〃You　can　pay　off　those　notes。〃
  At　a　single　glance　the　shrewd　attorney　had　comprehended　the　whole
  scheme　of　the　barrister。
  CHAPTER　XIV
  ONE　OF　CERIZET'S　FEMALE　CLIENTS
  The　next　morning；　at　daybreak；　Theodose　went　to　the　office　of　the
  banker　of　the　poor；　to　see　the　effect　produced　upon　his　enemy　by　the
  punctual　payment　of　the　night　before；　and　to　make　another　effort　to
  get　rid　of　his　hornet。
  He　found　Cerizet　standing　up；　in　conference　with　a　woman；　and　he
  received　an　imperative　sign　to　keep　at　a　distance　and　not　to　interrupt
  the　interview。　The　barrister　was　therefore　reduced　to　conjectures　as
  to　the　importance　of　this　woman；　an　importance　revealed　by　the　eager
  look　on　the　face　of　the　lender　〃by　the　little　week。〃　Theodose　had　a
  presentiment；　though　a　very　vague　one；　that　the　upshot　of　this
  conference　would　have　some　influence　on　Cerizet's　own　arrangements；
  for　he　suddenly　beheld　on　that　crafty　countenance　the　change　produced
  by　a　dawning　hope。
  〃But；　my　dear　mamma　Cardinal〃
  〃Yes；　my　good　monsieur〃
  〃What　is　it　you　want？〃
  〃It　must　be　decided〃
  These　beginnings；　or　these　ends　of　sentences　were　the　only　gleams　of
  light　that　the　animated　conversation；　carried　on　in　the　lowest　tones
  with　lip　to　ear　and　ear　to　lip；　conveyed　to　the　motionless　witness；
  whose　attention　was　fixed　on　Madame　Cardinal。
  Madame　Cardinal　was　one　of　Cerizet's　earliest　clients；　she　peddled
  fish。　If　Parisians　know　these　creations　peculiar　to　their　soil；
  foreigners　have　no　suspicion　of　their　existence；　and　Mere　Cardinal
  technologically　speaking；　of　course；　deserved　all　the　interest　she
  excited　in　Theodose。　So　many　women　of　her　species　may　be　met　with　in
  the　streets　that　the　passers…by　give　them　no　more　attention　than　they
  give　to　the　three　thousand　pictures　of　the　Salon。　But　as　she　stood　in
  Cerizet's　office　the　Cardinal　had　all　the　value　of　an　isolated
  masterpiece；　she　was　a　complete　and　perfect　type　of　her　species。
  The　woman　was　mounted　on　muddy　sabots；　but　her　feet；　carefully　wrapped
  in　gaiters；　were　still　further　protected　by　stout　and　thick…ribbed
  stockings。　Her　cotton　gown；　adorned　with　a　glounce　of　mud；　bore　the
  imprint　of　the　strap　which　supported　the　fish…basket。　Her　principal
  garment　was　a　shawl　of　what　was　called　〃rabbit's…hair　cashmere；〃　the
  two　ends　of　which　were　knotted　behind；　above　her　bustlefor　we　must
  needs　employ　a　fashionable　word　to　express　the　effect　produced　by　the
  transversal　pressure　of　the　basket　upon　her　petticoats；　which
  projected　below　it；　in　shape　like　a　cabbage。　A　printed　cotton
  neckerchief；　of　the　coarsest　description；　gave　to　view　a　red　neck；
  ribbed　and　lined　like　the　surface　of　a　pond　where　people　have　skated。
  Her　head　was　covered　in　a　yellow　silk　foulard；　twined　in　a　manner　that
  was　rather　picturesque。　Short　and　stout；　and　ruddy　of　skin；　Mere
  Cardinal　probably　drank　her　little　drop　of　brandy　in　the　morning。　She
  had　once　been　handsome。　The　Halle　had　formerly　reproached　her；　in　the
  boldness　of　its　figurative　speech；　for　doing　〃a　double　day's…work　in
  the　twenty…four。〃　Her　voice；　in　order　to　reduce　itself　to　the　diapason
