Utterly scared by the ups and downs of industry； she refused the
Baron's offers of help； and he thought she must be mad。 She confirmed
this opinion by quarreling with Monsieur Rivet； who bought the
business of Pons Brothers； and with whom the Baron wished to place her
in partnership； she would be no more than a workwoman。 Thus the
Fischer family had relapsed into the precarious mediocrity from which
Baron Hulot had raised it。
The three brothers Fischer； who had been ruined by the abdication at
Fontainebleau； in despair joined the irregular troops in 1815。 The
eldest； Lisbeth's father； was killed。 Adeline's father； sentenced to
death by court…martial； fled to Germany； and died at Treves in 1820。
Johann； the youngest； came to Paris； a petitioner to the queen of the
family； who was said to dine off gold and silver plate； and never to
be seen at a party but with diamonds in her hair as big as hazel…nuts；
given to her by the Emperor。
Johann Fischer； then aged forty…three； obtained from Baron Hulot a
capital of ten thousand francs with which to start a small business as
forage…dealer at Versailles； under the patronage of the War Office；
through the influence of the friends still in office； of the late
Commissary…General。
These family catastrophes； Baron Hulot's dismissal； and the knowledge
that he was a mere cipher in that immense stir of men and interests
and things which makes Paris at once a paradise and a hell； quite
quelled Lisbeth Fischer。 She gave up all idea of rivalry and
comparison with her cousin after feeling her great superiority； but
envy still lurked in her heart； like a plague…germ that may hatch and
devastate a city if the fatal bale of wool is opened in which it is
concealed。
Now and again； indeed； she said to herself：
〃Adeline and I are the same flesh and blood； our fathers were brothers
and she is in a mansion； while I am in a garret。〃
But every New Year Lisbeth had presents from the Baron and Baroness；
the Baron； who was always good to her； paid for her firewood in the
winter； old General Hulot had her to dinner once a week； and there was
always a cover laid for her at her cousin's table。 They laughed at her
no doubt； but they never were ashamed to own her。 In short； they had
made her independent in Paris； where she lived as she pleased。
The old maid had； in fact； a terror of any kind of tie。 Her cousin had
offered her a room in her own houseLisbeth suspected the halter of
domestic servitude； several times the Baron had found a solution of
the difficult problem of her marriage； but though tempted in the first
instance； she would presently decline； fearing lest she should be
scorned for her want of education； her general ignorance； and her
poverty； finally； when the Baroness suggested that she should live
with their uncle Johann； and keep house for him； instead of the upper
servant； who must cost him dear； Lisbeth replied that that was the
very last way she should think of marrying。
Lisbeth Fischer had the sort of strangeness in her ideas which is
often noticeable in characters that have developed late； in savages；
who think much and speak little。 Her peasant's wit had acquired a good
deal of Parisian asperity from hearing the talk of workshops and
mixing with workmen and workwomen。 She； whose character had a marked
resemblance to that of the Corsicans； worked upon without fruition by
the instincts of a strong nature； would have liked to be the
protectress of a weak man； but； as a result of living in the capital；
the capital had altered her superficially。 Parisian polish became rust
on this coarsely tempered soul。 Gifted with a cunning which had become
unfathomable； as it always does in those whose celibacy is genuine；
with the originality and sharpness with which she clothed her ideas；
in any other position she would have been formidable。 Full of spite；
she was capable of bringing discord into the most united family。
In early days； when she indulged in certain secret hopes which she
confided to none； she took to wearing stays； and dressing in the
fashion； and so shone in splendor for a short time； that the Baron
thought her marriageable。 Lisbeth at that stage was the piquante
brunette of old…fashioned novels。 Her piercing glance； her olive skin；
her reed…like figure； might invite a half…pay major； but she was
satisfied； she would say laughing； with her own admiration。
And； indeed； she found her life pleasant enough when she had freed it
from practical anxieties； for she dined out every evening after
working hard from sunrise。 Thus she had only her rent and her midday
