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as well to let Brigitte know that if Celeste refuses me； I am not
absolutely turned out into the cold。〃
〃I can easily believe that；〃 said Thuillier； 〃but as for putting the
whole decision into the hands of that little girl； especially if she
has； as you tell me； a fancy for Felix〃
〃I can't help it；〃 said the barrister。 〃I must； at any price； get out
of this position； it is no longer tenable。 You talk about your
pamphlet； I am not in a fit condition to finish it。 You； who have been
a man of gallantry； you must know the dominion that women； fatal
creatures！ exercise over our whole being。〃
〃Bah！〃 said Thuillier； conceitedly； 〃they cared for me； but I did not
often care for them； I took them； and left them； you know。〃
〃Yes； but I； with my Southern nature； love passionately； and Celeste
has other attractions besides fortune。 Brought up in your household；
under your own eye； you have made her adorable。 Only； I must say； you
have shown great weakness in letting that young fellow； who does not
suit her in any respect； get such hold upon her fancy。〃
〃You are quite right； but the thing began in a childish friendship；
she and Felix played together。 You came much later； and it is a proof
of the great esteem in which we hold you； that when you made your
offer we renounced our earlier projects。〃
〃YOU did； yes；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃and with some literary manias
which； after all； are frequently full of sense and wityou have a
heart of gold； with you friendship is a sure thing； and you know what
you mean。 But Brigitte is another matter； you'll see； when you propose
to her to hasten the marriage； what a resistance she will make。〃
〃I don't agree with you。 I think that Brigitte has always wanted you
and still wants you for son…in…lawif I may so express myself。 But
whether she does or not； I beg you to believe that in all important
matters I know how to have my will obeyed。 Only； let us come now to a
distinct understanding of what you wish； then we can start with the
right foot foremost； and you'll see that all will go well。〃
〃I wish；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃to put the last touches to your
pamphlet； for； above all things； I think of you。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Thuillier； 〃we ought not to sink in port。〃
〃Well； in consequence of the feeling that I am oppressed； stultified
by the prospect of a marriage still so doubtful； I am certain that not
a page of manuscript could be got out of me in any form； until the
question is settled。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Thuillier； 〃then how do you present that question？〃
〃Naturally； if Celeste's decision be against me； I should wish an
immediate solution。 If I am condemned to make a marriage of
convenience I ought to lose no time in taking the opportunity I
mentioned to you。〃
〃So be it； but what time do you intend to allow us？〃
〃I should think that in fifteen days a girl might be able to make up
her mind。〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 replied Thuillier； 〃but it is very repugnant to me to
let Celeste decide without appeal。〃
〃For my part； I will take that risk； in any case； I shall be rid of
uncertainty； and that is really my first object。 Between ourselves； I
am not risking as much as you think。 It will take more than fifteen
days for a son of Phellion； in other words； obstinacy incarnate in
silliness； to have done with philosophical hesitations； and it is very
certain that Celeste will not accept him for a husband unless he gives
her some proofs of conversion。〃
〃That's probable。 But suppose Celeste tries to dawdle； suppose she
refuses to accept the alternative？〃
〃That's your affair；〃 said the Provencal。 〃I don't know how you regard
the family in Paris； I only know that in my part of the country it is
an unheard…of thing that a girl should have such liberty。 If you； your
sister （supposing she plays fair in the matter）； and the father and
mother can't succeed in making a girl whom you dower agree to so
simple a thing as to make a perfectly free choice between two suitors；
then good…bye to you！ You'll have to write upon your gate…post that
Celeste is queen and sovereign of the house。〃
〃Well； we haven't got to that point yet；〃 said Thuillier； with a
capable air。
〃As for you； my old fellow；〃 resumed la Peyrade； 〃I must postpone our
business until after Celeste's decision。 Be that in my favor or not； I
will then go to work； and in three days the pamphlet can be finished。〃
〃Now；〃 said Thuillier； 〃I know what you have had on your mind。 I'll
talk about it with Brigitte。〃
