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〃How you run on！〃 said Thuillier。 〃La Peyrade； my dear； is so far only
accused。 He must be heard in his defence。 And besides； there's a deed
that binds us。〃
〃Ah； very good！〃 said Brigitte； 〃I see how it will be； you'll let that
man twist you round his finger again。 A deed with a spy！ As if there
could be deeds with such fellows。〃
〃Come； come； be calm； my good Brigitte；〃 returned Thuillier。 〃We
mustn't do anything hastily。 Certainly； if la Peyrade cannot furnish a
justification； clear； categorical； and convincing； I shall decide to
break with him； and I'll prove to you that I am no milksop。 But
Cerizet himself is not certain； these are mere inductions； and I only
came to consult you as to whether I ought； or ought not； to demand an
explanation outright。〃
〃Not a doubt about it；〃 replied Brigitte。 〃You ought to demand an
explanation and go to the bottom of this thing； if you don't； I cast
you off as my brother。〃
〃That suffices；〃 said Thuillier； leaving the room with solemnity； 〃you
shall see that we will come to an understanding。〃
CHAPTER XI
EXPLANATIONS AND WHAT CAME OF THEM
On his return to the office after his conference with Brigitte；
Thuillier found la Peyrade at his post as editor…in…chief； and in a
position of much embarrassment； caused by the high hand he had
reserved for himself as the sole selector of articles and
contributors。 At this moment； Phellion； instigated by his family； and
deeply conscious of his position on the reading…committee of the
Odeon； had come to offer his services as dramatic critic。
〃My dear monsieur；〃 he said； continuing his remarks to la Peyrade；
after inquiring of Thuillier about his health； 〃I was a great student
of the theatre in my youth； the stage and its scenic effects continue
to have for me peculiar attractions； and the white hairs which crown
my brow to…day seem to me no obstacle to my allowing your interesting
publication to profit by the fruit of my studies and my experience。 As
member of the reading…committee of the Odeon theatre； I am conversant
with the modern drama； andif I may be quite sure of your discretion
I will even confide to you that among my papers it would not be
impossible for me to find a certain tragedy entitled 'Sapor；' which in
my young days won me some fame when read in salons。〃
〃Ah！〃 said la Peyrade； endeavoring to gild the refusal he should be
forced to give； 〃why not try to have it put upon the stage？ We might
be able to help you in that direction。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Thuillier； 〃the director of any theatre to whom we
should recommend〃
〃No；〃 replied Phellion。 〃In the first place； as member of the reading…
committee of the Odeon； having to sit in judgment upon others； it
would not become me to descend into the arena myself。 I am an old
athlete； whose business it is to judge of blows he can no longer give。
In this sense； criticism is altogether within my sphere； and all the
more because I have certain views on the proper method of composing
dramatic feuilletons which I think novel。 The 'castigat ridendo mores'
ought to be； according to my humble lights； the great law； I may say
the only law of the stage。 I should therefore show myself pitiless for
those works； bred of imagination； in which morality has no part； and
to which mothers of families〃
〃Excuse me；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃for interrupting you； but before
allowing you to take the trouble to develop your poetical ideas； I
ought to tell you that we have already made arrangements for our
dramatic criticism。〃
〃Ah！ that's another thing；〃 said Phellion； 〃an honest man must keep
his word。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Thuillier； 〃we have our dramatic critic； little thinking
that you would offer us your valuable assistance。〃
〃Well；〃 said Phellion； suddenly becoming crafty；for there is
something in the newspaper atmosphere； impossible to say what； which
flies to the head； the bourgeois head especially；〃since you are good
enough to consider my pen capable of doing you some service； perhaps a
series of detached thoughts on different subjects； to which I should
venture to give the name of 'Diversities；' might be of a nature to
interest your readers。〃
〃Yes；〃 said la Peyrade； with a maliciousness that was quite lost upon
Phellion； 〃thoughts； especially in the style of la Rochefoucauld or la
Bruyere； might do。 What do you think yourself； Thuillier？〃
He reserved to himself the right to leave the responsibility of
refusals； as far as he could； to the proprietor of the paper。
