CHAPTERI

DEPARTINGPARIS

ThetourniquetSaint—Jean，thenarrowpassageenteredthroughaturnstile，adescriptionofwhichwassaidtobesowearisomeinthestudyentitled"ADoubleLife"（ScenesfromPrivateLife），thatnaiverelicofoldParis，hasatthepresentmomentnoexistenceexceptinoursaidtypography。ThebuildingoftheHotel—de—Ville，suchaswenowseeit，sweptawayawholesectionofthecity。

In1830，passersalongthestreetcouldstillseetheturnstilepaintedonthesignofawine—merchant，buteventhathouse，itslastasylum，hasbeendemolished。Alas！oldParisisdisappearingwithfrightfulrapidity。Hereandthere，inthecourseofthishistoryofParisianlife，willbefoundpreserved，sometimesthetypeofthedwellingsofthemiddleages，likethatdescribedin"FameandSorrow"

（ScenesfromPrivateLife），oneortwospecimensofwhichexisttothepresentday；sometimesahouselikethatofJudgePopinot，rueduFouarre，aspecimenoftheformerbourgeoisie；here，theremainsofFulbert’shouse；there，theolddockoftheSeineasitwasunderCharlesIX。WhyshouldnotthehistorianofFrenchsociety，anewOldMortality，endeavortosavethesecuriousexpressionsofthepast，asWalterScott’soldmanrubbedupthetombstones？Certainly，forthelasttenyearstheoutcriesofliteratureinthisdirectionhavenotbeensuperfluous；artisbeginningtodisguisebeneathitsfloriatedornamentsthoseignoblefacadesofwhatarecalledinParis"housesofproduct，"whichoneofourpoetshasjocoselycomparedtochestsofdrawers。

Letusremarkhere，thatthecreationofthemunicipalcommission"delornamento"whichsuperintendsatMilanthearchitectureofstreetfacades，andtowhicheveryhouseowneriscompelledtosubjecthisplan，datesfromtheseventeenthcentury。Consequently，weseeinthatcharmingcapitaltheeffectsofthispublicspiritonthepartofnoblesandburghers，whileweadmiretheirbuildingssofullofcharacterandoriginality。Hideous，unrestrainedspeculationwhich，yearafteryear，changestheuniformlevelofstoreys，compressesawholeapartmentintothespaceofwhatusedtobeasalon，andwageswarupongardens，willinfalliblyreactonParisianmannersandmorals。Weshallsoonbeforcedtolivemorewithoutthanwithin。Oursacredprivatelife，thefreedomandlibertyofhome，wherewilltheybe？——reservedforthosewhocanmusterfiftythousandfrancsayear！

Infact，fewmillionairesnowallowthemselvestheluxuryofahousetothemselves，guardedbyacourtyardonastreetandprotectedfrompubliccuriositybyashadygardenattheback。

Bylevellingfortunes，thatsectionoftheCodewhichregulatestestamentarybequests，hasproducedthesehugestonephalansteries，inwhichthirtyfamiliesareoftenlodged，returningarentalofahundredthousandfrancsayear。Fiftyyearshenceweshallbeabletocountonourfingersthefewremaininghouseswhichresemblethatoccupied，atthemomentournarrativebegins，bytheThuillierfamily，——areallycurioushousewhichdeservesthehonorofanexactdescription，ifonlytocomparethelifeofthebourgeoisieofformertimeswiththatofto—day。

Thesituationandtheaspectofthishouse，theframeofourpresentSceneofmannersandmorals，has，moreover，aflavor，aperfumeofthelesserbourgeoisie，whichmayattractorrepelattentionaccordingtothetasteofeachreader。

Inthefirstplace，theThuillierhousedidnotbelongtoeitherMonsieurorMadameThuillier，buttoMademoiselleThuillier，thesisterofMonsieurThuillier。

Thishouse，boughtduringthefirstsixmonthswhichfollowedtherevolutionofJulybyMademoiselleMarie—Jeanne—BrigitteThuillier，aspinsteroffullage，standsaboutthemiddleoftherueSaint—

