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colors and their endurance by submitting them to the action of sun and
rain。 You are right enough； however； the material resources of art are
less cultivated in these days than formerly。〃
Madame Claes was not listening to the conversation。 The notary's
remark that porcelain dinner…services were now the fashion； gave her
the brilliant idea of selling a quantity of heavy silver…ware which
she had inherited from her brother；hoping to be able thus to pay off
the thirty thousand francs which her husband owed。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 Balthazar was saying to Pierquin when Madame Claes's mind
returned to the conversation； 〃so they are discussing my work in
Douai； are they？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the notary； 〃every one is asking what it is you spend
so much money on。 Only yesterday I heard the chief…justice deploring
that a man like you should be searching for the Philosopher's stone。 I
ventured to reply that you were too wise not to know that such a
scheme was attempting the impossible； too much of a Christian to take
God's work out of his hands； and； like every other Claes； too good a
business man to spend your money for such befooling quackeries。 Still；
I admit that I share the regret people feel at your absence from
society。 You might as well not live here at all。 Really； madame； you
would have been delighted had you heard the praises showered on
Monsieur Claes and on you。〃
〃You acted like a faithful friend in repelling imputations whose least
evil is to make me ridiculous；〃 said Balthazar。 〃Ha！ so they think me
ruined？ Well； my dear Pierquin； two months hence I shall give a fete
in honor of my wedding…day whose magnificence will get me back the
respect my dear townsmen bestow on wealth。〃
Madame Claes colored deeply。 For two years the anniversary had been
forgotten。 Like madmen whose faculties shine at times with unwonted
brilliancy； Balthazar was never more gracious and delightful in his
tenderness than at this moment。 He was full of attention to his
children； and his conversation had the charms of grace； and wit； and
pertinence。 This return of fatherly feeling； so long absent； was
certainly the truest fete he could give his wife； for whom his looks
and words expressed once more that unbroken sympathy of heart for
heart which reveals to each a delicious oneness of sentiment。
Old Lemulquinier seemed to renew his youth； he came and went about the
table with unusual liveliness； caused by the accomplishment of his
secret hopes。 The sudden change in his master's ways was even more
significant to him than to Madame Claes。 Where the family saw
happiness he saw fortune。 While helping Balthazar in his experiments
he had come to share his beliefs。 Whether he really understood the
drift of his master's researches from certain exclamations which
escaped the chemist when expected results disappointed him； or whether
the innate tendency of mankind towards imitation made him adopt the
ideas of the man in whose atmosphere he lived； certain it is that
Lemulquinier had conceived for his master a superstitious feeling that
was a mixture of terror； admiration； and selfishness。 The laboratory
was to him what a lottery…office is to the masses；organized hope。
Every night he went to bed saying to himself； 〃To…morrow we may float
in gold〃； and every morning he woke with a faith as firm as that of
the night before。
His name proved that his origin was wholly Flemish。 In former days the
lower classes were known by some name or nickname derived from their
trades； their surroundings； their physical conformation； or their
moral qualities。 This name became the patronymic of the burgher family
which each established as soon as he obtained his freedom。 Sellers of
linen thread were called in Flanders； 〃mulquiniers〃； and that no doubt
was the trade of the particular ancestor of the old valet who passed
from a state of serfdom to one of burgher dignity； until some unknown
misfortune had again reduced his present descendant to the condition
of a serf； with the addition of wages。 The whole history of Flanders
and its linen…trade was epitomized in this old man； often called； by
way of euphony； Mulquinier。 He was not without originality； either of
character or appearance。 His face was triangular in shape； broad and
long； and seamed by small…pox which had left innumerable white and
shining patches that gave him a fantastic appearance。 He was tall and
thin； his whole demeanor solemn and mysterious； and his small eyes；
yellow as the wig which was smoothly plastered on his head； cast none
but oblique glances。
The old valet's outward man was in keeping with the feeling of
curiosity which he everywhere inspired。 His position as assistant to
his master； the depositary of a secret jealously guarded and about
which he maintained a rigid silence； invested him with a species of
charm。 The denizens of the rue de Paris watched him pass with an
interest mingled with awe； to all their questions he returned
sibylline answers big with mysterious treasures。 Proud of being
necessary to his master； he assumed an annoying authority over his
companions； employing it to further his own interests and compel a
submission which made him virtually the ruler of the house。 Contrary
to the custom of Flemish servants； who are deeply attached to the
families whom they serve； Mulquinier cared only for Balthazar。 If any
trouble befell Madame Claes； or any joyful event happened to the
family； he ate his bread and butter and drank his beer as
phlegmatically as ever。
Dinner over； Madame Claes proposed that coffee should be served in the
garden； by the bed of tulips which adorned the centre of it。 The
earthenware pots in which the bulbs were grown （the name of each
flower being engraved on slate labels） were sunk in the ground and so
arranged as to form a pyramid； at the summit of which rose a certain
dragon's…head tulip which Balthazar alone possessed。 This flower；
named 〃tulipa Claesiana；〃 combined the seven colors； and the curved
edges of each petal looked as though they were gilt。 Balthazar's
father； who had frequently refused ten thousand florins for this
treasure； took such precautions against the theft of a single seed
that he kept the plant always in the parlor and often spent whole days
in contemplating it。 The stem was enormous； erect； firm； and admirably
green； the proportions of the plant were in harmony with the
proportions of the flower； whose seven colors were distinguishable
from each other with the clearly defined brilliancy which formerly
gave such fabulous value to these dazzling plants。
〃Here you have at least thirty or forty thousand francs' worth of
tulips；〃 said the notary； looking alternately at Madame Claes and at
the many…colored pyramid。 The former was too enthusiastic over the
beauty of the flowers； which the setting sun was just then
transforming into jewels； to observe the meaning of the notary's
words。
〃What good do they do you？〃 continued Pi