"Then，"saidtheoratorofthedeputation，"inspiteofyourdeclarationtothecontrary，youdocontinuetobethecandidateoftheOpposition？"
"Yes，messieurs，untildeath；andIbegyoutouseyourutmostinfluenceinthequartertoneutralizetheeffectofthisdeliberatefalsehooduntilIamabletoofficiallypresentthemostformaldisavowal。"
"Hear！hear！"saidtheelectors。
"And，asforthepresenceofMonsieurMinard，mycompetitor，intheseprecincts，Ihavenotinvitedit；andatthemomentwhenyouenteredthisroom，Iwasengagedinaverysharpanddecidedexplanationwithhim。"
"Hear！hear！"saidtheelectorsagain。
Then，aftercordiallyshakingthehandoftheapothecary，Thuillierconductedthedeputationtotheouterdooroftheapartment；afterwhich，returningtotheeditorialsanctum，hesaid：——
"MydearMinard，Iwithdrawthewordswhichwoundedyou；butyoucanseenowwhatjustificationIhadformyindignation。"
HereCoffinetagainopenedthedoorandannounced：——
"Messieurstheelectorsoftheeleventharrondissement。"
Thearrondissementwasrepresentedthistimebysevenpersons。A
linen—draper，chairmanofthedelegation，addressedThuillierinthefollowingspeech：——
"Monsieur，itiswithsincereadmirationthatwehavelearnedthismorningfromthecolumnsofyourpaper，thegreatcivicactbywhichyouhavetouchedallhearts。Youhaveshown，inthusretiring，amostunusualdisinterestedness，andtheesteemofyourfellow—citizens——"
"Excuseme，"saidThuillier，interruptinghim，"Icannotallowyoutocontinue；thearticleaboutwhichyouaresogoodastocongratulateme，wasinsertedbymistake。"
"What！"saidthelinen—draper；"thendoyounotretire？CanyousupposethatinoppositiontothecandidacyofMonsieurMinard（whosepresenceintheseprecinctsseemstomerathersingular）youhavetheslightestchanceofsuccess？"
"Monsieur，"saidThuillier，"havethegoodnesstorequesttheelectorsofyourarrondissementtoawaittheissueofto—morrow’spaper，inwhichIshallfurnishcategoricalexplanationsofthemostdistinctcharacter。Thearticleto—dayistheresultofamisunderstanding。"
"Itwillbeasadpity，monsieur，"saidthelinen—draper，"ifyoulosethisoccasiontoplaceyourselfintheeyesofyourfellow—citizensbesidetheWashingtonsandothergreatmenofantiquity。"
"Isayagain，TO—MORROW，messieurs，"saidThuillier。"Iamnonethelesssensibletothehonoryoudome，andItrustthatwhenyouknowthewholetruth，Ishallnotsufferinyouresteem。"
"Aprettyqueermessthisseemstobe，"saidthevoiceofanelector。
"Yes，"saidanother；"itlooksasiftheymeanttobamboozleus。"
"Messieurs，messieurs！"criedthechairman，puttingastoptotheoutbreak；"to—morrow——wewillwaituntilto—morrowforthepromisedexplanations。"
Whereupon，thedeputationretired。
ItisnotlikelythatThuillierwouldhaveaccompaniedthembeyondthedoorofthesanctum，butinanycasehewaspreventedbythesuddenentranceoflaPeyrade。
"Ihavejustcomefromyourhouse，mydearfellow，"saidtheProvencal；"theytoldmeIshouldfindyouhere。"
"Youhavecome，doubtless，forthepurposeofexplainingtomethestrangearticleyouallowedyourselftoinsertinmyname。"
"Precisely，"saidlaPeyrade。"Theremarkablemanwhomyouknow，andwhosepowerfulinfluenceyouhavealreadyfelt，confidedtomeyesterday，inyourinterests，theplansofthegovernment，andIsawatoncethatyourdefeatwasinevitable。Iwishedthereforetosecuretoyouanhonorableanddignifiedretreat。Therewasnotimetolose；
youwereabsentfromParis，andtherefore——"
"Verygood，monsieur，"saidThuillier；"butyouwilltakenoticethatfromthepresentmomentyouarenolongertheeditorofthispaper。"
"ThatiswhatIcametotellyou。"
