesasthewearerofthegrandcordonoftheLegionofhonor，oftheOrderoftheBlackEagle，orthatoftheGoldenFleece。DoyouwishtoknowwhyneitheryounorIwilldieaviolentdeathlikeyouruncle，andalsowhy，morefortunatethancontemporaneouskings，IcantransmitmysceptretothesuccessorwhomImyselfmaychoose？Because，likeyou，myyoungfriend，inspiteofyourSouthernappearance，Iwascold，profoundlycalculating，nevertemptedtolosemytimeontriflesattheoutskirts；becauseheat，whenIwasledbyforceofcircumstancestoemployit，neverwentbelowthesurface。Itismorethanprobablethatyouhaveheardofme；
　　well，foryouIwillopenawindowinmycloud；lookatme，observemewell；haveIaclovenhoof，oratailattheendofmyspine？Onthecontrary，amInotamodelofthemostinoffensiveofhouseholdersintheSaint—Sulpicequarter？Inthatquarter，whereIhaveenjoyed，I
　　maysayit，universalesteemforthelasttwenty—fiveyears，IamcalledduPortail；buttoyou，ifyouwillallowme，IshallnownamemyselfCORENTIN。"
　　"Corentin！"criedlaPeyrade，withterrifiedastonishment。
　　"Yes，monsieur；andyouseethatintellingyouthatsecretIlaymyhanduponyou，andenlistyou。Corentin！’thegreatestmanofthepoliceinmoderntimes，’astheauthorofanarticleinthe’BiographiesofLivingMen’hassaidofme——astowhomIoughtinjusticetoremarkthathedoesn’tknowathingaboutmylife。"
　　"Monsieur，"saidlaPeyrade，"IcanassureyouthatIshallkeepthatsecret；buttheplacewhichyouoffermenearyou——inyouremploy——"
　　"Thatfrightensyou，or，atleast，itmakesyouuneasy，"saidCorentin，quickly。"Beforeyouhaveevenconsideredthethingthewordscaresyou，doesit？Thepolice！POLICE！youareafraidtoencountertheterribleprejudicethatbrandsitonthebrow。"
　　"Certainly，"saidlaPeyrade，"itisanecessaryinstitution；butIdonotthinkthatitisalwayscalumniated。Ifthebusinessofthosewhomanageitishonorablewhydotheyconcealthemselvessocarefully？"
　　"Becauseallthatthreatenssociety，whichitisthemissionofthepolicetorepress，"repliedCorentin，"isplottedandpreparedinhiding。Dothievesandconspiratorsputupontheirhats，’IamGuillot，theshepherdofthisflock’？Andwhenweareafterthemmustweringabelltoletthemknowwearecoming？"
　　"Monsieur，"saidlaPeyrade，"whenasentimentisuniversalitceasestobeaprejudice，itbecomesanopinion；andthisopinionoughttobealawtoeverymanwhodesirestokeephisownesteemandthatofothers。"
　　"AndwhenyourobbedthatnotarytoenrichtheThuilliersforyourownadvantage，"saidCorentin，"didyoukeepyourownesteemandthatoftheCouncilofbarristers？Andwhoknows，monsieur，ifinyourlifetherearenotstillblackeractionsthanthat？Iamamorehonorablemanthanyou，because，outsideofmyfunctions，Ihavenotonedoubtfulactuponmyconscience；andwhentheopportunityforGOODhasbeenpresentedtomeIhavedoneit——alwaysandeverywhere。Doyouthinkthattheguardianshipofthatpoorinsanegirlinmyhomehasbeenallroses？Butshewasthedaughterofmyoldfriend，youruncle，andwhen，feelingtheyearscreeponme，Iproposetoyou，betweensacksofmoney，tofityourselftotakemyplace——"
　　"What！"criedlaPeyrade，"isthatgirlmyuncle’sdaughter？"
