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〃I don't know；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃but she is a woman who makes
people think of her。〃
〃And a very dangerous woman； monsieur；〃 added his companion； 〃a
fearful spendthrift； but with no inclination to return generously what
is done for her。 I can speak knowingly of that； when she first arrived
here from Berlin； six months ago； she was very warmly recommended to
me。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed la Peyrade。
〃Yes； at that time I had in the environs of Ville d'Avray a very
beautiful place； with park and coverts and a stream for fishing； but
as I was alone I found it dull； and several of these ladies and
gentlemen said to me； 'Madame Louchard； why don't you organize parties
in the style of picnics？'〃
〃Madame Louchard！〃 repeated la Peyrade； 〃are you any relation to
Monsieur Louchard of the commercial police？〃
〃His wife； monsieur； but legally separated from him。 A horrid man who
wants me to go back to him； but I； though I'm ready to forgive most
things； I can't forgive a want of respect； just imagine that he dared
to raise his hand against me！〃
〃Well；〃 said la Peyrade； trying to bring her back to the matter in
hand； 〃you organized those picnics； and Madame de GodoI mean Madame
Komorn〃
〃Was one of my first lodgers。 It was there she made acquaintance with
an Italian； a handsome man； and rich； a political refugee； but one of
the lofty kind。 You understand it didn't suit my purposes to have
intrigues going on in my house； still the man was so lovable； and so
unhappy because he couldn't make Madame Komorn like him； that at last
I took an interest in this particular love affair； which produced a
pot of money for madame； for she managed to get immense sums out of
that Italian。 Well； would you believe that whenbeing just then in
great needI asked her to assist me with a trifling little sum； she
refused me point…blank； and left my house； taking her lover with her；
who； poor man； can't be thankful for the acquaintance now。〃
〃Why not？ What happened to him？〃 asked la Peyrade。
〃It happened to him that this serpent knows every language in Europe；
she is witty and clever to the tips of her fingers； but more
manoeuvring than either； so； being； as it appears； in close relations
to the police； she gave the government a lot of papers the Italian
left about carelessly； on which they expelled him from France。〃
〃Well； after his departure； Madame Komorn〃
〃Since then； she has had a good many adventures and upset several
fortunes； and I thought she had left Paris。 For the last two months
she was nowhere to be seen； but three days ago she reappeared； more
brilliant than ever。 My advice to monsieur is not to trust himself in
that direction； and yet； monsieur looks to me a Southerner； and
Southerners have passions； perhaps what I have told him will only
serve to spur them up。 However； being warned； there's not so much
danger； and she is a most fascinating creatureoh！ very fascinating。
She used to love me very much； though we parted such ill…friends； and
just now； seeing me here； she came over and asked my address； and said
she should come and see me。〃
〃Well； madame； I'll think about it；〃 said la Peyrade； rising and
bowing to her。
The bow was returned with extreme coldness； his abrupt departure did
not show him to be a man of SERIOUS intentions。
It might be supposed from the lively manner in which la Peyrade made
these inquiries that his cure though sudden was complete； but this
surface of indifference and cool self…possession was only the
stillness of the atmosphere that precedes a storm。 On leaving Madame
Louchard； la Peyrade flung himself into a street…cab and there gave
way to a passion of tears like that Madame Colleville had witnessed on
the day he believed that Cerizet had got the better of him in the sale
of the house。
What was his position now？ The investment of the Thuilliers； prepared
with so much care； all useless； Flavie well avenged for the odious
comedy he had played with her； his affairs in a worse state than they
were when Cerizet and Dutocq had sent him； like a devouring wolf； into
the sheepfold from which he had allowed the stupid sheep to drive him；
his heart full of revengeful projects against the woman who had so
easily got the better of what he thought his cleverness； and the
memory； still vivid； of the seductions to which he had succumbed；
such were the thoughts and emotions of his sleepless night； sleepless
except for moments shaken by agitated dreams。
The next day la Peyrade could think no more； he was a prey to fever；
