ubt that's la Peyrade," said Thuillier, in a tone of satisfaction.

The Provencal appeared a moment later.

"Faith, my dear friend," cried Thuillier, "it is high time you came; the
house is in revolution, all about you, and it needs your silvery tongue
to bring it back to peace and quietness."

Then he related to his assistant editor the circumstances of the civil
war which had broken out.

La Peyrade turned to Madame Colleville.

"I think," he said, "that under the circumstances in which we now stand
there is no impropriety in my asking for an interview of a few moments
with Mademoiselle Colleville."

In this the Provencal showed his usual shrewd ability; he saw that in
the mission of pacification thus given to him Celeste Colleville was the
key of the situation.

"I will send for her, and we will leave you alone together," said
Flavie.

"My dear Thuillier," said la Peyrade, "you must, without any violence,
let Mademoiselle Celeste know that her consent must be given without
further delay; make her think that this was the purpose for which you
have sent for her; then leave us; I will do the rest."

The man-servant was sent down to the entresol with orders to tell
Celeste that her godfather wished to speak to her. As soon as she
appeared, Thuillier said, to carry out the programme which had been
dictated to him:--

"My dear, your mother has told us things that astonish us. Can it be
true that with your contract almost signed, you have not yet decided to
accept the marriage we have arranged for you?"

"Godfather," said Celeste, rather surprised at this abrupt summons, "I
think I did not say that to mamma."

"Did you not just now," said Flavie, "praise Monsieur Felix Phellion to
me in the most extravagant manner?"

"I spoke of Monsieur Phellion as all the world is speaking of him."

"Come, come," said Thuillier, with authority, "let us have no
equivocation; do you refuse, yes or no, to marry Monsieur de la
Peyrade?"

"Dear, good friend," said la Peyrade, intervening, "your way of putting
the question is rather too abrupt, and, in my presence, especially, it
seems to me out of place. In my position as the most interested person,
will you allow me to have an interview with mademoiselle, which, indeed,
has now become necessary? This favor I am sure will not be refused by
Madame Colleville. Under present circumstances, there can surely be
nothing in my request to alarm her maternal prudence."

"I would ce