　　"Yes；thegirlIwishyoutomarryisthedaughterofyourunclePeyrade，——forhedemocratizedhisname，——or，ifyoulikeitbetter，shewasthedaughterofPereCanquoelle，anamehetookfromthelittleestateonwhichyourfatherlivedandstarvedwithelevenchildren。Yousee，inspiteofthesecrecyyourunclealwayskeptabouthisfamily，thatIknowallaboutit。Doyousupposethatbeforeselectingyouasyourcousin’shusbandIhadnotobtainedeverypossibleinformationaboutyou？AndwhatIhavelearnedneednotmakeyouquitesosupercilioustothepolice。Besides，asthevulgarsayingis，thebestofyournoseismadeofit。Yourunclebelongedtothepolice，and，thankstothat，hebecametheconfidant，Imightalmostsaythefriend，ofLouisXVIII。，whotookthegreatestpleasureinhiscompanionship。Andyou，bynatureandbymind，alsobythefoolishpositionintowhichyouhavegotyourself，inshort，byyourwholebeing，havegravitatedsteadilytotheconclusionIproposetoyou，namely，thatofsucceedingme，——ofsucceedingCorentin。Thatisthequestionbetweenus，Monsieur。DoyoureallybelievenowthatIhavenotagraspora’seizin，’asyoucallit，uponyou，andthatyoucanmanagetoescapemeforanyfoolishconsiderationsofbourgeoisvanity？"
　　LaPeyradecouldnothavebeenatheartsoviolentlyopposedtothisproposalasheseemed，forthevigorouslanguageofthegreatmasterofthepoliceandthespeciesofappropriationwhichhemadeofhispersonbroughtasmiletotheyoungman’slips。
　　Corentinhadrisen，andwaswalkingupanddowntheroom，speaking，apparently，tohimself。
　　"Thepolice！"hecried；"onemaysayofit，asBasilesaidofcalumnytoBatholo，’Thepolice，monsieur！youdon’tknowwhatyoudespise！’
　　And，afterall，"hecontinued，afterapause，"whoaretheywhodespiseit？Imbeciles，whodon’tknowanybetterthantoinsulttheirprotectors。Suppressthepolice，andyoudestroycivilization。Dothepoliceaskfortherespectofsuchpeople？No，theywanttoinspirethemwithonesentimentonly：fear，thatgreatleverwithwhichtogovernmankind，——animpureracewhoseodiousinstinctsGod，hell，theexecutioner，andthegendarmescanscarcelyrestrain！"
　　StoppingshortbeforelaPeyrade，andlookingathimwithadisdainfulsmile，hecontinued：——
　　"Soyouareoneofthoseninnieswhoseeinthepolicenothingmorethanahordeofspiesandinformers？Haveyouneversuspectedthestatesmen，thediplomats，theRichelieusitproduces？Mercury，monsieur，——Mercury，thecleverestofthegodsofpaganism，——whatwashebutthepoliceincarnate？Itistruethathewasalsothegodofthieves。Wearebetterthanhe，forwedon’tallowthatjunctionofforces。"
　　"Andyet，"saidlaPeyrade，"Vautrin，or，Ishouldsay，JacquesCollin，thefamouschiefofthedetectivepolice——"
　　"Yes，yes！butthat’sinthelowerranks，"repliedCorentin，resuminghiswalk；"there’salwaysamuddyplacesomewhere。Still，don’tbemistakeneveninthat。Vautrinisamanofgenius，buthispassions，likethoseofyouruncle，draggedhimdown。Butgouphigher（forthereliesthewholequestion，namely，therungoftheladderonwhichamanhaswitsenoughtoperch）。Taketheprefect，forinstance，thathonoredminister，flatteredandrespected，isheaspy？Well，I，monsieur，amtheprefectofthesecretpoliceofdiplomacy——ofthehigheststatesmanship。Andyouhesitatetomountthatthrone！——toseemsmallanddogreatthings；toliveinacavecomfortablyarrangedlikethis，andcommandthelight；tohaveatyourordersaninvisiblearmy，alwaysready，alwaysdevoted，alwayssubmissive；toknowtheOTHER
　　SIDEofeverything；tobedupedbynointriguebecauseyouholdthethreadsofallwithinyourfingers；toseethroughallpartitions；topenetrateallsecrets，searchallhearts，allconsciences，——thesearethethingsyoufear！AndyetyouwerenotafraidtogoandwallowinaThuillierbog；you，athoroughbred，allowedyourselftobeharnessedtoahackney—coach，totheignoblebusinessofelectingthatparvenubourgeois。"
　　"Amandoeswhathecan，"saidlaPeyrade。
　　"Here’saveryremarkablething，"pursuedCorentin，replyingtohisownthought；"theFrenchlanguage，morejustthanpublicopinion，hasgivenusourrightplace，forithasmadethewordpolicethesynonymofcivilizationandtheantipodesofsavagelife，whenitsaidandwrote：’l’Etatpolice，’fromtheGreekwordsstateandcity。So，Icanassureyou，wecarelittlefortheprejudicethattriestobrandus；
