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the brotherhood of consolation-µÚ35ÕÂ

С˵£º the brotherhood of consolation ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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cabriolet¡£

¡¨Who¡¡is¡¡that¡¡queer¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡bearskin£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier£»¡¡whom
nothing¡¡escaped£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡it¡¡true£»¡¡what¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cabriolet¡¡told¡¡me£»
that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡doctors¡¡in¡¡Paris£¿¡¨

¡¨What¡¡is¡¡that¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨

¡¨Oh£¡¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied£»¡¡making¡¡a¡¡face¡£

¡¨You¡¡made¡¡a¡¡great¡¡mistake¡¡in¡¡not¡¡putting¡¡yourself¡¡on¡¡my¡¡side£»¡¨¡¡said
Godefroid£»¡¡returning¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡made¡¡more
out¡¡of¡¡me¡¡than¡¡you¡¡will¡¡ever¡¡get¡¡from¡¡Barbet¡¡and¡¡Metivier£»¡¡from¡¡whom£»
mark¡¡my¡¡words£»¡¡you'll¡¡get¡¡nothing¡£¡¨

¡¨I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡for¡¡them¡¡particularly£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier£»¡¡shrugging¡¡her
shoulders£»¡¡¡¨Monsieur¡¡Barbet¡¡is¡¡my¡¡proprietor£»¡¡that's¡¡all£¡¡¨

It¡¡required¡¡two¡¡days'¡¡persuasion¡¡to¡¡induce¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard¡¡to
separate¡¡from¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡and¡¡take¡¡her¡¡to¡¡Chaillot¡£¡¡Godefroid¡¡and¡¡the
old¡¡man¡¡made¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡walking¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡litter£»¡¡canopied
with¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡white¡¡striped¡¡linen£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡patient£»
partly¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mattress£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡did¡¡her¡¡father¡¡dread¡¡the¡¡possible
convulsions¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nervous¡¡attack¡£¡¡They¡¡started¡¡at¡¡three¡¡o'clock¡¡and
reached¡¡their¡¡destination¡¡at¡¡five¡¡just¡¡as¡¡evening¡¡was¡¡coming¡¡on¡£
Godefroid¡¡paid¡¡the¡¡sum¡¡demanded¡¡for¡¡three¡¡months'¡¡board¡¡in¡¡advance£»
being¡¡careful¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡a¡¡receipt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡money¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to
pay¡¡the¡¡bearers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡litter£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard£»
who¡¡took¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡mattress¡¡a¡¡bulky¡¡package¡¡carefully¡¡sealed
up£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Godefroid¡£

¡¨One¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men¡¡will¡¡fetch¡¡you¡¡a¡¡cab£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡you
cannot¡¡carry¡¡these¡¡four¡¡volumes¡¡under¡¡your¡¡arm¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡my¡¡book£»¡¡give
it¡¡to¡¡your¡¡reader£»¡¡he¡¡may¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡week¡£¡¡I
shall¡¡stay¡¡at¡¡least¡¡that¡¡time¡¡in¡¡this¡¡quarter£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡leave¡¡my
daughter¡¡in¡¡such¡¡total¡¡abandonment¡£¡¡I¡¡trust¡¡my¡¡grandson£»¡¡he¡¡can¡¡take
care¡¡of¡¡our¡¡rooms£»¡¡especially¡¡if¡¡you¡¡keep¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡were
what¡¡I¡¡once¡¡was¡¡I¡¡would¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡my¡¡critic£»¡¡the¡¡former
magistrate¡¡you¡¡spoke¡¡of£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡but¡¡few¡¡of¡¡them¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not
know¡£¡¨

¡¨Oh£»¡¡there's¡¡no¡¡mystery¡¡about¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Godefroid£»¡¡interrupting
Monsieur¡¡Bernard¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡shown¡¡this¡¡entire¡¡confidence¡¡in
trusting¡¡me¡¡with¡¡your¡¡book£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡your¡¡censor¡¡is¡¡the
former¡¡president£»¡¡Lecamus¡¡de¡¡Tresnes¡£¡¨

¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Court¡¡of¡¡Paris¡£¡¡Take¡¡him¡¡the¡¡book£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡one
of¡¡the¡¡noblest¡¡characters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡day¡£¡¡He¡¡and¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Popinot£»
a¡¡judge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lower¡¡Court£»¡¡were¡¡both¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old
Parliaments¡£¡¡All¡¡my¡¡fears£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡any£»¡¡are¡¡dissipated¡£¡¡Where¡¡does¡¡he
live£¿¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡thank¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡he¡¡is¡¡taking¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡will¡¡find¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rue¡¡Chanoinesse£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Monsieur
Joseph¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡there¡¡now¡£¡¡Where¡¡is¡¡that¡¡agreement¡¡you¡¡made¡¡with
your¡¡swindlers£¿¡¨

¡¨Auguste¡¡will¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡re¡­entering¡¡the
courtyard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hospital¡£

A¡¡cab¡¡was¡¡now¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡porter£»¡¡and¡¡Godefroid¡¡jumped¡¡into¡¡it£»
promising¡¡the¡¡coachman¡¡a¡¡good¡¡pourboire¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡get¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the
rue¡¡Chanoinesse¡¡in¡¡good¡¡time£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡dine¡¡there¡£

Half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡after¡¡Vanda's¡¡departure£»¡¡three¡¡men¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡black£»¡¡whom
Madame¡¡Vauthier¡¡let¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house¡¡by¡¡the¡¡door¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rue¡¡Notre¡­Dame
des¡¡Champs£»¡¡filed¡¡up¡¡the¡¡staircase£»¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡their¡¡female¡¡Judas£»
and¡¡knocked¡¡gently¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard's¡¡lodging¡£¡¡As¡¡it
happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Thursday£»¡¡Auguste¡¡was¡¡at¡¡home¡£¡¡He¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»
and¡¡the¡¡three¡¡men¡¡glided¡¡in¡¡like¡¡shadows¡£

¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want£»¡¡messieurs£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡lad¡£

¡¨These¡¡are¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡of¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard£»that¡¡is£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡le¡¡baron£»
are¡¡they¡¡not£¿¡¨

¡¨Yes£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want£¿¡¨

¡¨You¡¡know¡¡very¡¡well£»¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¡what¡¡we¡¡want£¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡informed¡¡that
your¡¡grandfather¡¡has¡¡left¡¡this¡¡house¡¡with¡¡a¡¡covered¡¡litter¡£¡¡That's¡¡not
surprising£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡right¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡the¡¡sheriff£»¡¡and¡¡I
have¡¡come¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡everything¡¡he¡¡has¡¡left¡£¡¡On¡¡Monday¡¡he¡¡received¡¡a
summons¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡francs£»¡¡with¡¡interest¡¡and¡¡costs£»¡¡to
Monsieur¡¡Metivier£»¡¡under¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡arrest¡¡for¡¡debt¡¡duly¡¡notified¡¡to¡¡him£»
and¡¡like¡¡an¡¡old¡¡stager¡¡who¡¡is¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tricks¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡trade£»¡¡he
has¡¡walked¡¡off¡¡just¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¡However£»¡¡if¡¡we¡¡can't¡¡catch¡¡him£»¡¡his
furniture¡¡hasn't¡¡taken¡¡wings¡£¡¡You¡¡see¡¡we¡¡know¡¡all¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡young
man¡£¡¨

¡¨Here¡¡are¡¡the¡¡stamped¡¡papers¡¡your¡¡grandpapa¡¡didn't¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡take£»¡¨
said¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier£»¡¡thrusting¡¡three¡¡writs¡¡into¡¡Auguste's¡¡hand¡£

