“You are right, wife,” said Colleville.

When they reached the rue des Deux-Eglises, which Phellion was to take, they all stopped to say good-night, and Felix Phellion, who was bring up the rear, said to Colleville:—­

“Monsieur, your son Francois could enter the Ecole Polytechnique if he were well-coached; I propose to you to fit him to pass the examinations this year.”

“That’s an offer not to be refused!  Thank you, my friend,” said Colleville.  “We’ll see about it.”

“Good!” said Phellion to his son, as they walked on.

“Not a bad stroke!” said the mother.

“What do you mean by that?” asked Felix.

“You are very cleverly paying court to Celeste’s parents.”

“May I never find the solution of my problem if I even thought of it!” cried the young professor.  “I discovered, when talking with the little Collevilles, that Francois has a strong turn for mathematics, and I thought I ought to enlighten his father.”

“Good, my son!” repeated Phellion.  “I wouldn’t have you otherwise.  My prayers are granted!  I have a son whose honor, probity, and private and civic virtues are all that I could wish.”

Madame Colleville, as soon as Celeste had gone to bed, said to her husband:—­

“Colleville, don’t utter those blunt opinions about people without knowing something about them.  When you talk of Jesuits I know you mean priests; and I wish you would do me the kindness to keep your opinions on religion to yourself when you are in company with your daughter.  We may sacrifice our own souls, but not the souls of our children.  You don’t want Celeste to be a creature without religion?  And remember, my dear, that we are at the mercy of others; we have four children to provide for; and how do you know that, some day or other, you may not need the services of this one or that one?  Therefore don’t make enemies.  You haven’t any now, for you are a good-natured fellow; and, thanks to that quality, which amounts in you to a charm, we have got along pretty well in life, so far.”

“That’s enough!” said Colleville, flinging his coat on a chair and pulling off his cravat.  “I’m wrong, and you are right, my beautiful Flavie.”

“And on the next occasion, my dear old sheep,” said the sly creature, tapping her husband’s cheek, “you must try to be polite to that young lawyer; he is a schemer and we had better have him on our side.  He is playing comedy—­well! play comedy with him; be his dupe apparently; if he proves to have talent, if he has a future before him, make a friend of him.  Do you think I want to see you forever in the mayor’s office?”

“Come, wife Colleville,” said the former clarionet, tapping his knee to indicate the place he wished his wife to take.  “Let us warm our toes and talk.—­When I look at you I am more than ever convinced that the youth of women is in their figure.”

“And in their heart.”