Dominiqued’Enfer，totherightasyouenterbytherued’Enfer，sothatthemainbuildingoccupiedbyMonsieurThuillierfacessouth。

TheprogressivemovementwhichiscarryingtheParisianpopulationtotheheightsalongtherightbankoftheSeinehadlonginjuredthesaleofpropertyinwhatiscalledthe"Latinquarter，"whenreasons，whichwillbegivenwhenwecometotreatofthecharacterandhabitsofMonsieurThuillier，determinedhissistertothepurchaseofrealestate。Sheobtainedthispropertyforthesmallsumofforty—sixthousandfrancs；certainextrasamountedtosixthousandmore；inall，thepricepaidwasfifty—twothousandfrancs。Adescriptionofthepropertygiveninthestyleofanadvertisement，andtheresultsobtainedbyMonsieurThuillier’sexertions，willexplainbywhatmeanssomanyfortunesincreasedenormouslyafterJuly，1830，whilesomanyotherssank。

Towardthestreetthehousepresentsafacadeofroughstonecoveredwithplaster，crackedbyweatherandlinedbythemason’sinstrumentintoasemblanceofblocksofcutstone。ThisfrontageissocommoninParisandsouglythatthecityoughttoofferpremiumstohouse—

ownerswhowouldbuildtheirfacadesofcut—stoneblocks。Sevenwindowslightedthegrayfrontofthishousewhichwasraisedthreestoreys，endinginamansardroofcoveredwithslate。Theporte—

cochere，heavyandsolid，showedbyitsworkmanshipandstylethatthefrontbuildingonthestreethadbeenerectedinthedaysoftheEmpire，toutilizeapartofthecourtyardofthevastoldmansion，builtatanepochwhenthequarterd’Enferenjoyedacertainvogue。

Ononesidewastheporter’slodge；ontheotherthestaircaseofthefrontbuilding。Twowings，builtagainsttheadjoininghouses，hadformerlyservedasstables，coach—house，kitchenandofficestothereardwelling；butsince1830，theyhadbeenconvertedintowarerooms。

TheoneontherightwaslettoacertainM。Metivier，jr。，wholesaledealerinpaper；thatonthelefttoabooksellernamedBarbet。Theofficesofeachwereabovethewarerooms；thebookselleroccupyingthefirststorey，andthepaper—dealerthesecondstoreyofthehouseonthestreet。Metivier，jr。，whowasmoreofacommissionmerchantinpaperthanaregulardealer，andBarbet，muchmoreofamoneylenderanddiscounterthanabookseller，keptthesevastwareroomsforthepurposeofstoring，——one，hisstacksofpaper，boughtofneedymanufacturers，theother，editionsofbooksgivenassecurityforloans。

Thesharkofbooksellingandthepikeofpaper—dealinglivedonthebestofterms，andtheirmutualoperations，exemptfromtheturmoilofretailbusiness，broughtsofewcarriagesintothattranquilcourtyardthattheconciergewasobligedtopullupthegrassbetweenthepavingstones。Messrs。BarbetandMetivierpaidafewrarevisitstotheirlandlords，andthepunctualitywithwhichtheypaidtheirrentclassedthemasgoodtenants；infact，theywerelookeduponasveryhonestmenbytheThuilliercircle。

Asforthethirdflooronthestreet，itwasmadeintotwoapartments；

oneofwhichwasoccupiedbyM。Dutocq，clerkofthejusticeofpeace，aretiredgovernmentemployee，andafrequenteroftheThuilliersalon；theotherbytheheroofthisScene，aboutwhomwemustcontentourselvesatthepresentmomentbyfixingtheamountofhisrent，——

namely，sevenhundredfrancsayear，——andthelocationhehadchosenintheheartofthiswell—filledbuilding，exactlythreeyearsbeforethecurtainrisesonthepresentdomesticdrama。

