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hitherto kept himself。 Besides； it was necessary to get rid of the
young substitute； just as the Minards had previously ruined the hopes
of Monsieur Godeschal。 Like all superior men （for he certainly had
some superiority）； Vinet had never lowered himself to the point where
the threads of these bourgeois spider…webs became visible to him； and
he had therefore plunged； like a fly； headforemost； into the almost
invisible trap to which Theodose inveigled him。
To complete this portrait of the poor man's lawyer we must here relate
the circumstances of his first arrival at the Thuilliers'。
Theodose came to lodge in Mademoiselle Thuillier's house toward the
close of the year 1837。 He had taken his degree about five years
earlier； and had kept the proper number of terms to become a
barrister。 Circumstances； however； about which he said nothing； had
interfered to prevent his being called to the bar； he was； therefore；
still a licentiate。 But soon after he was installed in the little
apartment on the third floor； with the furniture rigorously required
by all members of his noble profession；for the guild of barristers
admits no brother unless he has a suitable study； a legal library； and
can thus； as it were； verify his claims；Theodose de la Peyrade began
to practise as a barrister before the Royal Court of Paris。
The whole of the year 1838 was employed in making this change in his
condition； and he led a most regular life。 He studied at home in the
mornings till dinner…time； going sometimes to the Palais for important
cases。 Having become very intimate with Dutocq （so Dutocq said）； he
did certain services to the poor of the faubourg Saint…Jacques who
were brought to his notice by that official。 He pleaded their cases
before the court； after bringing them to the notice of the attorneys；
who； according to the statutes of their order； are obliged to take
turns in doing business for the poor。 As Theodose was careful to plead
only safe cases； he won them all。 Those persons whom he thus obliged
expressed their gratitude and their admiration； in spite of the young
lawyer's admonitions； among their own class； and to the porters of
private houses； through whom many anecdotes rose to the ears of the
proprietors。 Delighted to have in their house a tenant so worthy and
so charitable； the Thuilliers wished to attract him to their salon；
and they questioned Dutocq about him。 The mayor's clerk replied as the
envious reply； while doing justice to the young man he dwelt on his
remarkable avarice； which might； however； be the effect of poverty。
〃I have had other information about him。 He belongs to the Peyrades；
an old family of the 'comtat' of Avignon； he came here toward the end
of 1829； to inquire about an uncle whose fortune was said to be
considerable； he discovered the address of the old man only three days
before his death； and the furniture of the deceased merely sufficed to
bury him and pay his debts。 A friend of this useless uncle gave a
couple of hundred louis to the poor fortune…hunter； advising him to
finish his legal studies and enter the judiciary career。 Those two
hundred louis supported him for three years in Paris； where he lived
like an anchorite。 But being unable to discover his unknown friend and
benefactor； the poor student was in abject distress in 1833。 He worked
then； like so many other licentiates； in politics and literature； by
which he kept himself for a time above wantfor he had nothing to
expect from his family。 His father； the youngest brother of the dead
uncle； has eleven other children； who live on a small estate called
Les Canquoelles。 He finally obtained a place on a ministerial
newspaper； the manager of which was the famous Cerizet； so celebrated
for the persecutions he met with； under the Restoration； on account of
his attachment to the liberals；a man whom the new Left will never
forgive for having made his paper ministerial。 As the government of
these days does very little to protect even its most devoted servants
（witness the Gisquet affair）； the republicans have ended by ruining
Cerizet。 I tell you this to explain how it is that Cerizet is now a
copying clerk in my office。 Well； in the days when he flourished as
managing editor of a paper directed by the Perier ministry against the
incendiary journals； the 'Tribune' and others； Cerizet； who is a
worthy fellow after all； though he is too fond of women； pleasure； and
good living； was very useful to Theodose； who edited the political
department of the paper； and if it hadn't been for the death of
