lunatic, are now trying to have guardians appointed over
him. They say he allows a servant-woman who keeps his house to rob him
of all he has. Parbleu! Thuillier, you know her; it is that woman who
came to the office the other day about some money in Dupuis's hands."

"Yes, yes, true," said Thuillier, significantly; "you are right, I do
know her."

"It is queer," said Brigitte, seeing a chance to enforce the argument
she had used to Celeste, "that all these learned men are good for
nothing outside of their science; in their homes they have to be treated
like children."

"That proves," said the Abbe Gondrin, "the great absorption which their
studies give to their minds, and, at the same time, a simplicity of
nature which is very touching."

"When they are not as obstinate as mules," said Brigitte, hastily.
"For myself, monsieur l'abbe, I must say that if I had had any idea
of marriage, a savant wouldn't have suited me at all. What do they do,
these savants, anyhow? Useless things most of the time. You are all
admiring one who has discovered a star; but as long as we are in this
world what good is that to us? For all the use we make of stars it seems
to me we have got enough of them as it is."

"Bravo, Brigitte!" said Colleville, getting loose again; "you are right,
my girl, and I think, as you do, that the man who discovers a new dish
deserves better of humanity."

"Colleville," said Flavie, "I must say that your style of behavior is in
the worst taste."

"My dear lady," said the Abbe Gondrin, addressing Brigitte, "you might
be right if we were formed of matter only; and if, bound to our
body, there were not a soul with instincts and appetites that must be
satisfied. Well, I think that this sense of the infinite which is within
us, and which we all try to satisfy each in our own way, is marvellously
well helped by the labors of astronomy, that reveal to us from time to
time new worlds which the hand of the Creator has put into space. The
infinite in you has taken another course; this passion for the comfort
of those about you, this warm, devoted, ardent affection which you feel
for your brother, are equally the manifestation of aspirations which
have nothing material about them, and which, in seeking their end and
object, never think of asking, 'What good does that do? what is the use
of this?' Besides, I must assure you that the stars are not as useless
as you seem to think. Without them how would navigators cr