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〃No； thank you；〃 said Fleury； whom Thuillier had also brought home to
dinner； 〃I don't want to enter upon those functions at first。〃
〃Seized！〃 said Dutocq； 〃oh； you won't be seized； but I think the
ministerial journals will fire a broadside at you。〃
The next day Thuillier was at the office as early as eight o'clock； in
order to be the first to receive that formidable salvo。 After looking
through every morning paper he was forced to admit that there was no
more mention of the 〃Echo de la Bievre〃 than if it didn't exist。 When
la Peyrade arrived he found his unhappy friend in a state of
consternation。
〃Does that surprise you？〃 said the Provencal； tranquilly。 〃I let you
enjoy yesterday your hopes of a hot engagement with the press； but I
knew myself that in all probability there wouldn't be the slightest
mention of us in to…day's papers。 Against every paper which makes its
debut with some distinction； there's always a two weeks'； sometimes a
two months' conspiracy of silence。〃
〃Conspiracy of silence！〃 echoed Thuillier； with admiration。
He did not know what it meant； but the words had a grandeur and a
SOMETHING that appealed to his imagination。 After la Peyrade had
explained to him that by 〃conspiracy of silence〃 was meant the
agreement of existing journals to make no mention of new…comers lest
such notice should serve to advertise them； Thuillier's mind was
hardly better satisfied than it had been by the pompous flow of the
words。 The bourgeois is born so； words are coins which he takes and
passes without question。 For a word； he will excite himself or calm
down； insult or applaud。 With a word； he can be brought to make a
revolution and overturn a government of his own choice。
The paper； however； was only a means； the object was Thuillier's
election。 This was insinuated rather than stated in the first numbers。
But one morning； in the columns of the 〃Echo；〃 appeared a letter from
several electors thanking their delegate to the municipal council for
the firm and frankly liberal attitude in which he had taken on all
questions of local interests。 〃This firmness；〃 said the letter； 〃had
brought down upon him the persecution of the government； which； towed
at the heels of foreigners； had sacrificed Poland and sold itself to
England。 The arrondissement needed a man of such tried convictions to
represent it in the Chamber；a man holding high and firm the banner
of dynastic opposition； a man who would be； by the mere signification
of his name； a stern lesson given to the authorities。〃
Enforced by an able commentary from la Peyrade； this letter was signed
by Barbet and Metivier and all Brigitte's tradesmen （whom； in view of
the election she had continued to employ since her emigration）； also
by the family doctor and apothecary； and by Thuillier's builder； and
Barniol； Phellion's son…in…law； who professed to hold rather
〃advanced〃 political opinions。 As for Phellion himself； he thought the
wording of the letter not altogether circumspect； andalways without
fear as without reproachhowever much he might expect that this
refusal would injure his son in his dearest interests； he bravely
refrained from signing it。
This trial kite had the happiest effect。 The ten or a dozen names thus
put forward were considered to express the will of the electors and
were called 〃the voice of the quarter。〃 Thus Thuillier's candidacy
made from the start such rapid progress that Minard hesitated to put
his own claims in opposition。
Delighted now with the course of events； Brigitte was the first to say
that the time had come to attend to the marriage； and Thuillier was
all the more ready to agree because； from day to day； he feared he
might be called upon to pay the twenty…five thousand francs to Madame
Lambert for which he had pledged himself。 A thorough explanation now
took place between la Peyrade and the old maid。 She told him honestly
of the fear she felt as to the maintenance of her sovereign authority
when a SON…IN…LAW of his mind and character was established in the
household。
〃If we；〃 she ended by saying； 〃are to oppose each other for the rest
of our days； it would be much better； from the beginning； to make two
households； we shouldn't be the less friends for that。〃
La Peyrade replied that nothing under the sun would induce him to
consent to such a plan； on the contrary； he regarded as amongst his
happiest prospects for the future the security he should feel about
the wise management of the material affairs of the home in such hands
as hers。 He should have enough to do in the management of outside