Theclerk，abacheloroffifty，occupiedthelargerofthetwoapartmentsonthethirdfloor。Hekeptacook，andtherentoftheroomswasathousandfrancsayear。Withintwoyearsofthetimeofherpurchase，MademoiselleThuillierwasreceivingseventhousandtwohundredfrancsinrentals，forahousewhichthelateproprietorhadsuppliedwithoutsideblinds，renovatedwithin，andadornedwithmirrors，withoutbeingabletosellorletit。Moreover，theThuilliersthemselves，noblylodged，asweshallsee，enjoyedalsoafinegarden，——oneofthefinestinthatquarter，——thetreesofwhichshadedthelonelylittlestreetnamedtherueNeuve—Saint—Catherine。

Standingbetweenthecourtyardandthegarden，themainbuilding，whichtheyinhabited，seemstohavebeenthecapriceofsomeenrichedbourgeoisinthereignofLouisXIV。；thedwelling，perhaps，ofapresidentoftheparliament，orthatofatranquilsavant。Itsnoblefree—stoneblocks，damagedbytime，haveacertainairofLouis—the—

Fourteenthgrandeur；thecoursesofthefacadedefinethestoreys；

panelsofredbrickrecalltheappearanceofthestablesatVersailles；thewindowshavemaskscarvedasornamentsinthecentreoftheirarchesandbelowtheirsills。Thedoor，ofsmallpanelsintheupperhalfandplainbelow，throughwhich，whenopen，thegardencanbeseen，isofthathonest，unassumingstylewhichwasoftenemployedinformerdaysfortheporter’slodgesoftheroyalchateaux。

Thisbuilding，withfivewindowstoeachcourse，risestwostoreysabovetheground—floor，andisparticularlynoticeableforaroofoffoursidesendinginaweather—vane，andbrokenhereandtherebytall，handsomechimneys，andovalwindows。Perhapsthisstructureistheremainsofsomegreatmansion；butafterexaminingalltheexistingoldmapsofParis，wefindnothingwhichbearsoutthisconjecture。Moreover，thetitle—deedsofpropertyunderLouisXIV。wasPetitot，thecelebratedpainterinminiature，whoobtaineditoriginallyfromPresidentLecamus。WemaythereforebelievethatLecamuslivedinthisbuildingwhilehewaserectinghismorefamousmansionintheruedeThorigny。

SoArtandthelegalrobehavepassedthiswayinturn。Howmanyinstigationsofneedsandpleasureshaveledtotheinteriorarrangementofthedwelling！Toright，asweenterasquarehallformingaclosedvestibule，risesastonestaircasewithtwowindowslookingonthegarden。Beneaththestaircaseopensadoortothecellar。Fromthisvestibuleweenterthedining—room，lightedfromthecourtyard，andthedining—roomcommunicatesatitssidewiththekitchen，whichformsacontinuationofthewinginwhicharethewareroomsofMetivierandBarbet。Behindthestaircaseextends，onthegardenside，afinestudyorofficewithtwolargewindows。Thefirstandsecondfloorformtwocompleteapartments，andtheservants’

quartersareshownbytheovalwindowsinthefour—sidedroof。

Alargeporcelainstoveheatsthesquarevestibule，thetwoglassdoorsofwhich，placedoppositetoeachother，lightit。Thisroom，pavedinblackandwhitemarble，isespeciallynoticeableforaceilingofbeamsformerlypaintedandgilt，butwhichhadsincereceived，probablyundertheEmpire，acoatofplainwhitepaint。Thethreedoorsofthestudy，salonanddining—room，surmountedbyovalpanels，areawaitingarestorationthatismorethanneeded。Thewood—

workisheavy，buttheornamentationisnotwithoutmerit。Thesalon，panelledthroughout，recallsthegreatcenturybyitstallmantelpieceofLanguedocmarble，itsceilingdecoratedatthecorners，andbythestyleofitswindows，whichstillretaintheirlittlepanes。Thedining—room，communicatingwiththesalonbyadoubledoor，isflooredwithstone；thewood—workisoak，unpainted，andanatrociousmodernwall—paperhasbeensubstitutedforthetapestriesoftheoldentime。

Theceilingisofchestnut；andthestudy，modernizedbyThuillier，addsitsquotatothesediscordances。

