按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
latter's office。 Taking part in the work of the department； the young
man was serving an apprenticeship under that great master in the
difficult and delicate functions to which he was henceforth riveted。
But Corentin found that his pupil did not bring to this initiation all
the ardor and amiability that he desired。 It was plain that in la
Peyrade's soul there was a sense of forfeiture and degradation； time
would get the better of that impression； but the callus was not yet
formed。
Opening a number of sealed envelopes enclosing the reports of his
various agents； Corentin glanced over these documents； seldom as
useful as the public suppose； casting them one after another
contemptuously into a basket； whence they issued in a mass for a
burning。 But to one of them the great man evidently gave some
particular attention； as he read it a smile flickered on his lips； and
when he had finished； instead of adding it to the pile in the basket；
he gave it to la Peyrade。
〃Here；〃 he said； 〃here's something that concerns you； it shows that in
our profession； which just now seems to you unpleasantly serious； we
do occasionally meet with comedies。 Read it aloud； it will cheer me
up。〃
Before la Peyrade began to read； Corentin added：
〃I ought to tell you that the report is from a man called Henri； whom
Madame Komorn introduced as man…servant at the Thuilliers'； you
probably remember him。〃
〃So！〃 said la Peyrade； 〃servants placed in families！ is that one of
your methods？〃
〃Sometimes；〃 replied Corentin； 〃in order to know all； we must use all
means。 But a great many lies are told about us on that subject。 It is
not true that the police； making a system of it； has； at certain
periods； by a general enrolment of lacqueys and lady's…maids；
established a vast network in private families。 Nothing is fixed and
absolute in our manner of proceeding； we act in accordance with the
time and circumstances。 I wanted an ear and an influence in the
Thuillier household； accordingly； I let loose the Godollo upon it； and
she； in turn； partly to assist herself； installed there one of our
men； an intelligent fellow； as you will see for yourself。 But for all
that； if； at another time； a servant came and offered to sell me the
secrets of his master； I should have him arrested； and let a warning
reach the ears of the family to distrust the other servants。 Now go
on； and read that report。〃
Monsieur the Director of the Secret Police；
read la Peyrade aloud；
I did not stay long with the little baron； he is a man wholly
occupied in frivolous pleasures； and there was nothing to be
gathered there that was worthy of a report to you。 I have found
another place； where I have already witnessed several thing which
fit into the mission that Madame de Godollo gave me； and
therefore； thinking them likely to interest you； I hasten to bring
them to your knowledge。 The household in which I am now employed
is that of an old savant； named Monsieur Picot； who lives on a
first floor； Place de la Madeleine； in the house and apartment
formerly occupied by my late masters； the Thuilliers
〃What！〃 cried la Peyrade； interrupting his reading； 〃Pere Picot； that
ruined old lunatic； occupying such an apartment as that？〃
〃Go on； go on！〃 said Corentin； 〃life is full of many strange things。
You'll find the explanation farther along； for our correspondentit
is the defect of those fellows to waste themselves on detailsis only
too fond of dotting his i's。〃
La Peyrade read on：
The Thuilliers left this apartment some weeks ago to return to
their Latin quarter。 Mademoiselle Brigitte never really liked our
sphere； her total want of education made her ill at ease。 Just
because I speak correctly； she was always calling me 'the orator；'
and she could not endure Monsieur Pascal； her porter； because；
being beadle in the church of the Madeleine； he had manners； she
even found something to say against the dealers in the great
market behind the church； where； of course； she bought her
provisions； she complained that they gave themselves CAPABLE airs；
merely because they are not so coarse…tongued as those of the
Halle； and only laughed at her when she tried to beat them down。
She has leased the whole house to a certain Monsieur Cerizet （a
very ugly man； with a nose all eaten away） for an annual rent of
fifty…five thousand francs。 This tenant seems to know what he is
about。 He has lately married an actress at one of the minor
