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and went out； Kolb a hundred paces ahead of them； and Marion at the
same distance behind。 The two friends walked past the hoarding； Lucien
talking eagerly the while。
〃My plan is extremely simple； David； but how could I tell you about it
while Eve was there？ She would never understand。 I am quite sure that
at the bottom of Louise's heart there is a feeling that I can rouse；
and I should like to arouse it if it is only to avenge myself upon
that idiot the prefect。 If our love affair only lasts for a week； I
will contrive to send an application through her for the subvention of
twenty thousand francs for you。 I am going to see her again to…morrow
in the little boudoir where our old affair of the heart began； Petit…
Claud says that the room is the same as ever； I shall play my part in
the comedy； and I will send word by Basine to…morrow morning to tell
you whether the actor was hissed。 You may be at liberty by then； who
knows？Now do you understand how it was that I wanted clothes from
Paris？ One cannot act the lover's part in rags。〃
At six o'clock that morning Cerizet went to Petit…Claud。
〃Doublon can be ready to take his man to…morrow at noon； I will answer
for it；〃 he said； 〃I know one of Mlle。 Clerget's girls； do you
understand？〃 Cerizet unfolded his plan； and Petit…Claud hurried to
find Cointet。
〃If M。 Francis du Hautoy will settle his property on Francoise； you
shall sign a deed of partnership with Sechard in two days。 I shall not
be married for a week after the contract is signed； so we shall both
be within the terms of our little agreement； tit for tat。 To…night；
however； we must keep a close watch over Lucien and Mme。 la Comtesse
du Chatelet； for the whole business lies in that。 。 。 。 If Lucien
hopes to succeed through the Countess' influence； I have David
safe〃
〃You will be Keeper of the Seals yet； it is my belief；〃 said Cointet。
〃And why not？ No one objects to M。 de Peyronnet；〃 said Petit…Claud。 He
had not altogether sloughed his skin of Liberalism。
Mlle。 de la Haye's ambiguous position brought most of the upper town
to the signing of the marriage contract。 The comparative poverty of
the young couple and the absence of a corbeille quickened the interest
that people love to exhibit； for it is with beneficence as with
ovations； we prefer the deeds of charity which gratify self…love。 The
Marquise de Pimentel； the Comtesse du Chatelet； M。 de Senonches； and
one or two frequenters of the house had given Francoise a few wedding
presents； which made great talk in the city。 These pretty trifles；
together with the trousseau which Zephirine had been preparing for the
past twelve months； the godfather's jewels； and the usual wedding
gifts； consoled Francoise and roused the curiosity of some mothers of
daughters。
Petit…Claud and Cointet had both remarked that their presence in the
Angouleme Olympus was endured rather than courted。 Cointet was
Francoise's trustee and quasi…guardian； and if Petit…Claud was to sign
the contract； Petit…Claud's presence was as necessary as the
attendance of the man to be hanged at an execution； but though； once
married； Mme。 Petit…Claud might keep her right of entry to her
godmother's house； Petit…Claud foresaw some difficulty on his own
account； and resolved to be beforehand with these haughty personages。
He felt ashamed of his parents。 He had sent his mother to stay at
Mansle； now he begged her to say that she was out of health and to
give her consent in writing。 So humiliating was it to be without
relations； protectors； or witnesses to his signature； that Petit…Claud
thought himself in luck that he could bring a presentable friend at
the Countess' request。 He called to take up Lucien； and they drove to
the Hotel de Bargeton。
On that memorable evening the poet dressed to outshine every man
present。 Mme。 de Senonches had spoken of him as the hero of the hour；
and a first interview between two estranged lovers is the kind of
scene that provincials particularly love。 Lucien had come to be the
lion of the evening； he was said to be so handsome； so much changed；
so wonderful； that every well…born woman in Angouleme was curious to
see him again。 Following the fashion of the transition period between
the eighteenth century small clothes and the vulgar costume of the
present day； he wore tight…fitting black trousers。 Men still showed
their figures in those days； to the utter despair of lean； clumsily…
made mortals； and Lucien was an Apollo。 The open…work gray silk
stockings； the neat shoes； and the black satin waistcoat were
scrupulously drawn over his person； and seemed to cling to him。 His
forehead looked the whiter by contrast with the thick； bright curls
that rose above it with studied grace。 The proud eyes were radiant。
The hands； small as a woman's； never showed to better advantage than
when gloved。 He had modeled himself upon de Marsay； the famous
Parisian dandy； holding his hat and cane in one hand； and keeping the
other free for the very occasional gestures which illustrated his
talk。
Lucien had quite intended to emulate the famous false modesty of those
who bend their heads to pass beneath the Porte Saint…Denis； and to
slip unobserved into the room； but Petit…Claud； having but one friend；
made him useful。 He brought Lucien almost pompously through a crowded
room to Mme。 de Senonches。 The poet heard a murmur as he passed； not
so very long ago that hum of voices would have turned his head； to…day
he was quite different； he did not doubt that he himself was greater
than the whole Olympus put together。
〃Madame；〃 he said； addressing Mme。 de Senonches； 〃I have already
congratulated my friend Petit…Claud （a man with the stuff in him of
which Keepers of the Seals are made） on the honor of his approaching
connection with you； slight as are the ties between godmother and
goddaughter〃 （this with the air of a man uttering an epigram； by
no means lost upon any woman in the room； for every woman was
listening without appearing to do so。） 〃And as for myself；〃 he
continued； 〃I am delighted to have the opportunity of paying my homage
to you。〃
He spoke easily and fluently； as some great lord might speak under the
roof of his inferiors； and as he listened to Zephirine's involved
reply； he cast a glance over the room to consider the effect that he
wished to make。 The pause gave him time to discover Francis du Hautoy
and the prefect； to bow gracefully to each with the proper shade of
difference in his smile； and； finally； to approach Mme。 du Chatelet as
if he had just caught sight of her。 That meeting was the real event of
the evening。 No one so much as thought of the marriage contract lying
in the adjoining bedroom； whither Francoise and the notary led guest
after guest to sign the document。 Lucien made a step towards Louise de
Negrepelisse； and then spoke with that grace of manner now associated；
for her； with memories of Paris。
〃Do I owe to you； madame； the pleasure of an invitation to dine at the
Prefecture the day after to…morrow？〃 he said。
〃You owe it solely to your fame； monsieur；〃 Louise answered drily；
somewhat taken aback by the turn of a phrase by which Lucien
deliberately tr