meal to provide for； she had most of her clothes given her； and a
variety of very acceptable stores； such as coffee； sugar； wine； and so
forth。
In 1837； after living for twenty…seven years； half maintained by the
Hulots and her Uncle Fischer； Cousin Betty； resigned to being nobody；
allowed herself to be treated so。 She herself refused to appear at any
grand dinners； preferring the family party； where she held her own and
was spared all slights to her pride。
Wherever she wentat General Hulot's； at Crevel's； at the house of
the young Hulots； or at Rivet's （Pons' successor； with whom she made
up her quarrel； and who made much of her）； and at the Baroness' table
she was treated as one of the family； in fact； she managed to make
friends of the servants by making them an occasional small present；
and always gossiping with them for a few minutes before going into the
drawing…room。 This familiarity； by which she uncompromisingly put
herself on their level； conciliated their servile good…nature； which
is indispensable to a parasite。 〃She is a good； steady woman；〃 was
everybody's verdict。
Her willingness to oblige； which knew no bounds when it was not
demanded of her； was indeed； like her assumed bluntness； a necessity
of her position。 She had at length understood what her life must be；
seeing that she was at everybody's mercy； and needing to please
everybody； she would laugh with young people； who liked her for a sort
of wheedling flattery which always wins them； guessing and taking part
with their fancies； she would make herself their spokeswoman； and they
thought her a delightful /confidante/； since she had no right to find
fault with them。
Her absolute secrecy also won her the confidence of their seniors；
for； like Ninon； she had certain manly qualities。 As a rule； our
confidence is given to those below rather than above us。 We employ our
inferiors rather than our betters in secret transactions； and they
thus become the recipients of our inmost thoughts； and look on at our
meditations； Richelieu thought he had achieved success when he was
admitted to the Council。 This penniless woman was supposed to be so
dependent on every one about her； that she seemed doomed to perfect
silence。 She herself called herself the Family Confessional。
The Baroness only； remembering her ill…usage in childhood by the
cousin who； though younger； was stronger than herself； never wholly
trusted her。 Besides； out of sheer modesty； she would never have told
her domestic sorrows to any one but God。
It may here be well to add that the Baron's house preserved all its
magnificence in the eyes of Lisbeth Fischer； who was not struck； as
the parvenu perfumer had been； with the penury stamped on the shabby
chairs； the dirty hangings； and the ripped silk。 The furniture we live
with is in some sort like our own person； seeing ourselves every day；
we end； like the Baron； by thinking ourselves but little altered； and
still youthful； when others see that our head is covered with
chinchilla； our forehead scarred with circumflex accents； our stomach
assuming the rotundity of a pumpkin。 So these rooms； always blazing in
Betty's eyes with the Bengal fire of Imperial victory； were to her
perennially splendid。
As time went on； Lisbeth had contracted some rather strange old…
maidish habits。 For instance； instead of following the fashions； she
expected the fashion to accept her ways and yield to her always out…
of…date notions。 When the Baroness gave her a pretty new bonnet； or a
gown in the fashion of the day； Betty remade it completely at home；
and spoilt it by producing a dress of the style of the Empire or of
her old Lorraine costume。 A thirty…franc bonnet came out a rag； and
the gown a disgrace。 On this point； Lisbeth was as obstinate as a
mule； she would please no one but herself and believed herself
charming； whereas this assimilative processharmonious； no doubt； in
so far as that it stamped her for an old maid from head to footmade
her so ridiculous； that； with the best will in the world； no one could
admit her on any smart occasion。
This refractory； capricious； and independent spirit； and the
inexplicable wild shyness of the woman for whom the Baron had four
times found a matchan employe in his office； a retired major； an
army contractor； and a half…pay captainwhile she had refused an army
lacemaker； who had since made his fortune； had won her the name of the
Nanny Goat； which the Baron gave her in jest。 But this nickname only
met the peculiarities that lay on the surface； the eccentricities
which each of us displays to his neighb