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which have suppressed the role of intermediaries。 Why shouldn't
Mademoiselle Brigitte Thuillier manage her own house when dukes and
peers go in person to the Bourse; where such men sign their own leases
and read the deeds before they sign them; and go themselves to the
notary; whom; in former days; they considered a servant。〃
During this time Cerizet had time to recover from the blow he had just
received squarely in the face; and to think of the transition he had
to make from one set of interests to the other; of which he was now
the agent。
〃What you are declaiming there is all very clever;〃 he said;
carelessly; 〃but the thing that proves to me our defeat is the fact
that you are not on the terms with Mademoiselle Thuillier you would
have us believe you are。 She is slipping through your fingers; and I
don't think that marriage is anything like as certain as Dutocq and I
have been fancying it was。〃
〃Well; no doubt;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃there are still some touches to be
given to our sketch; but I believe it is well under way。〃
〃And I think; on the contrary; that you have lost ground; and the
reason is simple: you have done those people an immense service; and
that's a thing never forgiven。〃
〃Well; we shall see;〃 said la Peyrade。 〃I have more than one hold upon
them。〃
〃No; you are mistaken。 You thought you did a brilliant thing in
putting them on a pinnacle; but the fact is you emancipated them;
they'll keep you now at heel。 The human heart; particularly the
bourgeois heart; is made that way。 If I were in your place I shouldn't
feel so sure of being on solid ground; and if something else turned up
that offered me a good chance〃
〃What! just because I couldn't get you the lease of that house do you
want to knock everything to pieces?〃
〃No;〃 said Cerizet; 〃I am not looking at the matter in the light of my
own interests; I don't doubt that as a trustworthy friend you have
done every imaginable thing to promote them; but I think the manner in
which you have been shoved aside a very disturbing symptom。 It even
decides me to tell you something I did not intend to speak of;
because; in my opinion; when persons start a course they ought to keep
on steadily; looking neither forward nor back; and not allowing
themselves to be diverted to other aspirations。〃
〃Ah ca!〃 cried la Peyrade; 〃what does all this verbiage mean? Have you
anything to propose to me? What's the price of it?〃
〃My dear Theodose;〃 said Cerizet; paying no attention to the
impertinence; 〃you yourself can judge of the value of discovering a
young girl; well brought…up; adorned with beauty and talents and a
'dot' equal to that of Celeste; which she has in her own right; PLUS
fifty thousand francs' worth of diamonds (as Mademoiselle Georges says
on her posters in the provinces); and; moreover;a fact which ought
to strike the mind of an ambitious man;a strong political influence;
which she can use for a husband。〃
〃And this treasure you hold in your hand?〃 said la Peyrade; in a tone
of incredulity。
〃Better still; I am authorized to offer it to you; in fact; I might
say that I am charged to do so。〃
〃My friend; you are poking fun at me; unless; indeed; this phoenix has
some hideous or prohibitory defect。〃
〃Well; I'll admit;〃 said Cerizet; 〃that there is a slight objection;
not on the score of family; for; to tell the truth; the young woman
has none〃
〃Ah!〃 said la Peyrade; 〃a natural childWell; what next?〃
〃Next; she is not so very young;something like twenty…nine or so;
but there's nothing easier than to turn an elderly girl into a young
widow if you have imagination。〃
〃Is that all the venom in it?〃
〃Yes; all that is irreparable。〃
〃What do you mean by that? Is it a case of rhinoplasty?〃
Addressed to Cerizet the word had an aggressive air; which; in fact;
was noticeable since the beginning of the dinner in the whole manner
and conversation of the barrister。 But it did not suit the purpose of
the negotiator to resent it。
〃No;〃 he replied; 〃our nose is as well made as our foot and our waist;
but we may; perhaps; have a slight touch of hysteria。〃
〃Oh! very good;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃and as from hysteria to insanity
there is but a step〃
〃Well; yes;〃 interrupted Cerizet; hastily; 〃sorrows have affected our
brain slightly; but the doctors are unanimous in their diagnosis; they
all say that after the birth of the first child not a trace will
remain of this little trouble。〃
〃I am willing to admit that doctors are infallible;〃 replied la
Peyrade; 〃but; in spite of your discouragement; you must allow me; my
friend; to persist in my suit to Mademoiselle Colleville。 Perhaps it
is ridiculous to confess it; but the truth is I am gradually falling
in love with that little girl。 It isn't that her beauty is
resplendent; or that the glitter of her 'dot' has dazzled me; but I
find in that child a great fund of sound sense joined to simplicity;
and; what to mind is of greater consequence; her sincere and solid
piety attracts me; I think a husband ought to be very happy with her。〃
〃Yes;〃 said Cerizet; who; having been on the stage; may very well have
known his Moliere; 〃this marriage will crown your wishes with all
good; it will be filled with sweetness and with pleasures。〃
The allusion to Tartuffe was keenly felt by la Peyrade; who took it up
and said; hotly:
〃The contact with innocence will disinfect me of the vile atmosphere
in which I have lived too long。〃
〃And you will pay your notes of hand;〃 added Cerizet; 〃which I advise
you to do with the least possible delay; for Dutocq here was saying to
me just now that he would like to see the color of your money。〃
〃I? not at all;〃 interposed Dutocq。 〃I think; on the contrary; that
our friend has a right to the delay。〃
〃Well;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃I agree with Cerizet。 I hold that the less a
debt is due; and therefore the more insecure and open to contention it
is; the sooner one ought to free one's self by paying it。〃
〃But; my dear la Peyrade;〃 said Dutocq; 〃why take this bitter tone?〃
Pulling from his pocket a portfolio; la Peyrade said:
〃Have you those notes with you; Dutocq?〃
〃Faith! no; my dear fellow;〃 replied Dutocq; 〃I don't carry them about
with me; besides; they are in Cerizet's hands。〃
〃Well;〃 said the barrister; rising; 〃whenever you come to my house
I'll pay you on the nail; as Cerizet can tell you。〃
〃What! are you going to leave us without your coffee?〃 said Cerizet;
amazed to the last degree。
〃Yes; I have an arbitration case at eight o'clock。 Besides; we have
said all we had to say。 You haven't your lease; but you've got your
twenty five thousand francs in full; and those of Dutocq are ready for
him whenever he chooses to come to my office。 I see nothing now to
prevent me from going where my private business calls me; and I
therefore very cordially bid you good…bye。〃
〃Ah ca! Dutocq;〃 cried Cerizet; as la Peyrade disappeared; 〃this means
a rupture。〃
〃Prepared with the utmost care;〃 added Dutocq。 〃Did you notice the air
with which he pulled out that pocket…book?〃
〃But where the devil;〃 said the usurer; 〃could he have got the money?〃
〃Probably;〃 replied Duto