It may be imagined that the hilarious student, Jacques Aubry, had escaped this contagious depression of spirits. Not at all; he had his own cause for rejoining. Simonne, after waiting a long while for him on the Sunday of the siege of Nesle, returned to the conjugal mansion in a rage, and had since stubbornly refused to meet the impertinent embryo lawyer upon any pretext whatsoever. He, in revenge, had withdrawn his custom from his capricious charmer's husband, but that disgusting tradesman evinced at the news no other sentiment than the keenest satisfaction; for although Jacques Aubry wore out his clothes quickly and recklessly--always excepting the pockets--we must add that his guiding economical maxim was never to pay for them. When Simonne's influence was no longer exerted as a counterpoise to the absence of money, the selfish tailor concluded that the honor of dressing Jacques Aubry did not compensate him for the loss he suffered by dressing him for nothing. Thus our poor friend found himself at one and the same time bereft of his love and cut short in his supply of clothing. Luckily, as we have seen, he was not the man to wither away in melancholy. He soon fell in with a charming little consolation named Gervaise. But Gervaise was bristling all over with principles of all sorts, which to his mind were most absurd. She eluded him again and again, and he wore his heart out in devising means to bring the flirt to her senses. He almost lost the power to eat and drink, especially as his infamous landlord, who was own cousin to his infamous tailor, refused to give him credit. Thus all whose names have figured prominently in these pages were sorely ill at ease,--from the king, who was very anxious to know whether Charles V. would or would not conclude to pass through France, to Dame Perrine and Dame Ruperta, who were much put out at their inability to continue their gossip. If our readers, like Jupiter of old, had the wearisome privilege of listening to all the complaints and all the wishes of mankind, they would hear a plaintive chorus something like this:-- Jacques Aubry: "If Gervaise would only cease to laugh in my face!" Scozzone: "If Benvenuto would only have one pang of jealousy!" Pagolo: "If Scozzone could only bring herself to detest the master!" Marmagne: "If I might have the good fortune to surprise Cellini alone!" Madame d'Etampes: "If Ascanio only knew how I love him!" Colombe: "If I could see him for one moment,--long enough to justify myself!" Ascanio: "If she would only explain!" Benvenuto: "If I dared confess my agony to Ascanio!" All: "Alas! alas! alas!" XV WHEREIN IT APPEARS THAT JOY IS NOTHING MORE THAN SORROW IN ANOTHER FORM All these longings were to be gratified before the end of the week. But their gratification was destined to leave those who had formed them more unhappy and more melancholy than ever. Such is the universal law; every joy contains the germ of sorrow.