His wife was very handsome; he compelled her to play the part of Liberty; and the poor unfortunate creature went mad.
She died insane! Well, as things are going now it looks as if we might have another 1793." This history, invented on the spot, made such an impression on Celeste's fresh and youthful imagination that she rose, bowed to the young men and hastened to her chamber.
"Ah! monsieur, why did you tell her that ?" cried Felix, struck to the heart by the cold look the young girl, affecting profound indifference, cast upon him.

She fancied herself transformed into a goddess of Reason.
"Why not?
What were you talking about ?" asked Theodose.
"About my indifference to religion." "The great sore of this century," replied Theodose, gravely.
"I am ready," said Madame Colleville, appearing in a toilet of much taste.

"But what is the matter with my poor daughter?
She is crying!" "Crying?
madame," exclaimed Felix; "please tell her that I will study 'The Imitation of Christ' at once." Felix left the house with Theodose and Flavie, whose arm the barrister pressed to let her know he would explain in the carriage the apparent dementia of the young professor.
An hour later, Madame Colleville and Celeste, Colleville and Theodose were entering the Thuilliers' apartment to dine there.

Theodose and Flavie took Thuillier into the garden, where the former said to him:-- "Dear, good friend! you will have the cross within a week.

Our charming friend here will tell you about our visit to the Comtesse du Bruel." And Theodose left Thuillier, having caught sight of Desroches in the act of being brought by Mademoiselle Thuillier into the garden; he went, driven by a terrible and glacial presentiment, to meet him.
"My good friend," said Desroches in his ear, "I have come to see if you can procure at once twenty-five thousand francs plus two thousand six hundred and eighty for costs." "Are you acting for Cerizet ?" asked the barrister.
"Cerizet has put all the papers into the hands of Louchard, and you know what you have to expect if arrested.