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you meddle in these people's affairs； it will be some time before you
have done。 My husband will drive you back again in his little pony…
cart。〃
Husband and wife stood watching their valued； aged relative on his way
into Angouleme。 〃He carries himself well for his age； all the same；〃
remarked the druggist。
By this time David had been in hiding for eleven days in a house only
two doors away from the druggist's shop； which the worthy ecclesiastic
had just quitted to climb the steep path into Angouleme with the news
of Lucien's present condition。
When the Abbe Marron debouched upon the Place du Murier he found three
men； each one remarkable in his own way； and all of them bearing with
their whole weight upon the present and future of the hapless
voluntary prisoner。 There stood old Sechard； the tall Cointet； and his
confederate； the puny limb of the law； three men representing three
phases of greed as widely different as the outward forms of the
speakers。 The first had it in his mind to sell his own son； the
second； to betray his client； and the third； while bargaining for both
iniquities； was inwardly resolved to pay for neither。 It was nearly
five o'clock。 Passers…by on their way home to dinner stopped a moment
to look at the group。
〃What the devil can old Sechard and the tall Cointet have to say to
each other？〃 asked the more curious。
〃There was something on foot concerning that miserable wretch that
leaves his wife and child and mother…in…law to starve；〃 suggested
some。
〃Talk of sending a boy to Paris to learn his trade！〃 said a provincial
oracle。
〃M。 le Cure； what brings you here； eh？〃 exclaimed old Sechard；
catching sight of the Abbe as soon as he appeared。
〃I have come on account of your family；〃 answered the old man。
〃Here is another of my son's notions！〃 exclaimed old Sechard。
〃It would not cost you much to make everybody happy all round；〃 said
the priest； looking at the windows of the printing…house。 Mme。
Sechard's beautiful face appeared at that moment between the curtains；
she was hushing her child's cries by tossing him in her arms and
singing to him。
〃Are you bringing news of my son？〃 asked old Sechard； 〃or what is more
to the purposemoney？〃
〃No；〃 answered M。 Marron； 〃I am bringing the sister news of her
brother。〃
〃Of Lucien？〃 cried Petit…Claud。
〃Yes。 He walked all the way from Paris； poor young man。 I found him at
the Courtois' house； he was worn out with misery and fatigue。 Oh！ he
is very much to be pitied。〃
Petit…Claud took the tall Cointet by the arm； saying aloud； 〃If we are
going to dine with Mme。 de Senonches； it is time to dress。〃 When they
had come away a few paces； he added； for his companion's benefit；
〃Catch the cub； and you will soon have the dam； we have David now〃
〃I have found you a wife； find me a partner；〃 said the tall Cointet
with a treacherous smile。
〃Lucien is an old school…fellow of mine； we used to be chums。 I shall
be sure to hear something from him in a week's time。 Have the banns
put up； and I will engage to put David in prison。 When he is on the
jailer's register I shall have done my part。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the tall Cointet under his breath； 〃we might have the
patent taken out in our name； that would be the thing！〃
A shiver ran through the meagre little attorney when he heard those
words。
Meanwhile Eve beheld her father…in…law enter with the Abbe Marron； who
had let fall a word which unfolded the whole tragedy。
〃Here is our cure； Mme。 Sechard；〃 the old man said； addressing his
daughter…in…law； 〃and pretty tales about your brother he has to tell
us； no doubt！〃
〃Oh！〃 cried poor Eve； cut to the heart； 〃what can have happened now？〃
The cry told so unmistakably of many sorrows； of great dread on so
many grounds； that the Abbe Marron made haste to say； 〃Reassure
yourself； madame； he is living。〃
Eve turned to the vinegrower。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃perhaps you will be good enough to go to my
mother； she must hear all that this gentleman has to tell us of
Lucien。〃
The old man went in search of Mme。 Chardon； and addressed her in this
wise：
〃Go and have it out with the Abbe Marron； he is a good sort； priest
though he is。 Dinner will be late； no doubt。 I shall come back again
in an hour；〃 and the old man went out。 Insensible as he was to
everything but the clink of money and the glitter of gold； he left
Mme。 Chardon without caring to notice the effect of the shock that he
had given her。
Mme。 Chardon had changed so greatly during the last eighteen months；
that in that short time she no longer looked like the same woman。 The
troubles hanging over both of her children； her abortive hopes for
Lucien； the unexpected deterioration in one in whose powers and
honesty she had for so long believed；all these things had told
heavily upon her。 Mme。 Chardon was not only noble by birth； she was
noble by nature； she idolized her children； consequently； during the
last six months she had suffered as never before since her widowhood。
Lucien might have borne the name of Lucien de Rubempre by royal
letters patent； he might have founded the family anew； revived the
title； and borne the arms； he might have made a great namehe had
thrown the chance away； nay； he had fallen into the mire！
For Mme。 Chardon the mother was a harder judge than Eve the sister。
When she heard of the bills； she looked upon Lucien as lost。 A mother
is often fain to shut her eyes； but she always knows the child that
she held at her breast； the child that has been always with her in the
house； and so when Eve and David discussed Lucien's chances of success
in Paris； and Lucien's mother to all appearance shared Eve's
illusions； in her inmost heart there was a tremor of fear lest David
should be right； for a mother's consciousness bore a witness to the
truth of his words。 So well did she know Eve's sensitive nature； that
she could not bring herself to speak of her fears； she was obliged to
choke them down and keep such silence as mothers alone can keep when
they know how to love their children。
And Eve； on her side； had watched her mother； and saw the ravages of
hidden grief with a feeling of dread； her mother was not growing old；
she was failing from day to day。 Mother and daughter lived a live of
generous deception； and neither was deceived。 The brutal old
vinegrower's speech was the last drop that filled the cup of
affliction to overflowing。 The words struck a chill to Mme。 Chardon's
heart。
〃Here is my mother； monsieur；〃 said Eve； and the Abbe； looking up； saw
a white…haired woman with a face as thin and worn as the features of
some aged nun； and yet grown beautiful with the calm and sweet
expression that devout submission gives to the faces of women who walk
by the will of God； as the saying is。 Then the Abbe understood the
lives of the mother and daughter； and had no more sympathy left for
Lucien； he shuddered to think of all that the victims had endured。
〃Mother；〃 said Eve； drying her eyes as she spoke； 〃poor Lucien is not
very far away； he is at Marsac。〃
〃And why is he not here？〃 asked Mme。 Chardon。
Then the Abbe told the whole story as Lucien had told it to himthe
m