The Commission in Lunacy

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"Our law allows M. d'Espard to dispose of his income without
accounting for it, or suffering him to be accused of its
misapplication. A Commission in Lunacy can only be granted when a
man's actions are devoid of reason; but in this case, the remittances
made to you have a reason based on the most sacred and most honorable
motives. Hence you may keep it all without remorse, and leave the
world to misinterpret a noble action. In Paris, the highest virtue is
the object of the foulest calumny. It is, unfortunately, the present
condition of society that makes the Marquis' actions sublime. For the
honor of my country, I would that such deeds were regarded as a matter
of course; but, as things are, I am forced by comparison to look upon
M. d'Espard as a man to whom a crown should be awarded, rather than
that he should be threatened with a Commission in Lunacy.

"In the course of a long professional career, I have seen and heard
nothing that has touched me more deeply than that I have just seen and
heard. But it is not extraordinary that virtue should wear its noblest
aspect when it is practised by men of the highest class.

"Having heard me express myself in this way, I hope, Monsieur le
Marquis, that you feel certain of my silence, and that you will not
for a moment be uneasy as to the decision pronounced in the case--if
it comes before the Court."

"There, now! Well said," cried Madame Jeanrenaud. "That is something
like a judge! Look here, my dear sir, I would hug you if I were not so
ugly; you speak like a book."

The Marquis held out his hand to Popinot, who gently pressed it with a
look full of sympathetic comprehension at this great man in private
life, and the Marquis responded with a pleasant smile. These two
natures, both so large and full--one commonplace but divinely kind,
the other lofty and sublime--had fallen into unison gently, without a
jar, without a flash of passion, as though two pure lights had been
merged into one. The father of a whole district felt himself worthy to
grasp the hand of this man who was doubly noble, and the Marquis felt
in the depths of his soul an instinct that told him that the judge's
hand was one of those from which the treasures of inexhaustible
beneficence perennially flow.

"Monsieur le Marquis," added Popinot, with a bow, "I am happy to be
able to tell you that, from the first words of this inquiry, I
regarded my clerk as quite unnecessary."

He went close to M. d'Espard, led him into the window-bay, and said:
"It is time that you should return home, monsieur. I believe that
Madame la Marquise has acted in this matter under an influence which
you ought at once to counteract."

Popinot withdrew. He looked back several times as he crossed the
courtyard, touched by the recollection of the scene. It was one of
those which take root in the memory to blossom again in certain hours
when the soul seeks consolation.

"Those rooms would just suit me," said he to himself as he reached
home. "If M. d'Espard leaves them, I will take up his lease."



The next day, at about ten in the morning, Popinot, who had written
out his report the previous evening, made his way to the Palais de
Justice, intending to have prompt and righteous justice done. As he
went to the robing-room to put on his gown and bands, the usher told
him that the President of his Court begged him to attend in his
private room, where he was waiting for him. Popinot forthwith obeyed.

"Good-morning, my dear Popinot," said the President, "I have been
waiting for you."

"Why, Monsieur le President, is anything wrong?"

"A mere silly trifle," said the President. "The Keeper of the Seals,
with whom I had the honor of dining yesterday, led me apart into a
corner. He had heard that you had been to tea with Madame d'Espard, in
whose case you were employed to make inquiries. He gave me to
understand that it would be as well that you should not sit on this
case----"

"But, Monsieur le President, I can prove that I left Madame d'Espard's
house at the moment when tea was brought in. And my conscience----"

"Yes, yes; the whole Bench, the two Courts, all the profession know
you. I need not repeat what I said about you to his Eminence; but, you
know, 'Caesar's wife must not be suspected.' So we shall not make this
foolish trifle a matter of discipline, but only of proprieties.
Between ourselves, it is not on your account, but on that of the
Bench."

"But, monsieur, if you only knew the kind of woman----" said the
judge, trying to pull his report out of his pocket.

"I am perfectly certain that you have proceeded in this matter with
the strictest independence of judgment. I myself, in the provinces,
have often taken more than a cup of tea with the people I had to try;
but the fact that the Keeper of the Seals should have mentioned it,
and that you might be talked about, is enough to make the Court avoid
any discussion of the matter. Any conflict with public opinion must
always be dangerous for a constitutional body, even when the right is
on its side against the public, because their weapons are not equal.
Journalism may say or suppose anything, and our dignity forbids us
even to reply. In fact, I have spoken of the matter to your President,
and M. Camusot has been appointed in your place on your retirement,
which you will signify. It is a family matter, so to speak. And I now
beg you to signify your retirement from the case as a personal favor.
To make up, you will get the Cross of the Legion of Honor, which has
so long been due to you. I make that my business."

When he saw M. Camusot, a judge recently called to Paris from a
provincial Court of the same class, as he went forward bowing to the
Judge and the President, Popinot could not repress an ironical smile.
This pale, fair young man, full of covert ambition, looked ready to
hang and unhang, at the pleasure of any earthy king, the innocent and
the guilty alike, and to follow the example of a Laubardemont rather
than that of a Mole.

Popinot withdrew with a bow; he scorned to deny the lying accusation
that had been brought against him.



PARIS, February 1836.




ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Note: The Commission in Lunacy is also known as The Interdiction and
is referred to by that title in certain of the addendums.

Bianchon, Horace
Father Goriot
The Atheist's Mass
Cesar Birotteau
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Bachelor's Establishment
The Secrets of a Princess
The Government Clerks
Pierrette
A Study of Woman
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Honorine
The Seamy Side of History
The Magic Skin
A Second Home
A Prince of Bohemia
Letters of Two Brides
The Muse of the Department
The Imaginary Mistress
The Middle Classes
Cousin Betty
The Country Parson
In addition, M. Bianchon narrated the following:
Another Study of Woman
La Grande Breteche

Bordin
The Gondreville Mystery
The Seamy Side of History
Jealousies of a Country Town

Camusot de Marville
Cousin Pons
Jealousies of a Country Town
Scenes from a Cuortesan's Life

Desroches (son)
A Bachelor's Establishment
Colonel Chabert
A Start in Life
A Woman of Thirty
The Government Clerks
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
The Firm of Nucingen
A Man of Business
The Middle Classes

Espard, Charles-Maurice-Marie-Andoche, Comte de Negrepelisse, Marquis d'
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life

Espard, Chevalier d'
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
The Secrets of a Princess

Espard, Jeanne-Clementine-Athenais de Blamont-Chauvry, Marquise d'
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Letters of Two Brides
Another Study of Woman
The Gondreville Mystery
The Secrets of a Princess
A Daughter of Eve
Beatrix

Godeschal, Francois-Claude-Marie
Colonel Chabert
A Bachelor's Establishment
A Start in Life
The Middle Classes
Cousin Pons

Grozier, Abbe
Lost Illusions

Jeanrenaud
Albert Savarus

Mongenod, Frederic
The Seamy Side of History

Negrepelisse, De
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris

Nucingen, Baronne Delphine de
Father Goriot
The Thirteen
Eugenie Grandet
Cesar Birotteau
Melmoth Reconciled
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Modeste Mignon
The Firm of Nucingen
Another Study of Woman
A Daughter of Eve
The Member for Arcis

Popinot, Jean-Jules
Cesar Birotteau
Honorine
The Seamy Side of History
The Middle Classes

Rabourdin, Madame
The Government Clerks