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Thuillier；〃 he called out to the beau of the Empire。
When he saw him safely in the study he went to let out his two
associates through the bedroom and kitchen into the courtyard。
〃In six months；〃 said Cerizet； 〃you'll have married Celeste and got
your foot into the stirrup。 You are lucky； you are； not to have sat；
like me； in the prisoners' dock。 I've been there twice： once in 1825；
for 'subversive articles' which I never wrote； and the second time for
receiving the profits of a joint…stock company which had slipped
through my fingers！ Come； let's warm this thing up！ Sac…a…papier！
Dutocq and I are sorely in need of that twenty…five thousand francs。
Good courage； old fellow！〃 he added； holding out his hand to Theodose；
and making the grasp a test of faithfulness。
The Provencal gave Cerizet his right hand； pressing the other's hand
warmly：
〃My good fellow；〃 he said； 〃be very sure that in whatever position I
may find myself I shall never forget that from which you have drawn me
by putting me in the saddle here。 I'm simply your bait； but you are
giving me the best part of the catch； and I should be more infamous
than a galley…slave who turns policeman if I didn't play fair。〃
As soon as the door was closed； Cerizet peeped through the key…hole；
trying to catch sight of la Peyrade's face。 But the Provencal had
turned back to meet Thuillier； and his distrustful associate could not
detect the expression of his countenance。
That expression was neither disgust nor annoyance； it was simply joy；
appearing on a face that now seemed freed。 Theodose saw the means of
success approaching him； and he flattered himself that the day would
come when he might get rid of his ignoble associates； to whom he owed
everything。 Poverty has unfathomable depths； especially in Paris；
slimy bottoms； from which； when a drowned man rises to the surface of
the water； he brings with him filth and impurity clinging to his
clothes； or to his person。 Cerizet； the once opulent friend and
protector of Theodose； was the muddy mire still clinging to the
Provencal； and the former manager of the joint…stock company saw very
plainly that his tool wanted to brush himself on entering a sphere
where decent clothing was a necessity。
〃Well； my dear Theodose；〃 began Thuillier； 〃we have hoped to see you
every day this week； and every evening we find our hopes deceived。 As
this is our Sunday for a dinner； my sister and my wife have sent me
here to beg you to come to us。〃
〃I have been so busy；〃 said Theodose； 〃that I have not had two minutes
to give to any one； not even to you； whom I count among my friends；
and with whom I have wished to talk about〃
〃What？ have you really been thinking seriously over what you said to
me？〃 cried Thuillier； interrupting him。
〃If you had not come here now for a full understanding； I shouldn't
respect you as I do；〃 replied la Peyrade； smiling。 〃You have been a
sub…director； and therefore you must have the remains of ambition
which is deucedly legitimate in your case！ Come； now； between
ourselves； when one sees a Minard； that gilded pot； displaying himself
at the Tuileries； and complimenting the king； and a Popinot about to
become a minister of State； and then look at you！ a man trained to
administrative work； a man with thirty years' experience； who has seen
six governments； left to plant balsams in a little garden！ Heavens and
earth！I am frank； my dear Thuillier； and I'll say； honestly； that I
want to advance you； because you'll draw me after you。 Well； here's my
plan。 We are soon to elect a member of the council…general from this
arrondissement； and that member must be you。 And；〃 he added； dwelling
on the word； 〃it WILL be you！ After that； you will certainly be deputy
from the arrondissement when the Chamber is re…elected； which must
surely be before long。 The votes that elect you to the municipal
council will stand by you in the election for deputy； trust me for
that。〃
〃But how will you manage all this？〃 cried Thuillier； fascinated。
〃You shall know in good time； but you must let me conduct this long
and difficult affair； if you commit the slightest indiscretion as to
what is said； or planned； or agreed between us； I shall have to drop
the whole matter； and good…bye to you！〃
〃Oh！ you can rely on the absolute dumbness of a former sub…director；
I've had secrets to keep。〃
〃That's all very well； but these are secrets to keep from your wife
and sister； and from Monsieur and Madame Colleville。〃
〃Not a muscle of my face shall reveal them；〃 said Thuillier； assuming
a stolid air。