  of　ordinary　conversation；　was　obliged　to　stifle　its　sound　as　other
  voices　do　in　a　sick…room；　but　at　such　times　it　came　thick　and　muffled；
  from　a　throat　accustomed　to　send　to　the　farthest　recesses　of　the
  highest　garret　the　names　of　the　fish　in　their　season。　Her　nose；　a　la
  Roxelane；　her　well…cut　lips；　her　blue　eyes；　and　all　that　formerly　made
  up　her　beauty；　was　now　buried　in　folds　of　vigorous　flesh　which　told　of
  the　habits　and　occupations　of　an　outdoor　life。　The　stomach　and　bosom
  were　distinguished　for　an　amplitude　worthy　of　Rubens。
  〃Do　you　want　to　make　me　lie　in　the　straw？〃　she　said　to　Cerizet。　〃What
  do　I　care　for　the　Toupilliers？　Ain't　I　a　Toupillier　myself？　What　do
  you　want　to　do　with　them；　those　Toupilliers？〃
  This　savage　outburst　was　hastily　repressed　by　Cerizet；　who　uttered　a
  prolonged　〃Hush…sh！〃　such　as　all　conspirators　obey。
  〃Well；　go　and　find　out　all　you　can　about　it；　and　come　back　to　me；〃
  said　Cerizet；　pushing　the　woman　toward　the　door；　and　whispering；　as　he
  did　so；　a　few　words　in　her　ear。
  〃Well；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Theodose　to　Cerizet；　〃you　have　got　your
  money？〃
  〃Yes；〃　returned　Cerizet　〃we　have　measured　our　claws；　they　are　the　same
  length；　the　same　strength；　and　the　same　sharpness。　What　next？〃
  〃Am　I　to　tell　Dutocq　that　you　received；　last　night；　twenty…five
  thousand　francs？〃
  〃Oh！　my　dear　friend；　not　a　word；　if　you　love　me！〃　cried　Cerizet。
  〃Listen；〃　said　Theodose。　〃I　must　know；　once　for　all；　what　you　want。　I
  am　positively　determined　not　to　remain　twenty…four　hours　longer　on　the
  gridiron　where　you　have　got　me。　Cheat　Dutocq　if　you　will；　I　am　utterly
  indifferent　to　that；　but　I　intend　that　you　and　I　shall　come　to　an
  understanding。　It　is　a　fortune　that　I　have　paid　you；　twenty…five
  thousand　francs；　and　you　must　have　earned　ten　thousand　more　in　your
  business；　it　is　enough　to　make　you　an　honest　man。　Cerizet；　if　you　will
  leave　me　in　peace；　if　you　won't　prevent　my　marriage　with　Mademoiselle
  Colleville；　I　shall　certainly　be　king's　attorney…general；　or　something
  of　that　kind　in　Paris。　You　can't　do　better　than　make　sure　of　an
  influence　in　that　sphere。〃
  〃Here　are　my　conditions；　and　they　won't　allow　of　discussion；　you　can
  take　them　or　leave　them。　You　will　obtain　for　me　the　lease　of
  Thuillier's　new　house　for　eighteen　years；　and　I'll　hand　you　back　one
  of　your　five　notes　cancelled；　and　you　shall　not　find　me　any　longer　in
  your　way。　But　you　will　have　to　settle　with　Dutocq　for　the　remaining
  four　notes。　You　got　the　better　of　ME；　and　I　know　Dutocq　hasn't　the
  force　to　stand　against　you。〃
  〃I'll　agree　to　that；　provided　you'll　pay　a　rent　of　forty…eight
  thousand　francs　for　the　house；　the　last　year　in　advance；　and　begin　the
  lease　in　October。〃
  〃Yes；　but　I　shall　not　give　for　the　last　year's　rent　more　than　forty…
  three　thousand　francs；　your　note　will　pay　the　remainder。　I　have　seen
  the　house；　and　examined　it。　It　suits　me　very　well。〃
  〃One　last　condition；〃　said　Theodose；　〃you'll　help　me　against　Dutocq？〃
  〃No；〃　said　Cerizet；　〃you'll　cook　him　brown　yourself；　he　doesn't　need