"Perhapsyoualsocametosettlethelittleaccountwehavetogether。"
"Messieurs，"saidMinard，"Iseethatthisisabusinessinterview；I
shallthereforetakeleaveofyou。"
AssoonasMinardhadlefttheroom，laPeyradepulledouthispocket—
book。
"Herearetenthousandfrancs，"hesaid，"whichIwillbegyoutoremittoMademoiselleBrigitte；andhere，also，isthebondbywhichyousecuredthepaymentoftwenty—fivethousandfrancstoMadameLambert；thatsumIhavenowpaidinfull，andhereisthereceipt。"
"Verygood，monsieur，"saidThuillier。
LaPeyradebowedandwentaway。
"Serpent！"saidThuillierashewatchedhimgo。
"Cerizetsaidtherightthing，"thoughtlaPeyrade，——"apompousimbecile！"
TheblowstruckatThuillier’scandidacywasmortal，butMinarddidnotprofitbyit。Whilethepairwerecontendingforvotes，agovernmentman，anaide—de—camptotheking，arrivedwithhishandsfulloftobaccolicensesandotherelectoralsmallchange，and，likethethirdthief，heslippedbetweenthetwowhowerethumpingeachother，andcarriedoffthebooty。
ItisneedlesstosaythatBrigittedidnotgetherfarminBeauce。
Thatwasonlyamirage，byhelpofwhichThuillierwasenticedoutofParislongenoughforlaPeyradetodealhisblow，——aservicerenderedtothegovernmentontheonehand，butalsoapreciousvengeanceforthemanyhumiliationshehadundergone。
ThuillierhadcertainlysomesuspicionsastothecomplicityofCerizet，butthatworthymanagedtojustifyhimself；andbymanoeuvringthesaleofthe"EchodelaBievre，"nowbecomeanightmaretothelucklessowner，heendedbyappearingaswhiteassnow。
ThepaperwassecretlyboughtupbyCorentin，andthelateoppositionsheetbecamea"canard"soldonSundaysinthewine—shopsandconcoctedinthedensofthepolice。
CHAPTERXVII
INTHEEXERCISEOFHISFUNCTIONS
AbouttwomonthsafterthesceneinwhichlaPeyradehadbeenconvincedthatthroughacrimeofhispastlifehisfuturewasirrevocablysettled，he（beingnowmarriedtohisvictim，whowasbeginningtohavelucidintervals，thoughthefullreturnofherreasonwouldnottakeplaceuntiltheoccasionindicatedbythedoctors）wassittingonemorningwiththeheadofthepoliceinthelatter’soffice。Takingpartintheworkofthedepartment，theyoungmanwasservinganapprenticeshipunderthatgreatmasterinthedifficultanddelicatefunctionstowhichhewashenceforthriveted。
ButCorentinfoundthathispupildidnotbringtothisinitiationalltheardorandamiabilitythathedesired。ItwasplainthatinlaPeyrade’ssoultherewasasenseofforfeitureanddegradation；timewouldgetthebetterofthatimpression，butthecalluswasnotyetformed。
Openinganumberofsealedenvelopesenclosingthereportsofhisvariousagents，Corentinglancedoverthesedocuments，seldomasusefulasthepublicsuppose，castingthemoneafteranothercontemptuouslyintoabasket，whencetheyissuedinamassforaburning。Buttooneofthemthegreatmanevidentlygavesomeparticularattention；ashereaditasmileflickeredonhislips，andwhenhehadfinished，insteadofaddingittothepileinthebasket，hegaveittolaPeyrade。
"Here，"hesaid，"here’ssomethingthatconcernsyou；itshowsthatinourprofession，whichjustnowseemstoyouunpleasantlyserious，wedooccasionallymeetwithcomedies。Readitaloud；itwillcheermeup。"
BeforelaPeyradebegantoread，Corentinadded：——
"IoughttotellyouthatthereportisfromamancalledHenri，whomMadameKomornintroducedasman—servantattheThuilliers’；youprobablyrememberhim。"
"So！"saidlaPeyrade，"servantsplacedinfamilies！isthatoneofyourmethods？"
