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garden。
〃My dear Felix；〃 said the old man； pointing to la Peyrade； who was
bowing to Madame Phellion； 〃be very grateful to that admirable young
man； he will prove most useful to you。〃
The lawyer walked for about five minutes with Madame Barniol and
Madame Phellion beneath the leafless lindens； and gave them （in
consequence of the embarrassing circumstances created by Phellion's
political obstinacy） a piece of advice； the effects of which were to
bear fruit that evening； while its first result was to make both
ladies admire his talents； his frankness； and his inappreciable good
qualities。 When the lawyer departed the whole family conducted him to
the street gate； and all eyes followed him until he had turned the
corner of the rue du Faubourg…Saint…Jacques。 Madame Phellion then took
the arm of her husband to return to the salon； saying：
〃Hey！ my friend！ what does this mean？ You； such a good father； how can
you； from excessive delicacy； stand in the way of such a fine marriage
for our Felix？〃
〃My dear；〃 replied Phellion； 〃the great men of antiquity； Brutus and
others； were never fathers when called upon to be citizens。 The
bourgeoisie has； even more than the aristocracy whose place it has
been called upon to take； the obligations of the highest virtues。
Monsieur de Saint…Hilaire did not think of his lost arm in presence of
the dead Turenne。 We must give proof of our worthiness； let us give it
at every state of the social hierarchy。 Shall I instruct my family in
the highest civic principles only to ignore them myself at the moment
for applying them？ No； my dear； weep； if you must； to…day； but
to…morrow you will respect me；〃 he added； seeing tears in the eyes of
his starched better half。
These noble words were said on the sill of the door； above which was
written； 〃Aurea mediocritas。〃
〃I ought to have put； 'et digna；'〃 added Phellion； pointing to the
tablet； 〃but those two words would imply self…praise。〃
〃Father；〃 said Marie…Theodore Phellion； the future engineer of 〃ponts
et chaussees；〃 when the family were once more seated in the salon； 〃it
seems to me that there is nothing dishonorable in changing one's
determination about a choice which is of no real consequence to public
welfare。〃
〃No consequence； my son！〃 cried Phellion。 〃Between ourselves I will
say； and Felix shares my opinion； Monsieur Thuillier is absolutely
without capacity； he knows nothing。 Monsieur Horace Bianchon is an
able man； he will obtain a thousand things for our arrondissement； and
Thuillier will obtain none！ Remember this； my son； to change a good
determination for a bad one from motives of self…interest is one of
those infamous actions which escape the control of men but are
punished by God。 I am； or I think I am； void of all blame before my
conscience； and I owe it to you； my children； to leave my memory
unstained among you。 Nothing； therefore； can make me change my
determination。〃
〃Oh； my good father！〃 cried the little Barniol woman； flinging herself
on a cushion at Phellion's knees； 〃don't ride your high horse！ There
are many fools and idiots in the municipal council； and France gets
along all the same。 That old Thuillier will adopt the opinions of
those about him。 Do reflect that Celeste will probably have five
hundred thousand francs。〃
〃She might have millions；〃 said Phellion； 〃and I might see them there
at my feet before I would propose Thuillier； when I owe to the memory
of the best of men to nominate； if possible； Horace Bianchon； his
nephew。 From the heaven above us Popinot is contemplating and
applauding me！〃 cried Phellion； with exaltation。 〃It is by such
considerations as you suggest that France is being lowered； and the
bourgeoisie are bringing themselves into contempt。〃
〃My father is right；〃 said Felix； coming out of a deep reverie。 〃He
deserves our respect and love； as he has throughout the whole course
of his modest and honored life。 I would not owe my happiness either to
remorse in his noble soul； or to a low political bargain。 I love
Celeste as I love my own family； but； above all that； I place my
father's honor； and since this question is a matter of conscience with
him it must not be spoken of again。〃
Phellion； with his eyes full of tears； went up to his eldest son and
took him in his arms； saying； 〃My son！ my son！〃 in a choking voice。
〃All that is nonsense；〃 whispered Madame Phellion in Madame Barniol's
ear。 〃Come and dress me； I shall make an end of this； I know your
father； he has put his foot down now。 To carry out the plan that pious
