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Cointet and Petit…Claud heard these farewell speeches。
〃Well； well； we are done for now；〃 Cointet muttered in his
confederate's ear。 Petit…Claud； thunderstruck by Lucien's success；
amazed by his brilliant wit and varying charm； was gazing at Francoise
de la Haye； the girl's whole face was full of admiration for Lucien。
〃Be like your friend；〃 she seemed to say to her betrothed。 A gleam of
joy flitted over Petit…Claud's countenance。
〃We still have a whole day before the prefect's dinner； I will answer
for everything。〃
An hour later； as Petit…Claud and Lucien walked home together； Lucien
talked of his success。 〃Well； my dear fellow； I came； I saw； I
conquered！ Sechard will be very happy in a few hours' time。〃
〃Just what I wanted to know；〃 thought Petit…Claud。 Aloud he said〃I
thought you were simply a poet； Lucien； but you are a Lauzun too； that
is to saytwice a poet；〃 and they shook handsfor the last time； as
it proved。
〃Good news； dear Eve；〃 said Lucien； waking his sister； 〃David will
have no debts in less than a month！〃
〃How is that？〃
〃Well； my Louise is still hidden by Mme。 du Chatelet's petticoat。 She
loves me more than ever； she will send a favorable report of our
discovery to the Minister of the Interior through her husband。 So we
have only to endure our troubles for one month； while I avenge myself
on the prefect and complete the happiness of his married life。〃
Eve listened； and thought that she must be dreaming。
〃I saw the little gray drawing…room where I trembled like a child two
years ago； it seemed as if scales fell from my eyes when I saw the
furniture and the pictures and the faces again。 How Paris changes
one's ideas！〃
〃Is that a good thing？〃 asked Eve； at last beginning to understand。
〃Come； come； you are still asleep。 We will talk about it to…morrow
after breakfast。〃
Cerizet's plot was exceedingly simple； a commonplace stratagem
familiar to the provincial bailiff。 Its success entirely depends upon
circumstances； and in this case it was certain； so intimate was
Cerizet's knowledge of the characters and hopes of those concerned。
Cerizet had been a kind of Don Juan among the young work…girls； ruling
his victims by playing one off against another。 Since he had been the
Cointet's extra foreman； he had singled out one of Basine Clerget's
assistants； a girl almost as handsome as Mme。 Sechard。 Henriette
Signol's parents owned a small vineyard two leagues out of Angouleme；
on the road to Saintes。 The Signols； like everybody else in the
country； could not afford to keep their only child at home； so they
meant her to go out to service； in country phrase。 The art of clear…
starching is a part of every country housemaid's training； and so
great was Mme。 Prieur's reputation； that the Signols sent Henriette to
her as apprentice； and paid for their daughter's board and lodging。
Mme。 Prieur was one of the old…fashioned mistresses； who consider that
they fill a parent's place towards their apprentices。 They were part
of the family； she took them with her to church； and looked
scrupulously after them。 Henriette Signol was a tall； fine…looking
girl； with bold eyes； and long； thick； dark hair； and the pale； very
fair complexion of girls in the Southwhite as a magnolia flower。 For
which reasons Henriette was one of the first on whom Cerizet cast his
eyes； but Henriette came of 〃honest farmer folk；〃 and only yielded at
last to jealousy； to bad example； and the treacherous promise of
subsequent marriage。 By this time Cerizet was the Cointet's foreman。
When he learned that the Signols owned a vineyard worth some ten or
twelve thousand francs； and a tolerably comfortable cottage； he
hastened to make it impossible for Henriette to marry any one else。
Affairs had reached this point when Petit…Claud held out the prospect
of a printing office and twenty thousand francs of borrowed capital；
which was to prove a yoke upon the borrower's neck。 Cerizet was
dazzled； the offer turned his head； Henriette Signol was now only an
obstacle in the way of his ambitions； and he neglected the poor girl。
Henriette； in her despair； clung more closely to her seducer as he
tried to shake her off。 When Cerizet began to suspect that David was
hiding in Basine's house； his views with regard to Henriette underwent
another change； though he treated her as before。 A kind of frenzy
works in a girl's brain when she must marry her seducer to conceal her
dishonor； and Cerizet was on the watch to turn this madness to his own
account。
During the morning of the day when Lucien had set himself to reconquer
his Louise； Cerizet told Basine's secret to Henriette； giving her to
understand at the same time that their marriage and future prospects
depended upon the discovery of David's hiding…place。 Thus instructed；
Henriette easily made certain of the fact that David was in Basine
Clerget's inner room。 It never occurred to the girl that she was doing
wrong to act the spy； and Cerizet involved her in the guilt of
betrayal by this first step。
Lucien was still sleeping while Cerizet； closeted with Petit…Claud；
heard the history of the important trifles with which all Angouleme
presently would ring。
The Cointets' foreman gave a satisfied nod as Petit…Claud came to an
end。 〃Lucien surely has written you a line since he came back； has he
not？〃 he asked。
〃This is all that I have；〃 answered the lawyer； and he held out a note
on Mme。 Sechard's writing…paper。
〃Very well；〃 said Cerizet； 〃let Doublon be in wait at the Palet Gate
about ten minutes before sunset； tell him to post his gendarmes； and
you shall have our man。〃
〃Are you sure of YOUR part of the business？〃 asked Petit…Claud；
scanning Cerizet。
〃I rely on chance；〃 said the ex…street boy； 〃and she is a saucy huzzy；
she does not like honest folk。
〃You must succeed；〃 said Cerizet。 〃You have pushed me into this dirty
business； you may as well let me have a few banknotes to wipe off the
stains。〃Then detecting a look that he did not like in the attorney's
face； he continued； with a deadly glance； 〃If you have cheated me；
sir； if you don't buy the printing…office for me within a weekyou
will leave a young widow；〃 he lowered his voice。
〃If we have David on the jail register at six o'clock； come round to
M。 Gannerac's at nine； and we will settle your business；〃 said Petit…
Claud peremptorily。
〃Agreed。 Your will shall be done； governor；〃 said Cerizet。
Cerizet understood the art of washing paper； a dangerous art for the
Treasury。 He washed out Lucien's four lines and replaced them；
imitating the handwriting with a dexterity which augured ill for his
own future：
〃MY DEAR DAVID；Your business is settled； you need not fear to go
to the prefect。 You can go out at sunset。 I will come to meet you
and tell you what to do at the prefecture。Your brother；
〃LUCIEN。〃
At noon Lucien wrote to David； telling him of his evening's success。
The prefect would be sure to lend his influence； he said； he was full
of enthusiasm over the invention； and was drawing up a report that
very day to send to the Government。 Marion carried the letter to