"Sometimes，"repliedCorentin；"inordertoknowall，wemustuseallmeans。Butagreatmanyliesaretoldaboutusonthatsubject。Itisnottruethatthepolice，makingasystemofit，has，atcertainperiods，byageneralenrolmentoflacqueysandlady’s—maids，establishedavastnetworkinprivatefamilies。Nothingisfixedandabsoluteinourmannerofproceeding；weactinaccordancewiththetimeandcircumstances。IwantedanearandaninfluenceintheThuillierhousehold；accordingly，IletloosetheGodollouponit，andshe，inturn，partlytoassistherself，installedthereoneofourmen，anintelligentfellow，asyouwillseeforyourself。Butforallthat，if，atanothertime，aservantcameandofferedtosellmethesecretsofhismaster，Ishouldhavehimarrested，andletawarningreachtheearsofthefamilytodistrusttheotherservants。Nowgoon，andreadthatreport。"
MonsieurtheDirectoroftheSecretPolice，readlaPeyradealoud，——
Ididnotstaylongwiththelittlebaron；heisamanwhollyoccupiedinfrivolouspleasures；andtherewasnothingtobegatheredtherethatwasworthyofareporttoyou。Ihavefoundanotherplace，whereIhavealreadywitnessedseveralthingwhichfitintothemissionthatMadamedeGodollogaveme，andtherefore，thinkingthemlikelytointerestyou，Ihastentobringthemtoyourknowledge。ThehouseholdinwhichIamnowemployedisthatofanoldsavant，namedMonsieurPicot，wholivesonafirstfloor，PlacedelaMadeleine，inthehouseandapartmentformerlyoccupiedbymylatemasters，theThuilliers——
"What！"criedlaPeyrade，interruptinghisreading，"PerePicot，thatruinedoldlunatic，occupyingsuchanapartmentasthat？"
"Goon，goon！"saidCorentin；"lifeisfullofmanystrangethings。
You’llfindtheexplanationfartheralong；forourcorrespondent——itisthedefectofthosefellowstowastethemselvesondetails——isonlytoofondofdottinghisi’s。"
LaPeyradereadon：——
TheThuilliersleftthisapartmentsomeweeksagotoreturntotheirLatinquarter。MademoiselleBrigitteneverreallylikedoursphere；hertotalwantofeducationmadeherillatease。JustbecauseIspeakcorrectly，shewasalwayscallingme’theorator，’
andshecouldnotendureMonsieurPascal，herporter，because，beingbeadleinthechurchoftheMadeleine，hehadmanners；sheevenfoundsomethingtosayagainstthedealersinthegreatmarketbehindthechurch，where，ofcourse，sheboughtherprovisions；shecomplainedthattheygavethemselvesCAPABLEairs，merelybecausetheyarenotsocoarse—tonguedasthoseoftheHalle，andonlylaughedatherwhenshetriedtobeatthemdown。
ShehasleasedthewholehousetoacertainMonsieurCerizet（averyuglyman，withanosealleatenaway）foranannualrentoffifty—fivethousandfrancs。Thistenantseemstoknowwhatheisabout。Hehaslatelymarriedanactressatoneoftheminortheatres，MademoiselleOlympeCardinal，andhewasjustabouttooccupyhimselfthefirst—floorapartment，whereheproposedtoestablishhispresentbusiness，namely，insuranceforthe"dots"
ofchildren，whenMonsieurPicot，arrivingfromEnglandwithhiswife，averyrichEnglishwoman，sawtheapartmentandofferedsuchagoodpricethatMonsieurCerizetfeltconstrainedtotakeit。
Thatwasthetimewhen，bythehelpofM。Pascal，theporter，withwhomIhavebeencarefultomaintaingoodrelations，IenteredthehouseholdofMonsieurPicot。
"MonsieurPicotmarriedtoarichEnglishwoman！"exclaimedlaPeyrade，interruptinghimselfagain；"butitisincomprehensible。"
"Goon，Itellyou，"saidCorentin；"you’llcomprehenditpresently。"
Thefortuneofmynewmaster，continuedlaPeyrade，isquiteahistory；andIspeakofittoMonsieurledirecteurbecauseanotherpersoninwhomMadamedeGodollowasinterestedhashismarriagecloselymixedupinit。ThatotherpersonisMonsieurFelixPhellion，theinventorofastar，who，indespairatnotbeingabletomarrythatdemoisellewhomtheywantedtogivetotheSieurlaPeyradewhomMadamedeGodollomadesuchafoolof——
