Gaudissart’s theatre passed into other hands a year ago, but M. Topinard is still the cashier. M. Topinard, however, has grown gloomy and misanthropic; he says little. People think that he has something on his conscience. Wags at the theatre suggest that his gloom dates from his marriage with Lolotte. Honest Topinard starts whenever he hears Fraisier’s name mentioned. Some people may think it strange that the one nature worthy of Pons and Schmucke should be found on the third floor beneath the stage of a boulevard theatre. Mme. Remonencq, much impressed with Mme. Fontaine’s prediction, declines to retire to the country. She is still living in her splendid shop on the Boulevard de la Madeleine, but she is a widow now for the second time. Remonencq, in fact, by the terms of the marriage contract, settled the property upon the survivor, and left a little glass of vitriol about for his wife to drink by mistake; but his wife, with the very best intentions, put the glass elsewhere, and Remonencq swallowed the draught himself. The rascal’s appropriate end vindicates Providence, as well as the chronicler of manners, who is sometimes accused of neglect on this head, perhaps because Providence has been so overworked by playwrights of late. ADDENDUM The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy. Baudoyer, Isidore The Government Clerks The Middle Classes Berthier (Parisian notary) Cousin Betty Berthier, Madame The Muse of the Department Bixiou, Jean-Jacques The Purse A Bachelor’s Establishment The Government Clerks Modeste Mignon Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Firm of Nucingen The Muse of the Department Cousin Betty The Member for Arcis Beatrix A Man of Business Gaudissart II. The Unconscious Humorists Braulard A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Cousin Betty Brisetout, Heloise Cousin Betty The Middle Classes Camusot A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Bachelor’s Establishment The Muse of the Department Cesar Birotteau At the Sign of the Cat and Racket Camusot de Marville Jealousies of a Country Town The Commission in Lunacy Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Camusot de Marville, Madame The Vendetta Cesar Birotteau Jealousies of a Country Town Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Cardot (Parisian notary) The Muse of the Department A Man of Business Jealousies of a Country Town Pierre Grassou The Middle Classes Chanor Cousin Betty Crevel, Celestin Cesar Birotteau Cousin Betty Crottat, Alexandre Cesar Birotteau Colonel Chabert A Start in Life A Woman of Thirty