h, mighty revolution!--the
paid advertisement. The name of A. Popinot and Company now flaunted on
all the walls and all the shop-fronts. Incapable of perceiving the full
bearing of such publicity, Birotteau merely said to his daughter,--

"Little Popinot is following in my steps."

He did not understand the difference of the times, nor appreciate the
power of the novel methods of execution, whose rapidity and extent took
in, far more promptly than ever before, the whole commercial universe.
Birotteau had not set foot in his manufactory since the ball; he knew
nothing therefore of the energy and enterprise displayed by Popinot.
Anselme had engaged all Cesar's workmen, and often slept himself on the
premises. His fancy pictured Cesarine sitting on the cases, and hovering
over the shipments; her name seemed printed on the bills; and as he
worked with his coat off, and his shirt-sleeves rolled up, courageously
nailing up the cases himself, in default of the necessary clerks, he
said in his heart, "She shall be mine!"

* * * * *

The following day Cesar went to Francois Keller's house in Rue du
Houssaye, having spent the night turning over in his mind what he
ought to say, or ought not to say, to a leading man in banking circles.
Horrible palpitations of the heart assailed him as he approached the
house of the Liberal banker, who belonged to a party accused, with good
reason, of seeking the overthrow of the restored Bourbons. The perfumer,
like all the lesser tradesmen of Paris, was ignorant of the habits
and customs of the upper banking circles. Between the higher walks of
finance and ordinary commerce, there is in Paris a class of secondary
houses, useful intermediaries for banking interests, which find in them
an additional security. Constance and Birotteau, who had never gone
beyond their means, whose purse had never run dry, and who kept their
moneys in their own possession, had so far never needed the services
of these intermediary houses; they were therefore unknown in the higher
regions of a bank. Perhaps it is a mistake not to take out credits, even
if we do not need them. Opinions vary on this point. However that may
be, Birotteau now deeply regretted that his signature was unknown.
Still, as deputy-mayor, and therefore known in politics, he thought he
had only to present his name and be admitted: he was quite ignorant of
the ceremonial, half regal, which attended an audience with F