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rattle of old iron over the stony causeway； the country doctor's
ramshackle chaise came up to the door； and out stepped MM。 Marron； for
the cure was the doctor's uncle。 Lucien's bedside visitors were as
intimate with David's father as country neighbors usually are in a
small vine…growing township。 The doctor looked at the dying man； felt
his pulse； and examined his tongue； then he looked at the miller's
wife； and smiled reassuringly。
〃Mme。 Courtois；〃 said he； 〃if； as I do not doubt； you have a bottle of
good wine somewhere in the cellar； and a fat eel in your fish…pond；
put them before your patient； it is only exhaustion； there is nothing
the matter with him。 Our great man will be on his feet again
directly。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 said Lucien； 〃it is not the body； it is the mind that
ails。 These good people have told me tidings that nearly killed me； I
have just heard the bad news of my sister； Mme。 Sechard。 Mme。 Courtois
says that your daughter is married to Postel； monsieur； so you must
know something of David Sechard's affairs； oh； for heaven's sake；
monsieur； tell me what you know！〃
〃Why； he must be in prison；〃 began the doctor； 〃his father would not
help him〃
〃IN PRISON！〃 repeated Lucien； 〃and why？〃
〃Because some bills came from Paris； he had overlooked them； no doubt；
for he does not pay much attention to his business； they say；〃 said
Dr。 Marron。
〃Pray leave me with M。 le Cure；〃 said the poet； with a visible change
of countenance。 The doctor and the miller and his wife went out of the
room； and Lucien was left alone with the old priest。
〃Sir；〃 he said； 〃I feel that death is near； and I deserve to die。 I am
a very miserable wretch； I can only cast myself into the arms of
religion。 I； sir； _I_ have brought all these troubles on my sister and
brother； for David Sechard has been a brother to me。 I drew those
bills that David could not meet！ 。 。 。 I have ruined him。 In my
terrible misery； I forgot the crime。 A millionaire put an end to the
proceedings； and I quite believed that he had met the bills； but
nothing of the kind has been done； it seems。〃 And Lucien told the tale
of his sorrows。 The story； as he told it in his feverish excitement；
was worthy of the poet。 He besought the cure to go to Angouleme and to
ask for news of Eve and his mother； Mme。 Chardon； and to let him know
the truth； and whether it was still possible to repair the evil。
〃I shall live till you come back； sir；〃 he added； as the hot tears
fell。 〃If my mother； and sister； and David do not cast me off； I shall
not die。〃
Lucien's remorse was terrible to see； the tears； the eloquence； the
young white face with the heartbroken； despairing look； the tales of
sorrow upon sorrow till human strength could no more endure； all these
things aroused the cure's pity and interest。
〃In the provinces； as in Paris；〃 he said； 〃you must believe only half
of all that you hear。 Do not alarm yourself； a piece of hearsay； three
leagues away from Angouleme； is sure to be far from the truth。 Old
Sechard； our neighbor； left Marsac some days ago； very likely he is
busy settling his son's difficulties。 I am going to Angouleme； I will
come back and tell you whether you can return home； your confessions
and repentance will help to plead your cause。〃
The cure did not know that Lucien had repented so many times during
the last eighteen months； that penitence； however impassioned； had
come to be a kind of drama with him； played to perfection； played so
far in all good faith； but none the less a drama。 To the cure
succeeded the doctor。 He saw that the patient was passing through a
nervous crisis； and the danger was beginning to subside。 The doctor…
nephew spoke as comfortably as the cure…uncle； and at length the
patient was persuaded to take nourishment。
Meanwhile the cure； knowing the manners and customs of the
countryside； had gone to Mansle； the coach from Ruffec to Angouleme
was due to pass about that time； and he found a vacant place in it。 He
would go to his grand…nephew Postel in L'Houmeau （David's former
rival） and make inquiries of him。 From the assiduity with which the
little druggist assisted his venerable relative to alight from the
abominable cage which did duty as a coach between Ruffec and
Angouleme； it was apparent to the meanest understanding that M。 and
Mme。 Postel founded their hopes of future ease upon the old cure's
will。
〃Have you breakfasted？ Will you take something？ We did not in the
least expect you！ This is a pleasant surprise！〃 Out came questions
innumerable in a breath。
Mme。 Postel might have been born to be the wife of an apothecary in
L'Houmeau。 She was a common…looking woman； about the same height as
little Postel himself； such good looks as she possessed being entirely
due to youth and health。 Her florid auburn hair grew very low upon her
forehead。 Her demeanor and language were in keeping with homely
features； a round countenance； the red cheeks of a country damsel； and
eyes that might almost be described as yellow。 Everything about her
said plainly enough that she had been married for expectations of
money。 After a year of married life； therefore； she ruled the house；
and Postel； only too happy to have discovered the heiress； meekly
submitted to his wife。 Mme。 Leonie Postel； nee Marron； was nursing her
first child； the darling of the old cure； the doctor； and Postel； a
repulsive infant； with a strong likeness to both parents。
〃Well； uncle；〃 said Leonie； 〃what has brought you to Angouleme； since
you will not take anything； and no sooner come in than you talk of
going？〃
But when the venerable ecclesiastic brought out the names of David
Sechard and Eve； little Postel grew very red； and Leonie； his wife；
felt it incumbent upon her to give him a jealous glancethe glance
that a wife never fails to give when she is perfectly sure of her
husband； and gives a look into the past by way of a caution for the
future。
〃What have yonder folk done to you； uncle； that you should mix
yourself up in their affairs？〃 inquired Leonie； with very perceptible
tartness。
〃They are in trouble； my girl；〃 said the cure； and he told the Postels
about Lucien at the Courtois' mill。
〃Oh！ so that is the way he came back from Paris； is it？〃 exclaimed
Postel。 〃Yet he had some brains； poor fellow； and he was ambitious；
too。 He went out to look for wool； and comes home shorn。 But what does
he want here？ His sister is frightfully poor； for all these geniuses；
David and Lucien alike； know very little about business。 There was
some talk of him at the Tribunal； and； as judge； I was obliged to sign
the warrant of execution。 It was a painful duty。 I do not know whether
the sister's circumstances are such that Lucien can go to her； but in
any case the little room that he used to occupy here is at liberty；
and I shall be pleased to offer it to him。〃
〃That is right； Postel；〃 said the priest； he bestowed a kiss on the
infant slumbering in Leonie's arms； and； adjusting his cocked hat；
prepared to walk out of the shop。
〃You will dine with us； uncle； of course；〃 said Mme。 Postel； 〃if once
you meddle in these people's affairs； it will be some time before you
have