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way at least； what future your kind good…will has imagined for me。〃
〃It is very indiscreet；〃 replied the countess； coldly； 〃and it shows
plainly that you offer me only a conditional confidence。 Let us say no
more。 You are certainly far advanced with Mademoiselle Colleville； she
suits you； you say； in many ways； therefore marry her。 I say again；
you will no longer find me in your way。〃
〃But does Mademoiselle Colleville really suit me？〃 resumed la Peyrade；
〃that is the very point on which you have lately raised my doubts。 Do
you not think there is something cruel in casting me first in one
direction and then in the other without affording me any ground to go
upon？〃
〃Ah！〃 said the countess； in a tone of impatience； 〃you want my opinion
on the premises！ Well； monsieur； there is one very conclusive fact to
which I can bring proof： Celeste does not love you。〃
〃So I have thought；〃 said la Peyrade； humbly。 〃I felt that I was
making a marriage of mere convenience。〃
〃And she cannot love you； because；〃 continued Madame de Godollo； with
animation； 〃she cannot comprehend you。 Her proper husband is that
blond little man； insipid as herself； from the union of those two
natures without life or heat will result in that lukewarm existence
which； in the opinion of the world where she was born and where she
has lived； is the ne plus ultra of conjugal felicity。 Try to make that
little simpleton understand that when she had a chance to unite
herself with true talent she ought to have felt highly honored！ But；
above all； try to make her miserable； odious family and surroundings
understand it！ Enriched bourgeois； parvenus！ there's the roof beneath
which you think to rest from your cruel labor and your many trials！
And do you believe that you will not be made to feel； twenty times a
day； that your share in the partnership is distressingly light in the
scale against their money？ On one side； the Iliad； the Cid； Der
Freyschutz； and the frescos of the Vatican； on the other； three
hundred thousand francs in good； ringing coin！ Tell me which side they
will trust and admire！ The artist； the man of imagination who falls
into the bourgeois atmosphereshall I tell you to what I compare him？
To Daniel cast into the lion's den； less the miracle of Holy Writ。〃
This invective against the bourgeoisie was uttered in a tone of heated
conviction which could scarcely fail to be communicated。
〃Ah！ madame；〃 cried la Peyrade； 〃how eloquently you say things which
again and again have entered my troubled and anxious mind！ But I have
felt myself lashed to that most cruel fate； the necessity of gaining a
position〃
〃Necessity！ position！〃 interrupted the countess； again raising the
temperature of her speech；〃words void of meaning！ which have not
even sound to able men； though they drive back fools as though they
were formidable barriers。 Necessity！ does that exist for noble
natures； for those who know how to will？ A Gascon minister uttered a
saying which ought to be engraved on the doors of all careers： 'All
things come to him who knows how to wait。' Are you ignorant that
marriage； to men of a high stamp； is either a chain which binds them
to the lowest vulgarities of existence； or a wing on which to rise to
the highest summits of the social world？ The wife you need； monsieur；
and she would not be long wanting to your career if you had not；
with such incredible haste； accepted the first 'dot' that was offered
you；the wife you should have chosen is a woman capable of
understanding you； able to divine your intellect； one who could be to
you a fellow…worker； an intellectual confidant； and not a mere
embodiment of the 'pot…au…feu'； a woman capable of being now your
secretary； but soon the wife of a deputy； a minister； an ambassador；
one； in short； who could offer you her heart as a mainspring； her
salon for a stage； her connections for a ladder； and who； in return
for all she would give you of ardor and strength； asks only to shine
beside your throne in the rays of the glory she predicts for you！〃
Intoxicated； as it were； with the flow of her own words； the countess
was really magnificent； her eyes sparkled； her nostrils dilated； the
prospect her vivid eloquence thus unrolled she seemed to see； and
touch with her quivering fingers。 For a moment； la Peyrade was dazzled
by this sunrise which suddenly burst upon his life。
However； as he was a man most eminently prudent； who had made it his
rule of life never to lend except on sound and solvent security； he
was still impelled to weigh the situation。