〃That's a sad conclusion；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃but； unhappily； so it
is。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃I would rather； as you can easily imagine； hear you say of yourself
that the thing shall be done； but old habits can't be broken up。〃
〃Ah ca！ do you think I'm a man without any will； any initiative of my
own？〃
〃No！ but I'd like to be hidden in a corner and hear how you will open
the subject with your sister。〃
〃Parbleu！ I shall open it frankly。 I WILL； very firmly said； shall
meet every one of her objections。〃
〃Ah； my poor fellow！〃 said la Peyrade； clapping him on the shoulder；
〃from Chrysale down how often have we seen brave warriors lowering
their penants before the wills of women accustomed to master them！〃
〃We'll see about THAT；〃 replied Thuillier； making a theatrical exit。
The eager desire to publish his pamphlet； and the clever doubt thrown
upon the strength of his will had made him furious；an actual tiger；
and he went away resolved； in case of opposition； to reduce his
household； as the saying is； by fire and sword。
When he reached home Thuillier instantly laid the question before
Brigitte。 She； with her crude good sense and egotism； pointed out to
him that by thus hastening the period formerly agreed upon for the
marriage； they committed the blunder of disarming themselves； they
could not be sure that when the election took place la Peyrade would
put the same zeal into preparing for it。 It might be；〃 said the old
maid； 〃just as it has been about the cross。〃
〃There's this difference；〃 said Thuillier； 〃the cross doesn't depend
directly upon la Peyrade； whereas the influence he exerts in the 12th
arrondissement he can employ as he will。〃
〃And suppose he willed； after we have feathered his nest；〃 said
Brigitte； 〃to work his influence for his own election？ He is very
ambitious； you know。〃
This danger did not fail to strike the mind of the future legislator；
who thought； however； that he might feel some security in the honor
and morality of la Peyrade。
〃A man's honor can't be very delicate；〃 returned Brigitte； 〃when he
tries to get out of a bargain； and this fashion of dangling a bit of
sugar before us about getting your pamphlet finished； doesn't please
me at all。 Can't you get Phellion to help you； and do without
Theodose？ Or； I dare say； Madame de Godollo； who knows everybody in
politics； could find you a journalistthey say there are plenty of
them out at elbows； a couple of hundred francs would do the thing。〃
〃But the secret would get into the papers；〃 said Thuillier。 〃No； I
must absolutely have Theodose； he knows that； and he makes these
conditions。 After all； we did promise him Celeste； and it is only
fulfilling the promise a year earlierwhat am I saying？a few
months； a few weeks； possibly； for the king may dissolve the Chamber
before any one expects it。〃
〃But suppose Celeste won't have him？〃 objected Brigitte。
〃Celeste！ Celeste； indeed！〃 ejaculated Thuillier； 〃she MUST have
whomsoever we choose。 We ought to have thought of that when we made
the engagement with la Peyrade； our word is passed now； you know。
Besides； if the child is allowed to choose between la Peyrade and
Phellion〃
〃So you really think；〃 said the sceptical old maid； 〃that if Celeste
decides for Phellion you can still count on la Peyrade's devotion？〃
〃What else can I do？ Those are his conditions。 Besides； the fellow has
calculated the whole thing； he knows very well that Felix will never
bring himself in two weeks to please Celeste by going to confession；
and unless he does； that little monkey will never accept him for a
husband。 La Peyrade's game is very clever。〃
〃Too clever；〃 said Brigitte。 〃Well； settle the matter as you choose； I
shall not meddle； all this manoeuvring is not to my taste。〃
Thuillier went to see Madame Colleville； and intimated to her that she
must inform Celeste of the designs upon her。
Celeste had never been officially authorized to indulge her sentiment
for Felix Phellion。 Flavie； on the contrary； had once expressly
forbidden her to encourage the hopes of the young professor； but as；
on the part of Madame Thuillier； her godmother and her confidant； she
knew she was sustained in her inclination； she had let herself gently
follow it without thinking very seriously of the obstacles her choice
might encounter。 When； therefore； she was ordered to choose at once
between Felix and la Peyrade； the simple…hearted girl was at first
only struck by the advantages of one half of the alternative； and she
fancied she did herself a great service by agreeing to an arrangement
which made her the mistress of her own choice and allowed her to
bestow it as her heart desired。
But la Peyrade wa