Thewhiteandgoldmouldingsofthesalonaresoeffacedthatnothingremainsofthegildingbutreddishlines，whilethewhiteenamellingisyellow，cracked，andpeelingoff。NeverdidtheLatinsaying"Otiumcumdignitate"haveagreatercommentarytothemindofapoetthaninthisnoblebuilding。Theiron—workofthestaircasebalusterisworthyoftheartistandthemagistrate；buttofindothertracesoftheirtasteto—dayinthismajesticrelic，theeyesofanartisticobserverareneeded。

TheThuilliersandtheirpredecessorshavefrequentlydegradedthisjeweloftheupperbourgeoisiebythehabitsandinventionsofthelesserbourgeoisie。Lookatthosewalnutchairscoveredwithhorse—

hair，thatmahoganytablewithitsoilclothcover，thatsideboard，alsoofmahogany，thatcarpet，boughtatabargain，beneaththetable，thosemetallamps，thatwretchedpaperwithitsredborder，thoseexecrableengravings，andthecalicocurtainswithredfringes，inadining—room，wherethefriendsofPetitotoncefeasted！DoyounoticetheeffectproducedinthesalonbythoseportraitsofMonsieurandMadameandMademoiselleThuillierbyPierreGrassou，theartistparexcellenceofthemodernbourgeoisie。Haveyouremarkedthecard—

tablesandtheconsolesoftheEmpire，thetea—tablesupportedbyalyre，andthatspeciesofsofa，ofgnarledmahogany，coveredinpaintedvelvetofachocolatetone？Onthechimney—piece，withtheclock（representingtheBellonaoftheEmpire），arecandelabrawithflutedcolumns。Curtainsofwoollendamask，withunder—curtainsofembroideredmuslinheldbackbystampedbrassholders，drapethewindows。Ontheflooracheapcarpet。Thehandsomevestibulehaswoodenbenches，coveredwithvelvet，andthepanelledwallswiththeirfinecarvingsaremostlyhiddenbywardrobes，broughttherefromtimetotimefromthebedroomsoccupiedbytheThuilliers。Fear，thathideousdivinity，hascausedthefamilytoaddsheet—irondoorsonthegardensideandonthecourtyardside，whicharefoldedbackagainstthewallsinthedaytime，andareclosedatnight。

Itiseasytoexplainthedeplorableprofanationpractisedonthismonumentoftheprivatelifeofthebourgeoisieoftheseventeenthcentury，bytheprivatelifeofthebourgeoisieofthenineteenth。AtthebeginningoftheConsulate，letussay，somemaster—masonhavingboughttheancientbuilding，tooktheideaofturningtoaccountthegroundwhichlaybetweenitandthestreet。Heprobablypulleddownthefineporte—cochereorentrancegate，flankedbylittlelodgeswhichguardedthecharming"sejour"（touseawordoftheoldentime），andproceeded，withtheindustryofaParisianproprietor，toimpresshiswitheringmarkontheeleganceoftheoldbuilding。Whatacuriousstudymightbemadeofthesuccessivetitle—deedsofpropertyinParis！AprivatelunaticasylumperformsitsfunctionsintheruedesBataillesintheformerdwellingoftheChevalierPierreBayardduTerrail，oncewithoutfearandwithoutreproach；astreethasnowbeenbuiltbythepresentbourgeoisadministrationthroughthesiteofthehotelNecker。OldParisisdeparting，followingitskingswhoabandonedit。ForonemasterpieceofarchitecturesavedfromdestructionbyaPolishprincess（thehotelLambert，IleSaint—Louis，boughtandoccupiedbythePrincessCzartoriska）howmanylittlepalaceshavefallen，likethisdwellingofPetitot，intothehandsofsuchasThuillier。

HerefollowsthecauseswhichmadeMademoiselleThuilliertheownerofthehouse。

CHAPTERII

THEHISTORYOFATYRANNY

AtthefalloftheVilleleministry，MonsieurLouis—JeromeThuillier，whohadthenseentwenty—sixyears’serviceasaclerkintheministryoffinance，becamesub—directorofadepartmentthereof；butscarcelyhadheenjoyedthesubalternauthorityofapositionformerlyhislowesthope，whentheeventsofJuly，1830，forcedhimtoresignit。