¡¨Remain¡¡here£»¡¡madame£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡sheriff£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡you¡¡legal
guardian¡¡of¡¡the¡¡property¡£¡¡The¡¡law¡¡gives¡¡you¡¡forty¡¡sous¡¡a¡¡day£»¡¡and
that's¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sneezed¡¡at¡£¡¨

¡¨Ha£¡¡¡now¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡the¡¡inside¡¡of¡¡that¡¡fine¡¡bedroom£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the
Vauthier¡£

¡¨You¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡go¡¡into¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡room£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡young¡¡lad£»¡¡in¡¡a
threatening¡¡voice£»¡¡springing¡¡between¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡the¡¡three¡¡men¡¡in
black¡£

At¡¡a¡¡sign¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sheriff£»¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡seized¡¡Auguste¡£

¡¨No¡¡resistance£»¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡master¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡sheriff¡£
¡¨We¡¡shall¡¡draw¡¡up¡¡the¡¡proces¡­verbal£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡jail¡£¡¨

Hearing¡¡that¡¡dreadful¡¡word£»¡¡Auguste¡¡burst¡¡into¡¡tears¡£

¡¨Ah£»¡¡how¡¡fortunate£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡mamma¡¡has¡¡gone£¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡have
killed¡¡her¡£¡¨

A¡¡conference¡¡now¡¡took¡¡place¡¡between¡¡the¡¡sheriff£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡men£»¡¡and
Vauthier£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡Auguste¡¡discovered£»¡¡although¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low
voice£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡grandfather's¡¡manuscripts¡¡were¡¡what¡¡they¡¡chiefly
wanted¡£¡¡On¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡bedroom¡£

¡¨Go¡¡in£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡take¡¡care¡¡to¡¡do¡¡no¡¡injury¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡be¡¡paid
to¡­morrow¡¡morning¡£¡¨

Then¡¡he¡¡went¡¡off¡¡weeping¡¡into¡¡the¡¡lair£»¡¡seized¡¡his¡¡grandfather's
notes¡¡and¡¡stuck¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stove£»¡¡in¡¡which£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡very¡¡well£»
there¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡spark¡¡of¡¡fire¡£

The¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡done¡¡so¡¡rapidly¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sheriffa¡¡sly£»¡¡keen¡¡fellow£»
worthy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡clients¡¡Barbet¡¡and¡¡Metivierfound¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡weeping¡¡in
his¡¡chair¡¡when¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡wretched¡¡room£»¡¡after¡¡assuring¡¡himself
that¡¡the¡¡manuscripts¡¡were¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡antechamber¡£

Though¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡permissible¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡books¡¡or¡¡manuscripts¡¡for¡¡debt£»
the¡¡bill¡¡of¡¡sale¡¡which¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard¡¡had¡¡made¡¡of¡¡his¡¡work¡¡justified
this¡¡proceeding¡£¡¡It¡¡was£»¡¡however£»¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡oppose¡¡various¡¡delays¡¡to
this¡¡seizure£»¡¡and¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard£»¡¡had¡¡he¡¡been¡¡there£»¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have
failed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡For¡¡that¡¡reason¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡affair¡¡had¡¡been¡¡conducted
slyly¡£¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier¡¡had¡¡not¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡writs¡¡to¡¡Monsieur
Bernard£»¡¡she¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡have¡¡flung¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room¡¡on¡¡entering¡¡behind
the¡¡sheriff's¡¡men£»¡¡so¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡their¡¡being¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old
man's¡¡possession¡£

The¡¡proces¡­verbal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seizure¡¡took¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡write¡¡down£»¡¡the
sheriff¡¡omitted¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡property
seized¡¡was¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡debt¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had
departed£»¡¡Auguste¡¡took¡¡the¡¡writs¡¡and¡¡rushed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hospital¡¡to¡¡find
his¡¡grandfather¡£¡¡The¡¡sheriff¡¡having¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier¡¡was
now¡¡responsible£»¡¡under¡¡heavy¡¡penalties£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡the
property£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡house¡¡without¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡robbery¡£

The¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡his¡¡grandfather¡¡being¡¡dragged¡¡to¡¡prison¡¡for¡¡debt¡¡drove¡¡the
poor¡¡lad£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡exactly¡¡crazy£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡as¡¡crazy¡¡as¡¡youth¡¡becomes
under¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡dangerous¡¡and¡¡fatal¡¡excitements¡¡in¡¡which¡¡all¡¡powers
ferment¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡lead¡¡as¡¡often¡¡to¡¡evil¡¡actions¡¡as¡¡to¡¡heroic¡¡deeds¡£
When¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡rue¡¡Basse¡­Saint¡­Pierre£»¡¡the¡¡porter¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that
he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡had¡¡become¡¡of¡¡the¡¡father¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡who¡¡had
arrived¡¡that¡¡afternoon£»¡¡the¡¡orders¡¡of¡¡Monsieur¡¡Halpersohn¡¡were¡¡to
admit¡¡no¡¡one¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡eight¡¡days£»¡¡under¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡putting
her¡¡life¡¡in¡¡danger¡£

This¡¡answer¡¡brought¡¡Auguste's¡¡exasperation¡¡to¡¡a¡¡crisis¡£¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡to
the¡¡boulevard¡¡du¡¡Mont¡­Parnasse£»¡¡turning¡¡over¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡the¡¡wildest
and¡¡most¡¡extravagant¡¡plans¡¡of¡¡action¡£¡¡He¡¡reached¡¡home¡¡at¡¡half¡­past
eight¡¡o'clock£»¡¡half¡¡famished£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡exhausted¡¡with¡¡hunger¡¡and
distress¡¡that¡¡he¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier¡¡when¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to
share¡¡her¡¡supper£»¡¡which¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡mutton¡¡stew¡¡with¡¡potatoes¡£
The¡¡poor¡¡lad¡¡fell¡¡half¡¡dead¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡in¡¡that¡¡atrocious¡¡woman's
room¡£

Persuaded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wheedling¡¡and¡¡honeyed¡¡words¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡vulture£»¡¡he
replied¡¡to¡¡a¡¡few¡¡questions¡¡about¡¡Godefroid¡¡which¡¡she¡¡adroitly¡¡put¡¡to
him£»¡¡letting¡¡her¡¡discover¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡really¡¡her¡¡other¡¡lodger¡¡who¡¡was
to¡¡pay¡¡his¡¡grandfather's¡¡debts¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to
him¡¡they¡¡owed¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡in¡¡their¡¡condition¡¡during¡¡the¡¡past¡¡week¡£
The¡¡widow¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡these¡¡confidences¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dubious¡¡air£»¡¡plying
Auguste¡¡with¡¡several¡¡glasses¡¡of¡¡wine¡¡meantime¡£

About¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡¡a¡¡cab¡¡stopped¡¡before¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡Madame¡¡Vauthier
looking¡¡out¡¡exclaimed£º

¡¨Oh£¡¡¡it¡¡is¡¡Monsieur¡¡Godefroid¡£¡¨

Auguste¡¡at¡¡once¡¡took¡¡the¡¡key¡¡of¡¡his¡¡apartment¡¡and¡¡went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the
protector¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Godefroid's¡¡face¡¡and¡¡manner¡¡so
changed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡hesitated¡¡to¡¡address¡¡him¡¡until£»¡¡generous¡¡lad¡¡that¡¡he
was£»¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡his¡¡grandfather's¡¡danger¡¡came¡¡over¡¡him¡¡and¡¡gave
him¡¡courage¡£



