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him； on his way to the door。
〃Rue Montmartre； at the farther end of the Passage；〃 said the old man；
in a low tone。
When they met； Cerizet had the bad taste to try to explain the
disreputable position in which he had just been detected。
〃But；〃 said du Portail； 〃in order to see you there； I had to be there
myself。〃
〃True；〃 returned Cerizet。 〃I was rather surprised to see a quiet
inhabitant of the Saint…Sulpice quarter in such a place。〃
〃It merely proves to you；〃 said the little old man； in a tone which
cut short all explanation； and all curiosity； 〃that I am in the habit
of going pretty nearly everywhere； and that my star leads me into the
path of those persons whom I wish to meet。 I was thinking of you at
the very moment you came in。 Well； what have you done？〃
〃Nothing good；〃 replied Cerizet。 〃After playing me a devilish trick
which deprived me of a magnificent bit of business； our man rejected
your overture with scorn。 There is no hope whatever in that claim of
Dutocq's； for la Peyrade is chock…full of money； he wanted to pay the
notes just now； and to…morrow morning he will certainly do so。〃
〃Does he regard his marriage to this Demoiselle Colleville as a
settled thing？〃
〃He not only considers it settled； but he is trying now to make people
believe it is a love…match。 He rattled off a perfect tirade to
convince me that he is really in love。〃
〃Very well；〃 said du Portail； wishing； perhaps； to show that he could；
on occasion； use the slang of a low billiard…room； 〃'stop the charge'〃
（meaning： Do nothing more）； 〃I will undertake to bring monsieur to
reason。 But come and see me to…morrow； and tell me all about the
family he intends to enter。 You have failed in this affair； but don't
mind that； I shall have others for you。〃
So saying； he signed to the driver of an empty citadine； which was
passing； got into it； and； with a nod to Cerizet； told the man to
drive to the rue Honore…Chevalier。
As Cerizet walked down the rue Montmartre to regain the Estrapade
quarter； he puzzled his brains to divine who that little old man with
the curt speech； the imperious manner； and a tone that seemed to cast
upon all those with whom he spoke a boarding…grapnel； could be； a man；
too； who came from such a distance to spend his evening in a place
where； judging by his clothes alone； he had no business to be。
Cerizet had reached the Market without finding any solution to that
problem； when he was roughly shaken out of it by a heavy blow in the
back。 Turning hastily； he found himself in presence of Madame
Cardinal； an encounter with whom； at a spot where she came every
morning to get fish to peddle； was certainly not surprising。
Since that evening in Toupillier's garret； the worthy woman； in spite
of the clemency so promptly shown to her； had judged it imprudent to
make other than very short apparitions in her own domicile； and for
the last two days she had been drowning among the liquor…dealers
（called 〃retailers of comfort〃） the pangs of her defeat。 With flaming
face and thickened voice she now addressed her late accomplice：
〃Well； papa；〃 she said； 〃what happened after I left you with that
little old fellow？〃
〃I made him understand in a very few words；〃 replied the banker of the
poor； 〃that it was all a mistake as to me。 In this affair； my dear
Madame Cardinal； you behaved with a really unpardonable heedlessness。
How came you to ask my assistance in obtaining your inheritance from
your uncle； when with proper inquiry you might have known there was a
natural daughter； in whose favor he had long declared he should make a
will？ That little old man； who interrupted you in your foolish attempt
to anticipate your legacy； was no other than the guardian of the
daughter to whom everything is left。〃
〃Ha！ guardian； indeed！ a fine thing； guardian！〃 cried the Cardinal。
〃To talk of a woman of my age； just because I wanted to see if my
uncle owned anything at all； to talk to ME of the police！ It's
hateful！ it's DISGUSTING！〃
〃Come； come！〃 said Cerizet； 〃you needn't complain； you got off
cheaply。〃
〃Well； and you； who broke the locks and said you were going to take
the diamonds； under color of marrying my daughter！ Just as if she
would have you；a legitimate daughter like her！ 'Never； mother；' said
she； 'never will I give my heart to a man with such a nose。'〃
〃So you've found her； have you？〃 said Cerizet。
〃Not until last night。 She has left her blackguard of a player； and
she is now； I flatter myself； in a fine position； eating money； has
her citadine by the month； and is much respected by a barrister who
