o the bottom of your soul. You are the master, after all.
You earned your fortune, didn't you? It is yours, and you can spend it.
If we are reduced to the last straits of poverty, neither your daughter
nor I will make you a single reproach. But, listen; when you invented
your Paste of Sultans and Carminative Balm, what did you risk? Five or
six thousand francs. To-day you put all your fortune on a game of cards.
And you are not the only one to play; you have associates who may be
much cleverer than you. Give your ball, remodel the house, spend ten
thousand francs if you like,--it is useless but not ruinous. As to your
speculations near the Madeleine, I formally object. You are perfumer: be
a perfumer, and not a speculator in land. We women have instincts which
do not deceive us. I have warned you; now follow your own lead. You have
been judge in the department of commerce, you know the laws. So far,
you have guided the ship well, Cesar; I shall follow you! But I shall
tremble till I see our fortune solidly secure and Cesarine well married.
God grant that my dream be not a prophecy!"

This submission thwarted Birotteau, who now employed an innocent ruse to
which he had had recourse on similar occasions.

"Listen, Constance. I have not given my word; though it is the same as
if I had."

"Oh, Cesar, all is said; let us say no more. Honor before fortune. Come,
go to bed, dear friend, there is no more wood. Besides, we shall talk
better in bed, if it amuses you. Oh! that horrid dream! My God! to see
one's self! it was fearful! Cesarine and I will have to make a pretty
number of _neuvaines_ for the success of your speculations."

"Doubtless the help of God can do no harm," said Birotteau, gravely.
"But the oil in nuts is also powerful, wife. I made this discovery just
as I made that of the Double Paste of Sultans,--by chance. The first
time by opening a book; this time by looking at an engraving of Hero
and Leander: you know, the woman who pours oil on the head of her lover;
pretty, isn't it? The safest speculations are those which depend on
vanity, on self-love, on the desire of appearing well. Those sentiments
never die."

"Alas! I know it well."

"At a certain age men will turn their souls inside out to get hair, if
they haven't any. For some time past hair-dressers have told me that
they sell not only Macassar, but all the drugs which are said to dye
hair or make it grow. Since the peace, men are more with women, an