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of the woman whom we have just seen entering his office； who daily
attended the church at； as Dorine says； his 〃special hour。〃 Could it
be for love？ That explanation was scarcely compatible with the
maturity and the saintly； beatific air of this person； who； beneath a
plain cap； called 〃a la Janseniste；〃 by which fervent female souls of
that sect were recognized； affected； like a nun； to hide her hair。 On
the other hand； the rest of her clothing was of a neatness that was
almost dainty； and the gold cross at her throat； suspended by a black
velvet ribbon； excluded the idea of humble and hesitating mendicity。
The morning of the day on which the dinner at the Rocher de Cancale
was to take place； la Peyrade； weary of a performance which had ended
by preoccupying his mind； went up to the woman and asked her
pointblank if she had any request to make of him。
〃Monsieur；〃 she answered； in a tone of solemnity； 〃is； I think； the
celebrated Monsieur de la Peyrade； the advocate of the poor？〃
〃I am la Peyrade； and I have had； it is true； an opportunity to render
services to the indigent persons of this quarter。〃
〃Would it； then； be asking too much of monsieur's goodness that he
should suffer me to consult him？〃
〃This place；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃is not well chosen for such
consultation。 What you have to say to me seems important； to judge by
the length of time you have been hesitating to speak to me。 I live
near here； rue Saint…Dominique d'Enfer； and if you will take the
trouble to come to my office〃
〃It will not annoy monsieur？〃
〃Not in the least； my business is to hear clients。〃
〃At what hourlest I disturb monsieur？〃
〃When you choose； I shall be at home all the morning。〃
〃Then I will hear another mass； at which I can take the communion。 I
did not dare to do so at this mass； for the thought of speaking to
monsieur so distracted my mind。 I will be at monsieur's house by eight
o'clock； when I have ended my meditation； if that hour does not
inconvenience him。〃
〃No； but there is no necessity for all this ceremony；〃 replied la
Peyrade； with some impatience。
Perhaps a little professional jealousy inspired his ill…humor； for it
was evident that he had to do with an antagonist who was capable of
giving him points。
At the hour appointed； not a minute before nor a minute after； the
pious woman rang the bell； and the barrister having； not without some
difficulty； induced her to sit down； he requested her to state her
case。 She was then seized with that delaying little cough with which
we obtain a respite when brought face to face with a difficult
subject。 At last； however； she compelled herself to approach the
object of her visit。
〃It is to ask monsieur；〃 she said； 〃if he would be so very good as to
inform me whether it is true that a charitable gentleman； now
deceased； has bequeathed a fund to reward domestic servants who are
faithful to their masters。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied la Peyrade； 〃that is to say； Monsieur de Montyon
founded 'prizes for virtue；' which are frequently given to zealous and
exemplary domestic servants。 But ordinary good conduct is not
sufficient； there must be some act or acts of great devotion； and
truly Christian self…abnegation。〃
〃Religion enjoins humility upon us；〃 replied the pious woman； 〃and
therefore I dare not praise myself； but inasmuch as for the last
twenty years I have lived in the service of an old man of the dullest
description； a savant； who has wasted his substance on inventions； so
that I myself have had to feed and clothe him； persons have thought
that I am not altogether undeserving of that prize。〃
〃It is certainly under such conditions that the Academy selects its
candidates；〃 said la Peyrade。 〃What is your master's name？〃
〃Pere Picot； he is never called otherwise in our quarter； sometimes he
goes out into the streets as if dressed for the carnival； and all the
little children crowd about him； calling out： 'How d'ye do； Pere
Picot！ Good…morning； Pere Picot！' But that's how it is； he takes no
care of his dignity； he goes about full of his own ideas； and though I
kill myself trying to give him appetizing food； if you ask him what he
has had for his dinner he can't tell you。 Yet he's a man full of
ability； and he has taught good pupils。 Perhaps monsieur knows young
Phellion； a professor in the College of Saint…Louis； he was one of his
scholars； and he comes to see him very often。〃
〃Then；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃your master is a mathematician？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； mathematics have been his bane； they have flung him