theatres； Mademoiselle Olympe Cardinal； and he was just about to
occupy himself the first…floor apartment； where he proposed to
establish his present business； namely； insurance for the 〃dots〃
of children； when Monsieur Picot； arriving from England with his
wife； a very rich Englishwoman； saw the apartment and offered such
a good price that Monsieur Cerizet felt constrained to take it。
That was the time when； by the help of M。 Pascal； the porter； with
whom I have been careful to maintain good relations； I entered the
household of Monsieur Picot。
〃Monsieur Picot married to a rich Englishwoman！〃 exclaimed la Peyrade；
interrupting himself again； 〃but it is incomprehensible。〃
〃Go on； I tell you；〃 said Corentin； 〃you'll comprehend it presently。〃
The fortune of my new master；
continued la Peyrade；
is quite a history； and I speak of it to Monsieur le directeur
because another person in whom Madame de Godollo was interested
has his marriage closely mixed up in it。 That other person is
Monsieur Felix Phellion； the inventor of a star； who； in despair
at not being able to marry that demoiselle whom they wanted to
give to the Sieur la Peyrade whom Madame de Godollo made such a
fool of
〃Scoundrel！〃 said the Provencal； in a parenthesis。 〃Is that how he
speaks of me？ He doesn't know who I am。〃
Corentin laughed heartily and exhorted his pupil to read on。
who； in despair at not being able to marry that demoiselle 。 。 。
went to England in order to embark for a journey round the world
a lover's notion！ Learning of this departure； Monsieur Picot； his
former professor； who took great interest in his pupil； went after
him to prevent that nonsense； which turned out not to be
difficult。 The English are naturally very jealous of discoveries；
and when they saw Monsieur Phellion coming to embark at the heels
of their own savants they asked him for his permit from the
Admiralty； which； not having been provided； he could not produce；
so then they laughed in his face and would not let him embark at
all； fearing that he should prove more learned than they。
〃He is a fine hand at the 'entente cordiale；' your Monsieur Henri；〃
said la Peyrade； gaily。
〃Yes；〃 replied Corentin； 〃you will be struck； in the reports of nearly
all our agents； with this general and perpetual inclination to
calumniate。 But what's to be done？ For the trade of spies we can't
have angels。〃
Left upon the shore； Telemachus and his mentor
〃You see our men are lettered；〃 commented Corentin。
Telemachus and his mentor thought best to return to France； and
were about to do so when Monsieur Picot received a letter such as
none but an Englishwoman could write。 It told him that the writer
had read his 〃Theory of Perpetual Motion；〃 and had also heard of
his magnificent discovery of a star； that she regarded him as a
genius only second to Newton； and that if the hand of her who
addressed him； joined to eighty thousand pounds sterlingthat is；
two millionsof 〃dot；〃 was agreeable to him it was at his
disposal。 The first thought of the good man was to make his pupil
marry her； but finding that impossible； he told her； before
accepting on his own account； that he was old and three…quarters
blind； and had never discovered a star； and did not own a penny。
The Englishwoman replied that Milton was not young either； and was
altogether blind； that Monsieur Picot seemed to her to have
nothing worse than a cataract； for she knew all about it； being
the daughter of a great oculist； and she would have him operated
upon； that as for the star； she did not care so very much about
that； it was the author of the 〃Theory of Perpetual Motion〃 who
was the man of her dreams； and to whom she again offered her hand
with eighty thousand pounds sterling （two millions） of 〃dot。〃
Monsieur Picot replied that if his sight were restored and she
would consent to live in Paris； for he hated England； he would let
himself be married。 The operation was performed and was
successful； and； at the end of three weeks the newly married pair
arrived in the capital。 These details I obtained from the lady's
maid； with whom I am on the warmest terms。
〃Oh！ the puppy！〃 said Corentin； laughing。
The above is therefore hearsay； but what remains to be told to
Monsieur le directeur are facts of which I can speak 〃de visu；〃
and to which I am； consequently； in a position to certify。 As
soon as Monsieur and Madame Picot had installed themselves； which
was done in the most sumptuous and comfortable manner； my master
gave me a number of invitations to dinner to carry to the