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together。 Perhaps it would be desirable for you to write a book；a
serious book on matters half moral and philanthropic； half political；
such； for instance； as charitable institutions considered from the
highest stand…point； or reforms in the pawning system； the abuses of
which are really frightful。 Let us fasten some slight distinction to
your name； it will help you；especially in the arrondissement。 Now； I
say again； trust me； believe in me； do not think of taking me into
your family until you have the ribbon in your buttonhole on the morrow
of the day when you take your seat in the Chamber。 I'll do more than
that； however； I'll put you in the way of making forty thousand francs
a year。〃
〃For any one of those three things you shall have our Celeste；〃 said
Thuillier。
〃Ah！ what a pearl she is！〃 exclaimed la Peyrade； raising his eyes to
heaven。 〃I have the weakness to pray to God for her every day。 She is
charming； she is exactly like youoh！ nonsense； surely you needn't
caution me！ Dutocq told me all。 Well； I'll be with you to…night。 I
must go to the Phellions' now； and begin to work our plan。 You don't
need me to caution you not to let it be known that you are thinking of
me for Celeste； if you do； you'll cut off my arms and legs。 Therefore；
silence！ even to Flavie。 Wait till she speaks to you herself。 Phellion
shall to…night broach the matter of proposing you as candidate for the
council。〃
〃To…night？〃 said Thuillier。
〃Yes； to…night；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃unless I don't find him at home
now。〃
Thuillier departed； saying to himself：
〃That's a very superior man； we shall always understand each other。
Faith！ it might be hard to do better for Celeste。 They will live with
us； as in our own family； and that's a good deal！ Yes； he's a fine
fellow； a sound man。〃
To minds of Thuillier's calibre； a secondary consideration often
assumes the importance of a principal reason。 Theodose had behaved to
him with charming bonhomie。
CHAPTER VII
THE WORTHY PHELLIONS
The house to which Theodose de la Peyrade now bent his steps had been
the 〃hoc erat in votis〃 of Monsieur Phellion for twenty years； it was
the house of the Phellions； just as much as Cerizet's frogged coat was
the necessary complement of his personality。
This dwelling was stuck against the side of a large house； but only to
the depth of one room （about twenty feet or so）； and terminated at
each end in a sort of pavilion with one window。 Its chief charm was a
garden； one hundred and eighty feet square； longer than the facade of
the house by the width of a courtyard which opened on the street； and
a little clump of lindens。 Beyond the second pavilion； the courtyard
had； between itself and the street； an iron railing； in the centre of
which was a little gate opening in the middle。
This building； of rouge stone covered with stucco； and two storeys in
height； had received a coat of yellow…wash； the blinds were painted
green； and so were the shutters on the lower storey。 The kitchen
occupied the ground…floor of the pavilion on the courtyard； and the
cook； a stout； strong girl； protected by two enormous dogs； performed
the functions of portress。 The facade； composed of five windows； and
the two pavilions； which projected nine feet； were in the style
Phellion。 Above the door the master of the house had inserted a tablet
of white marble； on which； in letters of gold； were read the words；
〃Aurea mediocritas。〃 Above the sun…dial； affixed to one panel of the
facade； he had also caused to be inscribed this sapient maxim： 〃Umbra
mea vita； sic！〃
The former window…sills had recently been superceded by sills of red
Languedoc marble； found in a marble shop。 At the bottom of the garden
could be seen a colored statue； intended to lead casual observers to
imagine that a nurse was carrying a child。 The ground…floor of the
house contained only the salon and the dining…room； separated from
each other by the well of the staircase and the landing； which formed
a sort of antechamber。 At the end of the salon； in the other pavilion；
was a little study occupied by Phellion。
On the first upper floor were the rooms of the father and mother and
that of the young professor。 Above were the chambers of the children
and the servants； for Phellion； on consideration of his own age and
that of his wife； had set up a male domestic； aged fifteen； his son
having by that time entered upon his duties of tuition。 To right； on
entering the courtyard； were little offices where wood was stored； and
where the former proprietor had lodged a porter。 The Phellions were no
