publisher？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； then； Monsieur Bernard； before I can say how much I can /give/
over what those other gentlemen /offer/； I must know the terms on
which you stand with them。〃
〃That is fair；〃 said Monsieur Bernard； who seemed rather pleased to
find himself the object of a competition by which he might profit。 〃Do
you know what my work is？〃
〃No； I only know it is a good enterprise from a business point of
view。〃
〃It is only half…past nine； my daughter has breakfasted； and Cartier
will not bring the flowers for an hour or more； we have time to talk；
MonsieurMonsieur who？〃
〃Godefroid。〃
〃Monsieur Godefroid； the work in question was projected by me in 1825；
at the time when the ministry； being alarmed by the persistent
destruction of landed estates； proposed that law of primogeniture
which was； you will remember； defeated。 I had remarked certain
imperfections in our codes and in the fundamental institutions of
France。 Our codes have often been the subject of important works； but
those works were all from the point of view of jurisprudence。 No one
had even ventured to consider the work of the Revolution； or （if you
prefer it） of Napoleon； as a whole； no one had studied the spirit of
those laws； and judged them in their application。 That is the main
purpose of my work； it is entitled； provisionally； 'The Spirit of the
New Laws；' it includes organic laws as well as codes； all codes； for
we have many more than five codes。 Consequently； my work is in several
volumes； six in all； the last being a volume of citations； notes； and
references。 It will take me now about three months to finish it。 The
proprietor of this house； a former publisher； of whom I made a few
inquiries； perceived； scented I may say； the chance of a speculation。
I； in the first instance； thought only of doing a service to my
country； and not of my own profit。 Well； this Barbet has circumvented
me。 You will ask me how it was possible for a publisher to get the
better of a magistrate； a man who knows the laws。 Well； it was in this
way： You know my history； Barbet is an usurer； he has the keen glance
and the shrewd action of that breed of men。 His money was always at my
heels to help me over my worst needs。 Strange to say； on the days I
was most defenceless against despair he happened to appear。〃
〃No； no； my dear Monsieur Bernard；〃 said Godefroid； 〃he had a spy in
Madame Vauthier； she told him when you needed money。 But the terms；
the conditions？ Tell them to me briefly。〃
〃He has lent me from time to time fifteen hundred francs； for which I
have signed three notes of a thousand francs each； and those notes are
secured by a sort of mortgage on the copyright of my book； so that I
cannot sell my book unless I pay off those notes； and the notes are
now protested；he has taken the matter into court and obtained a
judgment against me。 Such are the complications of poverty！ At the
lowest valuation； the first edition of my great work； a work
representing ten years' toil and thirty…six years' experience； is
fully worth ten thousand francs。 Well； ten days ago Morand proposed to
give me three thousand francs and my notes cancelled for the entire
rights in perpetuity。 Now as it is not possible for me to refund the
amount of my notes and interest； namely； three thousand two hundred
and forty francs； I must；unless you intend to step between those
usurers and me；I must yield to them。 They are not content with my
word of honor； they first obtained the notes； then they had them
protested； and now I am threatened with arrest for debt。 If I could
manage to pay them back； those scoundrels would have doubled their
money。 If I accept their terms they will make a fortune out of my book
and I shall get almost nothing； one of them is a paper…maker； and God
knows how they may keep down the costs of publication。 They will have
my name； and that alone will sell ten thousand copies for them。〃
〃But； monsieur； how could you； a former magistrate！〃
〃How could I help it？ Not a friend； not a claim that I could make！ And
yet I saved many heads； if I made some fall！ And； then； my daughter；
my daughter！ whose nurse I am； whose companion I must be； so that I
can work but a few hours snatched from sleep。 Ah； young man！ none but
the wretched can judge the wretched！ Sometimes I think I used to be
too stern to misery。〃
〃Monsieur； I do not ask your name。 I cannot provide three thousand
francs； especially if I pay Halpersohn and your lesser debts； but I
will save you if you will promise me not to part with your book
without letting me know。 It is impossible for me to arrange a matter
as important as this without consulting others。 My backers are
powerful； and I can promise you success if you； in return； will
promise me absolute secrecy； even to your children； and keep your
promise。〃
〃The only success I care for is the recovery of my poor Vanda； for
such sufferings as hers extinguish every other feeling in a father's
heart。 As for fame； what is that to one who sees an open grave before
him？〃
〃I will come and see you this evening； they expect Halpersohn at any