〃Very good；〃 continued Theodose。 〃I shall test you。 In order to make
yourself eligible； you must pay taxes on a certain amount of property；
and you are not paying them。〃
〃I beg your pardon； I'm all right for the municipal council at any
rate； I pay two francs ninety…six centimes。〃
〃Yes； but the tax on property necessary for election to the chamber is
five hundred francs； and there is no time to lose in acquiring that
property； because you must prove possession for one year。〃
〃The devil！〃 cried Thuillier； 〃between now and a year hence to be
taxed five hundred francs on property which〃
〃Between now and the end of July； at the latest； you must pay that
tax。 Well； I feel enough interest in you to tell you the secret of an
affair by which you might make from thirty to forty thousand francs a
year； by employing a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand at
most。 I know that in your family it is your sister who does your
business； I am far from thinking that a mistake； she has； they tell
me； excellent judgment； and you must let me begin by obtaining her
good…will and friendship； and proposing this investment to her。 And
this is why： If Mademoiselle Thuillier is not induced to put faith in
my plan； we shall certainly have difficulty with her。 Besides； it
won't do for YOU to propose to her that she should put the investment
of her money in your name。 The idea had better come from me。 As to my
means of getting you elected to the municipal council； they are these：
Phellion controls one quarter of the arrondissement； he and Laudigeois
have lived in it these thirty years； and they are listened to like
oracles。 I have a friend who controls another quarter； and the rector
of Saint…Jacques； who is not without influence； thanks to his virtues；
disposes of certain votes。 Dutocq； in his close relation to the
people； and also the justice of peace； will help me； above all； as I'm
not acting for myself； and Colleville； as secretary of the mayor's
office； can certainly manage to obtain another fourth of the votes。〃
〃You are right！〃 cried Thuillier。 〃I'm elected！〃
〃Do you think so？〃 said la Peyrade； in a voice of the deepest sarcasm。
〃Very good！ then go and ask your friend Colleville to help you； and
see what he'll say。 No triumph in election cases is ever brought about
by the candidate himself； but by his friends。 He should never ask
anything himself for himself； he must be invited to accept； and appear
to be without ambition。〃
〃La Peyrade！〃 cried Thuillier； rising； and taking the hand of the
young lawyer； 〃you are a very capable man。〃
〃Not as capable as you； but I have my merits；〃 said the Provencal；
smiling。
〃If we succeed how shall I ever repay you？〃 asked Thuillier； naively。
〃Ah！ that； indeed！ I am afraid you will think me impertinent； but
remember； there is a true feeling in my heart which offers some excuse
for me； in fact； it has given me the spirit to undertake this affair。
I loveand I take you for my confidant。〃
〃But who is it？〃 said Thuillier。
〃Your dear little Celeste；〃 replied la Peyrade。 〃My love for her will
be a pledge to you of my devotion。 What would I not do for a FATHER…
IN…LAW！ This is pure selfishness； I shall be working for myself。〃
〃Hush！〃 cried Thuillier。
〃Eh； my friend！〃 said la Peyrade； catching Thuillier round the body；
〃if I hadn't Flavie on my side； and if I didn't know ALL； should I
venture to be talking to you thus？ But please say nothing to Flavie
about this； wait till she speaks to you。 Listen to me； I'm of the
metal that makes ministers； I do not seek to obtain Celeste until I
deserve her。 You shall not be asked to give her to me until the day
when your election as a deputy of Paris is assured。 In order to be
deputy of Paris； we must get the better of Minard； and in order to
crush Minard you must keep in your own hands all your means of
influence； for that reason use Celeste as a hope； we'll play them off；
these people； against each other and fool them allMadame Colleville
and you and I will be persons of importance one of these days。 Don't
think me mercenary。 I want Celeste without a 〃dot；〃 with nothing more
than her future expectations。 To live in your family with you； to keep
my wife in your midst； that is my desire。 You see now that I have no
hidden thoughts。 As for you； my dear friend； six months after your
election to the municipal council； you will have the cross of the
Legion of honor； and when you are deputy you will be made an officer
of it。 As for your speeches in the Chamberwell！ we'll write them
together。 Perhaps it would be desirable for you to write a book；a
serious b