doubt awaiting the marriage of their son to allow themselves that
additional luxury。
This property； on which the Phellions had long had their eye； cost
them eighteen thousand francs in 1831。 The house was separated from
the courtyard by a balustrade with a base of freestone and a coping of
tiles； this little wall； which was breast…high； was lined with a hedge
of Bengal roses； in the middle of which opened a wooden gate opposite
and leading to the large gates on the street。 Those who know the cul…
de…sac of the Feuillantines； will understand that the Phellion house；
standing at right angles to the street； had a southern exposure； and
was protected on the north by the immense wall of the adjoining house；
against which the smaller structure was built。 The cupola of the
Pantheon and that of the Val…de…Grace looked from there like two
giants； and so diminished the sky space that； walking in the garden；
one felt cramped and oppressed。 No place could be more silent than
this blind street。
Such was the retreat of the great unknown citizen who was now tasting
the sweets of repose； after discharging his duty to the nation in the
ministry of finance； from which he had retired as registration clerk
after a service of thirty…six years。 In 1832 he had led his battalion
of the National Guard to the attack on Saint…Merri； but his neighbors
had previously seen tears in his eyes at the thought of being obliged
to fire on misguided Frenchmen。 The affair was already decided by the
time his legion crossed the pont Notre…Dame at a quick step； after
debouching by the flower…market。 This noble hesitation won him the
respect of his whole quarter； but he lost the decoration of the Legion
of honor； his colonel told him in a loud voice that； under arms； there
was no such thing as deliberation；a saying of Louis…Philippe to the
National Guard of Metz。 Nevertheless； the bourgeois virtues of
Phellion； and the great respect in which he was held in his own
quarter had kept him major of the battalion for eight years。 He was
now nearly sixty； and seeing the moment coming when he must lay off
the sword and stock； he hoped that the king would deign to reward his
services by granting him at last the Legion of honor。
Truth compels us to say； in spite of the stain this pettiness will put
upon so fine a character； that Commander Phellion rose upon the tips
of his toes at the receptions in the Tuileries； and did all that he
could to put himself forward； even eyeing the citizen…king perpetually
when he dined at his table。 In short； he intrigued in a dumb sort of
way； but had never yet obtained a look in return from the king of his
choice。 The worthy man had more than once thought； but was not yet
decided； to beg Monsieur Minard to assist him in obtaining his secret
desire。
Phellion； a man of passive obedience； was stoical in the matter of
duty； and iron in all that touched his conscience。 To complete this
picture by a sketch of his person； we must add that at fifty…nine
years of age Phellion had 〃thickened；〃 to use a term of the bourgeois
vocabulary。 His face； of one monotonous tone and pitted with the
small…pox； had grown to resemble a full moon； so that his lips；
formerly large； now seemed of ordinary size。 His eyes； much weakened；
and protected by glasses； no longer showed the innocence of their
light…blue orbs； which in former days had often excited a smile； his
white hair now gave gravity to much that twelve years earlier had
looked like silliness； and lent itself to ridicule。 Time； which does
such damage to faces with refined and delicate features； only improves
those which； in their youth； have been course and massive。 This was
the case with Phellion。 He occupied the leisure of his old age in
making an abridgment of the History of France； for Phellion was the
author of several works adopted by the University。
When la Peyrade presented himself； the family were all together。
Madame Barniol was just telling her mother about one of her babies；
which was slightly indisposed。 They were dressed in their Sunday
clothes； and were sitting before the fireplace of the wainscoted salon
on chairs bought at a bargain； and they all felt an emotion when
Genevieve； the cook and portress； announced the personage of whom they
were just then speaking in connection with Celeste； whom； we must here
state； Felix Phellion loved； to the extent of going to mass to behold
her。 The learned mathematician had made that effort in the morning；
and the family were joking him about it in a pleasant way； hoping in
their hearts that Celeste and her parents might understand