the violence of which became sufficiently alarming for the physician
who attended him to take all precautions against the symptoms now
appearing of brain fever： bleeding； cupping； leeches； and ice to his
head； these were the agreeable finale to his dream of love。 We must
hasten to add； however； that this violent crisis in the physical led
to a perfect cure of the mental being。 The barrister came out of his
illness with no other sentiment than cold contempt for the treacherous
Hungarian； a sentiment which did not even rise to a desire for
vengeance。
CHAPTER IX
GIVE AND TAKE
Once more afoot； and reckoning with his future； on which he had lost
so much ground； la Peyrade asked himself if he had not better try to
renew his relations with the Thuilliers； or whether he should be
compelled to fall back on the rich crazy woman who had bullion where
others have brains。 But everything that reminded him of his disastrous
campaign was repulsive to him； besides； what safety was there in
dealing with this du Portail； a man who could use such instruments for
his means of action？
Great commotions of the soul are like those storms which purify the
atmosphere； they induce reflection； they counsel good and strong
resolutions。 La Peyrade； as the result of the cruel disappointment he
had just endured； examined his own soul。 He asked himself what sort of
existence was this； of base and ignoble intrigue； which he had led for
the past year？ Was there for him no better； no nobler use to make of
the faculties he felt within him？ The bar was open to him as to
others； that was a broad； straight path which could lead him to all
the satisfaction of legitimate ambition。 Like Figaro； who displayed
more science and calculation in merely getting a living than statesmen
had shown in governing Spain for a hundred years； he； la Peyrade； in
order to install and maintain himself in the Thuillier household and
marry the daughter of a clarionet and a smirched coquette； had spent
more mind； more art； andit should also be said； because in a corrupt
society it is an element that must be reckonedmore dishonesty than
was needed to advance him in some fine career。
〃Enough of such connections as Dutocq and Cerizet；〃 he said to
himself； 〃enough of the nauseating atmosphere of the Minards and
Phellions and Collevilles and Barniols and all the rest of them。 I'll
shake off this province 'intra muros；' a thousand times more absurd
and petty than the true provinces； they at least； side by side with
their pettiness； have habits and customs that are characteristic； a
'sui generis' dignity； they are frankly what they are； the antipodes
of Parisian life； this other is but a parody of it。 I will fling
myself upon Paris。〃
In consequence of these reflections； la Peyrade went to see two or
three barristers who had offered to introduce him at the Palais in
secondary cases。 He accepted those that presented themselves at once；
and three weeks after his rupture with the Thuilliers he was no longer
the 〃advocate of the poor；〃 but a barrister pleading before the Royal
court。
He had already pleaded several cases successfully when he received；
one morning； a letter which greatly disturbed him。 The president of
the order of barristers requested him to come to his office at the
Palais in the course of the day； as he had something of importance to
say to him。 La Peyrade instantly thought of the transaction relating
to the purchase of the house on the boulevard de la Madeleine； it must
have come； he thought； to the ears of the Council of Discipline； if so
he was accountable to that tribunal and he knew its severity。
Now this du Portail； whom he had never yet been to see； in spite of
his conditional promise to Cerizet； was likely to have heard the whole
story of that transaction from Cerizet himself。 Evidently all means
were thought good by that man； judging by the use he had made of the
Hungarian woman。 In his savage determination to bring about the
marriage with the crazy girl； had this virulent old man denounced him？
On seeing him courageously and with some appearance of success
entering a career in which he might find fame and independence； had
his persecutor taken a step to make that career impossible？ Certainly
there was enough likelihood in this suggestion to make the barrister
wait in cruel anxiety for the hour when he might learn the true nature
of the alarming summons。
While breakfasting rather meagrely； his mind full of these painful
conjectures； Madame Coffinet； who had the honor to take charge of his
housekeeping； came up to ask if he would see Monsieur Etienne
Lousteau。 ＇See 〃The Great Man of the Provinces i