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it be done； in Paris especially； where costs of living had trebled；
the apartment of a magistrate； for instance； costing three thousand
francs a year？
〃My father；〃 he said in conclusion； 〃allows me three thousand francs a
year； and that； with my salary； barely allows me to maintain my rank。〃
When the young substitute rode boldly into this bog…hole； the
Provencal； who had slyly enticed him there； exchanged； without being
observed； a wink with Dutocq； who was just then waiting for the place
of a player at bouillotte。
〃There is such a demand for offices；〃 remarked the latter； 〃that they
talk of creating two justices of the peace to each arrondissement in
order to make a dozen new clerkships。 As if they could interfere with
our rights and our salaries； which already require an exhorbitant
tax！〃
〃I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing you at the Palais；〃 said
Vinet to Monsieur de la Peyrade。
〃I am advocate for the poor； and I plead only before the justice of
peace；〃 replied la Peyrade。
Mademoiselle Thuillier； as she listened to young Vinet's theory of the
necessity of spending an income； assumed a distant air and manner； the
significance of which was well understood by Dutocq and the young
Provencal。 Vinet left the house in company with Minard and Julien the
advocate； so that the battle…field before the fire…place was abandoned
to la Peyrade and Dutocq。
〃The upper bourgeoisie；〃 said Dutocq to Thuillier； 〃will behave； in
future； exactly like the old aristocracy。 The nobility wanted girls
with money to manure their lands； and the parvenus of to…day want the
same to feather their nests。〃
〃That's exactly what Monsieur Thuillier was saying to me this
morning；〃 remarked la Peyrade； boldly。
〃Vinet's father；〃 said Dutocq； 〃married a Demoiselle de Chargeboeuf
and has caught the opinions of the nobility； he wants a fortune at any
price； his wife spends money regally。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Thuillier； in whom the jealousy between the two classes of
the bourgeoisie was fully roused； 〃take offices away from those
fellows and they'd fall back where they came。〃
Mademoiselle was knitting with such precipitous haste that she seemed
to be propelled by a steam…engine。
〃Take my place； Monsieur Dutocq；〃 said Madame Minard； rising。 〃My feet
are cold；〃 she added； going to the fire； where the golden ornaments of
her turban made fireworks in the light of the Saint…Aurora wax…candles
that were struggling vainly to light the vast salon。
〃He is very small fry； that young substitute；〃 said Madame Minard；
glancing at Mademoiselle Thuillier。
〃Small fry！〃 cried la Peyrade。 〃Ah； madame！ how witty！〃
〃But madame has so long accustomed us to that sort of thing；〃 said the
handsome Thuillier。
Madame Colleville was examining la Peyrade and comparing him with
young Phellion； who was just then talking to Celeste； neither of them
paying any heed to what was going on around them。 This is； certainly；
the right moment to depict the singular personage who was destined to
play a signal part in the Thuillier household； and who fully deserves
the appellation of a great artist。
CHAPTER V
A PRINCIPAL PERSONAGE
There exists in Provence； especially about Avignon； a race of men with
blond or chestnut hair； fair skin； and eyes that are almost tender；
their pupils calm； feeble； or languishing； rather than keen； ardent；
or profound； as they usually are in the eyes of Southerners。 Let us
remark； in passing； that among Corsicans； a race subject to fits of
anger and dangerous irascibility； we often meet with fair skins and
physical natures of the same apparent tranquillity。 These pale men；
rather stout； with somewhat dim and hazy eyes either green or blue；
are the worst species of humanity in Provence； and Charles…Marie…
Theodose de la Peyrade presents a fine type of that race； the
constitution of which deserves careful examination on the part of
medical science and philosophical physiology。 There rises； at times；
within such men； a species of bile；a bitter gall； which flies to
their head and makes them capable of ferocious actions； done；
apparently； in cold blood。 Being the result of an inward intoxication；
this sort of dumb violence seems to be irreconcilable with their
quasi…lymphatic outward man； and the tranquillity of their benignant
glance。
Born in the neighborhood of Avignon； the young Provencal whose name we
have just mentioned was of middle height； well…proportioned； and
rather stout； the tone of his skin had no brilliancy； it was neither
livid nor dead…white； nor colored； but gelatinous；that word can
