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〃You can pay off those notes。〃
At a single glance the shrewd attorney had comprehended the whole
scheme of the barrister。
CHAPTER XIV
ONE OF CERIZET'S FEMALE CLIENTS
The next morning； at daybreak； Theodose went to the office of the
banker of the poor； to see the effect produced upon his enemy by the
punctual payment of the night before； and to make another effort to
get rid of his hornet。
He found Cerizet standing up； in conference with a woman； and he
received an imperative sign to keep at a distance and not to interrupt
the interview。 The barrister was therefore reduced to conjectures as
to the importance of this woman； an importance revealed by the eager
look on the face of the lender 〃by the little week。〃 Theodose had a
presentiment； though a very vague one； that the upshot of this
conference would have some influence on Cerizet's own arrangements；
for he suddenly beheld on that crafty countenance the change produced
by a dawning hope。
〃But； my dear mamma Cardinal〃
〃Yes； my good monsieur〃
〃What is it you want？〃
〃It must be decided〃
These beginnings； or these ends of sentences were the only gleams of
light that the animated conversation； carried on in the lowest tones
with lip to ear and ear to lip； conveyed to the motionless witness；
whose attention was fixed on Madame Cardinal。
Madame Cardinal was one of Cerizet's earliest clients； she peddled
fish。 If Parisians know these creations peculiar to their soil；
foreigners have no suspicion of their existence； and Mere Cardinal
technologically speaking； of course； deserved all the interest she
excited in Theodose。 So many women of her species may be met with in
the streets that the passers…by give them no more attention than they
give to the three thousand pictures of the Salon。 But as she stood in
Cerizet's office the Cardinal had all the value of an isolated
masterpiece； she was a complete and perfect type of her species。
The woman was mounted on muddy sabots； but her feet； carefully wrapped
in gaiters； were still further protected by stout and thick…ribbed
stockings。 Her cotton gown； adorned with a glounce of mud； bore the
imprint of the strap which supported the fish…basket。 Her principal
garment was a shawl of what was called 〃rabbit's…hair cashmere；〃 the
two ends of which were knotted behind； above her bustlefor we must
needs employ a fashionable word to express the effect produced by the
transversal pressure of the basket upon her petticoats； which
projected below it； in shape like a cabbage。 A printed cotton
neckerchief； of the coarsest description； gave to view a red neck；
ribbed and lined like the surface of a pond where people have skated。
Her head was covered in a yellow silk foulard； twined in a manner that
was rather picturesque。 Short and stout； and ruddy of skin； Mere
Cardinal probably drank her little drop of brandy in the morning。 She
had once been handsome。 The Halle had formerly reproached her； in the
boldness of its figurative speech； for doing 〃a double day's…work in
the twenty…four。〃 Her voice； in order to reduce itself to the diapason
of ordinary conversation； was obliged to stifle its sound as other
voices do in a sick…room； but at such times it came thick and muffled；
from a throat accustomed to send to the farthest recesses of the
highest garret the names of the fish in their season。 Her nose； a la
Roxelane； her well…cut lips； her blue eyes； and all that formerly made
up her beauty； was now buried in folds of vigorous flesh which told of
the habits and occupations of an outdoor life。 The stomach and bosom
were distinguished for an amplitude worthy of Rubens。
〃Do you want to make me lie in the straw？〃 she said to Cerizet。 〃What
do I care for the Toupilliers？ Ain't I a Toupillier myself？ What do
you want to do with them； those Toupilliers？〃
This savage outburst was hastily repressed by Cerizet； who uttered a
prolonged 〃Hush…sh！〃 such as all conspirators obey。
〃Well； go and find out all you can about it； and come back to me；〃
said Cerizet； pushing the woman toward the door； and whispering； as he
did so； a few words in her ear。
〃Well； my dear friend；〃 said Theodose to Cerizet； 〃you have got your
money？〃
〃Yes；〃 returned Cerizet 〃we have measured our claws； they are the same
length； the same strength； and the same sharpness。 What next？〃
〃Am I to tell Dutocq that you received； last night； twenty…five
thousand francs？〃
〃Oh！ my dear friend； not a word； if you love me！〃 cried Cerizet。
〃Listen；〃 said Theodose。 〃I must know； once for all； what you want。 I
