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Thuillier provided for her brother。
CHAPTER III
COLLEVILLE
Thuillier had entered the ministry of finance as supernumerary at the
same time as Colleville； who has been mentioned already as his
intimate friend。 In opposition to the well…regulated； gloomy household
of Thuillier； social nature had provided that of Colleville； and if it
is impossible not to remark that this fortuitous contrast was scarcely
moral； we must add that； before deciding that point； it would be well
to wait for the end of this drama； unfortunately too true； for which
the present historian is not responsible。
Colleville was the only son of a talented musician； formerly first
violin at the Opera under Francoeur and Rebel； who related； at least
six times a month during his lifetime； anecdotes concerning the
representations of the 〃Village Seer〃； and mimicked Jean…Jacques
Rousseau； taking him off to perfection。 Colleville and Thuillier were
inseparable friends； they had no secrets from each other； and their
friendship； begun at fifteen years of age； had never known a cloud up
to the year 1839。 The former was one of those employees who are
called； in the government offices； pluralists。 These clerks are
remarkable for their industry。 Colleville； a good musician； owed to
the name and influence of his father a situation as first clarionet at
the Opera…Comique； and so long as he was a bachelor； Colleville； who
was rather richer than Thuillier； shared his means with his friend。
But； unlike Thuillier； Colleville married for love a Mademoiselle
Flavie； the natural daughter of a celebrated danseuse at the Opera；
her reputed father being a certain du Bourguier； one of the richest
contractors of the day。 In style and origin； Flavie was apparently
destined for a melancholy career； when Colleville； often sent to her
mother's apartments； fell in love with her and married her。 Prince
Galathionne； who at that time was 〃protecting〃 the danseuse； then
approaching the end of her brilliant career； gave Flavie a 〃dot〃 of
twenty thousand francs； to which her mother added a magnificent
trousseau。 Other friends and opera…comrades sent jewels and
silver…ware； so that the Colleville household was far richer in
superfluities than in capital。 Flavie； brought up in opulence； began
her married life in a charming apartment； furnished by her mother's
upholsterer； where the young wife； who was full of taste for art and
for artists； and possessed a certain elegance； ruled； a queen。
Madame Colleville was pretty and piquant； clever； gay； and graceful；
to express her in one sentence；a charming creature。 Her mother； the
danseuse； now forty…three years old； retired from the stage and went
to live in the country；thus depriving her daughter of the resources
derived from her wasteful extravagance。 Madame Colleville kept a very
agreeable but extremely free and easy household。 From 1816 to 1826 she
had five children。 Colleville； a musician in the evening； kept the
books of a merchant from seven to nine in the morning； and by ten
o'clock he was at his ministry。 Thus； by blowing into a bit of wood by
night； and writing double…entry accounts in the early morning； he
managed to eke out his earnings to seven or eight thousand francs a
year。
Madame Colleville played the part of a 〃comme il faut〃 woman； she
received on Wednesdays； gave a concert once a month and a dinner every
fortnight。 She never saw Colleville except at dinner and at night；
when he returned about twelve o'clock； at which hour she was
frequently not at home herself。 She went to the theatres； where boxes
were sometimes given to her； and she would send word to Colleville to
come and fetch her from such or such a house； where she was supping
and dancing。 At her own house； guests found excellent cheer； and her
society； though rather mixed； was very amusing； she received and
welcomed actresses； artists； men of letters； and a few rich men。
Madame Colleville's elegance was on a par with that of Tullia； the
leading prima…donna； with whom she was intimate； but though the
Collevilles encroached on their capital and were often in difficulty
by the end of the month； Flavie was never in debt。
Colleville was very happy； he still loved his wife； and he made
himself her best friend。 Always received by her with affectionate
smiles and sympathetic pleasure； he yielded readily to the
irresistible grace of her manners。 The vehement activity with which he
pursued his three avocations was a part of his natural character and
temperament。 He was a fine stout man； ruddy； jovial； extravagant； and