time； and I shall go there day after day until I find him。〃
〃Ah； monsieur！ if you should be the cause of my daughter's recovery； I
would like；yes； I would like to give you my work！〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Godefroid； 〃I am not a publisher。〃
The old man started with surprise。
〃I let that old Vauthier think so in order to discover the traps they
were laying for you。〃
〃Then who are you？〃
〃Godefroid；〃 replied the initiate； 〃and since you allow me to offer
you enough to make the pot boil； you can call me； if you like；
Godefroid de Bouillon。〃
The old man was far too moved to laugh at a joke。 He held out his hand
to Godefroid； and pressed that which the young man gave him in return。
〃You wish to keep your incognito？〃 he said； looking at Godefroid
sadly； with some uneasiness。
〃If you will allow it。〃
〃Well； as you will。 Come to…night； and you shall see my daughter if
her condition permits。〃
This was evidently a great concession in the eyes of the poor father；
and he had the satisfaction of seeing； by the look on Godefroid's
face； that it was understood。
An hour later； Cartier returned with a number of beautiful flowering
plants； which he placed himself in the jardinieres； covering them with
fresh moss。 Godefroid paid his bill； also that of the circulating
library； which was brought soon after。 Books and flowers！these were
the daily bread of this poor invalid； this tortured creature； who was
satisfied with so little。
As he thought of this family； coiled by misfortunes like that of the
Laocoon （sublime image of so many lives）； Godefroid； who was now on
his way on foot to the rue Marbeuf； was conscious in his heart of more
curiosity than benevolence。 This sick woman； surrounded by luxury in
the midst of such direful poverty； made him forget the horrible
details of the strangest of all nervous disorders； which is happily
rare； though recorded by a few historians。 One of our most gossiping
chroniclers； Tallemant des Reaux； cites an instance of it。 The mind
instinctively pictures a woman as being elegant in the midst of her
worst sufferings； and Godefroid let himself dwell on the pleasure of
entering that chamber where none but the father； son； and doctor had
been admitted for six years。 Nevertheless； he ended by blaming himself
for his curiosity。 He even felt that the sentiment； natural as it was；
would cease as he went on exercising his beneficent ministry； from the
mere fact of seeing more distressed homes and many sorrows。
Such agents do reach in time a divine serenity which nothing surprises
or confounds； just as in love we come to the divine quietude of that
emotion； sure of its strength； sure of its lastingness； through our
constant experience of its pains and sweetnesses。
Godefroid was told that Halpersohn had returned during the night； but
had been obliged to go out at once to visit patients who were awaiting
him。 The porter told Godefroid to come the next day before nine
o'clock in the morning。
Remembering Monsieur Alain's injunction to parsimony in his personal
expenses； Godefroid dined for twenty…five sous in the rue de Tournon；
and was rewarded for his abnegation by finding himself in the midst of
compositors and pressmen。 He heard a discussion on costs of
manufacturing； and learned that an edition of one thousand copies of
an octavo volume of forty sheets did not cost more than thirty sous a
copy； in the best style of printing。 He resolved to ascertain the
price at which publishers of law books sold their volumes； so as to be
prepared for a discussion with the men who held Monsieur Bernard in
their clutches if he should have to meet them。
Towards seven in the evening he returned to the boulevard du Mont…
Parnasse； by way of the rue de Vaugiraud and the rue de l'Ouest； and
he saw then how deserted the quarter was； for he met no one。 It is
true that the cold was rigorous； and the snow fell in great flakes；
the wheels of the carriages making no noise upon the pavements。
〃Ah； here you are； monsieur！〃 said Madame Vauthier。 〃If I had known
you were coming home so early I would have made your fire。〃
〃I don't want one；〃 said Godefroid； seeing that the widow followed
him。 〃I shall spend the evening in Monsieur Bernard's apartment。〃
〃Well； well！ you must be his cousin； if you are hand and glove like
that！ Perhaps monsieur will finish now the little conversation we
began。〃
〃Ah； yes！about that four hundred francs。 Look here； my good Madame
Vauthier； you are trying to see which way the cat jumps； and you'll
tumble yourself between two stools。 As for me； you have betrayed me；
and made me miss the whole affair。〃
〃Now； don't think that； my dear monsieur。 To…morrow； while you
breakfast〃
〃To…morrow I shall not breakfast here。 I am going out； like your
authors； at cock…crow。〃
Godefroid's antecedents； his life as a man of the world and a
journalist； served him in this； that he felt quite sure； unless he
took this tone； that Barbet's spy would warn the old publisher of
danger； and probably lead to active measures under which Monsieur
Bernard woul