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me that you were guilty of that abuse of confidence （about which I
intended to write you a piece of my mind） in order to give a
knock…down blow to my relations by proving that a man capable of
making such complicated calculations as your discovery required
was not a man to put in a lunatic asylum or drag before a
judiciary council。 That argument pleases me； and it makes such a
good answer to the infamous proceedings of my relations that I
praise you for having had the idea。 But you sold it to me； that
argument； pretty dear when you put me in company with a star； for
you know very well THAT propinquity wouldn't please me at all。 It
is not at my age； and after solving the great problem of perpetual
motion； that a man could take up with such rubbish as that；good
only for boys and greenhorns like you； and that is what I have
taken the liberty this morning to go and tell the minister of
public instruction； by whom I must say I was received with the
most perfect urbanity。 I asked him to see whether； as he had made
a mistake and sent them to the wrong address； he could not take
back his cross and his pension；though to be sure； as I told him；
I deserved them for other things。
〃The government；〃 he replied； 〃is not in the habit of making
mistakes； what it does is always properly done； and it never
annuls an ordinance signed by the hand of his Majesty。 Your great
labors have deserved the two favors the King has granted you； it
is a long…standing debt； which I am happy to pay off in his name。〃
〃But Felix？〃 I said； 〃because after all for a young man it is not
such a bad discovery。〃
〃Monsieur Felix Phellion；〃 replied the minister； 〃will receive in
the course of the day his appointment to the rank of Chevalier of
the Legion of honor； I will have it signed this morning by the
king。 Moreover； there is a vacant place at the Academy of
Sciences； and if you are not a candidate for it〃
〃I； in the Academy！〃 I interrupted； with the frankness of speech
you know I always use； 〃I execrate academies； they are stiflers；
extinguishers； assemblages of sloths； idlers； shops with big signs
and nothing to sell inside〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the minister； smiling； 〃I think that at the
next election Monsieur Felix Phellion will have every chance； and
among those chances I count the influence of the government which
is secured to him。〃
There； my poor boy； is all that I have been able to do to reward
your good intentions and to prove to you that I am no longer
angry。 I think the relations are going to pull a long face。 Come
and talk about it to…day at four o'clock；for I don't dine after
bedtime； as I saw some people doing last night in a house where I
had occasion to mention your talents in a manner that was very
advantageous to you。 Madame Lambert； who does better with a
saucepan than with pen and ink； shall distinguish herself； though
it is Friday； and she never lets me off a fast day。 But she has
promised us a fish dinner worthy of an archbishop； with a fine
half…bottle of champagne （doubled if need be） to wash it down。
Your old professor and friend；
Picot （Nepomucene）；
Chevalier of the Legion of honor。
P。S。Do you think you could obtain from your respectable mother a
little flask of that old and excellent cognac you once gave me？
Not a drop remains； and yesterday I was forced to drink some stuff
only fit to bathe horses' feet； as I did not hesitate to say to
the beautiful Hebe who served it to me。
〃Of course he shall have some；〃 said Madame Phellion； 〃not a flask；
but a gallon。〃
〃And I；〃 said Minard； 〃who pique myself on mine； which didn't come
from Brigitte's grocer either； I'll send him several bottles； but
don't tell him who sent them； Monsieur le chevalier； for you never can
tell how that singular being will take things。〃
〃Wife；〃 said Phellion； suddenly； 〃get me my black coat and a white
cravat。〃
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Madame Phellion。 〃To the minister； to
thank him？〃
〃Bring me； I say； those articles of habiliment。 I have an important
visit to make； and Monsieur le maire will； I know； excuse me。〃
〃I myself must be off；〃 said Minard。 〃I； too； have important business；
though it isn't about a star。〃
Questioned in vain by Felix and his wife； Phellion completed his
attire with a pair of white gloves； sent for a carriage； and； at the
end of half an hour； entered the presence of Brigitte； whom he found
presiding over the careful putting away of the china； glass； and
silver which had performed their several functions the night before。
