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evil eye of paternal rivalry； Phellion became to Minard a Roman of
incorruptible integrity and a man whose little treatises had been
adopted by the University；in other words； a man of sound and tested
intellect。
So that when it became the duty of the mayor to select the members of
the dramatic custom…house； of which he was now the head； he
immediately thought of Phellion。 As for the great citizen； he felt； on
the day when a post was offered to him in that august tribunal； that a
crown of gold had been placed upon his brow。
It will be well understood that it was not lightly； nor without having
deeply meditated； that a man of Phellion's solemnity had accepted the
high and sacred mission which was offered to him。 He said within
himself that he was called upon to exercise the functions of a
magistracy； a priestly office。
〃To judge of men；〃 he replied to Minard； who was much surprised at his
hesitation； 〃is an alarming task； but to judge of minds！who can
believe himself equal to such a mission？〃
Once more the familythat rock on which the firmest resolutions split
had threatened to infringe on the domain of his conscience。 The
thought of boxes and tickets of which the future member of the
committee could dispose in favor of his own kin had excited in the
household so eager a ferment that his freedom of decision seemed for a
moment in danger。 But； happily； Brutus was able to decide himself in
the same direction along which a positive uprising of the whole
Phellionian tribe intended to push him。 From the observations of
Barniol； his son…in…law； and also by his own personal inspiration； he
became persuaded that by his vote； always given to works of
irreproachable morality； and by his firm determination to bar the way
to all plays that mothers of families could not take their daughters
to witness； he was called upon to render the most signal services to
morals and public order。 Phellion； to use his own expression； had
therefore become a member of the areopagus presided over by Minard；
andstill speaking as he spokehe was issuing from the exercise of
his functions； which were both delicate and interesting； when the
conversation we are about to report took place。 A knowledge of this
conversation is necessary to an understanding of the ulterior events
of this history； and it will also serve to put into relief the envious
insight which is one of the most marked traits of the bourgeois
character。
The session of the committee had been extremely stormy。 On the subject
of a tragedy entitled； 〃The Death of Hercules；〃 the classic party and
the romantic party； whom the mayor had carefully balanced in the
composition of his committee； had nearly approached the point of
tearing each other's hair out。 Twice Phellion had risen to speak； and
his hearers were astonished at the quantity of metaphors the speech of
a major of the National Guard could contain when his literary
convictions were imperilled。 As the result of a vote； victory remained
with the opinions of which Phellion was the eloquent organ。 It was
while descending the stairway of the theatre with Minard that he
remarked：
〃We have done a good work this day。 'The Death of Hercules' reminded
me of 'The Death of Hector；' by the late Luce de Lancival； the work we
have just accepted sparkles with sublime verses。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Minard； 〃the versification has taste； there are some
really fine lines in it； and I admit to you that I think this sort of
literature rather above the anagrams of Master Colleville。〃
〃Oh！〃 replied Minard； 〃Colleville's anagrams are mere witticisms；
which have nothing in common with the sterner accents of Melpomene。〃
〃And yet；〃 said Minard； 〃I can assure you he attaches the greatest
importance to that rubbish； and apropos to his anagrams； as； indeed；
about many other things； he is not a little puffed up。 Since their
emigration to the Madeleine quarter it seems to me that not only the
Sieur Colleville； but his wife and daughter； and the Thuilliers and
the whole coterie have assumed an air of importance which is rather
difficult to justify。〃
〃No wonder！〃 said Phellion； 〃one must have a pretty strong head to
stand the fumes of opulence。 Our friends have become so very rich by
the purchase of that property where they have gone to live that we
ought to forgive them for a little intoxication； and I must say the
dinner they gave us yesterday for a house…warming was really as well
arranged as it was succulent。〃
〃I myself；〃 said Minard； 〃have given a few remarkable dinners to which
