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Severac； Mme。 du Brossard having totally failed to capture that
gentleman for her daughter； and when Mme。 de Bargeton reappeared as
the prefect's wife； Zephirine's hopes for her dear goddaughter waxed
high； indeed。 The Comtesse du Chatelet； so she argued； would be sure
to use her influence for her champion。
Boniface Cointet had Angouleme at his fingers' ends； he saw all the
difficulties at a glance； and resolved to sweep them out of the way by
a bold stroke that only a Tartuffe's brain could invent。 The puny
lawyer was not a little amused to find his fellow…conspirator keeping
his word with him； not a word did Petit…Claud utter； he respected the
musings of his companion； and they walked the whole way from the
paper…mill to the Rue du Minage in silence。
〃Monsieur and madame are at breakfast〃this announcement met the ill…
timed visitors on the steps。
〃Take in our names； all the same；〃 said the tall Cointet； and feeling
sure of his position； he followed immediately behind the servant and
introduced his companion to the elaborately…affected Zephirine； who
was breakfasting in company with M。 Francis du Hautoy and Mlle。 de la
Haye。 M。 de Senonches had gone； as usual； for a day's shooting over M。
de Pimentel's land。
〃M。 Petit…Claud is the young lawyer of whom I spoke to you； madame； he
will go through the trust accounts when your fair ward comes of age。〃
The ex…diplomatist made a quick scrutiny of Petit…Claud； who； for his
part； was looking furtively at the 〃fair ward。〃 As for Zephirine； who
heard of the matter for the first time； her surprise was so great that
she dropped her fork。
Mlle。 de la Haye； a shrewish young woman with an ill…tempered face； a
waist that could scarcely be called slender； a thin figure； and
colorless； fair hair； in spite of a certain little air that she had；
was by no means easy to marry。 The 〃parentage unknown〃 on her birth
certificate was the real bar to her entrance into the sphere where her
godmother's affection stove to establish her。 Mlle。 de la Haye；
ignorant of her real position； was very hard to please； the richest
merchant in L'Houmeau had found no favor in her sight。 Cointet saw the
sufficiently significant expression of the young lady's face at the
sight of the little lawyer； and turning； beheld a precisely similar
grimace on Petit…Claud's countenance。 Mme。 de Senonches and Francis
looked at each other； as if in search of an excuse for getting rid of
the visitors。 All this Cointet saw。 He asked M。 du Hautoy for the
favor of a few minutes' speech with him； and the pair went together
into the drawing…room。
〃Fatherly affection is blinding you； sir；〃 he said bluntly。 〃You will
not find it an easy thing to marry your daughter； and； acting in your
interest throughout； I have put you in a position from which you
cannot draw back； for I am fond of Francoise； she is my ward。 Now
Petit…Claud knows EVERYTHING！ His overweening ambition is a guarantee
for our dear child's happiness； for； in the first place； Francoise
will do as she likes with her husband； and； in the second； he wants
your influence。 You can ask the new prefect for the post of crown
attorney for him in the court here。 M。 Milaud is definitely appointed
to Nevers； Petit…Claud will sell his practice； you will have no
difficulty in obtaining a deputy public prosecutor's place for him；
and it will not be long before he becomes attorney for the crown；
president of the court； deputy； what you will。〃
Francis went back to the dining…room and behaved charmingly to his
daughter's suitor。 He gave Mme。 de Senonches a look； and brought the
scene to a close with an invitation to dine with them on the morrow；
Petit…Claud must come and discuss the business in hand。 He even went
downstairs and as far as the corner with the visitors； telling Petit…
Claud that after Cointet's recommendation； both he and Mme。 de
Senonches were disposed to approve all that Mlle。 de la Haye's trustee
had arranged for the welfare of that little angel。
〃Oh！〃 cried Petit…Claud； as they came away； 〃what a plain girl！ I have
been taken in〃
〃She looks a lady…like girl；〃 returned Cointet； 〃and besides； if she
were a beauty； would they give her to you？ Eh！ my dear fellow； thirty
thousand francs and the influence of Mme。 de Senonches and the
Comtesse du Chatelet！ Many a small landowner would be wonderfully glad
of the chance； and all the more so since M。 Francis du Hautoy is never
likely to marry； and all that he has will go to the girl。 Your
marriage is as good as settled。〃
〃How？〃
〃That is what I am just going to tell you；〃 returned Cointet； and he
gave his companion an account of his recent bold stroke。 〃M。 Milaud is
just about to be appointed attorney for the crown at Nevers； my dear
fellow；〃 he continued； 〃sell your practice； and in ten years' time you
will be Keeper of the Seals。 You are not the kind of a man to draw
back from any service required of you by the Court。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Petit…Claud； his zeal stirred by the prospect of
such a career； 〃very well； be in the Place du Murier to…morrow at
half…past four； I will see old Sechard in the meantime； we will have a
deed of partnership drawn up； and the father and the son shall be
bound thereby； and delivered to the third person of the trinity
Cointet； to wit。〃
To return to Lucien in Paris。 On the morrow of the loss announced in
his letter； he obtained a visa for his passport； bought a stout holly
stick； and went to the Rue d'Enfer to take a place in the little
market van； which took him as far as Longjumeau for half a franc。 He
was going home to Angouleme。 At the end of the first day's tramp he
slept in a cowshed； two leagues from Arpajon。 He had come no farther
than Orleans before he was very weary； and almost ready to break down；
but there he found a boatman willing to bring him as far as Tours for
three francs； and food during the journey cost him but forty sous。
Five days of walking brought him from Tours to Poitiers； and left him
with but five francs in his pockets； but he summoned up all his
remaining strength for the journey before him。
He was overtaken by night in the open country； and had made up his
mind to sleep out of doors； when a traveling carriage passed by；
slowly climbing the hillside； and； all unknown to the postilion； the
occupants； and the servant； he managed to slip in among the luggage；
crouching in between two trunks lest he should be shaken off by the
jolting of the carriageand so he slept。
He awoke with the sun shining into his eyes； and the sound of voices
in his ears。 The carriage had come to a standstill。 Looking about him；
he knew that he was at Mansle； the little town where he had waited for
Mme。 de Bargeton eighteen months before； when his heart was full of
hope and love and joy。 A group of post…boys eyed him curiously and
suspiciously； covered with dust as he was； wedged in among the
luggage。 Lucien jumped down； but before he could speak two travelers
stepped out of the caleche； and the words died away on his lips； for
there stood the new Prefect of the Charente； Sixte du Chatelet； and
his wife； Louise de Negrepelisse。
〃Chance gave us a traveling…companion； if