assist his family； even from the grave。 Such a name as your uncle's
is； and ought to be； a buckler against misfortune in a well…organized
scheme of society。 Follow in his path； you have started in it； I know；
continue in it。〃
〃Such delicate kindness cannot surprise me in my mother's friend；〃
said Victorin。 〃I will try to come up to all your hopes。〃
〃Go at once； and take comfort to your family。By the way；〃 added the
Prince； as he shook hands with Victorin； 〃your father has
disappeared？〃
〃Alas！ yes。〃
〃So much the better。 That unhappy man has shown his wit； in which；
indeed； he is not lacking。〃
〃There are bills of his to be met。〃
〃Well； you shall have six months' pay of your three appointments in
advance。 This pre…payment will help you； perhaps； to get the notes out
of the hands of the money…lender。 And I will see Nucingen； and perhaps
may succeed in releasing your father's pension； pledged to him；
without its costing you or our office a sou。 The peer has not killed
the banker in Nucingen； he is insatiable； he wants some concession。I
know not what〃
So on his return to the Rue Plumet； Victorin could carry out his plan
of lodging his mother and sister under his roof。
The young lawyer； already famous； had； for his sole fortune； one of
the handsomest houses in Paris； purchased in 1834 in preparation for
his marriage； situated on the boulevard between the Rue de la Paix and
the Rue Louis…le…Grand。 A speculator had built two houses between the
boulevard and the street； and between these； with the gardens and
courtyards to the front and back； there remained still standing a
splendid wing； the remains of the magnificent mansion of the
Verneuils。 The younger Hulot had purchased this fine property； on the
strength of Mademoiselle Crevel's marriage…portion； for one million
francs； when it was put up to auction； paying five hundred thousand
down。 He lived on the ground floor； expecting to pay the remainder out
of letting the rest； but though it is safe to speculate in house…
property in Paris； such investments are capricious or hang fire；
depending on unforeseen circumstances。
As the Parisian lounger may have observed； the boulevard between the
Rue de la Paix and the Rue Louis…le…Grand prospered but slowly； it
took so long to furbish and beautify itself； that trade did not set up
its display there till 1840the gold of the money…changers； the
fairy…work of fashion； and the luxurious splendor of shop…fronts。
In spite of two hundred thousand francs given by Crevel to his
daughter at the time when his vanity was flattered by this marriage；
before the Baron had robbed him of Josepha； in spite of the two
hundred thousand francs paid off by Victorin in the course of seven
years； the property was still burdened with a debt of five hundred
thousand francs； in consequence of Victorin's devotion to his father。
Happily； a rise in rents and the advantages of the situation had at
this time improved the value of the houses。 The speculation was
justifying itself after eight years' patience； during which the lawyer
had strained every nerve to pay the interest and some trifling amounts
of the capital borrowed。
The tradespeople were ready to offer good rents for the shops； on
condition of being granted leases for eighteen years。 The dwelling
apartments rose in value by the shifting of the centre in Paris life
henceforth transferred to the region between the Bourse and the
Madeleine； now the seat of the political power and financial authority
in Paris。 The money paid to him by the Minister； added to a year's
rent in advance and the premiums paid by his tenants； would finally
reduce the outstanding debt to two hundred thousand francs。 The two
houses； if entirely let； would bring in a hundred thousand francs a
year。 Within two years more； during which the Hulots could live on his
salaries； added to by the Marshal's investments； Victorin would be in
a splendid position。
This was manna from heaven。 Victorin could give up the first floor of
his own house to his mother； and the second to Hortense； excepting two
rooms reserved for Lisbeth。 With Cousin Betty as the housekeeper； this
compound household could bear all these charges； and yet keep up a
good appearance； as beseemed a pleader of note。 The great stars of the
law…courts were rapidly disappearing； and Victorin Hulot； gifted with
a shrewd tongue and strict honesty； was listened to by the Bench and
Councillors； he studied his cases thoroughly； and advanced nothing
that he could not prove。 He would not hold every brief that offered；
in fact； he was a credit to the bar。