"Scoundrel！"saidtheProvencal，inaparenthesis。"Isthathowhespeaksofme？Hedoesn’tknowwhoIam。"
Corentinlaughedheartilyandexhortedhispupiltoreadon。
——who，indespairatnotbeingabletomarrythatdemoiselle……
wenttoEnglandinordertoembarkforajourneyroundtheworld——
alover’snotion！Learningofthisdeparture，MonsieurPicot，hisformerprofessor，whotookgreatinterestinhispupil，wentafterhimtopreventthatnonsense，whichturnedoutnottobedifficult。TheEnglisharenaturallyveryjealousofdiscoveries，andwhentheysawMonsieurPhellioncomingtoembarkattheheelsoftheirownsavantstheyaskedhimforhispermitfromtheAdmiralty；which，nothavingbeenprovided，hecouldnotproduce；
sothentheylaughedinhisfaceandwouldnotlethimembarkatall，fearingthatheshouldprovemorelearnedthanthey。
"Heisafinehandatthe’ententecordiale，’yourMonsieurHenri，"
saidlaPeyrade，gaily。
"Yes，"repliedCorentin；"youwillbestruck，inthereportsofnearlyallouragents，withthisgeneralandperpetualinclinationtocalumniate。Butwhat’stobedone？Forthetradeofspieswecan’thaveangels。"
Leftupontheshore，Telemachusandhismentor——
"Youseeourmenarelettered，"commentedCorentin。
——TelemachusandhismentorthoughtbesttoreturntoFrance，andwereabouttodosowhenMonsieurPicotreceivedalettersuchasnonebutanEnglishwomancouldwrite。Ittoldhimthatthewriterhadreadhis"TheoryofPerpetualMotion，"andhadalsoheardofhismagnificentdiscoveryofastar；thatsheregardedhimasageniusonlysecondtoNewton，andthatifthehandofherwhoaddressedhim，joinedtoeightythousandpoundssterling——thatis，twomillions——of"dot，"wasagreeabletohimitwasathisdisposal。Thefirstthoughtofthegoodmanwastomakehispupilmarryher，butfindingthatimpossible，hetoldher，beforeacceptingonhisownaccount，thathewasoldandthree—quartersblind，andhadneverdiscoveredastar，anddidnotownapenny。
TheEnglishwomanrepliedthatMiltonwasnotyoungeither，andwasaltogetherblind；thatMonsieurPicotseemedtohertohavenothingworsethanacataract，forsheknewallaboutit，beingthedaughterofagreatoculist，andshewouldhavehimoperatedupon；thatasforthestar，shedidnotcaresoverymuchaboutthat；itwastheauthorofthe"TheoryofPerpetualMotion"whowasthemanofherdreams，andtowhomsheagainofferedherhandwitheightythousandpoundssterling（twomillions）of"dot。"
MonsieurPicotrepliedthatifhissightwererestoredandshewouldconsenttoliveinParis，forhehatedEngland，hewouldlethimselfbemarried。Theoperationwasperformedandwassuccessful，and，attheendofthreeweeksthenewlymarriedpairarrivedinthecapital。ThesedetailsIobtainedfromthelady’smaid，withwhomIamonthewarmestterms。
"Oh！thepuppy！"saidCorentin，laughing。
Theaboveisthereforehearsay，butwhatremainstobetoldtoMonsieurledirecteurarefactsofwhichIcanspeak"devisu，"
andtowhichIam，consequently，inapositiontocertify。AssoonasMonsieurandMadamePicothadinstalledthemselves，whichwasdoneinthemostsumptuousandcomfortablemanner，mymastergavemeanumberofinvitationstodinnertocarrytotheThuillierfamily，theCollevillefamily，theMinardfamily，theAbbeGondrin，vicaroftheMadeleine，andnearlyalltheguestswhowerepresentatanotherdinnerafewmonthsearlier，whenhehadanencounterwithMademoiselleThuillier，andbehaved，Imustsay，inarathersingularmanner。AllthepersonswhoreceivedtheseinvitationsweresoastonishedtolearnthattheoldmanPicothadmarriedarichwifeandwaslivingintheThuilliers’