Casimir Perier that young man would certainly have received an
appointment as substitute judge in Paris。 As it was； he dropped back
in 1834…35； in spite of his talent； for his connection with a
ministerial journal of course did him harm。 'If it had not been for my
religious principles；' he said to me； 'I should have thrown myself
into the Seine。' However； it seems that the friend of his uncle must
have heard of his distress； for again he sent him a sum of money；
enough to complete his terms for the bar； but； strange to say； he has
never known the name or the address of this mysterious benefactor。
After all； perhaps； under such circumstances； his economy is
excusable； and he must have great strength of mind to refuse what the
poor devils whose cases he wins by his devotion offer him。 He is
indignant at the way other lawyers speculate on the possibility or
impossibility of poor creatures； unjustly sued； paying for the costs
of their defence。 Oh！ he'll succeed in the end。 I shouldn't be
surprised to see that fellow in some very brilliant position； he has
tenacity； honesty； and courage。 He studies； he delves。〃
Notwithstanding the favor with which he was greeted； la Peyrade went
discreetly to the Thuilliers'。 When reproached for this reserve he
went oftener； and ended by appearing every Sunday； he was invited to
all dinner…parties； and became at last so familiar in the house that
whenever he came to see Thuillier about four o'clock he was always
requested to take 〃pot…luck〃 without ceremony。 Mademoiselle Thuillier
used to say：
〃Then we know that he will get a good dinner； poor fellow！〃
A social phenomenon which has certainly been observed； but never； as
yet； formulated； or； if you like it better； published； though it fully
deserves to be recorded； is the return of habits； mind； and manners to
primitive conditions in certain persons who； between youth and old
age； have raised themselves above their first estate。 Thus Thuillier
had become； once more； morally speaking； the son of a concierge。 He
now made use of many of his father's jokes； and a little of the slime
of early days was beginning to appear on the surface of his declining
life。 About five or six times a month； when the soup was rich and good
he would deposit his spoon in his empty plate and say； as if the
proposition were entirely novel：
〃That's better than a kick on the shin…bone！〃
On hearing that witticism for the first time Theodose； to whom it was
really new； laughed so heartily that the handsome Thuillier was
tickled in his vanity as he had never been before。 After that；
Theodose greeted the same speech with a knowing little smile。 This
slight detail will explain how it was that on the morning of the day
when Theodose had his passage at arms with Vinet he had said to
Thuillier； as they were walking in the garden to see the effect of a
frost：
〃You have much more wit than you give yourself credit for。〃
To which he received this answer：
〃In any other career； my dear Theodose； I should have made my way
nobly； but the fall of the Emperor broke my neck。〃
〃There is still time；〃 said the young lawyer。 〃In the first place；
what did that mountebank； Colleville； ever do to get the cross？〃
There la Peyrade laid his finger on a sore wound which Thuillier hid
from every eye so carefully that even his sister did not know of it；
but the young man； interested in studying these bourgeois； had divined
the secret envy that gnawed at the heart of the ex…official。
〃If you； experienced as you are； will do the honor to follow my
advice；〃 added the philanthropist； 〃and； above all； not mention our
compact to any one； I will undertake to have you decorated with the
Legion of honor； to the applause of the whole quarter。〃
〃Oh！ if we succeed in that；〃 cried Thuillier； 〃you don't know what I
would do for you。〃
This explains why Thuillier carried his head high when Theodose had
the audacity that evening to put opinions into his mouth。
In artand perhaps Moliere had placed hypocrisy in the rank of art by
classing Tartuffe forever among comediansthere exists a point of
perfection to which genius alone attains； mere talent falls below it。
There is so little difference between a work of genius and a work of
talent； that only men of genius can appreciate the distance that
separates Raffaelle from Correggio； Titian from Rubens。 More than
that； common minds are easily deceived on this point。 The sign of
genius is a certain appearance of facility。 In fact； its work must
appear； at first sight； ordinary； so natural is it； even on the
highest subjects。 Many peasant…women hold their children as the fam