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here as the frame of the present Scene； to give an idea of the spirit
of this society； the following drama would certainly have suffered
greatly。 Moreover； this sketch is historically faithful； it shows a
social stratum of importance in any portrayal of manners and morals；
especially when we reflect that the political system of the Younger
branch rests almost wholly upon it。
The winter of the year 1839 was； it may be said； the period when the
Thuillier salon was in its greatest glory。 The Minards came nearly
every Sunday； and began their evening by spending an hour there； if
they had other engagements elsewhere。 Often Minard would leave his
wife at the Thuilliers and take his son and daughter to other houses。
This assiduity on the part of the Minards was brought about by a
somewhat tardy meeting between Messieurs Metivier； Barbet； and Minard
on an evening when the two former； being tenants of Mademoiselle
Thuillier； remained rather longer than usual in discussing business
with her。 From Barbet； Minard learned that the old maid had money
transactions with himself and Metivier to the amount of sixty thousand
francs； besides having a large deposit in the Bank。
〃Has she an account at the Bank？〃 asked Minard。
〃I believe so；〃 replied Barbet。 〃I give her at least eighty thousand
francs there。〃
Being on intimate terms with a governor of the Bank； Minard
ascertained that Mademoiselle Thuillier had； in point of fact； an
account of over two hundred thousand francs； the result of her
quarterly deposits for many years。 Besides this； she owned the house
they lived in； which was not mortgaged； and was worth at least one
hundred thousand francs； if not more。
〃Why should Mademoiselle Thuillier work in this way？〃 said Minard to
Metivier。 〃She'd be a good match for you；〃 he added。
〃I？ oh； no；〃 replied Metivier。 〃I shall do better by marrying a
cousin； my uncle Metivier has given me the succession to his business；
he has a hundred thousand francs a year and only two daughters。〃
However secretive Mademoiselle Thuillier might be；and she said
nothing of her investments to any one； not even to her brother；
although a large amount of Madame Thuillier's fortune went to swell
the amount of her own savings；it was difficult to prevent some ray
of light from gliding under the bushel which covered her treasure。
Dutocq； who frequented Barbet； with whom he had some resemblance in
character and countenance； had appraised； even more correctly than
Minard； the Thuillier finances。 He knew that their savings amounted；
in 1838； to one hundred and fifty thousand francs； and he followed
their progress secretly； calculating profits by the help of that all…
wise money…lender； Barbet。
〃Celeste will have from my brother and myself two hundred thousand
francs in ready money；〃 the old maid had said to Barbet in confidence；
〃and Madame Thuillier wishes to secure to her by the marriage contract
the ultimate possession of her own fortune。 As for me； my will is
made。 My brother will have everything during his lifetime； and Celeste
will be my heiress with that reservation。 Monsieur Cardot； the notary；
is my executor。〃
Mademoiselle Thuillier now instigated her brother to renew his former
relations with the Saillards； Baudoyers； and others； who held a
position similar to that of the Thuilliers in the quartier Saint…
Antoine； of which Monsieur Saillard was mayor。 Cardot； the notary； had
produced his aspirant for Celeste's hand in the person of Monsieur
Godeschal； attorney and successor to Derville； an able man； thirty…six
years of age； who had paid one hundred thousand francs for his
practice； which the two hundred thousand of the 〃dot〃 would doubly
clear off。 Minard； however； got rid of Godeschal by informing
Mademoiselle Thuillier that Celeste's sister…in…law would be the
famous Mariette of the Opera。
〃She came from the stage；〃 said Colleville； alluding to his wife； 〃and
there's no need she should return to it。〃
〃Besides； Monsieur Godeschal is too old for Celeste；〃 remarked
Brigitte。
〃And ought we not；〃 added Madame Thuillier； timidly； 〃to let her marry
according to her own taste； so as to be happy？〃
The poor woman had detected in Felix Phellion a true love for Celeste；
the love that a woman crushed by Brigitte and wounded by her husband's
indifference （for Thuillier cared less for his wife than he did for a
servant） had dreamed that love might be；bold in heart； timid
externally； sure of itself； reserved； hidden from others； but
expanding toward heaven。 At twenty…three years of age； Felix Phellion
was a gentle； pure…minded young man； like all true scholars who
cultivate knowledge for knowledge's sake。 He had been sacredly brought
up by his father； who； viewing all things seriously； had given him
none but good examples accompanied by trivial maxims。 He was a young
man of medium height； with light chestnut hair； gray eyes； and a skin
full of freckles； gifted with a charming voice； a tranquil manner；
making few gestures； thoughtful； saying little； and that little
sensible； contradicting no one； and quite incapable of a sordid
thought or a selfish calculation。
〃That；〃 thought Madame Thuillier； 〃is what I should have liked my
husband to be。〃
One evening； in the month of February； 1840； the Thuillier salon
contained the various personages whose silhouettes we have just traced
out； together with some others。 It was nearly the end of the month。
Barbet and Metivier having business with mademoiselle Brigitte； were
playing whist with Minard and Phellion。 at another table were Julien
the advocate （a nickname given by Colleville to young Minard）； Madame
Colleville； Monsieur Barniol； and Madame Phellion。 〃Bouillotte；〃 at
five sous a stake； occupied Madame Minard； who knew no other game；
Colleville； old Monsieur Saillard； and Bandoze； his son…in…law。 The
substitutes were Laudigeois and Dutocq。 Mesdames Falleix； Baudoyer；
Barniol； and Mademoiselle Minard were playing boston； and Celeste was
sitting beside Prudence Minard。 Young Phellion was listening to Madame
Thuillier and looking at Celeste。
At a corner of the fireplace sat enthroned on a sofa the Queen
Elizabeth of the family； as simply dressed as she had been for the
last thirty years； for no prosperity could have made her change her
habits。 She wore on her chinchilla hair a black gauze cap； adorned
with the geranium called Charles X。； her gown； of plum…colored stuff；
made with a yoke； cost fifteen francs； her embroidered collarette was
worth six； and it ill disguised the deep wrinkle produced by the two
muscles which fastened the head to the vertebral column。 The actor；
Monvel； playing Augustus Caesar in his old age； did not present a
harder and sterner profile than that of this female autocrat； knitting
socks for her brother。 Before the fireplace stood Thuillier in an
attitude； ready to go forward and meet the arriving guests； near him
was a young man whose entrance had produced a great effect； when the
porter （who on Sundays wore his best clothes and waited on the
company） announced Monsieur Olivier Vinet。
A private communication made by Cardot to the celebrated 〃procureur…
general；〃 father of t