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Madame Thuillier； ready to bestow upon all the bourgeois sillinesses
of the brother and sister。
He obtained； what he wanted above all； the contempt of his true
antagonists； and he used it as a cloak to hide his real power。 For
four consecutive months his face wore a torpid expression； like that
of a snake as it gulps and digests its prey。 But at times he would
rush into the garden with Colleville or Flavie； to laugh and lay off
his mask； and rest himself； or get fresh strength by giving way before
his future mother…in…law to fits of nervous passion which either
terrified or deeply touched her。
〃Don't you pity me？〃 he cried to her the evening before the
preparatory sale of the house； when Thuillier was to make the purchase
at seventy…five thousand francs。 〃Think of a man like me； forced to
creep like a cat； to choke down every pointed word； to swallow my own
gall； and submit to your rebuffs！〃
〃My friend！ my child！〃 Flavie replied； undecided in mind how to take
him。
These words are a thermometer which will show the temperature at which
this clever manipulator maintained his intrigue with Flavie。 He kept
her floating between her heart and her moral sense； between religious
sentiments and this mysterious passion。
During this time Felix Phellion was giving； with a devotion and
constancy worthy of all praise； regular lessons to young Colleville。
He spent much of his time upon these lessons； feeling that he was thus
working for his future family。 To acknowledge this service； he was
invited； by advice of Theodose to Flavie； to dine at the Collevilles'
every Thursday； where la Peyrade always met him。 Flavie was usually
making either a purse or slippers or a cigar…case for the happy young
man； who would say； deprecatingly：
〃I am only too well rewarded； madame； by the happiness I feel in being
useful to you。〃
〃We are not rich； monsieur；〃 replied Colleville； 〃but； God bless me！
we are not ungrateful。〃
Old Phellion would rub his hands as he listened to his son's account
of these evenings； beholding his dear and noble Felix already wedded
to Celeste。
But Celeste； the more she loved Felix； the more grave and serious she
became with him； partly because her mother sharply lectured her；
saying to her one evening：
〃Don't give any hope whatever to that young Phellion。 Neither your
father nor I can arrange your marriage。 You have expectations to be
consulted。 It is much less important to please a professor without a
penny than to make sure of the affection and good…will of Mademoiselle
Brigitte and your godfather。 If you don't want to kill your mother
yes； my dear； kill heryou must obey me in this affair blindly； and
remember that what we want to secure； above all； is your good。〃
As the date of the final sale was set for the last of July； Theodose
advised Brigitte by the end of June to arrange her affairs in time to
be ready for the payment。 Accordingly； she now sold out her own and
her sister…in…law's property in the Funds。 The catastrophe of the
treaty of the four powers； an insult to France； is now an established
historical fact； but it is necessary to remind the reader that from
July to the last of August the French funds； alarmed by the prospect
of war； a fear which Monsieur Thiers did much to promote； fell twenty
francs； and the Three…per…cents went down to sixty。 That was not all：
this financial fiasco had a most unfortunate influence on the value of
real estate in Paris； and all those who had such property then for
sale suffered loss。 These events made Theodose a prophet in the eyes
of Brigitte and Thuillier； to whom the house was now about to be
definitely sold for seventy…five thousand francs。 The notary； involved
in the political disaster； and whose practice was already sold；
concealed himself for a time in the country； but he took with him the
ten thousand francs for Claparon。 Advised by Theodose； Thuillier made
a contract with Grindot； who supposed he was really working for the
notary in finishing the house； and as； during this period of financial
depression； suspended work left many workmen with their arms folded；
the architect was able to finish off the building in a splendid manner
at a low cost。 Theodose insisted that the agreement should be in
writing。
This purchase increased Thuillier's importance ten…fold。 As for the
notary； he had temporarily lost his head in presence of political
events which came upon him like a waterspout out of cloudless skies。
Theodose； certain now of his supremacy； holding Thuillier fast by his
