a delicate flattery--gave the name to his country. What wit and
intellect there is in genius! it condescends to the minutest details."

Little Popinot kept his countenance as he listened to this absurd
flourish, evidently said for his benefit as an educated young man.

"Anselme, I have cast my eyes upon you as the one to found a
commercial house in the high-class druggist line, Rue des Lombards. I
will be your secret partner, and supply the funds to start with. After
the Oil Comagene, we will try an essence of vanilla and the spirit of
peppermint. We'll tackle the drug-trade by revolutionizing it, by
selling its products concentrated instead of selling them raw.
Ambitious young man, are you satisfied?"

Anselme could not answer, his heart was full; but his eyes, filled
with tears, answered for him. The offer seemed prompted by indulgent
fatherhood, saying to him: "Deserve Cesarine by becoming rich and
respected."

"Monsieur," he answered at last, "I will succeed!"

"That's what I said at your age," cried the perfumer; "that was my
motto. If you don't win my daughter, at least you will win your
fortune. Eh, boy! what is it?"

"Let me hope that in acquiring the one I may obtain the other."

"I can't prevent you from hoping, my friend," said Birotteau, touched
by Anselme's tone.