[The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac]@TWC D-Link book
The Lesser Bourgeoisie

CHAPTER XII
13/27

We put you on the high-road to fortune; we gave you a fine social skin and a position in which you could grasp the future--and look what you do! _Now_ I know you! and from this time forth, we shall go armed." "Then it is war between us!" exclaimed Theodose.
"You fired first," returned Cerizet.
"If you pull me down, farewell to your hopes and plans; if you don't pull me down, you have in me an enemy." "That's just what I said yesterday to Dutocq; but, how can we help it?
We are forced to choose between two alternatives--we must go according to circumstances.

I'm a good-natured fellow myself," he added, after a pause; "bring me your twenty-five thousand francs to-morrow morning and Thuillier shall keep the house.

We'll continue to help you at both ends, but you'll have to pay up, my boy.

After what has just happened that's pretty kind, isn't it ?" And Cerizet patted Theodose on the shoulder, with a cynicism that seemed to brand him more than the iron of the galleys.
"Well, give me till to-morrow at mid-day," replied the Provencal, "for there'll be, as you said, some manipulation to do." "I'll try to keep Claparon quiet; he's in such a hurry, that man!" "To-morrow then," said Theodose, in the tone of a man who decides his course.
"Good-night, friend," said Cerizet, in his nasal tone, which degraded the finest word in the language.

"There's one who has got a mouthful to suck!" thought Cerizet, as he watched Theodose going down the street with the step of a dazed man.
When la Peyrade reached the rue des Postes he went with rapid strides to Madame Colleville's house, exciting himself as he walked along, and talking aloud.


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