　　noneknowmenaswedo；andtoknowthembringscontemptfortheircontemptaswellasfortheiresteem。"
　　"Thereiscertainlymuchtruthinwhatyousaywithsuchwarmth，"saidlaPeyrade，finally。
　　"Muchtruth！"exclaimedCorentin，goingbacktohischair，"say，rather，thatitisalltrue，andnothingbutthetruth；yetitisnotthewholetruth。Butenoughforto—day，monsieur。Tosucceedmeinmyfunctions，andtomarryyourcousinwitha’dot’thatwillnotbelessthanfivehundredthousandfrancs，thatismyoffer。Idonotaskyouforananswernow。Ishouldhavenoconfidenceinadeterminationnotseriouslyreflectedupon。To—morrow，Ishallbeathomeallthemorning。Itrustthatmyconvictionmaythenhaveformedyours。"
　　Dismissinghisvisitorwithacurtlittlebow，headded："Idonotbidyouadieu，butaurevoir，MonsieurdelaPeyrade。"
　　WhereuponCorentinwenttoaside—table，wherehefoundallthatheneededtoprepareaglassof"eausucree，"whichhehadcertainlyearned，and，withoutlookingatlaPeyrade，wholefttheroomratherstunned，heseemedtohavenootherinterestonhismindthanthatprosaicpreparation。
　　Wasit，indeed，necessarythatthemorningafterthismeetingwithCorentinavisitfromMadameLambert，nowbecomeanexactingandimportunatecreditor，shouldcometobearitsweightonlaPeyrade’sdetermination？Asthegreatchiefhadpointedouttohimthenightbefore，wastherenotinhisnature，inhismind，inhisaspirations，inthemistakesandimprudencesofhispastlife，asortofirresistibleinclinewhichdrewhimdowntowardthestrangesolutionofexistencethussuddenlyofferedtohim？
　　Fatality，ifwemaysocallit，waslavishoftheinducementstowhichhewasdestinedtosuccumb。Thisdaywasthe31stofOctober；thevacationofthePalaiswasjustover。The2ndofNovemberwasthedayonwhichthecourtsreopened，andasMadameLambertlefthisroomhereceivedasummonstoappearonthatdaybeforetheCouncilofhisorder。
　　ToMadameLambert，whopressedhimsharplytorepayher，underpretencethatshewasabouttoleaveMonsieurPicotandreturntohernativeplace，hereplied："Comeherethedayafterto—morrow，atthesamehour，andyourmoneywillbereadyforyou。"
　　TothesummonstogiveaccountofhisactionstohispeersherepliedthathedidnotrecognizetherightoftheCounciltoquestionhimonthefactsofhisprivatelife。Thatwasananswerofonesort，certainly。InevitablyitwouldresultinhisbeingstrickenfromtherollofthebarristersoftheRoyalcourts；but，atleast，ithadanairofdignityandprotestationwhichsaved，inameasure，hisself—
　　love。
　　Finally，hewrotealettertoThuillier，inwhichhesaidthathisvisittoduPortailhadresultedinhisbeingobligedtoacceptanothermarriage。HethereforereturnedtoThuillierhispromise，andtookbackhisown。Allthiswascurtlysaid，withouttheslightestexpressionofregretforthemarriageherenounced。Inapostscriptheadded："Weshallbeobligedtodiscussmypositiononthenewspaper，"
　　——indicatingthatitmightenterintohisplansnottoretainit。
　　Hewascarefultomakeacopyofthisletter，andanhourlater，when，inCorentin’sstudy，hewasquestionedastotheresultofhisnight’sreflections，hegavethatgreatgeneral，forallanswer，thematrimonialresignationhehadjustdespatched。
　　"Thatwilldo，"saidCorentin。"Butasforyourpositiononthenewspaper，youmayperhapshavetokeepitforatime。Thecandidacyofthatfoolinterfereswiththeplansofthegovernment，andwemustmanageinsomewaytotripuptheheelsofthemunicipalcouncillor。
　　Inyourpositionaseditor—in—chiefyoumayfindachancetodoit，andIthinkyourconsciencewon’tkickatthemission。"