Hecalculated，shrewdlyenough，thathispensionwouldbehonorablyandreadilygivenbythenew—comers，gladtohaveanotherofficeattheirdisposal。Hewasright；forapensionofseventeenhundredfrancswaspaidtohimimmediately。

Whentheprudentsub—directorfirsttalkedofresigning，hissister，whowasfarmorethecompanionofhislifethanhiswife，trembledforhisfuture。

"WhatwillbecomeofThuillier？"wasaquestionwhichMadameandMademoiselleThuillierputtoeachotherwithmutualterrorintheirlittlelodgingonathirdflooroftherued’Argenteuil。

"Securinghispensionwilloccupyhimforatime，"MademoiselleThuilliersaidoneday；"butIamthinkingofinvestingmysavingsinawaythatwillcutoutworkforhim。Yes；itwillbesomethinglikeadministratingthefinancestomanageapieceofproperty。"

"Oh，sister！youwillsavehislife，"criedMadameThuillier。

"IhavealwayslookedforacrisisofthiskindinJerome’slife，"

repliedtheoldmaid，withaprotectingair。

MademoiselleThuillierhadtoooftenheardherbrotherremark："Suchaoneisdead；heonlysurvivedhisretirementtwoyears"；shehadtoooftenheardColleville，herbrother’sintimatefriend，agovernmentemployeelikehimself，say，jestingonthisclimactericofbureaucrats，"Weshallallcometoit，ourselves，"nottoappreciatethedangerherbrotherwasrunning。Thechangefromactivitytoleisureis，intruth，thecriticalperiodforgovernmentemployeesofallkinds。

Thoseofthemwhoknownothowtosubstitute，orperhapscannotsubstituteotheroccupationsfortheworktowhichtheyhavebeenaccustomed，changeinasingularmanner；somedieoutright；otherstaketofishing，thevacancyofthatamusementresemblingthatoftheirlateemploymentundergovernment；others，whoaresmartermen，dabbleinstocks，losetheirsavings，andarethankfultoobtainaplaceinsomeenterprisethatislikelytosucceed，afterafirstdisasterandliquidation，inthehandsofanablermanagement。Thelateclerkthenrubshishands，nowempty，andsaystohimself，"I

alwaysdidforeseethesuccessofthebusiness。"Butnearlyalltheseretiredbureaucratshavetofightagainsttheirformerhabits。

"Some，"Collevilleusedtosay，"arevictimstoasortof’spleen’

peculiartothegovernmentclerk；theydieofacheckedcirculation；ared—tapewormisintheirvitals。ThatlittlePoiretcouldn’tseethewell—knownwhitecartonwithoutchangingcoloratthebelovedsight；

heusedtoturnfromgreentoyellow。"

MademoiselleThuillierwasconsideredthemovingspiritofherbrother’shousehold；shewasnotwithoutdecisionandforceofcharacter，asthefollowinghistorywillshow。Thissuperiorityoverthosewhoimmediatelysurroundedherenabledhertojudgeherbrother，althoughsheadoredhim。Afterwitnessingthefailureofthehopesshehadsetuponheridol，shehadtoomuchrealmaternityinherfeelingforhimtoletherselfbemistakenastohissocialvalue。

Thuillierandhissisterwerechildrenoftheheadporterattheministryoffinance。Jeromehadescaped，thankstohisnear—

sightedness，alldraftsandconscriptions。Thefather’sambitionwastomakehissonagovernmentclerk。Atthebeginningofthiscenturythearmypresentedtoomanypostsnottoleavevariousvacanciesinthegovernmentoffices。AdeficiencyofminorofficialsenabledoldPereThuilliertohoisthissonupontheloweststepofthebureaucratichierarchy。Theoldmandiedin1814，leavingJeromeonthepointofbecomingsub—director，butwithnootherfortunethanthatprospect。TheworthyThuillierandhiswife（whodiedin1810）

hadretiredfromactiveservicein1806，withapensionastheironlymeansofsupport；havingspentwhatpropertytheyhadingivingJerometheeducationrequiredinthesedays，andinsupportingbothhimandhissister。

