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dinner？〃 she wondered。 〃What has Lucien to do with the great people of
Angouleme？ Are they plotting something against him？〃 but she kept
these thoughts to herself。
Lucien spoke the last word at bedtime： 〃You do not know my influence。
The prefect's wife stands in fear of a journalist； and besides； Louise
de Negrepelisse lives on in the Comtesse du Chatelet； and a woman with
her influence can rescue David。 I am going to tell her about my
brother's invention； and it would be a mere nothing to her to obtain a
subsidy of ten thousand francs from the Government for him。〃
At eleven o'clock that night the whole household was awakened by the
town band； reinforced by the military band from the barracks。 The
Place du Murier was full of people。 The young men of Angouleme were
giving Lucien Chardon de Rubempre a serenade。 Lucien went to his
sister's window and made a speech after the last performance。
〃I thank my fellow…townsmen for the honor that they do me；〃 he said in
the midst of a great silence； 〃I will strive to be worthy of it； they
will pardon me if I say no more； I am so much moved by this incident
that I cannot speak。〃
〃Hurrah for the writer of The Archer of Charles IX。！ 。 。 。 Hurrah for
the poet of the Marguerites！ 。 。 。 Long live Lucien de Rubempre！〃
After these three salvos； taken up by some few voices； three crowns
and a quantity of bouquets were adroitly flung into the room through
the open window。 Ten minutes later the Place du Murier was empty； and
silence prevailed in the streets。
〃I would rather have ten thousand francs；〃 said old Sechard； fingering
the bouquets and garlands with a satirical expression。 〃You gave them
daisies； and they give you posies in return； you deal in flowers。〃
〃So that is your opinion of the honors shown me by my fellow…townsmen；
is it？〃 asked Lucien。 All his melancholy had left him； his face was
radiant with good humor。 〃If you knew mankind； Papa Sechard； you would
see that no moment in one's life comes twice。 Such a triumph as this
can only be due to genuine enthusiasm！ 。 。 。 My dear mother； my good
sister； this wipes out many mortifications。〃
Lucien kissed them； for when joy overflows like a torrent flood； we
are fain to pour it out into a friend's heart。 〃When an author is
intoxicated with success； he will hug his porter if there is nobody
else on hand；〃 according to Bixiou。
〃Why； darling； why are you crying？〃 he said； looking into Eve's face。
〃Ah！ I know； you are crying for joy！〃
〃Oh me！〃 said her mother； shaking her head as she spoke。 〃Lucien has
forgotten everything already； not merely his own troubles； but ours as
well。〃
Mother and daughter separated； and neither dared to utter all her
thoughts。
In a country eaten up with the kind of social insubordination
disguised by the word Equality； a triumph of any kind whatsoever is a
sort of miracle which requires； like some other miracles for that
matter； the co…operation of skilled labor。 Out of ten ovations offered
to ten living men； selected for this distinction by a grateful
country； you may be quite sure that nine are given from considerations
connected as remotely as possible with the conspicuous merits of the
renowned recipient。 What was Voltaire's apotheosis at the Theatre…
Francais but the triumph of eighteenth century philosophy？ A triumph
in France means that everybody else feels that he is adorning his own
temples with the crown that he sets on the idol's head。
The women's presentiments proved correct。 The distinguished
provincial's reception was antipathetic to Angoumoisin immobility； it
was too evidently got up by some interested persons or by enthusiastic
stage mechanics； a suspicious combination。 Eve； moreover； like most of
her sex； was distrustful by instinct； even when reason failed to
justify her suspicions to herself。 〃Who can be so fond of Lucien that
he could rouse the town for him？〃 she wondered as she fell asleep。
〃The Marguerites are not published yet； how can they compliment him on
a future success？〃
The ovation was； in fact； the work of Petit…Claud。
Petit…Claud had dined with Mme。 de Senonches； for the first time； on
the evening of the day that brought the cure of Marsac to Angouleme
with the news of Lucien's return。 That same evening he made formal
application for the hand of Mlle。 de la Haye。 It was a family dinner；
one of the solemn occasions marked not so much by the number of the
guests as by the splendor of their toilettes。 Consciousness of the
performance weighs upon the family party； and every countenance looks
significant。 Francoise was on exhibition。 Mme。 de Senonches had
sported her most elaborate costume for the occasion； M。 du Hautoy wore
a black coat； M。 de Senonches had returned from his visit to the
Pimentels on the receipt of a note from his wife； informing him that
Mme。 du Chatelet was to appear at their house for the first time since
her arrival； and that a suitor in form for Francoise would appear on
the scenes。 Boniface Cointet also was there； in his best maroon coat
of clerical cut； with a diamond pin worth six thousand francs
displayed in his shirt frillthe revenge of the rich merchant upon a
poverty…stricken aristocracy。
Petit…Claud himself； scoured and combed； had carefully removed his
gray hairs； but he could not rid himself of his wizened air。 The puny
little man of law； tightly buttoned into his clothes； reminded you of
a torpid viper； for if hope had brought a spark of life into his
magpie eyes； his face was icily rigid； and so well did he assume an
air of gravity； that an ambitious public prosecutor could not have
been more dignified。
Mme。 de Senonches had told her intimate friends that her ward would
meet her betrothed that evening； and that Mme。 du Chatelet would
appear at the Hotel de Senonches for the first time； and having
particularly requested them to keep these matters secret； she expected
to find her rooms crowded。 The Comte and Comtesse du Chatelet had left
cards everywhere officially； but they meant the honor of a personal
visit to play a part in their policy。 So aristocratic Angouleme was in
such a prodigious ferment of curiosity； that certain of the Chandour
camp proposed to go to the Hotel de Bargeton that evening。 （They
persistently declined to call the house by its new name。）
Proofs of the Countess' influence had stirred up ambition in many
quarters； and not only so； it was said that the lady had changed so
much for the better that everybody wished to see and judge for
himself。 Petit…Claud learned great news on the way to the house；
Cointet told him that Zephirine had asked leave to present her dear
Francoise's betrothed to the Countess； and that the Countess had
granted the favor。 Petit…Claud had seen at once that Lucien's return
put Louise de Negrepelisse in a false position； and now； in a moment；
he flattered himself that he saw a way to take advantage of it。
M。 and Mme。 de Senonches had undertaken such heavy engagements when
they bought the house； that； in provincial fashion； they thought it
imprudent to make any changes in it。 So when Madame du Chatelet was
announced； Zephirine went up to her with〃Look； dear Louise； you are
sti