"Theodose de la Peyrade; he is a barrister," replied Thuillier, in a
whisper.

At that moment the women present, as well as the men, looked at the
two young fellows, and Madame Minard remarked to Colleville:--

"He is rather good-looking, that stranger."

"I have made his anagram," replied Colleville, "and his name,
Charles-Marie-Theodose de la Peyrade, prophecies: 'Eh! monsieur
payera, de la dot, des oies et le char.' Therefore, my dear Mamma
Minard, be sure you don't give him your daughter."

"They say that young man is better-looking than my son," said Madame
Phellion to Madame Colleville. "What do you think about it?"

"Oh! in the matter of physical beauty a woman might hesitate before
choosing," replied Madame Colleville.

At that moment it occurred to young Vinet as he looked round the
salon, so full of the lesser bourgeoisie, that it might be a shrewd
thing to magnify that particular class; and he thereupon enlarged upon
the meaning of the young Provencal barrister, declaring that men so
honored by the confidence of the government should imitate royalty and
encourage a magnificence surpassing that of the former court. It was
folly, he said, to lay by the emoluments of an office. Besides, could
it be done, in Paris especially, where costs of living had trebled,
--the apartment of a magistrate, for instance, costing three thousand
francs a year?