  any　basting　from　me；　he'll　give　out　his　gravy　fast　enough。　But　you
  ought　to　be　reasonable。　The　poor　fellow　can't　pay　off　the　last　fifteen
  thousand　francs　due　on　his　practice；　and　you　should　reflect　that
  fifteen　thousand　francs　would　certainly　buy　back　your　notes。〃
  〃Well；　give　me　two　weeks　to　get　your　lease〃
  〃No；　not　a　day　later　than　Monday　next！　Tuesday　your　notes　will　be　in
  Louchard's　hands；　unless　you　pay　them　Monday；　or　Thuillier　signs　the
  lease。〃
  〃Well；　Monday；　so　be　it！〃　said　Theodose；　〃are　we　friends？〃
  〃We　shall　be　Monday；〃　responded　Cerizet。
  〃Well；　then；　Monday　you'll　pay　for　my　dinner；〃　said　Theodose；
  laughing。
  〃Yes；　at　the　Rocher　de　Cancale；　if　I　have　the　lease。　Dutocq　shall　be
  therewe'll　all　be　thereah！　it　is　long　since　I've　had　a　good
  laugh。〃
  Theodose　and　Cerizet　shook　hands；　saying；　reciprocally：
  〃We'll　meet　soon。〃
  Cerizet　had　not　calmed　down　so　suddenly　without　reasons。　In　the　first
  place；　as　Desroches　once　said；　〃Bile　does　not　facilitate　business；〃
  and　the　usurer　had　too　well　seen　the　justice　of　that　remark　not　to
  coolly　resolve　to　get　something　out　of　his　position；　and　to　squeeze
  the　jugular　vein　of　the　crafty　Provencal　until　he　strangled　him。
  〃It　is　a　fair　revenge；〃　Desroches　said　to　him；　〃mind　you　extract　its
  quintessence。　You　hold　that　fellow。〃
  For　ten　years　past　Cerizet　had　seen　men　growing　rich　by　practising　the
  trade　of　principal　tenant。　The　principal　tenant　is；　in　Paris；　to　the
  owners　of　houses　what　farmers　are　to　country　landlords。　All　Paris　has
  seen　one　of　its　great　tailors；　building　at　his　own　cost；　on　the　famous
  site　of　Frascati；　one　of　the　most　sumptuous　of　houses；　and　paying；　as
  principal　tenant；　fifty　thousand　francs　a　year　for　the　ground　rent　of
  the　house；　which；　at　the　end　of　nineteen　years'　lease；　was　to　become
  the　property　of　the　owner　of　the　land。　In　spite　of　the　costs　of
  construction；　which　were　something　like　seven　hundred　thousand　francs；
  the　profits　of　those　nineteen　years　proved；　in　the　end；　very　large。
  Cerizet；　always　on　the　watch　for　business；　had　examined　the　chances
  for　gain　offered　by　the　situation　of　the　house　which　Thuillier　had
  STOLEN；as　he　said　to　Desroches；and　he　had　seen　the　possibility　of
  letting　it　for　sixty　thousand　at　the　end　of　six　years。　There　were　four
  shops；　two　on　each　side；　for　it　stood　on　a　boulevard　corner。　Cerizet
  expected；　therefore；　to　get　clear　ten　thousand　a　year　for　a　dozen
  years；　allowing　for　eventualities　and　sundries　attendant　on　renewal　of
  leases。　He　therefore　proposed　to　himself　to　sell　his　money…lending
  business　to　the　widow　Poiret　and　Cadenet　for　ten　thousand　francs；　he
  already　possessed　thirty　thousand；　and　the　two　together　would　enable
  him　to　pay　the　last　year's　rent　in　advance；　which　house…owners　in
  Paris　usually　demand　as　a　guarantee　from　a　principal　tenant　on　a　long
  lease。　Cerizet　had　spent　a　happy　night；　he　fell　asleep　in　a　glorious
  dream；　he　saw　himself　in　a　fair　way　to　do　an　honest　business；　and　to
  become　a　bourgeois　like　Thuillier；　like　Minard；　and　so　many　others。
  But　he　had　a　waking　o