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September； 1831； and arrived at Douai during the morning。 Marguerite
ordered the coachman to drive to the house in the rue de Paris； which
they found closed。 The bell was loudly rung； but no one answered。 A
shopkeeper left his door…step； to which he had been attracted by the
noise of the carriages； others were at their windows to enjoy a sight
of the return of the de Solis family to whom all were attached；
enticed also by a vague curiosity as to what would happen in that
house on Marguerite's return to it。 The shopkeeper told Monsieur de
Solis's valet that old Claes had gone out an hour before； and that
Monsieur Lemulquinier was no doubt taking him to walk on the ramparts。
Marguerite sent for a locksmith to force the door；glad to escape a
scene in case her father； as Felicie had written； should refuse to
admit her into the house。 Meantime Emmanuel went to meet the old man
and prepare him for the arrival of his daughter； despatching a servant
to notify Monsieur and Madame Pierquin。
When the door was opened； Marguerite went directly to the parlor。
Horror overcame her and she trembled when she saw the walls as bare as
if a fire had swept over them。 The glorious carved panellings of Van
Huysum and the portrait of the great Claes had been sold。 The dining…
room was empty： there was nothing in it but two straw chairs and a
common deal table； on which Marguerite； terrified； saw two plates； two
bowls； two forks and spoons； and the remains of a salt herring which
Claes and his servant had evidently just eaten。 In a moment she had
flown through her father's portion of the house； every room of which
exhibited the same desolation as the parlor and dining…room。 The idea
of the Alkahest had swept like a conflagration through the building。
Her father's bedroom had a bed； one chair； and one table； on which
stood a miserable pewter candlestick with a tallow candle burned
almost to the socket。 The house was so completely stripped that not so
much as a curtain remained at the windows。 Every object of the
smallest value；everything； even the kitchen utensils； had been sold。
Moved by that feeling of curiosity which never entirely leaves us even
in moments of misfortune； Marguerite entered Lemulquinier's chamber
and found it as bare as that of his master。 In a half…opened table…
drawer she found a pawnbroker's ticket for the old servant's watch
which he had pledged some days before。 She ran to the laboratory and
found it filled with scientific instruments； the same as ever。 Then
she returned to her own appartement and ordered the door to be broken
openher father had respected it！
Marguerite burst into tears and forgave her father all。 In the midst
of his devastating fury he had stopped short； restrained by paternal
feeling and the gratitude he owed to his daughter！ This proof of
tenderness； coming to her at a moment when despair had reached its
climax； brought about in Marguerite's soul one of those moral
reactions against which the coldest hearts are powerless。 She returned
to the parlor to wait her father's arrival； in a state of anxiety that
was cruelly aggravated by doubt and uncertainty。 In what condition was
she about to see him？ Ruined； decrepit； suffering； enfeebled by the
fasts his pride compelled him to undergo？ Would he have his reason？
Tears flowed unconsciously from her eyes as she looked about the
desecrated sanctuary。 The images of her whole life； her past efforts；
her useless precautions； her childhood； her mother happy and unhappy；
all； even her little Joseph smiling on that scene of desolation； all
were parts of a poem of unutterable melancholy。
Marguerite foresaw an approaching misfortune； yet she little expected
the catastrophe that was to close her father's life；that life at
once so grand and yet so miserable。
The condition of Monsieur Claes was no secret in the community。 To the
lasting shame of men； there were not in all Douai two hearts generous
enough to do honor to the perseverance of this man of genius。 In the
eyes of the world Balthazar was a man to be condemned； a bad father
who had squandered six fortunes； millions； who was actually seeking
the philosopher's stone in the nineteenth century； this enlightened
century； this sceptical century； this century！etc。 They calumniated
his purposes and branded him with the name of 〃alchemist；〃 casting up
to him in mockery that he was trying to make gold。 Ah！ what eulogies
are uttered on this great century of ours； in which； as in all others；
genius is smothered under an indifference as brutal a that of the gate
in which Dante died； and Tasso and Cervantes and 〃tutti quanti。〃 The
people are as backward as kings in understanding the creations of
genius。
These opinions on the subject of Balthazar Claes filtered； little by
little； from the upper society of Douai to the bourgeoisie； and from
the bourgeoisie to the lower classes。 The old chemist excited pity
among persons of his own rank； satirical curiosity among the others；
two sentiments big with contempt and with the 〃vae victis〃 with which
the masses assail a man of genius when they see him in misfortune。
Persons often stopped before the House of Claes to show each other the
rose window of the garret where so much gold and so much coal had been
consumed in smoke。 When Balthazar passed along the streets they
pointed to him with their fingers； often； on catching sight of him； a
mocking jest or a word of pity would escape the lips of a working…man
or some mere child。 But Lemulquinier was careful to tell his master it
was homage； he could deceive him with impunity； for though the old
man's eyes retained the sublime clearness which results from the habit
of living among great thoughts； his sense of hearing was enfeebled。
To most of the peasantry； and to all vulgar and superstitious minds；
Balthazar Claes was a sorcerer。 The noble old mansion； once named by
common consent 〃the House of Claes；〃 was now called in the suburbs and
the country districts 〃the Devil's House。〃 Every outward sign； even
the face of Lemulquinier； confirmed the ridiculous beliefs that were
current about Balthazar。 When the old servant went to market to
purchase the few provisions necessary for their subsistence； picking
out the cheapest he could find； insults were flung in as make…weights；
just as butchers slip bones into their customers' meat；and he was
fortunate； poor creature； if some superstitious market…woman did not
refuse to sell him his meagre pittance lest she be damned by contact
with an imp of hell。
Thus the feelings of the whole town of Douai were hostile to the grand
old man and to his attendant。 The neglected state of their clothes
added to this repulsion； they went about clothed like paupers who have
seen better days； and who strive to keep a decent appearance and are
ashamed to beg。 It was probable that sooner or later Balthazar would
be insulted in the streets。 Pierquin； feeling how degrading to the
family any