oldapartmentthatmostofthemcametoinquireofMonsieurPascal，theporter，toseeiftheywerehoaxed。Theinformationtheyobtainedbeinghonestandhonorable，thewholesocietyarrivedpunctuallyontime；butMonsieurPicotdidnotappear。
TheguestswerereceivedbyMadamePicot，whodoesnotspeakFrenchandcouldonlysay，"Myhusbandiscomingsoon"；afterwhich，notbeingabletomakefurtherconversation，thecompanyweredullandillatease。AtlastMonsieurPicotarrived，andallpresentwerestupefiedonseeing，insteadofanoldblindman，shabbilydressed，ahandsomeyoungelderlyman，bearinghisyearsjauntily，likeMonsieurFervilleoftheGymnase，whosaidwithalivelyair：
"Ibegyourpardon，mesdames，fornotbeinghereatthemomentofyourarrival；butIwasattheAcademyofSciences，awaitingtheresultofanelection，——thatofMonsieurFelixPhellion，whohasbeenelectedunanimouslylessthreevotes。"
Thisnewsseemedtohaveagreateffectuponthecompany。SothenMonsieurPicotresumed：——
"Imustalso，mesdames，askyourpardonfortheratherimpropermannerinwhichIbehavedashorttimeagointhehousewherewearenowassembled。Myexcusemustbemylateinfirmity，theannoyancesofafamilylawsuit，andofanoldhousekeeperwhorobbedmeandtormentedmeinathousandways，fromwhomIamhappilydelivered。To—dayyouseemeanotherman，rejuvenatedandrichwiththeblessingsbestoweduponmebytheamiablewomanwhohasgivenmeherhand；andIshouldbeinthehappiestframeofmindtoreceiveyouiftherecollectionofmyyoungfriend，whoseeminenceasamanofsciencehasjustbeenconsecratedbytheAcademy，didnotcastuponmymindaveilofsadness。Allherepresent，"continuedMonsieurPicot，raisinghisvoice，whichisratherloud，"areguiltytowardshim：I，foringratitudewhenhegavemethegloryofhisdiscoveryandtherewardofhisimmortallabors；thatyounglady，whomIseeovertherewithtearsinhereyes，forhavingfoolishlyaccusedhimofatheism；thatotherlady，withthesternface，forhavingharshlyrepliedtotheproposalsofhisnoblefather，whosewhitehairssheoughtrathertohavehonored；MonsieurThuillier，forhavingsacrificedhimtoambition；MonsieurColleville，fornotperforminghispartoffatherandchoosingforhisdaughtertheworthiestandmosthonorableman；MonsieurMinard，forhavingtriedtofoisthissonintohisplace。Therearebuttwopersonsintheroomatthismomentwhohavedonehimfulljustice，——MadameThuillierandMonsieurl’AbbeGondrin。Well，IshallnowaskthatmanofGodwhetherwecanhelpdoubtingthedivinejusticewhenthisgenerousyoungman，thevictimofallofus，is，atthepresenthour，atthemercyofwavesandtempests，towhichforthreelongyearsheisconsigned。"
"Providenceisverypowerful，monsieur，"repliedtheAbbeGondrin。
"GodwillprotectMonsieurFelixPhellionwhereverhemaybe，andIhavethefirmesthopethatthreeyearshencehewillbeamonghisfriendsoncemore。"
"Butthreeyears！"saidMonsieurPicot。"Willitstillbetime？
WillMademoiselleCollevillehavewaitedforhim？"
"Yes，Iswearit！"criedtheyounggirl，carriedawaybyanimpulseshecouldnotcontrol。
Thenshesatdownagain，quiteashamed，andburstintotears。
"Andyou，MademoiselleThuillier，andyou，MadameColleville，willyoupermitthisyoungladytoreserveherselfforonewhoisworthyofher？"
"Yes！Yes！"criedeverybody；forMonsieurPicot’svoice，whichisveryfullandsonorous，seemedtohavetearsinitandaffectedeverybody。
"Thenitistime，"hesaid，"toforgiveProvidence。"
Andrushingsuddenlytothedoor，wheremyearwasgluedtothekeyhole，heverynearlycaughtme。
"Announce，"hesaidtome，inaveryloudtoneofvoice，"MonsieurFelixPhellionandhisfamily。"