〃But I imagine that thoughts； especially if detached； cannot be very
consecutive；〃 said Thuillier。
〃Evidently not；〃 replied Phellion； 〃detached thoughts imply the idea
of a very great number of subjects on which the author lets his pen
stray without the pretension of presenting a whole。〃
〃You will of course sign them？〃 said la Peyrade。
〃Oh； no！〃 replied Phellion； alarmed。 〃I could not put myself on
exhibition in that way。〃
〃Your modesty； which by the bye I understand and approve； settles the
matter；〃 said la Peyrade。 〃Thoughts are a subject altogether
individual； which imperatively require to be personified by a name。
You must be conscious of this yourself。 'Divers Thoughts by Monsieur
Three…Stars' says nothing to the public。〃
Seeing that Phellion was about to make objections； Thuillier； who was
in a hurry to begin his fight with la Peyrade； cut the matter short
rather sharply。
〃My dear Phellion；〃 he said； 〃I beg your pardon for not being able to
enjoy the pleasure of your conversation any longer； but we have to
talk； la Peyrade and I； over a matter of much importance； and in
newspaper offices this devilish time runs away so fast。 If you are
willing； we will postpone the question to another day。 Madame Phellion
is well； I trust？〃
〃Perfectly well；〃 said the great citizen； rising； and not appearing to
resent his dismissal。 〃When does your first number appear？〃 he added；
〃it is eagerly awaited in the arrondissement。〃
〃To…morrow I think our confession of faith will make its appearance；〃
replied Thuillier； accompanying him to the door。 〃You will receive a
copy； my dear friend。 We shall meet again soon； I hope。 Come and see
us； and bring that manuscript； la Peyrade's point of view may be a
little arbitrary。〃
With this balm shed upon his wound； Phellion departed； and Thuillier
rang the bell for the porter。
〃Could you recognize the gentlemen who has just gone out the next time
you see him？〃 asked Thuillier。
〃Oh； yes； m'sieu； his round ball of a head is too funny to forget；
besides； it is Monsieur Phellion； haven't I opened the door to him
hundreds of times？〃
〃Well； whenever he comes again neither I nor Monsieur de la Peyrade
will be here。 Remember that's a positive rule。 Now leave us。〃
〃The devil！〃 cried la Peyrade； when the two partners were alone； 〃how
you manage bores。 But take care； among the number there may be
electors。 You did right to tell Phellion you would send him a copy of
the paper； he has a certain importance in the quarter。〃
〃Well；〃 said Thuillier； 〃we can't allow our time to be taken up by all
the dull…heads who come and offer their services。 But now you and I
have to talk； and talk very seriously。 Be seated and listen。〃
〃Do you know； my dear fellow；〃 said la Peyrade； laughing； 〃that
journalism is making you into something very solemn？ 'Be seated；
Cinna；'Caesar Augustus couldn't have said it otherwise。〃
〃Cinnas； unfortunately； are more plentiful than people think；〃 replied
Thuillier。
He was still under the goad of the promise he had made to Brigitte；
and he meant to fulfil it with cutting sarcasm。 The top continued the
whirling motion imparted to it by the old maid's lash。
La Peyrade took a seat at the round table。 As he was puzzled to know
what was coming； he endeavored to seem unconcerned； and picking up the
large scissors used for the loans which all papers make from the
columns of their brethren of the press； he began to snip up a sheet of
paper； on which； in Thuillier's handwriting； was an attempt at a
leading article； never completed。
Though la Peyrade was seated and expectant； Thuillier did not begin
immediately； he rose and went toward the door which stood ajar； with
the intention of closing it。 But suddenly it was flung wide open； and
Coffinet appeared。
〃Will monsieur；〃 said Coffinet to la Peyrade； 〃receive two ladies？
They are very well…dressed； and the young one ain't to be despised。〃
〃Shall I let them in？〃 said la Peyrade to Thuillier。
〃Yes； since they are here；〃 growled Thuillier； 〃but get rid of them as
soon as possible。〃
Coffinet's judgment on the toilet of the two visitors needs revision。
A woman is well…dressed； not when she wears rich clothes； but when her
clothes present a certain harmony of shapes and colors which form an
appropriate and graceful envelope to her person。 Now a bonnet with a
flaring brim； surmounted by nodding plumes； an immense French cashmere
shawl； worn with the awkward inexperience of a young bride； a plaid
silk gown with enormous checks and a triple tier of flounces with far
too many chains and trinkets （though to be just； the boots and gloves
were irreproachable）； constituted the apparel of the younger of t