alone give a true idea of the flabby； hueless envelope； beneath which
were concealed nerves that were less vigorous than capable of enormous
resistance at certain given moments。 His eyes； of a pale cold blue；
expressed in their ordinary condition a species of deceptive sadness；
which must have had great charms for women。 The forehead； finely cut；
was not without dignity； and it harmonized well with the soft； light
chestnut hair curling naturally； but slightly； at its tips。 The nose；
precisely like that of a hunting dog； flat and furrowed at the tip；
inquisitive； intelligent； searching； always on the scent； instead of
expressing good…humor； was ironical and mocking； but this particular
aspect of his nature never showed itself openly； the young man must
have ceased to watch himself； he must have flown into fury before the
power came to him to flash out the sarcasm and the wit which
embittered； tenfold； his infernal humor。 The mouth； the curving lines
and pomegranate…colored lips of which were very pleasing； seemed the
admirable instrument of an organ that was almost sweet in its middle
tones； where its owner usually kept it； but which； in its higher key；
vibrated on the ear like the sound of a gong。 This falsetto was the
voice of his nerves and his anger。 His face； kept expressionless by an
inward command； was oval in form。 His manners； in harmony with the
sacerdotal calmness of the face； were reserved and conventional； but
he had supple； pliant ways which； though they never descended to
wheedling； were not lacking in seduction； although as soon as his back
was turned their charm seemed inexplicable。 Charm； when it takes its
rise in the heart； leaves deep and lasting traces； that which is
merely a product of art； or of eloquence； has only a passing power； it
produces its immediate effect； and that is all。 But how many
philosophers are there in life who are able to distinguish the
difference？ Almost always the trick is played （to use a popular
expression） before the ordinary run of men have perceived its methods。
Everything about this young man of twenty…seven was in harmony with
his character； he obeyed his vocation by cultivating philanthropy；
the only expression which explains the philanthropist。 Theodose loved
the People； for he limited his love for humanity。 Like the
horticulturist who devotes himself to roses； or dahlias； or heart's…
ease； or geraniums； and pays no attention to the plants his fancy has
not selected； so this young La Rochefoucault…Liancourt gave himself to
the workingmen； the proletariat and the paupers of the faubourgs
Saint…Jacques and Saint…Marceau。 The strong man； the man of genius at
bay； the worthy poor of the bourgeois class； he cut them off from the
bosom of his charity。 The heart of all persons with a mania is like
those boxes with compartments； in which sugarplums are kept in sorts：
〃suum cuique tribuere〃 is their motto； they measure to each duty its
dose。 There are some philanthropists who pity nothing but the man
condemned to death。 Vanity is certainly the basis of philanthropy； but
in the case of this Provencal it was calculation； a predetermined
course； a 〃liberal〃 and democratic hypocrisy； played with a perfection
that no other actor will ever attain。
Theodose did not attack the rich； he contented himself with not
understanding them； he endured them； every one； in his opinion； ought
to enjoy the fruits of his labor。 He had been； he said； a fervent
disciple of Saint…Simon； but that mistake must be attributed to his
youth： modern society could have no other basis than heredity。 An
ardent Catholic； like all men from the Comtat； he went to the earliest
morning masses； and thus concealed his piety。 Like other
philanthropists； he practised a sordid economy； and gave to the poor
his time； his legal advice； his eloquence； and such money as he
extracted for them from the rich。 His clothes； always of black cloth；
were worn until the seams became white。 Nature had done a great deal
for Theodose in not giving him that fine manly Southern beauty which
creates in others an imaginary expectation； to which it is more than
difficult for a man to respond。 As it was； he could be what suited him
at the moment；an agreeable man or a very ordinary one。 Never； since
his admission to the Thuilliers'； had he ventured； till this evening；
to raise his voice and speak as dogmatically as he had risked doing to
Olivier Vinet； but perhaps Theodose de la Peyrade was not sorry to
seize the opportunity to come out from the shade in which he had
hitherto kept himself。 Besides； it was necessary to get rid of the
you