would marry her at once； but he has got to wait till his parents die；
for the father happens to be mayor； and the government wouldn't like
it。〃
〃What mayor？〃
〃11th arrondissement；Minard； powerfully rich； used to do a business
in cocoa。〃
〃Ah！ very good！ very good！ I know all about him。 You say Olympe is
living with his son？〃
〃Well； not to say living together； for that would make talk； though he
only sees her with good motives。 He lives at home with his father； but
he has bought their furniture； and has put it； and my daughter； too；
into a lodging in the Chausee d'Antin； stylish quarter； isn't it？〃
〃It seems to me pretty well arranged；〃 said Cerizet； 〃and as Heaven；
it appears； didn't destine us for each other〃
〃No； yes； well； that's how it was； and I think that girl is going to
give me great satisfaction； and there's something I want to consult
you about。〃
〃What？〃 demanded Cerizet。
〃Well； my daughter being in luck； I don't think I ought to continue to
cry fish in the streets； and now that my uncle has disinherited me； I
have； it seems to me； a right to an 'elementary allowance。'〃
〃You are dreaming； my poor woman； your daughter is a minor； it is you
who ought to be feeding her； the law doesn't require her to give you
aliment。〃
〃Then do you mean；〃 said Madame Cardinal； 〃that those who have nothing
are to give to those who have much？ A fine thing such a law as that！
It's as bad as guardians who； for nothing at all； talk about calling
the police。 Yes！ I'd like to see 'em calling the police to me！ Let 'em
guillotine me！ It won't prevent my saying that the rich are swindlers；
yes； swindlers！ and the people ought to make another revolution to get
their rights； and THEN； my lad； you； and my daughter； and barrister
Minard； and that little old guardian； you'll all come down under it〃
Perceiving that his ex…mother…in…law was reaching stage of exaltation
that was not unalarming； Cerizet hastened to get away； her epithets
pursuing him for more than a hundred feet； but he comforted himself by
thinking that he would make her pay for them the next time she came to
his back to ask for a 〃convenience。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
SET A SAINT TO CATCH A SAINT
As he approached his own abode； Cerizet； who was nothing so little as
courageous； felt an emotion of fear。 He perceived a form ambushed near
the door； which； as he came nearer； detached itself as if to meet him。
Happily； it was only Dutocq。 He came for his notes。 Cerizet returned
them in some ill…humor； complaining of the distrust implied in a visit
at such an hour。 Dutocq paid no attention to this sensitiveness； and
the next morning； very early； he presented himself at la Peyrade's。
La Peyrade paid； as he had promised； on the nail； and to a few
sentinel remarks uttered by Dutocq as soon as the money was in his
pocket； he answered with marked coldness。 His whole external
appearance and behavior was that of a slave who has burst his chain
and has promised himself not to make a gospel use of his liberty。
As he conducted his visitor to the door； the latter came face to face
with a woman in servant's dress； who was just about to ring the bell。
This woman was； apparently； known to Dutocq； for he said to her：
〃Ha ha！ little woman； so we feel the necessity of consulting a
barrister？ You are right； at the family council very serious matters
were brought up against you。〃
〃Thank God； I fear no one。 I can walk with my head up；〃 said the
person thus addressed。
〃So much the better for you；〃 replied the clerk of the justice…of…
peace； 〃but you will probably be summoned before the judge who
examines the affair。 At any rate； you are in good hands here； and my
friend la Peyrade will advise you for the best。〃
〃Monsieur is mistaken；〃 said the woman； 〃it is not for what he thinks
that I have come to consult a lawyer。〃
〃Well； be careful what you say and do； my dear woman； for I warn you
you are going to be finely picked to pieces。 The relations are furious
against you； and you can't get the idea out of their heads that you
have got a great deal of money。〃
While speaking thus； Dutocq kept his eye on Theodose； who bore the
look uneasily； and requested his client to enter。
Here follows a scene which had taken place the previous afternoon
between this woman and la Peyrade。
La Peyrade； we may remember； was in the habit of going to early mass
at his parish church。 For some little time he had felt himself the
object of a singular attention which he could not explain on the part
of the woman whom we have just seen entering his office； who daily
atte