young man； Theodose； suggested； I want your help； hold yourself ready
to give it； my daughter。〃
At this moment； Genevieve came in and gave a letter to Monsieur
Phellion。
〃An invitation for dinner to…day； for Madame Phellion and Felix and
myself； at the Thuilliers'；〃 he said。
The magnificent and surprising idea of Thuillier's municipal
advancement； put forth by the 〃advocate of the poor〃 was not less
upsetting in the Thuillier household than it was in the Phellion
salon。 Jerome Thuillier； without actually confiding anything to his
sister； for he made it a point of honor to obey his Mephistopheles；
had rushed to her in great excitement to say：
〃My dearest girl〃 （he always touched her heart with those caressing
words）； 〃we shall have some big…wigs at dinner to…day。 I'm going to
ask the Minards； therefore take pains about your dinner。 I have
written to Monsieur and Madame Phellion； it is rather late； but
there's no need of ceremony with them。 As for the Minards； I must
throw a little dust in their eyes； I have a particular need of them。〃
〃Four Minards； three Phellions； four Collevilles； and ourselves； that
makes thirteen〃
〃La Peyrade； fourteen； and it is worth while to invite Dutocq； he may
be useful to us。 I'll go up and see him。〃
〃What are you scheming？〃 cried his sister。 〃Fifteen to dinner！ There's
forty francs； at the very least； waltzing off。〃
〃You won't regret them； my dearest。 I want you to be particularly
agreeable to our young friend； la Peyrade。 There's a friend； indeed！
you'll soon have proofs of that！ If you love me； cosset him well。〃
So saying； he departed； leaving Brigitte bewildered。
〃Proofs； indeed！ yes； I'll look out for proofs；〃 she said。 〃I'm not to
be caught with fine words； not I！ He is an amiable fellow； but before
I take him into my heart I shall study him a little closer。〃
After inviting Dutocq； Thuillier； having bedizened himself； went to
the hotel Minard； rue des Macons…Sorbonne； to capture the stout Zelie；
and gloss over the shortness of the invitation。
Minard had purchased one of those large and sumptuous habitations
which the old religious orders built about the Sorbonne； and as
Thuillier mounted the broad stone steps with an iron balustrade； that
proved how arts of the second class flourished under Louis XIII。； he
envied both the mansion and its occupant；the mayor。
This vast building； standing between a courtyard and garden； is
noticeable as a specimen of the style； both noble and elegant； of the
reign of Louis XIII。； coming singularly； as it did； between the bad
taste of the expiring renaissance and the heavy grandeur of Louis
XIV。； at its dawn。 This transition period is shown in many public
buildings。 The massive scroll…work of several facadesthat of the
Sorbonne； for instance；and columns rectified according to the rules
of Grecian art； were beginning to appear in this architecture。
A grocer； a lucky adulterator； now took the place of the former
ecclesiastical governor of an institution called in former times
L'Economat； an establishment connected with the general agency of the
old French clergy； and founded by the long…sighted genius of
Richelieu。 Thuillier's name opened for him the doors of the salon；
where sat enthroned in velvet and gold； amid the most magnificent
〃Chineseries；〃 the poor woman who weighed with all her avoirdupois on
the hearts and minds of princes and princesses at the 〃popular balls〃
of the palace。
〃Isn't she a good subject for 'La Caricature'？〃 said a so…called lady
of the bedchamber to a duchess； who could hardly help laughing at the
aspect of Zelie； glittering with diamonds； red as a poppy； squeezed
into a gold brocade； and rolling along like the casts of her former
shop。
〃Will you pardon me； fair lady；〃 began Thuillier； twisting his body；
and pausing in pose number two of his imperial repertory； 〃for having
allowed this invitation to remain in my desk； thinking； all the while；
that it was sent？ It is for to…day； but perhaps I am too late？〃
Zelie examined her husband's face as he approached them to receive
Thuillier； then she said：
〃We intended to drive into the country and dine at some chance
restaurant； but we'll give up that idea and all the more readily
because； in my opinion； it is getting devilishly vulgar to drive out
of Paris on Sundays。〃
〃We will have a little dance to the piano for the young people； if
enough come； as I hope they will。 I have sent a line to Phellion；
whose wife is intimate with Madame Pron； the successor〃
〃SuccessorESS；〃 interrupted Madame Minard。
〃No；〃 said Thuillier； 〃it ought to be success'ress； just as we say
may'ress； d