　　"No，indeed！"saidlaPeyrade，"thethoughtofthehumiliationstowhichIhavebeensolongsubjectedwillmakeitapreciousjoytolashthatbourgeoisbrood。"
　　"Takecare！"saidCorentin；"youareyoung，andyoumustwatchagainstthoserevengefulemotions。Inouraustereprofessionwelovenothingandwehatenothing。Menaretousmerepawnsofwoodorivory，accordingtotheirquality——withwhichweplayourgame。Wearelikethebladethatcutswhatisgivenittocut，but，carefulonlytobedelicatelysharpened，wishesneitherharmnorgoodtoanyone。Nowletusspeakofyourcousin，towhom，Isuppose，youhavesomecuriositytobepresented。"
　　LaPeyradewasnotobligedtopretendtoeagerness，thatwhichhefeltwasgenuine。
　　"LydiedelaPeyrade，"saidCorentin，"isnearlythirty，butherinnocence，joinedtoagentleformofinsanity，haskeptherapartfromallthosepassions，ideas，andimpressionswhichuseuplife，andhas，ifImaysayso，embalmedherinasortofeternalyouth。Youwouldnotthinkhermorethantwenty。Sheisfairandslender；herface，whichisverydelicate，isespeciallyremarkableforanexpressionofangelicsweetness。Deprivedofherfullreasonbyaterriblecatastrophe，hermonomaniahassomethingtouchingaboutit。
　　Shealwayscarriesinherarmsorkeepsbesideherabundleoflinenwhichshenursesandcaresforasthoughitwereasickchild；and，exceptingBruneauandmyself，whomsherecognizes，shethinksallothermenaredoctors，whomsheconsultsaboutthechild，andtowhomshelistensasoracles。AcrisiswhichlatelyhappenedinhermaladyhasconvincedHoraceBianchon，thatprinceofscience，thatiftherealitycouldbesubstitutedforthislongdelusionofmotherhood，herreasonwouldassertitself。Itissurelyaworthytasktobringbacklighttoasoulinwhichitisscarcelyveiled；andtheexistingbondofrelationshiphasseemedtometopointyououtasspeciallydesignatedtoeffectthiscure，thesuccessofwhichBianchonandtwoothereminentdoctorswhohaveconsultedwithhimdeclaretobebeyondadoubt。Now，IwilltakeyoutoLydie’spresence；remembertoplaythepartofdoctor；fortheonlythingthatmakesherlosehercustomaryserenityisnottoenterintohernotionofmedicalconsultation。"
　　AftercrossingseveralroomsCorentinwasonthepointoftakinglaPeyradeintothatusuallyoccupiedbyLydiewhenemployedincradlingordandlingherimaginarychild，whensuddenlytheywerestoppedbythesoundoftwoorthreechordsstruckbythehandofamasteronapianoofthefinestsonority。
　　"Whatisthat？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"ThatisLydie，"repliedCorentin，withwhatmightbecalledanexpressionofpaternalpride；"sheisanadmirablemusician，andthoughshenolongerwritesdown，asinthedayswhenhermindwasclear，herdelightfulmelodies，sheoftenimprovisestheminawaythatmovesmetothesoul——thesoulofCorentin！"addedtheoldman，smiling。"IsnotthatthefinestpraiseIcanbestowuponher？Butsupposewesitdownhereandlistentoher。Ifwegoin，theconcertwillceaseandthemedicalconsultationbegin。"
　　LaPeyradewasamazedashelistenedtoanimprovisationinwhichtherareunionofinspirationandscienceopenedtohisimpressionablenatureasourceofemotionsasdeepastheywereunexpected。CorentinwatchedthesurprisewhichfrommomenttomomenttheProvencalexpressedbyadmiringexclamations。
　　"Hein！howsheplays！"saidtheoldman。"Liszthimselfhasn’tafirmertouch。"
　　Toaveryquick"scherzo"theperformernowaddedthefirstnotesofan"adagio。"
　　"Sheisgoingtosing，"saidCorentin，recognizingtheair。
　　"Doesshesingtoo？"askedlaPeyrade。
　　"LikePasta，likeMalibran；buthush，listentoher！"
　　Afterafewopeningbarsin"arpeggio"avibrantvoiceresounded，thetonesofwhichappearedtostirtheProvencaltothedepthsofhisbeing。