TheinfluenceoftheRestorationonthebureaucracyiswellknown。

FromthefortyandonesuppresseddepartmentsacrowdofhonorableemployeesreturnedtoPariswithnothingtodo，andclamorousforplacesinferiortothosetheyhadlatelyoccupied。TotheseacquiredrightswereaddedthoseofexiledfamiliesruinedbytheRevolution。

Pressedbetweenthetwofloods，Jeromethoughthimselfluckynottohavebeendismissedundersomefrivolouspretext。Hetrembleduntilthedaywhen，becomingbymerechancesub—director，hesawhimselfsecureofaretiringpension。ThiscursoryviewofmatterswillservetoexplainMonsieurThuillier’sverylimitedscopeandknowledge。HehadlearnedtheLatin，mathematics，history，andgeographythataretaughtinschools，buthenevergotbeyondwhatiscalledthesecondclass；hisfatherhavingpreferredtotakeadvantageofasuddenopportunitytoplacehimattheministry。So，whiletheyoungThuillierwasmakinghisfirstrecordsontheGrand—Livre，heoughttohavebeenstudyinghisrhetoricandphilosophy。

Whilegrindingtheministerialmachine，hehadnoleisuretocultivateletters，stilllessthearts；butheacquiredaroutineknowledgeofhisbusiness，andwhenhehadanopportunitytorise，undertheEmpire，tothesphereofsuperioremployees，heassumedasuperficialairofcompetencewhichconcealedthesonofaporter，thoughnoneofitrubbedintohismind。Hisignorance，however，taughthimtokeepsilence，andsilenceservedhimwell。Heaccustomedhimselftopractise，undertheimperialregime，apassiveobediencewhichpleasedhissuperiors；anditwastothisqualitythatheowedatalaterperiodhispromotiontotherankofsub—director。Hisroutinehabitsthenbecamegreatexperience；hismannersandhissilenceconcealedhislackofeducation，andhisabsolutenullitywasarecommendation，foracipherwasneeded。ThegovernmentwasafraidofdispleasingbothpartiesintheChamberbyselectingamanfromeitherside；itthereforegotoutofthedifficultybyresortingtotheruleofseniority。ThatishowThuillierbecamesub—director。MademoiselleThuillier，knowingthatherbrotherabhorredreading，andcouldsubstitutenobusinessforthebustleofapublicoffice，hadwiselyresolvedtoplungehimintothecaresofproperty，intothecultureofagarden，inshort，intoalltheinfinitelypettyconcernsandneighborhoodintrigueswhichmakeupthelifeofthebourgeoisie。

ThetransplantingoftheThuillierhouseholdfromtherued’ArgenteuiltotherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer，thebusinessofmakingthepurchase，offindingasuitableporter，andthenofobtainingtenantsoccupiedThuillierfrom1831to1832。Whenthephenomenonofthechangewasaccomplished，andthesistersawthatJeromehadborneitfairlywell，shefoundhimothercaresandoccupations（aboutwhichweshallhearlater），allbaseduponthecharacterofthemanhimself，astowhichitwillnowbeusefultogiveinformation。

Thoughthesonofaministerialporter，Thuillierwaswhatiscalledafineman，slenderinfigure，abovemiddleheight，andpossessingafacethatwasratheragreeableifwearinghisspectacles，butfrightfulwithoutthem；whichisfrequentlythecasewithnear—sightedpersons；forthehabitoflookingthroughglasseshascoveredthepupilsofhiseyeswithasortoffilm。

Betweentheagesofeighteenandthirty，youngThuillierhadmuchsuccessamongwomen，inaspherewhichbeganwiththelesserbourgeoisandendedinthatoftheheadsofdepartments。UndertheEmpire，warleftParisiansocietyratherdenudedofmenofenergy，whoweremostlyonthebattlefield；andperhaps，asagreatphysicianhassuggested，thismayaccountfortheflabbinessofthegenerationwhichoccupiesthemiddleofthenineteenthcentury。

