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The perfumer, who was annoyed at finding the judge with his nephew, seemed to him harassed, preoccupied, pensive. Little Popinot, always busy, with his pen behind his ear, lay down as usual flat on his stomach before the father of his Cesarine. The empty phrases which Cesar addressed to his partner seemed to the judge to mask some important request.
The offer seemed prompted by indulgent fatherhood, saying to him: "Deserve Cesarine by becoming rich and respected." "Monsieur," he answered at last, "I will succeed!" "That's what I said at your age," cried the perfumer; "that was my motto. If you don't win my daughter, at least you will win your fortune. Eh, boy! what is it?" "Let me hope that in acquiring the one I may obtain the other."
As he said these words the worthy man swelled in his own eyes as much as he did in those of Popinot, and he uttered them with a plebeian and naive emphasis which was the genuine expression of his counterfeit superiority. "Ah, monsieur! have you guessed my love for " "For whom?" asked his master. "For Mademoiselle Cesarine." "Ah, boy, you are bold indeed!" exclaimed Birotteau. "Keep your secret.
Draw your own conclusions." But M. de Tregars did not give it up yet. "Wait a moment," he interrupted. And briefly, though with the utmost exactness, he began telling his visit to the Thaller mansion, his conversation with Mlle. Cesarine, then with the baroness, and finally with the baron himself.
He knew the human heart well enough to be certain that during the night Cesar would go over the question in his own mind, and the mental discussion would accustom him to the idea of his complete vindication. "But how came my wife and daughter to be in our old appartement?" asked Birotteau, while they were dining. "Anselme wants to hire it, and live there with Cesarine. Your wife is on his side.
When Birotteau encountered a moral difficulty he did as the insects do when there is an obstacle in their way, he turned either to the right or to the left. He therefore changed the conversation, resolving to talk over Cesarine with his wife. "I told all your fears and fancies about Roguin to your uncle, and he laughed," he said to Constance.
Her creed did not warrant such a hope his said that in heaven there were no marriages, but her heart did not heed such sayings, and her feelings told her that thus things would come to pass. She had concluded the piece of music. She rose and, for the first time, gave Césarine her hand. "Farewell!" she said. "Why say it now?" answered Madame Clemenceau, surprised.
"Business has given him little education," whispered Madame Ragon to Cesarine. Monsieur Roguin overheard her, and put a finger on his lips: "He is rich, clever, and extremely honorable," he said, stooping to Madame Ragon's ear. "Something may be forgiven in consideration of such qualities," said Pillerault to Ragon. "Let us read the deeds before dinner," said Roguin; "we are all alone."
The principle which actuated poor Cesar is so rare in Paris that his conduct by degrees attracted admiration. Joseph Lebas, Popinot the judge, Camusot, the Abbe Loraux, Ragon, the head of the important house where Cesarine was employed, Lourdois, Monsieur de la Billardiere, and others, talked of it. Public opinion, undergoing a change, now lauded him to the skies. "He is indeed a man of honor!"
An explanation occurred to us. Was it possible he knew we were guarded and watched? Was he afraid of measuring swords with this trained detective? If so, how had he found it out? I had an inkling, myself but, under all the circumstances, I did not mention it to Charles. It was clear that Césarine intensely disliked this new addition to the Vandrift household.
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