men in high government positions have not disdained to come； yet I am
not puffed up with pride on that account； such as my friends have
always known me； that I have remained。〃
〃You； Monsieur le maire； have long been habituated to the splendid
existence you have made for yourself by your high commercial talents；
our friends； on the contrary； so lately embarked on the smiling ship
of Fortune； have not yet found； as the vulgar saying is； their sea…
legs。〃
And then to cut short a conversation in which Phellion began to think
the mayor rather 〃caustic；〃 he made as if he intended to take leave of
him。 In order to reach their respective homes they did not always take
the same way。
〃Are you going through the Luxembourg？〃 asked Minard； not allowing
Phellion to give him the slip。
〃I shall cross it； but I have an appointment to meet Madame Phellion
and the little Barniols at the end of the grand alley。〃
〃Then；〃 said Minard； 〃I'll go with you and have the pleasure of making
my bow to Madame Phellion； and I shall get the fresh air at the same
time； for； in spite of hearing fine things； one's head gets tired at
the business we have just been about。〃
Minard had felt that Phellion gave rather reluctant assent to his
sharp remarks about the new establishment of the Thuilliers； and he
did not attempt to renew the subject； but when he had Madame Phellion
for a listener； he was very sure that his spite would find an echo。
〃Well； fair lady；〃 he began； 〃what did you think of yesterday's
dinner？〃
〃It was very fine；〃 replied Madame Phellion； 〃as I tasted that soup 'a
la bisque' I knew that some caterer； like Chevet； had supplanted the
cook。 But the whole affair was dull； it hadn't the gaiety of our old
meetings in the Latin quarter。 And then； didn't it strike you； as it
did me； that Madame and Mademoiselle Thuillier no longer seemed
mistresses of their own house？ I really felt as if I were the guest of
Madamewhat IS her name？ I never can remember it。〃
〃Torna； Comtesse de Godollo；〃 said Phellion； intervening。 〃The name is
euphonious enough to remember。〃
〃Euphonious if you like； my dear； but to me it never seems a name at
all。〃
〃It is a Magyar； or to speak more commonly； a Hungarian name。 Our own
name； if we wanted to discuss it； might be said to be a loan from the
Greek language。〃
〃Very likely； at any rate we have the advantage of being known； not
only in our own quarter； but throughout the tuition world； where we
have earned an honorable position； while this Hungarian countess； who
makes； as they say； the good and the bad weather in the Thuilliers'
home； where does she come from； I'd like to know？ How did such a fine
lady；for she has good manners and a very distinguished air； no one
denies her that；how came she to fall in love with Brigitte； who；
between ourselves； keeps a sickening odor of the porter's lodge about
her。 For my part； I think this devoted friend is an intriguing
creature； who scents money； and is scheming for some future gain。〃
〃Ah ca！〃 said Minard； 〃then you don't know the original cause of the
intimacy between Madame la Comtesse de Godollo and the Thuilliers？〃
〃She is a tenant in their house； she occupies the entresol beneath
their apartment。〃
〃True； but there's something more than that in it。 Zelie； my wife；
heard it from Josephine； who wanted； lately； to enter our service； the
matter came to nothing； for Francoise； our woman； who thought of
marrying； changed her mind。 You must know； fair lady； that it was
solely Madame de Godollo who brought about the emigration of the
Thuilliers； whose upholsterer； as one might say； she is。〃
〃What！ their upholsterer？〃 cried Phellion；〃that distinguished woman；
of whom one may truly say； 'Incessu patuit dea'； which in French we
very inadequately render by the expression； 'bearing of a queen'？〃
〃Excuse me；〃 said Minard。 〃I did not mean that Madame de Godollo is
actually in the furniture business； but； at the time when Mademoiselle
Thuillier decided； by la Peyrade's advice； to manage the new house
herself； that little fellow； who hasn't all the ascendancy over her
mind he thinks he has； couldn't persuade her to move the family into
the splendid apartment where they received us yesterday。 Mademoiselle
Brigitte objected that she should have to change her habits； and that
her friends and relations wouldn't follow her to such a distant
quarter〃
〃It is quite certain；〃 interrupted Madame Phellion； 〃that to make up
one's mind to hire a carriage every Sunday； one wants a prospect of
greater pleasure than can be found in that salon。 When one thinks
that； except on the day of the famous dance of the candid