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the lesser bourgeoisie-第44章

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unavailing efforts to lower the panel。

〃Yes!〃 cried Madame Cardinal; terrified; 〃some one is really coming。〃
Then; fastening to a hope of safety; she added; 〃I dare say it is that
insane girl; they say she walks at night。〃

At any rate; the insane girl (if it were she) had a key to the room;
for a moment later; this key was inserted in the lock。 With a rapid
glance Madame Cardinal measured the distance to the door; should she
have time to push the bolt? No; certain that it was then too late; so
she blew out the candle to give herself at least some chances in the
darkness。

Useless effort! the intruder who now appeared had brought a candle
with him。

When Madame Cerizet saw that she had to do with a small; old man of
puny appearance; she flung herself before him with flaming eyes; like
a lioness from whom the hunter is seeking to take her cubs。

〃Be calm; my good woman;〃 said the little man; in a jeering tone; 〃the
police are sent for; they will be here in a moment。〃

At the word 〃police〃 the Cardinal's legs gave way。

〃But; monsieur;〃 she said; 〃why the police? we are not robbers。〃

〃No matter for that; if I were in your place I shouldn't wait for
them;〃 said the little old man; 〃they make unfortunate mistakes
sometimes。〃

〃Can I clear out?〃 asked the woman; incredulously。

〃Yes; if you empty your pockets of anything which has; BY ACCIDENT;
got into them。〃

〃Oh! my good monsieur; I haven't a thing in my hands or my pockets; I
wasn't here to harm any one;only to nurse my poor dear uncle; you
can search me。〃

〃Come; be off with you! that will do;〃 said the old man。

Madame Cardinal did not oblige him to repeat the order; and she
rapidly disappeared down the staircase。

Cerizet made as though he would take the same road。

〃You; monsieur; are quite another thing;〃 said the little old man。
〃You and I must talk together; but if you are tractable; the affair
between us can be settled amicably。〃

Whether it was that the narcotic had ceased to operate; or that the
noise going on about Toupillier put an end to his sleep; he now opened
his eyes and cast around him the glance of a man who endeavors to
remember where he is; then; seeing his precious cupboard open; he
found in the emotion that sight produced the strength to cry out two
or three times; 〃Help! help! robbers!〃 in a voice that was loud enough
to rouse the house。

〃No; Toupillier;〃 said the little old man; 〃you have not been robbed;
I came here in time to prevent it; nothing has been taken。〃

〃Why don't you arrest that villain?〃 shouted the old pauper; pointing
to Cerizet。

〃Monsieur is not a thief;〃 replied the old man。 〃On the contrary; he
came up with me to lend assistance。〃 Then; turning to Cerizet; he
added; in a low voice: 〃I think; my good friend; that we had better
postpone the interview I desire to have with you until to…morrow。 Come
at ten o'clock to the adjoining house; and ask for Monsieur du
Portail。 After what has passed this evening; there will; I ought to
warn you; be some danger to you in not accepting this conference。 I
shall find you elsewhere; infallibly; for I have the honor to know who
you are; you are the man whom the Opposition journals were accustomed
to call 'the courageous Cerizet。'〃

In spite of the profound sarcasm of this remark; Cerizet; perceiving
that he was not to be treated more rigorously than Madame Cardinal;
felt so pleased with this conclusion that he promised; very readily;
to keep the appointment; and then slipped away with all the haste he
could。



CHAPTER XVI

DU PORTAIL

The next day Cerizet did not fail to appear at the rendezvous given to
him。 Examined; at first; through the wicket of the door; he was
admitted; after giving his name; into the house; and was ushered
immediately to the study of Monsieur du Portail; whom he found at his
desk。

Without rising; and merely making a sign to his guest to take a chair;
the little old man continued the letter he was then writing。 After
sealing it with wax; with a care and precision that denoted a nature
extremely fastidious and particular; or else a man accustomed to
discharge diplomatic functions; du Portail rang for Bruneau; his
valet; and said; as he gave him the letter:

〃For the justice…of…peace of the arrondissement。〃

Then he carefully wiped the steel pen he had just used; restored to
their places; symmetrically; all the displaced articles on his desk;
and it was only when these little arrangements were completed that he
turned to Cerizet; and said:

〃You know; of course; that we lost that poor Monsieur Toupillier last
night?〃

〃No; really?〃 said Cerizet; putting on the most sympathetic air he
could manage。 〃This is my first knowledge of it。〃

