“He is drunk,” remarked the attorney-general-designate to his neighbor, Petit-Claud. “My dear fellow-countrymen, my dear comrades,” Lucien said at last, “I could wish that all France might witness this scene; for thus men rise to their full stature, and in such ways as these our land demands great deeds and noble work of us. And when I think of the little that I have done, and of this great honor shown to me to-day, I can only feel confused and impose upon the future the task of justifying your reception of me. The recollection of this moment will give me renewed strength for efforts to come. Permit me to indicate for your homage my earliest muse and protectress, and to associate her name with that of my birthplace; so--to the Comtesse du Châtelet and the noble town of Angoulême!” “He came out of that pretty well!” said the public prosecutor, nodding approval; “our speeches were all prepared, and his was improvised.” At ten o’clock the party began to break up, and little knots of guests went home together. David Séchard heard the unwonted music. “What is going on in L’Houmeau?” he asked of Basine. “They are giving a dinner to your brother-in-law, Lucien----” “I know that he would feel sorry to miss me there,” he said. At midnight Petit-Claud walked home with Lucien. As they reached the Place du Mûrier, Lucien said, “Come life, come death, we are friends, my dear fellow.” “My marriage contract,” said the lawyer, “with Mlle. Françoise de la Haye will be signed to-morrow at Mme. de Senonches’ house; do me the pleasure of coming. Mme. de Senonches implored me to bring you, and you will meet Mme. du Châtelet; they are sure to tell her of your speech, and she will feel flattered by it.” “I knew what I was about,” said Lucien. “Oh! you will save David.” “I am sure I shall,” the poet replied. Just at that moment David appeared as if by magic in the Place du Mûrier. This was how it had come about. He felt that he was in a rather difficult position; his wife insisted that Lucien must neither go to David nor know of his hiding-place; and Lucien all the while was writing the most affectionate letters, saying that in a few days’ time all should be set right; and even as Basine Clerget explained the reason why the band played, she put two letters into his hands. The first was from Eve.