estoration, between 1823 and 1827, Cerizet's
occupation consisted in first putting his name intrepidly to various
paragraphs, on which the public prosecutor fastened with avidity, and
subsequently marching off to prison. A man could make a name for
himself with small expense in those days. The Liberal party called their
provincial champion 'the courageous Cerizet,' and towards 1828 so much
zeal received its reward in 'general interest.'

"'General interest' is a kind of civic crown bestowed on the deserving
by the daily press. Cerizet tried to discount the 'general interest'
taken in him. He came to Paris, and, with some help from capitalists in
the Opposition, started as a broker, and conducted financial operations
to some extent, the capital being found by a man in hiding, a skilful
gambler who overreached himself, and in consequence, in July 1830, his
capital foundered in the shipwreck of the Government."

"Oh! it was he whom we used to call the System," cried Bixiou.

"Say no harm of him, poor fellow," protested Malaga. "D'Estourny was a
good sort."

"You can imagine the part that a ruined man was sure to play in 1830
when his name in politics was 'the courageous Cerizet.' He was sent off
into a very snug little sub-prefecture. Unluckily for him, it is one
thing to be in opposition--any missile is good enough to throw, so long
as the flight lasts; but quite another to be in office. Three months
later, he was obliged to send in his resignation. Had he not taken
it into his head to attempt to win popularity? Still, as he had done
nothing as yet to imperil his title of 'courageous Cerizet,' the
Government proposed by way of compensation that he should manage a
newspaper; nominally an Opposition newspaper, but Ministerialist
_in petto_. So the fall of this noble nature was really due to the
Government. To Cerizet, as manager of the paper, it was rather too
evident that he was as a bird perched on a rotten bough; and then it
was that he promoted that nice little joint-stock company, and thereby
secured a couple of years in prison; he was caught, while more ingenious
swindlers succeeded in catching the public."

"We are acquainted with the more ingenious," said Bixiou; "let us say no
ill of the poor fellow; he was nabbed; Couture allowed them to squeeze
his cash-box; who would ever have thought it of him?"

"At all events, Cerizet was a low sort of fellow, a good deal damaged by
low debauchery. Now for the duel I sp