That is civic virtue, monsieur." La Peyrade pulled out his handkerchief and rubbed it in his eye so that it drew a tear, as he said, holding out his hand to Phellion, and turning aside his head:-- "Ah! monsieur, how sublime a struggle between public and private duty! Had I come here only to see this sight, my visit would not have been wasted.

You cannot do otherwise! In your place, I should do the same.
You are that noblest thing that God has made--a righteous man! a citizen of the Jean-Jacques type! With many such citizens, oh France! my country! what mightest thou become! It is I, monsieur, who solicit, humbly, the honor to be your friend." "What can be happening ?" said Madame Phellion, watching the scene through the window.

"Do see your father and that horrid man embracing each other." Phellion and la Peyrade now came out and joined the family in the garden.
"My dear Felix," said the old man, pointing to la Peyrade, who was bowing to Madame Phellion, "be very grateful to that admirable young man; he will prove most useful to you." The lawyer walked for about five minutes with Madame Barniol and Madame Phellion beneath the leafless lindens, and gave them (in consequence of the embarrassing circumstances created by Phellion's political obstinacy) a piece of advice, the effects of which were to bear fruit that evening, while its first result was to make both ladies admire his talents, his frankness, and his inappreciable good qualities.

When the lawyer departed the whole family conducted him to the street gate, and all eyes followed him until he had turned the corner of the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques.

Madame Phellion then took the arm of her husband to return to the salon, saying:-- "Hey! my friend! what does this mean?
You, such a good father, how can you, from excessive delicacy, stand in the way of such a fine marriage for our Felix ?" "My dear," replied Phellion, "the great men of antiquity, Brutus and others, were never fathers when called upon to be citizens.