his valet's house; and, by the way, he will be a hero to his valet to
the end of the chapter, even after the marriage that he proposes to
make. He belonged to three clubs, and dined at one of them whenever he
did not dine out. As a rule, he was to be found very seldom at his own
address--"

"He once said to me," interrupted La Palferine, "'My one affectation
is the pretence that I make of living in the Rue Pigalle.'"

"Well," resumed Desroches, "he was one of the combatants; and now for
the other. You have heard more or less talk of one Claparon?"

"Had hair like this!" cried Bixiou, ruffling his locks till they stood
on end. Gifted with the same talent for mimicking absurdities which
Chopin the pianist possesses to so high a degree, he proceeded
forthwith to represent the character with startling truth.

"He rolls his head like this when he speaks; he was once a commercial
traveler; he has been all sorts of things--"

"Well, he was born to travel, for at this minute, as I speak, he is on
the sea on his way to America," said Desroches. "It is his only
chance, for in all probability he will be condemned by default as a
fraudulent bankrupt next session."

"Very much at sea!" exclaimed Malaga.

"For six or seven years this Claparon acted as man of straw, cat's
paw, and scapegoat to two friends of ours, du Tillet and Nucingen; but
in 1829 his part was so well known that--"