Leaving these housekeeping details； she received her visitor。
〃Well； papa Phellion；〃 she said； when they were both seated in the
salon； 〃you broke your word yesterday； you were luckier than the rest。
Do you know what a trick that notary played us？〃
〃I know all；〃 said Phellion； 〃and it is the check thus unexpectedly
given to the execution of your plans that I shall take for the text of
an important conversation which I desire to have with you。 Sometimes
Providence would seem to take pleasure in counteracting our best…laid
schemes； sometimes； also； by means of the obstacles it raises in our
path； it seems to intend to indicate that we are bearing too far to
the right or to the left； and should pause to reflect upon our way。〃
〃Providence！〃 said Brigitte the strong…minded；〃Providence has
something else to do than to look after us。〃
〃That is one opinion；〃 said Phellion； 〃but I myself am accustomed to
see its decrees in the little as well as the great things of life； and
certainly； if it had allowed the fulfilment of your engagements with
Monsieur de la Peyrade to be even partially begun yesterday； you would
not have seen me here to…day。〃
〃Then；〃 said Brigitte； 〃do you think that by default of a notary the
marriage will not take place？ They do say that for want of a monk the
abbey won't come to a standstill。〃
〃Dear lady；〃 said the great citizen； 〃you will do me the justice to
feel that neither I； nor my wife； have ever attempted to influence
your decision； we have allowed our young people to love each other
without much consideration as to where that attachment would lead〃
〃It led to upsetting their minds；〃 said Brigitte； 〃that's what love
is； and that's why I deprived myself of it。〃
〃What you say is； indeed； true of my unfortunate son；〃 resumed
Phellion； 〃for； notwithstanding the noble distractions he has
endeavored to give to his sorrow； he is to…day so miserably overcome
by it that this morning； in spite of the glorious success he has just
obtained； he was speaking to me of undertaking a voyage of
circumnavigation around the globe；a rash enterprise which would
detain him from his native land at least three years； if； indeed； he
escaped the dangers of so prolonged a journey。〃
〃Well；〃 said Brigitte； 〃it isn't a bad idea； he'll return consoled；
having discovered three or four more new stars。〃
〃His present discovery suffices；〃 said Phellion； with double his
ordinary gravity； 〃and it is under the auspices of that triumph； which
has placed his name at so great a height in the scientific world； that
I have the assurance to say to you； point…blank： Mademoiselle； I have
come to ask you； on behalf of my son； who loves as he is beloved； for
the hand in marriage of Mademoiselle Celeste Colleville。〃
〃But； my dear man；〃 replied Brigitte； 〃it is too late； remember that
we are DIAMETRICALLY engaged to la Peyrade。〃
〃It is never； they say； too late to do well； and yesterday it would
have been in my judgment too early。 My son； having to offer an
equivalent for a fortune； could not say to you until to…day： 'Though
Celeste； by your generosity has a 〃dot〃 which mine is far from
equalling； yet I have the honor to be a member of the Royal order of
the Legion of honor； and shortly； according to appearance； I shall be
a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences； one of the five branches of
the Institute。'〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Brigitte； 〃Felix is getting to be a very pretty
match； but we have passed our word to la Peyrade； the banns are
published at the mayor's office； and unless something extraordinary
happens the contract will be signed。 La Peyrade is very busy about
Thuillier's election； which he has now got into good shape； we have
capital engaged with him in the affair of this newspaper； and it would
be impossible to go back on our promise； even if we wished to do so。〃
〃So；〃 said Phellion； 〃in one of the rare occasions of life when reason
and inclination blend together； you think you must be guided solely by
the question of material interests。 Celeste； as we know； has no
inclination for Monsieur de la Peyrade。 Brought up with Felix〃
〃Brought up with Felix！〃 interrupted Brigitte。 〃She was given a period
of time to choose between Monsieur de la Peyrade and your son；that's
how we coerce her； if you please；and she would not take Monsieur
Felix； whose atheism is too well known。〃
〃You are mistaken； mademoiselle； my son is not an atheist； for
Voltaire himself doubted if there could be atheists； and no later than
yesterday； in this house； an ecclesiastic； as admira