XVIII

WHO¡¡MONSIEUR¡¡BERNARD¡¡WAS

The¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡this¡¡change¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sternness¡¡in¡¡Godefroid's¡¡face¡¡was
an¡¡event¡¡which¡¡had¡¡just¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rue¡¡Chanoinesse¡£¡¡When¡¡the
initiate¡¡arrived¡¡there¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Madame¡¡de¡¡la¡¡Chanterie¡¡and¡¡her¡¡friends
assembled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡salon¡¡awaiting¡¡dinner£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡instantly¡¡took¡¡Monsieur
Joseph¡¡apart¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡the¡¡four¡¡volumes¡¡on¡¡¡¨The¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡Modern
Laws¡£¡¨¡¡Monsieur¡¡Joseph¡¡took¡¡the¡¡voluminous¡¡manuscript¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room¡¡and
returned¡¡for¡¡dinner£»¡¡then£»¡¡after¡¡sharing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conversation¡¡for¡¡part
of¡¡the¡¡evening£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡the
reading¡¡of¡¡the¡¡book¡¡that¡¡night¡£

Godefroid¡¡was¡¡much¡¡astonished¡¡when¡¡Manon¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡¡soon¡¡after
Monsieur¡¡Joseph's¡¡retirement¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡at¡¡once¡¡go¡¡up¡¡and
speak¡¡to¡¡that¡¡gentleman¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡up£»¡¡conducted¡¡by¡¡Manon£»¡¡and¡¡was
unable¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡any¡¡heed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡£¨which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡before
entered£©¡¡so¡¡amazed¡¡was¡¡he¡¡by¡¡the¡¡agitated¡¡look¡¡and¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who
was¡¡usually¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡placid¡£

¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Monsieur¡¡Joseph£»¡¡once¡¡more¡¡a¡¡judge£»¡¡¡¨who¡¡the
author¡¡of¡¡this¡¡work¡¡is£¿¡¨

¡¨He¡¡is¡¡Monsieur¡¡Bernard£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Godefroid£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡him¡¡only¡¡under¡¡that
name¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡open¡¡the¡¡package¡£¡¨

¡¨True£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Monsieur¡¡Joseph£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡seals
myself¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡not¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡his
antecedents£¿¡¨

¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡only¡¡know¡¡that¡¡he¡¡made¡¡a¡¡love¡­match¡¡with¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡of
General¡¡Tarlowski£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡is¡¡named¡¡after¡¡the¡¡mother£»¡¡Vanda£»
the¡¡grandson¡¡is¡¡called¡¡Auguste£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡portrait¡¡of¡¡Monsieur
Bernard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡red¡¡robes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡president¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Courts¡£¡¨

¡¨Here£»¡¡read¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Monsieur¡¡Joseph£»¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡titlepage¡¡of
the¡¡manuscript£»¡¡written¡¡probably¡¡in¡¡Auguste's¡¡handwriting£º


ON¡¡THE

SPIRIT¡¡OF¡¡MODERN¡¡LAWS

By¡¡M¡£¡¡Bernard¡­Jean¡­Baptiste¡¡Macloud£»
Baron¡¡Bourlac¡£

Formerly¡¡attorney¡­general¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Court¡¡of¡¡Rouen¡£
Grand¡¡officer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Legion¡¡of¡¡honor¡£


£§Aha£¡¡¡Thought¡¡so¡£JB¡££§

¡¨Ha£¡¡¡the¡¡slayer¡¡of¡¡Madame's¡¡daughter£¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Chevalier¡¡du¡¡Vissard£¡¡¡the
man¡¡who¡¡condemned¡¡her¡¡to¡¡twenty¡¡years'¡¡imprisonment£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Godefroid£»
in¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡voice¡£¡¡His¡¡legs¡¡gave¡¡way¡¡under¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡into¡¡a
chair¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡a¡¡beginning£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡muttered¡£

¡¨This¡¡matter£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡Godefroid£»¡¨¡¡resumed¡¡Monsieur¡¡Joseph£»¡¡¡¨concerns
us¡¡all¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡done¡¡your¡¡part£»¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡I¡¡beg¡¡you¡¡to
have¡¡no¡¡more¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡go¡¡and

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