you know what I should be? A shopkeeper like Pere
Ragon,--be it said without offence, for I respect shopkeeping; the best
of our kidney are in it. After selling perfumery like him for forty
years, we should be worth three thousand francs a year; and at the price
things are now, for they have doubled in value, we should, like them,
have barely enough to live on. (Day after day that poor household wrings
my heart more and more. I must know more about it, and I'll get the
truth from Popinot to-morrow!) If I had followed your advice--you who
have such uneasy happiness and are always asking whether you will have
to-morrow what you have got to-day--I should have no credit, I should
have no cross of the Legion of honor. I should not be on the highroad to
becoming a political personage. Yes, you may shake your head, but if our
affair succeeds I may become deputy of Paris. Ah! I am not named Cesar
for nothing; I succeed. It is unimaginable! outside every one credits
me with capacity, but here the only person whom I want so much to please
that I sweat blood and water to make her happy, is precisely the one who
takes me for a fool."

These phrases, divided by eloquent pauses and delivered like shot, after
the manner of those who recriminate, expressed so deep and constant an
attachment that Madame Birotteau was inwardly touched, though, like all
women, she made use of the love she inspired to gain her end.

"Well! Birotteau," she said, "if you love me, let me be happy in my own
way. Neither you nor I have education; we don't know how to talk, nor
to play 'your obedient servant' like men of the world; how then do you
expect that we could succeed in government places? I shall be happy at
Les Tresorieres, indeed I shall. I have always loved birds and animals,
and I can pass my life very well taking care of the hens and the farm.
Let us sell the business, marry Cesarine, and give up your visions. We
can come and pass the winters in Paris with our son-in-law; we shall be
happy; nothing in politics or commerce can then change our way of life.
Why do you want to crush others? Isn't our present fortune enough for
us? When you are a millionaire can you eat two dinners; will you want
two wives? Look at my uncle Pillerault! He is wisely content with his
little property, and spends his life in good deeds. Does he want fine
furniture? Not he! I know very well you have been ordering furniture for
me; I saw Braschon here, and it was not to buy p