[A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac]@TWC D-Link book
A Start in Life

CHAPTER V
9/16

"I use it myself at the cafe of the Black Hen." "Your tutor is, doubtless, some celebrated professor, isn't he ?--Monsieur Andrieux of the Academie Francaise, or Monsieur Royer-Collard ?" asked Schinner.
"My tutor is or was the Abbe Loraux, now vicar of Saint-Sulpice," replied Oscar, recollecting the name of the confessor at his school.
"Well, you were right to take a private tutor," said Mistigris.

"'Tuto, tutor, celeritus, and jocund.' Of course, you will reward him well, your abbe ?" "Undoubtedly he will be made a bishop some day," said Oscar.
"By your family influence ?" inquired Georges gravely.
"We shall probably contribute to his rise, for the Abbe Frayssinous is constantly at our house." "Ah! you know the Abbe Frayssinous ?" asked the count.
"He is under obligations to my father," answered Oscar.
"Are you on your way to your estate ?" asked Georges.
"No, monsieur; but I am able to say where I am going, if others are not.
I am going to the Chateau de Presles, to the Comte de Serizy." "The devil! are you going to Presles ?" cried Schinner, turning as red as a cherry.
"So you know his Excellency the Comte de Serizy ?" said Georges.
Pere Leger turned round to look at Oscar with a stupefied air.
"Is Monsieur de Serizy at Presles ?" he said.
"Apparently, as I am going there," replied Oscar.
"Do you often see the count," asked Monsieur de Serizy.
"Often," replied Oscar.

"I am a comrade of his son, who is about my age, nineteen; we ride together on horseback nearly every day." "'Aut Caesar, aut Serizy,'" said Mistigris, sententiously.
Pierrotin and Pere Leger exchanged winks on hearing this statement.
"Really," said the count to Oscar, "I am delighted to meet with a young man who can tell me about that personage.

I want his influence on a rather serious matter, although it would cost him nothing to oblige me.
It concerns a claim I wish to press on the American government.

I should be glad to obtain information about Monsieur de Serizy." "Oh! if you want to succeed," replied Oscar, with a knowing look, "don't go to him, but go to his wife; he is madly in love with her; no one knows more than I do about that; but she can't endure him." "Why not ?" said Georges.
"The count has a skin disease which makes him hideous.


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