　　"Howthemusicmovesyou！"saidCorentin；"youwereundoubtedlymadeforeachother。"
　　"MyGod！thesameair！thesamevoice！"
　　"HaveyoualreadymetLydiesomewhere？"askedthegreatmasterofthepolice。
　　"Idon’tknow——Ithinknot，"answeredlaPeyrade，inastammeringvoice；"inanycase，itwaslongago——Butthatair——thatvoice——I
　　think——"
　　"Letusgoin，"saidCorentin。
　　Openingthedoorabruptly，heentered，pullingtheyoungmanafterhim。
　　Sittingwithherbacktothedoor，andpreventedbythesoundofthepianofromhearingwhathappenedbehindher，Lydiedidnotnoticetheirentrance。
　　"Nowhaveyouanyremembranceofher？"saidCorentin。
　　LaPeyradeadvancedastep，andnosoonerhadhecaughtaglimpseofthegirl’sprofilethanhethrewuphishandsabovehishead，strikingthemtogether。
　　"Itisshe！"hecried。
　　Hearinghiscry，Lydieturnedround，andfixingherattentiononCorentin，shesaid：——
　　"Hownaughtyandtroublesomeyouaretocomeanddisturbme；youknowverywellIdon’tliketobelistenedto。Ah！but——"sheadded，catchingsightoflaPeyrade’sblackcoat，"youhavebroughtthedoctor；thatisverykindofyou；Iwasjustgoingtoaskyoutosendforhim。Thebabyhasdonenothingbutcrysincemorning；Iwassingingtoputhertosleep，butnothingcandothat。"
　　Andsherantofetchwhatshecalledherchildfromacorneroftheroom，wherewithtwochairslaidontheirbacksandthecushionsofthesofa，shehadconstructedasortofcradle。
　　AsshewenttowardslaPeyrade，carryingherpreciousbundlewithonehand，withtheothershewasarrangingtheimaginarycapofher"littledarling，"havingnoeyesexceptforthesadcreationofherdisorderedbrain。Stepbystep，assheadvanced，laPeyrade，pale，trembling，andwithstaringeyes，retreatedbackwards，untilhestruckagainstaseat，intowhich，losinghisequilibrium，hefell。
　　AmanofCorentin’spowerandexperience，andwho，moreover，knewtoitsslightestdetailthehorribledramainwhichLydiehadlostherreason，hadalready，ofcourse，takeninthesituation，butitsuitedhispurposeandhisideastoallowtheclearlightofevidencetopiercethisdarkness。
　　"Look，doctor，"saidLydie，unfasteningthebundle，andputtingthepinsinhermouthasshedidso，"don’tyouseethatsheisgrowingthinnereveryday？"
　　LaPeyradecouldnotanswer；hekepthishandkerchiefoverhisface，andhisbreathcamesofastfromhischestthathewastotallyunabletoutteraword。
　　Then，withoneofthosegesturesoffeverishimpatience，towhichhermentalstatepredisposedher，sheexclaimed，hastily：——
　　"Butlookatherdoctor，look！"takinghisarmviolentlyandforcinghimtoshowhisfeatures。"MyGod！"shecried，whenshehadlookedhimintheface。
　　Lettingfallthelinenbundleinherarms，shethrewherselfhastilybackwards，andhereyesgrewhaggard。Passingherwhitehandsrapidlyoverherforeheadandthroughherhair，tossingitintodisorder，sheseemedtobemakinganefforttoobtainfromhermemorysomedormantrecollection。Then，likeafrightenedmare，whichcomestosmellanobjectthathasgivenitamomentaryterror，sheapproachedlaPeyradeslowly，stoopingtolookintohisface，whichhekeptlowered，while，inthemidstofasilenceinexpressible，sheexaminedhimsteadilyforseveralseconds。Suddenlyaterriblecryescapedherbreast；sheranforrefugeintothearmsofCorentin，andpressingherselfagainsthimwithallherforce，sheexclaimed：——
　　"Saveme！saveme！Itishe！thewretch！Itishewhodidit！"
　　And，withherfingerpointedatlaPeyrade，sheseemedtonailthemiserableobjectofherterrortohisplace。
　　Afterthisexplosion，shemutteredafewdisconnectedwords，andhereyesclosed；Corentinfelttherelaxingofallthemusclesbywhichshehadheldhimasinavicethemomentbefore，andhetookherinhisarmsandlaidheronthesofa，insensible。