the only perfect types present of worldly propriety
and distinction. [Cesar Birotteau. The Firm of
Nucingen. The Middle Classes. A Bachelor’s
Establishment. Pierrette.] Once started, M. du
Tillet seldom left the Chaussee d’Antin, the
financial quarter of Paris, during the Restoration
and the reign of Louis Philippe. It was there
that he received Birotteau, imploring aid, and gave
him a letter of recommendation for Nucingen, the result
of which was quite different from what the unfortunate
merchant had anticipated. Indeed, it was agreed
between the two business men, if the i’s in
the letter in question were not dotted, to give a
negative answer; by this intentional omission, Du Tillet
ruined the unfortunate Birotteau. He had his
bank on the rue Joubert when Rodolphe Castanier, the
dishonest cashier, robbed Nucingen. [Melmoth Reconciled.]
Ferdinand du Tillet was now a consequential personage,
when Lucien de Rubempre was making his start in Paris
(1821). [A Distinguished Provincial at Paris.] Ten
years later he married his last daughter to the Comte
de Granville, a peer of France, and “one of
the most illustrious names of the French magistracy.”
He occupied one of the elegant mansions on the rue
Neuve-des-Mathurins, now rue des Mathurins; for a
long time he kept Madame Roguin as his mistress; was
often seen, in the Faubourg Saint-Honore, with the
Marquise d’Espard, being found there on the
day that Diane de Cadignan was slandered in the presence
of Daniel d’Arthez, who was very much in love
with her. With Massol and Raoul Nathan he founded
a prominent newspaper, which he used for his financial
interests. He did not hesitate to get rid of
Nathan, who was loaded down with debts; but he found
Nathan before him once more, however, as candidate
for the Chamber of Deputies, to succeed Nucingen,
who had been made a peer of France; this time, also,
he triumphed over his rival, and was elected. [The
Secrets of a Princess. A Daughter of Eve.] M.
du Tillet was no more sparing of Maxime de Trailles,
but harassed him pitilessly, when the count was sent
into Champagne as electoral agent of the government.
[The Member for Arcis.] He was present at the fete
given by Josepha Mirah, by way of a house-warming,
in her mansion on the rue de la Ville-l’Eveque;
Celestin Crevel and Valerie Marneffe invited him to
their wedding. [Cousin Betty.] At the end of the monarchy
of July, being a deputy, with his seat in the Left
Centre, Ferdinand du Tillet kept in the most magnificent
style Seraphine Sinet, the Opera girl, more familiarly
called Carabine. [The Unconscious Humorists.] There
is a biography of Ferdinand du Tillet, elaborated
by the brilliant pen of Jules Claretie, in “Le
Temps” of September 5, 1884, under title of “Life
in Paris.”