past services and by the literary work in which they were both
engaged； admired by Brigitte for his modesty and discretion；for
never had he made the slightest allusion to his own poverty or uttered
one word about money；Theodose began to assume an air that was rather
less servile than it had been。 Brigitte and Thuillier said to him one
day：
〃Nothing can deprive you of our esteem； you are here in this house as
if in your own home； the opinion of Minard and Phellion； which you
seem to fear； has no more value for us than a stanza of Victor Hugo。
Therefore； let them talk！ Carry your head high！〃
〃But we shall still need them for Thuillier's election to the
Chamber；〃 said Theodose。 〃Follow my advice； you have found it good so
far； haven't you？ When the house is actually yours； you will have got
it for almost nothing； for you can now buy into the Three…per…cents at
sixty in Madame Thuillier's name； and thus replace nearly the whole of
her fortune。 Wait only for the expiration of the time allowed to the
nominal creditor to buy it in； and have the fifteen thousand francs
ready for our scoundrels。〃
Brigitte did not wait； she took her whole capital with the exception
of a sum of one hundred and twenty thousand francs； and bought into
the Three…per…cents in Madame Thuillier's name to the amount of twelve
thousand francs a year； and in her own for ten thousand a year；
resolving in her own mind to choose no other kind of investment in
future。 She saw her brother secure of forty thousand francs a year
besides his pension； twelve thousand a year for Madame Thuillier and
eighteen thousand a year for herself； besides the house they lived in；
the rental of which she valued at eight thousand。
〃We are worth quite as much as the Minards；〃 she remarked。
〃Don't chant victory before you win it；〃 said Theodose。 〃The right of
redemption doesn't expire for another week。 I have attended to your
affairs； but mine have gone terribly to pieces。〃
〃My dear child； you have friends；〃 cried Brigitte； 〃if you should
happen to want five hundred francs or so； you will always find them
here。〃
Theodose exchanged a smile with Thuillier； who hastened to carry him
off； saying：
〃Excuse my poor sister； she sees the world through a small hole。 But
if you should want twenty…five thousand francs I'll lend them to you
out of my first rents；〃 he added。
〃Thuillier；〃 exclaimed Theodose； 〃the rope is round my neck。 Ever
since I have been a barrister I have had notes of hand running。 But
say nothing about it；〃 added Theodose； frightened himself at having
let out the secret of his situation。 〃I'm in the claws of scoundrels；
but I hope to crush them yet。〃
In telling this secret Theodose； though alarmed as he did so； had a
two…fold purpose： first； to test Thuillier； and next； to avert the
consequences of a fatal blow which might be dealt to him any day in a
secret and sinister struggle he had long foreseen。 Two words will
explain his horrible position。
CHAPTER XII
DEVILS AGAINST DEVILS
During the extreme poverty of la Peyrade's first years in Paris； none
but Cerizet had ever gone to see him in the wretched garret where； in
severely cold weather； he stayed in bed for want of clothes。 Only one
shirt remained to him。 For three days he lived on one loaf of bread；
cutting it into measured morsels； and asking himself； 〃What am I to
do？〃 At this moment it was that his former partner came to him； having
just left prison； pardoned。 The projects which the two men then formed
before a fire of laths； one wrapped in his landlady's counterpane； the
other in his infamy； it is useless to relate。 The next day Cerizet；
who had talked with Dutocq in the course of the morning； returned；
bringing trousers； waistcoat； coat； hat； and boots； bought in the
Temple； and he carried off Theodose to dine with himself and Dutocq。
The hungry Provencal ate at Pinson's； rue de l'Ancienne Comedie； half
of a dinner costing forty…seven francs。 At dessert； after Theodose had
drunk freely； Cerizet said to him：
〃Will you sign me bills of exchange for fifty thousand francs in your
capacity as a barrister？〃
〃You couldn't get five thousand on them。〃
〃That's not your affair； but ours； I mean monsieur's here； who is
giving us this dinner； and mine； in a matter where you risk nothing；
but in which you'll get your title as barrister； a fine practice； and
the hand in marriage of a girl about the age of an old dog； and rich
by twenty or thirty thousand francs a year。 Neither Dutocq nor I can
marry her； but we'll equip you； give you the look of a decent man；
feed and lodge you； and set you up generally。 Consequently； we want
sec