〃Madame la comtesse；〃 he said； 〃you reproached me just now for
speaking like a bourgeois； and I； in return； am afraid that you are
talking like a goddess。 I admire you； I listen to you； but I am not
convinced。 Such devotions； such sublime abnegations may be met with in
heaven； but in this low world who can hope to be the object of them？〃
〃You are mistaken； monsieur；〃 replied the countess； with solemnity；
〃such devotions are rare； but they are neither impossible nor
incredible； only； it is necessary to have the heart to find them； and；
above all； the hand to take them when they are offered to you。〃
So saying； the countess rose majestically。
La Peyrade saw that he had ended by displeasing her； and he felt that
she dismissed him。 He rose himself； bowed respectfully； and asked to
be received again。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Madame de Godollo； 〃we Hungarians； primitive people
and almost savages that we are； have a saying that when our door is
open both sides of it are opened wide； when we close it it is double…
locked and bolted。〃
That dignified and ambiguous speech was accompanied by a slight
inclination of the head。 Bewildered； confounded by this behavior； to
him so new； which bore but little resemblance to that of Flavie；
Brigitte； and Madame Minard； la Peyrade left the house； asking himself
again and again whether he had played his game properly。
CHAPTER V
SHOWING HOW NEAR THE TARPEIAN ROCK IS TO THE CAPITOL
On leaving Madame de Godollo； la Peyrade felt the necessity of
gathering himself together。 Beneath the conversation he had just
maintained with this strange woman； what could he see；a trap； or a
rich and distinguished marriage offered to him。 Under such a doubt as
this； to press Celeste for an immediate answer was neither clever nor
prudent； it was simply to bind himself； and close the door to the
changes； still very ill…defined； which seemed offered to him。 The
result of the consultation which Theodose held with himself as he
walked along the boulevard was that he ought； for the moment； to think
only of gaining time。 Consequently； instead of going to the
Thuilliers' to learn Celeste's decision； he went home； and wrote the
following little note to Thuillier：
My dear Thuillier；You will certainly not think it extraordinary
that I should not present myself at your house to…day；partly
because I fear the sentence which will be pronounced upon me； and
partly because I do not wish to seem an impatient and unmannerly
creditor。 A few days； more or less； will matter little under such
circumstances； and yet Mademoiselle Colleville may find them
desirable for the absolute freedom of her choice。 I shall；
therefore； not go to see you until you write for me。
I am now more calm； and I have added a few more pages to our
manuscript； it will take but little time to hand in the whole to
the printer。
Ever yours；
Theodose de la Peyrade。
Two hours later a servant； dressed in what was evidently the first
step towards a livery； which the Thuilliers did not as yet venture to
risk； the 〃male domestic；〃 whom Minard had mentioned to the Phellions；
arrived at la Peyrade's lodgings with the following note：
Come to…night； without fail。 We will talk over the whole affair
with Brigitte。
Your most affectionately devoted
Jerome Thuillier。
〃Good！〃 said la Peyrade； 〃evidently there is some hindrance on the
other side； I shall have time to turn myself round。〃
That evening； when the servant announced him in the Thuillier salon；
the Comtesse de Godollo； who was sitting with Brigitte； hastened to
rise and leave the room。 As she passed la Peyrade she made him a very
ceremonious bow。 There was nothing conclusive to be deduced from this
abrupt departure； which might signify anything； either much or
nothing。
After talking of the weather and so forth for a time； as persons do
who have met to discuss a delicate subject about which they are not
sure of coming to an understanding； the matter was opened by Brigitte；
who had sent her brother to take a walk on the boulevard； telling him
to leave her to manage the affair。
〃My dear boy；〃 she said to Theodose； 〃it was very nice of you not to
come here to…day like a GRASP…ALL； to put your pistol at our throats；
for we were not； as it happened； quite ready to answer you。 I think；〃
she added； 〃that our little Celeste needs a trifle more time。〃
〃Then；〃 said la Peyrade； quickly； 〃she has not decided in favor of
Monsieur Felix Phellion？〃
〃Joker！〃 replied the old maid； 〃you know very well you settled that
business last night； but you also know； of course； that her own
inclinations