Thuillier，forcedtomakehimselfnoticeablebyothercharmsthanthoseofmind，learnedtodanceandtowaltzinawaytobecited；hewascalled"thathandsomeThuillier"；heplayedbilliardstoperfection；heknewhowtocutoutlikenessesinblackpaper，andhisfriendCollevillecoachedhimsowellthathewasabletosingalltheballadsoftheday。Thesevarioussmallaccomplishmentsresultedinthatappearanceofsuccesswhichdeceivesyouthandbefogsitaboutthefuture。MademoiselleThuillier，from1806to1814，believedinherbrotherasMademoiselled’OrleansbelievedinLouis—Philippe。ShewasproudofJerome；sheexpectedtoseehimthedirector—generalofhisdepartmentoftheministry，thankstohissuccessesincertainsalons，where，undoubtedly，hewouldneverhavebeenadmittedbutforthecircumstanceswhichmadesocietyundertheEmpireamedley。

Butthesuccessesof"thathandsomeThuillier"wereusuallyofshortduration；womendidnotcaretokeephisdevotionanymorethanhedesiredtomakehisdevotioneternal。HewasreallyanunwillingDonJuan；thecareerofa"beau"weariedhimtothepointofaginghim；

hisface，coveredwithlineslikethatofanoldcoquette，lookedadozenyearsolderthantheregistersmadehim。Thereremainedtohimofallhissuccessesingallantry，ahabitoflookingathimselfinmirrors，ofbuttoninghiscoattodefinehiswaist，andofposinginvariousdancingattitudes；allofwhichprolonged，beyondtheperiodofenjoyinghisadvantages，thesortofleasethatheheldonhiscognomen，"thathandsomeThuillier。"

Thetruthof1806has，however，becomeafable，in1826。HeretainsafewvestigesoftheformercostumeofthebeauxoftheEmpire，whicharenotunbecomingtothedignityofaformersub—director。Hestillwearsthewhitecravatwithinnumerablefolds，whereinhischinisburied，andthecoquettishbow，formerlytiedbythehandsofbeauty，thetwoendsofwhichthreatendangertothepasserstorightandleft。Hefollowsthefashionsofformerdays，adaptingthemtohispresentneeds；hetipshishatonthebackofhishead，andwearsshoesandthreadstockingsinsummer；hislong—tailedcoatsremindoneofthewell—known"surtouts"oftheEmpire；hehasnotyetabandonedhisfrilledshirtsandhiswhitewaistcoats；hestillplayswithhisEmpireswitch，andholdshimselfsoerectthathisbackbendsin。Noone，seeingThuillierpromenadingontheboulevards，wouldtakehimforthesonofamanwhocookedthebreakfastsoftheclerksataministryandworetheliveryofLouisXVI。；heresemblesanimperialdiplomatistorasub—prefect。Now，notonlydidMademoiselleThuillierveryinnocentlyworkuponherbrother’sweakspotbyencouraginginhimanexcessivecareofhisperson，which，inher，wassimplyacontinuationofherworship，butshealsoprovidedhimwithfamilyjoys，bytransplantingtotheirmidstahouseholdwhichhadhithertobeenquasi—collateraltothem。

ItwasthatofMonsieurColleville，anintimatefriendofThuillier。

ButbeforeweproceedtodescribePyladesletusfinishwithOrestes，andexplainwhyThuillier——thathandsomeThuillier——wasleftwithoutafamilyofhisown——forthefamily，beitsaid，isnon—existentwithoutchildren。Hereinappearsoneofthosedeepmysterieswhichlieburiedinthearenaofprivatelife，afewshredsofwhichrisetothesurfaceatmomentswhenthepainofaconcealedsituationgrowspoignant。ThisconcernsthelifeofMadameandMademoiselleThuillier；

sofar，wehaveseenonlythelife（andwemaycallitthepubliclife）ofJeromeThuillier。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读