into a set of ideas which don't seem to have any common…sense in them
ever since he has been employed at the Observatory； near here。〃
〃Well；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃you must bring testimony proving your long
devotion to this old man； and I will then draw up a memorial to the
Academy and take the necessary steps to present it。〃
〃How good monsieur is！〃 said the pious woman； clasping her hands； 〃and
if he would also let me tell him of a little difficulty〃
〃What is it？〃
〃They tell me； monsieur； that to get this prize persons must be really
very poor。〃
〃Not exactly； still； the Academy does endeavor to choose whose who are
in straitened circumstances； and who have made sacrifices too heavy
for their means。〃
〃Sacrifices！ I think I may indeed say I have made sacrifices； for the
little property I inherited from my parents has all been spent in
keeping the old man； and for fifteen years I have had no wages； which；
at three hundred francs a year and compound interest； amount now to a
pretty little sum； as monsieur； I am sure； will agree。〃
At the words 〃compound interest；〃 which evidenced a certain amount of
financial culture； la Peyrade looked at this Antigone with increased
attention。
〃In short；〃 he said； 〃your difficulty is〃
〃Monsieur will not think it strange；〃 replied the saintly person； 〃that
a very rich uncle dying in England； who had never done anything for
his family in his lifetime； should have left me twenty…five thousand
francs。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the barrister； 〃there's nothing in that but what is
perfectly natural and proper。〃
〃But； monsieur； I have been told that the possession of this money
will prevent the judges from considering my claims to the prize。〃
〃Possibly； because seeing you in possession of a little competence；
the sacrifices which you apparently intend to continue in favor of
your master will be less meritorious。〃
〃I shall never abandon him； poor； dear man； in spite of his faults；
though I know that this poor little legacy which Heaven has given me
is in the greatest danger from him。〃
〃How so？〃 asked la Peyrade； with some curiosity。
〃Eh！ monsieur； let him only get wind of that money； and he'd snap it
up at a mouthful； it would all go into his inventions of perpetual
motion and other machines of various kinds which have already ruined
him； and me； too。〃
〃Then；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃your desire is that this legacy should
remain completely unknown； not only to your master but to the judges
of the Academy？〃
〃How clever monsieur is； and how well he understands things！〃 she
replied； smiling。
〃And also；〃 continued the barrister； 〃you don't want to keep that
money openly in your possession？〃
〃For fear my master should find it out and get it away from me？
Exactly。 Besides； as monsieur will understand； I shouldn't be sorry；
in order to supply the poor dear man with extra comforts； that the sum
should bear interest。〃
〃And the highest possible interest；〃 said the barrister。
〃Oh！ as for that； monsieur； five or six per cent。〃
〃Very good； then it is not only about the memorial to the Academy for
the prize of virtue； but also about an investment of your legacy that
you have so long been desirous of consulting me？〃
〃Monsieur is so kind； so charitable； so encouraging！〃
〃The memorial； after I have made a few inquiries； will be easy enough；
but an investment； offering good security； the secret of which you
desire to keep； is much less readily obtained。〃
〃Ah！ if I dared to〃 said the pious woman； humbly。
〃What？〃 asked la Peyrade。
〃Monsieur understands me？〃
〃I？ not the least in the world。〃
〃And yet I prayed earnestly just now that monsieur might be willing to
keep this money for me。 I should feel such confidence if it were in
his hands； I know he would return it to me； and never speak of it。〃
La Peyrade gathered； at this instant； the fruit of his comedy of legal
devotion to the necessitous classes。 The choir of porters chanting his
praises to the skies could alone have inspired this servant…woman with
the boundless confidence of which he found himself the object。 His
thoughts reverted instantly to Dutocq and his notes； and he was not
far from thinking that this woman had been sent to him by Providence。
But the more he was inclined to profit by this chance to win his
independence； the more he felt the necessity of seeming to yield only
to her importunity； consequently his objections were many。
Moreover； he had no great belief in the character of his client； and
did not care； as the common saying is； to uncover Saint Peter to cover
Saint Paul； in other words； to substitute for a creditor who； aft