am positively determined not to remain twenty…four hours longer on the
gridiron where you have got me。 Cheat Dutocq if you will； I am utterly
indifferent to that； but I intend that you and I shall come to an
understanding。 It is a fortune that I have paid you； twenty…five
thousand francs； and you must have earned ten thousand more in your
business； it is enough to make you an honest man。 Cerizet； if you will
leave me in peace； if you won't prevent my marriage with Mademoiselle
Colleville； I shall certainly be king's attorney…general； or something
of that kind in Paris。 You can't do better than make sure of an
influence in that sphere。〃
〃Here are my conditions； and they won't allow of discussion； you can
take them or leave them。 You will obtain for me the lease of
Thuillier's new house for eighteen years； and I'll hand you back one
of your five notes cancelled； and you shall not find me any longer in
your way。 But you will have to settle with Dutocq for the remaining
four notes。 You got the better of ME； and I know Dutocq hasn't the
force to stand against you。〃
〃I'll agree to that； provided you'll pay a rent of forty…eight
thousand francs for the house； the last year in advance； and begin the
lease in October。〃
〃Yes； but I shall not give for the last year's rent more than forty…
three thousand francs； your note will pay the remainder。 I have seen
the house； and examined it。 It suits me very well。〃
〃One last condition；〃 said Theodose； 〃you'll help me against Dutocq？〃
〃No；〃 said Cerizet； 〃you'll cook him brown yourself； he doesn't need
any basting from me； he'll give out his gravy fast enough。 But you
ought to be reasonable。 The poor fellow can't pay off the last fifteen
thousand francs due on his practice； and you should reflect that
fifteen thousand francs would certainly buy back your notes。〃
〃Well； give me two weeks to get your lease〃
〃No； not a day later than Monday next！ Tuesday your notes will be in
Louchard's hands； unless you pay them Monday； or Thuillier signs the
lease。〃
〃Well； Monday； so be it！〃 said Theodose； 〃are we friends？〃
〃We shall be Monday；〃 responded Cerizet。
〃Well； then； Monday you'll pay for my dinner；〃 said Theodose；
laughing。
〃Yes； at the Rocher de Cancale； if I have the lease。 Dutocq shall be
therewe'll all be thereah！ it is long since I've had a good
laugh。〃
Theodose and Cerizet shook hands； saying； reciprocally：
〃We'll meet soon。〃
Cerizet had not calmed down so suddenly without reasons。 In the first
place； as Desroches once said； 〃Bile does not facilitate business；〃
and the usurer had too well seen the justice of that remark not to
coolly resolve to get something out of his position； and to squeeze
the jugular vein of the crafty Provencal until he strangled him。
〃It is a fair revenge；〃 Desroches said to him； 〃mind you extract its
quintessence。 You hold that fellow。〃
For ten years past Cerizet had seen men growing rich by practising the
trade of principal tenant。 The principal tenant is； in Paris； to the
owners of houses what farmers are to country landlords。 All Paris has
seen one of its great tailors； building at his own cost； on the famous
site of Frascati； one of the most sumptuous of houses； and paying； as
principal tenant； fifty thousand francs a year for the ground rent of
the house； which； at the end of nineteen years' lease； was to become
the property of the owner of the land。 In spite of the costs of
construction； which were something like seven hundred thousand francs；
the profits of those nineteen years proved； in the end； very large。
Cerizet； always on the watch for business； had examined the chances
for gain offered by the situation of the house which Thuillier had
STOLEN；as he said to Desroches；and he had seen the possibility of
letting it for sixty thousand at the end of six years。 There were four
shops； two on each side； for it stood on a boulevard corner。 Cerizet
expected； therefore； to get clear ten thousand a year for a dozen
years； allowing for eventualities and sundries attendant on renewal of
leases。 He therefore proposed to himself to sell his money…lending
business to the widow Poiret and Cadenet for ten thousand francs； he
already possessed thirty thousand； and the two together would enable
him to pay the last year's rent in advance； which house…owners in
Paris usually demand as a guarantee from a principal tenant on a long
lease。 Cerizet had spent a happy night； he fell asleep in a glorious
dream； he saw himself in a fair way to do an honest business； and to
become a bourgeois like Thuillier； like Minard； and so many others。
But he had a waking o