〃But you probably expected it。 When one gives a dying man an immense
bowl of hot wine; which has also been narcotized;for the Perrache
woman slept all night in a sort of lethargy after drinking a small
glass of it;it is evident that the catastrophe has been hastened。〃

〃I am ignorant; monsieur;〃 said Cerizet; with dignity; 〃of what Madame
Cardinal may have given to her uncle。 I have no doubt committed a
great piece of thoughtlessness in assisting this woman to obtain an
inheritance to which she assured me she had legal rights; but as to
attempting the life of that old pauper; I am quite incapable of such a
thing; nothing of the kind ever entered my mind。〃

〃You wrote me this letter; I think;〃 said du Portail; abruptly; taking
from beneath a bohemian glass bowl a paper which he offered to
Cerizet。

〃A letter?〃 replied Cerizet; with the hesitation of a man who doesn't
know whether to lie or speak the truth。

〃I am quite sure of what I say;〃 continued du Portail。 〃I have a mania
for autographs; and I possess one of yours; obtained at the period
when the Opposition exalted you to the glorious rank of martyr。 I have
compared the two writings; and I find that you certainly wrote me;
yesterday; the letter which you hold in your hand; informing me of the
money embarrassments of young la Peyrade at the present moment。〃

〃Well;〃 said Cerizet; 〃knowing that you had given a home to
Mademoiselle de la Peyrade; who is probably cousin of Theodose; I
thought I recognized in you the mysterious protector from whom; on
more than one occasion; my friend has received the most generous
assistance。 Now; as I have a sincere affection for that poor fellow;
it was in his interests that I permitted myself〃

〃You did quite right;〃 interrupted du Portail。 〃I am delighted to have
fallen in with a friend of la Peyrade。 I ought not to conceal from you
that it was this particular fact which protected you last night。 But
tell me; what is this about notes for twenty…five thousand francs? Is
our friend so badly off in his affairs? Is he leading a dissipated
life?〃

〃On the contrary;〃 replied Cerizet; 〃he's a puritan。 Given to the
deepest piety; he did not choose to take; as a barrister; any other
cases but those of the poor。 He is now on the point of making a rich
marriage。〃

〃Ah! is he going to be married? and to whom?〃

〃To a Demoiselle Colleville; daughter of the secretary of the mayor of
the 12th arrondissement。 In herself; the girl has no fortune; but a
certain Monsieur Thuillier; her godfather; member of the Council…
general of the Seine; has promised her a suitable 'dot。'〃

〃Who has handled this affair?〃

〃La Peyrade has been devoted to the Thuillier family; into which he
was introduced by Monsieur Dutocq; clerk of the justice…of…peace of
their arrondissement。〃

〃But you wrote me that these notes were signed in favor of Monsieur
Dutocq。 The affair is a bit of matrimonial brokerage; in short?〃

〃Well; something of that kind;〃 replied Cerizet。 〃You know; monsieur;
that in Paris such transactions are very common。 Even the clergy won't
disdain to have a finger in them。〃

〃Is the marriage a settled thing?〃

〃Yes; and within the last few days especially。〃

〃Well; my good sir; I rely on you to put an end to it。 I have other
views for Theodose;another marriage to propose to him。〃

〃Excuse me!〃 said Cerizet; 〃to break up this marriage would make it
impossible for him to pay his notes; and I have the honor to call your
attention to the fact that these particular bills of exchange are
serious matters。 Monsieur Dutocq is in the office of the justice…of…
peace; in other words; he couldn't be easily defeated in such a
matter。〃

〃The debt to Monsieur Dutocq you shall buy off yourself;〃 replied du
Portail。 〃Make arrangements with him to that effect。 Should Theodose
prove reluctant to carry out my plans; those notes may become a useful
weapon in our hands。 You will take upon yourself to sue him for them;
and you shall have no money responsibility in the matter。 I will pay
you the amount of the notes for Dutocq; and your costs in suing
Theodose。〃

〃You are square in business; monsieur;〃 said Cerizet。 〃There's some
pleasure in being your agent。 Now; if you think the right moment has
come; I should be glad if you would give me some better light on the
mission you are doing me the honor to place in my hands。〃

〃You spoke just now;〃 replied du Portail; 〃of the cousin of Theodose;
Mademoiselle Lydie de la
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