The Baroness' home in the Rue Plumet had become so odious to her； that
she allowed herself to be taken to the Rue Louis…le…Grand。 Thus； by
her son's care； Adeline occupied a fine apartment； she was spared all
the daily worries of life； for Lisbeth consented to begin again；
working wonders of domestic economy； such as she had achieved for
Madame Marneffe； seeing here a way of exerting her silent vengeance on
those three noble lives； the object； each； of her hatred； which was
kept growing by the overthrow of all her hopes。
Once a month she went to see Valerie； sent； indeed； by Hortense； who
wanted news of Wenceslas； and by Celestine； who was seriously uneasy
at the acknowledged and well…known connection between her father and a
woman to whom her mother…in…law and sister…in…law owed their ruin and
their sorrows。 As may be supposed； Lisbeth took advantage of this to
see Valerie as often as possible。
Thus； about twenty months passed by； during which the Baroness
recovered her health； though her palsied trembling never left her。 She
made herself familiar with her duties； which afforded her a noble
distraction from her sorrow and constant food for the divine goodness
of her heart。 She also regarded it as an opportunity for finding her
husband in the course of one of those expeditions which took her into
every part of Paris。
During this time； Vauvinet had been paid； and the pension of six
thousand francs was almost redeemed。 Victorin could maintain his
mother as well as Hortense out of the ten thousand francs interest on
the money left by Marshal Hulot in trust for them。 Adeline's salary
amounted to six thousand francs a year； and this； added to the Baron's
pension when it was freed； would presently secure an income of twelve
thousand francs a year to the mother and daughter。
Thus； the poor woman would have been almost happy but for her
perpetual anxieties as to the Baron's fate； for she longed to have him
with her to share the improved fortunes that smiled on the family； and
but for the constant sight of her forsaken daughter； and but for the
terrible thrusts constantly and /unconsciously/ dealt her by Lisbeth；
whose diabolical character had free course。
A scene which took place at the beginning of the month of March 1843
will show the results of Lisbeth's latent and persistent hatred； still
seconded； as she always was； by Madame Marneffe。
Two great events had occurred in the Marneffe household。 In the first
place； Valerie had given birth to a still…born child； whose little
coffin had cost her two thousand francs a year。 And then； as to
Marneffe himself； eleven months since； this is the report given by
Lisbeth to the Hulot family one day on her return from a visit of
discovery at the hotel Marneffe。
〃This morning；〃 said she； 〃that dreadful Valerie sent for Doctor
Bianchon to ask whether the medical men who had condemned her husband
yesterday had made no mistake。 Bianchon pronounced that to…night at
the latest that horrible creature will depart to the torments that
await him。 Old Crevel and Madame Marneffe saw the doctor out； and your
father； my dear Celestine； gave him five gold pieces for his good
news。
〃When he came back into the drawing…room； Crevel cut capers like a
dancer； he embraced that woman； exclaiming； 'Then； at last； you will
be Madame Crevel！'And to me； when she had gone back to her husband's
bedside； for he was at his last gasp； your noble father said to me；
'With Valerie as my wife； I can become a peer of France！ I shall buy
an estate I have my eye onPresles； which Madame de Serizy wants to
sell。 I shall be Crevel de Presles； member of the Common Council of
Seine…et…Oise； and Deputy。 I shall have a son！ I shall be everything I
have ever wished to be。''Heh！' said I； 'and what about your
daughter？''Bah！' says he； 'she is only a woman！ And she is quite too
much of a Hulot。 Valerie has a horror of them all。My son…in…law has
never chosen to come to this house； why has he given himself such airs
as a Mentor； a Spartan； a Puritan； a philanthropist？ Besides； I have
squared accounts with my daughter； she has had all her mother's
fortune； and two hundred thousand francs to that。 So I am free to act
as I please。I shall judge of my son…in…law and Celestine by their
conduct on my marriage； as they behave； so shall I。 If they are nice
to their stepmother； I will receive them。 I am a man； after all！'In
short； all this rhodomontade！ And an attitude like Napoleon on the
column。〃
The ten months' widowhood insisted on by the law had now elapsed some
few days since。 The estate of Pre