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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 this young man； was the cause of his visit。
Olivier Vinet had just been promoted from the court of Arcis…sur…Aube
to that of the Seine； where he now held the post of substitute
〃procureur…de…roi。〃 Cardot had already invited Thuillier and the elder
Vinet； who was likely to become minister of justice； with his son； to
dine with him。 The notary estimated the fortunes which would
eventually fall to Celeste at seven hundred thousand francs。 Vinet
junior appeared charmed to obtain the right to visit the Thuilliers on
Sundays。 Great dowries make men commit great and unbecoming follies
without reserve or decency in these days。
Ten minutes later another young man； who had been talking with
Thuillier before the arrival of Olivier Vinet； raised his voice
eagerly； in a political discussion； and forced the young magistrate to
follow his example in the vivacious argument which now ensued。 The
matter related to the vote by which the Chamber of Deputies had just
overthrown the ministry of the 12th of May； refusing the allowance
demanded for the Duc de Nemours。
〃Assuredly；〃 said the young man； 〃I am far from belonging to the
dynastic party； I am very far from approving of the rise of the
bourgeoisie to power。 The bourgeoisie ought not； any more than the
aristocracy of other days； to assume to be the whole nation。 But the
French bourgeoisie has now taken upon itself to create a new dynasty；
a royalty of its own； and behold how it treats it！ When the people
allowed Napoleon to rise to power； it created with him a splendid and
monumental state of things； it was proud of his grandeur； and it nobly
gave its blood and sweat in building up the edifice of the Empire。
Between the magnificence of the aristocratic throne and those of the
imperial purple； between the great of the earth and the People； the
bourgeoisie is proving itself petty； it degrades power to its own
level instead of rising up to it。 The saving of candle…ends it has so
long practised behind its counters； it now seeks to impose on its
princes。 What may perhaps have been virtue in its shops is a blunder
and a crime higher up。 I myself have wanted many things for the
people； but I never should have begun by lopping off ten millions of
francs from the new civil list。 In becoming； as it were； nearly the
whole of France； the bourgeoisie owed to us the prosperity of the
people； splendor without ostentation； grandeur without privilege。〃
The father of Olivier Vinet was just now sulking with the government。
The robe of Keeper of the Seals； which had been his dream； was slow in
coming to him。 The young substitute did not； therefore； know exactly
how to answer this speech； he thought it wise to enlarge on one of its
side issues。
〃You are right； monsieur；〃 said Olivier Vinet。 〃But； before
manifesting itself magnificently； the bourgeoisie has other duties to
fulfil towards France。 The luxury you speak of should come after duty。
That which seems to you so blameable is the necessity of the moment。
The Chamber is far from having its full share in public affairs； the
ministers are less for France than they are for the crown； and
parliament has determined that the administration shall have； as in
England； a strength and power of its own； and not a mere borrowed
power。 The day on which the administration can act for itself； and
represent the Chamber as the Chamber represents the country；
parliament will be found very liberal toward the crown。 The whole
question is there。 I state it without expressing my own opinion； for
the duties of my post demand； in politics； a certain fealty to the
crown。〃
〃Setting aside the political question；〃 replied the young man； whose
voice and accent were those of a native of Provence； 〃it is certainly
true that the bourgeoisie has ill understood its mission。 We can see；
any day； the great law officers； attorney…generals； peers of France in
omnibuses； judges who live on their salaries； prefects without
fortunes； ministers in debt！ Whereas the bourgeoisie； who have seized
upon those offices； ought to dignify them； as in the olden time when
aristocracy dignified them； and not occupy such posts solely for the
purpose of making their fortune； as scandalous disclosures have
proved。〃
〃Who is this young man？〃 thought Olivier Vinet。 〃Is he a relative？
Cardot ought to have come with me on this first visit。〃
〃Who is that little monsieur？〃 asked Minard of Barbet。 〃I have seen
him here several times。〃
〃He is a tenant；〃 replied Metivier； shuffling the cards。
〃A lawyer；〃 added Barbet； in a low voice； 〃who occupies a small
apartment on the third floor front。 Oh！ HE doesn't amount to much； he
has nothing。〃
〃What is the name of that young man？〃 said Olivier Vinet to Thuillier。
〃Theodose de la Peyrade； he is a barrister；〃 replied Thuillier； in a
whisper。
At that moment the women present； as well as the men； looked at the
two young fellows； and Madame Minard remarked to Colleville：
〃He is rather good…looking； that stranger。〃
〃I have made his anagram；〃 replied Colleville； 〃and his name； Charles…
Marie…Theodose de la Peyrade； prophecies： 'Eh！ monsieur payera； de la
dot； des oies et le char。' Therefore； my dear Mamma Minard； be sure
you don't give him your daughter。〃
〃They say that young man is better…looking than my son；〃 said Madame
Phellion to Madame Colleville。 〃What do you think about it？〃
〃Oh！ in the matter of physical beauty a woman might hesitate before
choosing；〃 replied Madame Colleville。
At that moment it occurred to young Vinet as he looked round the
salon； so full of the lesser bourgeoisie； that it might be a shrewd
thing to magnify that particular class； and he thereupon enlarged upon
the meaning of the young Provencal barrister； declaring that men so
honored by the confidence of the government should imitate royalty and
encourage a magnificence surpassing that of the former court。 It was
folly； he said； to lay by the emoluments of an office。 Besides； could
it be done； in Paris especially； where costs of living had trebled；
the apartment of a magist