Andthereuponthedoorofasideroomopened，andfiveorsixpersonscameout，whowereledbyMonsieurPicotintothesalon。
AtthesightofherLOVER，MademoiselleCollevillewastakenill，butthefaintlastedonlyaminute；seeingMonsieurFelixatherfeetshethrewherselfintoMadameThuillier’sarms，cryingout：——
"Godmother！youalwaystoldmetohope。"
MademoiselleThuillier，who，inspiteofherharshnatureandwantofeducation，Ihavealwaysmyselfthoughtaremarkablewoman，nowhadafineimpulse。Asthecompanywereabouttogointothedining—room，——
"Onemoment！"shesaid。
ThengoinguptoMonsieurPhellion，senior，shesaidtohim：
"Monsieurandoldfriend！IaskyouforthehandofMonsieurFelixPhellionforouradopteddaughter，MademoiselleColleville。"
"Bravo！bravo！"theycallcriedinchorus。
"MyGod！"saidMonsieurPhellion，withtearsinhiseyes；"whathaveIdonetodeservesuchhappiness？"
"YouhavebeenanhonestmanandaChristianwithoutknowingit，"
repliedtheAbbeGondrin。
HerelaPeyradeflungdownthemanuscript。
"Youdidnotfinishit，"saidCorentin，takingbackthepaper。
"However，there’snotmuchmore。MonsieurHenriconfessestomethatthescenehadMOVEDHIM；healsosaysthat，knowingtheinterestIhadformerlytakeninthemarriage，hethoughtheoughttoinformmeofitsconclusion；endingwithaslightlyveiledsuggestionofafee。No，stay，"resumedCorentin，"hereisadetailofsomeimportance：——"
TheEnglishwomanseemstohavemadeitknownduringdinnerthat，havingnoheirs，herfortune，afterthelivesofherselfandherhusband，willgotoFelix。Thatwillmakehimpowerfullyrichoneofthesedays。
LaPeyradehadrisenandwasstridingabouttheroomwithrapidsteps。
"Well，"saidCorentin，"whatisthematterwithyou？"
"Nothing。"
"Thatisnottrue，"saidthegreatdetective。"Ithinkyouenvythehappinessofthatyoungman。Mydearfellow，permitmetotellyouthatifsuchaconclusionweretoyourtaste，youshouldhaveactedashehasdone。WhenIsentyoutwothousandfrancsonwhichtostudylaw，Ididnotintendyoutosucceedme；Iexpectedyoutorowyourgalleylaboriously，tohavetheneedfulcourageforobscureandpainfultoil；yourdaywouldinfalliblyhavecome。Butyouchosetoviolatefortune——"
"Monsieur！"
"Imeanhastenit，reapitbeforeitripened。Youflungyourselfintojournalism；thenintobusiness，questionablebusiness；youmadeacquaintancewithMessieursDutocqandCerizet。Frankly，Ithinkyoufortunatetohaveenteredtheportwhichharborsyouto—day。Inanycase，youarenotsufficientlysimpleofhearttohavereallyvaluedthejoysreservedforFelixPhellion。Thesebourgeois——"
"Thesebourgeois，"saidlaPeyrade，quickly，——"Iknowthemnow。Theyhavegreatabsurdities，greatviceseven，buttheyhavevirtues，or，attheleast，estimablequalities；inthemliesthevitalforceofourcorruptsociety。"
"YOURsociety！"saidCorentin，smiling；"youspeakasifyouwerestillintheranks。Youhaveanothersphere，mydearfellow；andyoumustlearntobemorecontentwithyourlot。Governmentspass，societiesperishordwindle；butwe——WEdominateallthings；thepoliceiseternal。"
TRANSLATOR’SNOTE
Note。——Thisvolume（"LesPetitsBourgeois"）wasnotpublisheduntil1854，morethanthreeyearsafterBalzac’sdeath；althoughhesaysofitinMarch，1844："Imusttellyouthatmyworkentitled’LesPetitsBourgeois，’owingtodifficultiesofexecution，requiresstillamonth’slabor，althoughthebookisentirelywritten。"Andagain，inOctober，1846，hesays："Itistosuchscruples"（careinperfectinghiswork）"thatdelayswhichhaveinjuredseveralofmyworksaredue；forinstance，’LesPaysans，’whichhaslongbeennearlyfinished，and’LesPetitsBourgeois，’whichhasbeenintypeattheprintingofficeforthelasteighteenmonths。"
End