interests； and he could not comprehend； for his part； how she could
suppose he had ever had the thought of interfering in matters that
were absolutely out of his province。 In short； he reassured her so
completely that she urged him to take immediate steps for the
publication of the banns and the signature of the marriage contract；
declaring that she reserved to herself all the preparations relating
to Celeste； whose acceptance of this sudden conclusion she pledged
herself to secure。
〃My dear child；〃 she said to Celeste the next morning； 〃I think you
have given up all idea of being Felix Phellion's wife。 In the first
place； he is more of an atheist than ever； and； besides； you must have
noticed yourself that his mind is quite shaky。 You have seen at Madame
Minard's that Madame Marmus； who married a savant； officer of the
Legion of honor； and member of the Institute。 There's not a more
unhappy woman； her husband has taken her to live behind the
Luxembourg； in the rue Duguay…Trouin； a street that is neither paved
nor lighted。 When he goes out； he doesn't know where he is going； he
gets to the Champ de Mars when he wants to go to the Faubourg
Poissoniere； he isn't even capable of giving his address to the driver
of a street cab； and he is so absent…minded he couldn't tell if it
were before dinner or after。 You can imagine what sort of time a woman
must have with a man whose nose is always at a telescope snuffing
stars。〃
〃But Felix；〃 said Celeste； 〃is not as absent…minded as that。〃
〃Of course not； because he is younger； but with years his absent…
mindedness and his atheism will both increase。 We have therefore
decided that he is not the husband you want； and we all； your mother；
father； Thuillier and myself； have determined that you shall take la
Peyrade； a man of the world； who will make his way； and one who has
done us great services in the past； and who will； moreover； make your
godfather deputy。 We are disposed to give you； in consideration of
him； a much larger 'dot' than we should give to any other husband。 So；
my dear； it is settled； the banns are to be published immediately； and
this day week we sign the contract。 There's to be a great dinner for
the family and intimates； and after that a reception； at which the
contract will be signed and your trousseau and corbeille exhibited。 As
I take all that into my own hands I'll answer for it that everything
shall be of the best kind； especially if you are not babyish； and give
in pleasantly to our ideas。〃
〃But； aunt Brigitte；〃 began Celeste； timidly。
〃There's no 'but；' in the matter；〃 said the old maid； imperiously； 〃it
is all arranged； and will be carried out； unless； mademoiselle； you
pretend to have more wisdom than your elders。〃
〃I will do as you choose； aunt；〃 replied Celeste； feeling as if a
thunder…cloud had burst upon her head； and knowing but too well that
she had no power to struggle against the iron will which had just
pronounced her doom。
She went at once to pour her sorrows into Madame Thuillier's soul； but
when she heard her godmother advising patience and resignation the
poor child felt that from that feeble quarter she could get no help
for even the slightest effort of resistance； and that her sacrifice
was virtually accomplished。
Precipitating herself with a sort of frenzy into the new element of
activity thus introduced into her life； Brigitte took the field in the
making of the trousseau and the purchase of the corbeille。 Like many
misers； who on great occasions come out of their habits and their
nature； the old maid now thought nothing too good for her purpose； and
she flung her money about so lavishly that until the day appointed for
the signing of the contract； the jeweller； dressmaker； milliner；
lingere； etc。 （all chosen from the best establishments in Paris）；
seemed to occupy the house。
〃It is like a procession；〃 said Josephine； the cook； admiringly； to
Francoise； the Minards' maid； 〃the bell never stops ringing from
morning till night。〃
CHAPTER XII
A STAR
The dinner on the great occasion was ordered from Chabot and Potel；
and not from Chevet； by which act Brigitte intended to prove her
initiative and her emancipation from the late Madame de Godollo。 The
invited guests were as follows： three Collevilles； including the
bride； la Peyrade the groom； Dutocq and Fleury； whom he had asked to
be his witnesses； the extremely limited number of his relatives
leaving him no choice； Minard and Rabourdin； chosen as witnesses for
Celeste； Madame and Mademoiselle Minard and Minard junior； two of
Thuillier's colleagues in the Coun