full of ideas。 In ten years there was never a quarrel in his
household。 Among business men he was looked upon； in common with all
artists； as a scatter…brained fellow； and superficial persons thought
that the constant hurry of this hard worker was only the restless
coming and going of a busybody。
Colleville had the sense to seem stupid； he boasted of his family
happiness； and gave himself unheard…of trouble in making anagrams； in
order at times to seem absorbed in that passion。 The government clerks
of his division at the ministry； the office directors； and even the
heads of divisions came to his concerts； now and then he quietly
bestowed upon them opera tickets； when he needed some extra indulgence
on account of his frequent absence。 Rehearsals took half the time that
he ought to have been at his desk； but the musical knowledge his
father had bequeathed to him was sufficiently genuine and well…
grounded to excuse him from all but final rehearsals。 Thanks to Madame
Colleville's intimacies； both the theatre and the ministry lent
themselves kindly to the needs of this industrious pluralist； who；
moreover； was bringing up； with great care； a youth； warmly
recommended to him by his wife； a future great musician； who sometimes
took his place in the orchestra with a promise of eventually
succeeding him。 In fact； about the year 1827 this young man became the
first clarionet when Colleville resigned his position。
The usual comment on Flavie was； 〃That little slip of a coquette；
Madame Colleville。〃 The eldest of the Colleville children； born in
1816； was the living image of Colleville himself。 In 1818； Madame
Colleville held the cavalry in high estimation； above even art； and
she distinguished more particularly a sub…lieutenant in the dragoons
of Saint…Chamans； the young and rich Charles de Gondreville； who
afterwards died in the Spanish campaign。 By that time Flavie had had a
second son； whom she henceforth dedicated to a military career。 In
1820 she considered banking the nursing mother of trade； the supporter
of Nations； and she made the great Keller； that famous banker and
orator； her idol。 She then had another son； whom she named Francois；
resolving to make him a merchant；feeling sure that Keller's
influence would never fail him。 About the close of the year 1820；
Thuillier； the intimate friend of Monsieur and Madame Colleville； felt
the need of pouring his sorrows into the bosom of this excellent
woman； and to her he related his conjugal miseries。 For six years he
had longed to have children； but God did not bless him； although that
poor Madame Thuillier had made novenas； and had even gone； uselessly；
to Notra…Dame de Liesse！ He depicted Celeste in various lights； which
brought the words 〃Poor Thuillier！〃 from Flavie's lips。 She herself
was rather sad； having at the moment no dominant opinion。 She poured
her own griefs into Thuillier's bosom。 The great Keller； that hero of
the Left； was； in reality； extremely petty； she had learned to know
the other side of public fame； the follies of banking； the emptiness
of eloquence！ The orator only spoke for show； to her he had behaved
extremely ill。 Thuillier was indignant。 〃None but stupid fellows know
how to love；〃 he said； 〃take me！〃 That handsome Thuillier was
henceforth supposed to be paying court to Madame Colleville； and was
rated as one of her 〃attentives；〃a word in vogue during the Empire。
〃Ha！ you are after my wife；〃 said Colleville； laughing。 〃Take care；
she'll leave you in the lurch； like all the rest。〃
A rather clever speech； by which Colleville saved his marital dignity。
From 1820 to 1821； Thuillier； in virtue of his title as friend of the
family； helped Colleville； who had formerly helped him； so much so；
that in eighteen months he had lent nearly ten thousand francs to the
Colleville establishment； with no intention of ever claiming them。 In
the spring of 1821； Madame Colleville gave birth to a charming little
girl； to whom Monsieur and Madame Thuillier were godfather and
godmother。 The child was baptized Celeste…Louise…Caroline…Brigitte；
Mademoiselle Thuillier wishing that her name should be given among
others to the little angel。 The name of Caroline was a graceful
attention paid to Colleville。 Old mother Lemprun assumed the care of
putting the baby to nurse under her own eyes at Auteuil； where Celeste
and her sister…in…law Brigitte； paid it regularly a semi…weekly visit。
As soon as Madame Colleville recovered she said to Thuillier； frankly；
in a very serious tone：
〃My dear friend； if we are all to remain good friends； you must be our
friend only。 Colleville is attach