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not be present at this banquet in my honor。 I owe my little
triumph to the vainglory of Angouleme； in a few days it will be
quite forgotten； and you alone would have taken a real pleasure in
it。 But； after all； in a little while you will pardon everything
to one who counts it more than all the triumphs in the world to be
your brother；
〃LUCIEN。〃
Two forces tugged sharply at David's heart； he adored his wife； and if
he held Lucien in somewhat less esteem； his friendship was scarcely
diminished。 In solitude our feelings have unrestricted play； and a man
preoccupied like David； with all…absorbing thoughts； will give way to
impulses for which ordinary life would have provided a sufficient
counterpoise。 As he read Lucien's letter to the sound of military
music； and heard of this unlooked…for recognition； he was deeply
touched by that expression of regret。 He had known how it would be。 A
very slight expression of feeling appeals irresistibly to a sensitive
soul； for they are apt to credit others with like depths。 How should
the drop fall unless the cup were full to the brim？
So at midnight； in spite of all Basine's entreaties； David must go to
see Lucien。
〃Nobody will be out in the streets at this time of night；〃 he said； 〃I
shall not be seen； and they cannot arrest me。 Even if I should meet
people； I can make use of Kolb's way of going into hiding。 And
besides； it is so intolerably long since I saw my wife and child。〃
The reasoning was plausible enough； Basine gave way； and David went。
Petit…Claud was just taking leave as he came up and at his cry of
〃LUCIEN！〃 the two brothers flung their arms about each other with
tears in their eyes。
Life holds not many moments such as these。 Lucien's heart went out in
response to this friendship for its own sake。 There was never question
of debtor and creditor between them； and the offender met with no
reproaches save his own。 David； generous and noble that he was； was
longing to bestow pardon； he meant first of all to read Lucien a
lecture； and scatter the clouds that overspread the love of the
brother and sister； and with these ends in view； the lack of money and
its consequent dangers disappeared entirely from his mind。
〃Go home；〃 said Petit…Claud； addressing his client； 〃take advantage of
your imprudence to see your wife and child again； at any rate； and you
must not be seen； mind you！How unlucky！〃 he added； when he was alone
in the Place du Murier。 〃If only Cerizet were here〃
The buildings magniloquently styled the Angouleme Law Courts were then
in process of construction。 Petit…Claud muttered these words to
himself as he passed by the hoardings； and heard a tap upon the
boards； and a voice issuing from a crack between two planks。
〃Here I am；〃 said Cerizet； 〃I saw David coming out of L'Houmeau。 I was
beginning to have my suspicions about his retreat； and now I am sure；
and I know where to have him。 But I want to know something of Lucien's
plans before I set the snare for David； and here are you sending him
into the house！ Find some excuse for stopping here； at least； and when
David and Lucien come out； send them round this way； they will think
they are quite alone； and I shall overhear their good…bye。〃
〃You are a very devil；〃 muttered Petit…Claud。
〃Well； I'm blessed if a man wouldn't do anything for the thing you
promised me。〃
Petit…Claud walked away from the hoarding； and paced up and down in
the Place du Murier； he watched the windows of the room where the
family sat together； and thought of his own prospects to keep up his
courage。 Cerizet's cleverness had given him the chance of striking the
final blow。 Petit…Claud was a double…dealer of the profoundly cautious
stamp that is never caught by the bait of a present satisfaction； nor
entangled by a personal attachment； after his first initiation into
the strategy of self…seeking and the instability of the human heart。
So； from the very first； he had put little trust in Cointet。 He
foresaw that his marriage negotiations might very easily be broken
off； saw also that in that case he could not accuse Cointet of bad
faith； and he had taken his measures accordingly。 But since his
success at the Hotel de Bargeton； Petit…Claud's game was above board。
A certain under…plot of his was useless now； and even dangerous to a
man with his political ambitions。 He had laid the foundations of his
future importance in the following manner：
Gannerac and a few of the wealthy men of business in L'Houmeau formed
a sort of Liberal clique in constant communication （through commercial
channels） with the leaders of the Opposition。 The Villele ministry；
accepted by the dying Louis XVIII。； gave the signal for a change of
tactics in the Opposition camp； for； since the death of Napoleon； the
liberals had ceased to resort to the dangerous expedient of
conspiracy。 They were busy organizing resistance by lawful means
throughout the provinces； and aiming at securing control of the great
bulk of electors by convincing the masses。 Petit…Claud； a rabid
Liberal； and a man of L'Houmeau； was the instigator； the secret
counselor； and the very life of this movement in the lower town； which
groaned under the tyranny of the aristocrats at the upper end。 He was
the first to see the danger of leaving the whole press of the
department in the control of the Cointets； the Opposition must have
its organ； it would not do to be behind other cities。
〃If each one of us gives Gannerac a bill for five hundred francs； he
would have some twenty thousand francs and more； we might buy up
Sechard's printing…office； and we could do as we liked with the
master…printer if we lent him the capital；〃 Petit…Claud had said。
Others had taken up the idea； and in this way Petit…Claud strengthened
his position with regard to David on the one side and the Cointets on
the other。 Casting about him for a tool for his party； he naturally
thought that a rogue of Cerizet's calibre was the very man for the
purpose。
〃If you can find Sechard's hiding…place and put him in our hands；
somebody will lend you twenty thousand francs to buy his business； and
very likely there will be a newspaper to print。 So； set about it；〃 he
had said。
Petit…Claud put more faith in Cerizet's activity than in all the
Doublons in existence； and then it was that he promised Cointet that
Sechard should be arrested。 But now that the little lawyer cherished
hopes of office； he saw that he must turn his back upon the Liberals；
and； meanwhile； the amount for the printing…office had been subscribed
in L'Houmeau。 Petit…Claud decided to allow things to take their
natural course。
〃Pooh！〃 he thought； 〃Cerizet will get into trouble with his paper； and
give me an opportunity of displaying my talents。〃
He walked up to the door of the printing…office and spoke to Kolb； the
sentinel。 〃Go up and warn David that he had better go now；〃 he said；
〃and take every precaution。 I am going home； it is one o'clock。〃
Marion came to take Kolb's place。 Lucien and David came down together
and went out； Kolb a hundred paces ahead of them； and Marion at the
same dista