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relaxed for five years； but all went well；everything prospered under
the administration and influence of Marguerite Claes。
Gabriel； now holding an appointment under government as engineer in
the department of Roads and Bridges； made a rapid fortune； aided by
his great…uncle； in a canal which he was able to construct； moreover；
he succeeded in pleasing his cousin Mademoiselle Conyncks； the idol of
her father； and one of the richest heiresses in Flanders。 In 1824 the
whole Claes property was free； and the house in the rue de Paris had
repaired its losses。 Pierquin made a formal application to Balthazar
for the hand of Felicie； and Monsieur de Solis did the same for that
of Marguerite。
At the beginning of January； 1825； Marguerite and Monsieur Conyncks
left Douai to bring home the exiled father； whose return was eagerly
desired by all； and who had sent in his resignation that he might
return to his family and crown their happiness by his presence。
Marguerite had often expressed a regret at not being able to replace
the pictures which had formerly adorned the gallery and the reception…
rooms； before the day when her father would return as master of his
house。 In her absence Pierquin and Monsieur de Solis plotted with
Felicie to prepare a surprise which should make the younger sister a
sharer in the restoration of the House of Claes。 The two bought a
number of fine pictures； which they presented to Felicie to decorate
the gallery。 Monsieur Conyncks had thought of the same thing。 Wishing
to testify to Marguerite the satisfaction he had taken in her noble
conduct and in the self…devotion with which she had fulfilled her
mother's dying mandate； he arranged that fifty of his fine pictures；
among them several of those which Balthazar had formerly sold； should
be brought to Douai in Marguerite's absence； so that the Claes gallery
might once more be complete。
During the years that had elapsed since Balthazar Claes left his home；
Marguerite had visited her father several times； accompanied by her
sister or by Jean。 Each time she had found him more and more changed；
but since her last visit old age had come upon Balthazar with alarming
symptoms； the gravity of which was much increased by the parsimony
with which he lived that he might spend the greater part of his salary
in experiments the results of which forever disappointed him。 Though
he was only sixty…five years of age； he appeared to be eighty。 His
eyes were sunken in their orbits； his eyebrows had whitened； only a
few hairs remained as a fringe around his skull； he allowed his beard
to grow； and cut it off with scissors when its length annoyed him； he
was bent like a field…laborer； and the condition of his clothes had
reached a degree of wretchedness which his decrepitude now rendered
hideous。 Thought still animated that noble face； whose features were
scarcely discernible under its wrinkles； but the fixity of the eyes； a
certain desperation of manner； a restless uneasiness； were all
diagnostics of insanity； or rather of many forms of insanity。
Sometimes a flash of hope gave him the look of a monomaniac； at other
times impatient anger at not seizing a secret which flitted before his
eyes like a will o' the wisp brought symptoms of madness into his
face； or sudden bursts of maniacal laughter betrayed his
irrationality： but during the greater part of the time； he was sunk in
a state of complete depression which combined all the phases of
insanity in the cold melancholy of an idiot。 However fleeting and
imperceptible these symptoms may have been to the eye of strangers；
they were； unfortunately； only too plain to those who had known
Balthazar Claes sublime in goodness； noble in heart； stately in
person；a Claes of whom； alas； scarcely a vestige now remained。
Lemulquinier； grown old and wasted like his master with incessant
toil； had not； like him； been subjected to the ravages of thought。 The
expression of the old valet's face showed a singular mixture of
anxiety and admiration for his master which might easily have misled
an onlooker。 Though he listened to Balthazar's words with respect； and
followed his every movement with tender solicitude； he took charge of
the servant of science very much as a mother takes care of her child；
and even seemed to protect him； because in the vulgar details of life；
to which Balthazar gave no thought； he actually did protect him。 These
old men； wrapped in one idea； confident of the reality of their hope；
stirred by the same breath； the one representing the shell； the other
the soul of their mutual existence； formed a spectacle at once tender
and distressing。
When Marguerite and Monsieur Conyncks arrived； they found Claes living
at an inn。 His successor had not been kept waiting； and was already in
possession of his office。
CHAPTER XV
Through all the preoccupations of science； the desire to see his
native town； his house； his family； agitated Balthazar's mind。 His
daughter's letters had told him of the happy family events； he dreamed
of crowning his career by a series of experiments that must lead to
the solution of the great Problem； and he awaited Marguerite's arrival
with extreme impatience。
The daughter threw herself into her father's arms and wept for joy。
This time she came to seek a recompense for years of pain； and pardon
for the exercise of her domestic authority。 She seemed to herself
criminal； like those great men who violate the liberties of the people
for the safety of the nation。 But she shuddered as she now
contemplated her father and saw the change which had taken place in
him since her last visit。 Monsieur Conyncks shared the secret alarm of
his niece； and insisted on taking Balthazar as soon as possible to
Douai； where the influence of his native place might restore him to
health and reason amid the happiness of a recovered domestic life。
After the first transports of the heart were over；which were far
warmer on Balthazar's part than Marguerite had expected；he showed a
singular state of feeling towards his daughter。 He expressed regret at
receiving her in a miserable inn； inquired her tastes and wishes； and
asked what she would have to eat； with the eagerness of a lover； his
manner was even that of a culprit seeking to propitiate a judge。
Marguerite knew her father so well that she guessed the motive of this
solicitude； she felt sure he had contracted debts in the town which he
wished to pay before his departure。 She observed him carefully for a
time； and saw the human heart in all its nakedness。 Balthazar had
dwindled from his true self。 The consciousness of his abasement； and
the isolation of his life in the pursuit of science made him timid and
childish in all matters not connected with his favorite occupations。
His daughter awed him； the remembrance of her past devotion； of the
energy she had displayed； of the powers he had allowed her to take
away from him； of the wealth now at